John Ruskin stamp collection

For some years I've been taking documentary photos of our local branch library (Walkley, in Sheffield), where I volunteer regularly. Originally the idea was a 'before and after' project, but the hoped-for funding to produce the renovated  'after' is proving elusive. Meanwhile I'm enjoying keeping a record of the building and of various activities within it - although over the last year, this has been limited radically by Covid restrictions.

Anyway: one of these photos now features in a set of commemorative stamps produced by the Post Office in the Isle of Man, working in collaboration with the Guild of St George, and foregrounding John Ruskin and his work. So I am more than delighted about that!  The image forms the righthand part of the cover for the stamps, as well as being on one of the stamps too. (The stamps are in the extra).

I'm very grateful to the arts worker (Ruth Nutter), who took the trouble to talk to me about using one of my images in connection with her work in and around our library. John Ruskin spent some time in Sheffield, and there are specific Walkley links, so there is a rationale there. Ruth Nutter led a range of local arts projects in recent years, drawing people into activities related to Ruskin and his work in Sheffield in the 19th century.

The Guild of St George sounds (to me) like a dodgy far-right grouplet.  I guess that shows how far the flag of St George, as well as the Union Jack, have been contaminated by their appropriation by such groups in recent decades.  In fact the Guild is the opposite: it's an arts education charity, founded in 1871 by John Ruskin, and with its roots in a concern for social justice.   There is plenty of info here:

https://www.guildofstgeorge.org.uk/