Fellows of the Society

56 Pages·2005·4.74 MB·English

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Journal ofThe ROYALPHILATELICSOCIETYOF CANADA Revue de La SOCIÉTÉ ROYALE DE PHILATÉLIE DU CANADA
VOL. 53 • NO. 3 MAY/JUNE 2002 MAI-JUIN

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Le philatéliste canadien / The Canadian Philatelist Mai - Juin 2002 / 115
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Journal of The ROYAL PHILATELIC Revue de La SOCIÉTÉ ROYALE DE
SOCIETY OF CANADA PHILATÉLIE DU CANADA
Volume 53, No. 3 Number / Numéro 310 May - June 2002 Mai - Juin
FEATURE ARTICLES /
ARTICLES DE FOND
The Tradition of the Royal Jubilee
▲ by George Pepall 118
An Infrequent Occurrence:
Canadian stamps with incorrect values
by Joseph Monteiro 121
Sent by British Railway Administration
by Ken Lewis 126
Simon and William Solomon:
Newfoundland’s First Postmasters
by J.J. Edward 128
2002 Stamp program and tentative dates
▲ Programme philatélique 2002
et dates d’émission suggérées 130
The Date of Issue of the One-Cent Small Queen
by George B. Arfken 132
Supplementary Rules for the Class of
Youth Philately at F.I.P. Exhibitions
Règles Supplémentaires pour la Classe de Philatélie
Jeunesse dans les Expositions F.I.P. 133
The life of Princess Margaret – If only…
▲
by Ken Magee 136
ROYAL*2002*ROYALE – The World of Airmails
by Virginia St-Denis 140
The Short Story Column
▲
by “Raconteur” 144
Fellows of the Society: F. Burton “Bud” Sellers
by George Pepall 152
116/ May - June 2002 The Canadian Philatelist / Le philatéliste canadien
DEPARTMENTS / SERVICES THE ROYALPHILATELIC
SOCIETYOFCANADA
LA SOCIÉTÉ ROYALE DE
President’s Page / La page du président 156 PHILATÉLIE DU CANADA
Patron Her Excellency The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson
Letters / Lettres 157 C.C., C.M.M., C.D., Governor General of Canada
Président d’honneur Son Excellence le très honorable
Adrienne Clarkson. C.C., C.M.M., C.D., Gouverneur général du Canada
Coming Events / Calendrier 159
2002-2003
Chapter Meetings / BOARD OF DIRECTORS -
Réunions des clubs membres 160 CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION
EXECUTIVE - L’EXÉCUTIF
Membership Reports / Rapports des membres 162 President - Président:
Charles J.G. Verge, FRPSC
Exchanges Wanted / Demandes d’échange 163 Box 2788, Station D
Ottawa, ON K1P 5W8
1st Vice President -
One Last Word / Un dernier mot 164
Premier Vice-Président:
J. Edward “Ted” Nixon
Departments and Committees /
255 Corleigh Boulevard
Services et Comités 165 Toronto, ON M5N 1P8
2nd Vice President -
Deuxième Vice-Président:
Alphabetical List of Advertisers /
Rick Penko
Liste des annonceurs 165 3793 Vialoux Drive
Winnipeg, MB R3R 0A5
Classifieds / Annonces classées 166 Treasurer - Trésorier:
John Keenlyside
622-470 Granville Street
The Cover / Page couverture:
Vancouver, BC V6C 1V5
Canada, a constitutional monarchy, has a head of Secretary - Secrétaire:
state above the political wrangling of the day. Although Harry Sutherland, RDP, FRPSC
10 Summerhill Ave.
the Queen’s role in Canada is largely ceremonial, a head Toronto, ON M4T 1A8
of state for life provides continuity and a sense of secu- Past President - Président Sortant:
Keith Spencer, FRPSC
rity and stability.
