New Issue: Jersey Aero Club (Jersey)

I feel that Jersey stamps are interesting but I either absolutely love them or feel disappointed by them. Jersey's stamps are best when they focus on local history and this is a set that I really like.

These stamps celebrate 75 years of Jersey Aero Club , which was founded in 1951 and, according to the Jersey Stamp Bulletin (which I received today) "the Club has helped foster and support Jersey's thriving aviation community" ever since. The Bulletin also tells us that "each stamp highlights a key chapter in the Club's history, from developing its fleet and supporting pilots to championing aviation initiatives and looking towards the future."

There is also a miniature sheet, which I find a bit disappointing and seems to be there only to encourage collectors to part with another £5.

Design Quality: The design is based on photography, which is not always a strength. However, when looking at the history of a Club, the photography tells a story of how it has moved from the past to the present. The mix of black-and-white and colour photography really helps us feel this. The background to the souvenir sheet (shown at the top) shows a photograph of Jersey airport taken rom the air, which is a very appropriate "backdrop" for the Club's story. 8/10

Theme and Subject Choice: This is the 75th anniversary of an important aviation club on Jersey. 8/10

Historic and Cultural Relevance: It's a major anniversary and the stamps tell the story of the last 75 years. 9/10

Innovation and Creativity: The design isn't groundbreaking and the photography is more documentary-style rather than creative. However, I think it is fair to say that the photographs have been used in quite a creative way to tell the story of the Jersey Aero Club. 6/10

Collectability: People with thematic collections about aviation will like these, and I imagine they will also appeal to people interested in Jersey's history. 7/10

Personal Appeal: This is a great set of stamps that traces the story of the Jersey Aero Club from the year it was founded to the present day. The only negatives are the price (£19.87 for the set) and the £5 miniature sheet that doesn't really add anything to the set. 8/10 Overall Score: 46/60