The Publications Committee of
The Royal Philatelic Society London
Our Aims
One of the Royal Philatelic Society of London’s constitutional objectives is “to print, publish, issue and circulate… papers, periodicals, books, circulars and other literary undertakings as may seem necessary for the objects of the Society”.
The Publications Committee was formed in 1889 with an objective of publishing philatelic books that would add to and conserve world-wide philatelic knowledge. “The work of the Publications Committee includes the initial evaluation of a submitted manuscript, an assessment of the content and treatment of the subject, the editing, typesetting and design, and of the printing and method of production. Society” Charles Oppenheim – A History of the Royal Philatelic Society London
Susan Taylor – Chair of the
Publications Committee
The Publications Committee is always ready to consider new works, and encourage authors and potential authors to get in touch.
The RPSL has published over 250 philatelic works, researched and written by authors from across the world, and treasured by philatelic collections at the Smithsonian National Postal Library, the British Library, the American Philatelic Research Library and of course the RPSL’s John Sacher Library.
e-mail: publicationschairman@rpsl.org.uk for more details.
Some Recent Publications
Austrian Maritime Rivals-The Danube Steam Navigation Company and the Austrian Lloyd in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea 1834 to 1849
by Christopher C. Smith
In the fourth and fifth decades of the 19th century, the Austrian-based Danube Steam Navigation Company (D.D.S.G.) embarked on the ambitious venture to expand the range of the company beyond the Danube River into the Black Sea and the eastern Mediterranean. The D.D.S.G. was soon joined on many routes by the Austrian Lloyd. The rivalry of these two Austrian companies on the high seas lasted 10 years and ended only when the Austrian Lloyd purchased the maritime assets of the D.D.S.G. This book follows the rivalry of the two companies amid important historical events of the period, and provides an abundance of newly discovered information for the analysis of postal history of both companies.
International Postal Reforms-Two Volumes
by James L Grimwood-Taylor RDP FRPSL
The first volume of this new examination of the history of international postal reforms, Postal Reforms and the Historical Background to the Postage Stamp 1550 to 1839, examines in detail Rowland Hill’s 1837 Post Office Reform; its Importance and Practicability pamphlet. It is usually cited as the sole source for the reduction of postage rates and the introduction of postage stamps – both labels and postal stationery – in Britain.
Portuguese India – Postal History and the First Issues from the “natives” to 1900
by Dr E Moreira Barreiros FRPSL & Dr L Moreira Barreiros FRPSL
Portuguese India was the only colony to be authorized in 1869 by King D. Luís to print its own stamps in the Goa Printing House. This decision was apparently taken because British India has had postage stamps since 1854, by the geographical proximity, and the relevant commercial activity between the two territories.
The Mulready Caricature-Two Volumes
by Richard Hobbs FRPSL & Robin Cassell FRPSL
When Rowland Hill introduced the Mulready Envelope and Lettersheet to the world on 6 May 1840 they were immediately ridiculed in the press. Some early users of the envelopes embellished the design with comic additions and the satirists and caricaturists of the time developed and published their own versions of the Mulready. Since its publication in 1984, the “bible” on this subject has been British Pictorial Envelopes of the 19th Century by Bodily Jarvis and Hahn (BJH). This new work sets out to update the information in the BJH book with much more detail on the varied states and printings of these caricatures by the different publishers. BJH listed 305 different copies in 145 different states; we now include 941 copies in 207 states and provide a census of all known recorded copies of Mulready caricatures.
Austrian Maritime Rivals-The Danube Steam Navigation Company and the Austrian Lloyd in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea 1834 to 1849
by Christopher C. Smith
Portuguese India – Postal History and the First Issues from the “natives” to 1900
by Dr E Moreira Barreiros FRPSL & Dr L Moreira Barreiros FRPSL
The Mulready Caricature-Two Volumes
by Richard Hobbs FRPSL & Robin Cassell FRPSL
International Postal Reforms-Two Volumes
by James L Grimwood-Taylor RDP FRPSL
The Bookshop
Visit our online Bookshop to view the full catalogue of RPSL books that are available for you to purchase.
Getting Started With A Publication
If you are thinking of researching and writing a philatelic book for the RPSL and would like to know more please take a look at our RPSL House Style Guide and contact Susan Taylor, the Publications Chair on publicationschairman@rpsl.org.uk
RPSL Style Guide for Publications
To assist with the preparation of publications we have a Style Guide and template.
Click here to view the 2020 Style Guide as a PDF file, or click here to view it as a Microsoft Word document. [Being updated in 2026]
Here is the first volume of the Style Guide updated for 2026:
The London Philatelist
The London Philatelist is one of the world’s longest‑running and most respected philatelic journals and remains a primary outlet for new research within the Society. There have been over 1500 issues of The London Philatelist, our Society’s journal since its first being published in 1889 at the suggestion of Edward Nankivell.
Mr Nankivell proposed “That it is desirable that the Society should have a monthly journal of its own as a regular medium of communication between its town and country members and for the advancement of Philately, and that a committee be appointed to consider and report on the subject”.
Each of the 10 journals a year is packed with comprehensive articles on a wide range of philatelic topics, as well as updates on the latest and coming events in which the RPSL has an involvement. If you are thinking of writing an article for the The London Philatelist you should also look at the RPSL House Style Guide (link) and then contact Nina Jääskeläinen on LPEditor@rpsl.org.uk. Nina can be contacted for more information on The London Philatelist.