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A Display to The Royal Philatelic Society London
Marking the Diamond Jubilee of the
Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain

27 April 2006

The Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain

The seed from which the Society grew was planted by a group of enthusiasts in Scotland in the 1930s, occasional meetings taking place in a Glasgow coffee house or in the houses of group members. Some formality was introduced by the formation, in 1939, of the Scottish Canadian Study Circle, led by A. E. Stephenson. The onset of World War 2 nipped growth in the bud. After the War contacts with surviving members were re-established and new members were drawn in from England. A constitution was drawn up in 1946 and the group's name was changed to 'The Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain'.

The first issue of 'Maple Leaves' appeared in September 1946 in cyclostyle form. The format was expanded to that of a journal in October 1947 and has been in continuous publication ever since; currently four issues are published each year.

Membership rapidly spread to Canada and the United States and can now be considered truly worldwide, with roughly half of the current membership (c400) coming from overseas.

The Society boasts a substantial library and operates an exchange packet, both of which are confined to UK members. Overseas members are not overlooked, however, as two auctions are held each year, one being mail only, the other forming part of the activities at the annual Convention. Recent auctions have featured over 1,000 lots.

Highlight of the Society's year is the annual four-day Convention, held in various parts of the country. Apart from the philatelic programme, a social programme is incorporated with members' spouses and partners in mind.

Current membership fee is £16pa; further details can be obtained from:
John Wright, 12 Milchester House, Staveley Rd., Meads, Eastbourne,
E Sussex, BN20 7JX. Telephone 01323 438964.

Introduction

The philately of Canada and the Provinces is truly multi-faceted; in the space available it is possible to give only a brief introduction to a selection of these facets, incorporating both the stamps and postal history of British North America. In keeping with the occasion, the display features only material that would have been available to the Society's founding fathers in 1946.

The first 26 frames feature selected issues of the stamps of Canada; frames 27-34 cover the stamps of the Provinces. Various aspects of the postal history of Canada will be found in frames 35-48, with Provincial postal history in the final four frames.

A rich variety of material is on show and the interest is enhanced by the differing approaches of the 22 contributors to their various subjects.

Frames 1-4 (Lew Warren) Pence and First Cents Issues

Photographs of the two essays submitted by Sir Sandford Fleming for the first Colony of Canada stamps are shown; only the 3d essay was accepted. This value, along with a 6d and 12d, formed the initial issue of stamps in 1851, printed by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson of New York. The 12d has become the most valuable stamp in Canadian philately and is represented here in proof form. Other values were added in 1855 and 1857 and perforations were introduced in 1858.

As Canada adopted the metric system in 1859 a new set of stamps was required. The existing designs were used, with appropriate new values, and these formed the first Cents issue. The many flaws and re-entries create fertile ground for students of this set.

Frames 5-10 (John Hillson FCPS) Large and Small Queens

Canada gained Dominion status in 1867 and this called for a new set of stamps, the Large Queens, which appeared in 1868. On display is the only known Bradbury Wilkinson die essay on which both the Large and Small Queen series are believed to have been based. Other highlights include the vignette originally prepared for the half cent LQ, but which was used for all the SQ issues prior to 1882, two, possibly three are known; several examples of the Bothwell watermark; a very fine 1c on laid paper, a 5c perf 12 and possibly the finest used copy of the 15c clear deep violet extant.

The Small Queens issue, which replaced the larger version in 1870, ran for nearly 30 years and is one of the two most ardently studied issues in Canadian philately. The exhibit is presented in order of issue dates and starts with a die proof in blue. A similar item was sold recently in New York, described as "probably unique" - it isn't! The large die proof of the 1c value is one of only three in private hands; the 'strand of hair' variety on cover is the example illustrated in the Gibbons catalogue.

Of the other SQ values, the 6c boasts more rarities than any other of the SQs, all five major re-entries are shown, plus the famous '5c on 6c' version. A bisect from the 'Ruggles' correspondence is featured, as is a perf 12x11.5 on cover, only one other is known plus perhaps two or three off cover. The 2c section includes both latent entries, both recorded re-entries and a bisect that did not originate from the notorious Henry Hechler! An example of the 5c 'straw in hair' variety is on show, only a handful are recorded. Imperf between varieties of the half cent are included along with two examples of unaddressed circulars, the scarcest of single-use SQs.

The 'Widows Weeds' pages include the die proof, copied from a photograph, on which the design, along with that of the 1868 Bill stamps, was based. It was used in preparation of the plate from which the well known 1868 sample sheet, featuring all extant Bill and LQ stamps, plus five 1c SQ stamps, was printed. This die proof, which provided the centrepiece of the sample sheet, is probably unique.

