Journal Articles Archive - Page 16 of 233 - Channel Islands Specialists’ Society

New Roseville Street Town Sub-Post Office Registration Label used in 1970

I was very pleased to acquire this registered cover (Figures 1 and 2) with a slightly different registration label which is not recorded in David Gurney’s book The Postal History of the Jersey Sub-Post Offices. Used on 8 July 1970, I see that Guy Dandoy has another example shown on his website numbered 1570, used on the 20 July 1970. Thus, my example numbered 1458 used 12 days earlier suggests there are more in existence, and I will be most grateful to learn if any member has another example in their collection, providing details please.

A Guernsey Parcel Post Label

In the CISS October 2023 auction I purchased a green parcel post label used in 1971 after Guernsey postal independence (Figure 1). After 1969, these labels had no Crown between PARCEL and POST. After the break from the British Post Office, a new procedure needed to be introduced. From 1 July 1971, the sender had to fill out a H.M. Customs form, but which was still similar in style to the labels in use from the late 1800s. The 35p postage rate in the top right-hand box is for a parcel over 6lbs and under 10lbs in weight. The customs dues are £6-16p and the clearance fee is 14p. My thanks to Nick Wraith and David Winnie for their help.

David Gurney comments that this is rare, but would any other member who has one of these labels please advise the Editor to help to determine its rarity?

Nick Wraith, comments that this is the first example he has seen of the “missing” crown of that type other than the poor example in Mackay which, of course, has “To cease” written on it.

The postage rate of 35p on the above label is for a parcel exceeding 6lbs but less than 10lbs in weight. The 14p is in the wrong place as this is the Post Office Clearance Fee and the Customs Dues were £6.16. So in fact, the label would have had stamps to the value of £6.65 on it (35p postage, 14p Clearance and £6.16 Customs).

Liberation Task Force 135 mail posted in Alderney on “reopening day”, 21 September 1945

Some postcards have recently come to light sent by Capt. G.C. Alexander, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, of the Channel Islands Liberation Task Force 135, stationed on Alderney in 1945. These postcards are postmarked on the re-opening day of the Alderney sub-post office on 21 September 1945, and the George VI 1941 definitive stamps have been cancelled with the single circle 24 mm diameter ALDERNEY / CH.IS. * datestamp first introduced in 1936 (Figure 1).

Figure 1: A sepia postcard of St. Brelades Bay, Jersey, sent by Capt. G.C. Alexander, R.A.O.C. I.O.O. 135 F.O.D., Alderney, Channel Isles. 20^th September 1945 to his wife in Formby Lancs. Endorsed “First issue since the German occupation”. The card bears a George VI 1941 2d pale orange definitive stamp cancelled with the 24 mm dia. single circle ALDERNEY / * datestamp 21 SP 45.

Capt. Alexander was obviously a philatelist and man of some foresight as the postcards that he sent to his wife in Formby are all Jersey views purchased when he first landed in Jersey with the Task Force. He has endorsed them “20th September 1945 / First issue since the German Occupation.” He mentions the first issue of the 1941 definitive stamps in the Island but does not mention the “reopening” of the sub-post office on Friday 21 September 1945. Does this mean that the sub-post office was opened a day earlier in the week for the sale of stamps and other business and the mail was only postmarked on the Friday?

CISS Chairman, David Winnie, in Volume 37 No. 4 of Les Iles Normandes, cites an envelope which he illustrates, also datestamped 21 September 1945, as evidence that this was the first day of opening because the enclosed letter states “Today the GPO has reopened the Alderney branch….”, but the letter is not dated! Perhaps the sender also bought his George VI 1941 definitive stamps on the 20 September and posted his letter, but the mail was only postmarked the following day.

Col. F.W. Marriette was appointed Alderney Sub-Postmaster in 1939, but within less than a year the threat of occupation by Germany forced him to close the Post Office on 22 June 1940 and evacuate the Island for England the following day, along with most of Alderney’s population.

Alderney was liberated on 16 May 1945 and, until September, the postal facilities were operated by the British Army Postal Service. The sub-post office building had been stripped by the Germans and in September an officer of the Guernsey Post Office was sent to the Island with postage stamps and equipment, to re-establish a post office that was opened on 20/21 September 1945. As Alderney evacuees could not return to the Island until December 1945, the only people on the Island when the Post Office reopened were members of Task Force 135 and a few Guernsey officials and workers. Col. Marriette did not resume his posting until 1 October 1946 when the Guernsey Post Office official returned to Guernsey.

Is Alderney 21 September 1945 mail Philatelic?

