The display and presentation given by Bill Barrell FRPSL to the members of the Royal Philatelic Society London on 12 December must be rated as probably the finest seen for many years of classic Great Britain. Titled ‘Great Britain – Postal Reform and Development of the Penny Value 1810-1880’, the material on show was truly exceptional.
Every aspect was covered, from the moves for postal reform, the development of the Penny Black including entries in the Treasury Competition, to the issued line-engraved penny stamps, the Penny Black, including concerns of fraudulent re-use of stamps, to the subsequent Penny Red, both imperforate and perforated.
Everything shown was superb, whether stamps, mint and unused plus many multiples, covers, or Notices to Postmasters, and all in the finest condition. Among the superb covers shown was one from a correspondence of 1845-1846 from the Glenmavis Distillery in Bathgate, Scotland bearing an imperforate Penny Red with a private attempt at rouletting, produced prior to the Treasury roulettes and the Archer experiments. Another, described as ‘the rarest piece known in line-engraved Great Britain’, was the imperforate strip of six of the 1855 Penny Red from die II, alphabet II, with small crown watermark, also on cover.
Bill also presented everyone present with a handbook that illustrates each page of the display in colour, and includes a full-size replica of the ‘Instructions to All Postmasters; on the introduction of the uniform 4d post.
Giving the Vote of Thanks, Alan Druce FRPSL, described Bill Barrell as ‘enthusiastic and knowledgeable’, and his display as ‘exemplary and fantastic, with something of interest to everyone’. Simon Richards FRPSL, Vice President of the Society, presented Bill with a plaquette and certificate of appreciation.