Frames 11-12 (Dave Armitage) Diamond Jubilee Issue 1897

1897 marked the 60th year of Queen Victoria's reign and the 30th anniversary of Confederation. Announcement of the number printed, in advance of release, caused a run on the half cent and six cent values, while the issue of a set of 16 stamps, from a half cent to five dollars, caused much concern in the philatelic press, particularly as the top two values served no useful purpose. The set has survived its shady past and is popular with collectors today. The exhibit features all the imprint plate numbers up to 50c, the 'specimen' overprints and plate proofs of all the values.

Frames 13-14 (Lew Warren) Maple Leaf and Numeral Issues

The Maple Leaf series, featuring the Downey portrait, was issued piecemeal in the latter part of 1897 and January 1898. The series was short-lived as values were not shown in numeral form in accordance with UPU regulations; the omission also caused difficulties for French speaking citizens. A new series appeared, as required, from June 1898, featuring the same portrait with minor changes to the frame and oval. The main change was the introduction of numeral boxes at LL and LR; two new values, the 7c and 20c, were added.

Frames 15-16 (Sandy Mackie FCPS) The Admiral Issue 1911-26

The accession of King George V gave rise to a new definitive series in place of the Edward Vll Definitives. The new series showed the King in the uniform of an Admiral, hence its title, and was current for some 15 years. The Admiral series is notable for its multitude of re-entries and re-touches and shares with the Small Queen issue the distinction of being one of the most deeply researched sets in Canadian philately. Thanks to the researches of past and present students a good proportion of individual stamps can be identified as to die and plate number. This aspect is demonstrated in the frames.

Frames 17-18 (David Sessions FRPSL, FCPS) The Arch Issue 1930

The Admirals were superseded, briefly, by the Scroll issue of 1928, which was terminated when the Canadian Bank Note Co. lost the printing contract to the British American Bank Note Co. in 1929. The new printers were innovative in printing the plate numbers in the four corners of the plate, after some experimentation, thus giving a great boost to plate block collecting in the 1930s. Plate numbers can also occasionally be found on the tabs of booklet panes. On the debit side, the printers also produced a number of printing and perforating errors, which seem to have evaded sheet checkers and security measures. The exhibit features sample die proofs, signed by the PMG, imperf pairs, plate imprints, booklet panes and coils.

The design of the low values was not popular and, in December 1932, the values 1c to 8c were replaced and a new value, 13c, was introduced. This partial replacement of the Arch issue has become known as the Medallion issue. It is represented here by an interesting model, presumably prepared by the printers as a basis for a brochure.

Frame 19 (Tom Almond FCPS) Royal Visit 1939

Commemorative stamps were issued to mark the visit of King George Vl and Queen Elizabeth to Canada, USA and Newfoundland during May and June 1939. Special postal facilities were installed on the train that accompanied the Royal party during their tour. French and English commemorative postmarks, from both hand and machine cancellers, were used on the Royal Train. The original intention was to cancel mail with purple ink but, in use, it was found to be unsatisfactory so black ink was substituted. The exhibit includes various date and dater errors and one of the few purple-inked covers.

Frames 20-21 (Derrick Scoot) Semi-official Air Mails of Canada 1924-32

There were two groups issuing pioneer or semi-official air stamps in the 1920s. Aero clubs issued commemorative stamps to mark special flights, while some aeroplane companies carried mail commercially under licence from the Canadian Post Office. In the latter case the companies' own stamps had to be affixed to the backs of envelopes. The exhibit is concerned with the 13 private commercial airlines, some of which operated with only one aircraft, which, if it crashed, meant the end of the airline!

Frame 22 (Dave Armitage) Special Delivery

The Special Delivery service was introduced in 1898 and continued until its withdrawal in 1951. The frame includes all the issues, excluding airmail special delivery, and features die proofs, plate proofs, imperfs, plate blocks/strips and perfins.

Frames 23-24 (Nick Lazenby & David Sessions) Postage Dues 1906-34

Frame 23 covers the first issue of postage due stamps which ran from 1906 until 1930. The exhibit demonstrates the thin paper variety and wet and dry printings that are also found in the contemporary Admiral issue. In regard to the wet/dry printing, the suggestion is offered that the master die was re-touched or a new die was introduced. The Specialised catalogue does not show the two versions.

New printers brought about the second issue of postage due stamps, contemporary with the 'Arch' Definitives, in 1930. These feature in frame 24, along with the third issue (1932), which introduced the bi-lingual element. Both issues were short-lived, some two years each. The second and third issues are shown in die proof form, with plate blocks of the second issue. The major varieties: 10c imperf horizontally (2nd issue) and 1c imperf (3rd issue) are included.

