the early stamps of lundy island (1929 – 1942) – the...
TRANSCRIPT
The Early Stamps of Lundy Island(1929 – 1942)
– The Original –British Local Stamps
Steve Wimpenny October 8th , 2007
Riverside StampClub
Location
Lundy Island
Lundy lies in the Bristol Channel
11 miles off the coast of Devon
in South-West England
The island is 3 miles longand ½ mile in breadth
at its widest.
Lundy Island
Name: from old Norse“Lund” – Puffinand “ey” – Island
Map c.1857
Early Philatelic History
1887 – March 3rd – Opening of Post Office on Island
1892 – Start of mail service to British mainland
1912-1915 – twice weekly mail service established between Lundy and Devon
1925 – October – Island purchased by Mr. M.C. Harmon
1927 – Mail service to Lundy ceases operation following disputes with Mr. Harmon
1927-29 mail between Lundy and Devon carried free of charge by Mr. Harmon
1929 Lundy Stamps and Coins(‘Lundy Autonomy”)
Exchange Rate:½ puffin = 1/2d UK1 puffin = 1d UK
Coins: declared illegal currency by UK Govt.
Stamps: used for payment of localcarriage between Lundy and British mainland.
1st Stamp Issue – November 1st 1929
Printers: Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd.
Varieties: 5 distinct transfer types of each value
Perf. 11 ¾
Cancellations
1929-38 Rectangular Puffin Slogan – used for carriage only
1940 Onwards LUNDY CDS – used for
carriage and Philatelic Souvenirs
Cancels in Black, Blueor Green (rare)
New Values – July 11th 1930
Printers: Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd.
Varieties: 6 distinct transfer types of each value
Perf. 11 ¾
Varieties
i.) Buff Paper - 1p, 6p, 9p and 12p printed on lightly toned or ‘buff’ paper.
- scarce… beware of light toned copies
ii.) Imperforate - ½ p, 9p- Genuine copies are cut from the 1942 Tighearna
MS (see later)- Extensively forged but easy to identify
The forgeries have small margins and are crudely printed.
New Value – ex Tighearna Sheet
2p Blue – New Design- Genuine copies are cut from the 1942
Tighearna MS- Extensively forged. The forgeries have small
margins and are crudely printed. They exist both Imperf. and with crude Perf. 11 ¾
New Values – November 1st 1939
Printers: Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd.
Perf. 11 ¾ Ptg.: 100,000 each
Note: used copies are almost always CDS, slogan cancels are rare
1934 (June) – Experimental mail carrying flights between Lundy andBarnstaple Aerodrome (UK).
1935-36 – Atlantic Coast Air Service mail flights (one per week).
1937-39 – Lundy & Atlantic Coast AirService Mail Flights
Mail service was discontinued on 6th September 1939 due to WWII
The 1930’s Airmail Service
Atlantic Coast Air Services1st April 1935
“The Tram Tickets”
Three values: ½d, 1d, 3d
Printers: Williams Ltd. of Leicester, UK
Imperf. x Roulette 11 Printed in Coils of 500 each (numbered)
Withdrawn from use 1st April 1936
Atlantic Coast Air Services1st April 1936
“The Large Map Issue”
Six values: ½d, 1d, 2d, 3d, 6d, 1/-
Printers: Pincombe & Sons of Barnstable, UK
Roulette 9 Printed in sheets of 100
Lundy & Atlantic Coast Air Services
11th June 1937
Single value: ½d Violet
Printers: Willsons of Leicester, UK
Roulette 7 Printed in sheets of 48Stock exhausted 1938
Lundy & Atlantic Coast Air Services
1st February 1938
Single value: ½d Violetwith black overprint
Note scarce green Lundy Lights & Leads Cancel (1938 – 1943) on ½ and 1p stamps
Lundy & Atlantic Coast Air ServicesAir Views
31st February 1939
Two values: ½d Red, 1d Black
Printers: Willsons of Leicester, UK
Roulette 7 Printed in sheets of 48
All civil air servicessuspended due to WWIIon 6th September 1939
Overprints of the 1929 & 1930 Issues
The existing stock of these stamps were re-issued with overprints between
1939 and 1969.No new printings were made.
1939, November 1st – 10th Anniversary 1940, April/July – Red Cross Fundraiser1942, Janury 1st – War Propoganda1943, February 1st – 9th Anniv. of First
Airmail Service1943, September 1st – 40th Anniv. of
First Flight by Wright Bros.1950, November 8th – Airmail Service1953, June 2nd – Coronation of QE II
“Lundy Story” Sheetlets
1.) H.E. Harris & Co. – early 1950’s(sold at 50c each)
Large Format w/no marking on the front
Information on reverse side.
“Lundy Story” Sheetlets
2.) Littleton Stamp Co. – early 1950’s
(sold at 50c each)
Smaller Format with
Littleton Stamp Co. at bottom
& blank reverese side
“Lundy Story” Sheetlets
3.) Kenmore Stamp Co. – early 1950’s
(sold at 50c/25c each)
Smallest Format with
Kenmore Stamp Co. at bottom
& blank reverse side
This example is damaged – the Kenmore has been
trimmed off.
More Recent Lundy History
1969 – Death of Mr. Harmon, owner of the IslandLundy sold by auction to a British resident who donated
the Island to the National Trust.
1969 to date – Lundy maintained as a Nature Preserve and is administered by the Landmark Trust. It continues to issues local stamps to this day.