Europhilex london-l1

Romfilatelia introduced into circulation the philatelic issue London 2015 EUROPHILEX Stamp Exhibition. This issue is an overprint that brings back into the public attention to the World Philatelic Exhibition London, and the souvenir sheet issued on that occasion.

EUROPHILEX 90, one of the greatest of all philatelic exhibitions of the time, was dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the first stamp in the world, known under the name of Penny Black. The current EUROPHILEX 2015, celebrates 175 years since the same event.

A bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash. This was the first mention of what became the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, Penny Black and belonged to Rowland Hill. The stamp was a great British invention that revolutionized communications and changed the lives of people around the world.

2015 is the first year since 1934 when a major international philatelic exhibition is held in London outside the ten-year cycle established in 1940. This is also the first exhibition in London that took place under the patronage of FEPA, the Federation of European Philatelic Associations.

The souvenir sheet portrays in the background the image of the Alexandra Palace in London, the location of the London 90 exhibition, a historic place. The building, originally named ”The Palace of the People” was renamed to commemorate the popular Princess of Wales, Alexandra of Denmark, who had married Prince Edward on 10 March 1863.