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Sunday 24 August 2014

By Boat and Plane to Guernsey - Sunday Stamps.

I have never been to the Channel Islands and only have a few of their stamps. However I came across this lot last week on my favourite market stall.


Guernsey
The Dasher appeared in a Mail Boat set issued in 1972, the Isle of Guernsey in another Mail Boat set the following year.

The Arthur Lionel lifeboat stamp was issued in 1974 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. The Arthur Lionel was launched in 1912 at Liverpool and appeared on another stamp in 1999 on the 175th Anniversary of the RNLI.

The Westland Wessex stamp was issued in 1973 to commemorate 50 years of flying to the island and the three aircraft used by Cobham Air Services. The plane shown came to grief on the 3 July 1935 when it ditched in the English Channel with the loss of the pilot, the passenger managed to escape. The aircraft was carrying only the one passenger from Guernsey to Bournemouth. Its starboard engine failed 25 to 30 minutes into the flight but carried on with the two remaining engines. After an half-an-hour one or both of these engines failed and the aircraft crashed into the sea. The passenger was picked up after two hours but the pilot was never found. An inquiry concluded that the pilot had taken an unnecessary but not wholly unjustifiable risk to continue with two engines and he should have considered turning for the French coast.

The Les Casquets lighthouse stamp was issued in 1976; the light guides shipping to Alderney and Guernsey.

Herm Island used to issue its own stamps. Herm is one of the islands making up the Bailiwick of Guernsey. the 7p stamp was issued in 1975.

To see what others have chosen this week please visit Viridian's Sunday-Stamps-184.

7 comments:

Postcardy said...

A nice group of stamps. At first, they look like they are from the same series, but apparently they are not?

Jo said...

Nice historical pictures. I have been to the Channel Islands, delightful place to visit. Sad little tale about the plane. Odd that the passenger survived but not the pilot.

viridian said...

I like the lighthouse one the best. Thanks for adding the additional information. and as always, thanks for joining in this week.

luvlinens said...

You are right Postcardy they do look very similar. They are very attractive stamps all.

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

I wonder how many Herm stamps were ever used. They're all very attractive stamps.

tony said...

They Really Are Beautiful & Evocative.A Lovely Set.

Little Nell said...

Your market stall came up trumps again. The colours are very Guernsey.