Ballet Legends (Canada 2021)

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[press release] [Click on pictures for larger versions; additional pictures at bottom]
Canada Post applauds illustrious careers of two ballet legends
Stamps featuring Karen Kain and Fernand Nault released on International Dance Day

OTTAWA – Canadian ballet legends Karen Kain and Fernand Nault take centre stage as the subjects of two commemorative stamps Canada Post issued April 29.

Recognized as one of the most gifted classical dancers of her era, Karen Kain joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1969. She was promoted to Principal Dancer in 1971 after her debut as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake and went on to perform many of ballet’s greatest roles over her illustrious career. In 2005, she became the National Ballet’s Artistic Director. In 2019, Kain celebrated her 50th anniversary with the National Ballet. Among her many awards and honours, Kain is a Companion of the Order of Canada and an Officier of France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Fernand Nault spent two decades with American Ballet Theatre before joining what is now Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal as resident choreographer and co-artistic director in 1965. For more than 25 years, he added a diverse range of works to the company’s repertoire and often contributed as guest choreographer abroad. His long list of accolades includes the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and Quebec’s Prix Denise-Pelletier for contributions to the performing arts. Nault died on December 26, 2006.

The stamps were released on International Dance Day to raise awareness of Canada’s prominence in the global ballet community.

About the stamps
This issue includes two booklets of six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and a souvenir sheet. Designed by Stéphane Huot and printed by Colour Innovations, each stamp features a dramatic black and white photo of the featured artist in performance, against a simple black (Kain) or white (Nault) background, with metallic gold accents. The stamps are also affixed to two Official First Day Covers cancelled in Kain and Nault’s hometowns of Hamilton and Montréal, respectively.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada salue la carrière illustre de deux légendes du ballet
Karen Kain et Fernand Nault sont en vedette sur deux timbres émis à l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la danse

OTTAWA – Les légendes canadiennes du ballet Karen Kain et Fernand Nault occupent le devant de la scène sur deux timbres commémoratifs émis le 29 Avril 2021 par Postes Canada.

Reconnue comme étant l’une des danseuses classiques les plus douées de sa génération, Karen Kain se joint au Ballet national du Canada en 1969. Elle est promue danseuse étoile après ses débuts en 1971 dans le rôle de la Reine des cygnes, dans Le Lac des cygnes. Elle interprète par la suite plusieurs des plus grands rôles de ballet au cours de son illustre carrière. En 2005, elle devient directrice artistique du Ballet national. En 2019, elle célèbre son 50e anniversaire au sein de cette compagnie. Parmi ses nombreux prix et distinctions, Karen Kain est nommée Compagnon de l’Ordre du Canada et Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de la République française.

Fernand Nault évolue au sein du American Ballet Theatre pendant deux décennies avant de se joindre en 1965 aux Grands Ballets Canadiens (aujourd’hui Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal) à titre de chorégraphe attitré et de directeur artistique adjoint. Il ajoute une grande variété d’œuvres au répertoire de la compagnie pendant plus de 25 ans et contribue souvent à l’étranger en tant que chorégraphe invité. Sa longue liste de distinctions comprend le Prix du Gouverneur général pour les arts du spectacle de la réalisation artistique, ainsi que le Prix Denise-Pelletier du Québec pour sa contribution aux arts de la scène. Fernand Nault s’éteint le 26 décembre 2006.

Les timbres ont été émis à l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la danse pour faire valoir la place importante qu’occupe le Canada dans la communauté mondiale du ballet.

À propos des timbres
Cette émission comprend deux carnets de six timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un bloc-feuillet. Conçu par Stéphane Huot et imprimé par Colour Innovations, chaque timbre présente une photo dramatique en noir et blanc de l’artiste en représentation, sur un fond simple noir (Karen Kain) ou blanc (Fernand Nault), avec des accents métalliques dorés. Les timbres ornent également deux plis Premier Jour officiels oblitérés à Hamilton et à Montréal, villes d’origine de Karen Kain et de Fernand Nault respectivement.

AFDCS Zoom: Laffert’s Amazing Cachets

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The American First Day Cover Society presents
The Amazing Cachets of George H. LaffertA Zoom seminar by collector Robert Lewin
May 16, 2021 8PM EDT/5PM PDT

Starting with a brief overview of the development of both the hand painted cover and the cacheted first day cover, the program will focus on the work of George Laffert, a pioneer producing beautiful covers from 1930 – 1941.

Join the Zoom Meeting by clicking this link:

Or, the meeting ID is 959 3561 0121 and the passcode is 616395.

Eid (Canada 2021)

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[press release] Click on photos for larger versions. Technical specifications at the bottom.

Eye-catching Eid stamp issued to mark Islamic celebrations

TORONTO – Canada Post joins more than a million Muslims in Canada and many others around the world in celebrating the festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha with the release of an eye-catching Eid stamp. The issue is the third in an ongoing series celebrating the two important Islamic holidays, which begin this year around May 12 and July 9, respectively, and can last for several days.

