Saint John Stamp Club

 The Small Queens of Canada: A Philatelic Classic

The Small Queens issue is one of Canada’s most iconic and enduring postage stamp series. First released in 1870, these stamps replaced the earlier Large Queens issue and remained in use until 1897, making them a fixture on Canadian mail for nearly three decades.

The term “Small Queens” refers to the smaller format portrait of Queen Victoria, engraved by the American Bank Note Company (ABNCo), which succeeded the British American Bank Note Company in producing Canada’s stamps. The designs feature a finely detailed profile of the young queen facing left, enclosed within an oval frame and surrounded by intricate lathework and lettering indicating the denomination.

Denominations ranged from ½ cent to 50 cents, with each value printed in a distinctive color:

½ cent: black

1 cent: yellow

2 cent: green

3 cent: orange/red

5 cent: grey/lilac

6 cent: yellow-brown

8 cent: blue

10 cent: rose carmine

20 cent: vermilion

50 cent: blue

Over the years, numerous printings, perforation varieties, and paper types appeared, resulting in a rich and complex field for collectors. Subtle differences—like changes in shade, paper thickness, and grill or perforation measurements—have created an array of recognized varieties and rarities.

Among the most famous are the elusive 1-cent “Montreal Gazette” Bisect, an emergency provisional use during a stamp shortage, and the 2-cent green on the thick “soft wove” paper, highly prized by specialists.

The Small Queens were eventually succeeded by the 1897 Jubilee Issue, commemorating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Yet their long usage and the many nuances of production make the Small Queens a fascinating study and a cornerstone of Canadian philately.

for pictures see: RPSC site