Postal History Corner: October 2010

1966 London Conference

The London Conference was held in the Great Britain from December 1866 to March 1867 and was the last in a series of conferences held(commemorative stamps issued for Charlottetown 1864, and Quebec City 1864) that led to Canadian Confederation in 1867. Delegates from the Province of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia met with officials of the British government to draft the British North America Act, 1867. Queen Victoria asssented to the bill and the Dominion of Canada was created when it came into force on July 1, 1867.

The Fathers of Confederation at the London Conference (Canada Archives)

Essays

National Archives of Canada

National Archives of Canada

Accepted Design

National Archives of Canada

The original wording did not include the word "CONFÉRENCE" in French. The wording was to read:

LONDON
CONFERENCE
CONFÉRENCE
DE LONDRES
1866

Revised Model

Issued Stamp

First Day Covers

Canada Post Office Announcement Cover

Canada Post Office two-flags cachet used to mail leaflet describing the London conference stamp. Letter sent to Portugal

Chickering/Jackson

Overseas Mailers embellishments

Shering Corporation

Royal Philatelic Society of Canada

Hamilton
"First Day of Issue"

Usages

Domestic Forward Letter

Halifax to Amherst, June 28 1966
5 cents forward letter rate

Maccan to Amherst, June 14, 1966

Vermilion to Edmonton, June 3, 1966
5 cents forward letter rate + 35 cents registration fee

International Air Mail

Dundurn to Switzerland, September 20, 1966

15 cents air mail rate to Europe

1966 Highway Safety

The Canada Highway Safety Council held its 12th Annual Conference in Calgary. Canada Post Office issued the Highway Safety commemorative on May 2, 1966, coinciding with the first day of the conference.