Canada Maple Leaves Stamp

With this stamp, the Canada Post Office introduced its first major series of postal issues leading up to the 100th anniversary of Confederation. This design, taken from the Arms of Canada, appears in the lower part of Canada's shield and is an integral part of the heraldic symbol for Canada itself. The design, as used in the postage stamp, is intended to express the idea of Canadian unity, with various parts and groups united in a common purpose. In 1920, the use of three maple leaves on a white field was approved by Order in Council as the official insignia of Canada. The 3 maples leaves have appeared on Canadian postage stamps before. The Plains of Abraham stamp, issued in 1959, also featured 3 leaves and at that time was intended to show the British, the French and many other ethnic groups had fought and worked together to produce a united Canada. The words "United" and "Uni" on the present stamp emphasize this message. Designed by Harvey Thomas Prosser in 1964.