MAYFLOWER STAMPS

Graphic Design

The story behind the Mayflower 400 Stamps

We have created a set of six stamps for the Isle of Man Post Office in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the voyage to the New World of the Mayflower.

The stamps mark this important voyage and four hundred years of democratic history. During the launch phases, we were honoured to join Chief Minister The Hon Howard Quayle MHK to present the stamps to His Excellency the US Ambassador Robert ‘Woody’ Johnson, to mark Thanksgiving 2020.

The Ambassador tweeted:

Stamp One

The Departure of The Mayflower

The Mayflower left Plymouth, England on 6th September 1620 with 30 crew and 102 passengers on board seeking a new life in a new world, free from religious persecution and full of opportunity. Their journey was long and arduous, but successful.

Stamp Two

The Landing at Plymouth Rock

The Pilgrims arrived on 26th December 1620 at what is now Plymouth Bay, Massachusetts, where they settled and began construction of their first buildings. The landing place later became known as Plymouth Rock.

Stamp Three

The Signing of The Compact

The settlers drew up the Mayflower Compact, an agreement to cooperate for the general good of the colony to deal with issues by voting, establish constitutional law and rule by the majority. It was signed on 11th November 1620 in what is now Provincetown Harbour.

Stamp Four

Thanksgiving

Following a bumper harvest in the autumn of 1621, the colonists decided to celebrate with a three-day festival of prayer. They invited Native Americans, who they had become friendly with, to join them for a huge feast in what was to become known as the First Thanksgiving.

Stamp Five

Myles Standish

This stamp is dedicated to Myles Standish (1584-1656). The Pilgrim Fathers engaged Standish as their Captain and military leader and it is widely acknowledged that the success of the entire operation was largely due to his wisdom and leadership. The image shows an engagement with Tisquantum, a member of the Wampanoag tribe with whom the Pilgrims developed a historic peace treaty.

Stamp Six

The First Church in New England

After initially holding religious services on the Mayflower ship, the Pilgrims moved them to a fort on Burial Hill which they used from 1621 until 1648. The fort was also used for other colony events including meetings of the Plymouth General Court.