In the years leading up to the Easter Rising of 1916, various groups within Ireland began to consolidate their efforts in order to bring about the possibility of obtaining their independence from Britain. One of the more famous of these groups was Sinn Fein. While Sinn Fein was better known for their opposition regarding the recruitment of Irish men to fight in the British army during World War I[1], the organization did attempt to influence popular opinion regarding the issue over partition and independence. In order to reach a broader audience, Sinn Fein began to publish items in which the public would have access, including postage stamps. From 1907 to 1916, the year of the Rising, this stamp was printed and circulated.
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[1] “1908-16 Sinn Féin Propaganda Labels.” 1908-16 Sinn Féin Propaganda Labels, http://www.rarebooks.nd.edu/digital/stamps/irish/set4L/set4L.html