The Small Queens

John Hillson

John Hillson

Born in December 1933, the author has said that he did not quite understand why, when his mother asked him after his ninth birthday what he wanted for Christmas, he replied ‘Stamps,’ whereupon she lashed out two shillings on an album, a packet of stamps, and a packet of hinges, nd forgot to give it to him, though not the box of Canadian Mounties nor the model 25 pounder howitzer to which they fell victim. The album, etc., was discovered a day or so after Christmas hidden under a cushion in the lounge. It turned out to be the most expensive present he was ever given.

Of Scottish parentage he was nevertheless educated at St. Paul’s School, London, his parents having removed to Kew Gardens just before the Second World War. A career was pursued first through the Motor Industry, where dealing with designers he learned to look at colour, and, in the final two decades of his working life, at the selling end of the Insurance Industry, notably Life Insurance, Pensions and Investments.

John became a member of the Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain in 1955 – a life member  a year later. He said being able to recognise a bargain when he saw one, and having a business degree which enabled him to acquire some understanding of the mysteries of double entry book-keeping, he was asked in 1980 to become Treasurer of that Society.

 

Awarded a Fellowship of the Society in 1990 for research, having been twice awarded the Founders trophy for his work on the Small Queens, he also collected G.B. Line Engraved, and the British Empire issues of King George VI, which he said he mistakenly thought would be a cheap sideline to his main interest.

 

Robson Lowe  twice published his works on the Small Queens, the first in 1980, a small monograph on the subject, which is still regarded as useful, and the magnum opus in 1989, the considerably expanded hardback. The Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain published ‘Small Queens Reappraised,’ which updates and corrects, where necessary, that hardback.

 

John passed away in 2017.