OTTAWA, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - As Canadians turn their attention to the upcoming holiday season and start prepping their holiday cards, Canada Post is again offering an array of stamps sure to meet all holiday needs.
Continuing the tradition of holiday-themed PERMANENT domestic, U.S. and international denomination stamps, this year the holidays are as tasty as ever with a depiction of various gingerbread cookies. A fourth PERMANENT stamp offers a more traditional approach with an image of the Madonna and Child from one of the more than 150-year-old stained glass windows at St. Mary's of the Immaculate Concept Cathedral in Kingston (Ontario).
And following last year's successful introduction, stamps celebrating three annual religious festivals (Diwali, Eid and Hanukkah) are again available for purchase online. These stamps reflect Canada's diverse and multicultural society and celebrate annual religious festivals observed by several hundreds of thousands of Canadians.
The PERMANENT gingerbread stamps are enhanced with augmented reality, which means once the free StampsAlive app for smartphone and tablet is downloaded, users can simply hover over the stamp with the mobile device to choose from several decorating scenarios.
"This is the time of year when we take a moment to remember those around us and sending a simple card can make a difference. Canada Post was the first postal administration to issue Christmas stamps in 1898 and we're happy to continue the tradition and maybe offer a new one this year," says Jim Phillips, Director of Stamp Services at Canada Post. Indeed, stamps from the Canada Post Community Foundation for Children are also available for greeting cards. An extra 10 cents is added and all funds raised will go back to the community for children-focused programs and initiatives.
About the stamps
All three gingerbread stamps (PERMANENT domestic, U.S. and International) measure 22 mm x 24 mm with simulated perforations and pressure sensitive gum and are printed by Lowe-Martin on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in seven colours plus spot varnish. They are designed by Hélène L'Heureux of Interaction Design. The PERMANENT domestic stamps are available in booklets of 12 stamps and the U.S. and International each in booklets of six. A souvenir sheet of all three stamps is also available. The Official First Day Cover was cancelled on October 15 in Sweet Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Stained Glass PERMANENT stamp measures 24 mm x 32 mm (vertical) and was printed by Lowe-Martin on Tullis Russell paper using lithography in six colours plus spot varnish and pressure sensitive gum. The Official First Day Cover was cancelled in Kingston (Ontario). The stamps are available in booklets of 12 stamps.
Image with caption: "Canada Post's new holiday-themed stamps includes a tasty series of gingerbread cookies. (CNW Group/Canada Post)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121101_C4059_PHOTO_EN_19990.jpg
SOURCE: Canada Post
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