Philatelic Stars The Canadian Museum of Civilization Presents Canada's Most Beautiful StampsHull, Quebec, April 25, 2001 — In honour of the 150th anniversary of the first Canadian postage stamp, the Canadian Postal Museum of the Canadian Museum of Civilization is presenting Philatelic Stars: Canada's Most Beautiful Stamps. The exhibition opens April 24 — the date of issue of the Three-Penny Beaver (Canada's first stamp) — and includes 20 stamps chosen from some 25,000 Canadian stamps.
How were the most beautiful stamps selected? They were chosen by Canadian Postal Museum Curator, Bianca Gendreau. "I selected the stamps that I believe to be the most beautiful and the most interesting," says Gendreau. "I was looking for stamps that were not only aesthetically pleasing, but that also marked important events in the history and development of Canada. As you can imagine, the choice was not easy!"
The Curator's selections include some of Canada's earliest postage stamps, including the famous Three-Penny Beaver, issued on April 23, 1851. This very first Canadian stamp was designed by Sir Sandford Fleming, who broke with the tradition of portraying a monarch and used the image of an animal instead. He chose the beaver because of its role during Canada's fur trade.
Here are some of the other "Curator's Choices":- Prince Edward Island, Two-Penny
Issued between 1862 and 1865
The Atlantic provinces issued their own postage stamps before joining Confederation. Between 1861 and 1872, Prince Edward Island issued 16 stamps, all depicting Queen Victoria.
- Mercury
Issued December 4, 1930
This airmail stamp depicts Mercury, messenger of the gods. Canada has issued only nine airmail stamps in its entire postal history.
- Quebec Tercentenary
Issued July 16, 1908
This 10¢ stamp, part of the Quebec Tercentenary series, shows the walled city of Quebec as it appeared in a drawing from the year 1700.
- Bluenose
Issued January 8, 1929
This stamp shows the famous Bluenose schooner racing its rival, the Columbia. As an image of the Columbia was not available, this stamp shows the Bluenose from two different angles. Since 1937, the Bluenose schooner has been featured on the Canadian dime.
- Miner Panning for Gold
Issued May 8, 1958
This stamp shows a work by J. Harmon and Y. Baril, and commemorates the centennial of the founding of British Columbia.
- Alaska Highway
Issued February 8, 1967
In 1943, the National Gallery of Canada invited Group of Seven artist A.Y. Jackson to chronicle the construction of the Alaska Highway. This painting shows a U.S. Army truck on the road between Fort Nelson, British Columbia and Lake Watson in the Yukon. The Army provided transport for the artist on this assignment. The stamp is part of a series featuring paintings of various regions of Canada.
- Madonna of the Flowering Pea
October 20, 1978
One of a series of three stamps depicting early Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and child, this early-fifteenth-century work was created by an anonymous master of the Cologne School. The flowering pea symbolizes birth and regeneration.
Choosing Canada's most beautiful stamps is really a matter of taste. Visitors to the Canadian Postal Museum will have an opportunity to vote for their favourite among the 20 stamps selected by the Canadian Postal Museum's Curator. The People's Choice will be determined by a poll of visitors to the Museum between April and August 2001. You can vote in person at the Canadian Postal Museum of the Canadian Museum of Civilization or on the CMC Web site: http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/cmceng/cpmexeng.html#stars
The winning stamp in this postal popularity poll will be announced in August, and the results of the contest will be posted on the Web site of the Canadian Postal Museum.
Philatelic Stars: Canada's Most Beautiful Stamps will be on display at the Canadian Postal Museum of the Canadian Museum of Civilization until March 2002.
Information (media):
Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7169
Senior Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7167
Fax: (819) 776-7187
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