Grove Koger

Lundy Island, that is, and its local stamps.

I’ve written before about postage stamps, partly because they often have a pertinent geographical aspect, and partly because they’re miniature works of art—sometimes very good ones. Given their diminutive size, they tend to rely heavily on composition, meaning that the best ones usually have striking designs and simple frames that set off the designs nicely. 

Local posts offer their services over a limited geographical area, and while some have been governmental or quasi-governmental, more, I think, have been private concerns operating where and when governmental agencies couldn’t or wouldn’t.

One such private concern operates on Lundy, a small British island off the north coast of Devon near the mouth of the Bristol Channel. Its name is derived from the Old Norse words lund and ey, meaning “puffin island”—a reference to the birds (Fratercula arctica) that gather there in great numbers between April and July.

Lundy had enjoyed British General Post Office service since 1887, but lost it in 1928. The following year, the island’s owner began collecting and dispatching mail free of charge, but on November 1, he instituted privately printed stamps (initially in denomination of 1/2 and 1 “puffin”) that he sold in order to cover the costs of delivering mail to the mainland.

There were rules governing where Lundy’s stamps could be placed, and at first they could go only on the backs of cards and letters so as not to be confused with the official British stamps that would be necessary off-island. That rule changed somewhat in 1962, when users were allowed to place their local stamps on the address side of postcards, as long as they were set apart from the official stamps. The change was extended to all mail in 1992, and eventually Lundy was allowed to print stamps that included a full charge for Royal Mail.

Over the years, Lundy’s stamps have been issued in a number of denominations and designs, but to my mind, the most distinctive have featured the island’s attractive puffins.

Should you be interested in visiting Lundy, you’ll be glad to know that it’s served during the warmer months from the mainland ports of Ilfracombe and Bideford by a small ferry, the MS Oldenburg. And should you wish to stay longer than a few hours, the island boasts nearly two dozen self-catering properties, including a castle and a lighthouse. But you’ll want to bring your own candles, as Lundy’s generators shut down at night! However, the Marisco Tavern, which is always open (although alcohol is served only during “permitted hours”) remains lighted through the dark hours.

The image at the top of today’s post shows Lundy’s first two stamps. The second, created by Jhamez84 and reproduced courtesy of Wikipedia, is a map of Lundy indicating its position at the mouth of the Bristol Channel. The photograph of Lundy’s lighthouse is by andyg7kna (pixabay.com) and is reproduced courtesy of Needpix.com. The fourth image is a 1985 overprint on a 1974 stamp and commemorates the first balloon flight from the island, while the fifth shows the Marisco Tavern along with the island’s church and post office.

□□□

If you’ve enjoyed today’s post, please share!