Commemorating the third anniversary of liberation of the Channel Islands from German Occupation. The stamps were on sale in Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark - also at GPO offices in London, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester. Available until 30 September, 1948.

The stamps depict gathering vraic (seaweed) which was used as manure on the Islands. The stamps were Britain’s first attempt at pictorialism. The designs were not at all liked by a great many - the Philatelic Magazine described them as the 'muck cart' commemoratives. In the House of Commons, the Postmaster-General Mr.Wilfred Paling had to answer criticisms over the design;

"§ Mr. Skeffington-Lodge - Does not my right hon. Friend recognise that there is no indication on the stamps that they are in any way associated with the Channel Islands; and will he explain why there has been this absurd mistake, so that philatelists are writing in and complaining to the Post Office that it does not know its job?

§ Mr. Paling - We have had no complaints at the Post Office. The Channel Islands people were taken into full consultation on this matter, and it was done with their consent.

§ Dr. Segal - In view of the fact that the penny stamp depicts a refuse cart drawn by one horse, and that the 2½d. stamp depicts a refuse cart drawn by two horses, could not the right hon. Gentleman add a few more horses and issue a few more stamps of a higher denomination?

§ Sir R. Ross - Have the people of the Channel Islands insisted that they must have stamps bearing these carts, horses and seaweed?

§ Mr. Paling - This design was approved by the Channel Islands people themselves.

§ Mr. Skeffington-Lodge - Would not either potatoes or tomatoes have been a more suitable emblem for these stamps?

§ Mr. Paling - I am not sure that that would have been appropriate to all the Islands.

§ Mr. Langford-Holt - Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me if these stamps are usable in this country, since I had a letter posted in the United Kingdom and received by me in London, bearing a Channel Islands stamp?

§ Mr. Paling - Yes, they are."                 Hansard HC Deb 30 June 1948 vol 452 cc2188-9

A few sheets were printed in dull rose, quite different from the normal carmine.

Cylinder Numbers and varieties

First day Covers

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Contact : Malcolm Sanders :  kg6gb@hotmail.com