Byam, Carlton & Co. Collection. Exceptional collection of great depth, consists of two parts, the first part includes proofs, stamps, covers and ephemera, including seven different die or trial color proofs, range of stamps including RO49i and RO51, ephemera includes engraving of factory, 1870's and 1880's wrappers, 1864 Farmer's Almanac front cover with Byam & Carlton advertisement, early illustrated match label, invoices, also two documents including a partnership agreement dated Nov. 9, 1863 and a dissolution agreement with 5c Certificate stamp, the second part of the collection is contained in two oversize G&K albums, with approximately 179 full wrappers (a few cut to size), quantities include Nos. RO52 (19), RO54 (30), RO54h (32), RO55 (41), RO56 (57), all are apparently different dates, representing the majority of those in existence, some faults to this fragile paper are to be expected

OVERALL VERY FINE. A COLLECTION WHICH WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE. A WONDERFUL HOLDING OF THE BYAM, CARLTON & CO. MATCH ISSUES.

According to Private Die Match Stamps by Christopher West, the nom-de-plume of Elliott Perry, the company Byam, Carlton was one of the largest match manufacturers. They issued most of their product in books of wooden matches (twelve to a book). The books of twelve were bundled into packages of eight, the tax on which was 1c. It would have been prohibitively expensive to wrap them in a package and then affix a stamp to the package. The company applied to the government for a stamp built into the center of the wrapper. Given the quantities needed, engraved plates would have cost $30,000 per year to use and maintain, so the work was subcontracted by Butler & Carpenter to the American Phototype Company.

The first section contains many items that are ex Joyce.

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