Herbert Frederick "Johnny" Johnson (12 February 1884
[''1939 England and Wales Register''] – 20 April 1966)
["Herbert Johnny Johnson 1884-1966" by Michael Goodman in Furnell, Michael., ed. ''National Philatelic Society Centenary Handbook''. London: National Philatelic Society, 1999, p.11. ] was British
stamp dealer and
philatelist who was a key figure in the early years of the Junior Philatelic Society (subsequently to become the
National Philatelic Society
The National Philatelic Society is one of two national philatelic societies in Great Britain. The other is the Royal Philatelic Society London.
History
''The National'', as it is known, was formed in 1899 by Fred Melville and the first meeting i ...
) and a close colleague of
Fred Melville.
Organised philately
A larger-than-life figure, Johnson earned the nickname "the dynamo" for his energetic efforts in organised philately. He was chief organiser of the ''Imperial Stamp Exhibition'', 1908, the ''Jubilee International Exhibition'', London 1912 and Secretary of the ''International Exhibition'', London 1923.
[Schofield, Brian. ''Who Was Who in British Philately''. London: British Philatelic Trust, 2003, p.29.]
Online version here.
Johnson joined the J.P.S. in 1900, aged 16, and remained a member until his death. During this time he occupied most of the offices of the society, including Exchange Superintendent, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President and President. The success of the J.P.S. in its early years has been attributed to the partnership between Melville as propagandist and writer, and Johnson as businessman and organiser.[
In 1907, Johnson was a founder member of the ]Philatelic Literature Society The Philatelic Literature Society (1907–1918)''Sir Edward Denny Bacon, KCVO (1860-1938): A short biographical sketch'' by Ron Negus. Supplement to The London Philatelist, 1999. was a short-lived society to promote the cause of philatelic literatur ...
.["The Philatelic Literature Society" in '' The London Philatelist'', Vol. XVI, No.191, November 1907, p.264.]
Johnson was a fixture at the society's headquarters at 44 Fleet Street, London, as well as in local taverns, and he claimed that he was known to every cab driver in London.[
]
Publishing
Although Johnson published little of his own work, he was well known as a knowledgeable philatelist and he greatly assisted Dr Harry Osborne with his masterful ''British Line-Engraved Stamps - Twopence Blue, Studies of Plates 1 to 15''[ and J.B. Seymour with ''Stamps of Great Britain'', parts I & II.][ He was also the publisher of the J.P.S.'s journal ''Stamp Lover'' as well as numerous philatelic books.
]
Selected publications
*"Brunei, 1907-1924; a study of vignette plate 1" in ''Stamp Collectors' Coronation Annual''.
*'' Circular Delivery Companies Stamps, Part 4.'' With Fred Melville & Bertram McGowan
Bertram McGowan (1874–1950) was a Scottish solicitor and philatelist who specialised in Chile and the Postage stamps and postal history of Great Britain, .
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Johnny
1884 births
1966 deaths
British philatelists
British stamp dealers
People from Wandsworth