‘PC’ postmark uncovered for reader

After discussing an interesting cover in the “Trajan Media Mail Collection” with a reader, CSN tracked down the origins of a trio of “PC” postmarks used to cancel some mail in Ontario.

The cover – mailed to CSN Editor Mike Walsh by Canada Post’s stamp services department – was not processed by the Crown corporation’s mechanized equipment. Instead, it was manually cancelled at either a plant or depot in the Montréal region, where mail originating from Ottawa is processed.

Previously a mystery among some philatelists, the “PC” postmark stands for “Postes Canada” (or Canada Post).

“Although applied upside down, they did a nice job of cancelling the stamps,” media relations manager Phil Legault told CSN.