Frames 25-26 (Jane Moubray RDP FRPSL & Prof. Iain Stevenson FRPSL) Revenues

Frame 25 features examples of proofs and stamps from a collection of the Second and Third Bill Stamp issues of 1865 and 1868. An Act of 1864 authorised the use of 'Bill' stamps as a means of taxing fiscal instruments such as cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, etc.

Frame 26 follows on with the gas and electricity stamps, possibly the most beautiful stamp engravings ever produced. They were used to acquit the fees on government inspection of gas and electricity meters, installations and testing. The girl with light bulbs in her hair is surely one of Canada's oddest stamp designs! The exhibit contains some great rarities from the issue, the 5c gas stamp (only 150 printed), proofs and original artwork.

Frame 27 (Colin Lewis FCPS) Newfoundland Pence Issues

Newfoundland issued its first stamps in 1857, including a triangular (3d) and two square stamps (1d & 5d), which were unusual for the time. Another unusual aspect was that the stamps were coloured according to shape i.e. the 3d triangular was green, the 1d and 5d square stamps were both brownish and the remaining rectangular stamps were scarlet, orange or rose, depending upon the printing. The rectangular stamps were printed in sheets of 20, the 5d in sheets of 40, the 1d in sheets of 120 and the 3d in sheets of 80. The issue was fairly short-lived, being replaced by the first decimal issue in 1865.

Frames 28-29 (Judith Edwards) Newfoundland Cents Issues

Frame 28 shows 19th century cents values. The first cents issue is represented by the 2c Codfish, while all the stamps of the following (1868-94) issue are shown. These are followed by the Royal Family issue of 1897. The exhibit features proofs, colour trials and even forgeries. Frame 29 represents the 20th century with a display of the 1932 Resources issue which includes artists' sketches, essays, die and plate proofs, colour trials, perforation and watermark varieties.

Frame 30 (Mike Slamo) British Columbia

British Columbia & Vancouver Island issued its first stamp in 1860 and British Columbia issued its 3d blue in its sole name in 1865, shortly before BC and VI were consolidated as one territory. British Columbia's move to decimal currency was reflected in its stamps from 1867. The design of the 3d stamp was used for all six 'cents' issues, which appeared in different colours with appropriate surcharges; two different perforations were used. On 20 July 1871, British Columbia joined the Dominion of Canada.

Frames 31-32 (Alan Griffiths FRPSL) Prince Edward Island

The Island only issued stamps from 1861 to 1873, when the Colony joined the Dominion of Canada.

Frame 31 features two Charles Whiting essays and the first issue of postage stamps, including an example of the 2d 'roulette', of which only three copies are recorded. The only recorded bisect of the 1d is included, together with a recently discovered returned letter wrapper. Two dies of the 1d are detailed. Frame 32 shows usage of later stamps, some typical postage due covers are included; many of the rates are uncommon. PEI adopted decimal currency on 1 January 1872 and the use of these denominations on trans-Atlantic mail is surprisingly scarce. The importance of the philately of PEI centres mainly on the use of the stamps on cover as many surplus stamps were remaindered in 1893.

Frames 33/4 (Derrick Scoot) New Brunswick & Nova Scotia Cents

Both Colonies moved to decimal stamps in 1860 and are represented here by plate proofs, trial colour dies and specimen overprints. The notorious, unissued, Connell stamp will be found in frame 33, in proof form. The set of cents stamps originally prepared for New Brunswick included a 5c bearing the portrait of the PMG, Charles Connell; at the instigation of the Governor General it was replaced by a 5c stamp bearing the portrait of Queen Victoria. Both Colonies joined the Dominion of Canada on 1 July 1867.

Frames 35-36 (The Late Dr Dorothy Sanderson FRPSL, FCPS) Postal History of Nouvelle France & Canada

The frames show the postal history of Nouvelle France in the 17th and 18th centuries, transition to the British postal administration and aspects of the carriage of mails in Canada up to 1851, when Canada assumed responsibility for her postal affairs. Of particular note is the earliest recorded letter (1684) in a private collection and an example of the many disruptions to mail services during the period, a letter of 1812 held up for three years in transit through the USA and delivered only after hostilities ceased.

Frames 37-38 (Malcolm Montgomery MBE) Canadian Trans-Atlantic Mail

An overview of the postal history of the exchange of mails between the British Isles and the colonies and provinces that combined to form the Dominion of Canada. The frames include ship and packet letters from 1760 to the Second World War, illustrating the routes and postal rates used in respect of letters and other forms of mail, including newspapers, printed papers and registered letters.

