Canadian stamp stories

Issue date: June 29, 2021

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the launch of Bluenose, the most recognized sailing vessel in Canadian history. The famous schooner was designed and built in response to a rivalry between Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and Gloucester, Massachusetts, over which community produced the fastest and most successful fishing vessels. This rivalry led to the International Fishermen’s Trophy, held for the first time in 1920. Bluenose was built specifically to challenge the American winners of that first series of races. Launched from Lunenburg’s Smith & Rhuland Shipyard on March 26, 1921, the schooner was designed by marine architect William James Roué of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. With Angus J. Walters as captain, in October 1921, Bluenose won the International Fishermen’s Trophy. Over the next 17 years, it remained undefeated in four subsequent series: 1922, 1923, 1931 and 1938.

Bluenose has adorned the 10-cent coin almost exclusively since 1937, is featured on Nova Scotia’s current licence plate, was immortalized in song by folk legend Stan Rogers and has appeared on four previously issued Canadian stamps. The schooner is also one of the very few non-human inductees in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

The pair of se-tenant (joined) stamps were designed by Halifax designer Dennis Page and Oliver Hill, and feature illustrations by Michael Little, inspired by the paintings of east-coast marine artist William E. deGarthe. The issue includes a booklet of 10 Permanent™ stamps, five of each design, a two-stamp souvenir sheet and a souvenir sheet Official First Day Cover. Also available are an uncut press sheet comprising six rows of four stamps arranged in se-tenant pairs, as well as a framed version. Forty thousand souvenir sheets will be overprinted with the logo for CAPEX 22. This international stamp show and exhibition will be hosted in Toronto by the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, June 9-12, 2022.