Changing of the Guard Ottawa Postcard 1950s Plastichrome P63328 Canada General\'s For Sale

This Plastichrome postcard, published by the National News Co. of 202 Forward St., Ottawa, Ontario, and printed by Colourpicture of Boston 30, Massachusetts, captures a vibrant ceremonial scene on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The image presents the Centre Block of the Parliament of Canada, distinguished by its Gothic Revival architecture and green-patinated copper roof, serving as a monumental backdrop for a military parade. The event depicted is the \"Changing of the Guard\" ceremony, a long-standing tradition dating to 1928, as indicated by the bilingual printed description: \"Parade ceremonies, \'Taking the Salute\' at the Changing of the Guard\" and \"Parade à l\'occasion du changement de garde.\" The scene is animated by a marching band in the foreground, composed of pipers and drummers attired in traditional Scottish kilts, dark jackets, and white spats, marching in formation. To their right, a solitary soldier in a red tunic and tall bearskin hat marches with purpose. In the mid-ground, another line of soldiers in red tunics and dark trousers proceeds in formation, while a large crowd of spectators observes from a grassy area and along the parade route. The clear blue sky, accented by white clouds and bordering trees, completes this quintessential Canadian patriotic tableau.The verso of this unused card provides significant bibliographic and dating information. The \"Boston 30, Mass.\" address of the printer, Colourpicture, indicates a production date prior to the introduction of ZIP codes in 1963, as the use of postal zones was standard before that year. The \"Plastichrome\" brand was known for its vibrant, glossy color printing, a hallmark of the \"chrome\" era of postcard production that began around 1939. The card is further identified by a printed inventory number, \"P63328,\" enclosed within a dotted maple leaf outline in the top right corner, a national symbol that reinforces the card\'s Canadian theme. The paper exhibits a uniform light cream color typical of aged stock, with sharp edges and corners suggesting minimal handling. The absence of postmarks, stamps, or handwritten messages confirms the card is unused, preserving a pristine snapshot of mid-20th-century Canadian ceremonial life.