The Death Centenary of Edward Stanley Gibbons

The Death Centenary of Edward Stanley Gibbons By John Holman

Edward Stanley Gibbons, founder of the ﬁ rm that still bears his name, died in London on 17 February 1913. A century on, John Holman looks back on the colourful life and career of one of the most famous names in philately.

He remains a somewhat enigmatic fi gure, joined the Naval Bank in Plymouth but with, until recently, relatively little known soon after joined his father’s business about his life. To mark the 150th anniversary following the death of his eldest of his birth, in June 1990, I investigated his brother. Traditionally it is said he started life, through offi cial and private records, and stamp dealing in his father’s shop, age wrote what remains still the main account 16, in 1856—the date always given as of his life (GSM July and August 1990). This the company’s foundation. article, to mark the centenary of his passing, He may have taken the fi rst tentative is in part summary of the earlier piece. steps as a dealer then, but it is more Edward Stanley Gibbons (hereafter ESG) likely that stamp trading did not was born at his father’s chemist shop in become a more signifi cant part of his Treville Street, Plymouth on 21 June 1840, life until 1863 or 1864, when the fi rst just over a month after the issue of the advertisement for him as a dealer world’s fi rst adhesive postage stamps (the appear, offering a price list for 1d. family occupied 13-15 Treville Street, later In 1865 he published his Price List & renumbered 83-84.) His father William was Catalogue, forerunner of today’s SG born in Amesbury, Wiltshire and his mother catalogue range. This 1865 catalogue Elizabeth (nee Langridge) at Portsea, Hants. cost 2d. postpaid in the UK, 5d. William had settled in Plymouth by 1830 overseas, and comprised 16 pages when his eldest son William was born. There listing about 2000 ‘varieties’ (stamps). Above: 13 15 Treville Street, Plymouth was another son—Alfred (born 1832), and The famous story of him buying a sack, or – two daughters—Elizabeth (born 1824) and kit-bag, full of Cape triangular stamps from Catherine (b. 1836). ESG was the youngest in two sailors is said to have happened in 1863. the family. The sailors were said to have won the stamps William, the eldest son, followed his in a raffl e. He did buy a large quantity of father’s trade as a chemist (described in the these stamps, and sold them at a good profi t, 1851 census as ‘Druggist Assistant’) but died but the story seems to have been embellished young, probably in 1854. Alfred joined the in later years. A more likely story is that Navy and reached the rank of Commander— the stamps (said to have totalled 2 million) he and his family are buried in St Luke’s had been saved by a deceased old lady for Churchyard in Southampton. He was married charity and been brought over by a passenger twice, possibly three times, and had two sons on a mail packet. I suppose the sailor and by his fi rst marriage. Both sons went into the kit-bag story is rather more romantic and services, one died at sea off Lisbon in 1886 ‘marketable’ than the likely truth. and the other in Cape Town in 1900. Alfred ESG took a keen interest in local societies, died in 1908 and left ESG an oil painting and and in 1860 gave the fi rst of many talks to the the old family punch ladle. Plymouth Mutual Improvement Association; Elizabeth married a James Langridge his subject ‘The History of Cortes and the (perhaps a relative, Langridge was her Conquest of Mexico’. He became President of mother’s maiden name) and they lived in the Plymouth Literary Association in 1866. Bristol. Catherine, the younger daughter, In the 1861 census, when he was age 21, never married and lived in Bournemouth ESG was described as ‘Assistant’ to his father, where she died in 1905. ESG was one of the William, a ‘Pharmaceutical Chemist’. Six Above: The earliest known dated catalogue benefi ciaries of her will, inheriting silver years later William died, leaving an estate spoons, a pearl horseshoe pin and a family of under £1500, and ESG took over the portrait. ESG’s wife, Georgina was left a ruby business. He now developed the stamp and pearl ring. dealing side of his business, and More details of ESG’s brothers, sisters and gradually left more of the chemist nieces and nephews are to be found in my duties to others. By 1871 he 1990 article. had a shopman and chemist assistant and two apprentices The early years to carry out most of the ESG attended the Hallorans’ Collegiate chemist work. In the School in Plympouth where it is said his 1871 census he described interest in stamps began when he was about himself as ‘Chemist, 14. He later recalled he had a little book dealer in foreign stamps’. containing about 20 stamps for the purpose In 1872 he moved to 8 of exchange. Amongst these were stamps Lockyer Street, Plymouth of Western Australia and New South Wales and on 29 January married (1d. Sydney View). At 15 he left school and his fi rst wife, Matilda Woon G.S.M. February 2013 95 The Death Centenary of Edward Stanley Gibbons

