Articles appearing in this newsletter are protected by Copyright. Anyone wanting to reprint articles must obtain written permission from: Marcel Cool. Short excerpts of articles may be reproduced for the purpose of reviewing this newsletter by philatelic columnists or Editors of philatelic publications.

This issue of the newsletter contains a full length articles which for the first time, was not written by me. In fact, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Mr. Robert Cole, maker of the famous "Cole" cachets, has agreed to share with us the colorful history of Cole Covers in a series of articles. I am also pleased to announce that Robert (Bob) Cole and his wife Louise have become the first Honorary Life Members of this newsletter because of their past achievements in the production of cachets and their continuing interest in the promotion of First Day Cover collecting in Canada.

I am very pleased with the progress being made in our attempts to discover and document the History and Evolution of First Day Covers in Canada. This of course would not have been possible without the cooperation and encouragement of so many of the original subscribers to the newsletter and to the promotion of this project by the philatelic press. I can assure you that I will continue to do my utmost to make First Day Cover collecting a respectable part of Canadian philately.

COLE COVERS

Robert (Bob) Cole

Ottawa, Ontario

8 September 1965 - 20 Oct. 1971

PART ONE

By: Robert (Bob) Cole

We were not a large organization ... there was just my wife Louise and myself. I designed the cachets and she took care of the shipping. On days (or rather the night) of a first day of issue there were a dozen friends and relatives sticking stamps on cover. Over the years we must have produced around 100 cachets and printed over half a million envelopes.

It all began with Scott No. 442, the Centenary of Ottawa as the Nation's Capital, dated 8 IX 1965. I had not been a stamp collector for very long but as an artist, I had a special interest in illustrated First Day Covers. Just for the fun and the experience, I designed and produced 300 envelopes (not the best quality paper) relief printing, one colour black, and had the printing raised (thermographed) by putting rosin in the ink, then passing the envelopes (ink still wet) under heat lamps. The subject was the parliament buildings as seen from Wellington Street. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the design was too wide and it clashed with the cancel.

A very knowledgeable and interesting gentleman by the name of Fred Harford of Ottawa, Ont. saw one of my covers and contracted me to design a series for him. All in all, I designed eleven cachets for him, six of the Provincial flowers and five commemoratives. I do not believe that more than 1000 of each were serviced. Each cachet has his logo: a mail box, a letter and his name - HARFORD - in capital letters. That was back in the days when first class postage was a nickle.

Harford cover designed by Robert Cole for Scott # 425

Harford cover designed by Robert Cole for Scott # 426

Harford cover designed by Robert Cole for Scott # 427

Harford Cover designed by Robert Cole for Scott # 428

Harford cover designed by Robert Cole for Scott # 429

Harford cover designed by Robert Cole for Scott # 446

Harford Cover designed by Robert Cole for Scott # 447

Harford Cover designed by Robert Cole for Scott # 448

Hayford Cover designed by Robert Cole for Scott # 429A

The first COLE COVER was the 50 Atomic Energy of 27 VII 1966. Printed in one colour, a dark blue, was the outline drawing of an energy plant, atomic symbol and dove of peace. Again, about 1,000 were serviced. The envelope quality was not good and after this issue, I bought only highest quality rag content envelopes from Globe Envelope Co.

There wasn't a great deal of interest in this cachet so, in the next one - the library Scott # 450 (8 IX 1966) I put more detail and printed in plum; fortunately this was very much the same colour as the stamp. This did not always happen because the Post Office was often very close-mouthed in regard to forthcoming issues. Everything was a BIG secret.

Interest in my cachets grew, again not much beyond 2,000 but the message came across loud and clear that to succeed, a colourful and well drawn cachet was required. This requirement I took into consideration when preparing the Christmas 1966 cachet that followed.
(To be continued...)

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AGAPE CACHETS

125 covers designed by Sharon Schroeder were prepared for the 25th Anniversary of the Saint Lawrence Seaway for which both the United States and Canada issued a commemorative postage stamp, on June 26, 1984.

Sharon advises that this was the first cover for which she and her family traveled to the first day city to have serviced. Is it possible that we may see more of Sharon's work for future Canadian issues? Time will tell.

VEILS OF SECRECY LIFTED AT CANADA POST?

Are you ready for this? In a letter addressed to me and signed by Yr. R.W. Eyre, National Director, Retail Marketing, Canada -Post, sales figures of FDC units have been disclosed for the period beginning February 1st 1979 to October 3, 1983. It should be noted that these figures are for Official Canada Post Cacheted First Day Covers only and do not include the total of "collector's own" covers officially cancelled on day of issue. Until notified to the contrary, it is assumed that Plate Blocks on cover are included in the sales figures of single stamps.

NOTES FROM THE PAST

Beginning in 1969, Mr. Alfred W. Nowlan of Glasgow Nova Scotia began to issue a newsletter entitled "HOW THINGS LOOK FROM HERE". Alfred and his wife Frances serviced Canadian First Day covers for many years until the sudden death of Norman Rosenbloom on May 27th, 1984.

With Mr. Nowlan's permission, I am reprinting in part, an article which appeared in newsletter #1.

DO YOU HAVE THE 6¢ DEFINITIVE ON COVER ?

In November of 1968 a situation arose whereby the Canadian Post Office saw fit to spring a surprise issue of a new 6¢ definitive. Nobody could be sure what way the situation would turn so there were no cachets ready when about noon on October 31st word spread in Ottawa that a new 6¢ definitive would go on sale at Post Offices across Canada at 9 A.M. on November 1st. Due to such short notice it was decided by the postal authorities that in fairness to collectors across Canada who couldn't possibly get their covers to Ottawa on time for first day cancellation that there would be no Day of Issue cancellation of this issue.

The makers of Rosecraft, who generally produce 60,000 cachets for each new issue, thought what a disappointment this would be for their friends and customers. They immediately went to work and
designed a cachet which they had on the press by early evening. Due to lack of time, only 5,000 cachets could be printed. These were rushed to our service men who had gone to Ottawa to take care of New Issue Service on the 5¢ Christmas Issue to be released on November 1st. The rest is history, by combining the 6¢ definitive with the 5¢ Christmas issue, officially issued on the same day, we were able to persuade the authorities at the Ottawa Post Office to put them through the Day of Issue canceller and so created a scarce Canadian First Day Cover. Mr. George Rogers writing in the "Canadian Plate Block Journal" estimated that the number of covers serviced in this manner by the Post Office at Ottawa, who were busy with the 5¢ Christmas issue could not have exceeded 1,000. In view of our participation in this issue, we feel that a more likely figure would be around 5,000.

5,000 of the above cachet were produced by Rosecraft on the day prior to the date of issue of Scott # 459. Many of these were serviced in Ottawa by Norman Rosenbloom who later produced the "NR" cachets.

A number of Rosecraft cachets which had been designed for use with the 5¢ Christmas issue, Scott # 488, were also used in order to receive the Official cancel on day of issue for the 6¢ definitive stamp.