400th Anniversary of Foundation of Quebec

Perforation type: 12 ¾x12 ¾

Subject:

85 cents (the Sale price of a set of 6 souvenir sheets - 15 euros).

On stamp - meeting Samuel de Champlain* with local natives. 

In design of the souvenir sheetit is used a fragment of a map of district of Canada of Past. At the right, bottom corner there is a schematical image of a watermill (see a fragment)

Additional:

*Samuel de Champlain, (03.07.1567 — 25.12.1635), "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, geographer, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, ethnologist, diplomat, chronicler, and the founder of Quebec City on July 3, 1608, of which he was the administrator for the rest of his life.

In every way but name, Samuel de Champlain was Quebec City's and New France's Governor. Given the fact that Champlain did not belong to the class of nobility, he never would have been able to reach that title. Some say that the King of France made him his "royal geographer", but it is unproven and may only come from Marc Lescarbot books: Champlain never used that title. After the murder (in 1610) of Henry IV, as Samuel Champlain was yet well-known and to keep him his necessary access to the Court of France during the long beginning regency time (the new king was a nine year old child), everybody (from the Notaries and the Printers-Librarians) accepted to add a "de" before his family name: a tolerated usage for such reasons. However, Champlain received the official title of "lieutenant" (adjunct representative) of the, one after the other, noble designated as Viceroy of New France, the first being Pierre Du Gua De Mons. From 1629, Champlain was named "commandant" under the authority of the King Minister, Richelieu. Champlain's successor, Charles Jacques Huault de Montmagny, was the first to be named as Quebec City's and New France's Governor, being from 1636 the first noble to live there in that century.

It is Samuel de Champlain's determination to succeed in establishing a French colony in America that earned him, since the 19th century, to be named "The Father of New France". He was also integral in opening North America to French trade, especially the fur trade. French colonization on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River strongly began in 1634 and 1635, during the two last summers of his life, with the arrival of the many staying families recruited by Robert Giffard.

 

______

**On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the foundation of Quebec City, France wanted to highlight the profound friendship that exists between France and Quebec since the foundation of the city by the Frenchman Samuel de Champlain, on July 3rd, 1608. It is doing so by taking an active role alongside the Quebec people throughout the entirety of the celebrations during 2008, both in Quebec and France.

Size (of sheet, booklet) mm: 205x96