A brief history and background to the Lundy Stamp issues
It is well known that Great Britain was the first country to issue stamps, in 1840, due to the foresight and persuasiveness of Sir Rowland Hill.
The Island of Lundy did not benefit from this innovation as mail continued to be carried much as it had always been done prior to this institution. Any letters, messages or packages were entrusted to regular or otherwise trustworthy boat owners and carried to Instow on the mainland for distribution. Anything for the Island was collected from here and delivered when the next boat was due to call at Lundy.
A Post Office was opened by the General Post Office (GPO) on Lundy on 4th March 1887 and later a cable was laid from Croyde, in North Devon to Lundy, for telegraphic communications. From this time until 1927, all mail bore the current British stamps with a local Lundy Cancellation. The collection of these cancellations is a study in itself and I can only recommend "Postal History, Postmarks & Cachets of Lundy" to those needing further information. (REF 1)
As no-one could be found to act as sub-postmaster on Lundy, the then owner M C Harman requested that the Postmaster General close down the Post Office. From 31st December 1927, no British stamps were used on the Island and the carriage of mail reverted to the original ad hoc arrangement described earlier.
Mr Harman carried mail to and from Instow at his own expense until he was inspired to mint his own coinage and issue his own stamps as Sir Rowland Hill before him.
The subject of the coin issue was most controversial. It resulted in a trial and appeal on "The Lundy Coin Issue Case" and, Mr Harman being found guilty at the Bideford Petty Session in April 1930 "when a fine of £5 was imposed on him for unlawfully issuing a piece of metal contrary to the Coinage Act of AD 1870." Those interested can find a full account in "Bushell and Harman of Lundy" (REF 2)
The first two Lundy stamps were issued on 1st November 1929 in the local "currency" ½ puffin pink and 1 puffin blue. This innovation has been most successful and imitated by many other off-shore islands. Stamps have been issued on Lundy regularly since then. A catalogue is available detailing all issues together with many minor and esoteric variations and includes both UK and US values "Stamps of Lundy Island". (REF 3)
Current issues comprise a definitive set of 14 values first issued on 2nd July 1991. Commemorative sets of stamps are issued on an annual basis and are of extremely high quality and very desirable to collectors. In 1996, unusually, two sets were issued. The standard commemorative set depicts six of the local flora, a second set was issued to mark the 50th anniversary of the Lundy Field Society.
The latest commemorative issues were published in 1998. The first is to mark the 100th Anniversary of the founding of St Helena's Church on the Island and the second issue is to mark the centenary of the North and South Lighthouses.
See the reference page for Refs 1-3 and useful addresses