W. A. S. Westoby
Encyclopedia
William Amos Scarborough Westoby M.A. (1815–1899) was an English philatelist who was one of the "Fathers of Philately" entered on the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists
in 1921. His obituary in The London Philatelist
stated that he had "...fairly earned the title of the Grand Seigneur of Philately." By profession, Westoby was a Barrister
of Lincoln's Inn
.
, Cambridge.
in 1863. He discovered the first known copy of the Spanish 2r 1851 error of colour in 1867. He was not a founder of The Philatelic Society, London, now The Royal Philatelic Society London, but was a member from at least November 1869, shortly after the Society's founding, when he read a paper titled "Envelopes of Germany". At one point he resigned and was later re-elected, possibly because membership of the society was at one time limited to residents of London.
Westoby was a prolific contributor to philatelic journals under the pen name "A Parisian Collector", including The Philatelist and The Stamp-Collector's Magazine. He was the editor for four years of The Philatelic Record and also of Alfred Smith & Co.'s Monthly Circular from 1878. When his European collection was dispersed, many fine items found their way into the Tapling Collection
.
of Lincoln's Inn
and wrote a number of legal books including guides to the laws of Belgium and France for foreigners resident there and a guide to the Wills of British subjects made abroad.
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. His obituary in The London Philatelist
The London Philatelist
The London Philatelist was first published in January 1892 and is the journal of the Royal Philatelic Society London.It is published ten times annually and includes coverage of worldwide philatelic and postal history topics...
stated that he had "...fairly earned the title of the Grand Seigneur of Philately." By profession, Westoby was a Barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
.
Early life
Westoby was born in 1815. He received his M.A. in 1839 from Trinity CollegeTrinity College
-Australia:* Trinity Catholic College Lismore, a Catholic secondary school in New South Wales* Trinity College , part of the University of Melbourne, in Melbourne, Victoria* Trinity College, Gawler, Adelaide, South Australia...
, Cambridge.
Philately
Westoby began collecting stamps in 1861 or 1862. He was resident in Paris for some time where he met his lifelong friend Frederick PhilbrickFrederick Philbrick
Frederick Adolphus Philbrick was a lawyer and an early British philatelist.He was one of the founders of the "Philatelic Society, London", which later became the Royal Philatelic Society London...
in 1863. He discovered the first known copy of the Spanish 2r 1851 error of colour in 1867. He was not a founder of The Philatelic Society, London, now The Royal Philatelic Society London, but was a member from at least November 1869, shortly after the Society's founding, when he read a paper titled "Envelopes of Germany". At one point he resigned and was later re-elected, possibly because membership of the society was at one time limited to residents of London.
Westoby was a prolific contributor to philatelic journals under the pen name "A Parisian Collector", including The Philatelist and The Stamp-Collector's Magazine. He was the editor for four years of The Philatelic Record and also of Alfred Smith & Co.'s Monthly Circular from 1878. When his European collection was dispersed, many fine items found their way into the Tapling Collection
Tapling Collection
The Tapling Collection was donated to the British Museum from the estate of Thomas Tapling in 1891.The probate value of the Tapling collection was set at £12,000 but on arrival Richard Garnett estimated their value at more than £50,000 and described the bequest as the most valuable gift since the...
.
Selected philatelic publications
- The Postage and Telegraph Stamps of Great Britain. London: The Philatelic Society, London & Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington, 1881. (With F.A. PhilbrickFrederick PhilbrickFrederick Adolphus Philbrick was a lawyer and an early British philatelist.He was one of the founders of the "Philatelic Society, London", which later became the Royal Philatelic Society London...
) - Penny Postage Jubilee: a descriptive catalogue of all postage stamps of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland issued during fifty years. London: Sampson Low, 1891.
- The Adhesive Postage Stamps of Europe: a practical guide to their collection, identification, and classification ... Volume 1: Alsace and Lorraine - Ionian Islands. London: L. Upcott Gill, 1898.
- The Adhesive Postage Stamps of Europe: a practical guide to their collection, identification, and classification ... Volume 2: Italy - Wurtenburg. London: L. Upcott Gill, 1900.
Legal works
Westoby was a BarristerBarrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
and wrote a number of legal books including guides to the laws of Belgium and France for foreigners resident there and a guide to the Wills of British subjects made abroad.