Stanley Gibbons: A Philatelic Pioneer Stamp professional Edward Stanley Gibbons was born on June 21st in the year 1840. He was able to take his passion as a philatelist and turn it into a lifelong career. Childhood Coincidentally, Gibbons was born the same year that the world’s first postage stamp was created. It was called the Penny Black and was generated for consumer convenience. The idea of the stamp was part of Sir Rowland Hill’s plan to update the British postal system. Before the stamp was invented, the receiver of mail paid the postage when it was delivered. Edward Stanley Gibbons found an interest in stamps while he was attending the Halloran’s Collegiate School. He owned a keepsake book that he used to store the stamps he was willing to trade with other collectors. Beginning Career Gibbons decided to leave school at the age of 15 and was able to find a job working for the Naval Bank in Plymouth. When his oldest brother died, Edward decided to join his father’s business, which was a chemist shop. William Gibbons, Edwards’ father, was supportive of his son’s stamp collecting hobby and gave his son approval to set up a counter selling stamps in addition to a small window display. In 1863, two sailors came into his father’s store and had a bagful of triangular stamps called Cape of Good Hope, which were extremely rare. Gibbons was able to acquire them for only a pound. This purchase gave him the means to start his stamp business. From 1861 to 1871 Gibbons was building his stamp industry. He began issuing a monthly catalogue in 1865 with a detailed price list. The catalogue contained prices for unique stamps that had been used along with those that were new. Sadly, in 1867, his father passed away and Edward was in charge of the chemist shop. Gibbons interest in selling unique and valuable stamps continued to grow and he later decided to sell his father’s business. Stanley Gibbons & Company Publishers Gibbons married Matilda Woon on January 29th, 1872 and two years later he relocated to London to expand his stamp company. He moved the business to 25 The Chase, Clapham Common, which was located in South London. The couple moved to Gower Street in London during 1876, and a year later his wife died from marasmus, which is a wasting disease. The Gower Street address was listed by the Postal Office Directory as being occupied by the “Stanley Gibbons & Co Publishers.” Edward had decided to officially name his stamp company. Gibbons continued to produce his stamp catalogue and by 1979 it had become a detailed book that he produced yearly. The company has continued this tradition and currently releases more than 25 stamp catalogs depicting millions of unique stamps. Ten years later Gibbons married Margaret Casey, who was his maid and assistant, and sold his company to Charles Phillips for £25,000 choosing to retire from the industry. Phillips expanded the business and opened another location at 391 The Strand. Retirement and Death In 1892, Gibbons purchased an extraordinary home in a popular area of London. It was set near the Thames, and Gibbons remained in his home until 1911. The house stood until 1960 when it was knocked down. After he retired, Gibbons decided to travel. He wanted to see the many countries from where he had collected his stamps. This new passion allowed him to locate unique stamps from faraway destinations. He purchased stamps for his personal collection in addition to his old company. A memory book detailing his experiences was found and contained documentation depicting the burning of outdated Hawaiian stamps. He watched them burn and noted that the experience saddened him. His second wife Margaret passed away from cirrhosis and he later wed Georgina who died in 1905. He married for the 4th time in October of 2005. Edward died on February 17 in 1913 at his nephew’s apartment in Portman Mansions and was laid to rest in the Twickenham cemetery. A year after his death his company was awarded a Royal Warrant by George V, which let the company advertise the fact that they were the official stamp suppliers for the royal family. Edward Stanley Gibbons created an industry doing what he loved, and his company is still successful today.
