Low Value Flower and Medium-Value Tree Definitives 1977 - 1982

A botanical theme was chosen for the low-value and medium-value definitives issued by Canada Post from 1977 to 1982. Wildflowers and trees were featured on the low-value and medium-value stamps respectively.

Floral Definitives

The  low-value floral definitive stamps consisting of six denominations ( 1c to 5c and 10c) were issued on April 22, 1977. The stamp were initially printed by the Canadian Bank Note Co. (CBN).

In 1979, the British American Bank Note Co. (BABN) took over the printing of the floral definitives. The CBN stamps had been printed using using engraving and lithography. BABN stamps were printed using engraving and photogravure resulting in stamps whose backgrounds appear "mottled" when compared to the CBN stamps.

 CNN printing (left) has a smooth background, while the BABN product's background is mottled.

In addition to the original six denominations, BABN printed two other denominations of floral stamps. The 12 cents and 15 cents values were issued on July 6, 1978 and August 16, 1979 respectively.

(Not a first day cover)

Tree Definitives

The BABN printed the medium-value tree definitives beginning with the release of the 15, 20c, and 25c stamps on August 8, 1977.

 

 The cachets indicate that the stamps were originally to be released on March 30, 1977.

A 30 cent denomination was issued on March 7, 1978.

The last tree definitive stamp was the 35 cent denomination issued on March 8, 1979.

Floral and Tree Definitive Stamps on Cover

1 cent

Bottle Gentian

Postage due card, April 14, 1980

Canada Post Test Mail

2 cents

 Western Columbine

Kapuskasing, April 5, 1978

2 cent stamp uprating 12 cents stationery paying the 14 cents domestic letter rate ( April 1, 1978 - March 31, 1979)

3 cents

Canada Lily

Borden to Ratingen, Germany, October, 1980

63 cents paying the greater than 20g., equal to or less than 50g. 2nd weight step international letter rate
(July 1, 1979 - December 31, 1982)

Erin to Owen Sound, September 11, 1982

30 cents domestic letter rate for 30g. (January 1, 1982 - February 14, 1983)

4 cents

Hepatica

Borden to Ratingen, Germany, October 5, 1979

84 cents paying the 3rd weight step international rate ( greater than 50g., equal to or less than 100g.)
 (July 1, 1979 - December 31, 1982)

Quebec to Niagara Falls, October 17, 1979

17 cents domestic letter rate

5 cents

Shooting Star

Postage due, August 31, 1979

Shortpaid letter to Papua New Guinea

Edmonton to Kleinblittersdorf, Germany, December, 1977
25 cents international letter rate, (January 1, 1977 - March 31, 1978)

Request to Call Notice

4 cent and 5 cent Flower definitive pairs paying the 18 cents postage due

Prince George, Stn. A, September 5, 1978

10 cents

Sparrow's Egg Lady's Slipper

Kapuskasing, October 26, 1977

10 cents printed matter rate (March 1, 1977 - March 31, 1978)

Nanaimo to Vancouver, January 15, 1982

30 cents domestic letter rate ( January 1, 1982 - February 14, 1983)

12 cents

Jewelweed

Canpbellford to Arnprior, October 4, 1978

12 cents printed matter rate (April 1, 1978 - March 31, 1979)

15 cents (Floral)

Canada Violet

Toronto, January 2, 1981

15 cents printed matter rate for weight up to 50 grams (July 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981)

15 cents Postage Due

Toronto, January 8, 1981

Vancouver to Toronto, June 15, 1981

17 cents domestic letter rate

Scarborough to Toronto, May 5, 1982

$2.15 paying 30 cents letter rate + $1.85 registration fee (January 1, 1982 - January 14, 1983)

15 cents (Tree)
 

 Trembling Aspen

Kapuskasing, April 23, 1979

15 cents printed matter rate for weight up to 2 ounces (April 1, 1979 - June 30, 1979)

The 15 cent floral definitive was released on August 16, 1979

20 cents

Douglas Fir

Sarnia to Peterborough, July 17, 1977

12 cents letter rate (March 1, 1977 - March 31, 1978) + $1.00 registration fee

23 cents postage due, Toronto, January 9, 1979

25 cents

Sugar Maple

Mayo, NWT to Pelly Crossing, Yukon, October 15, 1978
$1.60 parcel rate

 

