Postal History Corner

Saturday, October 12, 2013

1985 Louis Hébert : The Father of Canadian Pharmacy

The 45th International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences and of the International Pharmaceutical Federation, was held from September 2 to 6 1985 in Montreal. To mark the occasion, Canada Post issued a stamp honouring Louis Hébert (1575 - 1627), considered by Canadian pharmacists as the father of their profession.

The 34 cent commemorative stamp, issued on August 30, 1985, was designed by Montreal graphic designer Clermont Malenfant and printed by Asthon-Potter Limited.

Essays

Mr. Malenfant. painted lovely essays for this issue.

National Archives of Canada

Issued Stamp

The stamp shows Louis Hébert surrounded by objects relating to his life and work in the Quebec colony. The sprig of balsam fir in his hand and the silverweed, both useful as herbal medicines, together with the mortar and pestle, symbolize his craft as an apothecary. With wheat and scythe, Hébert was able to provide the small colony with a store of food for the long winter months.

First Day Covers

Canadian Bank Note Company

Astra Pharmaceuticals Canada Limited

Astra pharmaceuticals prepared souvenir covers for the 45th Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Signed by Gerry McDole President

Usage

Mississuaga LPP to Brampton, November 15, 1985

34 cents letter rate

Returned to sender

Friday, October 11, 2013

Welland : Airport Dedication 1933

The opening of the Welland, Ontario airfield on May 27, 1933, was an occasion for celebration. It featured airplanes of the day, the famous Leavens Brothers Air Circus, airplane rides, and parachute jumps as the grand finale. Unfortunately, the day ended in disaster.

An account of the event titled "Tragic Aviation History" by William Morgan, was published in the Welland Tribune ( June 3, 2011). Morgan's father, who was thirteen at the time, had attended the opening and had shared his memories of that fateful day with his son. This posting would not have been possible without Mr. Morgan's excellent article.

Commemorative Cover

The cover below was postmarked on May 27, 1933 the afternoon of the dedication day.

The Airstrip

Current residents of Welland may not know that the Welland-Crowland airstrip was located in the the south-west end of the city (see map below), now the site of St. George park.

The Airplanes

Morgan's father. like most teenagers in the 1930s, was an enthusiastic admirer of aircraft and vividly remembered the airplanes he saw:

The aircraft of the day were all there. The TravelAirs (the pride of Walter Beech of Beechcraft fame), the Alexander Eaglerocks, Curtiss JN-4 (Jenny's), Dehavilland Gypsy Moths and Consolidated Fleets. The famous Leavens Brothers Air Circus was there with their Long-wing Eaglerock, so named because the lower wing span was longer than the upper. They also had their Waco 9 and 10 as well as their Kinner-powered Pitcairn Autogyro CF-ASQ.

A Fairchild biplane was used for the parachute finale.

TravelAir

Consolidated Fleet

Fairfield Bi-Plane

The Leavens Brothers Flying Circus

The Leavens brothers of Brockville Ontatio were barnstormers who flew across the country selling airplane rides. They brought their impressive fleet of airplanes to the Welland airport dedication.

Leavens Aviation Inc. went on to become a leader in the Canadian aviation industry. On June 14, 2012, Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame awarded its Belt of Orion Award for Excellence for outstanding contributions to the advancement of aviation in Canada to Leavens Aviation Inc.

The Leavens Fleet

The elder Morgan said this about the Leavens Brothers:

The famous Leavens Brothers Air Circus was there with their Long-wing Eaglerock, so named because the lower wing span was longer than the upper. They also had their Waco 9 and 10 as well as their Kinner-powered Pitcairn Autogyro CF-ASQ. Along with them was their little Ford panel truck on the sides of which was painted "See your town from the air in an aeroplane -- special rate -- one cent per pound."

Photographs shown below are from the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame's video prepared for the induction of Leavens Aviation Inc.

Leavens Brothers Ford Panel Truck

Leavens Brothers Ford panel truck advertizing airplane rides. In 1933 the price of a flight was "one cent per pound."

Curtis JN-4

Waco 9

Waco 10

Pitcairn Autogyro

Alexander Eaglerock

Dehavilland Gipsy Moth

The Tragic Grand Finale : Parachute Jumping

In 1933, few people had ever seen a person jump out of an airplane and parachute to the ground . Parachuting was a thrilling event which drew large crowds. Warner Brothers understood the attraction when it released Parachute Jumper, a film starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

The Welland spectators were to see two jumpers on May 27, 1933 , one of whom was twenty-five year-old Elsie Storrow. Morgan provides this dramatic description of the jumps:

They [the jumpers] could barely be seen from our vantage point, suiting up and being helped into the Fairchild bi-plane. They took off and climbed slowly to their jumping altitude of 1,500 feet. All eyes were upon them as the airplane made a final turn.

