The first World Expo took place in 1851 in London. At the time England was the world’s leading industrial power, which with its vast empire had profited handsomely from free trade and the prosperity of the Victorian era. The Expo was an overwhelming success.

Every nation was invited to contribute to the Expo, which constituted an inventory of all branches of human endeavour.

Between this first World Expo in 1851 and 1931, the year in which the 1928 Convention of Paris came into effect, over 20 Expos took place around the world.