Happy birthday to Pablo Fanque—the first Black circus owner in Britain
Born in Norwich 213 years ago, Pablo Fanque led an extraordinary life. He was the first recorded Black circus owner in Britain, described by one London newspaper as an 'artiste of colour' who was a master of showmanship. Fanque's circus, known as Pablo Fanque & Company, toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom and enjoyed great popularity. Fanque's legacy is immortalised in the famous Beatles song, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", which was inspired by an 1843 poster advertising one of his circus shows. The very poster, in fact, that Kite painstakingly recreated using traditional printing methods. Shop the limited edition "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" print here.Also in News
Brazil’s Historic Bull’s Eye Stamps: A Philatelic Milestone
On July 19, 1843, Brazil issued its famous Bull’s Eye stamps, making it the second country to produce adhesive postage stamps, after Great Britain’s Penny Black in 1840.
Celebrating Ringo Starr’s 84th birthday
Today marks the birthday of Ringo Starr, The Beatles’s legendary drummer, whose unique style and charismatic presence have made him a legend in the world of music. Born Richard Starkey on July 7, 1940, in Liverpool, England, Ringo Starr rose to global fame with the Fab Four, helping to shape the sound of the 1960s and beyond with his musical talent.
Celebrate the art and history of stamps on US National Postage Stamp Day
Every year on July 1st, US National Postage Stamp Day honours a simple invention that revolutionised global communication—the postage stamp. This day is the anniversary of when the first US postage stamp was issued in 1847. This first stamp featured founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.
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