Upcoming: Royal Postal Exhibit In Bermuda
To commemorate both the Bermuda Post Office’s [BPO] upcoming 200th anniversary and Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art’s 25 anniversary, a Royal Stamp Exhibit is being held from April 23– 30.
The special exhibition will take place in Masterwork’s Rick Faries Gallery and will include rare 19th century Bermuda Perot stamps [one is pictured here] from both local and international private collections, including stamps on loan from the Queen’s private collection.
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.
The introduction of postage stamps to the island by Post Master William Perot 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].
The upcoming exhibit will also be a display of priceless Bermuda stamp artwork on loan from the Bermuda Philatelic Bureau.
And according to the BPO, this unique display features one of the most comprehensive international collections of postage stamps and presents a once in a lifetime opportunity for collectors and the public to view these exceptional and priceless works.
Mr. Michael Sefi, keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection, owned personally by Queen, will be available to provide special commentary on her collection and the other specimens on display to school groups and organisations.
The BPO advised that if members of the public, specific organisations or school groups wish to participate in this once in the upcoming exhibit, they are encouraged to confirm their attendance by emailing krsmith@gov.bm. Alternatively they can call 294-4460 no later than April 18, 2012.
