Great Britain

This was the 5th edition of the standard revenue book formerly called "Great Britain Revenues". The new title reflected the wide scope of coverage, listing the adhesive revenues of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ireland in the British period, and the Channel Islands. Now sold out. It will be reprinted in a new edition but not immediately. If you would like to be advised when the new edition comes in, just press the"more details" and then the "make enquiry" button and leave your details - we'll email you when the books arrive.

NEWSPAPER STAMPS (B.228)
by Jan Kingzett, Revenue Society publication. Between 1712 and 1855 every British newspaper was taxed with an imprinted revenue stamp, partly to raise money, and partly to control the radical sections of the press. The introduction of this taxation in the American colonies in 1765 helped push the American settlers towards the Boston Tea Party and their Declaration of Independence, and gave a notoriety to newspaper stamps that went far beyond the realms of philately. Chandler & Dagnall has been the standard handbook/catalogue on the subject since 1981. This new reappraisal sets sets the stamps in their historical context, gives detailed reports on quantities sold and probable survival rate (slim!), and expands greatly on older information (for instance, many previously unlisted errors and varieties, also adding 376 newspaper titles to the old Chandler & Dagnall list of post-1835 newspapers). 80 pages, 90 illustrations in colour, paperback, published October 2018.

Review of the various types of Licences required over the years in Great Britain (whereby the Government collected tidy sums in taxation) - products and services thus taxed included male servants (but female servants went untaxed), dogs (which were, at the time. considered more useful than female servants?), game, oaths, armorial bearings, hair powder, Coffee and other essentials of life for the upper classes. Currently sold out but hopefully restocked soon.

"Great Britain Medicine Stamp Duty" by Michael J.A. Tanner, published by the Revenue Society, 2013 (no ISBN). Specialised catalogue with the stamps in full philatelic detail, including manufacturers' appropriations, also medicine licences, and background on the administration of the medicine duty. A4 format, 175 pages in full colour.

TAX DISCS OF THE BRITISH ISLES (B.6)
by Chris Tennant and Ed Hitchings. 2nd edition 2012. Complete guide, from forerunners (Hackney carriage of 1747), first circular vehicle licence "stamp" (1921) through to recent, and including all vehicole types, and all British regions (even Sark in the Channel Islands). Price guide. 60 pages, A4 format, in colour.

GREAT BRITAIN PLAYING CARD TAX WRAPPERS (B.3)
by Professor M. J. Tanner. Octopus-like, these wrappers were designed to enclose a pack of cards with four "arms" which met behind and sealed the pack, and bore a stated tax amount or "duty paid" inscription. Often the name of the manufacturer or distributor appeared in the design (appropriated wrappers). The length of time these were in use, fine printing by Perkins Bacon and Somerset House, and the quirks and frailties of the user public (novelty packs etc) make this a fascinating subject to collect and a reflection on society. Published 2007, 40 pages, black/white plus 8 colour plates.

TAXATION OF THE PRINTED WORD (B.5)
by H. Dagnall. A review of the introduction of Stamp Duty on Almanacs and Newspapers in 1711-12, in an attempt to raise yet another tax for war, and to control the excesses of Grub Street. The background, the legislation, the designs for the imprinted revenue stamps, detail of the first issue, and much lively commentaries by those who opposed the encroachment of freedom caused by these stamps. 55 pages, spiral bound, published by the author, limited edition.

COURT CIRCULARS (Ireland Petty Sessions) (B.177)
Both in the British period, and after independence, Irish Petty Sessions were the lowest level of court hearings, dealing with local misdemeanours and petty theft, issuing licences to sell tobacco and liquor, and above all the registration of dog licences - for which, almost from the start, special designs were issued featuring the emblematic Irish wolfhound. This booklet discusses the issue and classification of the stamps (both the general Petty Sessions issues, and the Dog stamps). Peter Mansfield writes charmingly about the modus operandi and the complexities of the forms, and the strict rules for their application. 40 pages, illus in colour, published by the Revenue Society of Great Britain, 2003.

SMITH COLLECTION OF PRIVATE POSTS (B.312)
Cavendish auction (March 2010) of the "Smith" collection of private posts, all world but the majority are GB, especially strong on Circular Delivery and College stamps. About 300 lots are locals, many illus in colour, also about 150 lots of the same collector's Mata postal history etc. 80 pages

LUNDY ISLAND (B.335)
Stamps and postal history, a small island of many puffins and a few people that has generated enormous interest in the private and semi-official posts. 436 page book, extremely detailed, by Jon Aitchison, 6th (latest) edition, 2019.

ISLE OF MAN LOCAL ISSUES (B.336)
Specialised catalogue and handbook by Jon Aitchison, on locals, cinderellas and ephemera relating to the Isle of Man, including transport company carriage labels, Calf of Man locals, strike posts, and revenue stamps. Full colour, 492 pages, ring bound for ease of use, 1st edition 2021.