At the request of several readers, the major portion of this month's issue is devoted to the listing of the quantities of covers serviced for the various issues of Canadian stamps since 1949. It should be noted that these figures include the total of all stamps issued on that day (as noted) and also include all the various types of covers serviced such as: singles, pairs, combinations, blocks, plate blocks, cacheted and uncacheted. Although these figures are an excellent guide to determine the relative scarcity of official covers for a given issue, they cannot serve as a guide to determine the scarcity of a specific type of cachet used for that issue. It is therefore imperative to determine the various types of cachets used for any given issue and the quantity of each cachet made and still available.
Scott # | Date | Issue | Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
282 | 04 01 49 | 4¢ Newfoundland | 47,588 |
283 | 06 21 49 | 4¢ Halifax | 46,444 |
284-8 | 11 15 49 | 1¢ to 5¢ K.G. Revised | 50,182 |
294 | 03 01 50 | 50¢ Oil wells | 7,348 |
301 | 10 02 50 | 10¢ Fur trade | 16,780 |
302 | 02 01 51 | $1 Fisheries | 3,186 |
303-4 | 06 25 51 | 3¢ Borden & 4¢ King | 19,,889 |
315 | 10 26 51 | 4¢ Royal Visit | 33,686 |
316 | 04 01 52 | 20¢ Forestry | 12,136 |
317 | 07 26 52 | 4¢ Red Cross | 31.,522 |
318-20 | 11 03 52 | 3¢ Abbott, 4¢ Mackenzie & 7¢ Canada Goose | 49,633 |
321 | 02 02 53 | $1 Totem | 4,178 |
322-4 | 04 01 53 | 2¢ Polar Bear, 3¢ Moose & 4¢ Sheep | 60,171 |
325-9 | 05 01 53 | 1¢ to 5¢ Q.E. | 60,067 |
330 | 06 01 53 | 4¢ Coronation | 56,923 |
334 | 11 02 53 | 50¢ Textile | 7,547 |
335-6,341 & 343 | 04 01 54 | 4¢ Walrus, 5¢ Beaver, 5¢ Q.E., 15¢ Gannet | 109,929 |
337-40 & 342 | 06 10 54 | 1¢,2¢,3¢,4¢ & 6¢ Q.E. | 62,424 |
349-50 | 11 01 54 | 4¢ Thompson & 5¢ Bowell | 31,558 |
351 | 02 21 55 | 10¢ Eskimo | 24,464 |
352-3 | 04 04 55 | 4¢ Musk Ox & 5¢ Whooping Crane | 53,365 |
354 | 06 01 55 | 5¢ I.C.A.O. | 33,959 |
355 | 06 30 55 | 5¢ Alberta & Sask. | 26,557 |
356 | 08 20 55 | 5¢ Boy Scouts | 58,970 |
357-8 | 11 08 55 | 4¢ Bennett & 5¢ Tupper | 47,745 |
359 | 01 23 56 | 5¢ Hockey | 43,388 |
360-1 | 04 12 56 | 4¢ Caribou & 5¢ Mountain Goat | 56,823 |
362-3 | 06 07 56 | 20¢ Pulp & Paper, 25¢ Chemical | 29,843 |
364 | 10 09 56 | 5¢ Fire Prevention | 50,143 |
365-8 | 03 07 57 | 5¢ Sports (4 stamps) | 94,856 |
369 | 04 10 57 | 5¢ Loon | 54,186 |
370 | 06 05 57 | 5¢ Thompson | 45,351 |
371-2 | 08 14 57 | 5¢ & 15¢ Postal Congress | 57,081 |
373 | 09 05 57 | 5¢ Mining | 38,825 |
374 | 10 10 57 | 5¢ Royal Visit | 73,004 |
375 | 01 22 58 | 5¢ Freedom of Press | 57,369 |
376 | 03 05 58 | 5¢ I.G.Y. | 55,130 |
377 | 05 08 58 | 5¢ B.C. Centennial | 50,579 |
378 | 06 04 58 | 5¢ La Verendrye | 46,314 |
379 | 06 26 58 | 5¢ Quebec | 48,620 |
380 | 07 30 58 | 5¢ National Health | 49,190 |
381 | 09 10 58 | 5¢ Oil Centennial | 49,428 |