About Eid festivals
Eid festivals are greeted with celebration, as they coincide with the completion of two practices of religious and cultural significance – Eid al-Fitr heralds the end of the fast held during the holy month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha follows the annual Hadj pilgrimage to the holy Kaaba shrine in Mecca. Gratitude and appreciation for community and greater humanity are central to both events. Thanks are expressed through communal prayers and feasts, family visits, and acts of kindness and charity to others – particularly the less fortunate.

About the stamp
A luminous night sky viewed through a latticed window is the focus of this year’s design by Context Creative. The crescent moon, a highly recognizable symbol of Islam, alludes to the fact that both festivals begin with the sighting of a new moon. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the domestic rate Permanent™ stamp is available in a booklet of 10 and on an Official First Day Cover, which are available at [direct link]. [en Francais pour les médias d’information]

Un superbe timbre sur l’Aïd est émis en l’honneur des fêtes islamiques

TORONTO – Postes Canada se joint à plus d’un million de musulmans au Canada et à beaucoup d’autres dans le monde pour célébrer les fêtes d’Aïd al-Fitr et d’Aïd al-Adha avec l’émission d’une superbe vignette sur l’Aïd. Il s’agit de la troisième émission d’une série courante consacrée à ces deux fêtes islamiques importantes qui commencent respectivement vers les 12 mai et 9 juillet cette année et durent sur plusieurs jours.

À propos des fêtes de l’Aïd
On souligne les fêtes de l’Aïd par des célébrations qui coïncident avec deux pratiques importantes sur les plans religieux et culturel : l’Aïd al-Fitr, qui annonce la fin du jeûne observé durant le mois sacré du ramadan, et l’Aïd al-Adha, qui marque la fin du pèlerinage annuel du Hadj pour visiter le sanctuaire de la Kaaba, à La Mecque. La gratitude, le sens de la communauté et une plus grande humanité sont au cœur de ces deux fêtes. Les remerciements s’expriment par des prières, des festins, des rassemblements familiaux et des actes de bonté et de charité, surtout envers les moins bien nantis.

À propos du timbre
Un ciel nocturne lumineux vu au travers d’une fenêtre en treillis est le point de mire du motif de cette année créé par Context Creative. Le croissant de lune, symbole distinctif de l’islam, évoque le fait que les deux fêtes débutent à l’arrivée de la nouvelle lune. Imprimé par Lowe-Martin, le timbre PermanentMC au tarif du régime intérieur est offert en carnet de dix et sur un pli Premier Jour officiel, tous deux en vente sur le site [direct].Earlier, from Details philatelic catalogue:

The crescent moon on this year’s eye-catching Eid stamp holds special meaning for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha – two of the most important religious holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world. A highly recognizable symbol of Islam, it also alludes to the fact that both festivals commence with the sighting of a new moon.

Another striking feature of the stamp design is that the view of the night sky is shown through a window, the shape of which was inspired by arches often used in mosque architecture. An overlaid pattern of hexagrams creates an intricately latticed screen – or jali – another form of decoration common in Islamic architecture.

This issue is the third stamp in Canada Post’s ongoing series marking Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which begin this year around May 12 and July 19, respectively. The celebrations coincide with two practices of religious and cultural significance – Eid al-Fitr heralds the end of the fast held during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha follows the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the holy Kaaba shrine in Mecca. Both festivals are associated with gratitude, empathy and sacrifice, and they focus on opportunities to help those less fortunate.

War of the Roses (Tewkesbury) (UK 2021)

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[press release] [click any picture for a larger version]
Royal Mail Reveals New Stamps Being Issued To Mark The Key Battle In The Wars Of The Roses – 550th Anniversary Of The Battle Of TewkesburyIssue date: May 4, 2021

  • Eight stamps feature stunning oil illustrations re-imagining eight key battles across the years of the Wars
  • Between 1455 and 1487, England was torn apart by a series of violent struggles for the throne
  • The period witnessed the deposition of three kings, and the violent death of two of them, in a series of bloody battles known as the Wars of the Roses
  • The Wars of the Roses were fought between the houses of Lancaster and York
  • The Wars are thought to be named after the emblems of the contending parties: the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster
  • The illustrations are by Graham Turner, a leading medieval and military artist
  • Royal Mail also worked with writer, historian and researcher, Dr David Grummitt on the stamp issue
  • The full set of eight stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £12.40. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now to pre-order on the Royal Mail website here.
  • The stamps will go on general sale from 4 May 2021

Royal Mail has revealed a set of eight stamps being issued to mark the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Tewkesbury, one of the defining battles of the Wars of the Roses.

