SHOW MENUBritish Empire Exhibition - A Study of the 1924 Stamps with Sheet Serial Numbers
Introduction
The British Empire Exhibition stamPS were printed in sheets of 120 which were separated into two panes of 60 (10 rows of 6 stamps) before issue.
Other than perforation and sheet separation guide lines, which were normally trimmed off, there were no control or plate numbers or other marginal markings.
However, examples are found with a sheet serial number printed in the top right corner margin, in what Stitt Dibden and Knight & Sabey (see below) refer to as "block figures".
Purpose
This Exhibit presents the results of some 50 years' study of these Sheet Serial Numbers, and shows that:
- The implication by Stitt Dibden (page 8) and Knight & Sabey (page 196) that only the right hand panes were numbered is not correct – both the left hand and right hand panes of both values are found with these numbers.
- It is likely that left hand and right hand panes were each numbered consecutively, so that the same number can be found on both panes, although only one example is known {1d number 28 – see Sheet 3).
- Numbering from 1 to 999 (or 1000) was applied at least twice, and possibly as many as 6 or 7 times based on sales figures (see Sheet 5).
Plan of Exhibit
Sheet 1 Introduction
Sheet 2 Background to use of numbers and discontinuation
Sheet 3 1d stamps with same numbers
Sheet 4 1d / 1½d stamps with same numbers
Sheet 5 Analysis of possible number of sheets with serial numbers
Sheet 6 First Day usage
Sheets 7‑9 1d stamps from left hand pane (with "Tail to 'N' flaw")
Sheets 10‑12 1d stamps from right hand pane
Sheets 13‑14 Top marginal rows of 6
Sheet 15 1½d stamps from right hand pane
Sheet 16 1½d stamps from left hand pane
Highlights
Sheet 3 Two of the three known examples of 1d stamps with the same numbers
Sheet 4 Three of the four known examples of 1d and 1½d stamps with same numbers
Sheet 5 Used on postcards on 7 May 1924 at the Exhibition
Sheet 6 Blocks of four used on the 23 April 1924‑the opening day of the Exhibition (unique)
Sheets 13/14 Eight top rows of 1d stamps with consecutive sheet numbers 517‑524 (ex: Alan Sabey)
Rarity
Any example with a sheet serial number is scarce. 1d stamps are less scarce than 1½d stamps. "Matching pairs" are rare.
Marginal comer pairs or larger blocks of 1d stamps from the left hand pane with the well‑known "Tail to 'N' flaw" and sheet serial number are very collectable.
References
'Stitt Dibden' The Selected Works of W.G.Stitt Dibden – vol.1 Wembley & Olympic Issues The Stamps and Associated Postal Markings, published jointly by The Postal History Society and The G.B. Philatelic Society (c.1968)
'Knight & Sabey' The Lion Roars at Wembley by Donald R. Knight and Alan D. Sabey, published by Derek Knight (2003)
'Postal Museum' ยท The Postal Museum article Wembley British Empire Exhibition (https://catalogue.postalmuseum.org/collections/getrecord/GB813_P_150_03_03_01)
