Charles Nissen

Charles Nissen (c.1880[1] – 13 March 1944[2]) was a British philatelist, and stamp dealer who discovered the famous stock exchange forgery and wrote, with Bertram McGowan, the definitive book on the plating of the Penny Black.

[4] Nissen discovered the Stock Exchange Forgery of 1872-73 in 1898 when examining used stamps from telegraph forms.

It is believed that a clerk in the Stock Exchange Post Office, London, had been supplementing his income by taking the one shilling telegram fees and using forged stamps instead.

Nissen was an early member of the Fiscal Philatelic Society, and was appointed to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1923.

Nissen & Co. Limited continued after his death and enjoyed a Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II as stamp dealers.

Advertising for Charles Nissen on a booklet pane from the 1929 PUC stamps of Great Britain.
A 1936 Edward VIII booklet pane with similar advertising.
An example of the 1872 Stock Exchange Forgery discovered by Nissen.