Guernsey Stamps Philatelic Bulletin May 2017

GUERNSEY STAMPS AND COLLECTABLES

MAY 2017 VOL 10 No 11

SEPAC: HANDCRAFTS THE GUERNSEY JUMPER EUROPA CASTLES ALDERNEY SCENES

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Welcome We would like to start by thanking everyone who visited us at Stampex in February, which proved to be an exciting event. The release of our two new issues included our new Post & Go issue, Bailiwick Lighthouses, which have been well received by all.

In May we’re delighted to issue three very diverse stamp themes, starting on 4th May with Europa Castles, including Castle Cornet, which has guarded St Peter Port harbour for over 800 years. Still in use today, but for very different reasons, the castle plays host to five museums and provides a fabulous backdrop for concerts, musical events and is also used as a venue for outdoor theatre companies to perform music, dance and drama.

17th May sees the release of our SEPAC Handcrafts issue depicting the everpopular local Guernsey jumper, which has not changed in design over the years.

Originally hand knitted in one piece, the advantage of a Guernsey is that it is the same both back and front, and so wears more evenly than the usual jumper. The Guernsey is exported around the world and is particularly popular in Japan!

Also to be released on 17th May is our Alderney Scenes issue with stamps highlighting the island’s beauty. At just one and a half miles wide and three and a half miles long, this beautiful island is small but perfectly formed. It offers a tranquil feel without being cut off from civilization, along with a stunning natural heritage; tranquil green spaces and remarkable birds; miles of soft golden sands; and, sheltered crescent bays. With its rich layers of cultural history and abundance of wildlife, Alderney is a very special place to live or visit.

SPRING STAMPEX 2017 Once again we attended the annual spring edition of StampEx at Islington Business Centre in February. We shared the stand with fellow small postal administrations Jersey Post, Isle of Man Post and Gibraltar Stamps. We had a prime, busy spot directly facing the Royal Mail stand, which enabled us to see the hive of activity at the Post & Go machines.

Our new issues were very well received and we were fortunate enough to have a visit from Andrew Robinson, the artist of our very popular WWF Meadow Pipit issue, available for signings one afternoon of the show.

We would like to thank all of you who visited us on the stand and hope you enjoyed the fair as much as we did.

Guernsey Post and Go World first for Post & Go as Jersey and Guernsey collaborate in Melbourne Post & Go stamps from Jersey Post and Guernsey Post were available to vend from a single kiosk during the Melbourne International FIAP 2017 Stamp Exhibition at the end of March. This was the first time a dual country Post & Go kiosk vended stamps at an international exhibition.

The stamps share a unique number string relating to the kiosk, known as ‘CSP1’, which is owned by Cartor Security Printers. The exhibition overprint read: ‘Melbourne 2017 Int. Stamp Expo’ featured on the Crest of Jersey stamps and on our Guernsey Flag stamps.

Those who were unable to attend can order back office collectors’ B Series strips from the respective Bureaux.

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How to Order By post Complete the order form and send to: Guernsey Philatelic Bureau FREEPOST GU267 Envoy House La Vrangue St Peter Port Guernsey Channel Islands GY1 5SS By phone Please call us on +44 (0) 1481 716486 between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday Online You can also order securely online at www.guernseystamps.com

2017 STAMP PROGRAMME GUERNSEY 18 JANUARY 2017 YEAR OF THE ROOSTER 15 FEBRUARY 2017 WWF ENDANGERED SPECIES: MEADOW PIPIT 4 MAY 2017 EUROPA: CASTLES 17 MAY 2017 SEPAC: HANDCRAFTS THE GUERNSEY JUMPER 19 JULY 2017 GUERNSEY FOLKLORE 1 SEPTEMBER 2017 GUERNSEY COASTS 1 SEPTEMBER 2017 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES’S REGIMENT 8 NOVEMBER 2017 A CHRISTMAS CAROL

