Recently on internet auction sites, five errors have appeared on the ongoing POST AND GO series from the Guernsey postal administration.
The Guernsey Flag design (Figure 1) made its debut on 18 February 2015. This popular design has made its appearance every year since, including the recent set issued for ‘Island Games’ on 7 July 2023.
The illustration shown in Figure 1 (the top four labels from a strip of eight – the remainder are normal) commemorates “HM The Queen’s Longest Reign”. The auction listing receipt (not shown) was issued during Autumn Stampex dated 16 September 2015. The cost of a normal strip of 6, (multi-value) was £3.62.
After the first label was printed, two phantom labels appeared before the machine (GG01) corrected itself, but now with no HM overprint!
The flowers issue first appeared on 14 February 2018 (Figure 2) and it was issued at Spring Stampex, although without any show overprint.
This design was the one used exclusively during the Guernsey 2018 Cruise Ship season; also on another four different occasions.
We are fortunate that the strip (the first of four labels from a strip of eight – the remainder are normal) is also being sold with a receipt (not shown). The receipt clearly states the multi-value strip was issued at Spring Stampex on 13 February 2019, costing £4.26.
Next a used copy with a part cancellation was found (Figure 3), but date is unknown. This label (with no details) could be from any of the flower issues but is probably also from a Spring Stampex 2019 strip.
A blank ‘Bailiwick Wildlife’ label was issued at the World Stamp Show, held in New York City between the 28 May and 4 June 2016. This was the first appearance of this new design (Figure 4). The pair, (the first two labels from a strip of seven – the remainder are normal) was recently offered for sale but, with no receipt, so the exact date is unknown. However, the ‘5’ clearly indicates it was dispensed during the four days of May the show was open.
The new ‘Fishing Boat’ designs (Figures 5 and 6) first appeared on 12 February 2020 with Envoy House overprints via Kiosk GG02.
The Guernsey Philatelic Bureau also sold six-value sets or ‘Collectors’ strips’ printed on the DKU (Desktop Kiosk Unit) system with a special machine code of GG04. The Fishing Boats were to have made their debut at Spring Stampex 2020, (subsequently cancelled due to Covid 19). The example in Figure 5 represents those attached to first day covers and included in the majority of presentation packs. All labels having the same bottom code of B2GG20 GG04.
However, issued in error (Figure 6), the label now has a bottom code that begins with B1GG20 (1 = January), again followed by the equipment code GG04 along with the obligatory sequential session and stamp numbers. Author’s further note: The DKU (Desktop Kiosk Unit) system was first installed on Monday 1 April 2019, for the first ‘special imprint’, ‘Bianvnu Britannia’ also in Guernésiais. Also used on Thursday 4 April, on the occasion of the MV Britannia’s cruise ship’s visit. It was located at GIC (Guernsey Information Centre) North Esplanade, St. Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2lQ.
