On today’s date in 2006, Canada Post issued three stamps as part of its “Flowers” series, which ran from 2004-10.
The stamps included denominated definitives for the U.S. (Scott #2195), international (SC #2196) and domestic oversized (SC #2197) rates (93 cents, $1.10 and $1.55, respectively).
They belong to the same series as a non-denominated Permanent domestic-rate stamp issued earlier that year and depicting the spotted coralroot (SC #2187).
“This is a particularly exciting issue for us,” said Danielle Trottier, then-manager of stamp design and production at Canada Post.
“The souvenir sheet appears on the official first-day cover (OFDC), along with a beautiful cancel depicting a dragonfly. What makes this a really unique OFDC is that this is the first time that a full set of definitives, including the non-denominated Permanent domestic rate stamp, appears on the souvenir sheet.”
A Permanent stamp issued in November 2006 is also part of the ‘Flowers’ series.
BLADDERWORT
The flat-leaved bladderwort (Utricularia intermedia) appears on the U.S.-rate stamp; the little larkspur (Delphinium bicolor) is featured on the international-rate issue; and the marsh skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) was issued for use on domestic oversized mail.
There were challenges with the stamps’ designs, according to designer Monique Dufour, because they were some of the smallest stamps ever produced by Canada Post.
“At that size, fine lines are invisible and the editing process for the illustration requires special care,” said Dufour, who worked alongside fellow designer Sophie Lafortune to create these and past “Flowers” stamps using the illustrations of Sigmond Pifko.
“I love flowers and find them particularly inspiring,” said Pifko, who typically uses 10 to 30 different photographs to compose one flower illustration.
Printed on Tullis Russell Coatings, the flat-leaved bladderwort, little larkspur and marsh skullcap were all issued in four-stamp souvenir sheets, six-stamp booklets and 50-stamp coils.