Canada's Titanic Stamps

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic which hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic that claimed 1,500 lives. The Titanic was almost 280 meters (883 feet) in length and was the largest passenger steamship in the world at that time. 

 

To commemorate this famous maritime disaster, Canada Post issued on April 5, 2012 stamps depicting various parts of the titanic created by designers Dennis Page and Oliver Hill of Halifax.

The RMS Titanic's enormous bow and two front anchors appear in the center of the first pair of the stamps. Southampton (England), the place were the Titanic's maiden voyage began is shown. On the left is Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada) which became the center of recovery efforts after the ship sank.

The second stamp pair shows the 3 propellers that were located at the rear of the ship—2 larger outer propellers and a smaller center propeller. At the bottom of each stamp sits the House Flag of the White Star Line, the owner of the Titanic. This iconic red flag flew from the Titanic's main mast and was also displayed on her tickets, cutlery and furniture.

A fifth stamp shows the Titanic at sea between Southampton and Halifax. Cape Race, N.L., is highlighted because its radio station was the first land-based site to receive the ill-fated ship's distress signal. Halifax played a major role in the Titanic story when the city's cable ships were dispatched to pick up bodies from the Atlantic in the days after the accident. 150 people whose bodies were recovered were laid to rest in the city's three cemeteries.

A Souvenir Sheet features the international rate stamp, which depicts a full color side illustration of the Titanic.

Included in this year's centennial activities is the re-release of James Cameron's Titanic movie in 3D.

Canada Adds Third Royal Wedding Stamp

On June 28, 2011 Canada Post comes out with the third installment that will complete the Royal Wedding series.

The domestic Permanent™ stamp shows a candid photo of the newlyweds in their open landau shortly after completing their wedding vows at Westminster Abbey. The stamp will commemorate the first Royal Visit to Canada after their wedding.

“This stamp is an excellent way for Canadians to commemorate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first visit to Canada,” announces the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport). “I am pleased and proud that Canada will welcome the Royal Couple on their first official visit abroad.”

Art Canada Series

Canada Post issued three new stamps on February 21, 2011 featuring the artwork of Canadian aboriginal artist Daphne Odjig.

The stamps highlight three of Odjig's acrylic pieces with each painting, Spiritual Renewal (1984), Pow-wow Dancer (1978), and Pow-wow (1969), representing Odjig's passion for the arts and love of her native heritage.

Cupids, 1610-2010

In August 1610, English colonists, sent out by the London and Bristol Company and led by prominent Bristol merchant John Guy, arrived in Cupids (then Cupers Cove) on the north side of Conception Bay on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. There, they marked the start of British overseas expansion by establishing the first English settlement in what would become Canada and one of the earliest European settlements in North America.

Evidence of the original colony was uncovered in 1995, during a survey led by the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation’s chief archaeologist William Gilbert. Since then, five early-17^th century structures (some of the oldest European buildings in North America) and more than 145,000 artifacts have been unearthed.

This August, Canada Post will celebrate the 400th anniversary of this historic settlement with a commemorative stamp. The stamp features a portion of a 17^th century map of the Avalon Peninsula, compiled by John Mason (1586 – 1635). It’s the first English map of Newfoundland produced from first-hand observation and the first to show Cupids’ location. The stamp comes out on August 17, 2010.

Girl Guides of Canada

Through an endless variety of fun-filled activities, the Girl Guides of Canada (GGC) provides girls with opportunities to develop valuable life skills, become self-reliant, build friendships, and develop a sense of well-being and self-worth.

This stamp issue scheduled for release on July 8, 2010 commemorates 100 years of the Girl Guides and Canada. The stamp was designed by Adams+Associates Design Consultants in Toronto.

Canada's Roadside Attractions

Canada Post comes up on July 5, 2010 the latest Roadside Attraction series.

The new series includes: a 7.3 metre-tall coffee pot in Davidson, Saskatchewan; a giant Happy Rock in Gladstone, Manitoba, an enormous Atlantic Puffin in Longue-Point-de-Mingan, Quebec; and huge large steel Wawa Goose in Wawa, Ontario.

The stamps feature traditional oil paintings by Nova Scotia artist Bonnie Ross. Featured above is the Roadside Attaction souvenir sheet.

Art Canada, Prudence Heward

Canada Post's July 2, 2010 Art Canada series features two masterpieces created by painter Prudence Heward.

Montréal-born Heward (1896-1947) broke popular artistic trends and gender conventions, gaining unusual distinction as a representational figure painter.

