Guernsey Post Office - Commemorates Islands Postal Heritage With Latest Stamps

The stamp issue features six post boxes reflecting key moments in Guernsey’s postal history, including a rare 1887 Jubilee pillar box at Trinity Square, and a Georgian wall box at Fort Road, which survived the German Occupation of the Channel Islands.

A familiar feature of island life, post boxes reflect the evolution of communication in Guernsey. Their introduction followed the Uniform Penny Post in 1840, which transformed the British postal system by making correspondence widely accessible. Prior to this, mail was taken to receiving houses or collected by a uniformed bellman.

In the early 1850s, Anthony Trollope recognised the potential of roadside letter boxes after observing their use in Europe. A trial in the Channel Islands in 1852 marked the first use of pillar boxes within the British postal system. Guernsey’s first boxes were installed in 1853, including Union Street, which remains in use today as the oldest continuously used pillar box in the British Isles.

The success of the trial led to adoption across Britain, with designs evolving into the familiar cylindrical form by 1859. While red became the standard colour in 1874, Guernsey Post adopted blue in 1980, establishing a distinctive island identity.

Bridget Yabsley, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post, said: “Post boxes are a distinctive and enduring part of Guernsey’s landscape, reflecting both the island’s rich postal history and their continued role in everyday life. This issue celebrates their significance as symbols of communication, continuity and community.”

The stamp products will be available to pre-order from 13 May 2026 at www.guernseystamps.com or by calling Philatelic Customer Services on +44 (0)1481 716486.

The stamp issue features six post boxes reflecting key moments in Guernsey’s postal history, including a rare 1887 Jubilee pillar box at Trinity Square, and a Georgian wall box at Fort Road, which survived the German Occupation of the Channel Islands.

A familiar feature of island life, post boxes reflect the evolution of communication in Guernsey. Their introduction followed the Uniform Penny Post in 1840, which transformed the British postal system by making correspondence widely accessible. Prior to this, mail was taken to receiving houses or collected by a uniformed bellman.

In the early 1850s, Anthony Trollope recognised the potential of roadside letter boxes after observing their use in Europe. A trial in the Channel Islands in 1852 marked the first use of pillar boxes within the British postal system. Guernsey’s first boxes were installed in 1853, including Union Street, which remains in use today as the oldest continuously used pillar box in the British Isles.

The success of the trial led to adoption across Britain, with designs evolving into the familiar cylindrical form by 1859. While red became the standard colour in 1874, Guernsey Post adopted blue in 1980, establishing a distinctive island identity.

Bridget Yabsley, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post, said: “Post boxes are a distinctive and enduring part of Guernsey’s landscape, reflecting both the island’s rich postal history and their continued role in everyday life. This issue celebrates their significance as symbols of communication, continuity and community.”

The stamp products will be available to pre-order from 13 May 2026 at www.guernseystamps.com or by calling Philatelic Customer Services on +44 (0)1481 716486.

The stamp issue features six post boxes reflecting key moments in Guernsey’s postal history, including a rare 1887 Jubilee pillar box at Trinity Square, and a Georgian wall box at Fort Road, which survived the German Occupation of the Channel Islands.

A familiar feature of island life, post boxes reflect the evolution of communication in Guernsey. Their introduction followed the Uniform Penny Post in 1840, which transformed the British postal system by making correspondence widely accessible. Prior to this, mail was taken to receiving houses or collected by a uniformed bellman.

In the early 1850s, Anthony Trollope recognised the potential of roadside letter boxes after observing their use in Europe. A trial in the Channel Islands in 1852 marked the first use of pillar boxes within the British postal system. Guernsey’s first boxes were installed in 1853, including Union Street, which remains in use today as the oldest continuously used pillar box in the British Isles.

The success of the trial led to adoption across Britain, with designs evolving into the familiar cylindrical form by 1859. While red became the standard colour in 1874, Guernsey Post adopted blue in 1980, establishing a distinctive island identity.

Bridget Yabsley, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post, said: “Post boxes are a distinctive and enduring part of Guernsey’s landscape, reflecting both the island’s rich postal history and their continued role in everyday life. This issue celebrates their significance as symbols of communication, continuity and community.”

The stamp products will be available to pre-order from 13 May 2026 at www.guernseystamps.com or by calling Philatelic Customer Services on +44 (0)1481 716486.