stevew
Member 
Posts: 226
What I collect: stamps, covers, postal cards from Canal Zone, early USA, Channel Islands
|
Post by stevew on Sept 19, 2018 15:10:37 GMT
During WWII, the Channel Islands, part of Great Britain, but near the coast of France, were occupied by the Nazis. Since it was not acceptable to the occupiers for the locals to continue using British stamps, locally designed and printed issues were allowed. These are the ones for Guernsey. In the Jersey forum, I'll post the comparable ones from Jersey, plus some additional designs unique to Jersey.  The designer of the stamps, in a small, but very risky act of defiance, embedded tiny 'V' for victory symbols in the corners. They are shown more clearly in the blown-up image below.  |
|
sudbury12000
Member
Posts: 360
What I collect: Canada, Great Britain, Germany, World Pre 1925
|
Post by sudbury12000 on Jan 11, 2023 21:02:23 GMT
These just came in today, although I like the stamps, I like the explanations that go along with them more. 
Legend on the page above: "CHANNEL ISLANDS: The two-penny stamp of the Great Britain Centenary Issue bisected and used as one-penny (Scott #255) and cancelled at the Post Office of Guernsey on 1st February 1941. Approximately 100,000 were issued. King George VI bisected and used for the same purpose as the one above. The use of the four bisects was forbidden after 22nd February 1941. This is Scott #238. Only about 16,000 were issued."  |
|
vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,546
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
Member is Online
|
Post by vikingeck on Jan 12, 2023 11:24:51 GMT
These are the only legitimate authorised bisected stamps of Britain. Wartime emergency meant no 1d stamps were available until locally printed stamps were ready.
|
|
|
|
Post by forth on Jan 12, 2023 14:56:19 GMT
I have a 2d centenary bisect on postcard. Surprised at the low issue numbers on the GV1 values. Anyone know number of 1934 photo issue ?
|
|
daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,062 
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
|
Post by daveg28 on Jan 12, 2023 15:50:35 GMT
Very interesting. I did not know that the Channel Islands were Nazi occupied during the war.
|
|
philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,654
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
|
Post by philatelia on Jan 12, 2023 18:38:45 GMT
I've a half started project (one of too many) to plate the 1/2p green from Guernsey. Most of my copies are on covers that look philatelic so there were some active philatelists on the islands during the occupation.
|
|
daniel
Member
Posts: 2,380
Member is Online
|
Post by daniel on Jun 29, 2023 23:02:33 GMT
A Red Cross letter sent to John Dunn in German Occupied Guernsey, presumably from his wife Elsie in mainland UK. It bears a Red Cross Message Bureau 731 handstamp and a red circular Red Cross mark plus a purple German Red Cross handstamp. Sent on 25 September 1942 and a further date of 27 October. 1942 is shown at the bottom. A red censor mark is shown on the back. The reverse shows the reply from John Dunn, limited to 25 words. It is dated 29 January 1943, either being sent or received on 1st April 1943.   |
|
kgvistamps
Member
Posts: 201
What I collect: British Colonies - King George VI from all countries and King Edward VII & King George V from the West Indies.
|
Post by kgvistamps on Jun 30, 2023 14:52:31 GMT
There must have been a lot of paper and ink shortages experienced while these stamps were being printed. The Commonwealth Catalogue (Murray Payne) lists a number of color shades as well as some paper variations as well. Here are the two scans of the Guernsey stamps from my collection which are based on the CW listings.
Just for clarification, I do not have the one that is listed as "printed on gummed side". That is another color shade that I put in the placeholder until I find the actual stamp for that spot.
 |
|
|
|
Post by forth on Jul 5, 2023 7:44:50 GMT
Nice selection
|
|
Hugh
Member
Posts: 740
What I collect: Worldwide Occupation Stamps and Postal History; and, anything that looks interesting.
|
Post by Hugh on Sept 18, 2024 20:20:48 GMT
I've been waiting to find one of these ... a couple of blued 1/2p Guernsey German Occupation stamps on cover (well, in this case, a post card). Found it last weekend at the Eastern Ontario Postcard Sale. I got it from a good dealer but this is not his area of expertise. I'm cautiously optimistic. The stamp looks OK, but the CDS is different than the other one in my collection from Guernsey earlier in the war ... that one was a single ring cancel. This one is a double. I haven't found any help from Collect British Postmarks or the Michel catalogues I have. [Edit: To clarify, the earlier cancel was a single ring duplex]Can anyone confirm this is a valid postmark for St. Peter Port in Guernsey in 1942? [Edit: I notice that the CDS used on the bisects posted earlier in this thread were also double ring cancels. However, they had different text than the one below ... i.e. 'CHANNEL ISLANDS' instead of 'CH.IS'. Having said that, each bisect's CDS was slightly different as well. How many CDS stamps were in use in Guernsey?]
[Edit: Thanks to daniel who pointed me to the correct entry in Collecting British Postmarks, we've confirmed this is a valid CDS] Stamp: Guernsey - German Occupation Stamp 1/2p Dark green, Grey-blue tinted French banknote paper; Rouletted 14x7 Watermark 396 / In loops with four different combinations Issued on March 11, 1942 [120,000 blued 1/2p stamps were produced] [Remained vallid for postage until April 13, 1946] Mi.Nr. 4 Cancel: Double Ring CDS Outer - GUERNSEY [ST. P]ETER PORT CH.ISInner - 2 - AM / 1 AP / 42 |
|
daniel
Member
Posts: 2,380
Member is Online
|
Post by daniel on Sept 18, 2024 22:54:30 GMT
Hugh, Collect British Postmarks has a separate section for the Islands. On page 293 of the 8th edition, we find Guernsey. Although not profusely illustrated, catalogue no. 17/59 states "Double circles with/without "St Peter Port" in brackets. 1929-69". Your postcard shows, on the second stamp, the with brackets version. I would assume genuine especially if the card does not have a message. It would be philatelic. Daniel
|
|
Hugh
Member
Posts: 740
What I collect: Worldwide Occupation Stamps and Postal History; and, anything that looks interesting.
|
Post by Hugh on Sept 19, 2024 0:51:23 GMT
Hugh , Collect British Postmarks has a separate section for the Islands. On page 293 of the 8th edition, we find Guernsey. Although not profusely illustrated, catalogue no. 17/59 states "Double circles with/without "St Peter Port" in brackets. 1929-69". Your postcard shows, on the second stamp, the with brackets version. I would assume genuine especially if the card does not have a message. It would be philatelic. Daniel Thanks Daniel ... much appreciated. I have the seventh edition and it's on p. 267. 17/59 ... Two double circles as you said. From 1929 to 1969. Looks like that settles things. I also found a reference to the cancel on my other occupation cover, a 2d bisect. I got it at an reputable auction but it's nice to have confirmation on that one too. Cheers, |
|
