Monday 13 May 2013

The British Postal Heritage Museum - podcasts to listen to online or download

I've recently discovered this amazing resource for stamp enthusiasts but I must add that it's for everyone who has an interest in the subjects which appear on British stamps and that could be almost everyone! The subjects are so numerous and include history, the monarchy, art and architecture, sculpture, nature, the post office itself and all aspects of design.  I was given an ipod for Christmas and have managed to download a small selection of podcasts to start with and can then listen to them wherever I want.  But you can actually download them from the website's link at www.postalheritage.org.uk/podcasts - scroll down the list and click on the stamp next to the one you want to hear and listen at you screen!
So far, I've listened to Brian Webb and Peyton Skipwith talking about Design - Artists and the GPO. Two brilliant speakers covering a subject which artists will find fascinating and including references to such famous British artists sculptors as Eric Gill, Edward Bawden and Eric Ravillious. Some very amusing stories are related with regard to how some of the details on our stamp designs came about and intersting facts about our architectural heritage. It would be wonderful to be able to attend these talks and see the refernced work on display but I had my stamp album handy to check into some of the details they mentioned in their talk.
Another one I can recommend is Ronald Maddox talking about his work as an artist and his commissions for stamp designs relating to architecture on British stamps.  Douglas Muir on Bertram Mackennal and Matthew Glencross on Grandpa England, the Queen's childhood name for her Grandfather, George V. It's not just about stamps, it's also a very entertaining talk about the life and times of George V and very informative!
A recent talk was by Chris West, who has written  First Class, a History of Britain in 36 Postage stamps and  talks all about it here.  Well worth listening to.

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