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diff --git a/37457.txt b/37457.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1bbb0d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/37457.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14461 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Canada: Its Postage Stamps and Postal +Stationery, by Clifton Armstrong Howes + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Canada: Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery + + +Author: Clifton Armstrong Howes + + + +Release Date: September 17, 2011 [eBook #37457] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CANADA: ITS POSTAGE STAMPS AND +POSTAL STATIONERY*** + + +E-text prepared by Simon Gardner, Adrian Mastronardi, The Philatelic +Digital Library Project (http://www.tpdlp.net), and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made +available by Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the numerous original illustrations. + See 37457-h.htm or 37457-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37457/37457-h/37457-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37457/37457-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030133122 + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + + Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). + + Small caps typeface is shown as ALL UPPER CASE. + + Footnotes are presented after the paragraph in which the + anchor appears. + + This version uses the ASCII character set only. The + following substitutions have been made for Latin-1 symbols: + + ^o for the ordinal superscript + [L] for the pound (Sterling) + [S] for the section symbol + x for the multiplication symbol + [a'] for a-grave + ['e] for e-acute + [^e] for e-circumflex + [e'] for e-grave + [c] for c-cedilla + deg. for the degree symbol + + The extensive block quotations within this book feature rows + of closely spaced asterisks (* * * * *) which function as an + ellipsis (unquoted or missing material). This is distinct + from the "thought break", indicating a change of subject. + + Changes to the text have been limited to correction of + typographical errors which have been listed at the end. + + + + + +CANADA +ITS POSTAGE STAMPS AND POSTAL STATIONERY + +by + +CLIFTON A. HOWES, B. Sc., F. R. P. S. L. + + + + + + + +Published by +The New England Stamp Co. +Boston, U. S. A. +1911 + + + + +[Illustration: 1852-1857 + +THICK HARD WOVE PAPER. DULL PURPLE. IMPERF. + +THICK SOFT WOVE PAPER RED-VIOLET. + +Specimen Page From the Collection of Charles Lathrop Pack Esq.] + + + + +CANADA +ITS POSTAGE STAMPS AND POSTAL STATIONERY + +by + +CLIFTON A. HOWES, B. Sc., F. R. P. S. L. + + + + + + + + +Published by +The New England Stamp Co. +Boston, U. S. A. +1911 + +Copyright 1911 +By the New England Stamp Co. +Boston, Mass. + +Press of +Newcomb & Gauss +Salem, Mass. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + Page + KEY TO PLATES 4 + FOREWORD 9 + INTRODUCTION 11 + CHAPTER I. Preliminary Matters 18 + " II. The Issue of 1851 28 + " III. The Remaining Pence Issues 46 + " IV. The Perforated Pence Issues 68 + " V. The Cancellations of the Early Issues 77 + " VI. The Issue of 1859 82 + " VII. The Dominion of Canada--Preliminary 94 + " VIII. The Issue of 1868 106 + " IX. The Small "Cents" Issue, 1870-1882 122 + " X. The Supplementary Values of 1893 138 + " XI. The Jubilee Issue of 1897 145 + " XII. The "Maple Leaf" Issue of 1897 161 + " XIII. The "Numerals" Issue of 1898-1902 167 + " XIV. The "Christmas" Stamp of 1898 179 + " XV. The "King's Head" Issue of 1903-1908 188 + " XVI. The "Tercentenary" Issue of 1908 199 + " XVII. The "Registration" Stamps 205 + " XVIII. The Postage Due Stamps 215 + " XIX. The Special Delivery Stamp 217 + " XX. The Officially Sealed Labels 221 + " XXI. The Stamped Envelopes 224 + " XXII. The Wrappers 243 + " XXIII. The Post Cards 249 + " XXIV. The Letter Cards 263 + " XXV. Official Stationery 267 + " XXVI. Precancellation and Permits 272 + REFERENCE LIST 277 + + + + +KEY TO PLATES + + +PLATE I. + + No. 1. 6 pence, 1851. + 2. 12 " " + 3. 10 " 1855. + 4. 1/2 penny, 1857. + 5. 7-1/2 pence, 1857. + 6. 3 " 1851. + 7. 1/2 penny, 1859. + 8. 6 pence, " + 9. 3 " " + 10. 1 cent, " + 11. 2 cents, " + 12. 10 " " + 13. 12-1/2 " " + 14. 17 " " + 15. 5 " " + 16. 1 cent, 1868. + 17. 1/2 " " + 18. 2 cents, " + 19. 5 " 1859, variety. + 20. 3 " 1868. + 21. 5 " 1875. + 22. 6 " 1868. + 23. 12-1/2 " " + 24. 15 " " + + +PLATE II. + + No. 25. 1 cent, 1870. + 26. 2 cents, 1872. + 27. 1/2 cent, 1882. + 28. 3 cents, 1870. + 29. 5 " 1876. + 30. 6 " 1872. + 31. 8 " 1893. + 32. 10 cents, 1874. + 33. 20 " 1893. + 34. 1/2 cent, 1897, "Jubilee." + 35. 50 cents, 1893. + 36. 1/2 cent, 1897, "Maple Leaf." + 37. 2 cents on 3 cents, "Port Hood Provisional." + 38. 2 cents, 1898, "Map." + 39. 1 cent on 3 cents (pair), "Port Hood Provisional." + 40. 1/2 cent, 1898, "Numeral." + 41. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1899, "Maple Leaf." + 42. 2 " " 3 " " "Numeral." + 43. 1 cent, 1903, "King's Head." + 44. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1899, inverted, "Numeral." + 45. 2 " " 3 " " " "Maple Leaf." + + +PLATE III. + + No. 46. 1/2 cent, 1908, "Tercentenary." + 47. 1 " " " + 48. 2 cents, " " + 49. 5 " " " + 50. 7 " " " + 51. 10 " " " + 52. 15 " " " + 53. 20 " " " + 54. 2 " 1875, Registration. + 55. 5 " " " + 56. 8 " " " + 57. 10 " 1898, Special Delivery. + 58. 1 cent, 1906, Postage Due. + 59. 2 cents, " " " + 60. 5 " " " " + + +PLATE IV. + + No. 61. 6 pence, 1851, pair. + 62. 12 " " pair from Pack collection. + 63. 6 pence, 1851, pair. + 64. 6 " " " + 65. 12 " " from Worthington collection. + 66. 6 pence, 1851, thick soft paper, from Pack collection. + 67. 7-1/2 pence, 1857, wide oval. + 68. 7-1/2 " " narrow oval. + 69. 7-1/2 " " pair. + 70. 10 " 1855, pair, wide oval. + 71. 10 " " " narrow oval. + 72. 6 " 1859, from Pack collection. + 73. 6 " 1851, strip of 3 on very thick soft paper, + from Worthington collection. + 74. 10 cents, 1859, black brown, from Pack collection. + + +PLATE V. + + No. 75. 6 pence, 1851. + 76. 6 " " + 77. 3 " " pair. + 78. 6 " " + 79. 6 " " + 80. 6 " " strip of 3 on very thick hard paper, + from Pack collection. + 81. 7-1/2 pence, 1857, strip of three. + 82. 12 " 1851, pair from Pack collection. + 83. 12 " " " " " " + 84. 12 " " from Pack collection. + 85. 12 " " pair from Worthington collection. + 86. 12 " 1851, wove paper, from Pack collection. + 87. 6 pence, 1851, split, used on piece, from Pack collection. + 88. 3 pence, 1851, ribbed paper, from Pack collection. + 89. 12-1/2 cents, small, from Worthington collection. + + +PLATE VI. + + No. 90. 12 pence, 1851, on cover, from Worthington collection. + 91. 12 pence, 1851, on cover, from Pack collection (originally in + Seybold collection.) + + +PLATE VII. + + No. 92. 6 pence, 1851, very thick soft paper, split, used on cover, + from Pack collection. + 93. 10 pence, 1855, pair, narrow oval. + 94. 10 " " block of 4, wide oval. + 95. 10 " " strip of 3, narrow oval. + 96. 5 cents, 1859, block of 7, upper right corner stamp is + variety. From Pack collection. + 97. 5 cents, 1859, pair and split, used on piece, + from Worthington collection. + + +PLATE VIII. + + No. 98. 6 cents, 1868, split, used on cover, + from Worthington collection. + 99. 10 cents, 1859, black brown, split, used on cover, + from Worthington collection. + + +PLATE IX. + + No. 100. 1 cent, 1859, block of 4 imperforate. + 101. 5 cents, " " " 4 " + 102. 2 " " " " 4 " + 103. 12-1/2 " " " " 4 " + 104. 10 " " " " 4 " + 105. 17 " " " " 4 " + 106. 20 " 1893, " " 4 " + 107. 15 " 1868, " " 4 " + 108. 50 " 1893, " " 4 " + + The above blocks were selected from the Pack and Worthington + collections and some in the possession of the New England Stamp Co. + + +PLATE X. + + No. 109. 10 cents, 1874, block of 4 imperforate. + 110. 8 " 1893, " " 4 " + 111. 6 " 1872, " " 4 " + 112. 5 " 1897, "Maple Leaf," block of 4, imperforate. + 113. 2 " 1898, "Map," " " 4 " + 114. 2 " 1903, block of 4 imperforate. + 115. 5 " Registered, pair imperforate. + 116. "Officially Sealed" Label, 1905. + 117. " " " 1879. + + The above blocks of imperforates were from the same sources as noted + for Plate IX. + + +PLATE XI. + + No. 118. 10 cents, 1874, strip of 10, marginal imprints. + 119. 1/2 cent, 1868, " " 3, " " + 120. 3 cents, 1870, " " 3, " " + 121. 1 cent, 1870, block of 8, " " + 122. 3 cents, 1870, strip of 3, " " + + The above are all from the Worthington collection. + + +PLATE XII. + + No. 123. 1 cent, 1870, block of 12 imperforate. + 124. 2 cents, 1872, " " 4 " + 125. 3 " 1870, " " 4 " + 126. 5 " 1876, " " 4 " + 127. 1/2 cent, 1882, " " 12 " + + Nos. 123 and 127 are from the Worthington collection and the other + three from the Pack collection. + + +PLATE XIII. + + No. 128. 3 pence, 1875 (?) perforated 14, pair used on cover, + from Pack collection. + 129. 2 cents, 1872, pair imperforate used on cover, + in possession of New England Stamp Co. + + +PLATE XIV. + + No. 130. Stamped Envelope, 5 cents, 1860. + 131. " " 10 " " + + Both the above were in the Seybold collection. + + +PLATE XV. (Frontispiece). + +A page of six pennies from the collection of Charles Lathrop Pack. + + + + +FOREWORD + + +Twenty years ago the Philatelic Society, London, brought out their work +on "The Postage Stamps, Envelopes, Wrappers and Post Cards of the North +American Colonies of Great Britain." This, of course, included Canada, +but since that time no special work, treating exhaustively of the postal +emissions of this important Colony, has been placed before the +philatelic public. It seems opportune, therefore, particularly in view +of the general popularity of the stamps of the Dominion, to present this +volume for the favor of the stamp collecting fraternity and especially +of that considerable portion which is interested to the extent of +specializing in the beautiful issues that Canada has given us. + +This work had its inception in the now popular handbook idea, but in +looking over the ground it was soon realized by the author that there +was need of and material enough for a much more extended treatment of +the subject than could be encompassed in the limits of the usual +brochure. Plans were therefore laid for a thorough study of all +available material, and in furtherance of this it was found necessary to +make a special trip to Ottawa, where, in the library of the House of +Commons, is to be found the only complete set available of the Reports +of the Postmasters General of Canada. These naturally proved a mine of +first hand information which was availed of to its full extent; and in +this connection must be expressed the deep appreciation of the +assistance rendered the author by his friend M. Henri R. Landry, through +whose influence and untiring interest the way was made easy for +convenient and rapid examination of these invaluable files. Thanks are +also due Mr. Edward Y. Parker of Toronto, for notes and specimens +furnished, as well as Mr. A. McKechnie of Ottawa. + +But documents and descriptions are not enough for the thorough study of +any subject which concerns tangible objects, and three famous +collections were inspected for first hand information upon the stamps +themselves. To Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack of Lakewood, N. J., Mr. George +H. Worthington of Cleveland, Ohio, and the lamented Mr. John F. Seybold, +late of Syracuse, N. Y., are due not only the author's fullest thanks +for opportunities freely given to examine their magnificent collections +of Canada, but the debt extends to philatelists in general for thus +being enabled to share, through study, description, listing and +pictorial reproduction, in the results of their specializing. Mr. Pack's +wonderful array of rarities, beautiful copies and remarkable series of +shades has been largely used in the compilation of the stamp lists. This +collection though since much enlarged and improved, obtained the gold +medal at the International Philatelic Exhibition in London, 1906. Mr. +Worthington's fine collection has also been used in the same way and has +furnished much information concerning plate numbers and marginal +imprints. Mr. Seybold's covers were particularly interesting in showing +the actual use of the stamps, the cancellations employed, and various +other features to be gleaned from the study of original covers, +particularly of early date. Selections for illustrative purposes were +made from all three collections, as will be noted. + +Mr. John N. Morse and Mr. Edwin F. Sawyer, both of Boston, have very +kindly placed their collections of post cards and envelopes, +respectively, at our disposal for purposes of study. + +Again, the philatelic press has been diligently searched for articles, +stray notes, etc., which would illumine the pathway, particularly by +throwing side lights on various phases of the subject. Prominent among +these were the articles on Canada by Messrs. C. B. Corwin, D. A. King +and J. R. Hooper in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ for 1890-91, and by +Mr. Donald A. King in Stanley Gibbons' _Monthly Journal_ for 1896-97. + +It can readily be seen from the foregoing that the limits of a handbook +were soon passed, and the question really became one of a pretentious +volume which should be all that thorough research could offer and ample +means produce. A glance at the present work shows that this was no small +proposition, and to any one with experience in philatelic publishing it +was apparent that the desired production would mean a heavy balance on +the wrong side of the ledger. The author does not pose as a +philanthropist, but he feels he has discovered such in the publishers of +this volume. With the broad-minded policy that whatever helps Philately +benefits all, even indirectly, the New England Stamp Company of Boston, +having become greatly interested in the monograph, accepted the burden +and became responsible for the publication of the work. The advantages +of the co-operation of such a well-known firm are manifest, and the +author takes great pleasure in acknowledging his indebtedness to this +Company, through whose munificence it has been possible to produce this +volume in its present form. + + C. A. HOWES, B. Sc., F. R. P. S. L. + + Boston, U. S. A. + December, 1910. + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The Dominion of Canada, as we know it to-day, is a confederation of the +former British Colonies and unorganized territories of North America +which lie to the northward of the United States. The single exception is +the Colony of Newfoundland, which so far has resisted all overtures +looking to its absorption. The Dominion was formed in 1867 by the union +of the then Colonies of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, to which +the others were added subsequently. At that time the Colony of Canada +consisted of two provinces, Ontario and Quebec, known also as Upper and +Lower Canada respectively. It is with these two provinces that our +philatelic story of Canada begins. + +But first let us delve a bit into earlier times and trace the +development of the territory we are going to consider, as it may prove +interesting for its historical value. Passing by the claims of the +Norsemen in the tenth century to a somewhat vague exploration of the +eastern American coast, we come to the discovery of Newfoundland by John +Cabot in 1497, and it is upon this fact, in part, that England +subsequently based her claim to the whole of North America. But for the +most part the territory included within the well populated portion of +the present Dominion was explored and settled by the French. In 1534 +Jacques Cartier entered the St. Lawrence River and took possession of +the country in the name of France, and in 1608 the first permanent +settlement was made at Quebec by Samuel de Champlain. The name of the +colony was apparently furnished by the Indians, for in the manuscript +narrative of Cartier's second voyage,[1] under "Vocabulary of the +natives," is found: "They call a town--Canada." Baxter says: "There can +be no doubt that the word Canada is derived from _Kannata_, which in +Iroquois signifies a collection of dwellings, in other words a +settlement."[2] French control continued until the middle of the +eighteenth century when, in the war with England, the decisive victory +of Wolfe over Montcalm at Quebec, in 1759, practically brought it to a +close, and by the treaty of Paris in 1763 Canada was permanently ceded +to Great Britain. + +[1] In the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. + +[2] =A Memoir of Jacques Cartier=, by J. P. Baxter, p. 135. + +Tracing the development of the Colony under English rule, we find that +by the so-called "Quebec Act" of 1774 it was placed under the +administration of a Governor and Legislative Council appointed by the +Crown. Following the American Revolution, however, there was a large +immigration of former colonists into Ontario, and because of their +English stock, while Quebec was French, a separation was deemed +advisable. By the "Constitutional Act" of 1791 this was effected and two +Colonies, Upper Canada (or Canada West) and Lower Canada (or Canada +East) were constituted, each with its own separate government. Just +fifty years later, in 1841, they were reunited under the single name of +Canada. This brings us near the opening of our philatelic history. The +united provinces had an area of about 350,000 square miles and a +population, in 1850, of some 1,800,000 people. The Governor was +appointed by the Crown and chose his own Executive Council; a +Legislative Council of life members was also appointed by the Crown; and +a Legislative Assembly was elected consisting of an equal number of +representatives for each province. The Governor was made +Governor-General of British North America. + +The advantages of the union of Upper and Lower Canada gradually became +so manifest, that a convention was held at Quebec in 1864 for the +purpose of considering the advisability of uniting all the provinces. +The result bore fruit in the passage of an Act of Union by the British +Parliament on March 29, 1867, under which Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick +and Nova Scotia were formally united as the Dominion of Canada, the +actual event being consummated on July 1, 1867. Subsequently, on July +20, 1871, the Colony of British Columbia, and on July 1, 1873, the +Colony of Prince Edward Island, were added to the Dominion. In 1869 the +vast territories of the Hudson's Bay Company were acquired by purchase, +and out of them the province of Manitoba was formed and admitted to full +privileges in the Dominion on July 15, 1870. + +The absorption of the Company's Territories is interesting for, as we +all know, this was a trading concern whose sole commodity was fur. The +Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the continent were the mecca of hunters +and trappers, and their chief prey from the time the first French +explorers began to search the Canadian lakes, and later when the +Hudson's Bay Company succeeded to the French domain, was the beaver. In +fact the early history of Canada was largely bound up with beaver +catching and the sale of the skins, and for nearly a century the +northern territories, both under French and English rule, were +organized with a view to this traffic. In the early days of the Company +the "standard of trade" of the Northwest was a beaver skin. Thus the +beaver naturally became emblematic, which resulted later in its use as +the "crest" of the Canadian coat-of-arms, a place that it retains to the +present day over those of the Dominion. In this connection it would be +unjust to omit a mention of that other symbol dear to the Canadian +heart--the maple leaf. Like the rose, the thistle and the shamrock of +the Mother land, the beautiful tree of the Colony, so widespread, so +useful, and so gorgeous in its autumn coloring of red and gold--the +blazon of the English arms--became a favorite emblem of the people. The +particular variety that is so used is of course the rock or sugar maple +(_acer saccharinum_). + +Turning now to early postal history, it is necessary to go back to the +reign of Queen Anne, although Canada was not then under British +dominion. In the year 1710 an Act was passed by the British Parliament +"For establishing a General Post-Office in all Her Majesty's Dominions," +which not only repealed all previous enactments but placed the +postoffice establishment on a new basis. A "General Post and +Letter-Office" was established in London "from whence all letters and +packets whatsoever may be with speed and expedition sent into any part +of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to North America and the +West Indies, or any other of Her Majesty's dominions, or any country or +kingdom beyond the seas," and "at which office all returns and answers +may be likewise received." For the better "managing, ordering, +collecting, and improving the revenue," and also for the better +"computing and settling the rates of letters according to distance, a +chief office is established in Edinburgh, one in Dublin, one at New +York, and other chief offices in convenient places in Her Majesty's +colonies of America, and one in the islands of the West Indies, called +the Leeward Islands." "The whole of these chief offices shall be under +the control of an officer who shall be appointed by the Queen's Majesty, +her heirs and successors, to be made and constituted by letters patent +under the Great Seal, by the name and stile of Her Majesty's +_Postmaster-General_." "The Postmaster-General shall appoint deputies +for the chief offices in the places named above." The rates to New York +under this Act were fixed at 1 shilling per single letter. Other rates +were charged to other parts of the American continent according to the +distance from New York. + +In 1753 Benjamin Franklin received the royal commission as Deputy +Postmaster-General for the American Colonies. No man in America had +been so identified with the interests of the Colonial postoffice as he, +and from 1737 he had been postmaster of Philadelphia. All his energies +were devoted to his new work and when Canada passed by treaty to Great +Britain in 1763, as already mentioned, his jurisdiction was extended to +cover the new territory. It is thus curious to record that the +(afterwards) first Postmaster-General of the United States was also the +first Postmaster-General of Canada. + +In the evidence given by Franklin before the House of Commons in the +year 1766, in regard to the extent of the post-office accommodation in +North America, he made the following statement:-- + + The posts generally travel along the sea coasts, and only in a few + cases do they go back into the country. Between Quebec and Montreal + there is only one post per month. The inhabitants live so scattered + and remote from each other in that vast country, that the posts + cannot be supported amongst them. The English Colonies, too, along + the frontier, are very thinly settled. + +By 1774, however, Franklin, then in England as the Representative of the +Colonies, had become obnoxious to the British Government, and on January +31st of that year was removed from his office. After the Declaration of +Independence, Mr. Hugh Finlay, who had previously been postmaster at +Quebec, received the appointment of "Deputy Postmaster-General of His +Majesty's Province of Canada." He had in 1791 eleven post-offices under +his management, one as far west as Mackinaw and one as far east as the +Baie des Chaleurs. There was a weekly mail between Quebec and Montreal +and a monthly mail for the Western country. From a Quebec almanac of +1796 it appears that there were seven post-offices in Upper Canada and +five in Lower Canada. At that time mails were despatched monthly to +England, and semi-weekly between Quebec and Montreal, or Halifax. At the +Baie des Chaleurs the visits of the postman must have been few and far +between, as they were only favored with a mail "as occasion offered." + +In 1800 Mr. George Heriot succeeded Mr. Finlay. At this time New +Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island were all under the +authority of the Canadian administration. The number of post-offices was +increased to twenty-six. + +The following is taken from the advertising column of the _Upper Canada +Gazette_ in 1807:-- + + The mail for Upper Canada will be despatched from the post-office at + Montreal, on the following days, to wit: + + Monday, 14th January. + + Monday, 12th February. + + Monday, 10th March. + + Monday, 7th April--the last trip. + + A courier from Kingston may be looked for here in 14 or 15 days from + the above periods, where he will remain 2 or 3 days, and then return + to Kingston. + + Another courier will proceed from this with the Niagara mail, via + Messrs. Hatts', where the Sandwich [So. Essex] letters will be left, + both from Niagara and this, 'till the courier comes from there to + return with them. + + Letters put into the post-office will be forwarded any time by + + W. ALLAN, + Acting Deputy-Postmaster. + +Mr. Heriot resigned in 1816 and was succeeded by Mr. Daniel Sutherland +who, on his accession to office found Nova Scotia and Prince Edward +Island withdrawn from Canadian charge. New Brunswick, however, continued +to be included, but appears to have been withdrawn in 1824, so that from +that year until the federation of the Provinces in 1867 the +Postmaster-General was concerned only with Canada proper. Mr. Sutherland +established a daily mail between Quebec and Montreal and a weekly mail +between Montreal and Toronto. In 1827 there were 101 post-offices and +2,368 miles of established post-route, the number of miles of +mail-travel being 455,000 per annum. The letters that year were +estimated at 340,000 and the newspapers at 400,000. + +The following extract from the _Quebec Mercury_, published on July 18, +1829, conveys some idea of the postal communication with England at that +period:-- + + No later advices have been received from Europe since our last. Some + further extracts from the London papers, to 31st May, inclusive, + brought to New York by the _Corinthian_, will be found in another + part of this number. + +In the _Montreal Courant_, dated September 2nd, 1829, was the following +paragraph, showing the improvement which had been effected in the +communication between Prescott and that city:-- + + EXPEDITIOUS TRAVELLING:--On Saturday last, the Upper Canada line of + stages performed the journey from Prescott to this city in about 17 + hours, leaving the former place at a little before 3 a. m., and + arriving here a few minutes before 8 in the evening. Not many years + ago this journey occupied two, and sometimes three days, but owing + to the great improvements made by Mr. Dickinson, the enterprising + proprietor, by putting steam-boats on the lakes St. Francis and St. + Louis, and keeping his horses in excellent condition, it is now + performed in little more than one-third of the time. + +Even so late as 1833, newspaper proprietors found it (particularly in +the Upper Province) better to employ their own couriers. As a proof of +this we transcribe from the _Queenstown_ (Niagara) _Colonial Advocate_ +of that year, the following advertisement:-- + + POST-RIDER WANTED IMMEDIATELY. + + The proprietor of this newspaper wishes to contract with a steady + man (who can find and uphold his own horse) to deliver it to the + subscribers once a week during the winter, on the route between York + and Niagara, via Ancaster. + +Mr. Thos. A. Stayner succeeded Mr. Sutherland in 1831, at which time +there were 151 post-offices. Through Mr. Stayner's recommendation a +uniform rate of 1s. 2d. sterling, per half ounce, was adopted in 1841 +between any place in Canada and the mother country. This resulted from +the establishment of regular steam communication across the Atlantic in +1840, by means of the Cunard Line between Liverpool and Halifax. + +During all this period the carrying of letters was a profitable +business. There was, for example, a profit of $21,000 in 1824 and of +$47,000 in 1831, all which sums were duly remitted to England to swell +the Imperial revenue. The rates, however, were exceedingly high. It cost +eighteen cents to send a letter from Toronto to Kingston, and thirty +cents to send one to Montreal. The charge for sending a weekly paper +through the mails was a dollar a year, as much as the paper now costs, +and the postage on a daily was over two dollars a year.[3] + +[3] Most of the foregoing information is taken from extracts from the +Canadian Postal Guide, published in the =Stamp Collector's Magazine= for +Aug. 1, 1868, and the Halifax Philatelist, II: 138. + +The net revenues of the post-office given for 1831 must have dropped +considerably, for we find that in 1845 the surplus of the Canadian +Post-office was but [L]7184 ($35,000) against the $47,000 given above +for fourteen years earlier. This amount rose to [L]22,188 ($110,000) in +1848, fell to [L]15,725 ($78,500) the next year, and had risen again to +a basis of [L]20,000 ($100,000) in the year previous to the introduction +of postage stamps and the reduction of rates. The inland postage rates +then in force, as charged under the Imperial Laws, were, for a letter +not exceeding 1/2 ounce in weight: + + For any distance not exceeding 60 miles, 4d. + For any distance exceeding 60 miles and not exceeding 100 miles 6d. + For any distance exceeding 100 miles and not exceeding 200 miles 8d. + And for every additional 100 miles or fraction an additional 2d. + + + +For one hundred and forty years Great Britain had managed her colonial +posts, or at least directed them, when on 28th July, 1849, the British +Parliament passed an "Act for enabling Colonial Legislatures to +establish Inland Posts."[4] This was the signal for the voluntary +withdrawal of most of the colonial postal systems then under Imperial +direction, and for the establishment of local systems where none had +previously existed. Because of its historical interest we quote from the +provisions of the Act as follows:-- + + Whereas under or by virtue of [_various Acts_] Her Majesty's Post + Master General has, by himself or his Deputies, the exclusive + Privilege of establishing Posts, collecting, conveying, and + delivering Letters, and collecting Postage, within Her Majesty's + Colonies, and the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have + Authority from Time to Time to fix the Rates of Postage to be + charged within such Colonies: And whereas the said Postmaster + General and Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury respectively + have, in exercise of such Privilege and Authority, established Posts + and fixed Rates of Postage in certain of such Colonies: And whereas + it is expedient to Authorize the Establishment of Posts and Postage + Rates in Her Majesty's Colonies by the Legislatures of such + Colonies: Be it enacted, therefore.... That it shall be lawful for + the Legislatures or proper Legislative Authorities of Her Majesty's + Colonies, or any of them, by Acts, Laws, or Ordinances to be from + Time to Time for that Purpose made and enacted in the Manner and + subject to the Conditions by Law required in respect of Acts, Laws, + or Ordinances of such Legislatures or Legislative Authorities, to + make such provisions as such Legislatures or Legislative Authorities + may think fit for and concerning the Establishment, Maintenance, and + Regulation of Posts or Post Communications within such Colonies + respectively, and for charging Rates of Postage for the Conveyance + of Letters by such Posts or Post Communications, and for + appropriating the Revenue to be derived therefrom. + + II. [_Where the Postmaster General has actually established posts + and his power has not "determined," such colonial acts, etc., shall + not take effect until approved by Her Majesty and Privy Council, nor + until such time as the assent may be proclaimed in the Colony, or + such subsequent time as may be signified._] + + III. [_After the establishment of Posts by Colonial Legislatures the + powers of the Postmaster General shall cease._] + + IV. [_The Acts of Colonial Legislatures are to apply only to Posts + within the limits of the Colony and to rates of postage within such + limits._] + +[4] 12^o & 13^o Vict. Cap. LXVI. + +Canada lost no time in taking advantage of the above Act, and in the +next year (1850) passed the required ordinances for the transfer of its +domestic postal system to the control of its own Government. The next +chapter will therefore start the Canadian postal history proper. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +PRELIMINARY MATTERS + + +The most important of the British North American Colonies in 1850 were +Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Though not united politically, +they yet had the common bonds of fatherland, of race, of mercantile +interest, and the mutual dependence that comes, or should come, from +propinquity under these conditions. It is not surprising, therefore, +that all three should make provision for assuming control of their +domestic postal systems in the same year, nor that they should adopt +practically identical ordinances for this purpose, and should make +common postal rates for their internal and inter-colonial mail matter. +Still less surprising is it when we recall that it was but the breaking +up into sections of what had previously been a homogeneous postal system +for the whole of British North America, operated under the Imperial Laws +as detailed in the last chapter. + +While the project of turning over local postal systems to the colonies +was taking shape in the British Parliament, Canada "took time by the +forelock" and made preparations for obtaining its own postage stamps. + + "In the Journal of May 21, 1849, there is a message to the + legislative assembly of Canada relating to the establishing of a + general post-office for the Province, when handed over by the + Imperial government. A resolution was brought up in the assembly on + May 22, 1849, 'That postage stamps for prepayment be allowed and + that Colonial stamps be engraved.' This finally passed the assembly + on May 25, 1849, and received the assent of the legislative council + on the 26th."