Society News

It has been brought to our attention that members need to be aware of the recent appearance of Herm stamps with unlisted/unofficial overprints on a well-known on-line auction site. Please be aware that these are unofficial overprints and do not appear in any of the official Herm stamp catalogues. It is not the intention of the C.I.S.S. to stop any of its members from purchasing any of these items if they so wish. Bear in mind that these overprints are printed off a computer. They are not genuine stamps, in the true sense, with an unofficial overprint. It also appears that other Channel Islands philatelic material of dubious origins periodically appears on the same on-line auction site; so, buyer beware. If in doubt, please seek advice by emailing info@ciss.uk.

It has been brought to my notice that a publicity flyer produced by the Channel Islands Occupation Society (Jersey) branch, and published on its website, for a forthcoming event shows images of Edward VIII definitive stamps overprinted with a swastika and the word ‘Jersey’ below in Gothic print. Please note that these are probably 21st century copies and were never issues by the German authorities during its occupation of Jersey. If offered for sale please take heed of this notice. Members may still wish to purchase such items purely out of philatelic interest and at an outlay of a few pounds.

Fifteen members and two guests attended the first Members Meeting at the Royal Philatelic Society London on Saturday, 24rd July 2021 following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions for group meetings. Further details will be available in the September edition of Les Iles Normandes.

David Winnie (Chairman), Gerald Marriner (President) and Richard Flemming (Secretary) attending the Midpex 2021 event that was held on Saturday, 3rd July at the Warwick Events Centre, Leamington Spa, on behalf of the society. Not surprisingly, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, attendance was down but it was good to see several C.I.S.S. members there. A range of society books was available to purchase bringing in £115.00  worth of sales, making the attendance well worthwhile. The next Midpex event will be in 2023.

Forty years after James Mackay wrote the first comprehensive book about the UK Parcel Post, this is the first of two volumes that brings the story up to date. This has been compiled by our member Dr Max Melrose together with Nick Wraith. There is a comprehensive 52-page section covering the Channel Islands including Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney and some of the islands’ Sub-Post Offices. Volume 1 is a 335-page paperback, published by the Scottish Postal History Society and costs £28 plus £4 postage for the UK. Contact Lyn Robinson via Email at lyn@myreton.com for further details and overseas postal charges.

Published in 2020, this 232 page book is the first systematic study of sources relating to prisoners in Jersey and Guernsey during the German Occupation, including memoirs, diaries, letters, poetry, graffiti and autograph books. Describes the treatment of political prisoners at the hands of the Local Authorities and the Geheime Feldpolizei, who acted as the Gestapo in the Channel Islands.