Canada — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

Canada Post (Postes Canada) is Canada’s national postal operator, a Crown corporation. Canada’s philatelic history is among the most distinguished in the British Commonwealth, with stamps dating from 1851 that have consistently broken convention and set precedents. Canada Post issues stamps in both English and French reflecting the country’s bilingual character, and its annual stamp programme covers Canadian history, wildlife, art, and cultural heritage. The Philatelic Society of Canada supports a large collector community.

Notable Stamp Issues

Canada’s 1851 Three-Penny Beaver, designed by Sir Sandford Fleming and engraved by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, is a landmark in philatelic history — the first stamp in the world to depict an animal rather than a royal portrait or coat of arms. The 1851 Twelve-Pence Black depicting Queen Victoria is Canada’s rarest classic stamp. The Large Queen series (1868–1897) spans three decades of Victorian-era production across multiple printings. The 1898 Map stamp — showing the British Empire in red — is historically resonant. Canada’s 1935 Pictorial series depicts Canadian landscapes with elegance.

Collecting Tips

The Unitrade Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps is the primary Canadian reference. Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth catalogue also covers Canada. The Large Queen series requires specialist study — many paper, colour, and printing varieties exist. The Bluenose stamp (50¢, 1929) — depicting the famous racing schooner — is one of Canada’s most beautiful stamps. Canadian Christmas stamps are popular annual issues. Plate blocks (margin blocks with plate numbers) are a popular format for Canadian collectors.

Part of the Americas Postal Directory.