Alfred J. Forbin (13 February 1872 – 14 August 1956) was a pioneering French stamp dealer who wrote an all-world catalogue of revenue stamps that has never been surpassed.
Alfred Forbin was born in Paris on 13 February 1872.[1]
Stamp dealingedit
Forbin started as a stamp dealer in 1890 and in 1900 he opened a shop in the Rue Drouot in Paris[2] Later he was at 24 Rue de Milan, 80 Rue Saint-Lazare and 35 Rue de Berne.
In 1902, Théodore Champion, his employee and the best man at his wedding, purchased the business from Forbin who afterwards concentrated on fiscal stamps.[2] In 1905 Forbin acquired the fiscal stamp collection of Dr. Legrand.[2]
Cataloguesedit
Forbin's Catalogue de Timbres-Fiscaux was the most comprehensive all-world catalogue of revenue stamps produced up to that time and is still regularly referred to by revenue philatelists as no other all-world catalogue has been prepared since Forbin's third edition in 1915. Forbin also started a journal Le Bulletin Fiscaliste in order to keep the catalogue up to date.[3]
He was one of the founders and the Doyon (Dean) of the stamp dealer's organisation the Chambre Syndicale Francaise de la Philatelie.[7]
Later lifeedit
Letters in the National Archives of Australia show Forbin requesting revenue stamps from the Australian authorities over the period 1925 to 1947 and it seems likely that he would have been in contact with other governments as well.[8] And correspondence reproduced in The Revenue Journal, shows that Forbin was still dealing in fiscal stamps as late as August 1955.[9]
Deathedit
Alfred J. Forbin died on 14 August 1956 after suffering from ill-health for many years. He received obituaries in The American Revenuer and L'Echangiste Universelle.[7]
Selected publicationsedit
Forbin's catalogues served the original purpose of stamp catalogues in being retail price lists first and works of reference second. All are in the French language:
Timbres rares, Forbin, Paris, 1895. (A price list)
Prix-courant de timbres, cartes, enveloppes et bandes postales de A. Forbin, 1898.
Prix-courant de timbres, cartes, enveloppes et bandes postales de A. Forbin et Co, 4th edition, 1900.
Catalogue prix-courant de timbres-poste / Catalogue general de timbres-poste, Yvert & Tellier, Amiens, 1902.
Catalogue de Timbres-Fiscaux, Yvert & Tellier, Amiens. Three editions, 1905, 1909 and 1915. (Third edition reprinted 1980 and 1991)
Catalogue Prix Courant de tous les Timbre Fiscaux emis dans le monde entier, c.1910.
Catalogue entente cordiale Colonies Francaises & Anglaises / Prix courant de timbres-poste des Colonies Anglaises et Francaises, Forbin, Paris, 1912.
Catalogue des Timbres Fiscaux de France et Colonies. Three editions, 1925, 1931 and 1937.
Les Timbres Fiscaux d'Allemagne Part 1 Timbres jusqu'en 1939, 1955.
Referencesedit
^"More Forbin...Pioneer of Revenues", Joost Meijer, The Revenue Journal, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 (June 2013), pp. 11-14.
^ abcBirch, Brian. (2008) Biographies of Philatelists and Dealers. 9th edition. Brian Birch: Standish, Wigan. p. 540.
^"On the History of Fiscal Stamp Collecting" by A. Preston Pearce, 1905, reproduced in The Revenue Journal of Great Britain, Vol. III, No. 2., Whole No.10, September 1992, pp. 29-33.
^"KEVII-KGV Key Types 1902-1921" by Peter F. Mansfield in The Revenue Journal of Great Britain, Vol.XI, No.2, Whole No.42, September 2000, p.55.
^The Bulletin, The Fiscal Philatelic Society, No.16, November 1912.
^ ab"More Forbin...continued", Joost Meijer, The Revenue Journal, Vol. XXV, No. 3 (December 2014), pp. 66-67.
^"The Forbin file in the Australian National Archives" by Dingle Smith in The Revenue Journal, Vol. XIX, No. 3., Whole No. 75, December 2008, pp. 120-121.
^"A. Forbin cntd." in The Revenue Journal, Vol. XIX, No. 4., Whole No.76, March 2009, pp. 156-158.
External linksedit
Online version of Forbin's 1915 catalogue.