[5] + +[5] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, I: 253. + +A year later, after the passage of the enabling act by the British +Parliament, which has been already quoted, the Canadian Parliament took +up the consideration of the main subject and on the 10th August, 1850, +passed what is known briefly as _The Post Office Act_, the provisions of +which that are of most interest to us being such as follow:-- + + 13^o & 14^o Victoriae., Cap. XVII. + + An Act to provide for the transfer of the management of the Inland + Posts to the Provincial Government, and for the regulation of the + said Department. + + Whereas by the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, passed + in the Session held in the twelfth and thirteenth years of Her + Majesty's Reign, and intituled, _An Act for enabling Colonial + Legislatures to establish Inland Posts_, the Legislatures or proper + legislative authorities of Her Majesty's Colonies are empowered ... + to make such provisions as [they] may think fit for and concerning + the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of Posts and Post + Communications within such Colonies respectively, and for charging + rates of postage for the conveyance of letters by such Posts and + Post Communications, and for appropriating the Revenue to be derived + therefrom: ... And whereas it is expedient that a uniform and cheap + rate of postage should be established throughout the several + Colonies of British North America, and with a view to the + establishment thereof, the Local Governments of the said Colonies + have agreed upon certain conditions hereinafter mentioned and + forming a part of the provisions of this Act, and it is therefore + expedient to exercise the powers so vested as aforesaid in the + Legislature of this Province: ... + + II. And be it enacted, That the Inland Posts and Post Communications + in the Province shall, so far as may be consistent with the Acts of + the Parliament of the United Kingdom in force in this Province, be + exclusively under Provincial management and control; the Revenue + arising from the duties of postage and other dues receivable by the + Officers employed in managing such Posts and Post Communications + shall form part of the Provincial Revenue, unless such moneys belong + of right to the United Kingdom or to some other Colony, or to some + foreign state; and the expenses of management shall be defrayed out + of Provincial Funds.... + + * * * * * + + V. And be it enacted, That the Provincial Post Master General shall + be appointed by Commission under the Great Seal of the Province, and + to hold his office during pleasure, but the Post Masters and other + Officers of the Department shall be appointed and may be removed by + letter from the proper Officer communicating the Governor's + pleasure. + + VI. [_All privileges, powers and authority of Her Majesty's Deputy + Post Master General are transferred to and vested in the Provincial + Post Master General._] + + * * * * * + + VIII. And in conformity to the agreement made as aforesaid between + the Local Governments of the several Colonies of British North + America, Be it enacted, That the Provincial Postage on letters and + packets not being of Newspapers or Printed Pamphlets, Magazines or + Books, entitled to pass at lower rate, shall not exceed the rate of + three pence currency, per half ounce, for any distance whatsoever + within this Province, any fraction of a half ounce being chargeable + as a half ounce: that no transit postage shall be charged on any + letter or packet passing through this Province or any part thereof + to any other Colony in British North America, unless it be posted in + this Province and the sender choose to pre-pay it; nor on any letter + or packet from any such Colony if pre-paid there: that two pence + sterling the half ounce shall remain as the rate in operation as + regards letters by British Mails, to be extended to Countries having + postal conventions with the United Kingdom, unless Her Majesty's + Government in the United Kingdom shall see fit to allow this rate to + be changed to three pence currency: + + That the pre-payment of Provincial Postage shall be optional: + + That all Provincial Postage received within the Province shall be + retained as belonging to it, and that all Provincial Postage + received within any other of the British North American Colonies, + may be retained as belonging to such Colony: + + That the British Packet Postage and other British Postage collected + in this Province shall be accounted for and paid over to the proper + authorities in the United Kingdom; but the Colonial Postage on the + same letters or packets shall belong to the Colony collecting it, or + if pre-paid to the British Post Office, it may be credited to the + Colony to which such letters or packets are addressed: + + That no privilege of franking shall be allowed as regards Provincial + Postage: + + That Provincial Stamps for the pre-payment of postage may be + prepared under the orders of the Governor in Council, which stamps + shall be evidence of the pre-payment of Provincial Postage to the + amount mentioned on such stamp, and that such stamps prepared under + the direction of the proper authorities in the other British North + American Colonies, shall be allowed in this Province as evidence of + the pre-payment of Provincial Postage in such other Colonies + respectively, on the letters or packets to which they are affixed, + and which have been mailed there: + + That the Provincial Postage on Newspapers, Pamphlets, Magazines and + Printed Books, shall remain such as it now is until it be altered by + regulation under this Act.... Provided always, that one copy of each + newspaper published in this Province may be sent free from postage + to any Publisher of another Newspaper in this Province, that all + printed documents addressed to the Publisher of any Newspaper in + this Province shall be delivered to him free, and that all + Newspapers published in this Province and addressed to Subscribers + in the United States, shall pass free to the Provincial line, under + such regulations as the Governor in Council shall make to prevent + the abuse of the privileges hereby granted: + + And, subject to the foregoing provisions of this section and to the + other express provisions of this Act, the Governor in Council shall + have full power and authority ... for establishing the rates of + postage on Newspapers and Printed Pamphlets, Magazines and Books, + and for declaring what shall be deemed such, or directing that in + any case or class of cases they be free of postage, either in the + first instance or the case of their being re-mailed, ... for the + preparing and distributing of Provincial stamps for pre-payment, for + limiting the weight and dimensions of letters or packets to be sent + by Post ... for prescribing the conditions and circumstances under + which letters, accounts and papers relating solely to the business + of the Post Office, and addressed to or sent by some officer + thereof, shall be free from Provincial Postage, ... for providing, + when he shall think it expedient, means for avoiding the risk of + transmitting small sums of money through the Post, by establishing a + system of money orders to be granted by one Post Master or officer + of the Department on another, and fixing the terms on which such + orders may be obtained, for establishing a system for the + Registering of letters and the charge[6] be made for such + registration, ... for the delivery of letters and packets in the + larger and more populous Cities and Towns, at the residences of + parties to whom they are addressed, and fixing the limits within + which such delivery shall take place, and the rates to be paid by + the parties who shall prefer to have their letters and packets so + delivered, rather than apply for them at the Post Office: ... and + generally to make such regulations as may be deemed necessary for + the due and effective working of the Post and Postal business and + arrangements, and for carrying this Act fully into effect: + + IX. And be it enacted, That subject always to the provisions and + regulations aforesaid, the Provincial Post Master General shall have + the sole and exclusive privilege of conveying, receiving, + collecting, sending and delivering letters within this Province; and + that any person or party who shall (except in the cases hereinafter + excepted) collect, send, convey or deliver, or undertake to convey + or deliver any letter within this Province, or who shall receive or + have in his possession any letter for the purpose of conveying or + delivering it, otherwise than in conformity with this Act, shall for + each and every letter so unlawfully conveyed or undertaken to be + conveyed, received, delivered or found in his possession, incur a + penalty not exceeding five pounds currency: [_exceptions are letters + taken by friends journeying, by special messengers, Court + Commissions, etc._] + + * * * * * + + XI. And be it enacted, That as well the Colonial, British or Foreign + as the Provincial Postage on any letter or packet shall (if not + pre-paid) be payable to the Provincial Post Master General by the + party to whom the same shall be addressed, or who may lawfully + receive such a letter or packet, which may be detained until the + same be paid: ... and if any letter or packet be refused, or if the + party to whom it is addressed cannot be found, then such postage + shall be recoverable by the Provincial Post Master General from the + sender of such letter or packet: ... and that all postage may be + recovered with costs, by civil action in any Court having + jurisdiction to the amount, or in any way in which duties are + recoverable. + + XII. And for avoiding doubts, and preventing inconvenient delay in + the delivery of letters, Be it declared and enacted, That no Post + Master shall be bound to give change, but the exact amount of the + postage on any letter or packet shall be tendered or paid to him in + current coin or in Provincial Postage stamps. + + * * * * * + + XIV. [_Letters of Soldiers, Seamen, etc., shall be charged a certain + fixed sum in place of all British or Provincial postage._] + + XV. [_Posted letters to be property of party addressed._] + + XVI.... To forge, counterfeit or imitate any Postage Stamp issued or + used under the authority of this Act, or by or under the authority + of the Government or proper authority of the United Kingdom, or of + any British North American Province, or of any Foreign Country, or + knowingly to use any such forged, counterfeit or imitated stamp, or + to engrave, cut, sink or make any plate, die or other thing whereby + to forge, counterfeit or imitate such stamp or any part or portion + thereof, except by the permission in writing of the Provincial Post + Master General, or of some officer or person who under the + regulations to be made in that behalf, may lawfully grant such + permission, or to have possession of any such plate, die or other + thing as aforesaid, without such permission as aforesaid, or to + forge, counterfeit or unlawfully imitate, use or affix to or upon + any letter or packet, any stamp, signature, initials, or other mark + or sign purporting that such letter or packet ought to pass free of + postage, or at a lower rate of postage, or that the postage thereon + or any part thereof hath been pre-paid or ought to be paid by or + charged to any person, department or party whomsoever, shall be + felony, punishable by imprisonment in the Provincial Penitentiary + for life. + +[6] sic. + +The passage of the above Act and its approval by the Queen in Council +gave opportunity for preparations to be made to carry out its +provisions, the date being set for the 6th April, 1851. Three weeks +previous to the appointed time the following notice was sent out to +postmasters in anticipation of the transfer. + + +NOTICE TO POSTMASTERS. + + GENERAL POST OFFICE, + MONTREAL, 14TH MARCH, 1851. + + SIR:-- + + I am commanded by His Excellency the Governor General, to + communicate to you the following Instructions, for your guidance in + the performance of your duties, under the New Post Office Law of the + 13th and 14th Vict., chap. 17, passed at the last Session of the + Provincial Parliament, which will take effect, and supersede the + Imperial Post Office Acts, hitherto in force in Canada, on and from + the 6th day of April next: + + 1. From the above date, all Letters transmitted by the Post in + Canada, with the exception of Packet Letters to and from the United + Kingdom, will be liable to a uniform rate of _Three_ Pence, + currency, per half-ounce, for whatever distance conveyed: + pre-payment will be optional: the charge increasing according to the + weight of the Letter, one single rate for every additional + half-ounce, counting the fraction of a half-ounce as a full rate, + thus: + + A Letter, weighing not exceeding 1/2 ounce, will be liable to 3d. + Postage. + + A Letter, weighing more than 1/2 ounce, and not exceeding 1 ounce, + will be liable to 6 d. Postage. + + A Letter, weighing more than 1 ounce, and not exceeding 1-1/2 + ounces, will be liable to 9d. Postage. + + A Letter, weighing more than 1-1/2 ounces, and not exceeding 2 + ounces, will be liable to 1 s. Postage. + + A Letter, weighing more than 2 ounces, and not exceeding 2-1/2 + ounces, will be liable to 1 s., 3 d. Postage, and so on. + + It will be observed that the above scale differs from that now + followed, in advancing one rate for each half-ounce after the first + ounce. + + 2. The single Packet rate for Letters by the Atlantic Steam Packet + Mails to and from England, via the United States, of 1s. 2d. + sterling, if _un-paid_, and 1s. 4d. currency if _pre-paid_, as also + the rate on Letters by those mails, via Halifax, of 1s. [missing + value] sterling, if _un-paid_, and 1s. 1-1/2 d. currency, if + _pre-paid_, remain unaltered, and the present scale of weights is to + remain in force as regards such Letters. + + Post Masters must be very careful to observe this distinction when + taxing Letters, weighing over one ounce, intended for the English + Mails. + + 3. The regulations now in force with regard to Letters to and from + Soldiers and Sailors in Her Majesty's Service, by which under + certain conditions such Letters pass through the Post on pre-payment + of a penny only, will remain unaltered. + + * * * * * + + 5. Letters addressed to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward's + Island, or Newfoundland, are to be rated with the uniform rate of + 3d. per half-ounce. + + 6. Letters to and from the United States will be liable to the + uniform rate of 3d. per half-ounce, between the Frontier Line and + the place of posting or place of destination in Canada; and until + further arrangements can be made, this charge on Letters from Canada + to the United States must be pre-paid at the time of posting. + + 7. [_Rates and regulations for Newspapers, Pamphlets, etc., to + remain as at present._] + + 8. [_Printed matter addressed to Editors is free._] + + 9. The charge on Letters posted at an Office for delivery in the + same City, Town, or Place, and any additional charge made on Letters + delivered at the residences of parties to whom they are addressed, + are to remain as at present, until further instructions. + + 10. No Franking Privilege is allowed under the New Act except with + regard to Letters and Packets on the business of the Post Office, + addressed to or transmitted by the Post Master General. + + * * * * * + + 13. Stamps for the pre-payment of Postage are being prepared, and + will be distributed for the use of the public at an early date. + + * * * * * + + 16. [_Letters, etc., to Deputy Post Master General to pass free._] + + T. A. STAYNER. + _Deputy Post Master General._ + +[*] [Transcriber's Note: 2 or 3 characters here are unreadable.] + +Meanwhile, under the authority given the Governor in Council by _The +Post Office Act_, an agreement had been drawn up between the post office +Departments of Canada and the United States for the purpose of +establishing and regulating the interchange of mails between the two +countries. This was signed on the 25th March, 1851, and was communicated +to the Canadian post-masters by the first department order, as +follows:-- + + DEPARTMENT ORDER [NO. 1.] + + LETTERS, ETC., BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING + CALIFORNIA AND OREGON. + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, + TORONTO, _2nd April_, 1851. + + Commencing on and from the 6th instant, Letters, Newspapers, &c., + will pass through the Mails between Canada and the United States, + including California and Oregon, at the Rates of Postage and under + the Regulations herein mentioned. + + 1. Letters posted at any Office in Canada, addressed to any place in + the United States, except California and Oregon, are to be rated + with a uniform rate of six-pence, currency, per half-ounce. + + 2. Letters posted in any part of the United States, except + California and Oregon, addressed to Canada, will be rated there with + a uniform charge of ten cents, equal to six-pence, currency, per + half-ounce. + + 3. The Postage Rate on Letters passing between Canada and California + and Oregon, will be a uniform charge of nine-pence, currency, equal + to fifteen cents per half-ounce. + + 4. It is to be understood that the above rates include the whole + charge for the transmission of a Letter between any place in Canada + and any place within the United States, including California and + Oregon. + + 5. The scale for computing the charge upon Letters weighing more + than 1/2 ounce, will be the same as that for Letters passing within + the Province. + + 6. Pre-payment of Letters passing between Canada and any place + within the United States, including California and Oregon, will, in + all cases, be optional. + + 7. Newspapers, Pamphlets, &c., posted in Canada, addressed to the + United States, including California and Oregon, are, ... to be + forwarded through the Post at the same rates of charge as if + addressed to a place within the Province; the said rates must, + however, be _pre-paid_--as, if the ordinary Canada Rate is not paid + at the time of posting a Newspaper or Pamphlet, &c., it cannot be + forwarded to the United States. + + 8. United States Newspapers, Pamphlets, &c., addressed to places in + Canada, will be received in the Province with the American Postage + thereon pre-paid--leaving the ordinary Canada Rate of charge from + the Frontier Line to the place of destination, to be ... collected + by the Post Master who may deliver the same in Canada. + + 9.-10.-11. [_Copies of newspapers or printed documents sent by or to + publishers or editors are free of Canadian postage._] + + 12. The Canada Postage Stamps, when used, will be taken in the + United States as evidence of pre-payment of Postage on Letters going + from Canada to the United States, and in like manner the United + States Postage Stamps on Letters coming into Canada, are to be taken + by Post Masters in this Province as evidence of pre-payment having + been made in the United States. + + 13. The following are appointed to be the Offices in Canada through + which the Post communication with the United States will be + maintained, and to which Post Masters are to forward their Mail + matter for the United States, according to the relative position of + their several Offices: + + PORT SARNIA, | + WINDSOR, | KINGSTON, + FORT ERIE, | + | BROCKVILLE, + QUEENSTON, { Intended in the mean time to | + { be the Channel of Communication | PRESCOTT, + { with the United States for the | + { Country West of Toronto. | MONTREAL, + | + NIAGARA, | ST. JOHN'S, + TORONTO, | + | DUNDEE, + COBOURG, { A Communication during Summer | + { only, by Steamer to Rochester. | STANSTEAD, + + By Command, + W. H. GRIFFIN. + +Both the _Post Office Act_ and the above Department Order treat of the +disposition of periodicals and other printed matter without giving the +rates of postage required thereon. A subsequent Order gives us these +rates:-- + + DEPARTMENT ORDER, [NO. 3.] + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, + TORONTO. _17th April_, 1851. + + _Printed Circulars, Price Currents, Handbills, Pamphlets, + Periodicals, Books, and other Printed Matter transmitted by Post in + Canada._ + + 1. Upon each Printed Circular, Price Current or Handbill, and other + Printed matter of a like description, when unconnected with any + manuscript or written communication and of no greater weight than + one ounce, there shall be charged One penny; and for each additional + ounce or fraction of an ounce, One penny additional. + + 2. Upon each Periodical or Magazine, Pamphlet and Book, bound or + unbound, there shall be charged a rate of One half-penny per ounce. + + 3. Pre-payment of the foregoing rates will be optional, except when + the Printed matter is addressed to the United States, and in that + case the charge must invariably be pre-paid. + + 4. On such Printed matter received into Canada by Mail from the + United States, the above Canada Rates will always remain to be + collected on delivery in this Province. + + 5.[_Exchange of one copy between publishers is free._] + + 6. [_Must be unsealed; if writing is enclosed will be treated as a + letter._] + + 7. No Book or packet of Periodicals, Magazines, &c., can be + forwarded through the Post, if exceeding the weight of forty-eight + ounces. + + JAMES MORRIS. _Post Master General._ + + +It is of course understood that the above does not apply to newspapers, +which were charged to a nominal rate of 1/2d. each, the term _newspaper_ +being considered to aply to periodicals issued not less often than once +a week. + +A supplementary order was issued, a couple of days later than the +preceding, which announces a book post with England. It is a bit curious +as prohibiting the use of postage stamps in prepayment of the charges, +at a time when their introduction was supposed to be an improvement in +the postal service. + + SUPPLEMENTARY ORDER. + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. + + TORONTO, 19_th April_, 1851. + + _Book Post with England._ + + Under the authority of Her Majesty's Government, an arrangement will + take effect on the fifteenth day of May next, under which Printed + Books, Magazines, Reviews, or Pamphlets, whether British, Colonial, + or Foreign, may be sent through the Post, between Canada and the + United Kingdom, at the Following Rates of Postage: + + [S] = Sterling + | [S] | Currency + For a single volume, | | + _i.e._, Book, Magazine, Review, or Pamphlet, | | + not exceeding half lb. in weight | 6d. | Equal to 7-1/2d. + | | + For a single volume, &c., | | + exceeding half lb. and not exceeding one lb. | 1s. | " to 1s. 3d. + | | + For a single volume, &c., | | + exceeding one lb. and not exceeding two lbs. | 2s. | " " 2s. 6d. + | | + For a single volume, &c., | | + exceeding two lbs. and not exceeding three lbs. | 3s. | " " 3s. 9d. + + The above charge must always be pre-paid, on printed Books, &c., + &c., sent to the United Kingdom under this Regulation, at the time + of posting in Canada; and the pre-payment must be made in money, and + cannot be taken in Canada Postage Stamps. + + Postmasters, as with pre-paid Letters for England must rate the + Books, &c., posted under this Regulation, in _red ink_, with both + the sterling rate and its equivalent in currency, ...--thus, a Book, + &c., weighing 3-1/2 pounds, will be rated:-- + + "Paid 4s. sterling--equal to 5s. currency." + + * * * * * + + JAMES MORRIS, _Post Master General._ + +The Department Circular No. 5, published from Toronto on 20th June, +1851, contains but one paragraph of interest to us. + + Post Masters are informed that the transfer of the Post Office in + the Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to Provincial + control, will take place on the 6th July next, and that from that + date the uniform rate of 3d. per 1/2 ounce will form the sole charge + on a Letter transmitted between any place in Canada and any place in + New Brunswick, or Nova Scotia. Pre-payment will be optional. + +On the 30th August, 1851, the Canadian Parliament passed an _Act to +Amend the Post Office Act_. The only section of any particular interest +to us is the following:-- + + 14^o & 15^o Vict. Cap. LXXI. + + * * * * * + + XV. And be it enacted, That the Post Master General shall be + authorized, whenever the same may be proper for the accommodation of + the public in any city, to employ Letter Carriers for the delivery + of letters received at the Post Office in such city, excepting such + as the persons to whom they are addressed may have requested, in + writing addressed to the Postmaster, to be retained in the Post + Office, and for the receipt of letters at such places in the said + city as the Postmaster General may direct, and for the deposit of + the same in the Post Office; and for the delivery by Carrier of each + letter received from the Post Office, the person to whom the same is + delivered shall pay not exceeding One Penny, and for the delivery of + each newspaper and pamphlet One Halfpenny, and for every letter + received by a Carrier to be deposited in the Post Office, there + shall be paid to him, at the time of the receipt, not exceeding One + Half-penny:--all of which receipts, by the Carriers in any city, + shall, if the Postmaster General so direct, be accounted for to the + Postmaster of the said city, to constitute a fund for the + compensation of the said Carriers, and to be paid to them in such + proportions and manner as the Postmaster General may direct. + +But in the meantime the postage stamps, which will now be our main +study, were issued to the public, and we will therefore turn back to the +period of their birth and trace their history, together with the +development of the post that accompanies it, through the nearly sixty +years that have since elapsed. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE ISSUE OF 1851 + + +According to all good catalogues, the date of the first issue of stamps +for Canada is the year 1851. If we find some more precise statement put +forth in a special article on the subject, the date is apt to be given +as the 6th April, 1851. If we go back into the dusty archives of the +Canadian Post Office Department, we find the circular announcing the +forthcoming stamps is dated a fortnight later than the hitherto supposed +correct date for their issue. We reproduce it here in its entirety:-- + + DEPARTMENT ORDER [NO. 4.] + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, + TORONTO, _21st April_, 1851. + + _Stamps for the pre-payment of Postage on Letters._ + + Postage Stamps are about to be issued, one representing the Beaver, + of the denomination of Three pence; the second representing the head + of Prince Albert, of the denomination of Six pence; and the third, + representing the head of Her Majesty, of the denomination of One + shilling; which will shortly be transmitted to the Post Masters at + important points, for sale. + + Any Post Master receiving Stamps from this Department will, by the + next mail, acknowledge the receipt of the amount. At the expiration + of each Quarter, and with his Quarterly Postage Accounts, he will + render an account of Stamps on a form which will be hereafter + supplied, charging himself therein with any amount which remained on + hand at the close of the preceding Quarter, and with the amounts + received during the Quarter just ended, and crediting himself with + the amount then remaining on hand. The balance of the account so + stated, representing the amount of Stamps he has sold or disposed + of, the Post Master will add to the balance due on his Return for + the same Quarter of Postages. + + Any Letter or Packet, with one or more Stamps affixed, equal in + amount to the Postage properly chargeable thereon, may be mailed and + forwarded from any office as a pre-paid Letter or Packet; but if the + Stamps affixed be not adequate to the proper Postage, the Post + Master receiving the Letter or Packet for transmission will rate it + with the amount deficient in addition.--This Regulation concerning + Letters short paid has reference only to Letters passing within the + Province. + + Stamps so affixed are to be immediately _cancelled_ in the office in + which the Letter or Packet may be deposited, with an instrument to + be furnished for that purpose. In Post Offices not so furnished, the + stamps must be cancelled by making a cross [X] on each with a pen. + If the cancelling has been omitted on the mailing of the Letter, the + Post Master delivering it will cancel the stamp in the manner + directed, and immediately report the Post Master who may have been + delinquent, to the Department. Bear in mind that Stamps must + invariably be cancelled before mailing the Letters to which they are + affixed. + + Letters and Packets pre-paid by Stamps must be entered in the + Letter-Bill separately from other pre-paid Letters,--and in like + manner in the Monthly Sheets. + + J. MORRIS, _Post Master General_. + +From the above it is plainly evident that the new stamps were _not_ +placed in use on April 6th, the day of the transfer of the Post Office +to Provincial control, as is usually stated. Furthermore, as this order +announcing them states that the stamps are "about to be issued," it is +evident that they did not appear concurrently with the order, which is +dated April 21st.[7] As a matter of fact the first supply of the 3 pence +stamps was only received by the Department from the manufacturers on +April 5th, the day before the transfer, and the second supply on April +20th, the day before the above circular was issued; while the 6 pence +and 12 pence stamps did not arrive until May 2nd and May 4th, +respectively.