BOOKS on PHILATELY BOOKS on PHILATELYMaritime is perhaps our most popular category but also the most difficult to categorize. This difficulty makes it especially important to try. Obviously it relates to ships and routes, most often those of the 19th century, thus it becomes involved with covers, postage rates, markings, the history of shipping and mail movements, and into such specialized aspects of philately as the markings and locals. For these reasons you will find much duplication in this section. One thinks of Rowe as the Forwarding Agents but remember, perhaps 95% of these are on ocean mail covers. The same with our Starnes, etc.
Detailed rate tables from the U.S. to every country in the World for all mail systems, appendices cover British Treaty Mail via Marseilles, French and Bremen transit charges, UPU entrance dates, etc. Because of a printing problem 25% of the edition was destroyed.
The Transatlantic Mail by Frank Staff
by George E. Hargest The cornerstone U.S. Work on the markings and service.
United Kingdom Letter Rates Inland and Overseas 1635 to 1900 by Colin Tabeart 2003, second edition, 264+8 pages, cloth, sold out
Atlantic Mails, A History of the Mail Service Between Great Britain and Canada to 1889 by Dr. John C. Arnell. The history, rates, markings and sailings. 1980, 412 pages, 58 color illustrations, cloth $120.00
Steam and the North Atlantic Mails by Dr. John C. Arnell This book covers the transition from Sail to Steam and the impact of the British mail contracts on the Cunard Line. 1987, 300 pages, cloth, extremely useful $47.50
Letter Mail from and to The Old Italian States 1850-1870 by Mario Mentaschi and Thomas Mathà. Arranged by the country with a detailed explanation on the applicable rates on mail going to and also from each. An important rate study and it is in English, plus CD with all illustrations in color, easy to use. Well indexed, even a listing of covers by the city of origin and the destination city. 2008, 320 pages, large format, 717 b/w illustrations, hardbound, published at € 59.00 plus transit, $125.00
Dictionary of Disasters at Sea During the Age of Steam 1824-1962 by Hocking Brief but concise descriptions of ship wrecks prepared by Lloyd's Register of Shipping, some mention recovered or lost mail.
Australia New Zealand UK Mails to 1880, Rates Routes and Ships Out and Home by Colin Tabeart This work is intended to enable collectors to determine by what ship(s) a letters traveled and how to interpret the postage rates on the cover. Sixty pages are devoted to a study of the rates, the outgoing UK rates and those back to the UK, not always synonymous, much of which is hitherto unpublished. A short chapter follows on ship letters, then a review of the packet system from 1844-1880, after which chapters go into detail on the contracts, information to the public, routes, and detailed sailings data for all the packets that carried the mails to and from the colonies, consisting of:
Steam Packets to Brazil, 1851 - 1877 Steam Packets to Brazil, Paquetes a Vapor Para O Brazil, by Armando Mario O. Vieira Steam Packets from Europe to Brazil originating at or touching Lisbon. A much needed work, complete with sailing dates, in 1872 there were 11 different packet companies serving Brazil. A superb work but as it is printed in Portuguese most of us will have to be satisfied with the data in the tables of sailing dates, illustrated with fine covers. 1991, 309 pages, cloth, edition of 500, numbered
The Foreign Mail Cancellations of New York City, 1870-1878 by William R. Weiss Jr. A comprehensive study that list over 200 markings and 2,000 individual covers, many stamps and covers are illustrated full size with extremely fine quality halftone cuts. Well printed and on heavy enameled paper. We consider this work a basic study and a good value. 1991, 509 pages, cloth, edition of 500, $75.00
New York Foreign Mail Cancellations 1870-1876 by van Vlissingen and Waud
The New York Foreign Mail Cancellations 1870-1876 by Edwin Milliken, 1942. 31 pages, card, limited stock, $30.00
New Jersey's Foreign Mail by Gerard J. Neufeld An interesting monograph on NJ Foreign Mail covers from Colonial through the Banknotes Issues, worth having, illustrates and describes 140 covers. 1997, 76 pages, card, $11.00
North Atlantic Mail Sailings 1840-75 by W. Hubbard and R. F. Winter Sailing dates and ships are listed by line, brief articles on each line, a fine article on NY Exchange Markings, Steamships index by line, Saturday Sailings, also a perpetual calendar. Indispensable for the student and collector of classic transatlantic covers. 1989, 432 pages, cloth, $225.00
U.S. Waterway Packetmarks, Handstamped and Printed Names of Mail Carrying Steamboats on the United States of America Inland and Coastal Waters 1832 - 1899 by Eugene Klein 1940, 208 pages, cloth, edition of 500, numbered, 1942. 37 page supplement Book and Supplement, matching numbers, dust jacket [limited stock] $210.00
Vessel-Named Markings on United States Inland and Ocean Waterways 1810-1890 by Dr. James W. Milgram Most markings are shown on full covers, about full size, 1627 halftones of which 43 are CSA items. An excellent reference work for US Waterways. 1984, 832 pages, cloth, deluxe edition in slip case $105.00 1985, 16 page paper, Value Guide supplied with book.
