London Stamp Exhibition, 1936-1952 & National Se 1947

The London Stamp Exhibition (later the London International Stamp Exhibition) was first held in 1936. I will post here some of the material I have for this event, followed by material for the National Stamp Exhibition (Manchester, 1947). Chris Wren

This was the 1st, 1936 London Stamp Exhibition (later given as the London International Stamp Exhibition), held at Dorland Hall from 17th to 24th October. A postcard was issued, depicting various historic stamps with a circular handstamp for each day, stamps (printed at least in blue and brown colours) were also issued.

The 2nd, 1937 LSE was held from 16th to 23rd October. A special cover, depicting silhouettes of British monarchs, was issued with a circular handstamp for each day. Stamps were issued in sheets of 25 commemorating the Coronation of George VI (took place 12th May 1937 and printed in at least red and green colours); also in sheets of 4 depicting post carriages (printed in blue, red, brown and green colours) plus a sheet of 6 'All Empire Mails By Air' stamp (printed by Posterstamp Publicity Ltd in blue). There is also an advertising label issued by A. Phillips (used here with an illustrated envelope).

The 3rd, 1939 LSE (apparently, there was not an LSE in 1938?) was held in January. The special cover commemorates the 750th anniversary of Richard I (acceded 1189) with circular handstamp for each day. Stamps depicting ships (printed in at least red and green colours) were issued but I have only seen a few of these.

The 1940 London Stamp Centenary Exhibition was sponsored by the Royal Philatelic Society to commemorate the centenary of the 1d black, introduced 6th May 1840, held from 6th to 14th May. Special covers (printed small format in black/cream and large format black/blue) were issued with circular handstamps for each day. As with the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain (held in Bournemouth during the same period), these covers often appear as FDCs for the 6 stamp Post Office commemorative issue. Sheets of 6 stamps, printed by Waterlow and Sons Ltd (printed in green, brown, red, orange and purple colours) were issued in aid of the Lord Mayor's Red Cross and St John Fund, together with sheets of 4 labels, printed on gummed paper by Perkins Bacon Ltd (printed in black and blue colours; these also seen with red overprint for the Fund).

No London Stamp Exhibitions were held during the War years and I have yet to see anything for the years 1946-1949. The 1950 LISE was held from 6th to 13th May. A special cover, depicting St George and the Dragon (printed in blue) was issued with circular and maltese cross handstamp for each day. A rouletted sheet of 10 labels depicting St George and the Dragon (printed in purple on at least white and yellow gummed papers) was issued, with the lower left corner stamp inverted (This design also appears printed in black on a folded advert card issued by John Lister Ltd, printed on pink card), together with a sheet on gummed paper, printed by Waterlow and Sons Ltd, depicting historic postage stamps. There were also sheets of 20(?) bi-coloured stamps (printed in four different colours) which I have not seen previously (image here copied from the post by James, for completeness and for which I hope he will not object).








I have not yet seen any LSE/LISE material for the years 1951-1952.

During the period when I have seen no LSE material, a National Stamp Exhibition was held in Manchester from 20th to 27th November 1947. I have not seen a special cover for this event but a circular handstamp is used. Sheets of 120 stamps depicting a stamp supported by lion and unicorn (printed in blue and oddly dating the NSE 3rd to 9th March 1947) were issued, together with a sheet of 4 labels on gummed paper depicting a Manchester building (printed in blue).





Lastly, for its 3rd Annual Convention, held 21st June, 1947 at Chelmsford, the Association of Essex Philatelic Societies produced this hand designed cover.

Chris Wren

You are blowing us away, with these Posts Chris
Lovely work Sir.

We have a member (Jubilee) who will be very envious
of the green Label of SS Bremen, he collects
them, I had a red copy, which he winkled off me.

As a cinderella collector I have a few bits and pieces shown here
which is great for ID.

The German liner SS Bremen (and the French SS Normandie) carried 1937 Coronation commemorative first day covers produced by Eaton's Stamp Corner, Montreal, the covers endorsed with a rubber stamp to that effect:

Launched in 1929, The Bremen was a fast liner on the Atlantic crossing run and was equipped with a small seaplane which facilitated mail transfers. She was destroyed by arson in 1941 while serving as a barrack ship moored at Bremmerhaven and was finally broken up in 1946.

If people find the posts useful, then they will have achieved their purpose - and I hope to learn of things whose existence I do not yet know of! Chris Wren

Truly impressive. Congratulations Chris.

Very Impressive!


Cheers

There's plenty there I've not seen before sir, so well done!

I actually collect SS Bremen covers, and I have a couple of the Eaton's