The maple leaf is an official symbol of Canada, but the Mounties (members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP) are more uniquely and unofficially symbolic of Canada. A marketing firm that did a study of corporate logo and product recognition found that the RCMP officer, with the red serge dress uniform jacket and brown Stetson hat, was the second most recognizable symbol in the world after Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse (source:: RCMP Uniforms video).
The colorful picturesque uniforms of the Mounties make them popular subjects for postcards. My postcard collection has RCMP postcards that I have categorized under several topics. The first postcard below is an ad from the Alberta Government Travel Bureau promoting tourism. This is a postcard that my father found somewhere some time around the late 1950s.
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| THE SCARLET TUNIC OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE flashes a welcome to National Park visitors in Alberta. The R.C.M.P. gladly assist tourists who need help. |
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| DAWSON CREEK, B.C., Canada Here at historic Dawson Creek is the official Mile '0" of the famous Alaska Highway which stretches through 1523 scenic miles to Fairbanks, Alaska. |
The next two postcards are ones I file under "horses." They show officers and horses that perform the RCMP Musical Ride that consists of the execution of a variety of intricate figures and cavalry drills choreographed to music.
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| This officer is a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride which is performed annually at various events in Canada. |
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| Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Photo Courtesy of Canadian Pacific Railway) |
The multiview postcard below is a bit newer. I have this with a group of Canadian postcards that I got when I visited the Winnipeg Folk Festival in 1976. Many of the pictures seem to be of the Musical Ride, including one at center bottom that has the same photo that was used on one of the single view cards above.
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| "A LEGENDARY FORCE" Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, crearted the Mounted Rifles on May 23, 1873 to keep law in the Canadian West. They later became known as the North West Mounted Police, and then the legendary Royal Canadian Mounted Police. |
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Those gorgeous uniforms. I think Nelson Eddy was the first Mounted Policeman that I saw.. Oh Rosemarie ......... But that is a wonderful collection of poscards. But only a small part of your law enforcement which has to cope with events like yesterday. So sorry, Canada.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic and cards. Inspires me to do a Canada card as well, although mine will be far east, in Edmunston...just across the border from Madawaska, Maine.
ReplyDeleteYour postcards reminded me of a book my brother used to own. I hadn’t thought about it for years, but the covers were really bright and colourful much like your cards. I think it was called The Mounties’ book for boys. Very sad to see the news about the shooting at Canada's Parliament, where will it all end?
ReplyDeleteI would never have guessed the Mountie was #2 right behind Micky Mouse. Interesting little factoid. Many years ago we visited the RCMP stables. Your postcards reminded me of that very interesting tour that I haven't thought about in years.
ReplyDeleteOh those gorgeous uniforms! Though of course there is the law enforcement aspect as well. And the beautiful horses! Thanks for sharing your collection!
ReplyDeleteA most enjoyable post - especially the video of the musical Mounties. That obviously takes a lot of skill & with only one-handed control, too, since they are holding banners with the other. The horses, of course, are beautifully trained.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are very colourful! Very nice cards and very apt.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea the mounties were so recognizable. It's a great looking uniform - your interesting post led me to wikipedia to see about female uniforms. "After initially wearing different unflattering uniforms, women officers were finally issued the standard RCMP uniforms. Now all officers are identically attired, with two exceptions. The ceremonial dress uniform, or "walking-out order", for female members has a long, blue skirt and higher-heeled slip-on pumps plus small black clutch purse (however, in 2012 the RCMP began to allow women to wear trousers and boots with all their formal uniforms.[31]) The second exception is the official maternity uniform for pregnant female officers assigned to administrative duties." Wouldn't an RCMP purse be a great thing to own?
ReplyDeleteAn interesting collection. Does the RCMP have a nickname or is it always called that in conversation?
ReplyDeleteA most appropriate post for this week in light of the very sad news from Canada. Thank you for honouring these brave folk.
ReplyDeletePeople all over the world recognise the Mounties. You have a magnificent collection of cards.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous postcards, and a great link from the past to the present events of this past week. Those uniforms really are part of Canada's identity and I'd imagine anyone could identify them right away.
ReplyDeleteGreat postcards for this week's theme....Mounties are a quintessential Canadian icon. The vibrant red jacket just catches your eye.
ReplyDeleteThe Mountie in dress uniform is such a romantic, reassuring image of a protective force - and good to see on Wikipedia that women can be Mounties too.
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