Hiscox Sponsoring Perot Stamp Exhibit

Three Perot stamps, named after William B. Perot, Bermuda’s first Postmaster General from 1818 to 1862, and representing some of the rarest and most desirable stamps in the world, are being loaned from the Queen’s private stamp collection to an exhibition in Bermuda from April 19-28.

Sponsored by Hamilton-based specialist insurer Hiscox and to be held at Bermuda’s leading art museum, the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, the exhibition is part of the 200th anniversary celebrations for the Bermuda Post Office as well as Masterworks’ 25th anniversary. Issued by Perot at his Queen Street post office [pictured], Bermuda held a pioneering role in the development of the modern day postal service as one of the first jurisdictions to introduce a uniform postal rate in 1842, only two years behind the United Kingdom and three years ahead of the USA.

Perot’s introduction of postage stamps to the colony in 1848 made Bermuda only the second British colony to issue its own stamps, and was ahead of many other countries such as France [1849], Canada [1851], Russia [1857] and Italy [1862].

1854 Bermuda Perot stamp

The three Perot stamps will travel to Bermuda along with the famous Kirkcudbright Cover bearing a block of ten 1d penny blacks — the first stamps issued in the world — and posted on the first day of use on 6 May 1840, as well as a number of other early stamps of Great Britain provided from the Queen’s private collection.

The three Perot stamps from the Queen’s collection will also be joined by five other Perot stamps, some of which are owned by Dr David Saul – a former Premier of Bermuda, bringing together probably for the first time since the mid-19th century, eight of the remaining eleven Perots believed to have survived.

Michael Sefi, the Keeper of the Queen’s private stamp collection, commented: “Only 11 Perot stamps are believed to have survived and it is a rare thing indeed for the three held in the Royal Philatelic Collection to be travelling overseas.

“That they are ‘returning’ to Bermuda for the first time is particularly appropriate and, on its 200th anniversary, celebrates the important role the Bermuda Post Office played in the development of the modern postal system.”

Charles Dupplin, CEO of Hiscox Bermuda, added: “Together with the five other Perots being lent to the exhibition, they will make for a spectacular addition to the Masterworks’ exhibition and for keen philatelists, it is a real privilege to see such rare and pioneering stamps returning, albeit temporarily of course, to their ‘home’ country.”

Tom Butterfield, Creative Director and Founder from the Masterworks Museum said: “In our 25th Anniversary year it is thrilling to us that we are able to host these stamps to share with the people of Bermuda and our visitors. They
will complement our collection and add to the overall experience of seeing a little piece of Bermuda’s history and culture when one walks through our doors.

“This exhibit is an illustration that visual art forms take on many interpretations and this adds to that lexicon. We are honoured to be given the responsibility, and we sincerely hope that all of Bermuda will come down to the Botanical Gardens and see this once in a lifetime exhibit.”

#Artists #BermudaHistory #HiscoxLtd #PostalMail

Category: All, Business, History