Royal Philatelic Collection - Keepers and Curators

Keepers and Curators

Since the 1890s, successive monarchs have employed curators to assist with the management of the collection.

John Tilleard was the first person to manage the collection from the 1890s until his death in 1913, with the title of "Philatelist to the King". Tilleard was followed by Edward Denny Bacon who became "curator" of the collection from 1913 to 1938, when he died just prior to retirement. He started to organize the collection in a comprehensive manner. Bacon was succeeded by John Wilson, then president of Royal Philatelic Society London, with the title of "keeper" and served until 1969. He introduced the coloured albums to keep intact the work of Bacon. He prepared the first loans for exhibitions after World War II.

The last three keepers of the Royal Philatelic Collection have been John Marriott (1969–1995), Charles Wyndham Goodwyn (1995–2002), and Michael Sefi since 1 January 2003. By 2012, six men had taken on this responsibility.