Empire Mail: George V and the GPO
This 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.
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.
Part of London 2010: Festival of Stamps.
Venue
Guildhall Art Gallery, 7 May until 25 July 2010Online exhihibition
Coming soon
Related events
Talk: Royal Philatelic Collection, Wednesday 19 May 1.00–1.45pm
Talk: Air Mail Boxes of King George V, Wednesday May 26 1.00–1.45pm
Discover Session: King George V: A-Z, Thursday 10 June 2010 12.00–4.00pm
Talk: The Combination Pillar Box of 1931, Wednesday 16 June 1.00–1.45pm
Walking Tour: Highlights of GPO London, Saturday 26 June 2010 2.00-3.30pm
Walking Tour: Highlights of GPO London, Tuesday 13 July 2.00-3.30pm
Talk: Construction and Rise of the Post Office Railway, Wednesday 21 July 1.00–1.45pm
Discover Session: Letter Boxes of King George V’s Reign, Saturday 18 September 12.00–4.00pm
Talk: Bertram Mackennal, Thursday 7 October 7.00-8.00pm
Talk: Grandpa England: The Public and Private Life of King George V 100 Years On, Thursday 21 October 7.00–8.00pm
Talk: GPO Film Unit, Thursday 4 November 7.00–8.00pm
