Description

— New stock added —

Five stamps from the Lihou local issue of 18 July 1966, overprinted for use during the 1971 British Postal Strike, as illustrated.

This lot includes the five basic values in the set, with the original pre-decimal values replaced with new denominations, in black or maroon, in decimal currency. These values include the 1p (on the previous 2d, with the thin variant of the overprint), 1½p (on 4d), 2½p (on 6d), 5p (on 1s), and 10p (on 2s). The 1p with a thicker overprint, and the 2½p or 5p values with an overprint in red, are not included here.

As well as the surcharged values, all the stamps bear the overprinted words “Postal Strike, 1971”,

We understand that the then-tenant of Lihou, Lt. Col. Patrick Wootton, operated a private strike post during February and March 1971 to carry mail from Guernsey to Southampton. This enterprise made use of surplus Lihou issues which, by then, could no longer be used for a local postal service from the island, such activities being banned once Guernsey gained its postal independence in 1969.

U/M / Unmounted Mint / MNH / Mint Never Hinged.

About Lihou

Part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Lihou is a small island, just 15.6 hectares in size, that is rich in marine and birdlife and accessed by a tidal causeway off the west coast of Guernsey itself.

Lihou has been owned by the States of Guernsey since 1995, who now manage the island and guarantee access to Guernsey residents and visitors. Lihou House, the only building on the island in active use, is managed by Lihou Charitable Trust as accommodation for school, youth and other groups.

Compared to other Channel Islands, such as Herm or Jethou, Lihou's stamp-issuing history was relatively short. During the tenancy of Lt Col Patrick Wootton, a set of five stamps, plus a souvenir sheet, was issued on 18 July 1966 as a means of raising funds for the Lihou Youth Project, a Christian project intended to "encourage young men and women to take a real interest in country pursuits and scientific activities", and, it appears, to pay for mail posted on Lihou to be ferried privately to the GPO sorting office on Guernsey.

No further original Lihou stamps were produced, though the island proprietor authorised a 1967 overprinted set to mark the SS Torrey Canyon oil spill disaster, which had polluted the rocks and beaches of Lihou.

Islands within the Bailiwick were no longer permitted to produce their own local stamps once Guernsey gained its postal independence on 1 October 1969, an occasion that Lihou marked with a "Big Brother takes over!" last-day cover on 30 September. However, Lihou stamps can be found with values overprinted in decimal currency, for use during the 1971 UK postal strike.

Lihou stamps bearing overprints for much more recent events - such as the 2010 engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton - are presumably entirely unofficial. Similarly, labels inscribed Lihou that date from 2012 and after also appear to be unofficial fantasy issues.