Victoria, B.C., postal historian Neil Donen has been awarded the 2025 Geldert Medal by the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada for his article published in The Canadian Philatelist.
The Geldert Medal recognizes the best article or series of articles appearing in the Society’s journal during the year and is reserved for new authors who have not previously received the award. Eligible articles must demonstrate originality, solid research and appropriate documentation through footnotes or references.
Donen’s winning article, published in the March/April issue of The Canadian Philatelist (pages 66–71), grew out of personal connections formed through the 21 Club of Vancouver and highlights the importance of collaboration within the philatelic community. Those relationships led Donen to revisit earlier studies of forged British Commonwealth cancellations from the 1930s and to carry the research significantly further.
Building on existing scholarship, Donen identified 19 previously unrecorded forged cancellations, adding substantial new information to the field. The article is extensively illustrated and includes an innovative diagram mapping the relationships among the individuals responsible for the forgeries and their distribution, helping readers better understand both the scope and organization of the operation.
When informed of the award, Donen said he was taken by surprise. “I was completely blown away,” he said. “I would like to thank the committee for recommending me for the award. While I will be receiving the credit for the article, my first thoughts were also for my fellow 21 Club members, who both started and encouraged me on this very exciting adventure of discovery.”
The Geldert Medal was established in 1967 by Phyllis Geldert in memory of her husband, Dr. George M. “Mac” Geldert, who served as president of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada from 1958 to 1967. A noted collector herself, Phyllis Geldert was deeply involved in the Society’s work, serving as a director from 1967 to 1978 and later as Executive Director. She was elected a Fellow of the Society in 1968 and died on Aug. 23, 2000.
The members of the 2025 Geldert Committee were Kevin O’Reilly, Ed Kroft and George Pepall.