National Stamp (First Ordnance Survey of Ireland 1824)

The Ordnance Survey of Ireland was established in 1824 and run by the British Ministry of Defence to create a series of detailed six-inch maps. This amazing feat is captured in our stamp featuring an original 1836 map of the townland of Athboy in County Meath, while the First Day Cover features the map of Athboy in the style of a compass rose.

These make a fine collector set for stamp, history, and map lovers. Stamps and First Day Covers are available from 20th June.

The original Ordnance Survey was supervised by Colonel Thomas Colby with help from Lieutenant Thomas Larcom. Colby established a boundary survey examining townland boundaries, and both Colby and Larcom recruited Irish-language scholars to ensure correct recording of placenames.

The first map of the island of Ireland was completed in 1846. Its remarkable precision made Ireland the first country mapped at such a meticulous scale. The early work is also aesthetically charming, with extraordinary detail and calligraphy.

The work of Tailte Éireann, including Ireland’s modern mapping service, is essential to infrastructural development. It creates and maintains Ireland’s definitive mapping records, acting as a resource to Government Information Service data-users, informing analysis and decision-making, and offering traditional and online mapping services.

Product code 2411N