Today in the nation’s capital, Canada Post unveiled a Permanent-rate stamp and official first-day cover (OFDC) marking Her Majesty’s mammoth milestone.

Earlier today – around 12:30 p.m. EST – the reign of Queen Elizabeth II exceeded that of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, making Elizabeth II the longest-reigning sovereign in Canadian history. The new stamp, featuring a photo of Queen Elizabeth II taken during one of her royal visits to Canada, was unveiled at Rideau Hall at 2 p.m.

“Our stamps not only depict past history,” said Deepak Chopra, president and CEO of Canada Post. “Often they celebrate history in the making. This is just such an event, and we are proud to have the opportunity to honour Her Majesty as well as her remarkable record of service to Canada and all Canadians.”

Showing a portrait of Her Majesty’s coronation in 1953 alongside a photo taken during the 2010 royal tour of Canada, the new stamp captures six decades of Elizabeth II. It was designed by Entro’s Doreen Colonello and Gerald Querubin and is being issued in booklets of 10 stamps.

Photographed at the 2010 Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill, Elizabeth II is shown dressed in red and white – Canada’s official colours, as designated by her grandfather, King George V, in 1921 – and wearing the famous diamond maple leaf broach presented to her mother, Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) as part of the famed 1939 royal tour of Canada.

Printed by the Lowe-Martin Group on Tullis Russell coated paper using four-colour lithography plus a metallic silver ink, the pressure-sensitive stamp measures 40 mm x 32 mm (horizontal). The OFDC was cancelled in Ottawa.

During her reign – a total of more than 63 years – Queen Elizabeth II has graced more than 60 Canadian stamps. As part of a reception that followed the unveiling, Canada Post – as well as the Bank of Canada and Royal Canadian Mint, which issued a new banknote and series of coins, respectively – had a display where attendees could view the many representations of Elizabeth II on Crown corporation products.

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