The Fantasy Stamps of Gerald M King
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Category: Cinderella Stamps
Forum Name: Cinderella Stamps
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Topic: The Fantasy Stamps of Gerald M King
Posted By: Daniel
Subject: The Fantasy Stamps of Gerald M King
Date Posted: 22 May 2010 at 10:15
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These seem to fall into several categories but it is difficult to find much up to date information.
Firstly there are the Postage Stamps of Wonderland. Gerald King first produced these in response to the lack of any official stamps from the Post Office to commemorate the centenary of the first publication of Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. He originally planned 6 which soon grew to 36 and expanded further. They were originally definitive stamps based on Queen Victoria issues and depicting her as Queen of Wonderland but commemorative stamps soon followed. His covers are the best and have suitably authentic-looking postmarks.
(Royal Mail have subsequently issued several Alice stamps)
I have 2 catalogues entitled 'Curiouser and Curiouser!', the first one even included imperforate specimen samples hinged into the back. Then came the publication of 'Alice Through the Pillar-box', a full-colour book layed out as a stamp album featuring the stamps and covers. This latter publication, published in 1978, is readily available from the second-hand market.
Stamps for Snark, presumably based on Carroll's poem The Hunting of the Snark and the Isle of Sark in the Channel Islands, have also appeared and I believe there was a catalogue as well.
Then there are his Lundy stamps which also started off as take-offs of Victorian stamps but these grew to include stamps of George V including one set naming him as The Supreme Lord. These are based on stamps issued by Jamaica (also parodied by David Horry in his book).
Here is a very clever Wonderland/Lundy crossover:
 Then I have various British Queen Elizabeth stamps based on Victorian designs.
Finally, I have a set of Tudor 1d stamps for Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth also attributed to Gerald King.
I'll add images where I can.
Any additional information on these or other issues by him would be much appreciated.
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Replies:
Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 22 May 2010 at 10:37
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I don't own any of these but I am very interested in them. I was tracking several on eBay recently but never managed to bid. I'll look forward to learning more as they may become a new collecting area for me. They look like everything cinderellas should be; witty, quality, available.
Keith |
Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 22 May 2010 at 11:09
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I have been an admirer of Geralds work for a little while. I own very items from his vast catalogue and keep meaning to correct this. All I have is a few of the Charles Dodgson covers, the Tudor pennypost set and a few other odds and ends. I think one problem is deciding which I like most. In fact I have several of his catalogues by my desk at the moment. His humour is unique and is perfect for the Wonderland stamps. ------------- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Discworld-Stamp-Collector/809424215750892" rel="nofollow - The Discworld Stamp Collector on FaceBook Have a look! |
Posted By: unohoo
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 21:48
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I've been in touch with Gerald for a while now. I've bought all of the Wonderland and Snark stamps, and the first batch of wonderland covers. They are superb.
I've also pointed Gerald in the direction of this forum. Unfortunately, he has had a bit of a tough time personally recently (out of respect for him, I won't go into detail), but he has said he will look in soon.
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Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 01 June 2010 at 23:20
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I bought a copy of "Alice Through the Pillar-box" yesterday. Quite stunning. The best £5 I've spent in quite a while.
I am keenly awaiting contact from Gerald so that I can start a whole new accumulation.
 Keith
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Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 02 June 2010 at 06:31
Hope you had a good laugh as it should be like the others. I am missing Pillar-box, but have the Snark Island catalogue, Curiouser and Curiouser, Alice the Millennium Collection, Postage Stamps of Wonderland and Lundy the Alternative Collection. He has successfully translated the stories, logic and humour of the Wonderland tales into the stamps and the catalogues. Dodgson would probably have a good chuckle. ------------- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Discworld-Stamp-Collector/809424215750892" rel="nofollow - The Discworld Stamp Collector on FaceBook Have a look! |
Keith wrote:Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 07 June 2010 at 08:25
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I need to thank Daniel for raising this topic and Steve for giving me Gerald's e-mail. I now have all Gerald's catalogues. They are brilliant, as are the stamps and the covers and postal stationery. What a talent. I'm just rushing off the biggest order I can afford. A whole new area of collecting has opened up for me. I'm very grateful indeed boys. Keith |
Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 08 June 2010 at 07:11
Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 12 June 2010 at 00:26
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Oh Wow! I am now the proud owner of a complete set of Gerald's Alternative Lundy issues. Oh Wow! It's my birthday tomorrow (no, really) and this week I now have hundreds of stamps from Gerald, the gum-fronted, and other, discworld stamps from Colin and Hilary's latest issue. If only I could shake off the kids who are descending on me to make a fuss I could have a whale of a time! If only I could find my bank account. I can hear it whimpering in a dark corner somewhere but it's refusing to come out. Keith |
Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 15 June 2010 at 23:33
| I found some helpful background information at the bottom of http://www.gbstamps.com/news2002_3.html#wonderland - this web page which might be of use to members who don't know much about Gerald King's stamps. It covers just his Wonderland issues |
Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 26 June 2010 at 21:08
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More shouts of "Wow". My collection has now extended to include all the Wonderland (pre-Alice and Alice) and all the Snark issues. Squeak if you need scans of any of them but you'll have to be somewhat specific 'cos there are zillions of the little devils. Now to set about the covers! Keith edited to say - that's a nice way to get to my 100th post  |
Posted By: gonarain
Date Posted: 26 June 2010 at 22:53
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Congratulation!!! Personally i got the 2 first priced catalogue and have been buying a new stamp album to put all these funny little stamps in it...  ------------- not so bright, so explain a lot please. |
Posted By: OlFella
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 23:51
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Kieth. Is there any chance you could advise myself and others on how to get the Gerald King catalogues please ? I have been a huge fan of his work for a while now.  Thanks in advance. OlFella ------------- Also OlFella on http://www.thegomc.com |
Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 23:59
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I'll PM you in a minute. Keith |
Posted By: Daniel
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 11:11
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I see that Gerald's latest fantasy issues are Edward VIII stamps, at least I hadn't seen them before. They look great, a glimpse of what might have been
Plus I have discovered his name for his Victorians stamps featuring Queen Elizabeth II, Elizatoria!
I must catch up with his Wonderland stamps and covers.
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Posted By: Joolz
Date Posted: 10 June 2011 at 11:58
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I keep meaning to look into these from time to time but it keeps getting put on the back burner due to lack of time. But, every now and again, I do a bit of digging into them and I was very sorry to discover I had missed what looks to have been a fascinating (or "intriguing" as it was described in the sale listing) lot in a recent philatelic auction in Geneva for which there was online bidding. David Feldman Spring Auction Series, Geneva - May 19-21, 2011 http://www.davidfeldman.com/buying/auctions/previous-auctions/spring-auction-series-gva-2011/browse-lots/aucP/auction-series-gva-may-2011/item/118246/ - Lot 31089 1970-80, Collection of Gerald M. King fantasy stamps, with Wonderland, Snark Island and Elizatoria, incl. mint stamps and 149 covers, as well as the book by him and two "catalogues," a most intriguing lot (Est. € 100/200) Estimate: 100 EUR Price realised: 150 EUR on Sat 21st May 2011 10:00:00 (GMT+2) Looks like quite a bargain - I don't suppose it went to anyone on here, did it?
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Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 10 June 2011 at 20:58
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Having just this week completed my collection of all Gerald's covers I can say, sob, that it wasn't me, sob. 149 covers for that price is a fantastic bargain. That i Euro each and the stamps for free. Sob, whimper. But I do have a complete collection of his USA forgeries that nearly got him kicked off eBay and assaulted by a bunch of Navy Seals and that's more than most folk can say. Keith |