The Province of Canada or the United Province of Canada was a British colony from 1841 to 1867. The Province of Canada ceased to exist on July 1, 1867 when it united with two other British colonies, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, to form the Dominion of Canada.
Ontario and Quebec were new provinces formed by the division of the Province of Canada at Confederation.
On June 30, 1964, Ontario and Quebec were the first provinces to be honoured with Floral Emblem stamps. The Coats of Arms of the provinces are also included on the stamps; however, in this series of blogs, I will be only be writing about the floral emblems.
The Canadian government's "Canadian Heritage" website provides detailed information about the Symbols of Canada, including floral emblems and coats of arms.
Essays
Ontario
National Archives of Canada
Quebec
National Archives of Canada
National Archives of Canada
National Archives of Canada
First Day Covers
Canada Post Office Announcement First Day Cover
The Post Office used a Rosecraft envelope to announce the release of the Quebec and Ontario floral emblem stamps. This cover was mailed to the Congo Republic.
Canada Post Office leaflet enclosed in the first day cover
Quebec : White Garden Lily
Quebec Floral Emblem : 1963 -99
The white garden lily, the flower shown on the 1964 Quebec stamp, was the floral emblem of Quebec from 1963 to 1999. The white lily was not native to Quebec.
In 1999, the white lily was replaced by the blue flag (Iris versicolor Linné) as the new floral emblem of Quebec. The blue flag is an indigenous spring flower that grows on over half of Quebec's territory, from the St. Lawrence Valley to the shores of James Bay.
Quebec Floral Emblem : From 1999
First Day Covers
This cachet incorrectly identifies the Quebec Floral Emblem as the "Fleur-de-Lis"
Usages
Domestic Forward Letter
Lac Bouchette Station, P.Q., to Toronto, June 30 1964
5 cents forward letter rate
Nanaimo to Vancouver, August 4, 1964
5 cents forward letter rate + 35 cents registration fee
International Surface Letter
Toronto to Digby, England, July 3, 1964
5 cents preferred surface letter rate to the UK
Military
Laval-des-Rapides to CAPO 5056 (Baden-Soellingen), October 29, 1964
5 cents Forces Air Letter rate
Ontario: White Trillium
The flower known botanically as the trillium grandiflorum and popularly known as the white trillium is the floral emblem of the Province of Ontario. The white trillium can be found flowering in deciduous forests and woodlands of the province in late April and early May.
First Day Covers
Usages
Domestic Forward Letter
Clinton to Toronto, September 16, 1964
5 cents forward letter rate
The Post Office used a Rosecraft envelope to announce the release of the Quebec and Ontario floral emblem stamps. This cover was mailed to the Congo Republic.
Canada Post Office leaflet enclosed in the first day cover
Quebec : White Garden Lily
Quebec Floral Emblem : 1963 -99
The white garden lily, the flower shown on the 1964 Quebec stamp, was the floral emblem of Quebec from 1963 to 1999. The white lily was not native to Quebec.
In 1999, the white lily was replaced by the blue flag (Iris versicolor Linné) as the new floral emblem of Quebec. The blue flag is an indigenous spring flower that grows on over half of Quebec's territory, from the St. Lawrence Valley to the shores of James Bay.
Quebec Floral Emblem : From 1999
First Day Covers
This cachet incorrectly identifies the Quebec Floral Emblem as the "Fleur-de-Lis"
Usages
Domestic Forward Letter
Lac Bouchette Station, P.Q., to Toronto, June 30 1964
5 cents forward letter rate
Nanaimo to Vancouver, August 4, 1964
5 cents forward letter rate + 35 cents registration fee
International Surface Letter
Toronto to Digby, England, July 3, 1964
5 cents preferred surface letter rate to the UK
Military
Laval-des-Rapides to CAPO 5056 (Baden-Soellingen), October 29, 1964
5 cents Forces Air Letter rate
Ontario: White Trillium
The flower known botanically as the trillium grandiflorum and popularly known as the white trillium is the floral emblem of the Province of Ontario. The white trillium can be found flowering in deciduous forests and woodlands of the province in late April and early May.
First Day Covers
Usages
Domestic Forward Letter
Clinton to Toronto, September 16, 1964
5 cents forward letter rate