Philatelic Library
As an essential part of the global philatelic community, we truly understand that this “hobby of kings” is more than just a simple pastime – it’s a passion. Your thirst for knowledge may be quenched when you uncover the historical details about your collections, but for many collectors in our intellectual neighborhood, learning more about the evolution of stamp collecting itself is of great interest as well.
That’s why our Philatelic Library is here – to provide for your enjoyment a growing anthology of fascinating, informative and even scandalous articles written throughout the past century about philately and some of the people involved in its history.
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In The Metropolitan Philatelist (New York) for April 23, 1910, editor J.W. Scott advised against collecting varieties of watermarks.
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The philatelic aspects of this case were set out in a lengthy report in the July 24, 1915, issue of The Postage Stamp (London).
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In The Philatelist (London) for January 1939, L.N. and M. Williams traced the variety of adhesives used to mount stamps to pages.
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R.W. Ashcroft pondered the effectiveness of philatelic advertising, in the June 1893 issue of The Canadian Journal of Philately (Toronto).
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The Origin of the Word “Philately”
The Journal of the Philatelic Literature Society (London) for April 1915 published a translation of the early article that gave our hobby its name.
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The Little Stamp Books and the Reply Stamp
Noting the popularity of booklet stamps, Jules Bouvez suggested in the February 1905 issue of the American Journal of Philately (New York) that further innovation was needed.
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Philatelic Journalism in War-Time
This timely report appeared in the October 1914 issue of The Journal of the Philatelic Literature Society (London). One hundred copies of each issue were printed and went to members only.
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W.F. Gregory gave this auction advice in the February 1905 issue of the American Journal of Philately (New York).
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This is a chapter from The Amateur Collector : Everybody's book on Collecting, by Dr. George C. Williamson of Hampstead, England. The book was published by Robert M. McBride & Company in New York in 1924.
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Noted Collections - H.E. Deats
Alvah Davison’s profile of a famous collection appeared in The Collectors Ledger for September 1888, and was reprinted in The Worcester County Philatelist (Worcester, Massachusetts) for December 1891.
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The Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the United States Treasury Department marked its centennial in 1962. At that time, the Department published History of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, 1862-1942. A chapter on “new horizons in a new century, 1994-1913” traces the development of coil stamps under the heading “Coiled Postage Stamps.”
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These musings of George F. Crofoot were published in The Worcester County Philatelist (Worcester, Massachusetts) of November 1892. They first appeared in The American Philatelic Magazine (Omaha, Nebraska).
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Published in Sydney in 1911, J.H. Smyth’s Philately in a Nutshell surveys the field in charming fashion and concludes with “`Bits’ of Information Concerning the Stamps of Various Countries.” Here are his observations on the Australian Commonwealth and States.
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The Postage Stamp (London) for June 5, 1915, reported “How Tommy Atkins’ Letters Are Censored.”
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This article appeared in the June 1894 issue of The Post Office, published by Henry Gremmel in New York. Crawford Capen was the editor and probable author of this anonymous piece.
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The Future of Stamp Collecting
The Rev. R.B. Earee’s forecast appeared in Nunn’s Philatelical Annual and was reprinted in Vindin’s Philatelic Monthly (Sydney) for January 1889.
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This account of the post office at Rio de Janeiro appeared in the May 1868 issue of The American Journal of Philately, edited by John Walter Scott and published in New York City. The article ends with a comma, in the middle of a quotation. Such were the vagaries of the early philatelic press.
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An anonymous author presented this dialogue in the March 1898 issue of The Columbian Philatelist (New Oxford, Pennsylvania).
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Some Experiences of a Lady Collector
Women have collected stamps from the earliest days of our hobby. In the September 1902 issue of The Stamp Collector, published in Birmingham, Mrs. Decima Hamilton shared her memories of young collectors in a Victorian household.
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The Truth about the Stamps of the Somali Coast with Inverted Centers
This exposé, translated from L’Echo de la Timbrologie and published in the American Journal of Philately (New York) for February 1905, sparked an acid commentary from George L. Toppan, editor of the AJP.
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“Rover” offered this seasonal celebration of philately in the July 1903 issue of The Stamp Collector, published in Birmingham, England.
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The late 1890s were an exciting period for philately, according to Charles E. Jenney in the June 1898 issue of The Columbian Philatelist (New Oxford, Pennsylvania).
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Death of M. Oscar Berger-Levrault
The passing of a pioneer philatelist was chronicled in The Stamp Collector (Birmingham, England) issue of November 1903.
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The unsettled state of the postwar philatelic world was lamented by the editor of The Australian Philatelist (Sydney) in its December 1923 issue.
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Some Philatelic Memories of Dixie
“C.S.A.” (a nom de philatelie) recapped the philatelic history of the Confederate States in an article that appeared in The Post Office for November 1894. The journal was published by Henry Gremmel in New York City, with Crawford Capen as editor.
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In The Canadian Journal of Philately (Toronto) of July 1893, Jno. R. Hooper reported progress in the philatelic press.
