2025 Competition Palmares

There are several elements of Guernsey's postal history prior to the introduction of adhesive stamps. Some mail was carried privately, both before and after the first post office on the island opened in 1794. After then, mail was marked with cartouches and scrolls until the introduction of datestamps in 1830. For a period after 1840, mail without adhesive stamps was permitted and carried hand or stamped rate markings. The display shows examples from all there periods together with two rare items carrying Weymouth markings, applied to Guernsey mail that was otherwise unmarked, to distinguish it from ship mail.

A study of the various handstamps issued to the Guernsey Post Office to identify incoming items of mail which were to be classified as Ship Letters.

16 sheets that describe the history of some of the most iconic churches of Guernsey

Sixteen sheet display that incudes mail from Luftwaffe, Army and Navy.  Two items of concentration camp mail, radio messsage card and PoW registration slip for airman on Alderney

Sixteen sheets of mail that was received in Jersey or sent from Jersey at ship letter rate

This exhibit shows the various FDCs that were used in Guernsey, the different machine and hand cancellations on that day at the main Post Office with examples from sub Post Offices

Various postal rates are illustrated to different world-wide destinations, with all covers being tied by the Jersey duplex cancellation. The duplex cancellation sub-types are also explained.

The display gives details behind the issue. It shows examples of the design from Edmund Blampied based on his print and a rough sketch, essays, imprimaturs, bromides, examples of the constant varieties on both stamps. Included are some examples of FDCs from the Channel Islands and the UK as well as some commercial covers.

The display shows examples of the Postage Due Marks and Explanatory/Instructional Marks (Taxe and T marks and 'Liable to Letter Rate' marks) used in Guernsey from the 1800s to 1980s. It is in three sections: Postage Dues on local/inland mail; Postage Dues on overseas mail and Explanatory Charge Marks

16 sheet display, covering the German Occupation of the Bailiwick of Guernsey

The Guernsey Sales Tax Law 1940, made during the German Occupation, imposed a tax at the rate of ½d per 6d on all sales of 6d or over.  Basic essential supplies were exempt.  Two series of stamps were issued but, in addition, Entertainment Tax stamps, first issued in 1919 could be used provisionally as Sales Tax stamps from 1940/41 until supplies ran out.  Examples of the usage of all three types of Sales Tax stamps are shown on invoices as statements.

These handstamps were issued to minor or receiving offices - who normally had no handstamps in the 1840s - so that the source of posting could be identified on letters. However, the adhesives had to be cancelled only at main Post Offices and the Postmaster General\'s 1853 rules required that the handstamp should only be applied to the back of letters.