382 | 10 02 58 | 5¢ 200th Anniv. of Assembly | 68,740 |
383 | 02 23 59 | 5¢ Flight | 62,258 |
384 | 04 02 59 | 5¢ NATO | 62,138 |
385 | 05 13 59 | 5¢ Country Women | 52,093 |
386 | 06 18 59 | 5¢ Royal Visit | 86,000 |
387 | 06 26 59 | 5¢ Seaway | 136,660 |
388 | 09 10 59 | 5¢ Plains of Abraham | 78,045 |
389 | 04 20 60 | 5¢ Girl Guides | 66,415 |
390 | 05 19 60 | 5¢ Dollard des Ormeaux | 61,235 |
391 | 02 08 61 | 5¢ Northern Development | 68,049 |
392 | 03 10 61 | 5¢ Pauline Johnson | 110,091 |
393 | 04 19 61 | 5¢ Arthur Meighen | 69,146 |
394 | 06 28 61 | 5¢ Colombo Plan | 117,901 |
395 | 10 12 61 | 5¢ Resources for Tomorrow | 66,870 |
337p-41p | 01 13 62 | 1¢ to 5¢ Q.E. tag | 30,246 |
396 | 02 28 62 | 5¢ Education | 73,772 |
397 | 05 03 62 | 5¢ Red River Settlement | 70,259 |
398 | 06 13 62 | 5¢ Jean Talon | 111,641 |
399 | 08 22 62 | 5¢ Victoria, B.C. | 75,100 |
400 | 08 31 62 | 5¢ Trans-Canada Highway | 76,668 |
405 | 10 03 62 | 5¢ Q.E. | 91,447 |
401 & 404 | 02 04 63 | 1¢ & 4¢ Q.E. | 121,066 |
410 | 03 05 63 | 5¢ Sir Casimir Gzowski | 82,910 |
402-3 | 05 02 63 | 2¢ & 3¢ Q.E. | 90,014 |
411 | 06 14 63 | $1 Export | 19,306 |
412 | 08 21 63 | 5¢ Martin Frobisher | 66,577 |
413 | 09 25 63 | 5¢ Postal Bi-Centennial | 80,105 |
415 | 10 30 63 | 15¢ Geese | 75,631 |
414 | 03 11 64 | 7¢ Jet Plane | 53,322 |
416 | 04 08 64 | 5¢ Peace | 69,879 |
417 | 05 14 64 | 5¢ Maple Leaf Unity | 71,710 |
418-9 | 06 30 64 | 5¢ Ontario & 50 Quebec Florals | 142,354 |
431 | 07 29 64 | 5¢ Charlottetown Conference | 68,998 |
432 | 09 09 64 | 5¢ Quebec Conference | 73,472 |
433 | 10 05 64 | 5¢ Royal Visit | 89,163 |
434-5 | 10 14 64 | 3¢ & 5¢ Christmas | 122,666 |
420-1 | 02 03 65 | 5¢ N.S. & 5¢ N.B. Florals | 138,573 |
437 | 03 03 65 | 5¢ International Cooperation Year | 120,838 |
422-3 | 04 28 65 | 5¢ Manitoba & 5¢ B.C. Florals | 139,901 |
438 | 06 09 65 | 5¢ Grenfell | 70,708 |
439 | 06 30 65 | 5¢ Flag | 87,780 |
424 | 07 21 65 | 5¢ P.E.I. Floral | 72,830 |
440 | 08 12 65 | 5¢ Churchill | 96,990 |
441-2 | 09 08 65 | 5¢ Parliamentary Union & 5¢ Ottawa | 140,560 |
443-4 | 10 13 65 | 3¢ & 5¢ Christmas | 121,818 |
445 | 01 05 66 | 5¢ Alouette II | 82,152 |
425-6 | 01 19 66 | 5¢ Sask. & 5¢ Alta. Florals | 230,015 |
427 | 02 23 66 | 5¢ Nfld. Floral | 78,522 |
428-9 | 03 23 66 | 5¢ Yukon & N.W.T. Florals | 138,973 |
446 | 04 13 66 | 5¢ Arrival of De LaSalle | 68,930 |
447 | 05 02 66 | 5¢ Highway Safety | 80,708 |
448 | 05 26 66 | 5¢ London Conference | 78,357 |
429A | 06 30 66 | 5¢ Canadian Coat of Arms | 84,117 |
449 | 07 27 66 | 5¢ Peaceful Atomic Power | 76,247 |
450 | 09 08 66 | 5¢ Commonwealth Assoc. Conf. | 79,869 |
451-2 | 10 12'66 | 3¢ & 5¢ Christmas | 135,393 |
453 | 01 11 67 | 5¢ Centennial | 163,799 |
454-8 461-5B | 02 08 67 | 1¢ to $1. Centennial Definitives | 353,802 |
469 | 04 28 67 | 5¢ Expo | 179,242 |
