Guernsey Post

Guernsey Post is the postal service for the island of Guernsey, Channel Islands. It includes a Philatelic Bureau, and regularly issues both definitive and commemorative stamps.

In contrast to the United Kingdom, Guernsey Post pillar boxes can be identified by their distinctive blue colour (see photo).

History

The first pillar boxes in Britain were introduced in the Channel Islands as an experiment in 1852. One of these original pillar boxes can be seen in Union Street, St Peter Port and has been maintained by Guernsey Post in its traditional red livery.

Guernsey stamps were first issued in the island during the German Occupation of 1940-1945, when there was a great shortage of British stamps, as all ties with mainland Britain had been severed by the German authorities.

Guernsey's government, the States of Guernsey, took over the running of postal services from the British Government in October 1969 (as did Jersey, forming Jersey Post). Since then on it has regularly issued Guernsey stamps.

In 2001, the States of Guernsey commercialised the Post Office, and it became Guernsey Post Ltd and was awarded the licence to operate the reserved sector postal operation and meet the Universal Service Obligation (USO). To monitor Guernsey Post and either encourage competition in the market or where it is missing provide a controlling force the Office of Utility Regulation, otherwise known as the OUR, was created.

Guernsey Post is a member of the Small European Postal Administration Cooperation.

Guernsey Stamps

Guernsey and Alderney Stamps are world renowned for their beauty and quality. The first Guernsey Postage Stamps were designed and printed in 1941. Over the years many aspects of island life have been commemorated and depicted on Guernsey and Alderney stamps. Topics of past philatelic issues include the sea, the natural world, agriculture and horticulture, transport, sport, Christmas, military, art and entertainment. Guernsey Stamps are produced by Guernsey Post.

Current Guernsey issues are:

* The Twelve Days of Christmas
* HM Queen Elizabeth II
* Ramsar Guernsey
* Andy Priaulx - Fast Track to World Champion
* Europa 2006 - Gap Year
* I.K. Brunel - Bicentenary
* 150 years of the Victoria Cross
* Endangered Species of the Florida Everglades

Current Alderney issues are:

* Alderney Resident Seabirds
* HM Queen Elizabeth II - 80th Birthday
* The Once and Future King

History

Although letters from Guernsey have been recorded since the fifteenth century, a post office was not established in the Bailiwick until 1794 and then only as a war measure. A regular postal link between Great Britain and the islands was inaugurated on 13 February with the cutter ‘Earl of Chesterfield' sailing from Weymouth. (Mail Packet Boats 1972 and 1973 and GWR Steamers 1989). Mrs Anne Watson was appointed the first postmistress of Guernsey in the same year.

In 1840, the uniform penny post was introduced, using the famous penny black stamp. (150th Anniversary of the Postage Stamp 1990) and Guernsey's only post office was in the Arcade, St Peter Port (Europa Post Office Buildings 1990).

In 1851, Anthony Trollop, the famous novelist who was then postal surveyor, visited Guernsey. He was concerned with finding a method to post a letter without the need to visit a post office.

As a result the first post boxes in the Great Britain were erected as an experiment in the Channel Isles in 1852. One of these original boxes still stands in Union Street in St Peter Port is still and holds the distinction of being the oldest one in daily use in Great Britain (150th Anniversary of the First Pillar Box 2002).

During the German Occupation, there was a great shortage of British stamps. This necessitated the production of stamps locally, as all ties with Great Britain had been severed.

Beginning in 1941, stamps were designed and printed within the islands. Many of these are unusual in that they are printed on French banknote paper, none other being available at the time (50th Anniversary of the First Guernsey Postage Stamps 1991).

In October 1969, the States of Guernsey took over the running of postal services from HM Government and began the production of Guernsey's own stamps (10th Anniversary of Postal Independence 1979 and 25th Anniversary 1994).

In March 1984, Guernsey Post Office opened its first purpose built headquarters at Guelles Road, St Peter Port (Europa Modern Architecture 1987) and 2001 marked the year of commercialisation when the Guernsey Post Office became Guernsey Post Ltd. This constitutional change has enabled the new company to operate far more flexibly in response to the challenges of working in the modern market place (The Next Step 2001). At the end of 2002, Guernsey Post, having outgrown the original building, moved a few hundred yards to its current base – also purpose built – Envoy House.

