Canada 3d Beaver, Imperforate on Laid Paper

Canada · 1851 · 3d

This stamp, known as the 'Threepenny Beaver', was designed by Sir Sandford Fleming. It features a beaver building a dam in the center, framed by the British crown at the top and the denomination 'THREE PENCE' below. The design is surrounded by national symbols, including the rose, thistle, and shamrock, representing England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Issued in 1851, this was the first postage stamp ever issued by the Province of Canada. The choice of the beaver, a symbol of industriousness and a key driver of the early Canadian fur trade economy, was a significant national statement.