16 September 2025
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Guernsey Post’s philatelic bureau is delighted to announce that the Island of Sark, under the postal administration of Guernsey, is to issue its first official postage stamps. It is first island to issue GB stamps for over 40 years, when the Island of Alderney launched its own stamps in 1983.
Sark: Occupation and Liberation
This philatelic milestone sees the release of two Sark stamp issues on 27th August and 3rd September. The first set, which is subject to Royal Approval, commemorates the island’s wartime history with stamps depicting key moments from the German Occupation during World War II, and the 80th anniversary of the island’s Liberation on 10th May 2025.
The 69p stamp depicts the Dame of Sark, Sibyl Hathaway, with her husband and German officers at La Seigneurie, where she famously surprised the occupiers by conversing fluently in German. A £1.37 stamp revisits the same spot five years later, now showing Dame Sibyl with members of British Force 135 after Liberation.
The 92p stamp captures German prisoners of war repairing La Coupée - Sark’s narrow land bridge - under British command. On the £1.81 stamp, German soldiers are seen departing Creux Harbour on May 17, 1945, bound for the British mainland.
Liberation Day is celebrated every year on Sark and for the 80th anniversary on 10th May 2025, the islanders were joined by HRH the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. The couple arrived by helicopter and landed on Little Sark, marking the first time a member of the royal family has visited this part of Sark, before crossing La Coupée by horse-drawn carriage and spending time with residents who lived through the Occupation.
Wildflowers in Sark
A definitive stamp series will be released on 3rd September, featuring Sark’s extraordinary wildflowers. With over 600 species thriving on its unspoiled land, the island is a sanctuary for native flora.
The stamps depict several species, including the early-blooming Lesser Celandine, the rare Sand Crocus, and the vivid Bluebells that carpet the woodlands and cliffs in spring. The Rock Sea-Lavender, endemic to Sark and found nowhere else in the world, is among the highlights of this beautifully illustrated set.
Bridget Yabsley, Head of Philatelic at Guernsey Post, said:- “We are incredibly proud to support Sark in issuing its first stamps, which is a historic moment for the island.
“The commemorative stamps reflect the character and resilience of Sark’s community and we are honoured to mark this important time in its history.
“Sark boasts spectacular displays of wild flowers and is home to rare species of plants and flowers found in few other places in the world, let alone the British Isles. We expect strong interest in both sets from collectors around the world.”
Subject to Royal Approval, the Liberation stamp products will be available to pre-order by contacting Philatelic Customer Services on +44 (0) 1481 716486 or www.guernseycyberstamps.com