1935 Brussels International Exhibition

Transcription

1 1935 Brussels International Exhibition This exhibition covered the largest area of any held in Belgium so far, being 105 hectares. It was sited adjacent to the Laeken public park at Heysel, where the exhibition hall (still in use) had been built in 1930 for the Centenary of Belgian Independence. The site was further enlarged for Expo58. Interestingly, holding an such an exhibition in Belgium in 1935 appeared to violate the agreement made at the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions (Paris 1928), which stated that two universal exhibitions - the largest type - could not be held within a decade in the same country. The 1930 Antwerp-Liege exhibition should have meant Belgium was debarred until 1941 from another. Such was the rivalry among Belgian cities that Brussels applied for permission to hold an exhibition in The Paris based Bureau of International Exhibitions bent to the pressure and Belgium was allowed to hold a universal exhibition. This exception led to the collapse of the agreement less than a decade after it was signed. A major publicity and selling point, more than any other Belgian Fair, was King Albert being high patron. His very popular presence was everywhere, which gave Belgium a high profile, more so even than the 1930 centenary celebrations. Alas, Albert died in February 1934 during the planning. Thus it was left to his son, Leopold 3, to take over and officiate. Principal foreign countries were Austria, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Holland, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia and USA. There were nine categories of exhibit from sciences and engineering to clothing, economics and tourism. The site boasted some striking features, including the Monumental Palace, which contained the bulk of the Belgian exhibits, and the Palace of Art. Both were constructed from permanent materials. Luxurious parks, lakes and gardens were created specially. The architectural effect was art-deco rather than modern, the style of the 1925 Paris exhibition being everywhere. "Old Brussels" was built on the edge of the site and was mediaeval in style and costume. In the Palace of Art, half was old art and half modern. A stunning display of art from all nations called "Five Centuries of Art, " was a runaway success. In this the modern included French works by Bonnard, Braque, Chagall, Derain, Matisse, Picasso, Vlaminck, Maillot etc. This had political importance as the Germans recently had closed the Bauhaus. Britain's selection of art was also surprisingly modern. Despite the lavishness of the site, Belgian architecture was confused. It was neither art-nouveau nor modern; it took a turn back toward classicism, which caused chaos. It was not until the 1958 Expo that a coherent design returned to architectural and industrial creations. The Exhibition opened on 27 April and closed on 6 November. Despite problems, twenty six million visitors attended and a profit of some forty five million Belgian francs was made. Two sets of stamps were issued, the first of 4 stamps on 1 July 1934 to advertise this exhibition, the second of 3 on opening day. The first was heliogravure printed by J. Malvaux, in sheets of 200 stamps of 4 panels (10 x 5 stamps) & p 14 x 13%. It was demonetised after two years on 1 July 36. Congo pavilion Brussels pavilion Old Brussels Heysel Centenary Hall

2 Registered double weight letter to UK Bruxelles Exposition I Brussel Tentoonstelling 1935 special eds dated 13 Aug 35 Postage Additional postage Registration 1 75 Fr (s 20 gm) 1 Fr (21 <wt s 40 gm) 1 75 Fr 1935 Brussels 2.pub

3 Labels issued for 1935 exhibition showing 1930 built Heysel pavilion, which was used for this exhibition, oj~~. for 1958 Part of sheet of unknown size 1935 Brussels 3.pub

4 Trilingual cards nonnally available only in the Cantons of Eupen & Malmedy with Expo mechanical canceller MET llf.taalo.a.'\t ~., g hhh ~.. ~ = ~ 4,) /)I'/ ::... a.a=,; :;. z ~ ~~e._~ L...ll. Jf / IL-I t'/ ~ ~ Current internal card used 10 October with postman's small circular round stamp ~onsieur L. Seguy 6 A, rue Ve yd t Bruxelles Current external card used locally 29 October 1935 Brussels 3a.pub

