Preston Special Events Postmarks
SPECIAL EVENT POSTMARKS
Preston has many such postmarks; these are typically used on mail posted at congresses, exhibitions, shows, etc., and for notable anniversaries (such as the 294th anniversary of the Battle of Preston !). Postal facilities or at least a post box was usually provided; many were sponsored by First Day Cover producers or other commercial interests.
A set of Preston-related postmarks are shown below covering a period from 1968 up to 2009. Further additions are being researched; if you can ‘fill’ some of the gaps or you know of any omissions, please let Andrew Williams know!
| Date | Special Event Postmark | Ref Nos (*) & Description | |
| 1 | 25th May 1968 |  | 829. Sp.R NW (Philatelic) Federation 8th Convention, Preston, Lancs. (The convention was organised by Preston District Philatelic Society.) |
| 2 | 15th Jan 1972 |  | 1828. Sp.R Preston North End. Kick-off in FA Cup, Preston. |
| 3 | 4th Sept 1972 |  | 2030. Sp.R Preston Guild Merchant, Preston. (First Day) |
| 4 | 9th Sept 1972 |  | 2031. Sp.R Preston Guild Merchant, Preston. (Last day, inscribed 1328-1972) |
| 5 | 9th Sept 1972 |  | 2037. Sp.R (BFPS 1331) Adoption by Preston of Queen’s Lancashire Regiment |
| 6 | 17th Aug 1973 |  | 2339. Sp.R 325th Anniversary – Battle of Ribbleton Moor, Preston, Lancs |
| 7 | 20th June 1977 |   | 3295. Sp.R HM QEII Visit to Preston, Lancashire. |
| 8 | 10th May 1979 |   | 3813. Sp.R HM QEII Visit to Preston, Lancashire. (repeat of 3295) |
| 9 | 22nd Sept 1979 |  | 4009 Festival 800. 1179 – 1979. Octocentenary of the Preston Guild. (The exhibition was organised by Preston and District Philatelic Society.) |
| 10 | 14th Feb 1980 |  | A Century of Telephone Service, Preston, Lancs. |
| 11 | 5th Sept 1980 |  | 4422 Brownedge St Mary’s Martyr Chapel Opening and Blessing by Cardinal Hume, Preston |
| 12 | 12th Nov 1980 |  | 4531. Sp.R George I Jacobite Rebellion Put Down 12.11.1715, Preston |
| 13 | 13th May 1981 |  | 4689 25th Christian Aid Week, Preston |
| 14 | 27th Sept 1981 |  | 25 years of Recklinghausen – Preston Twinning. |
| 15 | 20th Oct 1981 |  | 4994. Sp.R Preston North End FC Centenary, Preston. |
| 16 | 12th June 1982 |  | 5219. Sp.R Preston & District 75 Years (Scouting), Preston. |
| 17 | 23rd July 1982 |  pres | 5323. Sp.R Sir Richard Arkwright 250th Anniversary, Arkwright House, Preston. (Part of the British Textiles Series) |
| 18 | 24th Sept 1983 |  | 5777. Sp.R 22nd North West Federation of Philatelic Societies (NWFPS) Convention. Held on the Turbine Steam Ship (TSS) Manxman, which was docked in Preston. (The convention was organised by Preston Philatelic Society.) |
| 19 | 1st Oct 1983 |  | 5782. Sp.R Centenary Celebrations 1883-1983. BB (Boy’s Brigade), Preston |
| 20 | 27th Sept 1986 |  | 6851. Sp.R Leyland Vehicles 90 Years & Preston & District Philatelic Society 50 Years Exhibition. (Stamp Fair held at Roper Halls) |
| 21 | 6th Nov 1986 |  | 6852. Sp.R Leyland Vehicles 90 Years & Preston & District Philatelic Society 50 Years Exhibition. (Exhibition held at Harris Museum) |
| 22 | 22nd Mar 1988 |   | 7149. Sp.R Preston North End Football Club, Preston, Lancs. (Recognising the centenary of the Football League) |
| 23 | 26th June 1990 |  | 7838. Sp.R Lancaster and Preston Railway 150th Anniversary, Lancaster. |
| 24 | 15th July 1990 |  | 7871. Sp.R Preston Wyre Railway 150th Anniversary, Preston-Fleetwood (Lancs). |
| 25 | 22nd Dec 1991 |  | 8314. Sp.R Bolton & Preston Railway 150th Anniversary, Bolton, Lancs. |
| 26 | 31st Aug 1992 |  | 8541. Sp.R Preston Guild 92. Preston Past, Present and Future. |
| 27 | 6th Jan 1994 |   | A special commemorative cover was produced by Royal Mail for the official opening of the Preston Automated Processing Centre on 6 January 1994. Although there was no special cancellation for the event, a large cachet was applied to mark the occasion. |
| 28 | 4th May 1994 |  | 9149. Pc. Eurofighter 2000 Aircraft International Debut, Warton, (Preston), Lancashire |
| 29 | 14th May 1996 |  | 10045. Pc. Football Heroes. Preston North End FC, Preston, Lancs. |
| 30 | 17th Aug 1998 |  | 11336. Pc. 350th Anniversary of the Civil War. The Battle of Preston, Preston, Lancashire. |
| 31 | 13th May 1999 |  | 11810. Pc. 50th Anniversary of English Electric Canberra (aircraft,) Warton, Preston. |
| 32 | 4th Aug 1999 |  | 12022. Pc. 45th Anniversary of English Electric P1 (aircraft), Warton, Preston. |
| 33 | 1st Nov 2000 |  | 12944. Pc. RAFA (Royal Air Forces Association) Wings Appeal 2000, in association with BAE Systems, (Warton) , Preston. |
| 34 | 21st May 2002 |  | 13876. Pc. World Cup 2002 – Korea Road – Preston |
| 35 | 21st May 2002 |  | 13877. Pc. World Cup Qualification, Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston, PR1 6RU |
| 36 | 25th Mar 2003 |  | 14313. Pc. Fruit and Veg, Chipping, Preston. |
| 37 | 9th Oct 2008 |  | 16936. Pc. International Football Institute. The National Football Museum, Preston. PR1 6PA |
| 38 | 10th Mar 2009 |  | 17093 Sp.R (BFPS 3094) 294th Anniversary of the Battle of Preston. (Jacobite uprising). |
| (*). Reference number (Numbering system established and quoted directly from various volumes of the: – “SPECIAL EVENT POSTMARKS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM” catalogue published by the British Postmark Society drawing on work by George.R. Pearson, Alan Finch and Colin Peachey). The relevant British Forces Postal Service (BFPS) number is also quoted, if applicable. Sp.R = Special design self-inking rubber handstamp Pc = Pad Canceller (superseded Sp.R) |