5005 Whitemud Road
Edmonton, AB T6H 5L2
Le Canada est une monarchie constitutionnelle dont le
DIRECTORS - LES DIRECTEURS
chef d’État est au-dessus des querelles politiques quotidi-
Frank Alusio, Etobicoke, ON
ennes. Bien que le rôle de la reine au Canada en soit un de Leon Balian, Dollard Des Ormeaux, QC
François Brisse, Beaconsfield, QC
cérémonie, un chef d’État à vie est un gage de continuité
Raymond Ireson, Roxboro, QC
et procure un sentiment de sécurité et de stabilité. Yvan Latulippe, St-Joachim-de-Shefford, QC
Kenneth Magee, Clinton, ON
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the J. Graham McCleave, Fredericton, NB
Publication Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. George Pepall, Kitchener, ON
John M. Powell, FRPSC, Edmonton, AB
Nous remercions le gouvernement du Canada pour son appui financier pour nos frais de
William G. Robinson, FRPSC, Vancouver, BC
poste par l’entremise du Programme d’assistance aux publications (PAP).
Elizabeth Sodero, Halifax, NS
Ann Triggle, Clarence, NY (USA)
The Canadian Philatelist (lSSN 00-45-5253) published bimonthly by Philaprint Inc. PO Box 100. First Canadian Place, Toronto. Ont., M5X 1B2.
Editor - Éditeur
Printed and produced in Canada by Trajan Publishing Corporation. ©Philaprint Inc. 2002. Opinions expressed herein are those of individual
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Le philatéliste canadien / The Canadian Philatelist Mai - Juin 2002 / 117
The Tradition of the
Royal Jubilee
By George Pepall curred every fifty years,
The stamps that illus- to the accompaniment
trate the cover of this of trumpet blasts made,
edition of The Canadian presumably, with a
Philatelistacknowledge ‘yobel’ or ‘iobelos’.
and celebrate fifty years During that year fields
of the reign of our cur- were to be left untilled,
rent sovereign, Her slaves set free, and
Majesty, Queen Eliza- lands and houses that
beth II – her Golden Ju- had been sold were to
bilee. Sadly, the actual revert to their former
date of Feb. 6 that owners.
marked the exact day of The English word 2002 Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee
1997 Queen Elizabeth II Silver
the anniversary was fol- Jubilee ‘jubilee’came to be used Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee was
lowed only three days to mean jubilation or celebrated on June 21, 1887 with more
later by an event that for general rejoicing as early as 1526. It than thirty foreign kings and princes in
her and the ever popular Queen Mum was paired with the word ‘silver’to des- attendance and with the governing
must have at least temporarily frozen ignate 25 uninterrupted years as a result heads of Britain’s overseas colonies and
with grief the joy of the celebrations – of the term ‘Silver Wedding’, which rec- dominions coming to pay homage to
the death of her younger sister, Princess ognized 25 years of unbroken married her. All visiting dignitaries were es-
Margaret Rose. life. corted by troops of soldiers through the
(See page 136 for an article streets of London. According to
about Princess Margaret by RPSC 1887 Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Mark Twain the procession
Director Kenneth Magee.) “stretched to the limit of sight in
The interest and excitement ex- both directions: Clusters of soldiers
pressed so widely about the Golden in one colour, then another and an-
Jubilee anniversary celebrations are other, marched past the spectators,
not a new phenomenon. The cele- who were accommodated on ter-
bration of the jubilee years of raced benches along ten miles of
British sovereigns really began dur- scaffolding.”
ing the long reign of King George Victoria rode in her State Lan-
III. The beginning of the fiftieth dau, which was lavishly gilded and
year of his reign was marked both decorated, and drawn by six cream-
in Britain and in the colonies on coloured horses. The Queen took a
October 25, 1809 when the King keen interest in her Empire, so the
and other members of the Royal Family Jubilee was enlivened for her by reports
attended a private service at Windsor, of celebrations in far-off lands. The In-
and a grand fete and fireworks display dian princes “of stately build and
at Frogmore House near Windsor. princely carriage” in splendid ceremo-
The word ‘jubilee’originates from nial dress, and the Indian cavalry which
the Hebrew word ‘yobel’, and thence escorted her to Westminster Abbey at-
‘iobelos’in Christian Greek. It meant a tracted much attention, according to
ram’s horn, through which one would Twain.
