Stamps mark 25 years of island's military museum

Six stamps, highlighting the museum's main exhibits about World War One and Two, VJ Day and the Korean War, civil aviation, museum artefacts and the Korean War. They show black and white pictures from the eras, and memorabilia such as medals and posters.Image source, IOMPO
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The stamp collection is set to be released on Monday

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A new six-stamp set featuring artefacts held in a volunteer-run museum that preserves the stories of those from Isle of Man has been released to mark its 25th anniversary.

The Manx Aviation and Military Museum, founded at Ronaldsway IN 2000, features collections of wartime memorabilia and history.

The collection shines a spotlight on some of the attraction's keys exhibits from both world wars, VJ Day and the Korean War.

The launch of the set also coincides with the release of a commemorative sheetlet honouring the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

The stamp collection marking the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain shows various artists impressions of aeroplanes from the era. It is surrounded by photographs from the era, including three servicewomen in uniform and a group of men running onto an airfield.Image source, IOMPO
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A new sheetlet commemorates the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain

It uses reproduced stamp designs from past Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) issues commemorating the first decisive battle in history to be fought in the air which began on 10 July to 31 October 1940.

Graham Brogden from the RAF Benevolent Fund said the Battle of Britain sheetlet honoured "the strength and resilience of 'the few' who courageously fought for our freedom during the Second World War".

Maxine Cannon of Isle of Man Post Office said the two releases paid "tribute to the extraordinary courage, commitment and sacrifice shown in times of war, and to the importance of preserving those stories for future generations".

A close up of the World War Two stamp which shows a sign from RAF Jurby Head, a wartime aeroplane, and a red wreath of poppies.Image source, IOMPO
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The aviation museum, which is home to a host of wartime memorabilia, was founded in 2000

The set highlighting the work of the military museum features exhibits on display such as medals and wartime photographs and posters.

Museum director Ivor Ramsden said it had been a "privilege to have been associated with the museum since its inception" and watch it "grow beyond anything that we could have imagined back then".

The stamps would "provide a glimpse of the countless historical treasures in the museum", he added.

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