Rainhill Trials: 1829 SANS PAREIL 0-4-0 Full Train Stamp Sheet

A GREAT gift idea for the Industrial Locomotive & Early Steam Railway Enthusiast (as well as Stamp Collector) and ideal for framing.  A 22.5 x 32.7 cms Complete Sheet of 50 Stamps of the 1829 Sans Pareil 0-4-0 Locomotive of Timothy (Stockton & Darlington) Hackworth, comprising 25 se-tenant pairs of two genuine 1984 MINT/UNUSED 50c stamps from Funafuti, Tuvalu in the Pacific (Issued 16th April 1984).  The first stamp illustrates the technical / plan drawings and the second stamp shows the locomotive at work. The scans below show (i) a close up of the stamps and (ii) the complete sheet. The stamps are 33 years old but are in pristine unmounted mint condition.  The sheet would make an ideal present for the early locomotive enthusiast and is ideal for framing. 

Timothy Hackworth had gained invaluable experience designing and building locomotives at Wylam Colliery and with the Stephensons, so set out at Shildon to build an entry for the 1829 Liverpool & Manchester Railway's Rainhill Trials. Sans Pareil's design included a return-tube boiler, and steam was exhausted by the chimney by a blast-pipe to draw the fire as fiercely as possible. Cylinders were vertical but were inverted by the pistons to drive the rear pair of wheels directly by connecting rods. Despite being overweight for the trials, she was allowed to compete, carrying out eight trips and reaching a top speed of just over 16 mph. After a promising start the locomotive suffered a cracked cylinder. Despite its failure to win the competition, the owners of the L&M decided to purchase Sans Pareil and was kept in service until it was sold to John Hargreaves & Son in 1831. They leased it to the Bolton & Leigh Railway where it was used to haul goods and passengers. Sans Pareil is preserved in London's Science Museum.

A Pretty Unique Item of Rainhill Trials / Sans Pareil Memorabilia!

Between 1983 and 1987 the Islands of the British Commonwealth collaboratively produced an Omnibus issue of postage stamps depicting famous and historic locomotives.  I will be offering about 300 other Locomotive Stamp Sheets in my Other eBay Auctions over the coming weeks.  Many more are also in stock.  Please check out my eBay Shop for any specific Locomotive Stamp Sheet Requests.

These stamps are genuine and were recognised and used as valid postal currency for the transport of mail throughout the world. All these stamps have been officially catalogued by Scott, Michel, Yvert et Tellier, Unificato, Stanley Gibbons, and Domfil.  The stamps were on sale in Post Offices in the individual countries of origin for at least 90 days following issue. The stamps were also made available through the Crown / Commonwealth Agents until their withdrawal in 1990.