Castle stamp in online gallery

Over the past 50 years, Northern Irish people, places and iconic images have appeared on numerous Special Stamps, which celebrate the UK and our national characteristics.

These have included Carrickfergus Castle, the Belfast Shipyards, and the Giant’s Causeway.

As part of the programme, Royal Mail has launched an online gallery of every Special Stamp issued since July 1965.

Northern Ireland has its own set of definitive stamps which feature further iconic images including local landscapes, linen and basket weaving.

The Carrick Castle stamp was released in 1988 and features in the ‘definitives’ collection.

Criteria for the creation of Special Stamps to celebrate events and commemorate anniversaries relevant to UK heritage and life were devised in 1965 by the then Postmaster General, Tony Benn.

The stamp of Sir Winston Churchill, issued in July of that year, was the first under Benn’s administration. It was the first British stamp to feature a contemporary individual and with its bold modernist approach with no words, it set the scene for the future.

Visitors to the site at www.rmspecialstamps.com can browse through the stamps by the decade and also view the stamps that were issued in the year that they were born.