Description

— New stock added —

Hard-to-find and genuine 1989 Lundy issue commemorating the 60th anniversary of Lundy Post. The set features a “1929-1989” overprint on all but the 15p value from the previous 1982 definitive issue.

Listed in Jon Aitchison’s Lundy catalogue as numbers 275-284.

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

Note about forgeries

We have seen forgeries of this set previously, but are confident that what we are selling here is the genuine issue. Key giveaways to check are the quality of the perforations, the font used for the overprint, and, most noticeably, the appearance of the gum. The forged overprints are usually on examples of the 1982 issue that are themselves forged – those feature gum with an almost glittery quality, whereas genuine examples have a smoother, matt gum.

Please note that the only official “1929 – 1989” overprint issue is the one shown here. Any “error” versions that you may see on eBay or elsewhere – including overprints that are inverted, double printed, printed in red, or printed on the gummed side – are almost certainly forgeries, and are, again, typically on forged examples of the 1982 stamps in any case.

These forgeries are collectable as Cinderellas in their own right – if you know and understand their status – but are not worth the prices usually charged.

About Lundy

Lundy is an island in the Bristol Channel, whose stamps are among the longest-established and most sought-after local issues.

Unlike many labels that bear the name of British offshore islands - such as Eynhallow or Staffa - Lundy's stamps have always performed a genuine local postal function. When the British General Post Office withdrew its services from the island in 1928, the then-owner Martin Coles Harman introduced the first Lundy stamps in 1929 to cover the cost of carrying mail to the mainland.

To avoid confusion, Lundy stamps initially had to be fixed to the reverse of any postal items. From 1962, Lundy stamps were allowed were allowed to be affixed to the address side of postcards - but still well away from the 'official' British stamp - with this policy extended to all mail in 1992. These days, mail from the island only requires a Lundy stamp, which now incorporates the Royal Mail charge alongside the extra "puffinage".

Since 1969, Lundy has been owned by the National Trust, and financed, administered and maintained by the Landmark Trust, who continue to issue Lundy stamps. As of 2023, over 400 Lundy stamps have now been produced over the past nine decades, and 40,000 items of mail are sent annually. You can read more about the Lundy postal service on the Landmark Trust website.