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By Bret Evans
Canada Post chose a game with the neighbouring Ottawa Senators to launch the new Montreal Canadiens stamps, and a few new coin products.
The stamps were unveiled Oct. 17 at a Bell Centre ceremony with Jean Béliveau, Guy Lafleur and Henri "Pocket Rocket" Richard participating in the unveiling. Coin collectors will be interested in two coin/stamp sets, which include new issues of coins and wafers...
One item immediately available is a "Centennial Pack" consisting of a lenticular souvenir sheet and a lacquered circulation $1 Canadian coin featuring the Canadiens’ 100th anniversary logo. The lacquered version is only available through the pack.
In late November, a larger set will be issued containing gold wafers, stamps, coins, and a souvenir sheet.
A domestic-rate permanent stamp featuring a close-up of Maurice "Rocket" Richard’s game-worn #9 hockey sweater, plus three high-value stamps featuring actual footage of the historic 500th goals of Richard, Béliveau and Lafleur are now available.
Marc Courtois, chairman of the board of directors at Canada Post, noted during the unveiling that the stamps not only commemorate the centennial of the Montreal Canadiens, but also pay tribute to every player who has ever worn the "La Sainte-Flanelle" (the holy flannel sweater).
"This iconic symbol has come to mean a tradition of on-ice excellence that has inspired generations of hockey players and fans alike," Courtois said.
Using a lenticular printing process and digital footage of the Richard, Beliveau and Lafleur goals provided by the Canadiens, the stamps become mini-movies. When moved up and down, the actual sweep of action – from shot to goal – as it appeared in the original film clips, is visible on the stamps. This is the first time this technology has been used on a Canadian stamp.
"We are both thrilled and honoured to be the first team in Canadian sports history to be honoured on a motion stamp from Canada Post," noted Ray Lalonde, the Montreal Canadiens’ vice-president and chief sales and marketing officer. "Thanks to some of the greatest hockey legends the game has ever seen, the Canadiens have been a symbol of sports excellence for 100 years. It is appropriate that the milestone achievements for three of those men, Rocket Richard, Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur, are featured on these extraordinary stamps."
The three $3 lenticular commemorative stamps were created using Motionstamp technology by New Zealand’s Outer Aspect Ltd. This technology is also used on the banners printed on the frame of the souvenir sheet, representing the 15 players whose jerseys have been retired by the team.
Although the technology has been used for several Canadian coins, this is the first Canadian stamp to feature lenticular motion.
The official first-day cover for the domestic-rate stamp shows the evolution of the team’s logo over its 100-year history, as well as the names of the 761 players that have suited up for at least one game over the franchise’s first 100 seasons.
The back of the souvenir sheet features photographs of the 15 Montreal Canadiens players whose jerseys have been retired.
Also available immediately is a lenticular souvenir sheet enlargement, measuring 33 by 43 centimetres.
November 24, 2009 to December 7, 2009 issue of Canadian Coin News
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