Edward B. Evans
Encyclopedia
Edward Benjamin Evans, RPS (3 November 1846 - 21 March 1922) a British army officer, also known as "Major Evans", was a distinguished philatelist, stamp collector, and philatelic journalist. His philatelic specialization included Mauritius
, the Confederate States of America
, the Mulready envelopes
, and the Indian feudatory states
.
Grammar School in 1861. He was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Artillery
in 1867. Posted to Malta
, he met Lieutenant Speranza, formerly Secretary of the London Philatelic Society, and studied Italian, which enabled him to translate and introduce Dr. Emilio Diena
's work on the postal history of the Italian States
to English speaking philatelists.
. They are now in the British Library
.
After giving up his general collection, Evans specialized in the stamps of the Confederate States
, and published many articles on this subject in the Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal, which he edited for 23 years. His Confederate States collection was purchased by a New York City dealer, John Klemann of Nassau Stamp Co., about 1914. He also wrote a series of excellent articles on the Indian feudatory states
.
Evans' study of the Mulready envelopes
and satires was described in The Philatelic Record in 1891. Evans' Mulready collection, purchased by King George V, resides in the Royal Collection
.
, 1897 and 1906. He received the Lindenberg Medal of the Berliner Philatelisten-Klub (Berlin Philatelic Club) in 1908, Major Evans was one of the first twenty on the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists
in 1921.
Evans died at his residence at Cantley, Norfolk.
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, the Confederate States of America
Postage stamps and postal history of the Confederate States
The postage stamps and postal system of the Confederate States of America carried the mail of the Confederacy for a brief period in American history. Early in 1861 when South Carolina territory no longer considered itself part of the Union and demanded that the U.S. Army abandon Fort Sumter, plans...
, the Mulready envelopes
Mulready stationery
Mulready stationery describes the postal stationery lettersheets and pre-gummed envelopes that were introduced as part of the British Post Office postal reforms of 1840. They went on sale on 1 May, 1840, and were valid for use from 6 May...
, and the Indian feudatory states
Postage stamps and postal history of the Indian states
For postage stamps and postal history of India, see Postage stamps and postal history of IndiaThe postage stamps and postal history of the Indian Princely States is a complicated subject; British rule was not a uniform exercise of authority, and many states ran their own postal services...
.
Early life
Evans was born at Norwich, England, and commenced collecting stamps as a student at UppinghamUppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
Grammar School in 1861. He was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in 1867. Posted to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, he met Lieutenant Speranza, formerly Secretary of the London Philatelic Society, and studied Italian, which enabled him to translate and introduce Dr. Emilio Diena
Emilio Diena
Dr. Emilio Diena , of Italy, was a philatelist who specialized in the postage stamps of Italy and published substantial research on the subject, with many regarding him as “Italy’s greatest philatelist.”-Collecting interests:...
's work on the postal history of the Italian States
Revolutions of 1848 in the Italian states
The 1848 revolutions in the Italian states were organized revolts in the states of Italy led by intellectuals and agitators who desired a liberal government. As Italian nationalists they sought to eliminate reactionary Austrian control...
to English speaking philatelists.
Mauritius
Posted to Mauritius in 1876, Evans assembled an extraordinary collection of that country's stamps. These included a famous example of the One Penny Red "Post Office" Mauritius lightly postmarked on an envelope, which may have contained an invitation to the governor's ball, and several unused Two Pence "Post Paid" in indigo and dark blue. He sent a paper on these issues to the "Congrès International des Timbrophiles" at Paris in 1878, which earned an award from the Société Française de Timbrologie. In 1885, when Evans' collection was broken up, these (and many others) were bought by Thomas TaplingThomas 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 :...
. They are now in the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
.
After giving up his general collection, Evans specialized in the stamps of the Confederate States
Postage stamps and postal history of the Confederate States
The postage stamps and postal system of the Confederate States of America carried the mail of the Confederacy for a brief period in American history. Early in 1861 when South Carolina territory no longer considered itself part of the Union and demanded that the U.S. Army abandon Fort Sumter, plans...
, and published many articles on this subject in the Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal, which he edited for 23 years. His Confederate States collection was purchased by a New York City dealer, John Klemann of Nassau Stamp Co., about 1914. He also wrote a series of excellent articles on the Indian feudatory states
Postage stamps and postal history of the Indian states
For postage stamps and postal history of India, see Postage stamps and postal history of IndiaThe postage stamps and postal history of the Indian Princely States is a complicated subject; British rule was not a uniform exercise of authority, and many states ran their own postal services...
.
Evans' study of the Mulready envelopes
Mulready stationery
Mulready stationery describes the postal stationery lettersheets and pre-gummed envelopes that were introduced as part of the British Post Office postal reforms of 1840. They went on sale on 1 May, 1840, and were valid for use from 6 May...
and satires was described in The Philatelic Record in 1891. Evans' Mulready collection, purchased by King George V, resides in the Royal Collection
Royal Philatelic Collection
The Royal Philatelic Collection is the postage stamp collection of the British Royal Family. It is the most comprehensive collection of items related to the philately of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth, with many unique pieces.- Early history :...
.
Organised philately
Evans became a member of the Royal Philatelic Society London in 1875. He was one of the original three members of the RPS' Expert Committee in 1894, and helped edit and publish many of the Society's handbooks. Evans was Chairman of the Permanent Committee of the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain, 1911-1919. He served as one of the judges at the London Philatelic Exhibition 1890London Philatelic Exhibition 1890
The London Philatelic Exhibition 1890 was held 19-26 May at the Portman Rooms, Baker Street, London. It was one of the first international philatelic exhibitions anywhere and it was the exhibition at which the Duke of Edinburgh announced that Prince George of Wales, later King George V, was a stamp...
, 1897 and 1906. He received the Lindenberg Medal of the Berliner Philatelisten-Klub (Berlin Philatelic Club) in 1908, Major Evans was one of the first twenty on the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists
Roll of Distinguished Philatelists
The Roll of Distinguished Philatelists is a philatelic award of international scale, created by the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain in 1921...
in 1921.
Evans died at his residence at Cantley, Norfolk.
Works
- The Stamps of Mauritius, The Philatelic Record, vol. 2, no. 13, February 1880, pp. 6-8; vol. 2, no. 14, March 1880, pp. 17-20; vol. 2, no. 15, April 1880, pp. 31-34.; and vol. 2, no. 16, May 1880, pp. 48-52.
- A Catalogue for Collectors of Postage Stamps, Stamped Envelopes, Wrappers and Postcards, Pemberton Wilson & Co. (1892)
- E. L. Pemberton, The Philatelic Handbook, new ed. Edward B. Evans, Stanley Gibbons & Co. (1885)
- Catalogue of the Postage Stamps of Peru, C. H. Mekeel, St. Louis (1887)
- The Philatelic Catalogue of Postage Stamps, Envelopes, Wrappers and Cards, Up to January 1, 1890, C. H. Mekeel, St. Louis. (1890)
- Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal, edited by Edward B. Evans (1891 - 1914)
- The Mulready Envelope and its Caricatures, Stanley Gibbons Philatelic Handbooks. (1891)
- Emilio Diena, A History of the Postage Stamps of Sicily, tr. Edward B. Evans, London. (1904)