The history of stamp collecting 21, 1863, the competition breaks out

Inspired by a series of articles by K. Kouwenberg that appeared in the monthly magazine Philatelie in the late 1970s, Rob Smit rewrites the history of stamp collecting in biweekly installments. This is part 21, 1863, the competition is breaking out.

The year 1863 begins with a good foundation. Philately, or timbromania as it was called then, was immensely popular throughout Europe.

In England, there was even so much demand for 'The Stamp Collector Magazine' that the first four issues were reprinted. In the first issue, we find an introduction titled 'Postal Chit-Chat', a brief description of the open-air fair on the Cheapside in London. Twelve months ago, says Stamp Collectors Magazine, there was not a single shop in London where one could buy stamps. Now there are already a dozen or more renowned dealers, as well as quite a few figures who know how to make a handsome profit from the papers created by Rowland Hill.

Elsewhere in Europe, too, stamp shops were springing up like mushrooms. It will be clear that there were quite a few people involved who mainly wanted to cash in on the boom and did not take the business too seriously. They often exposed themselves, as knowledge among collectors increased rapidly thanks to the various magazines. By then, there was fierce competition. Not only between dealers, but also between magazine publishers.

This was the reason for the 'Stamp Collectors Magazine' to include a free stamp every month starting with the April 1863 issue. These were low-value unused stamps that could be bought cheaply in large quantities. The fact that they were unused was important because they could simply be pasted into the magazine. Collectors were fine with this, as gum was not yet collected at that time. They simply tore the stamp out of the magazine and secured it in their own album with a dab of dextrin. Despite the fact that they were cheap stamps, finding one would be quite nice today.

   

The 1863 issues contained: a 1 lepton brown from Greece, Athenian print; a 1/3 Silb.Gr. green from Thurn und Taxis; a 1c Boyd's City Express; a 3pf green Saxony 1863; a 2c yellow Italy 1862; a 4c grey Italy 1863; a 3 öre brown from Sweden; and a 2c blue on yellow from Spain July 1862. A nice collection with a subscription, and so it went on for years.

The promotion with free stamps did not remain entirely without consequences; the number of readers increased rapidly, and consequently, it did not lack followers. Other magazines also adopted this tactic. A number of magazines did not issue original stamps, but reprints or facsimiles.

 

Thus, years later, the Senf brothers issued facsimiles with their 'Illustriertes Briefmarken Journal'. Eventually, the market became flooded as a result, which led to fierce protests from collectors' associations. The Senf firm subsequently decided to discontinue such publications. By the turn of the century, the free stamps had virtually disappeared from the scene.

It is precisely in recent years that the phenomenon seems to be returning somewhat, particularly with the purchase of catalogues. The Belgian Federation catalogue has been giving away a special sheet (without face value) for years; the NVPH provides blueprints, also without face value, with its Special catalogue and specially produced personalized sheets with face value with the Personal Stamps catalogue.

To be continued on February 18.

Published so far:

1. Introduction and start 2. The first collectors 3. The first catalogueOscar Berger Levrault is the first to provide an overview. 4. Alfred Potiquet, The first commercially published catalogue. 5. Booming 1862, The most turbulent year in philatelic history. 6. Edard de Laplante, the first to live exclusively from the stamp trade. 7. Natalis RondotThe first true philatelic literature appeared in a family magazine. 8. Henri Justin Lallier, Publisher of the first stamp album. 9. Frederick W. Booty, The first catalogue in English. 10. Mount Brown, A successful English catalogue. 11. Dr John Edward Gray, Inventor of the postage stamp, the very first collector, or merely a good cataloguer? 12. The first stamp magazineFirst a failed attempt, but then a sheet of stamps after all. 13. Edward Pemberton, Active philatelist with descendants in philately. 14. Dr. C.W. Viner, Father of English philately. 15. Jean Baptiste Moens, The greatest trader of all time. 16. Moens' publishing house, of great importance in the early days of philately. 17. Germany in 1862, The slow start of an important philatelic country. 18. The Netherlands in 1862, The first Dutch catalogue and album. 19. The Netherlands in 1864, PH Witkamp 20. The origins of Schaubek