Do We Still Need Postage Stamps?

I need postage stamps. Not for mailing but for collecting. once or twice a month Canada Post issues a new stamp (maybe more than one) and I get giddy and have to have it so yes I need postage stamps. I've needed postage stamps since I was seven years old.

Do new collectors collect by buying new issues from the post office philatelic agency or their local post office instead of through dealers and other collectors? A large number of people are keeping the post office philatelic agency doing very well these days by buying new issues and I don't think that it's mostly the experienced philatelist but the new amateur stamp collector.

canadianphilatelist, many moons ago I felt more or less the
same way as you about new Canadian stamp issues.

I would anxiously await finally getting a look at the actual
stamp because in those ancient times everything
was in black and white and the the stamp shown on the Canada Post
Office Department new issue brochure mailed weeks before only
had a picture of the upcoming stamp in black and white.

If there are any young ones on here keep in mind that even TV shows then were only in black and white and
on top of roofs were these things called antennas to catch the signal.


Anyway I was really wanting to see what this 5c Peace stamp coming out on April 8, 1964
would look like since it was to be the first Canadian stamp printed in 3 colours since the Penny Postage
way back in 1898.


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When I first saw it I said to myself, Wow, not bad compared to all those boring, bland monochrome and
the odd bi coloured engraved stamps they printed far all those years.




Yes those were exciting times for Canadian stamp collectors
and it got better when the Post Office started using 3 printers
each of which did a lot of experimenting with printing methods,perforations, paper etc.

And of course it was pure philatelic heaven when all the
Centennials were issued.

Actually - I agree with lithograving to a point. But the more earthshaking event was in 1952 when the Red Cross issue came out - with that brilliant red cross.

Thought I would chime in here with probably what is very much a contributing factor. Licensing deals. The CFL, NHL, levels of government, provincial Olympic committees, recording studios, arts and entertainment companies, conservation societies and much more. All of these bring licensing revenue to Canada Post, which is a HUGE part of their business. Kiss that all goodbye going to a full meter system or single stamps with common rates or whatnot. The fact that collectors chase these varieties is just the cherry on the pie.

My 2 cents.
Dan

@Faken, I find that quite interesting. I seem to recall the Eaton's
presentation booklet and the Home Hardware and Canadian Tire
stamps and there was talk that Canada Post made some sort of deal
with them; but HUGE?
I don't think the NHL needs CP to advertise for them.
Now the CFL maybe?
Besides, how much of the general public buys or gets
stamps (especially commems) on their mail so where is the visibility?

Where is the bang for the advertisement buck for the NHL in this?
The league and the teams are greedy, not stupid.

Could be the other way around, Canada Post has to pay
the NHL for the rights to use the teams' logos.

I would appreciate some links that would show what
kind of HUGE licensing revenue CP is getting annually?

In all honesty, I didn't think it was that much of a secret that CPC does licensing deals the same as USPS does. Just something I've known before the web, probably read about it some place. I doubt you're going to find financial documentation disclosing these numbers, but you can bet it's not chump change and very large part of their business. It's pretty much the primary reason why you would never see a single stamp design. CPC is a business, they don't do anything without it making money for them. And let's not forget this is a crown corporation, so corporate sponsors likely get kickbacks in other areas outside of the postal realm... tax breaks and that sort of thing. I'm sure that the physical stamp sales is a tiny little line on their P&L.

It very well may be they do pay for licensing rights for certain logos, but you can bet they don't do it without a positive EBITDA at the end of the day. Big business make no emotional decisions, it's all about what the numbers dictate and nothing more.

Again, this is just my 2 cents, but as a long time analyst and business director in large companies, it's a pretty logical conclusion. I don't think you'll find a detailed line by line P&L online from CPC to confirm or refute this either though unfortunately.

There seems to be enough business in Minneapolis to have a philatelic shop in the downtown Minneapolis Post Office. I handle getting my new issues from Kansas City. They offer me at least excellent service and computer to door for $1.25 is very reasonable.
Tom

Well thanks for the explanation Faken but I'm still
curious about how much money Canada Post is getting from all
this.


May I ask what is meant by