Articles written by William Silvester
Showing 1-100 of 106 Articles
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Stamps Against Cancer
Statistics from the World Health Organization state that 12.5 deaths are from cancer. Using a postal tax stamp to fight cancer started in Ecudaor in 1938.
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Mysterious Disappearance of Henry Hudson
Hudson was abandoned to his fate in the bay that bears his name. No trace was ever found, or was it? What happened to Hudson and his crew?
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Jacques Cartier and Charlesbourg-Royal
Modern archeologists find a trove of artifacts at the site of Cartier's abandoned colony.
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Gaspar Corte-Real
Close on the heels of John Cabot, Corte-Real disappeared seeking Asia and new lands for Portugal.
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William Neilson Hall, VC
William Hall holds two firsts in the annals of Canadian VC history. He was the first Canadian sailor and the first Black Canadian to earn the highest valour award.
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Maarten Tromp and The First Anglo-Dutch War
Usually wars are fought by rival armies attacking each other on land, the First Anglo-Dutch War was fought entirely at sea.
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Who Was Queen Bathsheba?
King David's plans to win the beautiful Bathsheba would cost him dearly in the years to come.
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John Simpson and his Donkey
Under heavy fire from the enemy, John Simpson and his donkey made a dozen trips a day, carrying wounded Australians to aid stations.
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Estéban Martinez and the Nootka Incident
Claims for Nootka Sound would lead Spain and England to the brink of war.
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Sebastian Cabot, Questionable Explorer
The authenticity of some of his claims have been questioned by later historians but the name of Cabot still stands high in the annals of early exploration.
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Submarine Orzel – Poland's Heroic Gesture
She was the first to demonstrate that while the Germans could capture a country they could not conquer the determination or spirit of the people.
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A Brief History of Tristan da Cunha
Fearing the worst, Tristan da Cunha was evacuated as volcanic activity threatened to engulf the island.
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San Marino in the Second World War
The global war touched even one of the world's tiniest states despite declarations of neutrality in this little known bit of military history.
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Explorer Giovanni da Verrazano
This one-time pirate was the first to explore North America's Atlantic Coast for France but his exploits are largely forgotten today.
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Azad Hind - Free India Movement
The Indian Nationalist Party sought the support of Nazi Germany to free India from British rule.
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Ken Leishman - The Flying Bandit
Also known as 'The Gentleman Bandit' he achieved almost folk hero status due mainly to his demeanor and lack of violence in his robberies.
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Captain EO and Disneyland
Michael Jackson was one of Disneyland's biggest fans, constantly visiting the park both in and out of disguise, for him Captain EO was a natural.
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Who Robbed the Royal Canadian Mint?
This is not the first time gold has gone missing from the high security vaults of the Royal Canadian Mint but this time no one knows where it has gone or how it was taken
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Elisabeth of Bavaria
Famed for her beauty and fashion sense the reluctant Empress had little time for anything but traveling.
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Collecting Harry Potter Action Figures
A fond memory of re-enacting favourite scenes from a much loved book or movie is often a driving force behind collecting action figures.
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Henry Hudson, Explorer
For five years he searched for the fabled North-West Passage only to suffer a mutiny and disappear in the bay that bears his name.
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Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth
Ponce de Leon has been long associated with the search for the Fountain of Youth, but was he really looking for it?
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Lieutenant Robert Shankland VC
The situation was critical, Shankland and his men were cut off and about to loose the position they had just won at a terrible cost in lives.
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Colonel Heinz Brandt
By the simple act of moving a briefcase Heinz Brandt saved the life of one of the most despised men in history.
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Valentina Tereshkova, Cosmonaut
At a young age Valentina became interested in parachuting a pursuit which would change her life when she became an adult and vied for position in the Soviet space program
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Queen Gorgo of Sparta
Gorgo was one of the few women of ancient Greece who was named by historians. She was the daughter of a king, wife of a king and mother of a king of Sparta.
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General Friedrich Olbricht
As early as 1941 this decorated war hero began plotting against Adolf Hitler.
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General Norman Schwarzkopf
The military was in his blood but he would need all of his experience to succeed in the liberation of Kuwait in 1990.
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Collecting Harry Potter Lego
Harry Potter construction sets topped LEGO's sales charts in 2002.
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Tragic Death of Prince Rudolf
The deaths of the heir apparent to the throne of Austria-Hungary and his lover was obviously a murder-suicide - or was it?
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Emperor Franz Joseph
Franz Joseph was destined to reign for 68 years but by the end of one of the longest reigns in
European history, his empire would be on the verge of total destruction.
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Leonidas, King of Sparta
The sacrifice of Leonidas, his valiant Spartans and their Greek allies, stopped the Persian invasion and their imperialistic intentions in Greece.
