Thomas Keay Tapling

Thomas Tapling, born in Dulwich, London, on 30 October 1855, was an English businessman and politician and one of the first great stamp collectors, beginning as a schoolboy in 1865 and continuing with increasing enthusiasm until his death at the young age of 36 from pleurisy. During the 1870s and 80s he purchased many major collections formed by pioneer philatelists. By 1887, Tapling's collection was unsurpassed except by the legendary Ferrary collection.

He built up his stamp collection by assiduously acquiring other collections and important rarities. In 1882 he purchased the collection of British surgeon W E Image for £3000. Six years later the collection formed by French brothers Martial and Gustave Caillebotte was acquired for £5000.

These two collections became the nucleus of the Tapling Collection. Tapling also acquired stamps through exchanges. He gained the unused 2d. Post Office Mauritius by exchanging an early issue of Afghanistan and a pair of stamps from Poonch with Count Philipp La Renotiere von Ferrary. (Ferrary's collection was probably the only one to surpass Tapling's in its day.) In pursuit of his hobby, Tapling travelled widely, including Norway, Iceland, Canada and India.

Among his holdings were many world famous rarities, including both values of the "Post Office" Mauritius and three examples of the Inverted Head Four Annas of India. It is the only intact private collection formed during the Nineteenth century, with examples of practically every stamp issued worldwide up to 1889.

In 1871, Tapling joined the Philatelic Society, London (organized in 1869 and today the Royal Philatelic Society London), serving as vice-president from 1871 to 1881. He presented papers and wrote articles on his philatelic discoveries. The Tapling Medal, in silver, was created in his memory by the RPSL and first awarded in 1920.

Tapling bequeathed his collection to the British Museum. Today "The Tapling Collection" resides in the Philatelic Section of the British Library.

The coverage is worldwide, and is of postage stamps and postal stationery (with some telegraph stamps) for the period 1840 to 1890, and is virtually complete in all basic issues. Apart from the rarities, the collection is strong in unused examples, with excellent ranges of shades, and includes essays, proofs, blocks and covers. Some of the gems in the collection are: