World-First Hologram Stamp Issued by Jersey Post

Thursday 12 February 2015

A new range of Definitive stamps including a world-first in stamp print technology will be issued by Jersey Post next week.

With permission granted to Jersey Post by the Bailiff of Jersey, ten new Definitive stamps depict the Crest of Jersey in a palette of colours chosen to reflect a contemporary representation for the Islanders of today. They are accompanied by a new £5 Definitive stamp, presenting the Crest of Jersey as a hologram. It is the first stamp in the world to feature the effect of a hologram which has been embossed.

The stamps will be released next Wednesday.

According to Jersey Post’s Head of Philatelic, Melanie Gouzinis: “The £10 Definitive stamp, issued in 2012, features ‘Equanimity’, the first official holographic portrait of The Queen and we are delighted to issue a suitably fine £5 stamp to sit alongside it in our Definitive range. Jersey’s rich heritage is defined by its ancient traditions and its links to the British crown and the Crest of Jersey, which was granted to the Bailiff of Jersey by King Edward I in 1279, is perfect for this new set of stamps.”

The hologram stamp was created as a collaboration between the design agency True North and Cartor International Security Printers, working in conjunction with the hologram manufacturer, Kurz in Germany. “Not only does the £5 stamp incorporate three different holographic effects,” she continued, “but all the stamps in the range include micro-printing. The names of all twelve Island parishes are printed in micro text in the background waves on the stamps and you will have to get your magnifying glass out to see them!”

The Crest of Jersey is a red shield with three gold leopards facing left, each with a raised paw. The lion is the beast most often found in heraldry and early English heraldry holds that any lion in a walking position is in fact a leopard. The typical heraldic leopard differs from the natural leopard in that it has no spots.

Interestingly, the leopards depicted on the Crest of Jersey have had varying depictions over the centuries, some of which feature spots and some of which don’t. There is no ‘official’ standard and differing versions can be seen on the Jersey flag, bank notes, ancient island drawings and modern day buildings, demonstrating how the design has been interpreted over the years. The design which appears on Jersey Post’s £5 hologram stamp is based on a version of the Crest with spotted leopards as referenced by the Société Jersiaise in an article entitled, ‘The Jersey Leopards: Pictures of Pussycats’ (see Notes for Editors). A colour holographic effect has been added to the spots on the £5 stamp, making them appear to change colour with movement.