Millennium 8 : Bell Canada Enterprises

 [This post is another in a series  profiling each of the 68 stamps issued by Canada Post Corporation on September 15, 1999 on the occasion of the new Millennium. Links to previously published posts are listed at the bottom of this page]

Bell Canada Enterprises is a big Canadian media and telecommunications conglomerate.


 The Millennium Stamp

1.  Millennium Collection Album

The Bell Canada Enterprises stamp was one of 68 Millennium stamps first issued in a hardbound book, Canada Post The Millennium Collection : Expressions of a People, on September 15, 1999. The stamps were printed two to a page.

The  Hudson's Bay Company and  Bell Canada Enterprises stamps were printed on the same page.


2. Millennium Collection Souvenir Sheet

Canada Post Corporation re-issued the Millennium stamps in panes of 4 stamps issued over a three month period from December 17, 1999 to March 17, 2000. The souvenir sheet with the Bell Canada Enterprises stamp  was released on  March 17, 2000.

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Millennium Stamp Collection

1. Wikipedia :  Canada Post Millennium Stamps
(This site describes the stamps and provides links to article dealing with each subject.)

2. Postal History Corner articles:

 
1. L'Anse aux Meadows

2. Pier 21

3. Pontiac

4. Tom Longboat
5. Inuit Shaman
6. Healing From Within
7. Hudson's Bay Company 
8. Bell Canada Enterprises

Millennium 7 : Hudson's Bay Company

 [This post is another in a series  profiling each of the 68 stamps issued by Canada Post Corporation on September 15, 1999 on the occasion of the new Millennium. Links to previously published posts are listed at the bottom of this page]

The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC),  "Canada's Merchants since 1670", was a fitting subject to include in the Millennium series.

The First Two Hundred Years : 1670 - 1870

In 1670 King Charles granted a charter to his cousin Prince Rupert to create the trading enterprise Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The HBC was granted "Rupert's Land" which contained almost 1.5 million square miles of western and northern Canada (40% of modern Canada).  Initially, HBC established forts and posts in the James Bay and Hudson Bay shores to which First Nations people brought furs to barter for goods such as knives, kettles, beads, needles and blankets

 Rupert's Land in Yellow

 Canada's First Peoples

  In the late 18th century, HBC expanded inland to western river networks establishing posts where future cities such as Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton would grow. In 1821 HBC merged with its rival, the North West Company.

The Retail Era : From 1870

In 1870, HBC's vast land holdings were transferred back to the crown and became incorporated into the newly created Dominion of Canada.With the surrender of its territories, the retail era began for HBC. The Company concentrated on transforming trading posts across northern and remote Canada into saleshops. In 1912,  HBC began a modernization program which resulted in the opening of  the "original six" HBC department stores, in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnipeg.  Today, the department store business is the only remaining part of the company's operations. HBC abandoned the fur trade and retail in northern and remote communities in 1987.

 HBC Queen St., Toronto

 Printed on 2014 plastic shopping bag

The links below provide a wealth of information about early Canadian history and the HBC.

HBC Heritage
HBC History Overview
Hudson's Bay Company Archives
HBC Point Blankets

Hudson's Bay Point Blanket

The Millennium stamp has three horizontal coloured stripes across the bottom portion of the stamp design. The colours are particularly significant because coloured stripes are featured on the product most identified with HBC : the striped point blanket.

 

The primary colours of the signature HBC Collection striped point blanket first became popular in the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714). First commissioned by HBC in 1800, the multi stripe has never been out of production since. It is the most popular colourway of all the HBC point blankets, past or present. Over time, it has become the product most identified with HBC, and by extension, Canada.

Hudson's Bay Company Stationery

Penticton to Hamilton, May 22, 1948

The Millennium Stamp

1.  Millennium Collection Album

The Hudson's Bay Company stamp was one of 68 Millennium stamps first issued in a hardbound book, Canada Post The Millennium Collection : Expressions of a People, on September 15, 1999. The stamps were printed two to a page.

The Hudson's Bay Company and the Bell Canada Enterprises  stamps were printed on the same page.


2. Millennium Collection Souvenir Sheet

Canada Post Corporation re-issued the Millennium stamps in panes of 4 stamps issued over a three month period from December 17, 1999 to March 17, 2000. The souvenir sheet with the Hudson's Bay Company stamp  was released on  March 17, 2000.

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Millennium Stamp Collection

1. Wikipedia :  Canada Post Millennium Stamps
(This site describes the stamps and provides links to article dealing with each subject.)

