College Stamps Bibliography A to Z

As well as college stamps, this bibliography also covers later "revivals" and the overprints, underprints and postal history of the Oxford Union Society (OUS).

(Anon.), 1938. The "Stamps" and their Designs - Notes on the Designs of the Congress Stamp Labels, The Philatelic Congress of Great Britain Year Book 1938, pp.99-101.
These notes were used in a descriptive folder which contained four sheets of the stamps, one sheet in each issued colour.
Avery D., 2006. Postal Stationery Cards of the Oxford Colleges, American Philatelist, February 2006, pp.150-3.
Bailey, M.W. and Walton, F.L. (ed.), 2019. Royal Philatelic Society London Members' Collections 2019, London.
Includes college items from the Harman collection (pp. 269-274) and Sigee collection (pp. 497-8).
Bellamy F.A., 1921. Oxford and Cambridge College Messengers Postage Stamps Cards and Envelopes - A Short Account of their Origin and Use; 1871-1886, Oxford.
Though dated August 1921, it apparently did not appear until late in 1922, according to a note in the Royal Philatelic Society London copy.
Bellamy F.A., 1924. Oxford and Cambridge College Messenger Postage Stamps of 1871-1886, Philatelic Magazine, 5 April 1924, pp.183, 185.
Bellamy F.A., 1925. A Concise Register of the College Messenger Postage Stamps, Envelopes & Cards used in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, 1871-1895 together with the stamps used by The Oxford Union Society, 1859-1885, Oxford.
Bellamy F.A., 1926. Statements and Comments upon the Result of a Proffered Gift to the University of Oxford, Oxford.
Reprints two letters to The Times concerned with the rejection by the University of the author's gift of his postal history collections including college stamps.
Bellamy F.A., 1929. A History of the College Messenger Postage Stamps, Envelopes and Cards of Oxford and Cambridge, The London Philatelist Vol. 38, April 1929, pp.92-3.
Display to the Royal Philatelic Society London on 7 May 1929, including six of the copper plates and his written history of 650 pages.
[Bellamy F.A.], 1936. Obituary, The London Philatelist Vol. 45, March 1936, pp.51-3.
Frank Arthur Bellamy (1864-1936) was an early distinguished collector and student of college stamps.
[Bellamy F.A.], 1937-40. College Stamps. Notes from the Collection formed by the late F. A. Bellamy, M.A. (Oxon.), The British Philatelist Vol. XXX pp.67-9, 75-7, 84-6, 94-5; Vol. XXXI pp.7-8, 15-16, 22-4, 70-2, 85-8; Vol. XXXII pp.6-8, 13-15, 24, 91-3; Vol. XXXIII pp.4-7.
The collection was sold to Charles Nissen who advertised items from it for sale in Vol. XXX pp.33, 65-6, 73-4.
Catling H.D., 2014. The Story of the Cambridge College Messenger Stamps: 1882-5, Cinderella Stamp Club.
Originally written in 1939 but first published in 2014 (with a preface and footnotes) by the author's grandson S J Catling.
Catling S.J., 2015. A Fortunate Find, Gibbons Stamp Monthly, June 2015, pp.80-81.
Describes the discovery and background of the manuscript and collection of the author's grandfather H D Catling (see Catling 2014).
Chambers E.R., 1983. The Postmarks of Oxford 1705-1978.
Includes at pp.7-17 the postmarks which appear on the OUS stamps and covers.
Collins P., 1983. College Stamps of Oxford and Cambridge - The Silver Medal Winning Collection of the Rev. Hayman Cummings, The Philatelist - Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, January/February 1983, pp.37-44.
Cummings H., 1898. Oxford College Stamps in the Recent London Philatelic Exhibition, The Philatelists' Supplement to the Bazaar 12 January 1898, pp.42-3.
Written under the pseudonym of C. Namyah.
Cummings H., [1904]. The College Stamps of Oxford and Cambridge, Oxford.
Cummings H., 1904ii. The College Stamps of Oxford and Cambridge. A Further Study of their History from 1870 to 1886, Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly 26 March 1904 pp.13-14; 9 April pp.21-2; 23 April p.29; 7 May p.39; 21 May pp.46-7, 4 June p.53.
Deal A.J.A., 1952. Merton College, Oxford, Postcard Die (Correspondence), The London Philatelist, Vol. 61, April 1952, p.59.
Deal A.J.A., 1957. Oxford and Cambridge College Stamps 1871-1886, The London Philatelist, Vol. 66, 1957, pp.6-8.
Read before the Royal Philatelic Society London on 6 December 1956.
Deal A.J.A., 1957ii. Oxford and Cambridge College Stamps. A Descriptive Record of Entires Bearing the Adhesive Stamps, The London Philatelist, Vol. 66, 1957, pp.50-3, 67-72.
