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Stamp Dealer Mail

Introduction

This display falls into three parts:
  1. Early Stamp Dealers: A short history of some of the more prominent early members of the stamp trade.
  2. Overseas Mail to and from Stamp Dealers: A selection of letters to and from various British stamp dealers, together with business use of invalidated foreign envelopes.
  3. Whitfield King Parcel Post Labels: A detailed study of the stamped to order parcel post labels of one prominent "classic" dealer.

Early Stamp Dealers

Whitfield King & Co.

Charles Whitfield King (1855-1930) dealing in Ipswich in 1869 whilst employed as a clerk at the Customs House, he later moved the business to Lacey Street. His son also Charles Whitfield King (1887-1944) joined the business and his son James Charles Whitfield King (1921-1982) is listed as 'sole proprietor' on "Whitfield King & Co's Philatelic Bulletin" dated October 1951. The business continued until the early 1960's but then slowly disappeared. Whitfield King & Co. produced many distinctive embossed registered envelopes only in the reign of Queen Victoria.

Stafford Smith & Smith

Henry Stafford Smith (1843-1903) was in partnership with his brother Alfred William Smith (1837-1880) in Bath from 1862 to 1866 when the partnership was dissolved by mutual agreement.

Stafford Smith & Company

Henry Stafford Smith moved to Brighton where he established a new business. He produced a magazine and also stamp albums.

Alfred Smith & Co.

After the partnership was dissolved Alfred Smith stayed in Bath where he produced embossed envelopes with a picture of the building where he had his premises. These envelopes were printed in red, green & black. By December 1896 his son Bertram T.K.Smith (1872-1938) had moved the business to London.

The new premises for Alfred Smith & Son were at 37 Essex Street, Strand the centre for leading stamp dealers at this time. Alfred Smith & Son slowly traded less and less until B.T.K. Smith stopped publishing the 'Monthly Circular' in 1923.

William Lincoln

William Simpson Lincoln (1844-1922) is reputed to be the first stamp dealer in London, about 1856, and claimed to be "The Oldest Established Stamp dealer in the World"? He opened his first shop in 1859. He produced a range of embossed envelopes with advertising rings and was well known for his sheets of crests, crest albums and postage stamp albums. He was awarded many medals and diplomas for these publications. Stanley Gibbons acquired his stock in 1931 from his son William E. Lincoln. This letter demonstrates that many leading stamp dealers wrote to foreign clients in the appropriate language.

William Brown

William Brown (1864-1927) was a leading stamp dealer from Salisbury. He was the founder and first publisher of the "Philatelic Journal of Great Britain" later bought by P.L. Pemberton. On the 1901 census he is listed as 'Foreign Stamp Dealer' & 'Employer' with 3 'Domestic Servants'. On the 1911 census it states that William Brown was born at 72 Endless Street, Salisbury, he married Naomi Hilda Pickford on 21st January 1891 and they had two children Esther & Philip. On this census he is listed as 'Foreign Stamp Dealer & Artist'. The problem with trying to find details of the life of William Brown is that there are a number of William Brown's in Salisbury & the surrounding area.

Stacey Charles Skipton

A former business partner of William Brown who continued to publish.

Hugo Griebert

Hugo Griebert was entered on the 'Roll of Distinguished Philatelists' in 1921.

Oswald Marsh

Oswald Marsh (1880-1951) In his time Oswald Marsh was one of the leading stamp dealers in London. Fortunately he did not throw anything away and that is why there is so much of his material available today. Today he is well known for his first day cancels on the stamps issued during the reign of King George V. So far as I know he did not produce any ordinary embossed envelopes but used a great number of embossed stationery cut-outs.

J.W. Palmer

Joseph William Palmer (1853-1931) He produced 'Nursery Rhymes Revised' price 'one penny'. He had an obsession with forged stamps and wrote poems on the subject. He also wrote poems of a fanciful nature. J.W. Palmer is reported to have had a room at 281 Strand papered with forgeries. Unfortunately this was lost when the Strand was widened.

Stamp Dealer Overseas Mail

Errington & Martin

These cards were most probably used as a type of 'compliment slip'. The cards from Guatemala were used for advertising and a large quantity were purchased after they were invalidated. Unfortunately there is no indication as to when they were used either before Oswald Marsh bought the business in 1922 or after when Herbert Charles Elcock Marsh (Oswald's son) ran the business. My view is that it was after 1922 as the Marsh family never disposed of any material connected with the business.

