As the first snow flakes make their way to the ground they bring
with them the joy of winter. Children radiate with excitement as they
adorn hats, mittens and scarves to enjoy the long-awaited Canadian
winter. To celebrate the joy of winter outdoor activities, Canada
Post will issue three secular stamps entitled Christmas: Winter Fun,
in addition to a traditionally-themed stamp entitled Christmas: The
Nativity.
The simple childhood joys of the holiday season come together on the
three fun and festive stamps. A child making snow angels is featured
on the the domestic PERMANENT(TM) 52-cent stamp; an awkward youngster
on skis snowploughes down the 96-cent U.S. rate stamp; and a
rosie-cheeked tobogganer glides along the $1.60 international rate
stamp.
To carry on the sacred celebration of the Christmas Story, Canada
Post will also issue a domestic rate stamp featuring the Nativity
scene. For centuries the Nativity scene, or creche, has been
reproduced by artists in a variety of media. This stamp celebrates
that rich tradition of Nativity art.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Canadian Christmas
Seal Campaign Canada Post will issue a Commemorative Envelope. The
Christmas Seal campaign has become the main source of funding for the
groups under the umbrella of The Lung Association. As Christmas Seals
are usually found on the back of envelopes, Canada Post Manager of
Graphic Design, Celine Morisset, decided to reverse the back and the
front of the commemorative envelope. This simple, yet creative,
design approach gives the seal, the same which was used in 1908, the
prominence it deserves. Lowe-Martin printed 10,000 copies.
The Winter Fun stamps measure 30 mm x 36 mm (vertical) with simulated
perforations. Lowe-Martin printed 30 million domestic rate stamps in
booklets of 12 stamps, 6.6 million U.S. rate stamps and 6 million
international rate stamps, both in booklets of six stamps. The
self-adhesive stamps will be printed using lithography in eight
colours on Tullis Russell paper and are general tagged on all sides.
The Official First Day Cover will bear the cancel "SNOWFLAKE MB".
The Nativity stamp will measure 24.75 mm x 32.25 mm (vertical) with
simulated perforations. Lowe-Martin printed 24 million domestic rate
PERMANENT stamps sold in booklets of 12 stamps. The self-adhesive
stamps will be printed using lithography in six colours on Tullis
Russell paper and are general tagged on all sides. The Official First
Day Cover will bear the cancel "SAINTE-ANNE-DE-BEAUPRE QC".
Additional information about Canadian stamps can be found in the News
section of Canada Post's website, and photos of these new stamps are
also available. Stamps, Gutter product, Commemorative Envelopes and
Official First Day Covers will be available at participating post
offices, or 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.
Source: marketwatch.com
Christmas Stamps on Stamphead.com