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Canadian Horse

The Canadian Horse and the Newfoundland Pony

Stamp Info

Name Value
Date of Issue May 15, 2009
Year 2009
Quantity 2,000,000
Denomination
54¢
Perforation or Dimension Simulated perforation = Dentelure simulée
Series The Canadian Horse and the Newfoundland Pony
Series Time Span 2009
Printer Lowe-Martin Company Inc..
Postal Administration Canada

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Stamp Price Values

Condition Name Avg Value
M-NH-VF
Mint - Never Hinged - Very Fine Only available to paid users
U-VF
Used - Very Fine Only available to paid users
* Notes about these prices:
  • They are not based on catalogue values but on current dealer and auction listings. The reason for this is that catalogues tend to over-value stamps.
  • They are average prices. The actual value of your stamp may be slightly above or below the listed value, depending on the overall condition of your stamp. Use these prices as a guide to determine the approximate value of your stamps.

Stamp Supplies on Amazon

Layouts

Booklet of 10 stamps

Quantity Produced - 400,000
Current Purchase Price: Only available to paid users
Original Purchase Price: $5.40
Perforation: Simulated perforation
Dimension: 39.75 mm x 32.25 mm (horizontal)
Printing Process: Lithography in 5 colours
Gum Type: Pressure sensitive
Tagging: General, 4 sides
Paper: Tullis Russell
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OFDC

Quantity Produced - 21,700
Current Purchase Price: Only available to paid users
Original Purchase Price: $2.08
Cancellation Location: Cap-Rouge, Quebec Change Islands, Newfoundland & Labrador
Perforation: Simulated perforation
Dimension: 39.75 mm x 32.25 mm (horizontal)
Printing Process: Lithography in 5 colours
Gum Type: Pressure sensitive
Tagging: General, 4 sides
Paper: Tullis Russell
Add to List

About Stamp

Though Canada’s rugged landscape was not always kind to the country’s earliest settlers, help in conquering the land came thanks to the labours of the hardy Canadian Horse and Newfoundland Pony. This May, Canada Post will issue two commemorative stamps to honour their much-valued contributions to our country’s settlement.

The first stamp features a Canadian Horse—a strong, sturdy creature with royal lineage and a long presence in Canada. In 1665, the King of France sent several shipments of horses to the colony of New France. Straight from the King’s royal stables, these Norman and Breton steeds were of mixed origin and included Arabian, Barb and Andalusian stock. Since they developed in isolation from other breeds, these horses eventually merged into a breed of their own, now recognized as the Canadian Horse.

Because of its resilience in the face of harsh weather conditions, the Canadian Horse outworked and outlived larger breeds of horses—a feat that earned it the nickname, “The Little Iron Horse.” Though threatened with extinction in the late 19th century, efforts were made to preserve the breed. In 2002, the Government of Canada honoured the Little Iron Horse’s legacy by declaring it the national horse of Canada.

A Newfoundland Pony, historically considered the all-purpose pony, trots onto the second stamp. This pony’s presence in Canada dates pack to the 17th and 18th centuries, when English settlers to New Founde Land brought along many breeds of ponies to help out on the rugged terrain. These hardy creatures adapted to the harsh climate of the North Atlantic, and over time, they interbred and merged into a common breed, now recognized as the Newfoundland Pony.

Since the onset of modern technology, which took over the jobs once performed by the ponies, their populations have plummeted drastically. To protect this historic creature, the Newfoundland Government declared it a Heritage Animal in 1997.

The commemorative stamps that honour these creatures feature photographs of the horse and pony alongside silhouettes that speak to their labours during Canadian settlement. “Both species are recognized for their strength, and, despite their small statures, they’re known to endure harsh environments,” explains Wilson Lam, Creative Director at Wilco Design in Toronto. “The silhouettes, which meet when the stamps are put together, capture these qualities by showing them at work.”

Both species are also celebrated for their personable, sociable and intelligent personalities. “The enlarged views of the horse and pony heads, which highlight the beautiful details and character of their facial features, really bring out their approachable and friendly nature,” explains designer Bonnie Yam. Meanwhile, the faint and subtle backgrounds suggest the origins of the two creatures—the Canadian Horse in Quebec’s colourful autumn meadows, and the Newfoundland Pony in a crisp, winter Newfoundland landscape. Yam elaborates, “The two different seasons remind us that these horses and ponies were relied on year-round.”

Creators

Design / Illustration: Bonnie Yam (Wilco Design).

Similar Stamps

Reference

Canada Post Corporation. Canada's Stamp Details, Vol. 18, No. 2, 2009, p. 12-13.

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