Isle of Man issues six-stamp Manx National Treasures archaeological collection

The Isle of Man Post Office announced the Manx National Treasures collection on 9 September 2026 and released it the following day in partnership with Manx National Heritage. Six stamps draw on significant archaeological objects connected with the island, ranging from prehistoric jewellery through Viking material to later goldwork and linking the postal issue to the National Treasures exhibition.

The collection explores discoveries spanning thousands of years of Manx history. Objects highlighted in reporting on the issue include a prehistoric jet necklace, Bronze Age material and Viking brooches, while the collection extends into later historic goldwork. Some important objects had been discovered before the Manx Museum was founded and returned to the island on loan from the British Museum for the exhibition.

The official technical specification identifies Manx National Heritage as the source of imagery and text, with design by Manx National Heritage and Ashgrove Marketing. bpost printed the stamps by four-colour offset lithography on Tullis Russell Tru White Litho FSC paper. Each stamp measures 35 by 35 mm, is perforated 11.5 per 2 cm and is supplied in sheets of 15. Presentation packs are limited to 1,000 and first-day covers to 1,500; the range also includes the basic set.

The issue is unusually well anchored to museum archaeology: it does not simply use generic historical motifs but reproduces objects whose discovery, manufacture and archaeological interpretation help document Manx life across multiple periods.