Following David Winnie’s excellent UDC competition entry I can confirm that there are in fact two St John’s undated double arcs which we can record. The first David has, and second I purchased in late 2021 at a Swiss auction house.
The front of the flimsy envelope (Figure 1) shows a French 40c orange tied by an indistinct lozenge (see Editor’s note below).
The cover was endorsed in manuscript France via London. with a Jersey double arc in black dated 11 January 1858 alongside. The rate charged was 8 décimes.
On the reverse (see Figure 2 below) is an example of the St Johns udc in a blue-black colour, as well as another Jersey double arc. These are partially overstruck by two Paris double circles for 13 January. To the left is a LONDON transit date stamp for 12 January and a LE CHATEAU D’OLERON receiving date stamp for 14 January.
Editor’s Note: the cancellation is probably the CP3e Calais to Paris TPO.
To see the exhibit go to this link: CISS Annual Competition 2025 Archives – Channel Islands Specialists’ Society). David’s entry is on the second page.
Until now, only two items have been recorded for this town sub-post office, and these are cutout pieces of the 22mm single circle steel datestamp for the same date, 22 April 1905. An example of this item from my collection is shown at Figure 1.
On 22 March 2025, I visited the Stamp Fair at Kempton Park Racecourse and, as a last resort, having not added anything of interest to my Channel Islands collection, I found myself sitting at a well-known dealer’s stand. Having made myself comfortable, I worked my way through his stock of C.I. material, and, to my complete and utter surprise, I found myself looking at an early registered cover for a Town Office in Jersey. This is shown at Figure 2 below.
The registered letter is addressed to Kotagiri, Nilgiris (Blue Mountains in English), South India and is rated 3d, 2d for Registration and 1d for postage. The embossed stamp has been cancelled by a Registered Jersey oval for 2 February 1910. Beneath is the 22mm single circle datestamp with an asterisk code inserted for GREAT UNION ROAD for the same date.
A ’C’ type small sheet Jersey 7 registration label No.24 was attached top left. Most interestingly, Jersey 7 was subsequently allocated to Georgetown town office following the closure of Great Union Road in 1923.
The reverse of the cover (Figure 3) shows the arrival mark of Kotagiri on 20 February 1910. Kotagiri is a hill station in the Nilgiris district of the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is located at a height of about 6,400 feet and is therefore an unusual destination for such an item.
What I find strange is that Great Union Road opened on 15 June 1905 and closed on 7 November 1923, yet only three items are now recorded from this office. Nevertheless, for the time being, this is the only known complete example of postal history from this office, enhanced by its spectacular destination.
At the meeting in Guernsey Roger Harris showed a cover which had been flown out of Paris by ballon monté and then sent on to Guernsey. If I remember correctly, he said that only four covers have been recorded sent to Guernsey by ballon monté.
I knew that I had a ballon monté cover. On checking, mine is also to Guernsey. See illustration below.
It was sent to Madame Esperou at Hotel Marschalls, Guernsey, with a small St. Pierre written at the bottom.
It is dated 14 November 1870 with a PARIS R. D’AMSTERDAM / 4e datestamp 15 NOV 70. It has a Guernsey receiving backstamp NO 24 70 code B. The expertising form states that it was carried on the balloon Le General Ulrich.
I hope this would be of interest to the readers of the Journal.
This rare item came into my possession during August 2024 by private sale and is one of the key items in my Channel Islands Ship Letter handstamps collection. It is listed in Gibbons Catalogue of Postal History of the Channel Islands (1991), but not in Robertson’s A History of the Ship Letters of the British Isles (1983 Reprint)
To date, this is the only known example of this ship letter handstamp. The letter was written by William Moss, a Wesley missionary in the Gambia. He arrived on 30 November 1838, serving the missionaries at MacCarthy Island and St Mary’s, both situated on the River Gambia and returned to England on 28 March 1841. Unfortunately, William Moss’ wife died on 22 January 1839, shortly after their arrival following a fever. They married shortly before departure to Gambia. This letter was written shortly after his wife’s death.
