Incredible Rarities at the British Library:

Let's take a trip to London and visit the British Library's incredible philatelic department. In this episode we will hear from the department's curators and learn about some impressive rarities that are available for the public to view.
#philately #history #stampcollecting
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Links:
The British Library: www.bl.uk/
Philatelic Department: www.bl.uk/subjects/philately
Contact info for:
Paul Skinner (Lead Curator): www.bl.uk/people/experts/paul...
Richard Scott Morel (Curator): www.bl.uk/people/experts/rich...
More info on:
Thomas Tapling: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_...
The Inverted Jenny: • The Rare Inverted Jenn...
St. Kilda Mailboats?: • Tin Can mail Pt. 2: #p...

[@AfricaStampsonline]

I tell EVERYONE to go and see the collections. I've only met them once, but the two Richards are super helpful guys. The stamps are amazing, and British viewers, they actually belong to you. I've chosen a couple of items from the Mosely collection for myself, but left them in the display cases so all of you can still see them for yourselves!

[@ExploringStamps]

😂 Thank you for leaving the Mosely items for everyone to see... The BL is an incredible place to visit, EVERYONE must go see the collections. Thanks Simon 😊

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

I love the British Library. I came across the philatelic collection while I was having a cup of coffee !!

[@ExploringStamps]

You must have been pleasantly surprised. 😊 you can easily spend a few hours working through the collection on display. Thanks for watching Caroline!

[@sarahgoodman6279]

Wow I had no idea the British Library had all those philatelic gems! It is now at the top of my list of places to visit when I go to the UK one day! Also, the intro with the drone footage at the beginning so pretty😍

[@ExploringStamps]

😊 Glad you like the drone footage! The BL should totally be on your list of places to visit when exploring London, you will be impressed 😊. Thanks for watching, Sarah.

[@piusschroh6361]

Awesome information! Thanks

[@ExploringStamps]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching 😊

[@emadelias4537]

Definitely it's a great visit soon. Thank you 👌👍🍁

[@ExploringStamps]

It really is! Thank you for watching 😊

[@musikraj7984]

Thanks for the wonderful video Graham... 👌👌 I visited London way back in 1998... spent a lot of time at SG & few other stamp shops. But, after seeing this video I regret big time not visiting the British Library.

[@ExploringStamps]

Next time that you are there, definitely make this part of your visit 😊. Thanks for watching!

[@ab6124]

Thanks for sharing… not too many of know of the collection the British Library has. Truly a world class impressive collection!

[@ExploringStamps]

Absolutely! I didn't know much about the BL either, we need to make it more known in the stamp collecting community, it really is a gem!

[@IIoveasl10]

Graham, vry good video. Thanks. I googled the Britishlibrary. Very interesting. Thanks.

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you David! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@michaellamothe40]

What a great library. Imagine spending weeks working your way through the Philatelic Collection. Lovely video Graham.

[@ExploringStamps]

I could definitely spend weeks there looking through their books and items, thanks for watching Michael 😊

[@funkynunky]

Wow, Graham - you certainly got around during your week in London - very informative video - thank you. On my trips up to London, I have been into the British Library many times without ever realising that they had a Philatelic collection. Guess where I'll be going on my next trip up!! Keep up your good work. I am learning sooooooooo much.

[@ExploringStamps]

😊 Thanks Ian, it was certainly a very busy trip! Yes def visit again when you are in London and check out their collections, it really is impressive. Thanks for watching!

[@RichardPhilatelist]

Oh, I haven't been to the British Library yet🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️. But I will definitely go to visit! Thanks for sharing☺️☺️

[@ExploringStamps]

Thanks Richard! Absolutely make it a trip one day 😊👍

[@elisuddarth5131]

Was just there last month! Wonderful to see the collection and other treasures at the Library.

[@ExploringStamps]

Awesome! Their collection really is amazing. Thanks for watching 😊

[@reganvercruysse4224]

Thanks for taking us with you! Great work

[@ExploringStamps]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@stampmoments6318]

What an amazing opportunity! Thanks so much for sharing your recent travels with us. It gives all of us an opportunity to enjoy some of things you saw.

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome 😊. Always happy to share these experiences with you!

[@garyholdener2470]

Oh my gosh........you had access to some of the most incredible philatelic treasures!!!! I am jealous! This is a wonderful look at the credible British Library; it is such a treasure. Your video brought back some wonderful memories I have of visiting the library. Graham thank you for this wonderful look inside their philatelic department.

