This article provides a wonderful introduction to Roy Robinson, whose birth centenary we celebrate on 14 December 2022. Roy is the only self-educated, self-employed geneticist of whom I am aware.This article is based on a visit by journalist Sally Festing to Robinson's home - the famed St Stephen's Road Nursery - in Ealing, London, in 1977. So far as I can ascertain, the only on-line version of this article is on the Google Books website. If anyone knows of a more accessible source, please let me know. I am indebted to Sarah Hartwell for bringing this article to my attention. Sarah's website has additional intriguing information on Roy.

Robinson's academic output was prodigious, especially for someone with not even secondary education, and never having any affiliation with any university and/or research organisation. An incomplete list of his publications is given below. In the forthcoming months, the list will be completed, hyperlinks will be added, and commentaries will be written on his most important publications.

Robinson, Roy (1951) Dutch-type white-spotting in rabbits. Nature 168: 300.
Robinson, Roy (1953) Segregation of the Satin gene in the rabbit. Journal of Heredity 44: 95-96.
Robinson, Roy (1955) Two new mutations in the Syrian hamster. Nature 176: 353-354.
Robinson, Roy (1955) Viability of Dominant white in the rabbit. Journal of Heredity 46: 266-266.
Robinson, Roy (1957) Partial albinism in Syrian hamster. Nature 180: 443-444.
Robinson, Roy (1958) Genetic studies of the rabbit. Bibliographica Genetica 17: 229-558.
Robinson, Roy (1958) Mosaicism in mammals. Genetica 29: 120-145.
Robinson, Roy (1959) Genetic independence of four mutants in the Syrian hamster. Nature 183: 125-126.
Robinson, Roy (1959) Genetics of the domestic cat. Bibliographia Genetica 18: 273-362.
Robinson, Roy (1959) Colour Breeding of Syrian Hamsters Edn). Robin Bibliographies, London
Robinson, Roy (1959) Genetic studies of the Syrian hamster. III. Variation of dermal pigmentation. Genetica 30: 393-411.
Robinson, Roy (1959) Sable and umbrous mice. Genetica 29: 319-326.
Robinson, Roy (1960) White band, a new spotting mutation in the Syrian hamster. Nature 188: 764-765.
Robinson, Roy (1960) Occurrence of a brown mutation in the Syrian hamster. Nature 187: 170-171.
Robinson, Roy (1962) Genetic studies of the Syrian hamster. V White band. Heredity (Edinb) 17: 477-486.
Robinson, Roy (1962) Genetic studies of the Syrian hamster. IV. Brown pigmentation. Genetica 33: 81-87.
Robinson, Roy (1963) Color mosaics in Syrian hamsters. Journal of Heredity 54: 31-34.
Robinson, Roy (1964) Linkage in Peromyscus. Heredity (Edinb) 19: 701-709.
Robinson, Roy (1964) Genetic studies of the Syrian hamster. VI. Anophthalmic white. Genetica 35: 241-250.
Robinson, Roy (1965) Genetics of the Norway Rat Edn). Pergamon Press, Oxford
Robinson, Roy (1966) Sex-linked yellow in the Syrian hamster. Nature 212: 824-825.
Robinson, Roy (1968) Catalogue and bibliography of canine genetic anomalies Edn). Co-operative Hereditary Abnormalities Research Team, West Wickham
Robinson, Roy (1968) German rex: a rexoid coat mutant in the cat. Genetica 39: 351-352.
Silson, M. and Robinson, Roy (1969) Hereditary hydrocephalus in the cat. Vet Rec 84: 477.
Robinson, Roy (1969) The white tigers of Rewa and gene homology in the Felidae. Genetica 40: 198-200.
Robinson, Roy and Silson, M. (1969) Mutant gene frequencies in cats of Southern England. Theoretical & Applied Genetics 39: 326-329.
Robinson, Roy and Cox, H. W. (1970) Reproductive performance in a cat colony over a 10-year period. Laboratory Animals 4: 99-112.
Robinson, Roy (1970) A review of genetic linkage in the guinea-pig. Ann Genet Sel Anim 2: 241-248.
Robinson, Roy (1970) Homologous mutants in mammalian coat colour variation. Symposia of the Zoological Society of London 26: 251-269.
Robinson, Roy (1970) Inheritance of the black form of the leopard Panthera pardus. Genetica 41: 190-197.
Spendlove, W. H. and Robinson, Roy (1970) A linkage test with satin in the rabbit. Genetica 41: 635-637.
Robinson, Roy (1971) Genetic studies of the Syrian hamster. VII. Independence data. Heredity (Edinb) 26: 65-71.
Robinson, Roy (1971) Lepidoptera Genetics Edn). Pergamon Press, Oxford
Robinson, Roy (1971) The rex mutants of the domestic cat. Genetica 42: 466-468.
