On 4th Mar 2016 10:35am, MisterD-Di said:
I had a feeling that there were at least two stamp and coin dealers in Far Gosford Street in the 60s and so I did a little digging into my stamp collection. I used to collect First Day Covers and would sometimes buy them from these shops. Looking at the covers, they of course bear the name and address of the dealer who sent them through the post to get the appropriate postmark. This has identified both businesses.
The one on the right as you head towards the centre was AW Massey at 68 Far Gosford Street. I bought several covers from there in the late 60s and seem to recall they had a very expansive stock of various stamps, coins and other collectables. It was located at about where Google Streetmaps shows a place called Injury Claim Solutions, although the numbering in that street is rather strange.
Massey's was run by Tony Massey - he went to school with my dad (and they worked together at RES or Charlie Paynes Radio shops) and I think Tony's dad started the business which was also a tobacconists. As kids, we were given lots of commemorative covers with special frankings - the Christmas covers from Bethlehem (Wales) stick in my mind. Because Tony was a friend of Dad's we got some not so common first day covers too but when I last looked - they aren't actually worth a great deal of money - more of a sentimental value.
Tony sold up in the 80's (I think) and took over a bookmakers shop next to the petrol station at the Craven Arms on the Binley Road - he never made any money apparently - Dad always said that Tony was the one who broke the saying "You never see a poor bookie...". I always remember that Tony's son as a young child had a fascination with fire engines and for a couple of years their bedtime routine was Tony driving him round all the city firestations to make sure all the appliances were tucked up and safe
Tony eventually died mid 90's (I believe but Dad and him had lost touch by then).
