Description

Set of six 1963 Calf of Man Europa stamps, featuring overprints (and some surcharges) on the previous birds definitives.

The set includes 3m, 6m, 9m, 12m, 18m (surcharge on 5m definitive) and 24m (surcharge on 1m definitive) denominations.

U/M / Unmounted Mint / MNH / Mint Never Hinged.

About Calf of Man

Denominated in "Murreys" (after John Murrey, who issued the first Isle of Man coins in 1668), Calf of Man local stamps were issued between 1962 and 1973, theoretically for use on mail being carried from the island to the Isle of Man mainland. More than 300 different stamps were produced over that period.

In reality, they are thought to have been produced more with an eye on the stamp collecting market, and when the Isle of Man took over its own postal service from the British Post Office in 1973, Calf of Man's own issues came to an end.

However, whatever the reasons for their existence, Calf of Man stamps remain an interesting piece of Cinderella philatelic history. For a listing of all the issues, we recommend the "Calf of Man Stamps" booklet, by Jacques Naayer, which is available to order from Isle of Man Sales Ltd.