The illustrations are by Graham Turner, a leading medieval and military artist. The stamps feature stunning artwork, re-imagining eight key battles across the years of the Wars.

Royal Mail also worked with writer, historian and researcher, Dr David Grummitt on the stamp issue.

It can be argued that the Wars of the Roses, due largely to the history plays of William Shakespeare, is one of the best known, if least understood, periods of English history.

The Wars of the Roses were fought between the two rival cadet branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the House of Lancaster and the House of York, and were named – many years later – after the supposed emblems of the contending parties: the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster.

The second half of the 15th century saw a series of violent struggles for the throne. The period 1455–87 witnessed the deposition of three kings, and the violent death of two of them, in a series of bloody battles that engaged all ranks of society.

Following the English defeat to France in the Hundred Years War, rival nobles struggled for control of the weak king, Henry VI. This led to a bloody skirmish in 1455 with sustained fighting from 1459.

The following year, Richard, Duke of York, laid claim to the throne. Although he was killed in battle in 1460, his son, Edward, took up the Yorkist cause, defeating the Lancastrians at the Battle of Towton a few months later.

As Edward IV, he ruled until a rebellion led by his cousin, Warwick the Kingmaker, ended in his deposition in 1470 in favour of Henry VI. Returning the following year, Edward defeated and killed Warwick and captured Henry VI, who was later executed.

After more than a decade of peace, Edward’s untimely death in 1483 led to the usurpation of the throne by his brother, Richard III. Richard’s reign was cut short by another usurper, Henry Tudor, at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

David Gold, Royal Mail, said: “The Wars of the Roses fascinated both Shakespeare and historians alike. These striking illustrations bring to life a period of British history that was steeped in drama, betrayal and a quest for power that still enthrals today.”

Stamp-by-Stamp:
Battle of Bosworth, 1485
King Richard III marshals his men before his final, heroic charge on 22 August 1485.

Battle of Tewkesbury, 1471
Exactly 550 years ago, on 4 May 1471, the Yorkist King Edward IV leads his men forward after a failed Lancastrian attack on his flank.

Battle of Barnet, 1471
On Easter Sunday 1471, Edward IV leads his army into battle, defeating and killing Warwick the Kingmaker.

Battle of Edgecote Moor, 1469
The Yorkist knight Sir Richard Herbert shows his prowess fighting on the front line against rebel forces on 26 July 1469.

Battle of Towton, 1461
On Palm Sunday 1461, the Yorkist archers, using the weather to their advantage, fire volleys of arrows into the advancing Lancastrians.

Battle of Wakefield, 1460
On 30 December 1460, the sons of the Lancastrian lords killed at St Albans five years earlier cut down Richard, Duke of York.

Battle of Northampton, 1460
Edward, Earl of March, the future Edward IV, proclaims his loyalty to Henry VI after the Yorkist victory on 10 July 1460.

First Battle of St Albans, 1455
On 22 May 1455, the streets of St Albans see the first blows of the Wars of the Roses when the Duke of York and his allies attack the royal party.

The full set of eight stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £12.40. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now to pre-order Royal Mail website here.

The stamps will go on general sale from 4 May 2021.

Upcoming International Exhibitions (as of April 2021)

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from the Association of British Philatelic Societies, additions by The Virtual Stamp Club:

Forthcoming international exhibitions
Latest information and deadlines

Note: The American Philatelic Society has a list of U.S. commissioners for international shows here. The APS list differs slightly from this list. The Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect international exhibitions with some being postponed but other proceeding and adapting to current circumstances. The following update gives the latest position and shows which international exhibitions are currently accepting entries from the United Kingdom. Several have an imminent entry deadline so if you would like to enter any please contact the UK commissioner shown at the bottom of each as soon as possible. All exhibits must have already achieved at least a vermeil medal (75 marks or above) at a national show to qualify.

SAVPEX 2021 is the South African virtual one-frame exhibition from 22-25 July 2021. The deadline for entries is 16 May 2021. Entries should reach the Secretary of SAVPEX 2021, Joof van der Merwe, at jnc1@vodamail.co.za by that date. The competition is heavily subsidised so the frame fee is only US$35. Further information and forms can be found on their website at https://stampssa.africa. There is no UK commissioner; entries go directly through their website.

U.S. Commissioner and Judge: Mr. Tim Wait, t.wait@comcast.net 815-670-5869, PO Box 242, Belvidere, IL 61008

PHILANIPPON 2021. Japan World Stamp Championship Exhibition 2021. Held at Pacifico Yokohama Hall B/C, Yokohama, Japan from 25 – 30 August 2021.A full international exhibition under FIP patronage and FIAP auspices. Website www.japan2021.jp Entries are now closed with 16 UK entries accepted. There may be travel restrictions on overseas visitors as there are with the Olympics beforehand, so if you are considering attending please check the latest situation before booking.

