The Shakespeare stamp [graphic] : specimens of different issues.
1899
Items
Linked e-resources
Details
Title
The Shakespeare stamp [graphic] : specimens of different issues.
Variant title
Folger catalog card title: Shakespeare stamps. 1899-1902
Published
[Stratford-upon-Avon] : [Holy Trinity Church], [between 1899 and 1902]
Distributed
[Stratford-upon-Avon] : [Holy Trinity Church]
Description
5 stamps (mounted on 1 sheet) : color ; sheet 17 x 23 cm
Material base
paper
Summary
Five "Shakespeare stamps" in different colors, featuring an illustration of William Shakespeare in the style of his funerary monument at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. Captioned "Shakespeare stamp" above illustration and "One shilling" below, and designated 1st class. 1899 (blue), 1900 (red), 1901 (green), and 1902 (purple) stamps are mounted in a row of four on a card, with a "Special Coronation issue" stamp (orange) commemorating the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 mounted below.
Note
"Letters or Cards for any part of the world, if posted in the Box at the Church door, with one of these affixed, require no further payment."--Caption on mount.
Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon issued a series of "Shakespeare stamps" yearly from 1899 to approximately 1910, in a different color each year, as one of several fundraising efforts instituted by Reverend George Arbuthnot. Purchasers paid one shilling for each stamp, and church staff then "affixed current British postage stamps (Victoria and Edward issues) alongside the Shakespeare labels. The difference in costs between 1/2 penny or 1 penny stamps and the one shilling Shakespeare label went to the church restoration fund." (See Spencer, 'Philatelic Shakespeare', pp. 173-174.) From the 1904 'Guide to the Collegiate Church at Stratford-upon-Avon' by Rev. George Arbuthnot (page 20): "The Shakespeare Stamp can be purchased in the Porch, and if used on a letter or picture card, which can be obtained with it, and posted in the box in the corner, will frank the same to any part of the world."
Souvenir card was likely produced and distributed by the Holy Trinity Church as well; the church was known to have produced other, similar souvenir cards for the entire run of stamps.
Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon issued a series of "Shakespeare stamps" yearly from 1899 to approximately 1910, in a different color each year, as one of several fundraising efforts instituted by Reverend George Arbuthnot. Purchasers paid one shilling for each stamp, and church staff then "affixed current British postage stamps (Victoria and Edward issues) alongside the Shakespeare labels. The difference in costs between 1/2 penny or 1 penny stamps and the one shilling Shakespeare label went to the church restoration fund." (See Spencer, 'Philatelic Shakespeare', pp. 173-174.) From the 1904 'Guide to the Collegiate Church at Stratford-upon-Avon' by Rev. George Arbuthnot (page 20): "The Shakespeare Stamp can be purchased in the Porch, and if used on a letter or picture card, which can be obtained with it, and posted in the box in the corner, will frank the same to any part of the world."
Souvenir card was likely produced and distributed by the Holy Trinity Church as well; the church was known to have produced other, similar souvenir cards for the entire run of stamps.
Cited/described in
Spencer, Albert. The philatelic Shakespeare, pages 173-174
Linked resources
Digital image(s) of Folger Shakespeare Library ART File S527.3 no.26
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England -- Stratford-upon-Avon.
Item Details
Call number
ART File S527.3 no.26 (size XS)