Published by Stanley, Gibbons & Co: London 1892
Original Decorated Cloth Bindings
Provenance:
Carries the bookplate of George H. Culshaw. Of particular importance is the accompanying 1925 handwritten letter from A. R. Lowman to George H. Culshaw, the book's former owner. In the letter Lowman discusses his collection of forged stamps, asks Culshaw to bring his own collection of forgeries, and refers directly to a proposed book on stamp forgeries which he states was not to be written merely as a supplement to Album Weeds. This provides a highly desirable association between the volume, its owner, and the specialist philatelic study of forged stamps.
"
First published by the renowned philatelic firm Stanley, Gibbons & Co., Album Weeds; or, How To Detect Forged Stamps is one of the classic works of nineteenth-century stamp collecting literature. Written by the Rev. R. B. Earee, a leading authority on philately, the book was designed to help collectors distinguish genuine stamps from the growing number of dangerous forgeries circulating in the international market. Richly detailed and highly practical, it quickly became an indispensable reference for serious collectors and remains an important work in the history of philatelic scholarship.
Covering postal issues from around the world, Earee provides detailed descriptions of genuine and forged stamps, comparing engraving methods, paper types, perforations, cancellations and printing characteristics. The work is illustrated throughout and demonstrates the extraordinary expertise required to authenticate rare stamps in the late nineteenth century. Published during the golden age of philately, the volume offers a fascinating insight into both the technical and historical aspects of stamp collecting at a time when the hobby was expanding rapidly across Europe and the British Empire.
This copy carries the bookplate of George H. Culshaw and is accompanied by an important handwritten and signed letter dated 4 June 1925 from noted philatelic writer A. R. Lowman. In the letter, Lowman discusses his collection of forged stamps, invites Culshaw to bring examples from his own collection, and refers directly to his proposed work Postage Stamp Forgeries and their Description. Significantly, Lowman remarks that he had been asked not to write the volume merely as a supplement to Album Weeds, creating a direct and highly desirable association between this copy and the specialist study of forged stamps.
The combination of a classic Stanley Gibbons philatelic reference, contemporary collector provenance, original manuscript material and a direct connection to later scholarship on stamp forgeries elevates this volume well beyond an ordinary reading copy. It is an attractive and historically significant example of one of the foundational works on stamp authentication, made especially desirable by its unique association with two dedicated students of philately and the detection of forged stamps."
General wear and bumping with minor peel to covers and spine as shown. Provenance as noted from an an active philatelic collector. Includes handwritten index and loose chart as shown. Covers are wobbly but secure and binding generally is decent. Endpaper sits loose. Pages clean and well presented. A fascinating copy in good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