of Plymouth, daughter of an Independent Minister. Whilst at Lockyer Street he produced his first album—theV.R. Album (pioneer of the ‘Imperial Album’), followed by the Improved Album. Two years later ESG moved from Plymouth to 24 The Chase, Clapham Common, London. The chemist business may have been sold to a former apprentice, George Witheycombe who is noted as a chemist at 93 Treville Street. ESG lived in Clapham for two years, developing the stamp business from his suburban home. An apocryphal story tells that he employed in the evenings the services of young women to tear up sheets of stamps. Neighbours, curious of the arrival of these young girls, reported the matter to the authorities who investigated but found all to be in order. The Chase is in a pleasant area and one of the houses was home of the architect Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860). Above: 24 The Chase, From Clapham ESG moved into central Clapham Common, London, to 8 Gower Street, near London London University, in late 1875 or early 1876 and it was there that his mother died in Above right: A Stanley January 1876. ESG was one of her Gibbons catalogue dated executors, describing himself as ‘Importer September 1875 of Foreign Stamps’. The 1885 Post Office London Directory lists the main occupants of 8 Gower St as Right: Cambridge Villa, ‘Stanley Gibbons & Co publishers’ and in 1 Cambridge Park, East 1890 as ‘Stanley Gibbons & Co postage Twickenham stamp dealers’. ESG seems to have done much of the work himself, although there his household comprised his nephew Frank stamps ever since’. I think it unlikely that were probably some staff to assist, likely Langridge, a ‘visitor’ (perhaps a lodger), a he seriously considered a medical career, part-time. He often acknowledged orders cook and a housemaid. In Cambridge Park, exaggerating the status of a chemist to that and sent short messages using pre-stamped their neighbours included three clergymen of a doctor. As with the tale of the sailors with postcards, examples of which come onto the and a colonel. Gibbons lived there until 1911 kitbags of stamps, ESG may well have spun a market from time to time. He built up a large and photographs survive showing him with good yarn to enhance his reputation. wholesale business in modern stamps, as well his wife, and friends enjoying garden parties His second wife Margaret Gibbons died as purchasing and breaking up many of the in the grounds. The house, usually referred to of cirrhosis of the liver at their Cambridge finest collections of the time. In 1890, age 50 as a villa, was demolished in 1960 to make way Villa home in November 1899 after 12 years and in indifferent health, he sold the business for new housing in Vivienne Close. Nearby is of marriage. Two years later, in December to Charles Phillips of Birmingham, although Cambridge Gardens where in 1976 Stanley 1901 ESG was in Calcutta and Rangoon with the name Stanley Gibbons continued. Gibbons Ltd planted some 300 bushes of the wife number three, believed to be named Stanley Gibbons rose, but the bushes are, Georgina. They stayed at the Strand Hotel The most famous philatelic sadly, no longer in evidence. in Rangoon and the following year at the address in the world Splendide Hotel Royal at the health resort Apart from the premises in Treville Street, World tours of Aix-les-Bains in France. A programme for Plymouth, ESG himself never ran a stamp ESG enjoyed his retirement years by travelling a concert they attended survives in the scrap shop, but in 1891 Phillips opened a shop at widely. Most of these were for pleasure but he book, ESG has signed it ‘E Stanley Gibbons’ 435 Strand as well as keeping the office at also took the opportunity to obtain stamps and alongside is written (who by?) ‘For he’s Gower Street. During 1893 the office closed for his old company. He, or his wife, kept our King and a good King too!’