Jethou Stamps.
An Island which has never had an official postal service to it, the small population and limited guest accommodation has meant it would be uneconomic.
Unperturbed by this, and spurred on by the success of Herm’s postal service, the 21st tenant of Jethou, Grp. Capt. W. H. Cliff took up residence with the intention of making the island a commercial success, as it’s neighbour, Herm, had become. Consequently the first Jethou stamps were issued on 14th July 1960. These stamps were sold at the island gift shop/cafe, where the island’s post box would be emptied and the mail cancelled before the last boat of the day left for Guernsey. The boatman would take the mail to St. Peter Port where it was posted in a convenient post box.
The first issue was designed by Charles H. Coker and included the unusual value of 18d. A 15d value was proposed but never issued.
In 1961 a second issue, again designed by Coker, featuring birds of the Island and consisting of five values which were perforated rather than rouletted as was the first issue. The success of Herm’s 1961 Europa stamps convinced Grp. Capt. Cliff to issue Jethou’s own 1961 Europa issue, but because of the urgency to be as near as possible to the CEPT September date, it was decide to overprint a special printing of three values of the Birds issue on thicker paper, overprinted ‘EUROPA 1961’ diagonally across the stamps.
Unperturbed by this, and spurred on by the success of Herm’s postal service, the 21st tenant of Jethou, Grp. Capt. W. H. Cliff took up residence with the intention of making the island a commercial success, as it’s neighbour, Herm, had become. Consequently the first Jethou stamps were issued on 14th July 1960. These stamps were sold at the island gift shop/cafe, where the island’s post box would be emptied and the mail cancelled before the last boat of the day left for Guernsey. The boatman would take the mail to St. Peter Port where it was posted in a convenient post box.
The first issue was designed by Charles H. Coker and included the unusual value of 18d. A 15d value was proposed but never issued.
In 1961 a second issue, again designed by Coker, featuring birds of the Island and consisting of five values which were perforated rather than rouletted as was the first issue. The success of Herm’s 1961 Europa stamps convinced Grp. Capt. Cliff to issue Jethou’s own 1961 Europa issue, but because of the urgency to be as near as possible to the CEPT September date, it was decide to overprint a special printing of three values of the Birds issue on thicker paper, overprinted ‘EUROPA 1961’ diagonally across the stamps.
His success of the 1961 Europa issue prompted the release of a souvenir sheet on 18th December 1961. A block of four of the 6d Birds stamp with ‘EUROPA 1961’ printed beneath the word ‘JETHOU’. The sheet also had ‘EUROPA 1961’ printed vertically on both sides of the design.
The popularity of the Europa theme saw the 1962 Europa issue of two stamps of a sunburst over Jethou and Crevichon. 1963 Europa appeared on 16th October 1963, another Coker design, of two values the same apart from the values and colours. The 1964 Europa used the same design and values, but with a colour change.
Missing a year 14th October saw the 900th Anniversary of the Norman Conquest of England, the first issue for the new tenant, Mrs. Susan Faed. Another Coker design of four stamps and a souvenir sheet.
The final issue of 30th September 1969 saw the Norman Conquest set being overprinted ‘GPO in Guernsey 1794 - 1969’. The overprint arranged so to cover the original inscription on each value. As with the other islands Guernsey Postal Independence saw the banning of the ‘Local’ issues.
There were two ‘Strike Post’ overprints, neither having any connection with Jethou.
Crevichon.
In 1996, two philatelists illegally landed on Crevichon, which was closed to the public as it was a private estate, climbed to the summit and serviced 25 postcards which were then taken to Herm and posted in the island’s postbox. Each card had a Crevichon stamp affixed and cancelled, these stamps were produced by using a rubber onto various sized, perforated and gummed paper taken from the selvedge of several issues.
