Sir William Dixson Stamp Collection, 1850-1952.

fonds

1850-1952

Philatelic Records, Prints

825465

Philatelic material housed in original albums or rehoused in mylar pockets, envelopes and boxes (1 cabinet) - printed

Sir William Dixson’s collection included pictures, printed material, manuscripts and rare books. He also collected maps, coins, medals, relics, book plates and postage stamps which he bequeathed to the State Library in 1951. Dixson began collecting postage stamps at an early age and continued to add to his extensive collections until shortly before his death in 1952. He specialised in the field of Australia and the Pacific Region which include many large blocks and full sheets of stamps as well as different varieties and rarities.

The stamp collection comprises:

Series 01
Sir William Dixson Stamp Collection : Australian Colonies and States, 1850-1952
The Australian and Pacific Region, remounted and housed in 14 boxes, plus large items in mylar pockets (listed at the end of each section). Included are collections of all the Australian States, Australian Commonwealth to 1952, New Zealand, Papua and New Guinea, G.R.I and N.W.P.I , Fiji and Tonga. Particular items of interest include the first issue `Kangaroo and map’, set complete as issued to Members of Parliament; early letters from Antarctic expeditions; G.R.I overprint errors; New Zealand 1893 full sheet of 4d stamps with advertisements printed on the reverse of each st Tonga 1897 `inverted centre’ error in vertical strip of three stamps.

Series 02
Sir William Dixson Stamp Collection : Great Britain and Commonwealth Countries issued to 1952
British Commonwealth stamps to 1952 housed in seven original loose leaf S.G. Sectional Imperial Albums (published c.1914) plus extra pages in box.
Most sets are "short sets" to 5/-, but include perforation and colour changes. There is also a very extensive collection of early Great Britain, including most of the plate numbers of the 1d brown.

Series 03
Sir William Dixson Stamp Collection : Europe and Colonies ; Foreign Countries excluding Europe, published ca. 1902
Foreign (Europe, Asia and the Americas) to 1902 housed in two original bound and illustrated albums. This is a mainly used collection including many early stamps, but also reprints and possible forgeries.

Series 04
Sir William Dixson Stamp Collection : miscellaneous (all countries), 1840-1945
Miscellaneous items, includes British Common wealth and Foreign, housed in three large stockbooks, two cigar boxes and various envelopes, plus mounted items in box. The majority of items are duplicates of items in the main collections, many being in poor condition. Mounted items in the box include postal stationery, local stamps, postal forms and other "Cinderella" items such as Telegraph stamps, duty stamps etc.

Several letters from Sir William Dixson to J.H Smyth, dated 26 Nov. 1914, 8th & 11th May 1915 and from J.B. Macdonald, 13 Dec. 1915 are kept in a folder with the collection.

Arranged according to particular region.

A listing of the Sir William Dixson Stamp Collection / by Barbara Hancock. 1996. (available on open access in the Mitchell Library Reading Room at REF 1/Q769.56994/37 SET) -

A listing of the Sir William Dixson Stamp Collection / by Barbara Hancock. 1996.