1949 Halifax Bicentenary

Britain took control of the peninsular part of Acadia  (Nova Scotia) from France in 1713. In 1749 the British government decided that a military station and settlement be built as a counterweight to the French fortress at Louibourg, Isle Royale (now Cape Breton).  Edward Cornwallis was assigned the task, and on June 21, 1749 arrived with 2500 settlers to begin the construction of Halifax.

Canada Post Office issued a commemorative stamp to mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of Halifax on June 21, 1949.

National Archives of Canada photographs related to the stamp issue have been posted on the Canadian Postal Archives website :

a) Edward Cornwallis
b) 18th Century Halifax
c) 20th Century Halifax


a) Edward Cornwallis

b) 18th Century Halifax

Several photographs of prints and paintings depicting 18th century Halifax were available as models for the stamp design.

c) Modern Halifax

The model used by designer H.H. Schwartz for the Halifax Bicentenary stamp was historical artist Charles W. Jeffrey's painting Founding of Halifax, 1749 depicting the building of the Halifax settlement.

National Archives of Canada
Founding of Halifax,1749 by C.W. Jeffrey

H.H. Schwartz stamp essay

 First Day Covers

Usages

Domestic

Renfrew to Hamilton, July 26, 1949
4 cents forward letter rate

Renfrew to Hamilton, July 26, 1949
4 cents forward letter rate

Toronto to Halifax, August 22, 1949
4 cents forward letter rate + 10 cents Special Delivery fee

International

Toronto to Prague, Czechoslovakia, July 8, 1949
15 cents air mail letter rate (one-quarter ounce) to Europe

Montreal to Manchester, England, June 30, 1949
15 cents air mail letter rate (one-quarter ounce) to Europe
Shortpaid 8 cents and taxed 48 gold centimes
(16 cents double deficiency X 3 gold centimes/cent = 48 gold centimes)