For further details please contact the UK Commissioner Simon Richards at simon@sidebell.co.uk

U.S. Commissioner: Dr. Mark Banchik, mebanchik@gmail.com, 347-267-7601, 10531 4s Commons Drove #166, San Diego, CA 92127

IPEX 2021 International Philatelic Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa. Was to have been held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 9 – 13 November 2021. This exhibition has now been postponed for a second time but revised dates have not been announced yet.

For details contact the UK commissioner, Jon Aitchison at britishlocals@aol.com. Tel 01279 870488

U.S. Commissioner: U.S. Commissioner: Mr. Sandeep Jaiswal, sj722@aol.com, 401-688-9473, PO Box 8689, Cranston, RI 02920

NOTOS 2021 European Philatelic Exhibition, Athens, Greece. Held at Zappeion (venue change) from 19 – 22 November 2021. Website hps.gr/notos2021 A full European international with FEPA patronage and FIP recognition. Two- and three-frame exhibits will be accepted as well as the usual one, five or eight. All FEPA and FIP classes are accepted at 30 euros per frame and 30 euros per literature entry plus a UK handling and transport charge of £25 per frame. UK deadline for entries is 31 May 2021.

For entries contact the UK commissioner, Jon Aitchison at britishlocals@aol.com. Tel 01279 980488

LONDON 2022, England February 19-26. See the separate VSC article.

HUNFILEX 2022 Specialised World Stamp Championship Exhibition. Budapest, Hungary. Held at Bálna (The Whale), Budapest, Hungary from 31 March to 3 April 2022.The exhibition has FIP patronage and FEPA recognition. Website www.hunfilex2022.com Available classes are World Championship Class, Traditional Philately, Postal History, Revenues, Thematic, Open Class, One Frame and Literature. Frame fees 70 euros or 75 euros for literature and 100 euros for one frame exhibits. UK handling and transport charge is £25 per frame. The entry deadline is 23 June 2021.

For entries contact the UK commissioner Bill Hedley at ewlhedley@gmail.com. Tel 01892 531516.

U.S. Commissioner: Dr. Akthem Al-Manaseer, akthem@pacbell.net, 408-569-4056, 3821 Twin Falls Court, San Jose, CA 95121

HELVETIA 2022 Specialised World Exhibition, Lugano, Switzerland. Held at the Padiglione Conza Convention Centre, Lugano, Switzerland from 18 to 22 May 2022.The exhibition has FIP patronage and FEPA recognition. Website www.helvetica2022.ch Available classes are World Stamp Championship Class, Traditional Philately, Postal History, Postal Stationery, Aerophilately, Thematic, One-Frame and Literature. Frame fees are CHF 80 per frame or CHF 100 for one-frame entries and Literature Class. UK handling and transport charge is £25 per frame. UK deadline for entries is 23 September 2021.

For entries please contact the UK commissioner Chris King at chris.king@postalhistory.net. Telephone 0208 346 1366.

U.S. Commissioner: Michael Peter, mpetertwins@gmail.com, PO Box 50256, St. Louis, MO 63105

CAPEX 2022 International One-Frame Stamp Championship Exhibition, Toronto, Canada. Held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from 9-12 June 2022. Hosted by the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada under the Patronage of FIAP with FIP recognition. Website www.capex22.org. All One-Frame sub-classes plus literature. The frame fee for One-Frame exhibits is US$125 and literature is US$80, plus the UK handling charge of £30. Youth entries are free. Deadline for entries is 30 November 2021. Contact the UK commissioner Frank Walton at Frank@FrankWalton.com

Latest CAPEX 2022 press release.

LIBEREC 2022, European Stamp Exhibition and Polar Salon, Czech Republic. To be held at the Wellness Hotel Babylon, Liberec, Czech Republic from 13-16 October 2022, with FEPA patronage and FIP recognition. Website liberec2022.eu. Available classes are Grand Prix, Traditional, Postal History, Thematic, Open Philately, Picture Postcards, Youth, Literature and One-Frame. Two and three frame exhibits are accepted as well as the usual one, five and eight. Frame fees are 40 euros per frame for 5 or 8 frame exhibits, 45 euros for 3 frame, 50 euros for 2 frame and 55 euros for one frame and literature, with Youth exhibits being free. The UK handling charge of £25 per frame also applies. The deadline for entries is 31 January 2022. Please contact the UK commissioner Steve Harrison at sharrison500@btinternet.com or phone him on 0121 313 0671.

