Page 10 - Gustaf Douglas: Classic Sweden

Prologue

It is not unfair to say that secrecy was a rule.
Knowledge was regarded as a competitive tool not to
be spread around. There was quite a reluctance to
publish numbers of various rare stamps and varieties.
In the beginning of 1900, Sweden saw the emergence
of a number of collectors who scored triumphs at
international exhibitions and were described in
Swedish philatelic periodicals. After the ”Ferrary
auctions”, a significant number of the best Swedish
items were bought by Eric Leijonhufvud who only
after a short time sold most of his collection in 1923.

Like in Tapling’s collection at the British Library (the
Swedish section) Gustaf Douglas has one of the six
recorded imperforate 6 Skilling Banco. (Displayed in
frame 5)

Many great collections were mounted and presented
for exhibitions by some able ladies who worked as
private dealers and also presented the philatelic
Eric Leijonhufvud bought a lot from the material in a nice way in the style of the times, often
Ferrary auctions and formed a great with a whole page for one shade. Some of the
collection of ”Classic Sweden” (which Leijon‐ collectors and their assistants were not all that
hufvud sold in 1923). demanding and got some of the shades a bit mixed
up. These ladies also traded in stamps and most of
Leijonhufvud’s material came into the hands of some them had worked for Harry Wennberg. Names like
of the most qualified collectors Sweden has had. Dagmar Hellman and Annie Johnsson come to mind.
Names such as Fredrik Benzinger, Lars Hedberg, and Dealers succeeding the Wennbergs were the
Nils Westberg succeeded Leijonhufvud, winning formidable salesman Einar Lundström and the
international gold medals in the 1920:ies and onwards difficult, but knowledgeable, Imre Vajda who had
joined by some active and skillful dealers. We should come to Sweden from Hungary. Einar built
also include some of the international dealers. Frimärkshuset and employed several leading experts
The first prominent non‐Swedish collectors of on the Nordic countries (Finland, Norway, Iceland
Sweden were Ferrary but also Thomas Keay Tapling and Sweden). The front desk at Frimärkshuset was
who tragically died at a young age. Tapling’s col‐ managed by two absolute dear ladies who took good
lection is in the British Library. The collection is like a care of the customers, not least the younger
beacon in the night – far in front of other collectors of generation such as me.
his time. The Swedish part is of the highest standard To deal with Einar successfully you had to know
crowned by the 6 skilling variety imperforate (one of what you wanted – you would not leave without
six known). having bought something. The name of the game was
to be very knowledgeable and hard on quality. You
got what you deserved.