Michael Sefi
Encyclopedia
Michael Richard Sefi is a British
philatelist
, Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection
since 1 January 2003.
Born in London
, Sefi worked as a chartered accountant
until a partial retirement at the end of 1992. He became an associate of Deloitte & Touche
in the 1980s.
When a child, his grandfather introduced him to stamp collecting
. He went back to it in his thirties when his own children received stamps and albums
as a gift and while he was looking for a hobby to ease the stress from the Deloitte and Touche fusion. He specialized in the first postage stamps of George V
's reign.
Quickly he became an active member of the Great Britain Philatelic Society of which he was president between 2000 and 2002, then of the Royal Philatelic Society London where he has been a member of many decision-making bodies since 1990.
In September 1996, he was hired as adjoint to the Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection
, Charles Goodwyn
. He helped him accelerate the mounting of the George VI
collection. He participated in international philatelic exhibitions of parts of the Royal Collection and in welcoming students and researchers. He played a major role in the move of the collection from Buckingham
to St. James's Palace
at the beginning of the 2000s.
When Goodwyn announced his retirement late 2002, Sefi was chosen to succeed him among three other candidates by the Keeper of the Privy Purse
. Sefi directed the preparations of The Queen's Own, a Royal Collection exhibit at the National Postal Museum
in Washington, D.C.
in 2004.
To assist him, he kept architect and conservation specialist Surésh Dhargalkar
, assistant since 1996 who became adjoint to the Keeper in 2003. To help him for the mounting, he hired George VI specialist, Rod Vousden, as assistant.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
philatelist
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
, Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection
Royal Philatelic Collection
The Royal Philatelic Collection is the postage stamp collection of the British Royal Family. It is the most comprehensive collection of items related to the philately of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth, with many unique pieces.- Early history :...
since 1 January 2003.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Sefi worked as a chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
until a partial retirement at the end of 1992. He became an associate of Deloitte & Touche
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited , commonly referred to as Deloitte, is one of the Big Four accountancy firms along with PricewaterhouseCoopers , Ernst & Young, and KPMG....
in the 1980s.
When a child, his grandfather introduced him to stamp collecting
Stamp collecting
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
. He went back to it in his thirties when his own children received stamps and albums
Stamp album
A stamp album is a book, often loose-leafed , in which a collection of postage stamps may be stored and displayed.- Overview :...
as a gift and while he was looking for a hobby to ease the stress from the Deloitte and Touche fusion. He specialized in the first postage stamps of George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
's reign.
Quickly he became an active member of the Great Britain Philatelic Society of which he was president between 2000 and 2002, then of the Royal Philatelic Society London where he has been a member of many decision-making bodies since 1990.
In September 1996, he was hired as adjoint to the Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection
Royal Philatelic Collection
The Royal Philatelic Collection is the postage stamp collection of the British Royal Family. It is the most comprehensive collection of items related to the philately of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth, with many unique pieces.- Early history :...
, Charles Goodwyn
Charles Wyndham Goodwyn
Charles Wyndham Goodwyn is a British philatelist, and was Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection between September 1995 and January 2003.- Biography :...
. He helped him accelerate the mounting of the George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
collection. He participated in international philatelic exhibitions of parts of the Royal Collection and in welcoming students and researchers. He played a major role in the move of the collection from Buckingham
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
to St. James's Palace
St. James's Palace
St. James's Palace is one of London's oldest palaces. It is situated in Pall Mall, just north of St. James's Park. Although no sovereign has resided there for almost two centuries, it has remained the official residence of the Sovereign and the most senior royal palace in the UK...
at the beginning of the 2000s.
When Goodwyn announced his retirement late 2002, Sefi was chosen to succeed him among three other candidates by the Keeper of the Privy Purse
Keeper of the Privy Purse
The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom....
. Sefi directed the preparations of The Queen's Own, a Royal Collection exhibit at the National Postal Museum
National Postal Museum
The National Postal Museum, located opposite Union Station in Washington, D.C., USA, was established through joint agreement between the United States Postal Service and the Smithsonian Institution and opened in 1993. The museum is located across the street from Union Station, in the building that...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 2004.
To assist him, he kept architect and conservation specialist Surésh Dhargalkar
Surésh Dhargalkar
Surésh Dhargalkar, LVO RIBA FRPSL was a British architect. He spent all his career at the service of the British monarchy: first to maintain the royal castles, then to help manage the Royal Philatelic Collection after 1996.- Biography :...
, assistant since 1996 who became adjoint to the Keeper in 2003. To help him for the mounting, he hired George VI specialist, Rod Vousden, as assistant.
External links
- "In the Spotlight", interview of Sefi by Larry Rosenblum on 15 October 2004. Published in The Chronicle, journal of the Great Britain Collectors Club, January 2005. Reedited on the GBCC website, 28 May 2005, retrieved 20 December 2007.
- Sefi, Michael. "A Collector's Tale", Royal MailRoyal MailRoyal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
website, retrieved 20 December 2007.