Canada Post began using UPC barcodes on its products in Dec 1989 - on a 39c Flag over Clouds
booklet of 10.
Over the past several years Canada Post has sold 'inscripted' and 'non-inscripted' booklets (followed by
'unsealed/open' and 'sealed' booklets). This was their way to separate the products between
philatelic and general field stock.
Canada Post introduced different barcodes for philatelic and field stock booklets in early 2000. The
two different barcodes on the same issue is yet another way that Canada Post separates philatelic and
field stock.
Some issues, notably definitives such as the 47c Flag and 48c Flag, use the same barcode over and
over again for any reprints. Although the cover design changed, the same barcode continued to be
used.
All Canada Post barcodes begin with: 0 63491
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