Herbert Edgar Weston
Encyclopedia
Herbert Edgar Weston or H. Edgar Weston, was a stamp dealer in Stockwell, London, then Twickenham, who used the pseudonym Victor Marsh and who purchased Jean-Baptiste Moens
' stock of philatelic literature
after Moens retirement in about 1907. Weston claimed to have the world's largest stock of philatelic literature for sale. He was also a prolific producer of philatelic cover
s using cut-out
s from stamped to order postal stationery
items. In 1907, Weston was a founder member of the Philatelic Literature Society
.
Weston was not shy in seeking co-operation in the creation of items he could sell, sending packets of covers franked with cut-outs to serving British army officers during World War One, and over an extended period to the post office at Tristan da Cunha
, with requests that they be posted back, suitably cancelled.
In the 1950s Weston again managed to persuade the Post Office to produce tête-bêche
multiple letterpress impressions with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II dies. Examples of these items are known used during the period 1956 to 1959.
; numerous covers exist addressed to him or to his trading name Victor Marsh at 13 Sion Road, Twickenham, Middlesex. A cover is known addressed to Weston from Stampex
1956 and franked with cut-outs and an advert for cut-outs appeared in the Stamp Collectors' Annual 1958, despite what must have been a rapidly declining market for such items.
His stock or library were sold by Glendining in 1924.
, a contemporary in Norwood, London.
Jean-Baptiste Moëns
Jean-Baptiste Philippe Constant Moens was a Belgian philatelist recognized as the first dealer in stamps for collectors. He was one of the original philatelic journalists.- Youth :...
' stock of philatelic literature
Philatelic literature
Philatelic literature is written material relating to philately, primarily information about postage stamps and postal history- Background to philatelic literature :...
after Moens retirement in about 1907. Weston claimed to have the world's largest stock of philatelic literature for sale. He was also a prolific producer of philatelic cover
Philatelic cover
A philatelic cover is an envelope or post card prepared with a stamp and address and sent through the mail delivery system for the purpose of creating a collectible item. Stamp collectors began to send mail to each other and to themselves early on, and philatelic mail is known from the late 19th...
s using cut-out
Cut-out (philately)
In philately a cut-out is an imprinted stamp cut from an item of postal stationery such as a postcard, letter sheet, aerogramme or wrapper and used as a normal stamp....
s from stamped to order postal stationery
Postal stationery
A piece of postal stationery is a stationery item, such as a stamped envelope, letter sheet, postal card, lettercard, aerogram or wrapper, with an imprinted stamp or inscription indicating that a specific rate of postage or related service has been prepaid...
items. In 1907, Weston was a founder member of the Philatelic Literature Society
Philatelic Literature Society
The Philatelic Literature Society was a short-lived society to promote the cause of philatelic literature among philatelists at a time when information about philately could be hard to obtain and philatelic books expensive.-Formation:...
.
Cut-outs
In his book Abnormal Embossed Postage Stamps of King Edward VII and King George V Weston writes that on numerous occasions he received envelopes franked with cut-outs and in 1909 he had the idea of several different stamps being embossed together. He enquired of the Inspector of Stamping and much to his surprise discovered that his request could be complied with. So he embarked on ordering multiple embossing of stamps on sheets and then cutting them up into pairs and other multiples and using them on envelopes. From 1910 to 1915 he placed twelve orders which were supplied to him. Then the order he placed in May 1916 was refused, the Post Office stated that they had "decided to discontinue that particular form of stamping". Weston was not the only philatelist who created philatelic covers using cut-outs, but he appears to be the only one who took the initiative to order stamped to order embossed stamps on sheets and produce covers using cut-outs from these sheets.Weston was not shy in seeking co-operation in the creation of items he could sell, sending packets of covers franked with cut-outs to serving British army officers during World War One, and over an extended period to the post office at Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha is a remote volcanic group of islands in the south Atlantic Ocean and the main island of that group. It is the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying from the nearest land, South Africa, and from South America...
, with requests that they be posted back, suitably cancelled.
In the 1950s Weston again managed to persuade the Post Office to produce tête-bêche
Tête-bêche
In philately, tête-bêche is a joined pair of stamps in which one is upside-down in relation to the other, produced intentionally or accidentally. Like any pair of stamps, a pair of tête-bêches can be a vertical or a horizontal pair. In the case of a pair of triangular stamps, they cannot help but...
multiple letterpress impressions with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II dies. Examples of these items are known used during the period 1956 to 1959.
Career
Weston is known to have been in Stockwell from at least 1906 to about 1930. During this period covers are known addressed to him at 386 Brixton Road, London SW9, and advertising shows his address as 389 Brixton Road. From 1935, till his death in 1961, he is known to have been in TwickenhamTwickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
; numerous covers exist addressed to him or to his trading name Victor Marsh at 13 Sion Road, Twickenham, Middlesex. A cover is known addressed to Weston from Stampex
Stampex
Stampex is a twice yearly British stamp show held at the Business Design Centre at Islington, London, every Spring and Autumn. The show is organised by the Philatelic Traders Society through their company Stampex Limited and has been running for many years.- Elements of the show :The show...
1956 and franked with cut-outs and an advert for cut-outs appeared in the Stamp Collectors' Annual 1958, despite what must have been a rapidly declining market for such items.
His stock or library were sold by Glendining in 1924.
Death
Weston died on 21 November 1961 and was buried in Twickenham Cemetery on 27 November 1961 alongside his wife. His wife, Edith Flora, died on 17 May 1951. He was not related to Oswald MarshOswald Marsh
Oswald Marsh was a London stamp dealer who specialised in cut-outs. Many Marsh covers have addresses created using addressograph plates. Oswald Marsh was not related to Victor Marsh.- Stamp dealing :...
, a contemporary in Norwood, London.
Publications
- International Directory of Philatelic Literature, Collectors, Dealers, and Publishers, 1904.
- A British Georgian Stamp Banned by the Postmaster General!, 1920. (pamphlet)
- Great Britain - Abnormal Embossed Postage Stamps of King Edward VII and King George V, Harris Publications, London, 1923.