Catalogues

A-Z by Country

Visit the Thematic Subject Headings
to get a flavour of the range subjects

Collecting in general

Specialist Collecting (airmails, forgeries etc)

Periodicals

Auction catalogues

World Exhibition literature

Multi-media holdings

What's Available ?

• The Library is housed within the library of the Royal Philatelic Society, London (RPSL) at 15 Abchurch Lane, London EC4N 7BW where there is a comfortable reading room, computer search facilities and permanent staff who are there to help. Details of the Opening Hours are given below.

• The main book collection, latest catalogues, current issues and most recentauction catalogues are available for browsing.

• Other items such as rare books or older bound copies of journals will need to be retrieved from the book-stacks by a member of the library staff. Thus if you think you will need these you are strongly advised to contact the librarian prior to your visit. You can then confirm a convenient date and your required material can be ready when you come. It is not always possible for book-stack items to be searched for on the day and, in any case, that will involve you having to waste time waiting (although there is reasonable pub nearby). Again, all the necessary contact details are given below.

• Excepting the above, books may be borrowed and photocopies obtained (subject to copyright details) – see below for details.

• Consult our On-line Search database - covering Books, Periodicals & Exhibition Material (plus Stamp Lover Index and Article Index) to see what is available. But please remember our database is constantly being updated, so for the moment even if a particular title doesn't appear, we may still be able to assist - please email The Library or telephone 020 7486 1044 to check.

• IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE – The library staff of the Royal Philatelic Society, London,  will need to be satisfied that those seeking to borrow etc are members of the National Philatelic Society. A Member of the National Philatelic Society using the library in this way, therefore does so on the understanding that the Royal will seek verification of their membership and contact details from the National Philatelic Society and that the member is in agreement to the National Philatelic Society responding to such verification requests.

Getting to the Library

• The library is at 15 Abchurch Lane, London EC2N 7BW. This is in the City of London. The two tube stations are Monument and Bank which are joined underground. On the surface they are at opposite ends of King William Street which is crossed by Abchurch Lane around its mid-point. Cannon Street tube and main-line stations are also nearby, plus bus services. 15 Abchurch Lane is in the short southern section of Abchurch Lane.

Opening Hours    

• The library is open 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. It is closed on Bank Holidays and at weekends except on the days when the National Philatelic Society holds its Saturday Meetings at 15 Abchurch Lane, when it is open until 4pm.

  It is also not available on those days when the RPSL holds its members’ meetings, which - over the next few months - are 12 & 26 September, 10 & 24 October, 7 & 21 November and 12 December 2024.
  
  

Borrowing in Person

• National Philatelic Society (NPS) members visiting to consult or borrow a particular item and wishing to ensure it is currently available are advised to contact the library staff on research@rpsl.org.uk or 020 7486 1044
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• On visiting the Library the member should present his/her NPS Membership Number Card and a piece of identification (e.g. driving licence). The librarian will check that your number appears on the anonymous list of the current National Philatelic Society membership numbers that is supplied to the Royal every month.

  If this is your first visit you will be asked to complete a library user registration form.

Borrowing and Requests for Photocopies by post

• Send an email to the Library or write to RPSL library, 15 Abchurch Lane, London EC4N 7BW stating your requirements and quoting your National PS Membership number and contact details, including telephone number.

  The librarian will then verify your details with the National Philatelic Society as indicated above and then deal with your request and advise you of the packing and postage charge. There are small charges for photocopying.

  If this is your first use of the library you will be asked to complete a library user registration form.

• The NPS Library team remain ready to deal with any general queries or difficulties and can be contactedby Email   or by writing to NPS Library Team c/o Library, Royal Philatelic Society, London, 15 Abchurch Lane, London EC4N 7BW.
  
  

• NPS members who require a replacement Membership Card are asked to send a stamped addressed envelope to the Membership secretary, 10 Gilpin Green, Harpenden AL5 5NR.