[8] In a letter to Mr. Donald A. King,[9] dated 2d March, +1904, from Mr. William Smith, Secretary of the Department at Ottawa, the +latter states "that postage stamps were issued to the public for the +first time on 23rd April, 1851." This agrees with the other known facts, +and can doubtless be taken as the correct date for the 3d. stamp. The +6d. stamp we have no further details for, but it was doubtless in use by +the middle of May. For the 12d. stamp we have, fortunately, all the +details, as will appear subsequently, and can give the exact date of +issue as June 14, 1851. + +[7] This correction of the date must be noted, for in Mr. King's article +in the Monthly Journal, VII: 7, it is wrongly given as 1st April, which +might lead to erroneous conclusions. In the Article by Messrs. Corwin +and King, (Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 149), the date is correctly +given. + +[8] Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83. + +[9] London Philatelist, XIII: 153. + +At the time of the transfer, the Postmaster General issued a lengthy set +of _Regulations and Instructions for the Government of the Post Office +Department in Canada_, and it is perhaps best to reproduce here such +sections as may prove of interest in connection with the use of the +stamps, various rates of postage, etc., etc. + + * * * * * + + 20. Letters posted to be sent by Mail are to be carefully postmarked + on the face or address side, with the name of the Post Office, the + month and the day of the month in which they are posted, and, except + when they are Prepaid by Postage stamps, with the Rate of Postage in + plain figures. In performing these operations great care must be + used to avoid interference with the address. + + * * * * * + + 22. If the Postage is Paid in Money when the Letter is posted, stamp + or write the word "_Paid_" against the Postage rate, and mark the + rate in _red ink_; but if the Letter is "_Unpaid_" the rate is to be + marked in _black ink_. + + * * * * * + + 42. Should the Receiving Postmaster find that any of the Letters + have been under-rated, that is, not charged with sufficient + Postage,--if for example, a Letter weighing an ounce has only been + charged with one rate, he will mark the additional Postage with the + words "_More to pay_," and his initials on the Letter. + + * * * * * + + 44.... Letters are to be postmarked on the back or seal side with + the date of the day on which they arrive.... + + * * * * * + + 58. On Letters not exceeding 1/2 oz. in weight between any place in + Canada and any other place in British North America, including + Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Cape + Breton, the rate is a uniform charge of 3d. + + For every additional weight of half an oz., or any fractional excess + of half an oz., there shall be charged an additional rate of 3d. + + 59. On Letters deposited at an Office for delivery in the same + place, called Drop or Box Letters, the rate is One half-penny each, + to be brought to account by Postmasters. + + 60. On Letters between any place in Canada and any part of Great + Britain or Ireland, if conveyed in the Weekly closed Mails through + the United States, the rate is a uniform charge of 1s. 2d. sterling, + equal to 1s. 4d. currency, on a Letter not exceeding 1/2 oz., in + weight. + + * * * * * + + 62. On Letters between Canada and the United Kingdom, conveyed by + the semi-monthly Mails by way of Quebec, New Brunswick and Halifax, + the rate is: + + On Letters not exceeding 1/2 oz., 1s. 0d. sterling equal to 1s. + 1-1/2d. currency. + + On Letters not exceeding 1 oz., 2s. 0d. sterling equal to 2s. 3d. + currency. + + On Letters not exceeding 2 oz., 4s. 0d. sterling equal to 4s. 6d. + currency. + + 63. On Letters between any place in Canada and any part of the + United States, except California and Oregon, the rate is a uniform + charge of 6d., equal to 10c. per 1/2 oz. weight. + + 64. On Letters to California and Oregon, the rate is 9d., equal to + 15c. per 1/2 oz. + + * * * * * + + 67. Letters to Newfoundland may be sent via Quebec and Halifax at a + Postage rate of 7-1/2d. per 1/2 oz. + + 68. Letters to British West Indies via Quebec, Halifax and Bermuda + will be charged the Canada rate of 3d. and in addition the Packet + rate for sea conveyance between Halifax and Bermuda of 4-1/2d. + currency, making on a letter not weighing more than 1/2 oz. a rate + of 7-1/2d. + + 69. Letters may also be sent from Canada to the British West Indies + and Havanah by the ordinary United States Mails to New York, and + from thence by British Steam Packet to destination, on Prepayment in + Canada of 9d. equal to 15c. per 1/2 oz. + + 70. Mails are made up at Montreal every fortnight for Halifax, Nova + Scotia, and despatched for conveyance to Halifax with the Mails by + the Royal Mail Steamers from Boston to Halifax and Liverpool by + which Letters may be sent to the following places at the rates + mentioned: + + Letters to Halifax and Nova Scotia 7-1/2d. currency. + Letters to Newfoundland 1s. currency. + Letters to Bermuda and British West Indies 1s. currency. + + + * * * * * + + 74--75--76. [_Almost identical with first three paragraphs of_ + Department Order No. 4. _describing and prescribing use of postage + stamps_. Vide supra.] + + 77. If the Stamps affixed to a Letter addressed to any place in + British North America or to the United Kingdom be not adequate to + the proper Postage, the Post Master receiving the Letter for + transmission will rate it with the amount deficient in addition. + + 78. On Letters for the United States when Stamps are affixed + representing less than the amount of Postage to which the Letters + are liable, the Stamps are to be cancelled and the Letters rated + with the full rate as Unpaid. + + 79--80--81. [_Identical with last two paragraphs of_ Department + Order No. 4. _concerning cancelling, omission of same, and accounts + of stamped letters_.] + + 82. Stamps affixed to Letters coming from either of the British + North American Provinces, the United Kingdom or the United States, + and recognized as equivalent to pre-payment at the Office where the + Letter has been posted--are to be allowed in Canada as evidence of + pre-payment accordingly, on the Letters to which they have been + affixed. + + * * * * * + + 84. [_Postage Stamps must be taken when offered in payment of + postage on delivery of Unpaid Letters._] + + * * * * * + + 88. [_Non-Commissioned Officers, Embodied Pensioners, Seamen and + Soldiers, while employed in Her Majesty's Service, can send and + receive letters at a rate of 1d. each, which must be paid at time of + posting, and letter must not exceed 1/2 oz. in weight._] + + * * * * * + + 95. [_Rate on circulars, price currents, hand bills, etc., 1d. per + ounce or fraction._] + + 96. [_Rate on pamphlets, periodicals, magazines and books, 1/2d. per + ounce._] + + * * * * * + + 100. [_Limit of weight for periodicals, etc., ([S]96) is 48 oz._] + + * * * * * + + 103. [_Book post to England is 6d. sterling (7-1/2d. currency) for + 1/2lb., 1s. sterling (1s. 3d. currency) for 1 lb., and at 1s. per + lb., rate thereafter._] + + * * * * * + + 112. [_Postage on newspapers in Canada is 1/2d. except on exchange + copies, which are free._] + +It strikes one as curious, in glancing over the above, to note the +several half penny and one penny rates, as well as two at 7-1/2 pence, +and to realize that no stamp of the lowest value, at least, should have +been arranged for whereby these amounts could have been prepaid by means +of stamps. To be sure, the 7-1/2d. rate could be obtained by halving a +three penny stamp in conjunction with a 6d. stamp as was the common +practice in Nova Scotia, but no such combination is known on a Canada +cover. + +Of the three stamps issued, the first and most typical of Canada was the +3d. which was designed, so Mr. C. N. Robertson of Ottawa tells us, by +Sir Sanford Fleming, a civil engineer and draughtsman. The central +feature is a representation of the beaver in its native haunts, above +which is the royal crown of England resting on a rose, thistle and +shamrock, with the letters V and R (_Victoria Regina_) at either side. A +reference to figure 6 on Plate I makes further description unnecessary. +The normal color was a bright red. + +A quite marked variety of this stamp occurs in what is generally known +as a "double strike" or "shifted transfer." It is _not_ due to +accidental light contact of the sheet in printing, previous to the +heavier impression in a slightly changed position, as is often +suggested, but is a true plate variety, caused by a slight impression of +the transfer roller in the wrong position on the plate previous to the +heavy impression sunk in the proper position. This fact is shown by its +being found in pairs and blocks with the normal stamp. It is recognized +by the letters EE PEN being "doubled" at the top, making it appear as if +a line had been drawn through the words and giving it the name, +occasionally used of the "line through threepence" variety. The figure 3 +also appears doubled at the bottom. Its position in the sheet has not +been determined, but it occurs on all papers. + +The 6d. stamp is in the usual upright form, containing a portrait of +Albert, the Prince Consort. It has been impossible to trace the original +of the picture, though diligent search has been made. The rose, thistle +and shamrock again appear on the stamp, at either side of the oval frame +and separating the inscriptions. Figure 1 of Plate I gives an excellent +reproduction of this value. The normal color may be said to have been a +slate violet. + +The 12d. stamp is very similar in design to the 6d. stamp, but contains +a portrait of Queen Victoria. This beautiful head, so often seen upon +the early British Colonial stamps, was taken from the full length +painting by Alfred Edward Chalon, R. A., which was ordered by the Queen +for her mother, the Duchess of Kent, as a souvenir of Her Majesty's +first visit to the House of Lords. The occasion was the prorogation of +Parliament, on July 17, 1837, and the Queen is portrayed in her robes of +state, because of which fact the painting is sometimes described as "in +Coronation Robes," but this is erroneous.[10] The stamp is illustrated +as figure 2 on Plate I, and it will be noticed that the inscriptions in +the oval frame are this time separated on either side by the royal +crown. The color is black. + +[10] London Philatelist, VI: 147. + +The peculiarity in the expression of the value of this stamp as "Twelve +Pence" instead of "One Shilling," which would seem to be the natural +form for such an amount in English money, was long a moot question +amongst collectors. It was even suggested as an "error" of the American +manufacturers of the stamp! But the controversy has been practically +settled by reference to the monetary conditions of the period. A glance +back at the rates of postage we have already quoted will show that it +was generally necessary to give them in two forms, "currency" and +"sterling." The somewhat depreciated Canadian currency required fifteen +pence, as will be noted, to equal the shilling sterling--a point that is +brought out on the two stamps issued subsequently for the British Packet +rates. Add to this the fact that in New England the "shilling" was a +current expression for 16-2/3 cents (10 pence currency), while in New +York it represented 12-1/2 cents (7-1/2 pence currency) and we can +readily see that in Canadian territory contiguous to these sections the +number of pence to a "shilling" might often be a debatable quantity. As +a matter of fact the French Canadians of Lower Canada made general use +of the "shilling" as reckoned at 10 pence (20 cents) in the old +currency, while the "York shilling" was extensively used in Upper +Canada.[11] "Twelve pence" was without doubt wholly intentional, +therefore, as the designation of the stamp, and was a happy solution of +any ambiguity in its use, even if it has proved a stumbling block to the +understanding of latter day collectors. + +[11] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 170. + +An interesting essay for this stamp is in existence, being a companion +for the 3 pence "beaver," inasmuch as the shape of the stamp and the +central design are the same, though on a larger scale; the inscriptions, +however, are on an octagonal frame around the picture instead of an +elliptical one, and the value is expressed as "one shilling," with "1s" +in each spandrel. It was doubtless also a conception of Sir Sanford +Fleming, the designer of the 3 pence, and it would be interesting to +know what the companion 6 pence may have been. + +The three issued stamps were ordered from and engraved on steel by +Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson of New York, who, it will be +interesting to note, were the engravers of the 1847 issue of United +States stamps--a fact which very likely may have had its influence on +the Canadian authorities. The stamps were printed in sheets of 100, ten +rows of ten, and had eight marginal imprints, two on each side. The +imprint reads, "Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York.", in minute +letters of the size known as "diamond" in the printing office, and it is +placed opposite the third and eighth stamps of the horizontal or +vertical row, as the case may be, but always with the bottom of the +imprint next the stamps. This causes the imprints to read up on the +left, down on the right, and upside down on the bottom margins of the +sheets. + +We have found but one item in the departmental accounts for the fiscal +year 1851-2 referring to the stamps. This reads:-- + + Rawdon, Wright & Co., for engraving postage stamps, [L]31.8.2 + +This was doubtless simply a bill for printing, as it is altogether too +small an amount to account for the engraving of three stamp dies and the +making of three printing plates. + +The first delivery of the stamps from the manufacturers took place on +April 5, 1851, according to a valuable summary from official records, +published in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_,[12] when 100,000 of the 3 +pence value were received by the Canadian Government. A second lot, +numbering 150,200 of the 3 pence, arrived on April 20th. The 6 pence +value followed on May 2nd, to the number of 100,400; and the 12 pence +two days later, on May 4th, when the only consignment ever received from +the printers, numbering 51,400, was delivered. + +[12] =Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII=: 83. + +The paper on which the stamps were printed was a thin, tough, grayish +white variety which we should probably call bond paper, but which at +that time is said to have been known as bank note paper. It was +doubtless handmade, and therefore varies considerably in thickness, the +two extremes being usually listed as _medium_ or _ordinary_, and _very +thin_ or _almost pelure_. + +It has been the custom to assume that the first deliveries of the stamps +were probably all upon _laid_ paper, which was borne out by dates on +covers or postmarked specimens of the stamps used during the first year +of issue. But by June of 1852, at least, according to Messrs. Corwin and +King,[13] the stamps were beginning to appear on paper which was simply +_wove_, without any trace of the laid lines, though in all other +respects similar to the first supplies. Of course a minor detail of +manufacture like this would have no official cognizance, so there is +nothing for us to go by in determining the quantities printed on one or +the other kind of paper, or the dates of issue, save for what can be +gleaned from dated covers and deductions to be drawn from them. The two +varieties of paper, however, have been as productive of controversy in +the case of the 12 pence stamp as the peculiar expression of its value +proved. + +[13] =Metropolitan Philatelist, I=: 149. + +But before discussing this question, let us see what we have to work on. +The first annual report of the Postmaster General, for the year ending +5th April, 1852, contains the following information concerning the new +stamps:-- + + Postage Stamps for the pre-payment of letters of the respective + values of 3d., 6d. and 1s. were procured and issued immediately + after the transfer, and have been kept for sale to the public at all + the principal Post Offices in the Province; the demand, however, has + not been great, as will be seen by the following statement, and the + sales of the last quarter of the year would seem to demonstrate that + the use of these Stamps in pre-payment of letters, is rather + diminishing than gaining ground in the community. There were + procured from the manufacturers, Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & + Co., of New York, during the year ended 5th April 1852: + + Value. + 250,200 3d. Stamps [L]3127 10 0 + 100,400 6d. Stamps 2510 0 0 + 51,000 1s. Stamps 2550 0 0 + _______ __________ + 401,600 [L]8187 10 0 + + Of these have been issued to Postmasters for sale, to the same date: + + Value. + 217,300 3d. Stamps [L]2716 5 0 + 63,400 6d. Stamps 1585 0 0 + 820 1s. Stamps 41 0 0 + _______ ________ + 281,520 [L]4342 5 0 + +The succeeding annual reports of the Postmaster General, for the years +ending 31st March, 1853-6, give the following table of postage stamp +statistics:-- + +Postage stamps issued for sale as follows:-- + + REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1853. + + 3d. Stamps 6d. Stamps 1s. Stamps + + On hand 5th April, 1852 32,900 37,000 50,180 + Since received from Manufacturers 250,000 + _________________________________ + 282,900 37,000 50,180 + Issued for sale during year 163,000 2,575 100 + _________________________________ + On hand 31st March, 1853 119,900 34,425 50,080 + + REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1854. + + Received from Manufacturers 250,000 ... ... + _________________________________ + 369,900 34,425 50,080 + Issued for sale during year 240,700 10,825 325 + _________________________________ + On hand 31st March, 1854 129,200 23,600 49,755 + + REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1855. + + Received from Manufacturers 250,000 50,000 ... + _________________________________ + 379,200 73,600 49,755 + Issued for sale during year 355,000 25,800 265 + + On hand 31st. March, 1855 24,200 47,800 49,490 + + REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1856. + + Received from Manufacturers 600,300 ... ... + _________________________________ + 624,500 47,800 49,490 + Issued for sale during year 368,700 38,419 ... + _________________________________ + On hand 31st. March, 1856 255,800 9,381 49,490 + +In this annual report of 31st March, 1856, is the last account of the +12d. stamp, from which it appears that none were issued to postmasters +during the fiscal year. It does not mean that none were sold or used +during that period, however, for with the increasing use of stamps this +was quite probable. But it is evident from the tables given that the +stamp was disbursed from headquarters in very limited quantities during +the four years from 1851 to 1855 only; and we are quite fortunate in +being able to give the exact details of this distribution. An anonymous +article was published in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ in 1902,[14] +from which we have already quoted, that contained a "_Valuable summary +of the first issue of postage stamps used in this Colony._" The +statement is made that "it is taken from official records and is +absolutely accurate." We quote here the information concerning the + + CANADA ONE SHILLING POSTAGE STAMP. + + Total number rec'd. from Contractors 51,000 + Total number issued to postmasters 1,510 + ------ + Balance (destroyed) 49,490 + + NOTE.--On May 4, 1851, the first and only consignment of the Canada + 1 shilling postage stamp, to the number of 51,000 (value [L]2,550), + was received by the Post Office Department, Canada, from the + Contractors, Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York. + + The issue of this stamp began on June 14, 1851, and concluded on + December 4, 1854, when the stamp was discontinued. During its issue + 1510 stamps of that denomination were sent out to postmasters, + leaving a balance on hand of 49,490, which, on May 1st. 1857, were, + in accordance with the practice of the Department in cases of the + discontinuance of stamps, destroyed. As has already been observed, + there was only the one lot of this stamp received from the + contractors. + + DETAILS OF ISSUE. + + Date of Issue. Name of Office. Name of P. M. No. + + June 14, 1851 Hamilton E. Ritchie 300 + Oct. 17, 1851 Chippewa W. Hepburn 100 + Nov. 13, 1851 Thorold J. Keefer 20 + Nov. 25, 1851 Toronto C. Berchy 200 + Mar. 8, 1852 Montreal J. Porteous 200 + Sept. 14, 1852 Ingersoll D. Phelan 100 + Apr. 5, 1853 [15]Bytown G. W. Baker 100 + Oct. 20, 1853 Sherbrooke Wm. Brooks 15 + Jan. 13, 1854 Smith's Falls Jas. Shaw 50 + Jan. 20, 1854 Bytown G. W. Baker 100 + Feb. 8, 1854 L'Islet Ballantyne 15 + Feb. 27, 1854 Ingersoll Chadwick 20 + Mar. 22, 1854 Sault S. Marie Jos. Wilson 25 + May 15, 1854 Port. du Fort McLaren 15 + Oct. 21, 1854 Rowan Mills de Blaquiere 50 + Oct. 26, 1854 Melbourne Thos. Tait 50 + Oct. 27, 1854 Montreal A. La Rocque 100 + Dec. 4, 1854 Smith's Falls Jas. Shaw 50 + ----- + Total number issued, 1,510 + +[14] =Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII=: 83. + +[15] Now Ottawa, Capital of Dominion of Canada. + +From the above it is seen that Hamilton and Montreal each received a +total of 300 copies, Toronto and Bytown each 200, Ingersoll 120, +Chippewa and Smith's Falls each 100, and so on down. + +So much for the 12d. stamp. The tables of the Post Office reports tell +us also that the issues of the 6d. stamp to postmasters for these same +four years totalled 102,600, or only 2200 more than the original number +delivered, the second delivery of the 6d. not having taken place until +March 21, 1855,[16] at the end of the last fiscal year of the four. If, +then, the entire first printings of the 6d. and 12d. stamps were on laid +paper, as is usually claimed, there would be no such thing as a 12d. on +wove paper, and the 6d. stamp in the same state would not be found +_used_ (provided proper postmark evidence were forthcoming) before the +end of March, 1855. During the same period there were at least five +deliveries of the 3d. stamp, so that several things may have happened to +that value. But, curiously enough, it is the other two stamps that +furnish us with our best evidence. + +[16] Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83. + +We now come literally to the "nigger in the wood-pile." The 12d. stamp +_does_ exist on the _wove_ paper! Mr. Worthington and Mr. Pack each +possess an unused copy, and careful examination by the writer has failed +to disclose any appreciable difference in the color, quality or +appearance of the paper, save for the impossibility of discovering the +laid lines, between these copies and those possessing proper credentials +as the regular laid paper 12d. of 1851. The color of the stamp and its +general appearance give no hint of the supposed irregularity, and a +letter to Mr. Worthington from the well known expert, Mr. John N. Luff, +gives his approval to the specimen in Mr. Worthington's collection. It +was formerly considered that the supposed 12d. on wove paper was merely +a proof, and in the "_Catalogue for Advanced Collectors_" we find the +following note concerning it under Canada.[17] + +[17] American Journal of Philately, 2d. Series, III: 121. + + Although the 12p is catalogued by some as existing on thin wove + paper, we do not believe in it as in every copy on wove paper sent + to us for examination some traces of the word _specimen_ were to be + discovered thus showing them all to be merely proofs. + +As far as the writer has seen them, specimen copies have been on India +paper, which is quite distinct from the regular paper of the issue, and +they have been overprinted with the word "SPECIMEN" in carmine ink, +either diagonally or vertically upward. The copies referred to in the +paragraph just quoted probably had been treated with chemicals to remove +the red ink overprint. + +Of course the desideratum for the settlement of the whole question is +to find a copy of the stamp used on cover; but inasmuch as up to the +present time but three copies of the 12d. on laid paper are known in +this condition, it seems a hopeless quest. Nevertheless there appear to +be several _used_ copies of the wove paper 12d. known, the first mention +we find of one being in the report of the proceedings of the Philatelic +Society of London for 4th May, 1888,[18] which reads: "The business of +the evening consisted in the revision of the Society's reference list of +the Stamps of Canada, which was concluded, Mr. F. Ransom showing an +undoubted postmarked specimen of the 12d. first issue, printed upon +stout wove paper." Mr. W. H. Brouse, the eminent Canadian philatelist, +also possessed a cancelled copy of this stamp, which later adorned the +Ayer collection, it is understood. An editorial in the _Dominion +Philatelist_ thus speaks of it:[19]--"We have received from W. H. +Brouse, of Toronto, a photograph of ... 12 pence Canada on _wove paper_ +[which] appears to be a beautiful specimen with fine margin and light +cancellation." Two fine copies, one unused and one used, were sold in +the auction of the Mirabaud collection at Paris, in April, 1909. + +[18] Philatelic Record, X: 124. + +[19] Dominion Philatelist, No. 34, p. 8. + +From the above it is plainly evident that the 12d. on wove paper +properly exists, in spite of the "first [and only] printing on laid +paper" theory, which is usually laid down as an _a priori_ +consideration. Also it appears that it is found in a used condition, +though this cannot be taken as an absolute test, because of the +uncertainty that may lurk in a cancellation on a detached specimen of a +stamp. Only the discovery of a copy properly used on the original cover, +as already intimated, can effectually settle the question of its actual +issue and use. But there is a fact which doubtless furnishes the clue to +the seeming mystery of its being. We have already noted that the laid +paper first used varied considerably in thickness, and also that the +wove paper next used was in all respects similar to the former, but of +course without the laid lines. Now it happens sometimes that it is quite +difficult to distinguish the laid paper, a very careful scrutiny or even +the extreme resort to the benzine cup being necessary to bring out the +watermarked lines, and perhaps then only in a half suspicious way. If +such be the case, it is only a step further to the entire disappearance +of these "laid lines," and lo, the wove paper! + +Writing to Mr. F. C. Young concerning the 12d. stamp, Mr. John N. Luff +says:[20]--"It is my opinion that both the wove and laid papers are +quite genuine and I think it is possible that both varieties might +occur though there was only one lot sent out by the printers. It does +not, of course, follow that the entire batch was printed on the same day +or that two varieties of paper might not have been used. The early +printers were not always very particular about their paper, provided it +was somewhat alike in a general way. Some collectors claim that laid +paper is often of such nature that the lines do not show in some parts +of the sheet, and I believe there is evidence to support this theory." +Finally Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack, in some notes sent the _London +Philatelist_, sums matters up in these words:[21]--"After a very careful +investigation I believe that the 12d., on wove paper, was issued, and +that the stamp was on sale at the Post Office, in Hamilton, Canada +West." Mr. Pack writes us further:--"When I was a boy I went to school +at St. Catherines, Ontario. There were keen stamp collectors in St. +Catherines at that time, not only among boys, but among grown people. +That was about 1869 or 1870. I was told that part of the 12d. Canada +which had been on sale at the Hamilton post office were on wove paper +and I was convinced that that was the case." + +[20] Canada Stamp Sheet, IV: 142. + +[21] London Philatelist, XVI: 144. + +Concerning the laid and wove papers of this issue Mr. King writes as +follows:[22]--"The texture of these papers is virtually the same, and it +is indeed often difficult, particularly in the case of the 6d., to +distinguish between the _laid_ and _wove_ papers. The lines in the +_laid_ paper are of a most peculiar character, and cannot, as a rule, be +brought fairly out by holding the stamp between one's eyes and the +light. The best way to test these two papers is to lay the stamps, face +down, on a black surface, and let the light strike them at about an +angle of fifteen degrees, when the _laid_ lines are brought most plainly +into view. It is necessary, however, to place the specimens so that the +light will strike them parallel to their length, as the _laid_ lines run +horizontally in the 3d., and vertically in the 6d. and 12d." + +[22] Monthly Journal, VII: 9. + +We now come to the most interesting and confirmatory part of our +evidence. We have already referred to the fact that Messrs. Corwin & +King give June, 1852, as the date when the wove paper appeared, and 1852 +is given in all catalogues and lists as the year of issue for all three +stamps on this paper. In their article on British North America, the +above gentlemen, in discussing early dates established by entire covers +for the varieties of paper that they describe, remark under the caption +"_Series IV_." (the _thin wove_ paper): "We took a six-pence from a +letter dated June 25th, 1852."[23] This statement can hardly be +questioned, after the careful and minute study that they gave to the +papers of this issue, and it therefore means just one thing: _the 6d. on +wove paper came in the first lot delivered_, for we have seen that the +second supply did not arrive until 1855. The fact is therefore +established that the first deliveries of stamps in April and May, 1851, +included the wove paper, and we therefore have here what amounts to the +proper credentials for the appearance and even use of the 12d. on wove +paper. + +[23] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 149. + +As the 3d., having been delivered first, was undoubtedly printed first, +this value may have been entirely upon the laid paper, particularly as +it seems to be not especially rare on this paper and has not been +recorded on wove paper used earlier than the receipt of the 1852 +supplies. But this of course is negative evidence, and this value may +yet be found to have been printed upon the wove paper along with the +other two values in 1851. + + * * * * * + +We have remarked that there were but three covers known bearing copies +of the 12d. stamp. It is with great satisfaction, therefore, that we are +able to present reproductions of two of them for the benefit of our +readers. The earliest date is on the cover numbered 90 on Plate VI, +which is in the Worthington collection. This bears the postmark of +"Montreal, L. C. JY 21, 1852" in red. The stamp is a little heavily +cancelled by the concentric rings type of obliteration in black. The +word CANADA within the curved frame and the word PAID are stamped in red +on the cover. This was a requirement of the first postal convention +between Canada and the United States, signed on March 25, 1851. Section +9 reads:-- + + "The Offices designated for the despatch and receipt of Canadian + Mails on the side of the United States will stamp 'U. States' upon + all letters sent into Canada for delivery; and the Offices + designated for the despatch and receipt of United States mails on + the side of Canada will stamp 'Canada' upon all letters sent into + the United States for delivery." + +The other two covers were both the property of the late John F. Seybold, +but the one upon which the stamp appears in finest condition now +ornaments the collection of Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack. This is +illustrated as No. 91 on Plate VI and bears the postmark of "Hamilton, +C. W. NO 23, 1853." The stamp is cancelled with the concentric rings in +blue, and an additional handstamp appears in red reading "CANADA--PAID +20 Cts" in two lines. The "20" is made over from "10" by the use of a +pen in changing the first figure. In this connection it will be +remembered that 6d. currency, equal to 10 cents, was the single rate for +1/2oz. letters between Canada and the United States.[24] + +[24] See 63 on page 30. + +The third cover is in all respects a companion piece of the second, +bearing the same marks and (probably) the same address originally, but +dated from Hamilton on "DE 8, 1853." + +All three of these covers show the particular use of the 12d. +stamp--simply as a multiple of the 3d. and 6d. in currency rates. That +it was _not_ issued with any intention of being especially used for the +British packet rate must be evident, as we have seen that this was 1s. +4d. currency if prepaid and sent via the United States, or 1s. 1-1/2d. +currency if prepaid and sent via Halifax[25]--rates that could not be +made up by means of the three stamps first issued. + +[25] See Secs. 60 and 62 on page 30. + +On the other hand the stamp was quadruple the domestic rate, double the +rate to the United States, and the single rate for the fortnightly mails +from Montreal via Boston to Newfoundland, Bermuda and the British West +Indies.[26] Probably letters in the first category were not common, and, +as it happens, all our specimens fall in the second. The third category +doubtless did not entail a large correspondence, particularly as the +more direct route to the places mentioned, via Quebec and Halifax, was +at the lesser rate of 7-1/2d.[27] For the above reasons, then, the +covers as we find them evidently exemplify the usual use to which the +12d. stamp was put, and explain why more were not used, as surely would +have been the case had the stamp been convenient for prepaying the +packet rate to England, with which there was a large correspondence. + +[26] See Sec. 70 on page 31. + +[27] See Secs. 67 and 68 on page 30. + + * * * * * + +Having now described the two main varieties of paper common to the three +values of this issue, let us look at some further varieties of the stock +used for the 3d. and 6d. values, which, because of their long term of +use, were subject to quite a number of printings and therefore gave +opportunity for the variation in paper which is a characteristic of this +issue. We have already given the statistics of the receipt and issue of +3d. and 6d. stamps for the five years from 1851 to 1856,[28] and find +they total 1,600,500 for the 3d. and 150,400 for the 6d. From succeeding +reports of the Postmaster General we cull the following:-- + +[28] See pages 35-36. + + REPORT OF 30TH SEPT., 1857, [including 1 year 6 months, by statute.][29] + + 3d. stamps 6d. stamps + + Balance on hand 31st March, 1856 255,800 9,381 + Received from Mfrs. in half-year to 30th. Sept. 50,000 + --------- --------- + Total 255,800 59,381 + Issued for sale during half-year 186,200 24,781 + --------- --------- + Balance 1st October, 1856 69,600 34,600 + Received from Mfrs. year ending 30th Sept., 1857 600,000 50,078 + --------- --------- + Total 669,600 84,678 + Issued for sale during yr. ending 30th Sept., 1857 587,900 60,600 + --------- --------- + Balance on hand 81,700 24,078 + + REPORT OF 30TH. SEPT., 1858. + + Received from Mfrs. year ending 30th Sept., 1858 900,000 100,000 + --------- --------- + Total 981,700 124,078 + Issued for sale during year 717,200 82,500 + --------- --------- + Balance on hand 30th Sept., 1858 264,500 41,578 + + REPORT OF 30TH. SEPT., 1859. + + Rec'd from Mfrs. during 9 mos. to 30th June, 1859 449,900 70,000 + --------- --------- + Total 714,400 111,578 + Issued for sale during above 9 months 692,700 94,000 + --------- --------- + Balance on hand 30th June, 1859 21,700 17,578 + +[29] 20^o Vict. cap. XXV. Sec. VII; see page 61. + +On July 1, 1859 the stamps in decimal currency were issued, so the above +remainders represent the last of the 3d. and 6d. stamps. Adding the +receipts from the manufacturers in the above tables, therefore, to the +totals already given for the years 1851-6, and then deducting the +remainders (which were later destroyed), we have for the total issue of +the 3d. stamp 3,528,700, and of the 6d. stamp 402,900. In these figures +are of course included the perforated stamps, which we will consider +later. + +It will be seen from the tables that there were at least eight +deliveries of the 3d. stamps and at least six deliveries of the 6d. +stamps, but inasmuch as these are totalled by years, and as some of the +amounts are quite large (_e. g._ 900,000 of the 3d. in 1858), it seems +certain that there were even more deliveries and consequently more +printings of the stamps than is indicated. In no other way can we +account for the variety in the paper used, and also the variety in the +color of the 6d. stamp. The 3d. does not vary so much, probably because +its shade of red did not require much mixing of inks and the ingredients +were such that slight variations in the proportions did not greatly +affect the tone. The normal color being a bright red, we find it running +to a deeper, almost brick red in one direction, and to a vermilion in +the other. As to the normal color of the 6d. it would be almost +impossible to hazard a guess, if we had simply a series of one stamp of +each distinct variation in color or shade in which it is found. The +common run of shades is from a slate violet to a slate or "near black" +with a "cast" of violet, of brown, or even green. What can one do in +trying to describe the "color" of such a chameleon stamp with such an +uncertain basis to work upon? The check list gives the nearest +approximation to the various shades that we have been able to translate +into color names, but it is almost impossible to so describe some of +them as to convey the proper idea of the exact shade to the reader. + +For papers used, Mr. King describes no less than fourteen.[30] Four of +these are the two grades of the laid and wove "bank-note" paper already +mentioned. A third variety of laid paper is described by him as entirely +different, being a stout white paper in which "the _laid_ lines are most +distinct, while the paper is of a different texture and color from the +regular grey shade." Mr. Pack states: "This paper is very rare, and I +have never seen but very few copies."