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Mysterious Life of Nicolas Flamel
Much of what has been written about Nicholas Flamel is shrouded in legend and mystery.
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King Harold II of England
Best known for being defeated by William I, Harold had previously defeated a Viking force and successfully invaded England himself.
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Collecting Harry Potter Books
Despite the major motion pictures and the vast amount of merchandise available, Harry Potter is first and foremost about the books.
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King William I of England
By the time he died, at the ripe old age of 60, he had made an indelible mark on the history of Great Britain and Normandy.
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Who Was King David of Israel?
King Saul appointed a young King David to the position of army general, but soon came to regret the decision.
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Etienne Brûlé
Adventurous Etienne Brûlé, paved the way for future explorations of the Canadian wilderness, covering his name in glory until his final act of treason.
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Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The eagerly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter is being constructed at Universal's Islands of Adventure between the Lost Continent and Jurassic Park.
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Salote Tupou III
Her unenviable task was to mend the dynastic quarrels and unite her people before European influence destroyed their culture altogether
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Marguerite de la Roche
She was abandoned to a certain death on a remote island because she dared to have an affair Roberval disapproved of.
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Jean-François de La Roche de Roberval
Pirate, colonist, Protestant rebel, Roberval added a colourful page to the early history of Canada.
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John Cabot, Explorer
Seeking China he found Canada and the beginnings of the British Empire.
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Jacques Cartier
In search of the north-west passage to the fabled lands of China he instead found the majestic beauty of Canada.
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Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia
As prince, king and finally emperor he brought his country out of the middle ages and into the 20th Century.
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King Louis XI
His plotting and love of intrigue earned Louis XI many enemies but helped to form a united France under a strong monarchy.
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Isa ibn Salman al-Khalifah
Isa bin Salman ruled a turbulent island for 38 years surviving riots and wars.
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Nat Turner's Rebellion
There comes a time in some people's lives when they feel they must do something that has to be done no matter what the cost. Nat Turner had one of those times.
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King Zog I of Albania
The climb to power and meteoric fall of King Zog I of Albania is unique in the annals of 20th Century European royalty.
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Christian X of Denmark
Though Christian X was an authoritarian ruler the role he was to play during World War II came to be symbolic of Danish nationalism and resistance.
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The Plot to Kill Hitler
Everything was in place for the attempt on Hitler's life but time was running out as the Gestapo closed in.
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Operation Valkyrie
Colonel Count Klaus Schenck von Stauffenberg was selected as the man most likely to succeed in killing Hitler.
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Private Timothy O'Hea. VC
He went from obscurity to heroism then mysteriously disappeared in Australia.
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King Alfonso XIII
Alfonso's reign began with the death of his father, witnessed the loss of the Spanish empire and ended with civil war.
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Gil Eannes
Gil Eannes' would become legendary for his bravery as he sailed where no European had gone before.
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Prince Henry the Navigator
Infante Dom Henrique, as he was known in Portugal, showed great intelligence and interest in anything scientific from an early age.
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Collecting Harry Potter on Stamps
Stamp collectors are often searching for new, fun and exciting subjects on which to base a topical collection. Harry Potter stamps offer an appealing choice for all ages.
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Tsar Alexander I of Russia
Thrust into a war against the greatest military mind of the time, Alexander, his army and the Russian winter succeeded where no other had.
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King Ferdinand of Spain
Known as Ferdinand the Catholic he would unite the peninsula with Queen Isabella and establish Spain as a world power.
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The Man Who Shot Rommel
The name of the pilot who fired the shots that may have changed the course of history on the Normandy front has long been contested.
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Collecting Disney Olympic Stamps
Disney stamps are a natural for the Olympics as they can focus both on the international flavour and competitive enjoyment of the games.
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Indiana Jones and the Tomb of the Gods
After a hiatus of twelve years, Dark Horse Comics has jumped on the Indiana Jones bandwagon and published a new four part graphic novel series.
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John Alexander Sinton, VC
Despite numerous wounds he risked his life to render medical aid to his comrades.
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Disneyland's Trains on Postcards
Walt Disney's passion for trains was lifelong, so it was only natural that as he started designing his theme park he insisted that a train circumnavigate it.
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King Wenceslas of Bohemia
To many, King Wenceslas is little more than a name in a Christmas Carol but in his day he was a well-known and much beloved monarch.
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Disneyland Dresses Up for Hallowe'en
The Hallowe'en theme that started at the Haunted Mansion has spread to other parts of Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Parks.
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Private Denis Dempsey, VC
Whether carrying a dying ensign or hefting powder bags through a burning town, Dempsey's VC was earned more than once.
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Disneyland's Columbia Postcards
Columbia, Disneyland's three-masted sailing ship has long been a favourite of visitors for its laid back cruise and colourful postcards.