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome Gary, this certainly was a once in a philatelic lifetime opportunity 😊. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@STScott-qo4pw]

absolutely terrific! the neatest thing was seeing the stamp act sheets for the american colonies and the tiny mail boats ("pleaseopen"). absolutely wow! You were that close to an Inverted Jenny and you didn't... Never mind. This comment will only get me in trouble.

[@MarkASmith48]

Wow. Thanks to you and the Philatelic Department for this fascinating video.

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome, thanks for watching Mark 😊

[@bernardogrobeisenweingersz9768]

Amazing !!!!! Congratulations and thank you for sharing

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome 😊. Thank you for watching!

[@kebabking7025]

Another top vid Graham!! I really enjoyed this type of vid with a curator.

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you 😊. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@penelusuranduniafilateli4711]

very nice episode! thanks 👍👍👍

[@bobzahm8758]

Excellent video. Fav item is the watermark roll. Just, wow. Have added the British Library to the list for my next UK visit.

[@wayneaugustine517]

ONE OF THE BEST! Glad you kept your South African accent! What a gift to gain that kind of access to their collection. By the way kudos to your Bride for the great filming! Keep em coming!

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you Wayne, it really was special to see the collections up close. Thanks for watching 😊

[@personalspace_YouTube]

So amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome 😊 thank you for watching!

[@ricardodias3609]

Oh my God!!!! Fantastic!!! Now I want,so badly work in there!!! 😅😅😅 Fantastic video!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@ExploringStamps]

😅 you and me both! What a cool job that would be!

[@byronsbrain]

Fantastic video Graham, it's so great to see behind the scenes of the BL!

[@ExploringStamps]

Thanks Karen 😊, the BL is an impressive place!

[@botanyboy5454]

Thank You !

[@ExploringStamps]

😊🙏

[@claire2470]

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow! as in WOW! What did i just watched? It is a jaw dropping content! THANKS TONS EXPLORING STAMPS for featuring this - I had a glimpse of the philatelic section of the British Library thru you. . . .plus it does inspire me as a stamp collector...

[@ExploringStamps]

😊 THANK YOU Claire!! So glad that you enjoyed it, I had tons of fun exploring the library and look forward to going back soon, it really is impressive!!

[@philatelovely5748]

That was a fantastic episode Graham. The amount of philatelic material they have is staggering. I need to get myself down there ASAP. Great video

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you John 😊. Yes get yourself down there asap!! you will enjoy it. 😬

[@LouisGedo]

Another stupendous episode!

[@ExploringStamps]

Thanks Louis 😊

[@enriquesanchez-uu4lp]

It's my birthday today. No , I don't say it so people can say Happy Birthday. But because you uploaded it today and a Graham video is the best thing in the world (educational and fun and keeps my interest). Thank you for the nice "present".

[@ExploringStamps]

HAPPY Birthday 😊 glad you like the present 🎁!!

[@happyroger6539]

This movie encouraged me to visit the library, I had no idea that they had post stamps, Thank you Graham, top class as always

[@CreigLovelace]

Good morning! Love your videos brother! Thanks for posting. Watching now.

[@ExploringStamps]

😊 thank you for watching, I hope you enjoy it!

[@voneschenbachmusic]

Amazing - I loved visiting the museum as a librarian but then I found the stamps and was very excited!

[@ExploringStamps]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@homerdeleon2255]

Double like. Great video. Need to visit hopefully soon.

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you! You should totally visit soon. Thanks for watching 😊

[@thestampcave]

Absolutely a place I have to visit next time I go to London. Again a great video Graham.

[@ExploringStamps]

🙏😊

[@indiancurrencyandstamps7079]

British Library has a huge amount of collectible and rare books and other historical materials. Thanks sir for this informative video hope you will share these type of blogs in future also.

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you 😊. The BL certainly is an impressive place...one of the non philatelic things that I got excited about was their enigma machine... I spent a good while looking at it on display. Thanks for watching 🙏

[@adaptivebusinessconsulting8080]

Great episode and testament to your own work on KZbin with your excellent story telling and education.

[@ExploringStamps]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for watching 😊

[@StampswithSara1]

Thank you for making us educated and sharing your experiences.

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome Sara 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@buzzawuzza3743]

Amazing to see so much cool and rare stuff all in one place!

