Description: This Canadian definitive stamp features a detailed botanical illustration of the Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii), set against a soft lilac background. The flower is depicted with its characteristic closed, club-shaped blue blossoms clustered tightly at the top of the stem, surrounded by rich green leaves. The design is clean and modern, with the numeral "1" in the upper left corner and the bilingual text "POSTAGE / POSTES" in the upper right. The country name "CANADA" anchors the bottom in a bold serif typeface. The stamp was part of the widely collected "Floral" definitive series, designed by Heather Cooper, which replaced the previous caricature-style issues.
Circa: 1977
Condition: MNH block of 6 with selvage
Notes:
The Bottle Gentian is unique because its flowers never actually open; they remain closed like a bud, which means only strong pollinators like bumblebees can force their way inside to reach the nectar.