"Sinking of the Titanic" Anniversary Stamp Issues

AMark · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 02:54:23 am

On April 5, Canada Post will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.

Four domestic stamps featuring both the bow and stern of the Titanic.

One international stamp featuring a full colour image of the ship.

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 03:08:29 am

AMark wrote:

I've been a big Titanic fan/follower since I was young, and have looked forward to the new issue releases for this subject. There's some nice items out there, such as Gibraltar's set.

But this...

As a block, what is going on? They've created a ship that has the bow on top (ie. the name on the prow), and the stern on the bottom (the propellers)! My first impression when I saw this reproduced in Linn's the other day was that it looked like a close-up of a derriere.

The international rate stamp is a much nicer product. Good attention to detail by having smoke coming out of only 3 stacks -- the 4th was a 'dummy', put on for aesthetic purposes.

AMark · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 04:01:41 am

When you separate the block it doesn't look too bad.

Although, now it looks like one pair is missing the bottom and the other the top.

Brummie · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 09:18:34 am

AMark wrote:

When you separate the block it doesn't look too bad.

I think the top two stamps are brilliant.

The international stamp nothing to write home about.

agondocz · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:16:02 am

More information about The Titanic stamps at:

Canada Post Titanic Issues

Best wishes,
AndrewG

Misterperf · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 18:37:22 pm

AMark wrote:

A preview of what will be released by Canada Post in this quarter.

On April 5, Canada Post will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.

I am a voracious Canada collector, and normally specialize in Large Queens and earlier; however, the Titanic has a soft spot in my heart. I will be calling Antigonish Monday morning to place my pre-order.

As an aside, I seem to remember coming across an auction catalog of upcoming Titanic postal history. Wouldn't that be a crowning glory of a stamp collection? A cover form the Titanic!

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 20:49:55 pm

AMark wrote:

When you separate the block it doesn't look too bad.

Like pairs of rabbits of the opposite sex, have to keep them separated.

I agree with Brummie, the top two on their own are quite appealing. In the bottom pair, the designer is obviously trying to convey the sense of size and scale by portraying the figures standing before the propellers, but the cropped image still comes off a bit iffy. As a joined block, it's an early contender for 'worst issue of the year' (which isn't totally fair since its just the layout that fails).

MisterPerf wrote:

As an aside, I seem to remember coming across an auction catalog of upcoming Titanic postal history. Wouldn't that be a crowning glory of a stamp collection? A cover form the Titanic!

I get emails almost daily from various auction aggregator websites--Artfact, Invaluble--and do recall something about a Titanic sale. Will try to find the details again. The auction house mentioned the ship was carrying thousands of bags of mail. I've never heard of any being recovered.

There have been a couple at least PCs postmarked on the Titanic come up for auction. Apparently they were posted when the ship first left port, then offloaded at a later destination. As one can imagine, they fetch high prices.

[Mod Hat On]
The above posts are a copy of the thread for new Canada Post issues, with a touch of editing to focus the discussion.
[Mod Hat Off]

ivqii · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 21:52:46 pm

On checking the Canada Post I see that the release date given in the original post is not a typo and is indeed the 5 April

Seems a strange date given that she went down on 15 April

MargoZ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 21:57:44 pm

Reported in Stamps in the News this month :mrgreen:

http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=35643

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2012 03:12:21 am

Misterperf wrote:

I seem to remember coming across an auction catalog of upcoming Titanic postal history. Wouldn't that be a crowning glory of a stamp collection? A cover form the Titanic!

This might be the auction you mean?

http://www.henry-aldridge.co.uk/

Quote:

Titanic & White Star Line Memorabilia Sale
on Saturday 31st March 2012 at 1.00pm

AMark · **Posted:** Mon Mar 26, 2012 06:08:26 am

ivqii wrote:

On checking the Canada Post I see that the release date given in the original post is not a typo and is indeed the 5 April

Seems a strange date given that she went down on 15 April

The 15th is on a Sunday but, it still should have been released closer to the anniversary date.

Any other countries issuing stamps to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic?

Allanswood · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 14:18:56 pm

Most countries will issue stamps a little earlier than the actual day. Could you imagine the panic and the rush to try and get your stamps in time (or delivered if ordered by post), and then post them off or obtain FDC's if they were issued say on the Friday just before the anniversary?

