My Articles and Presentations

I deeply enjoy sharing information on my philatelic interests. This site collates the articles I have written and presentations I have made.

This first article outlines the benefits of exhibiting and writing about your collection and I encourage everyone to take a crack at it. There are wonderful editors out there who are more than willing to assist you to get published in their journal.

Writing Philatelic Articles Increases Your Enjoyment of Your Collection. (Oct 2018) The Nova Scotia Post. Vol. 48, Iss. 471, p. 1.

This article talks about the ways that I have still been able to enjoy the social aspects of my hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic while in-person stamp shows and club meetings have been cancelled.
 
 

Other General Interest Articles

Book Review of Stampin’ Around or The Life of a Stamp Collector. (Dec 2009) The Nova Scotia Post. Vol. 39, Iss. 397, p. 3.
Having Trouble Finding Philatelic Information, Try the National Library! (Jan 2010) The Nova Scotia Post. Vol. 39, Iss. 398, p. 3.
Stamps Aren’t the Only Way to Denote Payment. (Dec 2017) The Nova Scotia Post. Vol. 47, Iss. 463, p. 2.
Stamp Talk – Postal History. (January 2018) The Nova Scotia Post. Vol. 47, Iss. 464, p. 2.

Stamps … Who Needs Them? Lessons Learned on the Development of Typologies and Cataloguing, Collecting the Non-Stamped Postal History of Botswana. (Sep 2019) A presentation at Milcopex 2019. Contains descriptions of typologies and accessioning systems I have developed for Botswana Meter Marks Official Free Marks, Government Printed Envelopes, Registration Labels and Permit Mail.

Video of the Presentation (46 min.)

PDF of the Slides Used in the Presentation

Stamps … Who Needs Them?  Collecting the Non-Stamped Postal History of Botswana. (June 2023) This presentation was given as part of a panel discussion of “Unusual Collecting” given as part of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada Stamps Panels.  This presentation explains my interest in Botswana Meter Marks Official Free Marks, Government Printed Envelopes, Registration Labels and Permit Mail and provides a quick overview of the typologies and accessioning system I have developed to keep track of the items I have in my collection.  I shared the panel with Mark Berner who presented on the “Fiscal History of the Third Bill Stamp Era in Nova Scotia (1868-1882) , and Jane Sodero who presented on Stamp Paraphernalia: A Smattering of Stamp and Post Office Related Items.

Video of the Presentation (Total video is 43 min.  My discussion begins at 17:57 and runs to 31:00)

PDF of the Slides Used in the Presentation

Typologies! A personal approach to classification.  (July, 2023) This presentation was the inaugural presentation of the online video series for the Auxiliary Markings Club on 12 July, 2023.

PDF of the Slides Used in the Presentation

Botswana Postal Rates

Postal Rates of Botswana. (Oct-Dec 2020) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXIII, No. 4, Whole No. 98, p.63.

Botswana Meter Marks

Botswana meter marks: An introduction.  (June 2022) The South African Philatelist. Volume 98:3. Whole No. 972, p. 78.
Botswana Meters – A Brief History. (Nov 2001 / Feb 2002) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XV, No. 2, Whole No. 42, p.42.
Botswana Meter Marks. (June 2006) Nova Scotia Stamp Club Newsletter. No. 343, Vol. 33, Iss. 10, p. 1.
A New License Prefix for Botswana. (Winter 2006 / 2007) Meter Stamp Society Quarterly Bulletin.  Vol. 58/no. 4 (whole no. 274), p.8.
Botswana Meter Mark Typology.  PowerPoint presentation to the Meter Stamp Society general meeting at the World Stamp Show New York. (28 May 2016).

Information on Botswana Meter Marks in the video Stamps … Who Needs Them? Lessons Learned on the Development of Typologies and Cataloguing, Collecting the Non-Stamped Postal History of Botswana. (Sep 2019) A presentation at Milcopex 2019.

Video, starting at 5:46

Slide Deck, slides 9 to 13

I am writing a series of articles that describe the  post-independence development of Botswana by illustrating the entities that used meter machines to do large mailings.  

The Post-Independence Industrial Development of Botswana as Illustrated through Meter Marks: The Financial Sector. (May-August 2021) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXIV, No. 2, Whole No. 100. p.46.

The Post-Independence Industrial Development of Botswana as Illustrated through Meter Marks: Large Companies. (May-August 2022) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXV, No. 2, Whole No. 103. p.46.

Botswana Official Free Marks

Information on Botswana Official Free Marks in the video Stamps … Who Needs Them? Lessons Learned on the Development of Typologies and Cataloguing, Collecting the Non-Stamped Postal History of Botswana. (Sep 2019) A presentation at Milcopex 2019.

