Event preview: Don't miss Autumn Stampex International 2018

Collectors of GB stamps are in for a treat at Stampex International, with the show’s Court of Honour dedicated to an acclaimed collection of ‘Wildings’ stamps, and a huge array of GB material on offer from the many standholders.

The award-winning collection of Wildings, the definitive stamps issued at the start of the Queen’s long reign, is owned by former President of The Royal Philatelic Society Frank Walton RDP FRPSL.

The series of definitives feature a photograph of Queen Elizabeth II taken by Dorothy Wilding, the first lady to receive a Royal Warrant to be the official photographer for the King & Queen. The portrait was used on definitive stamps from 1952 until 1967, and Wildings were the first high value stamps and the first to include regional emblems. In 1967 the Stamp Advisory Committee decided the portrait should be updated due to the angle of the photo and the familiar ‘Machin’ design was born.

OPENING HOURS
Wednesday 12 September 11am to 7pm
Thursday 13 September 10am to 6pm
Friday 14 September 10am to 6pm
Saturday 15 September 10am to 5pm

Line-engraved made easy
If you collect 1d blacks and 2d blues or just want to know more about these early stamps, then head over to Bill Barrell’s stand on the Friday of the show.

Bill will be hosting a special forum on line-engraved stamps. You’ll be able to speak to leading experts Mike Williams (plating and general consultation), David Escott (leading expert on all things perforated) and of course Bill Barrell (pictured above) himself.

Visitors are welcome to bring their treasures for expert opinion, free of charge, and there’s even the offer of free cups of coffee and biscuits!

Philatelic exhibits
Once again, the organisers of Stampex International are proud to play host to the ABPS National Exhibition featuring all classes including Open Philately, Picture Postcards and Ephemera.

Bill Hedley, Chairman of the Exhibitions, said: ‘There are several highlights in the exhibition. We welcome warmly the American Philatelic Society who are bringing over a vast range of first class material for this exhibition. In addition the Forces Postal History Society and the Civil Censorship Group are giving special displays to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War. There will also be a range of other exhibits as usual. So there will be plenty to see and we look forward to an excellent exhibition.’

The Forces Postal History Society (FPHS) display will cover almost all aspects of military postal history. The diverse material on show includes mail from our Portuguese and American allies, Dominion troops from Canada and New Zealand, and a display of security postmarks used by the Royal Navy at their bases in the UK.

VENUE
Business Design Centre,
Islington, London
N1 OQH
Nearest tube:
Angel (Northern Line)

Stampex souvenirs
In addition to the wealth of material on offer, a limited edition Smilers Sheet will be available from the Information Stand (Stand #117 at the front of the hall on the ‘Village Green’ area), featuring a variety of classic British stamps and with a design based on the famous Penny Black, and a Stampex postcard will be given away free to every visitor.

Add to your collection
The international exhibition offers collectors a huge range of material to buy, from postal history to postcards, and first day covers to classic stamps. Auction houses will offer the chance to view forthcoming lots and philatelic bureaux will give you the chance to pick up the latest new stamp issues. Newcomers to Stampex will soon appreciate why the stamp event is one of the largest in Europe.

JOIN STAMP & COIN MART
For some stamp-related reading on your way home, don’t forget to drop by the Stamp & Coin Mart stand (#G22A) where you can take advantage of our special show offer and sign up to receive the magazine each month! Join Stamp & Coin Mart by Direct Debit and receive your first three issues for just 99p – that’s a saving of over £12! Find out more about this fantastic offer on page 61.

Young collectors
Youngsters attending Stampex should make their way up to the Gallery Bays 14 and 15 and to the Kids Corner run by Stamp Active Network. The Kids Corner will be a hive of activity throughout the show, with ‘Britain at War’ as the chosen theme. Fun activities and the Saturday auction will keep younger collectors occupied!

Societies at Stampex
As ever, specialist philatelic societies will meet at Stampex, and you can see the list of Saturday meetings, along with a map of the meeting rooms, on page 37. While the meetings give members a chance to catch up and share their latest finds, non-members are very welcome to attend, so do pop by and find out more about these vital organisations.

Read much more about Stampex International in the official show guide - free with the October 2018 issue of Stamp & Coin Mart.