These stamps were issued Monday January 9th. Order the stamps and products here.
[press release]
Canada Post welcomes Lunar New Year with stamp issue
Year of the Rooster stamps shine with gold accents
OTTAWA – Canada Post will greet the Year of the Rooster with a two-stamp issue, the ninth in its most recent series honouring the Lunar New Year. A Permanent™ domestic-rate stamp featuring a rooster image, with its chest proudly puffed out, is paired with an international-rate stamp offering a close-cropped profile view of the rooster’s stately face. Both images are created from lines of gold foil.
“Canada Post is proud to celebrate the vibrant and festive occasion that is the Lunar New Year, which is marked by Canadians of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other East Asian heritage,” says Canada Post President and CEO Deepak Chopra. “The annual unveiling of this stamp issue has become a much-anticipated event, with the artistry of the series praised by both collectors and mailers.”
Designed by Paprika, a firm in Montréal, the stamps include several features:
- The pane of 25 domestic-rate stamps includes four Chinese blessings, presented in calligraphy by Albert Ng.
- While all 2017 stamps include elements that point to Canada’s sesquicentennial, this issue’s reference is two-fold. “Canada 150” appears dropped out of the tagging that surrounds the stamps, an effect visible only under a black light. However, on the uncut press sheet and pane of 25 domestic stamps, a gold foil sesquicentennial logo is visible to the naked eye.
- The international-rate official first day cover (OFDC), which also features a traditional Chinese blessing, is unsealed to enable the Chinese New Year tradition of giving money in a red envelope.
The Year of the Rooster arrives on January 28, 2017, and runs until February 15, 2018. Those born under this sign are honest, courageous and confident. Marked for success, they achieve their goals through a combination of wit, charm and hard work.
Both the domestic and international rate stamps are self-adhesive and measure 32 mm x 32 mm. The domestic stamp is available in booklets of 10 and panes of 25, and the international stamp in booklets of 10. The issue also includes a gummed souvenir sheet of both stamps, a gummed transitional souvenir sheet featuring both the 2016 Year of the Monkey and 2017 Year of the Rooster international stamps, an uncut press sheet and Official First Day Covers for both stamp denominations. 
[press release]
Canada Post To Unveil the Year of the Rooster stamps
VANCOUVER, Jan. 6, 2017 /CNW/ – Canada Post invites you to greet the Year of the Rooster a little early with the unveiling of a two-stamp issue, the ninth in its most recent series honouring the Lunar New Year, on Monday, January 9 at the Vancouver Main Post Office.
WHAT: Unveiling of the Year of the Rooster stamps
WHO:
- Acting Consul General KONG Weiwei – People’s Republic of China
- Acting Mayor Raymond Louie – City of Vancouver
- Greg Kabatoff, Director, Retails Sales Area West – Canada Post
- Three Degrees, Designers of the Year of the Rooster coins
WHERE: Vancouver Main Post Office
495 West Georgia Street (Corner of West Georgia and Richards Street)
• Meter and parkade parking is available on Richards Street
WHEN: Monday, January 9, 11 a.m.
The major differences are no name of the issue, “Pillar 210” rather than “Suite 300;” and the ZIP extension.
A representative of an auction firm recently brought a Jenny Invert to the Philatelic Foundation’s New York offices for authentication on behalf of a consignor. The Philatelic Foundation is widely regarded in the hobby of stamp collecting for its expertise in authenticating this iconic United States air mail rarity. Over the last 70 years, the PF has issued Certificates of Authenticity for 85 of the 100 stamps from the original error sheet of the “upside down airplane stamp,” including all six of the existing blocks of four.
Although Canada Post produces its own cachets, such as the one shown on the right, it is possible for individuals to submit their own covers.
On the left is shown a Dragon Card produced by me for the same issue and submitted to Canada Post for servicing.
Canada Post will not cancel covers that “bear foreign postage or previous cancellations.” That means no combination FDCs with another country’s stamps, such as the 1999 U.S. Star Trek stamp (Sc. 3188e). Earlier Canadian stamps are acceptable for combos.
Canada strongly prefers that its stamps be in the traditional upper right corner, but is flexible.
Post.
Call it the “stealth rate hike.” With little fanfare, The cost to mail a letter within the U.S. is going up two cents on January 22, 2017, just as the U.S. Postal Service requested in October. The Postal Regulatory Commission allowed the increase without action or announcement because it fell within the rate of inflation.
First-class parcels (not bendable or thicker than 3/4 of an inch or both) are both more complicated and less. Four ounces or less are now $2.67. Additional ounces in parcels go from 19¢ to 18¢, so five-ounce parcel is now $2.85 and a six-ounce one is $3.03, both more than before January 22nd. A seven-ounce parcel (or anything between 6.1 and 7.0 ounces) is the same before and after the rate change, $3.21, and above that weight, prices are actually cheaper under the new structure.
Windsor Castle, the oldest inhabited castle in world and an official residence of HM The Queen, is celebrated with iconic views of both the interior and exterior of the castle. Featured in the set is an image of the world-famous Round Tower that has dominated the Berkshire skyline for over 800 years.
Racehorse Legends will feature eight champion horses that achieved their greatest wins on UK race courses over the last six decades. The stamp issue features original artwork commissioned by Royal Mail of four flat racers and four national hunt horses captured in action during the course of their iconic wins. Included in the stamp issue is Desert ‘Dessie’ Orchid winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989.
