January 18th, 2025

Collector’s Corner: Semi-postal stamps

By DENNIS VICKERY on August 6, 2022.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

A semi-postal stamp (also known as a charity stamp) is a postage stamp used to raise money for a particular purpose and sold at a premium over the postal value.

Canada issued its first semi-postal stamps in support of the 21st Olympic Games held in Montreal in 1976.

On July 7 of this year, Canada Post issued a semi-postal stamp entitled “Help for Ukraine.” This colourful stamp with its bright yellow sunflower was first issued in 2011 and now has been re-issued with a 10 cent surcharge on the P (permanent) rate. $1 from each booklet of 10 stamps will go toward supporting those impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine and has become a widely recognized symbol of peace and unity. Ukrainian immigrants have been coming to Canada since the late 1800s and have forged a strong bond with the Canadian way of life.

The Medicine Hat Coin and Stamp Club has just this month decided to support a local charity in our own, small way. The club has regular in-house auctions and two large shows a year at the Stampede Grounds. Club members will now have the option of donating a portion of their sales to charity. As well, all proceeds from the sale of donations of collectibles will go to charity. This may be the opportunity to deal with that old stamp or coin collection that has been gathering dust.

If you would like to donate an old collection please contact the club through our website. Better still, bring it yourself to one of our meetings, held the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at Victory Lutheran Church – 7:30 p.m.

Dennis Vickery. Collector’s Corner is contributed by the Medicine Hat Coin and Stamp Club. For questions or comments about coin or stamp collection email medhatcsc@live.com

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