Canada Post CEO to be New Head of Royal Mail

Moya Greene, CEO of Canada Post, will be the new head of Britain's Royal Mail it was announced yesterday.  Ms. Greene has led Canada Post since May, 2005.  During her tenure they have experienced five consecutive years of profitability - even in this era of declining use of traditional  mail services.

For complete details see this BBC story:

Royal Mail names Moya Greene as new chief executive

Canada Post Issues Stamps Featuring Wildlife Photography Contest Winners

May has been a busy month for Canada Post new issues.  On May 4, the issue commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy was released.  Then, on May 13, the beautiful Marine Wildlife joint issue with Sweden.  Now, on May 22 five new designs featuring wildlife photography will be released. These are issued in honor of the 80th anniversaries of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Canadian Geographic. As with the previous issues, they will be available in booklet form:

As well as as a souvenir sheet:

The images on the stamps are contest-winning photographs submitted by readers of Canadian Geographic.  In 2009, Canadian Geographic, in partnership with the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, invited Canadians to compete in five categories for their second Wildlife Photography of the Year contest. The winning pictures, chosen from more than 6,400 entries, were published in the magazine’s annual Wildlife issue; included in a traveling exhibition organized by the Museum of Nature; and featured on this set of five stamps.

To purchase these stamps for your collection, visit the Canada Post website.  Free shipping is available for customers in the United States. 

The full news release on this issue with additional details, including the names of the winning photographers can be seen here.

Canadian Stamp Dealers' Association Encourages Young Collectors

The Canadian Stamp Dealers' Association recently announced a youth collecting initiative to promote the hobby to the next generation.  In connection with this, they've created a simple album called "My First Album".  The album is organized topically and offers stamp collecting tips on each page.

For more information see the current issue of Canadian Stamp News or contact the CSDA.

Newest Canada Post Stamps Celebrate Marine Life in Joint Issue with Sweden

On May 15, 2010 Canada Post released the newest items in its 2010 stamp program - a joint issue with Sweden celebrating marine life.  The stamps, designed by Swedish stamp designer Martin Mörck, feature the Sea Otter and the Harbour Porpoise.  Mörck describes his design this way: 

“My idea was to join the two animals without showing their natural surroundings. I tried to capture the animals on the same level, somewhere both in front of and behind the water, under water, and at the surface of the water, which is their shared element.”

The stamps are available both as a booklet of eight and a souvenir sheet of two.  An interesting feature of these stamps is that the booklet pane is gummed - the first gummed pane produced by Canada Post since 2004.  Collectors can purchase the new stamps directly from post offices throughout Canada and from Canada Post's on line shop, which offers free shipping for customers in the United States.

The Swedish issue of the stamps comes as a se-tenant block of four and a collector's sheet.  These can also be purchased on line from Posten the Swedish Postal authority.

For detailed information on this exciting new joint issue, including stamp specifications and security features, check out this publication from Canada Post.

Royal Mail Marks the Accession of King George V

May 6 is "National Stamp Day" in the United Kingdom, marking the anniversary of the world's first postage stamp - the penny black.  This year, it was also the 100th anniversary of the accession of King George V to the throne.

To mark this anniversary, the Royal Mail has issued a new miniature sheet:

For complete information on this new issue, including how to purchase one for your collection, see this article at the British Postal Museum & Archive.

What's In Store for Canada Collectors in 2011?

The Canada Post recently released a short video highlighting their 2011 stamp program.  Looks like some great things to look forward to in the coming year!

Is Stamp Collecting Becoming Cool?

Don Schilling over at The Stamp Collecting Round-Up comments on an interesting article in Britain's Independent about a resurgence of interest in stamp collecting.

You can read the entire article here.

Let's hope they're right. I'd love to see this great hobby spread to a new generation of collectors!

Newest Canada Post Issues Honor 100th Anniversary of Canadian Navy

On May 4, 2010, the Canada post will release two new issues honoring the Canadian Navy on its 100th anniversary.  These issues will be sold as a booklet of ten and a souvenir sheet (both pictured below).  The Canada Post will unveil the new stamps on Monday, May 3 during a ceremony at the Canadian War Museum. 

 The stamps, designed by Andrew Perro, are intended to depict the Canadian Navy's past and present.  Perro describes them this way:

"The two stamps were designed as separate artworks, but they appear as one canvas. They share the same painterly sky, marine life and open sea environments. The two ships, though of a different age, appear as part of the same fleet. One of Canada's first warships, the HMCS Niobe, sails alongside a modern frigate, the HMCS Halifax - a feature that speaks to the passage of time, capturing the magnitude of this major centennial milestone." 

Speaking of the contribution stamps can play in a commemoration of this kind, Canadian  Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, Chief of the Maritime Staff said: “A stamp tells a story and will create a public awareness of the role that the Canadian Navy has played both in war and in peace over the past 100 years. These stamps will be visible reminders that the country is served by men and women of the naval service who safeguard Canada and her values.”

I'm excited to see these new stamps take their place among the many interesting and beautiful stamps of the Canada Post 2010 stamp program.

More information on the Canadian Navy and the many celebrations taking place during 2010 for its 100th anniversary, may be found here.

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