Guernsey’s postal service was established in March 1794, with the first mail from the island sent with captains of packet ships, using agents in the England and in the islands for the end delivery. Before the creation of Guernsey Post in 1969, the island's mail was controlled from the British mainland, by Royal Mail.

History

The first pillar boxes in Britain were introduced in the Channel Islands as an experiment in 1852, to collect mail for the Royal Mail packet boats. In contrast to postboxes on the British mainland, Guernsey’s postboxes are painted blue. However, the first postbox installed at Saint-Peter-Port is the only one never to have been painted, and remains red.

The first postage stamps printed for use in Guernsey were issued during the occupation of the island during World War II.Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue: Commonwealth and British Empire Stamps 1840-1970. 112th edition. London: Stanley Gibbons, 2010, p. GB31.

In the 1950s Guernsey used British regional stamps marked specifically for use in Guernsey but valid for postage throughout the United Kingdom.

Guernsey has issued its own stamps since the creation of Guernsey Post Office on 1 October 1969. Prior to this date, Guernsey’s postal system was controlled from the mainland.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey incorporates Alderney, Herm and Sark which all used the Guernsey issues from 1969. From 1983 Guernsey began issuing specific stamps designated Alderney for use in that island which are also valid throughout the Bailiwick of Guernsey. From 2025 stamps designated Sark began to be issued.

Since 2015, Guernsey has issued Post & Go stamps.

Guernsey has a small museum dedicated to its postal history, in Saint-Peter-Port.

See also

List of postage stamps of Guernsey List of postage stamps of Alderney Revenue stamps of Guernsey

References

Further reading

Channel Islands & Guernsey Danan, Yves Maxime. Histoire Postale des îles de la Manche. Paris: "Le Monde des philatélistes", 1976/78. Comprising: Vol. 1: Les Affranchissements de guerre de 1870 à 1944; Vol. 2: La Libération, compléments depuis 1945, les conséquences de l'indépendance postale. Gurney, David. Postal History of the Guernsey Sub-Post Offices. Ilford: CISS Publishing, 1996 , 265p. Martin, F. Story of Guernsey Postage Stamps 1940-1941, during the occupation by the German military authorities. Guernsey: The Guernsey Press Co., n.d. 15p. Mohle, Heinz. Die Briefmarken von den Kanal-Inseln: Guernsey & Jersey, Deutsche Besetzung 1940-1945. Frankfurt am Main: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Neues Handbuch der Briefmarkenkunde e.V. im Bund Deutscher Philatelisten e.V., 1970, 43p. Newport, William. The Airmails of the Channel Islands. Sidcup: Channel Islands Specialists' Society, 1957, 12p. Newport, William. The Channel Islands: France mail services, 1683-1939. Sidcup: Channel Islands Specialists' Society, 1956, 20p. Newport, William. Early Channel Islands postal history and notes on other material. Sidcup: Channel Islands Specialists' Society, 1958, 39p. Newport, William. Stamps and Postal History of the Channel Islands. London: Heinemann, 1972 , 214p. Newport, William and John O. Simpson. Numeral obliterations and instructional marks of the Channel Islands. Sidcup: Channel Islands Specialists' Society, 1957, 12p. Newport, William and John O. Simpson. Postal affairs during the German occupation of the Channel Islands 1940-1945. Sidcup: Channel Islands Specialists' Society, 1957, 32p. Stanley Gibbons Channel Islands Specialised Catalogue of Stamps and Postal History. London: Stanley Gibbons, 1983 , 451p. Summers, Howard. Bibliography of the Philately and Postal History of the British Isles. Borehamwood: Howcom Services, 2020 210p. Wieneke, Michael. The German Field Post Office in the Channel Islands: communications of the military and of the civilian inhabitants through the German Field Post Service 1940-1945. Grouville, Jersey: The Channel Islands Occupation Society (Jersey Branch), 1981, 16p.

Alderney, Herm, Jethou & Sark Backman, Anders and Bob Forrester. The Channel Island of Jethou: its stamps and postal history. Stockholm: A. Backman, 1978 Backman, Anders and Robert Forrester. The Smaller Channel Islands Catalogue. Stockholm: A. Backman, 1989 Newell, Peter E. Stamps of Alderney: An Illustrated Priced Guide and Handbook. Brighton: Channel Islands & Lundy Auctions, 1988 Newport, William. The Island of Herm and its Posts. Sidcup: Channel Islands Specialists' Society, 1970 Newport, William and Stanley Newman. Postal History & Stamps of Sark: An Illustrated Priced Guide and Handbook. Brighton: Channel Islands & Lundy Auctions, 1990

External links Guernsey Post Lions, Leopards, Unicorns & Dragons: The first "Regional" stamps The British Postal Museum & Archive