The first Canadian woman awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature is being honoured on a new stamp.

The Alice Munro stamp incorporates a photograph of Munro that was taken by her daughter Sheila, a sample of the author's handwriting, and vintage images of Wingham - the small town where she was born.

Many believe that Wingham inspired her fictional town of Jubilee, where many of her stories are set.

The stamp was designed by Marcio Morgado and Paul Haslip of Toronto's HM&E Design.

"Our stamp program recognizes the achievements of Canadians," says Deepak Chopra, Canada Post president.

"As fans of this prolific author know, Ms. Munro's literary talent, wisdom and humanity, reflected in her stories over several decades, have earned her recognition that few writers in any language or country attain."

The stamp was released Friday, which is also Munro's birthday.

Her first collection, Dance of the Happy Shades, was published in 1968. She has been awarded three Governor-General's awards in 1968, 1978 and 1986, Giller prizes in 1998 and 2004, and the Man Booker International Prize for lifetime achievement in 2009.

She was presented with her Nobel Prize in 2013.