Matthew

[shipstamps]

ON April 2nd 1949 the Canadian Post Office commemorated the joining of Newfoundland to the Canadian Confederation, as Canada's newest and 10th province, by the issue of a single 4 cents green stamp. It is of interest to learn that the source of the stamp design was a model made by a reader of Sea Breezes," Mr. Ernest Maunder, of St.John's, Newfoundland. A picture of the model, in the same position as the stamp design is shown, with the new Canadian stamp illustrated.
Mr. Maunder writes:" Two years ago I was asked by the Newfoundland Historical Society to make them a model of the Mathew, in which John Cabot discovered Newfoundland in 1497, and the model was presented to the people of Newfoundland at the ceremony which was held in June 1947 in St. John's. The model is now in Government House in St. John's. and the stamp was made from a photograph of the model. The engravers superimposed the sea, the sky and Cape Bonavista (the landfall of Cabot) in the corner of the stamp."
June 24. 1947, was the 450th anniversary of Cabot's discovery, and a single 5 cents stamp was issued by Newfoundland. It depicted the navigator and some of his ship's company looking from the Matthew's deck at Cape Bonavista.
The first stamp to depict the Matthew appeared in 1897. The vessel was shown on the 10 cents value of a set of Ncwtoundland stamps serving the dual purpose of commemorating the fourth centenary of the discovery of Newfoundland by Cabot and the Diamond Jubilee of H.M. Queen Victoria. No model of the Matthew was available for the stamp, so the designers took the vignette of a U.S. stamp depicting Christopher Columbus's Santa Maria and renamed the vessel Matthew. Both vessels were of the same period, of course, and no one worried. It was not until I pointed out the fact some years ago to a very well-known philatelist that the plagiarism became generally known.
There has been some adverse criticism about spelling the name of Cabot's vessel on these stamps with two "T's' — Matthew. Actually, it is only a modernisation of the old name. The Bristol Customs records of 1503 refer to "the bark called the Mat hewe." An earlier account records: " 1496-7. This year on St. John the Baptist's day the land of America was found by the Merchants of Bristow in a shippe of Bristow, called the Mathew; the which ship departed from the port of Bristow the second day of May and came home again 6th of August next following." I have also seen the ship's name as Matthewe. So, with Shakespeare, one can only ask "What's in a name?"
Authorities are at variance as to the whereabouts of Cabot's landfall. Many plump for Cape Bonavista, but quite as many are sure it was Cape Breton Island. On some points there is general agreement. Cabot's voyage in the Matthew, with not more than 18 men, took 52 days outward, and he was rewarded with £10 and a pension of £20 for finding the ' new isle.' He was certainly responsible for bringing this part of the New World under the British Crown.
Canada SG412 Newfoundland SG294. Marshall Is SG? Sea Breezes 8/49

[aukepalmhof]

The MATHEW also spelt as MATTHEW or MATHEWE was a Navicula (Small ship) of around 50 tons burthen, it is also given as a carrack, she is depicting on the following stamps:

More is given on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cabot

Bequia-Grenadines of St Vincent 1988 $1.75 and $2.00, sg?, scott253/254
British Virgin Islands 1991 75c 795, scott723
Canada 1949 4c sg412, scott282, 1986 34c sg1210,1997 45c sg1736, scott1649.
Hungary 1991 7fo sg4063,
Italy 1997 1300 Li sg2445
Laos 1987 sgMS988, scott795.
New Foundland 1897 sg73, scott 68 and 1947 sg?, scott270.
Sahara OCC 100 Pt. sg?, scott?

[aukepalmhof]

Suriname 2019 9.00 SDR sg?, scott