Philatelic Literature Society

The Philatelic Literature Society was a British philatelic organization active from 1907 to 1918, with a later formal dissolution recorded in 1929. It was created at a time when information about stamp collecting was comparatively difficult to obtain and specialist books could be expensive. Its purpose was therefore broader than the exchange of stamps: it sought to encourage the production, cataloguing, circulation, and appreciation of literature about philately. The society held its first meeting on 29 October 1907 at St Bride's Institute in London. Edward Denny Bacon, a leading philatelist who later became President of the Royal Philatelic Society London, was appointed the first president and remained in that office until 1914. B. T. K. Smith served as founding vice-president, while F. J. Peplow held the combined offices of honorary secretary and treasurer. The ordinary founding members named in the historical record were H. Clark, Johnny Johnson, Fred Melville, and H. E. Weston. The society's most significant bibliographical achievement was Edward Denny Bacon's catalogue of the Crawford Library, titled The Catalogue of the Philatelic Library of the Earl of Crawford, K.T. The work documented the extensive philatelic library assembled by the Earl of Crawford and was recognized with a Large Gold medal at the Postwertzeichen Ausstellung stamp exhibition in Vienna in 1911. The Philatelic Literature Society subsequently issued a supplement in 1926, and Bacon prepared further additions that appeared in the March 1938 issue of The London Philatelist. These later publications demonstrate that the society's bibliographical influence continued after its active organizational period, even though the society itself did not remain a functioning body. The organization also published the Journal of the Philatelic Literature Society. The journal was produced in very small numbers, with only 100 copies printed for each issue. Its surviving run, covering volumes I to XI from 1908 through 1918, is an important record of the society's activities and of early twentieth-century interest in philatelic bibliography. A cumulative index was later compiled by Roland King-Farlow and published by the Royal Philatelic Society in 1948. The society was disbanded in 1918. Attempts were made to revive it, but those efforts did not restore a lasting organization, and the society was dissolved in 1929. It is therefore best understood as a historical philatelic-literary society rather than an active contemporary brand, publisher, retailer, or commercial enterprise. Its principal legacy lies in the promotion of specialist philatelic research and in the cataloguing work associated with the Crawford Library.

The Philatelic Literature Society emerged in Britain during the early twentieth century, when philatelic information was less readily available than it is today and specialist books could be costly. The society's central objective was to promote philatelic literature and make the study of stamp collecting more systematic. It was consequently concerned with scholarship, bibliography, cataloguing, and publication rather than with the commercial sale of stamps. Its first meeting took place on 29 October 1907 at St Bride's Institute in London. Edward Denny Bacon was selected as president, a position he held until 1914. Bacon was a prominent philatelist and later served as President of the Royal Philatelic Society London. B. T. K. Smith became founding vice-president, F. J. Peplow served as honorary secretary and treasurer, and H. Clark, Johnny Johnson, Fred Melville, and H. E. Weston were recorded among the ordinary founding members. The society's principal publication was the Journal of the Philatelic Literature Society. Its circulation was deliberately or necessarily very limited: only 100 copies of each issue were printed. The journal's eleven-volume run, dated 1908 to 1918, provides evidence of the society's literary and bibliographical activity. A cumulative index to the first eleven volumes was later prepared by Roland King-Farlow and published by the Royal Philatelic Society in 1948. The society's most important individual project was Bacon's catalogue of the Crawford Library, the major philatelic library assembled by the Earl of Crawford. The resulting work, The Catalogue of the Philatelic Library of the Earl of Crawford, K.T., was sufficiently important to win a Large Gold medal at the Postwertzeichen Ausstellung in Vienna in 1911. The society later published a supplement in 1926. Additional material by Bacon appeared in the March 1938 issue of The London Philatelist, extending the bibliographical record beyond the society's active years. The organization was disbanded in 1918. Although there were efforts to revive it, they were unsuccessful, and the society was dissolved in 1929. Its legacy is therefore primarily documentary and scholarly. The journal, the Crawford Library catalogue, its supplement, and related indexing work contributed to the preservation and organization of philatelic literature at a formative stage in the development of modern stamp-collecting research.

• 1948

  Cumulative journal index published

  [1]Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Roland King-Farlow's cumulative index to volumes I through XI of the society's journal was published by the Royal Philatelic Society.

• 1938

  Further Crawford catalogue additions appear

  [1]Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Additional material by Bacon was published in the March issue of The London Philatelist.

• 1929

  Dissolution

  [1]Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Following unsuccessful revival attempts, the society was dissolved.

• 1926

  Crawford catalogue supplement published

  [1]Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A supplement to Bacon's Crawford Library catalogue was issued by the Philatelic Literature Society after its active organizational period.

• 1918

  Society disbanded

  [1]Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society was disbanded after its documented active period and the completion of eleven journal volumes.

• 1914

  Bacon's presidency ends

  [1]Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Edward Denny Bacon's tenure as the society's first president ended after seven years.

• 1911

  Crawford Library catalogue wins exhibition medal

  [1]Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Edward Denny Bacon's catalogue of the Earl of Crawford's philatelic library received a Large Gold medal at the Vienna Postwertzeichen Ausstellung.

• 1908

  Journal begins publication

  [1]Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Journal of the Philatelic Literature Society commenced publication, with 100 copies printed for each issue.

• 1907

  Founding meeting in London

  [1]Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The first meeting was held at St Bride's Institute on 29 October, establishing the society and its founding officers.

A specialist learned society focused on improving access to philatelic knowledge and preserving the literature, catalogues, and bibliographical resources used by stamp collectors and researchers.

• Society journal · 1908

  Journal of the Philatelic Literature Society

  The society's principal periodical publication. It documented the organization's philatelic-literary work and appeared in a very small edition of 100 copies per issue. The surviving publication run comprises volumes I to XI and covers the years 1908 to 1918.

• Library catalogue · 1911

  The Catalogue of the Philatelic Library of the Earl of Crawford, K.T.

  Edward Denny Bacon's catalogue of the Earl of Crawford's philatelic library was the society's most important bibliographical project. It organized a major collection of philatelic literature and gained international recognition after receiving a Large Gold medal at the 1911 Vienna stamp exhibition.

• Bibliographical supplement · 1926

  Supplement to the Crawford Library catalogue

  A supplement to Bacon's catalogue was published by the society in 1926, extending the bibliographical record of the Earl of Crawford's philatelic library after the society's active period had ended.

• 1926

  Extend the Crawford Library catalogueOther

  Background

  The catalogue of the Earl of Crawford's philatelic library required additional bibliographical coverage.

  Action taken

  The society published a supplement to Edward Denny Bacon's catalogue.

  Aftermath

  Further additions by Bacon appeared in The London Philatelist in 1938.

  Source

• 1908

  Launch the society journalProduct launch

  Background

  The society needed a vehicle for circulating specialist philatelic information among its members and the wider collecting community.

  Action taken

  It began publishing the Journal of the Philatelic Literature Society in a limited edition of 100 copies per issue.

  Aftermath

  Eleven volumes were produced through 1918, and the run was later indexed by Roland King-Farlow.

  Source

• 1907

  Create a society dedicated to philatelic literatureStrategy

  Background

  Philatelic information was comparatively difficult to obtain and specialist books could be expensive for collectors.

  Action taken

  The founders established a London-based society focused on promoting philatelic literature and related research.

  Aftermath

  The organization produced a specialist journal and undertook major bibliographical work, although it was later disbanded and dissolved.

  Source

1. 1Philatelic Literature Societyen.wikipedia.org