CANADA
Guide to Canadian Stamps
Although mail was sent from Canada as early as the sixteenth century – close to a hundred years before British colonists first landed at Jamestown, VA, and Plymouth, MA – it was in the wake of the French and Indian War that regular civilian postal service was established. In 1763, colonial Postmasters General Benjamin Franklin and William Foxcroft mapped out a New York/Quebec run. In 1764, postmarks began being used throughout North America.
Canadian Postage stamps first appeared in 1851. The Province of Canada – upon confederation divided into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec – was the heart of the remaining British possessions, and issued stamps from 1851-1867. The provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, each of which had their own stamps, joined Ontario and Quebec in the new Dominion of Canada in 1867. In 1870 Britain ceded the North-Western Territory and Rupert’s Land to the new country. Other British colonies – British Columbia and Prince Edward Island – joined the Confederation in 1871 and 1873 respectively.
Canadian Provincial Stamps
1851 three penny beaver
Some of the most valuable Canadian stamps date from the period 1851-1867. Canada’s first stamp was the Province of Canada’s unperforated 1851 threepenny beaver. Other issues dating from 1851 include the six penny HRH Prince Albert and the twelve penny (one shilling) Queen Victoria. The 1851 stamps were printed on laid paper which tended to fall off envelopes, making these early Canadian stamps rarer still. The one shilling Queen Victoria can go for tens of thousands of dollars today. Rare Province of Canada stamps from the 1850s and 1860s printed on wove paper can go for anything from a few hundred dollars to the low thousands.
Early New Brunswick issues were bland, featuring the Irish shamrock, the English Rose repeated twice, and the Scottish thistle, surrounding a crown. Nova Scotia displayed the same design, but with a single rose and the addition of a mayflower, which is traditionally associated with the province.
But with the ascendancy of Charles Connell to the position of Postmaster General, New Brunswick’s pre-confederation stamps evolved to display a more distinct flavor – in fact, too distinct. In 1860 they began using the decimal denominations in use in the United States. Also in that year, Connell issued a five cent stamp featuring himself rather than a member of the British royal family. A furor erupted, and Connell was forced to personally buy back and destroy the stamps. Surviving stamps of this run have a catalog value of $15,000.
The Dominion of Canada
2¢ Large Queen 1868
In 1868, the Dominion of Canada issued the new nation’s first postage stamps, the “large queens.” Once again the laid paper vs. wove paper distinction came into play, with some low-denomination stamps printed on laid paper. These were replaced with the “small queens” two years later.
Some of the more rare collectible canadian stamps include high-value stamps from the first series of Canadian commemorative stamps. The series was issued in 1897 top mark both Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee and the 30th anniversary of Canada’s confederation. During the same year, Canada began the practice of incorporating the maple leaf into a frame around a portrait of the reigning monarch.
Popular stamps of Canada have kept pace with the times. Postage became bilingual in 1927, reflecting Canada’s dual Anglo-French heritage. Wildlife continues to be especially prominent on Canadian stamps. The threepenny beaver is considered the first depiction of fauna on a postage stamp; Canada has favored depictions of local animals and flowers for nearly a century and a half.
Where to Buy Canadian Stamps
Canadians will find the eccentric habit of philately well-supported in their native country, with stamp shops still thriving in most major cities. To find a “brick and mortar” stamp shop, you can start on the internet at the Canadian Stamp Dealers’ Association searchable index. http://www.csdaonline.com/members/
To buy online, the beginner may start with www.cyberstamps.com or www.stamps.com, both of which are good general sites. For the more serious collector, auction sites such as www.prestigephilately.com and www.herrickstamp.com offer more valuable lots, and specialize in rare and collectible stamps.
For a list of more general websites selling stamps online please visit my stamp collecting home page.
What’s my collection worth?
Stanley Gibbons has a good valuation service with extensive databases which include stamps and collections from Canada and many other countries of the world. They charge a yearly subscription fee for their valuation service.
Canadian Stamp Auctions publish the realised values of all stamps sold through them. They have an easy to use web page where you can match prices paid for individual stamps with those in your collection.
Clubs and Societies:
The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada is the national society for philatelists (stamp collectors, enthusiasts and aficionados).
British Columbia Philatelic Society