. and a new shop-cum-office opened at 391 a scrap-book of their trips during the years In 1903 he gave a newspaper interview Strand which was to remain the home of 1891-1907. At some stage the book became in Ceylon, saying he had visited Ceylon 10 Stanley Gibbons Ltd—and the most famous divided, with part in the SG archive and part or 11 times. It also refers to a visit to San philatelic address in the world—for the next in private hands. Franciso and planned visits to Bombay, Java, 90 years (the company moved to 399 Strand Whilst overseas, ESG witnessed the crash Singapore, Siam, Cochin China and to the in the early 1980s). Phillips is believed to have of the Orient Express in Bulgaria and pencil Hanoi Exhibition. Asked if he still collected lived at Gower Street until 1895. drawing of which survives in the scrap book. stamps he replied that he had six specialised ESG’s first wife Matilda died in 1877, the In 1897 he seems to have been in Honolulu collections but rarely bought any stamps as cause of death described as ‘marasmus’, a and the scrap book contains a press cutting they were ‘too expensive’. Sadly, the subjects wasting disease. By 1887 he had married concerning the destruction of obsolete of these specialised collections are not stated. Margaret (Maggie) Casey who had been Hawaiian stamps in December 1896. ESG He returned to Ceylon in 1905 and 1906 resident with him at Gower Street since 1881, was, it seems, present at the burning of the attending Colombo Race Week, Empire when she was 23 and described as ‘visitor, unwanted stocks, which made him ‘sad’. He Day Celebrations and Edward VII’s Birthday unmarried, (and) assistant’. There was also was staying, with his wife, at the Hawaiian Celebration Dinner. By then he had married a cook and a housemaid. They married at St Hotel and said to be on his second world for a fourth time. Georgina is given as his Giles in the Fields Church in August 1887, tour and intended going to Japan. The wife’s name in his sister’s will in May 1905, ESG described as ‘Publisher’, and Margaret newspaper interview includes the intriguing but on 12 October 1905 he married Bertha daughter of John Casey, a publican of comment that he ‘was brought up in London Barth, age 27, a widow of Jubilee Place, Twickenham to where ESG moved in 1891. for the medical profession’ and ‘while Chelsea, daughter of a railway clerk. The At first they lived at Newry Lodge and later walking the hospitals I incidentally dabbled marriage took place in St Stephen’s Church, at Cambridge Villa, 1 Cambridge Park, East in stamps for amusement...’ He found he Twickenham, ESG describing himself as Twickenham, a well-to-do area. The 1891 could make more money from stamps ‘than ‘Gentleman’. Bertha appears to have died census entry for Newry Lodge describes ESG I could have dreamed of in my profession’, in Ceylon when they visited in 1908. A local as a ‘Retired Publisher’, as well as his wife, so ‘dropped doctoring... and… stuck to newspaper report states that the wife of ESG 96 G.S.M. February 2013 The Death Centenary of Edward Stanley Gibbons