2. Postal History Corner articles:

 
1. L'Anse aux Meadows

2. Pier 21

3. Pontiac

4. Tom Longboat
5. Inuit Shaman
6. Healing From Within
7. Hudson's Bay Company

Canada Post Quarterly Pack 2014/1

The first Canada Post "Stamps of Canada" Quarterly Pack of 2014, placed on sale in late April, contained defintive stamps issued in December 2013 and commemoratives issued in January and February, 2014. The total face value of the stamps was $18.11.

Flag - Canadian Pride
December 11, 2013

die cut from booklet

Baby Wildlife
December 11, 2013

Queen Elizabeth II
December 11, 2013

Year of the Horse
January 13, 2014

Africville
January 31, 2014

Hogan's Alley
January 31, 2014

Pioneers of Winter Sports

Centennial Period International Surface Printed Matter Rates

Dozens of posts dealing with the Canadian Centennial definitive issue (1967 - 1973) have been published in the nearly four years Postal History Corner has been on-line. The original post dealing with International Surface Printed Matter rates was published on June 12, 2010.  

Surface Printed Matter Rates Summary

1. To October 31, 1968

a) UPU destinations : 4 cents for the 1st two ounces
b) Preferred destinations : 3 cents for the 1st two ounces

The preferential printed matter rate applied to the United States (territories and possessions), North, Central and South America, the West Indies and Spain.

2. November 1, 1968 - June 30, 1971

a) UPU destinations : 6 cents for the 1st wo ounces
b) Preferred destinations : 5 cents for the 1st two ounces

3. From July 1, 1971

a) UPU destinations :  8 cents for the first two ounces
b) Preferred Destinations : 6 cents for the 1st two ounces

1.  To October 1968

a) UPU destinations : 4 cents for the 1st two ounces

Switzerland

Montreal to Dietkon, December 4, 1967

4 cents international surface printed matter rate

Greece

Toronto to Greece, November 16, 1967

4 cents international surface printed matter rate

USSR

Montreal to Izhevsk, March 3. 1967

4 cents international surface printed matter rate

New Zealand

North Surrey to Auckland, November 23, 1967

4 cents international surface printed matter rate

Short paid 1 cent 

Great Britain

Calgary to Altingham, December 18, 1967

4 cents international printed matter rate

Unpaid 

British due 7p

Canadian Tax Fraction

 British Calculation

The British international letter rate was 9p.

7p postage due ( labels cancelled January 4, 1968)

b) Preferred destinations : 3 cents for the 1st two ounces 

The preferential printed matter rate applied to the United States (territories and possessions), North, Central and South America, the West Indies and Spain.

 Brazil

 Riviere-du-Loup to Sao Paulo, December 18, 1967

United States

 Montreal to Lake George, N.Y., April 15, 1968

 2.  November 1, 1968 to June 30, 1971

a) UPU destinations : 6 cents for the 1st two ounces

The international surface printed matter rate increased from 4 cents to 6 cents for the first two ounces on November 1, 1968.

Egypt

Montreal to Alexandria, Egypt, November 29, 1968

6 cents UPU surface printed matter rate

Switzerland

Montreal to Dietikon, December 3, 1969

6 cents UPU surface printed matter rate

Sweden

Vancouver to Bandhagen, December 9, 1970

6 cents UPU surface printed matter rate

Short paid 1 cent

Canadian Due fraction 2/12

Numerator 2c = Double the deficiency
Denominator 12c = International surface letter rate

Swedish postage due : 20 ore

Finland

Downsview to Hyryla, November 10, 1968

6 cents UPU surface printed matter rate

 Incorrect Tax fraction 2/10

The international letter rate had increased on November 1, 1968 from 10 cents to 12 cents. The office which taxed this letter continued using the old handstamp. The addressee would have been charged 2/10 of the Finnish international letter rate as opposed to the correct 2/12.


b) Preferred destinations : 5 cents for the 1st two ounces 

United States

Montreal to Thompsonville, Ct., May 16, 1969

5 cents preferred  printed matter rate to the U.S.

3.  From July 1, 1971

a) UPU destinations : 8 cents for the 1st two ounces


Great Britain

 Cobourg to Petersfield, November 23, 1971

8 cents UPU surface printed matter rate

 New Westminster to Coventry, December 9, 1971

8 cents UPU surface printed matter rate

Short paid 1 cent

2p was the British minimum postage due charge

 Italy

 Montreal to Fidenza, November 22, 1972

8 cents UPU surface printed matter rate

 Finland

Toronto to Turjankatu, November 18, 1973

8 cents UPU surface printed matter rate

Sweden

Canada Post Office mailed publicity stamp notices world-wide to such groups as postal agencies, government officials and philatelic publications. The notices were sent in first day covers. In most cases, the cachets were used exclusively by the Canada Post Office.


b) Preferred Destinations : 6 cents for the 1st two ounces

United States

 Halifax to Preoria Heights, August 20, 1973

6 cents preferred printed matter rate to the U.S.