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30/06/2005: "Royal Mail Releases Triumph Motorcycle Stamps"

In celebration of "the glory years of British motorcycle design," the Royal Mail on July 19 will issue a set of six stamps in its ongoing "Transport" series.

The "Transport" series began in 2001 with stamps picturing buses. Jetliners appeared in 2002. Toys -- "Transports of Delight" -- were featured in 2003. Classic locomotives and ocean liners were commemorated in 2004.

Now, for the first time, motorcycles will appear on a "special stamp," or commemorative, set.

Artist Michael English created the detailed illustrations on which the stamp designs were based. The bikes featured and stamp denominations are:

First class: The 1991 Norton F.1 with an engine capacity of 588 cubic centimeters, an output of 95 British horsepower and top speed of 145 mph. Fewer than 150 were manufactured before production ceased in the early 1990s.

40-pence: The 1969 BSA Rocket 3 with a 750-cc three-cylinder engine, 58 bhp and 145-mph top speed. The Rocket 3 was "one of the original superbikes." Competition from cheaper Japanese bikes and poor U.S. sales hurt the company. Its last motorcycle came off the assembly line after the BSA Group merged with Norton-Villiers.

42p: The 1949 Vincent Black Shadow with a 1,000-cc engine, 55 bhp and top speed of 125 mph. "A motorcycling legend of the 1950s," the Black Shadow's production ended in 1955.

47p: The 1937 Triumph Speed Twin with a 500-cc engine, 27 bhp and top speed of 92 mph. In 1951, Triumph was bought by BSA. The manufacture of Triumph motorcycles continued when BSA merged with Norton-Villiers.

60p: The 1930 Brough Superior with a 1,000-cc engine capacity, 45 bhp and 110-mph top speed. Company owner George Brough called it the "Rolls-Royce of motorcycles." His most famous bike was the SS100, which came with a 100-mph guarantee and was "renowned for superb roadholding." Brough's most celebrated customer was Thomas Edward Lawrence, more famously known as "Lawrence of Arabia." He owned six SS100s.

68p: The 1914 Royal Enfield 1914 with a 425-cc engine, 14 bhp and top speed of 50 mph. Royal Enfield hit its manufacturing stride in 1910 and "became known for solid, dependable products," such as the Model 140 middleweight with its V-twin engine. Royal Enfield later made larger V-twins and a series of sturdy single-cylinder bikes. Production ended in 1970, however, the Royal Enfield brand lives on with motorcycles made in India.

For information about prices and ordering these stamps and related items, contact Royal Mail, Tallents House, 21 S. Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9PB, Scotland; or Royal Mail, 148 Old St., Room 108, London EC1V 9HQ, U.K.

(this article was taken from sun-sentinel.com and was written by Richard Carr)