Thank goodness they do release them earlier than "on the day". It's only 10 days beforehand and that's still quite tight.

The International stamp is a bit "blah" but at least they don't have smoke coming out of stack number 4.

I would have preferred the "pairs" not to have been perfed and have a front and rear view complete as 2 long stamps.

Canada stamper · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 15:45:13 pm

I had to laugh a little when I saw the booklet of stamps issued by Canada Post:

and the commemorative cancel:

They just brought to mind the saying "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic", which the Urban Dictionary defines as "a situation when someone tries to futilly reform the way things are done in a failing system".

fromdownunder · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 16:23:52 pm

The re-release of James Cameron's 1996 blockbuster Movie Titanic, this time in 3-D, will be on April 5 in most parts of the world.

Norm

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 18:37:02 pm

The deck chair is one of the prized objects in Halifax's marine museum, which has a large area devoted to a permanent exhibition on the Titanic.

It was to Halifax that the bodies of the deceased were brought, and which hosts a cemetary for the ship's victims, many of the unidentified graves. (Then 5 years later the city experienced another maritime-related disaster, the Halifax Explosion).

I wonder if Canada Post will have a band play Nearer My God to Thee at the FDI ceremony for the stamp?

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 18:44:34 pm

AMark wrote:

Any other countries issuing stamps to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic?

I've seen images of Gibraltar's set, its rather nice.

The Channel Islands are doing stamps I'm sure, they don't miss an opportunity to commemorate something (guess offshore banking isn't bringing in the $$ it used to for them...).

I'm sure Ireland will be big into this as the ships were built at the Harland & Wolff shipyards in Belfast.

If they haven't already, just wait for IGPC to announce what its roster of illustrious Caribbean, African and South Pacific clients have lined up. I'm sure places like Mali will be paying tribute with sheetlets and limited-edition imperf gold foil M/S. :roll:

fromdownunder · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 18:47:44 pm

aethelwulf wrote:

I wonder if Canada Post will have a band play Nearer My God to Thee at the FDI ceremony for the stamp?

Probably not the right thread for this, but there is strong conflicting evidence that Nearer My God to Thee was the last piece of music actually played by the Orchestra as Titanic was sinking. Or that it was even played at all.

Norm

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 18:53:45 pm

Allanswood wrote:

I would have preferred the "pairs" not to have been perfed and have a front and rear view complete as 2 long stamps.

There was a pair of stamps a few years ago with a nautical theme--something to do with schooners--where the two stamps when joined as a pair form one long picture.

And to illustrate the dummy funnel point:

Quote:

Titanic fitting-out at the deepwater wharf early in 1912.

Even without her fourth ‘dummy’ funnel, added to maintain the ship’s elegant lines, Titanic dominates this industrial landscape.

Harland & Wolff's huge floating crane, for lifting equipment on board, is berthed between the ship and the wharf. Two long gangways connect the ship to the shore.

http://www.nmni.com/Titanic/Design-Build/Harland---Wolff/Fitting-out-Titanic.aspx

ivqii · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 18:58:35 pm

Most of the ordinary crew came from Southampton UK - the area in which the St Mary's Football Stadium now sits was where many of the below decks personnel lived.Legend has it that whole streets were left devoid of men- probably not true but certainly the male population of the area was decimated

Southampton opens a new museum on 10 April ( 100 years to the day the Titanic sailed on her only voyage)largely dedicated to the ship

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/s-leisure ... r/seacity/

The city is eagerly looking forward to it and so am I- my office is about 200 metres away and the roads are in a mess with extra service cables, traffic lights, resurfacing etc

Jacob · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 19:06:44 pm

aethelwulf wrote:

Allanswood wrote:

I would have preferred the "pairs" not to have been perfed and have a front and rear view complete as 2 long stamps.

There was a pair of stamps a few years ago with a nautical theme--something to do with schooners--where the two stamps when joined as a pair form one long picture.

And to illustrate the dummy funnel point:

Quote:

Titanic fitting-out at the deepwater wharf early in 1912.

Even without her fourth ‘dummy’ funnel, added to maintain the ship’s elegant lines, Titanic dominates this industrial landscape.

