15.12.09 - Vote for top stamp of 2009 

Jersey Post is inviting Islanders to vote for their favourite stamp from the 13 sets issued in 2009.

A shortlist of the six most popular stamps selected by Jersey Post employees is available online and can be viewed at Jersey Post’s 2009 Stamp Competition display at Broad Street Post Office.  Votes must be cast by 31 January and the names of those who helped choose the favourite stamp will be entered into a prize draw. They winner will receive a 2009 Year Book and a behind the scenes tour of Postal Headquarters. 

The six shortlisted issues/stamps are:

  1. Jersey Nature - Fungi III - 80p
  2. Jersey Railways III - 61p
  3. Jersey Birdlife III – Song birds - 45p
  4. Jersey Scenery II - 42p
  5. Astronomy – 76p
  6. Jersey Marine Life VII - Seaweed – 37p  

For information on how to cast your vote either in person, by post or by email, please click here.

The story behind all the stamps issued by Jersey Post is presented in the Stamps of Jersey 2009 Year Book.  With a foreword from the Managing Director of Postal Business at Jersey Post, Ian Carr, it comes in a slip case containing all the stamps issued - except Souvenir Sheetlets, Souvenir Miniature Sheets and NVI (self-adhesive stamps with no value shown) reprints - together with special mounts. 

Mr Carr said: ‘This year we have issued a programme of stamps celebrating the Island’s history, its wonderful environment, flora and fauna, special anniversaries and local organisations. I would like to thank our Philatelic Services team, the artists commissioned to design the stamps and our specialist printers who have worked together to produce such an exciting and diverse series.’ 

The series issued in 2009 were:

  • Jersey -Aviation History X
  • Europa Astronomy
  • Jersey Endangered Species - The 50th Anniversary of Durrell 
  • Jersey Spring Flowers
  • Jersey Railways III
  • Jersey Surfing
  • Jersey Postal History III - Post Office Buildings
  • 40th Anniversary Investiture the Prince of Wales
  • Jersey - Marine Life VII
  • Jersey Birdlife III - Song Birds
  • Jersey Scenery II
  • Jersey Nature - Fungi III
  • Jersey Naval Connections III 

Producing stamps is a painstaking process which can take a minimum of two years from selecting the subject to the date of issue. Jersey Post’s Philatelic Design and Marketing team spend considerable time researching each subject, drawing on local expertise in the process.  The Islanders and Jersey organisations involved in the production of the 2009 programme included: Jersey Astronomy Club, Dr Lee Durrell, Michael Ginns, Jersey Surfboard Club and the Oxenden Family, Mike Stentiford and the Société Jersiaise. 

On occasions Jersey Post can draw on the knowledge of household names such as astronomer Sir Patrick Moore who wrote the summary of the history of Galileo to accompany the Astronomy Stamps issued in February. 

Jersey Post has been issuing stamps since 1 October 1969 when the Island obtained postal independence from the UK. An inaugural set of postage stamps was issued to celebrate independence and, with it, Jersey took its first tentative steps into the world of stamp production and philately. The first definitive stamps featured Elizabeth Castle, La Hougue Bie, Portelet, Corbière, Mont Orgueil Castle the Arms and Royal Mace, a chart of the English Channel and a Jersey Cow. 

On 1 January 2000, a very special definitive postage stamp was created to mark the beginning of the new Millennium and this was the first postage stamp in Europe to include 22 carat gold in the printing process.  

The 2010 Philatelic programme will feature 13 issues. It begins in January with a set of stamps to mark the centenary of the Girl Guides.