I wonder if Burt Rutan knew about this back when...

[Dav8or]

he was designing the Vari-EZ?

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8 Utka (Duck)

First flew in 1945 as a liaison / utility airplane and to test the canard concept. Similar specs as Rutan's, but not in performance! However it is reported that the test pilots and other pilots loved flying it and it had great handling characteristics. This one had a five cylinder radial, so that's kind of cool! It was also the Mikoyan-Gurevich's first tricycle gear design.

 

[Art VanDelay]

IIRC Mr. Rutan was first influenced by the Swedish Viggen.

 

[kgruber]

Not too earth shattering. The Wright Flyer had a canard.

 

[steingar]

As did Bleriot, who coined the tern.

 

[MickYoumans]

There was also the Curtis XP-55 and Japanese Kyushu J7W Shinden during the WWII era.