Europa National Music Instruments

For immediate release – 28 April 2014  

Music in the Bailiwick of Guernsey has been celebrated thanks to a special stamp issue from Guernsey Post.

Guernsey Post will issue six augmented reality stamps, which, when viewed using a standard smartphone or tablet, activate an exclusive video of the chifournie being played in the island.

Dawn Gallienne, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post explains: - “Each year we are given a theme to interpret by PostEurop, the trade association which has represented European public postal operators since 1993.

“This year’s ‘Musical Instruments’ theme has seen us delve deep into the island’s history books to uncover the traditional musical instrument most associated with Guernsey - the chifournie, or hurdy-gurdy, as it is known today.”

Design agency The Potting Shed was asked to produce a video of the chifournie being played for the AR stamp, but soon encountered something of a challenge: - “We quickly realised that the chifournie is somewhat of an enigma - relatively rare and extremely hard to track down,” said Gareth Rowson from the Potting Agency. “Eventually, we came across professional musician Clare Salaman, who, along with her Hurdy Gurdy, flew in from the UK for a whirlwind tour of Guernsey.

“Our recording locations included Torteval for the sound, and a derelict barn in St. Saviour, which provided the perfect old-world backdrop and scene setting coastline, sheltering us from the brutal late-winter weather - whilst enabling Claire to play some old Guernesiaise folk tunes,” said Gareth.

Dawn added: - “We are absolutely thrilled with the video for our AR stamps.  This was a truly unique project and we are delighted to be able to showcase the chifournie being expertly played by Clare in such a beautiful setting.”

The AR stamps are available to pre-order now by visiting www.guernseystamps.com or by calling Philatelic Customer Services on (01481) 716486.

-End release-

Press enquiries to:
Sarah Amies, pr consultant, 01484 687040/07811 133973
Dawn Gallienne, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post, 01481 733524

 

Notes to editors: -

Specification details

Date of issue: 8 May 2014
Designer: The Potting Shed
Printer: Lowe-Martin
Values: 40p, 53p, 55p, 63p, 71p, 79p
Process: Offset Lithography
Stamp sizes: 45mm deep x  34mm wide
Sheet size: 100mm deep x  140mm wide
Paper: 100gsm unwatermarked / PVA Adhesive
Perforation: 13
Sheet: 10
Cylinder: A