1948 Channel Islands Liberation
 

 

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1d designed by J.R.R. Stobie - 2½d based on a drawing by Edmund Blampied

Printed in photogravure by Harrison & Sons in 20 rows of 6.

Perforated 15 x 14

Issued 10 May 1948

Numbers issued - 1d 5,934,000 - 2½d 5,398,000

Watermark

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.

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

Cylinder Numbers and varieties

1d cylinders

Varieties

Perforations
2nd 2d  

nd - Type B

d - Type C

 

2½d cylinders

Varieties

Perforations
4nd 4d

a. Defective crown - left arm of centre cross extends into base of crown and break in line of pearls - row 1/1

b. "Cracked wheel" - blue line across wheel rim - row 6/1

c. "Broken wheel" - white patch on rim of wheel - row 20/5

nd - Type B

d - Type C

 

Variety a

Variety b

Variety c

First day Covers

Many covers addressed to I Sanders (a stamp dealer in Southampton) exist

Plain fdc, flap missing on back, but interesting - fdc Jersey; addressed to artist of war occupation stamps; and 2½d has 'broken wheel' flaw


Date shown in text is 'May 9, 1948'
Cover printed with error in text '...designed by Jersey's own artist, Edmund Blampied,...' deleted.

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Contact : Malcolm Sanders :  kg6gb@hotmail.com