[31] Mr. King's sixth variety is +described as "hard, stout, grayish wove," but we have included it with +the ordinary wove paper in the check list, of which it is but a little +heavier manifestation. The same may be said of his varieties XII and +XIII, described as "medium" and "thick, hard, white wove paper, very +slightly ribbed," respectively, which we have classed under "stout, +hard, white wove paper." There is an extreme case in the 6d. stamp, +which comes on a _very_ thick hard paper, concerning which Mr. Pack +says:--"The unused 6d. on very thick, hard paper is one of the greatest +rarities of Canada. It is as rare as the 12d. unused. Curiously enough, +this stamp in used condition is very rare in a pair or strip. So far as +I know there are only two or three strips or pairs in existence. It is +my understanding that the very thick _hard_ paper stamps were printed +previous to those on the _soft_ paper." The last remark refers to the +very thick, soft paper, almost a card board (Mr. King's variety XIV) +which is now well known as an exceedingly rare variety. It is distinct, +both in paper and color, from any other variety of the 6d. stamp, the +shade being a dull purple. The same may be said of the thick _hard_ +paper stamp, which appears to be in a very even shade of slate violet. + +[30] Monthly Journal, VII: 9. + +[31] London Philatelist, XVI: 144. + +Mr. King's varieties X and XI are both peculiar, the former being a +"very soft, thin, cream wove which is quite fragile and will not bear +much handling," and the latter a "soft, thick, coarse white wove paper; +the surface presents a sort of hairy appearance, and the quality is +better than series X." The 3d. is the only value occurring in these two +varieties, which we have placed under "soft white wove paper" in the +check list. + +Lastly comes the ribbed paper. The first variety is a very soft, thin +paper on which the 3d. appears. This is Mr. King's variety VII, and he +makes a variety VIII of the same paper in a "cream" tone. The same value +comes on a thicker, hard paper, Mr. King's variety IX, and he lists a +6d. in violet black as well. + +From the foregoing it will be seen that the first issue of Canadian +stamps furnishes plenty of material for study, and is an extremely +difficult series to work out and put into proper form for a reference +list. Mr. King truly says:--"If the papers and shades of this series of +stamps are thoroughly studied, there are more varieties than in all the +other British North American stamps put together; in many cases they are +minute, in others more decided, but in every case distinct." Some +criticism may be made of our not using _in extenso_, the excellent +"Reference List"[32] prepared by Messrs. King and Corwin, but it has +seemed wise, in working with the specialized collections already alluded +to, to condense this list to some extent; nor do we think its +correctness and usefulness have been impaired thereby. + +[32] Monthly Journal, VII: 9. + +We have spoken of the three values of stamps already treated as the +"first issue" of Canada. Some may cavil at this, for there are three +more values belonging to the pence series which may be regarded as part +of the "first issue," inasmuch as they were complementary as well as +supplementary to the original three. But they did not appear until +nearly four or more years later, and therefore escaped the laid paper +varieties. For this reason, and because there appears another important +question to solve in connection with two of them, we have reserved a +separate chapter for these three. We may also say that as one of them +appears in the perforated series of pence values we have left the +consideration of these latter stamps until the next following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE REMAINING PENCE ISSUES + + +A resume of the chief happenings of the year and other items of interest +is given in the annual reports of the Postmasters General, and a brief +summary of these first few years will not be without its importance +here. It will be recalled that the Provincial Government took over the +control of its posts on the 6th April, 1851, and by the _Act to Amend +The Post Office Act_, passed 30th August, 1851,[33] the Postmaster +General was required by statute to "report to the Governor General of +the Province annually, for the purpose of being laid before Parliament +at each Session, _First_. A report of Finances, Receipts and Expenditure +of the Post Office Department for the year ending on the fifth day of +April previous," etc., etc. Accordingly the first annual report of the +Postmaster General was rendered on the 5th April, 1852. In it we find +the following information:-- + +[33] 14^o & 15^o Vict., cap. LXXI, sec. 12. + + Upon the transfer of the control of the Post Office Department in + this Province, by the Imperial Post Office Authorities to the + Provincial Government, on the 6th April, 1851, the number of Post + Offices in operation was found to be 601--the number of miles of + established Post Route, 7595--over which the annual transportation + of the Mails was 2,487,000 miles--and the Gross Revenue raised under + the authority of the Imperial Post Office, at the high tariff of + rates then prevailing, had been for the year preceding the transfer + [L]93,802 currency, including in that sum the collections in Canada + of British Packet Postage, estimated to have amounted to [L]10,000 + sterling. + + The Provincial Act of the 12th and 13th Vic. cap. 66, providing for + the management of the Department after the transfer, reduced the + Postage charges in Canada upon all letters passing between places + within the Province, or within British North America generally, to a + uniform rate of 3d. per 1/2 oz.; whereas under the tariff in force + previous to the transfer, the average charge on each letter was + computed to have been as nearly as possible 9d. per 1/2 oz.; the + reduction therefore consequent upon the introduction of the uniform + 3d. rate was equivalent to 2/3, or 66-2/3 per cent, on the former + average letter Postage charge. + + The Postage charge on Box or Drop Letters, and the additional charge + on letters delivered in the Cities by Letter Carriers, have in each + case been reduced to one half penny, being one half the former + rates. + + With regard to newspapers, the Postage charge has been altogether + taken off upon several important branches of newspaper circulation, + and papers to and from the other British North American Provinces, + papers sent to the United States, and Editors' exchange papers, pass + free of all Postage charge whatever. The rates on printed papers, + circulars, pamphlets, books, &c., have also been modified and + reduced. + +The gross receipts of the Department for the year under review are given +as [L]71,788 18s. 5d. currency, a drop of over [L]20,000 from the +previous year; but this is a good showing after all, for when it is +remembered that the new uniform rate of postage was but one third the +former average rate, it is readily figured out that correspondence +nearly doubled under the new tariffs. This is confirmed by the following +comparative statement of pieces mailed:-- + +One week preceding 5th April, 1851, No. of letters, 41,000; papers, +90,000. + +One week preceding 5th April, 1852, No. of letters, 86,051[34]; papers, +101,000. + +[34] This is explained in the report for 1853 as being "a clerical error +for 71,726." + +There were 243 new post offices added during the year and 1023 miles of +post routes. + +"An agreement was concluded with the Post Master General of the United +States, which has continued in satisfactory operation since April, 1851, +under which letters pass between any place in Canada, and any place in +the United States, at a Postage rate of 6d. currency, per half oz., +except to and from California and Oregon, when, the distance being over +3,000 miles, the rate is 9d. per half oz. Letters are posted on either +side, paid or unpaid, at the option of the sender." + +The total correspondence passing between the two countries is given as +having a postage rating of $85,636.97. + +The second annual report of the Postmaster General is dated the 31st +March, 1853, and contains little of interest but statistics. 176 new +post offices were established and 504 miles of new post routes added. +The gross revenue of the Department for the fiscal year is given as +[L]84,866.6.11-1/2. and the total postage on the correspondence passing +between Canada and the United States was $104,966.40. + +The third report, of 31st March, 1854, speaks of a large reduction in +the postal charges upon newspapers circulating within the Province and +on certain classes of periodical prints, which took place on Feb. 1, +1854, but gives no further details. Concerning the British packet +postage, however, the report says:-- + + In March, 1854, the charge on packet letters passing between Canada + and the United Kingdom and most foreign countries was reduced by the + Imperial Government from 1s. 2d. sterling to 8d. sterling per 1/2 + oz. when sent in closed mails through the United States, and from + 1s. to 6d. when sent direct from a Provincial Port, Quebec or + Halifax. + +Further on are the following recommendations:-- + + Should no further change be likely soon to take place in the charges + on the correspondence with England, it would promote the public + convenience to procure Postage stamps of the value of 10d. and 7-1/2 + d. respectively to correspond with the present packet letter + charges. + +And again:-- + + Much unnecessary labor and waste of time is occasioned to this + Department by the practice now followed of rating and collecting + Postage on all Government and Legislative correspondence, and it + would be an improvement, in my belief, very worthy of adoption, to + authorize by enactment the transmission of all such matter through + the mails, under proper regulations, free of Postage charge, and + that in lieu thereof, a certain fixed annual sum estimated to be + equivalent to the aggregate of the Postage arising upon such + correspondence, should be paid by the Receiver General to the Post + Office, to be accounted for as Post Office Revenue. + +Perhaps the most pregnant remark is one short statement:--"The use of +stamps has materially increased"; for it will be remembered that the +first annual report of the Postmaster General was pessimistic with +regard to the employment of stamps, fearing that their use was +diminishing. + +The accounts accompanying the report contain but one item concerning +stamps:-- + + Rawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps furnished Post Office + Department [L]12.11.3 + +This amount was of course only for printing supplies, evidently for the +250,000 3d. stamps received during the fiscal year. + +In the fourth report, of 31st March, 1855, there are several items of +interest. The lowering of the British packet rates proved a popular +step, naturally, and the report states that "Notwithstanding the +important reduction granted by the Imperial Government in the postage +rate between this country and the United Kingdom in March, 1854," the +results were as follows:-- + +British Packet Postage collected in Canada in year ending 31 March, 1855 +(postage rate 8d. sterling) [L]16,449.14.3-1/2. + +British Packet Postage collected in Canada in year ending 31 March, 1854 +(postage rate 1s. 2d. sterling) [L]17,495.1.4-1/2. which was a drop of but +six per cent. in receipts upon a reduction of over forty per cent. in +the postal charge. + +Again:-- + + In March, 1855 the Imperial Post Office authorized a reduction in + the charge on letters passing through the English Posts between + Canada and France, from 2s. 8-1/2d. Currency to 1s. 8d. Currency per + 1/4 oz. letter. + +The suggestions contained in the report for 1854 concerning the franking +of official mail matter, and the payment of a fixed annual sum to the +Post Office Department on this account, were acted upon, and the report +states:-- + + In July last the Act of last Session came into effect, removing + altogether the Postage charge on the circulation of Provincial + Newspapers and according a franking privilege to the correspondence + of the Legislature and of the Public Departments of the Government. + +The Act referred to was doubtless the following:-- + + 18^o Vict. Cap. LXXIX. + + An act to abolish Postage on Newspapers published within the + Province of Canada, and for other purposes connected with the Post + Office Department of this Province. + + [_Assented to_ 19th May, 1855.] + + WHEREAS papers devoted to the advancement of Education, Temperance, + Science, Agriculture and other special objects, are now exempt from + postage; And whereas it would further materially aid the diffusion + of useful knowledge to remove all postal restrictions on the + transmission of Newspapers in general, published within this + Province, and of all documents printed by order of either House of + Parliament: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent + Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative + Council and the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, * * + * * and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, as + follows: + + I. All Newspapers published within the Province of Canada, shall be + transmitted by mail free of Postage. + + * * * * * + + IV. All Letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by + the Governor of this Province, or sent to or by any Public + Department at the seat of Government, shall be free of Provincial + Postage under such regulations as may be directed by the Governor in + Council. + + V. All Letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by the + Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Legislative Council or of the + Legislative Assembly, or by or to any Member of either of said + branches of the Legislature during any Session of the Legislature, + shall be free of Provincial Postage. + + VI. All public documents and printed papers may be sent by the + Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Legislative Council or of the + Legislative Assembly, to any Member of either of the said branches + of the Legislature of Canada, during the recess of Parliament, free + of Postage. + + VII. Members of either branch of the Legislature of Canada may send + during the recess of Parliament by mail, free of Postage, all papers + printed by order of either branch of the Legislature of Canada. + + * * * * * + + IX. This Act shall come into effect on and after the first day of + July, eighteen hundred and fifty-five. + +There is a bit of conflict here. The "enactment clause" of the above Act +makes it operative unequivocally on July 1, 1855. Yet the Postmaster +General's report, just quoted, which is supposed to be for the fiscal +year ending 31st March, 1855, distinctly states that the provisions of +the above Act came into effect "in July last," which would seem to be +July, 1854. The Act itself is not in error, so the discrepancy must lie +in the Postmaster General's report. Probably the report was written much +later in the year than March 31st, as it was not presented to Parliament +until the fall session, and therefore gave opportunity to refer back to +happenings in July. + +The growth of the Department during the first four years under +Provincial control is illustrated by the following table:-- + + Post Miles Letters Correspondence + Date Offices of mailed Gross Revenue with + in Routes. per the U. S. + operation. week + + 6th April, 1851 601 7,595 41,000 [L] 93,802 + 5th April, 1852 840 8,618 71,726 [L] 71,788.18. 5 $ 85,636.97 + 31st Mar., 1853 1,016 9,122 81,896 [L] 84,866. 6. 11-1/2 $104,966.40 + 31st Mar., 1854 1,166 10,027 98,350 [L] 98,495. 6. 7 $129,921.67 + 31st Mar., 1855 1,293 11,192 116,671 [L]110,747.12. 9-1/2 $145,377.69 + + + +The number of post offices had more than doubled; the length of the post +routes had increased by fifty per cent; and although the revenue had +dropped one quarter during the first year, owing to the reduction in +postage rates, it had increased by half in the next three years; while +the total correspondence between Canada and the United States had +increased by two thirds in the same three years. + +But the item that interests us particularly in this report reads:-- + + To promote the general convenience in prepaying letters to the + United Kingdom at the new rate, postage stamps of the value of 10d. + Currency, equal to 8d. sterling, were procured and issued for sale + to the public. + +Thus part of the recommendation contained in the report for the +preceding year was carried out. + +In the accounts for the fiscal year we find the following entries:-- + + 1st. Quarter, Rawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps + for P. O. Dept. [L]12.12.6 + + 3rd. Quarter, Rawdon, Wright & Co., Making Stamps 42.18.6 + + 4th. Quarter, Rawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps + for P. O. Dept. 17.13.6 + +From this it would appear that the bill for engraving ("making") the new +10d. stamp was paid in the third quarter of the fiscal year, +corresponding to the last quarter of 1854. According to the table of +receipts from manufacturers in the "summary" already quoted,[35] the +10d. stamp was first received by the Post Office Department on Jan. 2, +1855. In Mr. King's "Reference List,"[36] however, the date "Dec. 5, +1854" is given as being "taken from used stamps on the original covers," +but this must certainly be a mistake. The "summary" also gives the +quantities issued to postmasters by quarters, and there were none issued +(naturally) in the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1854. In the next quarter, +ending Mar. 31, 1855, there were 16,200 issued to postmasters, so that +the first issue probably took place soon after receipt, that is, in +January, 1855. The total number received from the manufacturers in this +first delivery was 100,080. + +[35] Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83. + +[36] Monthly Journal, VII: 9. + +The plate for this stamp is stated to have been made up for printing +sheets of 100 impressions in ten rows of ten, like the three values of +1851, and also to have had the eight marginal imprints. But there are +reasons for thinking it may have been made to print 120 impressions, +ten rows of twelve each, concerning which more will be said later. +Suffice it to remark here that the number delivered (100,080) is exactly +divisible by 120, making 834 full sheets, which is not the case if 100 +is used. The normal color of the stamp is a very deep blue. + +The design of the new 10d., illustrated as No. 3 on Plate I, corresponds +in general style to the 6d. and 12d. of 1851, but the portrait in the +central oval is of Jacques Cartier, the explorer and founder of Canada. +There has been some discussion over the identity of the original, it +having been claimed that the subject was Sebastian Cabot, the +discoverer, just as the portrait on the 6d. stamp has been assigned to +Lord Elgin, Governor-General of Canada from 1846 to 1854.[37] +Unfortunately no circular announcing the issue of the stamp has come to +hand, and, as seen from the quotation already given, the report of the +Postmaster General does not give us the information. It is nevertheless +a fact that the portrait represents Cartier, the original being a +three-quarter length painting in the Hotel de Ville at St. Malo, France, +the birthplace of Cartier. The inscriptions in the oval frame are in +this case separated by a small picture of the beaver at the right, and +three maple leaves at the left. The value is expressed as TEN PENCE, +with the numerals "10" in the lower spandrels, followed by the letters +"cy" for "currency." In the upper spandrels is the corresponding value +in sterling money, expressed as "8d stg". The relation between sterling +and currency values and their equivalents in the decimal coinage of the +United States was fixed by law, and the matter seems important enough to +reproduce the statute here. + +[37] Philatelic Record, X: 50. + + + 16^o Vict. Cap. CLVIII. + + An Act to regulate the Currency. [Assented to 14th June, 1853.] + + * * * * * + + II. And be it enacted, That the denominations of money in the + Currency of this Province, shall be pounds, dollars, shillings, + pence, cents and mills: the pound, shilling and penny shall have, + respectively, the same proportionate values as they now have, the + dollar shall be one-fourth of a pound, the cent shall be + one-hundredth of a dollar, and the mill one-tenth of a cent.... + + III. And be it enacted, That the Pound Currency shall be held to be + equivalent to and to represent one hundred and one grains and three + hundred and twenty-one thousandths of a grain Troy weight of Gold of + the Standard of fineness now prescribed by Law for the Gold Coins of + the United Kingdom; and the Dollar Currency shall be held to be + equivalent to and to represent one fourth part of the weight + aforesaid of Gold of the said Standard.... + + IV. And be it enacted, That the Pound Sterling shall be held to be + equal to one pound, four shillings and four pence, or four dollars, + eighty-six cents and two-thirds of a cent, Currency.... + + * * * * * + + IX. And be it enacted, That ... the Gold Eagle of the United States, + coined after [1st. July, 1834], ... and weighing ten penny weights, + eighteen grains, Troy weight, shall pass current and be a legal + tender in this Province for ten Dollars or two pounds ten shillings + currency.... + +Further supplies of the 10d. stamp were not needed for three years, the +next lot, numbering 72,120, having been delivered during the year ending +30th Sept., 1858, according to the table of stamp statistics. These two +lots were the only ones delivered, and the balance on hand when the +decimal stamps appeared being 31,200, we find a total issue for the 10d. +stamp of 141,000. + +Puzzling questions seem to be the rule with this first series of +Canadian stamps, and the 10d. is no exception. The stamp occurs, to all +appearances, in at least _two sizes_, one of which has been termed the +"wide oval" and the other the "narrow oval." These are well brought out +by illustrations Nos. 70 (wide) and 71 (narrow) on Plate IV. Very likely +the peculiarity was noticed much earlier, but it seems to have been +brought to the attention of collectors generally for the first time by +Mr. W. H. Brouse, in a paper read before the London Philatelic Society +on Feb. 3, 1894.[38] We quote this entire:-- + +[38] London Philatelist, III: 34. + + "I have carefully read such Philatelic articles or publications + relating to British North American stamps as have come under my + notice, but have as yet not come across anything relating to the + difference in Canadians that is to be found in the 7-1/2d. Canadian + currency (6d. sterling), green, and the 10d., blue, and so concluded + that it may have passed my observation, or, if not, has not yet been + 'written up.' Will you therefore pardon a short note on the subject? + + "Of the 10d., blue, there are three distinct varieties in design, + viz., + + First (_a_) the long and narrow; + Second (_b_) the long and broad: and + Third (_c_) the short and broad. + + "The outside edges or ornaments are in all three cases the same, but + the difference lies in the fact of the oval or frame around the head + having been, as the case may be, elongated or contracted, or + sometimes widened out. + + "The extreme variation in length is about one-sixteenth of an inch, + which is considerable in a postage stamp. I doubt very much if this + happened through intention, but rather think that it is the result + of what might be termed 'engravers' license.' However, whatever it + may be, the result is that there are three distinct varieties. + + "It will, I think, be found that the earlier one of these is the + long and narrow, on thinnish paper; then the long and broad (which + is the most common), on thicker paper; and lastly, the short and + broad, on medium paper. The latter is the scarcer, and consequently + the most valuable. + + "I have for a long time known of the above differences, and at first + thought it only an optical delusion, owing to some of the copies + having had their sides closely trimmed, but on closer observation + the distinct differences, as I have mentioned, were manifest. What + is said of the 10d. may also be said of the 7-1/2d. (but to a lesser + degree of variation), only the latter are generally found in the + long and broad frame or oval. A slight difference also occurs in the + 6d., violet; no variation appears in the length of the stamp, though + I have two specimens in which the oval or frame shows a contraction + in width to the extent of about one-forty-eighth of an inch, and is + quite noticeable. + + "This may be 'piper's news' to some of the members of the Philatelic + Society, London, but to others it may be of interest, and for that + reason I beg your indulgence." + + Mr. Castle, in reading the foregoing paper at the meeting of the + London Philatelic Society, shewed specimens of the stamps described + by Mr. Brouse, and added a few remarks as under. + + "I venture to think the modest disclaimer on the part of Mr. Brouse, + in his closing sentence, is hardly borne out in view of the + interesting communication he has made. To me the information was + certainly novel, and I could hardly credit that there should exist + such differences in size until I had verified the fact by + examination of specimens. Owing to the kindness of Messrs. Stanley + Gibbons, Limited, and Mr. W. H. Peckitt, I was enabled to inspect a + number of these pence issues, and I have tabulated the measurements + as nearly as I can:-- + + HALFPENNY. + + Size. Paper. + + (_a_) 22 x 18-1/2 mm. Medium thick + (_b_) 22-1/2 x 18 mm. Medium thick + + THREEPENCE. + + (_a_) 22 (full) x 18 mm. Very thin wove + (_a_) 22 x 18mm. Very thin laid + (_b_) 22-1/2 x 17-1/2 mm. Thin + (_c_) 22-3/4 x 17-1/2 mm. Thick + + SIXPENCE. + + (_a_) 22 x 18 mm. Thin wove + (_a_) 22 x 18 mm. Thin Laid + (_b_) 22-3/4 x 17-3/4 mm. Thick + + SEVENPENCE-HALFPENNY. + + (_a_) 22-1/4 x 18-1/2 mm. (bare) Med. thick + (_a_) 22-1/2 x 18-1/2 mm. Medium thick + (_a_) 22-3/4 x 18 mm. Medium thick + (_a_) 22-3/4 x 18-1/2 mm. Medium thick + + TENPENCE. + + (_a_) 22-3/4 x 17-1/2 mm. Thin to very thin + (_b_) 22-1/2 x 18 mm. (full) Thick + (_b_) 22-3/4 x 18-1/2 mm. (bare) Thick + (_c_) 22 x 18 mm. Thin + + "The varieties of the Tenpence are those described by Mr. Brouse as + (_a_) long and narrow, (_b_) long and broad, and (_c_) short and + broad. I may add that in the case of this value I have examined and + measured some forty copies, including a strip of three, as also a + proof on very thin India paper, which corresponds exactly in + measurement with variety (_b_) on the thick paper (22-3/4 x + 18-1/2mm.). It is obvious that to be absolutely accurate beyond a + half mm. with an ordinary gauge is hardly possible, but in several + of the given cases I have averaged the sizes of several that very + closely approximated. + + "As will be seen, I have gone somewhat beyond the lines of Mr. + Brouse's paper in including the 1/2d., the 3d., and 6d., the + variation in the former being slight, but in the two latter + noteworthy. The question how these varieties have arisen is an + interesting one, nor can I see that they can be accounted for by + shrinkage of the paper, as in the case of the 10d. proof above + cited, which is on all fours with the ordinary stamp on thick paper. + In the case of the strip of this value I found all three stamps + measured the same, and the fact remains that variety (_c_) is short + _and_ broad. In any case the existence of these varieties is + palpable, the question of their origin a genuine philatelic problem, + and I think that the thanks of us all are therefore due to Mr. + Brouse for his interesting paper." + +This may have been the first record of the peculiarity in the case of +the Canadian stamps, but it was at least not the first time that +variation in the dimensions of certain line engraved stamps, supposed to +have been produced from the same original die, had been noted and +discussed. We refer to the case of the early Ceylon stamps, which +furnished food for contention in the philatelic press for many years. +The first mention of a difference in the length of these seems to have +been in December, 1864.[39] Ten years later the reference list of Ceylon +prepared by the London Philatelic Society[40] noted the fact that the +stamps of 1863 on unwatermarked paper were in general about a millimeter +shorter in the vertical dimension than the succeeding issue on paper +watermarked Crown C C, although the engraved designs were otherwise +absolutely identical. Major Edw. B. Evans, in his catalogue,[41] appends +a note on the unwatermarked stamps of 1863 as follows:-- + + These stamps are apparently (indeed, we may say certainly) from the + same plates as the other issues, but at the same time the + impressions on this paper are about 1-16 inch shorter than those on + other papers. This can only have been occasioned by the paper having + shrunk to some extent since the stamps were printed.... + +[39] The Stamp Collectors' Magazine, II: 191. + +[40] The Philatelist, IX: 10. + +[41] A Catalogue for Collectors, page 39. + +Later, in 1887, Mr. T. K. Tapling, writing in _Le Timbre-Poste_,[42] +claims the difference cannot be due to shrinkage of paper because the +stamps have all shrunk evenly, and attributes it to some defect in the +process of making the plates. He reasons thus:-- + + Les timbres sur les feuilles de n'importe quelle valeur ['e]taient + tous identiques comme type. Ils furent grav['e]s sur acier, je pense + par MM. Perkins Bacon et Co., chaque timbre par un proc['e]d['e] de + r['e]duplication, ['e]tant reproduit d'une matrice; la planche + ['e]tant ensuite durcie pour l'impression. Il n'y a par + cons['e]quent pas de vari['e]t['e] de types, les lignes des gravures + sur les timbres courts ['e]tant les m[^e]mes que celles sur les + timbres longs, except['e] qu'elles sont un tant soit peu + contract['e]es.... Il me semble plus que probable que la + diff['e]rence en longeur des exemplaires puisse [^e]tre attribu['e]e + [a'] un l['e]ger d['e]faut dans le proc['e]d['e] de r['e]duplication + des planches de la matrice originale. + +[42] =Le Timbre-Poste=, Num['e]ro Jubilaire, page XXXV. + +As a matter of fact the stamps did not shrink evenly, but very unevenly. +Mr. W. B. Thornhill, writing on these same stamps in 1889,[43] +says:--"You can hardly find two stamps of exactly the same measurements +in the same value, though the difference in many cases is too small to +signify"; and he proceeds to show the extreme variations in a carefully +prepared table including every value on every variety of paper for +issues from 1855 to 1867. The greatest variation in the vertical +dimension seems to be about 1 mm. in 26 mm., or roughly 4%, and in the +horizontal dimension about 1/4 to 1/2 mm. in 19 mm. or roughly 1-1/4 to +2-1/2%. These dimensional differences being so palpably existent, +therefore, what factors are we to consider in looking for their cause? +There seem to be but three: first, an original die or matrix for each +different size; second, one original die only, whose impressions on the +printing plate show variations resulting from the process of +transferring them; third, a printing plate with all the impressions +exact duplicates of the one original die, but whose reproductions in ink +on dampened paper are varied by the shrinkage of the paper in drying. + +[43] =Philatelic Record=, XI: 71. + +Mr. Thornhill convinces himself by inspection that the first proposition +is untenable; in fact its absurdity is at once apparent on a little +thought, for the engraving of the original die is a laborious and costly +piece of work, and that very fact, coupled with the comparative ease of +exact reduplication by mechanical processes on the printing plate, +furnishes the chief reason for the employment of this method of +producing stamps. Since there is such a variety in the size of the +stamps, therefore, the first theory would indicate many original dies, +and this we know was not the case. Its refutation indeed is seen in the +stamps themselves; for each original die, if differing in size from its +fellows, meant a separate engraving, and it is humanly impossible to +make these separate engravings exact duplicates, whereas, on the other +hand, no appreciable variation in line or dot can be detected on the +same stamp in its different sizes save the general expansion or +contraction of the design, which is proportionate in all its parts. The +different die or matrix theory is therefore thrown out on grounds of +impracticability and absurdity. + +Accepting the one original die proposition, then, Mr. Thornhill agrees +with Mr. Tapling in turning down the shrinkage of paper theory and +favoring the second supposition, that the variation comes on the plates +and is due to the process of transference. Let us glance at this a +moment. The original die is engraved on a block of soft steel of very +fine and even quality. When finished it is tempered to a very great +degree of hardness. Next the engraving is transferred by tremendous +pressure to a transferring roller of similar soft steel, which is in +turn hardened. In this process there might be an opportunity for a +slight variation in the size of the transferred impression, due to the +expansion and contraction of the steel in the tempering process. Next, +this hardened transfer roller is impressed upon the printing plate of +soft steel as many times as there are copies desired. These naturally +all agree among themselves and with the transfer roller impression in +size. Now when the printing plate in turn receives its hardening, there +may again be a chance for a slight difference between the transfer +roller and the plate impressions; _but_ it is wholly unlikely that the +plate impressions will vary much among themselves, otherwise the +perfection of Mr. Jacob Perkins' invention, the chief merit of which was +exact reduplication, would be impaired. As a matter of fact, the high +grade and even quality of the steel necessarily employed, and the care +naturally taken in hardening the plate, preclude any other than an even +variation, if any, due to the tempering process. This means that such +variations would be practically constant over the printing surface of +the plate, and that therefore the impressions would still remain +practically identical in size. + +Where, then, does this bring us? With such numerous and well defined +variations in dimensions in the printed stamps, we should look for the +cause in the simplest and most natural method by which they could +readily be produced, which is furnished by the third theory presented. +Concerning this we quote from the London Philatelic Society's work on +Ceylon:[44]-- + + In reference to the variations in the size of the stamps of Issues + III and V [no watermark and Crown CC], Major Evans, who was the + first to propound the theory that these variations were due to + differences in the nature of the paper employed, writes as + follows:-- + + "The theory of the expansion and contraction of the paper being now + pretty generally accepted, as accounting for the variations observed + in the size of the stamps of the early issues of Ceylon, it seems + necessary to explain exactly what that theory is, and how these + differences are supposed to arise. Previous to printing from plates + engraved in _taille-douce_ the paper is wetted, which, as is well + known, causes it to expand; the amount of expansion varies, no + doubt, considerably in different kinds of paper, and it must also + vary with the amount of moisture in the same kind of paper, for as + the paper dries it returns to its original dimensions, and, + therefore, up to a certain point, the wetter it is the greater will + be the expansion. In any case the paper is in a state of expansion + at the time of printing, both from being wetted and from being + stretched out flat and pressed, and the impression when first + printed is then, and then only, in all cases the size of the + engraving upon the plate. It then dries, and in so doing contracts, + and the greater the amount of expansion the greater will be the + amount of the subsequent contraction, so that the smallest stamps + are those printed on the paper which expanded most, and the largest + those on the paper which expanded least. The minor variations of + size may be due to the paper being more or less damp when used, but + probably a very slight difference in the thickness or density of the + paper would cause some variation in its expansion. The marked + difference in size of the stamps on thin, unwatermarked paper, which + were the first to attract the attention of Philatelists, is no doubt + due to that particular variety of paper, which is very tough and + elastic, and which has been found to expand very greatly on being + wetted and stretched." + +[44] =Postage Stamps, &c., of British India and Ceylon=, page 69. + +So much for the Ceylon stamps, which we have discussed _in extenso_; but +we have only to substitute in every case a reference to the first +Canadian issues, particularly the 10d. which we started out with, to +make the discussion apply with equal force in this case as in the other. +The question is the same--the variations occur in the same way, the +method of engraving and reproduction is the same, and the varieties in +the paper are very similar. + +Major Evans, in a reply to Mr. Thornhill's paper,[45] states that he +tried some experiments in wetting a thin, tough note paper, and found an +expansion of three per cent., while by stretching it he increased the +expansion to eight per cent, without difficulty! Yet the greatest +variation in Mr. Thornhill's table was only four per cent. Major Evans +then tried some of the 1863 Newfoundland stamps, which he judged were +on paper of almost the same nature as that of the unwatermarked Ceylons +of the same year, and they gave precisely similar results. + +[45] =Philatelic Record=, XI: 158. + +Mr. Frank C. Young, who was in the printing business, also tells of +similar experiments which he carried still further.