Postal History Corner: Canadian Street Scene Medium Value Definitives : 1978

Canada Post issued three medium-value definitve stamps (50c, 75c and 80c) on July 6, 1978 featuring "different street scenes typical of the Canadian urban environment". The "Street Scene" stamps were designed by Tom Bjarnarson and printed by the British American Bank Note Co. Ltd. A fourth denomination (60c), printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company was issued on May 11, 1982.

50 cents Prairie Town Main Street

a) British American Bank Note Co. Ltd. Printing

The 50 cent denomination shows a "two-wagon" width main street of a prairie town which was subsequently identified by collectors as Austin, Manitoba. (Robin Harris wrote a brief article dealing with the Street Scenes issue in the May-June 2003 issue of Corgi Times)

Austin, Manitoba circa 2013

b) Canadian Bank Note Co. Printing

The Canadian Bank Note Co. took over the printing of the 50 cent denomination, releasing its version in December, 1978.

According to the Unitrade Catalogue, the stamp was issued on December 13, 1978

75 cents Quebec Street Scene

Canada Post provided this description of the Montreal row-house scene in its new issue pamphlet:

The streets of larger cities in our grandfathers' day presented rows of substantial brick or stone buildings, individualizes with ornamental sculpture, delicate wrought iron and elaborately carved and fretted wood - the painstaking handwork of artists and craftsmen. In spite of the encroachment of modern and more anonymous styles of building, many of these neighbourhoods still persist, as depicted on the 75c stamp.

80 cents Atlantic Coast Street Scene

The stamp depicts a street scene from St. John's Newfoundland showing painted structures leading down to the sea.

60 cents Ontario Street Scene

A Toronto neighbourhood is featured on the 60 cent Street Scene stamp issued on May 11, 1982.

The Unissued 60 cents Atlantic Coast Street Scene Stamp

Street Scenes stamps were originally scheduled for release on December 7, 1977

In late 1977, Canada Post distributed a new issue pamphlet announcing the release of the Street Scene definitive stamps on December 7, 1977. The Atlantic Coast Street Scheme stamp was originally to be denominated 60 cents.

A problem must have arisen since the issue date was delayed by six months and the Atlantic Coast Street Scene stamp was changed from 60 cents to 80 cents.

Unissued 60 cent stamp and issued 80 cent stamp

Canada Post included this note in the new issue pamphlet distributed for the revised stamps issued on July 6, 1978 :

Usages

The medium-value stamps were issued primarily to make-up rates rather than to pay for single usage rates or fees. In this section, usages are organized by service provided rather than by denomination. Readers are advised that this is not a complete review of Street Scene stamp usages.

A. Domestic

1. Letter

January 1, 1982 - January 14, 1983

The 3rd weight step letter rate was 60 cents ( >50g., .≤100g.)

Willowdale to Toronto, May 4, 1982

60 cents paying the >50g., .≤100g. letter rate

2. Registration Fee

a) April 1, 1978 - March 31, 1979

The minimum registration fee was $1.25

>2 oz., .≤ 4 oz. letter rate $0.34

Vernon to Ontario, February 12, 1979

$1.59 paying the $0.34 letter rate + $1.25 registration fee

b) April 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981

The minimum registration fee was $1.50

Val Caron to Sudbury, August 31, 1981

17 cents letter rate + $1.50 registration fee

c) January 1, 1982 - January 14, 1983

The minimum registration fee was $ 1.85.

[NOT SHOWN]

d) January 15, 1983 - June 23, 1985

The minimum registration fee was $ 1.96.

Linwood to London, March 24, 1984

$ 2.28 paying the 32 cents letter rate + $1.96 registration fee

3. Acknowledgment of Receipt Fee

April 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981

Registered mail from Orillia to Pointe Claire, December 9, 1980

AR Card mailed from Orillia subsequent to mailing, February 3, 1981

Acknowledgment by Pointe Claire Post Office that the registered item was received on December 12, 1980

60 cents paying the subsequent AR fee

4. Money Packet

Money packets consisted of mailable matter containing valuables such as bank notes, gold bullion, jewels, Stocks.

