Philately ?

[mickman]

Who was the first man credited with taking up as a hobby philately and when ?

[Cruciformist]

John Edward Gray, I think Google him.

[shooty]

"philatélie", coined by Georges Herpin in 1864 ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philately

[Cruciformist]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Edward_Gray

[chelle7272]

Wiki has John Edward grey, though not definitive
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_collecting

[Cruciformist]

I think J E Gray started on the day that the first Penny Black was issued in 1864, but not sure of the date.

[shooty]

spot on Cruciformist

[shooty]

Gray was also interested in postage stamps; on 1 May 1840, the day the Penny Black first went on sale, he purchased several with the intent to save them, thus making him the world's first known stamp collector.

[Cruciformist]

Shooty - my head is full of useless knowledge!

[Cruciformist]

That's the correct date, shooty. Well done.

[THECORBYLOON]

According to this book, it was Samuel Lord Jnr http://www.philatelicsannex.org/reference/First_Philatelist.pdf

[Cruciformist]

Oh gawd, Corbyloon - that's thrown a spanner in the works. Looks like mickman has some research to do now we have pointed him in 2 directions!

[Prudie]

Who was Stanley Gibbons then, seem to remember that was the brand of stamps and albums around when I was a child?

[Old_Geezer]

Unsure why you need to know, for surely you have heard that, "philately gets you nowhere" ?

[Cruciformist]

Stanley Gibbons is an extant company dealing in stamps, valuations, sales etc.

[mickman]

Thankyou Cruciform I did Google him and I think your answer is right this was one question of twenty five in a monthly quiz that I do.thanks to all the others that answered this question.