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Queen Elizabeth II definitive stamp (Canada)
Encyclopedia
The Queen Elizabeth II definitive stamp is a domestic rate stamp
issued by Canada Post
, and bearing the image of Elizabeth II
, Queen of Canada. Six versions of the stamp have been issued since 2003.
Canada has depicted its sovereigns on stamps since 1851; that tradition continues into the present day. Since 1939, the image of Elizabeth II
has appeared on 59 stamps issued in Canada
, most of them definitives
.
At Rideau Hall
, on December 19, 2003, Governor General
Adrienne Clarkson
, along with Canada Post
President and CEO André Ouellet
, and Canadian pop music artist and photographer Bryan Adams
, unveiled a 49 cent domestic rate Canada Post definitive stamp
bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth II. Canada Post issued this stamp partly at the urging of the Monarchist League of Canada
; the definitives were issued as double commemorative-definitives (normally these types of stamps are different) to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
Using a black-and-white photographic portrait of the Queen, taken by Bryan Adams during a five-minute session with the Queen at Buckingham Palace
, Saskia van Kampen of the Toronto graphics firm Gottschalk + Ash cropped the image, placed the Queen's face off-centre and gave it a sepia tone wash. The informal portrait was a break from the tradition of using official portraits or effigies of monarchs on Canadian stamps. Bryan Adams said of his picture as a "glimpse of the real person... The thing that made this photo win out, was her charming smile. It is a one in a million." This stamp was released again on December 20, 2004, as a 50 cent domestic with a blue wash, chosen to contrast with the colour of the previous stamp. As a security measure, but also to provide greater depth of colour, the blue tint consisted of six different colours.
It was announced on September 19, 2006, that a series of new definitives would be issued in December of that year, as a non-denominated stamp
, which will remain valid for domestic first class mail (up to 30g) through any future postal rate increases. The new series included a Queen stamp, which used a colour image taken during her tour
to celebrate the centennials of Saskatchewan
and Alberta
. A "P" in the lower right-hand corner appears instead of a numerical value to indicate it is good for the basic domestic letter rate. The second version of this stamp was issued on December 27, 2007, featuring an image of the Queen during her 2005 visit to Saskatchewan
and Alberta
.
Canada Post spokesperson Cindy Daoust was quoted as stating that stamps bearing the image of the Queen now "outsells other stamps, ten to one, whether it's a commemorative edition or definitive one."
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
issued by Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
, and bearing the image of Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, Queen of Canada. Six versions of the stamp have been issued since 2003.
 2003 49 cent stamp |
 2004 50 cent stamp |
 2006 Permanent stamp |
 2008 Permanent stamp |
2009 Permanent stamp |
2010 Permanent stamp |
Canada has depicted its sovereigns on stamps since 1851; that tradition continues into the present day. Since 1939, the image of Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
has appeared on 59 stamps issued in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, most of them definitives
Definitive stamp
A definitive stamp is a postage stamp, that is part of a regular issue of a country's stamps available for sale by the postal service for an extended period of time...
.
At Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...
, on December 19, 2003, Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
, along with Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
President and CEO André Ouellet
André Ouellet
André Ouellet, P.C., Q.C. is a former Chairman of Canada Post, and a long time Liberal politician in Canada.First elected to the Canadian House of Commons in a 1967 by-election, Ouellet served in a number of different positions in the cabinets of Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chrétien...
, and Canadian pop music artist and photographer Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
, unveiled a 49 cent domestic rate Canada Post definitive stamp
Definitive stamp
A definitive stamp is a postage stamp, that is part of a regular issue of a country's stamps available for sale by the postal service for an extended period of time...
bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth II. Canada Post issued this stamp partly at the urging of the Monarchist League of Canada
Monarchist League of Canada
The Monarchist League of Canada is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is "to promote the full expression and a better understanding of the history and real benefits of a uniquely Canadian constitutional monarchy"....
; the definitives were issued as double commemorative-definitives (normally these types of stamps are different) to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
Using a black-and-white photographic portrait of the Queen, taken by Bryan Adams during a five-minute session with the Queen at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, Saskia van Kampen of the Toronto graphics firm Gottschalk + Ash cropped the image, placed the Queen's face off-centre and gave it a sepia tone wash. The informal portrait was a break from the tradition of using official portraits or effigies of monarchs on Canadian stamps. Bryan Adams said of his picture as a "glimpse of the real person... The thing that made this photo win out, was her charming smile. It is a one in a million." This stamp was released again on December 20, 2004, as a 50 cent domestic with a blue wash, chosen to contrast with the colour of the previous stamp. As a security measure, but also to provide greater depth of colour, the blue tint consisted of six different colours.
It was announced on September 19, 2006, that a series of new definitives would be issued in December of that year, as a non-denominated stamp
Non-denominated postage
Non-denominated postage is postage intended to meet a certain postage rate that retains full validity for that intended postage rate even after the rate is increased. It does not show a monetary value, or denomination, on the face. In many English speaking countries, it is called non-value...
, which will remain valid for domestic first class mail (up to 30g) through any future postal rate increases. The new series included a Queen stamp, which used a colour image taken during her tour
Royal visits to Canada
Canadian royal tours in the 21st century carry on the tradition of the previous 300 years, either as an official tour, a working tour, a vacation, or a period of military service by a member of the Canadian Royal Family...
to celebrate the centennials of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. A "P" in the lower right-hand corner appears instead of a numerical value to indicate it is good for the basic domestic letter rate. The second version of this stamp was issued on December 27, 2007, featuring an image of the Queen during her 2005 visit to Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
Canada Post spokesperson Cindy Daoust was quoted as stating that stamps bearing the image of the Queen now "outsells other stamps, ten to one, whether it's a commemorative edition or definitive one."