Children’s Welfare (Netherlands 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Children’s Welfare Stamps 2024

Release date: 7 October 2024
Appearance: Sheet of 5 special stamps in 5 different designs, each with a value of 1 for mail weighing up to 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands, including a surcharge of €0.54 per stamp
Item Number: 441160
Design: Hallmark, Capelle aan den IJssel

On 7 October 2024, PostNL released a new sheet of Children’s Welfare Stamps. This year’s design features 5 stamps, 1 large and 4 smaller ones, celebrating 100 years of Children’s Welfare Stamps and the theme of resilience. The large stamp includes a QR code that allows the sender of a letter or card to send a personal video message to the recipient.

Since 1924, PostNL has issued Children’s Welfare Stamps to raise money for projects focused on the well-being of vulnerable children. This is done through a surcharge, currently set at €0.54 per stamp. The proceeds from all surcharges go to projects supported by the Children’s Welfare Stamps Foundation. This independent foundation works to provide equal development opportunities for children in the Netherlands and other countries. To support these efforts, the foundation organises the annual Children’s Welfare Stamp campaign, which has been part of the Netherlands’ Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2017. The price for a sheet of 5 stamps is €8.40, including surcharges.

From 25 September to 2 October 2024, over 125,000 pupils from years 7 and 8 will sell the Children’s Welfare Stamps door-to-door. From 3 October, PostNL will begin delivering the orders. In 2023, the Children’s Welfare Stamp campaign raised €9.6 million, nearly €0.6 million more than in 2022. The 2024 campaign theme is resilience. Hundreds of thousands of children in the Netherlands face poverty, loneliness, or problems at home, lacking the strong foundation needed to build resilience.

The Children’s Welfare Stamps Foundation is committed to supporting these children, offering them a safe foundation, support, and attention. According to the foundation, resilience is a superpower that can help in difficult situations. A safe base and loving attention contribute to making children more resilient. The foundation works with project partners to provide structural support to enhance the resilience of children facing difficulties. Schools are also provided with tools to incorporate this theme into the classroom during the school year.

During the centennial year, there will be various additional activities focusing on resilience, including a special TV commercial, a Superpower Day in collaboration with the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, a special campaign song with Kinderen voor Kinderen, and other activities.

In 1924, a royal decree established that the state could issue stamps with a surcharge “for disadvantaged children.” The Children’s Welfare Stamps were born. Over the past 100 years, the stamps have evolved with societal changes, and their designs reflect the spirit of the times, from the stylised child’s head between angel figures in the first design in 1924 to the cheerful typographic and symbolic stamps of 2024. Initially, only volunteer committees sold the stamps.

In 1948, a teacher’s idea led to a trial where primary school students sold the stamps, which was so successful that it became a nationwide practice in 1949. Thus, the Children’s Welfare Stamp campaign began, as it is still known today. From 1948, the campaign was organised by the Stichting voor het Kind, and the proceeds were distributed by the Nationaal Comité voor de Kinderpostzegels. In 1989, these two organisations merged into the current Children’s Welfare Stamps Foundation. Many generations of Dutch people have fond memories of selling the stamps door-to-door with their classmates. Every year, over 3,000 schools and 125,000 children participate. Over the years, special Children’s Welfare Stamps have been created, such as the 1972 issue featuring photos of Prince Claus’s three sons and the 2012 issue with photos of Prince Willem-Alexander’s three daughters. Other issues have featured illustrations by renowned Dutch illustrators such as Dick Bruna (1969 and 2005), Max Velthuijs (1998), and Fiep Westendorp (2016).

Sofie Vriends, Director of the Children’s Welfare Stamps Foundation: “We are celebrating 100 years, and that calls for a special jubilee stamp. This year, it was important to find the right balance between a campaign that emphasises the strength of children and the severity of the problems some children face. Currently, more than 230,000 children in the Netherlands live below the poverty line. Together with everyone in the Netherlands, we want to strengthen children’s resilience. Resilience is a superpower in your mind and heart that helps you cope with difficult situations. Together with PostNL, we have worked to translate this into special stamps that focus on ‘giving superpower’.”

The 2024 Children’s Welfare Stamps were designed by Hallmark. “Our designer was guided by the theme cards we created for the Children’s Welfare Stamp campaign, which starts at the end of September,” says Jan Willem Koch, Managing Director of Hallmark Europe. “Elements from the theme cards are reflected in the stamp design.”

The price for a sheet of 5 stamps is €8.40, including a surcharge of €0.54 per stamp.