Whitfield King

These two invalidated cards were obviously used for business purposes.

Stanley Gibbons

The two Air Letters from South Africa were sent regarding the purchase of postage stamps, the Air Letter regarding the 1947 "Royal Visit" is interesting, Gibbons spent £2225 buying this set which today is equivalent to £77,760. Airgraphs were also used by stamp dealers in their business during World War II.

Oswald Marsh

Telegrams were used in the 1930's and during World War II to advise stamp dealers of the dispatch of an order of postage stamps. The three registered letters were sent regarding business matters.

Robson Lowe

All these covers were used in 1952/3. After World War II there was a paper shortage and Robson Lowe being a member of the stamp trade bought a number of envelopes which had been invalidated from various postal authorities. Fortunately he did not affix the valid postage stamp over the embossed stamp, the Hungarian cover has been used twice.

Whitfield King Parcel Post Labels

When Edward VII became king embossed parcel labels were produced advertising the stamp albums they sold. Two types were produced "Per Parcel Post" and "Printed Matter Only", these labels continued to be used into the reign of George V. Most envelopes, labels & postcards produced by Whitfield King & Co have a printers reference number printed on them although the registered envelopes produced for use during Queen Victoria's reign have no printers reference number.

(link)

Frame 1

EARLY STAMP DEALERS
  1. Early Stamp Dealers
Whitfield King
  1. Introduction and STO Registered Envelopes
  2. Envelopes 79x141mm, 2d+2½d, 3d+4d
  3. Envelopes 90x142mm, ½d+3d+6d, 1½d+3d
  4. Envelopes 90x142mm, 1½d+3d, 2½d+2d
  5. Envelopes 90x142mm, 3d+4d, 10d
  6. Envelopes 95x170mm, 1d+4d, 1d+10d
  7. Envelopes 95x170mm, 1½d+4d, 2d+3d
  8. Envelopes 95x170mm, 2½d+2½d, 2½d+3d
  9. Envelopes 95x170mm, 2½d+6d, 10d
  10. Envelopes 95x170mm, 3d+6d, 4d+4d
  11. Envelopes 95x170mm, 6d, 1s
  12. Envelopes 114x183mm, ½d+1s, 3d+1s
  13. Envelopes 114x183mm, 4d+10d, 6d+10d
  14. Envelopes 120x184mm, 2½d+1s
  15. Envelopes 120x184mm, 6d+1s
(link)

Frame 2

EARLY STAMP DEALERS (cont)

Whitfield King (cont)
  1. Envelopes 120x184mm, 10d+1s
  2. Price List 22nd Edition
  3. Illustration of New Offices
  4. See sheet 19
  5. Furniss Caricature as Christmas Card
  6. Packets and Perforations Gauges
Stafford Smith & Smith
  1. Introduction and 1863 Circular
  2. 1866 Catalogue
  3. 1871 Catalogue
  4. Embossed Envelopes with Advertising Rings
  5. Postcards and Correspondence Handstamp
  6. New Correspondence Handstamp c.1891
Alfred Smith & Co.
  1. Introduction and 1868 Stamp Collectors Magazine
  2. Embossed Postcard and Envelope 2½d+2½d lake
  3. Envelopes 1½d+6d, 2½d+2½d grey-blue
  4. Envelopes 1½d, Illustrated Red ½d
(link)

Frame 3

EARLY STAMP DEALERS (cont)

Alfred Smith & Co. (cont)
  1. Illustrated Envelopes Red not embossed, Grey ½d+4d
  2. Illustrated Envelopes Green 2d, 1½d+3d
  3. Illustrated Envelopes Green 1d+6d, Black 1½d
  4. Illustrated Envelopes Black not embossed, ½d+4d
  5. Illustrated Envelopes Black (overprinted new address) ½d+4d
  6. Illustrated Envelopes Black (overprinted new address) 3d+4d, 1½d
  7. Envelopes (overprinted new address) 2d
  8. Registered Envelopes 4d+4d
  9. Registered Envelopes 3d, 3d+4d
  10. Registered Envelopes 10d
  11. Post Office Registered Envelope
  12. Ordinary Envelopes and Postcards
  13. Ordinary Envelopes
William Lincoln
  1. Introduction, Embossed Envelope with Advertising Ring, and Illustration of Shop
  2. Crests and Labels
  3. Crests
(link)

