Hiram Edmund Deats


Hiram Edmund Deats, of Flemington, New Jersey, was a philatelist especially acclaimed for his collection of revenue stamps.

Collecting interests

As a youth, Deats started collecting postage stamps of the United States and the Confederate States of America and eventually created one of the finest collections of his era, eventually selling the collection.
Deats specialized in the collecting of United States revenue stamps, and his collection, which in 1888 included the revenue collection of Edward Boker Sterling, was unsurpassed. George L. Toppan and Alexander Holland used this collection as a basis for writing, in 1899, An Historical Reference List of the Revenue Stamps of the United States Including the Private Die Proprietary Stamps, which was re-printed in 1979 as The Boston Revenue Book.
Deats also formed one of the finest libraries of philatelic books and literature in the United States, which, in 1952, he donated to the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Philatelic activity

At the age of 16, Deats joined the American Philatelic Association and served the society in various ways, including serving as president and generally attending at conventions.

Honors and awards

Deats signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1933 and was named to the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame in 1963.