Technical Data:
Stamp size: 4 stamps of 36 x 25 mm and 1 stamp of 36 x 50 mm
Sheet size: 144 x 75 mm
Paper: Normal with phosphor print
Gumming: Synthetic
Printing technique: Offset
Printing colours: Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black
Circulation: 1,350,000 sheets
Appearance: Sheet of 5 stamps in 5 different designs
Design/illustrations: Hallmark Cards Netherlands, Capelle aan den Ijssel
Printing by: Royal Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Item Number: 441160

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Collectors may also wish to contact the U.S. firm Bombay Stamps, which can also obtain first day covers upon request, with lower shipping fees. The email is sales@bombaystamps.com Again, The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.

Christmas (UK 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Reveals Christmas 2024 Special Stamps

  • Issue date: 5 November
  • Royal Mail celebrates Christmas 2024 with a series of five Special Stamps, featuring original illustrations of cathedrals from across the UK
  • Featured on the stamps are cathedrals in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Armagh, Bangor and Westminster
  • The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to buy now

Royal Mail has revealed images of five stamps being issued to celebrate Christmas 2024. The stamps feature some of the many spectacular cathedrals in the UK: in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Armagh, Bangor and Westminster.

The stamps were illustrated by Penzance-based, British artist, Judy Joel, whose popular paintings have been sold worldwide over the last 50 years. [On the right, the five-stamp souvenir sheet.]

Royal Mail worked with Canon Janet Gough, OBE, one of the UK’s foremost experts on cathedrals and church buildings on the stamp issue.

Canon Janet Gough, OBE, said: “These special stamps are a reminder that for centuries past, cathedrals have provided sanctuary, community, joy and wonder at the birth of Christ. And they continue to do so today, standing at the very heart of our cities. All the UK’s cathedrals will be open over Christmas, ready to welcome people of all faiths and none. For services, prayer and celebration, to find peace, or to enjoy the splendour of their music, architecture and treasures, visit a cathedral this Christmas!” [On the left, the 20-stamp plus labels “collectors sheet.”]

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “Cathedrals are a hugely significant part of our cultural heritage and play an important role in local communities. They also offer space for peaceful reflection and a bit of an escape from the challenges of daily life, which can be especially important at Christmas.” [On the right, one of the official first day covers available from Royal Mail.]

Christmas is a time of celebration in the midst of winter darkness at all of the United Kingdom’s cathedrals. A cathedral is the seat of a bishop (cathedra in Latin) and the principal church of the diocese, or church administrative area. From St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, founded by the great Irish saint (originally from Roman Britain) as a monastic community on a hilltop, to Liverpool Cathedral, consecrated a century ago, cathedrals bear witness to history and play a key role in the nation’s spiritual, cultural and social life. With candlelight, festive decorations, magnificent architecture, awe-inspiring art and treasures and sublime music and liturgy, cathedrals are wonderful and welcoming places to visit at Christmas.

Stamp-by-stamp:
St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, designed by Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott, boldly harks back to upwardly soaring medieval Gothic cathedrals, with its three spires dominating Edinburgh. Consecrated in 1879, St Mary’s is the largest cathedral in Scotland today and maintains the tradition of regular choral worship, never more elaborate than at Christmas.

St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh (Church of Ireland)
The Church of Ireland Cathedral of St Patrick in Armagh traces its origins to a hilltop sanctuary founded by St Patrick, and worship has taken place on this site since the 5th century. At Christmas, the cathedral’s hallowed walls echo with the sound of carols and all find a warm welcome within.

Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool acquired an immense new cathedral for the 20th century, designed by the young architect Giles Gilbert Scott. Consecrated in 1924, the cathedral was not completed until 1978. In what is often called the ‘people’s cathedral’, breathtaking heights and a sense of space combine with beautiful craftsmanship.

St Deiniol’s Cathedral, Bangor / Cadeirlan Deiniol Sant ym Mangor
Bangor Cathedral stands where St Deiniol established his Celtic monastery in the 6th century. Battered by medieval wars between the princes of Gwynedd and the English kings, the cathedral now celebrates the languages, cultures and landscapes of Wales. Every Sunday and on Christmas Day, Welsh and English coexist in worship and prayer.

Westminster Cathedral, London
Westminster Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales and the seat of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. It was designed by John Francis Bentley in a neo-Byzantine style and built between 1895 and 1903. Candlelit Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve ushers in the celebration of the birth of Christ.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to buy now at www.royalmail.com/christmas2024, by telephone on 03457 641 641 and 7,000 Post Offices across the UK. A Presentation Pack including all five stamps is priced at £10.35.

1794 Compass Rose (Global) (US 2025)

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From the USPS press release November 15, 2024:

Useful for mailing a 1-ounce letter to any country in which First-Class Mail International service is available, this stamp carries with it a bit of history. The colorful compass rose was drawn in a school geography notebook by Lucia Wadsworth, the aunt of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, when she was 10 years old. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

Lunar New Year: Year of the Snake (US 2025)

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From the USPS press release November 15, 2024:

This is the sixth stamp in the current Lunar New Year series, where each entry features a mask, calling to mind the decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed during Lunar New Year parades. For Year of the Snake, designer Camille Chew constructed a three-dimensional snake mask out of hand- printed paper, then cut, scored and folded it into shape. After the front was embellished with acrylic paint and additional paper elements, the back was covered with a layer of papier-mâché. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp from a photograph of the mask by Sally Andersen-Bruce.

Quick List: Announced 2025 U.S. Issues

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Announced on November 15th:

  • Lunar New Year: Year of the Snake
  • 1794 Compass Rose (Global)
  • Love (2025)
  • Black Heritage: Allen Toussaint
  • American Vistas (Presorted Standard)
  • The Appalachian Trail
  • Vibrant Leaves (Postcard Rate)
  • Dahlias
  • U.S. Flag
  • Schooner (Stamped Card)
  • Luna Moth (Nonmachineable Surcharge)
  • Baby Wild Animals
  • Betty White
  • Winter Landscapes

U.S. Advance Look at 2025 Issues

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This can’t possibly be the entire U.S. 2025 stamp program, nor does the press release claim that it is. For example, there will be at least one stamp for Boston 2026, the decennial international stamp show being held in the U.S. It is likely that stamp or stamps will be issued at Great American Stamp Show, August 17-20, n Schaumburg, Illinois.

Nothing is mentioned here about the “semiquincentennial” of 1775, which included the battles of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill and Fort Ticonderoga, the second Continental Congress (we had a stamp for the First); and the ride of Paul Revere. 2025 is also the centennial of one of the great American novels, The Great Gatsby. Also in 1925, Mount Rushmore was dedicated and the “Grand Ole Opry” program premiered.

Here’s the November 15th press release from the USPS:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Provides Sneak Peek at 2025 Stamps
History, Natural Beauty and Pop Culture Icons Are Featured

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced many of the stamps it will release in 2025.

“This early glimpse into our 2025 stamp program demonstrates our commitment to providing a diverse range of subjects and designs for both philatelists and stamp enthusiasts,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, Stamp Services director for USPS. “This year, we are continuing several of our popular series and commemorative anniversaries, while introducing some exciting new stamps. Additionally, several of our mail-use stamps, which are printed based on demand, will be updated this year. Stay tuned for more announcements in the coming months.”

This is a partial list, with additional stamps to be announced in the coming weeks and months. These designs are preliminary and may change.

Lunar New Year: Year of the Snake
This is the sixth stamp in the current Lunar New Year series, where each entry features a mask, calling to mind the decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed during Lunar New Year parades. For Year of the Snake, designer Camille Chew constructed a three-dimensional snake mask out of hand- printed paper, then cut, scored and folded it into shape. After the front was embellished with acrylic paint and additional paper elements, the back was covered with a layer of papier-mâché. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp from a photograph of the mask by Sally Andersen-Bruce.

1794 Compass Rose (Global)
Useful for mailing a 1-ounce letter to any country in which First-Class Mail International service is available, this stamp carries with it a bit of history. The colorful compass rose was drawn in a school geography notebook by Lucia Wadsworth, the aunt of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, when she was 10 years old. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

Love (2025)
This new Love stamp celebrates the universal experience of love with a work by artist Keith Haring (1958–1990). With a deceptively simple and now-iconic style, Haring’s work is instantly recognizable. This stamp features Haring’s 1985 Untitled drawing. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, believes that this drawing makes for an ideal new stamp in this popular series. “The non-specificity of the figures allows a variety of people to see themselves in this stamp,” Alcalá says. “Partners getting married, celebrating an anniversary, siblings sending each other a heartfelt greeting, or even party planners setting a positive tone for their event.”

Black Heritage: Allen Toussaint
In recent years, the Black Heritage series has celebrated a man one year and a woman the next. Next year, the 48th stamp in the series will honor Allen Toussaint (1938–2015), the virtuoso pianist, singer, songwriter, composer, arranger and producer responsible for scores of hits across multiple genres. Designed by Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, the stamp features a photograph taken by Bill Tompkins in New York City in 2007.

American Vistas (Presorted Standard)
These two stamps depicting stylized, minimalist scenes of mountains and a beach are for use on business mail. The stamps feature screen prints by DKNG Studios made from vector illustrations, and were designed by Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS.

The Appalachian Trail
Covering almost 2,200 miles of footpath along one of Earth’s most ancient mountain ranges, the century- old Appalachian National Scenic Trail is within easy reach of large metropolitan areas of the East Coast. The Appalachian Trail is maintained by a network of volunteer clubs, led by the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy. This pane of 15 stamps includes a photographic view from each of the 14 states along the Maine-to-Georgia trail with an additional stamp showing stretches of trail through dense forest. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps with images from various photographers.

Vibrant Leaves (Postcard Rate)
Evoking the colorful sights of a seasonal walk in the woods, the photographs on five new postcard stamps depict leaves on trees found in the United States. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.

Dahlias
Radiating warmth, vitality and cheer, dahlias are beloved additions to backyard gardens and formal venues alike. This issuance includes 10 close-up photographs of dahlia blossoms available in booklets of 20 stamps and coils of 3K and 10K stamps. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using photographs by Denise Ippolito.

 

U.S. Flag
Conveniently available in many formats, this stamp continues a long tradition of honoring the Stars and Stripes. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with a photograph by Doug Haight.

 

Schooner (Stamped Card)
New stamped-card designs are issued every few years for customers who want to send postcards with postage already included. The latest features an illustration of a two-masted sea vessel based on a photo of a 2014 replica of the 1923 schooner Columbia. Libby VanderPloeg was the artist and Antonio Alcalá provided art direction.

Luna Moth (Nonmachineable Surcharge)
This new stamp for irregularly sized envelopes features a luna moth (Actias luna), considered one of the most beautiful moths in the United States. Artist Joseph Scheer created this composite image by using a high-resolution scanner with extended focus to capture multiple layers of a preservedmoth. Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

Baby Wild Animals
Offering whimsical, eye-catching designs for letters and cards, these 10 stamps show baby wild animals from across the United States, with visual elements suggesting the habitat or behavior of each one. Tracy Walker designed and created the artwork by digitally layering colored shapes on solid backgrounds. Greg Breeding provided art direction.

Betty White
An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades — including roles on “The Golden Girls” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals. Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration based on a 2010 photograph by Kwaku Alston. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp.

Winter Landscapes
Offered in booklets of 20, these five stamps feature photographs of iconic winter landscapes from around the country. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using images from various photographers.

Canada Post Workers On Strike

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
CUPW announces national strike that will cause delays for Canadians as holiday shopping season begins
Postal system will shut down during national strike; mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered

OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has announced it intends to begin a national strike on Friday, November 15 at 12:01 a.m. ET.

Canada Post’s operations will shut down during a national strike, affecting millions of Canadians and businesses across the country.

Customers should expect delays
Customers will experience delays due to the strike activity. Mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered for the duration of the national strike, and some post offices will be closed. Service guarantees will be impacted for items already in the postal network. No new items will be accepted until the national disruption is over.

All mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible on a first-in, first-out basis once operations resume. However, a national strike of any length will impact service to Canadians well after the strike activity ends. Shutting down facilities across the country will affect Canada Post’s entire national network. Processing and delivery may take some time to fully return to normal.

Stay up to date
Visit canadapost.ca/negotiations for the latest information on negotiations and updates on strike activity.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Le STTP annonce une grève nationale qui occasionnera des retards alors que le magasinage des Fêtes commence
Le système postal cessera ses activités pendant la grève nationale; le courrier et les colis ne seront pas traités ni livrés.

OTTAWA, ON, le 15 nov. 2024 /CNW/ – Le Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses des postes (STTP) a annoncé son intention de déclencher une grève nationale le vendredi 15 novembre à 00 h 01 (ET).

Postes Canada cessera ses activités pendant une grève nationale, ce qui touchera les entreprises et des millions de personnes au pays.

Il faut s’attendre à des retards
Il y aura des retards en raison de la grève. Le courrier et les colis ne seront ni traités ni livrés durant la grève nationale et certains bureaux de poste seront fermés. Les garanties de service seront touchées pour les articles déjà dans le réseau postal. Aucun nouvel article ne sera accepté jusqu’à la fin de l’arrêt de travail à l’échelle nationale.

