Guernsey Stamps

Issue date: 8th November 2018

Charles Dickens’ famous Christmas story ‘A Christmas Carol’ is vividly depicted in Alderney’s festive set of stamps, designed by illustrator Andrew Robinson.

Dickens, widely considered the greatest novelist of the Victorian era and a well-known philanthropist, wrote the story in 1843 after having seen the conditions of the manufacturing works in Manchester. At the time it was tradition to read ghost stories at Christmas.

Issue date: 8th November 2018

E.T.A Hoffmann, was one of the most important German Romantic authors of fantasy and horror. Among Hoffmann’s best-known works is the novella The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, on which the famous ballet The Nutcracker is based.

Hoffmann’s story begins on Christmas Eve where Marie, aged seven, and her brother Fritz, eight, excitedly await the arrival of their Godfather, Drosselmeier, in anticipation of the wonderful gifts he brings them each year. 

Issue date: 8th November 2018

This final stamp issue in our five year series features some of the memorials created to commemorate the islanders who were killed in the Great War.

Pairs of letters have been taken from sections of six memorials that represent the Bailiwick’s collective role. Together they spell out ‘Lest we forget’ ~ a phrase that conveys the duty of remembrance, which is so important as we continue to honour those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Issue date: 8th November 2018

The Prince of Wales is the eldest son of The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He was born at Buckingham Palace on 14th November 1948.

As is tradition when a royal baby is born, a proclamation was posted at Buckingham Palace announcing that Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth had been safely delivered of a son. A month later, on 15 December, Charles Philip Arthur George was christened in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Geoffrey Fisher.

Issue date: 1st August 2018

As a member of SEPAC, the Small European Postal Administrations Co-operation, Guernsey Post is delighted to celebrate this year’s SEPAC theme – Spectacular Scenery – with a set of stamps depicting aerial scenes of Guernsey not often showcased.

To achieve this, we commissioned Elliott Cockett, a young Guernsey-based photographer known as ‘The Drone Ranger’, who was able to capture striking aerial scenes of the island from an elevated position.

Issue date: 1st August 2018

Guernsey Post has produced this colourful issue to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Alderney Week, an eight-day event in August which dates back to 1949 that has grown to become the Channel Islands’ biggest annual themed summer carnival and community festival.

With over 100 different events spread across the eight days, there is something for everyone, from live music and entertainment for the kids to wild and wacky events and all-night parties.

Issue date: 23rd May 2018

To mark the 65th anniversary of The Queen's Coronation in 2018, we are delighted to depict Her Majesty at numerous events, including her 80th birthday and Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The stamps depict some of the words from the British National Anthem 'God Save The Queen' (also called 'God Save the King' during kingship), whose origins, in its present form, date back to the eighteenth century.

Issue date: 2nd May 2018

His Royal Highness, the 33 year-old younger son of The Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales, will marry his 36 year-old American fiancee in St George's Chapel in Windsor on 19th May 2018.

The pair were officially engaged on 27th November 2017 when the photos depicted in these stamps were taken in Kensington Palace's Sunken Garden.

Issue date: 2nd May 2018

Each year a theme is set for PostEurop members to interpret and illustrate on a set of EUROPA stamps. 

For 2018, Guernsey has issued a set of stamps and a souvenir sheet depicting some of Guernsey's bridges and causeways for this year's chosen theme of Bridges; the stamps depicting Castle Cornet and its breakwater and the Reservoir bear the EUROPA logo.

Issue date: 3rd April 2018

No 201 Squadron depicted in this latest stamp issue, dates back to 1914 when it formed as No 1 Squadron, Royal Naval Service before becoming No 201 Squadron when the RAF was founded in 1918.

From the late 1920's to modern times, 201 has been a very active Squadron. Special prominence is given to the link between 201 and Guernsey, a link forged just before the Second World War.

Issue date: 14th February 2018

The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is the most well known of the five living rhinoceros species, thanks largely to its highly publicised international conservation drive.

Despite conservation and anti-poaching efforts, the black rhino remains classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.

This is the 12th species to feature as part of our Endangered Species series.

Issue date: 14th February 2018

Elisabeth "Liza" Beresford is best known as the creator of the furry, pointy-nosed Wombles from Wimbledon Common.

Elisabeth’s inspiration for the Wombles came about on a Boxing Day walk when she took her young children to Wimbledon Common to let off some steam.  Her daughter, Kate, mispronounced it as Wombledon Common and it was there that an idea was born. 

