Gerald Wellburn was probably the most accomplished philatelist and postal historian British Columbia has ever produced. His interests also included railways and logging, automobiles and paper ephemera of all types. Another of his gifts was a great understanding and dynamic sense of history. His British Columbia and Vancouver Island exhibit won the Grand Award at […]
Gerald Wellburn Exhibit Pages Read More »
One of my collections consists of Numeral-Issue era (1898 to 1903) used Canadian view post cards. I especially like B.C. views. Here are two Vancouver Island cards that I obtained recently—both published by T.N. Hibben & Co. of Victoria (identified by the characteristic printing of the address side and by the company name in small
Three Early Hibben Picture Post Cards Read More »
I came to Victoria in 1917. My first home was on Willows Road at the entrance to the Victoria Exhibition grounds. Our house was on the right side of the entrance gates. Willows tram #11 came east up Cadboro Bay Road, turned west onto Willows north and entered an oval area, then back to town.
B.C. Post Offices: Willowpark – Military and Civilian Read More »
In the Victorian era, the time indicia in the hammer began a differential in time, with A.M. and P.M. Added to these was the NT symbol and about the meaning of this, very little is known. In 1901, Queen Victoria died and Edward VII ascended the throne, and a new issue of stamps appeared featuring
Edward VII Postmarks Read More »
In the early hand cancels of Victoria, B.C., A.M. and P.M. were used to show dispatches up to twelve noon and P.M. after that period. I have a number of early entires and cancels on piece. Among these I found the time element NT. Victoria has had many types of hand cancels since the first
Early Hand Cancels of Victoria Read More »
On June 29th, 1939, a number of Canada’s stamp issues were centrally perforated with the initials O H M S, the vertical leg of each letter consisting of five holes. These were later replaced by a variety consisting of four holes. In 1949 – 50, stamps appeared overprinted O.H.M.S.in black. Finally, in September 1950, Canada’s
Dec. 31st, 1963 – The Day The “G” Stamp Died Read More »
Once upon a time, many years ago, when it was quite unthinkable to take anything that didn’t belong to you, there existed in Victoria a mail delivery system probably unique at that time. In Victoria’s Chinatown in those days lived many elderly gentlemen, retired from long years toiling in the Island’s coal mines, along the
Victoria’s Window-Sill Post Office Read More »
On Dec 7, 2023, the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL) announced the list of members who had been approved as Fellows of the Society this year. Our own Jannie Hofmeyr was on the list. Two other Canadians, Ed Kroft and David McLaughlin, were also admitted. A Fellowship is awarded by the RPSL to those members
Jan Hofmeyr, FRPSL Read More »
This exhibit details the history of the US Foreign Airmail Route Number 2 (FAM-2) between Seattle and Victoria. The first service commenced October 15, 1920 and ended in 1937. By Gray Scrimgeour.
US Foreign Airmail Route No. 2 Read More »
The following article by Edgar Fawcett appeared in the Victoria Daily Times, 9 May 1908 Old timers and new timers look at the accompanying cut of an envelope! It was received from England in 1863 by my father. The three stamps on it show a value of 34c – one shilling, one four pence and
Evolution Of The Victoria Post Office Read More »
