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British Empire Exhibition –
Promotional and Advertising Labels

Introduction

In 2003 the Exhibition Study Group published "Publicity Labels of the British Empire Exhibition Wembley 1924-1925" by Alen Sabey and Bill Tonkin, and this remains the standard work on this subject. Use of information from that publication is made by kind permission of the Exhibition Study Group.

In this Exhibit I describe labels produced on behalf of the Exhibition organisers as "Promotional" labels and labels produced by commercial organisations, trade associations, foreign countries and the like as "Advertising" labels, since the purpose of the former was to promote the Exhibition whereas the latter were intended to attract visitors to the exhibits or contributions of those organisations.

Purpose

This Exhibit provides a comprehensive display of the promotional and advertising labels that were used in connection with the Exhibition.

Plan

Frame 1
1924 Lion Promotional labels
1924 "Scenes of Empire" Promotional labels
1924 Lion Advertising labels

Frame 2
1924 Lion Advertising labels

Frame 3
1924 Lion Advertising labels
1924 Advertising labels

Frame 4
1924 Advertising labels
1924 Labels promoting Empire Countries
1924 Boy Scout Imperial Jamboree labels
1925 Lion Promotional labels
1925 Advertising labels

Frame 5
1925 Gregory Brown labels
1925 Waterlow & Sons Limited Advertising labels and colour sample overprints

Rarity

There is very little published information on rarity, but it is likely that only small quantities of many of these labels have survived. Where numbers have been suggested I have included this in the Highlights below. Labels not included by Sabey and Tonkin are likely to be rare, and are highlighted accordingly.

Highlights

Frame 1
Complete sheet of 16 standard "Wembley Lion" 1924 Promotional labels
Complete sheet of 12 "Scenes of Empire" 1924 Promotional labels

Frame 2
Previously unrecorded Palace of Engineering label on Frost Brothers Limited letter (almost certainly unique on Company letter)

Frame 3
Previously unrecorded Rylands & Sons Limited label on Invoice (almost certainty unique on Company Invoice)

Frame 4
Previously unrecorded South Africa labels including a new value (3d)

Frame 5
Previously unrecorded "courtyard of the Indian Pavilion" label (possibly unique)
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital Exhibit label (said to be only 2 examples known)
The VEDA cafe labels - said to be very few examples known
Waterlow 1925 labels in miniature sheets of 6
Rare 1924 (Stand U897) Water1ow & Sons Label with colour reference overprint - previously only recorded on the 1925 (Stand 0851) labels (possibly unique)

References

"Publicity Labels of the British Empire Exhibition Wembley 1924-1925" by Alan Sabey and Bill Tonkin (2003) published by the Exhibition Study Group

"The selected works of W G Stitt Dibden Vol. 1 Wembley & Olympic Issues I The Stamps & Associated Postal Markings" published jointly by the Postal History Society and the GB Philatelic Society

This entry was awarded a Gold medal at Autumn Stampex 2021

(link)

Frame 1

  1. Introduction and Plan
1924 "WEMBLEY LION" PROMOTIONAL LABELS
  1. Types 1-3
  2. Complete Sheet of Labels
  3. Type 4 and Ulster Pavilion overprint
1924 "SMALL LION" ADVERTISING LABELS
  1. Labels
1924 "SCENES OF EMPIRE" PROMOTIONAL LABELS
  1. Sheet of Labels
  2. Postcards etc
1924 "WEMBLEY LION" ADVERTISING LABELS
  1. Introduction
  2. Various Locations Within the Grounds
  3. Various Locations Within the Grounds
  4. The Civic Hall
  5. Horticultural Section
1924 PALACE OF INDUSTRY LION ADVERTISING LABELS
  1. Introduction
  2. Section A
  3. Sections C and D
  4. Sections F and H
(link)

Frame 2

1924 PALACE OF INDUSTRY LION ADVERTISING LABELS (cont)
  1. Sections J and K
  2. Sections L and M
  3. Section N
  4. Section N
  5. Section PP
  6. Section PP - Peek Frean & Co Ltd
  7. Sections O, Q and S
  8. Section T
  9. Sections U and W
  10. Section U - Barringer, Wallis & Manners Ltd
1924 PALACE OF ENGINEERING LION ADVERTISING LABELS
  1. Introduction
  2. Land Transport Section and Motor & Cycle Section
  3. Electrical & Allied Engineering Section
  4. Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company Ltd
  5. Water Transport Section
  6. Frost Bros Ltd
(link)

Frame 3

1924 PALACE OF ENGINEERING LION ADVERTISING LABELS (cont)
  1. General Engineering Section
  2. Norris, Henty & Gardners Ltd
  3. General Engineering Section
  4. Consett Iron Co Ltd
1924 ADVERTISING LABELS
  1. Introduction
  2. Miscellaneous Locations
  3. Palace of Industry Sections A and F
  4. Palace of Industry Sections J, K and L
  5. Palace of Industry Section K - Rylands & Sons
  6. Palace of Industry Sections PP and Q
  7. Palace of Industry Sections S and T
  8. Palace of Engineering - General
  9. Palace of Engineering - Electrical & Allied
  10. Palace of Engineering - GEC
  11. Palace of Engineering - Electrical & Allied
  12. Palace of Engineering - Land Transport
(link)

Frame 4

1924 ADVERTISING LABELS (cont)
  1. Lloyds Bank Ltd Advertising Labels
  2. Lloyds Bank Ltd Advertising Labels
  3. Lloyds Bank Labels Used on Correspondence from Branches
  4. Waterlow & Sons Ltd Advertising Labels
LABELS PROMOTING EMPIRE COUNTRIES
  1. South Africa
  2. South Africa
  3. British Guiana
  4. West Indies
  5. "Courtyard of Indian Pavilion" Label
SCOUT JAMBOREE AND MISCELLANEOUS
  1. Boy Scout Imperial Jamboree August 1924
  2. Boy Scout Imperial Jamboree August 1924
  3. Miscellaneous Labels
1925 LABELS
  1. "Wembley Lion" Publicity Labels
  2. The Civic Hall 1925
  3. 1925 Advertising Labels
  4. 1925 Advertising Labels - Entwistle & Kenyon Ltd
(link)

Frame 5

1925 PROMOTIONAL LABELS DESIGNED BY GREGORY BROWN
  1. Introduction
  2. Selection of Picture/Message Combinations
  3. Selection of Picture/Message Combinations
  4. Chequered Bandstand
  5. Unity Bridge
  6. Amusement Park
  7. Government Pavilion / House
  8. Old London Bridge / House
WATERLOW & SONS LIMITED ADVERTISING LABELS
  1. 1925 Labels
  2. Miniature Sheets
  3. Colour Samples
  4. Colour Samples
  5. Colour Samples
  6. Colour Samples
  7. Colour Samples
  8. Colour Samples