Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="BRandM, post: 1271995, member: 22729"][ATTACH]139422.vB[/ATTACH][ATTACH]139423.vB[/ATTACH] I just bought this Irish political counterstamp from a former bank teller in Ballynahinch, Down, UK who pulled it from his drawer a number of years ago. This stamp, an issue of the Ulster Volunteer Force is probably the most common example encountered of any Northern Ireland political stamps. The UVF was a Protestant Paramilitary group organized in 1913 in opposition to the Catholic IRA and the English intent to grant home rule to Ireland. Early in their existence they were known as Carson's Army, as many of the members joined the British Army at the outbreak of WWI. They were officially known as the Ulster Division. It was after the war's end that they became the Ulster Volunteer Force. The new organization was made up of many veteran members of the Ulster Division as well as of the old Carson's Army group. The group was banned by the British at some point, re-legalized, and finally banned for good in the early 1970's. They were succeeded by what's known today as the Ulster Defense Association or UDA. There are also a handful of Irish coins stamped with the UDA initials, but these are much scarcer than the UVF stamps. As I posted earlier in this thread I'll update it as I get new examples of the troubles tokens or information that might be of interest to you guys. I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks for looking. Bruce[/QUOTE]