Drummond J.N., 2007. College and School Stamps.
Primarily concerned with USA business college stamps, but also oddly includes the Oxford and Cambridge college stamps. The latter do not belong here and their coverage is outdated.
Gee F., 1996. The College Stamps of Oxford and Cambridge, British Philatelic Bulletin, Vol. 34, September 1996, pp.14-17.
Gee F., 2013. Oxford College Stamps - in the 1970s!, The GB Journal Vol. 51/3, May/June 2013, pp.68-69.
Gibbons S., 2011. Great Britain Specialised Stamp Catalogue Volume 1: Queen Victoria, 16th edition.
See Appendix 2 (pp. 329-38) "Protective Overprints or Underprints", especially at p. 335 for OUS, and Appendix 6 (pp. 347-51) "College Stamps".
Harman C.G., 1985. Merton College Oxford. A New Die, The Private Post New Series 8, 1985, pp.6-8.
A Merton postcard embossed with a new type.
Harman C.G., 2000. College Stamps of Oxford and Cambridge, GBPS Newsletter 263, May/June 2000, p.4.
A small (110 x 81 mm) Keble envelope.
Harman C.G., 2006. Classic British Private Posts + The College Stamps of Oxford and Cambridge.
Notes to accompany the President's display at the Royal Philatelic Society London on 8 June 2006.
Harman C.G., 2013. Thoughts on Treatment, Philatelic Summit Papers 3, ed. Hällstrom, J., Postiljonen, Malmo.
Discusses "treatment" in philatelic exhibits using the author's exhibit of college stamps as an example. The exhibit pages chosen include the Hertford College essays.
Harman C.G., 2015. The College Stamps of Oxford and Cambridge: 1871 to 1885, Gibbons Stamp Monthly, June 2015, pp.82-87.
A well-illustrated authoritative survey of the college stamps and postal stationery.
Harman C.G., 2024. Merton College, Oxford Covers, The Cinderella Philatelist, January 2024, p.15.
Describes and illustrates two newly-discovered Merton College covers.
Hughes A.M., 2016. Oxford Philatelic Society - a History, Oxford Philatelic Society.
Includes biographical material on early college stamp collectors.
Jordan A. F., 1953-4. The Oxford Union Society Overprint on the Rose-Red Stars, Philatelic Adviser Vol. 16/6 pp. 29-31; Vol. 17/1 pp. 19-20; Vol. 17/2 pp. 13, 16, 18; Vol. 17/6 pp. 15-17.
Lee R.A.G., 1967. Oxford and Cambridge Message Stamps, The London Philatelist 76, 1967, pp.242-7.
Notes for a display given to the Royal Philatelic Society on 11.5.1967.
Lister R., 1974. College Stamps of Oxford and Cambridge, second edition, Harry Hayes Philatelic Studies No. 11, Yorkshire.
A reprint of the first 1966 (Golden Head Press, Cambridge) edition.
McGowan B., 1926-31. "O.U.S." and Similar Overprints on Stamps Used by Certain Business Firms, The British Philatelist 19, 1926, pp.27-30, 35-40, 47-48, 79-80; 20, 1927, pp. 14-16, 60; 24, 1931, pp. 67-69.
McGowan B., 1933. The Stamps of All Souls College, Oxford, The British Philatelist 26, 1933-4, p.96.
Describes positional varieties on the sheet.
McGowan B., 1934. The Stamps of St. John's College, Oxford, The British Philatelist 27, 1934-5, pp.23-24.
Describes positional varieties on the sheet.
McGowan B., 1935. The Stamps of St John's College, Cambridge, The British Philatelist 28, 1935-6, pp.3-5.
Describes positional varieties on the sheet.
McGowan B., 1935ii. The Stamps of Queens' College, Cambridge, The British Philatelist 28, 1935-6, pp.28-29.
Describes positional varieties on the sheet.
McGowan B., 1936. The Stamps of Keble College, Oxford, The British Philatelist 29, 1936-7, p.8.
Describes positional varieties on the sheet of the 1882 issue.
Muggleton D. J., 1970. A Postal History of Cambridge, Cambridge Philatelic Society.
Especially Chapter VI (pp.77-93) "The University Post".
Napier A. S., 1893. The Oxford College Stamps, Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal, 30 December 1893, pp.120-3.
Radasch H. E., 1943-4. England's College Stamps, Collectors Club Philatelist Vol. XXII/2, April 1943, pp.77-99; Vol. XXIII/1, January 1944, pp.9-21; Vol. XXIII/2, April 1944. pp.69-76.
Rossiter, E. H. W., 1889. Cambridge Messenger Stamps, The Philatelic Record, Vol. 11, No. 124, April 1889, pp69-70.
Read before the London Philatelic Society.
Sefi A. J., 1921. College Stamps, Country Life, 19 February 1921, pp.221-3.
