Date: 22nd July 2024
Isle of Man Post Office Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Peel Engineering with a Commemorative Postal Tribute
Isle of Man Post Office is delighted to announce the release of a sheetlet commemorating the rich and fascinating history of Peel Engineering. This special edition, created in collaboration with local expert and author Barry Edwards, offers a unique glimpse into the legacy of this innovative company. The Self-Adhesive Sheetlet features four stamps from the 2006 Peel Cars issue, paired with a block of eight postage-paid labels that showcase rare archival imagery documenting the story of Peel Engineering.
Barry Edwards, author of P50 Peel Engineering's Extraordinary Legacy: The Story of the World's Smallest Production Car, shares insights into the history of Peel Engineering in the issue text found on the reverse of the sheetlet. Peel Engineering was founded by Cyril Cannell in the late 1940s, initially focusing on boats. The company later became a pioneer in fibreglass technology, officially registering as Peel Engineering Limited on December 31, 1964.
Author Barry Edwards said: "Sixty years ago, Cyril Cannell, an imaginative engineer had created Peel Engineering and produced small fiberglass cars, among other products, from a factory on the West Quay in Peel. Arguably, the cars were ahead of their time, offering excellent fuel consumption and easy parking! Being built using fiberglass, they didn’t rust either.
Cyril would be tickled at the thought that 60 years on, we are celebrating the diamond anniversary of these remarkable products with this second product from Isle of Man Post and a weekend of events, organised by the Manx Transport Heritage Museum in Peel, and a selection of preserved Peel cars visiting the Island.”
Maxine Cannon, Stamps and Coins General Manager said: “It is an absolute pleasure to once again work with Barry Edwards, whose expertise and knowledge has been invaluable for this commemorative Sheetlet. We are committed to celebrating and preserving the cultural and historical heritage of the Isle of Man through our stamps and Peel Engineering is a very important part of our heritage and history.”
High resolution images for this stamp issue can be found in our Media Centre
