The international stamp exhibition, London 2022, opened its doors as planned from 19 to 26 February at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Having been hit by the Coronavirus pandemic, causing a postponement of the originally planned London 2020 exhibition, fate still had the last word. Hurricanes swept across the United Kingdom on the day before opening, disrupting travel into the first weekend. All the obstacles were overcome, and collectors and dealers from across the world were able to meet in person once again, for many for the first time in two years. As Frank Walton, Chair of the Organising Committee, commented: ‘It all proved very worthwhile, and the vast majority of the dealers were very satisfied.’
It was not only the dealers who were happy: the visitors and exhibitors were delighted with the outcome. The standard of the material on display was of an extremely high standard, with exhibits of interest for everyone.
On the Friday evening, at Guildhall, the top awards were presented. Winner of the Grand Prix National (for an outstanding exhibit of Great Britain) was Howard Hughes of the United Kingdom with ‘The Maltese Cross’. The Grand Prix International went to Vittorio Morani of Italy with ‘Tuscany 1836 to UPU: Letter mail in, from and to Tuscany: Routes, rates and charges’.
The winner of the World Stamp Championship was James Peter Gough of the United States of America for his display of ‘UPU and its Impact on Global Postal Services’.
The Best in Class in each of the competitive classes were awarded as follows:
Postal history – Tuscany 1836 to UPU: Letter mail in, from and to Tuscany: Routes, rates and charges by Vittorio Morani of Italy;
Traditional – The half lengths of Victoria by Joseph Hackmey of the United Kingdom;
Postal stationery – Persia, Qajar Postal Stationery 1876-1925 by Behuz Nassre-Esfahani of the United States of America;
Revenue – US Civil War Fiscal History Panorama by Michael Mahler of the United States of America;
Aerophilately – First United Kingdom aerial post 1911 – The first Sustained Air Mail Service in the world by Bjorn A. Schoyen of Norway;
Thematic – Here be Dragons by David Griffiths of the United Kingdom;
Youth – The Feather Friends by Dinda Alisha Rahima of Indonesia;
Literature (printed) – The Postal History of the UPU: The Postal Card by James Peter Gough of the United States of America;
Literature (digital) – GBPS website by Maurice Buxton of the United Kingdom;
Postcards – A Study of New Zealand Picture postcards by Jennifer Long of New Zealand
Open – A Royal Ménage À Trois and its Historical Consequences by Iva Mouritsen of Denmark
Modern – Study Belgium’s Royal Portrait King Baudouin, Type ‘Velghe’ by Guy Heyblom of Belgium.
The full list of results can be found by visiting https://www.london2022.co/exhibits/.
Illustrations:
Howard Hughes (left) receives the Grand Prix National from Chris Harman, President of the Great Britain Philatelic Society.
The Grand Prix International is presented to Vittorio Morani (left) by Peter Cockburn, President of the Royal Philatelic Society London.
Bernard Beston, President of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie, (left) congratulates James Peter Gough on winning the World Stamp Championship.