If you’re in North America, Australasia, the UK, or indeed Ireland…
…chances are you know someone of Irish descent.
After all, 9% of Americans have Irish ancestry. (Perhaps you’re Irish yourself.)
But what collectible to get an Irishman who’s seen it all before?
I’ll tell you.
- A small, beautiful object that tells the rich history of Ireland
- Which is also the most valuable item on Earth by weight
- And which is also one of the scarcest
I wonder if you’ve guessed.
A rare and antique postage stamp from Ireland
Irish stamps have important stories to tellA gift that brings the history, the poignancy, the language and the laughter that is Ireland into their home.
And if you’re wondering, aren’t rare stamps expensive? The answer is - they can be. But they don’t have to be.
I have rare Irish stamps available from £95 to £4,500. That's $120 to $5,650.
You can view all my rare Irish stamps for sale here. |
A poignant stamp from 1922
Your Irish friend will know the importance of the year 1922. When most of Ireland gained independence from the UK, after three years of warfare.
It makes 1922 Irish stamps hugely poignant and important.
With no stamps to call their own, from February 1922 Ireland began overprinting existing British stamps with Irish text.
Today these stamps are an extraordinary symbol. A once British stamp, now British no more. Now controlled and used by Ireland.
I have a small selection of 1922 overprints available. And they come no more symbolic than this:
A pair of British 10 shilling "Seahorse" stamps
Highly symbolic: A British stamp bearing the Union Jack, now with Irish writing "Irish Free State 1922" overprinted
- Designed as British propaganda. To display Britain’s naval power to its enemies. Note the Union Jack. Now subdued with the Gaelic words: “Irish Free State 1922”
- Hugely rare
- Accompanied by an independent certificate of authenticity from MacDonnell Whyte (1985)
- Available for below Stanley Gibbons catalogue value
Discover more |
1946 2 shilling stamp booklet
- Extremely rare
- Almost certainly the finest example in existence
- Evocative advertising for hosier “Smyths of Balbriggan” - a town on the east coast of Ireland. Smyths closed in the late 1970s after almost 200 years
View the stamp now. |
The stamp that might have been
The first stamp created from scratch by the new Ireland was the 2 penny Map of Ireland stamp, released in December 1922.
But it could have been this:
This could have been the first Irish stamp - so rare todayThe Pictorial Printing Machine Company entered with this offering, known as an “essay” in stamp parlance.
The design features a beautiful depiction of a woman in an ornamental frame. In Irish green.
It didn’t win them the contract. Which is why these examples are so rare today, especially in multiples such as this.
And why stamp collectors fight over them.
View here |
See all our Ireland stamps here
You can also buy on +44 (0)1534 639 998 or info@paulfrasercollectibles.com
Small objects that convey so much history. Our selection of Irish stamps make such a thoughtful gift. Or a cherished object for yourself.
Each comes with 28-day no quibble returns - so if the recipient doesn’t fall in love with it, you won’t be out of pocket.
Many of these stamps are highly rare. When one sells, I won’t be able to source another quickly, if at all.
So buy now.
Until next time,
Paul
PS. You get free global delivery as standard.
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