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| Postage Stamp Pageant |
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TOP LEFT: Boadicea stamp with
'Souvenir of the Pageant of Postage Stamps'
in red, showing large margin.
MIDDLE: Red verticle imperf pair
of the Tower Bridge die proof design
BELOW: Two Tower Bridge stamps,
from a sheet of nine, showing margins
all around.
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However, it is the Tower Bridge stamps that are fascinating. These were printed in a sheetlet of nine stamps, all arranged vertically, with margins all around the nine stamps. We illustrate the top two from the red sheet to give a better indication of the sheet lay-out. We have never seen another such unusual sheet of stamps from a British stamp printer.
Having such a small sheetlet containing only nine stamps, we could not resist attempting to 'plate' the position of each stamp, and this is not a too difficult task. The characteristics of each position are: (1) weak N in FOREIGN, (2) dot over O of FOREIGN, (3) weak cross bar to A of STAMPS at foot, (4) F of FOREIGN weak, flaw on first W of WATERLOW, (5) in WATERLOW - coloured marks in A, and E and on L, (6) white flaw to side of panel at foot, (7) dot in second upright of W of WATERLOW, coloured flaw on right hand cables, (8) flaw like anchor cable at front of barge, and (9) dot between tops of drawbridges.
Exhibition Slogans
Yet another set of souvenirs of the exhibition were seven postcards depicting 'The Making of Postage Stamps' at Waterlow. The Waterlow name is not given on the postcards, but instead they carry the legend 'Published by "Stamp Collecting" '. However, in the catalogue it is stated 'To get the Special Exhibition Postmark, address the cards and post them at the Neo-Post Office at the Exhibition (Stall No 1, Second Floor)'. Stall No 1 was occupied by the Roneo-Neo Post Ltd of 324-5 High Holborn, London WC1, and the catalogue states 'Here will be found the automatic post office where letters and souvenir postcards can be despatched, with special Exhibition slogan'. We illustrate an example where the slogan cancels one of the souvenir stamps. Metermarks were not a new invention, but the use of slogans for special events was relatively new within Britain.
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Postcard from the exhibition, showing a souvenir stamp,
cancelled by the special exhibition slogan. |
The first metermark, or meter postage stamp, was used in New Zealand in January 1907. Great Britain did not use a commercial machine until October 1922, and depending on who is making the claim, it was either a 'Universal N.Z.' machine, or a Pitney Bowes machine. According to AA Dewey (Stamp Lover, Vol XL p6, 1947),
the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain in 1912 discussed a resolution 'that the increased use of automatic franking machines for postal purposes constitutes a danger to philately, and it is desirable to now consider the most effective means of safeguarding the hobby'. The resolution was not carried!
Returning to the Neo-Post special event cachet, it is only found with a 1/2d value, as it was only intended to be used on postcards, and that was the current printed matter rate in force. |
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| Printing Processes |
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| There was also a demonstration of stamp production by the 'Line Engraved, Lithographic and Surface Printing Processes' in the Exhibition Hall by Mr AJ SOL Alexander J Sefi, Editor of the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, had just republished his famous book An Introduction to Advanced Philately, originally published in 1926, and republished in 1932. Mr Sefi included in each one a stamp or sheetlet produced by the three main printing processes, including varieties such as reentries, damaged transfers etc. He used a stamp designed by himself and recreated as die proofs, plate proofs and actual stamps. The only examples that exist are those inserted in each book and thus are rare Cinderella items. For those interested in these stamps, the original printing plates and printing stone are held in the Museum of the Royal Philatelic Society London. |
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