Fraser, Donald (2011). Postmarks of Manitoba prior to 1900.

Don Fraser’s “Postmarks of Manitoba prior to 1900”, the newest BNAPS handbook, is the result of many years of study and collecting the postmarks of Manitoba before the start of the twentieth century. The first of four parts is a collection of postmarks on stamp from pre-1900 Manitoba, based on the collection initially formed by Harold Wilding of Winnipeg, displayed alphabetically by town name. This is followed by a set of copies of the Proof Strikes of Manitoba with maps showing the locations and a separate collection of Fort Garry, Lower Fort Garry and Winnipeg cancels. The last section shows Squared Circle cancels from the 17 Manitoba post offices that used them, drawn from an exhaustive dated calendar collection from late 1893 to 1900. This book provides an excellent visual accompaniment to the lists of Manitoba post offices previously published by William Topping and the late William G. Robinson should be of value to philatelists and students of postal history. Don is also the author of Postmarks of the District of Assiniboia, published by BNAPS in 2000.Don Fraser’s interest in stamp collecting started at the age of 8 when his uncle gave him his stamp collection. Several years later he decided to concentrate on certain countries. He and some friends became interested in the postal history of Manitoba. They researched early records at the Winnipeg Post Office and found opening and closing dates of Manitoba post offices and the names of the postmasters. He took many photographs of post offices throughout the province. The interest in town cancels then followed, especially split ring types and squared circles.Don is a life member of the British North America Philatelic Society, a member of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, the Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain, the Winnipeg Philatelic Society, the Postal History of Canada, and a member of a volunteer group that sorts and mounts stamps in support of the Winnipeg Art Gallery.