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The “Correos” Stamps of Venezuela
This look at 19th century Venezuelan stamps by Wilhelm Kühn of Edinburgh appeared in The Stamp Collector (Birmingham) for March, 1903.
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In its September 25, 1915, issue, The Postage Stamp (London) saluted “Mr. W.R. Ricketts’ Important Work” and lamented the delays in its publication.
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The Evolution of the Stamp Album, from Lallier to Mekeel
This lengthy chronicle by Lewis G. Quackenbush appeared in the Philatelic Journal of America for April 1894.
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This report on a philatelic papyrus appeared in Carter’s Messenger (Brooklyn, New York), Volume 2, Number 1, circa 1910.
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In The Stamp Collector (Birmingham, England) for February 1903, Ernest Heginbottom, B.A., tackled this endlessly controversial question.
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A coming boom in revenues was touted by R.S. Walters in The Canadian Philatelist (London, Ontario) for March 1893.
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Dealer Elmer R. Long shared memories of servicing U.S. first day covers in the November 1950 issue of Covers (Albany, Oregon).
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The philatelic impact of Home Rule for Ireland was weighed in this report from The Canadian Philatelist (London, Ontario) for June 1893.
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Major Cover Show Held at Museum During Postal History Convention
Philadelphia staked a claim to philatelic fame with this report by George W. Caldwell in the December 1951 issue of Covers (Albany, Oregon).
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This article by “Post Master” appeared in the first issue of The Western Philatelist, published in Chicago in January 1887.
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C.R. Gadsden reported an innovative way to mount covers, in the October 1887 issue of The Western Philatelist (Chicago).
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M.K. Essaji - The dealer who sold India first issues by weight!
The prolific Jal Cooper profiled a longtime Bombay stamp dealer in the March 1944 issue of India’s Stamp Journal (Bombay).
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Charles Prant undertook to answer a provocative question in the June 20, 1942, issue of Stamp Wholesaler (Burlington, Vermont).
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This profile of a well-known stamp dealer was published in The Badger State Philatelist (Delavan, Wisconsin) of February 1888.
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C.W. Bruce proclaimed the joy of shades in the July 1945 issue of India’s Stamp Journal (Bombay).
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The “Common” versus the “French” School of Philately
The Eagle Philatelist (Kansas City, Kansas) for July 1892 offered Harry F. Kantner’s account of an early schism within the hobby.
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In the January 1892 issue of The Eagle Philatelist (Kansas City, Kansas), E.S. Luther recommended several stamp periodicals from among the scores then being published.
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Murder Pair Revealed as “Approval Pirates”
Stamp Wholesaler (Burlington, Vermont) recounted in its June 20, 1942, issue a lurid tale of two murders who would stop at nothing, even asking for approvals, then not returning them.
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Of all the reasons why people collect stamps, their inherent beauty is perhaps the easiest to explain to those who aren’t naturally drawn to philately. From a historical perspective, there’s room to debate whether stamp collecting became popular as a way of recognizing and celebrating this beauty, or if the collectible market inspired national postal systems to produce more remarkable and noteworthy designs.
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Stamp Collecting for Beginners
As one of the world's most popular hobbies, philately, also known as stamp collecting, has been around almost since the issuance of the first postage stamp: the Penny Black (U.K.) in 1840. Within 20 years of this, the hobby had spread throughout Europe, America, and much of the British Empire.
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Help! I've Just Inherited a Stamp Collection
If you’ve been willed a stamp collection, consider it a sign of the great esteem your loved one had for you. Many collectors highly value their stamps. In choosing you to administer this important part of their estate, they have demonstrated a great deal of confidence in your ability to do it justice.
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Stamp Collecting: Alive and Well in the 21st Century
Stamp collecting is a hobby that dates back to the 19th Century. This interesting historical trajectory includes the birth of the first philatelic club in 1869 to collecting during the internet age.
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Caring for Your Stamp Collection
Some basic knowledge of how to preserve your stamp collection is essential to protecting your investment for the long term. In this article we attempt to provide a basic overview of everything you need to know about how to store and preserve stamps.
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The History of Stamp Counterfeiting and How to Spot a Fake
Counterfeiting of stamps immediately became a profitable enterprise for those daring enough to try it. It was not until much later, when stamps became a collector’s item and people began to pay large sums of money for them, that counterfeiters started focusing on reproducing rare and valuable stamps to bilk investors.
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Famous Philatelists Throughout History and Today
The hobby of stamp collecting is greatly enjoyed by those in the United States, with an estimated 22 million people enjoying the hobby. In particular, the hobby is one that has often appealed to royals, world leaders and celebrities across the world.
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Stamp Museums: Philately on Display Throughout the World
No matter how involved you are in the philately world, learning more about stamps and the postal system in general is a great way to expand your knowledge about your hobby.
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Famous FBI Cases of Stolen Stamp Collections
Many people around the world collect stamps. It is a relaxing hobby for some and a heroic quest for others, as they seek to find that perfect stamp to finish their collection. But countless people may not consider the value of stamp collections. Unbeknownst to them, some collections are so valuable that the authorities must summon the FBI to help investigate significant thefts.