1990 Astronomy set
A fascinating set of four astronomy stamps
designed by Jeff Fisher was issued in October 1990 to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of Armagh Observatory in
Northern Ireland and the centenary of the British Astronomical
Association (although there is no specific reference to the BAA
on any of the stamps).
Armagh Observatory appears centrally on the
22p stamp, flanked by the Jodrell Bank radio telescope and the
William Herschel Telescope on La Palma. At top centre
is an anemometer, a device for measuring wind speeds which was
invented at Armagh.
The 26p stamp depicts the work of Isaac
Newton and William Herschel. The central diagrams refer to
Newton’s work on gravity, orbits, tides and the spectrum,
while at the left is his first reflecting telescope. At the
right is Herschel’s 40-ft-long reflector at Slough with,
above, his sketch of the layout of the Milky Way.
The 31p stamp commemorates the contribution
of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich to positional astronomy
and timekeeping, including John Harrison’s first
chronometer. Going further back in time, the 37p stamp depicts
Stonehenge, the phases of the Moon, an armillary sphere and
navigation by the stars.
In all, this is an intricate and cleverly
designed set, rich with ideas.
Stanley Gibbons nos. 1522-1525