William Beilby Avery

Sir William Beilby Avery, 1st Baronet (26 April 1854 ) was a British philatelist who was entered on the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1921 as one of the fathers of philately. His grandfather was the elder brother in W. & T. Avery, weighing machine makers of Birmingham and until he retired Sir William managed a great expansion of that business.

Baronetcy Avery, member of a long-established dynasty of scale makers and third son of William Henry Avery of Edgbaston, was created a baronet in 1905. but of late maintained a house, Oakley Court, at Bray, Windsor, and a house in town in Portland Place, where he died.

Philately Avery acquired the Bullock collection of Australia, which included many fine Sydney Views, and collections of West Indies and Western Australia from Charles Phillips. He also owned a unique large unused block of the Swiss Double Geneva and had fine holdings of Moldavia and Nevis. With extensive buying in England and Europe, Avery built one of the finest collections of his day.

In organised philately, Avery was President of the Birmingham Philatelic Society.

Birmingham University He was a life governor of Birmingham University.