by Danforth Guy

Another first look: The stamp marking Eid (Eid al-Fitr) from Canada Post acknowledges the end of the fast of Ramadan with cakes and sweets that are typically enjoyed.

Eid occurs this year on April 9-10. One postal source says the stamp is set to come out in a few days. A national stamp organization says April. The Virtual Stamp Club says November, which doesn’t coincide with the holiday. [That was from a Canada Post release on December 20th.]

The stamps will sell in booklets of 6 at the domestic rate of 92c (‘P’). There is no first day location information.

This image comes from a post office placemat, hence the low quality. (But we have cleaned it up. Click on this image for a larger version.)

Updated March 28th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Stamp showcasing maamoul commemorates Islamic festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
Canada Post is proud to mark two festivals, celebrated by more than
a million Muslims in Canada, with stamp featuring the popular treat

OTTAWA – Canada Post issued a new stamp today to mark two important Islamic holidays: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The commemorative stamp features maamoul, Middle Eastern cookies, and a traditional carved wooden mould used to make them.

Melt-in-your-mouth cookies stuffed with a delicious walnut, pistachio or date filling, maamoul are a sweet staple during Eid celebrations. They are traditionally handmade from semolina and flavoured with fragrant rose or orange-blossom water andmahlab – a spice made from ground cherry pits. Before baking, the balls of dough are stuffed with walnut, pistachio or date filling and formed with specially carved wooden moulds.

Early versions of maamoul can be traced back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Today, family and friends often gather before Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to bake the cookies together. Served to guests and given as gifts, maamoul are also made across much of the Middle East to celebrate other holidays, such as Easter and Purim.

This year, Eid al-Fitr – the Festival of Breaking the Fast – begins in April, after the end of Ramadan. The stamp was issued today, so that it can be used to send greetings before the festival. Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest Muslim city. In 2024, Eid al-Adha begins in June.

Celebrated by more than one million Muslims in Canada, both events can last several days and include communal prayers and feasts, visits with family, gift-giving and acts of charity.

Celebrating Canada’s culturally diverse population
The 2024 issue is Canada Post’s sixth Eid stamp; the others were issued in 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The Eid stamp is one of several stamps Canada Post issues each year to mark annual celebrations important to Canada’s culturally diverse population – others include Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas.

About the stamp
The stamp was designed by Kristine Do, photographed by Maya Visnyei, with food styling by David Grenier. Printed by Colour Innovations, the issue includes booklets of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover cancelled in London, Ontario.

The new stamp and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Un timbre consacré aux maâmouls souligne les fêtes islamiques de l’Aïd al-Fitr et de l’Aïd al-Adha
Postes Canada est fière de souligner deux fêtes célébrées par plus d’un million de personnes au Canada avec un timbre mettant en vedette ces biscuits populaires.

OTTAWA – Postes Canada a émis un nouveau timbre aujourd’hui pour souligner deux fêtes islamiques importantes : l’Aïd al-Fitret l’Aïd al-Adha. Le timbre commémoratif met en vedette des maâmouls, des biscuits du Moyen-Orient, et le moule en bois sculpté traditionnel utilisé pour les façonner.

Les délicieux biscuits sablés fourrés de noix de Grenoble, de pistaches ou de dattes sont un incontournable lors des fêtes de l’Aïd. Ils sont traditionnellement fabriqués à la main à partir de semoule et parfumés avec de l’eau de rose ou de fleur d’oranger et du mahaleb (de l’arabe mahlab), une épice faite à partir de noyaux de cerise broyés. Avant la cuisson, les boules de pâte sont fourrées de noix de Grenoble, de pistaches ou de dattes, et modelées à l’aide de moules en bois spécialement sculptés.

Des versions antérieures remontent à l’Égypte ancienne et à la Mésopotamie. Aujourd’hui, membres de la famille et autres proches se rassemblent souvent avant l’Aïd al-Fitr et l’Aïd al-Adha pour préparer les biscuits ensemble. Servis aux convives et offerts en cadeau, les maâmouls sont également cuisinés au Moyen-Orient à l’occasion d’autres fêtes, comme Pâques et Purim.

Cette année, l’Aïd al-Fitr, ou fête de la rupture du jeûne, commence en avril, après le ramadan. Le timbre a été émis aujourd’hui afin qu’on puisse l’utiliser pour envoyer des vœux avant la fête. L’Aïd al-Adha, ou fête du sacrifice, souligne la fin du pèlerinage du Hajj à La Mecque, en Arabie saoudite, la ville musulmane la plus sacrée. En 2024, elle commence en juin.

