Guernsey Post is issuing a new set of stamps, celebrating two extraordinary postal stories.
The stamps trace the journey of two postal pioneers: Harry Turner and Major ‘Peabod’ Palmer who both travelled across the Channel Islands… through the post.
Bridget Yabsley, Head of Philatelic at Guernsey Post, said: “Though separated by more than 30 years and shaped by different circumstances, the stories of Harry Turner and Major Palmer demonstrate how ingenuity, determination and an unconventional interpretation of postal regulations created two of the most enduring tales in the Channel Islands’ postal heritage.”
The four stamps are presented as se-tenant pairs – stamps designed to sit next to each other and form a single continuous image across the perforation.
One pair depicts Guernsey’s Harry Turner who posted himself to Sark in 1905.
He exploited an obscure rule in Guernsey’s postal system and persuaded the postal team to “deliver” him to Sark.
Though a light-hearted experiment, it has since gone down as one of the most memorable tales in Guernsey’s postal history.
In 1940, Major Palmer achieved a similar feat, though under different circumstances.
Travel between the islands was limited during Nazi occupation, but Major Palmer realised there was no rule saying humans couldn’t be delivered.
Major Palmer was delivered to Alderney under postal supervision, but the regulations were later changed, making it the last voyage of its kind.
Mrs Yabsley added: “We are delighted to share these remarkable stories through these joint special issues.”
The stamps will be issued on September 1 and are available to pre-order now.
