The Stuart Rossiter Trust Fund is a British charitable trust (registered charity number 292076) established through the will of philatelist and postal historian Percival Stuart Bryce Rossiter (1923–1982)[2]. The organisation promotes academic research into the history of postal systems globally and supports high-standard publications in this field[4][5].

Founding and purpose

The Trust was created posthumously to advance Rossiter's lifelong dedication to postal history scholarship. Its core activities include funding original research projects, sponsoring authors, and publishing authoritative works on postal communication history[5]. The Trust prioritises academic rigour, aligning with Rossiter's own reputation for meticulous scholarship demonstrated in works such as The Stamp Atlas[2].

Activities

As a specialist publisher, the Trust produces and sells books that document postal history, maintaining a focus on global communication systems[5]. It operates as both a grant-making body and a direct research sponsor, fostering new contributions to postal historiography[4]. The organisation's output continues Rossiter's interdisciplinary approach, combining geographical, historical, and philatelic expertise[2][5].

Governance

Managed in accordance with UK charity law, the Trust sustains its operations through publication revenues and charitable funding[5]. Its governance framework ensures adherence to Rossiter's original vision while adapting to contemporary research methodologies in postal history studies[4].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Rossiter_Trust [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Rossiter [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Charitable_trusts [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/292076 [5] https://www.rossitertrust.com/about-us/