It was beautifully warm for early May. I was walking with a couple of workmates through Alexandra Park in North London, talking about anything but in particular about an upcoming trip I was about to make to Egypt.
As we strolled along the perimeters of the imposing but ageing Alexandra Palace, I could not help but recall the day, 4 years earlier when I had driven with friends to watch a Reggae bash in the 'Ally Pally', as it was charmingly nicknamed. 10 groups were due to appear on that day and night but just before the 'off', the organizers departed with all the ticket sales and all but two of the groups walked away, refusing to play. But they say every cloud has a silver lining, and so it was that day, with the remaining two groups staying on and playing for nothing. The fans that were left were treated to an amazing 8 hours...yes, 8 hours and only two groups. We sang and danced until we dropped. The West Indian 'Foodies' had a field day and everyone went home happy. It was one of those occasions you just never forget.
As we came close to the entrance of the 'Ally Pally', We could see that something was going on.....yes, it was a Stamp Exhibition !
Two of us decided to go in and have a look, and both of us came out armed with goodies and huge grins. A chance stroll around a park had awakened the long-dormant stamp Collector in me. Later in Cairo,Egypt it was to hit me full on and there was no going back......
Ever since I started to collect Cinderella material and in Particular, Exhibition stamps and sheets I have wanted to get the Exhibition sheets from that great show. Jubilee has them and has probably posted them somewhere on the forum.
I had three of them but the other three have always eluded me. I have not seen them often, but when I have, always been outbid. Last week I was lucky...I was the only bidder, and today they arrived.
And as I opened the envelope, I just could not help but recall the Concert and the StampWorld, London 1990. The sheets I missed on that warm day in May 20 years ago are finally in my Exhibition Album.
The sheet above came in the same lot. I do have this sheet but with a different number copy.
It is worth a note that the two items below, along with the 4 above formed a pack of 6 and it is possible that there are many numbered sets about. However, I have never seen a set offered as one lot. The two number 1044's below were won about a year ago from someone who offered all 6 but in seperate lots
. I only won two of them as the bidding went crazy. I thought afterwards how sad it was that such a nice and special set was split up, probably forever.
But a number is only a number I guess.
I hope you enjoyed my little story.
If anyone has any items belonging to StampWorld, London 1990, then please feel free to add them here.
Londonbus1
PS. The purple-like shading on some of the scans is because I had them in a large card and this left the scanner lid slightly ajar !
The sheets are great condition.
Posted 10/11/2010 3:52 pm