[46] + + Having provided some twenty-five sheets of paper of different + qualities and thicknesses, each was cut into sixteen pieces. + Selecting a common half tone cut which measured exactly 100 x 69 mm. + and dampening the sheets of paper to different degrees of wetness I + proceeded to impress the cut on each sheet, using a common roller + proof press. After the printed sheets had been allowed to dry it + became a matter of a good millimeter gauge and careful measurements + of the printed impressions, not the paper. + + ... Hardly two sheets of the whole lot were identical in size, nor + was I able to formulate any table as to how much or how little or + which way of the paper shrinkage would occur. The only general rule + which seemed to come out clearly was that thin paper would + invariably shrink more than thick. In many of the sheets the + difference was barely noticeable, while, on the other hand, such + measurements as 96 x 68, 97 x 68-1/2, 99 x 67-1/2, 98 x 68 mm. were + fairly common, and one sheet, after several very careful + measurements, was undeniably 95-1/2 x 69 mm., thus showing a + shrinkage of 4-1/2 per cent, one way and none at all the other. This + was very thin laid linen paper. + + Contrary to all expectations, more than one impression measured more + than either the cut or those printed on dry paper, one on thin wove + paper being fully 101 mm. long. + +[46] =Canada Stamp Sheet=, IV: 173. + +Looking back now at Mr. Castle's tables,[47] we find his greatest +variations in length amount to 3/4 mm. in 22 mm., or roughly 3-1/2%, and +in width 1 mm. in 18 mm., or roughly 5-1/2%--results entirely within +bounds according to Major Evans' and Mr. Young's experiments, and +doubtless settling once and for all the reason of the "three distinct +varieties in design" of Mr. Brouse. + +[47] See page 54. + +As for the paper actually used for the printing of the 10d. stamp, we +find it a hard, white wove variety varying very much in thickness from a +very thin, almost pelure quality, through which the design is quite +plainly evident, to a medium and finally a considerably thicker quality. +The pelure paper seems naturally to be the one on which the greatest +variation in dimensions occurs, the _long_ and _broad_ size of the stamp +coming principally on the thicker paper,[48] which is supposed to shrink +the least upon drying and therefore keeps the printed impression nearest +the size of the plate impression. The _long_ and _narrow_ impression, +being the commoner variation, was probably due to the paper being fed +to the press the same way of the "grain" as a rule, while the _short_ +and _broad_ variation, which is much scarcer, occurred by an occasional +sheet of paper being fed the other way of the "grain." That paper has a +"grain" is readily proved by tearing a piece in one direction and then +tearing it at right angles to the first tear; one will be found much +easier of accomplishment generally than the other, and this "grain" +doubtless has its due effect in the amount of shrinkage in one way or +the other upon drying a dampened sheet. + +[48] See page 56. + + * * * * * + +One further variety we have to record in the 10d. stamp, this being a +"shifted transfer" variety similar to that occurring in the 3d. value. +In this case we find the letters A D A and S of "Canada Postage," and P +E N of "Pence" showing a distinct doubling at the bottom, the transfer +roller evidently having been set a little too high at first and a very +slight impression made on the plate. The stamp has not been seen in a +pair to prove its character absolutely, but it bears all the ear-marks +of being a proper plate variety and not due to a careless impression +when printing. + + * * * * * + +To continue again with the Postmaster General's reports. We find in that +for 31st March, 1856, a note to the effect that the postage on letters +to France had been once more reduced, this time to 10d. currency per 1/4 +oz., which gave further employment to the new 10d. stamp. There is also +some information concerning the registry system, but this will be +treated later under that head. One item is found in the accounts to +interest us:-- + + Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, for printing 300,000 postage + stamps for Post Office Department [L]15.2.3. + +As only 3d. stamps were received during the year, this of course refers +to that value, and the price charged is found to be practically one +shilling, currency, per thousand, or twenty cents American money. + +In June of 1857 the Canadian Parliament made further changes in the +newspaper rates, etc., according to the following Act:-- + + + 20^o Vict. Cap. XXV. + + An Act to Amend the Post-Office Laws of this Province. + + [Assented to 10th June 1857.] + + Whereas it is expedient to amend the Post-Office Laws, in the manner + hereafter provided: Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice + and consent of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Canada enacts + as follows:-- + + I. [Repeals sections I and V of 18^o Vict. Cap. 79.][49] + + II. Newspapers printed and published within this Province and + addressed from the Office of Publication, shall be transmitted from + the Post-Office where mailed to any other Post-Office in Canada, or + to the United Kingdom, or to any British Colony or Possession, or to + France, free of Canadian Postage. + + III. Newspapers printed and published in the United Kingdom, or in + any British Colony or Possession, or in France, when received in + mails addressed to this Province, and directed to any place in + Canada, shall pass through the Post and be delivered at the + Post-Office addressed, free of Canadian postage. + + IV. For the purposes of this Act, the word "newspapers" shall be + held to mean periodicals published not less frequently than once in + each week, and containing notices of passing events, or any such + newspaper published fortnightly or monthly at the time of the + passage of this Act. + + V. Periodicals printed and published in this Province other than + newspapers, when specially devoted to Religious and to General + Education, to Agriculture or Temperance, or to any branch of + Science, and addressed directly from the Office of Publication, + shall be transmitted from the Post-Office where mailed to any other + Post-Office in this Province free of postage. + + VI. Letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by the + Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Legislative Council or of the + Legislative Assembly, or to or by any Member of the Legislature at + the seat of Government, during any session of the Legislature, or + addressed to any of the Members or Officers in this section + mentioned, at the seat of Government as aforesaid, during the ten + days next before the meeting of Parliament, shall be free of + postage. + + VII. So much of the twelfth section of the Post-Office Act, passed + in the session held in the 14th and 15th years of Her Majesty's + Reign and chaptered 71, as requires the Postmaster General to make + to the Governor General of this Province, annually, certain Reports + for the purpose of being laid before the Provincial Parliament at + each Session thereof, for the year ending the fifth day of April + previous to such Session, is hereby repealed; and it shall, + hereafter, be the duty of the Postmaster General to furnish such + Reports annually so that they may be laid before the Provincial + Parliament within ten days after the assembling thereof, and such + Annual Reports shall be made up to the thirtieth day of September + previous to each Session. + + * * * * * + + X. This Act shall take effect on and from the first day of August + next. + +[49] See page 50. + +Although the enactment clause made the above Act operative on 1st +August, 1857, because of which we should not expect it to affect the +Postmaster General's report for the year ending 31st March, 1857, yet we +find this report dated 30th September, 1857, thus including the year +and a half from 1st April, 1856. Among other items of interest in this +report we find the following:-- + + There is very material economy of labor to the Department in dealing + with letters pre-paid by stamp as compared with letters on which the + postage is collected in money, as well as a manifest gain to the + public, in the increased facilities which pre-payment by stamp + enables the Post Office to afford for posting and delivering letters + so pre-paid. + + It is gratifying, therefore, to observe that the use of stamps is + gradually gaining ground, encouraging as it does the hope that it + may be found practicable and expedient ere long to make prepayment + by stamp the prevailing rule in Canada, as it has for some time been + in the United Kingdom, in France, and in the United States. + + A reduction in the charge of Book Post Packets, when not exceeding 4 + oz., in weight between Canada and the United Kingdom, of one half + the former rate has been made. + + To facilitate the pre-payment of letters passing from Canada to + England by the Canadian steamers, a new stamp bearing value at 6 + pence sterling, or 7-1/2 pence currency, being the Canadian Packet + rate, has been secured and put in circulation. + + A new stamp has also been introduced of the value of one halfpenny + to serve as the medium for prepaying transient Newspapers. + +The above is the only reference we have to the issue of the 7-1/2d. +stamp. The accounts for the fiscal year ending 30th September, 1857, +contain the following item:-- + + "Rawdon, Wright and Co., Postage Stamps, [L]165.9.6" + +which must include the cost of dies and plates for the two new values. +There is no record of the date of issue of the 7-1/2d. stamp, as far as +our research has gone. The London Society's work[50] gives it as June 2, +1857, but upon what authority is not stated. It will be recalled that a +stamp of this value was suggested, in company with the 10d., in the +Postmaster General's report for 31st March, 1854, as being the reduced +rate granted in that same month on letters sent "direct from a +Provincial Port, Quebec or Halifax," to England. The _Halifax +Philatelist_ states:[51]--"This stamp was rendered necessary on account +of the contract between the Canadian Government and the Allan Line of +Steamers in regard to carrying the mails, and by which contract the +postage was reduced." It hardly seems to have been very "necessary" when +it took three years at least to bring the Postmaster General's +suggestion to a realization. Besides, the Allan Line steamers began +their service over a year before the appearance of the stamp, and the +rate it represented had even then been in force for two years, nor was +it reduced for many years thereafter. + +[50] The Postage Stamps, etc., of the North American Colonies of Great +Britain, page 14. + +[51] Halifax Philatelist, II: 74. + +The Postmaster General's Report for 1856 says:-- + + The month of May, 1856, was marked by the first voyage to the St. + Lawrence of the line of Canadian Mail Steamers, under the contract + between Mr. Hugh Allan of Montreal, and the Provincial Government. + These vessels have performed the service for which they were bound, + with laudable punctuality, and have crossed the Atlantic at an + average speed which compares successfully with the performances of + the steamers of the Cunard and Collins lines from New York and + Boston. + +The average time of passage is given as--Westward, 12 days, 20-1/2 +hours; Eastward, 11 days, 2 hours. + +The design of the stamp was simply adapted from that of the discarded +12d. stamp, as will readily be seen from the illustration (No. 5 on +Plate I). The inscriptions were changed to CANADA PACKET POSTAGE, which +of course referred to the fast mail steamers then known as "packets," +and not to any "parcel post" as is sometimes erroneously stated; and SIX +PENCE STERLING, a new departure in labeling a Canadian stamp. Like the +10d. that preceded it, however, the corresponding values were inserted +in the spandrels, "6d. stg." in the left hand pair and "7-1/2d. cy." in +the right hand pair. The stamp is generally listed under its "currency" +value to conform with the rest of the set and avoid confusion with the +regular "six pence" stamp. The normal color of the stamp is a dark +green. + +The 7-1/2d. stamp is known to have been arranged on the plate for +printing sheets of 120 stamps, ten rows of twelve stamps each, this +being to facilitate the reckoning in English money. The eight marginal +imprints appeared as on the other values. There was but one supply +received, on the first order, of 100,080 stamps which, if we divide by +120, gives an even 834 sheets. Now, if we but glance back at the first +supply received of the 10d. stamp[52] we find exactly the same number, +evenly divisible by 120 but not by 100. The second supply of the 10d. +stamp works out in exactly the same way,--72,120 makes an even 601 +sheets at 120 per sheet. Is it not probable to suppose, therefore, in +the absence of entire sheets or horizontal rows of the 10d. stamp, that +the latter was also printed in sheets of 120, as previously suggested, +instead of sheets of 100 as stated in Mr. King's article?[53] + +[52] See page 51. + +[53] =Monthly Journal=, VII: 8. + +When the issue of the decimal stamps took place, on July 1, 1859, there +were 17,670 of the 7-1/2d. stamps on hand, so that the total issue of +this value was 82,410 copies. + +As will be gathered from Mr. Brouse's paper, which we quoted in +connection with the 10d. stamp, a similar variation in the width of the +oval is to be found in the case of the 7-1/2d. stamp, but the extremes +are not so great and it is therefore not so noticeable. A glance at the +table of measurements[54] will show that the variation in width is +confined to a half millimeter and that in height to practically the same +amount. Of course the discussion and conclusions detailed at length +under the 10d. stamp apply with equal force in the present instance, and +the fact that the 7-1/2d. stamp is not found on the very thin paper +probably accounts for the lack of extreme variations. It was printed +upon paper of the same kind as used for the 10d., but only on the medium +and thicker qualities. A pair of the stamps in juxtaposition, showing +the wide oval and the narrow oval, will be found as numbers 67 and 68 +respectively on Plate IV. + +[54] See page 54. + + * * * * * + +The last--and also least--of the pence issues was the half-penny stamp. +There had been a need for this value since the introduction of stamps, +for there were several rates that were impossible to make up with the +denominations that were issued and which therefore had to be paid in +money. Among these were the 1/2d. charge on newspapers from 1851 to +1855, the same charge per ounce on magazines and books during the entire +period, the 1/2d. and 1d. carrier's fees, the 1d. rate on circulars and +on soldier's letters, and the several 7-1/2d. rates for letters and for +the book post with England. But the Act last quoted,[55] which restored +a charge on transient newspapers, seems to have been the direct cause of +the belated issue of the half-penny stamp. The circular announcing its +issue is as follows:[56]-- + + POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS. + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, + TORONTO, 18th July, 1857. + + Under the Post Office Law of last Session, taking effect from 1st. + August, 1857, Newspapers printed and published in Canada, and + mailed direct from Office of Publication, will pass free of Canadian + Postage. + + Periodicals so printed, published, and mailed when specially devoted + to Religious and to General Education, to Agriculture, or + Temperance, or to any branch of Science, will pass free from any one + Post-Office to another within the Province. + + Transient and re-mailed Papers and Periodicals will pass by Post if + pre-paid by Postage stamp--one halfpenny on each Newspaper, and on + each Periodical, one halfpenny, if not exceeding 3 oz., in weight, + and 2d. if over 3 oz. + + Postage Stamps of the value of one halfpenny each will be sold to + the public at all the principal Post Offices (including all Money + Order Offices), with a discount of 5 per cent upon purchases of not + less than twenty stamps, and will be available in prepayment of + Newspapers and Periodicals, and of Drop and Town Letters. + + R. SPENCE, _Postmaster-General_. + +[55] See pages 60-61. + +[56] =Canada Stamp Sheet=, IV: 184. + +The London Society's work gives the date of issue of the 1/2d. value as +18th July, 1857, and it is clearly seen from the preceding notice where +the date was obtained. But it is more likely that the stamp was issued +on 1st. August, the day the new rates took effect. + +The new stamp was very plain, as will be seen from the illustration, No. +4 on Plate I. The profile head of Queen Victoria was quite evidently +taken from the head on the British penny stamp. The usual inscription, +CANADA POSTAGE, occupies the upper part of the oval frame, and ONE HALF +PENNY the lower part, but the value is not expressed by numerals in the +corners, as on all the other stamps of the issue, the spandrels being +merely filled in with a reticulated pattern. The stamp was printed in +sheets of 100, ten rows of ten, with the eight marginal imprints as +described for the series of 1851. + +The tables of statistics in the Postmaster General's reports give the +number of 1/2d. stamps received previous to 1st. October, 1857, as +1,341,600; during the next fiscal year 1,258,920 were received; and +between 1st. October, 1858 and 30th June, 1859, when they were +superseded, 850,100 more arrived, making a total stock of 3,450,620. The +balance on hand when the decimal series was issued was 60,660, which +makes the total issue of the 1/2d. stamp 3,389,960. + +The normal color of the stamp is a deep rose. It is found printed on a +soft ribbed paper, with the ribbing both horizontal and vertical, as +well as on the ordinary hard white wove paper of this issue in both the +thin and thicker qualities. + +The London Society's work has the following remarks:[57]-- + + Two _soi-disant_ provisionals have been chronicled; viz., the + Halfpenny surcharged in black--one with an Arabic numeral "1," and + the other with "8d. STG." The Society can furnish no information + concerning these two stamps; but supposing the surcharges to be + genuine, they are probably only notifications of insufficient + postage applied after the letters were posted. + +[57] =The Stamps, etc., of the North American Colonies of Great +Britain=, page 14. + +We find that the original chronicle of these varieties was in _Le +Timbre-Poste_ in 1869. Concerning them M. Moens writes as follows:-- + + Un de nos correspondants nous annonce qu'il poss[e']de un timbre + rose 1/2 penny, surcharg['e] de la marque: 8 _d. stg._ Cette + ['e]mission, provisoire sans doute, doit [^e]tre le r['e]sultat de + la penurie momentan['e]e de timbres 10 pence, dans un ou plusieurs + bureaux secondaires.[58] + +[58] =Le Timbre-Poste=, VII: 82. + +And in the next issue of the paper:-- + + On nous a montr['e] le 1/2 p. rose, non dent['e]l['e], surcharg['e] + en noir, du chiffre 1, de 20 mm. environ et plac['e] dans le sens + horizontal. C'est probablement encore un timbre ['e]mis + provisoirement, pour une raison qui nous ['e]chappe, le 1 penny + n'ayant jamais exist['e]. Quant au timbre dont nous avons parl['e] + le mois dernier, le chiffre 8 et la lettre S ont pour dimension 16 + mm.[59] + +[59] =ibid.= VII: 94. + +We think all idea of a "surcharge" can be at once dismissed, as the +raising of the value, particularly to 8d., would be a very foolish and +doubtless wholly unnecessary proceeding, and certainly some record of +such procedure would have been found ere this. The impressions were +probably from rating stamps that were accidentally struck on the postage +stamps, or possibly used purposely as cancellations. + + * * * * * + +The report of the Postmaster General for the 30th Sept. 1858, notes the +fact that previous to 1854 all newspapers were rated at 1/2d. each, but +in that year were granted free transmission. Concerning the new +regulations it continues:-- + + In pursuance of the Act of 1857, limiting free transmission to such + as are posted directly from the office of publication, a halfpenny + rate, pre-payable by postage stamps, has been taken since 1st. + August, 1857 on all transient newspapers--that is, papers posted by + individuals other than the Publishers. + + + +The same report states:--"The Department has, from 1st. January, 1859, +put in operation an arrangement for the conveyance of Parcel Packets +between any two Post Offices in Canada with the ordinary mails." The +charge was fixed at 1s. 3d. per pound with a maximum weight of two +pounds, and prepayment was enforced. + +In the Department accounts we find the following:-- + + Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Co., Supply of letter and newspaper + stamps [L]99.6.6 + +which was simply a printing bill. The last payment for the pence issue +of stamps appears in the report for 30th Sept., 1859, and is for the +deliveries during the nine months from 30th. Sept. 1858 to 30th June, +1859, when the pence stamps were retired. The charge is given in decimal +currency:-- + + Rawdon, Wright & Co., supply of letter and newspaper stamps + $238.69 + +The report for 1858 gives an interesting table showing the growth of the +postal business by decades for the thirty years previous. The remarkable +increase during the last period, within which the Province assumed +control and the use of stamps was introduced, is to be noted:-- + + Number of Miles of Gross Letters Newspapers + Year P. Offices P. Routes Postage Annually Annually + + 1828 101 2,368 [L]15,000 340,000 400,000 + 1838 380 5,486 35,000 1,000,000 1,250,000 + 1848 539 6,985 65,000 2,000,000 3,000,000 + 1858 1,566 13,600 151,000 9,800,000 13,500,000 + +The year 1859 brings us to the end of the pence issues, but before +leaving them there is still one more question to consider, that of the +perforated varieties, which will form the subject of the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE PERFORATED PENCE ISSUES + + +The perforated series of the pence issues of Canada furnishes another +one of those knotty problems for which these stamps are noted. The first +intimation of the improvement that was announced officially appears in +the Report of the Postmaster General for 30th September, 1857, in these +words:-- + + Moreover, the Department has been led, by the increasing use of + Postage Stamps, to take measures for obtaining the Canadian Postage + Stamps on sheets perforated in the dividing lines, in the manner + adopted in England, to facilitate the separation of a single stamp + from the others on a sheet when required for use. + +One would naturally suppose that the stamps would be ordered in this +condition from the manufacturers, and we think they were; but no further +light is thrown upon the matter by the Reports, and other facts that +persist in intruding themselves have given rise to a theory that the +Department either bought perforating machines of its own and operated +upon the stock on hand, or engaged some local concern to perforate the +stock in question. This _might_ have been done, but if so why were the +7-1/2 and 10 pence stamps omitted? Again, had such been the case, it is +passing strange that the 1/2 penny, issued unperforated but two months +before the date of the report, should be approximately twice as common +in that state as perforated. In the case of the 3d., taking stock on +hand the 30th September, 1857, and subsequent deliveries, two-fifths of +the entire issue should have been perforated, which would make the +latter stamps almost as common as the earlier issues; while in the case +of the 6d., under similar conditions, almost the same ratio holds, the +figures being a trifle more in favor of the perforated series. This does +not conform with facts at all, and it can hardly be explained by +supposing that a relatively small stock of but three values was operated +upon in 1857 and the improvement then dropped for a couple of years. + +For further proof of the incorrectness of this theory we think the +following fact speaks for itself. Appended to each Postmaster General's +Report are various tables of expenditures. One of these statements is +headed:-- + +"Sums paid in discharge of Tradesmen's Bills," and in it are found the +amounts paid to various parties named for all kinds of supplies +furnished the Department. This is where the payments to the engravers of +the stamps appear, as well as items for cancelling stamps, post-marks, +etc. Now a careful examination of all items for the years 1857, 1858 and +1859 fails to disclose any payment either for purchase of a perforating +machine or for having the stamps perforated by outside parties. This may +be "negative evidence" but we feel that it has its due weight. + +Nevertheless, we find at least two other perforations on stamps of this +issue besides the regulation gauge 12, which has made it appear to some +that the Department might have experimented with means of separation +before settling definitely on the type adopted. The stamp operated upon +was the 3d., probably as being the most commonly employed value, which +would naturally be the case were the perforations the efforts of private +parties. The first "irregular" perforation was listed by Major Evans[60] +as gauging 13, and the London Society's work lists it as well, probably +following the earlier catalog. But Messrs. Corwin and King +state:[61]--"This perforation is totally unknown in America, and we +doubt its existence." Neither the Pack nor the Worthington collection +contains a copy and we think it can be passed by. + +[60] A Catalogue for Collectors, page 33. + +[61] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 226. + +The next perforation is of gauge 14, and this is well known though of +extreme rarity. Messrs. Corwin and King did not know of over twenty +specimens in 1891. We are fortunate in being able to illustrate a fine +used pair on piece of cover from the Pack collection as No. 128 on Plate +XIII. Most unfortunately, however, as will be noted, some vandal cut the +cover, though perhaps unwittingly, just so as to destroy most of the +postmark and thus lose forever the date and place of mailing. Messrs. +Corwin and King state:[62]-- + +[62] ibid. I: 275. + + We have lately seen a pair of 3d. perf. 14, upon the original cover, + but which, unfortunately, presents a most indistinct dating stamp, + and, although endorsed by the recipient with date of writing, May + 30, date of receipt and date of reply, all three year dates are so + indistinctly written that one is unable to tell whether it is 1857 + or 1859, although we think the former was the date. Should this be + the case it would seem as though the perf. 14 and another curious + perforation just discovered ... were experimental, or provisional, + pending the receipt from the makers of those perf. 12. Most of the + few stamps perf. 14 which we have seen, appear cut on one or more + sides with the shears, as though the users were not familiar with + the advantages of perforation as a means of separating the stamps, + and adhering in a measure to the old methods. This is one of the + reasons which lead us to believe that these stamps, perf. 14, were + issued before those perf. 12, because the latter are almost + invariably separated by tearing apart as is proper.... The writer + has in his collection seven copies of the 3d. perf. 14, and of these + four specimens show double perforation on one or more sides. It is a + rare occurrence when a double perforation is found upon any of the + stamps so treated by the American Bank Note Co. or their + predecessors, and when we find four out of seven specimens in that + condition, we are justified in stating that these stamps, gauging + 14, were never perforated by the makers. + +In another part of the article just quoted is the following:[63]-- + + The American Bank Note Co. and Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson, + their predecessors, have never, according to official information + from them, employed any other gauge than 12, in fact they call 12 + their standard and only perforation. Allowing that they did + perforate the ones found perf. 12 (which are the rule, while those + perf. 14 are the exception), then those perf. 14 must have been + certainly operated upon elsewhere than in the shops of the Bank Note + Co., where this perforation is unknown. + +[63] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 226. + +From all the foregoing we can seem to make but one deduction for the 3d. +perforated 14 and that is--unofficial. The dated cover, if 1859, would +be but a month before the issue of the decimal stamps, and the regular +"perf. 12" stamps were plentifully supplied at that time. It would +therefore seem that the date must have been 1857, as suggested, which +would have been well ahead of the appearance of the "perf. 12" issues as +we shall see later. Then the fact that the manufacturers cannot be held +responsible for this perforation, and the Department accounts furnish no +item of expenditure directly traceable to such work, make it seem wholly +probable that it was done by private parties for their own or customers' +convenience. + +The "curious perforation" alluded to as just discovered was announced by +the Scott Stamp & Coin Co. as follows:[64]-- + + CANADA.