Lifeboat stamps on sale
13/03/2008
A set of Royal Mail stamps featuring RNLI lifeboats went on sale on 13 March.
The new Mayday – rescue at sea special issue consists of six stamps, four of which feature RNLI lifeboats from Barra, Tenby, St Ives and Appledore. The other two have images of Coastguard helicopters. Click here to see the full set.
The series was launched to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the adoption of SOS as the worldwide Morse code distress signal at sea. To mark the centenary, the famous sequence of dots and dashes is printed along the stamps' edges.
The lifeboats featured in the stamps launched 67 times in 2007, rescuing a combined total of 56 people.
Julietta Edgar, Royal Mail's Head of Special Stamps, says: ‘We felt it was vital to capture the incredibly testing conditions the men and women of the RNLI often work under for the stamps to have the greatest impact. The new set is a special tribute to the RNLI as a charity, and the Coastguard, that will be seen by countless people on letters and parcels around the world. We hope the Mayday – rescue at sea stamps will remind everyone of the immense courage and bravery of all who are involved in maritime search and rescue.'
The RNLI has launched a set of first day covers, created by specialist producers Buckingham Covers, proceeds from which will go towards the planned memorial at RNLI Headquarters.
The stamps are on sale in Post Offices. Special edition RNLI first day covers are on sale at buckinghamcovers.com.
