Welcome to CISS1950.org.uk
The Society was founded back in 1950 by Bill Newport and John Simpson to study the stamps and postal history of the Channel Islands. Occupation history and postcards have also become an important part of our activity.
Areas covered include not only the larger islands of Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, but also the smaller islands of Sark, Herm, Jethou, Lihou, Brecqhou, Les Minquiers, Les Ecrehous and the French Channel Islands.
There are many more minor islands, none of which have officially issued postage stamps.
Useful links:
What we do...
The Society meets 3 or 4 times a year usually in London or sometimes in other parts of the country.
In addition, each year we have a weekend meeting, which might be in the Channel Islands or in other parts of the UK, or even in other parts of Europe. It’s OK, we do tell you where each meeting is.
We publish our journal 'Les Iles Normandes' four times a year. It is full of interesting articles submitted by the members of the CISS themselves.
'Exchange packets' are circulated regularly in the UK and the Channel Islands, but unfortunately high postage costs make extending the circuits to other countries impossible.
There are two Society auctions a year, a chance to sell those extras that you no longer need, or to buy those sometimes elusive items...
The Society owns the copyright and the publishing rights to books that have become the standard works and mainstay to many collectors and those studying the Islands. Many of these have been out of print for some time, but due to the wonders of the electronic age, we will soon be able to make these available again to purchase as E-books.
Annually we hold a Competition Day, usually in February, when all members are invited to compete, there are trophies and awards for all classes including overseas entries.
Thanks for visiting our site. We hope to interest you enough so that you realise that you would like to join the Channel Islands Specialists’ Society. It may be a posh title, but we really are a very friendly and informal lot, so please browse our site and get in touch to find out more.
At the September 2011 meeting, Mrs Christine Earle, Secretary of the Royal Philatelic Society, discusses her talk "The Post Office Goes to War" with Society members, while others look at her material on display:
