Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary (Canada 2016)

Scott Catalogue has assigned the following numbers to this issue:

cantrek_bkltcvr2911a USS Enterprise (sheet)
2911b Klingon Battle Cruiser (sheet)
2912a Captain James T. Kirk (sheet)
2912b Klingon Commander Kor (sheet)
2912c Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (sheet)
2912d Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery “Scott” Scott (sheet)
2912e Commander Spock (sheet)
2913 USS Enterprise (coil)
2914 Klingon Battle Cruiser (coil)
2915 USS Enterprise (booklet)
2916 Klingon Battle Cruiser (booklet)
2917 Captain James T. Kirk (booklet)
2918 Klingon Commander Kor (booklet)
2919 Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (booklet)
2920 Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery “Scott” Scott (booklet)
2921 Commander Spock (booklet)
2922 Souvenir Sheet of two

From Canada Post:

Star Trek™ 50th anniversary collection ready to warp into the hands of fans and collectors
Stamp issue highlights Canadian contributions to classic sci-fi TV show

cantrek_bkltcvrOTTAWA, CANADA, PLANET EARTH, Stardate May 5, 2016 /CNW/ – Stamp collectors and fans of Star Trek will long for a working transporter on May 5, 2016. That way they could beam themselves to the nearest post office and be among the first to take home their favourites from the multi-stamp and collectible issue that pays homage to the original television series.

cantrek_sheet2Under license by CBS Consumer Products, the collections includes five stamps depicting cast members from Star Trek: The Original Series. The U.S.S. Enterprise and a Klingon D7-class battle cruiser blast their way onto the coil stamps, while two special-effect lenticular stamps allow for continuous reruns of classic scenes. Along with a prestige booklet, official first day covers, souvenir sheets, uncut press sheets, panes, and booklets, fans will discover a galaxy of memorabilia, including postcards and stamp dispensers.

cantrek_sheet1Four limited-edition items add to the fleet of collectibles: a framed print signed by William Shatner, a framed stamp pane cancelled with a gold-ink postmark of the Enterprise’s trusty shuttlecraft, a lenticular enlargement, and a lenticular uncut press sheet which is a first for any postal administration.

Three of the five characters – Captain James T. Kirk, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, and Klingon Commander Kor – were played by homegrown actors William Shatner, James Doohan and John Colicos, who hailed from Montréal, Vancouver and Toronto, respectively. Spock too, can claim a connection to Canada via Vulcan, Alberta, which shares its name with his home planet. Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy rounds out the issue.

About the stamps
The Star Trek stamps featuring five characters from Star Trek: The Original Series measure 45 mm x 30 mm and are available in a booklet of 10 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps. They are also available in mixed rates in a prestige booklet and a souvenir sheet of five stamps. Two additional Permanent™ domestic rate stamps featuring the U.S.S. Enterprise and the Klingon battle cruiser measure 24 mm x 20 mm and are available in a souvenir sheet of two stamps, a coil of 50 stamps, a prestige booklet, and strips of four and 10 stamps. The high-value ($5) lenticular stamps measure 46 mm x 34 mm and are available in a souvenir sheet of two stamps. The stamps were printed by Lowe-Martin and the lenticular by Outer Aspect based on designs by Kosta Tsetsekas of Signal Design Group. Official First Day Covers featuring the various stamps were cancelled in Montréal, Vancouver, Toronto, and Vulcan, Alta. To download images of the stamps or to purchase philatelic products, please visit canadapost.ca/shop.

The Official Canada Post FDCs: cantrek_kirkfdccantrek_spockfdccantrek_mccoyfdccantrek_scottyfdccantrek_korfdccantrek_lenticularfdccantrek_klingonfdccantrek_entfdcFive picture postcards: cantrek_tribblescardcantrek_actioncardcantrek_forevercardcantrek_mirrorcardcantrek_amokcard
Earlier updates:

Canada Post will issue “several” stamps for the 50th anniversary of the television show “Star Trek.” CPC tells The Virtual Stamp Club that the designs will be unveiled over the next four weeks in places with a tie-in to “Trek.” The two stamps shown here were unveiled at the home of the ultimate Star Trek fan: She has decorated her home in Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, Quebec, to emulate the Starship Enterprise. Click here to see a video on the announcement of the first two designs at Line Rainville’s home.

The next unveiling will be held Friday night, April 8th, in Vulcan, Alberta, at 7:30 pm local (Mountain) time. [see below]

cantrek_kirkCanada Post spokesman Phil Legault said that the postal agency’s interest is, of course, on the Canadian aspects of the series: Captain James T. Kirk was played by William Shatner, a Montreal native, and picture in one of the stamps (shown on the right). Legault would “neither confirm nor deny” that another stamp might feature “Scotty,” the engineering chief who was played by Vancouver native James Doohan.

