Monarchs on Canadian low-value definitive stamps 1868 - 1976
Beginning with the the 12 cents Houses of Parliament stamp issued on May 14, 1977, Canadians were given the option of purchasing domestic letter rate denomination stamps with or without the monarch's image.
This post deals with the "monarch-free" first-class domestic letter rate definitives issued from 1977 to 2000. Collectors of these issues will find this post to be rather basic. For more detailed information, readers should refer to the following excellent references:
The Unitrade Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps
The Corgi Times
The Robin Harris Canadian Specialized Definitive Books
Contents
1. Houses of Parliament Series : 1977 - 1982
2. Maple Leaf: 1981 - 1985
3. Parliament Buildings : 1985 - 1989
4. Canadian Flag: 1989 - 2000
5. Flag "Quick - Stick" Booklet Issues : 1989 - 1993
6. Stylized Maple Leaf : 1998
1. Houses of Parliament Series : 1977 - 1982
12 cents
Letter Rate : March 1, 1977 - March 31, 1978
Wellandport to Toronto, November 28, 1977
Hensall to Toronto, October 16, 1977
12 cent coil
14 cents
Letter Rate : April 1, 1978 - March 31, 1979
Kapuskasing, November 23, 1978
Kapuskasing, November 7, 1978
14 cents coil
17 cents
Letter Rate : July 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981
Fruitland to Oakville, June 13, 1979
Harricanaw Ouest, December 8, 198ö
2. Maple Leaf: 1981 - 1985
(a) "A" Stamp (30 cents)
Rate Period : January 1, 1982 - February 14, 1983
The domestic letter rate jumped from 17 cents to 30 cents on January 1, 1982, shortly before Canada Post Corporation took over the operation of the postal service. The maple lead stamp was issued bearing on its face the letter A instead of the traditional denomination shown in Arabic numerals. Canada Post provided this information in its press release:
The "A" stamp was issued in sheet and coil formats.Because of the time required for production, the interval between the date of final approval of a new denomination stamp and the desired date of its issue would be too short to allow the stamp design with the correct numerical value to be printed, distributed, and ready for sale as soon as needed. Since a letter instead of a number is used in the design of the new stamp, the approved postage value can be assigned at a later date thus allowing the "A" stamp to be available in postal outlets for immediate use when the new rate is announced.
Toronto to Weston, March 17, 1982
To Postal Station K, April 17, 1982
"A" coils paying 60 cents postage due
The maple leaf design was used for the 30 cent and 32 cent denominations issued in sheets and booklet panes (not shown). Coil formats for each denomination were printed in colours different from the sheet versions.
(b) Denominated Maple Leaf Stamps
Sheet and Coil Stamps
Vending Machine Panes
30 cents
Rate Period : January 1, 1982 - February 14, 1983
Fredericton to Guelph, July 22, 1982
30 cents booklet stamp
Scarborough to Guelph, February 4, 1983
30 cents coil stamp
32 cents
Rate Period : February 15, 1983 - June 23, 1985
Toronto local letter, May 11, 1982
Sept-Iles to Niagara Falls, March 12, 1984
32 cents booklet stamp
Sudbury to Niagara Falls, June 12, 1984
32 cents coil
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu to Lesotho, February 16, 1984
Pair of 32 cent coils paying the 64 cents international letter rate
3. Parliament Buildings : 1985 - 1989
In 1985, a new set of Parliament definitives, replaced the maple leaf issue. The attractive sheet stamps featured different images of Parliament Hill. The 34 cent and 36 cent stamps showed summer and autumn foliage respectively while different views of the Parliament buildings without foliage were featured on the 37 cent and 38 cent stamps. The coil stamps featuring Parliament Buildings with foliage were printed in single colours.
Booklet Panes
Panes of 10
2 x 5 : 36c, 37c
3 columns : 38c
5 x 5 : 34c, 36c, 37c
3 columns : 38 c (not shown)
Vending Machine Booklets
The vending booklet panes contained one letter rate stamp in the lower right corner of each pane, printed in a single colour.