Postal Markings of U.S. Waterway Routes 1839-1997 by Fred Mac Donald Includes U.S. Route Agent and R.P.O. Operations 1839 to 1978, Contract Listings 1843 to 1905 and the Detroit Marine Operations 1895 to 1997, markings are illustrated. 1997, 196 pages, cloth, $35.00
Major Auctions of Packetmarks
Waterway Railway Post Offices of the United States by Towle and Kay An extremely useful book giving the 228 Waterway routes and listing the 196 recorded postmarks. After 1882 the Waterway routes contained the same RPO designation as the Railroad ones. 1987, 32 pages, card, edition of 500 copies. $10.00
Auction Catalog, Waterborne Markings John H. Hall, April 9, 1969, H.R. Harmer, $17.50
Way's Packet Directory, 1848-1994 by Frederick Way, Jr. A listing, with details of nearly 6,000 Steamboats operating on the Mississippi. Non-philatelic however this work has always been immensely useful, this edition is the culmination of the rare Way books that were mimeographed in the 1940's, it ranks in value with Klein and Milgram for the collector.
Lytle-Holdcamper List, Merchant Steam Vessels of the U.S., 1790-1868
United States Sea Post Cancellations, 1891 until World War II.
Postal History of Blockade Running Through Bermuda 1861-1865 by M. H. Ludington Am excellent study of the service detailing 15 covers and a chronology of over 125 sailings which will make identification of these fascinating covers easier. 1996, 47+3 pages, card, limited stock, $40.00
Encyclopedia De La Poste Maritime Francaise by Raymond Salles The entire world of French Maritime mail including the U.S., Nine volumes, 1,933 pages, 2,800 markings, 20,000 voyages, 122 maps, in French. A reprint was made in 1992 - 1994, the publisher announced that he has no legal rights to reprint.
Cross-Channel Services
Ocean Steam Navigation and the Ocean Post by Thomas Rainey 1977 reprint of 1858 book, 224 pages, card $12.50
History of American Steam Navigation by John H. Morrison Non-philatelic but good reading and a fine useful history. 1967 Argosy reprint, cloth, 648 pages, edition of 750 copies $35.00
Nicaragua Route by David I. Folkman, Jr. A superb study of the Isthmian Route for 1848-1869 including ship sailings from New York and New Orleans for Nicaragua and the return; ie. a short route to and from the California gold fields. 1976 printing of 1972 book, 185 pages, card $27.50
The Gold Rush Mail Agents to California and their Postal Markings, 1849-1852 by Theron Wierenga 1987, 288 pages, cloth $40.00
California, Gold Rush Steamers of the Pacific by Ernest A. Wiltsee The history of the ships and companies. 1976 reprint of 1938 book, 496 pages, 90 new philatelic photographs $45.00
Via Panama by Col. James T. DeVoss This book consist of reproductions of Col. DeVoss's album pages along with articles, notes and a good index. The original, only one edition, 100 copies, each autographed. 1978, 820 pages of which 410 are printed, cloth
Col. James T. DeVoss Via Panama, the auction catalog, 73 pages, SPB-25, 1978, $27.50
Catalog of United States Naval Postmarks by the USCS Lists over 5,000 ships, 40,000 postmarks and contains 3,000 drawings of postmarks, the first complete listing since 1939. An evaluation system consisting of both scarcity codes and rarity levels. 1997, 548 pages, spiral bound, out of print and sold out
Mexican Maritime Mail, A Postal History from Colonial Times to the 20th Century by Karl H. Schimmer and John M. Heath, An exceptional study, well presented and illustrated,1997, 405 pages, cloth with dj, $110.00
The Postal Markings and Postal History of The Forwarding Agents by Ken Rowe The 1996 edition is a complete updating containing 400 changes in listings and 1,200 new agents, 80 more cities. We have a search file to find agents if you do not know the city or the marking is incomplete, it is on the INTERNET through our home page at http://pbbooks.com or on a disk with the book. The 1984 edition contains a listing by 1st surname which is not in the 1996 one as it is replaced by the computer. For more information on the Forwarding Agents
The Development of European Forwarding Agents by Patrick Frost The Corsini and Venturini archive finds, not in 1984 Rowe FA book. 1987, 16 pages, self cover, $8.00
Historical Letters to Gratious Street, London 1570 - 1601 by Robson Lowe Letters are from all over Europe, 3rd find of the Corsini correspondence. A readable and enjoyable account, good historical background. 1988, 44 pages, card, $10.00