Frame 4

EARLY STAMP DEALERS (cont)

William Lincoln (cont)
  1. Prince of Wales Hospital Stamps
  2. Memorandum Ordering Zemstvo Stamps
  3. Memorandum Ordering Zemstvo Stamps (reverse)
  4. Letter Posted at 1912 International
  5. First UK Aerial Post 1911
  6. Illustrated Notepaper
William Brown
  1. Introduction and Postcard
  2. Illustrated Embossed Envelope Blue ½d
  3. Illustrated Envelope Red
  4. Advertising Newspaper Wrapper and Postcard
  5. Philatelic Journal of Great Britain Embossed Illustrated Envelope
  6. See sheet 59
  7. Later Illustrated Envelopes
  8. Brown's Advertiser Envelopes
  9. Brown's Advertiser Newspaper Wrappers
  10. See sheet 63
(link)

Frame 5

EARLY STAMP DEALERS (cont)

William Brown (cont)
  1. Brown's Advertiser Newspaper Wrapper
  2. See sheet 65
  3. Stamp and Postcard Advertiser Newspaper Wrapper
  4. See sheet 67
  5. Stamp and Postcard Advertiser Newspaper Wrapper
  6. See sheet 69
Hugo Griebert
  1. Introduction and Embossed Envelope
  2. Illustrated Embossed Envelope 6d
  3. Embossed Envelope 1s
  4. Griebert's Philatelic Notes & Offers Envelope
  5. Overseas Registered Letter
  6. Overseas Registered Letters
Oswald Marsh
  1. Introduction and Postcard
  2. Postcards
  3. Return of Embossed Stamps
  4. Priced Catalogue of King George Controls
(link)

Frame 6

EARLY STAMP DEALERS (cont)

Oswald Marsh (cont)
  1. Oswald Marsh's Weekly Circular Wrapper
  2. See sheet 81
  3. Marsh's Weekly Philatelist Wrappers
  4. See sheet 83
  5. Business Carried On by John Coates While Marsh Served in WW1
  6. Oswald Marsh Personal Cheque
  7. See sheet 86
  8. Marsh's Weekly Philatelist Posted 1921
  9. Postal Stationery on Approval
  10. Stamp Wallet
  11. Use of Cutouts
  12. Illustrated Envelope and First Day Covers
  13. Oswald Marsh's Weekly Circular 1912
  14. Business Postcards
  15. Purchase of Stamps from Gibraltar Post Office
  16. Purchase of Stamps from Gibraltar Post Office
(link)

Frame 7

EARLY STAMP DEALERS (cont)

Oswald Marsh (cont)
  1. New Issue Service
  2. New Issue Service Returned Item
  3. Telegram Received by Oswald Marsh
  4. Stamped to Order Envelope with 5½d Registration Die
  5. Airgraph Sent to Oswald Marsh
  6. New Issue Service 1937 Coronation
  7. New Issue Service 1937 Coronation
  8. See sheet 103
  9. Business Continued by Marsh's Family
J.W.Palmer
  1. Envelopes Addressed to Palmer
(link)

Frame 8

STAMP DEALER MAIL TO AND FROM OVERSEAS
  1. Stamp Dealer Mail to and from Overseas
Miscellaneous Dealers A-D
  1. Burma to N.S.Bashi
  2. Switzerland to British and Colonial Stamp Market, Norwood
  3. USA to T.W.Cheveley, Abergavenny
  4. Japan to Cape & Co, Bristol
  5. Kenya to De La Rue
  6. Adrian L. DePass, Jamaica to Dunblane
Errington & Martin
  1. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Belgium
  2. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Chile and Mauritius
  3. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  4. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  5. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  6. Old Lettercards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  7. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  8. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  9. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
(link)

Frame 9

STAMP DEALER MAIL TO AND FROM OVERSEAS (cont)

Errington & Martin (cont)
  1. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  2. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  3. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  4. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Guatemala
  5. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Jamaica
  6. Old Postcards Overprinted for Errington & Martin - Russia
  7. Airgraph to Errington & Martin
Stanley Gibbons
  1. Egypt to Stanley Gibbons
  2. Gibraltar to Stanley Gibbons
  3. South Africa to Stanley Gibbons
  4. Airgraph to South Africa from Stanley Gibbons
  5. South Africa to Stanley Gibbons
  6. South Africa to Stanley Gibbons
Miscellaneous Dealers G-L
  1. South Africa to Gulbenkian & Coy
  2. Rhodesia to M.Hodson, Edinburgh
  3. USA to L'Estrange Ewen
(link)