IBRA2023 World Stamp Exhibition, Essen, Germany. Held at the Messe Essen from 25 – 28 May 2023 (Date change). Website www.ibra2023.deA full international exhibition under FIP patronage with FEPA recognition. All FIP classes are accepted at 80 euros per frame, 110 euros for single frame exhibits and 50 euros for literature, plus a UK handling and transport charge of £25 per frame. UK deadline for entries is September 2022.For entries please contact the UK commissioner Frank Walton at Frank@FrankWalton.com

UK handling charges have now been standardised on all international exhibitions at £25 per frame for shows in Europe or £30 for events anywhere else in the world, whether single or multiple frame exhibits, and £25 per literature entry. This is to cover the cost of getting exhibits to and from exhibitions, FIP capitation fees and other costs relating to processing the exhibits. Overall this runs at a loss. Exhibits that are carried to and returned from an exhibition by the exhibitor are charged at half price. There is no UK handling charge for Youth exhibits. If you are interested in becoming a United Kingdom international exhibition commissioner please contact Jon Aitchison at britishlocals@aol.com.

British Science Fiction Classics (UK 2021)

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[press release]
Royal Mail Celebrates Science Fiction Classics from British Authors On Six Specially Commissioned Stamp Illustrations

  • Royal Mail commissioned six original illustrations for the stamp issue
  • The stamps feature striking interpretations of six science fiction classics by British authors and depict key moments in the evolution of the genre
  • Classics and artists in the set are:
    • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: illustration by Sabina Šinko
    • The Time Machine by HG Wells: illustration by Francisco Rodríguez
    • Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: illustration by Thomas Danthony
    • The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham: illustration by Mick Brownfield
    • Childhood’s End by Arthur C Clarke: illustration by Matt Murphy
    • Shikasta by Doris Lessing: illustration by Sarah Jones
  • 2021 will mark the 75th anniversary of the death of HG Wells and the 70th anniversary of the publication of John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids
  • Britain has been at the forefront of science fiction writing, and the writers whose work is featured on the stamps are household names the world over
  • Royal Mail also worked with British writer and academic, Roger Luckhurst, on the stamp issue
  • The full set of six stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £11.10. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now to pre-order from www.royalmail.com/classicsciencefiction
  • The stamps will go on general sale from 15 April 2021

Royal Mail has revealed images of original artworks being issued to celebrate six classic science fiction novels by British writers.

The specially commissioned illustrations feature striking interpretations of the classics and depict key moments in the evolution of the genre.

The stamps are issued in the year that marks the 75th anniversary of the death of HG Wells and the 70th anniversary of the publication of John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids.

The classic novels and illustrators featured in the set are:

  • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: illustration by Sabina Šinko
  • The Time Machine by HG Wells: illustration by Francisco Rodríguez
  • Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: illustration by Thomas Danthony
  • The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham: illustration by Mick Brownfield
  • Childhood’s End by Arthur C Clarke: illustration by Matt Murphy
  • Shikasta by Doris Lessing: illustration by Sarah Jones

There are many stories that can point to the origins of science fiction. The satirical author Lucian, writing during the 2nd century, imagined a trip to the moon in his True History. In 1516, Thomas More proposed an ideal society, an alternative Britain, that he called Utopia. But modern science fiction is the product of societies that were undergoing rapid technological change, where the scientific world view had an authority to rival theological explanations and where there was a large, literate population that could support new forms of mass culture. These conditions were met in 19th-century Britain, but the term ‘science fiction’ came into general usage only at the end of the 1920s.

When Mary Shelley reworked the Gothic romance to address the advances of contemporary science in her 1818 novel Frankenstein, a new literary genre was born.

From the beginning, Britain has been at the forefront of science fiction writing, and the writers whose work is featured on these stamps are household names the world over.

While science fiction can often be considered as a lowly form of culture, full of bug-eyed monsters in flying saucers, it is also a genre that can have ambitions to engage at the highest level with emergent scientific conceptions and technologies.

There is a strong British tradition of writers who reach for these sublime heights, which this stamp issue celebrates.

Royal Mail also worked with British writer and academic, Roger Luckhurst, on the stamp issue. Roger is a Professor in Modern and Contemporary Literature in the Department of English and Humanities at Birkbeck, University of London and was Distinguished Visiting Professor at Columbia University in 2016.

The full set of six stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, retails at £11.10. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now to pre-order from www.royalmail.com/classicsciencefiction.

The stamps will go on general sale from 15 April 2021.

Stamp-By-Stamp
Mary Shelley (1797–1851) The daughter of radicals, Shelley wrote her most famous book when she was just 19, in a famous ghost-story competition with Percy Shelley and Lord Byron. Frankenstein switched the Gothic romance from religious terror to secular scientific horror.

HG Wells (1866–1946) A young writer from the first generation of those with formal scientific training, Wells jumped into the new journals and magazines of the 1890s and helped fashion the British ‘scientific romance’ in his disturbing exploration of futures near and far.

Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) Huxley was a satirical novelist who, in horrified reaction to Wells’s outline of scientific utopia, created in Brave New World one of the most enduring novels of dystopia. He explores a future where technology oppresses rather than liberates humanity.

