Abstract Guernsey 2
The ‘abstract’ theme continues with six more magical yet realistic shots from Alex Wallace and Nick Despres of Perfect Prints (www.perfectprints.co.uk), and this time they illustrate the first issue of the ‘pricing in proportion’ system, whereby postage is determined by an item’s dimensions.
There is a sunrise on Guernsey’s west coast, with a headland in the distance crowned by a German Occupation concrete tower which, unusually for such a fortification, can have an attractive, almost arty appearance from certain angles and in a certain light.
The sun rises over Havelet Bay, seen from the top of its slipway, with the beginning of the south coast cliffs to the right. Guernsey’s slipways were built for practical reasons, their granite blocks enabling horses to climb safely from the beaches pulling cartloads of seaweed for use as fertiliser.
We see Fort Grey illuminated in the early evening, a west coast bastion built to prevent foreign vessels from landing on the beaches. A Martello tower with its protective outer ring, it is often known by the nickname ‘the cup and saucer’.
Also picked out by floodlights is Castle Cornet, built on a rock just outside St Peter Port harbour, with the breakwater that connects it to the land now forming the harbour’s southern wall. The castle contains museums and, importantly, retains much of the atmosphere it would have had centuries ago.
A ten minute boat trip around the south coast brings us to the Dog and Lion rocks in the “smugglers’ cove” area around Saints Bay and Moulin Huet.
Finally we visit Sark and the tiny bay that is Port de la Jument. The rubber dinghy evokes the joys of the island for people on visiting yachts, glorying in the unspoilt beauty of a place that can feel like your own personal discovery.
Date of issue: 18 March 2010
Photography: Karl Taylor Photography
Printer: Cartor Security Printers
Values: 2 x 100gm Bailiwick rate
2 x 100gm UK rate
1 x 20gm Europe rate
1 x 20gm Rest of World
Process: Offset lithography
Stamp sizes: 30.43mm deep x 35mm
Paper: 196gsm unwatermarked
Self adhesive
102gsm unwatermarked
PVA adhesive for sheets of 20
Booklets of 4: 4 x 100gm Bailiwick rate
4 x 100gm UK rate (2 of each design)
Booklets of 50: 50 x 100gm Bailiwick rate
50 x 100gm UK rate (25 of each design)
Perforation: 13.25 for sheets of 20
Sheet: 20
Cylinder: A
