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PHILATELIC COLLECTIONS ISSN 1364-887X NEWSLETTER Issue 9, Spring 2006

Treasures of the to feature on St.Helena issue

150 years ago ‘The St. Helena are derived from items held in the Herald’ announced the issue British Library Philatelic Collections. RARITIES AT THE of the first stamp for St. Helena. The miniature sheet has a background CLICK OF A MOUSE which shows the St. Helena Post Office Printed in England by Perkins Bacon, ‘Philatelic Rarities’ is now available the new 6d value was put on sale on at Jamestown, and items and scenes online for philatelists to explore at the 1st January 1856. from the British Library, including a the “Collect Britain” page on the Perkins Bacon printing press, and Sir British Library’s website. To commemorate this event St. Helena Eduardo Paolozzi’s statue of 80 digital images have been included, and is to issue a set of six stamps and a Isaac Newton that is located in the the real attraction of the site is that it allows miniature sheet, the designs of which Piazza of the Library. users for the first time to view items in incredible detail, either as large images or Sponsored by: using a zoom facility. Each item is accompanied by explanatory notes, providing the historical context and philatelic importance of the stamps on display. If you would like to log-on to view the results go to: www.collectbritain.co.uk/collections/ philatelic/ The concept of “Collect Britain” is to greatly expand the online resource of digital files from all of the different areas of the British Library. Many of these different areas within the Library offer a huge resource for philatelic research. 1111 Philatelic Newsletter 22/12/05 11:32 Page 2

THE FLETCHER COLLECTION 1867-80 6d. mauve plate 10

Originally comprising some three reconstructions throughout the Queen hundred volumes, the collection has Victorian period - including for each now been re-housed in archival boxes, of the plates of the 1840 1d. black. and is stored in a temperature and The line-engraved issues include humidity controlled environment. numerous first, second, and third state Half of the collection is of pre-adhesive impressions of the 1840 1d. black and material, and this part of the collection 1841 1d. red. Individual rarities include is arranged by Post Office Service or 1841 1d. red-brown plate 77A "B(A)" type of marking, and then alphabetically with "A" square blank, and a good by town. There is a 1682 letter carried example of 1864-79 1d red plate 77 by the original London Dockwra Post, and a study of the handstamps once the used. The 1864-79 1d. plate number 1864-79 1d. red plate 77 Government took over the service. The issues also include plate reconstructions The Fletcher Collection of Great Britain, collection includes a remarkable group of all plates to 225. was formed by Mr. Hugh Greenwell of early 19th Century 5th Clause Posts. Highlights of the surface printed issues Fletcher over the period of his lifetime, The Uniform Rates include seventy- include abnormals, with 1862-64 3d and is breathtaking in its conception three examples of the 1839-1840 "white dots", two examples of the 9d. and scope.When he died in 1968 at handstruck 4d. (including used on 5th "hair lines", 1865-67 10d watermark the age of 86, the collection was December 1839, the first day of the Emblems, 1867-80 6d. mauve plate bequeathed to the the Bruce Castle new rate, from Dublin, Edinburgh, and 10, and 1873-80 4d green plate 17. Museum in Tottenham, which was Glasgow), and during the subsequent once the home of Sir . period of the Uniform 1d. rate - rare Rare officials overprints include The collection was transferred to the private prepaid envelopes printed by "I. R. OFFICIAL" 1884-88 watermark British Library in 1989. Baraclough in brown (illustrated), and Crowns £1 JC (showing frame-break The collection spans a period of by Buchanan in blue. variety), and an unused example of over 300 years and illustrates the The second half of the collection 1884-88 watermark Orbs £1. development and operation of the comprises an exceptional range of Later issues include 1902-04 King post and its associated services. stamps (mainly used), with plate Edward VII 6d. "I. R. OFFICIAL" overprinted "SPECIMEN", and 1935 1 Silver Jubilee 2 /2 d. Prussian blue. The collection also includes sections of postal stationery with complete uncut sheets of Mulready 1d and 2d. (both envelopes and lettersheets of each value). There is a Mulready 1d. lettersheet used on 2nd May 1840. Later issues include an extensive group of embossed envelopes with advertising rings. There is an interesting section of Great Britain used abroad, including covers showing mixed issue frankings from Danish West Indies, Nicararagua, and Beirut. 1840 Baraclough 1d. envelope 1111 Philatelic Newsletter 22/12/05 11:32 Page 3

Philatelic Society London, and acted in 2003. He has now taken up an NEWS ROUNDUP that capacity from 2003 to 2005. During appointment as an assistant to the Keeper that period he proved particularly adept at of the Royal Philatelic Collection, and we A great deal has happened since the last advancing the interests of the Society, and wish him every success in this role. edition of the newsletter, number 8, was further strengthening the links between Paul Skinner was appointed a Curator to published in Autumn 2001. the British Library and the Society. join the department in July 2004. Paul The Head of Philatelic Collections David Rod Vousden FRPSL who first joined the comes from a background of working in Beech was elected President of The Royal Library as a Curator in 1994 retired in the auction world for the last 25 years.