Canadian Coastal and Inland Steam Vessels 1809-1930 by John M. Mills Non-philatelic, a listing of 3,100 vessels
British Letter Mail to Overseas Destinations, 1840 - 1875 by Jane and Michael Moubray from the Royal Philatelic Society of London Considerable text describing the history and mail systems for each country in addition to rate tables, maps and illustrations of covers, a few in color, both a significant and magnificent book, most useful work. If you haven't guessed by now we like it! 1992, 512+24 pages, cloth, 80 black and white illustrations, sold out
Combination Mail of British Post Offices Abroad, An Introductory Survey by Geoff Kellow A beautiful little study, we hope the words An Introductory Survey means a larger work will be forthcoming. A study of the rates and a listing of rarity factors ranging from C for over 50 known to RRRR for 1 to 3 examples. Covers the World from Argentina to Venezuela plus two shipping companies. 1992, 48 pages, card bound, $32.50
Argentine Maritime Postal History by Mario D. Kurchan The Maritime book on Argentina, good reading and reference, in English and Spanish 2002, 3rd edition, 444 pages, card, $40.00
Australian Mails via Suez 1852 - 1926 by R. Kirk Detailed sailing data, the ships, intermediate ports & connections, dates. 1989, 324 pages, card, £32 plus transit, $72.50
Early Routings of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company 1842-1879 by Kenton & Parsons Detailed sailing tables of the RMSPC to and from the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Spanish Main. 1999, 471 pages, cloth, £40 plus transit, $95.00
Bermuda Packet Mails 1806-1886 by J.C. Arnell & M. H. Ludington Detailed sailing tables, ships, arrival and departure dates. 1989, 161 pages, card, £28, US delivery $70.00
The Domestic Packets between GB & Ireland by Denis Salt Mostly the complex Irish postal rates and the four water routes. 1991, 50 pages, card, £12, $24.00
Imperial & Foreign Mails, Sea Conveyance During War 1914-1918 by G. Mark 1997, 91 pages, card £20, $40.00
Operation Overlord by Brigadier K.S. Holmes The sea-borne invasion of North West Europe, 1944-45, History of the work of the Army Postal Service 1984, 132 pages, card, £12, $24.00
Carrying British Mails Overseas by Howard Robinson A detailed overview of the services, accurate and enjoyable 1964, 327 pages, cloth, limited stock $42.50
Ceylon Postal History 1857-1902 by Obré J. Sanders Special emphasis on the maritime mail, postage rates and regulations. 1999, 180 paages, 17 plates in color, cloth with dj, edition, 500, $90.00
United Fruit Company, the History, Ships & Cancellations of the Great White Fleet by Philip Cockrill 1982, 44 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 28 $10.00
A History of The Ship Letters of the British Isles by Alan W. Robertson First published as a series of pages, 1955-64. In 1973 Harry Hayes obtained the remaining pages and the rights to print enough individual pages to complete 100 sets. Some of the Hayes reprints contain only a few reprint pages and others contain up to about 100.
A Check List of Pages for Alan W. Robertson's A History of The Ship Letters of the British Isles by Harry Hayes A most useful booklet, the original pagination is complex and many sets are significantly incomplete. 1987, 10 pages, one side only, plastic ring binding $8.00
The Maritime Postal History of London by Alan W. Robertson, 1960, 68 numbered pages but 136 sides, cloth $55.00
Ship Letter Stamps of Liverpool by Alan W. Robertson 1953, 12 pages, 86 markings illustrated, self cover $5.00
Naval Officer's Letters by Goeffrey Osborn, G.M. The Ship's Bag mail made up as bags on board Her Majesty's Ships, the Officers Concession 6d base rate, 1857-1869 and uniform rate after that. Bags were sealed to England, Cape Town and Hong Kong, etc. 1996, 134 pages, card, published £15, $28.50
The book is published as a Maritime History however the philatelic portion is significant, about one third of the 700 illustrations in Vol 1 are covers or postmarks. This book is written to be read from cover to cover but you can easily look up a specific ship; an alphabetical index gives the BNRA number and the ship descriptions are given in numerical order. There are numerous illustrations of ships, passengers and officers, maps and various memorabilia to form an attractive volume.
