Isle of Man Stamp Collecting is the perfect way to discover what makes the Isle of Man so special...
The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency, centrally situated in the Irish Sea. Owing allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Sovereign Lord of Mann, we have our own Parliament, legal system, and since 1973 our own Post Office.
What is Manx?
The word Manx related to a characteristic inhabitant, or the native language of the Isle of Man. Just as someone born in Ireland and England are called Irish and English respectively, people born in the Isle of Man are called 'Manx'.
Population: 80,058 (2006 Census)
Land Area: 572 sq. km/221 square miles
Location: The centre of the Irish Sea - 50 km (31 miles) from Ireland and 50 km (31 miles) from the UK.
Head of State: Her Majesty the Queen
Status: An internally self-governing dependent territory of the Crown which is not part of the United Kingdom.
Currency: Manx pounds and pence (equivalent to GB pounds)
Languages: English and Manx Gaelic
Coat of Arms of the Isle of Man: The Coat of Arms of the Isle of Man (more correctly referred to as the Arms of Her Majesty in right of the Isle of Man) were granted by Her Majesty by Royal Warrant dates 12th July 1996.
The Raven is a bird of legend and superstition and there are a number of places on the Island which include raven in their names. the Island has a strong Viking element in its history and Odin, the Norse God, was, according to mythology, accompanied by two ravens. During the Millenium Year of 1979, a replica of a Viking longship was sailed from Norway to the Isle of Man by a mixed Norwegian and Manx crew. The longship, which is now preserved on the Island, is called 'Odin's Raven'.
Motto: The motto 'Quocunque Jeceris Stabit', which translates literally as 'whithersoever you throw it, it will stand' continues to feature on the Coat of Arms. This motto has been associated with the Isle of Man since about 1300.
Flag: The Three Legs of Man: The three legs symbol seems to have been adopted in the Thirteenth Century as the armorial bearings of the native kings of the Isle of Man.
Manx National Anthem (Arrane Ashoonagh Dy Vannin).
O land of our birth, O Gem of God's earth, O Island so strong and so fair; Built firm as Barrule, Thy throne of Home Rule, Makes us free as thy sweet mountain air.