🇬🇬 The philatelic bureaux of the Channel Islands, Isle Of Man and Gibraltar now issue so many stamps that a couple of years ago I resolved to add to my collection only those issues which not only have locally relevant subjects but also commemorated events and anniversaries and were not just randomly chosen thematic subjects.
Sometimes I am quite sorry that my little policy means that I will not be adding some very attractive items to my collection as these territories often issue some very interesting stamps. On the other hand I am usually quite pleased at all the money I have saved as a result of following the plan.
However, Guernsey Post has just released news of an issue it plans to release on 19 July 2017 which has the most wonderful art work depicted on the stamps which make up the set. The set's subject is "Guernsey Folklore" and the 6 stamps show remarkable paintings by the artist David Wyatt. Fortunately for my stamp collection the issue coincides with an exhibition of Wyatt's art at Guernsey Museum so I can add these wonderful stamps to my collection by writing them up as though they commemorate the exhibition rather than just being simple thematic stamps.
The subjects featured on the stamps are:- 60p (above) "The Fairy Invasion of Guernsey", 44p "The De Garis Family and the Pouques" (Pouques lived underground but fraternised with local humans and sometimes borrowed their carts at night), 59p "La Palette es Faies - the Fairies' Bat" in which Le Grand Colin (Colin's are ugly, dwarfish characters with large heads and a sly nature) slams the 'bat' into the ground in a fit of pique, the bat being La Longue Rocque which is the largest standing stone in Guernsey, 73p "Le Gibet des Faies" or the Fairies' Gallows - distressed by the islanders' growing disconnection from nature, the Fairies process to the gallows while one of them carries a noose made from grass, 80p "Pierre Dumont and Le Petit Colin" in which Pierre arrives home in his kitchen and discovers for the first time the small figure whose hand he has held as he has walked home through the dark and stormy night and 90p "Le Pied Du Bouef", the Devil's Hoofprint, which shows the conclusion of a battle between a local saint and The Devil which took place at Guernsey's northern most point and where The Devil in his defeat launches himself in the air leaving a footprint burnt into a solid granite boulder from the heat he generates.
This is a tremendous set with fabulous illustrations. Well done Guernsey Post! Rating:- ****** (yes, 6 stars).
Guernsey Post also tweeted on 26 May 2017 that its Post and Go kiosk GG01 situated in Smith Street post office was dispensing "Lighthouses" stamps that day with an added inscription which welcomed passengers from the cruise ship Caribbean Princess to the island. Caribbean Princess had already been named on "visiting cruise ships" Post and Go stamps and indeed it was the very first ship to be so mentioned.
No comments:
Post a Comment