John Wyndham (1903–69) Wyndham captured the anxious and diminished state of England after 1945. The Day of the Triffids creates a catastrophe and then explores various ways of living in the ruins. This book was a major influence on what became known as post-apocalyptic fiction.

Arthur C Clarke (1917–2008) In ecstatic visions of expansion into outer space and evolutionary leaps for humanity, Clarke combined a longing for transcendence with an interest in the mechanics of technology. This strand is often termed ‘hard SF’, for extrapolating possible futures from known science.

Doris Lessing (1919–2013) A hugely versatile novelist, Lessing turned to science fiction in the 1970s to explore questions of gender, colonisation and power. Women have always been involved in science fiction, but Lessing’s generation gave the genre new avenues of social criticism.

Discovery of Insulin (Canada 2021)

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Issue date: 15 April

Updated 15 April with better images:
[press release]
Stamp marks 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin
Canadian dream team’s groundbreaking research has saved millions of lives

TORONTO, Ontario – Canada Post released a stamp today that marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin in a Department of Physiology laboratory at the University of Toronto, one of the world’s most important medical breakthroughs.

In 1921, the groundbreaking discovery of Frederick Banting, Charles Best, James Collip and John Macleod placed Canada’s medical researchers on the world stage.

Under Macleod’s oversight, Banting and Best used a pancreatic extract to successfully reduce blood sugar levels in a dog. With the help of biochemist James Collip, they refined the extract now known as insulin before testing it on humans in 1922 then putting it into mass production.

booklet pane

By the end of 1923, insulin had become widely available and Banting and Macleod had jointly been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work; they chose to share the prize money with Best and Collip. Since then, Canadians have contributed to a long list of medical advancements – in stem cell research, open-heart surgery, genetics and disease.

Before the discovery of insulin, being diagnosed with what is now known as type 1 diabetes was considered a death sentence. The only way to treat the disease was through an extremely restricted diet that only briefly extended a person’s life. A century later, millions of people with the disease continue to be treated with life-saving insulin.

The legacy of that dream team’s early medical research endures at the University of Toronto, where researchers continue to study progressive treatments in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Yesterday, in collaboration with the University of Toronto’s Banting & Best Diabetes Centre, its Department of Medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Diabetes Action

booklet cover

Canada, this milestone was acknowledged and the new stamp design unveiled at 100 Years of Insulin: Celebrating Its Impact on Our Lives. The virtual event featured stories of people living with diabetes and specialists in the field. The stamp unveiling was done from the Banting House National Historic Site of Canada in the room where Banting first had the idea that led to the discovery of insulin.

Designed by Subplot Design Inc. of Vancouver, the stamp features the image of an early insulin vial resting on an excerpt of Banting’s unpublished memoir. It reflects the very moment he conceived the idea that set in motion events leading to the discovery of insulin. Photos were taken by Seth Stevenson, a Toronto-based photographer.

The Permanent™ stamp is now available in booklets of 10 and can be purchased at canadapost.ca/shop [direct link here] and postal outlets across Canada. There is also an Official First Day Cover cancelled in Toronto [shown below].

Canada Post’s 17-second video:

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Un timbre souligne le centenaire de la découverte de l’insuline
Les recherches avant-gardistes d’une équipe canadienne exceptionnelle sauvent des millions de vies

TORONTO, Ontario – Postes Canada a émis aujourd’hui un timbre qui marque le 100e anniversaire de la découverte de l’insuline dans un laboratoire du Département de physiologie à l’Université de Toronto, l’une des plus grandes percées médicales dans le monde.

Grâce à la découverte extraordinaire de Frederick Banting, Charles Best, James Collip et John Macleod en 1921, la communauté canadienne de la recherche médicale prend les devants de la scène internationale.

Sous la supervision de John Macleod, Frederick Banting et Charles Best utilisent un extrait pancréatique qui réduit le taux de glycémie d’un chien. Avec l’aide du biochimiste James Collip, ils raffinent l’extrait, plus tard nommé insuline, avant de le tester sur les humains en 1922, puis de le produire en grande quantité.

Avant la fin de 1923, l’insuline est largement accessible, et Frederick Banting et John Macleod reçoivent le prix Nobel de physiologie ou médecine, dont ils décident de partager la bourse avec Charles Best et James Collip. Depuis, les Canadiens ont contribué à allonger la liste des progrès de la médecine, dont la recherche sur les cellules souches, les chirurgies à cœur ouvert, la génétique et les maladies.

Avant la découverte de l’insuline, une personne qui recevait un diagnostic de ce qu’on appelle aujourd’hui le diabète de type 1 était pratiquement condamnée à mort. La maladie n’était traitable qu’à l’aide d’une diète très stricte qui ne faisait que prolonger brièvement la vie. Un siècle plus tard, l’insuline continue de sauver la vie de millions de personnes diabétiques.

