Canada Post Office
General Purpose Cachets
1949 - 1973

From 1949 to 1973, Canada Post Office produced general purpose cachets to service first day covers. Canada Post Office produced its own first day covers for a variety of reasons which included presentations, replacements for damaged first day covers, and international publicity mailings.

Examples of general purpose cachets are in the National Archives collection and are posted on the Library and Archives website. Five types have been identified in the Archives records.

Type 1 : Crown

The Type 1 cachet made its first appearance with the George VI definitive set issued on November 19, 1949, and was replaced in 1965.

Replacement FDC with insert








Printing Order Numbers

The 1949 cachet did not have a printing order number, but later on such numbers were added to the cachet. Examples are shown below:




P.S. 2-10M-4-11-60





P.S. 2-1--2-62


Type 2 : Canadian Coat of Arms and Flags

The Type 2 cachet featuring the Canadian Coat of Arms and crossed Canadian flags was introduced in late 1965. The cachet was used in 1966 but suspended in 1967 while the Centennial (Type 3) cachet was used to service first day covers during the Centennial year. Usage of the Type 2 cachet resumed for the first part of 1968 until the Type 4 cachet was issued.


October 13, 1965


Different Usages


Addressed to GPO Ottawa (pencil)


Publicity first day cover to Belgium


Canada Post Office used the Type 2 cachet above as well as the newly introduced Type 4 cachet (see below) to service this issue.

Type 3: Centennial Symbol

During the 1967 Centennial year, Canada Post Office used a special Centennial general purpose cachet. Similar to the Type 2 design, the Type 3 had the added elements of the Centennial symbol and text "Centennial Year of Confederation". The Type 3 cachet was only used in 1967.





Replacement First Day Cover to Montreal




Type 4 : Maple Leaf

In May 1968, the Type 2 cachet was replaced with Type 4 which featured a single red maple leaf. The Type 4 was in use until 1971.


The Type 2 cachet was also used for this issue. (See above)


Different Usages


Publicity first day cover to Jamaica



Replacement sent to Vancouver




Type 5 : Maple Sapling

A maple sapling is shown on the Type 5 cachet which was appropriately introduced for the first day of issue of the Maple in Spring stamp, April 14, 1971. Canada Post Office continued using the Type 5 cachet until 1973.





Mosdossy Cachet

A sixth type of Canada Post Office general purpose cachet, used in 1972 and 1973 for international publicity mailings, does not appear to be in the Archives collection. This is a cachet designed by Imre von Mosdossy featuring a map of Canada within which are images representing Canadian cultures, industry, and wildlife. The lettering and outline of the map are embossed in gold colour. Modossy's name is printed in smaller lettering at the bottom of the cachet.


Imre von Mosdossy (1904 - 1995) was born in Budapest . From 1934 to 1942 he designed the decor for many Hungarian exhibitions including the Hungarian Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair. He was senior professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest. He left Hungary in 1945 and came to Canada via Germany, France and Colombia in 1963. He did portraits of world leaders and interiors for churches. He designed more than 900 postage stamps for various countries, including the 1968 Canadian International Hydrological Decade stamp. (from Hungarian Studies Review)

(See comment below from Imre von Mosdossy's granddaughter)







With "First Day Cover- Jour D'Emission"







FIRST DAY OF ISSUE - JOUR D'EMISSION


Without "First Day Cover- Jour D'Emission"




Rosecraft Commercial Covers Used for Publicity Mailings : 1963-65

In addition to the six types of general purpose cachets for its international publicity mailings, Canada Post Office also used "Rosecraft" commercial first day cover cachets. These can be identified by the distinctive printed addresses and the insert from CPO describing the new issue.

1963

Sir Martin Frobisher

 August 21, 1963 to Katiwice, Poland

First Postal Land Route

September 25, 1963 to Johanessburg, South Africa

15 cent Definitve Stamp

October 30, 1963 to Johannesburg, South Africa

1964

7 cents Definitive Stamp

March 11, 1964 to Katowice, Poland

Peace on Earth

April 8, 1964 to St. Thomas, Jamaica

Maple Leaf Unity

May 14, 1964 to Brazzaville, Congo

Floral Emblem Series : Ontario and Quebec

June 30 , 1964 to Brazzaville, Congo

Charlottetown Conference

July 29, 1964 to Canadian Ambassador, Tokyo Japan

Quebec Conference

 September 9, 1964

Royal Visit 1864

October 5, 1964 to Johannesburg, South Africa

Christmas 1964

October 14, 1964

8 cent Definitve Stamp

November 18, 1964 to Johannesburg

1965

Floral Emblem : Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

February 3, 1965 to Lisbon, Portugal

International Co-operation Year

 

