Wild Flowers Brighten new Stamps

8 September 2004

Replacing the Irish Birds Definitive Series, this issue comprises eight new stamps celebrating Irish wild flowers from a collection of more than 30 specially commissioned designs by the internationally-famous botanical artist Susan Sex. The full range of original art work produced by Ms Sex for these and future Irish stamps will be on display in Dublin’s GPO from September 9 – October 9, 2004.

Ms Sex’s earlier paintings of native Irish orchids were awarded gold medals by the Royal Horticultural Society in London. Her collectors’ volume “Ireland’s Wild Orchids” is produced in collaboration with Brendan Sayers of the National Botanic Gardens.

Definitive stamp issues are significant philatelic events which take place once every six or seven years. Irish definitive issues have in the past featured Irish coinage, Irish artefacts and most recently native species of birds.

The initial issue features the Primrose (48c); the Daisy (48c); the Bluebell (65c);
the Hawthorn (60c); the Dandelion (5c); the Common Dog-Violet or Wood Violet (4c); Ireland’s only native lily Lords-and-ladies (€2) and the Dog Rose (€5).

All of the wildflowers have adorned the Irish countryside for thousands of years since the end of the ice age and still thrive, often unnoticed, in the moist and temperate Irish climate.

Publication of the new definitive series is accompanied by a special first day cover featuring the seven stamps. Also available from the Philatelic Bureau, GPO, Dublin 1 or online at www.Irishstamps.ie is a 10 x 48c Wild Flower stamp booklet and a box of 100 self-adhesive 48c stamps.