Collectors Meeting in London

Collectors Meeting London

While in London, I had the pleasure of spending time with my fellow collectors, Ed and Brian. The city’s cosmopolitan vibe made it easy to connect with other fascinating people, including the late William Kaczyński and Danny Spungen.

One particularly remarkable encounter was with an English lady who ventured from Brighton to share a treasure trove of 16 UK family passports spanning the decades from the 1930s to the 1980s. It was, undoubtedly, the most extensive family passport collection I had ever laid eyes upon. Collectors Meeting London

Recognizing the expertise of my friend Ed in the realm of UK passports, I recommended she establish contact with him. Despite this, a congenial conversation between us ensued, lasting a full two hours, as we looked into the intricacies of her collection.

In the days leading up to my departure for London, a fortuitous correspondence unfolded with yet another William, who had perused my articles and expressed an eagerness to contribute his father’s UK passport for scanning. Our arrangement dictated that he would entrust the documents to his associate Ark, stationed in the heart of London on Oxford Street. Collectors Meeting London

My commitment, however, was impeded by a flight cancellation, disrupting my schedule and compelling me to forgo a meeting with Mark. In a display of unwavering support, Mark admirably stepped in, capturing images of the documents and promptly forwarding them to me. To both William and Mark, I extend heartfelt gratitude for their gracious efforts.

Engaging in the company of Ed was nothing short of delightful, culminating in a convivial evening at a local pub, followed by a leisurely Sunday excursion to a nearby flea market. Ed’s involvement extends to his website, passportland.com, which once showcased his impressive collection of approximately 500 passports.

His anticipated presence at our forthcoming Berlin event is a prospect to savor, as he holds the potential to regale us with insights about border stamps. (Please note that as of May 2020, his website is sadly no longer active.) Collectors Meeting London

My encounter with Brian, a familiar collector with whom I had crossed paths previously, was equally pleasant. Over a leisurely lunch in London’s Financial District, we engaged in an animated dialogue. Brian acquired a few UK passports from my collection, solidifying our shared interest. Regrettably, he will be absent during our upcoming event due to prior commitments in the United States.

Connecting with fellow collectors in person brings a whole new energy to conversations that would otherwise stay limited to email exchanges.

I’m truly pleased to have been part of an international collector’s gathering right in the heart of London. A big thank you to everyone who generously offered their time and hospitality.

Looking forward with eagerness to our next rendezvous in BERLIN…

Passport-collector.com is an extensive online platform dedicated to the study, preservation, and appreciation of passport history. Founded in 2010 by passport historian, editor & author - Tom Topol, the site offers a wealth of educational articles and resources that explore the origins and evolution of passports, their historical significance, and the impact of global events on travel documentation. With over 1000 meticulously researched articles, Passport-collector.com not only serves as an essential repository for collectors and historians but also provides insights into the role of passports in shaping national identity and cultural heritage. Passport history, passport collectors, collecting passports, passport fees, vintage passport collector, collectible documents, travel history, passport collection, diplomatic passport, passport office, celebrity passports, travel document, vintage passports for sale, old passports for sale, value of old passports, Reisepass, passport fees, most expensive passport in the world, passport colors, passport prices around the world, passport costs around the world, passport cost by country, cost of passports around the world, british visitor's passport, world passport prices, east german passport, passport fees by country, passport printers, passport printer, third reich passport,