Lamoreux, L. and Robinson, Roy (1971) Cat gene frequencies in Richmond, California. Genetica 42: 61-64.
Robinson, Roy (1971) Genetics for Cat Breeders (1st Edn). Pergamon, Oxford
Robinson, Roy (1971) Gene Mapping in Laboratory Mammals, Part A Edn). Plenum Publishing Company Ltd., London
Robinson, Roy (1972) Satin--a new coat mutant in the Syrian hamster. Journal of Heredity 63: 52.
Robinson, Roy (1972) Mutant gene frequencies in cats of Cyprus. Theoretical & Applied Genetics 42: 293-296.
Robinson, Roy (1972) Oregon rex--a fourth rexoid coat mutant in the cat. Genetica 43: 236-238.
Robinson, Roy (1972) Genetic studies of the Syrian hamster. 8. The sex-linked gene tortoiseshell. Genetica 43: 239-243.
Robinson, Roy (1972) Gene Mapping in Laboratory Mammals, Part B Edn). Plenum Publishing Company Ltd., London
Robinson, Roy (1973) Linkage of albinism and brown in the Syrian hamster. Journal of Heredity 64: 232.
Robinson, Roy (1973) The Canadian hairless or Sphinx cat. Journal of Heredity 64: 47-49.
Robinson, Roy (1973) Acromelanic albinism in mammals. Genetica 44: 454-458.
Todd, N. B., Robinson, Roy and Clark, J. M. (1974) Gene frequencies in domestic cats of Greece. Journal of Heredity 65: 227-231.
Robinson, Roy (1975) Linkage of white band and long hair in the Syrian hamster. Journal of Heredity 66: 312.
Robinson, Roy (1975) The Guinea Pig, Cavia porcellus
Robinson, Roy (1975) The Golden Hamster, Mesocricetus auratus
Robinson, Roy (1975) The Chinchilla, Chinchilla lanigera
Robinson, Roy (1976) Genetic studies of the Syrian hamster. X. Rex. Heredity (Edinb) 36: 181-184.
Robinson, Roy (1976) Homologous genetic-variation in Felidae. Genetica 46: 1-31.
Robinson, Roy (1977) Genetic aspects of umbilical hernia incidence in cats and dogs. Vet Rec 100: 9-10.
Robinson, Roy (1977) Umbrous - dominant darkening gene in Syrian-hamster. Journal of Heredity 68: 328-328.
Robinson, Roy (1977) Genetics for Cat Breeders (2nd edn) (2nd Edn). Pergamon, Oxford
Robinson, Roy (1978) Homologous coat color variation in Felis. Carnivore 1: 68-71.
Robinson, Roy, Peterson, J. S. and Yoon, C. H. (1978) Linkage group III in the Syrian hamster: linkage between white band and long hair. Journal of Heredity 69: 199.
Robinson, Roy (1978) Colour inheritance in small livestock Edn). Fur & Feather, Bradford
Robinson, Roy (1979) Cytogenetics of the Felidae. Carnivore 2: 63-68.
Turner, P. and Robinson, Roy (1980) Melanin inhibitor: a dominant gene in the domestic cat. Journal of Heredity 71: 427-428.
Robinson, Roy (1980) The Right Way to Keep Rabbits (1st Edn). Elliot Right Way Books, 
Robinson, Roy (1981) The agouti alleles of Peromyscus. Journal of Heredity 72: 132.
Robinson, Roy (1981) Rex mutant in the Norway rat. Journal of Heredity 72: 131-132.
Robinson, Roy and Manchenko, G. P. (1981) Cat gene-frequencies in cities of the USSR. Genetica 55: 41-46.
Robinson, Roy (1981) A 3rd hypotrichosis in the domestic cat. Genetica 55: 39-40.
Robinson, Roy and Devos, V. (1982) Chinchilla mutant in the lion. Genetica 60: 61-63.
Robinson, Roy (1982) Dutch rex - a 5th rexoid coat mutant in the cat. Genetica 57: 217-218.
Robinson, Roy (1982) Genetics for Dog Breeders Edn). Pergamon Press, Oxford
Dards, J. L. and Robinson, Roy (1983) Gene frequencies in a population of feral cats in Portsmouth naval Dockyard. Theoretical & Applied Genetics 64: 197-204.
Robinson, Roy (1985) Fertile male tortoise-shell cats. Journal of Heredity 76: 137-138.
Robinson, Roy (1985) The domestic cat in genetic research. Trends in Genetics 1: 236-239.
Leiper, B. D. and Robinson, Roy (1985) Gray mutant in the Mongolian gerbil. Journal of Heredity 76: 473.
