Canadian Lighthouse Stamp Backwards
By Sue Clark on Jan 9, 2008 in Featured 
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Comments Bring Problem To Light
A couple of interesting comments were made on a recent article about the Flag series of stamps issued by the Canadian Post Office in late December. It was mentioned that either the lighthouse had been moved to Australia, or that (most likely) the been reversed to keep the flag in the same position as the rest of the series.
Well, it appears that the lighthouse had been accidentally reversed for “aesthetic” reasons by the stock photo company that did the printing, and it has Bristish Columbia Senator Pat Carney just a little bit incensed. Carney is waging a campaign to get Canadian lighthouses added to the Heritage Protection Act. In an article from the Times Colonist, she said it was great that the Pachena Point Lighthouse was chosen for the stamp. “But it is unfortunate that they were not able to present it accurately. … We are fighting to preserve maritime history and it doesn’t help to misrepresent it.”
 The Pachena Point stamp as issued |
 The correct orientation of Pachena Point |
The Comments:
From Dave:
With reference to the Pachena point stamp,
One thing to note is that with the angle of the sun (judging by the cast shadows) the only way this pic can work is if it’s an Australian lighthouse or, if it is in fact in the Northern hemisphere in Canada we have to be facing more or less East or North East for the photo – so, judging by the clear ocean horizon, and that fact that Pachena is a BC lighthouse, it’s pretty clear from the stamp that Pachena Point lighthouse can’t be on the West Coast at all, so must be on Vancouver Island’s East coast and we can’t see the coast range. Seems a major error to me – shifting coasts!
And Chris replied:
Pachena Point is indeed on the west coast of Vancouver Island, but the image has been reversed (in order to accomodate the flag in the same position it appears in the other stamps, I assume).
US Mint Made Mistakes, Too
When the US Mint was preparing to issue the Maine state quarter in 2003, the Mint artist took liberties with the submitted design, cutting off one of the sails of the Victory Chimes windjammer and sharply exaggerating the cliffs that Pemaquid Point Lighthouse sits on. Fortunately that was caught in time and the design was fixed before its release. But in this case, the Canadian Post Office printed over a million stamps, enough to last through July, and may or may not fix the design. He said that consideration would be given to turning the image around when the stamp is reprinted, but would factor in the impact the change would have on the stamp collecting market.
According to Jim Phillips, director of stamp service, recalling the stamps would be a huge expense, and stated that the Post Office would never have done that reversal. However, if they are not respoinsible for checking the final design, who is? Is it left up to sharp-eyed citizens to call attention to the fact that someone messed up? In fact, the original photographer of the picture used on the stamp didn’t even recognize it. But he said he wasn’t concerned about what a coprorate client did to his photos. Be that as it may, the Canadian Post Office ought to correct this misrepresenation of Pachena Point Light. In the meantime, perhaps stamp collectors should hang on to the wrong way lighthouse. It may be worth something in the future, if only as an example of governmental missteps.
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More About Postage Stamps
- Pacific Lighthouse Stamps Released
- Canada To Release Lighthouse Stamps
- Canadian Lighthouse Stamp Backwards
- PO Will Reissue Stamp
If you’re in New South Wales, Australia, on Sunday, October 19, get out your running shoes for the very scenic Run For Breast Cancer. The Coordinator for the event wants to see at least five runners or walkers for each breast cancer patient on the North Coast. That translates to 1000 or so participants.
