Background
Samuel began collecting specimen stamps in 1924 when his father acquired a collection which contained many specimens.
Samuel began collecting specimen stamps in 1924 when his father acquired a collection which contained many specimens.
He was a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London. He was allowed to keep the specimens in return for removing the other stamps from the album. He subsequently formed a comprehensive collection of specimen stamps at a time when few other collectors were interested in them.
Dealers were pleased to sell him their unwanted stamps and one was quoted as saying "The trouble with Marcus is that all his stamps are overprinted specimen".
In 1937 Samuel joined the Royal Philatelic Society, resigning when he became a professional philatelist with Robson Lowe after the end of World World War World War II In 1971 he retired and rejoined the Royal as a Fellow in 1972. During World World War II he served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he used his knowledge of wireless.
The loss of his sight in the early 1990s, caused Marcus to give up active philately.