Customer Reviews

Fundamentals of Philately

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This book is not about stamp collecting as such, but it should be in the library of every serious collector, because without it few of us would be able to distinguish between the numerous varieties that occur both on common stamps and scarce stamps. The first edition was excellent; this second edition, on which L. N. Williams worked for eight years, is even better.

The book provides a thorough discussion of paper and of papermaking techniques; of design processes, die making, and the various methods of creating plates from dies; of printing methods and machinery; of separation methods and machinery, including the different kinds of perforating machines; of "gum" and its characteristics; of inks used for stamp production; and of the various ways in which errors, freaks and other unintended varieties can occur at various stages of the design and production process. It is superb and necessary background for deciding what one is looking at when that isn't immediately obvious, with very many high quality illustrations to help the reader understand the subtleties.

I couldn't do without it.

Every stamp collector should own either the first or second edition of this book. It is a textbook on everything concerning stamps and their production -- a definitive book covering the basics of paper, printing, perforations, gum, etc. It would take several pages to simply describe the major areas covered. After more than 50 years of collecting, I still refer to this wonderful resource on a regular basis.

The three versions of this book and a possible fourth version in the American Philatelist Society pipeline have a history of interest to collectors. (Most stamp collectors are also book collectors.)

Leon Norman Williams and his brother Maurice published extensively under the name "L. N. and M. Williams" until Maurice's death in 1976. The first version of this book was serialized in the "Philatelic Literature Review", 1954-63, Volumes 67-76. The series was then reprinted in five sections and an appendix, 1958-68:

Section 1 (1st edition) ii+pp.1-110 Yellow cover with black lettering.
Section 1 (2nd edition) ii+pp.1-110 Yellow cover with black lettering.
Section 2 ii+pp.111-230 Pale green cover.
Section 3 ii+pp.231-342 Blue cover.
Section 4 ii+pp.343-452 Pink Cover.
Section 5 ii+pp.453-629 Light grey cover.
Appendix* pp.i-xxx No cover

The 1971 edition (usually called the "first edition") appeared under the names "L. N. and M. Williams"; and the 1991 edition (usually called the "second edition") appeared under the name "L.N. Williams", Maurice having died in 1976.

The first and second editions are nearly identical, only certain early philatelic history was corrected in the 1991 edition. The second edition is much longer, the 250+ increase in pages has much larger text and less clear illustrations. Consequently most collectors prefer the first edition.

Of course, as a believer in the philatelist's principle that if one is good, two are better, I own both editions. If you have any interest in collecting stamps, purchase the best copy you can find of either edition of this book, and learn all of the fundamentals of this great hobby.

Robert C. Ross 2008

Very comprehensive and complete. It is a classic in philatelic literature, giving the basics to get deeper in many areas, such as printing methods, types of paers and kind of errors, just to give some examples. Very usefull examples of stamps all around the world and in different times.
Recommended for all clubs and associations whose aims are to nurture deeper knowledge through its members.