Marcus Samuel (philatelist)
Encyclopedia
Marcus Francis Javier Samuel (6 November 1904 - 16 October 1997) was a distinguished British philatelist who was an expert on the specimen stamp
s and revenue stamp
s of Britain and the British Commonwealth. He was a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London.
after the end of World War II. In 1971 he retired and rejoined the Royal as a Fellow in 1972. During World War II he served in the RAFVR where he used his knowledge of wireless.
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for his book on the specimen stamps of Great Britain.
Specimen stamp
A specimen stamp is a postage stamp or postal stationery indicium sent to postmasters and postal administrations so that they are able to identify valid stamps and to avoid forgeries....
s and revenue stamp
Revenue stamp
A revenue stamp, tax stamp or fiscal stamp is a adhesive label used to collect taxes or fees on documents, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, drugs and medicines, playing cards, hunting licenses, firearm registration, and many other things...
s of Britain and the British Commonwealth. He was a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London.
Early life
Samuel began collecting specimen stamps in 1924 when his father acquired a collection which contained many specimens. He was allowed to keep the specimens in return for removing the other stamps from the album. He subsequently formed a comprehensive collection of specimen stamps at a time when few other collectors were interested in them. Dealers were pleased to sell him their unwanted stamps and one was quoted as saying "The trouble with Marcus is that all his stamps are overprinted specimen".Professional life
In 1937 Samuel joined the Royal Philatelic Society, resigning when he became a professional philatelist with Robson LoweRobson Lowe
John Harry Robson Lowe , Robbie to his friends, was an English professional philatelist, stamp dealer and stamp auctioneer.- Life and career :...
after the end of World War II. In 1971 he retired and rejoined the Royal as a Fellow in 1972. During World War II he served in the RAFVR where he used his knowledge of wireless.
Organised philately
Marcus was also a founder member of the Society of Postal Historians and an early member of the Cinderella Stamp ClubCinderella Stamp Club
The Cinderella Stamp Club was founded on 5 June 1959 in London, England, and is an association of philatelists, amateur and professional, whose interests lie in local stamps, telegraph stamps, railway stamps, revenue stamps, fiscals, forgeries, bogus and phantom issues, Christmas, Red Cross, TB and...
.
Awards
In 1981 he won the Crawford MedalCrawford Medal
The Crawford Medal is a vermeil medal awarded by the Royal Philatelic Society London for the most valuable and original contribution to the study and knowledge of philately published in book form during the relevant period....
for his book on the specimen stamps of Great Britain.
Later years
The loss of his sight in the early 1990s caused Marcus to give up active philately.Selected publications
- Specimen Stamps of the Crown Colonies, 1857-1948, Royal Philatelic Society London, London, 1976. (Supplement 1984)
- Specimen Stamps and Stationery of Great Britain, G.B. Philatelic Publications Ltd. Safron Walden, 1980. (With Allan Huggins)