--In a large lot of pence issues purchased by us lately, we + have found two copies of 3 pence on grayish wove paper perforated 13 + with oblique parallel cuts. This seems to confirm the theory that + the pence issues of Canada were not perforated by the manufacturers, + but either by the Canadian Government or by some persons authorized + by them, who most likely experimented with different perforating + machines, finally selecting the one perforating 12. + +[64] American Journal of Philately, 2d. Series, IV: 23. + +With regard to the deductions given, we think that what we have already +presented concerning the unofficial character of the gauge 14 +perforation applies with even more force in the present instance, and we +unhesitatingly put these two curios in the "privately perforated" class. + +Messrs. Corwin and King give further details as follows:[65]-- + + As one of them has passed into the possession of the writer, we are + able to particularize somewhat with reference to this particular + perforation.... Our specimen is from the bottom of the sheet, or + else the shears have been used, so that we find the perforation as + it originally existed between each stamp, before separation. This + perforation consists of oblique _curved_ parallel cuts; they are not + straight, but show a very decided curve from right to left, looking + at the face of the stamp. The other sides of our specimen present, + having been torn from the stamp on either side, a very well defined + saw-tooth perforation, very much like that found on the Bremen + stamps, but much coarser, clearly gauging 13. It occurs to us that, + perhaps, this is the 13 perforation listed by the London Society, + although, had a specimen been before the society when the reference + list was compiled, the peculiarity of this style of perforation + would surely have been noted by them. + +[65] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 277. + +To return to the general subject, Mr. Donald A. King in his own article +says:[66]-- + + It is an open question whether these stamps were delivered to the + Canadian Post Office Department in a perforated condition or not. + The manufacturers are wholly unable to throw any light on the + subject; and while there is much to be said in favor of their having + perforated the stamps, there are points against it almost as strong. + In favor of it there is the fact that, at the date that these stamps + were issued, it was more than probable that a firm like the + manufacturers would have perforating machines. The normal gauge of + the perforated set is 12, that being the only size of perforation + ever used by the manufacturers, or their successors, the American + Bank Note Company; indeed, they call 12 their standard and only + gauge. + +[66] Monthly Journal, VII: 9. + +The stamps in issue from the time of the announcement of perforation in +the Report of 1857, to the appearance of the decimal stamps in 1859, +were the 1/2d., 3d., 6d., 7-1/2d., and 10d. values, but only the first +three appeared with perforations. The first supply of the 10d. stamp, as +we know, was received in January 1855, and was naturally unperforated. +The first and only supply of the 7-1/2d. stamp was received probably in +the second quarter of 1857, and these were all unperforated. The first +supply of the 1/2d. stamp was doubtless delivered about midsummer of +1857, and these were evidently all unperforated. The other supplies +received in the fiscal year of 1857 were 300,000 of the 3d. in September +1856, and the same number again in March 1857, together with the 50,078 +of the 6d.[67] Evidently these were still in the unperforated class, as +they were delivered before either the 7-1/2d. or 1/2d. supplies. We must +therefore look to the supplies delivered _after_ the 30th September, +1857, as a basis for reckoning up the perforated series. The values and +quantities given in the stamp accounts (already quoted) are as +follows:-- + + 1/2d. 3d. 6d. 10d. + + Rec'd, yr. ending 30th Sept. 1858 1,258,920 900,000 100,000 72,120 + Rec'd. half-yr. end'g 30th June, 1859 850,100 449,900 70,000 + --------- --------- ------- ------ + Total, 2,109,020 1,349,900 170,000 72,120 + Balance on hand 30th June, 1859 60,660 21,700 17,578 31,200 + (destroyed) + --------- --------- ------- ------ + Issued 2,048,360 1,328,200 152,422 40,920 + +The first thing that confronts us here is a second supply of the 10d. +stamp in this supposed "perforated period," over half of which was +issued for sale, and yet the 10d. stamp is practically unknown in a +perforated condition! We say practically, because the London Society's +work[68] remarks:--"The Seven Pence Halfpenny, green, and Ten Pence, +blue, perforated, exist in the collection of a well known Parisian +collector. The authenticity, however, of the perforations appears to be +doubtful." We think it is more than doubtful, as it is practically +certain that neither value was ever issued in this condition. Messrs. +Corwin and King state:[69]--"We agree with the Society in doubting the +authenticity of the 7-1/2d. and 10 pence, perforated, as these stamps, +thus treated, have never been seen in America, nor can anything be +ascertained from the makers of the Stamps or the Canadian Post Office +Department concerning them." The last statement is hardly convincing, +for neither party referred to can give any more information concerning +the other three values that we know _were_ issued. We can heartily +subscribe to the next remark, however:--"We have no hesitation in +pronouncing them impostors." + +[67] Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83. + +[68] North American Colonies of Great Britain, page 15. + +[69] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 226. + +The date usually assigned to the appearance of the perforated stamps is +January 1858. The London Society gave simply "1857," which is apparently +set down merely because they have just quoted the announcement from the +Postmaster General's Report for that year. Evans and Moens, in their +catalogs, both name the date as November 1858. Unfortunately no more +authoritative statement has been found, except that in Messrs. Corwin +and King's article[70] they say "Mr. Hooper positively states that it +took place in January, 1858." Mr. John R. Hooper was at that time [1890] +connected with the Canadian Post Office Department at Ottawa and took +pains to look up much information for the above-mentioned gentlemen. His +reasons for the "positive statement" are not given, and inasmuch as he +is quoted elsewhere as saying that "the records of the Post Office +Department are silent as to where this perforation was performed and by +whom,"[71] and also seems a little uncertain in some other details, we +feel that further confirmation is needed. + +[70] =Metropolitan Philatelist, I=: 275. + +[71] =ibid. I=: 226. + +In our table above we have given the supplies received after the 30th +September, 1857, and deducted the remainders so as to have the actual +number issued. The 10d. has already proved a stumbling block, for it was +not perforated at all! Next we find the 6d. to the number of 150,000, +when the total issue, including the laid paper, was but 400,000; yet the +catalog value of the imperforates is some $6 for each variety, and of +the perforated stamp at least $30! Can anyone doubt that all these +150,000 6d. stamps were _not_ perforated? In the case of the 3d. we have +one and a third millions to compare with a total issue of three and a +half millions--about a third in the supposed perforated class. Yet the +catalog value of the latter is $2.50 against 36 cents for the wove paper +imperforate alone. With the 1/2d. stamp there are two millions against a +total of three and a third millions, or about two to one in favor of the +supposed perforated stamps, yet the latter are double the catalog price +of the former! The only conclusion to be drawn from these regularly +appearing inconsistencies in each value is that all the supplies after +30th September, 1857 were _not_ perforated, as the 10d. stamp very +glaringly intimates! + +If this be so, is it not possible that the order to perforate new +supplies was given to the manufacturers much later than has hitherto +been thought to be the case? It hardly seems likely that this +improvement would be ordered for a few supplies and then dropped, only +to reappear a year and a half later as a permanent feature of the new +set. Once adopted it was more than likely to be retained. + +Let us see, then, just for curiosity's sake, what the supplies of the +last six months of issue yield us for data. For the 1/2d. we find +850,000, roughly, with 60,000 remainders. Call it 800,000 issued which, +if perforated, would be a quarter of the total issue of 1/2d. stamps, or +a ratio to the imperforates of one to three. This is not so far away +from the catalog ratio of two to one (inversely, of course) in the value +of the perforated stamps. With the 3d. stamp we have 450,000, roughly, +with 20,000 remainders, say 430,000 issued. Of a total issue of +3,500,000 this represents one-eighth, or a ratio of one to seven. The +inverse ratio of seven to one for catalog value comes pretty close when +we compare $2.50 with 36 cents! In the case of the 6d. there are 70,000 +less 17,500 remainders, or 52,500. This is approximately one-eighth the +total issue of 400,000, or again a ratio of one to seven. The inverse +ratio of seven to one for a catalog value would make the perforated +stamp list $42 with the imperforate at $6. But both laid and wove paper +6d. stamps list at approximately $6, whereas if all had been issued on +but one variety of paper we might find perhaps a single list price of +say $4. With this as a basis, the catalog value of $30 for the +perforated 6d. is in as close agreement with our supposition as are the +others. And, best of all, the second supply of the 10d. stamp is +disposed of without any difficulty whatever under this hypothesis! + +It may be argued that reasoning thus from catalog prices is too +uncertain to prove of value. Granted in many cases. But here is an issue +from fifty to sixty years old; the stamps were regularly used in +increasing numbers during their years of issue; they have always been +popular and eagerly collected, so that the stock in existence has been +pretty well handled and pretty well distributed. Under these conditions +the catalog prices should by this time reflect fairly accurately the +_relative_ rarity of the main varieties of each stamp at least; and it +is this relative rarity that we are after in order to approximate the +original supplies of the main varieties. The result is certainly of more +than mere interest, the agreement being such that we are tempted to lay +down the following propositions in regard to the perforated stamps for +further proof or disproof:-- + +_First._ The regular perforation (gauge 12) was done by the +manufacturers and applied to the last requisitions previous to the +change to decimal stamps. + +_Second._ The date of the supposed issue of the perforated stamps should +be changed from January 1858, to November 1858 or January 1859. + +_Third._ The quantities of perforated stamps issued are placed +approximately at:--1/2d., 789,440; 3d., 428,200; 6d., 52,422. + +In further support of the above postulates, we must say that every cover +bearing any one of the three perforated stamps which we have been able +to get a satisfactory date from has been postmarked in _1859_! Not one +has yet been seen which bore a date in 1858 even, and one 6d. from the +Seybold collection, which was dated at Brantford, Dec. 29, 1857, turned +out to be bad. Of course perforated pence stamps are hard to find on +original covers, but it is curious that so far not one has upset the +theory we have laid down. + +There is one point left which perhaps needs some attention. The London +Society's work lists a 6d. on _laid_ paper, perforated 12, and Mr. King +has followed by including it in his reference list. This would imply +that the Canadian Government had perforated its stock on hand, in which +might be a few remainders of the early laid paper issue, and naturally +would go far toward confirming that view of the origin of the perforated +series. But this stamp seems to be an unknown quantity, almost as much +so as the 3d. "perforated 13" of Major Evans' Catalogue. Mr. Pack +says:[72]--"I have never heard of the 6d. perforated, on laid paper. It +is catalogued in the Society's publication, but a copy, so far as I can +learn, has never been seen in Canada or in the United States." + +[72] =London Philatelist, XVI=: 144. + +We have been interested to track this stamp, and have apparently found +the original located in the Tapling collection, now housed at the +British Museum. In a catalog of the Canadian portion of this collection +by Gordon Smith,[73] we find two unused copies listed on _laid_ paper, +one marked "perf. 12" and the other "forged perf." The sequel is found +in the _American Journal of Philately_ for 1891[74] in the following +note:-- + + There is no longer any mystery in regard to the origin of that + _great rarity_! the perforated 6 pence on laid paper, these stamps + having been perforated for four or five years in the shops of + Messrs. Benjamin Sarpy & Co., Cullum street, London, who openly + boast of having manufactured and sold those in the collection of the + late Hon. T. K. Tapling and other prominent collectors. + +[73] =The Stamp News, X=: 43. + +[74] =American Journal of Philately=, 2d. Series, IV: 365. + +The paper upon which the perforated pence series is found seems to give +further confirmation to the theory that they came from but one or +possibly two printings. Outside of the two lower values on ribbed paper, +which are rare, the series seems to be entirely on a hard, white wove +paper, varying in thickness from a medium to a thicker quality, which is +in every way similar to the paper employed for the succeeding cents +issue. On the thin ribbed paper the London Society (1889) and Messrs. +Corwin and King (1891) list the 1/2d. stamp, but this is not found in +the catalog of the Tapling collection already referred to, nor in the +Pack or Worthington collections; we have therefore listed it with a +query. The 3d. stamp we have seen, however, and Mr. Pack says it "is a +scarce stamp even in used condition, but in unused condition I find it +one of the great rarities of Canada."[75] + +[75] =London Philatelist, XVI=: 144. + +As noted under Chapter II,[76] the use of split stamps was not usual, as +in Nova Scotia, but Mr. King chronicles the 6d. perforated, in dark +violet, split diagonally and used as a 3d. in like manner to its +unperforated predecessor. + +[76] See page 32. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE CANCELLATIONS OF THE EARLY ISSUES + + +A rather interesting study, particularly for the collector of entires, +is that of postmarks and cancellations, and sometimes much assistance in +the solution of knotty questions is rendered by these often despised and +neglected adjuncts to the proper use of postage stamps. + +The early cancellations of Canada have been the subject of some +attention, more so, in fact, than the postmarks, as they were required +to be used on the stamps while the postmark was struck on the cover, +where the date and place of mailing would be plainly visible. In one of +the early volumes of reports it is stated that "Office Stamps and Seals +were supplied from England on 21st July, 1851." It is presumed that this +included postmarks and cancellations. + +It will be remembered, perhaps, that in the circular announcing the +issue of stamps in 1851[77] it was ordered that "Stamps so affixed are +to be immediately _cancelled_ ... with an instrument to be furnished for +that purpose." The first one so supplied was the "concentric rings" +cancellation, consisting of seven concentric circles and having an outer +diameter of 18 mm. This is the most common of all, being found from the +very earliest dates down to 1870, at least, as it occurs on the early +shades of the "small" cents issue. It was generally struck in black ink, +but may occasionally be found in a dull blue. A good illustration of +this cancellation is seen on the cover numbered 90 on Plate VI. + +[77] See page 28. + +By 1855, at least, a modified form of the concentric ring cancellation +was introduced. This had a number in the center in large figures, some 8 +mm. high, with four concentric circles enclosing it, the outside +diameter being about 23 mm. This type was generally struck in black, but +is sometimes found in a dull blue also. It can be seen on the strip of +stamps numbered 81 on Plate V. The numbers, of course, were placed in +the cancellations with a definite purpose, and a little study of entire +covers shows that certain numbers were assigned to certain post +offices, as might be suspected. Number 21, for instance, is the most +common one and will be found to be connected with Montreal. Further +study will reveal the fact that the names of the post offices were taken +in alphabetical order, and the numbers assigned to them consecutively in +that way. Still further inspection develops the fact that most of the +post offices were those in Upper Canada (or Canada West), while but a +few of the most important ones were included from Lower Canada (or +Canada East.) + +Mr. Edgar Nelton seems first to have made a study of these numbers in an +attempt to identify their corresponding post offices, and he published a +list of some twenty-two as the result of his examination of many +original covers.[78] The numbers run up to 52 at least, and using the +facts that we have deduced concerning the arrangement of the names, we +have endeavored to fill out his skeleton list with such offices as it +seems possible may yet be identified with the corresponding numbers. We +have done this with some assurance for the following reasons:-- + +[78] =Chicago Collectors' Monthly, II=: 21. + +We were fortunately able to examine a Canada Directory for 1857-8, and +on looking up the postal information given therein, found a list of the +money order offices then existing. This was in two sections, the first +containing the names, alphabetically arranged, of 31 offices in "Class +No. 1," which included most of the principal cities and towns; and the +second a lengthy alphabetical list of offices in "Class No. 2." The +first section had a somewhat familiar appearance, and inspection showed +that a majority of the names on Mr. Nelton's list of numbered +cancellations were there in proper order! But 21 more names were needed, +according to the cancellation numbers, to fill out the latter series. +The second section was therefore examined for such towns as had the +largest populations and were presumably most important. The result +enabled more than one name, already on Mr. Nelton's list, to be fitted +in its proper place! Here, then, was apparently the solution of the +first series of numbered cancellations, and we hazard a guess that the +52 names are the original list of money order offices, arranged when the +money order system was instituted in February, 1855. + +The subjoined table gives the list of post offices and their +corresponding numbers, which has been worked out along the lines above +mentioned. It is offered in the hope that more will be done to determine +positively the correspondence between the two. The names in ordinary +type are those that have been identified without any reasonable doubt; +those that have been fitted in tentatively are in italics. The Roman +numeral following indicates the Class to which the Money Order Office +belongs. + + +LIST OF NUMBERED CANCELLATIONS. + + 1. _Barrie, U. C._ I + 2. Belleville, U. C. I + 3. _Berlin, U. C._ I + 4. Bowmanville, U. C. I + 5. Brantford, U. C. I + 6. _Brighton, U. C._ II + 7. _Brockville, U. C._ I + 8. Chatham, U. C. I + 9. _Clinton, U. C._ II + 10. _Cobourg, U. C._ I + 11. _Cornwall, U. C._ I + 12. _Dundas, U. C._ I + 13. Galt, U. C. I + 14. _Goderich, U. C._ I + 15. _Guelph, U. C._ I + 16. Hamilton, U. C. I + 17. _Ingersoll, U. C._ II + 18. Kingston, U. C. I + 19. London, U. C. I + 20. Melbourne, L. C. II + 21. Montreal, L. C. I + 22. Napanee, U. C. II + 23. _Napierville, L. C._ II + 24. _Newcastle, U. C._ II + 25. _Niagara, U. C._ I + 26. _Oakville, U. C._ II + 27. Ottawa, U. C. I + 28. _Paris, U. C._ I + 29. Perth, U. C. II + 30. Peterborough, U. C. I + 31. Picton, U. C. II + 32. _Port Dover, U. C._ II + 33. _Port Hope, U. C._ I + 34. Port Sarnia, U. C. II + 35. Prescott, U. C. I + 36. _Preston, U. C._ II + 37. Quebec, L. C. I + 38. St. Catherines, U. C. I + 39. _St. Hyacinthe, L. C._ II + 40. _St. Johns, L. C._ II + 41. _St. Thomas, U. C._ I + 42. _Sherbrooke, L. C._ II + 43. Simcoe, U. C. II + 44. _Smith's Falls, U. C._ II + 45. Stanstead, L. C. II + 46. Stratford, U. C. I + 47. Three Rivers, L. C. I + 48. _Toronto, U. C._ I + 49. Whitby, U. C. II + 50. _Windsor, U. C._ I + 51. _Woodstock, U. C._ I + 52. _York, U. C._ II + +It will be noticed, if Mr. Helton's list is compared with the above, +that there are a few discrepancies. He assigns Toronto to No. 24, which +is manifestly out of place. Owen Sound is given to No. 26, while 28 +should be its location; the latter must be reserved for Paris, however, +which is a first class office where Owen Sound is but second class. +Richmond is given as No. 42, but as St. Catherines, a first class +office, has been identified as No. 38, there seems no place for the +second class office of Richmond, which should precede it alphabetically. +Niagara has been assigned to No. 23, but in such case it would +necessitate two blanks preceding Ottawa, so it seems that the proper +number should be 25. With these few exceptions no further trouble was +experienced in working out the list, and since it was drawn up Numbers +2, 4, 8, 38 and 49 have been identified and tallied exactly with it! +Such proof has gone far toward confirming our propositions in regard to +it, and we hope for more. + +A third cancellation, which was apparently used mainly for newspapers +and packages, consisted of nine somewhat thick diagonal bars, the whole +impression having a square outline. This was generally struck in black, +but occasionally in dull blue. + +Postmarks were supposed to be used only on the cover, where they would +plainly exhibit the story they were to tell, while the cancellation +marks were intended to deface the stamp. But sometimes the postmarks are +found used for the latter purpose. They seem to be mostly of two +varieties, both circular in outline, a larger one having the town name +in a curve above, with U. C., L. C., C. W., or C. E., at the bottom, and +arcs of two concentric circles filling in the outline between; a second +being smaller with a single arc of a circle filling in the outline. The +first variety is plainly shown on the cover numbered 90 on Plate VI, and +the second on the cover numbered 130 on Plate XIV. The date in the +center seems always to be given in full--month, day and year. The +postmarks are generally in black, as usual, but sometimes in dull blue. + +Penmarked specimens are sometimes met with, but not often. + +With the issue of 1859 the duplex mark seems to have been adopted, with +the postmark (the ordinary complete circle with the usual arrangement of +name, abbreviation of province and date) and the cancellation mark (a +series of parallel lines with a circular outline) on the same instrument +so as to be struck on the letter together. + +With the 1868 issue for the Dominion we of course find the cancellations +of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, then British Columbia and finally +Prince Edward Island, all of which introduce complications. A new +cancellation, which seems to have been for the Dominion as a whole, +consisted of two heavy concentric circles containing a number. It is one +of this kind that Mr. Nelton refers to in his article as having the +number 627. A notable cancellation is one in the shape of a large maple +leaf. + +An interesting and rare postmark which was found on the 3 cent of the +1868 issue, is thus written up by Mr. F. G. Bing[79]:-- + +[79] =The Postage Stamp, VII=: 6. + + The stamp had been obliterated with a small thick lined circle in + which appear the words "WAY LETTER" in large type. Eventually a + full account of the matter was obtained from the Canadian postal + authorities. + + * * * * * + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + + OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH. + + OTTAWA, 13th March, 1908. + + DEAR SIR:--Replying to your enquiry on the subject, as to the object + of the post office mark consisting of a rather thick circle in which + are the words "WAY LETTER" only, impressed upon a Canada postage + stamp (3c.) similar to the one you enclosed, and which I herewith + return, I find on enquiry that previous to the Confederation of the + Dominion of Canada in 1867, there was in Nova Scotia and New + Brunswick a regulation requiring mail couriers on the coach roads to + accept letters for mailing, when these were offered them at a + distance of not less than one or two miles from the nearest post + office, to place them in a locked leather pouch provided for the + purpose, and to post them at the first post office, the Postmaster + of which was instructed to stamp these with the words "WAY LETTER." + After Confederation this postmark lingered at some of the offices in + the provinces named, when it was used for general cancellation + purposes, if not for its primary purpose. It has now, however, + wholly disappeared. Some think it lasted up to 1887 or 1891, but I + am sorry I cannot furnish you with a more definite date as to its + extinction. + + Very truly yours, + E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. + + It will be seen from this interesting letter that the postmark was + in the first instance applied to the postage stamps of Nova Scotia + and New Brunswick, and it is quite possible that only upon the + stamps of these two provinces does it possess its full original + significance. At the same time it does not follow that the + regulations under which this cancellation was in use were + immediately withdrawn with the Confederation of the Dominion of + Canada; and it is more than probable that the custom based upon + these regulations of accepting letters from the public at a distance + from a post office, and applying the special obliteration, would + continue long after that date, as it is evident that the use of the + "Way Letter" postmark was never definitely prohibited by the + Canadian postal authorities, or the date of its extinction would not + have been in doubt. It is, however, quite certain that only a + comparatively small number of letters would be entitled to receive + this special mark, and its rarity is therefore indisputable. + +Various new varieties came with the "small" cents issue and later, +concerning which there is not so much of interest as in the earlier +years of the postal service; we therefore pass them by, remarking only +on the special "jubilee" machine cancellation which was used at Montreal +in 1897. This was of the "flag" form and somewhat ornate, bearing the +name "VICTORIA" and the dates "1837" and "1897." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE ISSUE OF 1859 + + +With two valuations placed upon the cumbrous English monetary system +inherited by Canada from the Mother Country--"sterling" and +"currency"--and with the practical illustration of the advantages of the +decimal system manifest in all the transactions with its great southern +neighbor, whose currency was already legalized in the Province,[80] it +was only a question of time when Canada would adopt a decimal system of +its own. This was done, but all that interests us is the Decimal Postage +law resulting, which is as follows:-- + +[80] See page 52. + + 22^o Vict. Cap. XVII. + + An Act to amend the Post Office Laws. + + [_Assented to 4th May, 1859._] + + Whereas it is expedient to amend the Post Office Laws, in the manner + hereinafter provided: Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice + and consent of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Canada, + enacts as follows: + + 1. There shall be payable on all Newspapers sent by Post in Canada, + except "Exchange Papers" addressed to Editors and Publishers of + Newspapers, such rate of Postage, not exceeding one cent on each + such Newspaper, as the Governor in Council shall from time to time + direct by regulation, and such rate shall be payable on all such + Newspapers posted on or after the first day of July next. + + 2. So much of any Act as provides that Newspapers posted within this + Province shall pass free of Postage, in cases other than those in + which they will be free under this Act, is hereby repealed. + + 3. In order to adapt the operations of the Post Office to the + Decimal Currency, the internal letter postage rate shall be changed + from three pence to its equivalent of five cents, per half + ounce--the charge for advertising a dead letter from three farthings + to two cents--the charge for returning a dead letter to the writer, + from one penny to three cents; and in all cases where a one + half-penny or penny rate of Postage is chargeable, these rates shall + be changed to one cent and two cents respectively. + + 4. To promote simplicity and economy in the business of the Post + Office, all letters posted in Canada for any place within the + Province, and not prepaid, shall be charged seven instead of five + cents per half ounce on delivery; and on letters posted for the + British Mails, for the other British North American Provinces, or + for the United States, when not prepaid, there shall be charged such + addition to the ordinary rate, not in any case exceeding a double + rate, as the Post Master General may agree upon with the Post Office + Authorities of those Countries, for the purpose of enforcing + prepayment. + + 5. The Post Master General may establish a Parcel Post and parcels + other than letters and not containing letters, may be sent by such + Parcel Post, and when so sent shall be liable to such charges for + conveyance and to such regulations as the Governor in Council shall + from time to time see fit to make. + + * * * * * + + 8. [_To inclose a letter in a parcel or a newspaper, posted as such, + is a misdemeanor._] + +From the above Act we see that the transmission of newspapers has again +been subjected to revision looking toward an increase of revenue, all +free transmission by post being now limited to exchange copies between +editors or publishers. The making of prepayment by stamps obligatory was +another step which had been quite strongly recommended in the last +Postmaster General's report in these terms:-- + + No single improvement would be so valuable to the Post Office + service as the introduction of the system of the pre-payment of + letters by stamp. It is not recommended that pre-payment of letters + should be made absolutely compulsory, but where stamps are readily + procurable, pre-payment in that form should be insisted on, and the + principle of pre-payment should be enforced by imposing an + additional charge on letters posted unpaid. + +By referring to the Act subsequently passed we see that these +recommendations were carried out to the letter. + +In regard to the fifth section of the Act, concerning the Parcel Post, +we come across another example of the curious shuffling of dates and +apparent _ex post facto_ law making which we have previously noted. In +quoting the Postmaster General's report for _30th Sept., 1858_,[81] we +found it stated that the Parcel Post had been in operation "from _1st +January, 1859_," and now we have the Legislative Act providing for it +passed under date of _4th May, 1859_! This is going it one better on +"reading history backward" by actually making it backward! The reports +at least, as we previously deduced, were evidently written some time +after the dates given them and did not confine their record to +happenings previous to those fictitious dates. Confirmation of this is +furnished by the Postmaster General's report that we have to consider, +that of the Hon. Sydney Smith for the year ending 30th September, 1859, +the report being actually dated 20th February, 1860. + +[81] See page 67. + + * * * * * + +Further details concerning the Parcel Post are not given until the +Report for 30th June, 1864, where we read:-- + + By means of the Parcel Post a parcel may be sent within the Province + to or from any place, however remote from the ordinary lines of + traffic conveyance, on prepayment of a postage rate of 25 cents per + lb., provided that the weight or size of the parcel does not exceed + the carrying capacity of an ordinary mail bag; and provided that the + contents of the parcel are not of a character to injure the rest of + the mail. + +The rate is given in decimal currency, then in use, but at the time of +the establishment of the Parcel Post the equivalent rate would have been +1s. 3d. currency. In the Report for 1865 it is stated that:-- + + The provisions of the Parcel Post have been extended to parcels + passing between Canada and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and + parcels not containing letters may now be forwarded by post from one + end of British North America to the other, on prepayment of a + uniform rate of 25 cents per lb. + +In the report for 1859, mentioned above, we find the following:-- + + The Law of last Session directing the conversion of all postage + rates into decimals, and the collection of postage in the new + decimal currency, was put in operation on the 1st July.... Decimal + stamps of the value of 1 cent, 5 cents, and 10 cents for ordinary + correspondence, and of 12-1/2 cents for Canadian, and of 17 cents + for British Packet Postage Rates were obtained in readiness for the + commencement of the Decimal Postage Law in July, 1859, and have from + that date been issued in lieu of the stamps previously in use. + +The cents issue of Canadian stamps therefore dates from July 1, 1859. +The stamps themselves were merely an adaptation of the designs of the +pence series to the corresponding values of the decimal currency. The +ONE CENT stamp was unchanged from the half-penny except for the +substitution of the new for the former value. The FIVE CENTS stamp had +these words in place of the old denomination, with a quarterfoil +ornament separating them at each side from CANADA and POSTAGE. Oblique +figures 5 were placed in the spandrels on a cross-hatched ground +instead of the upright figures 3 on foliations. A similar change was +made in the TEN CENTS, Roman numerals X being placed obliquely in the +spandrels on a cross-hatched ground where upright figures 6 were +previously on foliations; while the new denomination was substituted for +the old. The sole change in the 12-1/2 cent stamp was to substitute +"12-1/2c." in the spandrels for the former values in sterling and +currency. The 17 cent stamp had the value in words replacing TEN PENCE, +but the new value was so much longer that the emblems between the old +value and CANADA POSTAGE were removed and replaced by two small elliptic +ornaments. "8d. stg." still occupies the upper spandrels, but figures 17 +are placed in each of the lower ones. The central designs in each of the +above stamps are absolutely identical with those of the pence stamps +that preceded them--indeed the portrait and surrounding oval with +inscriptions on the 12-1/2 c. are all unchanged. From this it is evident +that the new dies were "built up" from the old ones, the central +portions being transferred and the required changes in surrounding +inscriptions, etc., being newly engraved. This was easy