The Philatelic History of Kingston, Ontario, from 1673 to the Present Day

Curated by Chris Anstead and Chris Hargreaves
Released November 2024.
220 pages, 8.5" x 11", spiral.
Colour C$ 53.00 [ISBN 978-1-989280-47-8].

Mike Street, Coordinator of the BNAPS Book Department, believes that, of the over 300 book titles BNAPS has published to date, The Philatelic History of Kingston, Ontario, from 1673 to the Present Day is the most colourful. Almost all normal competitive exhibits are focused on a particular type of material, and tend to be similar in many aspects such as colour and shape. The pages of the Kingston exhibit come from 40+ contributors. The diversity of contributors and their contributions almost guarantees that the material on display will differ from page to page, and this is the case with this volume.

The incredible variety of items brought together under one philatelic roof include a Wampum belt used to convey an agreement between two Indigenous tribes, the earliest known letter addressed to Fort Frontenac in 1686, and many variations of postal markings from straight line “Kingston” postmarks of the late 16th century and later, through the “Ruggles” postmark and Berri duplex postmarks of the 1860s, to the “Blue Barrel” cancellations of 1955-1962.

Among the many other subjects covered in the book are:

►  Kingston designated as capital of the the Province of Canada in 1840
►  Mid-19th century Canada to United States Cross Border Mail through Kingston (and vice versa)
►  St. Lawrence River Steamboat mail
►  An 1851 Soldiers’ Letter to England from a member of the 1851 British Garrison
►  Fort Henry as an 1820s Great Lakes defence installation, and later as a World War II Prisoner of War Camp
►  Queen's University
►  Royal Military College Centenary stamp issue
►  1976 Olympic Games sailboat venue
►  Postcard Factory Prepaid Postcards
►  Wolfe Island and MV Wolfe Islander II, III and IV