Stamp Out War

Stamp Out War: Support Ukraine!

A field in Canada, a flag in Ukraine

What began as a personal memory of relaxation and peace unexpectedly echoed the colours of a nation’s struggle. This is the story of how an accidental parallel became a global movement.

On 24 February 2022, the world watched in shock as Russia launched a full-scale invasion on Ukraine. Like many, project organizer Linda felt a deep need to respond. Searching through her photography archives for a suitable image to use in the call for peace, a photograph taken 13 years earlier emerged.

2009: During a solo bike tour across Canada, reaching Prince Edward Island brought exhaustion. Rounding a bend, a vast field of yellow flowers spread out under a cloudless blue sky. It was a moment of pure serenity and peace.

This image was published as a postcard, but it needed more than just art—it needed the weight of official recognition. Thus, the pursuit of maximum concordance began.

2009 / Canada

A serene field of yellow flowers under a vast blue sky.

Understanding Maxicards

A maxicard is a special postcard where the picture, stamp, and postmark all relate to the same theme. Three layers working together to create something meaningful.

The “Triple Match”

Assemble your own maxicard below to see how the elements align.

Click the steps to assemble the card

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Vegreville
AUG 24 2024
CANADA

Maximum Concordance Achieved!

When these three elements align, they create a permanent historical record.

The World Responds with Stamps

Since the 2022 full-scale invasion, the postal agenies of a total of 16 countries have issued special stamps (which we call Ukraine Support Stamps) in response to Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Each of these stamps incorporates into its design the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine’s flag more or less prominent.

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Why Stamps Matter

These aren’t just pieces of paper. Each stamp represents a country’s official statement of support. When a nation issues a stamp, it’s a permanent record in postal history – a way of saying ‘We remember, we care, and we stand with you.’

Why Postmarks Matter

A postmark is more than just ink on paper; it is proof of time and place. By using a dated cancellation on Ukraine’s national day, the 24th of August of each year, we capture the exact moment of people’s humanitarian support in a given country.

Creating the Collection

Building this global archive required massive logistical effort. Every card travelled thousands of kilometers, passing through the hands of participants and postal workers who shared a common vision. Managing deadlines, ensuring correct cancellation techniques, and coordinating with 63 countries created a network of empathy that continues to grow.

The Sunflower Symbol

The Sunflower (Sonyashnyk) is the national flower of Ukraine. In our collection, it appears as a recurring motif of resilience—turning toward the light even in the darkest times. From stamps to hand-drawn ‘philagraphs’, the sunflower binds the collection together. In countries where no species of sunflower is native, we substitute it with a yellow flower.

Ukraine Support Maxicard

Each maxicard in our collection shares the same postcard base, but is paired with differenct country’s sunflower (or yellow flower) stamp and dated postmark. Sometimes, the postmark itself can be fancy—like this Japanese variety uses a sunflower-shaped postmark that our partcicipant needed to drive nearly 2 hours to obtain.

A Growing Network of Solidarity

24 February 2022

Russia launched full-scale invasion of Ukraine

February to August 2022

11 countries issued Ukraine Support Stamps

24 August 2022

First edition of Stamp Out War launched

September to December 2022

3 more countries issued Ukraine Support Stamps

24 August 2023

Second edition

24 August 2024

Third edition / Australia issued Ukraine Support Stamp

24 August 2025

Fourth edition

2022-2025 Cumulative Impact

283 unique maxicards created by 69 participants from 61 countries, raising funds for Ukraine relief.

Cumulative Growth of Solidarity

Total number of unique maxicards realized over the project lifecycle.

How You Can Help

The maxicards created for this project are being auctioned to raise funds for Ukraine relief efforts. Every contribution helps.

Where do the funds go?

All proceeds from the auction of these maxicards go directly to Canada-Ukraine’s Foundation for helping refugees, providing food, shelter, and medical care to those affected by the conflict.

Visit Canada-Ukraine Foundation Website Learn About Auctions

A Message of Peace

From small stamps to big impact. The Stamp Out War project proves that even the smallest gestures can create meaningful change. Through postcards, stamps, and postmarks, people came together to send a powerful message:

We stand with Ukraine.

We choose peace.

We remember.

STAMP OUT WAR:SUPPORT UKRAINE!

Through The Art of Philately

The Interactive Exhibition

A field in Canada, a flag in Ukraine

Understanding Maxicards

1. The Postcard

2. The Stamp

3. The Postmark

The “Triple Match”

The Picture

The Stamp

The Postmark

The World Responds with Stamps

Latvia

Estonia

Poland

Austria

Croatia

Moldova

Lithuania

Czech Republic

Luxembourg

Spain

France

Canada

Slovakia

Portugal

Italy

Australia