Union-Castle Mailships Part II
With no airfield, shipping have always been a main part of the life of the people of St Helena. During the 20th century the Union Castle Mailships provided much of the sea communication with the island.
The Union Castle Mail Packet Company was formed in 1900 with the merger of the Union Line and the Castle Mail Packet Company. On 8th March 1900 the new company “Union Castle Mail Steam Ship Company Ltd” was registered.
In recognition of this service the first series of stamps featuring Union Castle Mailships was released in January 1996. This set comprises four stamps featuring ships that served St Helena from 1915-1965.
This second issue in this series was released from the Post Office on Friday 2 January 1998 entitled “Union Castel Mailships Part II”. Each of the four colourful stamps depicts a different model ship that served St Helena during the period 1900-1977.
Avondale Castle (1900)
Dunnottar Castle (1936)
