Sponsored Stamps of Canada (original) (raw)

Introduced by Canada Post in 1990 as part of a general trend towards increased commercialization of postal services and as a means to provide additional revenue, the sponsorship of postage stamps is a somewhat controversial issue among philatelists. Those who attach considerable import to postage stamps as a medium that helps to define a country tend to feel that commercial sponsorships cheapen that noble purpose. Others are less concerned and view sponsorships as just another interesting facet to the hobby.

This article makes no judgement as to the correctness of sponsorships. Its aim is simply to present the facts about them. The authorwelcomes any feedback concerning errors, omissions and suggestions for improvement.

The 100th anniversary of the invention of basketball was commemorated on the Basketball issue of 25 October 1991. There were two formats, a souvenir sheet containing one each of 40-, 46-, and 80-cents values, and a sheet of the 40-cents value. The sheet stamps bear the name of the sport’s inventor, James Naismith, and feature the French and English versions of the issue’s sponsor The Sports Network (TSN/RDS).

All rights reserved. No information contained within this publication is to be used for financial gain without the expressed, written permission of the author.