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Canada Post issued a stamp in July saluting the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, but, it turns out, that was only the opening salvo. A lot more stamps are on the way for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 games.

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Courtesy Canada Post

This stamp, issued by Canada Post in July, celebrated the Olympic Games in Beijing. More stamps are planned for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Games.

In December, the post office plans to issue two sets comprising a total of 10 stamps in advance of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.

In an unusual twist, the stamps will not be commemoratives, but will replace the usual flag and flower definitive stamps.

The stamps were announced after Canada Post was named as an official supplier for the Vancouver Games.

As part of the deal, the post office said in a news release that it would "design, produce and sell more than half a billion 2010 Winter Games-themed stamps and associated philatelic products, including collectors' packages and special cancellations. In turn, Canada Post receives sponsorship rights for the Canadian Olympic team for the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Games. Stamps will be issued to celebrate all three Games."

That's quite a turn-around from just a short time ago. There were no Olympic stamps mentioned when the post office announced its stamp programs for this year or next year. The 52-cent stamp issued July 18 was a surprise.

Designed by Toronto's q30 design inc., the stamp features an abstract image of an athlete with hands overhead carrying a flag that must have been heavily starched and ironed to stay in the position that it's in. Curiously, there is nothing on the stamp to identify it specifically with the Beijing Games.

Then, when Details magazine - Canada Post's official publication about new stamp issues - came out, it listed more Olympic Games postage that will be issued at the end of this year.

According to the magazine, Canada Post will issue five stamps in December featuring Olympic disciplines. As well, there will be another set of five stamps featuring the Vancouver 2010 Games emblems and the Vancouver Olympic mascots.

December will also see a new so-called Permanent stamp issued featuring Queen Elizabeth II's famous royal smile.

But there was no mention of new flag or flower definitive stamps, even though Canada Post plans a two-cent increase in the domestic postage rate in January.

While there has not yet been any official announcement, I'm told the flag and flower postage will be replaced with the Olympic issues in the form of definitive stamps.

David Williams madwill@nbnet.nb.ca is a stamp collector in Saint John. His column appears the second Saturday of the month.