5 '?.. ill A \i l OU. Reco..L.::::.ni~..!r u l 1 e, r.~.,.. llarktgn.sse 3,... B ~ 1 e ( scl:8s ~ ) Registered ainnail letter from Brussels to Basel (BAie) Brussels Exhibition I office 1-c eds of 18 Aug 1935, 3 pm Exhibition registration label 664 Postage Registration Airmail Overpaid 25c 1 75 Fr (s 20 gm) 1 75 Fr 0 50 Fr (S 20 gm) Reverse (part) 1. Basel airport V eds of 20 Aug 35, 7 am ~--j 2. Basel 2 /letter centre V eds of 20 Aug am 1935 Brussels 3b.pub

6 &J~_ ~ ~~If~- Letter from Brussels to Stuttgart Brussels (QL) mechanical canceller of 30 Oct 35 Postage abroad 1 75 Fr (s 20 gm) 1935 Brussels 4.pub

7 Two letters with 1934 stamps advertising Brussels 1935 TRANSPORTS TOSETTI ANVERS Registered Letter fro'!' Antwerp to New York -- Antwerpen 1 eds of 28 Jan 1935 New York NY Reg'y Div oval ds of 5 Feb (verso) New York (Sta G) NY registered eds of 6 Feb 1935 (verso). /:.. J ') li!.:i:j'.-...-r-'11:3uu.e -: \ R '. ANTWERPEM 1 67 : ~ :.. 1 ANVERS '... I.L~ GX- YOrk.- ( u. ~. A. ) ' ' Postage Reg f 6 Fr 1 75 Fr If undelivered please return to : HENRY LOUFS WETTEREN Letter from Wetteren to Norman, USA (BJllLGIU.11<1) Wetteren pepinieres - roseraies boom-enrosenkweekerijnen slogan eds of 25 July 1934 Postage 1 75 Fr lfr. RJl)INALD HOCKER, 3I9 Y. ColJtlanche Street, NORllAN. -m=-m Ok1a. u.s.a. Btate Un1s d'al:l&r1que Brussels 4a.pub

8 Airmail letter from Brussels to Sweden Bruxelles Exposition I Brussel Tentoonstelling /1935 eds of 12 May 1935 Postage abroad Airmail 1 75 Fr (S 20 gm) 1 Fr (s 20 gm) 1935 Brussels 4b.pub

9 Picture postcard to Australia of the Royal Theatre in Brussels Brussels 1 F eds of 16 Oct 34 Postage abroad 1 Fr From the partial cancel on the LHS and lack of paper damage, it is evident that the 35c stamp was improperly affixed. Postcard requests a couple of letters be sent on the inaugural 10 Dec 1934 Brisbane-London through flight. These will then be returned. Airmail private postcard to Asmara, Eritrea Brussels 1 K eds of 2Oct1935 Paris R.P JAvion eds of 2 Oct 1935 Postage 35c (Im prime) Airmail 2 Fr/5 gm (Fixed at this rate) Imperial airways to Khartoum and then local airline from Khartoum to Asmara. 1st flight was 28 Sep. This was the 2 00 flight. GAGNEZ OU TEM"<; RE PONOEZ p,.\ R I AVI 0 N Card went from downtown Brussels 8-9 am to Paris airport by 3 pm by air. Slogan says Gain time replying by air" 1935 Brussels 5.pub

10 -- Czechoslovak pavilion I \,... 't l... ~; ~ ~ t ', j ' ~ ' ~..1 ' ~ -~' "u,"'~w.. zz. /// w_.,;t?g ( I ~fa. Official picture postcard to Czechoslovakia Special BrusselsExpo mechanical canceller of 31 Aug 35 Hradek Kralove arrival eds of 2 Sep Postage abroad 35c ( ~ 5 words text) 1935 Brussels 6.pub

11 Royal Palace in Brussels.;,.. Ld}~/ t"kj'/..... d.,{~.~j/!i._ Picture postcard to USA Brussels (QL) mechanical canceller of 30 Sep 35 Postage abroad 1 Fr 1935 Brussels 7.pub

