1970 Northwest Territories Centennial

The Northwest Territories came into existence in 1870 when control of the North-Western Territory was transferred by the British government and the Hudson's Bay Company sold Rupert's Land to Canada.

Canada prior to the formation of the Northwest Territories:



Canada after the acquisition of North-Western Territory and Rupert's Land (1870):




A reproduction of Inuk artist Kenojuak Ashevak's 1960 print Kenojuak's Enchanted Owl was chosen for use on the Northwest Territories Centennial stamp, issued on January 27, 1970.


Enchanted Owl


Kenojuak Ashevak (b 1927) is among the best-known Inuk artist because of her famous print The Enchanted Owl. She began drawing in the late 1950s producing about 200 prints produced since then. Kenojuak has received many awards, including the Order of Canada (Companion in 1982) and participant in many exhibitions. In 2002 her work was featured in the exhibition Kenojuak Ashevak: To Make Something Beautiful at the National Gallery of Canada. She was awarded a Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts in 2008.

Reference: The Canadian Encyclopedia







First Day Covers


Canada Post Office Publicity First Day Cover


Mailed to Jamaica


Enclosed letter


Canada Envelope Company






Overseas Mailers







David Pritchard





Kingswood


Autographed by cachet designer


Rosecraft




Cole Cover




The Flintkote Company


Artcarft general purpose cachet


Flintkote Company letter

1970 Royal Visit

Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prince Charles and Princess Anne, visited Manitoba and the Northwest Territories in 1970.



Fort Smith, July 6 1970


Bad weather resulted in the cancellation of the visit to Tuktoyaktuk on July 6, 1970


Yellowknife, July 8 1970

Centennial Definitives 1971
8 cent Library of Parliament
Sheet Stamps




The domestic letter rate increased from 7 cents to 8 cents on January 1, 1972. A new 8 cent denomination stamp, printed by the British American Bank Note Company, was issued on December 30, 1971. The stamp, featuring the Library of Parliament in addition to the image of Queen Elizabeth, paid tribute to the United Nation's International Book Year.


Canada Post Office Pamphlet










From the National Archives of Canada:













Sheet Stamp Issue and Variations

1. Dextrine Gum
2. Dextrine Gum, Winnipeg Tag
3. Dextrine Gum, Ottawa Tag OP-4 ( 4mm)
4. PVA Gum
5. PVA Gum, Winnipeg Tag
6. PVA Gum, Ottawa Tag OP-4 (3mm)
7. PVA Gum, Ottawa Tag OP-2 (3mm)


1. Dextrine Gum

Cylinder 1



Cylinder 2



Cylinder 3




2. Dextrine Gum, Winnipeg Tag

Winnipeg tagging is discussed in the "Postal Mechanization during the Centennial Period" post.










3. Dextrine Gum, Ottawa Tag OP-4 ( 4mm)

In 1972 , a facer-canceller machine was installed at the Ottawa Post Office that relied on the detection of fluorescent compounds. (Fluorescent substances emit light only during exposure to UV radiation whereas phosphorescent compounds (Winnipeg coating) emit light during and after exposure to UV radiation.)

The General Electric Company produced a fluorescent compound which was applied to stamps sold in the Ottawa area.



The first compound designated as OP-4 migrated and its use was discontinued. OP-4 was replaced by another compound OP-2 which did not migrate.



Ottawa to London, July 24, 1972


OP-4 tagging



OP-4 tagging




4. PVA Gum

Cylinder 4




Dextrine gum (l.), PVA gum (r.)


5. PVA Gum, Winnipeg Tag





Winnipeg, July 25, 1972


6. PVA Gum, Ottawa Tag OP-4 (3mm)

(not Shown)


7. PVA Gum, Ottawa Tag OP-2 (3mm)

Cylinder 5



Cylinder 6







Cylinder 7

High Fluorescent paper





High Fluorescent paper
April 6, 1973


First Day Covers


Canada Post Office

First day covers were sold to collectors for 20 cents + face value.






Kingswood







Jackson




Rosecraft










Cole