Faroese Postal History
 

Charity Seals used in the Faroe Islands




In 1904 Denmark issued the first Christmas charity seals, a development that was quickly
followed elsewhere, with a view to raising money to assist with children fighting tuberculosis. These seals were sold at all post offices in the Faroe Islands.

Being a success, these continued to be issued annually, until WW2 stopped their supply in 1939.


Danish Christmas Seals
, 1904-1939


1925 Danish Christmas seal

THORSHAVN
dated 19.12.25

Franked with a brown 20 øre Christian X stamp (SG143)

Datestamp No. 01.05
Type IIIb  Timestamp 5-7 ε

20 øre paid the 250g Inland Letter rate that was in use from 01.07.1920 (but was replaced as the 50g rate on 01.03.1921) until 31.12.1926.


1931 Danish Christmas seal

THORSHAVN
dated 23.12.1931

Franked with a scarlet 15 øre Caravel stamp (SG246)

Datestamp No. 01.06
Type Bro IIIc

15 øre was the Inland 50g letter rate applicable from 01.01.1927 until 09.07.1940.





1935 Danish Christmas seal

THORSHAVN (Initially)
dated 18.12 35
Datestamp No. 01.Saer.01 Type Bro VIIc
then a
MIDVAAG
Datestamp No. 08.02
Type Uds
has been applied at the time of re-direction.

Franked with a 15 øre Hans Andersen stamp (SG 295).

15 øre was the Inland 50g letter rate applicable from 01.01.1927 until 09.07.1940.





1939 Danish Christmas seal

KOLLEFJORD
(faint) Datestamp No. 13.02
Type Uds
has been initially applied
+
THORSHAVN
transit mark dated 22.12.1939
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type IIIc
+
KLAKSVIG
(faint) receipt cancel
Datestamp No. 03.05
Type Bro IIc

Franked with a bright-violet 10 øre Wavy-line Numeral  stamp (SG271c)

10 øre was the Inland Postcard rate from 01.01.1927 until 09.07.1940

Black and white postcard of Aalborg, with the last Danish seal issued until the end of WWII.






Fri Fadirleys Charity Seals


For the Fatherless Miniature Sheet, Issued 2019


During WWII as many as 210 Faroe Islanders lost their lives, mainly at sea but also a few on land. At this time there was no public social security net in the Faroes for the widows and dependent children of these lost men. In September 1941 Faroe Islanders living in Denmark and unable to return home to the Faroe Islands issued a Charity Seal with the aim of raising funds to aid those Faroese children left fatherless by the war (Fyri Fadirleys) this initial label, and a subsequent re-issue in October 1943 featured 'Merkid' (the Faroese Flag). These seals were only sold within Denmark and are thus not normally found on Faroese mail.

THORSHAVN
25.12.1945

Franked with two 10 øre mauve King Christian X 75th Birthday stamps (SG343).

Datestamp No. 01.08
Type Bro IIc

Inland letter sent at the 20 øre rate to Klaksvig with FYRI FAÐIRLEYS (Merkid) charity seal (not catalogued in GF10).





In March 1945 a second seal featuring 'Mother and Child' was issued in Denmark, however later in the year the remaining copies of these seals found their way to the Faroe Islands where they were sold locally.

GF10 No. 2

Issued 1945
Blue and Red
Perf 11½

Fri Fadirleys Charity Seal, possibly used in Thorshavn?




GF10 No. 2
Issued in 1945, Blue and Red. Perf 11½

VAAG
12.05.1948

Franked with two 20 øre scarlet Cristian X definitives (SG329).

Datestamp No. 12.03
Type Bro IIc

Letter sent to England at the 40 øre Surface Rate to Foreign Countries (20g) with FYRI FAÐIRLEYS (Mother and Child) charity seal.






Danish Christmas Seals
, 1945-1975

1953 Danish Christmas seal

SOLMUNDEFJORD
dated 2.12.1953

Franked with a brown 20 øre Frederik IX stamp (SG360).

Datestamp No. 14.04
Type Bro IId

20 øre was the Inland Postcard rate applicable from 01.07.1952 until 14.04.1963







1954 Danish Christmas seal

SALTANGERAA
dated 15.12.1954

Franked with a brown 20 øre Frederik IX stamp (SG360).