Most ship description gives the year of building and Lloyd service, tonnage, engine, speed, passenger and crew size. Most also have a paragraph or two which usually gives the date launched and numerous details which vary from ship to ship such as the rebuilding, ultimate disposition, important events, etc. Sorry, no sailing tables.
Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World by Ringström & Tester
Covers the mail services, companies, stamps, reprints, forgeries,
and cancellations, complete with numerous bibliographies.
Enlarged print of the Suez Canal Company 40c Saatjian sheet printing as included with The Suez Canal Company book but mailed unfolded in a tube, suitable for framing or plating annotation, $10.00
Julius Steindler, Shipping Companies Stamps, Robson Lowe, 1972 The major sale of these stamps and covers. 1972, 36 page catalog & 28 pages of plates, cloth bound, original prices realized, $35.00
The Pacific Steam Navigation Company, 1840-53 by A. R. Doublet The company, ships, covers, markings and stamps, emphasis is Chile. 1983, 80 pages, card, edition of 1,000, Royal of London, $25.00
The British Sea Post Offices in the East, British Maritime Postal History by Hector Proud, Though this is vol 4 of the series it stands by itself as to covering the subject. The coverage is the Mediterranean, Bombay-Suez (later Aden), BombayKarachi, Rangoon-Calcutta, etc.We are also most pleased that the production qualities of this volume are far superior to the first three volumes that appeared in the 1980's. We hope Proud will revise the previous volumes. 2003, 475 pages, cloth with dj, £45, $98.25
The Postal History of the P&O Service to the Peninsula by R. Kirk Mails carried from England to the Iberian Peninsula; Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar from 1835 to 1862, the sailings and markings. 1987, 124 pages, card bound, Royal of London, $36.00
Venezuela - St. Thomas Packet Services 1820 - 1880 by R. G. Stone A 23 page article in the 1989 APC book, 187 pages, cloth $25.00
South American Packets by Rev. J. N. T. Howat Official British mail services to and from Brazil and the River Plate from 1808 to 1880. Text is 139 pages, tables give the sailing dates of each voyage over 77 pages, 10 maps, 12 pages on South American 1984, 290 pages, card $65.00, sold out
The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company by Michael Rego Mostly the paquebot markings, 1898 to 1969 1987, 88 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 49 $12.00
Royal Mail Steam Packets to Bermuda and Bahamas by Ludington & Osborn 1971, 24 pages, 11 illustrations, 10 maps $4.50
Falkland Island Mails, The Kosmos Years, 1880-1900 by Rev Jeremy Howat The sailings of all 265 contract mail voyages are detailed along with the contracts and known covers. 1989, 144 pages, cloth $40.00
K.P.M. Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij 1891-1041 with Java - China - Japan - Line to 1970 by Cockrill & Haalebos 1983, 84 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 38 $11.25
Norway-The Maritime Postal History of Steamships by F. C. Moldenhauer 1971, 32 pages, 82 illustrations, card $7.50
Paquebot Cancellations of the World by Roger Hoskings Quite similar to previous editions in concept but much expanded with 1000 new listings, unfortunately a new numbering system so everything can be consistent, 8 pages in color. released at London 2000
Paquebot Marks of the Americas by Gustav J. Lund Illustrating almost 800 markings, 90 covers, quite comprehensive giving the year of usage, size, rarity factor and when applicable the Studd, Joesten and Hoskings numbers; fraudulent and unidentified markings are also listed. 1984, 193 pages, printed only on one side, loose with covers and brads, sold out
Paquebot Markings by Edwin Drechsel
Portugues Shipping Companies, Paquebot & Ship Cancellations by Professor Greenwood, Dr. Camara & Philip Cockrill 1984, 100 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 40, $12.00
Subsidios Para a Historia do Correio Maritimo Portugues by Armado Vieira Maritime postal history of Portugal to 1870 with arrival and departure dates listed in tables for each vessel. 1988, 302 pages, card, in Portuguese $47.50
A major philatelic work; exceptional with respect to history, philately, overall production and at a most favorable price. The Belgian Colonial influence is far more than most of us suspected, there are 14 pages on New York alone, 28 on the Antarctic, 18 on New Zealand, 20 on Brazil, far more than just the Congo. Published with the assistance of the Stuart Rossitor Trust, 2005, large format (9.5 x 13 inches), 419 pages, in full color, in English, cloth with dj, $80.00
Mailboat Services from Europe to the Belgian Congo 1879 - 1922 by Abbe Gudenkauf, Belgian Congo Study Circle 1983, 84 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 41 $10.00
Belgian Congo, Mailboat Steamers on Congo Rivers & Lakes 1896 - 1940 by Gudenkauf, Covers the postal history and cancellations. 1985, 64 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 43, $11.00
Netherlands & Colonies, Maritime Markings & Ship Cancellations 1793 - 1939 by F. P. Traamberg and Philip Cockrill 1980, 56 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 12, $12.00
K.N.S.M., Royal Netherlands Steamship Co. by Philip Cockrill Brief history of the company, ships and markings, 1856 - 1981 1981, 56 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 26, $10.00
1886-1986 A Century of German Ship Posts by Edwin Drechsel German offshore and domestic Sea and Ship Post marks, 263 markings, well illustrated, brief but useful background information. 1987, 114 pages, cloth, $25.00
German Seepost Cancellations 1886-1939 by Cockrill and Arno Gottspenn Superb Cockrill volumes, fortunately the new ones are more pages.