Les résultats des premières recherches médicales de cette équipe exceptionnelle portent encore leurs fruits à l’Université de Toronto, où l’étude de traitements progressifs pour le diabète de type 1 et de type 2 se poursuit.

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Hier, en collaboration avec le Département de médecine de la Temerty Faculty of Medicine du Banting & Best Diabetes Centre de l’Université de Toronto et Action diabète Canada,

ce jalon important a été souligné et le motif du nouveau timbre a été dévoilé dans le cadre de l’événement virtuel 100 Years of Insulin: Celebrating Its Impact on Our Lives, où ont discuté des personnes qui vivent avec le diabète et des spécialistes dans le domaine. C’est dans le lieu historique national du Canada de la Maison-Banting, dans la chambre où Frederick Banting a d’abord eu l’idée qui a mené à la découverte de l’insuline, que le dévoilement du timbre a eu lieu.

Conçu par Subplot Design Inc., de Vancouver, le timbre illustre un ancien flacon d’insuline qui repose sur un extrait des mémoires non publiés de Frederick Banting. L’image représente le moment précis où a germé l’idée qui a mis en branle les événements menant à la découverte de l’insuline. Les photos ont été prises par le photographe torontois Seth Stevenson. Le timbre PermanentMC est offert en carnet de 10 à [direct] et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays. Le pli Premier Jour officiel porte la mention « Toronto ».

From Details magazine:

On the brink of death from diabetes, 13-year-old Leonard Thompson was skeletal. The starvation diet he had been following – the only known treatment for diabetes in the early 20th century – had reduced him to less than 29 kilograms (65 pounds). As he lay in critical condition in Toronto General Hospital in January 1922, his father gave doctors permission to try an experimental drug developed by University of Toronto researchers that had never been injected into humans. Although Leonard had an adverse reaction to the initial formula, a second round of injections – administered after further refinements – saved his life. From these early trials came the medical breakthrough now known as insulin. The diagnosis of diabetes was no longer considered a death sentence.

It was an early-morning epiphany that led Dr. Frederick Banting to this life-saving discovery. The achievement was a team effort, with the surgical approach of Dr. Banting, the critical input of research assistant Charles Best and visiting biochemist James Collip, and the advice, guidance and oversight of John Macleod, chair of the Physiology Department. The discovery of insulin – which earned Banting and Macleod the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine – has saved and improved the lives of countless people with diabetes over the past century.

Music Awards’ 50th Anniversary (Canada 2021)

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[press release]
Canada Post celebrates the JUNO Awards’ golden anniversary
New stamp honours 50 years of the JUNOS and a dynamic Canadian music scene

TORONTO – The JUNO Awards turn 50 this year, and Canada Post is celebrating this golden anniversary with a new commemorative stamp.

The stamp pays tribute to the country’s premier music event, and its role in supporting and showcasing Canadian artists and creators over five decades. Since 1971, the JUNOS have recognized Canada’s immense range of talent, from rising stars to household names, including 25-time JUNO winner Anne Murray – the recipient of the most JUNO Awards to date – Buffy Sainte-Marie, Céline Dion, The Tragically Hip, The Weeknd and so many more.

To mark the importance of the 50th anniversary, the JUNOS have redesigned the prestigious award from the solid crystal tower into a new golden statuette, which is featured on the commemorative stamp.

About the JUNO Awards
What has become Canada’s biggest night in music started as a simple annual poll of the country’s favourite musicians in a former trade publication, RPM, founded by publisher

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Walt Grealis and record producer Stan Klees. Initially known as the RPM Gold Leaf Awards, they were renamed in 1971 to honour Pierre Juneau, first chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) who was also responsible for the implementation of Canadian content regulations in the early 1970s.

Since their beginnings, the JUNOS have evolved alongside Canada’s vibrant music scene, and they have added new categories to recognize the increasing diversity of the country’s most celebrated artists.

“We are thrilled to partner with Canada Post to celebrate the 50th Annual JUNO Awards,” says Allan Reid, President and CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards and MusiCounts. “Collaborating with this historical institution allows us to celebrate Canada and our nation’s renowned musical talent. Our new golden statuette will stand proud on the limited-edition stamp and we can’t wait for music lovers across the country to get their hands on one.”

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The special 50th anniversary presentation of the JUNO Awards will be broadcast nationwide Sunday, May 16 at 8 pm, ET/5 pm, PT, on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and globally on CBCMusic.ca/junos.

About the stamp
Designed by Paprika and illustrated by Amanda Arlotta, the stamp features the new golden statuette that JUNO Award winners will begin receiving this year.

Printed by Colour Innovations, this issue includes a booklet of five Permanent™ domestic rate stamps and the Official First Day Cover.

Stamps and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca/shop [direct link] and postal outlets across Canada.

