1980 Canada 17-Cent Mandora Postage Stamp

This is a horizontal rectangular postage stamp issued by Canada in 1980 as part of a series celebrating musical instruments. The stamp features a central illustration of a mandora against a dark, charcoal-grey background. The denomination '17' and the country name 'CANADA' are printed in a clean, sans-serif silver or light metallic typeface in the upper right. Below the country name, small text identifies the instrument as a 'Mandora.' The instrument depicted is a lute-family stringed instrument, characterized by its pear-shaped body, dark circular soundhole rose, and elongated neck with multiple tuning pegs. The artwork uses a fine-dot lithographic process typical of late 20th-century philatelic production. The stamp is perforated on all four sides with standard gauge perforations. Regarding condition, the stamp appears to be in 'unmounted mint' or 'mint never hinged' condition, currently housed behind a semi-transparent horizontal glassine or plastic mounting strip within a philatelic album. No visible creases, tears, or toning are apparent in the image. The white borders are crisp and consistent, indicating high-quality registration during the printing process. This specific design was designed by Clive Abbott and was part of the 'Music in Canada' definitive or commemorative sub-sets released in the early 1980s.