Any mail bearing George VI 1941 definitive stamps with a 21 September 1945 Alderney postmark addressed to the UK is very rare (Figure 2), but probably all examples could be classed as ‘Philatelic’ as there were very few civilians on the Island and the Task Force 135 members were entitled to post free ‘On Active Service’ mail so did not need to buy postage stamps. Although these covers and postcards may be philatelic, they are significant as they mark an important date in Channel Islands postal history, they were sent by the Channel Islands liberators, and few exist. Any mail from the Task Force to an Alderney address should certainly be regarded as philatelic as must any covers bearing Guernsey Occupation stamps as they were never issued in Alderney (these are usually addressed to known Guernsey philatelists).

**The Single Circle 24 mm diameter ALDERNEY * datestamp.**

When the Alderney sub-post office was re-opened in 1945 it was issued with the single circle 24mm diameter ALDERNEY * datestamp first introduced in 1936. The Germans had stripped the Post Office during the Occupation and so it is interesting to speculate how this datestamp survived. It seems unlikely that there was time to send it to Guernsey before the Occupation, so did Col. Marriette take it with him when he was evacuated to England? Somehow it was kept safe for the day five years later when the Alderney sub-office would again re-open.

An Unusual Usage of Postal Stationery by the Red Cross

In December 2015 I came across this unusual card (Figure 1)used by the Red Crosswhich is not recorded in my book and, at the time, I wrote to our member Dennis Riley to enquire whether he had such an example in his very large accumulation of scarce Red Cross material, but never received a reply.

Some years later I came to learn that Dennis had died, and I have also come to understand that his very large accumulation of scarce Red Cross material may have been sold. (Ed. Argyll Etkin auction on 20 April 2023). Can any member report having these items in their collection?

Also included with the card was a most unusual Red Cross wrapper (Figure 2) addressed to a Jersey girl in the UK in 1944 as far as I can see shown reduced in size as the lower half is very mutilated.

Jersey Poll Tax

Although inscribed POLL TAX, these issues were in fact a landing fee which was applicable to certain categories of ferry passenger.

History: The first railway company to operate a service to the Channel Islands was the London & South Western Railway which had been responsible for the Channel Islands mail service since 1845. Initially, sailings were from Southampton, but later from Weymouth.

After 1889 the Great Western Railway was also operating a service from Weymouth to the Channel Islands, and this put the two rival companies in direct competition for the business. A decade later in 1899, they sensibly agreed to amalgamate their services and share the profits. This business arrangement continued after 1923 (as S.R. / G.W.R.) when most of the private railway companies were amalgamated to form four major railway groups. The London & South Western became part of the Southern Railway and the Great Western was able to retain its original title, becoming the major constituent of one of the four groups.

Southern Railway poll tax tickets have not been seen, but it is possible that they did not operate the type of sailing which required a landing fee. One source does suggest that after the 1923 grouping, the Weymouth to Channel Islands ferry was exclusively operated by the G.W.R until 1948. The railways were nationalized in 1947, trading as The Railway Executive / British Railways until 1953 when the British Transport Commission was formed. This period lasted until 1962 when it was dissolved, and the British Railways Board took over.

The Tickets: Great Western Railway

The first example as shown in Figure 1 is printed on a thin card and was issued in rolls with perforations between, while all subsequent issues (Figure 2) were issued as individual Edmondson style tickets. Both of these issues refer to the Poll Tax as a ‘Fare’ and state “This ticket must be given up at destination with the ticket in respect of which EXCESS is paid”.

The later issues (Figures 3, 4, and 5) refer to the Tax as a ‘Charge’ and payment was expected at Weymouth Quay as well as in Jersey.

The Railway Executive / British Railways (Southern Region).

Now on blue card and inscribed ‘Payable by Free Ticket holders’ (Figures 6a and 6b).

The British Transport Commission.

Tax increased to 1/5d single and 2/9d return (child 1/5d) (Figures 7a, b and c on next page).

The British Railways Commission (Southern Region). The ticket shown at Figure 8 is the latest example seen. I have been unable to find any official information regarding this aspect of the ferry service or for how long the charge continued to be applied.

This ‘Revenues’ subject is not recorded in John Simpson’s books on ‘Channel Islands Revenues’ and, to my knowledge, has not appeared as an article in our Journal.

My sincere thanks go to Chris Tennant RNCP for researching and producing this article and for permitting it to be published in our Journal. This is a subject I knew absolutely nothing about and feel it will add value to those members who have a collecting interest in the Revenues of the Channel Islands.

Hedges are High, Prison Walls are Higher

Amongst my family memorabilia is a postcard dating from 1944 the content of which serves to further underline both the privations and difficulties endured by Channel Islanders during the German Occupation.

