Collector’s Corner: World’s first Christmas stamp
By Medicine Hat News on January 5, 2019.
Canada issued the world’s first Christmas stamp on Dec. 7, 1898. The stamp was designed by William Mulock, the Postmaster General of Canada. It was necessary to be granted permission from Queen Victoria for the design of the stamp, since every stamp issued in the British Empire to that date had to include a portrait of the Queen. The design features a mercator projection map of the world with countries of the British Empire and most predominantly, Canada, highlighted in red. Along the bottom of the stamp is the slogan “WE HOLD A VASTER EMPIRE THAN HAS BEEN.” At the time the British ruled the largest empire on earth. Near the bottom centre of the stamp are the words “XMAS 1898.” The stamp is easy to find since 20,000,000 were printed for a country of 5.5 million people. Half were printed with blue oceans and half with green for no apparent reason. It would not be until Oct. 17, 1964 that Canada would issue another Christmas stamp and thus commence what has become an annual tradition. Every seasonal stamp had the word Christmas on it until 1989 when Canada Post replaced it with “Seasons Greetings” and “Peace on Earth” in 1990. There were so many complaints that in 1991 “Christmas” was back and has remained ever since. For more information about Canadian or other stamps please feel free to attend a meeting of the Coin and Stamp Club, the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at Victory Lutheran Church, 7:30 p.m. Collector’s Corner is contributed by the Medicine Hat Coin & Stamp Club. For questions or comments about coin or stamp collection email medhatcsc@live.com. 8-7
