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The Perfin Society

The Perfin Society

The Perfin SocietyThe Perfin Society

Articles

Research Corner near the bottom of this page contains some more in-depth articles about the background to perfin users.


Meanwhile, the articles below have been published in our Bulletin over the last few years and illustrate the broad range of subjects covered.

2025

  • February : "Unrecorded Underprint" - a three page article by Maurice Harp starts with  a new previously unrecorded private underprint on a GB stamp and ends with a new  provisional perfin identity for a floor covering company.
  • April : "Perfins on Cyprus Queen Victoria revenues" by Tony Stanford.  A three page article on the perfins LA of Larnaca, P of Paphos, LI of Limassol and K of Kyrenia used on QV revenues of Cyprus, including some apparently postally used in Larnaca.

Unrecorded Underprint (pdf)Download
Perfins on Cyprus Queen Victoria revenues (pdf)Download

2024

  • February : "The Ceylon perfin with a 'native' script" - a six page article in which Roy Gault discusses a Ceylon perfin that unusually includes Gujarati characters in addition to the letters HD and makes the case for the user being Hassenally Davoodbhoy.
  • June : "PA in Circle perfin" - a two page article by James Norris showing two very nice examples of the official PA in circle perfin, normally associated with the cancellation of GB Estate Duty revenues, used on GB postage stamps.  He explains how this usage came about.  Further information on official perfins used to cancel revenue stamps is available in Jeff Turnbull's Official Perfin Cancels catalogue.
  • August : "A perfinned fiscal forgery" - a four page article by Roy Gault that attempts to unravel the mystery of a H.W perfin, known used on GB stamps, appearing on a forged Tasmania stamp.
  • October: "Anyone for a curry?" - a two page article by William Hall giving a short history of spice importers Sharwood's and their OW perfin on GB stamps.
  • December : "Lepard & Smiths Ltd. - Society Perforator" is an eight page article by James Norris who has been restoring to working order a perforator from the 1880s that was originally used by Lepard & Smiths Ltd. in London, then in the 1960s by the Perfin Society before being modified to form Chris Carr's personal perfin.

The Ceylon perfin with a "native" script (pdf)Download
PA in Circle Perfin (pdf)Download
A perfinned fiscal forgery (pdf)Download
Anyone for a curry? (pdf)Download
Lepard & Smiths Ltd. - Society Perforator (pdf)Download

2023

  • February : "Who was Mr. Streeter?" - A two page article by Maurice Harp investigating Edwin William Streeter, London jeweller and diamond merchant and user of the curved full name perfin MR. / STREETER in the 1880s.
  •  April : "Earliest Sloper Arrow Cancel" - A one page article by Maurice Harp showing a newly discovered postcard with a Sloper arrow cancel used on October 29th 1870. This date is the earliest recorded for any London arrow cancel.
  • June : "A mysterious cover" - A one page article by Bob Szymanski showing a 1938 cover bearing both US stamps and perfinned GB stamps of the United States Lines shipping company.
  • August : "McDougall Bros - Chemical Manufacturers" - A two page article by Maurice Harp giving a brief history of the inventors of self-raising flour and recently confirmed user of the McD/BROS perfin in the 1880s.
  • October : "Serendipity" - A two page article by Roy Gault regarding Ayrton & Saunders, users of the unusual IXL in oval perfin on GB stamps.
  • December : "A WWII Shadow Factory" - A four page article by Roy Gault covering the full name FORD perfins on GB stamps, in particular how their revival after an absence of a decade points to their use in a shadow factory in Manchester.

