Good King Wenceslas - Christmas 2017 stamps from Guernsey Post

An old Christmas legend has been given a fresh interpretation with Guernsey Post's seven Christmas 2017 stamps, which tell the story of the king of folklore through colourful illustrations.

'Good King Wenceslas', who is best known nowadays for the carol of that name, by English songwriter John Mason Neale, was actually the Bohemian king Wenceslas I who became known for his acts of generosity to the poor.

Wenceslas was Duke of Bohemia from 921AD until his assassination 929 or 935AD, an act in which his jealous younger brother was said to be complicit.

The Good King Wenceslas stamps

The seven stamps, designed for Guernsey Post by Keith Robinson, show the legend of the king's kindness to a poor peasant at Christmas time. The first stamp (39p) shows the king looking out onto a snowy landscape and seeing a boy struggling to carry fuel through the snow (44p), he summons a page (59p) and together the pair go the peasant's aid (60p). They struggle through the bitter weather (73p) with the page following in the king's footsteps (80p) before they finally help the man to his house (90p).

Issue details

Issue date: 8 November 2017

Designer: Keith Robinson

Printer: Southern Colour Print

Print process: Offset lithography

Stamp size: 40mm x 30mm

To buy the stamps, visit the Guernsey Post website.

(images copyright Guernsey Post)