FREEPOST GU267 Guernsey Philatelic Bureau Envoy House La Vrangue St Peter Port Guernsey Channel Islands GY1 5SS Tel: +44 (0)1481 716486 Fax: +44 (0)1481 712082 E-mail: philatelic@guernseypost.com www.guernseystamps.com

8 NOVEMBER 2017 70TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY OF THE QUEEN & PRINCE PHILIP

The Royal Philatelic Society London If you wish to join or find out more contact: John Triggs FRPSL Email: jtriggs@cwgsy.net www.rpsl.org.uk Tel: 01481 725847

19 JULY 2017 COASTAL ECLIPSES

Channel Islands Specialists Society

Anyone wishing to join the CISS, buy one of the Society’s excellent publications, or find out more, should write to: Moira Edwards 86 Hall Lane Sandon Chelmsford Essex CM2 7RQ www.ciss1950.org.uk

8 NOVEMBER 2017 STORIES FROM THE GREAT WAR: PART 4

ALDERNEY 1 FEBRUARY 2017 1ST EDITION ALDERNEY & BURHOU MAP 17 MAY 2017 ALDERNEY SCENES

8 NOVEMBER 2017 A CHRISTMAS CAROL POST & GO 15 FEBRUARY 2017 GUERNSEY BAILIWICK LIGHTHOUSES OVERPRINTS: GUERNSEY FLAG: SPRING STAMPEX 2017 GUERNSEY FLAG: MELBOURNE 2017 GUERNSEY FLAG: AUTUMN STAMPEX 2017

Programme details and issue dates are subject to

change without prior notice.

Don’t forget! - Free postage and packing for Standing Order customers.

Please contact the Philatelic Bureau to open your account today.

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Europa: Castles NEW ISSUE: Set of six stamps: £4.06 Issue date: 4 May 2017

Guernsey’s Castle Cornet, listed as a Protected Monument in the late 1930’s, is a museum in itself, and one that also houses five museums within its ancient walls.

The Story of Castle Cornet, tells exactly that, from when the iconic fortress was built in the 13th century through to the present day. Reconstructions, replicas, models and original artifacts help to bring to life its rich past.

Uniforms, medals, posters and weapons from the Great War are on display in the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Museum where visitors can see letters an hear audio recordings of extracts from the soldiers’ diaries.

The Royal Guernsey Militia Museum follows the Militia from its formation in the fourteenth century through to 1939 with uniforms, weapons, badges, medals and standards on display.

The Maritime Museum, located in the Upper Barracks building, paints a picture of islanders who made their fortune shipbuilding, privateering or trading wines and spirits. It’s the place to discover more about Guernsey’s Roman ship and get up close to the regalia and swords belonging to Admiral James Saumarez, the Island’s great naval hero of the Napoleonic Wars.

It also tells the tragic story of the SS Stella, the passenger ferry, sometimes described as ‘the Titanic of the Channel Islands’ that sunk off the Casquets during a crossing from Southampton in 1899.

201 Squadron (RAF) Museum might be a small museum but it’s packed full with many interesting tales of the pilots of 201 Squadron and the planes they flew. Carrying the name ‘Guernsey’s Own’, the 201 Squadron was the oldest in the RAF and was the last to retain a local affiliation.

Castle Cornet’s rich and colourful past is waiting to be discovered in all these museums which occupy a building that is very much still a living castle in itself.

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Miniature Sheet: £3.00 Sheets of 10: £40.60

Presentation Pack: £4.96

First Day Cover: £5.26

Date of issue Designer Printer Value Process Stamp size M/Sheet M/S stamp

Also available: First Day Cover Miniature Sheet: £4.20 Miniature Sheet Presentation Pack: £3.90

Paper Perforation Cylinder

4 May 2017 Two Degrees North Cartor Security Printing 44p, 59p, 60p, 73p, 80p, 90p, £3 Offset Lithography 38mm deep x 38mm wide 90mm deep x 140mm wide 45mm deep x 45mm wide 110gsm unwatermarked PVA Adhesive 13.75 x 14.75 & 13.25 x 13.25 for M/S stamp A