January 01, 1970
alfred, forbin, alfred, forbin, february, 1872, august, 1956, pioneering, french, stamp, dealer, wrote, world, catalogue, revenue, stamps, that, never, been, surpassed, alfred, forbinborn, 1872, february, 1872paris, francediedaugust, 1956, 1956, aged, national. Alfred J Forbin 13 February 1872 14 August 1956 was a pioneering French stamp dealer who wrote an all world catalogue of revenue stamps that has never been surpassed Alfred J ForbinBorn 1872 02 13 February 13 1872Paris FranceDiedAugust 14 1956 1956 08 14 aged 84 NationalityFrenchOccupationStamp dealer The cover of a 1931 catalogue by Forbin Contents 1 Early life 2 Stamp dealing 3 Catalogues 4 Organised philately 5 Later life 6 Death 7 Selected publications 8 References 9 External linksEarly life editAlfred Forbin was born in Paris on 13 February 1872 1 Stamp dealing editForbin started as a stamp dealer in 1890 and in 1900 he opened a shop in the Rue Drouot in Paris 2 Later he was at 24 Rue de Milan 80 Rue Saint Lazare and 35 Rue de Berne In 1902 Theodore Champion his employee and the best man at his wedding purchased the business from Forbin who afterwards concentrated on fiscal stamps 2 In 1905 Forbin acquired the fiscal stamp collection of Dr Legrand 2 Catalogues editForbin s Catalogue de Timbres Fiscaux was the most comprehensive all world catalogue of revenue stamps produced up to that time and is still regularly referred to by revenue philatelists as no other all world catalogue has been prepared since Forbin s third edition in 1915 Forbin also started a journal Le Bulletin Fiscaliste in order to keep the catalogue up to date 3 Organised philately editForbin was a member from October 1904 4 of the Fiscal Philatelic Society and served on the committee from 1912 to 1916 5 6 He was one of the founders and the Doyon Dean of the stamp dealer s organisation the Chambre Syndicale Francaise de la Philatelie 7 Later life editLetters in the National Archives of Australia show Forbin requesting revenue stamps from the Australian authorities over the period 1925 to 1947 and it seems likely that he would have been in contact with other governments as well 8 And correspondence reproduced in The Revenue Journal shows that Forbin was still dealing in fiscal stamps as late as August 1955 9 Death editAlfred J Forbin died on 14 August 1956 after suffering from ill health for many years He received obituaries in The American Revenuer and L Echangiste Universelle 7 Selected publications editForbin s catalogues served the original purpose of stamp catalogues in being retail price lists first and works of reference second All are in the French language Timbres rares Forbin Paris 1895 A price list Prix courant de timbres cartes enveloppes et bandes postales de A Forbin 1898 Prix courant de timbres cartes enveloppes et bandes postales de A Forbin et Co 4th edition 1900 Catalogue prix courant de timbres poste Catalogue general de timbres poste Yvert amp Tellier Amiens 1902 Catalogue de Timbres Fiscaux Yvert amp Tellier Amiens Three editions 1905 1909 and 1915 Third edition reprinted 1980 and 1991 Catalogue Prix Courant de tous les Timbre Fiscaux emis dans le monde entier c 1910 Catalogue entente cordiale Colonies Francaises amp Anglaises Prix courant de timbres poste des Colonies Anglaises et Francaises Forbin Paris 1912 Catalogue des Timbres Fiscaux de France et Colonies Three editions 1925 1931 and 1937 Les Timbres Fiscaux d Allemagne Part 1 Timbres jusqu en 1939 1955 References edit More Forbin Pioneer of Revenues Joost Meijer The Revenue Journal Vol XXIV No 1 June 2013 pp 11 14 a b c Birch Brian 2008 Biographies of Philatelists and Dealers 9th edition Brian Birch Standish Wigan p 540 On the History of Fiscal Stamp Collecting by A Preston Pearce 1905 reproduced in The Revenue Journal of Great Britain Vol III No 2 Whole No 10 September 1992 pp 29 33 The Fiscal Philatelic Society in Morley s Philatelic Journal Vol 5 No 10 October 1904 p 79 KEVII KGV Key Types 1902 1921 by Peter F Mansfield in The Revenue Journal of Great Britain Vol XI No 2 Whole No 42 September 2000 p 55 The Bulletin The Fiscal Philatelic Society No 16 November 1912 a b More Forbin continued Joost Meijer The Revenue Journal Vol XXV No 3 December 2014 pp 66 67 The Forbin file in the Australian National Archives by Dingle Smith in The Revenue Journal Vol XIX No 3 Whole No 75 December 2008 pp 120 121 A Forbin cntd in The Revenue Journal Vol XIX No 4 Whole No 76 March 2009 pp 156 158 External links editOnline version of Forbin s 1915 catalogue Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alfred Forbin amp oldid 1080940418, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
