Isle of Man Post Office has issued a set of stamps celebrating the landmark anniversaries of the first Isle of Man TT wins achieved by four popular riders.
The four-stamp issue, TT Winners, features Joey Dunlop, Steve Hislop, Ian Simpson and Ian Hutchinson, who between them have achieved more than 50 TT victories. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Dunlop's first win, 30th of Hislop's, 20th of Simpson's and 10th of Hutchinson's.
The stamps, designed by local business Isle of Man Advertising & PR, feature photographs of each rider during the race they took their first win in, from the archives of FoTTofinders, and details of each maiden victory.
The TT Winners stamp issue will be released on 26th May, the day before the 2017 TT begins.
The issue is available inside a four-side presentation pack or on a First Day Cover, postmarked with the first day of issue. Both contain additional photography, including pictures taken by legendary road racing photographer Stephen Davison, and the story of each first win written by David Wright, author of six books about the races and a marshal at both the TT and Manx Grand Prix for two decades. They are also in both mint condition and cancelled to order sets.
Isle of Man Post Office has also produced a highly collectable set of four stamp cards featuring the designs, priced just £2.50.
Dunlop secured his first TT win in the 1977 Jubilee Classic TT, riding a hybrid bike composed of a Yamaha TZ750 engine and a frame built to take a Suzuki. He went on to become the event's most successful competitor ever, with 26 victories.
'Hizzy' took his maiden TT win 10 years later, during the 1987 Formula Two race. It was the first of 11 wins, and typically came at record-breaking pace, and despite running with an ignition unit he was gifted after his own failed in practice.
Simpson enjoyed great success on the short circuits, earning multiple British championship titles, but his ambition of matching his father's success at the TT was hard-earned; after making his debut in 1989 it wasn't until the 1997 Junior race Simpson would secure his first TT victory.
'Hutchy' took his place in the TT history books during the Centenary celebrations, winning the Supersport race. He went on to become the only person to win five races in a single week and has battled back from a career-threatening injury to take his TT win tally to 14, with few doubting there are more to come.
Maxine Cannon, General Manager, Isle of Man Stamps & Coins, said: 'It has been a few years since we released a TT stamp issue but we couldn't miss the opportunity to celebrate four important anniversaries falling in the same year. This set is a tribute not only to the achievements of each of these popular racers, but also to the remarkable history of the event, which marks its own 110th anniversary in 2017.
'We're delighted with the stamps and hope fans all over the world will be as excited about the TT Winners issue as we are.'
Ian Hutchinson, who will line up for Tyco BMW and Mcams Yamaha at this year's TT, is delighted with the celebration.
He said: 'Winning a TT race is such an incredible feeling, and it is a great honour for my first victory to be featured on a stamp. I'll never forget the buzz of taking the chequered flag in 2007, and I'm so pleased the 10th anniversary has been commemorated like this. To be featured alongside three TT greats has made me really proud and I'd like to say a huge thank you to the Isle of Man Post Office for including me.'
Gary Dunlop, Joey's son, added: 'The Jubilee Classic TT 40 years ago was the beginning of an incredible success story which saw Dad take 26 wins, a record which remains unbroken today. I think its brilliant that the Isle of Man Post Office has commemorated his first win like this, it's a wonderful record of an important day.'
TT Winners can be ordered from www.iomstamps.com.
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