As a millennium project, the Isle of Man Post Office issued a commemorative cover focused on space exploration. The envelope was illustrated in tribute to Sir Arthur C. Clarke's "2001: A Space Odyssey" and featured a special issue Millennium Midnight stamp. The stamp depicted the night sky and orbital track of the International Space Station over the island, with time and date indicating a minute after midnight on January 1, 2000. A limited edition of 2001 envelopes bearing the stamp, some autographed by Sir Arthur, were cancelled on January 1, 2001. The Isle of Man Post Office consulted with NASA in developing the stamp design and arranging for one of the autographed envelopes (#2001 in the series) to be flown on Space Shuttle mission STS-105 to the International Space Station in 2001.
After the mission, the Isle of Man Post Office donated the #2001 envelope to the National Air and Space Museum.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
Isle of Man
Type
LITERATURE AND RESEARCH-Philately
Dimensions
2-D - Unframed (H x W): 19.2 × 23cm (7 9/16 × 9 1/16 in.)
Storage: 27.9 × 24.1 × 0.3cm (11 × 9 1/2 × 1/8 in.)
Materials
Paper
Ink
Plastic
Adhesive
Inventory Number
A20020095000
Credit Line
Gift of Isle of Man Post Office.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.