Well aware of women’s then-marginal place in the art world, Heward’s works examine and redefine the female artist.

Despite her short life, Prudence Heward’s influence on Canadian art was substantial. She was a founding member of the Canadian Group of Painters and the Contemporary Arts Society, served on the executive of the avant-garde Atelier group, and was the most well-recognized and acclaimed member of the famous Beaver Hall Group.

The paintings featured on the stamps are: At the Theatre (1928) and Rollande (1929).

Canada Issues Rotary International Stamp

On June 18, 2010, Canada Post comes out with a 57-cent stamp celebrating the centennial of Rotary's service in Canada.

The stamp's design features an anonymous figure sporting the traditional Rotary vest.

Rotary International is one of the largest and successful service organizations worldwide. With Service above Self as its motto, members of the 33,500 Rotary Clubs who are all volunteers work locally, regionally and internationally to combat world hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace and eradicate polio.

Canada's Marine Life Joint Stamp Issue With Sweden

The fun-loving sea otter (Enhydra lutris) and the timid harbour porpoise (Pocoena phocoena) appear on Canada Post stamps issued on May 13, 2010.

This joint issue with Sweden was designed by Swedish freelance stamp designer Martin Morck who produced art works for postal administrations worldwide since 1978.

The Centennial of the Canadian Navy

The men and women of Canada's naval forces have stood their guard at sea for the past century. They serve to protect the country from threats of terrorism, illegal resource exploitation, pollution violation, narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration. On board the navy's warships, they defend Canada's interests in home waters and around the world.

To celebrate the navy's 100th anniversary, Canada Post issues on May 4, 2010 two commemorative stamps.

The Stamps of the Four Indian Kings

Canada Post will issue on April 19, 2009 four stamps to commemorate the 300th anniversary of four portraits featuring Indian Kings.

The portraits serve as a record of early cultural and political diplomacy between the First Nations and the British Empire, and a negotiation that affected the course of power relations in North America.

The names of the kings can be found on the left-hand side of the four stamp portaits.

Canada-Israel, 60 Years of Friendship

Canada Post issues on April 14, 2010 an International rate commemorative stamp featuring 60 years of friendship between Canada and Israel.

Israel and Canada established diplomatic relations sixty years ago on May 11, 1949 that helped build a fruitful cooperation. The two countries have stood by each other and continued to strengthen their commitment as partners and friends in many fields that include commerce, science and technology, culture, education, trade, and public safety.

The stamp celebrates Canada’s strong bilateral relationship with Israel—a friendship that spans six decades and is marked by shared values, common interests, and strong political, economic, cultural and social ties.

Beautiful African Violets from Canada

Canada Post issues today two stamps featuring African Violet hybrids in full bloom, the Picasso and Decelles' Avalanche.

The plants incluced on the stamps were grown by the members of the Société des Saintpaulia de Montréal (SSM). The Picasso, hybridized by Michel Tremblay is a heavy bloomer that has double violet flowers above and white below while the Decelles' Avalanche, named after Yvon Decelles has semi-double red-fuchsia star blooms and medium green and cream variegated foliage.

African Violets are considered as the most popular houseplant in the world and very easy to care for.

Canada Strikes Gold!

The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games is held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from February 12-28, 2010.

To celebrate the event, Canada Post issued the Canada Strikes Gold! stamp on February 15, 2010. The stamp designed by Naomi Broudo and Violet Finvers features a Vancouver 2010 Olympic gold medal.

What's unique about this stamp is that it was released within 24 hours after Canada's first ever gold medal win by Alexanre Bilodeau on Canadian soil.

Buying An Expensive Stamp Book For Less

After meeting a Cebu Stamp Club member whom I promised to sell a duplicate of my Manny Pacquiao souvenir sheet yesterday at SM City Cebu Mall, I decided to drop by in one of the mall's book stores.

I was planning to look around for Star Wars comic books, books for children and interior design. Me and my wife share the same passion for interiors. She's a Fine Arts graduate major in Interior Design at the University of San Carlos some years back.

One by one, I scrutinized the titles of the books until I happen to come across a book that was partly hidden in one of the shelves. It was a 2005 Brookman Price Guide Issue that featured U.S. Stamps plus Canada and Trust Territories, First Day Covers and annual collectibles, and autographs.

I browsed what's inside and found it to be very informative. It was brand new and had 354 pages. The U.S. bar code reveals its price at $21.99. When I searched the local price, I was amused to find that it only cost P25.00!

Of course, I bought the book right away. I don't wanna lose the opportunity of a very wise purchase!