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Major Whitehouse and Colonel Pike

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:00 pm
by Robinr
In researching the photogravure production of postage stamps from the 1930's I have come across several references to two apparently distinguished stamp collectors, Major F.R.B. Whitehouse and Colonel H.E. Pike.

In one bit of correspondence from Leonard Birch, an apparently very active dealers in the 1960s and 1070s, he mentions Col. Pike as being an exceptionally demanding and persistent client.

I get the impression that Birch eventually acquired the Pike Collection and kept it whole and sealed in a safe.

Mention has also been made of The Maximus Collection, with some awe.

Can anybody give me any insight into who and what these two eminent military philatelists were?

Thank you!

Robin R

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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:05 pm
by mozzerb
Can't help with Whitehouse and Pike (both sound vaguely familiar, as I should remember them, but I don't), but "Maximus" was the name used when Ron Lee (a founder of the GBPS) auctioned off his collections. I've never heard that he collected 20th century GB though, although I might be wrong about that.

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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:00 pm
by Robinr
Thanks Mozzer.

Maximus was mentioned in the context of the rare Ray Flaw Corrected versions of three Coronation stamps.

I think it was in a letter from Mr Doupe.

Cheers!

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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:05 pm
by stanley cohen
One needs to be an elderly member of the GBPS like myself to remember these people who passed away very many years ago.

Major Whitehouse was a retired ex army gentleman who lived less than a mile away from my house, when I lived in Birmingham. He was a keen golfer and a philatelist who specialised in the Penny Black, forming a very large collection of these.

Len Birch was a small time dealer who also lived in Birmingham in Hall Green, another suburb. He worked from home and I visited him frequently. His particular study was the 1937 Coronation stamp, about which he listed all the flaws.

I have never heard of Colonel Pike, but I am fairly certain that no collection of his was acquired by Len Birch or else he would have told me about it.

The 'Maximus' collection having been mentioned so early surprises me because I thought that it was the famous GB QV collection formed by Gavin Littaur, for which he won two Golds at the 1990 London International, I think, but I may be wrong. Gavin is, of course, still alive and very active.

I hope that this helps a little.
Stanley Cohen

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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:00 pm
by Robinr
Dear Stanley,

I really appreciate your response, for which many thanks. Bit by bit I hope to build a picture of what Philatelic life was like then.

I have some letters from Birch to Doupe, and here is an extract from one that looks like the genesis of the big fuss about the colon flaw on the Coronation stamp being retouched away, and then returning. It seems to confirm that Birch did have Pike's collection...

"“I then wrote to this bloke asking if he would sell me his sheet but he wrote back saying he wanted for his collection but he thought the dealer who he had the sheet from had 3 more sheets so I immediately wrote the dealer who sent me the three sheets this morning. Unfortunately the three sheets had been stuck together at top and one on each is torn.
“When I came to examine the sheets I had a shock and immediately got out the P. A. with article I had written thinking what a B. fool I had been as I could see all the information I had given in the article was in-correct. Thinking I should have to ask Alcock to stop printing of the booklet and printing an apology from me in its place I got rather worried.
“Then I decided to go down to the big safe and get Colonel Pike’s collection which is still there but sealed up. I got it out and broke the seals and brought upstairs to compare his three different sheets with these new sheets and see what was wrong. I HAD THE SHOCK OF MY LIFE FOR HERE I COULD SEE WAS ANOTHER NEW PRINTING FROM CYL 7 AND QUITE DIFFERENT TO THE OTHER THREE SHEETS. ALSO THIS SHEET HAS THE COLON VARIETY ONLY. THE COLON VARIETY HAS COME BACK TO THE CYLINDER AFTER IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED! ALL THE OTHER VARIETIES. THE RAY FLAW. SPUR TO A. PEARL ON TIARA ARE MISSING THOUGH THE WHITE CROSS ON KING’S BREAST IS STILL THERE.
“No. I am not seeing things. The Colon variety has definitely come back to the cylinder but how the Devil has it happened? Can you explain it because I cannot."

I have not changed a comma, and the caps are Birch's.

Amongst other things, I'm doing an in-depth study of the colon flaw, and have the articles and letters published, or several of them. So if anybody cares to continue that particular thread I'd be delighted. But more insite into these great collectors, including Mr coupe would be enlightening I'm sure.

Best wishes to one and all,

Robin Restall

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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:05 pm
by Robinr
Of course, onsite can be interesting, but I think in sight might be more relevant! RR

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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:10 pm
by Robinr
Google spell-check is killing me!