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Wimbledon’s Tennis Postmarks 1939-2013 Part 14

The Davis Cup

American, Dwight Davis, presented the massive silver punch bowl in 1900 for an annual international men’s team competition. In the first few years the British Isles took up the challenge and from 1904 they were joined by other countries.

1951 was the only time that a mobile office (trailer MPO No.1) attended a Davis Cup match.

A Euro Zone tie was played at the All England Club, Wimbledon in May 1951 when GB beat France 3:2. Unusually the Club allowed practice session on the Saturday, 18^th and Sunday, 19^th May before that was played on the next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The GPO provided postal services from mobile office stationed at the Ground throughout all five days.

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A registration receipt stamped on practice day Sunday, 19^th May with the “Club” circular date stamp. The “Club” circular date stamp was only used for receipted mail and examples are very rarely seen.

The Wightman Cup

American, Mrs.Hazel Wightman, presented a cup for a ladies’ team competition to be held between the USA and GB. The annual event, entitled The Wightman Cup, alternated between the two countries from 1923 to 1989, apart from the war years 1940 to 1945. The event folded in 1990 largely because GB could no longer match the strength of the USA. The matches in Britain were always held at the All England Club shortly before the Wimbledon Championships began.

In 1950 the General Post Office positioned its mobile office No 3 at the Club for the two match days, 16 and 17^th June,

Played on Friday and Saturday, 16^th and 17^th June on Centre Court No.1. USA won 7:0

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A registered letter postmarked 16^th June with the “All England” circular date stamp.

In 1954 mobile office No 3 was again stationed at the Club for the two match days, 11^th and 12^th June.

In 1954 the USA were yet again victorious, winning 6:0

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A Certificate of Posting date stamped 11^th June with the “All England” circular date stamp.

A mobile post office was stationed at Wightman matches on four occasions. Trailer No 3 was used in 1950, 1954 and 1956 and trailer No.1 in 1958. The “Club” date stamp was used in 1950 and 1954 whilst an ordinary MPO date stamp was used in 1956 and 1958.

In 1956 the match took place on the 15^th and 16^th June on Court No. 1. USA won 5:2

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A registered letter postmarked Friday, 15^th June with the Mobile Post Office circular date stamp No. 3 A.

In 1958 a mobile office was again stationed at the Club for the match days, 13^th and 14^th June.

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A registered letter postmarked Friday, 13^th June with the Mobile Post Office circular date stamp B.

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