William Hughes-Hughes

William Hughes-Hughes J.P. D.L. (1817 - 7 January 1902) was a founding member of The Philatelic Society, London, which subsequently became The Royal Philatelic Society London, and one of the small group who met regularly at the Rev. Stainforth's Rectory before that society was formed. He may therefore be called one of the first philatelists.
He was reported to have become a collector in 1859 and ceased in 1874 having spent £69. His collection was then sold by Stanley Gibbons for £3000 in 1896. It included a number of rarities:
British Guiana 1856 4 cents on blue 'sugar' paper
Canada 12d black
One of the four unused Great Britain Penny Red plate 77 (subsequently sold to Herbert L'Estrange Ewen who sold it to Henry J. Crocker, and believed destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake or the fire that followed.)
Cape of Good Hope 4d red Woodblock error of colour (Reckoned to be rarer than a Post Office Mauritius)
Reunion 1852 15c
Naples 1860 ½ tornese in both types.
Hughes-Hughes was a Barrister by profession. He had attended Tonbridge School.
Mr M.E. Hughes-Hughes also later became a member of the Royal Philatelic Society London.