Canadian definitive postage stamps

Canada Post has issued several definitive stamps series since the Dominion of Canada was formed in 1867 featuring both novel and recurring themes. See Postage stamps and postal history of Canada for an overview and for history prior to federation.

Details of stamp issues have been collected and published in various stamp catalogues and in recent decades Canada Post has been issuing regular bulletins.

The new Canadian government issued a series of stamps on April 1, 1868 featuring a profile of Queen Victoria, superseding previous issues by the separate colonies. These are known as the "Large Queens" comprising the following stamps:

Denomination	Color	Perforation
½c	black	12x12, 11½x12
1c	brown-red	12x12
1c	orange	12x12
2c	green	12x12
3c	red	12x12
5c	olive	12x12, 11½x12
6c	brown	12x12
21½c	blue	12x12
15c	purple	12x12
15c	blue-grey	12x12

These were followed by the "Small Queens" in 1870.

Denomination	Color	Perforation
½c	black	12x12
1c	yellow	12x12, 11½x12
2c	green	12x12, 11½x12
3c	red	12x12, 11½x12
3c	orange	12x12
5c	slate	12x12, 11½x12
5c	grey	12x12
½c	black	12x12
6c	brown	12x12, 11½x12
6c	red-brown	12x12
8c	blue-grey	12x12
10c	dark rose	12x12, 11½x12
10c	brown	12x12

These were followed by the "Maple Leaf" issue in 1897.

King Edward VII

Upon the accession of King Edward VII, the Maple Leaf design framing a portrait of Edward was issued starting 1903.

King George V

King George V was depicted in 1911 as Admiral of the Fleet in design that continued in use until 1928.

The "Scroll" issue of 1928 was the first bilingual stamp issue and also featured pictorial designs for the high values.

This was followed in 1930 by the "Arch" series which also included high value pictorials.

The "Medallion" series was issued from 1932.

The final King George V definitive series was issued in 1935.

King George VI

There were three sets of definitives featuring King George VI, the first series starting in 1937.

This was followed by the "War Issue", starting in 1942.

The final King George VI definitives depicted the king in a much plainer design and were issued starting in 1949.

Date of Issue	Scott #	Denomination	Color	Quantity	Perforation
1 May 1953	325	1c	violet brown	169,000,000	12
1 May 1953	326	2c	green	338,000,000	12
1 May 1953	327	3c	red	332,000,000	12
1 May 1953	328	4c	violet	406,000,000	12
1 May 1953	329	5c	blue	109,000,000	12

Date of Issue	Denomination	Design/Color	Perforation
Flora, small size^[1]
22 April 1977	1c	Bottle Gentian	12x12.5, 13x13.5
22 April 1977	2c	Western Columbine	12x12.5, 13x13.5
22 April 1977	3c	Canada Lily	12x12.5, 13x13.5
22 April 1977	4c	Hepatica	12x12.5, 13x13.5
22 April 1977	5c	Shooting Star	12x12.5, 13x13.5
22 April 1977	10c	Sparrow's Egg Lady's Slipper	12x12.5, 13, 13x13.5
6 July 1978	12c	Jewelweed	13x13.5
16 August 1979	15c	Canada Violet	13x13.5
Flora, medium size^[1]
8 August 1977	15c	Trembling Aspen	13.5
8 August 1977	20c	Douglas Fir	13.5
8 August 1977	25c	Sugar Maple	13.5
7 March 1978	30c	Red Oak	13.5
8 March 1979	35c	Eastern White Pine	13.5
Street scenes^[1]
6 July 1978	50c	prairie town street scene	13.5
11 May 1982	60c	Ontario street scene	13.5
6 July 1978	75c	Quebec street scene	13.5
6 July 1978	80c	Atlantic coast street scene	13.5
National parks^[1]
24 January 1979	$1	Fundy National Park	13.5
?	$1	?	?
18 June 1982	$1.50	Waterton Lakes National Park	13.5
27 April 1979	$2	Kluane National Park	13.5
21 June 1985	$2	Banff National Park	13.5
10 January 1983	$5	Point Pelee National Park	13.5
?	$5	?	?

Canadian definitive postage stamps

King Edward VII

King George V

King George VI

Queen Elizabeth II

Post 1970

References

Related Articles

Denomination	Color	Perforation
1c	violet brown	12
2c	green	12, 9½ x imperf.
3c	red	12
4c	violet	12, 9½ x imperf.
5c	blue	12, 9½ x imperf.
6c	orange	12

Denomination	Color	Quantity	Perforation
1c	brown	478M	12
2c	green	440M	12
3c	purple	585M	12
4c	red	1,452M	12
5c	blue	1,489M	12