[@ExploringStamps]

It really is! I was like a kid in a candy store. 😊

[@christbianchi]

Thank you so much for this video! Amazing space and collection! Still on my list of places to go

[@ExploringStamps]

Thanks Chris, totally a place worth visiting next time you are in the area. Thanks for watching 😊

[@molalani6156]

Excellent coverage

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you 😊

[@raulmenjivar6584]

Incredible!

[@egress1977]

As always you present unique and informative videos. I go to London quite often and have been to multiple retail outfits for stamps including a stamp show in a garage by Charing Cross Train Station. But I never went to the British Library. Thank you for giving me another place to explore stamps and philately as a whole.

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome 🙏, definitely add this to your list of visits when in London next time, you will absolutely enjoy it. Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelBrodie68]

This is a marvellous video. Even as a collector since 1980, I had no idea of the vastness of this incredible collection. If I may make this a little longer of a post, I've always been intrigued by the fact that the first time I saw pre-decimal stamps, I fell in love with the discipline. For me at the time it was the Geo.V commems. In 1982 I attended Ausipex '82 at which I saw a complete sheet of the 1st Watermark £2 black and red kangaroos. Whereas some may sit and study a Jackson Pollock, I stood in awe, taking in the sight of the sheet. A few years later I worked each school holiday for the same philatilist whose shop it was where I first fell in love with stamps. That sheet from Ausipex '82 was held as part of Australia Post's reserve collection. Around the time of my finals, when too busy to undertake my holiday job, Australia Post announced it was considering releasing it's reserve collection onto the open market. Opinions on the matter were, to say the least, strongly divided. The philatelist for whom I worked made it publicly known that he had no problems with the proposed policy. As he left his shop one evening, making his way to his car, a disguised individual beat him up, making it clear this was over the "issue" of the release of the reserve collection. Quite a distressing story, reported in one daily paper under the headline "Stamp Man Bashed." Moving on from that, the question has always intrigued me about why it is that we, often spontaneously and without deeper thought, find ourselves enamoured by things - a life long love of philately, a preference for Beethoven or Bach or Beyoncé...but for me the beauty of philately is the more one studies it, the deeper the interest grows, and often the more specific one's interest becomes, like for instance Samuel West's interest in that 1862(?) issue. Perhaps most interests are like that, but to go back to music, it's unlikely that a love of Beethoven will develop over time to an interest in just his late string quartets. Anyway, this is a wonderful channel. Thanks once again.

[@bryaneast2513]

This is a very useful film. I lived in London for 25 years (until I married), and never knew about these British Library collections and services. Now I live rather distant from London and am therefore not likely to see these treasures - many thanks for posting this.

[@eddiegerahty3454]

Would like to see more videos like this.

[@ExploringStamps]

🙏😊 Thanks Luke, I’d love to make more!

[@Niovium]

I was in London in 2019. I had no idea this existed. Now I have to go back!

[@jimhresco1728]

That collection is insane! I have to make my way there and thanks for pointing it out for me

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome Jim, definitely stop by the library if you are in the area, It really is impressive!

[@armchairphilatelist5654]

Gorgeous! Thanks for helping us all live vicariously through you. I would love the opportunity to visit one day

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome, thank you for watching. If you can, I def recommend making it a trip at some point, totally worth it ☺️

[@yasaslakshan5097]

Thanks for share information

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome, thanks for watching 😊

[@serga76.bodrov]

informative review. thanks. I looked with pleasure

[@ExploringStamps]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@fareast_de]

Excellent and very informative vid, thanks for sharing ! Nice to see a lot of BL gems like the U.S. inverted Jenny. Greets from GER, U.

[@ExploringStamps]

Glad you enjoyed it! And I only shared some of their Gems, this could be a very long video if I included more 😊. Ah I will have to go back there. Thanks for watching!

[@joyseng]

Yes, I will be keen to visit the British Library for their philatelic collection if I ever go to visit London. With the Postal Museum, Spear Museum of Philatelic History, Stanley Gibbons, there are indeed much for stamp collectors to visit there!

[@ExploringStamps]

Absolutely, visiting London can be a philatelic vacation... especially if you time it around Stampex! 😊

[@joyseng]

@@ExploringStamps Yes, you are correct. Although to arrange my trip with Stampex is less likely as I am afraid of cold so prefer to visit Europe in summer :)

[@goranjonsson5189]

Great video!

