Lanarkshire Philatelic Society

"Temperance" & "Maritime Provinces"

Mr. Alan Blakeley

A truly fascinating array of postal material was presented to the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society last Friday evening (30^th November) by Alan Blakeley of the Caledonian Philatelic Society.

His first theme was "Temperance" and, beginning from 1833 when a Temperance Society was founded in Belfast, Maine, USA. Alan continued with illustrated envelopes giving propaganda, with postcards, letters, stamps, postmarks, song sheets, biographies and letter headings.

He gave displays in different aspects of the Temperance Movement  - Early support; Halls, Hotels – this included postcards of Temperance Hotels in Lauder, Largs, and Blandford, Dorset - Life Assurance; Organisations – including the Band of Hope; Frances Willard and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union; Quakers and very interesting views of the Navy and Rum!; the Prohibition Period (1920 – 1933) a Song Sheet – "Hurrah for the Temperance Pledge".

Also showed was postal material relating to the Independent Order of Rechabites – founded in Manchester in 1835; and the International Order of Good Templars founded in 1903 & The Anti-Saloon League’s Fight Against Alcohol – founded in 1895.

An admirable display of interesting material.

Alan’s second theme was "Maritime Provinces"  - or "The Maritimes" - consisting of 3 provinces on the Eastern Atlantic coast of Canada – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. These were originally incorporated into the colony of Nova Scotia and were governed by Great Britain.

In 1769 and 1784 respectively Prince Edward Island (originally St John’s Island) became separate Provinces and all three issued their own stamps. As they were still under British rule, the stamps featured Queen Victoria. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick issued from 1851 and both became part of the Dominion of Canada in 1867. Prince Edward Island issued stamps from 1861 and joined Canada in 1873. The stamps were then superseded by those of Canada. One notable issue was that of the 5c stamp for New Brunswick which featured the head of the Postmaster, Charles Connell. He resigned in the furore that followed!

Much interesting information about all the stamps was presented – Who printed them; the watermarks and the type of paper used through the years of the issues.

President Gary Cheyne led members in giving warm thanks to Alan Blakeley for presenting two thoroughly interesting displays.

Our next meeting in the Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is on Friday, 21^st December, 2018, at 7:30pm when members will present displays on the subject of "Christmas Mail".

Anyone with an interest in stamps, postal history, postcards etc is very welcome to attend.