470 | 05 24 67 | 5¢ Woman's Suffrage | 78,400 |
471 | o6 3o 67 | 5¢ Royal Visit | 116,774 |
472 | 07 19 67 | 5¢ Pan American Games | 125,544 |
473 | 08 31 67 | 5¢ Canadian Press | 83,578 |
474 | 09 15 67 | 5¢ Vanier | 90,287 |
475 | 09 28 67 | 5¢ Centennial of Toronto | 89,351 |
476-7 | 10 11 67 | 3¢ & 5¢ Christmas | 134,173 |
478 | 02 15 68 | 5¢ Gray Jay | 100,400 |
479 | 03 13 68 | 5¢ Meteorology | 92,393 |
480 | 04 10 68 | 5¢ Narwhal | 104,551 |
481 | 05 08 68 | 5¢ Hydrological Decade | 100,207 |
482 | 06 05 68 | 5¢ Nonsuch | 125,532 |
483 | 07 03 68 | 5¢ Lacrosse | 103,020 |
484 | 08 21 68 | 5¢ George Brown | 97,925 |
485 | 09 04 68 | 5¢ Henri Bourassa | 93,644 |
486-7 | 10 15 68 | 15¢ Armistice & 5¢ McCrae | 152,591 |
488 & 459 | 11 01 68 | 5¢ Christmas & 6¢ Orange, Elizabeth II | 91,333 |
489 | 11 15 68 | 6¢ Christmas | 58,396 |
490 | 01 15 69 | 6¢ Curling | 97,587 |
491 | 02 20 69 | 6¢ Vincent Massey | 101,000 |
492 | 03 14 69 | 50¢ Suzor Cote | 59,155 |
493 | 05 21 69 | 6¢ Int'l Labour Organization | 97,177 |
494 | 06 13 69 | 15¢ Trans-Atlantic Flight | 66,750 |
495 | 06 23 69 | 6¢ Sir William Osler | 155,603 |
496-8 | 07 23 69 | 6¢, 100 & 250 Birds | 205,809 |
499-500 | 08 15 69 | 6¢ Charlottetown & 6¢ Summer Games | 165,178 |
501 | 09 12 69 | 6¢ Sir Isaac Brock | 89,908 |
502-3 | 10 08 69 | 5¢ & 6¢ Christmas | 147,529 |
504 | 11 12 69 | 6¢ Stephen Leacock | 172,826 |
460 | 01 07 70 | 6¢ black, Elizabeth II | 73,443 |
505-6 | 01 27 70 | 6¢ Centennial of Manitoba & 6¢ N.W.T. | 220,635 |
507 | 02 18 70 | 6¢ Biological Program | 151,384 |
508-11 | 03 18 70 | 25¢ Expo '70 (4 stamps) | 113,418 |
512 | 04 15 70 | 6¢ Henry Kelsey | 154,082 |
513-4 | 05 13 70 | 10¢ & 15¢ U.N. | 148,976 |
515 | 06 19 70 | 6¢ Louis Riel | 97,802 |
516 | 06 25 70 | 6¢ Sir Alexander Mackenzie | 97,443 |
517 | 08 12 70 | 6¢ Sir Oliver Mowat | 93,660 |
518 | 09 18 70 | 6¢ Group of Seven | 117,501 |
519-30 | 10 07 70 | 5¢ to 15¢ Christmas stamps 1970 | 258,363 |
531 | 11 04 70 | 6¢ Sir Alexander Smith | 102,721 |
532 | 02 12 71 | 6¢ Emily Carr | 102,110 |
533 | 03 03 71 | 6¢ Insulin | 156,753 |
534 | 03 24 71 | 6¢ Sir Ernest Rutherford | 110,454 |
535 | 04 14 71 | 6¢ Maple in Spring | 108,804 |
539-40 | 05 07 71 | 6¢ Papineau & 6¢ Hearne | 166,754 |
541-2 | 06 01 71 | 15¢ C.B.C. & 6¢ Census | 160,860 |
Issues not listed were not serviced by the Ottawa office for Official cancel. After the issues of June 1st 1971, figures of covers serviced were no longer released by Canada Post. After corresponding with the marketing division of Canada Post, and after several ensuing conversations with them, they have gracefully agreed to research the statistics for the covers issued by them and I have been advised that these figures will be available for the next issue of the Journal. This can be regarded as a major break for FDC collecting in Canada.