Video, starting at 9:16

Slide Deck, slides 14 to 18

Botswana Government Printed Envelopes

Botswana Government Printed Envelopes. (Jul-Oct 2017) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXI, No. 1, Whole No. 89, p.4.

Errata to the article above, Botswana Government Printed Envelopes in Forerunners 89. The reference to Figure 10 in the second last paragraph on page 6 should be to Figure 11.

‘On Botswana Postal Service’ Envelopes. (Nov 2017-Feb 2018) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXI, No. 2, Whole No. 90, p.35.
Bechuanaland Government and Botswana Telegraph Envelopes. (Mar-Jun 2018) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXI, No. 3, Whole No. 91, p.75.
 
Botswana Government Printed Envelopes: Update. (Nov 2019-Feb 2020) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXIII, No. 2, Whole No. 96, p.32. This article illustrates additions to the typology of ‘On Botswana Government Service’ (OBGS) envelopes described issue 89 of Forerunners.
 
Updates to Bechuanaland and Botswana Government and Telegraph Envelopes. (September-December 2021) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXIV, No. 3, Whole No. 101, p.112-113. This article illustrates further additions and corrections to the typology of ‘On Botswana Government Service’ (OBGS) envelopes described issue 89 and 91 of Forerunners.
 
 

A Botswana Economy Label. (May-Aug 2020) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXIII, No. 3, Whole No. 97, p.74.

OHMS Post Office Savings Bank Envelope. (September-December 2021) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXIV, No. 3, Whole No. 101, p.98.

Information on Botswana Government Printed Envelopes in the video Stamps … Who Needs Them? Lessons Learned on the Development of Typologies and Cataloguing, Collecting the Non-Stamped Postal History of Botswana. (Sep 2019) A presentation at Milcopex 2019.

Video, starting at 19:19

Slide Deck, slides 19 to 24

Botswana Registration Labels

Bechuanaland and Botswana Registration Labels: An Updated Typology and Listing, published as an Occasional Electronic Paper by the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa (PSGSA), 2020.

Information on Botswana Registration Labels Marks in the video Stamps … Who Needs Them? Lessons Learned on the Development of Typologies and Cataloguing, Collecting the Non-Stamped Postal History of Botswana. (Sep 2019) A presentation at Milcopex 2019.

Video, starting at 26:17

Slide Deck, slides 25 to 26

Botswana Permit Mail

Botswana Permit Mail.  (January-April 2022) Forerunners, Journal of the Philatelic Society for Greater Southern Africa.  Vol. XXXV, No. 1, Whole No. 102, p.11.

Information on Botswana Permit Mail in the video Stamps … Who Needs Them? Lessons Learned on the Development of Typologies and Cataloguing, Collecting the Non-Stamped Postal History of Botswana. (Sep 2019) A presentation at Milcopex 2019.

Video, starting at 28.15

Slide Deck, slides 27 to 29

Port Hood and Port Hood Island

General Postal History
The Postal History of Port Hood Island. (June 2006) Postal History Society of Canada Journal. Vol. 126, p. 13.
The Reverend Nathaniel Cole
Through my research on the postal history of Port Hood and Port Hood Island, I came across the work of the Rev. Nathaniel Cole, a United Church minister and stamp dealer, who lived in Port Hood in the early 1940’s.  

The Philatelic Creations of Rev. Nathaniel Cole. (March 2021) Nova Scotia Stamp Club Newsletter. Vol. 50, Issue 497, p. 1.

The Philatelic Creations of Rev. Nathaniel Cole. (March/April 2021). The Canadian Philatelist. Vol. 72, No. 2, p. 75. 

Rev. Nathaniel Cole. (Spring/Summer 2021). The Chestico News. p.10.  Also acknowledged on the last page of that article (see paragraph outlined in red) are the efforts of the author to have a new pictorial postmark created for Port Hood.

The Philatelic Creations of Rev. Nathaniel Cole. (June 2023). This was a short presentation given to the Postal History Society of Canada.  It illustrates a number of covers created by the Rev. Nathaniel Cole.  This presentation was not recorded.

Port Hood and Port Hood Island Postcards

I also have an extensive collection of postcards from the area.  While information about the cards can be found on this website,  I am also writing a series of articles for the local history museum, where I am showing an image of the card along with a photograph taken recently from the same point.

Port Hood Then and Now – The First in a Series. (Winter 2022). The Chestico News. p 10.  

Port Hood Then and Now – Part 2A. (Fall 2022). The Chestico News. p 11.  

Port Hood Then and Now – Part 2B. (Winter 2023). The Chestico News. p 11.