proclaim a jubilee year. Hence it came The 12 stamps of the 1887 definitive
to mean the jubilee year itself, a time of issue of Great Britain, all portraying the
emancipation and restoration that oc- 1897 Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee
118/ May - June 2002 The Canadian Philatelist / Le philatéliste canadien
Le philatéliste canadien / The Canadian Philatelist Mai - Juin 2002 / 119
young Queen’s head looking left, were The vociferous cheering of the Forty-four countries issued a common
the only stamps issued to mark her crowds followed the King for weeks engraved design, well known to most
Golden Jubilee as monarch. after the service. “I’d no idea they felt collectors, that features Windsor Castle
like that about me,” he exclaimed won- and the crowned King. Thirteen others,
The term Diamond Jubilee came into
deringly. “I am beginning to think they including Canada, were given special
existence when an adjective was needed
must really like me for myself.” Despite designs because of their special status as
to describe the sixty year reign of Queen
a reputation for being limited in intelli- dominions within the British Empire. In
Victoria, from 1837 to 1897. On June
gence and romantic charm, he was all, 249 stamps were issued.
22, 1897 that notable event was marked
much loved for his unswerving sense of
by many celebrations, including a pro- King George’s granddaughter, our
duty and his dedication to his family.
cession to St. Paul’s Cathedral where a present Queen, decided that in her Sil-
short service of thanksgiving took place ver Jubilee observances she would visit
outside the building since the Queen as many of her people as possible. In
was unable to manage the steps. Eleven that year, 1977, she made six tours in
colonial prime ministers attended. the United Kingdom alone in just three
months. Beyond the United Kingdom
The royal procession continued past
she travelled 56,000 miles to more than
several major London landmarks, and
a dozen Commonwealth countries.
over London and Westminster Bridges.
She wrote in her journal, “No one ever, I On May 4, the Queen responded to
believe, has met with such an ovation as loyal addresses made to her in both
was given to me, passing through six Houses of Parliament. She stressed that
miles of streets… The cheering was the keynote of her jubilee was to be the
1935 King George VSilverJubilee
quite deafening and every face seemed unity of the nation. The occasion was
to be filled with real joy. I was moved subsequently marked by the lighting of
However much King George was
and much gratified.” bonfire beacons in a chain around the
touched by the outpouring of warmth,
country; a progress along the River
The 16 stamps of the 1897 Queen
he deplored the fuss and expense: “The
Thames culminating with a fireworks
Victoria Diamond Jubilee set of Canada
festivities will entail a lot of work, and I
extravaganza; and a drive to St. Paul’s
are among the most prized of all stamps
shall be pleased when they are all over. I
Cathedral in The Gold State Coach. An
around the world, and are familiar to all
remember so well both Queen Victoria’s
estimated 500 million people watched
collectors of Canada. The two portraits
jubilees, and can’t yet realize that I am
on television. During Elizabeth’s Silver
of the Queen, as young monarch and as
having one now.” After the service he
Jubilee more than 100,000 congratula-
aged but still awe-inspiring widowed
told the dean of the cathedral, “Awon-
tory cards were received and 30,000 ju-
matriarch, act as bookends to her reign,
derful service. The Queen and I are
bilee medals distributed.
a time of unprecedented growth and
most grateful. Just one thing wrong with
prosperity in “an empire on which the The current celebrations for Eliza-
it - too many parsons getting in the way.
sun never set,” as was so often said at beth’s Golden Anniversary are still
I didn’t know there were so many
the time. being played out, but we do know that
damned parsons in England.”
part of the spectacle will be shared with
The decision to honour the Silver Ju-
us here in Canada in September.
bilee of King George Vwas taken by his
government’s ministers of the time, who Should we anticipate in 2012 a Dia-
saw political advantages to it, both do- mond celebration along the lines of
mestic and foreign. On May 6, 1935 King what took place back in 1897 for our
George Vwas driven with Queen Mary last Queen? Don’t put it past this most
by carriage, like his grandmother 38 years remarkable monarch.
earlier, to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London Long Live Our Gracious Queen! (cid:2)
to attend their Thanksgiving Service.
