Canada stamps year 1908 1/2 – 2¢ unused lot
The period from 1900 to 1910 in Canadian philately is notable for several important issues. Here’s an overview of Canadian stamps from this decade:
- Queen Victoria Numerals (1898-1902):
- Continued in use into the early 1900s
- Denominations from ½ cent to 20 cents
- King Edward VII Series (1903-1908):
- First Canadian stamps to feature King Edward VII
- Included values from 1 cent to 50 cents
- Notable for their engraved designs and color variations
- Quebec Tercentenary Issue (1908):
- Commemorative set of 8 stamps
- Celebrated the 300th anniversary of Quebec’s founding
- Featured historical scenes and portraits
- Considered one of Canada’s most beautiful early 20th-century issues
- King Edward VII Definitives (1908-1912):
- New designs featuring a portrait of the King
- Included higher values up to $1
Key Points:
- Printing Methods:
- Mainly line-engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Company
- Perforations:
- Typically perforated 12, though varieties exist
- Watermarks:
- No watermarks used in this period
- Collecting Interest:
- The Quebec Tercentenary issue is particularly popular among collectors
- Imperforate pairs and plate proofs are sought after by specialists
- Varieties:
- Color shades, especially in the Edward VII issues, are of interest to specialists
- Some re-entries and plate varieties exist
- Postal History:
- Covers showing proper contemporary usage are highly collectible
This decade saw a transition from Victorian to Edwardian designs and included one of Canada’s first major commemorative sets. The stamps from this period are popular among collectors of classic Canadian and British Commonwealth issues.
