Guernsey Post launches digital collectable stamps

The stamps were designed by Guernsey illustrator Chris Griffiths

Guernsey Post has launched a set of digital goat-themed "cyber-stamps" which include both a physical stamp and a digital version for people to collect.

The postal service said it believed the concept was a "world first" that was "marking a new era in stamp collecting", with each digital stamp unique to the owner.

The concept follows an attempt to release crypto stamps by the company in 2024, which were deemed a virtual asset by the island's financial regulator and blocked.

Head of philatelic at Guernsey Post Bridget Yabsley said it was hoped the digital stamps could attract "a new generation of collectors".

Guernsey Post said the physical stamps had a more traditional design

The physical stamp is paired to the digital twin which is activated after purchase through a QR code found on the reverse of the stamp.

Both versions can be traded as a pair.

Guernsey Post said the "one-of-a-kind" Royal Golden Guernsey Goat had unique traits, such as fur colour, clothing and accessories.

The randomly assigned traits determined the overall rarity of each goat – common, rare and legendary, it added.

Mrs Yabsley said: "By combining physical stamps with a dynamic digital experience, we hope to attract a new generation of collectors with our cyber-stamps, while still honouring the storytelling that make postal stamps so special.

"We're proud to say that this is the world's first cyber-stamps with a digital collectible.

"This innovation helps to ensure that Guernsey Post remains at the forefront of modern philately."

The goat stamp concept blocked by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) in 2024 would have seen the digital version of the stamps become Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

NFTs are considered digital trading cards holding a specific value to a cryptocurrency.

The GFSC said the stamps did not meet the requirements of the Lending, Credit and Finance (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2022 and blocked their introduction.

Pre-sale of the digital stamps is due to begin on 9 July.