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Commemorative stamps mark daily’s 200th birthday

A set of commemorative postal stamps will be released to mark the 200th birthday of a Channel Islands daily.

The Guernsey Press and Star marked the milestone on Saturday with a 24-page supplement along with a reproduction of the first edition, which was published on 29 June 1813.

A set of six stamps will also be released by the island’s postal service at the end of this month to celebrate the birthday of the paper, which was originally just known as The Star.

The stamps feature miniature interpretations of six key front pages from the paper’s history, including the Queen’s Coronation and the German occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War.

The front page of the paper's 200th anniversary edition

In a story about the anniversary, assistant editor Suzanne Heneghan wrote: “The bicentennial milestone marks not only a special birthday for the newspaper but also a significant moment for the island, as throughout the centuries we have been here to tell you Guernsey’s special and unique story.

“On 29 June 1813 the very first version of the Guernsey Press & Star – then known simply as The Star – hit the streets.

“That original edition looked very different to the one we all know today but the message was always the same – that we are a newspaper serving our readers.

“Throughout this month we have been celebrating the important role we play, by sharing a trip via our archives over two centuries of island life.

“From the 1800s right through to the present day, we have been your Bailiwick’s paper of record and we have had fascinating material to share. There have been wars, a coronation, the Occupation and Liberation. We have also witnessed huge changes in the social, economic and political landscape around us.

“All the major news stories, headlines, and much more have been told within the pages of this 200-year-old title, faithfully chronicling how the islands have fared throughout history.”

The paper has published stories and features about its anniversary and history each day in June.

The stamps which will be released at the end of July.