March 3, 1965 to Kingston, Jamaica

Floral Emblem Series : Manitoba and British Columbia

 April 18, 1965 to Lisbon, Portugal

Sir Wilfred Grenfell

June 9, 1965 to Kingston, Jamaica

Canadian Flag

 

June 30, 1965 to Kingston, Jamaica

Floral Emblem Series : Prince Edward Island

 

July 21, 1965 to Lisbon, Portugal

Sir Winston Churchill

August 12, 1965 to Johannesburg, South Africa

Inter-Parliamentary Union Congress

September 8, 1965 to Kingston, Jamaica

 Ottawa National Capital Centennial

 September 8, 1965 to Tokyo, Japan

Other Canada Post Office Cachets

8 cents Centennial FDC

December 30, 1971
NOT IN AUTHOR'S COLLECTION

1972 

The cover below was cancelled at Toronto on March 17, 1972, and distributed at the Plewacki Post Stamp Show, Buffalo, N.Y., March 24 -26, 1972

 NOT IN AUTHOR'S COLLECTION

1973 : Canadian Postal Users' Conference

1986 Ontario Bill 8:
French Language Services Act

In 1986, the Ontario legislature unanimously adopted the French Language Services Act (Bill 8), an act which guaranteed an individual's right to receive services in French from Government of Ontario ministries and agencies in designated areas across the province with significant numbers of Franco-Ontarian residents. The law officially came into effect on November 19, 1989, and today, provincial government services are offered in French in 25 designated areas.

Opposition to the French Language Services Act came from an anti-bilingualism group which campaigned to have Ontario municipalities declare themselves English-only, in response to the Act. The cover below is a stark reminder of that period in our recent history:


St. Catharines to Welland, June 29, 1989

1976 Quebec Provincial Election
Parti Québecois Victory

On November 15, 1976, René Lévesque founder of the sovereigntist Parti Québecois (PQ) led his party to electoral victory in the Québec provincial election, becoming the province's 23rd prime minister. Although the PQ's goal was for Quebec to leave Canada to gain political sovereignty in all domestic and foreign affairs, the PQ campaign focused on providing "good government".


René Lévesque election night victory speech

The "Victory" cover shown below is an interesting artifact of the period.


Montrreal, election day, November 15, 1976


The marking speaks for itself




Day of Victory
15 Nov. 1976
Québec
My Country

1792 - 1903

A. 1792 to 1875


1. Canada's First Postage Stamps: Handstruck Paid Stamps
2. Stampless Period Handstruck Postage and Postage Due Marks
3. Pre-stamp Town Marks

4. Free Mail to 1875
5. Canadian Internal Domestic Letter Rates : 1792 to 1851
6. Canada to the United States : 1792 to 1851

7. Mail Rates Within the Province of Canada : 1851 -1859
8. Mail Rates Foreign: 1851-1859
9. Mail Rates Domestic and Foreign : 1859 -1867
10. Mail Rates Domestic and Foreign : 1868 - 1875
11. Handstruck Ocean Mail Stamps: 1854-1869

B. The Small Queen Era 1875 -1897

Domestic Mail Rates

Foreign Mail Rates

C. The Maple Leaf and Numeral Era 1897 - 1903

Domestic Mail Rates
Foreign Mail Rates

1967 : Ireland Commemorates Canada's Centennial
In addition to Canada and the United States, Ireland issued commemorative stamps to celebrate Canada's centennial year. The Irish post office released a set of two Canada commemoratives, 5p and 1s5p, on August 28, 1967.

First Day Covers

The Royal Trust Company (Ireland) Limited

The Irish Times

C.G. Junior III

Usages

Letter to the United Kingdom

 Dublin to Olfor, England, October 10, 1967

5p letter rate to the United Kingdom

Air Mail Letter to the United States

Dublin to Milwaukee, February 2, 1968

1s. 5d. air mail letter rate

1972 Krieghoff

Cornelius Krieghoff (1815 – 1872) , born in Amsterdam, was a popular 19th century painter of Canadian landscapes and Canadian life outdoors. A biography of Krieghoff and analysis of his place in Canadian art has been posted on the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online website.

The stamp honouring Krieghoff, issued on November 29, 1972, reproduces one of the artist's best paintings, "The Blacksmith's Shop".


The Blacksmith's Shop


First Day Covers

Shering Corporation







Canada Envelope Company






"Broken Door Frame on Shed" variety


Jackson




Overseas Mailers






Grover




Canada Post Office Official First Day Cover




Ottawa (General) Tag

Canadian Bank Note




David Pritchard





Usages

Domestic Letter


Downsview Sub. No.8 to Belleville, December 4, 1972
8 cents domestic letter rate + 50 cents registration fee


Air Mail Letter Rate to the U.S.

