2017-07-11 Tue

On 20th July, Guernsey Post issued six image-changing stamps for Alderney using heat-sensitive ink to depict the next total solar eclipse. Alderney is situated in the northern part of Channel Islands and is also a part of Guernsey. Six coastal locations where people can observe partial eclipse will be represented through the stamp design, which is why the issue is called Coastal Eclipses.

The coastal locations are Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on the 44-penny stamp; Miami, Florida, 59p; Hamilton, Bermuda, 60p; Dakar, Senegal, 73p; Saint Anne, Alderney, 80p; and Anadyr, Russia, 90p.

These stamps are created using heat sensitive ink. They will show full eclipses along with altitude and direction of the Eclipse for each location when it comes in contact with warm hands. Alderney has good visibility for astronomical events. The partial eclipse would start there at 19.41.

A souvenir sheet with the six stamps se-tenant is available. The sheet states about the thermochromic nature of stamps and a warning statement: “Keep them out of direct sunlight for colourfast longevity.”