The
Crystal Palace
Foundation

by Maurice H Bristow

In recent years, particularly since the Festival of Britain Exhibition commemorating the centenary of the opening in 1851 of the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, much interest has been aroused in the general history of the Crystal Palace and its exhibits by the publication of a number of books on this subject.

From the postal historian’s point of view, very little information has heretofore been made available. Undoubtedly the foundations in this respect were laid by the late W.G. Stitt-Dibden in several articles and a monograph published some years ago but these deal mainly with the better known Crystal Palace postmarks and stationery.

The discovery of much additional information by research and the recording of further philatelic material from a number of sources, prompted the author to set down the results so that they may be available for the benefit of postal history students of the Crystal Palace in particular or indeed of general interest to collectors of ephemera which has a connection with that building and its grounds.

The selection of items for recognition has been widened to include exhibitor’s postal stationery and that part of the story played by the Post Office itself not only in its primary field of postal activity but also in its later role of communication by telegraph and telephone.

Many organisations connected with the history of the Crystal Palace have contributed to this volume as have many recognised experts in the field of postal history.

This book will be of considerable interest to enthusiasts who want to ‘lift the lid’ on an unusual but nevertheless extremely important aspect of the history of the Crystal Palace.

Published in 1983 but long out of print for many years and now rarely available.

113 pages paperback 44 illustrations