This April is the 125th anniversary of Dr. Per Gellein’s birth. Dr. Gellein was a major Norwegian philatelist in the last century. When his collection was sold in 1982, it supposedly created a new Norwegian philatelic sales record. Dr. Gellein was distinguished with most philatelic awards that can be given in Norway. He held many offices, including, for many years, as President for Norsk Filatelistforbund. He was also the author and editor of numerous philatelic books and articles.
To me, he was first and foremost “Onkel Per”. He was my dad’s uncle, married to my grandfather’s younger sister, Laura Helene Brande. As a young child I vividly remember many visits to their home in Holmenkollveien 10 at Smedstad in Oslo. The smell of pipe tobacco was always in the air. There was usually one or several stamp albums open on the coffee table. Yet, at that time, I was too young to understand the significance of his collection. I just new his hobby was “stamp collecting”. As a physician, he was an ear, nose and throat specialist, who often saw patients in his home. I recall more than one incident where my parents brought me to see “Onkel Per” because of an ailment. When I was a little older he also planted the seed that would open the door to me becoming a philatelist myself. Around the age of 10 or so, he gave me a copy of Norgeskatalogen 1976. Little did I know at the time that this was a catalog for which he himself was one of the editors. It was, as it turned out, the last catalog he was involved with as an editor. I also recall visiting the Norwex exhibit in Norway in 1980 where he exhibited in the honor class. Yet, I regret that at that age I did not have the maturity, insight, or knowledge to ask him more about his stamp collection.
Per Gellein was born in Kristiania (now Oslo) on April 2, 1899. The eldest son of Mathias Fredrik Fyhn Gellein (1867-1945) and Valerie Eugenie Severen (1869-1956), he grew up at Frogner, in Oslo, first in Elisenbergveien, and later a few blocks away in Erling Skjalgsonsgate. It is safe to assume that the Gelleins were likely an upper middle-class family. Frogner, was then as it is today, one of the more prominent neighborhoods in Oslo. His father was an administrator in the Norwegian Navy. According to the census, their household included a live-in housekeeper.
The early 1900s was a time when philately was on the rise world-wide. Growing up in an affluent part of town with a father working for the marine, it is likely that he was exposed to stamps and the idea of collecting them from an early age. What we do know is that he joined Kristiania Filatelistsklubb (now Oslo Filatelist Klubb or OFK) as soon as he was of legal age to join, which was 21 at the time. As such, it is safe to assume he joined OFK in the spring of 1920.
Per Gellein as a student 1917. Public domain photograph – Gustav Borgen.
In the census of 1923 he is still listed as living at his parents home with profession listed as Medical Student. In 1924 he moves to Skei in Surnadalen in the western part of Norway for his medical residency. It is there that he meets my great-aunt, Laura Helene Brande. Laura was a pharmacist in her childhood town of Kristiansund, the nearest big city to Surnadalen. It is not unlikely they met through the pharmacy at which Laura worked. They were married in Trondheim on June 11, 1926. He returned to Oslo in 1929 to receive his medical degree. He an Laura continued to live in Skei until 1932 after which they permanently relocated to Oslo. They lived in a beautiful home in Holmenkollveien 10 at Smedstad in Oslo. I do not know if they purchased this home immediately upon relocating to Oslo or if they lived someplace else first. By the time my father moved to Oslo in 1947 for dental studies he rented a room in their house in Holmenkollveien, so they were definitely there by this time.
Per and Laura Gellein during their time in Surnadalen. Family photo.
While his career as a doctor is a story in itself, this story will focus on his life as a philatelist. From his return to Oslo in 1932 it is said he had perfect attendance at OFK meetings. With the kind research assistance of OFK Librarian Kjell Åge Johansen, we have gained a few glimpses into some of his presentations in OFK meetings:
- 1936: Presentation on Spanish History and Spanish Stamps
- September 21, 1953: Presentation on German Kingdoms
- November 19, 1962: Presentation on Norwegian stamps printed by Centraltrykkeriet and Knudsen.
In the late 50s and early 60s he is also frequently listed as a judge in club philatelic trivia contests.
Over the years he held numerous offices. For years, he represented OFK at the annual meetings of Norsk Filatlistforbund (NFF -The Norwegian Philatelic Association, equivalent to our American Philatelic Society). For a while, during the difficult years of World War 2, he served as President of NFF and presided over their annual meetings. He was an active researcher and writer on a variety of philatelic topics. He was very involved with the publication of “Håndbok Over Norske Frimerker” (Handbook of Norwegian Stamps), released in three volumes throughout the 1960s. He served on the committee for Norgeskatalogen, the definitive catalog for Norwegian stamps, from the 1960s through 1976.
He was recognized with most awards that can be bestowed in Norwegian philatelic circles, including honorary member of Oslo Filatelist Klubb and Norsk Posthistorisk Selskap (Society of Norwegian Postal History). He received the club’s distinguished “Det Gylne Posthorn” order and NFF’s “Sølvløven”, as well as “Den Blå Løve” from Bergen Filatalist Klubb. He was also one of very few honored with the distinguished “Andressen-Dethloff” award.
Selection of Dr. Per Gellein mint Norway Skilling Blocks from Germeten auction catalog 1982. Courtesy of Kjell Germeten A/S.
Besides being an expert on Norwegian stamps, Dr. Gellein’s collection interest included many other areas including German Kingdoms, Denmark, and France.
Portions of his Norwegian collection was exhibited in the honor class at the Norwex International Stamp Show in 1980. Sadly, it would be the last time Dr. Gellein exhibited and the last opportunity for the world to see his stamps. Shortly thereafter he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Knowing that the end was likely near, he arranged for his collection to be sold through Kjell Germeten in 1982.
Laura and Per Gellein in the 1970s. Photo Credit: Bent Brande.
Per Gellein passed away on January 8, 1983. In his obituary, his friend Leiv Brecke wrote the following:
“Per Gellein was a wonderful human being, a loyal friend and club member. He was always willing to lend a hand when it came to questions about stamps and collections and to help others when they were stuck with a challenging (philatelic) problem. He will be deeply missed.”
After Dr. Gellein’s passing, his wife Laura donated NOK 100,000.00 to Norsk Posthistorisk Selskap (Society for Norwegian Postal History). This was the foundation for the Dr. Per Gellein Memorial Fund, which to this day provides funding for the support of research and publications on Norwegian Postal History.
I was glad I had the opportunity know “Onkel Per”, even if only for a short time. I am reminded of him on a daily basis. My wife Anne and I were married a few years after his widow Laura passed away in 1990. She had expressed a wish that we should inherit their wedding bands. As such, Anne wears Laura’s ring, and I wear his. If that ring could only speak of all the rare stamps it has touched through the years… 🙂