Canada Queen Victoria 'Jubilee' Issue, 50 Cents

Canada · 1897 · 50 Cents

This stamp features a dual portrait of Queen Victoria, showing her as a young woman in 1837 and as the reigning monarch in 1897. The design, created by the American Bank Note Company, commemorates the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. The deep blue color and intricate engraving make it a classic of Canadian philately.

Issued for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, this set was Canada's first commemorative postage stamp series. The 50-cent value was a high denomination for the time, typically used for mailing heavy letters or parcels internationally.