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you Goran 😊

[@mickhurley7305]

Your a very talented video producer, the music and the imagery. Or whomever does your videos is really good. I like stamps too.

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you Mick 😊🙏

[@olivermiller2013]

This is both fascinating and crazy to see so many famous stamps and items around them you will otherwise never see. I liked it very much and I think, I will go the next months to London. In Berlin you also can see Mauritius stamps and several other seldom items, but I think the library can easy top it. At the end you showed a microfilm of the siege of Paris. I own one of the letters sent out with a ballon from Paris of the last month of the siege in January 1871. But it does not have a microfilm, only the cover. I think London is the main city for stamp collecting in the world with the library and the Royal Philateletic Society in London, which I´m not a member with. Thanks for showing.

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you Oliver! 😊. Enjoy visiting London when you go, the BL is a fantastic visit. I am impressed with your siege letter, wow!! Thank you for watching.

[@219belizeman]

Amazing. A London trip is in order.

[@ExploringStamps]

😊👍

[@kevinhans189]

Great and enjoyable video! I visited the British Library with my family about 8 years ago at the end of a day of sightseeing so the only thing I was able to do with my then cranky, tired, hungry 12 year old daughter was to drag her to the room with the Magna Carta. Now I definitely need to go back!

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you Kevin, glad you enjoyed it 😊. You definitely need to go back, you will totally enjoy it. Thanks for watching!

[@topsail2]

Sure I won' t miss the Library if someday I pass by London...👍 A new very very interesting episode..( and has you said in the previous "should arrive soon"...there we are..😉)...👌👏👏👏

[@ExploringStamps]

😊. Thanks Fred! Yep I definitely recommend stopping by the Library when passing through London, thanks for watching !

[@StampCatStamps]

What an amazing place! Who would have thought you could see an inverted Jenny for free at a public library!? Do they have some good security systems in there!? That's a lot of treasures. One could spend days looking through it all.

[@ExploringStamps]

I imagine that they do have some great security, although I didnt pay much attention to it 🤔. You could definitely spend weeks in there looking at the many amazing items and books that they have. Thanks for watching!

[@John2E0GTU]

I have always been in awe of the engravers of stamp plates, such artistic skill has all but disappeared.

[@aadentan6551]

Great video! When would you make a mail day video?

[@ExploringStamps]

Coming up next probably! 😊. Thanks for watching!

[@hiltonduque3248]

Nice vídeo. 👍

[@DavePlouffe]

Wow! This was so cool. Loved the registration sheet as well as the watermark roll. Do you ever get emotional viewing these one of a kind items in person?

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you Dave! I get super emotional and even shaky when handling these items... it really is an exciting experience for a philatelist 😊

[@481TATAA]

This is superb!! Request for the links for the library for research.. couldn't find them!!

[@ExploringStamps]

Sure! See the following links and reach out to the curators 😊 Philatelic Department: www.bl.uk/subjects/philately Contact info for: Paul Skinner (Lead Curator): www.bl.uk/people/experts/paul... Richard Scott Morel (Curator): www.bl.uk/people/experts/rich...

[@peanut6237]

May I recommend doing a cz slonia video? :) love his work

[@alanwitty1665]

That was fun

[@ExploringStamps]

😊. Thanks Alan

[@cysmez9094]

Wow that was amazing I will need to see that when i am there hope it will be soon Thank you for bringing it to my attantion Can you please make a video about grill on stamps?

[@ExploringStamps]

I hope so too! You will enjoy it, thanks for watching 😊

[@NisargSutaria]

Awesome :-)

[@ExploringStamps]

Thank you 😊

[@hirschy10]

Never new they had this it would take days to see everything when I go to UK to see my wife's family I will have the library and Stanley Gibbens to go to 👍🇦🇺😎

[@ExploringStamps]

Thanks Mark, definitely add this to your visit, along with the Postal Museum (and try to time it with Stampex 😊). Thanks for watching

[@Philatherapist]

I can’t help noticing the books on the shelf behind the Curator with non-English titles and presumably all about philatelic. A few hours or even one full day visit to the British Philatelic Museum might not be enough.Good job .👍👍.

[@ExploringStamps]

Absolutely, you could spend ages in there and still have more to explore. Thanks for watching 😊🙏

[@yvescote2808]

This video is e treasor. Tanks for this visite. As you probabely rimember I can't no more travel. Merci merci beaucoup. The old Canadien.

