Vancouver 2010 Winter
Games (Olympics) (P/54c era)
Updated Nov 28/09
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Coils (100 / 50):
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Coils (5000):
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Booklets:
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Souvenir sheet:
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Postal cards (see below) |
Background
Initial release date: Jan 12/09 and Feb 12/09 ($1.18 and souvenir sheet)
Designs:
- P [Permanent(tm)]: Emblems (2 designs) - Canada's first
se-tenant coil issue
- 98c Miga (sea bear who transforms from orca whale to white Kermode bear;
ski tricks)
- $1.18 Sumi (animal guardian spirit; curling)
- $1.65 Quatchi (shy, adventurous sasquatch; hockey)
Scott/Unitrade numbers:
- 2305( souvenir sheet)
- 2306-2307 (Permanent coils, rolls of 5,000)
- 2307A-2307B (Permanent coils, rolls of 100)
- 2308-2310 (rolls of 50)
- 2311-2313 (booklet singles)
- BK397-BK399 (booklets)
Printer: Lowe-Martin (Ottawa, ON)
Printing method: Lithography (5 colours)
Paper: self-adhesive, TRC
Designers: VANOC
Postage rates (Jan 12/09- current ):
- P = 54c - domestic lettermail (0-30g)
- 98c -USA (0-30g)
- $1.18 - USA oversize (30-50g)
- $1.65 - International (0-30g)
Format:
Water-activated stamps, issued Feb 12/09.
Additional logos have been included on the tagging plate.
(image to come)
(Each value in the coil, booklet, and souvenir sheet formats share the same
groupings of logos.)
Coil Checklist
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Self-adhesive |
Water-activated gum |
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Coil |
Booklet |
Souvenir sheet |
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Die cut 8.1 – 9.6
(4 nibs) |
Die cut 7.85 – 8.85
(3 nibs) |
3 nibs / 4 nibs* |
Die cut 9.2
Rounded peaks |
Die cut 9.2
Rounded peaks |
Die cut 9.2
Rounded peaks |
Perf 13.4x13.1 |
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C paper |
C paper |
C paper |
Roll of 5,000
["Valley" at UL] |
Quarterly Pack Single
["Peak" at UL] |
Pane of 6
["Valley" at UL] |
C paper |
| Domestic First-class rate: |
| P Vancouver 2010 emblem |
Jan 12/09 |
Apr /09 |
Jul /09 |
Jan 12/09 |
May /09 |
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Feb 12/09 |
| P Paralympic emblem |
Jan 12/09 |
May /09 |
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Feb 12/09 |
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USA rate: |
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98c Miga |
Jan 12/09 |
Apr /09 |
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May /09 |
Jan 12/09 |
Feb 12/09 |
| USA Oversize rate (30-50g): |
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$1.18 Sumi |
Feb 12/09 |
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Sep /09 |
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May /09 |
Feb 12/09 |
Feb 12/09 |
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International rate: |
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$1.65 Quatchi |
Jan 12/09 |
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May /09 |
Jan 12/09 |
Feb 12/09 |
The date shown is the date of issue of that specific variety. A "blank" means the item does not exist.
* The third row of die cutting above the gutter from these rolls is the 4-nib
variety (die cut 9.30 to 9.60) while the other ten die cutting rows are the
3-nib variety (die cut 7.85 to 8.85), producing a very nice "compound perf"
variety.
Coil Distribution
The coils were distributed to post offices in boxes, with 10 rolls per box.
Self-adhesive labels were applied to one end of these boxes that contained
several pieces of information:
- quantity of rolls per box
- Canada Post product number
- printing roll number, date, and time
- internal barcode and number
| Permanent |
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98c |
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| $1.18 |
$1.65 |
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The rolls were wrapped around a thick inner core or cardboard. A clear,
self-adhesive sticker was applied on the end of the roll to keep it rolled. This
'wrapper' had a UPC barcode which would be scanned at the post office checkout.
Each wrapper was colour-coded to match the corresponding stamp.
Coil Start/End Cutting All of the
Olympic coils in this series have the "wavy die cut" at the start and end of the
rolls. All rolls are affixed to the inner cardboard tube. Illustrated at the
starter strips of 4 (the generally accepted method of collecting these items).
Coil Serpentine
Die Cutting
To date, one die cutting pattern has appeared on these stamps (all are approximate or average measurements):
- 8.1 – 9.6 horizontally (P, 98c, $1.18 and $1.65)
We say “approximately” because the serpentine die cutting is not consistent across the full
printing press. In fact, even across a single stamp the peaks and valleys will vary both
in depth and width. It is as if a piece of metal were made into an
accordion and then
stretched by hand with no apparent effort to precision.
Coil - Roll of 5,000
Both of the Permanent coil
designs were released in separate rolls of 5,000 stamps on
January 12, 2009. The die cutting is a consistent 9.2 across the top and
bottom of the stamp.
Due to the consistent, and different die cut gauge, this stamp is
different compared to that from rolls of 100. It may prove to be
difficult to find on commercial mailings used in period.
The stamps are rolled in a horizontal format (compared to vertical for the
same design in rolls of 100 issued to post offices). There is a gap between
the stamps and extra backing paper above and below the stamps. Illustrated
below is a strip of 10, as received from the philatelic sales branch. These
stamps could only be ordered in strips of 4 or 10; full rolls are only
available to business clients.
There are no additional markings on the roll - either front or back.
The 98c, $1.18 and $1.65 designs were issued in booklet "panels" of 6 stamps.
Booklet Checklist
| Booklet panes |
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C paper |
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back cover: |
Mascots |
| 98c Miga |
Jan 12/09 |
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$1.18 Sumi |
Feb 12/09 |
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$1.65 Quatchi |
Jan 12/09 |
Booklet Cover
The original printings of these booklets provided a "biography" of the
corresponding mascot.
 The 2009/01 Quarterly Pack offered some surprises with the Olympic stamps that were supplied.
Included were the following 10 stamps and 1 souvenir sheet:
- souvenir sheet
- booklet singles (98¢, $1.18, $1.65)
- coil singles from rolls of 5,000 (2 x Permanent)
- coil singles from rolls of 100 (2 x Permanent)
- coil singles from rolls of 50 (98¢, $1.18, $1.65)
The first three items all match the items that were issued previously through
postal outlets. The booklet singles are die-cut to shape and this is the only
source to get the stamp and backing paper in this manner.
The last two items, however, differ quite a bit from the stamps that are found
in the full rolls of 100 or 50. A new die cutting mat was employed that is very
similar to that used on the booklet singles and rolls of 5,000. That is, the die
cutting is "perfect" (a consistent shape and gauge).
These stamps can be easily differentiated from the full-roll and booklet
counterparts, as illustrated below:
The 98c, $1.18 and $1.65 designs were issued in postage paid postal cards. All
three were released January 12, 2009. Note that the $1.18 design in postal card
format appeared before the postage stamp (the latter was issued Feb 12/09)!
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Perf gauge
