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A Second Day Postmark and an Historic Letter
from: Victoria COVID Times, July 2020
by Gray Scrimgeour

I am preparing a one-frame exhibit (in case we can have VICPEX this fall) showing uses of the 1943 FORT VICTORIA commemorative pictorial slogan postmark. Gerald Wellburn designed the slogan, which cancelled regular letter mail in Victoria from March 15, 1943 until March 31. Below is a local letter mailed on the second day of the slogan's use.

The cover is addressed to Mrs. A.D. Muskett, Pentrelew, 1201 Fort Street. Madge (Margaret Adelaide Muskett) was the widow of Aubrey Dashwood Muskett (1877-1941) who had been headmaster of the Collegiate School for Boys from 1910 to 1929. Madge was a grandaughter of Sir Henry and Sarah Crease.

The cover (next page) was written and sent by "Aunt Zeffie", i.e. Josephine. Pentrelew was the name of the Crease family home on Fort Street. It subsequently became the Victoria Truth Centre church facilities. It is now the site of the new Bellewood Park residential development.

Cover dated March 16, 1943 with the Fort Victoria commemorative slogan postmark. Letter written by Josephine Crease to her niece.