Today Canada Post issued two domestic rate (54-cent) stamps to celebrate 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy and recognize the significant role that Canadians have played in uncovering the mysteries of outer space.
“Canada’s astronomers have long been at the forefront of the modern quest for cosmic knowledge,” said Robert Waite, Chairman of the Stamp Advisory Committee and Senior vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility at Canada Post. “Canadians co-discovered the first black hole and took what is likely the first picture of a planet orbiting around a star similar to our sun.”
Each of the two stamps pairs an important Canadian observatory with amazing images of outer space marvels. Both nebulae were photographed by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), which is located atop the dormant volcano Mauna Kea in Hawaii. One stamp features the Eagle Nebula against an image of the CFHT telescope while the other stamp depicts the Horsehead Nebula and an image of Canada’s National Research Council’s Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO) in Saanich, British Columbia. Completed in 1918, the DAO was once the world’s largest operating telescope; today it is the headquarters of the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics.
The air of mystery and wonder captured by the stamps is carried onto the Official First Day Cover, Souvenir Sheet, booklet and enhanced press sheet, with most of the haunting space images coming from the two featured observatories. A magnificent photo of Jupiter serves as the background for the booklet of ten stamps, which includes envelope seals featuring a variety of space nebulae. A particularly special feature of this issue is found in the top left corner of the overprint souvenir sheet, an image of the International Year of Astronomy logo visible only under black light.
The 54-cent stamps measure 27.75 mm x 38.25 mm (vertical) with simulated perforations. The self-adhesive stamps will be printed using lithography in 10 colours on Tullis Russell paper. Lowe-Martin printed 6 million stamps which will be sold in booklets of 10, 250,000 Souvenir Sheets and 80,000 Souvenir Sheets with the overprint. The stamps are general tagged on all sides. The Official First Day Cover will bear the cancel SAANICH BC.
Additional information about Canadian stamps, as well as photos of the new International Year of Astronomy stamps, can be found in the News section of Canada Post's website. Stamps and other products will be available at participating post offices, or can be ordered online by following the links at Canada Post's website www.canadapost.ca/collection, or by mail order from the National Philatelic Centre. From Canada and the USA, call toll-free: 1 800 565-4362, and from other countries, call: 902 863-6550.