Official first day cover

CPC Video:

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
Postes Canada souligne le cinquantième anniversaire des Prix JUNO
Un nouveau timbre rend hommage aux cinquante ans des Prix JUNO et à la scène musicale exceptionnelle du Canada

TORONTO – Les Prix JUNO célèbrent leur 50e anniversaire cette année et Postes Canada souligne l’événement avec un nouveau timbre commémoratif.

Le timbre rend hommage aux prestigieux Prix JUNO, remis par l’industrie de la musique canadienne, et au rôle qu’ils jouent pour appuyer et promouvoir les artistes et créateurs canadiens depuis plus de cinquante ans. Depuis 1971, les Prix JUNO saluent les talents de tout genre, des étoiles montantes aux grands noms, comme Anne Murray, gagnante de 25 Prix JUNO, la lauréate la plus primée à ce jour, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Céline Dion, The Tragically Hip, The Weeknd et bien d’autres.

Pour souligner l’importance de leur 50e anniversaire, les Prix JUNO ont remplacé leur célèbre prix, une tourelle en cristal massif, par une nouvelle statuette dorée, laquelle est illustrée sur le timbre commémoratif.

À propos des Prix JUNO
L’événement musical le plus attendu au pays est né d’un simple sondage annuel réalisé auprès des lecteurs du magazine spécialisé RPM fondé par l’éditeur Walt Grealis et le producteur de disques Stan Klees. D’abord appelés les RPM Gold Leaf Awards, ils sont renommés en 1971 en l’honneur Pierre Juneau, premier président du Conseil de la

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radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes, également responsable de la mise en œuvre des exigences relatives au contenu canadien au début des années 1970.

Depuis leurs débuts, les Prix JUNO ont évolué au rythme de la scène musicale canadienne, et de nouvelles catégories se sont ajoutées pour refléter la diversité grandissante des artistes canadiens les plus reconnus au pays.

« Nous sommes ravis de nous joindre à Postes Canada pour célébrer les 50es Prix JUNO », se réjouit Allan Reid, président-directeur général de CARAS/Les Prix JUNO et MusiCompte. « Notre collaboration avec cette organisation historique est l’occasion pour nous de célébrer le Canada et le talent musical de notre pays. Nous sommes impatients de voir les amateurs de musique se procurer le timbre à tirage limité sur lequel se dresse fièrement notre nouvelle statuette dorée. »

L’émission spéciale consacrée au 50e anniversaire des Prix JUNO sera diffusée à l’échelle nationale le dimanche 16 mai à 20 h (HE), 17 h (HP), sur CBC TV, CBC

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Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music et à l’échelle internationale sur CBCMusic.ca/junos (en anglais).

À propos du timbre

Conçu par Paprika et illustré par Amanda Arlotta, le timbre est orné de la nouvelle statuette dorée remise à compter de cette année aux gagnants des Prix JUNO.

Imprimée par Colour Innovations, cette émission comprend un carnet de cinq timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur et un pli Premier Jour officiel.

Les timbres et articles de collection sont en vente à postescanada.ca [direct] et dans les comptoirs postaux partout au pays.

Official first day cover

CPC Video:

Typically Dutch: Houseboats (Netherlands 2021)

Posted on by

[press release]
The “art of small living” on stamps
[large illustration of entire sheet at end; click any image for larger version.]

The Hague, April 6, 2021 – Houseboats can be found all over the world, but especially in the Netherlands. The latest PostNL stamps from the Typically Dutch series give a good impression of what the houseboats look like in our country.

In 2021, the Typically Dutch series will focus on housing types and facades that are characteristic of our country. Previously, the stamps about traditional farmhouses, wooden houses and canal houses were published. Another issue about terraced houses will follow later this year.

Small waves
The Typisch Nederlands – houseboats stamps feature a colorful illustration of 2 houseboats in an idyllic setting with water in the foreground and tall trees in the background. The houseboat on the left is depicted in its entirety, the houseboat on the right partially. At the bottom of the stamp is a black line that refers to the street level of where the original photos of the houseboats were taken.

Arks, scharken and houseboats
The oldest written sources on the history of houseboats in the Netherlands date back to around 1600. From that time onwards, living on ships was certainly permanent, especially on cargo ships converted for habitation. Houseboats were later built especially for this purpose. Connoisseurs of houseboats make a distinction between arks or scharken (respectively a concrete or steel hull with a superstructure of wood, stone or plastic) and houseboats (decommissioned inland vessels that have been given a residential function).

Nice thoughts
The stamps about the houseboats in the Netherlands were designed by Edwin van Praet of Total Design. He describes a houseboat as a house as something special. “It’s the art of small living, after all. And in theory you have the option to drop anchor and sail to another place. I know: that doesn’t happen often, but it’s a nice thought.”

Availability
The stamp sheetlet Typically Dutch – houseboats has 6 identical stamps with the denomination Nederland 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps are available from April 6, 2021 at the Bruna stores and via the website [direct link]. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.