“Masses of troops,” wrote one journal- Bibliography
ist on Jubilee Day, “magnificent and vir- 1935 King George VSilverJubilee Aronson, Theo, Royal Family: Years
ile, resplendent in grand uniforms, with of Transition. London: John Murray
the sun glistening on their helmets. The The King is widely known to have (Publishers), 1983.
thunderous applause for the royal car- been a passionate stamp collector, and The Shorter Oxford English Dictio-
riages... All eyes on the Queen in her to have begun in his lifetime what is nary. 3rd Edition. Oxford: Clarendon
white and silvery splendour. Never has now the magnificent and rightly famous Press, 1973.
she looked so serene, so regally majestic, royal stamp collection. It is only appro-
The Royal Encyclopedia: Edited by
even so attractive. Suddenly she has be- priate, then, that his jubilee was recog-
Ronald Allison and Sarah Riddell Lon-
come the best dressed woman in the nized by a beautiful and popular
don: Macmillan Press, 1991.
world.” omnibus set, the first of its kind ever.
120/ May - June 2002 The Canadian Philatelist / Le philatéliste canadien
An Infrequent Occurrence:
Canadian stamps with incorrect values
By Joseph Monteiro gum and tagging.”[4] These stamps are believed to have come
from the Ashton-Potter printing company before it went bank-
Introduction
rupt. Some philatelists believe that these are counterfeits; oth-
Canadian stamps printed with incorrect values are generally
ers suggest that they are essays. Regardless, we should note that
ignored by philatelists who attempt to approach a study of er-
these imperforate stamps were never sold over postal counters
rors in a logical manner. This is in contrast with stamps on
and were somehow surreptitiously removed from the company
which the value is printed upside down, or the value is missing
premises through the back door.
entirely, as a logical explanation exists for these types of errors.
Attention to stamps with only an incorrect value on them was
publicized when the 1994 Christmas errors with incorrect values
were found on two stamps. These stamps were “un-issued” or
were never officially issued. What does “unissued” mean? Ac-
cording to Gary J. Lyon (Philatelist) Ltd. “The word refers to
postage stamps that were designed and printed in the normal
manner but for one reason or another were never issued.” Such
un-issued stamps are infrequent occurrences.
The following remarks will examine three scenarios: Cana- 86-cent Bartlet Pearwith the 49-cent value
dian stamps with an incorrect value; Canadian stamps with the
value missing; and Canadian stamps with the value printed up-
side down. Afew concluding remarks will summarize our ob-
servations.
Canadian Stamps with an Incorrect Value
Canadian stamps with an incorrect value usually evoke
memories of freaks. These errors are usually perceived as
stamps that are misperforated through the value or, print shifts
that shifted the value over two stamps. These are not the stamps 49-cent Delicious Apple with the 86-cent value
that we are referring to. Rather, we are talking about errors that
have an the incorrect value shown in the correct or normal posi-
Christmas Stamps (1994): In mid-1998, the 50-cent Christ-
tion on a stamp.
