From 1953 to 1957 the Canadian Post Office Department issued stamps depicting Canada's wildlife. The issue dates coincided with National Wildlife Week.
The 1953 set, issued on April1 1953, consisted of three stamps:
- 2 cents Polar Bear
- 3 cents Moose
- 4 cents Bighorn Sheep
The 2 cent stamp was designed by John Crosby. Emmanuel Hahn designed the 3 cent and 4 cent stamps.
Essays
2 cents Polar Bear
National Archives of Canada
John Crosbie
3 cents Moose
National Archives of Canada
National Archives of Canada
National Archives of Canada
National Archives of Canada
National Archives of Canada
4 cents Big Horn Sheep
National Archives of Canada
Drawing by John Crosby
National Archives of Canada
Emmanuel Hahn used the Crosby drawing as a model
National Archives of Canada
Publicity photograph
First Day Covers
Dargis
Usages
Domestic Printed Matter
Hamilton local printed matter, November 10, 1953
2 cents printed matter rate
Printed Matter to the United States
Toronto to Mt. Morris, Michigan, December 4, 1953
2 cents printed matter rate to the United States
International Printed Matter
The international printed matter rate was 2 cents for the first two ounces.
1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games correspondence
Vancouver to Manchester, England, July 9, 1953
2 cents international printed matter rate
Surface Letter Rate to the United States
Ottawa to Washington, August 5, 1953
4 cents surface letter rate to the United States
International Preferred Surface Letter Rate
The surface letter rate to South America was 4 cents.
Quebec to Sante Fe, Argentina, April 27, 1953
4 cents preferred surface letter rate
UPU surface letter rate
The UPU surface letter rate was 5 cents.
Aroostook Jct., N.B., to Skijrn Denmark, December 7 1953
5 cents UPU surface letter rate
3 cents Moose
First Day Covers
Dargis
Usages
Domestic Local Letter
Kitchener local rate, May 5, 1953
Canadian Pacific perfin
3 cents local letter rate for the first ounce
Toronto local correspondence, April 29, 1953
Halifax local correspondence, June 11, 1953
Kitchener local registered correspondence, June 11, 1953
3 cents local letter rate + 20 cents registration
Domestic Forward Letter
Toronto to Orillia, April 25, 1953
4 cents forward letter rate
Shortpaid 1 cent and taxed 2 cents
Domestic Air Mail Letter
Although "All-Up" air mail service had been introduced in 1948, air mail service could be specifically requested at a rate of 7 cents for the first ounce and 5 cents for each additional ounce.
Victoria to Norwich, May 19, 1953
7 cents domestic air mail letter
Air Mail Letter to the United States
Toronto to Wilmington, Del., April 30, 1953
Air mail + Special Delivery
7 cents air mail rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
4 cents Big Horn Sheep
First Day Covers
Uprated to pay the UPU letter rate
Usages
Domestic Forward Letter Rate
Montreal to Tillsonburg, April 15, 1953
4 cents domestic forward letter rate
Ontario Northland Railway correspondence
North Bay to Toronto, May 11, 1953
4 cents domestic forward letter rate