Faroe Island - Stamps of Denmark used on the Faroes

An interesting area to collect.
In Denmark these are largely ignored, so you can definitely find some if you do some digging :-)

Beryllium Guy - No, not a silly question at all. I've been wondering about it myself, and I am not very familiar with Danish postmarks in general my self.


The Faeroe Islands are very sparsely populated, so we're looking at place names most have never heard about, except Thorshavn. The fact it is small villages also means they were utilizing the small and simplistic style postmarks as on the images above. The low-volume post offices often used postmarks without any date in-cooperated in it, whilst more urban places elsewhere in Denmark used  postmarks that had date in them. This is simply because the large PO's were equipped with different cancelling machines ( Check this link WEBSITE - DANISH CANCEL TYPES ) , whilst the smaller still used manual 'hammers'. This is not a conclusive method in any way, as similar no-date postmarks were also used in smaller places in Denmark itself. And at some point also the more low-volume post offices started to use date in the postmarks. Regardless, these simplistic postmark style is the first to look for.

The next tip is the 'sound' of the place name itself. Because The Faeroe islands historically had closer ties with Norway than Denmark, the language is also more closely connected to old-Norwegian language than Danish - and so are the sound of the place names. Well, that's a good indication for me as a Norwegian, but probably more challenging for most of you. Anyway, place names ending with "-fjord", "-vik" and in particular  "-ur" are likely candidates for Faeroe place names. Actually the place names used on the postmarks were made using the Danish version of the Faeroese name, e,g the postmark 'Fuglafjord' would be 'Fuglafjørdur' in local language, and place names that in real life ends with '-vik' was changed to sound more Danish, ending with '-vig' . The Danish version of the place names were probably used because the Postal Authorities of Denmark were in control until 1976. I believe the postmarks from then on were changed to local dialect, but it makes no difference when looking for forerunners, because by that time they did not use Danish stamps any more anyway.

Finally one simply have to check up a list of place names, and that is actually not difficult   There are not too many populated places and Post Offices on Faeroes anyway. Today it is 34 PO's, but probably it was a few more in earlier days.

I found this website with a  LIST OF FAROE POST OFFICES 
It is not a complete list, at least it is a starting point. Unfortunately the list is using Faeroe spelling of the names - and not Danish...  I will make a list with both Danish and Faeroe spelling, if anyone is interested.

Hope this helps!
Jon

So, since I started this thread I feel obliged to add something useful so you can more easily find these forerunners yourself. So, here's a list of the PO's I am aware of at present. Any forerunners on Danish stamps will have the postmarks with Danish spelling, as in the middle column.




The list is not complete, just by coincidence 2 of the stamps I purchased yesterday had postmarks (Gjov and Kvalvig) that was not included on the original list (ref. link in earlier thread)  - so it's indicating there are probably more names missing. However, it is a starting point, and should cover the largest ones one are most likely to find. Any suggestions are welcomed.

Here's a list of places on the Faroes, LIST OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES ON FAROE ISLANDS , however I do not know which of these had PO's running before 1975 (any stamps after that time will not be forerunners).
Naturally I can send the list if any would like it in Excel.

Jon

Ok, last contribution from me...anyone interested in the Postal history of the Faroes, try google translate on this: POSTAL HISTORY ARTICLE

brightonpete - That is marvelous 
I can now complete my list, your help is very much appreciated, thanks a  bunch

blaamand Ruth, according to the catalog was a "steamship collecting office"; opened 1908, closed 1909-1916 (!) Torshavn took over after that.

Smiril was another one, which opened January 4th, 1896 & closed in 1903.

The only cancel used in both places was the "star" cancel.

Very interesing post. I know I have a stock page with Danish stamps on clip with postmarks from Færøyene 😁
Maybe 20 pices. But I think it's mostly from Thorshavn. But I also have some 1000 Danish duplicat's, never checked for postmak names. Will look into it when I come home from holyday. If I have anny duplicates, I will gladly exchange them.

A great thread. I have envelops of Danish stamps that I have never really looked at. This article has peaked my interest. I wonder what I might find. Thanks for adding all the info about post office names. It will make searching a little bit easier.

David

Excellent guys, I'm excited to see many of you interested in Faroe forerunners and appreciate the kind words - I hope you all find some. Please share some images if you do :-)
Jon

I'll answer here... way back, before 1975, the Faroe Islands used the stamps of Denmark, who they were  part of. So finding Danish stamps used in the Faroes is a good thing. Not much of a population in the Faroes.

But from 1975 onwards, they have been issuing their own stamps. Quite a nice lot they are too.


Forerunner is a term used for something prior, as in the use of Danish stamps was a forerunner to their own stamps being issued.

Perfect brightonpete, thanks.

Interestingly, similar kind of 'forerunners' can be found on stamps from numerous countries, which during course of history split into several smaller countries (example given Austria, Turkey, India) - or forerunners can be found on stamps of colonial powers stamps before issuing separate stamps for each colony. (Germany, Italy, France, UK, Portugal etc).

Then there is 'Siderunners' - stamps of other countries used concurrent with separate issues, and other twists in political history that impacts the postal history. Example given areas in Europe that has used stamps of numerous
other countries due to wars and changing borders back and forth. Studying postmarks on Germany, Austria, Russia and Poland and others, one can find stamps off all those nations cancelled in the same town. Or stamps of numerous colonial powers postmarked in places like Constantinople, Beijing, Yokohama, Aden, Alexandria...

The evidence the postmarks play in demonstrating political and postal history is in my opinion the most interesting aspect of philately.