My father was born in Guernsey in 1916 and lived there with his parents and a brother throughout the period of the German Occupation from June 1940 to May 1945. His father died early in 1944. My Mother, whom he met and to whom he became engaged before the beginning of the war was, at the commencement of the Occupation, nursing in the Midlands. They were thus separated throughout the Occupation, finally meeting up again following the Liberation and marrying later in 1945. But that is another story.

Following the Allied invasion of Europe on 6 June 1944 and the commencement of the Islands “Fortress Period” the plight of the Islanders, having special regard to the supplies of food, became increasingly difficult. Supplies of foodstuffs and other essentials had been previously sourced, purchased and shipped for the most part from Granville with States Purchasing Agents for both Guernsey and Jersey being based there throughout the Occupation. Following the liberation of that town by American forces on 30 July 1944 that source of supplies was cut off and, in fact, the final cargo of supplies from France arrived in Guernsey on Monday 7 August, this from St. Malo, which itself was liberated some 10 days later on 17 August.

All foodstuffs for the civilian population were by now subject to very severe rationing including such basics as bread, potatoes, salt, and a coffee substitute. Coffee had long been unobtainable and the substitute, comprising roasted barley and acorns – yes acorns – was itself becoming very scarce having previously been imported from France.

My father who, together with his brother, had earlier rented a field near to the coast in St. Martins in order to grow vegetables for the family’s use, was in the habit of visiting a friendly neighbour most evenings after curfew to collect a small supply of milk for the family. I imagine that a bartering arrangement existed between them. The family archive includes a postcard sent to him and posted on 1 August 1944 (Figure 1). It is franked with a 2½d Arms stamp with the machine cancellation for that date.

An indication of the severe shortage of milk supplies on the island is borne out by the fact of the German Officer in charge of the Feldkommandantur, MVR Zachau Schneberger (Ref.1), writing on 11 August to The Controlling Committee of The States of Guernsey:

“According to reports received and from observation there is still milk being sold unlawfully by the producers to military and civilian persons. In view of the present food situation this condition is intolerable. You are therefore requested to point out in the local press that, in consideration of the food conditions, the unauthorised trading in milk or fat, even in very small quantities, cannot be tolerated under any circumstances and that contraventions to this order will be severely punished by imprisonment. In contraventions committed by military persons will you please refer to this office.” (Ref. 2).

I was first shown the postcard by Dad in the 1960s at which time he told me that following receipt of the card he was very much more cautious when out and about after dark and during the time of curfew throughout the remainder of the Occupation.

Ref 1. MVR – Militärverwaltungsrat (Military Advisory Committee)

Ref 2. William M Bell. 2002. Guernsey Occupied but Never Conquered.

Two Guernsey Sub-Post Office Occupation Registered Covers

I have recently been fortunate to acquire two extremely nice commercial registered covers from Market Place and St. Peter in the Wood sub-post offices, both used in 1942.

Market Place

This cover is addressed to the Procureur’s Office, Manor Place, Guernsey. The embossed 4½d registered letter has been uprated by the addition of a 1d Arms stamp to make up the correct registration fee of 5½d with both stamps cancelled by the 24mm single circle datestamp for Market Place on the 8 July 1942.

A perforated coil gummed registration label has been affixed for this Town Office and is Type 3 in David Gurney’s book The Postal History of the Guernsey Sub-Post Offices.

On the reverse, shown above, is the Market Place backstamp.

St Peter in the Wood

The cover below (Figure 3a) is addressed to the States of Guernsey, The Emergency Hospital, Castel, Guernsey. This too is similarly uprated to make up the correct fee with both stamps cancelled by the St. Peter in the Wood double circle datestamp on the 13 July 1942.

A perforated coil gummed registration label, which came into use during the German Occupation and similar in style to those introduced in the late 1930s is affixed and is Type 5 in David Gurney’s book.

There are no postal markings on the back of this cover (Figure 3b) and the wording is different from the Market Place cover above.

My experience suggests that whilst many philatelic registered covers can be found from those Guernsey sub-offices that remained open during the Occupation period, truly commercial covers are very scarce, and these are two such excellent examples.

I will be most interested to hear from any member who may have similar examples used from these offices at a similar time.

Conway Street, Jersey – “C” type registration label

I recently acquired this envelope sent by registered delivery from the Conway Street town sub-post office with an unknown label.

Registered envelope from Conway Street to Paris dated 28 12 1908. Stamps cancelled by the main office of St Helier (SG type J57) and unlisted registration label for the post office of Conway Street. Datestamp of the Conway Street sub-office (Type 1) and Paris arrival datestamp 30 12 08 on the back.

