Speranza's Diary

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The six pages from Joseph Speranza’s diary of 1869 donated, by his son in 1926 give details of the preliminary meetings of The Philatelic Society, London. The records of the original meetings of the society were lost in December 1873 when the Secretary of the time disappeared with them. However, Speranza's diary fills in many of the gaps especially around the people involved in setting up the Society. This includes the key role of Speranza himself who wrote a well-reasoned article in the Philatelist issue of January 1869 in response to a suggestion for a 'Proposed Philatelic Society' made by Edward Loines Pemberton, an established and well-regarded dealer and philatelist. Speranza pointed out the advantages a 'Philatelic Society' would have and made suggestions for its composition and organisation. Based on this he became a founding member of the Society and a member of its first committee.