Norwegian artist makes his Mörck on emergency services stamps

Wednesday 29 March 2023

A Norwegian artist has produced an illustrated history of Jersey’s ‘blues-and-twos’ emergency services in a new set of stamps.

Vehicles, aircraft and boats dating from the early 20th century to the present day are depicted on the new set of eight stamps issued by Jersey Post

A Lord fire engine used in St Helier around 1905 is the oldest exhibit in the collection of eight stamps illustrated by Norwegian artist Martin Mörck.

Other historic vehicles featured include a Jaguar MkII police car from the 1960s, a Ford Model T field ambulance from the First World War, and the Elizabeth Rippon lifeboat, which was in service from 1948 to 1975.

Pictured: A selection of the stamps including a Ford Model T field ambulance (1917), the Lord St. Helier fire engine (c. 1905), a BMW i3 electric police car (2019-) and a King Air 200 air ambulance (2018-2020).

The remaining stamps focus on the past two decades, including an inshore fire-and-rescue craft, the King Air 200 air ambulance (2018-2020) and a BMW i3 electric police car in service since 2019.

Arguably the second-most famous Norwegian artist with a five-letter surname starting with ‘M’ after Edvard Munch, Mr Mörck has more than four decades’ experience working in stamp design, as well as engraving and portrait drawing and has completed a number of assignments for Jersey Post during his career.

He said: "Every year, Jersey Post asks me to create a set of stamps and I’m always prepared with rolled-up sleeves.

"It’s not just a case of designing a set of stamps, it’s telling a story; like postal ships of Jersey from ancient sailboat to present day ship, or emergency vehicles from horse-driven to electric-powered."

Pictured: A selection of the stamps including a Jaguar MkII police car (1960s), RNLB Elizabeth Rippon (1948-1975), Channel Islands Air Search (2019-), and an inshore fire & rescue craft (2000-).

Mr Mörck added: "I get totally immersed and stay in the creative bubble until I can see the story told – it’s hard, but I love it."

Jersey Post’s A History of Jersey’s Emergency Services stamps will be available to buy from all post office outlets from Saturday.