Stratford to Emden, Germany, September 17, 1977

25 cents international letter rate (Jan.1, 1977 - March 31, 1978) + $1.00 registration fee

30 cents

Red Oak

Mississauga to Edmonton, August 14, 1978

14 cents letter rate + 80 cents special delivery fee

Winnipeg to Bexhill on Lee, England August 28, 1978
30 cents international letter rate

35 cents

Eastern White Pine

Natasquan to London, June 26, 1979

35 cents international letter rate weight up to 1 oz. (April 1, 1979 - June 30, 1979)

Montreal to Niedereschach, October 10, 1979

35 cents international letter rate weight up to 20 g. (July 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981)

Toronto to Tamarac, Fl., September 2, 1982

35 cents letter rate to the United States weight up to 30g. (Jan. 1, 1982 - Jan.14, 1983)

Heritage Artifacts Definitives : 1982 - 1987

From 1982 to 1987, Canada Post Office Corporation issued a total of sixteen low-value and medium-value definitives each featuring a different Canadian artifact. The artifacts depicted objects used in everyday life in Canada during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.  There were four release dates for the low and medium denomination stamps  reflecting  changes in the postal rates during the period.

Heritage Artifacts Definitive Stamps

First Release  : October 19, 1982 

Second Release : April 8, 1983

Third Release: August 1, 1985

Fourth Release : May 6, 1987

Heritage Artifacts Definitive Stamps on Cover

Low Value Denominations

1 cent

Decoy

Buckingham to Toronto, May 24, 1984

32 cents letter rate + $1.06 special delivery fee

2 cents

 

 Fishing Spear

Chibougamou to Toronto, December 18, 1987

18 x 2 cent Heritage Artifact stamp paying the 36 cents letter rate

3 cents

Stable Lantern

Buckingham to Calgary

32 cents letter rate + $1.06 special delivery fee

5 cents

 Bucket

 Ottawa to Toronto, August 10, 1985

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

10 cents

Weathercock

 

 St-Hyacynthe to Ville St-Laurent, September 24, 1985

34 cents domestic letter rate

20 cents

 

 Skates

 Mississauga to Willowdale, November 12, 1985

$2.80 paying 34 cents letter rate + $2.46 registration fee

25 cents

 

 Butter Stamp

Brandon to Arnprior, July 13, 1987

36 cents letter rate + $1.96 special delivery fee

Medium Value Denominations


The medium-value definitives were issued to pay three common rate requirements:

1. United States standard letter rate ( up to 30g.)
2. Domestic 2nd weight step standard letter rate (greater than 30g, equal to or less than 50g)
3. International letter rate (up to 20g.)


Principal Usage Summary

 37 cents

  

 Wooden Plough

 Kaslo to Daly City, Cal., July 6, 1984

37 cents letter rate to the United States

39 cents

 

 Settle Bed

 Kingston, N.S. to Arlington, Va., December 4, 1986

39 cents letter rate to the United States

42 cents

 

 Linen Chest

 Meteghan River to Mount Clemens, Mich., December 10, 1987

42 cents letter rate to the United States

48 cents

 

Cradle

Mississauga to Rome, December 22, 1983

48 cents international air mail printed matter rate (20 g)

The 48 cents rate was in effect from January 15, 1983 to June 23, 1985

Toronto local correspondence, August 16, 1986

34 cents letter rate + $1.96 special delivery fee

La Sarre to Niagara Falls, July 20, 1984

Business Reply Mail (No postage necessary)

$1.96 paying the registration fee only

50 cents

 

  Sleigh

 Shelburne to Heerlen, Nehterlands, October 1, 1985

$3.14 paying 68 cents letter rate + $2.46 registration fee

 55 cents

 Iron Kettle

Lachine to St-Jerome, November 10, 1987

$2.99 paying 36 cent letter rate + $2.63 registration fee

 64 cents

 

Wood Stove

 Montreal to Malcky, Czechoslovakia, October 27, 1983

$2.78 paying 64 cents international letter rate + $2.12 registration fee

68 cents

 

 Spinning Wheel

 Ste-Adele to Bonn, July 15, 1985

68 cents international letter rate

72 cents

 Hand-Drawn Cart

 Hamilton to Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, December 15, 1987

72 cents international letter rate