Benjamin Franklin Stevens
American Bibliographer, Bookseller, and Library Agent
Benjamin Franklin
Stevens was born in Barnet, Vermont on February 19, 1833 . He went to
college at the University of Vermont. For a brief period he worked at the
Vermont State Library. In 1860 he moved to England where he spent the rest
of his life. He died on March 5, 1902 in Surrey, England. One of his most
notable accomplishments was the compilation of the 25 volume publication -
Facsimiles of Manuscripts in European Archives Relating to America, 1773-1783,
with Descriptions, References and Translations. The photograph of Stevens is
by J. Hallet Hyatt and is from the book Memoir of Benjamin Franklin Stevens
by G. Manville Fenn which was printed by the Chiswick Press in London in 1903
for private distribution.
This envelope was
mailed to B. F. (Benjamin Franklin) Stevens at the Astor Library by the Boston
firm of Hubbard Brothers, Stock & Note Brokers in 1858. Stevens was probably
assisting the Astor Library in obtaining books from England where his brother
Henry was a book dealer. B. F. Stevens joined his brother in England in
1860. The envelope is a 1853-55 issue stamped envelope. These envelopes
were printed by the George F. Nesbitt & Co., New York, NY for the U.S. Post
Office Department. Prepayment of postage became mandatory in 1856.
After working
for his brother B. F. Stevens established the firm which became B. F. Stevens &
Brown, American Library and Literary Agents. B. F. Stevens & Brown continued its
service to American libraries after Stevens' death in 1902. Lawrence Clark
Powell wrote a book about the firm in 1959 entitled "...And Brown".
This postal card was mailed to the California State Library in 1905 asking if
the library intended to renew periodical subscriptions through B.F. Stevens &
Brown.
In
1866 Stevens was appointed as Dispatch Agent in London for the United States
Government. He held this appointment until his death in 1902. In
this capacity he received and forwarded all mail sent to personnel in the U.S.
State and Navy Departments in London. This was a supplementary position to
his business as a library and literary agent. This envelope was mailed to
Lt. G. P. Colrocoresses on the U.S.S. Gettysburg on November 6, 1877 in care of
Stevens. Envelopes with Dispatch Agent markings are highly collectible by
philatelists.