Ray J. Ceresa

Raymond John Ceresa (25 March 1929 – 10 June 2017) was an English chemist, stamp collector and philatelic expert on postage stamps of Russia and areas from the 1917–23 era. Ceresa wrote a five-volume monumental work on these issues.

Ray J. Ceresa
Born	Raymond John Ceresa March 25, 1929
Died	10 June 2017 (aged 88) West Sussex, England
Nationality	British
Education	PhD Chemistry
Occupation	Engineer
Engineering career
Projects	5 Volume work on the postage stamps of Russia 1917–23.
Awards	American Revenue Association exhibition award: twice silver, Chicagopex 2004 silver.

Chemistry

Ceresa specialised in block and graft copolymers. He has written several books about the subject:

• Block and Graft Copolymers (1963)
• Block and Graft Copolymerization (1973)
• Block and Graft Copolymerization: v. 2 (1975)

Collecting interests and memberships

The postage stamps of Russia and areas, Russian forgeries, Russian revenues, stamps and documents.

Ceresa was member of the board of directors of the Rossica Society of Russian Philately and was member of BSRP, UPNS, UPV, and socs. in Germany, ANZAC.

Philatelic literature

Ceresa has written a monumental work on the postage stamps of Russia in the 1917–23 era:

• The Postage Stamps of Russia 1917–23 (1983)

Volume 1. Armenia

Part 1 The 60 Kopeck surcharges

Part 2 The Small and Medium sized Framed HP Monogram Overprints

Part 3 The Large sized Framed HP Monogram Overprints

Parts 4/5 The Unframed HP Monogram Overprints

Parts 6/7 the 1, 3 and 5 Rouble HH Surcharges

Parts 8/9 The 10, 25, 50, and 100 Rouble HH Surcharges

Parts 10/13 The Pictorial Issues and Surcharges

Volume 2. Ukraine

Parts 1/2 The Trident Issues of Odesa Types I to IV

Parts 3/4 The Trident Issues of Odesa Types V and VI

Parts 5/6 The Trident Issues of Katerinoslav and Poltava

Parts 7/8 The Trident Issues of Kharkiv Types I, II and III

Parts 9/13 The Trident Issues of Kyiv Types I, II and III (TEXT)

Parts 9/13 The Trident Issues of Kyiv Types I, II and III (PLATES)

Parts 14/19 The Trident Issues of Podilia Types Ia to XVIe (TEXT)

Parts 14/19 The Trident Issues of Podilia Types Ia to XVIe (PLATES)

Parts 20/23 The Special Trident Issues (TEXT)

Parts 20/23 The Special Trident Issues (PLATES)

Parts 24/26 The Shahiv, Hryven and Vienna Issues. (TEXT)

Parts 24/26 The Shahiv, Hryven and Vienna Issues. (PLATES)

Volume 3. Armies and Post Offices

Parts 1/2 North Western and Northern Armies

Parts 3/5 Siberia, Far East and Related Issues

Parts 6/12 South Russia and Russian Refugee Post Issues (TEXT & PLATES "A")

Parts 6/12 South Russia and Russian Refugee Post Issues (PLATES "B")

Parts 13/15 Russian Post Offices in China

Parts 16/18 Russian Post Offices in the Levant and White Armies

Parts 19/21 Addenda to North Western and Northern Armies, Siberia and F.E.R.

Parts 22/24 Addenda to Issues for S. Russia, Crimea, White Armies & P.O.'s etc.

Volume 4. Transcaucasia

Parts 1/5 Azerbaijan sections A and B

Parts 6/7 Sections C1 and CII

Parts 8/12 Georgia Sections A and B

Parts 13/16 Batum sections A and B

Volume 5. The RSFSR

Parts 1/5 October 1917 to early March 1920

Parts 6/9 March 1920 to August 1921 Armavir to Kharkiv

Parts 10/12 Mar1920 to Aug 1921 Kharkov to Zkukovka

Parts 13/18 Definitive issues of 1921

Parts 13/18 Provisional and Commemorative issues

Parts 19/25 1922 issues

Parts 19/25 1922 issues continued

Parts 26/29 1923 Star Surcharges

Parts 30/31 1923 Small Heads

Parts 32/40 Late 1923 issues

Supplement:

• Russian Postage Stamps 1917–1923 Pocket Forgery Guide (2004–2005)

Part 1 Russia – North Western Army, Kopeck Values

Part 2 Russia- North Western Army, Ruble Values

Part 3 Armenia – 60 Kopeck Overprints

Part 4A Russia – Ukraine, Odessa Type I

Part 4B Russia – Ukraine, Odessa Type II Tridents

Part 5 Russia – Northern Army

Part 6 Armenia – Small Framed HP Monograms

Part 7A Russia – Ukraine, Odessa Type III Tridents

Part 8 Russia – Western Army Overprints

Part 9 Armenia – Medium Framed HP Monograms

Part 10 Russia – Ukraine Odessa Types V

Part 11 Russia – Ukraine Odessa Types VI

Part 12 South Russia – Don Territory, Kossack Government

Part 13 Russia – Siberia, Far Eastern Republic

Parts 19/20 Russia – Siberia Priamur and Maritime Provinces and Soviet Far East Issues

Articles in philatelic journals

Ceresa authored many articles in journals of Russian Philatelic Societies.

• Rossica.
• Pochta.
• BJRP – The British Journal of Russian Philately.
• Ямщик – The Post-Rider.

Honors and awards

Dr. Ray Ceresa was awarded many times for his exhibits and literature. An incomplete list:

• STAMPEX 2011, Large Vermeil – Revenue Class: 'The Revenue Stamps Used in Armenia from 1918 to 1930'.
• ROSSICAPEX 2009, Silver medals for two exhibits Armenian Revenues – Their Use on Receipts 1918–1924 and The Trident Revenues of Podolia, Ukraine, 1919 from the American Revenue Association.
• CHICAGOPEX 2007 Palmares, Silver Bronze – category Literature: 'Russian Postage Stamps 1917–1923, Pocket Forgery Guide, Booklets 8 (Russia – Western Army) and 10A (Russia – Ukraine, Odessa Type Va Tridents).
• CHICAGOPEX 2006 Palmares, Vermeil – category Literature: 'Russian Postage Stamps 1917–1923, Pocket Forgery Guide, Booklets 7B and 9'.
• CHICAGOPEX 2004 Palmares, Silver – category Literature: 'Russian Postage Stamps 1917–1923, Pocket Forgery Guide, Booklets 1-4B'.

See also

• Philately
• Philatelic literature

References

• Ceresa profile at Rossica website