12 Boulevard d~ Centenaire (100 Year's Boulevard)!)I'piJ.tiliJJJL dltf.tj:jujliiulrj.e rj3~ tufdleit.LONutefl.i.Ju;. rj3tj.ll.uf 19 J5, Avenue of the Large Linden tree 1935 Brussels 7a.pub

13 Boulevard dw Centenaire Main Boulevard in which the Atomium was built for the 1958 Expo Picture postcard to Holland Brussels 1 mechanical canceller of 27 Aug 35 (stamp removed) 1935 Brussels 7b.pub

14 Boulev1rd du C1nten1lre view Offlcl1I picture poatcard to H1lalngborg, Sweden Bn.i I l!xpo mech1nlcal canceller of 21 Aug BtulMlt 7bb.pub

15 Agriculture Pavilion l:,"'po.jiliffit. ::J11Jmwiionafc 13m e.dlo 19 J w /t!jm/a_(jlljf.elliiuj 13ra.. url Old Brussels Exhibit off Boulevard de Centenaire 1935 Brussels 7c.pub

16 Old Brussels re-creation - 1 (a very rare set of prints) Rue Courbe - Curved Street The Archdukes' Bellone House 1935 Brussels 7d.pub

17 Old Brussels re-creation - 2 Hotel Rubempre, Place de Bailles (Buckets) Two views of Old Brussels RHS is R. Senne 1935 Brussels 7 e.pub

18 Old Brussels re-creation - 3 Artisans' Court Coudenberg Square 1935 Brussels 7f.pub

19 Old Brussels re-creation - 4 River Senne Flour Millers' Passage 1935 Brussels 7g.pub

20 Old Brussels re-creation - 5 Fishmongers' Door Satyrs' Fountain 1935 Brussels 7h.pub

21 Old Brussels re-creation - 6 Artisan's Court View the other way 1935 Brussels 7j.pub

22 Old Brussels re- creation - 7. Main Courtyard 1 5 Fr stamp corresponded with the letter rate to Holland Postcard rate abroad was 1 Fr Date of 13 December 1935 was after the Expo closed, but the canceller was that used at Expo A case of using old stock after the event! 1935 Brussels 7k.pub

23 Old Brussels re- creation - 8 Fountain of the Three Virgins Slogan next to cancel reads "Tourists, visit Parthenay & the Batine". r I ~,. ~.{. ~~ J-:f (H. I ~ T \ L4 l'ontofnt du Trofs PuetllH U<lont l"eou pa IH nln ) Postcard to Parthenay (Deux-Sevres) and forwarded to Vichy (Allier) Vieux Bruxelles - Oud Brussel / 1935 Expo eds of 5 Aug 1935 T added. 35c stamp on card cancelled at Parthenay/Oeux-Sevres (cancelling T) Rate ok for imprime as s 5 words text Brussels 71.pub

24 Paris pavilion Official picture postcard to Bruges Brussels Expo special mechanical canceller 14 Aug 35 Postage 1 Oc internally for s 5 words of text f I.:\ (.".f '- :. :>:~... :".:":.... d Brussels 8.pub

25 :/~ : ~~9.< 1 f"'.., 1~,..fl ~~ UOL ~~~~ ~~~~/ Registered triple weight letter to Berlin Bruxelles-Brussel 12 relief eds of 13 May 1935 Postage 1 75 Fr (s 20 gm) Additional postage 2 Fr (40 <wt s 60 gm) Registration 1 75 Fr BALASSE 34, RUE DU LOMBARD. 34 BRUXELLES \ Brussels 9.pub

26 Val St Lambert glass works pavilion EX l'o~lllo" OE 8R UllEL L E~ Pa'l'iUon dee Crlatallen.. d Val S.Uat lamhen da midi \ Tra,. 52 de la , & da aord E.t.6e AMricl Map on reverse showing some of the Expo &layout 1935 Brussels 9a.pub

27 Brazil pavilion 6. EXPOSITION DE BRUXELLES 1935 L'ltalie Italy pavilion 1935 Brussels 10.pub

28 Oanernark 19. EXPOSITION DE BRUXELLES 1935 Palais du Danemark et de J'Autriche Hwass et Ostenfeldl Autriche Denmark (LHS) & Austria (RHS) pavilions Egypt's pavilion 1935 Brussels 1 Oa.pub