Frames 39-40 (John Wright) Registered Mail

Frame 39 illustrates domestic money letters to 1855 with the rates being dependent upon the distance between despatching and receiving post offices and the number of sheets carried, up to 1844. From 5 Jan 1844 rates were based on weight and distance until 1851 when the rating was based on weight only. A formal registration system was introduced on 1 May 1855.

Frame 40 illustrates domestic registered mail from 1855 to 1893. While the previous frame features stampless covers, the introduction of postage stamps in 1851 means this frame contains mainly stamped covers. Canada introduced special registered letter stamps in 1875, as can be seen in the latter portion of the frame.

Frames 41-42 (Brian Stalker FCPS) Railway Post Offices

The study of RPOs is a popular area of Canadian philately; it is represented here by a display of main line postmarks of the Great Western Railway of Canada. Canada's main line between Niagara and Windsor (229 miles) commenced operation on 17 January 1854. It was the first railway in Canada to have a post office clerk sorting mail in a travelling post office. Each of the postmark types are shown that were used between 1857 and the early 1880s, by which time the GWR had amalgamated with the Grand Trunk Railway. Of particular note is the only reported strike of the 'GWR Main Line' split ring postmark and a registered cover of 1876 bearing seven different RPO postmarks.

Frames 43-44 (Ged Taylor) Military Mail

Military mail is another well-studied area of Canadian philately. It is represented here by a single episode, the formation of the 1st Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914, its transfer to England (October 1914) and sojourn on Salisbury Plain, prior to landing in France as the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in February 1915. The exhibit contains a number of picture postcards, including a rare card showing floods in Salisbury itself; among the mail markings is an example of the rare Orderly Room handstamp of the Canadian Machine Gun Brigade.

Frames 45-46 (Neil Prior FWPS) The Klondike Gold Rush

Tales of the Klondike gold rush, which took off in 1898, have graced the world's literature in both fictional and non-fictional terms for almost a century. Here we have a postal history of the period, which includes the fifth earliest recorded cover postmarked 'Dawson' (9 July 1898). Also featured are early covers from Pelly and White Horse plus one of the handful of covers from the Goldfields post offices of Caribou Crossing (later Carcross), Glenboyle, Gold Run, Kluane and Last Chance.

Frame 47 (Colin Banfield FCPS) Wilson Patriotics & the Boer War 1899-1902

Following the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War on 11 October 1899, publishers J.C.Wilson & Co of Montreal began issuing a series of patriotic postcards and envelopes. Apart from the colourful designs on the front, many of the envelopes had patriotic songs printed on the reverse, examples will be found within the exhibit. Particularly prized are patriotic covers actually used in relation to the War.

The most notable on display here is that shown on sheet two, bearing the 'Canadian Contingent/South Africa/En Route handstamp, dated 30 January 1900, this may well be unique on a 'Wilson' cover. Another item of note is the Anglo Saxon League cover shown on sheet one, dated 1 May 1900 and sent to the war zone.

Frame 48 (Rodney Baker) The Canadian Pacific Railway

The completion of a transcontinental railway by the CPR in 1886, linking the east and west coasts, did much to weld Canada together as a nation following attainment of Dominion status in 1867. This frame pays tribute to the CPR's contribution to Canada's history.

Frames 49-50 (Colin Lewis FCPS) Newfoundland Postal History

Postal history material to and from Newfoundland is only recorded in the public domain from the early 18th century. A few earlier letters are known but are housed in public or institutional archives. The first Newfoundland postmaster was Simon Solomon (1805-39) who was succeeded, on his death, by his son William. Shortly after William took office, the GPO in London took over the postal operation. A significant item in this presentation is the earliest recorded incoming letter in private hands; it is dated 26 June 1705 at Boston and addressed simply to 'Capt William Pickering in Newfoundland' - Newfoundland is about five and a half times the size of Wales!

Frames 51-52 (The Late Dr Dorothy Sanderson FRPSL, FCPS) Postal History of New Brunswick & Nova Scotia

The final two frames briefly cover the postal history of the two provinces up until they joined the Dominion of Canada in 1867; postal routes, rates and post office markings are displayed. Of particular note in frame 51 is an early St John, NB, handstamp on a 1795 letter to Fredericton, while in frame 52 can be seen an early and rare registered letter from Truro to Halifax.

Earliest recorded letter to Newfoundland in private hands. 1705 from Boston. No postal markings but three payments are noted, possibly by couriers. Total is 2s0½d (Frame 49)

Newfoundland 1s Third Pence Issue (second printing) engraved by Perkins, Bacon & Co November 1861. Complete sheet of 20 watermarked Stacey Wise 1858 (Frame 27)

 

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