Renowned Anishinaabe artist Jackson Beardy -Rebirth Woodland Art
OVERVIEW
Offered is an original, unaddressed Canada Post Official First Day Cover issued on 25 October 1990, featuring Canada Scott 1296, the 34-cent Christmas commemorative designed from “Rebirth” by renowned Anishinaabe artist Jackson Beardy.
This issue formed part of Canada’s landmark 1990 Christmas series highlighting Indigenous artistic traditions from across the country.
Beardy’s interpretation reflects his celebrated Woodland School style and presents a powerful expression of renewal, spirituality, and creation, making this cover desirable to collectors of Canadian philately, Indigenous art, Christmas issues, and First Day Covers.
FRANKING & POSTAL HISTORY
The cover is franked with the single 34-cent Christmas commemorative (Scott 1296) depicting Jackson Beardy’s “Rebirth.”
The stamp is tied by the official Ottawa, Ontario First Day of Issue pictorial cancellation dated 25 October 1990.
The cancellation incorporates a distinctive geometric star motif together with the bilingual inscriptions “DAY OF ISSUE / JOUR D’ÉMISSION.”
The official Canada Post cachet complements the stamp design with contemporary geometric motifs inspired by Indigenous decorative traditions.
The reverse contains the original bilingual Canada Post information panel describing the complete 1990 Christmas issue and introducing the featured artists, including Jackson Beardy, Norval Morrisseau, Bill Reid, and Lukta Qiatsuk, adding important historical and interpretive context.
CONTEXT & COLLECTOR APPEAL
Jackson Beardy (1944–1984) was one of Canada’s most influential Indigenous artists and a founding member of the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc., often called the Indian Group of Seven.
His Woodland style, characterized by flowing forms, bold outlines, and spiritual symbolism, helped establish contemporary Indigenous art on the international stage.
Canada’s 1990 Christmas series is widely admired because it departed from traditional holiday imagery and instead celebrated Indigenous artistic interpretations of creation, rebirth, and cultural identity.
This Official First Day Cover combines Canadian postal history with museum-quality Indigenous artwork, making it attractive to collectors of First Day Covers, Christmas topical issues, Indigenous art, Canadian cultural history, and Woodland School paintings.
ITEM SPECIFICS
Country: Canada
Year: 1990
Type: Official First Day Cover (FDC)
Scott Catalog Number: 1296
Denomination: 34 Cents
Stamp Color: Multicolor
Printing Method: Lithography
Subject: Rebirth
Artist: Jackson Beardy
Cultural Tradition: Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) Woodland School
Topic: Indigenous Art, Christmas, Woodland Art, Canadian Culture
Cancellation Type: Official First Day pictorial cancel
Cancellation Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Cancellation Date: October 25, 1990
Addressed: No (Unaddressed)
Currency: Canadian Decimal Currency
SKU: CAN-1990-SC1296-BEARDY-FDC
CONDITION
This Official First Day Cover is preserved in excellent unaddressed collectible condition. The envelope remains crisp with clean surfaces, sharp edges, and strong eye appeal.
The stamp is securely affixed and tied by a clear, well-centered Ottawa First Day pictorial cancellation.
The cachet remains bright and well printed, while the reverse retains the original bilingual Canada Post informational text without significant wear.
No obvious creases, tears, stains, or major faults are visible from the photographs provided.
Please examine the high-resolution images carefully to evaluate centering, paper quality, cancellation clarity, corners, edges, and any minor handling or storage marks before purchase.