First courier of New France
Canadian Museum of History, Scott 1988, IMG2014-0005-0089-Dm
On December 23, 1705, Pierre da Silva, known as “The Portuguese,” became the first officially commissioned Courier of New France. From this date, he carried official dispatches and messages from private persons in the colony. This stamp was issued in 2003 to honour da Silva and celebrate the 50th anniversary of large-scale Portuguese immigration to Canada.