The Woermann Steamship Line of Hamburgh by Philip Cockrill Covers the history, ships and cancellations of the Woermann line and the subsequent Deutsch Ost Afrika Line. 1980 reprint by the author, 34 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 11, $7.25
Norwegian Travelling Post Offices by Arthur Chambers For the most part both volumes cover the 1860's through the 1940's.
Portuguese Shipping Companies, Paquebot & Ship Cancellations by Professor Greenwood, Dr. Camara & Philip Cockrill 1984, 100 pages, card, Cockrill Booklet 40, $18.50
British Stamps Used Abroad by Bernstein and Chas. Nissen It looks good and is certainly useful, we are told it is the best general work on the subject in print, many markings illustrated, a few maps. 1987 reprint of 1907-09 articles, 48 pages, card, $15.00
Great Britain Used Abroad, Cancellations and Postal Markings by John Parmenter The cancellations used on 19th century GB stamps in foreign and colonial post offices plus the crowned circles and consular post. Markings are well illustrated, described and priced, good background information. 1993, 344+28 pages, cloth, a useful book, sold out
British Post Offices Abroad, The Glassco Collection, Robson Lowe This auction catalog is virtually a handbook, quite useful. 1969, 260 pages, card, with prices realized, only one copy available, $85.00
Getting Started in Paquebot Cover Collecting by R. T. Murphy, 32 pages, $4.00, sold
Ocean Mails by Philip Cockrill, 34 pages, card $25.00
North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor, Not philatelic but a wonderful reference on the ships, 1975-1980, 5 volumes, cloth with dj, 2087 pages,
Books relating to maritime wrecks by C. Bradford Mitchell
Passenger Liners of the Western Ocean by Commander C.R. Vernon Gibbs, 1952, 434 pages, cloth, $32.50
Secret Mission Submarine by Jewell, circa 1944, 159 pages, cloth, $17.50
A Pictorial History of Oceanographic Submersibles by Sweeney, 1971, 308 pages, cloth $20.00
The History of American Sailing Ships by Howard I. Chapelle, 1985, 400 pages, cloth, $32.50
Sea Lanes, Man's Conquest of the Ocean by Stevers and Pendlebury, 1938, 326 pages, cloth, $20.00
Two books relating to maritime wrecks by C. Bradford Mitchell
Great Passenger Ships of the World, Arnold Kludas
Merchant Fleets, Royal Mail Line & Nelson Line by Duncan Haws 1982, 127 pages, card, $27.50
Lives of the Liners by Braynard, 1947, 204 pages, card, $7.50
The Atlantic Liners, 1925-1970 by Frederick Emmons, 1972, 160 pages, cloth $12.50
Ocean Liners of the 20th Century by Gordon Newell, 1973, 192 pages, cloth $12.50
A Ship from Norway by Berggrem.Muqiost amd Slimdberg 1974, 166 pages, cloth $12.50
Your Navy Now by James G. Dyett 1944, 79 pages, cloth $10.00
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet by Rowe and Morison 1971, 283 pages, card, useful tabulation, $15.00
The American Sealers and the discovery of the Continent of Antarctica, The Voyage of The Huron and The Huntress by Stackpole, 1955, 86 pages + map, $20.00