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Species at risk found on new stamps

Sept. 25, 2006

Species at risk found on new stamps
To mark Stamp Month 2006, Canada Post will issue the first in a series of three sets of stamps depicting endangered species native to Canada. The initial set of four domestic rate (51¢) stamps bear images of the Blotched Tiger Salamander, the Blue Racer snake, the Swift Fox and the Newfoundland Marten - all land creatures. Canadian stamps featuring at-risk water creatures and air creatures will be issued in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) lists more than 500 Canadian species as being at risk. Habitat loss and degradation of habitat, along with genetic and reproductive isolation, suppression of natural events, environmental contamination, over harvesting and excessive trade, climate change, disease and the presence of invasive species, are factors that can put an animal or plant at risk.

The designers, David Sacha and Karen Satok of Sputnik Design Partners Inc., sought to design an issue that displayed the innate beauty of the four subjects, while at the same time speaking to their unfortunate reality. Starting with photography-based designs, the team moved to illustrations (by Doug Martin) as a means to portray the creatures in a softer tone.

These Endangered Species stamps will be available for purchase at post offices across the country on September 29, 2006. The stamps measure 50.5 mm x 27 mm (horizontal) and will be sold in booklets of eight stamps or as a souvenir sheet of four stamps. Lowe-Martin printed four million of the self-adhesive stamps on Tullis Russell Coatings paper using lithography in 8 colours. The stamps are general tagged on all four sides with simulated perforations. The souvenir sheet has 13+ perforations. The Official First Day Cover cancellation will read: CALGARY AB.

Additional information about the Blotched Tiger Salamander, the Blue Racer snake, the Swift Fox and the Newfoundland Marten can be found at http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/. Additional information about Canadian stamps can be found in the Newsroom section of Canada Post's website, and downloadable high-resolution photos of the Endangered Species issue is in the Newsroom's Photo Centre. Stamps and Official First Day covers will be available at participating post offices, and can be ordered online by following the links at Canada Post's website www.canadapost.ca, or by mail-order from the National Philatelic Centre. From Canada and the USA call toll-free: 1 800 565-4362 and from other countries call: (902) 863-6550.