16 September 2018
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Queues ran down the street at the Business Design Centre in Islington for the launch of Autumn Stampex International 2018, the UK’s national stamp exhibition, which offered a range of exhibits, meetings and material.
The London event kicked off with the opening of the Court of Honour, which showcased the Wilding Collection put together by former President of The Royal Philatelic Society Frank Walton RDP FRPSL.
The collection brings together examples of the British definitive stamps, inclusing rare artist’s essay, proofs, and imprimaturs. The exhibit was opened by Stampex Chairman John Curtin and Frank Walton.
Over at the stand of GB stamps and postal history dealer Bill Barrell, Penny Red experts Mike Williams, Andrew Patmore and David Escott assisted collectors with their queries about the stamp. The ‘GB line engraved made easy’ sessions were free to collectors and even included tea and biscuits!
Bill said: ‘I’m really trying to make collecting easier for people with these workshops… there are ways you can strip of the veneer of complication, which is what I am doing.’
The Postal Museum took the chance to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of ‘F’ Type Post Box at the event. A complete box was on show, together with an example with the front and side panels removed, exposing the experimental internal clearance mechanism.
Of course Stampex also plays host to hundreds of acclaimed philatelic exhibits, and the Autumn show included a range of material from both the American Philatelic Society and the Forces Postal History Society, the latter group presenting a series of special displays to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War.
The show also hosted the ABPS National Competition and you can find the results on our website at: allaboutstamps.co.uk
The next Stampex International takes place from 13 to 16 February 2019.