died in the General Hospital from cancer of grave was published in GSM in February 2006. mark the catalogue centenary; the other four the liver, age 35. ‘Much sympathy’, it states, show the then newly published Elizabethan ‘is felt for Mr Gibbons’ who returned to Children of ESG? catalogue (SG 37/44). Britain on the ship Bremen. The report does From the researches it seems ESG had not give his wife’s name and we must assume no children, or at least none survived. No ESG the man it was Bertha. mention of any was made in his will or can be We know that ESG was an astute businessman. Back home ESG married his fifth wife found in the SG archives. However the late Although he clearly had an interest in stamps, Sophia Crofts, a 40 year old widow, in January Gerald Davis (well-known collector of Burma I think he was probably more interested in 1909. Her father was a wine merchant. stamps) told me that in about 1929 his aunt them as a means of making a good living than However, the marriage doesn’t appear to have informed him she used to be friendly with for their own sake. He is an important figure lasted long and they had separated by the ESG’s daughters. The aunt was born about in philatelic publishing, being amongst the time ESG died four years later. She died in 1885 so if the story is true the girls would first to produce stamp albums and catalogues. 1936 when she was known as Sophia Gibbons have been the daughters of Margaret Casey, We now know a certain amount about his or Sophia Stanley, sometimes signing Sophia ESG’s second wife. They may have been personal life, his obvious fondness for women S Gibbons. Margaret’s daughters by another relationship, and international travel. However we do or daughters of relatives of ESG staying with not really know what he was like as a man. Final days him at the time. The obiturist in the Monthly Journal noted ESG made a will in July 1912, his address I should be pleased to hear from anyone his genial and kindly disposition, and he then given as 63 Stanthorpe Road, Streatham, related in any way with ESG, or who can add clearly enjoyed Edwardian social life, garden a rather less prestigious address than to the information we know about him. parties, and staying at good hotels. The few Cambridge Park, Twickenham. He died at 4L pictures of him, however, show a rather gruff Portman Mansions, off Baker Street, London Tributes looking face although that may just be the on 17 February 1913. Cause of death was The 28 February 1913 edition of Stanley style of portraiture at the time. The earliest given as ‘Coma, Haemorrhage of the Brain, Gibbons Monthly Journal carried a two-page image of him dating from c. 1870, then age Secondary to Extensive Valvular Disease of obituary, reciting many of the events in 30, shows a rather serious-looking man, the Heart with Atheroma of Endocardium ESG’s life and career. In summing him up, with hair beginning to recede and extensive and the Blood Vessels accelerated by enlarged the obiturist wrote: ‘Mr Gibbons modestly side-whiskers. He has a somewhat bulbous prostate’. Being a sudden death, a coroner’s never laid claim to the title of “Scientific nose, rather piercing eyes, staring into the inquest was held establishing the cause as Philatelist”, but his great imports of stamps distance, and, to my mind, displays a rather ‘natural’. It seems likely he had been in in the early days, his publication of albums contemptuous smile. Later pictures show declining health for some while. and catalogues, and his steady pursuance him with much less hair and a beard and His estate totalled £13,172 11s.4d. Basic UK of the stamp business during so long a moustache, again staring into the distance postage at the time was 1d., now 50p (2nd period, were of the greatest service to our and unsmiling. He looks a little less severe class) or 120 times that of 1913. Using this pursuit.’ The writer who ‘had been personally on some of the photos of him on his travels, guide, his £13,172 estate would now be over acquainted with him for a number of years one posing alongside a camel and another £1.5 million. Legacies were left to two nieces past can bear testimony to his genial and in white suit and pith hat. He has a slightly and his former gardener with the bulk to ‘my kindly disposition...’. embarrassed look in a photo of him in dear friend’ Mabel Ethel Hedgecoe who may In The Postage Stamp (a weekly journal for Japanese dress and holding a fan and parasol. have been his companion at the end of his stamp collectors) dated 8 March 1913, Fred One picture shows him with a lady friend in life, wife number six in all but name. A check J Melville (himself one of the great names in what I imagine were his last years. He looks in directories does not list him at Stanthorpe philately) paid his ‘modest tribute’ to ESG. rather old, but manages a smile, his bald head Road, so possibly he was just a lodger there. He recounted the key events of his business covered by a cloth cap. They stand against a As to Portman Mansions, the place of his life, but thought it more likely that the date rather rough wooden fence in front of a brick death (in flat 4L), it seems he was visiting a of his first real involvement in the stamp house—a far cry from his more opulent days relative at the time. Flat 4F was occupied by trade should be 1864 rather than 1856. in Twickenham. Algernon Percy Gibbons who, I believe, may Melville described ESG as ‘one whose name It would be intriguing to know what he have been ESG’s cousin. has become a more than philatelic term, a was really like. I get the impression that He was buried three days after his death household word amongst stamp collectors the he was a lively character at times, good in Twickenham Cemetary in the same grave whole world over.’ company with the right people, but perhaps as his second wife Margaret. The grave a bit cantankerous sometimes, and, like the comprises a stone surround within which a ESG on stamps Chinese he would have encountered on his cross was mounted on a plinth—similar to ESG has featured on at least two stamps—one travels, somewhat inscrutable. Whatever he many other graves of the period. For safety from Antigua in 1993 (SG 1809), and with was like, collectors the world over will be reasons the cross has been taken down by the Stanley Phillips, who bought his business in grateful to him for establishing his stamp cemetery authorities and now lays flat on top 1890, on a stamp of Montserrat in 2001 (SG business which for about 150 years has of the grave. The inscription for Margaret is 1180). The first edition of the SG catalogue been at the forefront of developing stamp now rather worn, but the wording for ESG is features on the Antigua stamp, and on four collecting, particularly through the SG still clear and readable. A photograph of the of eight stamps issued by Ajman in 1965 to catalogue, albums, and of course, GSM.

Edward Stanley Gibbons

Below: Stanley Gibbons shop and Auction House at 399 the Strand as it looks today