Newfoundland is a large land mass with a small population that was for centuries dependent on fishing. Trying to figure out how to govern itself or who to affiliate with is a never fully resolved question. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
Todays stamp features Queen Mary The new Queen Consort of British King George V at the time of his coronation in 1911. The coronation was not nearly the postage stamp event that was his Silver Jubilee 25 years later, of which I have covered many issues. Here we have a look at the new Royal Family including even child Prince and Princesses, including two future Kings. It can’t be a coincidence that these type of issues emanate from colonies that are debating their future status. I am not sure if the intent of showing families is to be less political or whether the intent is to increase personal affinity for the Royals that may subtly influence political decision making. It may also be that the Royal Family itself may be more interested in a far off colonies continued affiliation than the Home Office of Britain that must write the checks.
Todays stamp is issue A56, a one Cent stamp issued by the British Dominion of Newfoundland on June 19th, 1911. The Coronation of King George V issue comprised 11 stamps of various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is only worth 25 cents used, by far the lowest value among the issue.
Newfoundland was first spotted by the Vikings but their attempt at a colony did not last. In the 17th and 18th century the area was contested by Britain and France mainly with an eye toward fishing rights. There were at the time vast resources of cod. Eventually a permanent colony got going on shore and the French were content with fishing rights off the North shore during certain seasons. The inhabitants came mainly from Ireland with the then expected rivalries between Catholic and Anglican. Farming was attempted but only minimally successful due to the harsh climate.
The vote to join the Canadian federation failed in 1859. By then Britain wanted to transition their ethnically British colonies to self governing dominions and this status was granted to Newfoundland in 1907, the same year as New Zealand and soon after Australia and South Africa. Dominion status did not go well for Newfoundland. The local government borrowed large amounts of money to invest in railway projects that they hoped would make possible mining and industrialization. Instead it only added a large debt burden. The industrialization was predicated on a hoped for free trade deal with the USA. Teddy Roosevelt was in favor of it but Canada, at Canada’s insistence Britain, and powerful American Senator Henry Cabot Lodge were opposed so the deal never happened.
This left Newfoundland still dependent on fishing and when the market price for cod tanked during the Depression, Newfoundland was bankrupt. Newfoundland petitioned to return to colony status which was granted and British monetary help followed. Newfoundland was the only Dominion to return to British Colony status.
The Lend Lease Act of 1940 granted USA access to British bases including on Newfoundland. The resulting construction was a big boom on Newfoundland. This made Canada very nervous as they worried that the Colony might change it’s alliegience to the USA. In the late 40s, Newfoundland was allowed to vote on independence or joining Canada, the choice of closer ties to the USA was not offered. Canada won the vote 52-48. The relationship with Canada is far from smooth. Canada banned fishing over environmental concerns while also allowing offshore drilling of oil as that revenue goes 70 percent to the federal government. In addition hydroelectric facilities that mainly benefit Quebec have been exploited in Labrador. Meanwhile Newfoundland remains Canada’s poorest province and still faces the ever present issue of out migration that has plagued Newfoundland since the Vikings.
Queen Mary was the only British Princess of her era not to be from Queen Victoria’s direct line. as such she was obvious mairrage material for the male Royal line. She first announced engagement to George V’s older brother Albert, who died a few months later from the flu. A year later she became engaged to future King George V. She outlived him becoming Queen Mother. She outlived George VI and died at 85 a few weeks before Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953.
Well my drink is empty and I will pour perhaps several more to toast the hardy residents of Newfoundland. I enjoyed a trip to Newfoundland in 2001 and found them quite friendly. I had some trouble understanding them as their accent owes much to Gallic, something I have never noticed in Ireland itself. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.