Adelaide Lucy Fenton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adelaide Lucy Fenton
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Portrait in miniature of Fenton at the time of her coming out ball, painted by Charles Foot Taylor
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| Born | 1824 or 1825 |
| Died | 6 February 1897 |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Early female philatelist |
Adelaide Lucy Fenton (born in 1824 or 1825, died on February 6, 1897) was a very important early female stamp collector and writer. She was one of the first people to study stamps in a careful, organized way. Many people consider her to be the first famous female stamp collector.
Contents
A Pioneer in Stamp Collecting
Adelaide was born in 1824 or early 1825. Her father was Captain James John Fenton of the 44th Regiment.
From 1863, Miss Fenton started writing many articles for magazines like The Stamp-Collector's Magazine and The Philatelist. People noticed her articles because they showed her deep knowledge about stamps. Her first letter was published on December 1, 1863, and her first article came out on June 1, 1864.
Miss Fenton used several different pen names when she wrote. These included Herbert Camoens, Fentonia, Celestina, Virginia, and SJV. She chose Herbert Camoens partly because it included the name of a famous Belgian stamp dealer, Jean-Baptiste Moens. SJV stood for St. John's Villa, which was the name of her home in Clifton, Bristol. The editors of these magazines gave Miss Fenton special bound copies of their magazines to thank her for her contributions. These books, with her own notes, are now kept in the library of The Royal Philatelic Society London.
A Small Accident
In 1865, Miss Fenton was involved in a court case. She said that a cart hit her and knocked her off her horse, causing her injuries. The court awarded her £20 for damages. During the case, it was mentioned that she lived at St. John's Villa in Clifton, Bristol. She had been riding horses for twenty years and owned two horses. After the accident, Miss Fenton had to stay in bed for two weeks and use crutches for four weeks. She said her injuries stopped her from riding and walking for long periods. She also missed out on activities like archery and croquet.
Joining a Special Society
In 1873, Miss Fenton gave a presentation to the Philatelic Society, London. This society is now known as the Royal Philatelic Society London. Her presentation was about "The Secret Marks on the Stamps of Peru". This talk was later published in The Stamp Collector's Magazine in January 1874. She officially joined the society in 1879. However, she only stayed a member for one year. Records suggest she left because of some "discourtesy" from one of the society's officers.
Her Legacy
Adelaide Lucy Fenton never married. She passed away on February 6, 1897, at her home in Clifton, Bristol. Her belongings, including many important books and writings about stamps, were sold at an auction.
In August 2018, a small portrait of Miss Fenton was shown on the BBC Television show Antiques Roadshow. This portrait was painted when she was young, around the time of her first big social event. One of her old dresses was also shown on the program.
See also
- Charlotte Tebay
Selected publications
- "The Peruvian Stamps" as Fentonia in The Stamp-Collector's Magazine, 1 June 1865, pp.87–89.
