Europa: The Postman's Van

For immediate release   30 April 2013

Guernsey Post announces the release of its latest stamps on 8 May 2013, reflecting this year's Europa theme The Postman's Van.

The stamps, which have been illustrated by Robin Carter, depict a selection of postal delivery vehicles which are used in different countries.

A Daihatsu Hijet van, one of a variety of vehicles used to cover some 74 delivery rounds across the Bailiwick of Guernsey, is depicted on the GY Letter stamp, together with a beautiful view of the sea at the top of Rouge Rue, St Peter Port.

In the UK the Royal Mail currently operates a fleet of 37,287 vehicles. However, until after the Second World War it was Morris vehicles which formed the bulk of the fleet and the UK Letter stamp shows the Royal Mail's Morris 6cwt O-Type van delivering in the Lake District.

La Poste, the mail service of France, is represented in the GY Large Letter stamp by one of its iconic fleet vehicles, a Citroen 2CV van shown outside a typical Paris café.

The instantly recognisable Deutsche Post, with its striking yellow and black logo, is depicted with a Deutsche Bundespost VW Beetle van in a Bavarian country setting (INT LETTER 20g stamp).   Also in Europe, the UK Large Letter stamp shows a Posten AB - Swedish postal service - Kalmar Tjorven (DAF) van in a Stockholm street.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) operates the largest civilian vehicle fleet in the world, with an estimated 218,684 vehicles. Completing the set is the INT LETTER 40g stamp value depicting a U.S. Mail Studebaker Zip van delivering to a mail box in a typical American suburb.

"We are delighted with the finished product for our Europa set," said Dawn Gallienne, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post. "Robin has injected his own unique style into the stamps and has represented different countries and their postal vehicles, which is a perfect fit for our Europa issue."

The stamps are available to pre-order now at www.guernseystamps.com or by contacting customer services on +44 (01481) 716486.

-End release-

 

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

 

Specification
Date of issue: 8 May 2013
Designer: Robin Carter
Printer: Cartor Security Printers
Values: GY Letter, GY Large Letter, UK Letter, UK Large Letter, INT Letter 20g, INT Letter 40g
Process: Offset Lithography
Stamp size: 38mm deep x 30.6mm wide
Souvenir sheet: 100mm deep x 140mm wide
Paper: 110gsm unwatermarked / PVA Adhesive
Perforation: 13.25 x 13
Cylinder: A