Frame 10

STAMP DEALER MAIL TO AND FROM OVERSEAS (cont)

Miscellaneous Dealers G-L (cont)
  1. USA to W.S.Lincoln
Robson Lowe Ltd
  1. Old Envelopes Used by Robson Lowe Ltd - Bahamas
  2. Old Envelopes Used by Robson Lowe Ltd - Ceylon
  3. Old Envelopes Used by Robson Lowe Ltd - Ceylon
  4. Old Envelopes Used by Robson Lowe Ltd - Hungary
  5. Old Envelopes Used by Robson Lowe Ltd - India
  6. Old Envelopes Used by Robson Lowe Ltd - New South Wales
  7. Old Envelopes Used by Robson Lowe Ltd - Norway
Oswald Marsh
  1. Malaya to Oswald Marsh
  2. Overseas Telegram to Oswald Marsh
  3. Overseas Telegrams to Oswald Marsh
  4. South Africa to Oswald Marsh
  5. USA to Oswald Marsh
Miscellaneous Dealers M-W
  1. Ceylon to Montpelier Stamps, Bristol
  2. British Guinea to Morley's Philatelic Journal
  3. Sierra Leone to Myerscough & Co
(link)

Frame 11

STAMP DEALER MAIL TO AND FROM OVERSEAS (cont)

Miscellaneous Dealers M-W (cont)
  1. Ceylon to Philatelic Journal of Great Britain
  2. Poland to Philatelic Journal of Great Britain
  3. Egypt to W.T.Platts, Sheffield
  4. Old Envelope Used by Plymouth Philatelic Auctions - Victoria
  5. Malaya to Proud-Bailey Company
  6. India to Stafford Smith & Co
  7. St Lucia to Turner & Co, Haddington
  8. Algiers to F.Hugh Vallancey
  9. Old Postcard Overprinted for H.C.Watkins - Japan
  10. India to H.C.Watkins, Barnet
  11. South Africa to H.C.Watkins, Barnet
  12. Old Postcard Used by Whitfield King & Co - Russia
  13. Old Postcard Used by Whitfield King & Co - Sao Thome e Principe
  14. Shanghai to W.T.Wilson, Birmingham
  15. Switzerland to W.T.Wilson, Birmingham
  16. Malta to Winch Brothers, Colchester
(link)

Frame 12

WHITFIELD KING PARCEL POST LABELS
  1. Whitfield King Parcel Post Labels
Edward VII Parcel Post Mint
  1. EVII Parcel Post 3d Mint
  2. EVII Parcel Post 1½d yellow, 2d Mint
  3. EVII Parcel Post 2½d, 3d Mint
  4. EVII Parcel Post 4d, 2½d+2½d Mint
  5. EVII Parcel Post 6d, 1s Mint
Edward VII Printed Matter Mint
  1. EVII Printed Matter 1½d purple Mint
  2. EVII Printed Matter 2d Mint
  3. EVII Printed Matter 2½d Mint
Edward VII Parcel Post Used
  1. EVII Parcel Post 1s Used
  2. EVII Parcel Post 2½d+2½d+6d Used
  3. EVII Parcel Post 1d+4d+6d Used
  4. EVII Parcel Post 1d+6d Used
  5. EVII Parcel Post 1½d purple Used
  6. EVII Parcel Post 3d+4d+4d Used
  7. EVII Parcel Post 3d+6d Used
(link)

Frame 13

WHITFIELD KING PARCEL POST LABELS (cont)

Edward VII Parcel Post Used (cont)
  1. EVII Parcel Post 3d Used
  2. EVII Parcel Post 3d Used
  3. EVII Parcel Post 3d Used
  4. EVII Parcel Post 4d+4d Used
  5. EVII Parcel Post 4d+6d Used
  6. EVII Parcel Post 4d Used
  7. EVII Parcel Post 6d Used
Edward VII Printed Matter Used
  1. EVII Printed Matter 2d Used
  2. EVII Printed Matter 2½d Used
  3. EVII Printed Matter 3d Used
George V
  1. GV Parcel Post 1d+10d Used
  2. GV Printed Matter 4d Used