A little-known chapter of Quebec’s prohibition era will be explored Saturday, Oct. 31, when philatelist André Dufresne examines the province’s short-lived prohibition revenue stamps during EXUP 53, Montreal’s annual stamp exhibition.
Dufresne’s presentation, Les timbres fiscaux québécois de prohibition de 1919-1920, is scheduled for 1 p.m. at La Maison du Citoyen, 7501 François-Perrault St., where the two-day exhibition opens Friday, Oct. 30.
According to the Académie québécoise d’études philatéliques (AQÉP), the revenue stamps were introduced May 1, 1919, and withdrawn May 21, 1921, making them an intriguing reminder of a turbulent period in Quebec’s social and political history.
The academy notes some higher denominations reportedly had printings of just 200 copies, a detail likely to interest collectors specializing in Canadian revenues and provincial fiscal history.
Unlike conventional postage stamps, revenue stamps were used to document the payment of government taxes, duties and fees. Their designs, denominations and periods of use can provide important evidence of changing legislation and government policy.
Dufresne has also explored the subject in an illustrated article examining Quebec’s prohibition revenue stamps and their connection to the origins of the Société des alcools du Québec. The article includes illustrations of the stamps and discusses the reported limited printings of the $5 and $10 denominations.
His EXUP 53 presentation will offer collectors an opportunity to explore the intersection of philately and Quebec’s prohibition history, when governments across Canada were debating and introducing restrictions on alcohol.
The presentation is among the educational attractions at EXUP 53, organized by the Union des philatélistes de Montréal (UPM), one of Quebec’s longstanding stamp collecting organizations.
The exhibition runs Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
According to the Canadian Stamp News event listing, visitors can browse dealers’ inventories, examine philatelic displays and search through stamps priced at 10 cents each. Door prizes are also planned, with the event welcoming experienced collectors, newcomers and members of the public.
EXUP 53 continues a Montreal philatelic exhibition tradition extending back several generations.
Historical research published by the Société d’histoire postale du Québec documents EXUP exhibitions in Montreal as early as the 1930s. The 1938 exhibition, identified as EXUP III, included a temporary postal facility and a special cancellation associated with the event.
Such markings and souvenir covers remain of interest to postal historians studying Canada’s early philatelic exhibitions.
Another notable chapter came in January 1949, when EXUP V included an on-site post office. Historical accounts indicate then-postmaster general Ernest Bertrand officially opened the postal facility by cancelling the first souvenir cover.
The UPM traces its origins to 1933 and will celebrate its 94th anniversary in January 2027, reflecting the continuing role of organized philately in Montreal.
Beyond its annual exhibition, the club maintains a year-round program of meetings, educational presentations, auctions and other collecting activities.
Its 2026–27 activities calendar, published through the Fédération québécoise de philatélie, outlines regular meetings and opportunities for collectors to participate in organized philately.
The club’s popular Samedis de l’UPM, or UPM Saturdays, have traditionally offered opportunities for collectors to exchange material, browse inexpensive stamps and participate in the hobby.
According to the Fédération québécoise de philatélie’s 2024–25 annual report, the monthly Montreal stamp Saturdays, organized in collaboration with the UPM, attracted an average of nearly 100 participants.
For collectors attending EXUP 53, the combination of dealers, exhibits and educational programming provides an opportunity to discover new collecting interests, meet fellow enthusiasts and explore Quebec’s philatelic heritage. The exhibition takes place at La Maison du Citoyen, also known as the Saint-Michel Community Recreation Centre, 7501 François-Perrault St., Montreal.
Additional information is available through the Fédération québécoise de philatélie’s EXUP 53 listing and the Académie québécoise d’études philatéliques website.