Local stamps collection - British islands

In my collection I also have stamps from the UK, I call them local stamps. I have stamps from Lundy, Herm Island, Island of Jethou etc. Lundy is an English Island located in the Bristol Channel, 19 km off the Coast of Devon, England. Below you can see some pictures of the stamps.

British Local Stamps - The Unique Issues of Lundy, Davaar and Herm

Local stamps from the British islands form a charming and distinctive corner of philately. These issues, produced for remote island communities such as Lundy, Davaar and Herm, were created to cover local carriage fees for mail travelling between the islands and the nearest mainland post office. Although not official Royal Mail postage, they served a practical purpose and are widely recognised and collected for their historical and regional significance.

Each island developed its own small postal tradition. Lundy, famous for its puffin motifs, introduced its first local stamps in 1929 and continued issuing beautifully illustrated designs throughout the 20th century. Davaar Island produced small, limited local issues often linked to transport across Campbeltown Loch. Herm, part of the Channel Islands, became known for colourful issues that promoted tourism and island identity.

Today, these local stamps are valued not only for their postal history, but also for their artistic charm and their role in documenting small, isolated island communities. Their limited print runs and varied themes make them an appealing niche for collectors who enjoy unusual and characterful material.

Lundy

Herm Island

Isle of Jethou

Lundy Island

Lundy is the best-known issuer of British local stamps. Introduced in 1929, its stamps often feature the famous puffin denomination and depict island wildlife, scenery and maritime themes. With regular issues throughout the 20th century, Lundy offers one of the most diverse and recognisable local postal histories in the British Isles.

Davaar Island

Davaar Island produced small, low-volume local stamps mainly related to the transport of mail across Campbeltown Loch. These issues are harder to find and were typically created for short-term local carriage, making them an attractive niche for collectors interested in scarce island material.

Herm Island

Herm, part of the Channel Islands, issued colourful local stamps from the mid-20th century onward. Designs frequently highlight tourism, beaches, island culture and natural scenery. Herm issues are popular for their vibrant artwork and for representing a small but historically active island postal system.

Sark Island

Sark released a number of local stamps between the 1950s and 1970s, often in small print runs. These issues typically promote island life, agriculture and scenic landscapes. Sark locals are appreciated for their charm and for the island’s unique identity within the Channel Islands.

Jethou Island

Jethou, a privately leased Channel Island, produced local stamps in the 1960s with distinctive designs celebrating its wildlife, flora and maritime surroundings. Because the island population was extremely small, Jethou stamps tend to be limited in quantity and collectible for their rarity.

Calf of Man

The Calf of Man, a small island off the Isle of Man, issued local carriage stamps during the mid-20th century. These issues often depict seabirds and coastal themes, reflecting the island’s nature reserve status. Limited production makes them attractive to specialists.

St. Kilda

St. Kilda, one of the most remote British island groups, produced a handful of local labels often linked to tourism and historical promotion. While not widely used for carriage, they reflect the island’s isolation and are collected as unusual local issues.

Isle of Eigg

Eigg local stamps were created in small quantities and often highlight island scenery and wildlife. Their limited distribution and distinctive artwork have made them a modest but interesting part of British local philately.