06.01.12 - Jersey is first for Diamond Jubilee
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year will be one to remember and, once again, Jersey Post has created a ‘first’ in stamp printing techniques and innovative design.
On 6 February 2012, the sixtieth anniversary of The Queen’s Accession, Jersey Post will issue just 600 Limited Edition Souvenir Miniature Sheets that incorporate a very special ‘wow’ factor – a genuine 1.25mm diamond. Each hand cut diamond is affixed to the aptly named ‘Diamond Diadem’ worn by The Queen on one of two stamps contained within the Limited Edition Souvenir Miniature Sheet. The other stamp features her late father, King George VI.
This is the first time that a British stamp has been adorned with a real diamond and these unique Souvenir Miniature Sheets are securely presented in a deluxe presentation box with a numbered certificate. They’re only available from the Jersey Philatelic Bureau and purely on a first come, first served basis.
The Imperial State Crown also appears on the Souvenir Miniature Sheet and is enhanced with spot embossing and translucent hot foiling.
The diamonds will only feature on the 600 Limited Edition Souvenir Miniature Sheets; however other products – two stamps and a Souvenir Miniature Sheet without diamonds - will also be available on 6 February. The two stamps within the Souvenir Miniature Sheet are also available as a se-tenant pair on First Day Cover envelopes and in Presentation Packs. The First Day Cover envelopes have been finished beautifully with a silver ink First Day of Issue datestamp.
Sally Diamond Ferbrache is the designer behind this unique stamp issue and is also the Head of Jersey Post Philatelic and said: “We’ve always had a close relationship with Cartor Security Printing of France and the Managing Director, Ian Brigham, had shared with me early in 2011 that they had developed a unique technique of being able to affix a real diamond to a stamp. Of course, given the Diamond Jubilee, it was an opportunity we could not miss. And to be the first British postal administration to do so was the icing on the cake.”
Cartor was delighted to work with Jersey Post on The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – Accession stamp issue as Managing Director, Ian Brigham, explains, “Our team at Cartor is particularly proud of its contribution to the production of the Jersey Diamond Jubilee stamp. Our role is to make the technique enhance the subject, and on this occasion, we brought to the project our expertise in terms of embossing and the application of unusual materials to stamps. Without doubt, the diamond enhances the sobriety and elegance of this exceptional Jersey Post Souvenir Miniature Sheet.”
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Accession stamp issue products to be issued on 6 February 2012 include:
- Limited Edition Souvenir Miniature Sheet with diamond
- Souvenir Miniature Sheet (without diamond)
- A se-tenant pair of stamps
- Sheetlet of four stamps (two sets of se-tenant stamps)
- First Day Cover envelopes for Souvenir Miniature Sheet and Se-tenant stamps only
- Presentation Packs for Souvenir Miniature Sheet and Se-tenant stamps only
Jersey Post is recommending people pre-order Limited Edition products at www.diamondjubileestamps.com prior to issue day of 6 February 2012.