Guernsey Stamps Philatelic Bulletin Sep 2016

GUERNSEY STAMPS & COLLECTABLES BULLETIN

September 2016 VOL 10 No 8 ALDERNEY- 950 YEARS BATTLE OF HASTINGS

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950 Years: Battle of Hastings NEW ISSUE: Set of 6 stamps: £3.70 Issue date: 14th September 2016

NIGHTS CHARGE THE SAXON SHIE

LD WALL

78 HARO LD

HARD PRESSED IN SHIELD WALL - ARR

950 YEARS: BATTLE OF HASTINGS

70 WILL ALIVE IAM LIF TS HELMET TO SHOW HE’S STILL

58 NORM AN K

RD BRIDGE H FROM STAMFO

950 YEARS: BATTLE OF HASTINGS

FLEEING BRETONS FYRD SH IELD BREAKS TO ATTACK

RIDES SOUT

950 YEARS: BATTLE OF HASTINGS

950 YEARS: BATTLE OF HASTINGS

64 SAXON

57 HARO LD

DS IN ENGLAND AT PEVENSEY

950 YEARS: BATTLE OF HASTINGS

950 YEARS: BATTLE OF HASTINGS

43 WILL IAM LAN

OWS FLYING

!

The death of King Edward the Confessor 950 years ago unleashed a contest for the crown of England and three battles, including a pivotal one near Hastings.

King Harold II With no royal blood, and fearing rival claims from William, Duke of Normandy, and the King of Norway, Harold had himself crowned in Westminster Abbey on 6 January 1066.

Having defeated Harald Hardrada of Norway in September 1066 at Stamford Bridge, Harold led his tired and badly mauled army back to London to face William and his troops, who had made landfall near Hastings.

Harold ordered his troops to defend from a high hill and wait for William to make his advance, the Saxon shield wall offering protection from Williams’s attempts to overpower.

Eventually the Normans were left with no choice but to run up the hill and fight hand-tohand before retreating. Some of Harold’s troops mistakenly gave up the security of their position to engage with William’s troops on equal terms.

When Harold was defeated and killed, many of the Saxons fled to the nearby countryside; William was victorious.

William I ‘The Conqueror’ William’s claim to the English throne was based on his assertion that Edward the Confessor had promised him the throne and that Harold II, having sworn in 1064 to uphold William’s right to succeed to that throne, was therefore a usurper. Furious by the betrayal, William decided to invade England and enforce his claim.

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During the battle, a rumour spread that William had been killed and he rode among his ranks raising his helmet to show them he was still alive.

William skillfully coordinated his troops and the Bayeux Tapestry shows Harold taking an arrow in the eye and then being ridden down by a Norman cavalryman.

William’s coronation took place on Christmas Day in 1066 at Westminster Abbey. He was crowned by Ealdred, Archbishop of York and guarded by his Norman knights.

Sheets of 10: £37.00

First Day Cover Souvenir Sheet: £4.90

Presentation Pack: £4.60

Date of issue Designer Printer Value Process Stamp size S/Sheet size Paper Perforation Cylinder

14 September 2016 Nick Watton Cartor Security Printing 43p, 57p, 58p, 64p, 70p, 78p Offset Lithography 30mm deep x 40mm wide 100mm deep x 140mm wide 110gsm unwatermarked PVA Adhesive 13.25 x 13 A

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950 YEARS BATTLE OF HASTINGS First Day Co ver: £4.90

Souvenir Sheet:

£3.70

Limited Edition Imperforate Press Sheet: £26.00

Sheet Size: 660mm wide x 360mm deep

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