The ABC of Stamp Collecting: A Guide to the Instructive and Entertaining Study of the World's Postage Stamps

London: Henry J. Drane, c1904. Cloth. Good. 5.5" by 4". Not Stated . An illustrated guide to stamp collecting written by esteemed philatelist Fred Melville A scarce work by eminent British stamp collector Frederick John Melville. In this discussion of the hobby, Mellville offers insights into classification, the detection of fakes, and explores what stamps can reveal about their originating cultures. Melville was the founder and contemporary president of the Junior Philatelic Society, and the work is thought to be his second book on stamp collecting. Illustrated with nineteen plates, showing stamps from across the world between 1849 to 1902. Collated and complete. Prior owners ink inscription to the front end paper. One page of publisher's adverts to the rear. Undated, dated c1904 from Jisc from copies held at the University of Cambridge. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, smart, with minimal marks on the boards and spine. Minor chipping to illustrations on front board. Bumping to the head and the tail of the spine, and to the extremities. Slightly worn with a small tear to the tail of the front joint. Spots to the endpapers and pastedowns, and a few spots to the fore edge. Prior owner's ink inscription to the recto of the front end paper. Internally, generally firmly bound, mostly to pages 16/17, and page 96/97. Pages are lightly age-toned and smart with the occasional mark. Good