Canada 8 Cents Registered Letter Stamp

Canada · 1876 · 8 Cents

This stamp features a right-facing profile portrait of Queen Victoria, based on a sculpture by William Theed. The design is framed by an ornate oval with the denomination 'EIGHT CENTS' below and 'CANADA REGISTERED LETTER STAMP' inscribed around the portrait. It was specifically issued for the prepayment of the registration fee on mail.

Issued during the reign of Queen Victoria, this was one of Canada's early registration stamps, designed to provide a secure and accountable mail service for valuable items. These specialized stamps were eventually phased out in favor of regular postage stamps for registration purposes.