D’une durée de plusieurs jours, les fêtes sont célébrées par plus d’un million de fidèles au Canada. Elles sont généralement synonymes de prières communes, de visites familiales, de festins partagés, de cadeaux et d’actes de charité.

Célébrer la diversité culturelle du Canada
L’émission de 2024 est le sixième timbre de l’Aïd de Postes Canada; les autres ont été émis en 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022 et 2023.

La vignette consacrée à l’Aïd fait partie des nombreuses émissions annuelles soulignant des fêtes importantes pour la population diversifiée du Canada, notamment Diwali, Hanoukka et Noël.

À propos du timbre
Le timbre a été conçu par Kristine Do, la photo prise par Maya Visnyei et le stylisme culinaire réalisé par David Grenier. Imprimée par Colour Innovations, l’émission comprend un carnet de six timbres Permanents🅪 au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel oblitéré à London, en Ontario.

Le timbre et les articles de collection sont en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

Updated March 31st: [click to see a larger view]

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]

Mitchell “Mick” Zais, a former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, is now the chair of the Publications subcommittee of the American First Day Cover Society. Publications is a part of the Education Department of the AFDCS, which is chaired by Michael Lake.

Zais was also briefly Acting Secretary of Education in 2021 and has served as South Carolina Superintendent of Education and president of Newbury College. Before that, the West Point graduate had reached the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army.

He has often told the story of how he was able to skip a required geography course at the U.S. Military Academy because of the knowledge he had gained from stamp collecting. Today, he specializes in the first day covers of the Army stamps of the Army-Navy Series of 1936-37 (Sc. 785-789).

Mick was elected to the AFDCS Board of Directors, beginning in January 2023. He served as president of the American Philatelic Society from 2016 to 2018, resigning to avoid a conflict of interest with his federal appointment.

“I look forward to working with our team at AFDCS to bring useful and important publications to our members,” said Zais. “Most exciting is the recent permission acquired by the Society to re-print the Mellone first day cover catalogs.”

The AFDCS has published books, handbooks, and catalogues on everything from the basics of FDC collecting to making cachets, from FDCs of the 1909 commemorative issues to those of the 1988 Cats issue. A complete list can be found on its website in the Marketplace section. The Education Department of the AFDCS also has a YouTube Channel and produces videos on various facets of FDC collecting.

The AFDCS, a not-for-profit educational organization, sponsors the annual Philip H. Ward, Jr., Memorial Award for Excellence in First Day Cover Literature, exhibit awards, and is a co-sponsor of the Great American Stamp Show, which includes the Americover first day cover exhibition and announcement of the results of its annual cachetmaking contest. Its journal, First Days, is a perennial gold-medal winner in philatelic literature competitions.

For more information about the AFDCS, visit www.afdcs.org, e-mail afdcs@afdcs.org or write the AFDCS at Post Office Box 27, Greer, SC 29652-0027.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamp commemorates Hanukkah, one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the Jewish calendar
Also called the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah takes place from nightfall December 7 to nightfall December 15

OTTAWA – Canada Post’s latest stamp honours the eight-day festival of Hannukah, featuring an illustration of a hanukkiyah (an eight-branched menorah) surrounded by flowers and various elements associated with Hanukkah celebrations. This important holiday commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, Judaism’s holiest site, after the Jewish people reclaimed it around 165 BCE.

It is said that the Temple menorah burned for eight days on a single day’s worth of olive oil. This miracle of light and faith is commemorated each year through the kindling of a Hanukkah menorah – a candelabrum bearing a row of eight candles or oil holders.

The nightly lighting of a menorah is a central element of Hanukkah celebrations. Fried foods, such as latkes and jelly doughnuts, are also strongly associated with the festival, while olives, olive branches and cruses of oil are sometimes used to represent the miracle at the heart of the Hanukkah story.

Giving small amounts of Hanukkah gelt, in the form of money or chocolate coins, has become a common practice. The Hebrew letters on the four sides of the dreidel, a spinning top that children play with during the holiday, stand for the phrase Nes gadol haya sham, which means “A great miracle happened there.”

Designed by Hélène L’Heureux, illustrated by Stephanie Carter and printed by Colour Innovations, the stamp issue includes a booklet of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover cancelled in Winnipeg.

Stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and at postal outlets across Canada.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Un nouveau timbre est consacré à Hanoukka, l’une des fêtes les plus célébrées du calendrier hébraïque

Aussi nommée la fête des Lumières, Hanoukka commence au coucher du soleil le 7 décembre et prend fin à la tombée de la nuit le 15 décembre.

