England-continent Ferry

A century ago poster stamps were frequently used to promote not only exhibitions and important anniversaries but also all kinds of products and services, writes Christer Brunström. Typical examples are the poster stamps used by The Zeeland Shipping Company (Stoomvaart Maatschappij ‘Zeeland’) based in the Dutch city of Vlissingen in the south-western corner of the Netherlands.

Vlissingen is quite unusual as it has a name in English: Flushing. In his diaries, Samuel Pepys makes reference to Flushing which in the 17th century was the main harbour of the Dutch East India Company.

In 1876, the Zeeland Shipping Co. Inaugurated a new ferry service linking Flushing with the port of Queenborough (spelt Queenboro on the poster stamps). Queenborough is located on the Isle of Sheppey in the county of Kent. The town has a very long maritime history.

Starting in 1887, there were two daily sailings between the two ports which is mentioned on the poster stamps. They were probably printed and used much later.

There are two distinctly different versions of the stamps. The English version has the wording Quee nb oro flushing and England continent while the labels in Dutch refer to the Vlissinger Post Route also mentioning daytime and night sailings.

These two poster stamps exist in a variety of colours and whilst they are not particularly scarce, they are certainly intriguing.

The Queenborough-flushing service had its ups and downs over the years mainly due to fires destroying the Queenborough pier. In 1927, the shipping line abandoned Queenboro in preference of Harwich.