PREFACE.
The subject of an Index to Philatelic Literature has been before the philatelic public for some years now. It periodically crops up from time to time as a subject of discussion in the magazines, but with the exception of one or two fragmentary publications through these magazines, it has never taken a practically useful and handy form. That it is necessary, the writer has found from his own experience, and he began to compile a short Index for his private use in his philatelic researches. That a full and comprehensive Index of all the matter contained in all the past and current literature on the subject was an impossibility was very evident, so he set to work and noted all the leading or useful articles bearing directly on Philately and on the stamps of the various countries which have appeared in the leading and most reliable publications from the earliest philatelic times to the end of the year 1904. In so far, of course, as he was able to have access to such publications.
This, he thinks, forms a basis for the building up of the only practicable form of Philatelic Index which we are likely to produce within the reach of the average philatelist or philatelic literature reader. In compiling this Index, the indexes supplied with the different volumes have been ignored, every article having been read through and indexed direct.
The following are the Magazines which have been indexed in this work with the reasons for including them.
Stamp Collector’s Review:—Owing to its being the first publication given wholly to stamps, and owing to this interest attached, practically everything treated of within its pages has been indexed.Stamp Collector’s Magazine:—Considering its date, and the small amount of general information to be had on the subject at the time, this is to be considered a marvellously advanced work. The men who contributed to its pages were the pioneers of our science.Philatelist:—The same applies to this work, and in addition, its treatises on Forgeries, with actual specimens gummed in to illustrate the articles, are quite a feature in themselves.Philatelic Record:—With this work is begun the first of the magazines which have weathered the storm of time, and still continue to put out good work up to the present day. It contains some of the best monographs on special countries that have been written, and there is a lot indexed from its pages which is invaluable.Stanley Gibbons’ Monthly Journal:—With the exception of theLondon Philatelist, this is the foremost of our philatelic papers. Its articles are sound and of undoubted merit, whilst its occasional plates are of a high class. The compiler is only sorry that he was unable to include theWeekly Journalissued by this firm, but as it only began to run after he had got pretty well on with his work, and as this Index only takes up to the end of 1904, it was impossible.Philatelic Journal of Great Britain:—Contains some exceptionally good articles in the older volumes. TheReview of Reviewsis a notable feature which gives a lot of philatelic information unobtainable by any but one who takes in all the magazines, British and Foreign.London Philatelist:—Like theMonthly Journal, this magazine does not need any reason assigned to its inclusion. Its matter and its plates alike are of the highest order.Fiscal Philatelist:—This is one of the earliest magazines, if nottheearliest, dealing solely with Fiscals, and will be found of great service to the followers of this fascinating branch of Philately.Stamp Collector’s Fortnightly:—There are some good articles on European varieties in the earlier issues, and with exception of a short break, it has had a fairly long run, and numerous notes can be gleaned from its pages well worthy of indexing.English Specialist’s Journal:—This work stands by itself as a useful collection of detailed information from various sources on the minute specialisation of our own British stamps.The (Junior) Stamp Collector:—The latter years of this journal are full of interesting articles, well worth perusing. This magazine was started asThe Junior Stamp Collector, and continued as such till the end of Vol. III., when it was changed toThe Stamp Collector, but as the volumes are numbered consecutively, they are both indexed underStamp Collector.Stamp Collector’s Guardian:—This work is purely for juniors, and is after the style of theJunior Stamp Collector. It had a short life, and is included to show the efforts which have been made to cater for the younger generation of collectors.Young Stamp Collector:—The same applies to this as to the preceding work.Morley’s Philatelic Journal:—Contains some very fine contributions on general philatelic subjects by good writers, but is mainly given over to Fiscal Philately in all its branches, to which it forms a unique reference.
Stamp Collector’s Review:—Owing to its being the first publication given wholly to stamps, and owing to this interest attached, practically everything treated of within its pages has been indexed.
Stamp Collector’s Magazine:—Considering its date, and the small amount of general information to be had on the subject at the time, this is to be considered a marvellously advanced work. The men who contributed to its pages were the pioneers of our science.
Philatelist:—The same applies to this work, and in addition, its treatises on Forgeries, with actual specimens gummed in to illustrate the articles, are quite a feature in themselves.
Philatelic Record:—With this work is begun the first of the magazines which have weathered the storm of time, and still continue to put out good work up to the present day. It contains some of the best monographs on special countries that have been written, and there is a lot indexed from its pages which is invaluable.
Stanley Gibbons’ Monthly Journal:—With the exception of theLondon Philatelist, this is the foremost of our philatelic papers. Its articles are sound and of undoubted merit, whilst its occasional plates are of a high class. The compiler is only sorry that he was unable to include theWeekly Journalissued by this firm, but as it only began to run after he had got pretty well on with his work, and as this Index only takes up to the end of 1904, it was impossible.
Philatelic Journal of Great Britain:—Contains some exceptionally good articles in the older volumes. TheReview of Reviewsis a notable feature which gives a lot of philatelic information unobtainable by any but one who takes in all the magazines, British and Foreign.
London Philatelist:—Like theMonthly Journal, this magazine does not need any reason assigned to its inclusion. Its matter and its plates alike are of the highest order.
Fiscal Philatelist:—This is one of the earliest magazines, if nottheearliest, dealing solely with Fiscals, and will be found of great service to the followers of this fascinating branch of Philately.
Stamp Collector’s Fortnightly:—There are some good articles on European varieties in the earlier issues, and with exception of a short break, it has had a fairly long run, and numerous notes can be gleaned from its pages well worthy of indexing.
English Specialist’s Journal:—This work stands by itself as a useful collection of detailed information from various sources on the minute specialisation of our own British stamps.
The (Junior) Stamp Collector:—The latter years of this journal are full of interesting articles, well worth perusing. This magazine was started asThe Junior Stamp Collector, and continued as such till the end of Vol. III., when it was changed toThe Stamp Collector, but as the volumes are numbered consecutively, they are both indexed underStamp Collector.
Stamp Collector’s Guardian:—This work is purely for juniors, and is after the style of theJunior Stamp Collector. It had a short life, and is included to show the efforts which have been made to cater for the younger generation of collectors.
Young Stamp Collector:—The same applies to this as to the preceding work.
Morley’s Philatelic Journal:—Contains some very fine contributions on general philatelic subjects by good writers, but is mainly given over to Fiscal Philately in all its branches, to which it forms a unique reference.
The above list of fourteen separate magazines, comprising a matter of 119 volumes, represents a good deal of arduous work, in the execution of which the writer has taken a great deal of pleasure and gained a great deal of profitable information. This work has been materially assisted by the kindness of others who have lent him magazines of which he does not possess a copy, or supplied him with missing parts to complete those he had incomplete. With regard to this he has specially to thank Mr. E. D. Bacon to whom he is indebted for the loan of theStamp Collector’s Review, a very scarce magazine; also Mr. Appleby and Mr. Marsh for the loan of various parts and volumes during his work. While knowing that this Index is necessarily a very sketchy one, the writer hopes that it may prove to be a temporary help to those philatelists who have found the hopelessness of wading through number after number, and volume after volume, in search of information on their pet speciality; also, that it may be a foundation for a more complete and lasting Index to Philatelic Literature.
Inverallt,Portincaple,Loch Long,Dunbartonshire.