A large gasp from the crowd as the first jumper left the plane. 1-2-3-4-5 and the big white canopy blossomed open and he floated gently downward. A few seconds later, another gasp as Elsie left the craft, 1-2-3-4- 5-8-10-15. Something must be wrong. She hurtled down at a terrifying rate until the 'chute streamed out behind her but the life-saving canopy did not appear. Elsie disappeared into the tree tops at the far end of the field. The Electro-Metals van roared to life, swung onto the airstrip and raced towards the woods followed by a huge mass of spectators, oblivious to the aircraft overhead on landing approach. The loudspeaker shouted appeals to clear the field, to no avail.

Elsie Storrow's body was recovered by the Provincial Police, and she was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Welland. Her headstone reads : "Elsie Storrow -- Died as a result of a parachute descent -- May 27, 1933."

Another Tragic Death : Chicago, July 4, 1933

Parachuting in the 1930s was a dangerous activity. A few months after Ms. Storrow's death, Joe Wilson fell to his death in front of a large crowd at the Chicago World Fair on July 4, 1933.

A Short-Lived Welland Airport

According to Morgan. the airfield did not see long service:

Apart from an occasional "barnstormer" and use by the old Welland Aeromodelers flying models, the airfield blended back into its surroundings and became overgrown with scrub. A victim of the times. After all it was the early '30s, the height of the Great Depression.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

1954 6 cent Elizabeth Wilding Definitive

The 6 cent denomination of the Queen Elizabeth definitive based on a photograph by Dorothy Wilding was issued on June 10, 1954 along with the 1c, 2c, 3c, and 4c denominations. The 5c stamp had been issued earlier on April 1, 1954. This post features digitized production images posted on the National Archives of Canada web site, first day covers, and examples of the 6 cent stamps on commercial mail.

From the Archives

Text on the Item: 15 Brown Approved for denominations/ L.J. Mills/ [handstamp] DIRECTOR OF FINANCIALSERVICES/ 29 March 1954

Text on the Item: Approved LJ Mills Director of Financial Services [stamp] 6 April 1954. #75 red.

Text on the Item: Approved LJ Mills Director of Financial Services [stamp] 6 April 1954. 75 red Apr 7/54 [initials]. [initials within company handstamp dated Apr 6 1954].

It is interesting to note that the approved colour is "75 Red" which looks like orange.

Text on the Item: Approved LJ Mills Director of Financial Services [stamp] 11 May 1954. Canadian Bank Note Co., Limited / Ottawa No. 1 No. 1 665

Envelope with affixed 1¢,2¢,3¢,4¢,6¢-1962 Queen Elizabeth Wilding Portrait series - cancel on front only. Denominations: The FDC includes stamps of 1 cent [x 1], 2 cents [x 1], 3 cents [x 1], 4 cents [x 1], 6 cents [x 1]. Cachet - commemorating the Wilding Portrait stamps of Queen Elizabeth II.

First Day Covers

6c Denomination on Cover

1. Domestic

2nd Weight Step Local Letter

The greater than 1 oz., equal to or less than 2 oz., local letter rate was 6 cents.

Montreal local 2nd weigh step letter, March 2, 1956

4 cents for the 1st ounce and 2 cents for the next ounce.

Used to Pay Postage Due

Qualicum Beach to Parville, February 17, 1958

8 cents forward letter rate for up to 2 oz.

Shortpaid 3 cents and taxed 6 cents, double the deficiency

Qualicum Beach Money Order Office Number handstamp, February 18, 1958

Local Registered Letter

Montreal local registered letter, April 12 1955

24 cents paying 20 cents registration fee + 4 cents local letter rate

2. United States

5th Weight Step Surface Letter (Up to 5 oz.)

The surface letter rate to the United States was 5 cents for the first ounce and 3 cents for each additional ounce.

Sarnia to Fairhaven, Mass.

17 cent paying the 5 oz. surface letter rate : 5 cents first ounce + 12 cents for the next four oz.

Airmail Special Delivery Letter

Alliston to New Smyrma Beach, Fla., December 21, 1961

7 cents air mail letter rate + 10 cent special delivery fee

Registered 3rd Weight Step Letter

Montreal to Hollywood, Calif., June 25, 1955

31 cents paying the up to 3 oz. letter rate + registration fee

3. International

U.P.U. surface letter rate

On April 1, 1954, the surface letter rate to destinations for which the UPU rate (non-preferential) applied was increased from 5 cents to 6 cents. This was the principal usage for which the 6 cent denomination was issued.