Issue date: 14th February 2018

No one seems to know the true origins of Valentine’s Day, the day upon which we celebrate love all around the world.

Guernsey Post’s contribution, released on Valentine’s Day features ‘The View from the Lover’s Chair’, the work of Paul Jacob Naftel who was the Island’s most famous and successful artist during the 19th century.

Issue date: 14th February 2018

We are delighted to present our latest set of Post and Go stamps featuring some of the beautiful flowers that bloom in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Its abundance of beautiful flora and fauna makes Guernsey a real haven for nature-lovers. Its sunny climate helps a whole host of different and rare species bloom throughout the Bailiwick.

Issue date: 1st February 2018

With origins that can be traced back over 4,000 years, Chinese Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar Chinese New Year, is the oldest and most significant celebration in the Chinese calendar. This year we celebrate the Year of the Dog. It begins on 16 February 2018 at the start of the Spring Festival.

Issue date: 8th November 2017

Carols have been part of our festive tradition since the Middle Ages. Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived.

Christians adopted evergreens as Christmas decorations in Roman times, despite protests from disapproving Church Fathers, who regarded the decorations as too pagan.

Issue date: 8th November 2017

Wenceslas I, was a descendant of the Premsyl family that rose to power in Bohemia. Known for his generosity to the poor and to the church, he was the Duke of Bohemia from 921 until his assassination in 929 or 935.

Based on the legend of Wenceslas I, English writer John Mason Neale wrote the lyrics to the popular Christmas Carol Good King Wenceslas in collaboration with Thomas Helmore, which first appeared in Carols for Christmas-Tide (1853).

Issue date: 8th November 2017

This fourth issue of stamps commemorating the centenary of WWI explores Guernsey's links to the Great War in the Air.

Few could have predicted the rate of technological advancement that would follow Orville Wright's first flight or the impact that these machines would have on the progress of the First World War.

In 1914, the total number of aircraft in military service was small. Britain had just over 100 combat aircraft and few trained.

Issue date: 8th November 2017

On the 20th November 2017, Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary marking a milestone 70 years of marriage.

Guernsey Post is honoured to commemorate this wonderful occasion by depicting images that capture key elements of their life together over the decades.

Issue date: 1st September 2017

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (PWRR), whose members are also known as The Tigers, was formed on the 9th September 1992 through the amalgamation of The Queen's Regiment and The Royal Hampshire Regiment. Named in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, it acts as the county regiment for the South-East of England, together with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Wight.

Issue date: 1st September 2017

The island of Guernsey with its sandy beaches, cliff walks, seascapes and offshore islands has been a popular tourist destination since the Victorian days.

Our latest issue of self stick stamps have a slightly retro feel and are a nod to the heady hey days of island tourism. The images on each set of five stamps feature a panoramic scene from the east and west coast of Guernsey, which have been treated in such a way that they perhaps remind us of the fashionable posters of the era.

Issue date: 19th July 2017

Folklore has been a large part of Guernsey life for centuries. Stories abound about everything from fairies and witchcraft to the devil and ghostly goats.

Over the years many people have written about the island’s unique myths and legends and our latest stamp issue, entitled Folklore of Guernsey, looks at just a few of the unusual tales.

Issue date: 19th July 2017

On Monday 21 August 2017, one of nature’s most impressive sights will occured. Sky watchers were treated to a rare event — the first total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States in almost four decades.

Whilst they are not particularly rare, in order to witness an eclipse in the Channel Islands it has to occur in the northern hemisphere, making it less common. In Alderney, the next partial eclipse will not take place until 2021; the next total eclipse will not happen until 2090.

Issue date: 17th May 2017

'The humble Guernsey - Flying the flag the world over'. This stamp issue includes four stamps each depicting one of the many countries throughout the world where Guernseys are exported today.

The Guernsey has not changed in design over the years and was originally hand knitted with each pattern being specific to a particular family so that if the sailor drowned he could be identified and returned to his family.

Issue date: 17th May 2017

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.

The best way to discover Alderney is on foot and the island offers over 50 miles of walks and paths across commons, beaches, cliffs and around St Anne, the island’s main town, which has a distinct French feel with cobbled streets, picturesque cottages, restaurants and pubs.

Issue date: 4th 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.

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