The letters of the word JERSEY extend with a 10mm line for the insertion of the office number allocated by the main office of St Hélier, in this case number “2”. This style of label was in general use from 1907 onwards, and was only issued to small offices handling less than 3000 registered items in a year. When Conway Steet closed, the registration label of the same type was used by the Beresford Street office which opened in 1909, also using the number “2” but in manuscript.

Priaulx and Son – 1824 Forwarding Agent

This entire is a letter from Messrs Priaulx & Son based in Southampton addressed to a “Major De Havilland/ Guernsey/ with a crate” and is dated 10th December 1824 carried privately.

The entire is signed “Yours & obliged obedt. servants Priaulx & Son” and was sent to Guernsey via Captain Le Maître of the Aeolus.

There are no postal or charge markings, however the letter details the charge for the carriage of a crate from London to Southampton and shipping it to Guernsey at a cost of 6 shillings and ten pence plus 4d for the Duty charge making a total of 7/2d.

The SG Channel Islands Postal History Catalogue lists Priaulx & Sons as Forwarding Agents in Southampton in 1829, David Gurney, FRPSL in his book Letter Forwarding Agents of Great Britain handling Channel Islands Letters 1673 – 1855 states ‘The Stanley Gibbons Channel Islands Postal History Catalogue lists this firm as an Agent in 1829, but the author has not so far seen an example of use’ at the time of writing his book in 2011’. This letter clearly shows the firm was in existence and trading much earlier, in 1824.

The Priaulx family were wealthy merchants and their various firms and partnerships based in Guernsey and also in Southampton and Jersey were heavily involved in the merchant trade with many countries. As a matter of interest, the Priaulx Library in Guernsey is housed in the old Priaulx family home, Georgian Candie house, and the magnificent Candie gardens with superb views across the sea to Herm Island and much further.

However, between 1796–1829, the firm of Priaulx and Bienvenu was in business in Southampton. This entire suggests that the dates given by the Gibbons catalogue may be incorrect at the time of writing the catalogue and that other related firms include Priaulx and Son, Nicholas Priaulx and N.M.Priaulx all in Southampton and possibly Josué Priaulx in Jersey and Guernsey and Priaulx Lauga & Co in Guernsey commenced conducting business in the period mentioned above and certainly Priaulx and Sons from 1824 as shown in this significant letter providing the first evidence of their existence.

I am most grateful to my colleague David Gurney FRPSL, for providing some additional information for this article.

CISS Member Profile – David Laurillard

When and why did you start collecting C.I. stamps/postal history?

Early in 1964 I read an article by Bill Newport in his weekly column in the Daily Telegraph regarding a forthcoming set of Herm “stamps” overprinted ‘WORLD REFUGEE YEAR 1964’. This reminded me of many happy hours exploring this lovely little island. I was brought up by my grandparents who lived in London, but as my grandfather was born in Guernsey, we visited his family every other year. On impulse I sent to Herm for a set of the overprints, and this started me on the long road of collecting the Islands’ stamps from the Occupation issues to the Regionals and then the Independence issues. These were followed by Occupation postal history and finally the Islands’ World War I postal history.

When did you join the CISS? What/Who introduced you to the CISS?

Later in 1964, again through an article about the CISS in The Philatelic Magazine by Bill Newport.

What benefit have you got from your membership of the CISS?

I have gained so much knowledge of the interesting history of the Channel Islands through reading books and articles in the Society’s Journal. Meeting and talking to members, viewing their displays, and just enjoying the company, fellowship, and friendship of these members over many years has given me so much pleasure and enjoyment.

What aspect of C.I. stamps/postal history do you collect?

The main part of my collection is now the First World War including postcards, but smaller collections of stamps and postcards include Island birds, transportation of mail throughout both Bailiwicks especially the smaller islands, coastal fortifications and finally horticulture and agriculture.

Do you have a favourite item or group of items in your C.I. collection?

Yes, especially covers from the front lines and military postcards.

Do you collect other non-C.I. stamps/postal history?

Worldwide bird stamps and covers, as well as covers from my family. I have also designed covers into which I have put notes pertaining to places and events my wife and I have visited during cruises and holidays throughout the world. These I have then sent back home to myself as a diary of that holiday.

What has the hobby of philately meant to you?

In the past Scouting was my main hobby, closely followed by philately, but since retiring both from that organisation and work, collecting has moved to the front with a period of being the CISS Chairman and now its President. I believe it is the detective work of tracing the history of a cover, its sender and receiver or a photo of a soldier that fascinates me most and that helps keep an active brain.