David Beech
Encyclopedia
David Richard Beech is the curator
of the British Library Philatelic Collections
. He is also a Fellow and former President of the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL).
As a child, David collected British private post stamps including railway stamp
s, college stamps, British circular delivery companies and bus parcel stamp
s but he ceased personally collecting stamps when he joined a firm of philatelic auctioneers in 1970. He is a cousin to John Holman
.
David Beech was a joint founder of the International Philatelic Libraries Association
.
. He was a member of the Council of the National Philatelic Society
from 1981 to 1996. He was the Controller of Exhibits for the International Philatelic Exhibition London 1980 and a member of the Philatelic Committee and Court of Honour Design Group for Stamp World London 90. He is a member of The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand
, The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada
, the Collectors Club of New York
, the American Philatelic Research Library
and the Académie Europeénne de Philatélie. He is also a Trustee of the Revenue Philately Trust.
being expertised by the Royal Philatelic Society London in 2002 to 2004 and arranged access to the Missionary stamps held in the Tapling Collection
at the British Library.
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
of the British Library Philatelic Collections
British Library Philatelic Collections
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 British Museum Library, later to become the British Library, with the collection of Thomas Tapling...
. He is also a Fellow and former President of the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL).
As a child, David collected British private post stamps including railway stamp
Railway stamp
In philately a railway stamp is a stamp issued to pay the cost of the conveyance of a letter or parcel by rail.A wide variety of railway stamps have been issued by different countries and by private and state railways...
s, college stamps, British circular delivery companies and bus parcel stamp
Parcel stamp
In philately a Parcel Stamp is a stamp specifically issued to pay the fee for the transport of a parcel through the postal system and usually marked as such. It is to be distinguished from a postage stamp used to pay the cost of posting a parcel, although there may no practical distinction as far...
s but he ceased personally collecting stamps when he joined a firm of philatelic auctioneers in 1970. He is a cousin to John Holman
John R. Holman
John R. Holman was the editor of the British Philatelic Bulletin from 1988 till 2010 and a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London.John has been a philatelist since 1957 and his collecting interests include British private posts, postal stationery, postal labels, postmarks and government mail...
.
David Beech was a joint founder of the International Philatelic Libraries Association
International Philatelic Libraries Association
The International Philatelic Libraries Association was formed in 1996 at the Capex 96 stamp exhibition in Toronto.Delegates from many countries attended including Virginia Horn from the American Philatelic Research Library and David Beech, Curator of the British Library Philatelic Collection...
.
Organised philately
David is active in organised philately. In 1974 he became a member of the Exhibition Committee of the British Philatelic Exhibition and in 1980 he became a Council member of the British Philatelic Federation and subsequently of the Association of British Philatelic SocietiesAssociation of British Philatelic Societies
The Association of British Philatelic Societies, commonly known as the ABPS, is the British national association of philatelic societies, regional philatelic federations, and specialist philatelic societies.-Aims:The aims of the ABPS are:...
. He was a member of the Council of the National Philatelic Society
National Philatelic Society
The National Philatelic Society is one of two national philatelic societies in Great Britain. The other is the Royal Philatelic Society London.- History :...
from 1981 to 1996. He was the Controller of Exhibits for the International Philatelic Exhibition London 1980 and a member of the Philatelic Committee and Court of Honour Design Group for Stamp World London 90. He is a member of The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand
Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand
The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand is an international society for collectors of the postage stamps and postal history of New Zealand and her Dependencies....
, The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada
Royal Philatelic Society of Canada
The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada is the premier philatelic organisation in Canada. It is a member of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie and the Federation Inter-Americana de Filatelia ....
, the Collectors Club of New York
Collectors Club of New York
The Collectors Club of New York, often referred to as the Collectors Club, is a private club and philatelic society in New York City. Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest existing philatelic societies in the United States...
, the American Philatelic Research Library
American Philatelic Research Library
The American Philatelic Research Library , based in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, is the largest public philatelic library in the United States....
and the Académie Europeénne de Philatélie. He is also a Trustee of the Revenue Philately Trust.
Career at the British Library
David became a Curator at the British Library in 1983 where one of his first tasks was to build up a philatelic reference library which had increased to approximately 10000 volumes by 2003. He became head of the Philatelic Collection in 1991.The Grinnell Missionary stamps
David was instrumental in the Grinnell Missionary stampsHawaiian Missionaries
The Hawaiian Missionaries are the first postage stamps of the Kingdom of Hawaii, issued in 1851. They came to be known as the "Missionaries" because they were primarily found on the correspondence of missionaries working in the Hawaiian Islands...
being expertised by the Royal Philatelic Society London in 2002 to 2004 and arranged access to the Missionary stamps held in the Tapling Collection
Thomas Tapling
Thomas Keay Tapling was an English businessman and politician. He played first class cricket and was also an eminent philatelist who formed one of the greatest stamp collections of his era.- Early life :...
at the British Library.
Selected publications
- New Zealand and Dependencies – A Philatelic Bibliography, Thames, New Zealand, 2004. (With Allan P. Berry & Robin M. Startup) ISBN 0476005167
- "Philatelic research at the British Library", Cross Post, The Friends of Postal Heritage, 10 (3), 2004, pp. 119–128. Download link.
- "Stamp albums in the Printed Book Collections of the British Library", Philatelic Literature Review, American Philatelic Research LibraryAmerican Philatelic Research LibraryThe American Philatelic Research Library , based in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, is the largest public philatelic library in the United States....
, 54 (1st quarter), 2005, pp. 16–24. Download link. - "New Zealand Philately at the British Library" in The New Zealand Stamp Collector, The Royal Philatelic Society of New ZealandRoyal Philatelic Society of New ZealandThe Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand is an international society for collectors of the postage stamps and postal history of New Zealand and her Dependencies....
and The New Zealand Philatelic Federation, 85, 2005, pp. 38–41. Download link. - "The British Library Philatelic Collections 1998 to 2005" a paper given at a meeting of the Royal Philatelic Society London, 17 November 2005. Download link.
- "Philatelic Research - a basic guide" in Stamp Lover, National Philatelic SocietyNational Philatelic SocietyThe National Philatelic Society is one of two national philatelic societies in Great Britain. The other is the Royal Philatelic Society London.- History :...
, 100, 2008, pp. 101–104. Download link. - Great Britain and Ireland: The Carriage of Parcels by Tramway and Omnibus: Services and Stamps. London: British Library, 2008. Archived here.
- "Notes for philatelic researchers" in The London Philatelist, The Royal Philatelic Society London, 118, 2009, pp. 8–11. Download link