Mission House
St Mary’s, River Gambia
January 4, 1840
Revd and my dear Sirs,
I have just returned from another visit to MacCarthey Island and hearing that a vessel will leave this Port for Jersey in about an hours time, I thought it advisable to inform you of my welfare and also to forward the list of Subscribers to the Mission lands at both stations. From the accompanying letter you will perceive that the Subscriptions at St Mary’s are more than double of the amount of last year. In fact about every European has subscribed for the year 1839 and are anxious to promote the wellbeing of the dark degraded demonised Sons of Ham, nor are the Subscription at MacCarthey’s behind those of the proceeding year. Every European there has subscribed and sincerely hope the time is not to far distant when they will see a chapel erected in which most of them doubt not are anxious to worship the God that made prescribed and redeemed them. I did intend to send the accounts of both stations by this vessel, but as I have only just returned from settling the affairs at MacCarthey’s it is utterly impossible. However you may depend up receiving them. God willing by the very first opportunity with a lengthened report of everything connected with these all important stations on the banks of the Gambia. The farm I am happy to state has answered my expectations. The production twice as much as last year. [Note: Since 1823 the mission has grown peanuts].
I trust you will publish the list now sent home in the next report and please do not forget to send a good supply of reports.
The new Brethren have not arrived but are expected every hour.
At present I am in possession of perfect health thank the Lord for this and all his other mercies believing you sympathetic with me in my present circumstances and intreating an interest in your prayers and in the prayers of all God’s people.
I remain your humble and
obedient servant
William Moss
Wesleyan Missionary
Brethren, Pray for me, WM.
I was recently given the letter below which raised issues about which I ask for help.
A straight cross-Channel route via Dover and Calais would appear to me to have been logical, the final address of St Servan (near St Malo) notwithstanding. 1835 seems to be late usage of the GRANDE BRETAGNE / PAR ST. MALO but this does not seem to explain the routing request or final routing. Help would be appreciated, please.
A straight cross-Channel route via Dover and Calais would appear to me to have been logical, the final address of St Servan (near St Malo) notwithstanding. 1835 seems to be late usage of the GRANDE BRETAGNE / PAR ST. MALO but this does not seem to explain the routing request or final routing. Help would be appreciated, please.
In his book A History of the Ship Letters of the British Isles (reprint 1993), Alan Robertson states on page E.203 that the “standard” oval type with crown for Lyme Regis (Lyme) probably exists, but as yet no example is recorded. There are now two known examples.
Les Iles Normandes Volume 10.1 (1991) pg 9, illustrates a letter that was in the collection of Mike Burrington, one of the Society’s Canadian members. The letter from Guernsey to London, written in French, is dated 30 August 1811. There is no mention of the significance of the LYME ship letter handstamp. As with the example shown below, it too was sent via the forwarding agents, James Cazenove & Co.
This earlier use of the LYME ship letter is dated 6 January 1811 is also from Guernsey to London. It was charged at the triple letter rate of 3/3d (3 x 4d ship letter fee (1799 rates and 3 x 9d mileage rate for 120-170 miles as per 1805 rates).
I refer to my article in Les Iles Normandes Volume 44 No 1 Pages 15/16 and wish to make a correction to the content for which I sincerely apologise. My report seemed to make sense to me, but I am very grateful to Alan Moorcroft, FRPSL for providing me with a key fact, the significance of which I failed to initially recognise.
The significance of the Weymouth Ship Letter mark (shown in the original article as Figure 3) is all important. The letter was not carried by packet to Weymouth but by private ship from Alderney to Weymouth (as there are no Guernsey markings), where it received the Weymouth Ship Letter handstamp.
There is also a change to the calculation of the rate. The letter was charged 4d as a Ship Letter and then sent inland to Ashburton. Ashburton was served by the Western Road, and it is believed that mail from Weymouth would have to go to Shaftesbury to join the Western Road and then on to Ashburton. The letter was charged 7d for 116 miles (80-120 miles) to make up the 11d rate shown on the front of the entire.
My thanks to Alan for providing such helpful guidance.
