The British Library Philatelic Collections is the national philatelic collection of the United Kingdom with over 8 million items from around the world. It was established in 1891 as part of the Britis
A primary object in the Collections is this unique proof sheet of one-penny revenue stamps for America submitted for approval to the Commissioners of Stamps by the engraver, dated 10 May 1765.
Panoramic view of the collections on display.
A unique block of nine penny stamps from New South Wales, Australia, with an illustration of Sydney, dating from 1850 (August). Part of the Tapling Collection.
Perkins D cylinder press used to print the first postage stamps of Great Britain and Ireland, the Penny Black.
Tapling Collection
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The Tapling Collection of postage stamps was donated to the British Museum from the estate of Thomas Tapling in 1891.
British Library Philatelic Collections
…Commonwealth material donated to the British Museum's Philatelic Collections by the Crown Agents between 1900 and 1922. 1850-1922 Philatelic 68 No Tapling Collection Worldwide collection of 1840-1890 postage stamps and postal stationery with some telegraph stamps. Virtually complete in all basic issues it contains…
The Tapling Collection includes this 1854, 4 annas stamp in blue and pale red from India with the error of having the head inverted.
Queen Isabella II (2 reales stamp with colour error) - The Tapling Collection (1851) - BL