Monthly Archives: February 2026
From failure to philatelic legend
The Province of Canada issued a 12-pence black stamp on June 14, 1851, marking the pre-Confederation colony’s third postage stamp issue.
From commercial miscalculation to crown jewel of Canadian philately, the Province of Canada’s 12-pence black — known reverently as the “Black Empress” — has travelled an extraordinary path over the past 175 years. Issued on June 14, 1851, it began as an ambitious expression of postal independence and ended as one of the rarest and... Continue reading →