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Madonna and Child

Christmas

Stamp Info

Name Value
Date of Issue November 1, 2006
Year 2006
Quantity 30,000,000
Denomination
51¢
Perforation or Dimension Kiss cut = Découpage par effleurement
Series Christmas
Series Time Span 2006
Printer Lowe-Martin Company Inc..
Postal Administration Canada

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Stamp Price Values

Condition Name Avg Value
M-NH-VF
Mint - Never Hinged - Very Fine Only available to paid users
U-VF
Used - Very Fine Only available to paid users
* Notes about these prices:
  • They are not based on catalogue values but on current dealer and auction listings. The reason for this is that catalogues tend to over-value stamps.
  • They are average prices. The actual value of your stamp may be slightly above or below the listed value, depending on the overall condition of your stamp. Use these prices as a guide to determine the approximate value of your stamps.

Stamp Supplies on Amazon

Layouts

Booklet of 12 stamps

Quantity Produced - 2,500,000
Current Purchase Price: Only available to paid users
Original Purchase Price: $6.12
Perforation: Kiss cut
Dimension: 24 mm x 24 mm
Printing Process: Lithography in 6 colours plus varnish
Gum Type: Pressure sensitive
Tagging: General, 4 sides
Paper: Tullis Russell Coatings
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Official First Day Cover

Quantity Produced - Unknown
Current Purchase Price: Only available to paid users
Original Purchase Price: $1.51
Cancellation Location: Noel, Nova Scotia
Perforation: Kiss cut
Dimension: 24 mm x 24 mm
Printing Process: Lithography in 6 colours plus varnish
Gum Type: Pressure sensitive
Tagging: General, 4 sides
Paper: Tullis Russell Coatings
Add to List

About Stamp

For centuries, arguably one of the most popular subjects of painters, sculptors and artists has been the Madonna and Child. The Virgin Mary and infant Jesus have been immortalized countless times by old and new masters alike---Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Gaugin, Matisse and Dali, to name only a few.

The term "Madonna," which is rooted in Italian medieval times, means noble or otherwise important woman and is used commonly in Western Christian art tradition to refer to depictions of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

On November 1, 2006, Canada Post will issue a single domestic rate (51¢) stamp featuring a painting of the Madonna and Child by Quebec-born artist Antoine-Sébastien Falardeau (1822-1889).

When Falardeau painted his version of the Madonna and Child---Vierge à l'Enfant---in 1857, he did so in the style of Italian Baroque artist Carlo Dolci (1616-1687). Falardeau, who was considered one of art's most famous "copyists," was so skilled at reproducing other painters' works of art that experts were often needed to differentiate his copies from the originals. Although Vierge à l'Enfant is not a direct copy of Dolci's work, it is an excellent example of Falardeau's ability to copy another artist's style. Today, Falardeau's Vierge à l'Enfant---and many other of his original paintings---are stored at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec in Québec City.

For Madonna and Child stamp designer Pierre Fontaine, the challenge of working with Falardeau's oval-shaped painting was to preserve the original fullness and essence of an Italian Baroque-style painting, while fitting it into the framework of a contemporary stamp. "I realized that it was not possible to use the full dimensions of the original artwork, so I opted to crop the image in a way that integrated the essential elements of Vierge à l'Enfant, and made Mary and the infant Jesus the centrepieces of the stamp," says Fontaine.

"What's interesting to note is that Mr. Fontaine does not modify Falardeau's image in any way," says Danielle Trottier, Manager of Stamp Design and Production at Canada Post. "Tones, lighting quality and other aspects remain untouched, respectfully preserving the integrity of the painting. The combination of old and new elements, such as the contemporary font, makes the stamp a modern and unique piece of Canadian philately."

Fontaine's design elements complement the colours and tone of the original image through the use of gold and red to highlight the type and denomination, respectively. The gold picks up the tones of Falardeau's painting, while the red brings out Canada's national colour and one of Canada Post's trademark colours as well.

Available in early November, just in time for the holiday season, this beautiful Madonna and Child stamp will add a touch of elegance to Christmas cards and letters, and collections.

Creators

Designed by Pierre Fontaine.

Original Artwork

Antoine-Sébastien Falardeau, "Vierge à l'Enfant", 1857 Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Québec, Québec

Similar Stamps

Reference

Canada Post Corporation. Canada's Stamp Details, Vol. 15, No. 4, 2006, p. 16-17.

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