FIRST CHRISTMAS STAMP WAS ISSUED BY CANADA

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 11

FIRST CHRISTMAS STAMP WAS ISSUED BY CANADA

(By K. W. ANTHONY) The very' first Christmas stamp came out as long ago as December. 1898. It was issued by Canada, and among other things it was remarkable for using the abbreviation “Xmas.” The stamp also marked the introduction of Imperial Penny Postage — in those days one could send a letter to most parts of the British Empire for one penny — and so it is a commentary on the progress of inflation over the last 75 years. The design took the form of a map of the world, the British territories boldly marked out in red. The inscription, “We hold a vaster Empire than has been”, reads strangely to modern eyes, and represents an imperial outlook which has long since disappeared. Nowadays some of the world’s most accomplished artists are happy to work on stamp designs.

But in 1898 the then Canadian Postmaster Gent eral. William Nulick, j > found time amid the > cares of office to design the stamp himself! In an age when the ’ vast majority of stamps were of one colour only this one was printed in I ! tnree colours, so techni- ' cally it was in advance of its time. ! Unfortunately, the colour registration was not ’ always as accurate as it ! might have been, thus some examples can be ; found which give a curious impression of the

British Empire overlapping into the sea. So in more ways than one this first Christmas stamp makes an interesting contrast with the multi-coloured stamps of today, many of which are miniature works of art in their own ■right.