Unitrade 857 "O Canada" Presentation Pack

I have a Canada Post presentation pack of this stamp but cant find it in the Souvenir Articles section of the Unitrade catalogue. (After 18 years, I have finally updated to the 2021 issue.) Should I be looking for this somewhere else in the Catalogue?

If it is not there, then perhaps I should contact Unitrade. At the start of the "Pre-Packaged Stamps" section they say:


The pack consists of a slip cover with 4 panes of 16 stamps each. The
panes have a matched set of inscriptions. Here are images of the cover and the contents.

I have checked my 2016 catalogue and there is no mention of that item in it. Panes of 16 are mentioned but the presentation pack seems nowhere to be found.

Not a souvenir pack. Just the envelope they were sold to customers in. Done with many issues like the all stars, The automobile series of souvenir sheets, Olympic gold medal issue, etc. Not really meant for long term storage either, as indicated on many of the newer envelopes and folders.

Addendum: added a couple more items.

Within a 12-month period, Canada Post offered this kind of envelope on two stamp issues: the 17c Provincial & Territory Flags of June 15, 1979 and then the 17c O Canada Centenary issue of June 6, 1980.

Here is the envelope for the Flags (and showing the pane - both at the same scale):



I recall both of these envelopes simply lying on post office counters. You could take as many as you liked. There were given away free.

These are not considered presentation items.

I have made a note to include an illustration in the next Unitrade, as a footnote to the respective issues.

Robin Harris
Editor, Unitrade

Thanks, all, for your responses. That looks like an issue I can put to bed.

No1philatelist:


Thanks for this advice. Mine have been in the envelopes now for 40+ years so I took a look to compare them with plate blocks from what is perhaps a more friendly environment. I can't detect any deteriorate in the envelope-stored mini-sheets. Even the tagging which, I am sure, is more liable to migration then the inks looks unchanged. They will, however, be moved to a stock book forthwith.

Yes, purchased a couple face lots recently that had several different ones in it, still in envelopes. Have not noticed any change either, but still not the best for preservation purposes. The album is still the best place for them.

I noticed that you have the set of the four different inscription corner sheets. Nice. Check the tagging on those for varieties, with long wave Blacklight.

And Robin that is a great idea too. Adding notes about those envelopes and folders.