enough of +accomplishment since the American Bank Note Co., who furnished the new +stamps, were the successors of Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson, +the firm name having been changed on May 1, 1858, and the dies of the +pence issue were of course in their possession. Illustrations of the +five values will be found as Nos. 10, 15, 12, 13 and 14, respectively, +on Plate I. + +There was one addition to the list of values in this set during its +period of use--a 2 cent stamp. In the Postmaster General's Report for +30th June, 1864, it is noted:--"A new Postage Stamp, of the value of two +cents, was added to the other denominations supplied, from the 1st. +August last [1864]." The Report for the succeeding year has this further +to say:--"A provision has been made for the transmission and delivery of +Canadian periodicals, addressed to the United Kingdom, at the reduced +rate of two cents each," and it was evidently largely on account of this +that the new stamp was ordered. Its design was unmistakably "built up" +as with the rest of the set, the 1 cent stamp serving as the model, +figures 2 being placed in ovals in the spandrels and the wording of the +value being changed to correspond. (Illustration No. 11 on Plate I). The +stamp was issued as stated on the 1st August, 1864. + +All the stamps of this issue were, as before, line engraved and printed +in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. The same style of marginal +inscriptions as in the first issue is found--"American Bank Note Co. +New-York" in minute letters of the type known as "diamond," repeated +twice in each margin, reading up on the left, down on the right, and +inverted at the bottom of the sheet. In the 1, 2, 5 and 12-1/2c. stamps +the imprint is placed against the third and eighth stamps of each +marginal row of ten, but from a block of 10c. at hand the inscriptions +in the case of this value are apparently "centered" over the space +between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth stamps of each +marginal row, thus bringing them over two stamps instead of one. +Curiously enough, the 17c. value has no marginal inscriptions at all. + +The same plate variety that occurs in the 3d. stamp--the "shifted +transfer" or "double strike"--is repeated in its successor, the 5c. +stamp. That it is a true plate variety is abundantly proved by the fine +block of seven stamps illustrated as No. 96 on Plate VII. The variety +will be found in the upper right corner stamp, and the doubling of the +frame lines at the left and of the oval frame line above CANADA will be +readily apparent. A single copy is illustrated as No. 19 on Plate I. It +seems to have been first noted by Mr. R. Wuesthoff in the _American +Journal of Philately_ for June, 1892. + +A minor variety of the 5c. stamp printed from a worn plate is also to be +noted, in which the fine lines of the groundwork have almost +disappeared. + +The entire series comes regularly perforated 12, the identical normal +perforation of the pence stamps that immediately preceded it, and which +we have endeavored to trace to the same source. The abnormal varieties +in this series are of course the imperforate ones, and of these we +present cuts of a full set in blocks of four, numbered 100 to 105 on +Plate IX. That the stamps were actually issued and used in this +condition is proved by copies of several with the proper postmarks of +the period in the Pack collection. Mr. Pack writes of them[82]:-- + + I have the 1c. and 5c. postmarked in 1860 and 1861 at Toronto and + Prescott, Canada West. I also believe that these varieties were on + sale at Kingston, Canada West, at about that time. I have also the + 2c. and 10c. in undoubtedly early used condition. + +[82] =London Philatelist, XVI=: 144. + +Further varieties are formed by "split" stamps, as before, though these +were never authorized and seldom used. We are fortunate in being able to +illustrate two five cent stamps used with half of a third to make up the +12-1/2c. packet rate. This is No. 97 on Plate VII. The postmark is +unfortunately mostly torn away, but is evidently "Montreal," and the +last numeral in the year figures seems to be an "8," which would mean +"1868." A 10c. stamp also split and used for a 5c. is shown on the +entire as No. 99 on Plate VIII. The postmark is "Bowmanville, U.C., Feb. +15, 1860." + +The normal colors for the stamps of this series may be given as 1 cent +deep rose, 2 cents dull rose, 5 cents deep red, 12-1/2 cents deep green, +and 17 cents Prussian blue. It will be noticed that we have omitted the +10 cents--and with reason. If the 6 pence stamp of the preceding issue +was difficult to select a normal color for, how shall we find one for +its successor? Messrs. Corwin and King say[83]:--"The most surprising +fact about this issue is the vast number of colors and shades to be +found in the 10 cents. We have several hundreds of them in our +collection, and are continually adding new color varieties." They run +all the way from a bright red lilac through shades of violet and brown +to a black brown, which is so dark and distinct that it has for years +been catalogued separately. + +[83] =Metropolitan Philatelist, II=: 3. + +The paper on which these stamps were printed does not show as much +variation as in the previous issue. Mr. King[84] gives a list of five +varieties, all of which vary considerably in thickness. It seems +sufficient for our purposes, however, to list them under three heads as +ordinary wove paper, a thick, hard wove paper, and ribbed paper. + +[84] =Monthly Journal, VII=: 32. + +These stamps were in issue from the 1st July 1859, until the series +issued for the new Dominion of Canada appeared on 1st April, 1868. The +stamp accounts in the various Postmaster General's Reports give the +quantities received and issued, and we present here a summary of these +tables as their reproduction entire would serve no useful purpose unless +to show the increase in the consumption of stamps from year to year as +the postal business increased. + + _Received from_ + _manufacturers_: 1c. 5c. 10c. 12-1/2c. 17c. + quarter ending + 30th Sept. 1859 1,000,400 1,000,089 200,000 200,000 50,000 + year ending + 30th Sept. 1860 2,000,050 2,499,986 300,000 300,000 50,000 + year ending + 30th Sept. 1861 2,200,100 3,400,300 499,998 199,996 50,000 + year ending + 30th Sept. 1862 2,799,900 3,300,350 400,000 399,996 50,000 + year ending + 30th Sept. 1863 3,500,200 4,300,450 600,050 300,000 100,000 + 9mos. ending + 30th June 1864 3,000,000 3,999,999 800,000 399,990 49,999 + year ending + 30th June 1865 3,064,800 4,890,598 700,000 676,600 100,000 + year ending + 30th June 1866 3,910,000 8,100,000 800,000 400,100 50,000 + year ending + 30th June 1867 5,100,000 5,100,500 999,650 299,950 100,000 + year ending + 30th June 1868 (?)900,000 3,199,900 400,000 ? ...... + ---------- --------- ------- --------- ------- + Totals 27,475,450 39,792,172 5,799,698 3,176,632 599,999 + +The yearly supplies of the 2 cent stamps, first appearing in the 1865 +accounts, were as follows:-- + + 1865 360,000 + 1866 300,000 + 1867 200,500 + 1868 50,000(?) + ------- + Total 910,500 + +Unfortunately the stamp accounts for 1868 do not separate the supplies +received in the old and new designs, so that in the case of the 1, 2 and +12-1/2 cent stamps, which appear in both issues, the quantity delivered +by the manufacturers is a total which we cannot divide with certainty. +An approximation may perhaps be made, particularly with the 2 cent +stamp. The balance of this value on hand 30th June, 1867, was 171,000, +and the deliveries in the year ending 30th June, 1868, were 2,050,000. +Inasmuch as the yearly issue of this value had been some 250,000, the +probability is that the odd 50,000 delivered belonged to the 1859 +series, as this would make 221,000 for the nine month's supply to 1st +April; the even two millions were doubtless the order for the new +series. The yearly issue of the 1 cent had been some 3-1/2 to 4 +millions; if from the 2,900,000 received, according to the 1868 Report, +we take the odd 900,000, we find it makes 3,308,900 when combined with +the balance on hand in 1867. This gives a sufficient supply for the nine +months of the old issue and leaves an even two millions again for the +new series. The 12-1/2 cent presents a slightly different aspect. The +yearly issue had been some 400,000, and the amount on hand in 1867 was +385,750--without doubt a plentiful supply for the nine months preceding +the issue of the new stamps. It must be remembered, also, in all these +cases, that the "amount on hand" was that of the Department's stock, and +that the postmasters were of course in possession of local stocks. It +therefore seems probable that the 500,000 12-1/2 cent stamps received in +1868 were of the new series alone. The 5 and 10 cent stamps, however, +which are lacking in the new set, can at once be added to their +preceding deliveries, and it will be noted that no further supplies of +the 17c. stamp were required during the year. + +We find in the Department accounts that the American Bank Note Co. was +paid $1331.70 for "engraving postage stamps" during the fiscal year, +which was the final settlement with that Company. + +What became of the remainder of the old issue does not appear, but it +seems probable that they were largely used up in the course of regular +business, as no object would be gained by turning in the relatively +small quantities remaining, for accounting and destruction, unless it be +the 17 cent value, which had become rather useless. Curiously enough, +the stamp accounts _do_ separate the old and new issues in the "balance +on hand, 30th June, 1868," which was three months after the appearance +of the new set. These figures are as follows:-- + + 1 cent 319,900 + 2 cents 700 + 5 cents 138,400 + 10 cents 60,650 + 12-1/2 cents 68,750 + 17 cents 33,876 + +Glancing now over the Postmaster General's reports for the years +1859-1868, during which the above issue was in use, and which were the +last years of the strictly provincial control, we find many items of +interest. + +In the report for 1859 it is noted that "the issue and use by the public +of Postage Stamps has increased with great rapidity since last return," +and the issue of stamped envelopes "for the promotion of public +convenience" is announced. These will be treated of by themselves in a +later chapter. We find the experiment was made of placing street letter +boxes in Toronto, and "with very encouraging results as to the extent to +which the number of letters posted in these boxes would appear to +demonstrate their usefulness. These Pillar Boxes are visited, at least +twice each day, at suitable hours, by Post Office Messengers, in order +to convey the letters deposited in them to the Post Office." +Preparations were also being made to install letter boxes in Montreal +and Quebec. + +The Department accounts have the following entries:-- + + Rawdon, Wright & Co., supply of letter and newspaper stamps $238.69 + American Bank Note Co., engraving letter and newspaper stamps 1487.40 + +Of course the amounts all went to the same concern, as the firm name had +been changed on May 1, 1858, as already noted. + +The report for 1860 contains interesting statistical information +concerning the growth of the Department, which it may be well to put on +record:-- + + Year No. of Miles of No. of letters Postal Revenue Remarks + Offices. Post by Post (deducting + Route. per annum. dead letters.) + 1851 601 7,595 2,132,000 + + 1852 840 8,618 3,700,000 $230,629.00 {First year of + { account under + { Provincial control. + 1853 1016 9,122 4,250,000 278,587.00 {Charge on + { newspapers + { reduced one-half. + 1854 1166 10,027 5,100,000 320,000.00 + + 1855 1293 11,192 6,000,000 368,166.00 {Newspapers conveyed + { without charge. + 1856 1375 11,839 7,000,000 374,295.00 + + 1857 1506 13,253 8,500,000 462,163.00 + + 1858 1566 13,600 9,000,000 541,153.00 + + 1859 1638 13,871 8,500,000 678,426.98 + + 1860 1698 14,202 9,000,000 658,451.99 {Additional 2c. rate + { on unpaid letters + { and charge + { made on newspapers. + +The Report continues:-- + + From the experience of the past, the confident hope may be + entertained that, by a wise and judicious economy, (and without + withholding from newly settled portions of the country, the Postal + accommodations without which the settlement of the country cannot + advance), in a comparatively short space of time the Postage upon + letters may be reduced from the present five cent to a _three cent + rate_, as near an approach to the Penny sterling postage system of + the Mother Country as the relative value of our currency will + conveniently permit. + +It was eight years before these hopes were realized, however. + +The "epistolary intercourse with the United States" is given for the +same period, but we need only note that the postal value of the total +correspondence exchanged was $83,630.97 in 1852, had increased to +$187,469.59 in 1857, and then dropped gradually to $178,132.39 in 1860. +The Report says:-- + + The prepayment of letters passing between the two countries + continues optional on either side, at the combined rate of 10 cents + per 1/2 oz. from any place in Canada to any place in the United + States and _vice versa_, except to or from the States on the + Pacific, California and Oregon, when the rate is 15 cents per 1/2 + oz. + +The accounts present a charge in favor of the American Bank Note Co. of +$1697.95 "for engraving Letter and Newspaper stamps and Stamped +Envelopes." Of the latter we shall have more to say in their proper +place. + +The Reports of 1861 and 1862 contain nothing special, and the accounts +show payments of $1451.87 and $1583.63 respectively to the American Bank +Note Co. + +The Report of 1863 states that in November of that year an agreement +was entered into with the United States for the transmission between the +two countries of seeds, bulbs, etc., at 1 cent per ounce, and also book +manuscripts, printers' proof sheets, maps, prints, etc., at the same +rate. + +In January 1864, the Imperial Post Office extended to the mails between +Canada and the United Kingdom regulations conceding patterns of +merchandise and trade samples at the same rates as books and printed +matter. + +The American Bank Note Co. was paid $1946.62. + +The next Report is dated 30th June, 1864, instead of the usual 30th +September, and is therefore for nine months only. This was done to bring +the fiscal year of the Post Office Department to correspond with the +financial year of the General Government. + +The enactment which was the cause of the change follows:-- + + + 27^o--28^o Vict. Cap. VI. + + An Act to amend the Law respecting the Public Accounts, and the + Board of Audit. + + (_Assented to 30th June, 1864_) + + 10. It shall be the duty of the Board of Audit to prepare and submit + to the Minister of Finance the Public Accounts to be annually laid + before Parliament. + + 11. The said Public Accounts shall include the period from the + thirtieth of June in one year to the thirtieth of June in the next + year, which period shall constitute the Financial Year.... + +There is nothing particular in the Report for these nine months to quote +here, except the payment of the relatively small sum of $619.25 to the +American Bank Note Co. + +The Report for 1865 states that "Regulations have been adopted +establishing a sample and pattern post in Canada, and packets of trade +samples, or patterns of merchandise, may be sent by post between any +places within this Province, on prepayment of one cent per ounce, under +certain conditions to prevent an abuse of the privilege." It further +announces that "Street Letter boxes are being placed in all the +principal streets of Montreal." + +The Reports of 1866 and 1867 were published together, but contain little +of interest beyond the statistics we have already used. Payments to the +American Bank Note Co. were $2630.11 in 1866 and $1699.03 in 1867. The +final payment to the American Co., which we have already quoted from the +1868 report, was $1331.70. We read that "The street letter boxes put up +in the city of Montreal have worked satisfactorily. The number of +letters and papers posted therein weekly, appeared from returns taken +to be, Letters 2400, Papers 500, or at the rate of 150,000 letters and +papers per annum." + +Authority to establish letter boxes was given by an Act of Parliament +which contains several other matters of interest and which we therefore +quote. + + 29^o--30^o Vict. Cap. XI. + + An Act to amend the Post Office Act. + + [_Assented to 15th August, 1866._] + + Whereas the more effectually to prevent frauds upon the Post Office + Revenue, it is expedient to amend the Post Office Act: Therefore, + Her Majesty, by and with the consent of the Legislative Council and + Assembly of Canada, enacts as follows: + + 1. If any person uses or attempts to use in payment of postage on + any letter or mailable thing posted in this Province, any postage + stamp which has been before used for a like purpose, such person + shall be subjected to a penalty of not less than Ten and not + exceeding Forty dollars for every such offense, and the letter or + other mailable thing on which such stamp has been so improperly used + may be detained, or in the discretion of the Postmaster General + forwarded to its destination charged with double the postage to + which it would have been liable if posted unpaid. + + 2. [_To enclose a letter in a parcel, packet of samples or + newspaper, posted an such, shall be an offense punishable by a fine + of not less than ten or more than forty dollars in each case._] + + 3. The Postmaster General may grant licenses, revocable at pleasure, + to Agents, other than Postmasters, for the sale to the Public, of + Postage Stamps and Stamped envelopes, and may allow to such Agents a + commission not exceeding five per cent, on the amount of their + sales;--and it shall not be lawful for any person to exercise the + business of selling Postage Stamps or Stamped envelopes to the + Public unless duly licensed to do so by the Postmaster General and + under such conditions as he may prescribe: and any person who shall + violate this provision by selling Postage Stamps or Stamped + envelopes to the public without a license from the Postmaster + General, shall on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, incur a + penalty of not exceeding forty dollars for each offence. + + * * * * * + + 5. The Postmaster General may, when in his judgment the public + convenience requires it, establish Street Letter Boxes or Pillar + Boxes for the reception of letters and other mailable matter in the + streets of any City or Town in this Province, and from the time that + a letter is deposited in any such Street Letter Box or Pillar Box it + shall be deemed to be a Post Letter within the meaning of the Post + Office Act. + + 6. [_Wilfully injuring such letter boxes is a misdemeanor._] + + * * * * * + + 8. The Governor in Council may, by regulations to be from time to + time made, provide for the transmission through the Mails of this + Province, of patterns and samples of merchandise and goods for + sale, and of packages of seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots and scions or + grafts, on such terms and conditions as may be set forth in such + regulations. + + 9. [_Wilfully destroying, damaging or detaining any of above + articles is a misdemeanor._] + +The only other item to quote from the report of 1867 is the +following:--"On 1st July, 1867 the Union Act came into operation, and +brought under one central administration the Postal Service throughout +the Dominion." With this statement we close the account of the Postal +history of the Province of Canada, and in the next chapter open up the +larger one of the Dominion of Canada, whose later issues, though not +without interest, still lack the charm that time can never tear from the +simple, yet dignified and beautiful stamps of the Province. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE DOMINION OF CANADA + + +PRELIMINARY. + +As outlined in our Introductory Chapter, the union of Upper and Lower +Canada into the single Province of Canada had been so manifestly +advantageous that it started an agitation for the union of all the +British North American provinces. The result was a convention, held at +Quebec in 1864, which drafted a proposed Constitution that was later +embodied by the British Parliament in "An Act for the Union of Canada, +Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and the Government thereof,"[85] which +was passed on the 29th March, 1867. The preamble recites that "the +provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick have expressed their +desire to be federally united into One Dominion under the Crown of the +United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with a Constitution similar +in Principle to that of the United Kingdom." The Act is cited in brief +as "The British North America Act 1867," and provides that the Dominion +of Canada shall be divided into four provinces named Ontario, Quebec, +Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; that there shall be a Governor General +who may select his own Privy Council; that there shall be a Parliament +consisting of a Senate, with members appointed by the Governor General +for life, and a House of Commons of elected representatives; that the +seat of Government shall be at Ottawa; that each Province shall have a +Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Governor General and a local +legislature similar to the Dominion Parliament; and making provision for +the admission of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia +and Rupert's Land and the North-western Territory. The Act took effect +on the 1st July, 1867, which day is annually observed as "Dominion Day." + +[85] 30^o--31^o Vict. Cap. III. + +The first Parliament of Canada, which convened at Ottawa on November 6, +1867, was naturally largely concerned in revising and consolidating the +laws of the various Provinces, and among these of course appeared the +Post Office Laws. A number of changes were introduced, but many of the +provisions of former Acts were embodied almost as they stood in the new +statute. We reproduce its most important features in our line of +inquiry. + + 31^o Vict. Cap. X. + + An Act for the regulation of the Postal Service. + + [_Assented to 21st. December_, 1867.] + + Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and + House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: + + + PRELIMINARY--INTERPRETATION. + + 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as _The Post Office Act_ + 1867; and the following terms and expressions therein shall be held + to have the meaning hereinafter assigned to them.... + + The term "Letter" includes Packets of Letters; + + The term "Postage" means the duty or sum chargeable for the + conveyance of Post Letters, Packets and other things by Post; + + The term "Foreign Country" means any country not included in the + dominions of Her Majesty; + + The term "Foreign Postage" means the postage on the conveyance of + Letters, Packets or other things, within any Foreign Country or + payable to any Foreign Government; + + The term "Canada Postage" means the postage on the conveyance of + Letters, Packets and other things by Post within the Dominion of + Canada or by Canada Mail Packet; + + The term "Mail" includes every conveyance by which Post Letters are + carried, whether it be by land or by water; + + The term "British Packet Postage" means the postage due on the + conveyance of letters by British Packet Boats, between the United + Kingdom and British North America;--And the term "British Postage" + includes all Postage not being Foreign, Colonial or Canadian; + + * * * * * + + The term "Post Letter" means any letter transmitted or deposited in + any Post Office to be transmitted by the Post;--And a letter shall + be deemed a Post Letter from the time of its being so deposited or + delivered at a Post Office, to the time of its being delivered to + the party to whom it is addressed.... + + 2. All Laws in force in the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia or New + Brunswick, at the Union thereof on the first of July, one thousand + eight hundred and sixty-seven, in respect to the Postal Service, and + continued in force by the "British North America Act 1867," shall be + and the same are hereby repealed. + + * * * * * + + ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. + + 7. There shall be at the seat of Government of Canada a Post Office + Department for the superintendence and management of the Postal + Service of Canada, under the direction of a Postmaster General. + + 8. The Postmaster General shall be appointed by Commission under the + Great Seal of Canada, and shall hold his office during pleasure. + + * * * * * + + 10. The Postmaster General may, subject to the provisions of this + Act: + + 1. Establish and close Post Offices and Post Routes; + + * * * * * + + 3. Enter into and enforce all contracts relating to the conveyance + of the Mails or other business of the Post Office; + + 4. [_Make regulations concerning mailable matter and limits of + weight and dimensions of such._] + + 5. [_Establish rates of postage and conditions on matter not already + provided for._] + + 6. Cause to be prepared and distributed Postage Stamps, necessary + for the prepayment of Postages under this Act, also stamped + envelopes for the like purpose; + + 7. [_Make arrangements concerning Posts and Postal business with + postal authorities outside of Canada._] + + * * * * * + + 11. Prescribe and enforce such Regulations as to letters directed to + be registered as to him may seem necessary, in respect to the + registration of letters and other matter passing by Mail, as well + between places in Canada, as between Canada and the United Kingdom, + any British Possession, the United States or any other Foreign + Country, and to the charge to be made for the same; and also in + respect to the registration by the officers of the Post Office of + letters unquestionably containing money or other valuable enclosure + when posted without registration by the senders of the same, and to + imposing a rate of two cents registration charge upon such letters; + + * * * * * + + 14. Establish and provide Street Letter Boxes or Pillar Boxes or + Boxes of any other description for the receipt of letters and such + other mailable matter as he may deem expedient, in the streets of + any City or Town in Canada, or at any Railway Station or other + public place where he may consider such Letter Boxes to be + necessary; + + 15. Grant licenses revocable at pleasure, to Agents other than + Postmasters, for the sale to the Public of Postage Stamps and + Stamped Envelopes, and allow to such Agents a commission of not + exceeding five per cent, on the amount of their sales. + + RATES OF POSTAGE. + + 19. On all letters transmitted by Post for any distance within + Canada, except in cases herein otherwise specially provided for, + there shall be charged and paid one uniform rate of three cents per + half ounce in weight, any fraction of an ounce being chargeable as a + half ounce, provided that such three cents postage rate be prepaid + by postage stamps or in current coin at the time of posting such + letters; and when such letters are posted without prepayment being + made thereon, then and in such case it shall be lawful to charge + upon letters so posted unpaid a rate of five cents per half ounce. + + 20. On letters not transmitted through the mails, but posted and + delivered at the same Post Office, commonly known as local or drop + letters, the rate shall be one cent, to be in all cases prepaid by + postage stamp affixed to such letters. + + 21. [_Seamen and Soldiers, etc. in Her Majesty's service, entitled + to receive and send letters on payment of a certain special sum in + lieu of all British postage, shall be freed likewise from Canadian + postage._] + + 22. The rate of postage upon newspapers printed and published in + Canada, and issued not less frequently than once a week, from a + known office of publication, and sent to regular subscribers in + Canada by mail, shall be as follows: upon each such newspaper, when + issued once a week, the rate for each quarter of a year, commencing + on the first of January, first of April, first of July, or first of + October of each year, shall be five cents, when issued twice a week, + ten cents, when issued three times a week, fifteen cents, when + issued six times a week, thirty cents, and in that proportion, + adding one rate of five cents for each issue more frequent than once + a week; and such postage must be pre-paid in advance from the first + day of the quarter from which the payment commences, for a term of + not less than a quarter of a year: ... provided, nevertheless, that + _Exchange Papers_, addressed by one editor or publisher of a + newspaper to another editor or publisher, may be sent by Post free + of charge. + + 23. On all newspapers sent by Post in Canada, except in the cases + hereinbefore expressly provided for, there shall be payable a rate + not exceeding two cents each, and when such newspapers are posted in + Canada this rate shall in all cases be prepaid by postage stamp + affixed to the same. + + 24. For the purposes of this Act, the word "Newspapers" shall be + held to mean periodicals published not less frequently than once in + each week, and containing notices of passing events. + + 25. The rate of postage upon periodical publications, other than + newspapers, shall be one cent per four ounces, or half a cent per + number, when such periodicals weigh less than one ounce and are + posted singly, and when such periodical publications are posted in + Canada, these rates shall in all cases be prepaid by postage stamps + affixed to the same. + + 26. On books, pamphlets, occasional publications, printed circulars, + prices current, handbills, book and newspaper manuscript, printer's + proof sheets whether corrected or not, maps, prints, drawings, + engravings, photographs when not on glass, in cases containing + glass, sheet music whether printed or written, packages of seeds, + cuttings, bulbous roots, scions or grafts, patterns or samples of + merchandize or goods, the rate of postage shall be one cent per + ounce; provided that no letter or other communication intended to + serve the purpose of a letter be sent or enclosed therein, and that + the same be sent in covers open at the ends or sides or otherwise so + put up as to admit of inspection by the Officers of the Post Office + to ensure compliance with this provision--and this postage rate + shall be prepaid by postage stamps in all cases when such articles + are posted in Canada. + + 27. [_Foregoing rates subject to such conditions as may be agreed + upon between Canada and any other country._] + + 28. [_Postage on unpaid letters is due from addressee, or if refused + may be recovered with costs by civil action from sender._ (See + 13^o--14^o Vict. Cap. 17, Sec. 12.)] + + 29. In all cases where letters and other mailable matter are posted + for places without the limits of Canada, on which stamps for + pre-payment are affixed of less value than the true rate of Postage + to which such letters are liable,--or when stamps for prepayment are + affixed to letters addressed to any place as aforesaid for which + prepayment cannot be taken in Canada,--the Postmaster General may + forward such letters, charged with postage, as if no stamp had been + affixed. + + 30. And for avoiding doubts, and preventing inconvenient delay in + the posting and delivery of letters,--no Postmaster shall be bound + to give change, but the exact amount of the postage on any letter or + other mailable matter shall be tendered or paid to him in current + coin as respects letters or other things delivered, and in current + coin or postage stamps as the case may require in respect to the + letters or other things posted. + + 31. [_The Postmaster General may make reasonable compensation to + Masters of vessels not Post Office Packets for conveyance of ship + letters from foreign ports to Canada._] + + 32. [_Postmaster General has exclusive privilege of collecting, + conveying and delivering letters, etc._; $20 _penalty for + infraction_. (See 13^o--14^o Vict. Cap. XVII. Sec. 9.)] + + * * * * * + + 35. [_The Postmaster General may employ Letter Carriers, and charge + two cents for delivery of a letter and one cent for a newspaper or + pamphlet._ (See 14^o--15^o Vict. Cap. LXXI. Sec. 15.)] + + 36. It shall be lawful for the Postmaster General, with the consent + of the Governor in Council, to establish in any city, when he shall + deem it expedient, a system of free delivery by Letter Carrier of + letters brought by mail and he may direct that from the time that + such system is established, no charge shall be made for the delivery + of such letters by Letter Carriers in such city, and further that on + drop or local letters when delivered by Letter Carrier in such city, + one cent only per half ounce shall be charged in addition to the + ordinary local or drop letter rate. + + 37. [_Postmaster General may establish a parcel post._ (See 22^o + Vict. Cap. XVII. Sec. 5.)] + + 38. [_Usual franking of official matter._ (See 18^o Vict. Cap. + LXXIX. Secs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 24^o Vict. Cap. XXV. Sec. 6), _but + limited to transmission in Canada_.] + + * * * * * + + 40. Letters, or other articles, which from any cause remain + undelivered in any Post Office, or which having been posted, cannot + be forwarded by post, shall under such regulations as the Postmaster + General may make, be transmitted by Postmasters to the Post Office + Department as Dead Letters, there to be opened and returned to the + writers on payment of any postage due thereon, with five cents + additional on each Dead Letter to defray the costs of returning the + same, or such Dead Letters may in any case or class of cases be + otherwise disposed of as the Postmaster General may direct. + + * * * * * + + 77. [_Stealing mail matter or forging stamps, etc._, (see 13^o--14^o + Vict. Cap. XVII. Sec. 16) _is a felony. Stealing or damaging printed + matter, package of merchandise, etc., or enclosing a letter in other + mail matter, or