Tout le courrier et tous les colis dans le réseau postal seront sécurisés et livrés dès que possible à la reprise des activités selon le principe du premier entré, premier sorti. Toutefois, une grève nationale, peu importe la durée, aura une incidence sur le service bien après la fin des activités de grève. La fermeture d’installations à l’échelle du pays aura des répercussions sur l’ensemble du réseau national de Postes Canada. Cela pourrait prendre un certain temps avant que le traitement et la livraison reviennent à la normale.

Pour ne rien manquer
Allez à postescanada.ca/negociations pour obtenir les dernières nouvelles sur les négociations et la grève.

Deb Gibson New AFDCS Executive

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[press release]
Gibson Named AFDCS Executive Secretary

Debra “Deb” Gibson has been named executive secretary of the American First Day Cover Society, the largest not-for-profit organization for FDC collecting in the world.

The AFDCS Central Office is now in Somerset, Wis., 30 miles from Minneapolis. The mailing address is PO Box 57, Somerset, WI 54025-0057. The office telephone number, however, remains (540) 940-1629 and the email address still is afdcs@afdcs.org.

Gibson spent more than 29 years in the U.S. Air Force, initially on assignment as a Romanian linguist for the National Security Agency. She spent most of her career in intelligence, with postings all over the country. Deb met her husband, gold-medal FDC exhibitor Rick Gibson, during a joint exercise in England.

She has volunteered for the American Red Cross and the Herwitz Breast Cancer Fund in Frederick, Md. She received a B.S. from St. Cloud University and a M.S. in Strategic Intelligence from American Military University.

Deb goes to many stamp collecting shows each year with Rick, even though she is not a collector. Many of the photographs from past AFDCS conventions were taken by her.

“I have enjoyed getting to know collectors,” she says. “This brings me into the hobby just a little more!”

As executive secretary, Gibson also will be a member of the Executive Committee. She joins the AFDCS leadership at an exciting time. Not only is the AFDCS a co-sponsor of the annual Great American Stamp Show and publisher of the award-winning journal First Days, it has also just inaugurated a new member information system that is fully integrated with its new website. Most member access to the site’s features are now automated.

The AFDCS also publishes handbooks, catalogs and multimedia programs and sponsors an annual cachetmaking contest and philatelic exhibit awards. Its next convention will be at GASS 2025 on August 17-20 in Schaumburg, Ill., but will sponsor its own show, Americover 2026, the following year.

For more information on the society, visit www.afdcs.net or write to the AFDCS at Box 57, Somerset.

Christmas: Nativity, Gingerbread (Canada 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New stamps celebrate Christmas and the holiday season
Illustrations of the Holy Family and whimsical depictions of gingerbread houses offer sacred and secular designs for seasonal mailings.OTTAWA – Canada Post released on November 4 two stamp issues marking the festive, winter season. The company has produced Christmas designs every year since 1964 and, for nearly 20 years, has offered stamps featuring secular holiday imagery.

The latest Christmas stamp depicts a vibrant coloured illustration of the Holy Family. It shows Mary and Joseph looking lovingly at the infant Jesus. A star is visible overhead, which was said to announce the birth and lead the Magi to Jesus.

The stamp was designed by Underline Studio and illustrated by Amanda Arlotta. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of 12 Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover (OFDC). The stamp of the OFDC was cancelled in Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, because of the picturesque town’s reference to the Holy Trinity.

This year’s secular holiday issue features elaborately decorated gingerbread houses with all their creature comforts – a birdhouse (domestic rate), a doghouse (U.S. rate) and a barn that is home to Santa’s magical transport team (international rate).

Gingerbread houses may have originated in what is now Germany. They were often ornately decorated and eventually became part of Christmas traditions. Settlers brought gingerbread to Canada as early as the 1700s. Today, many Canadian cities host gingerbread-house making competitions, and many families make their own delicious little homes during the Christmas season.

The stamps were designed by Katina Constantinou of Sugar, featuring photography by Stacey Brandford and gingerbread baking and decorating by Zoë Weinrebe. Printed by Lowe-Martin, this issue includes a booklet of 12 Permanent domestic rate stamps, a sheetlet of six U.S. rate stamps, a sheetlet of six international rate stamps, a souvenir sheet, and an Official First Day Cover. Kitchener, Ontario, was chosen as the cancel location for its large German immigrant and descendent population.

The stamps and collectibles are now available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.