Harland & Wolff's huge floating crane, for lifting equipment on board, is berthed between the ship and the wharf. Two long gangways connect the ship to the shore.

http://www.nmni.com/Titanic/Design-Build/Harland---Wolff/Fitting-out-Titanic.aspx

Jacob here ,
Only in the last few years I have heard about the Titanic and I find it very interesting.
Fancy a ship sinking on it's first voyage :shock:

Here is a link to some info about the Titanic .

http://www.abratis.de/ship/construct/

Has anyone else got real photos :?:

Sure would like to see them.

Jacob.

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 19:16:15 pm

Careful Jacob, with your interest in stamps from Island countries, you might soon get hooked on collecting Ship thematics.

You could even combine that with your interest in Train stamps with Canada's 1946 'Peace' definitives $1 value -- a train ferry.

If you do a google search for Titanic, and choose the "image results" tab, you'll surely get a wealth of results. Hopefully not too many of Leo DiCaprio from James Cameron's film. :evil:

There was a large hardcover book produced years ago (Hunt around second-hand book shops and you might find one) that chronicled the ship in pictures, from construction through submersible dives on the wreck after its discovery in 1986.

Some interesting things like the anchors that were pulled on wagons through the streets by an entire team of horses, and the boilers which were twice the height of men.

Everything to do with the ship was on a huge scale, befitting its name, which comes from "the Titans", a race of giants in Greek myth. (The ship had 2 sisters--Britannic and Olympic). One was lost in WWI when used as a troop ship, the second saw long service and was eventually sold for scrap in the 1930s.

stampchris · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 22:56:05 pm

Åland will issue a single €1.80 stamp on 16 April.

On the same day Belgium will issue a 3D miniature sheet (containing two worldwide 3rd weight step stamps). I couldn't find an image of the miniature sheet, but it is featured on the joint first day cover card with Åland.

Ireland will issue stamps but on 12 April. I haven't seen any images yet.

Alderney issued 6 stamps on 22 February.

Isle of Man will also issue six stamps on 2 April.

Canada stamper · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 23:27:52 pm

I realize as I re-read my post above that it may sound somewhat disrespectful - not meant that way

It's just another way that this disaster has entered our Western popular culture.

Voyager · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 19:30:52 pm

Here is a page from Ships on Stamps Unit dedicated to Titanic stamps of 2012:

http://www.shipsonstamps.org/Topics/marken/marken1203.htm

norvic · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 22:28:54 pm

Canada stamper wrote:

I realize as I re-read my post above that it may sound somewhat disrespectful - not meant that way

It's just another way that this disaster has entered our Western popular culture.

Tweet of the day, reflecting the blanket coverage not only on all tv channels but radio:

"I'm beginning to wish the ship had never sunk".

stampchris · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 22:53:15 pm

Here's Ireland's contribution - two se-tenant pairs.

The 55c Se-tenant stamps depict shipbuilder Thomas Andrews and photographer Father Browne.
The 82c Se-tenant stamps feature Captain Edward J. Smith and the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown.
(Apologies for the white space - these images are copied from the An Post website).

Having joined a Catholic school this year, I've heard a fair bit about Father Browne - quite an interesting story (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Browne).

Given the significance of the anniversary, I'm surprised An Post has actively publicised this issue - I haven't received their bulletin The Collector yet, and the one of the website is still for January.

stampchris · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 23:03:17 pm

Just saw this posting on the BPMA's blog:

http://postalheritage.wordpress.com/201 ... nary-2012/

Completely forgot that Titanic was a Royal Mail Ship. Fascinating write up!

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2012 00:44:01 am

stampchris wrote:

Completely forgot that Titanic was a Royal Mail Ship. Fascinating write up!

It is frequently referred to by its 'full' title R.M.S. Titanic in documentaries. It was probably obvious to all involved that the largest ship ever built should carry such a designation. Would be a bit of a slight to have 'lesser' ships pottering around carrying the Royal Mail while the grand maiden tries to hold her head high with only the title S.S.

Safi · **Posted:** Sat Apr 28, 2012 03:41:11 am

Just received thanks to our Stampboards member Voyager as part of a swap deal!

