Lihou Stamps.
Lt. Col. Wootton launched a scheme for young people to experience living and working together in camp on Lihou in 1965, which he called The Lihou Youth Project. To satisfy the need to operate a postal service and to raise funds for the camp, with the permission of the Head Postmaster of Guernsey, Lt. Col. Wootton started a private postal service between Lihou and GPO Sorting Office at Le Truchot, St. Peter Port. Generally a daily collection was made from the blue barrel outside the Lihou shop, which served as a post box, the mail was then cancelled and taken by landrover to St. Peter Port before the tide came in.
The first issue, using original artwork by Charles H. Coker, was released on 18th July 1966. A set of five values depicting the island causeway to Guernsey, the building of the Priory on Lihou by the Monks of the abbey of Mont St. Michel, commemorating the first Lihou Youth Project camp and The Arms of Lihou. A 2s 6d souvenir sheet was also issued at the same time, but had postal validity.
To mark the disastrous affect of the ‘Torrey Canyon’ running aground off the South West of England, ( the escaping crude oil was washed up on rocks and beaches along the south of England as well as the Channel Islands) several thousand of the first issue were overprinted ‘‘TORREY CANYON’ DISASTER 1967’, they were valid from 18th July to 31st December 1967,during which time the first issue became invalid, but resumed 1st January 1968. In the early summer of 1969 a second printing of the original stamps was commissioned, the colours being quite a good match, but there were shade differences, especially the 6d, the blue being a lighter shade.
With the enforced closure of the Lihou Postal Service on 30th September 1969, two special covers were produced.
Unlike most of the other 1971 Postal Strike overprints, the Lihou ones were actually produced and used by the Lihou, overprinted and surcharged, carried from Guernsey to Southampton, then forwarded on. Also in 1971 after the Postal Strike issue, 40 sheets of each value were surcharged in decimal currency. These never performed any postal service but were sold as souvenirs.
In 1981 The Royal Wedding prompted an overprint on the surcharged 1p on 2d. Stamps overprinted ‘G.B. Postal Strike £1 / Mail routed via Guernsey’ released 14th August 1996 have no connection with Lihou. Finally the ‘BBC2 / ”MEET THE ANCESTORS” / VISITS LIHOU PRIORY’ overprinted on 26p on 2d and £1 on 2/6 souvenir sheet, in the summer of 2000 but never used for postage.
The first issue, using original artwork by Charles H. Coker, was released on 18th July 1966. A set of five values depicting the island causeway to Guernsey, the building of the Priory on Lihou by the Monks of the abbey of Mont St. Michel, commemorating the first Lihou Youth Project camp and The Arms of Lihou. A 2s 6d souvenir sheet was also issued at the same time, but had postal validity.
To mark the disastrous affect of the ‘Torrey Canyon’ running aground off the South West of England, ( the escaping crude oil was washed up on rocks and beaches along the south of England as well as the Channel Islands) several thousand of the first issue were overprinted ‘‘TORREY CANYON’ DISASTER 1967’, they were valid from 18th July to 31st December 1967,during which time the first issue became invalid, but resumed 1st January 1968. In the early summer of 1969 a second printing of the original stamps was commissioned, the colours being quite a good match, but there were shade differences, especially the 6d, the blue being a lighter shade.
With the enforced closure of the Lihou Postal Service on 30th September 1969, two special covers were produced.
Unlike most of the other 1971 Postal Strike overprints, the Lihou ones were actually produced and used by the Lihou, overprinted and surcharged, carried from Guernsey to Southampton, then forwarded on. Also in 1971 after the Postal Strike issue, 40 sheets of each value were surcharged in decimal currency. These never performed any postal service but were sold as souvenirs.
In 1981 The Royal Wedding prompted an overprint on the surcharged 1p on 2d. Stamps overprinted ‘G.B. Postal Strike £1 / Mail routed via Guernsey’ released 14th August 1996 have no connection with Lihou. Finally the ‘BBC2 / ”MEET THE ANCESTORS” / VISITS LIHOU PRIORY’ overprinted on 26p on 2d and £1 on 2/6 souvenir sheet, in the summer of 2000 but never used for postage.
