Edward James Nankivell 1848 – 1909

Edward was born in Perranzabuloe, near Truro, north Cornwall on 17 September 1848. In 1871 he was 22 years old, lodging in Teignmouth and working as a solicitor’s shorthand clerk which would come in very handy in the future!

He married Annie Burnett on 4 January 1876 in West Teignmouth and they went on to have three daughters. The family had moved to 12 Hurst Street, Lambeth, by 1881 and Edward was now working as a ‘shorthand writer and reporter’ progressing to a ‘journalist’ by 1891.

Edward was known for his knowledge of stamp collecting and was considered a Transvaal specialist, producing the Transvaal Collectors’ Quarterly. He also instigated the publication of the London Philatelist, and was the first editor from 1892-93. He went on to edit the Philatelic Record and Stamp News, and Gibbons Stamp Weekly and founded The Postage Stamp in 1907.

In 1902 he published his book ‘Stamp Collecting as a Pastime’ in which he gave his reasons to encourage others to take up the hobby:

1. Many people are at a loss to understand the fascination that surrounds the pursuit of stamp collecting. They are surprised at the clannishness of stamp collectors, and their lifelong devotion to their hobby. They are thunderstruck at the enormous prices paid for rare stamps, and at the fortunes that are spent and made in stamp collecting.
2. The following pages will afford a peep behind the scenes, and explain how it is that, after nearly half a century of existence, stamp collecting has never been more popular than it is to-day.
3. And perchance many a tired worker in search of a hobby may be persuaded that of all the relaxations that are open to him none is more attractive or more satisfying than stamp collecting.
4. So absorbing is the hobby that in stamp circles there is a saying, "Once a stamp collector, always a stamp collector”.

Edward and Annie moved from Croydon to Tunbridge Wells around 1905 and lived at ‘Carnanton’, Camden Park. He died aged 60 on 18 March 1909 and is buried in Section B6 consecrated plot 310.