Short V., 1992. Coming Clean about Girton, The Cinderella Philatelist Vol. 32/4, October 1992, pp.94-5.
The labels and postmarks produced for the 1990 Philatelic Congress at Girton College Cambridge.
Sigee D., 2011. Magdalen College: A Self-Adhesive Label for the Messenger Post, The GB Journal Vol. 49/4, July/August 2011, pp.95-6.
A mint strip of three of the Magdalen College Oxford stamp.
Sigee D., 2012. University Mails of Oxford and Cambridge 1490-1900, Matador Press.
A superbly illustrated survey, including unpublished early letters from university and college archives, but the coverage of later issues is limited to items in the author's own (extensive) collection.
Sigee D., 2017. Selwyn College Messenger Stamps: Two Transfer Types, The GB Journal Vol. 55/1, January/February 2017, pp.1-6.
Identifies for the first time transfer types for the Selwyn stamp, but suggests two printings on insufficient evidence.
Sigee D., 2024. Casual Use of a St John's College Stamp on an 1890 Cover to Germany, The GB Journal Vol. 62/4, July/August 2024, pp.82-3.
Stoneham, 2010. The Stoneham Catalogue of British Stamps, 15th edition.
"College Stamps" p. 582 provides a simplified listing with conservative values.
Talbot M., 2010. A Magdalen College Cover, The GB Journal Vol. 48/4, July/August 2010, pp.88-9.
A cover to Christ Church with the Magdalen College Oxford stamp.
Tucker R., 2011. College Labels, The GB Journal Vol. 49/6, November/December 2011, p.140.
Evidence of the use of the Magdalen College Oxford stamp in 1957.
Turner J. R. F., 1894. College Stamps and Infringements of the Privileges of the Post-Office. The Philatelic Record Vol. XVI, April 1894, pp.101-2.
Turner J. R. F., 1894ii. The Oxford University Emissions, The London Philatelist Vol. III, April-June 1894, pp.92-4, 129-131, 142-3.
Correspondence followed in July 1894 p.180 and December 1894 pp.308-9.
Turner J. R. F., 1894iii. The Private Postage Stamps, Post Cards, and Envelopes used by some of the Oxford Colleges. Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal, July 1894, pp.11-13.
Turner J. R. F., 1895. The English College Stamps. The Philatelists' Supplement to the Bazaar 11 February, 8 April and 10 June 1895, pp.3-5, 27, 51-2.
Turnpenny B. and Williams L.N., 1977. Keble College, Oxford, Centenary 1970, The Private Post 1977, pp.2-10.
The story of the centenary stamp, with the schedule of exhibits at the centenary stamp exhibition 24-27 June 1970.
Warren D. C., 2001. More on College Covers, The GB Journal Vol. 39/6, November/December 2001, pp.116-7.
Describes and illustrates 3 Oxford covers.
West V., 2000. A Postal Envelope from Jesus College Cambridge, The GB Journal Vol. 38/2, March/April 2000, pp.21-24.
An 1871 envelope in the Post Office archives.
West V., 2000ii. A Proposed Postal Envelope from Clare College Cambridge, The GB Journal Vol. 38/3, May/June 2000, pp.48-49.
An envelope proposed in 1879 and the college messenger rules.
West V., 2001. The College Stamp Covers in the Royal Collection, The GB Journal Vol. 39/2, March/April 2001, pp.36-40.
Describes 24 Oxford covers, including two postal stationery items.
West V., 2002. An Oxford Undergraduate and his Unpaid Bills, The GB Journal Vol. 40/5, September/October 2002, pp.87-89.
Two Merton College covers written by John Redmayne.
West V., 2004. College Stamp Covers - a Statistical Summary, The GB Journal Vol. 42/4, July/August 2004, pp.69-73.
A summary by issue and addressee of 267 recorded covers, including 45 postal stationery.
West V., 2004ii. The Post Office and the Colleges, Great Britain Philatelic Society.
A history of the relationship between the Post Office and the Oxford and Cambridge colleges between 1871 and 1887, from initial tolerance of the college posts and their stamps to eventual suppression.
View Addenda and Corrigenda.
West V., 2005. The Post Office and the Oxford Union Society 1885-1887, Cross Post Vol. 10/4, Spring 2005, pp.192-200.
Extracted from West 2004ii.
West V., 2005ii. Stamped Out?, Oxford Today Vol. 17/3, Trinity 2005, p.49.
Extracted from West 2004ii.
West V., 2006. Oxbridge College Stamps, The Cinderella Philatelist Vol. 46/3, July 2006, p.144.
Reprinted from West 2005ii without the illustrations.
West V., 2006ii. The Victorian Colleges and the Post Office Monopoly, Cambridge No. 58, Mid Year 2006, p.12.
Extracted from West 2004ii.
