7 May - 25 July

A major exhibition at Guildhall Art Gallery will look at the passions of King George V, the 'philatelist king', alongside an extraordinary period of design and innovation in the General Post Office during his reign.

As part of the London 2010: Festival of Stamps, The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) and the Royal Philatelic Collection are working in partnership with Guildhall Art Gallery, City to London, to produce the exhibition Empire Mail: George V & The GPO.  This unique exhibition will explore the reign of King George V and will be at Guildhall Art Gallery, in the heart of the City of London.

An era of conflict and great change, the reign of George V spanned from 1910 to 1936 and saw the development of a number of communication methods which brought the world closer together.

Featuring posters, vehicles, pillar boxes, philatelic rarities and gems from the GPO Film Unit, Empire Mail:George V & The GPO will explore themes from the King’s reign such as innovations in mail transportation, the first Atlantic air crossing, the rise of graphic design in the 1920s and 1930s and war-time memorabilia.
 
The items on display will comprise of a unique collection sourced from the treasures of the BPMA and the Royal Philatelic Collection, including a display of exquisite stamps and stamp artwork.

The Royal Philatelic Collection was started in the nineteenth century by Royal stamp enthusiasts and its present structure – which includes a large amount of material rarely seen in public – was the creation of King George V, a keen stamp collector, and his adviser Sir Edward Bacon.

Opening times:
Monday - Saturday: 10.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday: 12.00noon - 4.00pm
Last admissions are 30 minutes before the advertised closing time.