One of the most attractive sets produced by any country is the 1897 Jubilee issue of Canada . The stamps were issued to commemorate the sixtieth year of Queen Victoria's reign. The set is highly derivative of the United States 1893 Colombian Exposition issue. Both of these sets of stamps are among the first stamp series expressly issued for stamp collectors. The sets have numerous first time ever issued values that did not fit any postal rates (or their multiples) and were designed with collector appeal in mind. Their histories since they were issued has been similar as well. Both sold fairly well initially and then prices fell off as second generation collectors could not absorb the supplies that were in speculators hands. The sales of these stamps in less than perfect condition languished at only a bit above postage value through the early 1920s and the reason that the prices were not even lower was that these stamps could be used on controlled mail schemes. ("Controlled mail" was a plan where the stamps were used to an address where the stamps on the envelope or package could be recovered and sold as used). By far the majority of Jubilees were used in this way and, as used high values have generally sold for more than half the price of mint, this served to underpin the market for many years. The Jubilees were printed on better paper than the US Colombians and the stamps are usually not thinned and have held up well. Gum is usually original. The Canadian Jubilees are among the most popular Canadian stamps.
