These pictures come from a special edition of stamps and have been supplied to me by Victoria Groom. She tells me:
These were designed and set up in 1955 by my father, Lieut. Capt. F.W. (Frederick William) Groom, Appeals Organiser for Northern England for the British Sailors' Society to sell onboard the IOM boats with profits going to the B.S.S. The idea was that they would appeal to stamp collectors. He planned them out with help from his father "Ted" Groom and the IOM Captains etc. who had become family friends. They were printed by T. Stephenson & Sons printers of West Coast Steamers and over-seen personally by I think 'Frank' Stephenson - I'm not quite certain about the christian name. I remember going down to Prescot with Dad & Mum to see the stamps coming off the press. They had to have all sorts of special registration as they were legal tender.
To see the stamps please
Click here for Mona's Isle (I), Tynwald (I), Douglas (I) and Ben my Chree (II)
Click here for Ben my Chree (III), King Orry (III), Lady of Mann and Mona's Isle V.
Thanks go to Victoria for allowing me to display the images here.
Back to Isle of Man and North West of England Steamers Section