 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| ||
 | ||
|
||
| ||
| Leading London Dealers - W.T. Wilson | ||
| reprinted from Philatelic Journal of Great Britain Jan 1, 1892 | ||
|
....continued in the Philatelist. It was pronounced at the time the finest paper on the subject up to date." "You were both, I take it, well up in Sydneys?" "Yes; but we had others to depend upon for assistance. Messrs. Young and Stockall, the Liverpool dealers, sent us packages of Sydneys at such an appalling rate that we really could not at first keep pace with them. Mr. Pemberton received much valuable assistance in the preparation of his paper from a Mr. Erskine, connected with one of the Government offices, and himself a collector of note." "We have had a good deal of ink spilt over Sydneys. since then, Mr. Wilson." "Very true. You see, philately has advanced, and is still advancing for that matter. The French school of philately, whose curriculum included such details as watermarks, perforations, etc., was then in its infancy. The stolid Britisher, at that time, believed only in distinct varieties of face value, though there were many - Mr. Pemberton and myself among the number - who argued that the French system was the only intelligent one - the only one, in fact, deserving of the name of 'philately.' "All this reminds me of the great philatelic controversy, PEMBERTON v. "PENDRAGON," which caused so much sensation in philatelic circles. Pernberton was all for `science' of the French order, and `Pendragon,' who afterwards turned out to be an insurance clerk, was a staunch upholder of the old fashioned method of collecting." "I remember," said Mr. Wilson-and the remembrance made him chuckle, "how Pemberton wiped him out.' I was with him when he read `Pendragon's last and weakest article, `Wilson,' said he, 'I'll chaw him up.' And he did. He sat down and wrote straightaway the most brilliant article that ever emanated from his pen. ' Pendragon' was positively never heard of again!" "Indeed! That was a triumph for the French school?" "Most undoubtedly. At that time you must know, its most advanced notary was Mr. Jules Pawles, who was quietly getting together the rare varieties of watermarks and perforations, which were not generally sought after by the rank and file of English Collectors. I remember Mr. Pawles gave me a very handsome exchange for the Sixpenny Yellow Victoria, with the small serpentive perforation." "Had he a very fine collection, Mr. Wilson?" "Very fine indeed. Memory will not permit to tell you of all the treasures I saw in it, but I have a vivid recollection of greatly admiring his British Guianas." "And where did this wonderful collection go to?" "He left to a relative, forbidding its sale, and it is, I believe, still locked up." MR. WILSON'S SPECIAL FORTE. "My special forte," said Mr. Wilson, in answer to a question from our commissioner, "is the Stamps of Great Britain and Colonies. The latter have been a life-long study with me, and I am just as much of a student now as ever I was. I may tell you that I am at present revising an article on English Stamps for the Scott Stamp and Coin Company, of New York." "Indeed? I suppose you have seen some nice things in the way of British and Colonial Stamps in your time?" "I have indeed. I well remember finding a 3d. English, with the private mark, plate 3, in the collection of the late Mr. G. Wyndham Binns, Manchester, and which is now in the Tapling Collection. Again, I discovered in the collection of Messrs. H. & O. Firth, a Sixpenny Brown, plate 13, used and perforated. This now adorns the collection of Mr. Ferrari. Another choice stamp, a Ninepenny, plate 3, used and perforated, and bearing the private mark, was found by my brother, Mr. A. H. Wilson, it went to the Westoby Collection, and was afterwards sold at one of our auction sales. These three stamps are at present unique. A "LUCKY FIND" "I must tell you," went on Mr. Wilson, "of another stamp I was able to add to the late Mr. Tapling's collection. It was one of my luckiest ‘finds,’ in a day when `lucky finds' were commoner than they are nowadays. I was rushing off to pay a butcher's bill, when I saw a sheet of stamps in a little huckster's shop and noticed upon it a two-penny Mauritius. I hurried on, thinking it must be a cut out autotype. But when I came to think the matter over in the train-I was starting on a journey at the time - I remembered that that particular stamp had never been autotyped. I scarcely knew what to do, as I should not be back in Birmingham for some days. At last, I decided to go on, and take my chance of securing the stamp on my return. When I got back, I hastened at once to the shop, as you may be sure. Imagine my amazement! - the stamp was not only still there, but had been reduced in price from 3d. to 2d. by the young dealer who desired to sell it. It was the rare 1848, Penoe error, early state of plate, UNUSED! honestly worth £6 or £7 then." "And you secured it?" "Rather! It is now in the Tapling collection, and would fetch at the present moment, I suppose, from £15 to £20. When our representative bade good-bye to Mr. Wilson, after a pleasant chat on things in general, he pondered deeply on the incident of the Mauritius stamp. Consider, dear reader - if Mr. Wilson had not been on his way to pay his butcher's bill, he would probably never have seen the stamp. Moral pay your butcher's bills promptly. Honesty goes well with both stamps and butcher's meat. | ||
 | ||
|
||
 |
|
|||
Home | About us | Associates | Suggest a Site | Tell a Friend | Contact us | Advertise with us| © 2001-2009 Stamp2.com. All Rights Reserved. Service Terms |
 |