King Charles III now appears on his first Canadian stamp as monarch after an unveiling by Canada Post following the king’s coronation on May 6.
The new definitive stamp continues more than 170 years of tradition depicting the Canadian sovereign since 1851 with a pre-Confederation stamp featuring Queen Victoria, the king’s great-great-great grandmother.
The definitive stamp was designed by Paprika and features a portrait of King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, by photographer Alan Shawcross. Printed by Lowe-Martin, the issue includes a booklet of 10 permanent domestic rate stamps and an official first-day cover, which features a picture taken of the King during the 2022 royal tour in Canada as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations.
Canadian photographer Justin Tang took the photograph. The first-day cover cancel is from Ottawa, Ont., with an issue date of May 8.
On Sept. 8, 2022, the Prince of Wales ascended the throne upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The king has been the heir apparent since 1951 and was named Prince of Wales by the queen when he was nine.
A definitive stamp is part of a regular issue of stamps, designed to serve everyday needs and issued in indefinite quantities.
A commemorative stamp celebrates a special place, event, person, or theme, often issued on a significant date with limited quantities.