Channel Islands Specialists’ Society

Founded 1950

Volume 41 No.1

41-1

Jersey-France 1904 Carteret Boîte Mobile cover

A cover sent in September 1904 from the Hotel de l’Europe to France using the movable box service appeared on day one of Auktionshaus Christoph Gärtner’s 50th Jubilee auction – which closed on 21st June 2021 – as lot #08979 offered at €250. This attractive cover finally sold for €260.00

Bearing a strip of three KE VII ½d stamps and one KE VII 1d stamp cancelled at Carteret on 23rd September 1904, the cover also shows a superb PAQUEBOT marking. Initially addressed to Blois, where it arrived the following day, the cover was re-directed to Mesland.

Gibbons[1] records this type of Carteret three concentric circle cancellation as used between 1898 and 1908 on Boîte Mobile mail.

 Reference

1.            Stanley Gibbons Channel Islands Postal History Catalogue Ringwood & London: Stanley Gibbons Publications Ltd, December 1991.

Guernsey Handstruck Numerals

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.

Mystery “WAR DAMAGE DEPARTMENT. 3.MAR.1948″cachet

I recently acquired this interesting post WW2 Builders invoice and receipt for building works. The Builder was C. J. Solway of St Sampsons, his client was Miss Peak of Delancey and the date of the invoice was July 1946. The value of the invoice was £19.6.0 (approximately £800 in today’s money) and both the invoice and receipt have appropriate Sales and Revenue Tax stamps attached. To the bottom right of the invoice a circular cachet has been applied in purple reading “WAR DAMAGE DEPARTMENT. 3 MAR 1948” and it is this hand stamp that is of particular interest shown more clearly below in this enlargement of the covered lower part of the receipted invoice.

While I am aware that the States of Guernsey did set up a Rehabilitation Compensation Scheme in 1946 and terminated the scheme in 1953, I was unaware that a formal War Damage Department existed to deal with such claims. It appears likely that the purple cachet was applied to the invoice to confirm that it had been seen by the States Department and that it was agreed as a War Damage Claim. I would be very interested to know if this assumption is correct, if other Members have similar receipts with this cachet and any knowledge concerning the hand cachet itself. For example, was the cachet produced and used exclusively on the Island or was it provided by the British Government as part of a wider post war Compensation Rehabilitation Scheme in which the British War Department was involved?

An illustrated 1841 Letter sheet from Jersey to Leamington

I was very pleased to acquire this unusual illustrated entire lettersheet in the Society Autumn postal auction in October 2021.

This illustrated letter sheet has been franked with an 1840 QV 1d black adhesive stamp and cancelled by the Jersey Maltese Cross in black ink, backstamped with the Jersey dated arc on the 15th March 1841 and a red London transit stamp for the 17th March 1841. Folded inwardly, the illustration of ST AUBINS BAY & HARBOUR./JERSEY is inside within the written part of the Lettersheet as partly portrayed below.

Display: ‘Unusual Aspects of Channel Islands’ Philately’

‘Unusual Aspects of Channel Islands’ Philately’ was the title of the display given by Jon Aitchison FRPSL to the members of the Royal Philatelic Society London on 27 January at very short notice.

Far-ranging in its appeal, the display covered such diverse areas as money paid to spies in the 18th century, Ballon Monté to and from the Channel Islands, mail carried by rail and air, revenues and perfins. The vote of thanks was given by Gerald Marriner FRPSL, President of the Channel Islands Specialists’ Society, who commented that few appreciate the ‘variety and extent of unusual philatelic material from these small Islands’. Peter Cockburn FRPSL President of the Royal also thanked Jon for his ‘extraordinary exhibit’, presenting him with the Society’s plaquette.

Obituary: David W. Parsons FRPSL

Born on 27th June 1951, David died after a long illness on 6th January 2022 remarkably describing  for Spink until the end in his Nursing Home.

I have known David more or less since he joined Robson Lowe at 50, Pall Mall and then joined the Society in 1972. A good friend always helpful and willing to share his knowledge with everyone, he built a good collection of CI and professionally with

Christies Robson Lowe and eventually Spink became one of the most respected philatelists and expert describers of recent years.

He was also a long-term member and on the Board of the BPA Expertising Committee and a well-known judge at Exhibitions in South Africa.

David married Gill in October 1981 and will be greatly missed by us all who knew him in the CISS, at RPSL, at Spink and his many friends and clients around the world. Gill and David attended some of our weekend Society meetings in the Channel Islands and made many friends – a popular couple of whom David will be much missed. David Gurney. FRPSL

Secretary’s Clipboard

Looking back at my SECRETARY’S CLIPBOARD of twelve months ago I stated that the Covid-19 pandemic is still here and unlikely to go away anytime soon. How true those words were. Even your Hon. Secretary is currently testing positive for Covid-19. I hope you all had a pleasant Christmas, and that 2022 so far has not been too bad for you.

The Member’s meeting of the 4th of December went ahead as planned with our Chairman, David Winnie, and myself, providing the two main displays that were Zoomed out to other members. Sadly, only nine members turned up at the Royal for the meeting, and fifteen joined us via Zoom. Still, the feedback on the two displays was positive and further large displays, shown via Zoom, will probably feature in future Members’ meetings.

By the time you read this the Member’s Competition Day would have been and gone, and thank you to all those members, new and old, who entered the competitions. I am aware that our new Competitions Secretary, Nick Martin, has been busy getting the entries sent off to the judge.

The next big event is the Member’s Weekend at the Three Swans, Market Harborough from the 22nd – 24th April 2022. You should have received your booking form with the December edition of Les Iles Normandes. If you do not have a copy, please contact Gerald Marriner.

Proposed forthcoming meetings:

22nd – 24th April 2022 Member’s Weekend Meeting, Market Harborough

9th July 2022 Annual General Meeting & room auction/displays

24th September 2022 Member’s Meeting – Topic to be decided

Currently, all meetings are held at the Royal Philatelic Society London, 15 Abchurch Lane, London, EC4N 7BW commencing at 11.00am. Tea and coffee is available from 10.30 in the Member’s Lounge.

Further information can be viewed on our website: www.ciss.uk

News of Members

Nick Martin has agreed to take on the Committee role of Competitions Secretary and the respective email address remains unchanged on the list of OFFICERS on the inside page to the front cover.

The following awards were made to members at Autumn Stampex 2021 –

Alan HolyoakeThe British Post Office from Inception to the 1840 First Day of Use of Prepaid Stamps and Stationery.Large Gold
Bryan SoleStory of the British Greetings Telegram ServiceLarge Gold
Go by CycleGold
Cycle Past, by PostcardGold

And at Notos 2021in Athens –

Jon AitchisonEgyptian 0ffucially sealed MailGold
Isle of Man Local Issues catalogueLarge Vermeil
The First Herm Island stamp issue and how to identify the 18 PrintingsVermeil
Egypt’s Cassette postVermeil
Gerald MarrinerGerman Occupation of Channel Islands and disruption
to mail		Vermeil