BLACKJAG:
Thank you for your observation. The Universal Postal Union did not require
Canada Post to reprint these Millennium stamps. There is no international convention requiring issuing countries to make available its domestic postage stamps to any member of the general public outside the sovereign boarders of that member country.
Furthermore, the
Canada Post Corporation has, since its inception, in accordance with federal statutes governing its operations, and as a long standing courtesy to the philatelic community at large, has not only been providing residents of Canada full and equal opportunity to acquire these unique Millennium postage stamps from the time they were made available, through its National Philatelic centre, but as well, directly through over-the-counter sales throughout all major federal post offices across the country, which is where the serial numbered editions referred to above in my brief synopsis where obtained from, according to my very reliable source.
In addition to the above, the Government of Canada has been exercising goodwill informally over the years with various non-aligned countries around the world, including the United States who were not an active member of the historic Commonwealth league of nations and/or a signatory to the specific British North American Act (BNA). The latter, having historically provided Canada with the means to enjoy trading and tariff-free privileges, as an extended member of the Commonwealth.
In the years that followed, Canada continued to assert its sovereign right to provide, according to its own unique statutory mandate, material services to international and domestic subscribers to the above said
National Philatelic Centre, which was created to help members of the general public acquire philatelic products of both domestic and foreign significance, all within the comforting guidlines set by the UPU in which you correctly state and acknowledge Canada as being an active, participating member.
The Millennium Collection was truly a unique book of stamps. It was a 'universal', one time initiative, and as you also stated correctly - not part of its traditional, annual stamp program. It was created specifically to align with the worldwide celebratory atmosphere surrounding the end of a thousand year era, in which postal administrations from around the globe were free to actively and independently take part in, and many did!September 15, 1999, was Canada's official philatelic launch date to signify with the rest of the world that the "PARTY" north of the 49th parallel was about to begin with the special print run of millennia themed postage stamps, each highlighting moments of Canada's young and unique thousand year beginning, albeit through to the various stages of its colonial heritage to the time when it achieved absolute governance over its own affairs through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (circa 1982).
This is why I say again, that the Millennium Collection book with its special and unique heritage stamps is the first major philatelic composite
appropriately produced as an entire package by Canada for the world to enjoy, while getting a glimpse of its rich and vibrant history.
It is unfortunate that Canada did not make a million of these unique first edition sets for its inaugural September, 1999 unveiling. But then, the speciality of the product's limited, rare edition status, first and foremost for the people and citizens of Canada, would be prestigeously less attractive for the generation of young, upcoming future treasure hunters to come, in the world of philately. As it stands, it is now a much sought after, albeit elusive collectible to find.
A substantial number of this Millennium Collection book of stamps were set aside by CPC for the sole purpose of fulfilling directly the standing orders from the general public across the Commonwealth and the United States, including providing available copies to designated official, authorized licensed buying agents of the CPC in countries with similar international trading agreements.
Every country has, within its means, certain obligations to its general public, and Canada is no exception when it comes to its philatelic program and commitments. In fact,
Canada Post is among the most recognized, leading entities in the world for its domestic and international service to the general public overall.
Finally, You should also know that in the months leading up to the public release of the Millennium Collection book of September 15, 1999, the
Canada Post Corporation announced that, in addition to the special first release of these stamps, it was also including unique Souvenir Sheets partially in response to the "popularity" of the program, as I stated in my article. In this regard,
Canada Post did provide plenty of philatelic material in the way of postage stamps, to the tune of close to seventy million overall by the time the program concluded on the 17th day of March, 2000, and well within the standards set by the UPU.
RHINO DINO has so graciously uploaded an illustrated example (above) of one of those sheets.
Therefore, I fail to see your point when it is known that none of Canada's millinnium stamps were ever printed and marketed as single stamps by
Canada Post. The closest to the singularity of such an offering exists through the se-tenant pages found within the series made available through the Millennium Collection book itself.
I do not get into the actual valuation [$$$] worthiness of anyone's limited collections, but merely research and collect data as it relates to the item itself. The nostalgia of one owning a somewhat rare item is in the provenance of it being handled by the issuing authority after the fact. And in this case, the treatment of each of the stamps within the Millennium Collection book of September 15, 1999 with an official "Day of Issue" cancellation is for me, historically significant and unique.
And, for my money, I would have preferred to own the book form
where the entire set was readily made easily available - packaged as a unique special item with long lasting, acid free folio pages, supported illustrations and literature, bound together with special chicago screws for easy access and removal of any one of the se-tenant pages housing the unique millinnium stamps included - at the earliest and convenient time possible (without having to wait a minimum of four months in the hopes of obtaining a second generation of these stamps.
Again, thank you for your posting and input, and I hope this helps clarify any unfortunate misconception you may have over the role
Canada Post played in the public release of its original Millennium Collection of stamps in celebration of the turn of a millennia.
Posted 05/02/2013 1:10 pm
