Lanarkshire Philatelic Society

"Jersey"

The Nazi swastika overprinted on British stamps! Issued in Jersey in 1940! This was an astonishing fact learnt at the meeting of the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society last Friday.

During the German Occupation of Jersey, British stamps were overprinted with the swastika – but, after protest, this ceased – so such stamps are rare and sought after. During the occupation, there was no mail service between Jersey and the UK – but mail was sent to prison camps in Germany – and German stamps were used. The use of British stamps was forbidden – but Jersey was allowed to design their own – with no reference to the UK –and stamps bearing the "Arms of Jersey" was the result. 

These could be used for mail within the Island. In 1943 a set of pictorial stamps – bearing illustrations of Jersey – was issued but again with no reference to the UK. After the war British stamps were once again used. Regional stamps for Jersey were designed and issued.

These stamps were displayed by Ian Smith, of Largs Philatelic Society. He began his display began with a show of Covers dating from 1794. These were used by the mail packet service between Southampton – or Weymouth – and Jersey – letters were handed to the captain of a ship sailing to the Island. 

The first Postal marking from Jersey began in this same year and was in the form of the name JERSEY bring applied in curved form until 1797 when it was straightened! 1830 saw the beginning of date stamps and in 1849 a Numerical Obliterator of "409" came into use.

In 1870 the first railway opened in Jersey – and the Eastern Railway in 1873 - a cover and stamps were issued 1973 to mark the Centenary. Both are now closed. Many stamps were issued showing the trains that ran on these lines- and these, along with a display of postcards of the stations on both lines gave an interesting historic display.

The second round  of the evening was a great display of the stamps issued by Jersey through the years. 

The British Post Office issued Regional stamps until 1969 when Jersey gained Postal Independence and were able to issue their own definitive stamps, Commemoratives, stamp booklets and Postage Due stamps.   The definitive stamps included "Scenes of the Island" & "Coats of Arms of the Parishes".

Many Royal events commemorated; the different themes for "Europa" through the years; many aspects of nature - altogether a fascinating display.

Dr Brian Dow expressed thanks to Ian Smith for presenting a most informative view of Jersey under Nazi Occupation – and also displaying many interesting stamps and covers issued by Jersey through the years.

Our next meeting in the Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is on Friday, 21^st March 2025, at 7:30pm – please note change of time, when 4 members will present "The Lanark Collection".

Anyone with an interest in stamps, postal history, postcards etc is very welcome to attend.