By Gray Scrimgeour Editor’s Note: This article by Gray Scrimgeour updates an earlier article on correspondence of the Fawcett family. It gives a detailed look at the challenges of sending mail between the Victoria and Britain during the early days of the Colony of Vancouver Island. Several years ago, I purchased on eBay the flimsy […]
Another Look at the Fawcett Correspondence Read More »
BNAPEX 2025 is the annual convention of the British North America Philatelic Society, held this year in Vernon BC. There was a strong Victoria contingent and our own Bob Stock took a Gold medal plus the Allan Steinhart Reserve Grand award for his seven frame exhibit titled “The Postmarks of Oxford County, Upper Canada.” Other
Bob Stock Wins Reserve Grand at BNAPEX Read More »
The Postal History Society of Canada presents its monthly ‘Under The Covers’ Zoom session featuring ‘Unusual (Rare) Uses of Victorian and Edwardian Official Stationery “Advertising” Cards’ with Chris Ellis. The presentation is scheduled for Tuesday October 23, 2025 at 3:00 pm Pacific Time. The session is free and open to all, but pre-registration is required.
PHSC Presents “Victorian and Edwardian Official Stationary” Read More »
This article by Gray Scrimgeour and Ian Kimmerley describes mailed items from an extensive correspondence (1937–1942) involving Henry Porter, a trans-Pacific cable repair worker based in Victoria, British Columbia. Most of the correspondence is between Porter while he was travelling and his family in Victoria. There also are some cable-work related covers. Most of Porter’s
Cable Repair in the Pacific: 1937–1942 Read More »
This presentation by Gray Scrimgeour focuses on the postal history of the James Bay area of Victoria, BC. As the earliest place of European settlement and the seat of the government in Vancouver Island, the colonial leaders lived here. Mail to and from many of these people is shown and the area’s history is described.
Postal History of James Bay Read More »
This presentation by Gray Scrimgeour describes the development of the postal systems in British Columbia’s Nicola and Similkameen Valleys from the gold rush days to present times. Many examples of covers are shown, along with maps and photographs of the routes and methods.
Postal Development In the Nicola and Similkameen Valleys Read More »
This presentation by Neil Donen explains the history of the Prisoner of War system of mails from Russian Siberia during World War One. Huge numbers of German and Austro-Hungarian prisoners were interned in Siberia and many examples of POW mail between the prisoner and his family are shown. The role of several Red Cross agencies
German POWs in Siberia During WWI Read More »
The British Empire Study Group Zoom sessions are free and open to all, but you must register here.
BESG hosts: “Crimean War through Postal History, Part 2” with Adrians Pearson Read More »
This presentation by Gray Scrimgeour explains the history of the Mount Tolmie post office, which first opened in 1892 in what was then a rural area of Victoria. Using covers and illustrations, he explains the early postmasters and locations of the post office over time. Also shown are covers sent to and from other post
History of the Mount Tolmie Post Office Read More »
During the Second World War, supplying Britain with new aircraft built in North America was a significant logistical challenge for the Allies. This presentation explains the development of the RAF Ferry Command which eventually flew these aircraft to where they were needed. Not long after its formation, a semi-formal system of using these ferried aircraft
RAF Ferry Command Mail Read More »
