International Year of Astronomy m/s from Canada
I hate to say this, but it seems I have another sequel to “I hate when postal service ruins a philatelic item”[part 1, part 2] saga. This time Tristan from Canada sent me a cover with corgeous International Year of Astronomy miniature sheet on top – and quess what Canada Post did?
2009 Cover from Canada
That’s right… They pen cancelled the sheet in addition of otherwise fine cancel. Why oh why…Anyway, it’s a very nice sheet with mesmerizing images of far-away galaxies and nebulae.
2009 Canada - International Year of Astronomy m/s. Notice pen cancellation on the left side stamp.
In addition the cover has a 54c stamp commemorating captain Robert Bartlet – sealer, Arctic explorer, ice captain and scientist. Very likely he was one of the last great explorers of our time.
2009 Canada - Captain Bob Bartlet postage stamp
And finally the cover has two of the very lovely “Beneficial Insects” definitive series. Danaus Plexxippus is more commonly knows as Monarch butterfly. And I think everyone recognizes lady beetle on the stamp below.
2007 Canada - Beneficial insects on postage stamps
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Dang!@#$%#% Sometimes a person has to talk directly to the postmaster and have them hand cancel (all pens aside). You would think that with the revenue that collectors generate for the Post Office these days they would take matters more seriously!
keijo,
is the IYA sheet one of the tagged variety? some of the sheets were produced with an IYA logo that visible only under blacklight … just curious.
@Mike… If I recall properly, this one’s not the variety (I’m not sitting in front of my albums right now, so I can’t check with UV).
A quick peek to Michel catalog does state, that the variety can be identified also from the background of barcode area. In variety it should be beige, with normal sheet it should be white. This one has white background, so this is very likely the regular one.
i think i have both versions … will need to check out the “visual” clue mentioned. i also enjoy the tangential connection on the cover between the handsome “monarch” caterpillar stamp and the caterpillar nebula shown on the IYA sheet … i very much enjoy such interdisciplinary connections.