OTTAWA, ON, le 16 nov. 2023 /CNW/ – Le plus récent timbre de Postes Canada est consacré à Hanoukka. Il présente une illustration d’une hanoukkia (une menorah à huit branches) entourée de fleurs et d’objets associés aux célébrations de la fête de huit jours. Cette fête importante commémore la réinauguration du Temple à Jérusalem, lieu le plus sacré du judaïsme, après que le peuple juif le reprend, environ 165 ans avant l’ère commune.

On dit que la menorah du Temple a brûlé pendant huit jours alors qu’il ne restait de l’huile que pour une journée. Ce miracle de l’huile et de la foi est célébré chaque année en allumant une menorah de Hanoukka, soit un chandelier de huit chandelles ou contenants d’huile en rangée.

L’allumage d’une menorah chaque soir est au cœur des célébrations de Hanoukka. Les aliments frits, comme les latkes et les beignes à la confiture, sont étroitement associés à la fête, tandis qu’on utilise parfois des olives, des branches d’olivier et des fioles d’huile pour représenter le miracle au cœur de l’histoire de Hanoukka.

Donner du gelt, soit des pièces de monnaie en chocolat ou de petits montants d’argent, est devenu une pratique courante. Les lettres hébraïques ornant les quatre faces de la toupie (dreidel) avec laquelle les enfants jouent traditionnellement forment le sigle de la phrase Nes gadol haya sham, ce qui signifie : « Un grand miracle s’est produit là-bas. »
Conçue par Hélène L’Heureux, illustrée par Stephanie Carter et imprimée par Colour Innovations, l’émission comprend un carnet de six timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel oblitéré à Winnipeg.

Les timbres et autres articles de collection sont en vente à postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux d’un bout à l’autre du pays.

Now available:

Dgn 810b $3.00

Dgn 810c $3.50

Maybe not soon enough…

Date of issue: 18 April 2023

[from the PostNL press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Holland America Line’s 150th anniversary

PostNL will publish the gold Holland America Line’s 150th anniversary stamp on 18 April 2023 to mark the renowned cruise line’s special milestone. The stamp made with 24-carat gold was produced in a limited edition of just 1,000. The denomination on these stamps is ‘1’, the denomination for items weighing up to 20g destined for the Netherlands. PostNL will supply the gold stamp with a luxury storage box and a certificate of authenticity. The retail price is €50 (currently about $55 USD).

PostNL publishes limited edition gold stamps exclusively to mark special anniversaries and other memorable occasions.

Holland America Line is a renowned cruise line that was founded 150 years ago as the Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart-Maatschappij (Dutch-American Steamship Company, NASM), or in Dutch everyday parlance: Holland-Amerika Lijn (HAL). The NASM added this name to its name given in the articles of association in 1896. The company maintained a shipping link between the Netherlands and the USA, which was partly facilitated by the opening of the Nieuwe Waterweg [‘New Waterway’] ship canal in 1875.

The transatlantic connection between Rotterdam and New York existed from 1873 to 1971. The shipping route significantly contributed to land movements from Europe to America – and especially emigration. During wartime, the ships were used to transport millions of soldiers. Increasing competition from the aviation industry shifted the focus to using passenger ships for cruise travel. In 1989, the company was acquired by Carnival Corporation – a holding company that by that time owned nine shipping companies.

Holland America’s Dutch origins live on in the names of its ships. Since the company was founded, the ships have sailed under the Dutch flag and, to this day, are often commanded by Dutch officers. The modern-day Holland America Line has eleven cruise ships, which take over 500 cruises spanning all continents each year.

The stamp features an illustration of two iconic ships from this shipping company’s long history, both named “the Rotterdam.” The ships are presented side by side: on the left is the newest cruise ship, the seventh of that name, from 2021, and on the right is the first steamer and brig dating back to 1873.

The two ships are linked by a quiet bow wave below. The title Holland America Line’s 150th anniversary is printed in bold capitals above the ships, alongside the foundation year (1873) and anniversary year (2023).

Stamp designer Frank Janse began the design process by visiting the cruise ship, which he called “magnificent.” “I’d never been on a cruise ship before,” he said. “It was impressively large and organised to perfection. I suppose it has to be, with thousands of passengers and crew on board.”

Janse had to decide which way to face the ships, left or right. Also, “I had to let a few other ideas go. For instance, I originally included the Statue of Liberty and Hotel New York in the illustration as symbols representing both port cities. But they turned out much too small – they were hardly recognisable on the postage stamp.”

