(Post 46)The Empire Exhibition of 1938 was held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow from May to October, 1938. The Exhibition was created to provide manufacturers in Scotland an opportunity to find new markets in the Empire as well as to showcase British industries.
The Exhibition attracted over 12 million visitors. A large pavilion was allocated to British exhibits, two to Scotland, and one to each of the leading Dominions, Malaysia and the West Indies. Private industrial firms occupied 50 pavilions, and other exhibits included the palace of arts, industry, and engineering.
The Digital Design Studio of the Glasgow School of Art has created an amazing 3D digital model of the Exhibition on its website.
Pre-Exhibition Correspondence
Address label from Empire Exhibition Scotland 1938 to The Tourists' Hotel, Glasgow
Prepaid 6d., December 16, 1937
E VIII R
Edward VIII meter indicia
Season Ticket
Opening Day
The Exhibition was opened on May 3, 1938, by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. A British Pathe newsreel of the King's speech can be seen at their website.
The above recording of the Empire Exhibition opening was viewed by Tom Hooper, director of the film "The King's Speech" and Colin Firth who played George VI in the film. It has been reported that the King's address was so poignant, and the King looked so distressed and sad, that it made Mr. Firth and Mr. Hooper cry.
In his speech, the King paid tribute to the enterprise and initiative of Scots, both in their contribution to establishing the British Empire and in setting up the Exhibition.The actual opening ceremony was held at nearby Ibrox Park, home of Rangers Football, allowing a larger crowd to witness the occasion.
Opening Day Souvenir Cover
Exhibition Post Office cancellation
May 3, 1938
Post Card Watercolour Views
Souvenir lettercards featuring water colours by Brian Gerald were published by Valentine & Sons, Ltd.
Lettercard No. 2A mailed from the Exhibition P.O. June 16, 1938
South Cascade and Tower
The Clachan
Atlantic Restaurant and Tower
South Cascade & Tower by Night
The Tower
Cascade and Laje, Dominions Avenue
The Clachan
A clachan (highland village) was re-created at the Exhibition and included a post office.
Post Office, The Clachan
Mailed from the 1938 Empire Exhibition, Glasgow
Exhibition P.O. to Taunton, July 16, 1938
Post Office and Tower at The Clachan
Clachan Post Office label
Mailed from the 1938 Empire Exhibition, Glasgow
Exhibition P.O. to Brookline, Mass, August 8, 1938
Closing Day
G.P.O. Pavillion souvenir card
Postmarked closing day, October 29, 1938
Cancellations
1. Exhibition Post Office
Various postmarks were in use at the Exhibition Post Office.
Exhibition Post Office circular date stamp
September 11, 1938
Exhibition Post Office Glasgow 2
2. Slogan Cancellations
Exhibition P.O. machine cancellation
Exhibition slogan
Glasgow, May 2, 1938
London, August 25, 1938
London, Foreign Section to Canada
Canadian duty handstamp September 7, 1938
Plymouth and Devon, July 8, 1938
Southampton Paquebot, April 26, 1938
3. Meter Cancellations
Derby, October 12, 1938
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