Jacques Cartier
1934 Commemorative



On July 1, 1934, the Canada Post Office issued a 3-cent stamp commemorating the four- hundredth anniversary of the discovery of Canada by Jacques Cartier. The stamp, masterfully engraved by the British American Bank Note Company, shows Cartier directing the first landing operation on the shores of Canada.


National Archives of Canada


Usages


Montreal to Milton, Vt., July 17, 1934
3 cent surface letter rate to the United States



House of Commons, Ottawa to Zurich, September 10, 1934
5 cents UPU letter rate


First Day Covers



Gaspe





Quebec





Toronto





Saskatoon


London

James Morrow Walsh





In conjunction with the RCMP Centennial in 1973, the Grenville County Historical Association produced a cover commemorating the unveiling of a plaque honouring Prescott native Major James Morrow Walsh (1840 -1905), a pioneer North West Mounted Police (NWMP) officer.



In 1873, Walsh was commissioned in the newly formed North West Mounted Police. In the spring of 1875, Walsh was sent to the Cypress Hills, in present-day Saskatchewan, to establish an independent post which he was allowed to name for himself.


Walsh and Sitting Bull

In 1876, following the Battle of the Little Bighorn (Custer's Last Stand) in Montana, Sitting Bull and approximately 5,000 Lakota sought refuge in Canada. Walsh was assigned the task of handling the situation. Walsh established a relationship of trust with Sitting Bull and other Sioux leaders. Although the Sioux outnumbered the police many times, they kept the peace within Canada and refrained from making raids across the border. American newspaper stories referred to Walsh as “Sitting Bull’s boss.”

The Canadian Government wanted Sitting Bull and the Sioux to return to the United States, and assigned Walsh to negotiate their return. Walsh, who sympathized with the Sioux, was unsuccessful in getting them to depart and was transferred to another post. He was not allowed to return to his command until 1881, after Sitting Bull had left for the United States. Two years later he was forced to resign.


The Plaque Honouring James Morrow Walsh

The plaque unveiled on August 11, 1973, provides a taste of Walsh's character and highlights his accomplishments.






The plaque reads:

Major James Morrow Walsh 1840 -1905

Born and educated in Prescott, Walsh was trained at military schools at Kingston and by 1873 had attained the rank of Major in the militia. In that year he was commissioned in the newly formed northwest Mounted Police. While in charge at Fort Walsh, in present-day Saskatchewan, he became known for his influence and friendship with Sitting Bull, chief of the approximately 5,000 Sioux who sought refuge in Canada 1876-77, and for his role in the negotiations for their return to the United States. Walsh retired in 1883 but fourteen years later, at the height of the Klondike gold rush, he was appointed first Commissioner of the Yukon and Superintendent of the northwest Mounted Police there. In 1898 he retired to his home in Brockville.

Diamond Jubilee Keepsake Folders
Volume 3 (1973-1982)



Among the many souvenirs Canada Post will be releasing during the Jubilee Year is a set of six ambitious "Keepsake Folders" which depict stamps issued during the six decades of the Queen's reign. This post deals with Volume 3, issued on March 6, 2012, covering the 1973 to 1982 period.


The folder includes:

• One mini-pane of four stamps
• A postage-paid postcard depicting Queen Elizabeth II stamps issued from 1973 to 1982
• A booklet that recounts significant events and Royal Visits

Keepsake cover



Booklet cover


Mini-pane

Canada Post reproduced the 1977 Silver Jubilee stamp on the mini-pane.



Royal Visits

The Queen paid six separate visits to Canada during the 1973 - 1982 period. Photographs from three of the visits are reproduced in the mini-pane margin.

1977 Jubilee Tour

The 1977 Royal Visit was the topic of an earlier post, here.




1978

In 1978, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward the Queen toured Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Alberta, attending the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta.




1982

The Queen signed the new Constitution in 1982 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. British and Canadian Parliaments passed parallel acts to make Canada responsible for any future amendment of the constitution. Included in the Constitution was the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.





Postage-Paid Post Card






Stamps Depicted

1. Definitives

a) Caricature

8 cent : October 17, 1973



The following description of the 8 cent stamp is found at the Library and Archives Canada site:

Canada's new set of low value definitive postage stamps features Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the 8¢ value...It is especially appropriate that a new stamp bearing portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II should be issued in 1973 as her two visits to Canada this year have focussed more attention than usual on our monarchy and have reminded us of our country's role in Commonwealth. It is also appropriate in that 1973 marks the 20th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's coronation on June 2, 1953.

Lawrence Park Collegiate, Toronto, M1P 4T0 to Toronto, May 6, 1976
8 cents letter rate


10 cent : September 1, 1976







Conestogo to Waterloo, September 8, 1976
10 cents letter rate


b) The Huta Definitives

In 1977, a new design of the Queen Elizabeth definitive issue was introduced featuring a bas-relief profile of the Queen by sculptor Jaroslav Huta. The first Huta stamp was a 12 cent value issued on March 3, 1977

12 cent : March 3, 1977







Parry Sound to Toronto, April 5, 1977
12 cents letter rate


14 cent : March 3, 1978

The 14 cent denomination was issued in response to the domestic letter rate increase.








London, March 6, 1979
14 cents letter rate


17 cents : March 3, 1979

The letter rate jumped from 14 cents to 17 cents on April 1, 1979.





Mount Bridges to London, October 19, 1981
17 cents letter rate for 30 grams


30 cent: May 11, 1982

After a period of rate stability, the domestic letter rate increased from 17 cents to 30 cents on January 1, 1982. The 30 cent Huta definitive was issued on May 11, 1982.









Fort Erie to Guelph, February 8, 1983
30 cents letter rate


2. Commemoratives


a) 1973 : Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting



Queen Elizabeth came to Canada on July 31, 1973 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Ottawa. She had visited Canada one month earlier. On August 2, the Canada Post Office issued two commemorative stamps in recognition of the visit in the National Capital from July 31 to August 3 of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, and of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Ottawa August 2 - 10, 1973.


First Day Covers

Kingswood (Fleetwood)




Rosecraft (Senate)




Canada Post Office "Official"






Schering






Canada Envelope Company (Rosecraft)






The Royal Trust Company (Rosecraft)









David Pritchard







b) 1977 : Silver Jubilee and Royal Visit




The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II marked the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne. It was celebrated throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth throughout 1977. Queen Elizabeth embarked on several tours during the Jubilee Year including a visit to Canada from October 14 to October 19, 1977. On February 4, 1977, Canada Post issued a 25 cent commemorative to celebrate the Silver Jubilee.









Ottawa, October 18, 1977