 Longueil to Southbury, Conn., December21, 1972
10 cents air mail letter rate to the U.S.

Index Dated Die Issue : 1935-1937

Rates, Domestic and International

1974 Canada-U.S.S.R. Summit Series

The 1974 Summit Series was the second of two competitions between Soviet and Canadian professional hockey players. The 1972 series, dubbed "The Series of the Century", was narrowly won by Team Canada represented by National Hockey League (NHL) players. Canadian players, such as Bobby Hull "The Golden Jet" who had signed with the newly formed World Hockey Association (WHA), were banned from playing in the 1972 series.

In 1974, Canada was represented by WHA players instead of the NHL players. However, the WHA team was easily handled by the Soviets who won the series with four wins and three ties. Canada's lone victory came at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.


Gordie Howe (l) and Bobby Hull 1974 Team Canada teammates


Scotia Bank "Go Canada" Post Cards : 1972 and 1974

a) Canada-U.S.S.R. 1972

 Scotia Bank supported Team Canada by supplying "Go Canada" postcards at its branches which fans could mail to their favourite player when Team Canada was battling it out in the U.S.S.R.  The "Go Canada" card was addressed to Palace of Sports, Moscow, U.S.S.R.

 

1972 "Go Canada" post card mailed from Brockville to Peter Mahovlich, Moscow, September 14, 1972
10 cents international air mail post card rate


b) Canada - U.S.S.R. 1974

Scotia Bank again provided "Go Canada" postcards for the 1974 series.




1974 "Go Canada" post card mailed from Caledon to Bobby Hull, Moscow, September 25, 1974
10 cents international air mail post card rate

Lucky Green Stamps


The cover below, mailed from Scarborough to Stratford, March 3, 1969, was franked with a 5 cent Centennial definitive and a 1 mil ( 1/100 cent) "Lucky Green Stamp". The domestic letter rate was 6 cents.



The letter was taxed two cents (double the deficiency).


What was a Lucky Green Stamp? Those of us who were around in the late 50s and 60s can remember how popular they were. In 1959, the Loblaws grocery chain introduced its trading stamp program. When making purchases, customers received "Lucky Green Stamps" which were pasted into saver books and redeemed for gifts.



The Loblaws website provides a brief description of its "Lucky Green Stamp" program:

Featured on its saver books is Miss Lucky Green, a bright-eyed, pony tailed little girl. With wand in hand, she points the way to the "Magic World of Gifts" that awaits Loblaws shoppers. The Loblaws Lucky Green Stamp Gift Catalogue, with hundreds of household items to choose from, becomes a mainstay in many homes.


Miss Lucky Green doll


Legality of Lucky Green Stamps

In 1905, the Canadian Criminal Code was amended making "trading stamps" illegal. (see below for excerpts of the Parliamentary debates). The Criminal Code trading stamp provisions were in effect when Loblaws introduced its Lucky Green Stamp program. Loblaws (Manitoba) was charged with unlawfully giving trading stamps to a customer, contrary to s. 369(2) of the Criminal Code. The case was heard by the Supreme Court of Canada which held in its 1961 decision that Lucky Green Stamps were not trading stamps as defined in the Criminal Code.



Since the trading stamp provisions remain to this day in the Criminal Code there is a possibility that some of today's "loyalty programs" could be illegal.


Appendix

The following is an excerpt from United Dominion Promotion Sales v. Shaw [1957] N.B.J., in which Judge Keirstead quotes the sections of the Criminal Code dealing with trading stamps, and provides excerpts of the Parliamentary debates dealing with the issue.


Section 322 of the Code defines "goods" and "trading stamps". I quote the section:

"322. In this Part,

• "(a) 'goods' means anything that is the subject of trade or commerce; and

• "(b) 'trading stamps' includes any form of cash receipt, receipt, coupon, premium ticket or other device, designed or intended to be given to the purchaser of goods by the vendor thereof or on his behalf, and to represent a discount on the price of the goods or a premium to the purchaser thereof

• "(i)
  that may be redeemed

• "(A) by any person other than the vendor, the person from whom the vendor purchased the goods, or the manufacturer of the goods,

• "(B) by the vendor, the person from whom the vendor purchased the goods, or the manufacturer of the goods in cash or in goods that are not his property in whole or in part, or

• "(C) by the vendor elsewhere than in the premises where the goods are purchased; or

• "(ii) that does not show upon its face the place where it is delivered and the merchantable value thereof; or

• "(iii) that may not be redeemed upon demand at any time, but an offer, endorsed by the manufacturer upon a wrapper or container in which goods are sold, of a premium or reward for the return of that wrapper or container to the manufacturer is not a trading stamp."