mas stamp was discovered with an incorrect value. Instead of
Stamps printed with an incorrect value first made their ap- having a value of 50 cents, the stamp was printed with a 52-cent
pearance in Canada with the definitive stamps on Canadian fruit denomination. Later, it was reported that the 88-cent stamp from
trees issued in the 1990s. These errors received very little atten- the set was also found with an incorrect value of 90 cents. The
tion due to lack of publicity and the belief that they were not discovery of the 50-cent error was reported by Mr. Bruce
genuine errors. It was not until the 1994 Christmas stamps that Holmes in the November-December issue of The Canadian Phi-
this type of printing error received greater attention. Let us latelist. According to Mr. Holmes, he purchased three sheets of
briefly examine these errors. the 50-cent stamps at a flea market in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Canadian Fruit Tree Stamps: On June 13 and 14, 1998, at an Later, at the October 1998 BNAPS Exhibition in Orlando,
auction held by Charles G. Firby in Michigan, abnormal imper- Florida, Saskatoon Stamp Centre was approached by a dealer
forated stamps were offered for sale. They were the 49-cent De- who sold them three sheets. According to Saskatoon Stamp Cen-
licious Apple stamps with the red number 86 and the word tre, they “are now pretty sure that the flea market seller sold at
Canada inscribed on the 86-cent Bartlet Pear stamp and the least five sheets to people other than Mr. Holmes that day.” This
Bartlet Pear stamps with the yellow 49 and Canada inscription suggests that at least eight sheets (or 400 stamps) found their
on the Delicious Apple stamp. The 49-cent and 86-cent stamps way into the hands of the public. It is worthwhile noting that the
were issued on December 30, 1992. What is unusual about these errors were printed on coated paper which has a greenish tinge,
stamps is that each one was printed with the denomination of whereas the normal stamps are printed on Peterborough paper
the other stamp. They are classic examples of incorrect denom- which is whiter. This is also confirmed from the colour codes in
inations. Essentially, these stamps have two major errors: first, the marginal inscription that contains a letter indicating the
they are imperforate and second, they show the value of another paper type.
stamp. Very little information is available about the incorrect 90-cent
These errors resulted from the value and design plates being stamp. The 88-cent stamp was found with the 90-cent value and
interchanged. Charles Firby, in an interview with Canadian has been listed in a major catalogue. It is believed that fewer
Stamp News, indicated that “These aren’t home made… there’s sheets with this incorrect value have found their way into the
absolutely no question – they are real stamps…. they have full hands of collectors as it is priced at approximately twice that of
Le philatéliste canadien / The Canadian Philatelist Mai - Juin 2002 / 121
the 50-cent error. Furthermore, only singles of this stamp are from the Jet stamp with the missing surcharge, stamps with un-
known. Gary J. Lyon (Philatelist) Ltd., states, “Asmall quantity issued values or designs are sometimes referred to as die proofs,
of 90-cent Christmas stamps has also been found. The face plate proofs, or essays. These essays are usually sent to Post Of-
value of the issued stamp was 88 cents. Only singles are known: fice officials for approval before the stamps are finally printed.
there are no sheets or inscription blocks in existence as far as What is interesting about these major errors is that there is no
we know.” So far, no discoveries have been reported of the 1994 definitive information to indicate that these errors were actually
Christmas 43-cent stamp, the third stamp in this set, with the in- sold by Canada Post. How these errors found their way into
correct 45-cent value. public hands is not known. Some articles on the
subject suggest that these stamps may have been
The explanation for these errors is that Canada
smuggled through the back door either from the
Post ordered the printers to produce the 1994
printer’s premise or from Canada Post.
Christmas stamps with higher values (45 cents,
52 cents and 90 cents) in anticipation of a rate in-
Canadian Stamps with
crease that it had requested. Parliament did not
the Value Missing
approve the rate increase so Canada Post had to
Errors found more frequently than the “unis-
reorder the Christmas stamps with their existing,
sued” stamps with incorrect value are stamp er-
lower rates. The 1994 Christmas stamps with the
rors with the value missing. We will examine
higher values were sent for destruction but some-
these errors in this section. These errors are also
how a few made their way into private hands.
more readily accepted as they usually make their
Other evidence has been offered to confirm that
way through normal sales outlets of the post of-
this is the correct explanation. First, the cover of
fice. Because there are several such errors they
the 1994 Christmas booklet ‘Greet More’con-
will be divided into two groups: those on com-
taining ten 43-cent stamps had an incorrect value 50-cent Christmas stamp
memorative stamps and those on definitive
printed on it which was covered with a sticker. with the 52-cent value
stamps. They will also be classified into stamps
Second, Canada Post publications incorrectly in-
in two groups according to the reason for these
dicate that Peterborough papers were used to
errors to avoid repeating the same explanation.
print the stamps.
