New Issues: Postboxes and Towers (Guernsey)

On Wednesday Guernsey issued not just one but two new sets of stamps.

I don't know why they have released two new sets on the same day but both are very nice and will appeal to people interested in history.

Here is the "Guernsey Post Boxes" set. There are six stamps in the set and they all show real postboxes from across Guernsey. The postboxes are of different designs and I'm not an expert on the different types of postboxes but that is quite a mix. You will notice that the postboxes on Guernsey are blue, apart from the gold one at St Clair Hill. This was painted gold in 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of Percy Hodge, who lived nearby, winning an Olympic gold medal in the 3000m steeplechase.

The stamps have used paintings rather than photography, which I think really works, and there are nice touches like the animals on top of the postbox at Les Sages, the bikes at Trinity Square and the date in the wall at Les Ozouets. These aren't just postboxes but postboxes that tell us about the island life they have been part of for well over a century (in most cases). Guernsey Stamps explained why this is an important issue. "From Victorian times to the present day, these distinctive structures have evolved alongside the island itself and this latest stamp issue celebrates their remarkable story.

"The Channel Islands hold a unique place in postal history. When Anthony Trollope recognised the potential of roadside letter boxes he had seen in France and Belgium, a trial was authorised here in 1852, making Guernsey and Jersey the first places in the British postal system to adopt pillar boxes. The Union Street pillar box, one of the original six installed in February 1853, remains in use today and is the oldest continuously used pillar box in the British Isles." That is not just of importance to Guernsey, but the history of postboxes in the UK! I had no idea that the oldest postbox in the British Isles is in Guernsey, which makes it even stranger that the Union Street postbox isn't included in this set! The only thing I really don’t understand is why the oldest postbox in the British Isles, which is in Guernsey, wasn’t included. That feels like a huge missed opportunity because it would have made the collection even more special and historically important.

Design Quality - The design is simple but effective. The postboxes are clearly the stars of the stamps, and the backgrounds help tell the story of where they are located. I especially like the blue bar at the bottom with the location names because it matches the colour of the postboxes and makes the whole set feel connected. The colours are soft and realistic.

Some people might find them a little old-fashioned, but I think that suits the subject. 7/10

Theme / Subject Choice - At first glance, “postboxes” sounds like a slightly boring topic for stamps. What is so special about postboxes? But actually, it works surprisingly well because these aren’t just random postboxes. They show different parts of Guernsey and they're also about island life, local history and community.

The collection turns ordinary objects into little pieces of history. However, I find it very strange that the oldest postbox in the British Isles was left out. If you're making a stamp collection about Guernsey postboxes, surely that should be included? It feels like making a football stamp set about the World Cup and showing all the teams apart from the winners. 8/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance - Postboxes might seem small and unimportant, but they are part of everyday history. They connect people, families and communities. These particular postboxes have been standing for years and show how communication worked before emails and mobile phones.

The stamps also show different styles of architecture, stone walls, lanes and landscapes that feel very Guernsey. They celebrate local identity without being flashy about it. 9/10

Innovation and Creativity - These stamps are well designed, but they are not especially innovative. They are mostly realistic paintings of postboxes, which is nice but not revolutionary. The clever part is taking something ordinary and turning it into a small collection. That idea is quite creative in itself. 6/10

Collectability - I think these will be quite collectable. Collectors often like stamps that show local history, unusual subjects and real places. These stamps feel like they belong to a specific place and tell a complete story and not just the history of postboxes.

They are probably not the sort of stamps that become world-famous collector's items, but I can definitely imagine postal history enthusiasts wanting to buy them. 7/10

Personal Appeal - I really like these stamps. They are beautiful without being dramatic, and they're full of character. They are also easy to connect with. Each stamp feels like a small snapshot of island life, and I liked imagining where these postboxes are (I checked out some of them on Google Maps) and who has used them over the years. 8/10

Overall Score - 45/60

The other issue is this set of four stamps. It is part of a SEPAC series celebrating iconic landscapes. Guernsey has chosen to celebrate Victoria Tower although I'm not sure why "Victoria Tower 1848 - 2026" has been included within the design, as it's not a major anniversary and it's not like the tower is going anywhere after this year.

This comes just a few days after Royal Mail's Castles. Which do you think are better? Personally, I prefer these because they show the tower as being within the community and as a part of island life.

I think this is a strong stamp set because it takes a single building and finds an interesting way to show it. The stamps show Victoria Tower from the north, east, south and west, which helps you understand both the tower itself and its place within Guernsey.

The tower looks impressive, but what I like most is that the photographs don't just focus on the stonework. You can see houses, streets, churches, gardens and even the sea in the background. That makes the tower feel like part of a living community rather than just an old monument.

The design is also very effective. The battlement pattern along the bottom edge is a clever touch that matches the architecture of the tower and gives the set a clear identity.

Design Quality - The design is simple but very well thought out. The battlement design at the bottom immediately tells you that this is a historic building. It ties the four stamps together nicely and doesn't distract from the photographs.

The photographs themselves are good choices because each one shows something slightly different. The tower is always the main focus, but the surroundings change depending on the angle.

The only reason I haven't scored it higher is that the overall layout is quite safe. It looks professional and attractive, but it doesn't do anything particularly unexpected. 8/10

Theme / Subject Choice - Victoria Tower is definitely a worthy subject. It is an important landmark and has been part of Guernsey's landscape for a long time, although it is surprising these stamps weren't created for 2023, which would have been the tower's 175th anniversary.

The idea of showing all four directions is clever because it encourages people to look more closely at the surroundings rather than just the tower itself.

However, it is still a collection about one building, which may not immediately excite everyone. 7/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance - The tower clearly has historical significance, and the dates shown on the stamps emphasise that long history. The stamps show that history is not separate from everyday life. The tower still stands among homes, roads and businesses, watching over the town much as it has for generations.

That makes the collection feel relevant rather than simply nostalgic. 9/10

Innovation and Creativity - The most creative part of the set is the concept of photographing the tower from four different directions. It sounds simple, but each stamp adds something new to the story. The battlement border is a strong design decision.

The set is creative without being flashy, although it relies more on excellent photography than artistic experimentation. 7/10

Collectability - I can see these being attractive to both stamp collectors and people interested in local history. The four-direction idea helps form a complete picture of the tower and its setting. 7/10

Personal Appeal - I enjoyed these more than I expected to. A tower could have been quite a dull subject, but the photographs make it interesting because they show how the building sits and you feel like you're flying a drone around the tower and seeing Guernsey from different viewpoints. 8/10 Overall Score - 46/60