John Alexander Tilleard
Encyclopedia
John Alexander Tilleard was a British solicitor
and the philatelist
who helped King George V
to constitute his collection, known as the Royal Philatelic Collection
.
. He spent his free times to collect stamps
and study philately
. He was a specialist of stamps issued by Prince Edward Island
and British India
. About the latter, he wrote Notes on the De La Rue
Series of Adhesive Postage Stamps and Telegraph Stamps of India published in 1896.
Member of the Philatelic Society, London, he served as honorary secretary from 1894 to 1913. He permitted the participation of two philatelist princes to the Society : Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
, brother of future King Edward VII
, elected honorary president in 1890, and Alfred's nephew George, Duke of York
.
On the Duke of Edinburgh's initiative, Tilleard met the Duke of York on 28 February 1893. He accepted to become George's advisor to help manage his stamp collection. Tilleard sold his own stamps to have for main philatelic purpose stamp sales and philatelic exhibitions of the Prince's collection. These activities occupied long times of the two men's life : George V's biographer, Harold Nicolson
, precised that Tilleard was seen at the Duke of York's palace more often than Tanner who taught the future king law and constitutional knowledge.
In 1903, Tilleard and George designed the Canada
stamp series figuring King Edward VII, issued between 1903 and 1912.
In 1906, he helped the Philatelic Society, London obtain the "Royal" title, to become the Royal Philatelic Society London whose president was the Duke of York from 1896.
After the accession of the Duke as King George V in 1910, Tilleard was named "Philatelist to the King" with a yearly 750 pounds salary. The next year the King made him a Member in the Royal Victorian Order
(MVO) for his services to the King and philately.
In the history of the Royal Philatelic Collection
, Tilleard was the principal force behind George V creating the most comprehensive collection of United Kingdom and Commonwealth stamps in the world. However, at the time of his death, the mounting was still to be done; performing this task was the main success of Tilleard's successor Edward Denny Bacon
.
In memory of Tilleard, the Royal Philatelic Society London created the Tilleard Medal, first awarded in 1920 to one (or two, if they are associated) members of the Society for the best philatelic display.
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and the philatelist
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
who helped King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
to constitute his collection, known as the Royal Philatelic 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 :...
.
Biography
John Tilleard was a solicitor of the City of LondonCity of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. He spent his free times to collect stamps
Stamp collecting
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
and study philately
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
. He was a specialist of stamps issued by Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
and British India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
. About the latter, he wrote Notes on the De La Rue
De La Rue
De La Rue plc is a British security printing, papermaking and cash handling systems company headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire. It also has a factory on the Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, and other facilities at Loughton, Essex and Bathford, Somerset...
Series of Adhesive Postage Stamps and Telegraph Stamps of India published in 1896.
Member of the Philatelic Society, London, he served as honorary secretary from 1894 to 1913. He permitted the participation of two philatelist princes to the Society : Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and reigned from 1893 to 1900. He was also a member of the British Royal Family, the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha...
, brother of future King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, elected honorary president in 1890, and Alfred's nephew George, Duke of York
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
.
On the Duke of Edinburgh's initiative, Tilleard met the Duke of York on 28 February 1893. He accepted to become George's advisor to help manage his stamp collection. Tilleard sold his own stamps to have for main philatelic purpose stamp sales and philatelic exhibitions of the Prince's collection. These activities occupied long times of the two men's life : George V's biographer, Harold Nicolson
Harold Nicolson
Sir Harold George Nicolson KCVO CMG was an English diplomat, author, diarist and politician. He was the husband of writer Vita Sackville-West, their unusual relationship being described in their son's book, Portrait of a Marriage.-Early life:Nicolson was born in Tehran, Persia, the younger son of...
, precised that Tilleard was seen at the Duke of York's palace more often than Tanner who taught the future king law and constitutional knowledge.
In 1903, Tilleard and George designed the Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
stamp series figuring King Edward VII, issued between 1903 and 1912.
In 1906, he helped the Philatelic Society, London obtain the "Royal" title, to become the Royal Philatelic Society London whose president was the Duke of York from 1896.
After the accession of the Duke as King George V in 1910, Tilleard was named "Philatelist to the King" with a yearly 750 pounds salary. The next year the King made him a Member in the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(MVO) for his services to the King and philately.
In the history of the Royal Philatelic 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 :...
, Tilleard was the principal force behind George V creating the most comprehensive collection of United Kingdom and Commonwealth stamps in the world. However, at the time of his death, the mounting was still to be done; performing this task was the main success of Tilleard's successor Edward Denny Bacon
Edward Denny Bacon
Sir Edward Denny Bacon was a British philatelist who helped the enlargement and mounting of collections possessed by rich collectors of his time and became the curator of the Royal Philatelic Collection between 1913 and 1938.- Early life :Edward Bacon was the son of a malt producer of London,...
.
In memory of Tilleard, the Royal Philatelic Society London created the Tilleard Medal, first awarded in 1920 to one (or two, if they are associated) members of the Society for the best philatelic display.
Sources and references
- Nicholas Courtney (2004). The Queen's Stamps. The Authorised History of the Royal Philatelic CollectionRoyal Philatelic CollectionThe 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 :...
. Methuen, ISBN 0413772284.