I came across this one today:

It’s a 1898 issue featuring a wonderful map (multicolored to boot — which was a first in Canadian postage), reminding us of a time when the British empire really did span the four corners of the earth. (If you’re interested, you can check out a more detailed version right here.)

Interestingly, it’s noted here that the empire indicated on the stamp “is ‘vaster’ than reality. German South Africa, Portuguese East Africa and the Republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State, and Borneo are colored red, but were not British.” So, it’s not only the printer’s fault that the red dye migrates a little (you can see how it overlaps here and there); it looks like the cartographer has a hand in it as well.

The stamp also features a quotation: “WE HOLD A VASTER EMPIRE THAN HAS BEEN.” Apparently, this is taken from Sir Lewis Morris’ “Song of Empire,” a poem written to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee (June 20, 1887). Try as I might, I couldn’t find the poem online.