The Library

Overview and guide

The library contains a wide range of material which is recognised as a major international research facility.

It is classified under seven main headings:

• Bibliography, including library catalogues and indexes.
• Monographs and handbooks, subdivided into sections for Great Britain, Commonwealth, foreign countries and general philately. Many specialist volumes are limited editions and of considerable value to researchers world wide.
• Periodicals published in English and foreign languages are held in nearly complete or complete runs in a comprehensive collection of the world's general and specialist publications which would be impossible to assemble today.
• Exhibition literature produced by the organisers of all major international, UK national and other specialist meetings. This provides valuable information on events generally, lists of exhibitors and awards made. The literature frequently includes philatelic information and articles not available elsewhere.
• Auction catalogues for the major UK, European, and American houses. The strength lies in the period from the 1930s, although some earlier auction lists are also held, dating back to the 1880s. These provide considerable assistance in the identification and establishment of the existence of philatelic material.
• Stamp catalogues published by Stanley Gibbons in a nearly complete range from the early 1900s. Good runs of other internationally-recognised catalogues published abroad are also held. These provide information for a wide range of collecting interests.
• Other research material including articles, personal research notes, copies of collections and displays, Commonwealth gazettes and Post Office guides. All of these are consulted from time to time during the course of a research project.

The library material is currently housed in five locations on three floors in the Society's building.

A member of the Library Committee maintains each of the major sections on a voluntary basis, supported by the secretarial staff and the House Manager. A separate page for each of the seven classifications follows.