John Alexander Tilleard

John Alexander Tilleard (born circa 1850, died 22 September 1913) was a British solicitor and the philatelist who helped King George V to constitute his collection, known as the Royal Philatelic Collection.

Biography

John Tilleard was a solicitor of the City of London. He spent his free times to collect stamps and study philately. He was a specialist of stamps issued by Prince Edward Island and British India. About the latter, he wrote Notes on the De La Rue Series of Adhesive Postage Stamps and Telegraph Stamps of India published in 1896.[1]

Member of the Philatelic Society, London, he served as honorary secretary from 1894 to 1913.[1] He permitted the participation of two philatelist princes to the Society : Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, brother of future King Edward VII, elected honorary president in 1890, and Alfred's nephew George, Duke of York.

On the Duke of Edinburgh's initiative, Tilleard met the Duke of York on 28 February 1893.[2] He accepted to become George's advisor to help manage his stamp collection. Tilleard sold his own stamps to have for main philatelic purpose stamp sales and philatelic exhibitions of the Prince's collection. These activities occupied long times of the two men's life : George V's biographer, Harold Nicolson, precised that Tilleard was seen at the Duke of York's palace more often than Tanner who taught the future king law and constitutional knowledge.[3]

In 1903, Tilleard and George designed the Canada stamp series figuring King Edward VII, issued between 1903 and 1912.[4] [5]

In 1906, he helped the Philatelic Society, London obtain the "Royal" title,[1] to become the Royal Philatelic Society London whose president was the Duke of York from 1896.

After the accession of the Duke as King George V in 1910, Tilleard was named "Philatelist to the King" with a yearly 750 pounds salary.[6] The next year the King made him a Member in the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his services to the King and philately.[7]

In the history of the Royal Philatelic Collection, Tilleard was the principal force behind George V creating the most comprehensive collection of United Kingdom and Commonwealth stamps in the world. However, at the time of his death, the mounting was still to be done; performing this task was the main success of Tilleard's successor Edward Denny Bacon.

In memory of Tilleard, the Royal Philatelic Society London created the Tilleard Medal, first awarded in 1920 to one (or two, if they are associated) members of the Society for the best philatelic display.[8]

Sources and references

  1. ^ a b c Biographical note in the Who Was Who?, British Philatelic Trust, updated 9 October 2003, retrieved on 5 November 2007.
  2. ^ Date from Prince George's diary, quoted in Nicholas Courtney (2004). The Queen's Stamps, page 41.
  3. ^ Quoted in Nicholas Courtney (2004). The Queen's Stamps, page 42.
  4. ^ Nicholas Courtney (2004). The Queen's Stamps, pages 112 et 114.
  5. ^ Stamps #77-83 in Michel catalog (2000). Nord- und Mittelamerika, page 357.
  6. ^ Nicholas Courtney (2004). The Queen's Stamps, page 133.
  7. ^ Nicholas Courtney, The Queen's Stamps, 2004, page 122.
  8. ^ Presentation of the Royal Philatelic Society London's activities.