Who was "Mr Streeter" ? (pdf)Download
Earliest Sloper Arrow Cancel (pdf)Download
A mysterious cover (pdf)Download
McDougall Bros – Chemical Maunfacturers (pdf)Download
Serendipity (pdf)Download
A WWII Shadow Factory (pdf)Download

2022

  • February : " Memories of visit to J. Sloper Checkpoint Ltd. " -  A six page article by James Norris recalling a 1992 visit to  Checkpoint Security Systems Ltd’ based in Reading, who had then recently taken over the long established stamp perforating business of J. Sloper & Co.  Includes many pictures of the offices and details of what happened to the perforating business subsequently.
  • April : "Two Brothers - Five Perfins!" - A six page article by Roy Gault about tailors Curzon Brothers and the CB perfin that they used on the stamps of GB, Canada, France, Belgium, and South Africa.
  • June : "Cory Bros & Co perfin on ½d Bantam Plate 9" - A seven page article by James Norris featuring a CORY/C perfin on the scarce plate 9 bantam ½d and other perfins of Welsh firm Cory Brothers & Co.
  • August : "Valdemar Lutzen - Faroe Islands" - A four page article by Roy Gault featuring the V.L and D.D.P.A. perfins used in the Faroe Islands.
  • October : "A common perfin to and from an uncommon country?" - A three page article by Bob Szymanski featuring two parcel cards with Danish stamps with perfins of Wessel & Vett, one used from Denmark to Greenland and the other apparently used within Greenland even though Danish stamps were not valid there.
  • December : "Diamonds are Forever" - A four page article by William Hall, illustrating all 14 perfins known on GB stamps that consist of letters within a diamond shape.

Memories of visit to J. Sloper Checkpoint Ltd. (pdf)Download
Two Brothers - Five Perfins! (pdf)Download
Cory Bros & Co perfin on ½d Bantam Plate 9 (pdf)Download
Valdemar Lutzen - Faroe Islands (pdf)Download
A common perfin to and from an uncommon country? (pdf)Download
Diamonds are Forever (pdf)Download

2021

  • February : "The Ideal Stamp - 1912" -  A six page article by Roy Gault, covering the background to the "ideal" cinderella stamp printed at the Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition and a curious block of the "stamp" with a perfin not known on postage stamps. 
  • April : "Hambros Bank" -  A three page article by Paul Waldron, showing a perfin cover sent by Hambros Bank in London in June 1935 to a Major Douglas H. Nelles in Ottawa, Canada, an interesting character whose own story is told alongside that of the bank. 
  • June :  "Sailcloth, Ropes and Rubber" -  A six page article by Roy Gault looking at the perfins of The Edinburgh Rubber Co. and The Edinburgh Roperie & Sailcloth Co Ltd and its successor British Ropes Ltd. 
  • August :  "J. Sloper and Co Manufacturing Machines"  -  A 12 page article by James Norris, detailing many of the products made by J. Sloper & Co. in the late 20th century, including machines for producing perfins. Illustrated with advertising materials. 
  • October :  "Ideas for storing & displaying perfins"  - Six pages of ideas for storing, displaying and writing up a perfin collection, by Roy Gault.
  • December: "Up the Swanny without a paddle!" - A six page article by Roy Gault, a salutory lesson in failing to identify the user of GB perfin W&Co/Ld (W1395.02) from the information provided by the only known example.

"The Ideal Stamp - 1912" by Roy Gault (pdf)Download
"Hambros Bank" by Paul Waldron (pdf)Download
"Sailcloth, Ropes and Rubber" by Roy Gault (pdf)Download
"J. Sloper and Co Manufacturing Machines" by James Norris (pdf)Download
"Ideas for storing & displaying perfins" by Roy Gault (pdf)Download
"Up the Swanny without a paddle!" by Roy Gault (pdf)Download

2020

  • February :  "The Perfins of Lymington" -  A four page article article by Roy Gault giving details of perfin users in the English town of Lymington. 
  • April : "The Few" -  A two page article article by Roy Gault.
    A 1979 cover with a GB stamp perfinned THE/FEW is illustrated.  This perfin was previously unrecorded and is thought to have been a fundraising tool for charities linked to the Royal Air Force. 
  • June :  "A British Maritime Hero and an Australian Perfin" - A three page article article by John Mathews about a 1911 postcard from New South Wales, sent by William John Nutman, the master of the "Belle of Scotland" ship to his daughter in England.  The stamp is perfinned with the perfin of the ship’s agent in Sydney, R. Little & Co. 
  • August : "An Odd Pair Becomes Triplets" -  A three page article by William Hall and Maurice Harp  with a new discovery regarding perfins on GB stamps used in Peru. 
  • October :  " Lafayette Photography" - A three page article by Paul Waldron covering the Lafeyette photography firm and the perfins that they used on GB stamps from the 1890s to the 1950s. 
  • December : "Perfins on 1884 & 1888 QV £1 Brown-Lilac" -  A four page article by William Hall.  All known examples of perfins on the long format brown-lilac £1 stamp, including the Telegraphs version, are listed and five examples are illustrated in colour. 

