International Stamp (Bicentenary of the RNLI)

On February 29, we issue two stamps to honour the invaluable role played by the RNLI in providing a lifesaving rescue service at sea. It is fitting that the Institute’s great charitable and volunteering role should be acknowledged in this way as it celebrates the bicentenary of its founding by Sir William Hillary in 1824.

The RNLI’s tremendous record of service to the community is most noteworthy. There are approximately 1,121 lifeboat crew members, with 675 shore crew in Ireland. Over the past 20 years the RNLI has responded to 20,899 incidents, saved 724 lives and come to the aid of 25,120 people in Ireland.

An Post joins with sister island postal administrations in the UK to create individual stamp collections for RNLI 200. The composition of our stamp designs reflects the often-dramatic situations experienced by the RNLI volunteers. In the international ‘W’ stamp available in sheets of four, a gull bears silent witness overhead to a challenging rescue scene. The second national (‘N’) stamp in sheets of eight focuses on the first touch of welcome contact between the RNLI and those rescued – the very essence of what the service is all about. The colour palette highlights the orange and reds of the RNLI boats set against the greens and blues of the ocean.

Be sure to get your orders in early for this eagerly awaited issue.

Product code 2404W