Past issues

Many aspects of island life have been commemorated on stamps.

The Sea

The sea has always been a dominant factor in island life (Sea Guernsey 2005) and many aspects of this have been commemorated over the years from sea life (Marine Life 1990 and the Basking Shark 2005) through worldwide trading links (Guernsey Shipping 1983 and 1988, and the Development of St. Peter Port Harbour 1983) to yachting (Yacht Club 1991) and powerboating (World Powerboats 1988), through safety at sea (RNLI Lifeboats 1974 and 1999, Les Casquets Lighthouse Alderney 1991 and Lighthouses 1976). Many naval links are remembered (Admiral De Sausmarez 1986, The Battle of La Hogue Alderney 1992, HMS Alderney 1990, HMS Guernsey 2003 and Alderney Battle of Trafalgar 2005). Shipwrecks form an especially interesting topic (Alderney Shipwrecks 1987 and The Wreck of the Stella 1999).The Natural World

Conservation is increasingly important within the islands (L'Eree Bank Conservation 1991, Europa Nature and Environmental Protection 1986, Endangered Species 2004 and Basking Shark 2005) and has been commemorated by many stamp issues. The fauna of the islands appears on many stamp issues (Wild Flowers 1972, Ferns 1975, Alderney Flora and Fauna 1994 and Alderney Fungi 2004), whilst birds are always a popular topic for collecting (Birds 1981). Alderney, because of its position, sees a great variety of migrating species (Alderney Migrating Birds 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005).Agriculture and Horticulture

In the past, agriculture and horticulture have been mainstays of the Bailiwick's economy and many aspects of these subjects have been recorded on stamps.Agriculture and Horticulture 1970Guernsey Bull 1972Golden Guernsey Goats 1980Guernsey Calves 1992Flower Definitives 1992Clematis 2004

Transport

Transport is obviously of paramount importance to island dwellers and all forms have been portrayed.50th Anniversary of Air Service 1973Public Transport 1979Inter-Island Transport 1981Europa Transport and Communications 198850th Anniversary of Guernsey Airport 1989Centenary of the First Car in Guernsey 1994Maritime Definitives 199850th Anniversary of Alderney Airport 1985Alderney Centenary of Powered Flight 2003

Sport

Islanders have always been both avid fans and enthusiastic participants in all forms of sport.Alderney Football 2004Sport 1986The Olympics 1996 and 2004European Football 1996Island Games 2003International Power Boats 1988Football 1998

Christmas

The season of goodwill is always a particularly beautiful time in the Bailiwick and, although it rarely snows, festivities are always followed.Festive Season 19781982The twelve days of Christmas 1984Gift Bearers 1985Carols 1986Ecclesiastical Links 1988Christmas Tree Decorations 1989Winter Birds 1990Children's Paintings 1991Seasonal Fayre 1992Stained Glass Windows 1993Bygone Toys 1994The Christmas Story 1996Teddy Bears 1997Christmas Tree 1998Wood Carvings 1999Guernsey Churches 2000Festive Lights 2001The Christmas Story 2002T'was the Night Before Christmas 2003The Innocence of Christmas 2004

Military

Isaac Brock 1969Militia Uniforms 197480 th Anniversary of the RAF 1998200 th Anniversary of Sandhurst 1999Alderney Regiments 1985Alderney Forts 1986Alderney Signals Regiment 1996Alderney Garrison 1997, 98, 99, 2000, 01Art and Entertainment

Peter Le Lievre Paintings 1980Europa Contemporary Art 1993

Other popular subjects covered have been Views (Europa 1976 and 1977, Definitives 1984), Architecture (Buildings 1976), Voluntary Organisations (RNLI 1974 and 1999, St John's Ambulance 1977, La Societe Guernesiase 1982, Boy Scouts 1982, Boys Brigade 1983, Girl Guides 1985), Coins (1978) and World Events (Columbus 1992, The United Nations 1995).

External links

* [http://www.guernseystamps.com/ Guernsey Philatelic Bureau website]
* [http://www.guernseypost.com/ Guernsey Post Ltd website]
* [http://www.regutil.gg/ Office of Utility regulation website]