# 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.

## 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'.