April 1, 1979 - July 1, 1979

Trinity to St. John's, April 4, 1979

$9.90 paying the 80 oz. (5lb) money packet rate

6. Special Delivery Fee

April 1, 1979 - January 14, 1983

The special delivery fee was $1.00.

Val Belair to Dorval, November 9, 1982

30 cents letter rate + $1.00 special delivery fee

5. Mail Redirection Fee

Edmonton (New Address) - Newmarket Old Address

Card mailed from Edmonton October 8, 1981

$1.00 paying fee for 3 months redirection

6. Parcels

Baker Lake to Eskimo Point, June 1979

$2.15 parcel rate

Eskimo Point, N.W.T. to Ottawa, August 1979

$1.50 parcel rate

Antigonish to Truro, November 1980

$2.00 parcel rate

7. Used to Pay Postage Due

The air mail letter from England to Borden, Ont., October 5, 1978 shown below was shortpaid. The receiver of the letter was taxed 54 cents by Canada Post. The postage due was paid with a 50 cent Street Scene definitive and a 4 cent flower definitive stamp, cancelled Borden, October 17, 1978.

RATE AND POSTAGE DUE ANALYSIS

a) British Calculation

Air Mail Letter Rate from Great Britain to Canada

The correct rate for a 20g air mail letter to Canada (a Zone B destination) during this time period (June 13, 1977 to August 20, 1979) was 18 1/2 p, calculated as follows:

The sender of the letter erroneously believed that the Forces Air Mail rate applied to this correspondence and affixed a 9p stamp. The amount shortpaid was thus 9 1/2 p.

British Taxe Fraction

See International Taxation of Unpaid and Underpaid Mail: 1976 Lausanne Handling Charge System for details regarding taxation.

b) Canadian Calculation

(The Canadian international letter rate at that time was 30 cents.)

Amount due 54c written on the front of the envelope

B. United States

Registration

April 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981

The minimum registration fee to the United States was $1.50

St. Eustache to Culver City, May 1, 1980

17 cents letter rate + $1.50 registration fee

Scarborough to Menlo Park, Calif., October 7, 1980

17 cents letter rate + $1.50 registration fee

January 1, 1982 - January 14, 1983

The minimum registration fee was $2.00.

>30g, .≤ 50 g. . letter rate $0.50 (January 1, 1982 - January 14, 1983)

Vancouver to Eugene, May 14, 1982

$0.50 2nd weight step letter + $2.00 registration fee

C. International

1. Letter Rate Period : April 1, 1978 -March 31, 1979

The 1st weight step letter rate was 30 cents (up to 20g.). The special delivery fee was 80 cents.

Victoria to Warboys, England, August 12, 1978

30 cents international letter rate + 80 cents special delivery fee

2. Letter Rate Period : April 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981

The 1st weight step letter rate was 35 cents (up to 20g.). The 2nd weight step letter rate was 63 cents (equal to or greater than 20g. ,≤ 50 g.). The 3rd weight step letter rate was 84 cents (equal to or greater than 50g. , ≤ 100 g.).

Elkford to Whyteleafe, December 1979

63 cents ( equal to or greater than 20g., ≤ 50 g. rate)

Borden to Ratingen, Germany, October 5, 1979

84 cents paying the 3rd weight step letter rate (equal to or greater than 50g. , ≤ 100 g.)

Montreal to Niedereschach, Germany, November 19, 1980

$1.85 paying the $0.35 international letter rate + $1.50 registration fee.

3. Letter Rate Period : January 1, 1982 - January 14, 1983

The 1st weight step letter rate was 60 cents (up to 20g.). The The 2nd weight step letter rate was 93 cents (equal to or greater than 20g., ≤ 50 g.).