As can be readily seen from the figures quoted above, Canadian FDC's are generally grossly undervalued in most catalogues. This is the time to pick up the scarcer issues as they can still be obtained at a reasonable price. I have noticed that more and more young philatelists have a keen interest in FDC's and there will not be enough older covers to go around.
Day of issue M D Y | Scott Cat. No. | Description | Single | Pair | Bl.of 4 | PL.BL. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
07 06 72 | 562 | 8¢ Buffalo Chase | 1.30 | 1.75 | - | - |
07 06 72 | 563 | 8¢ Artifacts | 1.30 | 1.75 | - | - |
07 06 72 | 562-3 | 8¢ Se-tenant | - | 1.75 | 2.65 | 2.85 |
07 06 72 | 562p | 8¢ Buffalo Chase (Gen. Tag) | 1.75 | 2.65 | - | - |
07 06 72 | 563p | 8¢ Artifacts (Gen. Tag) | 1.75 | 2.65 | - | - |
07 06 72 | 562-3p | 80 Se-tenant (Gen. Tag) | - | 2.65 | 4.50 | 4.85 |
08 02 72 | 582 | 15¢ Geology | 4.70 | - | - | - |
08 02 72 | 583 | 15¢ Geography | 4.70 | - | - | - |
08 02 72 | 584 | 15¢ Photogrammetry | 4.70 | - | - | - |
08 02 72 | 585 | 15¢ Cartography | 4.70 | - | - | - |
08 02 72 | 582-5 | 15¢ Se-tenant | - | 8.60* | 16.25* | 18.00 |
08 02 72 | 582p | 15¢ Geology (Gen. Tag) | 4.70 | - | - | - |
08 02 72 | 583P | 15¢ Geography (Gen. Tag) | 4.70 | - | - | - |
08 02 72 | 584p | 15¢ Photogrammetry (Gen. Tag) | 4.70 | - | - | - |
08 02 72 | 585p | 15¢ Cartography (Gen. Tag) | 4.70 | - | - | - |
08 02 72 | 582-5p | 15¢ Se-tenant (Gen. Tag) | - | 8.60* | 16.25* | 18.00 |
Various combinations of pairs and se-tenant blocks of 4 are possible. | ||||||
09 08 72 | 594 | 10¢ Forest (OP-4 Tag)* | 1.00 | 1.20 | 1.55 | 1.60 |
09 08 72 | 594v | 10¢ Forest (OP-2 Tag)* | 1.00 | 1.20 | 1.55 | 1.60 |
09 08 72 | 595 | 15¢ Mountain Sheep (OP-4 Tag)* | 1.15 | 1.35 | 1.85 | 1.95 |
09 08 72 | 595v | 15¢ Mountain Sheep (OP-2 Tag)* | 1.15 | 1.35 | 1.35 | 1.95 |
09 08 72 | 596 | 20¢ Prairie Mosaic (OP-4 Tag)* | 1.20 | 1.55 | 2.20 | 2.35 |
09 08 72 | 596v | 20¢ Prairie Mosaic (OP-2 Tag)* | 1.20 | 1.55 | 2.23 | 2.35 |
09 08 72 | 597 | 25¢ Polar Bears (OP-4 Tag)* | 1.33 | 1.70 | 2.55 | 2.70 |
09 08 72 | 597v | 25¢ Polar Bears (OP-2'Tag)* | 1.30 | 1.70 | 2.55 | 2.70 |
09 08 72 | 598 | 50¢ Seashore (OP-4 Tag)* | 1.70 | 2.55 | 4.25 | 4.60 |
09 08 72 | 598v | 50¢ Seashore (OP-2 Tag)* | 1.70 | 2.55 | 4.25 | 4.62 |
CP562-3 First two of a series of 20 stamps issued to honour the Indians of Canada. The Indians of the Plains were the first to be honoured. The stamps were designed by Geo. Beaupre & Ray Webber and printed by Ashton-Potter in a quantity of 30,000M.
