Sark Stamps.
As with Jersey and Guernsey, British postage stamps were used from 1840 until 1969 with the exception of the German Occupation years.
The Commodore Shipping Company Ltd. carried GPO mail by boat between Sark and Guernsey between 1950 and 30th September 1969. They also ran a parcel delivery service by arrangement with The Government of Sark and The States of Alderney. From 1950 to 1961 simple typeset labels were attached to parcels, after then and up until 30th September 1969, the company issued stamps or carriage labels which were used for this; these issues consisted of a definitive set and a Europa set and from 1964 minisheets were introduced.
Although some were genuinely used for the carriage of parcels, the fact that from the 1964 Europa issue onwards the printing came under the control of a London wholesale stamp dealer
As with Jersey and Guernsey, British postage stamps were used from 1840 until 1969 with the exception of the German Occupation years.
The Commodore Shipping Company Ltd. carried GPO mail by boat between Sark and Guernsey between 1950 and 30th September 1969. They also ran a parcel delivery service by arrangement with The Government of Sark and The States of Alderney. From 1950 to 1961 simple typeset labels were attached to parcels, after then and up until 30th September 1969, the company issued stamps or carriage labels which were used for this; these issues consisted of a definitive set and a Europa set and from 1964 minisheets were introduced.
Although some were genuinely used for the carriage of parcels, the fact that from the 1964 Europa issue onwards the printing came under the control of a London wholesale stamp dealer
and the large number of similar issues, great number of varieties, errors, imperf sets, trials, proofs and overprints make it seem that these were issued purely for the philatelic market.
The 1st October 1969, with the Bailiwick of Guernsey attaining postal independence, saw the passenger and freight services of Commodore Shipping taken over by The Isle of Sark Shipping Co. Ltd. Guernsey Post Office also granted them the contract for carrying the mail between Guernsey and Sark.
Three simple typeset labels were used between 1969 and 1975, a purely practical use, as was the cachet that replaced the labels from 1st January 1976 to 1980.
The 1st October 1969, with the Bailiwick of Guernsey attaining postal independence, saw the passenger and freight services of Commodore Shipping taken over by The Isle of Sark Shipping Co. Ltd. Guernsey Post Office also granted them the contract for carrying the mail between Guernsey and Sark.
Three simple typeset labels were used between 1969 and 1975, a purely practical use, as was the cachet that replaced the labels from 1st January 1976 to 1980.
The philatelic agents that were appointed in 1980, introduced a set of five pictorial labels, with a se-tenant perforated sheet. Various overprints have been applied to the sheet including Royal Engagements, Royal Wedding, Princess Diana Memorial, Millennium and Royal Visits.
Considering that Sark is the fourth largest of the Channel Islands and the largest not to have it’s own Guernsey Post Office issues, it is surprising that it has not seen more local issues. The only Sark ‘local’ issue is the Quatercentenary Labels, issued on 13th May 1965, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the islands’ settlement, these were issued to raise money to provide a children’s playground for the island. Although on sale at the island’s post office and shops they were not, and never intended to be, valid for postage.
Considering that Sark is the fourth largest of the Channel Islands and the largest not to have it’s own Guernsey Post Office issues, it is surprising that it has not seen more local issues. The only Sark ‘local’ issue is the Quatercentenary Labels, issued on 13th May 1965, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the islands’ settlement, these were issued to raise money to provide a children’s playground for the island. Although on sale at the island’s post office and shops they were not, and never intended to be, valid for postage.
