Postage stamps and postal history of Guernsey facts for kids
Guernsey is an island in the Channel Islands with a long history of sending mail. The first way to send letters was by using captains of "packet ships." These ships carried mail between England and the islands. Agents on both sides helped deliver the letters to the right people. Sending a letter usually cost about 3 pence (3d) back then.
Guernsey is also famous for its pillar boxes. These are the red mailboxes you see on streets. The very first pillar boxes in Britain were actually tested in the Channel Islands in 1852. They were used to collect mail for the Royal Mail packet boats. The oldest pillar box still in use in the British Isles is right here in Guernsey!
Guernsey started printing its own postage stamps later on. The first ones were made during World War II, when the island was occupied. In the 1950s, Guernsey used special British stamps that said they were for Guernsey. However, you could still use them anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Guernsey began issuing its very own stamps after Guernsey Post was created on October 1, 1969.
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Guernsey's Postal System Today
The Bailiwick of Guernsey includes other islands like Alderney, Herm, and Sark. From 1969, all these islands used stamps issued by Guernsey.
Stamps for Alderney
In 1983, Guernsey started making special stamps just for Alderney. These stamps are called "Alderney" stamps. Even though they are for Alderney, you can still use them across the whole Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Stamps Without Prices
Sometimes, stamps don't have a price printed on them. In 1998, Guernsey started issuing stamps that said "Local" or "UK" instead of a number. This helped people know if the stamp was for mail staying on the island or going to the UK.
Later, in 2010, they added "EUR" for mail going to Europe and "ROW" for mail going to the Rest of the World. By 2012, they made it even clearer. Stamps were marked with things like "UK Letter," "GY letter" (for Guernsey letters), "INT letter" (for international letters), "UK large," and "GY large." These labels helped people choose the right stamp based on the size of their envelope and where it was going.
Modern Post & Go Stamps
Since 2015, Guernsey also uses Post & Go stamps. These are special stamps that you can print yourself from a machine, similar to how you might get a ticket.
Images for kids
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This VR box in Guernsey is the oldest post box still in use in the British Isles.