Datestamp No. 27.03
Type Bro IId

20 øre was the Inland Postcard rate applicable from 01.07.1952 until 14.04 1963










1961 Danish Christmas seal

TRANGISVAAG
dated xx.12.1961

Franked with a brown 20 øre Frederik IX stamp
(SG 360).

Datestamp No 02.Sær.02
Type Bro VIId

Postcard sent to Denmark at the 20 øre Inland postcard rate applicable from 01.07.1952 until 14.04.1963.



1971 Danish Christmas seal

TÓRSHAVN
dated 21.12.1971

Franked with a brown 50 øre Frederik IX stamp (SG439b).

Datestamp No. 01.Ems.04
Type Ems

50 øre was the Inland Postcard rate from 03.07.1967 until 30.06.1972






1974 Danish Christmas seal
+
Albini Pilsner label

TÓRSHAVN
not dated

Franked with a 70 øre stamp from the 1973 Church Frescoes issue depicting The Harvest Miracle (SG565).

A very Philatelic card on which a straight line
'FOROYA GJALDSTOVA/3800 TÓRSHAVN’
cancellation has been applied, which is not catalogued.

The card is addressed to Odense and a
'M.S. Winston Churchill
Esbjerg  Harwich' DFDS company cachet has also been applied.





1975 Danish Christmas seal
+
GF10 No. 9b
Barnahjalpin Charity Seal
1975, Type 1
Roulette 7
Red background with green border.

KLAKSVIK
dated 17.12.75

Franked with a 90 øre Pitney-Bowes machine cancel - PB982 Ty*Phoo Te on a J.F KJØLBRO company envelope.

90 øre was the Inland Letter rate (20g) applicable from 15.06.1974 until the Faroese Postal Administration rates came into force on 01.04.1976.





During the British Occupation of the Faroe Islands during WWII it was recognised that there was a need to raise funds for more local charity work. As a result, the Faroese Barnahjalpargrunnurin (Children’s Aid Foundation) issued their first charity seals in the Faroes during WW2 and continued to issue seals which were sold through the Faroes post offices until 1975 (along with Danish Christmas seals which were reintroduced in 1945).


Barnahjalpin Charity Seals
, 1944 - 1975
"Foroyar Barnaheim" is a children's home, which is an independent institution with an executive committee as its highest authority.

Seal numbers are taken from a 1988 DAKA GF10 catalogue.


GF10 No. 1

Blue and Red
Issued 1944

THORSHAVN
dated 27.3.44

Franked with a scarlet 20 øre King Christian X,
SG 329.

Datestamp No. 01.08
Type Bro IIc

Sent at the Inland letter rate of 20 øre which applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950

On business envelope  from the firm of Ludvig Poulsen. 


GF10 No. 3
Issued 1947
Multi-coloured
Perf 10¾

THORSHAVN
dated 17.12.1957

Franked with a scarlet 15 øre Frederick IX stamp (SG329).

Datestamp No. 01.11
Type Bro IId

The local Postcard rate was abolished from 30.04.1955. The Inland rate of 20 øre applied from 01.07.1952 until 14.04.1963 so this card appears to be underfranked.





GF10 No. 4

Issued 1952
Multi-coloured
Perf 12x12¼

MIDVAAG
dated 26.2.54

Franked with a brown-red 30 øre Frederick IX stamp (SG363b).

Datestamp No. 08.03
Type Bro IId

Sent at the Inland letter rate of 30 øre which applied from 01.07.1952 until 14.04.1963



GF10 No. 5a

Issued 1953
Type 1 Perf 12¼
Blue background with red border.
+
GF10 No. 4 (see above)
+
1953 Danish Christmas seal

THORSHAVN
dated 15.12.1953

Franked with a pair of green 10 øre Wavy-line Numeral  stamps (SG271d).

Datestamp No. 01.12
Type Bro IId

20 øre was the Local Letter rate (50g) applicable from 01.07.1952 until 30.04.1955.



GF10 No. 5b

Issued 1953
Type 1 Perf 14¾
Blue background with red border.

THORSHAVN
dated 07.04.1956

Franked with a pale reddish violet 25 øre Frederick IX stamp (SG362b).

