Canada and Provinces

Here you will find a fine selection of Commonwealth stamps from Canada and the Canadian Provinces

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America.

The British captured Montreal in 1760, and shortly thereafter established a military postal system that handled letters between Quebec and Montreal, and from Montreal to Albany, New York. The peace treaty of 1763 inaugurated the development of a civilian post.

In 1840 Rowland Hill proposed a uniform rate for Great Britain that could be prepaid by postage stamps, and on May 25, 1849, the Legislative Assembly of Canada resolved to adopt the use of stamps in the Province of Canada.

The colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island jointly issued stamps valid in both colonies in 1860. In 1865, each colony issued its own series. After the two colonies were merged in 1866, the united colony issued stamps from 1867 to 1869.

The Province of Canada began issuing stamps in 1851. The first were in the values of 3d, 6d, and 12d. Designed by Sir Sandford Fleming, the Threepenny Beaver depicted a beaver in an oval frame, and is considered the first Canadian postage stamp, in fact it was the first official postage stamp anywhere to picture an animal.

New Brunswick issued stamps in 1851 denominated in pence, and 1860 denominated in cents.

The colony and later the dominion of Newfoundland had a 90-year history of issuing postage stamps. The first issues were in 1857. The last issue was in 1947, the year that Newfoundland joined confederation. Newfoundland stamps remain valid for postal mail delivered anywhere in Canada.

Nova Scotia's first issue was from 1851 to 1857, in pence. The second issue, in cents, was from 1861 to 1863.

Prince Edward Island issued stamps in pence from 1862–1865, and a second series from 1868 to 1870. The third series, in cents, was issued in 1872.