"The Perfins of Lymington" by Roy Gault (pdf)Download
"The Few" by Roy Gault (pdf)Download
"A British maritime hero and an Australian perfin" by John Mathews (pdf)Download
"An Odd Pair Becomes Triplets" by William Hall and Maurice Harp (pdf)Download
"Lafayette Photography" by Paul Waldron (pdf)Download
"Perfins on 1884 & 1888 QV £1 Brown-Lilac" by William Hall (pdf)Download

2019

  • February : "Faudels Ltd. and Silber & Fleming" -  A two page article by Dave Hill.
    The perfins of Faudels Ltd. of London and of Silber & Fleming, who were taken over by Faudels Ltd. 
  • April : "M. J. Ellingsen of Leith" -  An article by Maurice Harp.
    The perfin and overprint of M. J. Ellingsen, shipbroker, coal exporter and commission agent are illustrated on 1880s covers. 
  • June : "Cwamaman Coal Co." -  A two page article article by Jeff Turnbull.
    An interesting 1880s wrapper with CC/Co perfin is illustrated and details of the colliery are given. 
  • August : "Cocker Brothers of Sheffield" - A two page article article by Tim Read.
    A newly discovered COCKER BROs. underprint is illustrated and details of the firm's history, other underprint and perfins are given. 
  • October : "The 'Pretty' Perfins of Suffolk" -  A four page article article by John Marriner, covering the many perfins associated with the Pretty family of Suffolk. 
  • December : "2d blue imperforate with a perfin" -   A single page article article by Roy Gault showing an imperforate stamp that was issued between 1849 and 1854, long before the first use of perfins, but later perfinned. 

"2d blue imperforate with a perfin" by Roy Gault (pdf)Download
"Cocker Brothers of Sheffield" by Tim Read (pdf)Download
"Cwmaman Coal Co." by Jeff Turnbull (pdf)Download
"Faudels Ltd. and Silber & Fleming" by Dave Hill (pdf)Download
"M. J. Ellingsen of Leith" by Maurice Harp (pdf)Download
"The 'Pretty' Perfins of Suffolk" by John Marriner (pdf)Download

2018

  • February : "Russian Bank of Foreign Trade" -  An 1893 perfin cover from the London branch of the Russian Bank for Foreign Trade is illustrated and some details of the bank are given.  By John Marriner. 
  • April : "Wrench postcards of St. Paul’s Churchyard" -  A three page article by Dave Hill.  Two early 20th Century postcards of St.Paul's Churchyard, a street in London, are illustrated, showing the premises of three perfin users.  Their perfins are illustrated. 
  • June : "A Penang Conundrum" -  A two page article by William Hall.
    A 1904 cover bearing Straits Settlements stamps perfinned S.K./C. of Schmidt Küstermann & Co of Penang is illustrated. The envelope has a printed identity of Behn, Meyer & Co. and the relationship between the two firms is explored. 
  • August : "United States perfins from China" -  A five page article by Dick Scheper.  Three covers with perfinned US stamps used at the US Postal Agency in Shanghai are illustrated.  Some background information about the perfins users and the operation of the postal agency is included. 
  • October : "The Madras Department Store and a solider of the British Raj" -  A two page article by William Hall.  A 1900 cover with an Indian stamp bearing the perfin of Oakes & Co Ltd of Madras is illustrated.  Some information on both the sender and the recipient is included. 
  • December : "The Maltese Tailor" -  A four page article by William Hall.
    Four postal stationery cards of Malta perforated with the CG/M perfin of Carmelo Griscti, specialists in tailoring military uniforms, are illustrated. 