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Alderney Scenes NEW ISSUE: Set of six stamps: £4.06 Issue date: 17th May 2017

ALDERNEY

44

ALDERNEY

73

VICTORIA STREET, ST ANNE

THE PEPPERPOT, ESSEX CASTLE

ALDERNEY

59

ALDERNEY

60

ALDERNEY

80

ALDERNEY

90

CHÂTEAU À L’ETOC, SAYE BEACH

ALDERNEY RAILWAY, MANNEZ QUARRY

ALDERNEY WEEK, ST ANNE

MANNEZ LIGHTHOUSE, QUESNARD POINT

Alderney offers a wonderful blend of architecture, rich history and natural beauty and we’re delighted to feature some of its wonderful scenes across our stamps.

If you’re interested in finding out more about this special island, here are 10 facts that you may not know…

1. Alderney is a paradise for bird lovers with over 7,000 Northern Gannet pairs resident in two breeding colonies immediately offshore, which is around 2% of the world population.

2. During the Second World War, almost all of the island’s population was evacuated to mainland Britain.

The Germans arrived to a deserted island, and set about their orders to fortify Alderney as part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall. In January 1942 they built four camps in Alderney: two work camps and two concentration camps.

3. The only parish of Alderney is St. Anne, which is the name of the island’s main town.

4. The speed limit across the whole island is 35mph. There are no traffic lights, no roundabouts and no traffic jams on Alderney.

5. Alderney has its very own Orient Express: the famous Alderney railway is 150 years old. It runs from the harbour and up and down the scenic north coast.

6. Famous residents have included the cricketer Ian Botham, the Beatles’ producer George Martin and actress Julie Andrews.

7. Alderney has its own parliament – the States of Alderney – that has a president and ten members.

8. About a quarter of Alderney hedgehogs are of the “white” or “blonde” variety, which does not carry fleas. These are not albinos, but descend from rarely met blonde European hedgehogs, with a blonde pair released on the island in the 1960s.

9. Alderney airport is the smallest in the Channel Islands. One of its more unusual features is a box of unfinished knitting for passengers to pass the time whilst waiting for their flights!

10. Islanders are nicknamed lapins after the many rabbits seen in the island.

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First Day Cover £5.26

Sheets of 10: £40.60

Presentation Pack £4.96

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

17 May 2017 Mark Totty Southern Colour Print 44p, 59p, 60p, 73p, 80p, 90p Offset Lithography 35mm deep x 41.47mm wide 110gsm unwatermarked PVA Adhesive 14.286 x 14.47 A

Prestige Booklet £16.24

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SEPAC: HANDCRAFTS THE GUERNSEY JUMPER NEW ISSUE: Set of four stamps: £2.56 Issue date: 17th May 2017 Guernsey

Guernsey 44p

ed r shap e p m u J s - Just stamp o tear t ary second perfs!

59phumble

The humble Guernsey.

Flying the flag the world over.

The sey.

Guern up On the der. down un

80p

Guerns

ey

The h Guernumble Big in Jasey. pan.

Guernsey 73p

The humble Guernsey.

Living in America.

Mrs Le Lacheur

Like many women, Mrs Le Lacheur made most of her family’s clothes, and knitting Guernseys for them was something she had done all her life. However as women increasingly combined the life of a housewife with that of a working mother, knitting became too time consuming, the skill was lost, along with the particular patterns that distinguished one family from another.

The patterns were handed down from mother to daughter, and each pattern was subtly different.

Originally Guernseys were worn by sailors and fishermen. It has been suggested that the patterns were used to identify the man if he drowned.

Research has shown that the more complicated patterns for Guernseys came from the western side of the island. Mrs Le Lacheur was a Miss Gallienne before she married, and although she may have originally only lived a short distance from her husband, nevertheless she lived in the westernmost island parish, and her family’s pattern is comparatively more complicated than family patterns from other parts of the island.