West V., 2007. Letters from an Early Collector of College Stamps, The London Philatelist Vol. 116, March 2007, pp.59-62.
Three 1893 letters from J R F Turner to a Fellow of Lincoln College.
West V., 2008. The Post Office and the Colleges - Addenda and Corrigenda, The GB Journal Vol. 46/6, November/December 2008, pp.137-8.
West V., 2012. The Postal History of the Oxford Union Society to 1920, Royal Philatelic Society London.
View Addenda and Corrigenda.
West V., 2012ii. The Cambridge Colleges and the Post Office, The GB Journal Vol. 50/5, September/October 2012, pp.114-6.
Describes how the Cambridge colleges took a legal Opinion in 1886.
West V., 2013. Postal History of the Oxford Union Society - Further information following publication of book, The London Philatelist Vol. 122, July-August 2013, pp.216-8.
Updates West 2012.
West V., 2015. An OUS Overprint Positional Variety, The GB Journal Vol. 53/1, January/February 2015, pp.1-2.
Describes and illustrates a broken O overprint variety on the stamp with corner letters EJ and some related positions.
West V., 2015ii. A Cambridge College Stamp Cover with a Letter, The London Philatelist Vol. 124, October 2015, pp.398-9.
West V., 2016. Oxford Union Society Postal Stationery, The GB Journal Vol. 54/1, January/February 2016, pp.12-3.
Summarises the known types of OUS postal stationery.
West V., 2016ii. Oxford Union Society Postal Stationery: the Handstamps, The GB Journal Vol. 54/3, May/June 2016, pp.57-8.
Describes two unrecorded types of handstamp for OUS postal stationery.
West V., 2019. Late Use of 'OUS' Postal Stationery, The GB Journal Vol. 57/6, November/December 2019, pp.138-40.
A George V postcard used 22 October 1922.
West V., 2020. 'OUS' Cover to an Oxford Solicitor, The GB Journal Vol. 58/5, September/October 2020, pp.108-9.
A 1d lilac unofficial underprint cover to T. Mallam.
West V., 2023. The Mallam Archive of Oxford College Stamp Covers, The GB Journal Vol. 61/1, January/February 2023, pp.10-18.
West V., 2023ii. The Bacon Archive of Oxford College Stamp Covers, The London Philatelist Vol. 132, April 2023, pp.162-9.
West V., 2023iii. The Spiers Archive of Oxford College Stamp Covers, The Cinderella Philatelist Vol. 63/3, July 2023, pp116-7.
West V., 2023iv. The Wright Archive of Oxford College Stamp Covers, The GB Journal Vol. 61/5, September/October 2023, pp.105-111.
West V., 2023v. Use of the last Keble College Prepaid Postal Stationery, The Cinderella Philatelist Vol. 63/4, October 2023, pp177-9.
West V., 2024. Cambridge College Stamp Covers, The Cinderella Philatelist Vol. 64/1, January 2024, pp39-41.
West V., 2024ii. Hertford College (Oxford) Stamp Covers, The Cinderella Philatelist Vol. 64/2, April 2024, pp82-3.
West V., 2024iii. All Souls' College (Oxford) Stamp Covers, The GB Journal Vol. 62/3, May/June 2024, pp.53-6.
West V., 2024iv. St. John's College (Oxford) Stamp Covers, The Cinderella Philatelist Vol. 64/3, July 2024, pp128-30.
West V., 2024v. Lincoln College (Oxford) Stamp Covers, The Cinderella Philatelist Vol. 64/4, September 2024, pp162-3.
West V., 2025. Merton College (Oxford) Stamp Covers, The Cinderella Philatelist Vol. 65/1, January 2025, pp29-33.
West V., 2025ii. Exeter College (Oxford) Stamp Covers, The GB Journal Vol. 63/1, January/February 2025, pp1-9.
Westoby W. A. S., 1894. The Oxford and Cambridge College Stamps, The Philatelic Record Vol. XVI, May 1894, pp.127-8.
Williams L. N. and M., 1938. Oxford and Cambridge College Stamps, Philatelic Magazine Vol. 41, 1 April 1938, pp.289-91.
Illustrated from stamps loaned by H. F. Johnson.
Williams L. N. and M., 1944. Oxford and Cambridge College Stamps, The Philatelist Vol. 11, No. 2, November 1944, pp.31-34.
Similar to Williams 1938, but illustrated from the collection of H. C. V. Adams.
de Worms P., 1953. Perkins, Bacon Records (two volumes), Royal Philatelic Society London.
See Chapter XXVIII "Postage Stamp Indorsements" in Vol. II especially pp.554-562 for correspondence with the OUS steward Thomas Harris about underprints. OUS underprinting figures from 1873 to 1877 are given at p.791.

College Stamps Bibliography A to Z

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