New Issue: Witch Trials (Jersey)

I try to review all of the new issues from Royal Mail, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands but it seems this is one I missed.

Four weeks ago Jersey issues a set commemorating the island's historic witch trials and somehow it escaped my notice. However, it's still quite a new issue and I don't think anyone will mind too much if my review is a bit late.

There haven't been too many stamp issues about witch trials. The only ones I can find are a 50c stamp from Grenada in 2000 marking the Salem Witch Trials in the US (below, A), and this 2016 stamp from Åland which is quite dark and shows a young woman (Karin Persdotter) about to be beheaded with an axe (below, B). I have found this was the main way so-called witches were executed in Scandinavian nations and also that there were several women executed in Åland in 1666 as a witch craze swept across parts of Europe. Karin was the first "witch" to be executed in the Åland islands, so it is perhaps a good thing that she was remembered on a stamp 350 years later - but if they wanted to show her some respect they should have done it better.

A: Grenada, 2000 B: Åland, 2016

C: French Andorra, 2022

French Andorra also issued a single stamp in 2022 marking the 550th anniversary of the execution of Joana Call for witchcraft (left, C). This looks more like a Hallowe'en cartoon stamp than something remembering a historic injustice. I can't find anything to confirm how Joana died but it looks pretty horrible and this stamp is distasteful. There were better ways they could have remembered Joana than this really gruesome drawing. I can't describe how terrible it is. I really don't like the stamps from Åland and Andorra. I don't mind the Grenada stamp but it does seem a strange choice for a set marking the Millennium.

I can't find any other stamps about witch trials, which probably isn't very surprising. I think that this set from Jersey is the first time ever that there has been a complete set telling the story of witch trials. Jersey Post's website says: "[Jersey was] known as the Atlantic capital of witch hunting due to the percentage of those accused in proportion to the amount of residents on the island, the stamp set sheds a small light on those accused of witchcraft and the various moments and elements of the trials." It's a really ambitious thing to do, especially to do it sensitively, honestly and in a way that gives the victims dignity Can they do it better than Andorra and Åland? The stamps are illustrated by Petra Dufkova and show: "Accusation" (80p) "Superstition & Folklore" (£1.20) 1562 - First Conviction (£1.35) Imprisonment (£1.90) 1563 - Trial of Thomasse Becquet (£2.30) 1585 - Trial of Jeanne le Vesconte (£3.00) "Judgement" (£3.90) 1591 - Trial of Symon Vauldin (£4.85)

There is also a minisheet (left) with an extra £5 stamp. The Jersey Post website states: "the miniature sheet depicts a crowd gathering for the execution of Marie Esnouf who was sentenced to death in 1648. Her execution was said to have drawn crowds that hadn't been seen since the Prince visited Jersey." Jersey Heritage has an interesting account of the island's witch trials on its website. This provides a lot of information about a time when people were suspicious of people they thought might be witches. It seems strange to us now but in the 16th and 17th centuries people had different views. The article tells us about the "outbreaks of witchcraft panic" and explains how bad things were in Jersey where "at least 65 witch trials came before Jersey’s Royal Court with 33 leading to execution and eight to banishment". 57 of the 65 accused were women. Thomasse Becquet, shown on the £2.30 stamp, was the third person we know to be charged with witchcraft. Fortunately she was eventually "discharged". Jeanne le Vesconte, who appears on the £3.00 stamp, was not so lucky. In 1585, during a plague outbreak, she was found guilt of witchcraft as she had "infected some and cured others". She was executed by hanging in St Ouen in November 1585.

Symon Vauldin is on the £4.85 stamp and sadly he suffered a similar fate. During his trial he confessed to "crimes" that included "having familiar communication with the devil in the different forms of a cat and a crow". He was hanged in 1591. Because we usually think of witches as being women - mainly because the majority of people accused were women - I think it is good to remember that there were some men who were also accused of witchcraft and who were executed for it.

Marie Esnouf did not confess to anything but was found guilty anyway and was hanged in the market place in front of a large crowd. Jersey Post says that "Petra Dufkova reimagined what [Thomasse and Jeanne] could have looked like by using historical articles and illustrations from that time period." It doesn't say if there were any records that tell us what Symon or Marie looked like. For anyone interested, a full list of Jersey's witch trials can be found here. It is all pretty horrible but of course it is history. It seems shocking that this happened but the "witchcraft panic" was a real thing. I think that Jersey Post have tried their best to create a set of stamps that honestly remembers this terrible time and the people who were put on trial for their lives. They have done it with a set of beautiful but quite haunting illustrations. It is important to remember our history with stamps and not only the good times but also moments we might not be so proud of. The witch trials are a good example - no-one feels proud of what happened all these years later but it is absolutely important that we remember the victims and understand the times they lived in. History is not just about triumphs and it shouldn't always make us feel comfortable and proud. How we do history matters and I think Jersey Post has done quite well to create something that helps us learn about Jersey's sometimes dark past. As far as I know Jersey Post is the first to create an entire set of stamps to remember witch trials. How many other countries would even think of doing this? Not many! Is this Jersey set better than the stamps for Åland and Andorra? Absolutely - these are the best stamps anyone's ever created about witch trials, but that isn't really saying much. Has there ever been a worse stamp than that Andorra one?

Do I like these stamps? It's a difficult question for me to answer, but I'll do my best!

Design Quality - I think the design is strong and the artwork is tremendous. It does give the subject dignity and they are haunting rather then gruesome, which helps to show respect! I am less impressed with the £5 minisheet, which shows a large crowd gathering to watch an execution. It doesn't seem to fit with the other stamps in the set which are a bit more classy The minisheet doesn't feel as respectful. 6/10

Theme and Subject Choice - Part of me thinks that this is not a good theme for stamps at all. But part of me also thinks that this was a serious attempt to "shed a small light" on an unpleasant chapter in Jersey's history and Jersey Post should get credit for that. At least they get that history isn't just about the big achievements that make everyone proud, but can sometimes be about accepting that people got things wrong or about recognising injustice. 5/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance - These are definitely of historical and cultural relevance to Jersey. 10/10

Innovation and Creativity - The design is creative and, as I said, it gives the victims dignity. It tells a story and it is the first serious attempt to do this on stamps. 6/10

Collectability - I really don't think there are too many people who collect stamps on this theme. If there were any, they'd have very small collections. There may be some people who like the idea that these are a bit different. 1/10

Personal Appeal - I've said the artwork is really good. I think the design is a strong one and I also think that Jersey Post has tried to do something positive to remind people of an unpleasant time in Jersey's history. I like that at least three of the victims are brought to life and we see them as normal people. And yes, these stamps definitely are better than the three other stamps I have found on the same subject, but I still don't really like them. I always try to be fair when I review stamps. With these stamps I appreciate the effort that has gone into them and I can see what the artist has tried to do, but maybe these illustrations would be better in a museum or in a history book? It is a very unusual subject to put on stamps. Also, with the price of the full set a massive £24.30 I'm afraid I wouldn't buy these even if I did like them. I know postal prices have gone up but that is just ridiculous. 4/10

Overall score: 32/60 This is probably the hardest review I've written and it has taken me two days. When I started writing about stamps I never thought I would be researching horrible things like witch trials, but I suppose they are a part of history that we can't afford to forget.