The Archive
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Since its foundation the Society has built up a large archive of records and photographs that illuminate its many activities and interests over the last 150 years. These include records of the Society’s meetings and of events it has staged since 1897 when it organised an exhibition to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
It also contains extensive correspondence from prominent members, dealers and leading philatelists. In addition the archive holds a wide range of documents on many aspects of philatelic development and research. Of particular importance is the archive of the Perkins Bacon printing company covering more than 100 years from its foundation until 1930. When the firm ceased trading in 1935, its records were purchased intact by two stamp dealers, Harry Nissen and Thomas Allen, in conjunction with Charles Nissen & Co. The printer's records were offered to the Royal Philatelic Society London at a price of £1,000 and a fund was started to enable this most important record to be acquired. The purchase was completed successfully and the Society today holds the engravers' record books, hardening books, and delivery books as well as extensive ledgers, printing records and correspondence. This archive is one of the most important printing records in existence and covers not only stamps but banknotes, cheques, labels and other design and security work that was done by the company. |
