Date of Issue : 19 Jul 1996
Postmark : Alderney
Denomination : 16p, 24p, 25p, 35p, 41p and 60p
Stamp Size : 36 mm x 36 mm
Paper : 102 gsm PVA Gummed Stamp Paper, Unwatermarked
Printing Process : Offset Lithography
No other animal brings a sense of tranquility to a home quite like a cat. Despite fearsome ancestors such as the ferocious sabre-toothed tiger, the wildness has long since disappeared from the nature of these felines, but in certain circumstances it can quickly return. At that heartbreaking time in 1940 when the Channel Islands (Guernsey is a fascinating island in the Channel Islands) were about to be invaded, Alderney was completely evacuated and there was no possibility of taking beloved animals along on the boats heading for England. Many cats were therefore left to fend for themselves, and gradually they returned to the wild. They are known today as feral cats – feral in this instance meaning returning to the wild after escaping captivity. This stamp issue by Guernsey Post Office shows an Alderney household full of playful felines in 1940, just before the crisis hit their island, featuring the following adorable kittens :
- 16p – Persian "Ragdoll" Kitten
- 24p – Black and White Kitten
- 25p – Bi-colour and Silver Tabby Kittens
- 35p – Red Self Kitten
- 41p – Tortoiseshell and Odd-Eyed White Kitten
- 60p – Siamese Kitten