John Marriott (philatelist)
Encyclopedia
John Brook Marriott was a British
teacher and philatelist
. He was the Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection
between 1969 and 1995.
during World War II
, Marriott was quickly sent in 1943 to Bletchley Park
, then the United Kingdom's main codebreaking establishment.
He taught mathematics from 1945 to 1982 at the Charterhouse School
, in Godalming
, Surrey
, where he was a housemaster
from 1960 to 1975.
A Stamp collector
from the age of twelve, Marriott was a specialist in Trinidad
postal history. In 1952 he sold part of this collection in order to set up a new home after his marriage. He rebuilt his collection again and won medals at international philatelic exhibitions.
In 1969, John Wilson
, Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection
, suggested Marriott as his successor. As a member since 1965 of the Royal Philatelic Society London's Expert Committee, of which Wilson was Chairman, Marriott was very familiar with the Royal Collection. From 1969 to 1995, he divided his time between Charterhouse and London. His wife replaced him at the boarding house when he was at Buckingham Palace
.
Because Wilson had preferred to let time pass between receiving new stamp issues from Britain and the Commonwealth
and mounting them into albums
, Marriott began to mount the issues of the Elizabeth II
's reign into green leather covered albums, and continued the mounting of the King George VI
blue collection. Apart from new issues sent by postal administrations, Marriott bought "errors, freaks, and oddities
" : stamps with missing colours or inverted picture for example. Like his predecessor, Marriott travelled thirty-nine times with parts of the Collection to international exhibitions. He helped to organize the "London 1980" International Stamp Exhibition at Earl's Court, and the "London 1990" International Stamp Exhibition at Alexandra Palace
.
He retired from teaching in 1982 and was elected to serve as president of the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL) from 1983 until 1986. He had been a vice-president of the society since 1979.
Facing an increasing amount of work and activities, he was the first Keeper of the Royal Collection to have a deputy: Charles Wyndham Goodwyn
, president of the RPSL since 1991. He helped Marriott mount the collection, prepare exhibitions and write articles which permitted the Royal Philatelic Collection to be self-sufficient.
Marriott gave up his function of Keeper to Goodwyn in September 1995.
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...
teacher and 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...
. He was 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 :...
between 1969 and 1995.
Biography
A mathematics graduate from the University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
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...
, Marriott was quickly sent in 1943 to Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...
, then the United Kingdom's main codebreaking establishment.
He taught mathematics from 1945 to 1982 at the Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
, in Godalming
Godalming
Godalming is a town and civil parish in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, south of Guildford. It is built on the banks of the River Wey and is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt. Godalming shares a three-way twinning arrangement with the towns of Joigny in France...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, where he was a housemaster
Housemaster
In British education, a housemaster is a member of staff in charge of a boarding house, normally at a boarding school . The housemaster is responsible for the supervision and care of boarders in the house and typically lives on the premises...
from 1960 to 1975.
A Stamp collector
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 :...
from the age of twelve, Marriott was a specialist in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
postal history. In 1952 he sold part of this collection in order to set up a new home after his marriage. He rebuilt his collection again and won medals at international philatelic exhibitions.
In 1969, John Wilson
John Wilson (philatelist)
John Mitchell Harvey Wilson was a British philatelist, Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection from 1938 to 1969...
, 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 :...
, suggested Marriott as his successor. As a member since 1965 of the Royal Philatelic Society London's Expert Committee, of which Wilson was Chairman, Marriott was very familiar with the Royal Collection. From 1969 to 1995, he divided his time between Charterhouse and London. His wife replaced him at the boarding house when he was at Buckingham Palace
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...
.
Because Wilson had preferred to let time pass between receiving new stamp issues from Britain and the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
and mounting them into 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 :...
, Marriott began to mount the issues of the Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
's reign into green leather covered albums, and continued the mounting of the King 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...
blue collection. Apart from new issues sent by postal administrations, Marriott bought "errors, freaks, and oddities
Errors, freaks, and oddities
In philately, "errors, freaks, and oddities" or "EFO" is a blanket term referring to all the kinds of things that can go wrong when producing postage stamps...
" : stamps with missing colours or inverted picture for example. Like his predecessor, Marriott travelled thirty-nine times with parts of the Collection to international exhibitions. He helped to organize the "London 1980" International Stamp Exhibition at Earl's Court, and the "London 1990" International Stamp Exhibition at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
.
He retired from teaching in 1982 and was elected to serve as president of the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL) from 1983 until 1986. He had been a vice-president of the society since 1979.
Facing an increasing amount of work and activities, he was the first Keeper of the Royal Collection to have a deputy: Charles Wyndham 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 :...
, president of the RPSL since 1991. He helped Marriott mount the collection, prepare exhibitions and write articles which permitted the Royal Philatelic Collection to be self-sufficient.
Marriott gave up his function of Keeper to Goodwyn in September 1995.
Honours and awards
- Member of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1978, Commander in 1991 and Knight Commander in 1995.
- Tilleard Medal in 1968 from the RPSL for the exhibition of his Trinidad collection. This collection won a gold medal at the 1960 London and the 1967 Amsterdam exhibitions.
- Signatory of the Roll of Distinguished PhilatelistsRoll of Distinguished PhilatelistsThe Roll of Distinguished Philatelists is a philatelic award of international scale, created by the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain in 1921...
in 1972. - Alfred LichtensteinAlfred Lichtenstein (philatelist)Alfred F. Lichtenstein was one of the most famous American philatelists.- Biography :Alfred Lichtenstein's classic stamp collections were one of the most complete, with a passion for stamps issued before 1870...
Memorial Award in 1988 from the Collectors Club of New YorkCollectors Club of New YorkThe Collectors Club of New York, often referred to as the Collectors Club, is a private club and philatelic society in New York City. Founded in 1896, it is one of the oldest existing philatelic societies in the United States...
for his actions in favor of philately.
External links
- Kiddle, Francis, « Obituary: Sir John Marriott », nécrologie publiée dans The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, Londres, 17 juillet 2001.