Dossier 8 - Sinn Féin Labels

Celtic Cross label. Ringed cross with shamrock leaves; in the four ‘corners’ and inscriptions of ‘Éire’ and ‘Sinn Féin’ (twice) on cross. The difference between the two years being only colour. Commissioned by Arthur Griffith and designed by Lily Williams this stamp depicted the Cross of Cong with ‘ÉIRE’ at centre. Sinn Féin members paid a halfpenny each for the stamps and affixed them to letters as a propaganda move. The 1908 Post Office Act outlawed their use after protests by MPs in the House of Commons. They were continued however up to 1916 and beyond. The Cross of Cong design was adopted by the Irish Free State for some values of Irish definitive postage stamps- 3d, 10d and 11d - which were in use up to 1968.
Hibernia and Wolfhound Label. Hibernia (Erin) with harp, with arms of the four provinces of Ireland (at corners) and wolfhound; inscriptions ‘Éire’ (top panel) and ‘Sinn Féin’ (left and right panels).
The labels were printed by James Walker & Co. Ltd., Dublin in 1908, and again in 1916. The 1916 version was re-drawn and thus differs from the 1908 version.