NEW ACQUISITIONS AND LOANS

The Kaluski Collection The Smith Collection The Shelley Collection The Kaluski Collection of Poland A collection of League of Nations Ron Shelley was a well known figure formed by Janusz Kaluski FRPSL covers and United Nations postage stamps in the British Philatelic Trade, who the years 1835-2002, and is contained and covers formed by M. Martin Smith specialized in the issues of Spain, and in 46 volumes. The stamps open a and bequeathed in 2002. who had a particular interest in the window into Poland’s often turbulent Spanish Civil War. Therefore the Library past, marking many of the defining The Seymour Collection is particularly fortunate to have received moments in the nation's history. the Shelley Collection of International The Seymour Collection is a World Brigade Mail of the Spanish Civil War, HM Customs and collection of mail associated with the which complements the Bailey Collection Comet aircraft from the early trials which is currently on loan from the Excise Collection. and pioneer flights, and was formed Spanish Study Circle, and which is HM Customs and Excise have by Kenneth Seymour and donated by mentioned in newsletter number 8. transferred to the Library a collection his son and daughter in 2003. of British Revenue stamps in proof form Stamp Office for the period 1827 to 1933 in eight The McInroy Collection Embossing Machine large volumes. The main taxes covered are Table Water Duty, Medicines, The British Library is particularly A new addition to the Board of Inland Entertainment Allowances and Playing pleased to have been donated Revenue Stamping Department Archive Cards. Also included are Pension The McInroy Collection of World is an Embossing Machine used by the Order Forms. Meter stamps, formed by Dr R.A. Stamp Office. This machine was in use McInroy. This subject has until from the 1930’s, and was used to Harrison and Sons recently been a much neglected impress legal documents and transfers area of philately, and so the McInroy with the appropriate amount of duty Collection collection will add another valuable stamps. Still in the original paintwork, Mainly of Egypt 1921-22 photogravure resource for researchers in their the press has been completely issue and Palestine 1927-45 issue. chosen areas of specialisation. refurbished, and is now on display on Donated by De La Rue International the upper ground floor, next to the Ltd. in 2002. Perkins, Bacon Press.

‘Pacifica Explorer 2005’ In April, the British Library was pleased to be invited to exhibit Pacific Ocean material from the , in the Court of Honour at the Pacifica Explorer 2005 exhibition in Sydney, Australia. The four day exhibition was opened by Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales. In total 164 pages from the Tapling Collection were exhibited, this was the first time that any portion of the Collection had been shown in Australia. David Beech, Head of Philatelic Collections, explains the Tapling Collection to Professor Marie Bashir AC, Governor of New South Wales. 1111 Philatelic Newsletter 22/12/05 11:32 Page 4

CONTACT POINT The British Library Philatelic Collections 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB T +44 (0) 20 7412 7635/6 F +44 (0) 20 7412 7780 [email protected]

Seeing the RESEARCHER’S NOTE Philatelic Collections By Robin Davis Our information leaflet, describing the collections and services, may be My main collecting interest is the printer, which was sold at auction in obtained on request as above or country of Cyprus, for which I am 1977. From my researches in the De La viewed on the British Library website researching the stamp printings Rue Archive (held at the British Postal Museum and Archive), and the Crown www.bl.uk/collections/philatelic during the British period Agents Archive, I had already 1878–1960 and which hopefully The ‘Philatelic Rarities’ web page established that an order for 1,500 is available at: when completed will result in a sheets [180,000 stamps] of these comprehensive book. www.collectbritain.co.uk stamps was placed on 11th August 1922 Part of my research has entailed under requisition number 3417 and that Disability Support Officer: consulting the extensive Crown Agents 1,505 sheets [180,600 stamps] along For queries about assistance Philatelic and Security Printing Archive with 413 stamps overprinted for readers with disabilities: at the British Library. Currently I am in “SPECIMEN” were despatched from De La Rue on 8th November 1922. A hand Tel: +44 (0)20 7412 7666 the process of systematically going through this archive and extracting written note associated with one of the Fax: +44 (0)20 7412 7789 the information concerning Cyprus, two stamps in the Archive in the British Email: [email protected] which to date has allowed me to record Library indicates that the specimens were destroyed on 22nd August 1924. The Philatelic Exhibition is information on the numbers of stamps open free of charge, during the despatched for each order, plate I strongly recommend that anyone following times: numbers used for each printing, plate undertaking research of the stamp sizes, sheet sizes, sheet numbering issues of a particular country or countries Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and much related information. make use of this very valuable definitive Friday 09.30 to 18.00 A spectacular discovery that I made source of information. From my own Tuesday 09.30 to 20.00 whilst undertaking some recent experiences you can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome from the Saturday 09.30 to 17.00 research in these archives was that they contained not just one but two very helpful staff of the British Library. Sunday & Bank Holidays copies of the unissued Cyprus King Readers interested in Cyprus Philately 11.00 to 17.00 1 George V 1921-23 key plate /2 piaster might want to consider joining the Researchers may view material not stamp printed in black. Until this time Cyprus Study Circle details of which on display, by appointment. A British the only known example of this stamp can be obtained from the Membership Library Reader’s Pass is required. The was from a photograph of one Secretary Mr. J. Wigmore 20 Gilpin Researcher’s Room is available from: overprinted “SPECIMEN” from the Close, Dawlish, Devon EX7 9SZ or by Monday 10.00 to 16.00 archives of De La Rue the security visiting: www.cyprusstudycircle.org Tuesday to Friday 09.30 to 16.00 The Library will be closed on the following dates: 1st and 2nd January 2006 14th to 16th April 2006 17th April 2006 (Public Areas open 11.00-17.00) 1st May (Public Areas open 11.00-17.00) 29th May (Public Areas open 11.00-17.00)