CP582-5 During 1972, Canada was host to four international scientific congresses. A set of four stamps was designed by Gottschalk & Ash Ltd. to commemorate each event. These stamps were issued in miniature panes of 16 and were printed by Ashton-Potter.
CP594-598 A continuation of the landscape definitives begun in March 1972, These stamps were also designed by Reinhard Derreth.
Many questions have arisen as to the terms used in collecting First Day covers. I have received a letter from Mr. Gilbert D. Kennedy of Victoria, B.C. in response to one of my letters which appeared in the July 20th issue of the Canadian Stamp News. Mr. Kennedy has been collecting FDC's for more than 52 years and both he and his wife enjoy the hobby despite slight variances of opinion as to what constitutes a true First Day cover.
Since Mr. Kennedy's letter is very lenghty, it is not reproduced here. Suffice it to say that it was written very objectively and in a true philatelic spirit in the sharing of knowledge acquired over many years.
From a true philatelic standpoint, I must agree with Mr. Kennedy that a true First Day Cover should have gone through the regular mail service. I believe the term POSTALLY USED FIRST DAY COVER would be appropriate to describe such an item. A cacheted envelope used in this way should be designated as: POSTALLY USED PHILATELIC FIRST DAY COVER. A cacheted envelope which has not gone through the regular mail should be designated simply. as: PHILATELIC FIRST DAY COVER.
Cacheted envelopes usually, but not necessarily have a design on the envelope relating to the stamp or stamps being issued. This design can consist of words, illustrations or both and can be printed, applied with a rubber stamp or simply hand-drawn. The first Canadian cacheted envelopes were designed and produced by Mr. George Eppstadt for the Confederation and Historical issues of 1927.
Primarily because collectors wish to display attractive covers with nothing distracting the overall appearance, Philatelic First Day Covers are in great demand and command a higher price over the Postally Used Covers. As in all businesses, supply and demand are the factors which determine price. The demand for FDC's is proven to be as follows:
1- Philatelic (cacheted) Unaddressed FDC's.
2- Philatelic, addressed FDC's.
3- Non-cacheted, unaddressed FDC's.
4- Non-cacheted, addressed FDC's.
The term OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVER should be used to designate a cover bearing the cancellation designed by the Post Office for use on the First Day of issue of any given stamp in the city designated as the Official city. Prior to 1949, several cities use to be designated as official cities and normal cancelling devices were used in these cities to cancel the stamps on the day of issue. Prior to 1949, covers so cancelled may also be designated as Official First Day Covers.
An OFFICIAL CACHET is the term which should be used to designate an illustrated envelope prepared by the Postal Authorities of the issuing country, such as Canada Post covers in Canada. A PRIVATE CACHET should be the term used to designate illustrated covers designed and made by individuals, stamp clubs, stamp dealers, or commercial firms.
UNOFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVERS designates a cover bearing a stamp or stamps cancelled on the day of issue in a city other than the official city.
The question of "CANCELLED ON DAY OF ISSUE" is a most difficult one to assess. In Canada, the stand of the Post Office is that first day cancellations are available for a period of six months from the day of issue. Although I feel this period seems long, it does coincide with the time allocated for the purchase of Mint Stamps for the issue, and is controlled and limited to that span of time. As is generally known, First DAY Covers are processed by the post office prior to the day of issue so that Official Cachets can be made available at philatelic counters across Canada on the day of issue.
Collectors are also aware of courtesy cancels which can be obtained from most Post Offices across Canada. It is not usually difficult to backdate a cancelling device to coincide with the day of issue of a stamp or even days or weeks prior to the day of issue. (Which by the way has been reported on several occasions). I therefore believe that the greater controls offered by the Official cancelling device make covers bearing this cancel more desireable and reliable.