A Jubilee Reminiscence

Introduction


A JUBILEE REMINISCENCE

Selected sheets from the presentation given by John Davies on 26th January 2013

In 1889 a general opinion was expressed that the fiftieth anniversary of the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage in Great Britain "ought not to be allowed to pass without some indication of the feelings which must actuate all who looked back at the great reform introduced in 1840".

Arrangements were made for various Jubilee celebrations to be held in 1890. Although plans for a commemorative stamp were initiated, they were later abandoned. However, several major events took place, including an Exhibition at the Guildhall organised by the City Corporation of London, and other regional exhibitions. There was an official Post Office celebration in the form of a grand Conversazione at South Kensington Museum. A number of innovative displays and exhibits were assembled for these events.

They were also very important in GB philately for the introduction of the first commemorative postal stationery. This was imitated in the same way as the original Mulready Envelope fifty years earlier. The events also led to the use of special event cancellations and cachets. These could also be applied by favour, thereby establishing the practice of the "philatelic souvenir".

Frame 1

  1. Introduction
  2. My Jubilee Collection – How it all started!
  3. The Case for Postal Reform
  4. The Jubilee Committee
  5. Guildhall Exhibition Programme
  6. The Post Office Jubilee Dinner
  7. The Guildhall Exhibition Wrapper
  8. The Guildhall Proofs
  9. The Guildhall Letter Card
  10. The Guildhall Letter Card Proof
  11. Registered Mail from Guildhall
  12. The "Guildhall Star" Postmarks
  13. London Philatelic Exhibition Luncheon Menu
  14. 1890 Christmas Card from the Jubilee Committee
  15. The Conversazione at South Kensington Museum
  16. The 1790 Post Office
  17. The South Kensington Jubilee Handstamps - Proof Sheet
  18. The South Kensington Jubilee Handstamps – Penny Black Cover
  19. The Jubilee Envelope – Preliminary Design
  20. The Jubilee Envelope – Paste Up of the Final Layout
  21. "Specimens" of the Jubilee Envelope
  22. The Jubilee Envelope used from the Boer War
  23. Elliot’s Imitation of the Jubilee Envelope
  24. The "Matabele" Jubilee Envelope
  25. The Furniss Caricature