Letter Rate : June 24, 1985 - March 31, 1987
Irricana to Niagara Falls, March 7, 1987
Val Rita to Aylmer West, November 26, 1985
34 cents coil
Alexandria to Niagara Falls, June 17, 1986
34 cents from vending machine booklet
36 cents
Letter Rate : April 1, 1987 - December 31, 1987
Acton to Kitchener, December 18, 1987
MPO 140, Curtis Park, to Niagara Falls, September 15, 1987
36 cents booklet stamp
Cobourg to Kitchener, October 16, 1987
36 cents coil
Montreal to Toronto, November 25, 1987
36 cents from vending machine booklet
37 cents
Letter Rate : January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1988
Sechelt to Niagara Falls, October , 1988
Cobourg local business correspondence, December 28, 1988
37 cents booklet stamp
Kapuskasing to Niagara Falls, May 12, 1988
37 cents coil
38 cents
Letter Rate : January 1, 1989 - December 31, 1989
Mission to Toronto, May 10, 1989
Summerside to Niagara Falls, July 3, 1989
38 cents booklet stamp
Midland to Niagara Falls, October 30, 1989
38 cents coil
4. Canadian Flag: 1989 -2000
The Canadian flag appeared on the definitive letter rate stamps replacing the Parliament Buildings theme of previous years. The flag definitives featured a fluttering or flapping flag set against various landscapes or familiar objects from diverse areas of the nation. The stamps were issued in sheet, booklet and coil formats.The 47 cent denomination was only issued in self-adhesive booklet format.
Various booklet panes were produced for each denomination (not shown). Self-adhesive booklet panes were only available for the 46 cent and 47 cent denominations.
Coils
A fluttering flag was featured on the single-colour coil stamps.
Vending Machine Booklets
The vending booklet panes contained one letter rate flag stamp in the lower right corner of each pane.
Letter Rate : January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1990
Westport to Kingston, Augus 20, 1990
Hamilton local business correspondence, May 11, 1990
39 cents coil
40 cents
Letter Rate : January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1991
Ottawa to Rexdale, June 17, 1991
Leaf Rapids to Rexdale, June 4, 1991
40 cents booklet stamp
Schumacher to Rexdale, June 10, 1991
40 cents coil stamp
42 cents
Letter Rate : January 1, 1992 - December 31, 1992
London local correspondence, October 8, 1992
Brampton, November 6, 1992
42 cents coil stamp
43 cents
Letter Rate : January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1995
Ottawa, August 12, 1993
Maple Creek to Niagara Falls, January 14, 1994
43 cents booklet stamp
Sudbury to Georgetown, April 3, 1995
43 cents coil
45 cents
Letter Rate : August 1, 1995 - December 31, 1998
Owen Sound to North York, December 2, 1995 (LPP ink jet)
Georgetown to Norval, September 13, 1995 (LPP cancellation)
45 cents coil stamp
46 cents
January 1, 1999 - December 31, 2000
Brampton, January 30, 1999
46 cents from self-adhesive booklet
47 cents
Letter Rate : January 1, 2001 - January 14, 2002
Love, Saskatchewan to Kanata, March 15, 12001
5. Flag "Quick - Stick" Booklet Issues : 1989 - 1993
Five Quick-Stick booklets were issued from 1989 to 1993 showing the Canadian flag over regional backgrounds. The Canada Post Corporation provided this information in its postage stamp press release:
In recognition of today's consumers' search for products saving time and effort, Canada Post Corporation is issuing new stamp packs of 12 pressure sensitive or self-adhesive definitive stamps featuring the Canadian Flag. The stamps need only to be peeled from their backing and affixed to an envelope, offering an alternative to traditional gummed stamps.
38 cents
Edmonton to Toronto, October 12, 1989
39 cents
Toronto, October 12, 1990
40 cents
Douglastown to Toronto, March 27, 1991
42 cents
Toronto, September 14, 1992
43 cents
Ottawa to Toronto, November 9 , 1993
6. Stylized Maple Leaf : 1998
(a) Canada Post and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Trial
In April, 1998, Canada Post and CIBC initiated a one-year trial in which ATM customers could purchase domestic letter stamps at 22 CIBC ATMs located in south-central Ontario. The ATMs dispensed a self-adhesive pane of 18 stamps. The ATM stamps featured a stylized maple leaf and were issued in two denominations, 45 cents (April, 1998) and 46 cents (December 28, 1988).
46 cents FDC, December 28, 1998
(b) General Distribution 45 cents Coil
On September 30, 1998, Canada Post began selling coils of 100 self-adhesive 45 cents stylized maple leaf stamps through mail order or at selected postal outlets.
