The Uniform Fourpenny Post was introduced, on an experimental basis on 5 December 1839. It lasted only until 9 January 1840 when the Uniform Penny Post was introduced, a charge of one penny then being levied per half ounce letter irrespective of the distance to the delivery address. In the early 1840s, wooden handstamps began to be introduced with marks to signify that the one penny postal charge had been prepaid; however, prior to their introduction, manuscript markings were applied as illustrated by the example at Figure 1, on an entire letter (a letter folded in on itself to create its own envelope) to London in 1841.
In this study, all examples and illustrations are referenced to the Stanley Gibbons Channel Islands Postal History Catalogue, 1991.
From the early 1840s, Guernsey had its own distinctive 1d paid handstamps in two forms, the first being used from 1843 to 1848 (G10) and the second from 1843 to 1849 (G10a). Both were struck in red. The first form of the handstamp is shown at Figure 2 on an entire letter to Paris in 1847.
The second form of the handstamp (G10a), longer and thinner than the first type, is shown at Figure 3 on an entire letter sent to Manchester in 1844.
From the early 1840s, in addition to the 1d paid handstamps, Guernsey also had its own distinctive 2d unpaid handstamps (2d being the rate for mail between ½oz and 1oz). There were four different types for the 2d rate, all struck in black: the first (G11) was used from 1842 to 1843; the second (G11a) was used in 1843; the third (G11b) was used from 1843 to 1847; and the fourth (G12) was used from 1843 to 1849. Illustrations of each of these 2d stamps are shown below.
An example of the third type (G11b) of this handstamp is shown on the envelope at Figure 4 to Sherbourne in 1844; and an example of the fourth type of this handstamp (G12) is shown at Figure 5 on an envelope to Norwich in 1848.
In use during the 1840s was a handstruck “8″ (G13), which was used between 1844 and 1847 on mail from France arriving in the island unpaid, 8d being the “in all” rate for Ship Letters introduced in 1840. The example at Figure 6 is on an entire letter from France in 1844.