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Collecting Disneyland Star Tours
When Disney and Lucasfilm collaborated to create Star Tours in Disneyland there was no doubt they would have a mega hit attraction.
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Armistice Day in Canada
November 11, 1918 was to become known as Armistice Day in remembrance of those millions who gave and lost their lives in World War I.
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King Kamehameha I of Hawaii
Alapa'inuiakauaua, king of Hawaii, was aware of the prophecy that said a sign of a great ruler's coming would be a comet and he would be known as "killer of chiefs".
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Mysterious Death of Rudolph Diesel
Objects from a body pulled from the English Channel proved the identity of Rudolph Diesel but what could prove how he died?
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Hulagu Khan Scourge of Islam
The empire that Genghis Khan left behind on his death in 1227 stretched from the Caspian Sea to the borders of China and the Golden Horde searched for further conquests.
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King Ghazi of Iraq
The shy prince was thrust unprepared onto the throne of Iraq with the sudden death of his father.
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King Faisal I
He spent most of his adult life fighting the enemies of his people in hopes of building a nation for Arabs.
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Constantine II, King of Greece
Prince Constantine was deemed too young and inexperienced to successfully rule Greece when he ascended the throne of that turbulent country.
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Collecting Indiana Jones Books
Few fictional lives have been as well chronicled as that of Indiana Jones. He began as a film character in Raiders of the Lost Ark but soon graduated to comics and books.
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Disney's Cinderella Castle on Postcards
Following the evolution of a Disney landmark from artists' concept to finished castle is part of the fun of collecting postcards.
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The Other Sleeping Beauty Castles
The original Sleeping Beauty castle in Disneyland was so popular it was only natural to copy it in Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.
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Collecting Indiana Jones Comics
Now that the fourth Indiana Jones movie has been released to rave reviews, many Indy fans will be dusting of their old comic collections and checking out what's new.
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Disney Submarine Voyage
Comparing old postcards shows how the Disneyland Submarine Voyage attraction has spanned the ages from Captain Nemo to Finding Nemo.
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Pluto's 50th Anniversary on Stamps
In honour of Walt Disney's cantankerous canine, Pluto, a number of countries issued philatelic tributes in the early 1980's.
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Lady Amelia Douglas
A young Métis girl, she never dreamed she would one day become the first lady of the new colony of Vancouver Island.
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Netherland's Queen Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina's popularity helped her people through two world wars and insured stability in the twentieth century.
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King Faisal II
After becoming a monarch as an infant his troubled reign was doomed despite the backing of the king of Jordan.
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Corporal Harry Churchill Beet, VC
He risked his life during the Boer War, served Canada in the First World War and lived in Canada for most of his life. Still, his name is not on the 'official' VC list.
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Sergeant George Richardson VC
George Richardson earned the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny and later lived and served Canada for 60 years but is missing from the official VC list.
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Canada's Victoria Cross
From horseback in the Crimea to a fighter plane over Japan, Canadians rank high amongst VC recipients.
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Collecting Indiana Jones Figures
With the release of a new Indiana Jones movie, many Indy fans will be dusting of their old collections of Indy paraphernalia and looking about for what's new.
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Collecting the First Disney Stamps
In 1979, countries all over the world issued stamps to commemorate the International Year of the Child. By far the most impressive of these were the sets of Disney stamps
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Victoria Cross
The medal has become one of the most coveted awards for valour in the world and the Commonwealth's highest honour for conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy.
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Disneyland Casey Jr Circus Train
Trace the evolution of Casey Jr., Disneyland's little train that could from dirt banks to picturesque countryside through postcards.
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Collecting Walt Disney Stamps
Since the first Disney stamps were issued in 1968, hundreds of beautiful, humorous stamps have been issued to satisfy the collecting desires for all ages.
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Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil
After his country was overrun by Napoleon, Pedro and his family fled to Brazil where he would in time become emperor and king of Portugal.
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Queen Astrid of Belgium
Belgium's queen has been compared to Princess Diana for her beauty, her caring for others and her tragic death.
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Governor Sir James Douglas
Born the son of a Glasgow merchant James Douglas worked his way through the ranks to become the governor of British Columbia.
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Queen Isabella I of Spain
To most people in the Americas she is best known as the Queen who financed the voyages of Columbus but Queen Isabella I was far more than a bank for explorers.
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Splash Mountain Postcards
Splash Mountain in Disneyland covers half-a-mile in nine minutes, ending with a 40 mile an hour plunge down a 45 degree 52 foot drop into the range of 12 water cannons.
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Tokyo Disneyland - 25 Years
From an idea to provide recreation for Japanese businessmen, Tokyo Disneyland has grown into one of the world's premiere theme park destinations.
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Marquis de Pombal
Sebastiao de Melo, son of a country squire became the most powerful man in Portugal
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