While the name Forerunner in stamp collecting circles more commonly describes a postage stamp used during the time period before a region or territory issues stamps of its own, in Ireland, what the Irish reference books like Handbook of Irish Philately describe as forerunners, are political and propaganda labels that mostly resemble stamps few of which were used on Irish mail and had no legal standing as postage stamps in Ireland.
1865-67 Fenian issue edit
Four values, 1c, 3c, 24c (deep-green), and 24c (mauve-purple) were produced in New York by the Irish veterans of the U.S. Civil War but due to the failure of the Fenian rising were never used in Ireland. In the Handbook of Irish Philately David Feldman writes that most examples in circulation are forgeries, copied from magazine or catalogue illustrations.
1893 colonial design edit
These are unofficial essays and are classed as bogus and were in the values 2 1/2d and 4d.
1907-16 Sinn Fein propaganda labels edit
Sinn Fein, the principal national organisation at the time, issued these labels symbolising Irish nationhood. Their use was forbidden by Post Office regulations but they are termed Sinn Fein 'stamps'. Two designs were issued. The first design was a Celtic Cross, similar to a design later adopted for two definitive stamps of 1923 and the second depicts a female figure and harp in an oval frame.
1912-16 political labels edit
1912 Imperial Union label
The Imperial Union labels showing a larger harp and female figure are believed to have been printed in Manchester as a counter to the previous Sinn Fein labels.
1914 Anti-Home Rule labels
These labels appeared after the Home Rule Bill for Ireland was passed in parliament, by an extreme body opposed to the setting up of an independent Irish Republic. These were essentially fund raising labels, especially the 1/- value with a Red Hand of Ulster surrounded with shamrocks and the legend FOR GOD AND ULSTER, while the 1d had a Four Provinces shield design with the words PATRIOTS MAINTAIN THE UNION.
1916 Manchester Martyrs label
Portraits of the three man, Allen, Larkin and O'Brien, popularly known as The Manchester Martyrs against an Irish tricolour background were prepared by Irish Republicans and are shown on these labels. Feldman states that forgeries are common.
1916 ERIE PUIST labels
Following the Easter Rising of 1916, American sympathisers printed eight labels showing the seven portraits of the prominent leaders and a harp and shamrock label. Most of the portraits used were from the Irish Times Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook. The spelling ERIE for ÉIRE could be due to the hasty preparation though this is a correct, old Irish, spelling.
1922 Irish Republican Army issue edit
These 1d, 2d and 6d issues were prepared by the Irish Republican Army who had control of much of the southern part of the country during the Irish Civil War and because of stamp shortage. The labels were printed in Cork and were to be put on sale in August 1922 but before that happened the Irish Free State army landed near Cork and before the IRA retreated from Cork set fire to their own barracks destroying most of the stamps. Buchalter states that; It is believed that 250 copies each of the 1d and 2d values and 1,000 copies of the 6d value survived.
References edit
Books edit
Buchalter, M. Don (1972). M. Don Buchalter (ed.). Hibernian Specialised Catalogue of the Postage Stamps of Ireland 1922-1972. Hibernian Stamp Co Ltd, Dublin, Ireland.
Dulin, Dr Cyril I. (1992). Ireland's Transition: The Postal History of the Transitional Period 1922-1925. MacDonnell Whyte Ltd, Dublin, Ireland. ISBN 09517095-1-8.
Feldman, David (1968). Handbook of Irish Philately. David Feldman Ltd & the Dolman Press Ltd, Dublin, Ireland.