08 March 2010

 Treasures of the Archive

Come along to The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) for an exclusive chance to see gems from its unique collection. The exhibition Treasures of the Archive will open 6 May 2010 and run until April 2011.

The BPMA is the only place in the world to hold sheets of Penny Blacks. The Penny Black was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. It was introduced in Britain in 1840 as a result of widespread calls for postal reform, and marked a turning point in British social history. On display in the exhibition will be a unique proof sheet, together with the original die. Also on show will be the first ‘First Day Cover’ in the world, showing a Penny Black used on 6 May 1840, the first day of validity.

Other exciting exhibits will include objects from the mail coach era such as a flintlock pistol from 1816-1841, a pistol used by the mail coach guards to protect the mail from highwaymen, as well as a GPO mail coach guards timepiece and coat.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see original evidence and investigation files from the Great Train Robbery, one of the largest robberies (in value) in UK history. It took place on 8 August 1963 in Buckinghamshire against a Travelling Post Office train (TPO) travelling from Glasgow to London.

The first pillar boxes in the UK were trialled on the Channel Islands in 1852/53 by the novelist Anthony Trollope, and the exhibition will offer a rare chance to see one of these boxes.

In addition to all of this, Treasures of the Archive will feature original stamp artwork and rare stamps, including the artwork showing Scotland winning the World Cup in 1978 and 16 colour trials for the 1929 Postal Union Congress £1 value, of which only three sets exist.

Douglas Muir, Curator, Philately at the BPMA commented:

“This is a rare chance to get an insight into the treasure trove that is the BPMA’s collections, displaying many of its unique objects together for the first time”.

This exhibition is part of London 2010: Festival of Stamps, a festival of exhibitions and events celebrating stamps, stamp design and postal heritage.

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Images available on request 

Media contact:

Jenny Karlsson, PR & Communications Officer

The British Postal Museum & Archive, www.postalheritage.org.uk

Phone: 020 7239 2574, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Notes to the editor:

 About the British Postal Museum and Archive:

The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) is the leading resource for all aspects of British postal history. It is a combined museum and archive, bringing together The Royal Mail Archive and a Museum Store. With collections ranging from staff records to stamps, poster design to photography and from transport to telegrams, it cares for the visual, written and physical records from over 400 years of innovation and service, illuminating the fascinating story of British communications. Records in The Royal Mail Archive are Designated as being of outstanding national importance. For more information see www.postalheritage.org.uk.

 London 2010: Festival of Stamps:

•  London 2010: Festival of Stamps is a year-long programme of exhibitions, events and activities, which aim to showcase, celebrate and raise public awareness of stamps, stamp design and postal heritage.
•  The festival includes a major international stamp exhibition in May at the Business Design Centre, Islington for stamp collectors.  This is supported by Royal Mail, who will also be issuing special stamps.
• The British Postal Museum & Archive is co-ordinating wider festival events and activities at venues across London and beyond, including a major exhibition, ‘Empire Mail: George V and the GPO’ at Guildhall Art Gallery, City of London, showcasing material from both the BPMA and the Royal Philatelic Collection.
• London 2010: Festival of Stamps partner venues include the British Library, the British Museum, Bath Postal Museum, Bletchley Park, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum The Royal Philatelic Society, Twickenham World Rugby Museum and many others.
• London 2010: Festival of Stamps will extend nationally through special stamps shows and activities organised by regional member federations of the Association of British Philatelic Societies (ABPS).
• Find out more at www.london2010.org.uk