Odd stamps : 06 j Stamps on cotton / silk

Canada is said to be the only country in the world that everyone wants to visit.
From the Norsemen in the 10th century over the French and British colonies in the 15th century, Canada has always been in the interest of many people.
Except for the border with the United States, which is the world's longest land border, Canada has no other neighbouring countries.
It is the second-largest country by area, and the fourth-largest country by land in the world.

But is it a country?
Before I get e-mails and letters from 36 million people in Canada, (don't worry, I speak both English and French), the question is not that odd.
Canada is a sovereign state, but with no president. Technically spoken, it is a constitutional monarchy under the British trone. Not only is the Queen represented on all Canadian banknotes, also the royal anthem is still 'God save the Queen' and the Union Jack (flag of the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Norhtern Ireland) is still the Canadian Royal Union Flag...

De facto however, Canada is as sovereign as most other countries in the world.
Despite of the die-hard royalist, most Canadians consider themselves as idependent from their European motherland.

The flag and the anthem issue are solved as well.
The anthem "O, Canada" - although composed in 1880 - was adopted in 1980. It is used as national athem on official occasions.
The flag is a different story...
From the 19th century on, the Union Jack was present in the corner of the flag of Canada,

Flag of Canada 1868 - 1921

In the renewed design of 1921, the flag did not change much.

Flag of Canada 1921 - 1957

The Maple Leaf (symbol of Canada) is in green - and the Union Jack is in the corner.
In 1957 a small change was made in the design of 1921.

Flag of Canada 1957 - 1965

This minor modification, show the Maple Leaf in red. also the harp (Norhtern Ireland) is modernised.
The flag was only in use for a couple of years.

Finally, in 1964, a competition was held, to make a design for a new Canadian flag.
One of the designs that didn't win, showed the original colours of the Union Jack (blue, white and red) and the Maple Leaf, as it appeared on the previous flags.

1964 design : the Pearson Pennant

The winner of the competition, Colonel George F.G. Stanley had this similar flag, in only red and white. The flag is know as the Maple Leaf.

George F. G. Stanley 1907 - 2002 and his wife

Flag of Canada 1965 -

In 2015, Canada celebrated the 50th anniversary of its own flag, with a souvenir sheet, printed on silk. The image of the Maple Leaf therefore feels like a real flag.

Souvenir sheet of Canada 2015

The actual stamp is the flag itself (although hard to see) is self-adhesive.

The arrows shows where the perforation of the stamp is most visible.

Once more, Canada has issued a beautiful stamp which I thankfully add to my collection of odd stamps.

This article is dedicated to John Ridsdel (1948-2016)

Russian Republics and more ... 01 A Siberian Federal District - Touva 1

The Tuva Republic within the Russian Federation:

map of the Russian Federation - showing Tuva Republic

Some history...
From the 19th century till 1921, Tanna Tuva was part of north-western Mongolia.
In fact Mongolia itself just declared itself independent from the (People's) Republic of China in the beginning of the 20th century.

People's Republic of Tannu Tuva, 1921-1926

People's Revolutionary Party Flag, 1921

In 1921, under Russian instigation, it became the Tuvan People's Republic. A treaty between the Soviet Union and the Mongolian People's Republic in 1926 affirmed the country’s independence, although no other countries formally recognized it.

Tuvan People's Republic 1926-1930

Tuvinian People's Republic State Flag, 1926-1930

The text, in Mongolian, reads ᠪᠦᠭᠦᠳᠡ ᠨᠠᠶᠢᠷᠠᠮᠳᠠᠬᠤ ᠲᠢᠸᠠ ᠠᠷᠠᠳ ᠤᠯᠤᠰ
Bügüde Nayiramdaqu Tuva Arad Ulus "Tuvan People's Republic"

The name changed to Tuvinian People's Republic in the Constitution of 24 November 1926, which established red flag with state arms in center.
The romanized alphabet was adopted in 1930. A new version of state arms introduced 28 June 1930. Flag red with state arms in center.
On 18 October 1930, the state arms again modified . Flag red with state arms in center.

Tuvan People's Republic between 1930-1941

In 1933, the coat of arms changed once more, resulting in yet another flag.

As a result of the Second World War, (a couple of days after Nazi Germany entered Russian soil), Tuva became part of the Soviet Union, as the Tuvan Autonomous Oblast.
This annexation was completed in 1944.
Meanwhile... in 1941 and 1943

Flag changed in new constitution of 25 June 1941.
Red with initials of state ("TAR") in gold in canton.

Cyrillic letters introduced 8 September 1943;
initials on flag changed ("TAP") as a matter of course, not law.

Russian influence over the region increased from 1944 on...

Tuvan Autonomous Oblast (1944-1961)

and in 1961 became the Tuva Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic...

Tuvinian ASSR State Flag, 1961-1978

The state flag changed 10 November 1978 once more, by addition of inscription in Tuvinian language ("Tuva ASSR") as well as in Russian.

Tuvinian ASSR State Flag, 1978-1992

With the end of the Soviet Union, in 1992, Tuva became the "Tuvan Republic" and they are a member of the Russian Federation.

Tuva Republic within the Russian Federation (1992 - )

 ... to be continued ...