Stuart Rossiter
Encyclopedia
Percival "Stuart" Bryce Rossiter (1923–1982) was a renowned British philatelist and postal historian who wrote extensively about British postal history
and postage stamp
s of British colonies in Africa and was actively involved in numerous philatelic institutions. In his Will he created The Stuart Rossiter Trust
which has become a leading publisher of books on postal history.
in Suffolk, leaving in 1941, after which he served in RAF Fighter Command
during World War II
, achieving the rank of Flying Officer. After the war he completed his education at King's College, Cambridge
, where he obtained a BA degree in 1948 and an MA in 1953.
where he rose to become editor (1963–1973). His Blue Guides book on Greece was highly praised and as a result he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
. He also contributed to the Daily Telegraph. His most notable philatelic work is The Stamp Atlas.
He founded and was the Chairman of the East Africa Study Circle and was the editor of its journal. British East Africa was his main philatelic interest and he wrote a series of articles on the postal history of Uganda
that were published in Postal History International.
In 1975 Rossiter became the Editor of The London Philatelist
. He became President of the Society of Postal Historians in 1977 and was also the editor of The Postscript its journal. As a collector of stamps and postal history Rossiter had a sizable collection which he often exhibited internationally.
As a student of postal history, Rossiter realized that a knowledge of geographical and political changes was essential to a proper understanding of philately. The arduous task of locating such relevant information is what led Rossiter and John Flower, working through the renowned Blue Guides, to propose a Stamp Atlas, which was finally completed after his death in 1982.
Postal history
Postal history is the study of postal systems and how they operate and, or, the study of postage stamps and covers and associated material illustrating historical episodes of postal systems...
and postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s of British colonies in Africa and was actively involved in numerous philatelic institutions. In his Will he created The Stuart Rossiter Trust
Stuart Rossiter Trust
The Stuart Rossiter Trust is a British charitable trust that was created by the will of the philatelist and postal historian Stuart Rossiter and subsequently the will of his mother....
which has become a leading publisher of books on postal history.
Early life
Stuart was educated at Framlingham CollegeFramlingham College
Framlingham College is an independent, coeducational boarding and day school in the town of Framlingham, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. Together with its preparatory school, Brandeston Hall and Little Bears Nursery it serves pupils from 2 1/2 to eighteen years of age.-History of Framlingham...
in Suffolk, leaving in 1941, after which he served in RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, achieving the rank of Flying Officer. After the war he completed his education at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, where he obtained a BA degree in 1948 and an MA in 1953.
Career
Rossiter was employed as Assistant Librarian at Westminster City and Kent County Libraries and in 1954 joined the staff of the Blue GuidesBlue Guides
The Blue Guides are a series of highly detailed and authoritative travel guidebooks focusing almost exclusively on art and architecture along with the history and context necessary to understand them...
where he rose to become editor (1963–1973). His Blue Guides book on Greece was highly praised and as a result he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
. He also contributed to the Daily Telegraph. His most notable philatelic work is The Stamp Atlas.
Philately
Stuart Rossiter became interested in stamp collecting and geography from the age of six and he would pursue these interests throughout his life. He is famous for his international stamp exhibitions through which he would display various portions of his extensive personal collection along with those of other collectors. Rossiter edited the London Philatelist, house journal of The Royal Philatelic Society London, from 1975 and in 1977 became President of the Society of Postal Historians.He founded and was the Chairman of the East Africa Study Circle and was the editor of its journal. British East Africa was his main philatelic interest and he wrote a series of articles on the postal history of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
that were published in Postal History International.
In 1975 Rossiter became the Editor of The London Philatelist
The London Philatelist
The London Philatelist was first published in January 1892 and is the journal of the Royal Philatelic Society London.It is published ten times annually and includes coverage of worldwide philatelic and postal history topics...
. He became President of the Society of Postal Historians in 1977 and was also the editor of The Postscript its journal. As a collector of stamps and postal history Rossiter had a sizable collection which he often exhibited internationally.
As a student of postal history, Rossiter realized that a knowledge of geographical and political changes was essential to a proper understanding of philately. The arduous task of locating such relevant information is what led Rossiter and John Flower, working through the renowned Blue Guides, to propose a Stamp Atlas, which was finally completed after his death in 1982.
Selected publications
Some of Rossiter's works include:- The Stamp Atlas
- History of the East African Army Postal Service
- The Blue Guide Denmark
- The Blue Guide London
- Rome and Environs (Blue guides)
- Greece (Blue guides)
- Yugoslavia: the Adriatic Coast (Blue guides)
- The London Quiz Book, 1957.