Scott Publishing has assigned the following catalogue numbers:
3466 Souvenir Sheet
a. Gingerbread House
b. Birdhouse
c. Doghouse
3467 Nativity
3468 Gingerbread House
3469 Birdhouse
3470 Doghouse

[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.

Scott Publishing has assigned this catalogue number 3471.

[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.