Jersey
Jersey is part of the Channel Islands in the English Channel close to the Cotenin Peninsular. Capital: St Helier.Came to the British Crown in 1066 with the Norman invasion. Although it is within the British Isles it retains its own local administration and collects its own taxes. Guernsey also consits of Heme Island, Sark and smaller islands. Guernsey has an area of 78 sq km.and a population of 90,000.(2005). The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II.
Postal History
There were no official postal services until late in the 18th century. All mail was carried by the trading vessels which plied from Weymouth or St Malo in France A post office was opened on 15th February,194.
When Great Britain first produced stamps, they were brought into use immediately in the Channel islands. Maltese Cross cancellations were issued. Numerals issued in 1844 were '409' for Jersey. From 1871-1914 British adhesives were continued to be used with standard British postmarks. Many high values can be found with postmarks of the main post office. These relate to the payment of tobacco tax on the island and are not,strictly,postal useage. Regular air services were inaugurated to Jersey in 1937. They operated from Southampton and carried a GPO contract until the outbreak of war. After the fall of France, the invasion of the islands by the Germans and the unopposed occupation took place on 30th June,1940. British stamps were soon exhausted and replaced with local issues and bisects were also used. When the islands were liberated in 1945 the British Postal Office allowed full validity for the local issues for one year. Previously they had only been valid for local and inter-island postage. In 1948 a special issue was made to commemorate the third anniversary of the liberation of the Islands. These two values were available in the Channel islands and valid for postage throughout Britain. In 1969 Jersey issued their own stamps as an independent postal administration.
Link to a Comprehensive Price List of Jersey Issues
• Sydney Philatelics • P.O. Box 122 Milton NSW 2538 •
• Phone: +61 (0)2 4455 4011 • Fax: +61 (0)2 8572 9911 •
• E-mail:info@stampsaustralia.com.au •
