Alexander Berridge Kay was the founder, with E.J. Bridger, of the stamp dealer

Stamp dealer

A stamp dealer is a company or an individual who deals in postage stamps and philatelic products. It also includes individuals who sell postage stamps for day to day use or official stamps for use on court documents.-Stamps on Approval Basis:...

s Bridger and Kay in 1897 or 1898 and a leading figure in the Fiscal Philatelic Society

Fiscal Philatelic Society

The Fiscal Philatelic Society was an early twentieth century philatelic society that is seen as a predecessor to today's Cinderella Stamp Club and The Revenue Society...

. In 1910, Kay identified used copies of the Italian forgery of the British grey-green Victorian 10 shilling stamp watermarked anchor and perforated 14. His letter to The London Philatelist

The London Philatelist

The London Philatelist was first published in January 1892 and is the journal of the Royal Philatelic Society London.It is published ten times annually and includes coverage of worldwide philatelic and postal history topics...

, published in November 1910, warned the philatelic community of its existence.

Bridger & Kay

The firm of Bridger & Kay was formed in 1897 or 1898. Bridger and Kay had both been civil servants previously. Later, Bernard Leverton joined, and his son Allan Leverton in 1942. The firm was first located at 71 Fleet Street, London E.C., then Aldwych, moving to The Strand in 1938 and to Pall Mall in 1978 under Allan Leverton's stewardship. The firm continued until it went out of business in 1995. It was then purchased by the Bristol stamp dealer Steve Ellis.

Organised philately

Kay was the founder Secretary, Treasurer and Exchange Superintendent of the Fiscal Philatelic Society in 1902 continuing in those roles until the FPS amalgamated with the International Philatelic Union

International Philatelic Union

The International Philatelic Union, formed 1881, was an early international philatelic organisation formed for the study of stamps and the promotion of philately generally...

 in 1920. The FPS proceedings record the numerous displays of stamps that he gave at FPS meetings. Kay also served on the British Philatelic Association expert committee.

Legacy

In 1949, Kay's collection of British Colonial Revenue stamp

Revenue stamp

A revenue stamp, tax stamp or fiscal stamp is a adhesive label used to collect taxes or fees on documents, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, drugs and medicines, playing cards, hunting licenses, firearm registration, and many other things...

s to about 1940 was donated to the British Museum by his children Miss Nora Kay and Mr Frank Kay. The collection is now part of the British Library Philatelic Collections

British Library Philatelic Collections

The British Library Philatelic Collections is the national philatelic collection of the United Kingdom with over 8 million items from around the world. It was established in 1891 as part of the British Museum Library, later to become the British Library, with the collection of Thomas Tapling...

.

Publications

• Priced Catalogue of British Colonial Adhesive Revenue, Telegraph, and Railway Stamps 1908, Bridger & Kay, London, 1908.
• "Canadian Bill Stamps" in The Bulletin Of The Fiscal Philatelic Society, Vol.II, No.7, pp.63-70.
• "The Revenue Stamps of British Guiana" in The Bulletin Of The Fiscal Philatelic Society, Vol.II, No.9, pp.84-92.

External links

• http://www.bridgerkay.com