Ottawa - This year, Canada Post will issue its holiday stamps: three stamps to please contemporary tastes at the domestic, U.S. and international rates, and one very traditional stamp at the domestic rate. Since the holidays are a time for families and friends to express their well wishes, these stamps will deliver the spirit of the season in your choice of style. The stamps will go on sale at post offices on November 1. Official First Day Covers will read NOEL, NS.
The three-stamp set is based on the 1931 William E. Coutts Company, Ltd. Painters of Canada Christmas card series. The illustrations are a tribute to the greeting card art form of that era and a respectful nod to well-known Canadian artists Edwin Holgate, J.E. Sampson and Yvonne McKague Housser, says designer Peter Steiner. The winter scenes selected include Holgate's Contemplation, Sampson's Winter Joys and Housser's Snowman.
The 51-cent stamp measures 30 mm x 35 mm (vertical) and will be sold in a booklet of 12. The vertical 89-cent (30 mm x 35 mm) and $1.49 (30 mm x 35 mm) stamps will be sold in booklets of six. Canadian Bank Note printed 30 million of the domestic rate stamp, and 6.9 million of the US and 6.7 million international destination stamps using 7-colour lithography on the domestic and international booklets, and 6-colour lithography on the US booklets, on Tullis Russell Coatings paper.
The fourth holiday stamp, Vierge à l'Enfant, is the work of 19th century Québec-born painter Antoine-Sébastien Falardeau. This traditional stamp will be sold at the domestic rate. Falardeau is one of many artists to capture the image of the Madonna and Child. His painting is inspired by works of Italian Baroque artist Carlo Dolci.
The challenge for designer Pierre Fontaine was to crop the image of Vierge à l'Enfant to integrate its essential elements in a respectful way within the space constraints of a modern postage stamp.
The 24 mm x 24 mm stamp will be sold in a booklet of 12. Lowe-Martin printed 35 million of the stamps, using 6-colour lithography plus varnish on Tullis Russell Coatings paper.
Additional information about Canadian stamps can be found in the Newsroom section of Canada Post's website, and downloadable high-resolution photos of the Christmas stamps are in the Newsroom's Photo Centre. Stamps and Official First Day Covers will be available at participating post offices, can be ordered online by following the links at Canada Post's website www.canadapost.ca, or by mail-order from the National Philatelic Centre. From Canada and the USA call toll-free: 1 800 565-4362 and from other countries call: 902 863-6550.
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