Jersey Post plan to get kids into stamp collecting

Sunday 20 March 2016

Jersey Post are giving away a free stamp album and an activity book to Year 4 pupils to try to get them into the traditional hobby of stamp collecting.

Over a thousand copies of 'The Collectables' will be handed out to children aged between eight and nine, together with a packet of mixed stamps to get them started.

The 32-page album, which is being distributed in time for the Easter holidays, explores Jersey Post stamp issues across one year with themes including Birdlife, Coastal Towers, Charles Dickens and Jambo the Gorilla. There are also illustrated spaces for children to stick their stamps, as well as fun facts, colourful illustrations and interactive puzzles.

And the idea is already proving a hit with the children, who say that the love the idea:

- “It’s very interesting. The book tells you about lots of different subjects so you can learn as you read. I really like the stamps; they’re fun to stick in.” - Alex Sadler, aged eight.

- “It’s fun licking the stamps and sticking them in the book. I like the Durrell pages best because I like animals.” - Jamie Ainsworth, aged eight.

- “I like it. It’s interesting because there are different stamps to stick in. I like the butterfly stamps the best because they’re pretty.” - Evelyn Matthews, aged eight.

- “It’s fun because you can look at the numbers on the stamps and in the book to see which stamps to stick where. I like the airport pages the best because of the pictures on the stamps.” - Lucy Cohu, aged eight.

Rachel MacKenzie, Philatelic Marketing Manager at Jersey Post, said that the scheme built on the success of last year.

She said: “We launched the initiative last year and the feedback we received was extremely positive; it was fantastic to see children so enthused about stamps and stamp collecting and we knew we had to follow it up with another album. This year, The Collectables is packed full of more clues and puzzles and once again we’re giving away a free packet of stamps with each copy so the children can start collecting straight away.

“The Collectables is designed to get children talking about stamps, sharing and swapping but it’s also a great learning tool. Stamps provide a fascinating insight in the country from which they’re issued and we’re sure the children will pick up some interesting facts about the Island in which they live.”

 St Lawrence Primary School was the first school to receive copies of The Collectables, and  Headteacher Chris Jones said: “The girls and boys in Year 4 were thrilled to receive The Collectables stamp album and activity book from Jersey Post. This is a great initiative which is not only educational, whereby pupils can learn about their Island, but also encourages a very popular hobby in which they can actively collect, share and swap with their friends.”