Postage stamps of Ireland
Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland when the world’s first postage stamps were issued in 1840. Stamps used during this period are referred to as Great Britain used in Ireland. Between 1922 and 1983 Oifig an Phoist, the Irish Post Office, issued all postage stamps in the 26 counties of Ireland. In 1984 An Post took over the responsibility for all Irish postal services including the issuing of postage stamps.
About Postage stamps of Ireland in brief
The postage stamps of Ireland are issued by the postal operator of the independent Irish state. Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland when the world’s first postage stamps were issued in 1840. Stamps used during this period are referred to as Great Britain used in Ireland. Between 1922 and 1983 Oifig an Phoist, the Irish Post Office, issued all postage stamps in the 26 counties of Ireland. After the division of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs into two semi-state organisations in 1984, An Post took over the responsibility for all Irish postal services including the issuing of postage stamps. In stamp collecting circles, the word forerunner usually describes a postage stamp used during the time period before a region or territory issues stamps of its own. In Irish reference books, such as Handbook of Irish Philately, the term forerunners usually refers to political propaganda labels. Four values, 1c, 3c, 24c, and 24c are produced in New York by the Irish veterans of the US Civil War and are known as the Fenian issue. The first design was a Celtic Cross, similar to one later adopted for two definitive stamps of 1923, and depicts a female figure and harp. In 1912, Sinn Féin, one of the nationalist organisations of the time, issued propaganda labels symbolising Irish nationhood. Their use as stamps was forbidden by regulations and they are now known as bogus stamps. A stamp no longer affixed to a cover may still permit identification of the town of use if enough of the postmark can be seen on the stamp itself.
From 1844 on, the cancels used included text or numerals that identified the post town. From 1840 to 1844, the Penny Black, and other stamps issued, were obliterated with the Maltese Cross cancellation. There was no text or numeral to help identify any of these cancels as Irish, but some Maltese crosses are uniquely identifiable with certain Irish towns, including Belfast, Eyrecourt, Cork, Hollymount, Limerick and Mullingar. Numerals of Irish town cancels were uniquely set in a 4 pointed diamond shape whereas town cances in England and Wales used an oval shape and Scotland used a rectangular form. Some definitive and commemorative stamps have been produced in miniature sheet, booklet and coil configurations in addition to the common sheet layout. Postage dues and airmails complete the stamp issues of the two, sequential, Irish stamp-issuing authorities. Most have been printed by Irish Security Stamp Printing Ltd., though a small number were printed by Harrison and Sons Ltd. These stamps had legal standing for mail for mail and airmail and are no longer in use in Ireland, but they are still legal in the UK and the U.S. They were produced by Dollard, Thom, Irish Government Printers, Waterlow and Sons, De La Rue and Co., Bradbury Wilkinson and Co., Ltd. and Harrison and sons Ltd.
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This page is based on the article Postage stamps of Ireland published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 03, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