The 1873 Rotterdam carried 400 passengers and 50 crew members, whereas the 2021 Rotterdam accommodates 2,700 passengers and 1,000 crew members. The old ship weighed 1,700 gross tonnes (1,874 short tons U.S.) and could reach a speed of 10.5 knots (about 12 mph or 19 kph), whereas the modern namesake weighs nearly 100,000 gross metric tonnes (110,231 tons) and has a top speed of 18 knots (20.7 mph or 33 kph).

The stamps are available while stocks last at www.postnl.nl/bijzondere-postzegels [the stamp was not yet listed on 15 April]

Technical Details:
Stamp size: 30 x 40mm (wxh):
Appearance: 1 personalised gold stamp packaged in a luxury storage box : with a certificate of authenticity
Denomination: Denomination 1 for post weighing up to 20g with : destinations within the Netherlands
Material: 24-carat gold
Print run: 1,000 gold stamps
Design: Frank Janse, Gouda
Item number: 830023

These are the current basic rates, as of July 9, 2023:

In a response to an inquiry from The Virtual Stamp Club, Canada Post hints that stamps honoring Elizabeth are likely. Here is the reply received Wednesday evening from Lisa Liu:

“Canada Post has been honoured to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s remarkable life and connection to Canada through our national stamp program.

“Since 1935, when young Princess Elizabeth was first featured on a stamp, Canada Post has featured Queen Elizabeth II on more than 70 Canadian stamps. Over the years, stamps have been issued to commemorate milestones, historical events, and Royal Tours to Canada.

“The first time Queen Elizabeth II appeared as Queen on a Canadian stamp was in May 1953, more than a year after She ascended the throne on February 6, 1952. Throughout her unprecedented reign, stamps were issued to celebrate her Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilee, as well as a special stamp in 2015 when she became Canada’s longest-reigning sovereign, surpassing her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

“To celebrate Her Majesty’s 70-year reign, Canada Post issued the Platinum Jubilee stamp in February 2022. This stamp is the final one to bear an image of Queen Elizabeth II issued by Canada Post and remains available for sale at post offices and online. It features The Queen’s profile based on a sculpture created by Arnold Machin, O.B.E., R.A. While the image has been used consistently in British and other Commonwealth stamps since 1967, the Platinum Jubilee stamp marks the first time the Machin profile was used on a Canadian stamp.

“Any future stamp issues related to the change in Sovereign will be reviewed by the Canada Post Stamp Advisory Committee and production will follow our detailed process. This process will take time, but plans are already underway. We look forward to sharing details in the future.

“For more details on the Platinum Jubilee stamp and other commemorative stamps featuring Queen Elizabeth II, you can visit this site [Canada Post Magazine].”

Emphasis added.

VSC has the press release and large images of the stamp and products here.

5672 (58¢) Mountain Flora coil stamp – Wood lily, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5673 (58¢) Mountain Flora coil stamp – Alpine buttercup, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5674 (58¢) Mountain Flora coil stamp – Woods’ rose, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
5675 (58¢) Mountain Flora coil stamp – Pasqueflower, serpentine die cut 10 vert.
a. Horiz. strip of 4, #5672-5675
Note: Plate number strips for the Mountain Flora coils will be listed as strips of 7 and 9 with No. 5675, bearing the plate number, in the center of the strips.

5676 (58¢) Mountain Flora booklet stamp – Pasqueflower, serpentine die cut 10¼x 11 on 2 or 3 sides
5677 (58¢) Mountain Flora booklet stamp – Wood lily, serpentine die cut 10¼x 11 on 2 or 3 sides
5678 (58¢) Mountain Flora booklet stamp – Alpine buttercup, serpentine die cut 10¼x 11 on 2 or 3 sides
5679 (58¢) Mountain Flora booklet stamp – Woods’ rose, serpentine die cut 10¼x 11 on 2 or 3 sides
a. Block of 4, #5676-5679
b. Convertible booklet pane of 20, 5 each #5676-5679

5680 ($1.30) African Daisy

5681 (58¢) Tulips

5682 (78¢) Sunflower Bouquet

Received in the mail from globe-trotting VSC member Chris Lazaroff, who is attending the show. The message “Udvozlet Magyarorszagrol” translates as “Greetings from Hungary.” I suspect it’s a first-day of the stamp, which commemorates the show and 100 years of the National Alliance of Hungarian Stamp Collectors. Both sides of the card are shown.