Captain Robert A. Bartlett

“The truth was I could not stop myself in pursuit of adventure. I was committed to the Arctic. I’d got the poison in my veins.”

Captain Bartlett (from his journals)

In the golden age of Arctic exploration, there was only one “Captain Bob.” Deemed the greatest ice captain of the 20th century, Bob worked as a sealer, Arctic explorer, ice captain and scientist. In more than half a century at sea, he sought high adventure and fresh discoveries in some of the wildest, remotest corners of the world.

Robert Abram Bartlett was born in Brigus, Newfoundland, on August 15, 1875, into a family of renowned seal hunters and sailing masters. His mother hoped he would enter the ministry, but, alas, the sea was in his blood.

From 1898 to 1909, Captain Bob accompanied renowned American explorer Robert E. Peary on three separate attempts to reach the North Pole. During the third voyage, he led the expedition to 87°48' N latitude—farther north than anyone had reached before him. He later captained the Karluk on the Canadian Arctic Expedition. When the ship was crushed in the Arctic pack ice, Bartlett and an Inuk made a 700-mile journey to land and down the Siberian coast to rescue the stranded crew. During the last two decades of his seafaring career, Captain Bob led the Effie M. Morrissey on scientific expeditions to Greenland, Iceland and the high Arctic. In 1969, Bartlett was designated a person of national historic importance by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Icy blues and snowy whites make a fitting backdrop for the commemorative stamp issued to mark the 100th anniversary of Captain Bob’s legendary attempt to reach to the North Pole. The issue features Bartlett holding a sextant, an instrument used to measure latitude and longitude at sea. “We chose the photo because it represents the navigational expertise for which he was renowned,” explains designer Karen Smith. The top-left corner of the stamp features an outline of the globe from the North Pole downward, which bleeds onto the stamp’s frame. The background features an image of the Roosevelt (the ship that Bartlett both skippered and captained on the Peary Polar Expeditions) superimposed onto a recent photograph of the Canadian Arctic. Smith adds, “We opted for a newer photo because the vivid colours capture the cool, harsh conditions of the region.” Scattered between the on-looking Captain and his ship are the Inuit people whose knowledge of the region ensured the survival of the explorers in the harsh Arctic climate.

Those involved with Bartlett’s legacy are thrilled with this postal tribute. “Captain Bartlett brought the Arctic to the world,” says the Honourable Edward Roberts, Chair of the Celebrating Bartlett 2009 Steering Committee and former Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. “His accomplishments and popular lectures changed the way the world looked at Canada’s Arctic lands. We are delighted that Canada Post is putting its “stamp of approval” on his legacy.”

To learn more about Captain Bartlett’s legacy and associated celebrations, visit www.bartlett2009.com


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80 Years of Canada/Japan Diplomatic Relations Commemorative Envelope

In 2009, as Canada celebrates the 80th anniversary of the establishment of its diplomatic presence in Japan, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan will pay a visit to Canada. This visit is an important symbol of our solid and ever-growing relationship—a relationship founded on such shared values as freedom, democracy, open markets and good governance. The ties between Japan and Canada continue to grow as we cooperate on peace and security, enjoy strong trade and investment ties, and engage in numerous community and cultural exchanges.

This July, Canada Post will mark this anniversary and celebrate Their Majesties’ visit with a commemorative envelope. Designed by Céline Morisset, Manager of Graphic Design at Canada Post, the envelope showcases the richness of Japanese art and speaks to its welcome place in Canadian culture. It features cherry blossoms and Japanese calligraphy set against a kimono, the traditional clothing of Japan. Cherry blossoms, sakura in Japanese, are the flowers that grow on cherry trees. Over 200 cultivars of sakura are native to Japan, where they are considered omens of good fortune, a symbol of love, and an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life. “The design, with the vivid colours of the cherry blossom, imparts a sense of flamboyance amid tranquility,” Morisset explains.

A bonsai pine tree was used as the cancellation mark. An ancient horticultural art form practiced by the Japanese, bonsai involves growing miniature plants through the use of skilled pruning. “In Japan, the pine represents the spiritual culture of the ancients,” notes Morisset. On the preprinted stamp image, the Canadian and Japanese flags fly side by side against a bright blue sky. “This concept is symbolic of the strong relationship between the nations.”

Date of Issue: July 8, 2009
Price: $3.00
Denomination: Domestic postage paid
Design: Canada Post Graphic Design Group
Quantity: 10,000

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Roadside Attractions

Nothing beats a Canadian road trip. From the rocky splendours of the west, through spectacular stretches of alpine meadows, towards the sweeping ocean vistas of the east—it seems that, no matter which way we steer the wheel, there’s something to see. But it’s not all natural scenery; the landscape abounds with quirky landmarks that capture the spirit of small-town Canada and never fail to get tourists talking. This July, Canada Post will issue the first set in a three-year stamp series showcasing Canada’s famous roadside attractions.