31st March 1912 - Fitting of Titanic was completed

10th April 1912, 12:00 hrs - Sets sail on her maiden voyage

14th April 1912, 23:40 hrs - Iceberg strikes starboard bow

15th April 1912, 00:45 hrs - The first lifeboats lowered to the sea

15th April 1912, 02:10 hrs - Stern rises and starts sinking

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Sat Apr 28, 2012 04:24:12 am

Well I don't know how accurately the captions match the pictures, or the pictures themselves for that matter.

31st March, fitting-out completed: If she went to sea only 10 days later, she wouldn't have been still sitting in the frame like that on the 10p. That is hull construction. Final fitting-out was done with the ship sitting at dockside.

Hitting the iceberg on the 44p: It looks more like the ship is about to run aground. That iceberg to the right is like a sand beach.

Lowering the first lifeboats on the 54p: If the ship were sitting at that angle (see the lit windows) it would be obvious she were going down. When the first lifeboats were released, the ship was taking on water but the 'water-tight' compartments were holding it. Hence the first lifeboat to go left only half-full, with 29 people when it could hold near 60.

I do like the 66p (oh dear that could be construed as making me sound evil). The artwork is quite fine, they even captured the smoke trail of the flares being sent up.

Overall these are well-produced sheets, the historic photos/newspapers are a good touch. Much better than the Photoshop quickies some places do.

Maddog · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 10:56:38 am

Why wife surpised me today with my first PNC.

Unfortunately for her this was special to me and she was subject to me reminiscing of my youth and my Grandfather's "parlour" stories of his and Halifax history. He was a witness of the Titanic and a Halifax explosion survivor.

He was 5 or 6 when his father took him down to the docks in Southampton to see this vessel prior to its sailing. I remember how he described it from the eyes of a child and how majestic he thought it looked. After his story both me and my brother fought over who got to read first, "A Night to Remember", when he pulled it out. Him and his family latter immigrated to Halifax in 1917 when he was eleven only to lose his older brother, one eardrum and home during the Halifax explosion.

I warned her if Canada Post is still around, and if she pulls this stunt again, 5 years from now I may have to subject her to more of my stories of my grandfather regarding the Halifax explosion.

admin · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 14:42:20 pm

A morbidly overweight eccentric froot loop Australia Billionaire, Clive Palmer, claims to be building a full size working replica of the Titanic.

Being a loyal Australian with political aspirations, it is of course being build in China. :evil:

Sadly the current Government here is so on the nose that Fidel Castro or Robert Mugabe would likely win seats against them, so anything is possible.

Clive comes from Queensland as indeed do most of our political nutters. More detail on it here -

http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=&q=t ... c+2+palmer

Panterra · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 21:08:02 pm

And here is Occussi-Ambeno's contribution:

RossTO · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 13:54:01 pm

All those little countries are expecting a windfall on this one, probably similar to the Dianna issues they did. Producing stamps to bring in hard currency sometimes seems to be a primary revenue stream for them.

Allanswood · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 14:20:28 pm

If Clive does manage to build it faithful to the actual ship, it will never be allowed to sail. Not enough lifeboats and the bulkheads will still be too low.

Hope he has a spare $1 billion or so to do it.

One anchor alone has about $30,000 worth of steel in it.

Or will he build it as the designer actually drew it?

Funny enough, it's not that big a ship compared to today's floating cities. :shock:

Panterra · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 14:32:58 pm

What's the bet that when he launches it, both China and Australia will issue commemorative minisheets?

Not to mention sets of nine from the Grenadines of St Vincent and Maldive Islands.

bouki vedi · **Posted:** Sat May 05, 2012 05:03:34 am

The bulgarian contribution - 100 years of an ambitious project, the liner Titanic.

Denomination – 1.40 lv.

10.04.2012

15 000 ex.

Officially, a total of 38 Bulgarians died in the disaster, even though their number may be higher, according to some researchers. Approximately 15 Bulgarian nationals survived the sinking, most of whom settled in the US for good.

More about “Titanic” and the bulgarians:

http://bnr.bg/sites/en/Lifestyle/MapOfB ... tanik.aspx

http://www.omda.bg/engl/news/titan.htm

http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/1903

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=138530

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/titanic.html


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