Agathon K. Fabergé

(1876-1951)

Philatelists will often see the provenance ‘Ex Fabergé’ in auction catalogues and websites. If you’re not aware, this small piece of information most likely refers to the world-famous philatelist Agathon Karlovich Fabergé, who was born in Russia, and is probably better known as being the son of the famous jeweller Peter Karl Gustavovich Fabergé, creator of Fabergé eggs.

Those two words may also refer to Oleg A. Fabergé (1923-1993) the son of Agathon, who became a recognised philatelist in his own right. But let’s start with Agathon, who was also a professional jeweller, collected art, and worked at the famous house of Fabergé from 1892 until, in the 1920s, his family had to flee Russia for Finland due to the threat of revolution.

In fact, whilst his family fled, the loyal Agathon stayed in Russia and faced the music, being imprisoned for his stance. In 1927 he was smuggled out of prison, out of Russia and to the safety of Finland, where he took with him his beloved stamp collection and some of his fine art and antique furniture. Much of these valuables sustained him in funds during the remainder of his life in Finland.

Although he ended his days in Finland, he is one of Russia’s most famous philatelists. And as we have heard he also gave life to another world-class philatelist in the shape of his son Oleg Fabergé. Such was the influence of the father and son collectors, the Russian Academy of Philately created The Fabergé Medal in their memory. The award features engraved portraits of the pair and is given to collectors and outstanding figures in politics, science and culture who carry out public charitable activities in the promotion, strengthening and development of Russian philately.

Oleg also produced a book called Imperial Russia Zemstvo Post, published by the Philatelic Federation of Finland, ironically, which contains reproductions in colour of the magnificent Oleg Fabergé collection and exhibit of Zemstvos. His passion for these stamps (and much of the material in his collection) will have come from his father, who also had a fascination with the local Russian stamps, indeed stamp folklore suggests Agathon eagerly pursued Ferrary’s Zemstvos for much of his life.

Agathon joined the St. Petersburg section of the International Philatelic Society of Dresden where he met many well known collectors and acquired important pieces for his collection. He was actively involved with major philatelic exhibitions in Helsinki, Berlin, Vienna, Paris, and Brussels in the late 1920s through to the 1940s, some of which he exhibited at or served as a judge.

Although recorded as a famous Russian philatelist, he is known to have had the largest collection of Finnish postage stamps in the world, as well as extensive Russian and Polish material. He also assembled a unique collection of philatelic material of the Russian Empire.

The Fabergé Collection was presented at an out-of-competition show during the International Philatelic Exhibition in Vienna in 1933. Of course, the collection was a show stopper, and ensures that although the name Fabergé is synonymous with a bejewelled egg, Agathon is synonymous with Russian and Finnish philately, and his son followed his lead to leave an impressive philatelic legacy.

In 1939, Agathon Fabergé sold the majority of his stamp collection at auction in London. Now whilst we have introduced two top flight philatelists,we shall crown only one a ‘Philatelic Emperor’ who is worthy of his place in our philatelic hall of fame, and that’s Agathon K. Fabergé.