Saturday, November 24, 2012

Empress of Ireland

Canada Post Corporation issued two commemorative stamps and postal cards on May 29, 2014, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland.

Empress of Ireland, 1908




On May 29, 1914, the Canadian Pacific ocean liner Empress of Ireland sank in the St. Lawrence River near Rimouski, Quebec, following a collision with the Norwegian coal carrier, the Storstad. The ship sank within 15 minutes, claiming the lives of 1,010 of the 1,477 passengers and crew.Canadian Pacific hired a salvage company to retrieve mail and valuables. The cover shown below is an example of mail that was salvaged and forwarded.

To Bristol, England
Stamp washed away
Faint duplex cancellation
Recovered by divers handstamp in green ink

Recovered by divers from wreck of Empress of Ireland

Ottawa Dead Letter Office Handstamps

October 24, 1914

December 10, 1914

Canadian Museum Of Civilization : Empress of Ireland Exhibition 2014

The Canadian Museum of Civilization announced on October 29, 2012 that it had  acquired the most comprehensive collection of artifacts and archival material related to the sinking of RMS Empress of Ireland, and was planning an exhibition in 2014 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.

Bath Postal Museum

The Bath (Engalnd) Postal Museum has several Empress of Ireland covers in its collection.