This is Aylesbury, which was the other end of the line until 1961, though in 1948 it started to be called Aylesbury Town. After that the Metropolitan Western Terminus was Amersham. Aylesbury saw the arrival of the train 1839 but it was part of the London and Birmingham Railway, not the Metropolitan. They did not have a station until 1863, and that was for the Wycombe Railway, which became part of the Great Western empire in the late 1860s. After that it was served by the Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway, who were bought out by the Metropolitan Railway, giving them the station.
This set first appears in our original Ogdens reference book RB.15, issued in 1949, where it is catalogued as :
88. 50. FOWLS, PIGEONS & DOGS. Numbered on fronts. Fronts lithographed in colour. Backs in green with descriptive text. Home issue, 1904.
Variety, No.12 is found with three different captions
a) Pouter
b) Pouter (Norwich Cropper) - "Norwich Cropper" added in grey letters, two differing sizes of lettering known.
c) Norwich Cropper.
Similar series issued by Fry and Smith (all subjects), Churchman (Dogs & Fowls) and Edwards, Ringer & Bigg and Imperial Tobacco Co. of Canada (Dogs only)
Its next appearance is in the original World Tobacco Issues Index, where our version appears as just "FOWLS, PIGEONS & DOGS. Sm. Nd. (50). See RB.15/88 and H.64"
That H.64, is the handbook, and the entry, to which I have added the dates of issue, is
H.64. FOWLS, PIGEONS & DOGS or DOGS AND FOWLS, or DOGS SERIES. (titled, except Edwards, Ringer & Bigg). Fronts in colour, illustrated in Notes & News, Vol.1. No,4.
Pre-1919
- Churchman - Titled "Dogs & Fowls". Series of 38 (April 1908)
- Edwards, Ringer & Bigg - Untitled series of 23. Dogs only (March 1908)
- Ogden - Titled "Fowls, Pigeons & Dogs". Series of 50 (3 variations No.12) Illustrated in "Notes & News Vol.1 No.6 (May 1904)
- Smith - Titled "Fowls, Pigeons & Dogs"..Series of 50 (May 1908)
Trade -
- Fry (cocoa) - Titled "Fowls, Pigeons & Dogs".. Series of 50
Overseas -
- Gevolgelte (Holland) - Titled "Durven & Housen". Series of 48
- Imperial Tobacco Co. of Canada - Titled "Dogs Series". Series of 23, serial No, 7605. Recorded in Burdick under C.7, page 40
And from now on, as we feature these other issuers, I will link them in on this above list, using bold type.