Marcel Granger – CHRISTMAS

Série de timbres de Noël du Canada en français

Page created on : October 26, 1997
Last updated : June 1, 2005

In 1898, Canada became the first country in the world to issue a Christmas stamp when «Xmas 1898» was added to a stamp design depicting a map of the world. This stamp is famous among collectors as the «map stamp».

However, Canada did not begin issuing Christmas stamps on an annual basis until 1964. That year's design featured a family and the Star of Bethlehem, and two stamps were issued : one was for unsealed card rate (which is no longer possible due to postal mechanisation) ; and the other was first class.

It wasn't until 1968 that separate designs (featuring the theme of Inuit stone carvings) were used. The first use of children's drawing in 1970 saw the release of US and international rate stamps.

Today, Canada's Christmas stamps are offered in domestic, US and international rates in both pane and booklet formats, and in the GREET MORE rate in booklets of 10 stamps only.