British Empire Exhibition (1924-1925)

A very brief introduction: The British Empire Exhibition (BEE) took place in Wembley between 23 April 1925 to 31 October 1925 to showcase wealth and developmental potential throughout the empire with other member nations of the empire to the public. 
 
A 1924 postcard illustrating the Malaya Pavilion (O'Neill, 2019)


In terms of philatelic material, two commemorative stamps featuring the King's portrait, the Wembley Lion, and a rising sun at the lower left corner of the stamp were issued by the British Post Office on the opening day. Along with the two commemorative stamps, special datestamps were used too. 



Some BEE datestamps. 104: Handstamp used on ordinary mail at London NW Head Office; 105: CDS with 'Paid' marking struck in red; 106: Two rubber handstamps issued to be used on packets, one in London NW Head Office and the other at Wembley sub-office; 107: Rubber handstamp used at Paddington for backstamping registered letters; 108: Handstamp used on registered mail at Palace of Engineering at the exhibition; 110: Handstamp used on registered mail at Palace of Industry (Pearson, 1991).


Coming closer to home, these special pictorial datestamps featuring the Wembley Lion were also issued across Malaya. Oval handstamps were used in Singapore, Penang, and Malacca while circular handstamps were used in Kedah. 

To be honest, I have been longing to have at least one stamp with these commemorative cancellation on it. Quite recently I have acquired some from a local collector. There are two versions of the BEE cachet: 1) 1923-1924 with the year underneath 'British Empire Exhibition', 2) 1925 with the year omitted. 


I was very excited when they arrived.

Note on stamps:
Correction on the printed label on the image
Straits Settlements 1921-1933 Scott 186/ ISC 201 5 cent orange ' Portrait of King George V'
Wmk. Multi. Script CA
Perforation: 14


References:

1. O’Neill, Jesse. ‘Reorienting identities at the Imperial fairground: British Malaya and North Borneo’, Design History Society Conference 2019: The Cost of Design, 5–7 September 2019, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK

2. G. R. Pearson, Vol. 1 The Early Years 1851-1962, Special event postmarks of the United Kingdom published by British Postmark Society (1991). 

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