Queen Elizabeth on Stamps

Near the end of December 2007, Queen Elizabeth II became our oldest ever monarch. By the time you read this, her eldest son Charles will hold the record for the longest wait by an heir to the throne. Victoria's son King Edward VII had held the previous record of waiting, which was 59 years and two months!

The first stamp issued for HRH Elizabeth was Newfoundland Scott #192 issued in 1932. Canada also issued stamps during the 1930s showing Princess Elizabeth. These were a 1c stamp for the 1935 King George V Silver Jubilee issue of six stamps and the 1939 1c Royal Visit stamp which also showed her sister Margaret. In 1947 Princess Elizabeth was featured on a small Canadian stamp #276 for the Royal Wedding to Philip Mountbatten. He would not be featured on a stamp until 1951 when he and Princess Elizabeth appeared on Scott #315. By the way, one f my favourite Canadian Queen Elizabeth stamps is the 1959 Royal Visit stamp #386. From a painting by Pietro Annigoni, it is a beauty!

Many of these stamps are usually in stock in mint and used singles, some in blocks, plate blocks, sheets and some first day covers. Send us your want list - jtalman@interlog.com

Canada - Chinese Lunar New Year Stamps

In 1997 Canada started a programme to commemorate this annual event. The stamps are superbly designed and the issues also include souvenir sheets and other special post office offerings. 2008 will complete the cycle of twelve different years. I recommend these issues as they are continuing to grow in popularity and supplies are of course limited. Over the years they should appreciate in value. See our listing at our web site for items presently in stock at http://www.talmanstamps.com/

We are interested in buying Canadian Lunar New Year items as well. Especially Lunar Packs, and especially the Year of the Ox and Year of the Rabbit Lunar Packs. Please contact us by email with your price if you have any of these items for sale - jtalman@interlog.com

Toronto Stamp Collectors Club - Insurance and Bankers Stamp Club

John Talman seated center front as president of the Toronto Stamp Collectors Club with their members and members of the Insurance and Bankers Stamp Club - Canadian Branch. (photographer Peter Butler, Greater Toronto Area Philatelic Alliance)

Canada #330 - 4c Violet Coronation Commemorative

The following Post Office memo was found in an old collection and helps explain why plate one is scarcer than many other plate corners of this stamp: