Description: This original horizontal pair of Canadian revenue stamps represents the widely utilized "Three-Leaf" design type issued by the Department of National Revenue. Finely line-engraved and intaglio-printed in a deep, uniform steel blue ink, each stamp features a large, stylized central numeral "3" highlighted by subtle diagonal background lines. The top horizontal banner incorporates a bilingual format displaying the country name "CANADA" directly above the words "EXCISE" on the left and "ACCISE" on the right in distinct ribbon scrolls. Framing the central denomination box on both the left and right borders are vertical pillars composed of three stacked, detailed maple leaves pointing upward. The lower margin grounds the composition with the denomination unit ".CENTS." positioned between decorative corner rosettes.
Circa: 1934-1948
Condition: MNH pair and separated single
Notes:
These fiscal tokens were never meant to carry regular letters through the postal system. Instead, the Canadian government mandated their use to show that internal federal excise taxes had been fully paid on financial documents, luxury goods, playing cards, and tobacco products. The inclusion of the French word "Accise" directly alongside "Excise" highlights an important era in Canadian philately, reflecting early mid-century legislative mandates to ensure all government-issued materials and official revenue paperwork were fully bilingual.