Robinson, Roy (1985) Chinese crested dog. Journal of Heredity 76: 217-218.
Leiper, B. D. and Robinson, Roy (1986) Linkage of albino and pink-eyed dilution genes in the Mongolian gerbil and other rodents. Journal of Heredity 77: 207.
Robinson, Roy (1987) Genetic defects in cats. Companion Animal Practice 1: 10-14.
Henwood, C., Henwood, J. and Robinson, Roy (1987) Dominant white spotting in the Chinese hamster. Journal of Heredity 78: 280.
Robinson, Roy, Beechey, C. V. and Searle, A. G. (1987) Brown and rust mutants of the Syrian hamster are p and b genes of mammalian coat colors. Journal of Heredity 78: 128-129.
Robinson, Roy (1987) Mutant gene frequencies in cats of the greater London area. Theoretical & Applied Genetics 74: 579-583.
Robinson, Roy (1987) Genetic linkage in the Norway rat. Genetica 74: 137-142.
Robinson, Roy and Seaborne, S. (1988) Satin coat in the guinea pig. Journal of Heredity 79: 214-215.
Robinson, Roy (1988) Mendel's results. Biologist 35: 171-171.
Robinson, Roy (1988) Linkage of the satin and umbrous loci in the Syrian hamster. Journal of Heredity 79: 71.
Lomax, T. D. and Robinson, Roy (1988) Tabby pattern alleles of the domestic cat. Journal of Heredity 79: 21-23.
Robinson, Roy (1988) Inheritance of colour and coat in the Belgian Shepherd dog. Genetica 76: 139-141.
Robinson, Roy (1988) Linkage studies of wavy in the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus. Genetica 77: 79-80.
O'Sullivan, N. and Robinson, Roy (1988) Harlequin colour in the Great Dane dog. Genetica 78: 215-218.
Robinson, Roy (1989) Inheritance of coat color in the Hovawart dog. Genetica 78: 121-123.
Robinson, Roy (1989) The American curl cat. Journal of Heredity 80: 474-475.
Whiteway, C. E. and Robinson, Roy (1989) Two recessive rex coat mutants in the guinea pig. Journal of Heredity 80: 163-165.
Robinson, Roy (1989) Genetic defects in the horse. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics-Zeitschrift Fur Tierzuchtung Und Zuchtungsbiologie 106: 475-478.
Robinson, Roy (1989) An extreme allele of hooded spotting in the Norway rat. Genetica 79: 139-141.
Robinson, Roy (1989) Inheritance of coat colour in the Anatolian shepherd dog. Genetica 79: 143-145.
Robinson, Roy (1990) Inheritance of coat color in the German Pinscher dog. Genetica 82: 57-58.
Robinson, Roy (1990) Synergistic action of white spotting genes in the Syrian hamster (Rodentia, Cricetidae). Genetica 82: 135-137.
Robinson, Roy (1990) Genetics for Dog Breeders (2nd edn) (2nd Edn). Pergamon, Oxford
Robinson, Roy (1991) Genetic anomalies in dogs. Canine Practice 16: 29-34.
Workman, M. J. and Robinson, Roy (1991) Coat colors of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics-Zeitschrift Fur Tierzuchtung Und Zuchtungsbiologie 108: 66-68.
Robinson, Roy (1991) Genetic defects in the pig. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics-Zeitschrift Fur Tierzuchtung Und Zuchtungsbiologie 108: 61-65.
Robinson, Roy (1991) Genetics for Cat Breeders (3rd edn) Edn). Pergamon Press, Oxford
Robinson, Roy (1992) 'Spasticity' in the Devon rex cat. Vet Rec 130: 302.
Robinson, Roy (1992) Genetic defects in goats. Agri-Practice 13: 28-30.
Robinson, Roy (1992) Legg-Calve-Perthes disease in dogs - genetic etiology. Journal of Small Animal Practice 33: 275-276.
Robinson, Roy (1993) Genetic defects in sheep. Agri-Practice 14: 22-?
Robinson, Roy (1993) Expressivity of the Manx gene in cats. Journal of Heredity 84: 170-172.
Robinson, Roy (1994) Inheritance of coat and color in the Griffon-Bruxellois dog. Genetics Selection Evolution 26: 167-170.
Robinson, Roy (1994) Mink and pearl: new color mutants in the Norway rat. Journal of Heredity 85: 142-143.
Robinson, Roy (1996) Inheritance of coat colour in the field spaniel dog. Genetics Selection Evolution 28: 285-288.
Robinson, Roy (1996) Albino and pink-eyed dilution mutants in the Russian dwarf hamster Phodopus campbelli. Journal of Heredity 87: 155-156.
Robinson, Roy (1998) Head spot and dilute mutations in the Norway rat. Journal of Heredity 89: 100-101.