The stamps will be issue sometime this spring, but should be available for sale at World Stamp Expo-NY 2016; it does not appear they will be issued at the show.

cantrek_spock“Canada Post had a special little surprise for star gazers tonight at the Vulcan Trek Station,” the postal agency’s Phil Legault tells The Virtual Stamp Club. “They were the first to publicly see the “Spock” stamp, the third to be released this week celebrating Star Trek’s 50th anniversary. The Mayor of Vulcan, Tom Grant, Town Councillors and members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada were also on hand.” Spock-buststamp

There will be more Star Trek stamps.

Updated April 18th: “There haven’t been any more “sightings” since Spock in Vulcan on April 8,” Legault told VSC. “Expect more in the coming weeks and the full series in May.”

Updated April 22nd: As expected, Canada Post is including the other Canadian actor featured in the Original Series: James “Scotty” Doohan. cantrek_scottyThe stamp was “unveiled” by Chris Doohan, James’ son, in downtown Toronto: ChrisDoohan

Updated April 26th: This morning, Canada Post was joined by The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) and Cloud DX, a leading competitor in the digital healthcare market (based in Kitchener), to unveil the Dr. “Bones” McCoy stamp in the 50th anniversary of Star Trek™ series. This took place at the CMHF location in London. (More after the illustration.) cantrek_mccoyCanada Post is working on a special project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek™ this year. The full line-up of stamps and collectibles will be available in early May, but a number of “stamp sightings” have already been seen across Canada in social media – check them out here www.CanadaPost.ca/StarTrek.

The presenters today included Jim Phillips, Director of Stamps Services at Canada Post, Lissa Foster, Executive Director of the CMHF, and Dr. Sonny Kohli, Cloud DX co-founder and project lead for their Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE project. They were joined by 24 Grade 8 students from London’s Chippewa Public School, who are on-site taking part in “Museum School” all week.

Cloud DX is one of seven finalists (and the only Canadian company) in the running to win the $10 million Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, a global competition to revolutionize digital healthcare. The winning team will develop a Tricorder device that will accurately diagnose 13 health conditions (12 diseases and the absence of conditions) and capture five real-time health vital signs, independent of a health care worker or facility, and in a way that provides a compelling consumer experience.

Updated April 28th: From Canada Post:

Tonight, during the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo panel on Conversational Klingon, presenter Joseph W. Windsor’s discussion was interrupted when the latest 50th Anniversary Star Trek™ stamps materialized in front of the audience.cantrek_klingonWindsor, a University of Calgary PhD student in linguistics and expert in the Star Trek Klingon language, and more than 175 enthusiasts got the first look at the Klingon Commander Kor and Klingon D7-class battle cruiser stamps (attached here) with a photo from tonight. cantrek_korThese are the sixth and seventh stamps “sighted” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek and Canada’s connection to the series this year. Kor, one of the most powerful enemies, was played by Toronto-native John Colicos. The first five stamps include the U.S.S. Enterprise itself and crew members Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy.

Check out the summary here of the stamp sightings from Montréal to Calgary – canadapost.ca/startrek.

The Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo continues through the weekend and a special presentation is planned for Friday afternoon. We hope to see you there.

Finally, keep an eye out next Thursday (May 5) when the remaining stamps and product for the 50th anniversary of Star Trek™ series is launched.

Updated April 29th: From Canada Post:

“This afternoon at the beginning of William Shatner’s appearance at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, Canada Post made a special delivery to the Canadian actor.

cantrek_shatner“Flanked by two delivery agents carrying the special parcel, Siân cantrek_kirkfdcM. Matthews, Chairperson of Canada Post’s Board of Directors and who resides in nearby De Winton, Alta., presented Mr. Shatner with a framed memento of his stamp, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek™ – and Canada’s connection to the series.”

And on the easel, is that what the Kirk/Shatner OFDC will look like?

12 thoughts on “Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary (Canada 2016)

  1. Is this going to be a joint issue with the United States, when the American set of stamps is released?

    • No, these are independent issues that happen to have the same subject. The designs are not at all similar, and the release dates are far apart: This spring for Canada, “third quarter” for the U.S.

  2. Canada Post Shipping Starting price Canada to USA $4.99 or $22.00, even on a single-stamp order.

      • True. But if all you want is a First-Day of Mr Scott and Spock ( $1.85 x 2 ) then you’d better find a friend to place a ‘group’ order. Business is Business I guess.

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