The West Africa Study Circle is pleased to announce the publication of a new book entitled West Africa in the British Library Philatelic Collections by Jeremy Martin and John Powell.

The British Library holds the world’s most extensive collections of philatelic material and the book reflects this in its full title West Africa in the British Library Philatelic Collections. A listing of philatelic material held for Ascension, Cameroons, Fernando Po, The Gambia, Ghana, Gold Coast, Lagos, Niger Coast Protectorate, Niger Company Territories, Nigeria, Northern Nigeria, Oil Rivers Protectorate, St. Helena, Sierra Leone, Southern Nigeria, Togo and Tristan da Cunha to 2000. Comprising 176 pages, with sixteen pages of colour illustrations, it is hardbound.

Left to right: David Beech of the British Library, with John Powell and Jeremy Martin authors with a copy of the new book.

It catalogues material contained in 20 collections or archives, one of these being The Crown Agents Philatelic and Security Printing Archive which alone has 7 sections. The list of contents itemises the collections in which West African material was found followed by a listing, in alphabetical order, of the countries in each of the collections enabling the researcher to find the country of choice. Each category is set out chronologically using catalogue dates and Crown Agents requisition numbers are recorded as found in the collections. There is also an extensive index.

David Beech FRPSL has written a section “Background to the British Library Philatelic Collections” and Philip Beale FRPSL has written Chapter 1 “Introduction to the Crown Agents”.

In 2004 Jeremy Martin and John Powell started to study West African material in the Crown Agents Philatelic and Security Printing Archive, with the purpose of recording all items viewed and publishing the findings. One of the most difficult tasks for the Library is to inform the potential user of the material held so at an early stage the Curators could see the potential and suggested the authors consider listing the West African material from all collections. Over 40 all-day visits were needed over the succeeding seven years to achieve this and the results have now been published. It provides collectors of stamps, essays, proofs revenues and postal stationery with a model of what they will find in their own area of study.

The book is available for £45 (or £36 for WASC members) plus postage at £4.30 UK, £6.00 overseas surface, £6.50 Europe and £11.50 rest of world by air. Orders to Ian Anderson, 57 Manse Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7SR with a cheque payable to the West Africa Study Circle or by e-mail with a payment using paypal to wasctreasurer@aol.com. For further details about the Society go to: www.wasc.org.uk