5 July 2025 MIDPEX, Warwickshire Exhibition Centre,Fosse Way, Leamington Spa CV31 1XN
12 July 2025 75th Annual General Meeting; Room Auction and Members’ displays
13 September 2025 Members’ Meeting – Postcards
15 October 2025 Regional Meeting at The Three Swans, Market Harborough. (This is an additional meeting). Convenor: Gerald Marriner.
29 November 2025 Joint meeting with the Great Britain Philatelic Society (GBPS). Please note the change of programme. The venue is unchanged – Royal Philatelic Society London, Abchurch Lane EC4N 7BW
Unless stated otherwise, all meetings are held at the Royal Philatelic Society London, 15 Abchurch Lane, London EC4N 7BW with meetings starting at 11.00am. Tea and coffee is available from 10.30am in the Members’ Lounge
Please see the Society’s website at www.ciss.uk for dates of news and other events.
Sixteen members and guests attended the meeting. We started as usual with coffee or tea, giving members a chance to catch up with each other. The meeting started with an auction of 50+ lots, with keen bidding on many, and a high volume of sales. Our President, David Laurillard, started the displays with two frames of superb WWI material. These were the frames that he had shown in the Society’s 75th Anniversary display at the Royal. Alan Whittaker showed original International Red Cross message forms sent to and from the Islanders, which included Navy during Dunkirk. RAF at Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain, and a soldier captured during the battle to hold back German tanks at Dunkirk. After a break for an excellent lunch, David Winnie showed two frames of Krag machine cancellations and their uses. Nick Stuart followed with an excellent display on Victor Hugo and his house in Hauteville, consisting of a remarkable collection of early postcards. Mike Moody showed Occupation material and WWI silk cards. Our final display was by Alan Whittaker. I purchased a U.K. to Jersey Message form dated 14 January 1941 with the rare cachet Type M.27 as in David Gurney’s book. With the help of Gerald Marriner, I spoke with the Jersey Archives, and I took out a twelve month pass to use all of the material held in the Bailiffs of Jersey’s Occupation files. This led me into the study of the cachet. Records show clearly that the cachet in question was designed, and a rubber stamp made, on the orders of the Bailiff. Also, that the German Officer, Field Command 515, ordered that the Red Cross be removed as there was not a Red Cross Bureau in Jersey. It would be nice if more people brought material to display, or items they would like help with; lots of brains to pick!
All members agreed that the day had been a success and would like to see the meetings continue. Any members living in the South, or further afield, would be most welcome to join us.
I am also hoping that one of the local members will be able to help me with the organisation of the day. Please contact me for details – alan.whittaker3@ntlworld.com
The next Chandlers Ford meeting has been arranged for Saturday 16 May 2026.
Since my last Secretary’s Clipboard, we have held a very successful Members’ Weekend meeting at the Peninsula Hotel, Guernsey that was attended by 47 members and guests. For those members who arrived early on the island, John Triggs had kindly arranged a visit to the new Guernsey Post sorting office. John also provided a standing display for those members to view before the evening meal. The new “Single-sheet to Tell a Story” was won by my wife, Jill, with me coming a close second; something I will not be allowed to forget for a long time.
Saturday morning was auction time, with viewing of the 580 auction lots, and the auction itself ably managed by Nick Stuart and Bryan Elliston, with Jill Flemming and John Triggs acting as runners. Saturday afternoon saw two excellent displays provided by Gerald Marriner and John Triggs. Saturday evening saw thirty-seven members and guests attending the excellent special 75th Anniversary dinner. Pride of place was the special 75th Anniversary cake. See the write-up on the CISS website for further details of the Weekend meeting. Can I add a special thank you to Sue Winnie who arranged the hotel bookings and Friday and Saturday dinners with such aplomb.
Sunday morning was taken up with ten members’ displays that ranged from early ship letter handstamps through to the German Occupation, with David Winnie, Chairman, formally closing the meeting at 1.00pm.
12 July 2025 sees our 75th Annual General Meeting at the RPSL commencing at 14.00pm BST. If any member wishes to stand for any of the full Committee positions, please forward your name to me, position standing for, and names of proposer and seconder. If any member wishes to act as a deputy to any officer holding a full committee position can you forward me your name so that I can provide you with further details.
All documents for the AGM will be available on the CISS website.