29 \ ~ t * Exposition de Bruxelles 1935 Great Britain Pavilion PPC to Wisconsin, USA 'The Fair is very pretty. They have a train, like the little one in Chicago, that goes all around the grounds...." ";. --~.... ' Holland pavilion Corner of the Rosary - in the sunken garden 1935 Brussels 1 Ob.pub

30 Catholic Life pavilion Brussels (Nord) SF eds of 5 May 35 to Hamburg 1935 Brussels 1 Oc. pub

31 T Hungarian pavilion Lighting for the Paris Pavilion 1935 Brussels 1 Od.pub

32 Switzerland pavilion. ~-~ ""' Netherlands Pavilion 1935 Brussels 1 Oe.pub

33 Old Brussels - flour mill I I 1 I 1 1 I I I -:::!'!...,:=p::::tr::::l c::r:jr::::i:::lc:! Textiles Pavilion 1935 Brussels 1 Of.pub

34 English pavilion - rear veranda English pavilion - rear across garden 1935 Brussels 10g.pub

35 -.c en 'E -ns ~ -c Q) c 0 :;:: ns Q..c.!!.! en c w -.c.!? c... ns c Q) "C... ns en c 0 :;:: ns a...c.!!.! en c w 1935 Brussels 1()f.pub

36 Cl).tl 0 C> ns.:::: -fl)... f Cl) -c.2 s:: ns c..=.!!? C> c w 1935 Brussels 1 Oi.pub

37 Lilliputian Village - staffed by children dressed as adults t ' =.~.. :~ ;;> -.. :~.~~~. : ~ ~...' - ~ Village Lilllputlen - Pare dta /\ttractlona Exposition d~ ll1uxdles 193S Lilllputstad - /\ttractle Park \V~ldt~nloonst~lling van 8ruwl Postcard wtth Lilliputian Village eds (2) of 19 May to Brussels 1935 Brussels 10j.pub

38 Mail Coach stamps. This set of three stamps was issued on 27 April 1935 to coincide with the opening of the International Fair. The design was from a lithograph print in the Postal Museum in Brussels. Heliogravure printed by J. Malvaux in sheets of 10 stamps (2 x 5), they were perforated 13Y2 x 14. They were demonetised on 1 July Quantities released for sale were: 10+10c olive-black 497,898; 25+25c brown 433,430 and 35+25c green 436, c olive-black 1935 Brussels 11.pub

39 c brown '"' :.! till"===::::::::::;.==::;:;=!!l!!!!!!l! : r.2:;;~~;;;;::\;'y;:;;;!!!!iiii i~:r?l~ 1935 Brussels 12.pub

40 c green. :. : liiiilil;;:;======~=!!!!5!!!2jllil : ~= : ~... : tat=.::::::::::::;;..-=~~l!ll!!!!!lll Brussels 13.pub

41 Brussels exhibit.ion cancel on Mail Coach st.amps 23 Jul 35 English pavilion Czechoslovakian pavilion 1935 Brussels 14.pub

42 Brussels exhibition cancel on Mail Coach stamps 23 Jul 35 Heysel Centenary pavilion 1935 Brussels 15.pub

43 Exhibition Souvenir cover dated 24 Jun 1935 SOUVENIR DE L'EXPOSITION INTERNATIONALE DE BRUXELLES 1935 MAISON A. DE KEYSER GALERIE JAMES ENSOR, 40 OSTEN DE Mail Coach stamps issued April Brussels16.pub

44 Letter from Brussels to Freetown, Sierra Leone Bruxelles I Brussel 1 B1 D eds of 12 August 1935 Freetown I Sierra Leone arrival eds of 24 Au 35 (verso) Postage While the Grand Hotel and Freetown have been deleted in red crayon, there are no instructions as to where the letter was sent. Maybe it was hand delivered to another address in Freetown. An unusual destination Brussels 17.pub