The Post Office’s latest set of stamps features famous ships.

The paintings of the Manx artist and mariner, the late John Halsall, are on six stamps.

John Halsall was born during the Second World War in Douglas and was raised in Laxey.

The sea and ships captivated him from his earliest days and all his life John worked on the high seas.

He worked for the Steam Packet and also spent nearly 30 years in between as local fisherman and deep sea merchant seaman.

John continued to paint his favourite subjects in oil and watercolour right up to his death in 2017.

They were Manx vessels of every variety, harbour views, and, occasionally, the Laxey Wheel.

The following ships are illustrated:

The Star of India (1863) was constructed as the Euterpe, by the Ramsey ship yard. She is the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship still floating.

The Lady Elizabeth (1879) was not Manx built but was commanded by George Christian Karran of the Karran Fleet, sailing out of Castletown.

The Nobby White Heather (1904) was built by Neakle & Watterson of Peel, and was registered as a fishing boat with port code PL5.

Empress Queen (1897) was the most powerful paddle steamer ever constructed, and during the First World War she became a troopship. She was lost when she ran aground on the Isle of Wight.

SS King Orry (1913) was built by Cammell-Laird at Birkenhead. She became an armed boarding vessel in the North Sea, searching for contraband and enforcing the blockade against Germany until returning to passenger duties between the wars.

She was lost to enemy action whilst taking part in the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940.

Lady of Mann II was constructed by Ailsa Shipbuilding at Troon. After decommissioning in 2005 the Lady of Mann ended her days as a passenger ferry in the Aegean, before being broken up in Turkey in 2011.

Matthew Richardson, Manx National Heritage curator of social history, who wrote the issue text for our collection, said: ’I am delighted and honoured once again to be asked to contribute to a stamp issue featuring the work of the late John Halsall.

’His work does so much to capture the rich maritime heritage of the Isle of Man, and brings to life the many significant vessels which have sailed from its harbours.’

Maxine Cannon, general manager of Isle of Man Stamps and Coins, said: ’We are honoured to be able to continue our series of maritime history with the impressive and beautiful paintings of John Halsall. We are very grateful to his family for permission to use his work once more for this collection.’