Percival Loines Pemberton
Encyclopedia
Percival Loines Pemberton (4 May 1875 – 11 June 1949), Pem to his friends, was a British philatelist and stamp dealer
who signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists
in 1921. He was the son of Edward Loines Pemberton
(1844 – 1878) who was also an eminent philatelist.
, a future president of The Royal Philatelic Society, London, James H. Abbott
and many other members of what was called The Manchester School. Pemberton did little business in Manchester, however, and in 1896 he moved to London. There he was able to participate in larger auctions, where the bidders were sometimes given alcoholic drinks to encourage the bidding, and he was able to make many contacts.
In 1897 he was able to buy part of the collection of Adelaide Lucy Fenton
(who wrote under the pen name Fentonia), one of the first lady collectors, with whom his father had frequently crossed swords in the pages of Stamp-Collector's Magazine, according to Percival, without ever knowing that Fentonia was a woman. Pemberton was in partnership with W.B. Kirkpatrick, then E.P. Airlie Dry. In 1921 he and his son went into business with Alexander J. Sefi
. Together, they donated the Sefi-Pemberton Cup to The Junior Philatelic Society, now the National Philatelic Society
. His son, A.L. Pemberton, became a director of the firm, which continued until 1956 when it was acquired by Robson Lowe
.
From 1900 Pemberton's business included the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, which he also edited. This was the official organ of the International Philatelic Union
and, from 1938, the official publication of the Manchester, City of London, Herts and Birmingham Philatelic Societies. After Robson Lowe acquired the Pemberton business in 1956, included the Philatelic Journal, it was incorporated into Lowe's The Philatelist.
, and a corresponding member of the L'Académie de Philatélie
Stamp dealer
A stamp dealer is a company or an individual who deals in postage stamps and philatelic products. It also includes individuals who sell postage stamps for day to day use or official stamps for use on court documents.-Stamps on Approval Basis:...
who signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists
Roll of Distinguished Philatelists
The Roll of Distinguished Philatelists is a philatelic award of international scale, created by the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain in 1921...
in 1921. He was the son of Edward Loines Pemberton
Edward Loines Pemberton
Edward Loines Pemberton was a pioneering philatelist and stamp dealer who was a leading advocate of the scientific school of philately and a founding member of The Philatelic Society, London, now The Royal Philatelic Society London...
(1844 – 1878) who was also an eminent philatelist.
Stamp dealing
Pemberton started as a dealer in Manchester in 1893 aged seventeen where he joined the Manchester Philatelic Society. There he met Walter Dorning BecktonWalter Dorning Beckton
Walter Dorning Beckton was a British philatelist who signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1921. He was a Manchester Solicitor by profession in the firm of Hockin, Beckton & Hockin.-Collecting:...
, a future president of The Royal Philatelic Society, London, James H. Abbott
James H. Abbott
James Henry Abbott was a British philatelist who was one of the "Fathers of Philately" entered on the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1921....
and many other members of what was called The Manchester School. Pemberton did little business in Manchester, however, and in 1896 he moved to London. There he was able to participate in larger auctions, where the bidders were sometimes given alcoholic drinks to encourage the bidding, and he was able to make many contacts.
In 1897 he was able to buy part of the collection of Adelaide Lucy Fenton
Adelaide Lucy Fenton
Adelaide Lucy Fenton was an early female philatelist and philatelic journalist who was among the first to adopt a scientific approach to philately...
(who wrote under the pen name Fentonia), one of the first lady collectors, with whom his father had frequently crossed swords in the pages of Stamp-Collector's Magazine, according to Percival, without ever knowing that Fentonia was a woman. Pemberton was in partnership with W.B. Kirkpatrick, then E.P. Airlie Dry. In 1921 he and his son went into business with Alexander J. Sefi
A. J. Sefi
'Alexander Joseph Sefi was a British philatelist and stamp dealer who signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1933.-Early life:Sefi was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School...
. Together, they donated the Sefi-Pemberton Cup to The Junior Philatelic Society, now the National Philatelic Society
National Philatelic Society
The National Philatelic Society is one of two national philatelic societies in Great Britain. The other is the Royal Philatelic Society London.- History :...
. His son, A.L. Pemberton, became a director of the firm, which continued until 1956 when it was acquired by Robson Lowe
Robson Lowe
John Harry Robson Lowe , Robbie to his friends, was an English professional philatelist, stamp dealer and stamp auctioneer.- Life and career :...
.
From 1900 Pemberton's business included the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, which he also edited. This was the official organ of the International Philatelic Union
International Philatelic Union
The International Philatelic Union, formed 1881, was an early international philatelic organisation formed for the study of stamps and the promotion of philately generally...
and, from 1938, the official publication of the Manchester, City of London, Herts and Birmingham Philatelic Societies. After Robson Lowe acquired the Pemberton business in 1956, included the Philatelic Journal, it was incorporated into Lowe's The Philatelist.
Stamp collecting
Pemberton had wide collecting interests and wrote on most countries in the fifty volumes of the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, but his principal interest was the first stamps of Greece, about which he wrote and corresponded extensively. He was a member of the British Philatelic Association Expert Committee and The Fiscal Philatelic SocietyFiscal Philatelic Society
The Fiscal Philatelic Society was an early twentieth century philatelic society that is seen as a predecessor to today's Cinderella Stamp Club and The Revenue Society...
, and a corresponding member of the L'Académie de Philatélie
Publications
- "The Stamps of Greece" – a series of articles published in The Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, 1911–1914.
- Priced Descriptive Catalogue of the Stamps of Greece (1923).
Further reading
- Obituary of P.L. Pemberton in The Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, April-June 1949, p. 26.