We kick off our cross-country journey in the wonderful west, home to vistas of snow-peaked mountain ranges, panoramic seascapes, and, of course, Mr. PG. At a staggering 8 metres tall, this giant “log” man is hard to miss. He’s been welcoming visitors to Prince George, BC, since 1960.

Next stop: Watson Lake, YK, where a special kind of forest—a signpost forest—is nestled within spectacular stretches of untamed wilderness. It all began in 1942, when a homesick U.S. Army G.I. working on the Alaska Highway put up a sign pointing the way and showing the mileage to his hometown. Others followed suit, and the Watson Lake Signpost Forest’s count today exceeds 64,000 signs.

So many signs—which way to go? We follow the eastbound arrow until, as luck would have it, we stumble upon Hay River, NWT’s Inukshuk. Built in 1978 as a symbol for the Arctic Winter Games, this stunning sculpture belongs to the age-old Inuit tradition of building stone giants to guide travelers through Canada’s vast landscape. Our guide points south, and on we go.

A long journey down the Yellowhead Highway leads us to Vegreville, AB, where a massive Easter egg—the largest in the world, in fact—is on display at the entrance to Elk Island National Park. Its name, Pysanka, is Ukrainian for “Easter egg,” and it symbolizes Vegreville’s vibrant folk culture.

This set of stamps is as fun and whimsical as the attractions they celebrate. Designer Fraser Ross of Halifax’s Semaphor Design Company notes, “They’re all iconic in their own way, so we wanted to give them each a monumental quality.” The stamps feature traditional oil paintings by Nova Scotia artist Bonnie Ross. The detail and dimension within them was captured by adding layer upon layer of graduated colour. Meanwhile, the lively colour scheme lends a cartoonish aspect to the scenes. Fraser adds, “This quality highlights the originality and quirkiness of these attractions; they’re so much fun and we wanted the stamps to speak to that.”

While getting acquainted with the roadside attractions, Ross came to see that their excitement extends well beyond their quirks. “They’re like historical landmarks in both a literal and figurative way,” he says. “They literally mark a location, but they also mark a time and place. On family vacations, we all stop; we stare; and we rarely leave without a picture. Over time, we may forget the details of a vacation, sometimes even the destinations themselves, but somehow the roadside attractions we meet along the way find a permanent place in our memories and photo albums.” This July, these lively landmarks can also find a permanent place in your stamp collection.

Where will the road take us next? Stay tuned to find out!

Date of Issue: July 6, 2009
Denomination: 4 x 54¢
Layout: A: Booklet of 8 stamps
B: Souvenir sheet of 4 stamps
Product No: A: 413739111 ($4.32)
B: 403739145 ($2.16)
Design: Fraser Ross (semaphor)
Illustration: Bonnie Ross
Photography: iStock Photo; CanStock Photo;BigStock
Printer: Lowe-Martin
Quantity: A: 4,000,000, B: 250,000
Dimensions: A: 35 mm x 41 mm (vertical)
B: 95 mm x 109 mm (vertical)
Perforations: A: Kiss cut, B: 13+
Gum Type: A: Pressure sensitive, B: P.V.A.
Printing Process: Lithography in 7 colours plus varnish
Paper Type: Tullis Russell
Tagging: General, 4 sides
Official First Day Cover (OFDC) Cancellation: Prince George, British Columbia
Product No. and Quantity: 413739131 ($3.16 – 19,000)


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Ashes fever commemorated in three new stamps

Ashes fever has been vividly captured on a special England v Australia 2009 miniature sheet, containing three postage stamps, to be released by the Isle of Man Post Office in association with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Isle of Man Cricket Association, on June 29.

The Queen has granted royal approval for the three engaging £1 stamps that include a silhouette of her head and depict the legendary "W G Grace at Lord's"; "The MCC Ashes Trophy & Urn"; "England v Australia, Lord's 2005".

The idea for the Ashes Series 2009 miniature sheet was conceived by this correspondent during Spring STAMPEX 2009 at the Business Design Centre, Islington - a stamp show that featured some wonderful displays of "Cricket and Stamps", never seen before in public. The MCC Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground, Chapman and Mitchell covers (Terry Mitchell and John Chapman), and the Isle of Man Cricket Association provided invaluable help and advice.

The miniature sheet was designed by Gautam Saha, and printed by BDT international, the security printers based in Ireland, using four colour offset lithography. The text for the special presentation pack and first-day cover insert was written by this correspondent. The dramatic painting "Two to Win" on the front of the presentation pack and the illustration "Umpire" on the first day cover are by well-known cricket artist Christina Pierce.

