Stamp Licker

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Monarch, AB, CAN - Monarch Butterfly Cancel

(2017-01-01/2024-02-21) Monarch, AB

Much to my dismay, after sending out my request for this pictorial cancel, I realized it was no longer in use, as of about 2017 (per this website). HOWEVER, much to my surprise, upon opening the envelope returned to me (which was canceled as in the top image, with the current date), the stamped cards had been beautifully canceled with the bottom image, bearing a date of 2017-01-01. So, at least as of February 2024, it is possible to request this stamp for non-official cancellations (i.e. not on in-circulation mail). Cool! (and so relieved to have not had the request go to waste.)

MONARCH PO

215 VICTORIA AVE

MONARCH AB, T0L 1M0

This cancel was released in 2006 and stopped being in use sometime in 2017 (unknown date), though it can still be requested.

Friday, February 23, 2024

FRA - La Poste Pokémon Stamp & Postmark

As a Pokémon fan and hobby deltiologist, this announcement is some exciting news!

On February 28, La Poste - partnered with The Pokémon Company International - will release a Pikachu postage stamp ("Lettre verte" rate) as well as a set of Pokémon-themed ("Lettre Internationale" rate) stamps. Images of these are shown below, taken directly from the Press Communication posted on WikiTimbres.

The release of these stamps comes in time for the February 27 anniversary of the release of the first Game Boy Pokémon games, in 1996. On February 27, 2024, there is an early release of these stamps at Le Carré d’Encre in Paris (postmarking until 5pm), while the general sale begins on February 28th (including in the online shop).

(image credits: Communiqué de presse, Janvier 2024 from WikiTimbres)

Additionally, there will be a release of 12 illustrated Pokémon stamps at Paris Philex 2024 from May 30 to June 1, 2024, with general sale of these stamps beginning June 3rd.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Mount Hope, ON, CAN - Postcard with Canadian Warplane Heritage Stamp Cancel

(2024-01-26) Mount Hope, ON

At the same time as I sent cards for cancellation at the Mount Hope PO, I included this postcard to get sent back to me as well. Given I've received and sent cards that make it to their (domestic/international) destinations without ever having had the stamp cancelled (with a pen or not), I'm a little disappointed this one, which had already been cancelled nicely with the pictorial one, also got machine cancelled...

Now that I look at this card though, I wonder if I should try to collect a few more pictorial marks in the rest of the blank space.

MOUNT HOPE PO

3055 HOMESTEAD DR

MOUNT HOPE ON, L0R 1W0

I've written more about the Mount Hope PO here!

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

CAN - Pictorial Cancel Collection Progress

With some help from the map created by Canada's Pictorial Cancels, I have begun tracking my own progress (using my own cancels) - check it out on my "Pictorial Cancel Collection Progress" page!

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

MISC - A Blast from the Past with Old Postcards

Inspired in part by learning a bit more about the postage rate history in Canada and in part by my recent interest in stamp cancels, I decided to dive back into my personal postcard collection and take a look at some of the older postcards, focusing on the stamps used and their associated cancels. Here's some of what I found...

United States

1949

USA to CAN - $0.02 - Oct 15, 1949
including a stamp (presumably) upon arrival in Canada, on Oct 20, 1949

1979

USA to CAN - $0.10 - Jan 31, 1979
with a stamp "ALWAYS USE / ZIP CODE"
(ironically this postcard was missing the postal code)

1996

USA to CAN - $0.32 - Dec 1?, 1996
with a stamp "MISSISSIPPI QUEEN / STEAMBOAT MA(??)"

2005

USA to CAN - $0.23 - Nov 07, 2005
including a "POSTAGE DUE" stamp, without a value...
($0.23 was the domestic postcard rate in 2005 but the international rate is unclear for me for this time. In 2005, letter rates were $0.37 and in 2007, "Forever" stamps were introduced, giving a Canadian letter rate of $0.69)

Canada

1958

Canada to Alberta - $0.04 - Sep 07, 1958

BC to Canada- $0.04 - Aug 1?, 1958

1962

BC to AB - $0.04 - Aug 23, 1962
with a stamp "DAWSON CITY / GOLD RUSH / FESTIVAL / JULY 1 - AUG. 25"

1971

ON to AB - $0.06 - May 24, 1971
with a stamp "JUNE 1 - CENSUS (??) / COUNT YOURSELF / 1 JUIN RECENSEMENT / SOYEZ DU NOMBRE"

New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand to Canada - $1.00 - Aug 27, 1990
with a stamp "FASTPOST (??) / FOR SPEEDY / DELIVERY-"

Other

This one wasn't written nor stamped but it does have an interesting "Posted Aboard Ship Date" stamp (without a date)

Sunday, February 18, 2024

CAN - Postage Rate History

With the announcement of another postage rate increase proposal, I thought it would be interesting to dive into the postage rate history in Canada, with a unique look at how it has shifted for postcard enthusiasts. I've put together a full page detailing this information on my blog here.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Mount Hope, ON, CAN - Canadian Warplane Heritage Stamp Cancel

(2024-01-26) Mount Hope, ON

I am in love with how all of these cancels turned out! Each of them turned out just a clearly as the one in the image and the worry I'd been having over using those stamps (which, at the time, I had no extras) turned out to be for nothing. I've since received some more airplane stamps though, so I'll be sending those off for additional (different) cancels!

MOUNT HOPE PO

3055 HOMESTEAD DR

MOUNT HOPE ON, L0R 1W0

The pictorial cancel image shown on the Canada Post site has a date of 2022-10-27.

Some news out of Mount Hope:

> The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum has over 40 aircraft on display

> A flight aboard one of the last two remaining airworthy Lancasters is being auctioned off by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum for the four-day trip happening in August (Daily Mail article)