Young Queen Victoria at her coronation

Women have been appearing on Canadian stamps since June 1851 when a 12-pence black stamp was issued featuring reigning monarch Queen Victoria. This is only normal since reigning monarchs have always been front and center on any country’s postal issues. But what about stamps commemorating ordinary women and their accomplishments? Which Canadian women have been honored by being commemorated on a Canadian postal issue? This series of articles will highlight the 59 famous Canadian women whose actual face appears on individual Canadian stamps (another series will highlight those women whose accomplishments are featured on the stamp, but who do not appear themselves). Part one concentrates specifically on those stamps issued from 1961-1992 (1961 was the first year that a woman other than the Queen appeared on a Canadian stamp). Continue reading →