Datestamp No. 01.11
Type Bro IId

25 øre was the Local Letter rate (50g) applicable from 01.05.1955 until 30.03.1957 when the Local rate was abolished.



GF10 No. 6c

Issued 1975
Type 1 Perf 11
Red background with Blue border.

TÓRSHAVN
dated 07.09.1977

Franked with a 120 oyru stamp from the 1975 definitive series.

Datestamp No. 01.19
Type Bro IId
together with a 'PAQUEBOT' cachet (GF10 - TO90).
'TO FAROES' (GF10 - DG100) and 'SMYRIL' (GF10 - DG95) ship marks have also been applied.

It is unclear why a 120 øre franking has been applied to this postcard to England as the Postcard rate to countries outside Scandinavia was 90 oyru from 01.04.1976 until 31.10.1977. Posted onboard M/F SMYRIL and the PAQUEBOT cancel applied when the card was datestamped in Tórshavn.






GF10 No. 7





GF10 No. 8c
barna/hjálpar/grunnurin

1975
Multicoloured
Perf 11

VÁGUR
dated 23.11.1977

Franked with a 180 øre stamp from the 1977 Faroese Birds I issue (FO23)

Datestamp No. 12.07
Type IId

180 øre was the (surface) Letter rate (20g) for Outside Scandinavia applicable from 01.11.1977 until 30.09.1979.




GF10 No. 9b

1975
Type 1
Roulette 7
Red background with green border.
+
GF10 No. 8c
(see above)
+
Advent 1975 seal on reverse of the cover

VÁGUR
dated 26.11.1975

Franked with 2 x 10 øre (FO2) and 70 øre (FO5) from the 1975 Definitives Issue

Datestamp No. 12.08
Type Bro IIIg

90 øre was the Inland Letter rate (20g) applicable from 15.06.1974 until the Faroese Postal Administration rates came into force on 01.04.1976.









Following Postal Independance in 1976 the Danish Christmas seals and the Faroese Children’s aid seals were replaced by the modern Faroese Christmas charity seals, with funds raised still benefitting the Children's Aid Foundation.


Faroese Christmas Seals
, 1976 to date

1976 Faroese Christmas seal



1977 Faroese Christmas seal


1978 Faroese Christmas seal


1980 Faroese Christmas seal


1981 Faroese Christmas seal with additional 1981 Danish Lutherian Mission seal




1982 Faroese Christmas seal


1983 Faroese Christmas seal



1985 Faroese Christmas seal




1987 Faroese Christmas seal


1989 Faroese Christmas seal



Other Faroese Charity Labels


FØROYAR BARNAHEIM



Mint Examples




Bottom Top:
GF10 No. 2
1960 Bold print number








Bottom Bottom:
GF10 No. 3
1966 Thin print number









GF10 No. 3
Issued 1966

TÓRSHAVN
dated 20 DEC 1971

Franked with a brown 50 øre Frederik IX stamp (SG439b).

Datestamp
No. 01.Ems.05
Type Ems

Sent at the (Inland) Postcard rate of 50 øre which applied from 03.07.1967 until 30.06.1972.






JAVNI (Association for the retarded)


JAVNI (1973)
Association for the retarded
+
Barnahjálpin 1975
DAKA 6c
Type 1, Perf 11
Red background with blue border.
+
FØROYAR 1977
Christmas Seal

VÁGUR
16.11.1977

Franked with the 180 øre stamp from the 1977 Faroese Birds I issue (FO23)

Datestamp No. 12.07
Type Bro IId

180 øre was the (surface) Letter rate (20g) for Outside Scandinavia applicable from 01.11.1977 until 30.09.1979.





FØROYAR BARNABATI (Childrens' Welfare)


1982 Childrens' Welfare Seal

Posted VÁGUR
10.10.1991

Franked with a set of the 1991 Paintings by Sámal Joensen-Mikines issue (FO217-220)

Datestamp No. 12.08
Type IIIg

A philatelic cover that does not conform to any of the postal rates current at that time.





1982 Childrens' Welfare Seal

Posted VÁGUR
22.03.1994

Franked with a 400 øre stamp from the 1993 Nordic issue (FO240)

Datestamp No. 12.08
Type IIIg

400 øre was the basic 20g 'A" letter rate to Europe during the period 01.01.1993 to 31.12.1995.




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