Jet Surcharge (1964): Another stamp with an Commemorative Stamps with
incorrect value is the 7-cent Jet stamp with the 8- the Value Missing
cent surcharge “missing.” The cause of this error Missing Value Caused by the Absence of the
is quite different from the stamps with the incor- Impression of the Plate Containing the Value
rect value described above. It has been described on Commemorative Stamps
as Canada’s rarest and most valuable modern
The most common type of “missing value”
error. The discovery of this error was made public
errors occurs because stamps failed to get the
in 1965 by Mr. W.F. Balcom, who received it from
impression of the plate imprinted with the value
stamps ordered from the Philatelic Agency in Ot-
and any other impression on the plate. Several
tawa.
Canadian stamps have been found with this
An explanation provided in a catalogue for 88-cent Christmas stamp error. These include the seve-cent Autumn stamp
this error is as follows: “In overprinting the with the 90-cent value (537i); the six-cent Christmas stamp (503a); the
sheet, the lower left stamp was folded up and 17-cent Cameo stamp (789ii); the 25-cent Royal
overlapped the stamp above so that the 8-cent surcharge was Visit stamp (704i); the 35-cent Christmas stamp (841i); the 17-
printed on the gummed side of the lower stamp. This resulted cent Mandora stamp (878); the 88-cent Commonwealth Games
in a fantastic UNIQUE CANADIAN VARIETY- a block of six Diving and Cycling stamps (1521i and 1522i); the 47-cent Year
with four stamps overprinted eight-cent on the seven-cent plus of the Ox stamp (704i); and the 46-cent Engineering stamp
two seven-cent Jet Plane stamps, of which one has an inverted (1848). At least two explanations have been given why the val-
surcharge on the gum side.” In other words, the lower left stamp ues were not printed on the stamps: first, the stamps without the
somehow was folded over the upper stamp during the printing impression of the plate containing the value were taken for ex-
of the surcharge. As a result, the surcharge intended for the amination and inadvertently placed in the pile of stamps which
upper stamp was printed on the gum side of the lower stamp. received the impressions of all the plates and were distributed
Consequently, neither the lower left stamp nor the stamp above to the public or somehow got into the hands of the public; sec-
received the surcharge over the seven-cent value. This resulted ond, one sheet got stuck to another when the stamps were re-
in two stamps without the surcharge (or two pairs, each with one ceiving the impression of the plate containing the value and
surcharge missing). Today, only one of these pairs exist as a consequently the bottom sheet did not receive the impression.
dealer removed the stamp with the inverted surcharge on the If the plate creating the impression of the value is embossed,
gum side. After being offered for sale at several auctions (J. N. then usually the stamps in the bottom sheet will contain the em-
Sissons, Hennok Ltd., and Ivy, Shreve & Mader Philatelic Auc- bossed impression without the ink.
tions Ltd.), Eastern Auctions offered the block of five containing
Missing Value Caused by the Lack of Ink in the Printer
the missing surcharge and the single with the surcharge on the
Stamps with the missing value occasionally result from in-
reverse for sale in March 1996. It was purchased by John Masse
sufficient ink in the printer. An example of a commemorative
and now forms a part of the Masse collection.
stamp with this error is the 25-cent Royal Visit stamp (704i).
In summary, there have been five stamps from three different
The explanation for this error appears to be reasonable since
series that have the incorrect value printed on the stamps. Apart
these errors are generally found with stamps in the sheet con-
122/ May - June 2002 The Canadian Philatelist / Le philatéliste canadien