New Issue: Jersey's International Connections (Jersey)

Jersey's most recent issue celebrates Jersey's International Connections. This is a set of six stamps. The Jersey Stamps website says: "Jersey's International Connections, illustrated by Daniel Allison, highlights key moments where people, products and ideas have travelled internationally, shaping reputations and forging relationships that continue to resonate today."

The stamps show: The Cod Industry (large cod being caught in a net by fishermen) Jersey Jumpers (an American football player carrying an anchor with a ball of wool in the background) Jersey Cows (the Statue of Liberty, a large ice cream and some Jersey cows) Prisoners of War (various people in military uniform, a boat and some buildings) Hollywood Stars (an old movie camera and generic pictures of actors) New Jersey (an old scroll with New Jersey written on it)

I think these stamps are trying really hard to look artistic and meaningful, and sometimes they succeed… but sometimes they just end up being confusing. The designs are very busy, with lots of colours and shapes everywhere, so they definitely catch your eye. But after looking at them for a while, I still wasn’t always sure what the “international connection” actually was supposed to be. However, it is not clear to me by looking at the stamps how Jersey has made such a big difference.

So, if we start with the 82p stamp, the cod industry is a big thing for many countries. I can see from the stamp that we're looking at cod being caught in a net. But I don't know how this relates to Jersey or what the "international connection" is apart from being one of many places that has a cod industry. Jersey jumpers, Jersey cows and New Jersey - well, they speak for themselves to a point although I'm not sure what the connection is to the Statue of Liberty or American football (I'm guessing it's just the use of the word jersey to describe the shirts). But what about prisoners of war? What is it about Jersey's prisoners of war we're celebrating? And Hollywood stars - I have no idea how Jersey has influenced Hollywood and neither the stamp nor the Jersey Stamps website tells me. I found out from Google that at least four famous actors come from Jersey: Henry Cavill, Lillie Langtry (1853–1929), Anthony Faramus (1920–1990) and Seymour Hicks (1871–1949). Maybe it would be a good idea to add this information to the website?

I really like the idea behind this set. It shows that Jersey is more than just a tiny island in the English Channel and that it has influenced lots of things around the world. The problem is that the stamps don’t explain themselves very well, and the Jersey Stamps website doesn’t help enough either. So unfortunately I'm not totally sure what is going on in these stamps.

Design Quality - The designs are bold, colourful and dramatic, which makes them stand out straight away. They look a bit like movie posters mixed with graffiti art. However, they are also really crowded. There is so much going on in some of them that it’s hard to know where to look first.

For example, the cod industry stamp has fish, nets, people and splashes of colour everywhere. It looks exciting, but I still don’t really understand what Jersey’s special connection to cod fishing is meant to be. The Prisoners of War stamp is even more confusing because it feels serious and emotional, but there’s no explanation of what story it is telling.

Some stamps work better than others. The Jersey cows and New Jersey ones are clearer because most people already know those connections. 6/10

Theme / Subject Choice - The theme itself is a very good one. It’s interesting to show how Jersey has connections all around the world instead of only focusing on beaches and castles.

But the collection depends too much on people already knowing the history. If you don’t already understand the stories, the stamps don’t really teach you. A good stamp should make people curious and help them understand.

The Hollywood stars stamp is the biggest example of this. I had absolutely no idea what Jersey’s connection to Hollywood was supposed to be. I found out from Google that actors like Henry Cavill, Lillie Langtry, Anthony Faramus and Seymour Hicks all came from Jersey, but the stamp itself gives no clue at all. Even adding names or small details on the website would make a huge difference. 7/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance - There is definitely real history and culture behind these stamps. Jersey cows and Jersey jumpers are famous internationally, and New Jersey obviously connects the island to America. The Prisoners of War stamp probably refers to the German occupation during World War II, which is an important part of Jersey’s history.

The problem is not the relevance — it’s the explanation. The ideas feel important, but sometimes the stamps assume too much knowledge. 8/10 Innovation and Creativity - I think the designs are creative because they don’t look like traditional stamps at all and definitely don't feel like most modern Jersey stamps. They are more like modern art collages. The artist clearly tried to make each stamp feel energetic and emotional instead of just showing a simple picture.

At the same time, being creative doesn’t always mean being successful. Sometimes the artwork becomes so abstract that the message gets lost. It’s innovative, but maybe a little too artistic. 6/10

Collectability - I don’t think these are especially collectable unless you already collect Jersey stamps. They don’t have one really iconic image that makes people instantly want them.

Thematic collectors often like stamps that are about a particular thing or connected to famous historical moments. Some people will probably love the style, but others might find them messy. 4/10 Personal appeal - I really like how the designer has tried to be bold - these aren't boring stamps! But after looking closely, I still feel confused about several of the “international connections.” That makes the collection a bit frustrating because it feels like there are interesting stories hidden inside it, but nobody fully tells them to you. 4/10 Overall Score - 35/60