Vintage Carousels

This series of five vintage carousels from Canada Post is based on the idea of arranging the stamps as if they were spinning, which gives them their unusual shape. Available in postcards, booklets and first-day covers, the graphic proposal evokes the fair posters of yesteryear, particularly in the typography of the period. The agency proposes a concept that highlights an iconic animal for each carousel, selected for its aesthetic qualities and evocative of a certain childhood nostalgia. A harmonious whole that allows us to appreciate the hyper-realistic illustrations of René Milot, whose attention to detail in transposing the finishes and materials of the animal sculptures adorning each of the stamps is remarkable. The rides presented have been carefully selected to demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship and impressive feats of mechanical engineering for their time. From east to west, the selection features the C.W. Parker Carousel in Burnaby, British Columbia, the Bowness Carousel in Calgary, Alberta, the Lakeside Carousel in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, the Roseneath Carousel in Roseneath, Ontario, and Le Galopant in Montreal, Quebec. Originally built for military training in the twelfth century, carousels became mechanical fairground rides in the mid-nineteenth century, with carved and painted animals whirling to joyful organ music.