Only the top half of the body and sometimes the sleeves carried the pattern, but a pattern gave extra warmth to the part that covered the chest.

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As the skill to knit these garments declined, Mrs Le Lacheur ended up as the only lady living in St Pierre du Bois who still knitted them by hand, and she became much in demand from local people, both men and women, who wanted a hand knitted garment, which was often considered to be warmer than a commercially knitted one, and which also had a distinctive pattern.

Sheets of 10: £25.60

As the skill to knit these garments declined, Mrs Le Lacheur ended up as the only lady living in St Pierre du Bois who still knitted them by hand, and she became much in demand from local people, both men and women, who wanted a hand knitted garment, which was often considered to be warmer than a commercially knitted one, and which also had a distinctive pattern.

However research has shown that whilst Mrs Le Lacheur knitted her own family pattern for members of her family and close relatives, she appears to have made a slight difference to the pattern if it was for someone else.

Mrs Le Lacheur first started knitting Guernseys when she was 12 years old. She used 11 very thin needles, and knitted the body in the round.

The sleeves were knitted from the armhole down to the wrist. She usually took about two weeks to knit one and the finished article sold for 3/or 30p each. They are rather more expensive nowadays, as a hand knitted Guernsey can cost over £100.

Date of issue

17 May 2017

Designer

Joseph Smith

Printer

Joh Enschedé

Values

44p, 59p, 73p, 80p

Process

Offset Lithography

Stamp size Paper Sheets Perforation Cylinder

Presentation Pack: £3.46

First Day Cover: £3.76

30mm deep x 38mm wide 110gsm unwatermarked PVA adhesive 10 13.25 x 13.5 A

www.guernseystamps.com

STORIES FROM THE GREAT WAR PART 1, 2 & 3 Guernsey Post is running a five year philatelic programme commemorating World War One. Through a series of special stamp issues, we will tell the story of the significant contribution this tiny community made to the war effort. There are currently three issues available, as part of this series we have produced prestige booklets, within the pages of the booklets are the emotive stories of the men and women, their experiences, their changing roles and the war that disrupted their lives.

NSEY

41p

GUER

ISSUE DATE 11-11-14 Featuring the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry

Stories

62p

14.48

BAI

LIW

ICK

of

GUE

RNS

EY

ooklet: £ Prestige B

ISSUE DATE 11-11-15

from th e Great War

PTE Y VES C ATA ROCH E

.92

oklet: £14

o Prestige B

Stori

es fro m th e

£14.80

78

NSEY

ooklet:

t Wa r

K OF GUER

B Prestige

Grea

Featuring the Guernsey ‘Bluejackets’

Stories

from

IWIC

ISSUE DATE 11-11-16 the Gre at

War

BAIL

Featuring the Post Office Rifles

We are face to face with the most gigantic struggle that the world has ever seen. Seven European countries, including five Great Powers, have drawn the sword. Guernsey Press, August 4th, 1914

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NEW DAVO ALBUMS Guernsey Volume III and Alderney Volume II albums are now available from the Bureau.

Supplied empty, start your collection today or continue to buy your album supplements (leaves) when it is convenient to you.

For further details visit our website www.guernseystamps.com/other-products/Davo-Albums-&-Binders or contact our customer service team on +44 (0)1481 716486 Price £38.00 per album Guernsey 2016 Supplement £15.50 Alderney 2016 Supplement £6.50 Album supplements are available from 2009 onwards.

SPONSORED HANDSTAMPS Sponsored handstamps are now available. We can produce to your design a handstamp marking a specific event. We will then cancel your Philatelic items for you using this handstamp. This service is available for £50.

Please note sponsored handstamps can only be sent undercover, only items that have been cancelled with the date of posting can be sent through the normal postal system.

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2016 Yearbook A beautiful hardback book containing all stamps, souvenir and miniature sheets of 2016 for both Guernsey and Alderney.

This price of the Yearbook is ÂŁ63.56 - which is the face value of the stamps included.

You don’t pay any extra for the book.

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