5. Section 369 deals with the issue and sale of trading stamps. I quote s. 369:

• "(1) Every one who, by himself or his employee or agent directly or indirectly issues, gives, sells or otherwise disposes of, or offers to issue, give, sell or otherwise dispose of trading stamps to a merchant or dealer in goods for use in his business is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

• "(2) Every one who, being a merchant or dealer in goods, by himself or his employee or agent, directly or indirectly gives or in any way disposes of, or offers to give or in any way disposes of, trading stamps to a person who purchases goods from him is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction."

6. I quote the following from Martin's Criminal Code, 1955, p. 612:

• "These provisions appear in the Criminal Code Amendment Act, 1905, c. 9. The Bill was introduced at the insistence of many Boards of Trade and Retail Merchants' Associations throughout Canada.

• "The trading stamp scheme originated in the United States about 1895 and was imported into Canada about 1900. The operation of the scheme as it affected the customer was described in the House of Commons as follows (Hansard 1905, Vol. 5, column 9432):

• "'MR. KEMP: Certainly some remedy should be applied to this abuse. These trading stamp companies, small and insignificant as they are, are permitted to do what no other kind of financial corporation can do. They are permitted to circulate money. This trading stamp resembles a postage stamp. They are sold at five dollars for a hundred dollars face value. The merchant hands them out to his customer and they get into circulation that way. When a customer gets a hundred dollars' worth he can go and exchange it for some article valued at from twenty-five cents to a dollar. He never gets anything worth five dollars. A greater evil is this, that a great amount of these stamps are never redeemed, very few people can get a hundred dollars together. The people who have been deceived into taking these stamps are generally poor people, and it takes them a long time to collect a hundred dollars. Where the tremendous profit of the trade stamp companies comes in is due to the fact that the stamps are never redeemed. Then -- when people present the stamps at the store, they will be told that the store is out of goods but some are expected in a few days, and in the end the trading stamp agents get away without paying anything.'

• "In 1901 and 1903 the Legislature of Ontario amended its statutes so as to enable municipalities to pass a by-law prohibiting the use of trading stamps and in 1903 the Legislature of Quebec passed legislation to the same effect. In subsequent litigation there arose a conflict of decisions, the Court of Appeal in Quebec holding that the provincial legislation on the subject was ultra vires, on the ground that it dealt with trade and commerce. On the other hand, it was decided by the Court of Appeal in Ontario that the legislation was constitutional. This conflict of decisions was referred to the Supreme Court of Canada and appears not to have been decided when the Criminal Code Amendment was brought before Parliament. The Bill provoked lengthy debates both in the House of Commons and in the Senate, those supporting the Bill arguing that the use of trading stamps was an instrument of fraud and thus more than unfair competition. The Bill was opposed on the ground that the advertising company which promoted the scheme was incorporated under Dominion Charter and also on the ground that no distinction could be drawn between stamps issued by the vendor of goods himself, redeemable on his own premises by himself, to which there seemed to be no objection, and trading stamps issued to be redeemable by a third party. (Par.(b) of c. 322, excluding certain offers from the definition of trading stamps marks this distinction)."

7. At p. 613:

• "During the discussion in the House of Commons the following took place (at column 9433, Hansard 1905, Vol. 5):

• "MR. R.L. BORDEN:....I would recognize legislation against the principle of lottery as very wise, but it does not seem that this legislation proceeds on that basis. It is not framed from the standpoint of the purchaser, but from the standpoint of the vendor, and its object is to prevent the trading stamp proprietor from receiving a portion of the vendor's profits. I am not objecting to that. The evil may be so great as to require legislation, but let us understand the principle on which we are acting. If it is intended to prohibit lotteries we should go further.

• "SIR WILFRID LAURIER: I do not now dispute anything stated by my hon. friend (Mr. R.L. Borden). But we are dealing with an evil that exists. It may be that if we dealt with all covered by this principle, we should go further than we are now going. But we are now dealing with a lottery which has invaded every city and town in Canada, in the form of these trading stamps. The object of this legislation is to reach this form of lottery; and we think we have done it and will stamp it out. If any other evil....

• "MR. R.L. BORDEN: In what way does the right hon. gentleman (Sir Wilfrid Laurier) say the principle of lottery is involved.

• "SIR WILFRID LAURIER: It induces people to pay money with the prospect of a chance to draw a prize.'