national collection united_kingdom million items world established later collection addition continuing donations library received consistent deposits primary research collection british_empire international history collections contain wide range artefacts addition postage stamps newspaper stamps press print british postage stamps history notable donation albums postage stamps collected donated request library create collection following year collections established collection value set arrival assistant keeper printed books estimated value described valuable gift sent albums postage stamps order colonial governments sent specimens future stamps commissioned received forms cornerstone literature collection containing works donated earl foremost collection books world time donated father collection african stamps donated late brother collection railway letter stamps valued offered delayed collections secure war storage announced donated extensive air mail collection collections valued time charge default design unsuccessful proposal collections drawings proposal charge decision agreed continued manage collections passed newly formed curator late 1950s wished relinquish post replacement curator easily found care collections managed time basis security crisis developed discovered contents frames collection missing recruited research assistant care collections police arrested promoted assistant keeper charged stealing items loan stolen progressive test prints stamp designs returned crown agents destruction valued exchanged winston_churchill stamps worth fined dismissed museum result security improved recruiting investigating police officers crown agents withdrew agreement lending new stamps display king library joined curator appointed head beech president joint founder description material organized collections archives acquired donation transfer collections include postage revenue stamps postal essays covers entries stamp material specimen issues postal history materials official private posts countries periods interpreted widest sense unusual artefacts include original unused artwork horse pilot licence captain permanent exhibit items collections display british library entrance area upper ground floor best gallery diverse classic stamps material world approximately items sheets viewed display frames sheets collection material covers world available students researchers appointment collection photographs material library collections composed material donated collection important resource researchers collections library actively literature subject makes british library world leading research centres principal collections selected notable items collections include unique proof sheet revenue newspaper pamphlet penny impressions showing registration certificate issued apply stamp act intended raise taxes fund defence french tax applied legal documents newspapers pamphlets quebec nova scotia newfoundland florida bahamas taxes resulted public protest rioting tax abandoned months political damage contributed war independence largest object cylinder press developed patented press print postage stamps great_britain ireland issued press printing early stamps british colonial territories including cape good hope ceylon mauritius trinidad western australia new_brunswick new_south_wales new_zealand victoria stamp issued jamaica reign king george shows tobacco growing stamp queen elizabeth_ii design chocolate violet abandoned printing seven examples existence cover pocket guide treasures features king george master proof took creation die image high value stamps collections feature demonstrate international scope unique india blue pale red error head inverted cover unique mauritius red cover blue issue orange red cover british colonial postage stamps issued mauritius new_south_wales essays sydney view issue stamps new_south_wales values issued spain error colour known relief fund london authorize new stamps fact clearly unknown governor issue withdrawn modern stamps sets sold switzerland unique horizontal strip blue green pairs known western australia blue error frame inverted
British Library Philatelic Collections