Russian Bank of Foreign Trade (pdf)Download
Wrench postcards of St. Paul’s Churchyard (pdf)Download
A Penang Conundrum (pdf)Download
United States perfins from China (pdf)Download
The Madras Department Store and a solider of the British Raj (pdf)Download
The Maltese Tailor (pdf)Download

RESEARCH CORNER

This section is home to some longer articles and allows for more in-depth research into the backgrounds of users of perfins to be published without the space constraints of the Bulletin.


  • Gallatly - The Common Factor is a 9-page article written by Roy Gault which explores the family and business connections behind several firms that used GB perfins that are in some way connected to the Gallatly family.
  • Found - A LOST Perfin is a 4-page article written by Roy Gault explaining how a likely identity of Brittain & Picton, Manchester was worked out from a single stamp, for the B&P/M die that previously had no known details at all.
  • Reappraisal of MM/Co M3960.01 is a 5-page study by Roy Gault looking at the MM/Co perfin known used on GB stamps from the 1890s to c. 1920 and how it has been catalogued over the years, currently as M3960.01, concluding that there are two subtly different perfins rather than one.
  • Reappraisal of MT/C (M5600.01) is a 7-page study by Roy Gault looking at the MT/C perfin known used on GB stamps from the 1940s to 1960s and how it has been catalogued over the years, currently as M5600.01, concluding that there are two subtly different perfins rather than one and providing some background on the user of these perfins.  Please email  roy.gault@ntlworld.com if you can add any more information on these dies.
  • N0130 series re-appraisal is a 10-page study by Roy Gault explaining the re-cataloguing of the NA/SM perfins on GB stamps used by Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. Ltd. with additional background information on the company by Rosemary Smith.
  • North-China Herald Perfins is a 19-page study by Roy Gault examining the N.C.H. perfins used on stamps of China, France, Hong Kong and Japan.  A shorter version of this piece appeared in the December 2024 Bulletin with a further update in the February 2025 issue.
  • Reappraisal of H.A. H0080.01  is a 2-page study by Roy Gault looking at the H.A. perfin known used on GB stamps from the 1890s to c. 1918, concluding that there are two subtly different perfins rather than one, used in two different locations.
  • L3180.01/L3180.01a Re-appraisal is a 12-page study of the full name LINE perfins on GB stamps by Roy Gault.

Gallatly - The Common Factor (Aug 2024) by Roy Gault (pdf)

Download

Found - A LOST Perfin (September 2024) by Roy Gault (pdf)

Download

Reappraisal of MM/Co M3960.01 (October 2024) by Roy Gault (pdf)

Download

Reappraisal of MT/C (M5600.01) (October 2024) by Roy Gault (pdf)

Download

N0130 series re-appraisal (Oct 2024) by Roy Gault (pdf)

Download

North-China Herald Perfins by Roy Gault (updated Feb 2025) (pdf)

Download

Re-appraisal of H.A. H0080.01 (December 2024) by Roy Gault (pdf)

Download

L3180.01/L3180.01a Re-appraisal (January 2025) by Roy Gault (pdf)

Download

Other articles

The following articles were written for the website or for other presentations.


  • "Summary of Sloper 'Through Five Reigns' Plaques" by Maurice Harp (May 2018)
    Details of the ten known plaques produced by J. Sloper & Co. in 1939, including pictures of eight of them.
    Includes scans of three recently discovered plaques, kindly provided by Stamp Group.  One of these was sold in the Stamp Group Auction on 21st May 2018 and another sold in our auction.
  • "Theft of British Perfinned Stamps" by Maurice Harp and John Mathews (May 2019)
    A survey of British newspapers, reproducing reports of thefts of perfinned stamps between 1870 and 1966.
    Details of the firms involved and their perfins are given where known. 
  • "What will happen to your archives and unpublished works?" A presentation given at Stockholmia 2019 by Brian Birch FRPSL, philatelic literature collector and former Society librarian. 

"Summary of Sloper 'Through Five Reigns' Plaques" by Maurice Harp (pdf)

Download

"Theft of British Perfinned Stamps" by Maurice Harp and John Mathews (pdf)

Download

"What will happen to your archives and unpublished works?" by Brian Birch (pdf)

Download

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