London 2010....the Time Has Come !

Enjoy your afternoon tea. Sounds like a great time.

Yesterday was amazing !

While not really being my 'cup of tea', just to see how the other half lives was truly an unforgettable experience.

The Open day at the Royal Philatelic Society was an event to be long remembered. Superb libraries, some quite amazing museum pieces dotted around the luxurious setting. We had a tour and discussion in their famous downstairs expert committee room where forgeries are studied. As we entered, laid out on the table before us were some of the most amazing albums of forged pieces I will ever see....all open ready for us to see at our leisure. We also had a demonstration of the equipment use to determine a Stamp's identity. It was most impressive and a wonderful insight. I will never forget that hour.

The we looked in on the Royal Societies displays. Those of Canada, The Royal Sydney and the RPS of Victoria were truly stunning. Included in the RPS of Sydney display was a letter from the Queen, declining an offer to show some of her Royal Collection at an Anniversary gathering, stating that the Royal Collection is only displayed at major exhibitions !!
The Cream Tea was extremely high class with Scones, tiny triangular sandwiches and the most perfect service imaginable. I sat opposite the Editor of Gibbons Stamp Monthly and to my left was the Editor of the Stamp magazine ! But one can feel a bit out of their depth on these occasions but it was memorable nonetheless.
After 4 hours we were back out in the London sunshine, out of breath from what we had seen and with a great memory to take away. We also were given a free pack which included a very limited edition postcard issued only for the guests of the day. It will be my opening page display for the new collection !

Today, it's the Postal Museum to see the only exisiting sheets of Penny Blacks and the 1929 UPU £1 colour trials, as well as memorabilia from the Great Train Robbery.
Then off to the Guildhall Art gallery for the big KGV exhibition and Royal Collection !
Sandwiched in between a quick peek at Postman's Park !

Better hurry.

Londonbus1

Just imagine, if these web sites are ever archived, someone will
read your post perhaps in 100 years time and muse about times
gone by, like we do with Chicago 1933.
A lovely yarn Mike.

You may be seeing this one

the penny black...the one that started it all...thanks for the great pic rod222!

Thanks nic, nice of you to say so

That image also shows another Famous item....

The fellow on the Right Hand Side is Mr.Wim Smits
now of Tasmania, who, when he was a dealer in Perth
discovered, or rather, uncovered the Lithographic stone
that printed the world famous "inverted frame black swan"

One of the ten top famous stamps in the world.

Wim was one of those entrepeneurs who took stamp collecting to the people, he once covered a car in stamps and drove it around town.

hey rod thats a new one, there is a TOP TEN or ten top famous stamps of the world? appreciate knowing the link if any, to the site to see the top stamps. Thanks!

Yes there is nic,
of course it will only be an opinion,
but as a generalisation there is such a list,
probably rated by value and scarcity.

I know the Mauritius magenta is in there.

I'll dig around the virtual shoebox for the listing
and post back
(circa 1970 IIRC)

Something to go on with...
from 1965 Seven Seas "stamp finder"
some classics one from Baden, and a Spanish issue

Yes !
That sheet was on display at the BPMA....quite stunning. No corner letters and in superb condition.
Have also seen the Tyrian Plum on cover...the only copy used and the rest of the sheet MNH !
At the International Exhibition, the Treskilling error of colour is on display in a private area with it's own armed guard !

Had an amazing week and will post again when I return with details,pics and scans.

Jubilee.....your items have been sent.
Others...yours will go on Friday from the Exhibition.
Spock....No India MNH lots cheap-sorry. Your lots will be posted when I get home.
The PRESS SHEETS have arrived and are amazing, beautiful. Quite how I will cut them up I do not know, they are huge. Bigger than expected. Will be in touch about that anyway. And I heard they had sold out before issue date, so the value is already much higher....well done !
It was great seeing a Tete-Beche Gb issue !

Must go.
More to come
Londonbus1

Glad you are having such a great time seeing all those scarce and rare stamps of the world!

yes good thing you remmeberd me. I want to see images of you cutting the monster sheet. it should be fun

Ooooh, Michael, you are a champion. I can't wait........

Managed to get back before the ash intervened !
Will report on the Festival soon, show some pics and some nice items.
I even took a pic of the press sheet....hugely impressive.[The sheet, not the picture]

All stamps for those who requested were sent from the International Exhibition and should get a logo cancel [But I see there were many problems in this regard, so nothing is certain].

The packet for Spock will go in the next day or two.
Those who ordered a share of the Press sheets, I will be contacting you about how you want your part sent to you. My original idea was to send a strip but this is impossible because it is just too long.
I will post a pic later today, and will start a new thread for this and other Festival pictures and news.

Now I have to catch up on all the new threads and postings...it looks like it will take me forever !!

Londonbus1

Dear LB,

please pack the stamps in ziploc bags to protect from moisture and humidity and please use registered mail.

what happned to your marvellous idea to cutting the sheets using god knows what technology and knife you were talking about. we were all happy with that so y have you given up on it?

Spock.....I have no ziplock bags, but your stamps will be safe and superbly packed, that's a promise. So do not worry.

Regarding the sheet, there are some questions I need answering but I am still very tired and it will have to wait a little. In the meantime see if you, or anyone else, can spot the pitfalls with the item in question. Excuse the poor quality of the Photos, not my favourite hobby !









Londonbus1