Guernsey Post announces that its philatelic bureau will issue stamps depicting some of the fascinating objects excavated in local archaeological sites in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Reflecting this year’s EUROPA theme, National Archaeological Discoveries, two of the stamps bear the official EUROPA logo, a registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop, the trade association which has been representing European postal operators since 1993 (stamp issue date: 1 May 2025)
The stamps
Sark Coin - During the first century BC a hidden stash of coins and silver phalerae—decorative horse disks— was buried near the Mill on Sark. This hoard, uncovered by chance in 1719 and further excavated in the early 2000s, includes a silver coin of Atevla Vlatos, once a ruler of the Remi tribe in northern France.
The Gran’mère du Chimquière, St Martin’s - Meet the ‘grandmother of the cemetery,’ an enchanting Neolithic standing stone at the gate to St Martin’s Churchyard. Transformed over centuries, her face and cloak were carved out during the Roman or early medieval period.
Ancient intaglio from the Bonded Store, St Peter Port (EUROPA stamp) - This red jasper intaglio measures just 15mm and portrays a quirky ‘gryllos’—a combination of overlapping human and animal heads, dating back to the late second or early third century AD.
Rouen Jug Sherd, St Peter Port Harbour (EUROPA stamp) - This fragment of a jug, made in Rouen in the 12th or early 13th century, was discovered by divers. The durability of pottery brings history to life, with pieces often found along the shore next to Castle Cornet or in the seabed.
Venus Figurine, La Plaiderie, St Peter Port - Venus figurines were common in Roman homes during the first and second centuries AD, used in daily rituals at household shrines. This example was unearthed in the 1980s during an excavation at La Plaiderie.
Bellarmine Jug, Castle Cornet - These rugged stoneware jugs from 16th and 17th century Cologne, western Germany, were marked by a distinctive bearded face inspired by the mythical ‘wild man’ or ‘green man.’ Used for transporting wine and other liquids, Bellarmine jugs have been found as far as North America, Asia, and Australia.
Dr Philip de Jersey FSA, States Archaeologist, who assisted the philatelic bureau with the stamps, said: - “We have an extraordinarily rich archaeological heritage in these islands, and I’ve had the privilege of excavating sites ranging across thousands of years, from the Neolithic dolmen of La Varde, through Iron Age, Roman and medieval settlements up to Second World War fortifications.
“Currently, the site that most excites and intrigues me is Longis Common, on Alderney. Since an accidental discovery in 2017 we have been excavating an Iron Age cemetery and Roman settlement concealed beneath the sands on the Common. The quality of preservation is exceptional, and with sufficient resources this could be the Pompeii of the Channel Islands.”
The stamp products are available to pre-order from 17 April 2025 at www.guernseystamps.com or by calling Philatelic Customer Services on +44 (0) 1481 716486.