Lanarkshire Philatelic Society
"Philatelic Exhibitions"
Mrs. Jean Osbourne
There was an astounding array of variable philatelic material to be viewed at the meeting of the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society last Friday! (4th October).
The Club welcomed Mrs. Jean Osborne, of Linlithgow, who gave her wonderful display of British Philatelic Exhibitions. She began with the London Philatelic Exhibition presented in 1890. This is thought to have been the first such exhibition of Philatelic material
Jean continued through the years and through the subsequent Exhibitions and Jean had many interesting souvenirs to display. These often were in the form of special non postal stamps and labels - and in later exhibitions postcards and miniature sheets were also offered.
There were displays of such souvenirs from the 1899 International Philatelic Exhibition (held in Manchester); from the 1912 Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition, held in the Royal Horticultural Hall, where special stamps depicting King George V could only be posted from there. Jean continued through the many years of the London Stamp Exhibition; Pageant of Postage Stamps; the International Air Post Exhibition - held in 1934 - showing Air Mails and German Rocket Post Essays; the 1940 Stamp Centenary Exhibition - this being the Centenary of the first British adhesive postage stamp - a special new stamp was issued showing Queen Victoria and King George VI - also souvenir labels were sold to help the Red Cross and the St John’s Ambulance in their war work; finishing with the London International Stamp Exhibition.
After the break, Jean continued with Philympia - held at Olympia; the London 1980 Exhibition at which the first British Miniature sheet was issued - with a montage of London buildings. Stamp World London 1990; and the first Exhibition of STAMPEX in 1953 when Diana Dors, who arrived in an 1840 style mailcoach & brought a bag of mail to post! A postcard signed by her was displayed.
Material from further STAMPEX exhibitions was also displayed. This included, in 1964, the design for a cover issued to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare.
The Display ended with souvenirs - stamps, covers, postmarks, postcards from the British Philatelic Exhibition which ran annually from 1966 to 1986.
Mrs. Sheila Sinclair led Members in giving thanks for a truly wonderful philatelic display.
Our next meeting in the Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is on Friday, 11th October at 7:30pm when members will display "Australasia".
Anyone with an interest in stamps, postal history, postcards etc is very welcome to attend.