More images at the bottom of this page.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
De nouveaux timbres pour célébrer Noël et la période des Fêtes
Des images de la Sainte Famille et de maisons en pain d’épices fantaisistes offrent des options religieuses et profanes pour les envois des Fêtes.OTTAWA, ON, le 4 nov. 2024 /CNW/ – Aujourd’hui, Postes Canada a lancé deux émissions de timbres pour marquer la période festive hivernale. L’entreprise émet des timbres de Noël chaque année depuis 1964 et elle propose depuis près de 20 ans des timbres ornés d’images profanes.

Notre nouveau timbre de Noël présente une illustration aux couleurs vives de la Sainte Famille. Marie et Joseph admirent affectueusement l’Enfant Jésus. Une étoile annonçant la naissance et menant les Mages jusqu’à Jésus brille dans le ciel.

Le timbre a été conçu par Underline Studio et illustré par Amanda Arlotta. Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, l’émission comprend un carnet de 12 timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel (PPJO). Le lieu d’oblitération du timbre sur le PPJO, la pittoresque ville de Trinity (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador), a été choisi pour sa référence à la Sainte Trinité.

L’émission de timbres profanes de cette année présente des maisons en pain d’épices magnifiquement décorées et les jolies petites bêtes qui y vivent : une cabane à oiseaux (tarif du régime intérieur), une niche (tarif des envois à destination des États-Unis) et une grange abritant les rennes du père Noël (tarif du régime international).

Les maisons en pain d’épices tirent probablement leur origine de la région qui forme aujourd’hui l’Allemagne. Souvent décorées magnifiquement, elles ont fini par faire partie des traditions de Noël. Le pain d’épices arrive au Canada dès les années 1700. Aujourd’hui, plusieurs villes canadiennes organisent des concours de fabrication de maisons en pain d’épices, et de nombreuses familles confectionnent leurs propres petites habitations délicieuses pour les Fêtes.Les timbres, conçus par Katina Constantinou de Sugar, présentent les photos de Stacey Brandford. La confection et la décoration des maisons ont été confiées à Zoë Weinrebe. Imprimée par Lowe-Martin, cette émission comprend un carnet de 12 timbres Permanents au tarif du régime intérieur, un feuillet de 6 timbres au tarif des envois à destination des États-Unis, un feuillet de 6 timbres au tarif du régime international, un bloc-feuillet et un pli Premier Jour officiel. La ville de Kitchener, en Ontario, a été choisie comme lieu d’oblitération, car elle compte un grand nombre de personnes immigrées de l’Allemagne et leur descendance.

Les timbres et les articles de collection sont maintenant en vente sur postescanada.ca et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays. Too small to read? Click on this image to see a bigger version.

Hanukkah (Canada 2024)

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[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Hanukkah stamp shines light on unique artifact recovered from Nazi Germany
The latest stamp from Canada Post features a 19th-century hanukkiyah now housed in Montréal museum

MONTRÉAL – Canada Post is unveiling its latest stamp, which commemorates the annual Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the “Festival of Lights.”

This year’s Hanukkah stamp features an ornate 19th-century hanukkiyah (also referred to as a menorah) with a remarkable past. Originally created in Poland, the silver-plated object is believed to have been rescued from a burning synagogue in Germany in November 1938 – around the time when widespread violence erupted in Nazi-occupied territories.

“In the aftermath of World War II, military authorities recovered a vast amount of Jewish cultural and religious items,” explains Louis Charbonneau of the Aron Museum at Montréal’s Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, which houses the spectacular menorah featured on the stamp. It was one of a number donated to the museum after the Second World War as part of the effort to redistribute recovered cultural and religious items to Israel and to Jewish communities around the world.

The hanukkiyah – holding eight candles and a ninth “helper” candle or shamash used to light the others – is unique for its striking sculpture of a peacock, symbolizing the faith and resilience that lie at the heart of Hanukkah.

Canada Post is honoured to feature this historic artifact, shining a light on an important piece of history. Along with Hanukkah, Canada Post is proud to commemorate popular holidays for several faiths celebrated by Canadians across the country, including Christmas, Diwali and Eid.

About the stamp
The Hanukkah stamp depicts a peacock-themed hanukkiyah standing 31.7 cm high, which was crafted by an unknown artist in 19th-century Poland. The stamp issue, designed by Subplot Design Inc. and printed by Colour Innovations, includes a booklet of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and an Official First Day Cover cancelled in Westmount, Quebec.

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