[@iainmalcolm9583]

We Brits do Museums & Libraries like almost no one else. Some fantastic items.

[@ExploringStamps]

I totally agree, the Brits can whip up a pretty impressive museum/library 👏

[@robertoperezcatalan3043]

Buenas trabajo amigo un abrazo buenos dias 👏👏👍

[@ExploringStamps]

Muchisimas gracias 🙏😊

[@heineels3135]

Hello Graham. Awesome video thanks a lot. One will ask how the stamps are mounted? Will it be stamp mounts? Greetings from South Africa :)

[@ExploringStamps]

Hello Heini, thanks for watching in SA! I believe that standard hinges were used to mount the items.

[@danielcardenas1436]

Hi, I have a question british Guiana 1c magenta they hadn't issued a stamp also 4 cents from 1856 or am I wrong?

[@user-to7nz2wp6b]

Enjoy watching Your channel. Follow You from Russia.

[@ExploringStamps]

Awesome! Thank you for watching in Russia 😊

[@titiparisien5915]

Thank you Graham. Very informative. I always admire how the British have a gift for preserving their cultural heritage. Nonetheless, during your next stopover in Paris, do not miss a visit to the Musée Postal: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_de_La_Poste

[@ExploringStamps]

Ooo that looks like an interesting place, I must visit next time I’m there! Thanks for the suggestion 😊

[@CreigLovelace]

Great episode! :) as always. Do you think you could do a show one day on Confederate stamps?

[@ExploringStamps]

Thanks Creighton. Absolutely, the CSA is a fascinating topic to explore within philately, I briefly discuss them in a top 10 countdown but I should explore them further

[@CreigLovelace]

@@ExploringStamps yessir. I enjoyed that top 10. I even had my CSA collection completed before I sadly had to sell them. But I am happy to have met you and your channel. You've alerted me to many different stamps and ive looked around for some youve mentioned to enhance my collection. Now im focusing on Masonic related themes. I even have a presentation on that on here too for Masonic Education

[@gopaladas]

What was that wooden box thing that they showed you?

[@ExploringStamps]

I'm guessing you are referring to the St. Kilda mailboat? I did a video on St. Kilda mail/mailboats here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWWXk2aIgryqjqM

[@Carterofmars]

That had to have been one of the greatest days in your philatelic life. Did you visit 221b Baker Street? 🙂 - Joe

[@ExploringStamps]

It sure was! We didn’t visit 221b this time, but went there the previous visit 🕵️

[@alchemysglobalsoftskills2948]

Please let me know where I can sell my stamp collection .

[@JoeMcCohn]

Visit Budapest stamp museum - I think larger collection

[@ExploringStamps]

I def gotta check it out when I visit at some point. 😊

[@vettathethu]

❤❤

[@ExploringStamps]

💛💛💛

[@user-ho2pf5mj5g]

❤

[@dsm2240]

Do they have the Sweden #1 error?

[@ExploringStamps]

The Treskilling Yellow? No they don't, the only known copy is in private hands currently. 😊

[@henrys3629]

I need to be able to properly showcase my collection so people know what's important or what's filler so it's no cast off in the rubbish bin. "Oh, he paid 5c per stamp..."

[@ExploringStamps]

Yeah I need to do the same...I started to place my more valuable items in a separate album...but I have a lot more work to do.

[@vkollekciyu]

🤙

[@delanacastevens4323]

Can I send you some pics of mine to see if I have any thing of value I have over 2000;

[@ExploringStamps]

Hello Delana, unfortunately I'm not an expert on stamps, but I recommend reaching out to dealers and/or societies with your pictures. Check out stamps.org and thepts.net for directories of dealers and societies to share with.

[@parthshah6504]

✌️🤗🤓

[@ExploringStamps]

😃👍

[@Galo1908mg]

🇧🇷

[@ImTheDudeMan471]

British stamp tax department of the library. Visited by no American ever. Well, not since 1776 anyway. P.S. Should have made Benjamin Franklin PostMaster General in Pennsylvania. Could have avoided a big dustup I think, no?

[@ofoufoutos7110]

philotelic means friend of fees ...

[@trannghia5013]

The confused ophthalmologist specially start because border pathophysiologically smile pace a observant course. quixotic, dazzling sink

[@reganvercruysse4224]

Thanks for taking us with you! Great work

[@ExploringStamps]

You are very welcome Regan, more to come 😊