The legendary Dr William Gilbert Grace, (1848-1915) was the outstanding English all-round amateur cricketer of his day - a right- handed batsman and a bowler - who captained England and Gloucestershire. Grace, who qualified as a medical practitioner in 1879, was known as "the doctor". He played first-class cricket for 44 seasons, 1865-1908. Only Bradman stands beside him in cricket's history.

W G Grace - depicted on the first stamp - shown in a painting batting at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1895, played for the MCC, 1869-1904; Gloucestershire, 1870-1899; and London County, 1900-1904. He captained England on 24 occasions.

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787. Before then aristocrats and noblemen played their cricket in White Conduit Fields at lslington, London. Cricket was considered a manly sport for the elite who asked Thomas Lord, a bowler with White Conduit CC, to set up a new private ground. Lord leased a ground on Dorset Fields in Marylebone - now Dorset Square.

The first match was played on May 31 1787 and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was formed. After a short stay at North Bank, Regent's Park, between 1811 and 1813, Lord's moved to a new rural ground in St John’s Wood during 1814.

Lord's cricket ground, depicted on the third stamp in a vibrant painting "England v Australia, Lord's 2005" by Karen Neale, remains the home of MCC.

Karen, MCC's "Young Cricket Artist for 2005", based at Lord's, told The Times: "My passion is sketching and painting the world around me."

In 1998 MCC commissioned a Waterford crystal trophy modeled on the world famous Ashes Urn - both the trophy and the urn are shown on the second stamp in the miniature sheet - which is now presented to the winner of each Ashes series. This trophy was first presented to the Australians after their success in the 1998-99 series.

The term "Ashes" was first used after England lost to Australia - for the first time on home soil - at The Oval on August 29 1882. A day later, the "Sporting Times" carried a mock obituary to English cricket that concluded: "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia".

A few weeks later an English team captained by the Hon lvo Bligh (later Lord Darnley), set off to tour Australia. The side lost the first of the three scheduled Tests but won the next two. Before Christmas 1882 a fun match was played at the Rupertswood estate of Sir William Clarke, President of the Melbourne Cricket Club. Lady Clarke burnt a bail and presented the "Ashes" in an urn to the England Captain as a memento of his visit. Bligh subsequently took the urn back to England, and following his death his widow presented the urn to MCC, where it remains permanently in the Museum at Lord's.

The iconic four-inch urn arrived at Lord's in 1929 and went on display in the Long Room. It was moved to the museum when that opened in 1953. It has rarely moved from Lord's, but in 2006/07 was displayed in six Australian cities during a unique 14- week exhibition tour. The Ashes Urn, which was never intended as a trophy, is extremely fragile. Recognising the need for a trophy for the series MCC in 1998 commissioned a magnificent Waterford Crystal Trophy for the 1998-99 Ashes Series. Up until the summer of 2009 only one England Captain - Michael Vaughan of Yorkshire - has had the honour of lifting the trophy, during the never-to-be-forgotten English summer of 2005.

The Isle of Man Cricket Club was formed in April 1930 to foster the interests of cricket on the Island and assist existing clubs - Ramsey, Fencibles and Castletown. In July 2004 the Isle of Man Cricket Association was elected as the 90th member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and in 2005 competed in a European Championship for the first time. Each year the MCC sends a touring side to the Island to play against King William's College, and a fixture against the Island senior side is always included.

Cricket and stamp collecting is a winning combination and this topical Ashes 2009 miniature sheet will appeal to stamp collectors and cricket enthusiast alike. It will certainly rekindle vivid memories of great cricket matches in past years. Non-collectors stumped for new ideas could do no better than open a new innings: "Cricket and Stamps".

Cricket used to be a quintessentially English game played by gentlemen. But no more. In recent years television has brought cricket to many of the countries listed in the Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth Catalogue and all the countries which are members of the ICC (International Cricket Council) – founded on June 15 1909.

Stanley Gibbons Catalogue Editor, Hugh Jefferies, confirmed to The Times: "The Isle of Man Post cricket miniature sheet will be listed in the 2010 Stanley Gibbons stamp catalogues because it is on sale at post offices at £3, the face value of the three postage stamps." Mr Jefferies added: "The three £1 stamps will not be listed separately because they are not available as singe stamps but only as a miniature sheet."

If England win, in what is likely to be a closely fought home Ashes series this summer, Royal Mail will have an opportunity to issue a miniature sheet to complement the "The Ashes England Winners 2005" released on October 6 2005. Stamp collectors and non collectors alike will eagerly anticipate the Isle of Man "England v Australia 2009" miniature sheet re-issued with the memorable overprint "ENGLAND WINNERS". Cricket, Lovely Cricket!

Date of Issue: 29th June 2009

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