obstructing mails is a misdemeanor_.] + + Sub. sec. 16. To remove with fraudulent intent from any letter, + newspaper or other mailable matter, sent by Post, any postage stamp + which shall have been affixed thereon, or wilfully, with intent + aforesaid remove from any postage stamp which shall have been + previously used, any mark which shall have been made thereon at any + Post Office, shall be a misdemeanor. + + * * * * * + + 81. If any person uses or attempts to use in prepayment of postage + on any letter or other mailable matter posted in this Province, any + postage stamp which has been before used for a like purpose, such + person shall be subject to a penalty of not less than Ten and not + exceeding Forty dollars for every such offense, and the letter or + other mailable matter on which such stamp has been so improperly + used may be detained, or in the discretion of the Postmaster General + forwarded to its destination charged with double postage. + + * * * * * + + 91. This Act shall come into operation on the first day of April, + one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight. + +Although the above Act gives most of the groundwork upon which the Post +Office Department of Canada has since been operated, save of course the +changes in detail that will be noted in their proper places, yet it +seems advisable, in spite of some possible repetition, to quote the +larger part of the Instructions sent out to Postmasters in preparation +for the impending changes, because of additional details to be found +therein. + + TO ALL POSTMASTERS, AND OTHER PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE POSTAL SERVICE + OF CANADA: + + DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 2. + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, + OTTAWA, 1ST MARCH, 1868. + + The Post Office Act, passed on the 21st December, 1867, for the + regulation of the Postal Service, will come into operation + throughout the Dominion on and from the 1st April, 1868. + + A copy of the Statute, and of the General Regulations founded + thereon, will be forwarded to every Postmaster, whether in charge of + a regular Post-Office, Way Office or Sub-Office, and to every + Railway Mail Clerk; meanwhile the following summary of the principal + provisions of the Act, as affecting the organization of the + Department, in relation to the several Provinces of the Dominion, + the postage rates to be charged from and after the 1st. April, etc., + etc., is supplied for the information of Postmasters and other + persons employed in the Post Office Service of Canada. + + ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT. + + 1. The Superintendence and Management of the Postal Service of + Canada is vested in the Post Office Department, at the seat of + Government, Ottawa, under the direction of the Postmaster General of + Canada. + + 2. Subject to the directions of the Postmaster General, the general + management of the business of the Department will be with the Deputy + Postmaster General of Canada. + + 3. The local Superintendence of Post Office business, and + performance of such duties as are assigned to them by the Statute, + or entrusted to them from time to time by the Postmaster General, + will be confided to the Post Office Inspectors, of whom there are + seven, stationed and exercising their powers and functions in the + undermentioned Postal Divisions. + + _Postal Division._ _Post Office Address._ + + Nova Scotia Halifax, N. S. + New Brunswick and the Bay + Chaleurs, Coast of Gasp['e] Frederickton, for the present + Province of Quebec, as far West as Three Rivers Quebec + Province of Quebec, from Three Rivers Westward Montreal + Province of Ontario, as far as Cobourg Kingston + Province of Ontario, from Cobourg to Hamilton Toronto + Province of Ontario, from Hamilton Westward London + */ + + /# + 4. All Postmasters, including Way Office and Sub-Office Keepers, + are continued in Office, and all Bonds and Mail Contracts continued + in force, subject to the ordinary conditions of such appointments and + engagements, and to the future action of the Department. + + PRINCIPAL RATES OF POSTAGE. + + LETTERS. + + 5. On letters passing between any two places within the Dominion + of Canada, a uniform rate, (irrespective of distance) of three + cents per 1/2 oz., if prepaid; and five cents per 1/2 oz., if posted + unpaid. + + 6. On letters between any place in the Dominion and any place in + the United States, 6 cents per 1/2 oz., if prepaid; and 10 cents per + 1/2 oz., if posted unpaid. + + 7. On letters to or from the United Kingdom, in Mails by Canada + Packets, to or from Quebec in summer, or Portland in winter; or by + Mail Packet to or from Halifax, 12-1/2 cents per 1/2 oz. + #/ + + On do. in Mails via New York Packet 15 cents per 1/2 oz. + On letters to Prince Edward Island, if prepaid, 3 " " do + if posted unpaid, 5 " " do + On letters to Newfoundland, to be in all cases + prepaid, 12-1/2 " " do + On letters to British Columbia and Vancouver + Island, in all cases to be prepaid, 10 " " do + On letters to Red River, + to be in all cases prepaid, 6 " " do + On letters to Red River, + to be in all cases prepaid, 6 " " do + + NEWSPAPER RATES. + + 8. Newspapers printed and published in Canada may be sent by Post + from the office of publication to any place in Canada at the + following rates, if paid quarterly in advance, either by the + Publisher, at the Post Office where the papers are posted or by the + subscriber, at the Post Office where the papers are delivered:-- + + For a paper published once a week 5 cents per quarter of a year. + do twice a week 10 do + do three times 15 do + do six times 30 do + + If the above rates are prepaid by the Publisher, the Postmaster + receiving payment must be careful to have the papers so prepaid + separately put up, and marked, distinctly, as prepaid. + + When the above rates are not prepaid in advance, by either the + Publisher at the Office of posting or by the subscriber at the + Office of delivery, the papers are to be charged one cent each on + delivery. + + 9. Canadian Newspapers, addressed from the Office of publication to + subscribers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Prince Edward + Island and Newfoundland, may be forwarded, on prepayment at the + Office in Canada where posted, at the above commuted rates, + applicable to such papers within the Dominion. + + 10. Exchange Papers passing between publishers in Canada, and + between publishers in Canada and publishers in the United States, + Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, are to pass free--one copy of + each paper to each publisher. + + 11. Transient Newspapers include all Newspapers posted in Canada, + other than Canada Newspapers sent from the Office of publication, + and when addressed to any place within the Dominion, to the United + Kingdom, to the United States, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, + must be prepaid two cents each by postage stamp. + + 12. Newspapers coming into Canada will be subject to the following + charges on delivery: + + If from the United Kingdom, by mail packet to Quebec, Halifax or + Portland--Free on delivery. + + By mails via the United States (New York), Two cents each. + + If from the United States, two cents each, to be rated at the + Canada Frontier, or exchange Office receiving mails from the + United States. + + If from Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, when received by + regular subscribers in Canada from the Office of publication, + the ordinary commuted rates applicable to Canada Newspapers. + + Transient Papers--two cents each. + + 13. The Canada Postage rates on Newspapers coming or going to the + United Kingdom and the United States, will thus be the same as those + charged in the United Kingdom and the United States on Newspapers + there received from or sent to Canada. + + 14. Canada News Agents may post to regular subscribers in Canada, + British Newspapers free, and United States Newspapers unpaid, such + papers in the latter case, must be duly rated two cents each for + collection on delivery. + + PRINTED PAPERS, CIRCULARS, PRICES CURRENT, HAND BILLS, BOOKS, + PAMPHLETS. + + 15. The rate on printed matter of this description posted in Canada, + and addressed to any place in Canada, Prince Edward Island, + Newfoundland or the United States, will be one cent per ounce, to be + prepaid by Postage Stamp; and a like rate will be payable on + delivery, when received from the United States, Prince Edward Island + or Newfoundland. + + PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS. + + 16. When posted in Canada for any place in Canada, Prince Edward + Island, Newfoundland or the United States, the rate will be one cent + per four ounces. + + 17. A like rate will be payable on delivery in Canada, when received + from the United States, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland. + + 18. Periodicals weighing less than one ounce per number, when posted + in Canada for any place within the Dominion, Prince Edward Island, + Newfoundland or the United States may, when put up singly, pass for + one half cent per number, to be prepaid by Postage Stamp. + + 19. As the Postage Rates on Periodicals, other than Newspapers, will + be payable in advance, and as certain classes of such periodicals, + printed and published in Canada, and sent from the office of + publication to regular subscribers, have for some time past been + exempted from postage where exclusively devoted to the education of + youth, to temperance, agriculture and science, or for other reasons, + it is ordered, that with respect to periodicals which do now enjoy + this privilege or exemption, the exemption shall continue until the + expiration of the current year--that is until the 31st December, + 1868, and that from the 1st. January, 1869, all such special + exemptions and privileges shall cease. + + PARCEL POST. + + 20. The rate on Parcels, by Parcel Post, will be 12-1/2 cents per 8 + ounces, that is to say:-- + + On a parcel not exceeding 8 oz 12-1/2 cents + Over 8 oz., and not exceeding 1 lb 25 cents + Over 1 lb., and not exceeding 24 oz 37-1/2 cents + And so on, to the limit of three lbs. + + BOOK AND NEWSPAPER MANUSCRIPT, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS MATTER. + + 21. On Book and Newspaper Manuscript (meaning written articles + intended for insertion in a newspaper or periodical, and addressed + to the Editor or Publisher thereof, for insertion), Printers' Proof + Sheets, whether corrected or not, Maps, Prints, Drawings, + Engravings, Music, whether printed or written, packages of Seeds, + Cuttings, Roots, Scions or Grafts, and Botanical Specimens, the rate + will be 1 cent per ounce, when posted for any place in Canada or the + United States, and prepaid by Postage Stamp. + + POSTAGE STAMPS. + + 22. To enable the Public to prepay conveniently by Postage Stamp the + foregoing rates, the following denominations of Postage Stamps for + use throughout the Dominion, have been prepared, and will be + supplied to Postmasters for sale:--#/ + + Half Cent Stamps } + One cent do } + Two cent do } + Three cent do } All bearing, as a device, the effigy + Six cent do } of Her Majesty. + Twelve and a half cent do } + Fifteen cent do } + + 23. The Postage Stamps now in use in the several Provinces may be + accepted, as at present, in prepayment of letters, etc., for a + reasonable time after the 1st of April; but from and after that date + all issues and sales to the public will be of the new denomination. + + FRANKING AND FREE MATTER. + + The following matter is exempt from Canadian Postage:-- + + 24. All letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by + the Governor of Canada. + + 25. All letters or other mailable matter addressed to or sent by any + Department of the Government, at the seat of Government at Ottawa, + under such regulations as may from time to time be made by the + Governor in Council. + + 26. All letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by + the Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Senate or of the House of Commons, + or to or by any Member of either House, at the Seat of Government, + during any Session of Parliament--or addressed to any of the Members + or Officers in this section mentioned at the Seat of Government as + aforesaid, during the ten days next before the meeting of + Parliament. + + 27. All public documents and printed papers sent by the Speaker or + Chief Clerk of the Senate or of the House of Commons to any Member + of either House during the recess of Parliament. + + 28. All papers printed by order of either House sent by Members of + either House during the recess of Parliament. + + 29. Petitions and Addresses to either of the Provincial Legislatures + of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, or to any branch + thereof; and votes, proceedings and other papers, printed by order + of any such Legislature, or any branch thereof, during any Session + thereof,--provided such petitions and addresses, votes, proceedings + and other papers, are sent without covers, or in covers open at the + ends or sides, and contain no Letter or written communication to + serve the purpose of a Letter. + + 30. Letters and other mailable matter (except that provided for as + above) addressed to or sent by the Provincial Governments or + Legislatures of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, will + be liable to the ordinary rates of Postage. + + 31. Public documents and printed papers sent under the foregoing + clauses should bear, as part of the address, the bona fide + superscription of the Speaker, Chief Clerk, or Officer specially + deputed for this purpose to act for those functionaries, or of the + Member sending the same. + + 32. The privilege of free transmission, as above described, has + effect only as respects Canada Postage rates. + + 33. All letters and other mailable matter to and from the Postmaster + General and the Deputy Postmaster General, and all Official + communications to and from the Post Office Department, and to and + from the Post Office Inspectors, are to pass free of Canadian + Postage. + + 34. All letters and communications on the business of the Post + Office Department, intended for the Post Office Department at + Ottawa, should be invariably addressed to "The Postmaster General." + The branch of the Department for which the letter or communication + is intended should be written on the left hand upper corner of the + letter, thus:-- + + "For Accountant" + "For Secretary" + [etc.] + + as the case may be, but the main direction must be to the Postmaster + General, or Deputy Postmaster General. + + 35. All letters containing a remittance on account of the Public + Revenue sent by any Postmaster in Canada to a Bank or Bank Agency; + and all remittances or acknowledgements sent by a Bank or Bank + agency, on account of Public Revenue, to any Postmaster in Canada, + are to pass free through the Post, as respects both postage and + registration charge. + + 36. No change is made in the Way or Sub-Office system of Nova Scotia + and New Brunswick, Quebec or Ontario. + + 37. No change is made in the Money Order System. + + 38. A system of Post Office Savings Banks will be instituted on the + 1st. April, and will be extended as quickly as practicable to all + the principal cities, towns and places throughout the Dominion. + + A. CAMPBELL, _Postmaster General_. + + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ISSUE OF 1868 + + +A glance at the new regulations quoted in the last chapter will show +that there is no five or seventeen cent prepaid rate, and but one at ten +cents--to British Columbia and Vancouver Island; as a result these three +denominations are not found in the new set of Dominion postage stamps. +On the other hand the half cent transient newspaper rate, the three cent +letter rate, with its double at six cents, and the new British Packet +rate via New York of fifteen instead of seventeen cents, necessitated +these four additional denominations in the new series. + +The stamps themselves are as usual line engraved on steel, and present +more "continuity of design" throughout the set than before. The main +feature of this design is a circular medallion bearing a diademed +profile portrait of Queen Victoria to right, on a horizontally lined +ground. Arched above this medallion are the words CANADA POSTAGE, and +beneath it the value, both in words and Arabic numerals, a slightly +different arrangement occurring on each denomination. Foliations of +acanthus pattern fill in the remainder of the design, making the outline +somewhat irregular. The stamps are fairly large, averaging 20 x 24 mm. +in size, except the half cent, which is considerably smaller, being only +17 x 21 mm. They will be found illustrated as Nos. 17, 16, 18, 20, 22, +23 and 24 on Plate I. + +The stamps were printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten, and by the +imprint we find they were the product of a new concern. This imprint +appears in colorless capitals on a narrow strip of color with bossed +ends, and reads BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. MONTREAL & OTTAWA. This +strip is framed by a very thin parallel line, its entire width being but +one millimeter, while its length is about 51 mm. It occurs but once on a +side, being placed against the middle two stamps (numbers 5 and 6) of +each row at a distance of about 3 mm. (see illustration 107 on Plate +IX.) The inscription reads up on the left and down on the right, as +before, but the bottom one is now upright, instead of being reversed. + +In the case of the half cent stamp at least, we find an additional +marginal imprint over the second and third stamps of the top row. This +consists of the words HALF CENT, in shaded Roman capitals 4 mm. high, +the whole being about 40 mm. long, (illustration 119 on Plate XI). +Presumably the same thing, varied for each denomination, occurs on other +values of the series, as we find it does on the succeeding issue; but a +strip from the top of a sheet of the 15 cent stamps proves that it was +lacking on that value at least. + +The normal colors of the stamps of this series are approximately:--1/2 +cent, black; 1 cent, brown red; 2 cents, green; 3 cents, deep red; 6 +cents, dark brown; 12-1/2 cents, deep blue; 15 cents, mauve. We say +approximately, since there is considerable variation as may be noted by +a glance at the Reference List. Particularly is this the case with the +15 cent stamp. The earliest tint is the one we have noted--mauve; but +the stamp was in practically continuous use down to 1900, and the gamut +of shades and colors through which it passed in that time is almost +equal to the 10 cent stamp of the preceding issue. + +Of the approximate dates of issue of some of the more pronounced shades +of the 15 cent stamp it is possible to give an idea through the +chronicles of various contemporary magazines which noted them. The +original stamp we know was in a mauve tint, and was so chronicled in the +_Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for May 1868 (VI: 71). The _American +Journal of Philately_ for April 20, 1868, (I:18) describes it as +"lilac". The _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ in December, 1874 (XII: 182) +says it has "just appeared in a dull deep mauve." Next M. Moens notes +that it has become gray lilac, in _Le Timbre-poste_ for March, 1877. +Again in the issue for June, 1880, he records it in bright violet, while +in May, 1881, it is described as a dark slate color (_ardoise +fonc['e]_). In the July, 1888, issue of the _Halifax Philatelist_ the +color is said to have reverted to the mauve tint of the first printings +except that it was "more bluish", and once more in May, 1890, the +_Dominion Philatelist_ states that "The Canada 15c. has again changed +color. It is now bright violet." Finally, in _Mekeel's Weekly_ for March +12, 1896, under "Canadian Notes", we read that "quite a large stock is +still on hand in the P.O. Department, but no more are being printed. +What are going out now are the remainders of various batches. They are +coming in all shades; some being almost the first issue colors." + +It remains to note two additions to this series. The first was a change +in color:--the 1 cent and 3 cent stamps were quite naturally found to be +too nearly alike in shade to properly differentiate them in the rush of +post office business. Hence the 1 cent was changed to an orange yellow, +appearing in its new dress in 1809. The exact date seems not to be +available, but we find it first noted in _The Philatelist_ for April 1, +1809, in these words:--"The 1 cent and 3 c. of this colony have been +hitherto almost identical in hue; that anomaly is now rectified by the +recent emission of the former value in bright orange." In the "Summary +for the year 1809", the same paper credits the issue to January, +1869.[86] + +[86] =The Philatelist=. IV: 42. + +The second addition was a 5 cent stamp, which is a bit of an anomaly +inasmuch as it is a companion in size and design to the 1868 series, but +was issued on October 1, 1875, after the series in reduced size, begun +in 1870, had been practically completed. The explanation is simple: the +die of this large 5 cent stamp had been engraved in 1867 with the other +values of the first Dominion series,[87] but as there were no rates +requiring such a denomination in the set, it was not issued. When in +1875 the need for a 3 cent value arose, the unused die was employed to +make a plate for temporary use, until a new die conforming in size and +design with the small stamps could be prepared. The large 5 cent stamp +is thus really in the nature of a provisional, for its smaller and +permanent successor followed it in about four months. + +[87] In the first series of the =American Journal of Philately= for June +1, 1868 (I: 25) we read: "The Canadian Government have had a 5 cent +stamp prepared, engraved of the same type as the present set, the most +noticeable difference being the circle round the head which is corded. +The specimen sent us is printed in brown on India paper, bearing the +Company's imprint underneath." + +The statement is often made that the 5 cent denomination was required +because of Canada's entry into the Universal Postal Union, which was +instituted on July 1, 1875. The statement has elements of truth in it, +inasmuch as the indirect results of Canada's application produced the 5 +cent rate which required the new stamp; but the statement is not exact +because Canada was not actually admitted to the Postal Union until three +years later. The Postmaster General's Reports tell the story. The Report +for 30th June, 1875 says:-- + + A treaty for the formation of a General Postal Union, and for the + adoption of uniform postage rates and regulations for International + correspondence, was arranged and signed at Berne, Switzerland, in + October, 1874, by the representatives of the Post Offices of the + chief Nations of the world. This agreement took effect between all + the countries which were directly parties to the Treaty, in July + last. + + The Treaty did not include the British Possessions beyond the sea, + but Canada has, with the concurrence of the Imperial Government, + applied for admission as a member of this Postal Union. Meanwhile + the letter rate of postage between Canada and the United Kingdom + has, by arrangement with the Imperial Post Office, been reduced to + the International rate of 2-1/2 pence sterling--5 cents currency, + established by the Union regulations; and this reduction has also + been made applicable to correspondence passing by way of New York, + making the rate between Canada and the United Kingdom uniform at 5 + cents by whatever route conveyed. + +From the Report of 30th June, 1876 we find that the application of +Canada for admission to the Universal Postal Union was not successful +owing to the opposition of France. Because of differences with Great +Britain in regard to admitting Colonies beyond the seas at the same +rates as European countries, British India and the French Colonies had +been admitted with a reduced rate of 6 pence per half ounce letter, so +as to include cost of sea transit. France contended that Canada should +be kept to the same terms. From the Report of 30th June, 1877 we learn +that Canada by treaty had obtained the Postal Union rate of 5 cents with +Germany, including Prussia, Saxony, Hanover, Bavaria, Baden and +Wurtemberg. The letter rate with Newfoundland had also been reduced from +6 cents to 5 cents per half ounce. + +The Report for 30th June, 1878 brings matters to fruition:-- + + At the meeting of the International Postal Congress, which, under + the provisions of the Postal Treaty of Berne, concluded in October, + 1874, took place at Paris in May, 1878, Canada was admitted to be a + member of the General Postal Union from the 1st July, 1878, and in + consequence the rate of letter postage between Canada and all Europe + became one uniform charge of 5 cents per half ounce. Newspapers and + other printed matter, and samples and patterns of merchandise also + became subject to uniform postage rates and regulations for all + destinations in Europe. Existing postal arrangements between the + United States and Canada were, by mutual agreement, allowed to + remain undisturbed by the entry of Canada into the Union, under a + provision of the General Postal Union Treaty applicable to such a + case. + +The last remark refers to the treaty which took effect on 1st February, +1875, by which letters posted in Canada or the United States could be +sent to the other country at the single domestic rate of three cents--of +which more later. + +This large 5 cent stamp was of course line engraved like the rest of the +series, and issued in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. The sheet bore +four marginal imprints, arranged as before, but of a slightly different +type from the 1868 issue. This new imprint is in capitals and lower case +letters on a colored strip 56 mm. long and 2-1/2 mm. wide, with a border +of pearls, and reads: "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal." +Doubtless the words "FIVE CENTS" in shaded Roman capitals would be found +over the second and third stamps of the top row if one were fortunate +enough to possess this portion of a sheet. The stamp is illustrated as +No. 21 on Plate I, and the marginal imprint is of the type shown in +illustration No. 118 on plate XI. The normal color of this 5 cent stamp +is an olive gray, and it is perforated 12, as are all the other values +of the set. + +The paper upon which the series of 1868 was printed was in general an +ordinary white wove variety which varied considerably from a very thin, +almost pelure quality to a quite hard and thick variety. Laid paper also +makes its appearance again in this set. In Messrs. Corwin and King's +article[88] we read:--"The 3 cents on laid paper was first brought to +attention in the _Philatelic Record_ for March, 1882,[89] wherein it was +stated that Mr. Tapling had a copy in his collection. The 1 cent was +first mentioned in the _National Philatelist_ for January, 1883, by Mr. +Corwin, its discoverer, in these words: 'Some time since I saw noted in +the _Philatelic Record_ the existence of a 3 cent Canada stamp, emission +of 1868, on laid paper. In looking through my Canadian varieties, after +reading this note, I discovered also a copy of the one cent red, same +emission, on laid paper'". The 1 cent yellow is likewise catalogued by +the London Society,[90] but the following remark is added: "The One +Cent, yellow, on laid paper, is not known to the Society. It is taken +from _The Halifax Philatelist_ for July, 1888, page 74." Concerning this +Messrs. Corwin and King state:[91] "This was inserted in the _Halifax +Philatelist_ in error; so far as we know this stamp does not exist. The +original sin of chronicling this stamp, however, rests with M. Moens, +for in the _Philatelic Record_ for January, 1883, the fact is stated +that M. Moens states that he knows of the existence of the 1c. orange on +laid paper." Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack adds his testimony against this +quondam stamp:[92] "I do not believe that the 1c, yellow, exists on +laid paper, None of the large collectors of Canada or of this country +have seen it, and I believe there is no real authority for listing it." +There was none: and now that we have tracked it down, the laugh seems to +be on the _Philatelic Record_, and M. Moens is absolved from his +"original sin." In _Le Timbre-Poste_ for January, 1883, under the +heading CANADA we read: "Semblable au 3 cents, 1868, sur papier +_verg['e]_ blanc, il existe: 1 cent, brun-orange." This was the +information quoted in the _Philatelic Record_,[93] but the translator +evidently mistook the proper rendering of the French color name as +_orange-brown_, and translated it simply _orange_, whence the error +spread. We can therefore dispose quite effectually of the question and +of the phantom stamp in the same breath. + +[88] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, II: 57. + +[89] This is an error, for in =Le Timbre-Poste= for November, 1877 (XV: +841). M. Moens says: "M. Four['e] nous fait remarquer que le 3 cents +[1868] a ['e]t['e] imprim['e] exceptionnellement sur papier verg['e]." + +[90] =North American Colonies of Great Britain=, page 16. + +[91] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, II: 57. + +[92] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 144. + +[93] =Philatelic Record=. IV: 213. + +Concerning the laid paper stamps Messrs. Corwin and King say they "must +have been among the first issued, as we have seen a copy of the 1 cent, +red-brown, postmarked November 27, 1868."[94] That this must have been +the case is proved by the existence of the 1 cent in brown-red and not +in yellow, as would have been the case if the paper were used in 1869 or +thereafter. _Mekeel's Weekly_[95] also records the 3 cent on a cover +bearing date of August 31, 1868. + +[94] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, II: 57. + +[95] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, IX: 64. + +The 15 cent stamp was reported in the _American Journal of Philately_ +for October, 1892, in these words: "Mr. F. de Coppet has shown us a 15 +c. of the 1868 issue on thin paper, horizontally laid," and the stamp is +described as "violet". We have not seen a copy, but if it was in the +early "mauve" tint it probably was a companion of the 1 cent and 3 +cents, the latter being found on both thick and thin horizontally laid +paper according to Messrs. Corwin and King's lists. If the "violet" was +of the gray shades, it belonged to a later printing and not with the +early stamps. Mr. Pack lists another variety still[96]: "I also have a +copy of the 15 c. on distinctly soft ribbed paper." This stamp is in the +lilac gray shade and therefore belongs to later printings as we shall +see, for this ribbed paper is found in all values of the small stamps of +the succeeding issue. + +[96] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 144. + +One other variety of paper needs our attention, and that is the +watermarked paper. The fact of its use was early known to collectors, +for in _The Philatelist_ for February, 1870, in an article on "British +North America" by W. Dudley Atlee, after the "Issue for Confederation" +is the following "Note.--There is also in the last series of adhesives +a Three Cent printed on paper _watermarked_ with maker's name; these +were most probably issued after the thin paper and before the usual +stout paper emissions." Mr. H. F. Ketcheson, commenting on the above in +1889,[97] remarks: "the one cent red also appears on same paper, as I +have two specimens of each in my possession." The _Halifax +Philatelist,_[98] in its contemporary issue, also happened to note the +discovery of two more values: "Mr. F. C. Kaye has shown us the 2 cent +and 6 cent of the 1868 issue, with large watermarked letters of the same +type as those in the 1 cent and 3 cent." The 12-1/2 and 15 cent were +later found, but the 1/2 cent and 1 cent yellow have never been +discovered. This latter fact doubtless determines the period when the +paper was used, for, like the laid paper, if employed in 1869 or later +we should find the 1 cent yellow instead of brown red printed on it. On +the other hand, it could not have been used when the first consignments +were being printed, probably early in 1868, or the 1/2 cent would be +included in the series. This is determined by the fact that the first +supply of the 1/2 cent lasted until the fiscal year of 1871-2, before +any further printings were made. The watermarked paper must therefore +have been used sometime during the course of the year 1868, probably the +middle, when supplies of all values except the 1/2 cent were printed. + +[97] =Dominion Philatelist=, I: 5. + +[98] =Halifax Philatelist=, III: 8. + +For the determination of the character of the watermark we are indebted +to Mr. John N. Luff, whose thoroughness and acumen when delving into a +philatelic problem are proverbial. The result of his study was published +in 1895[99] and we take the following extracts from his interesting +paper:-- + +[99] =American Journal of Philately=, VIII: 77. + + Most philatelic writers, when treating of the Canadian issue of + 1868-75, give small space to the series watermarked with large + letters. Most of them make a few speculative remarks as to the + probable watermark and then drop the subject. So far as I am aware, + no one has taken the trouble to ascertain what the watermark + actually is. The London Society in the _North American Colonies of + Great Britain_ says: "Some of the stamps on wove paper have been + catalogued with a watermark, consisting of various letters. It is + probable that these letters are portions of the name of the + papermaker, which most likely exists in the margin of the sheets." + Other writers are equally superficial. The _Catalogue for Advanced + Collectors_ says: "Although we catalogue as varieties the stamps on + watermarked paper, it is very possible that these form a separate + issue. It may have happened that the printers, having-run short of + the regular paper, replaced it by some similar paper that they had + in stock, bearing this watermark".... + + In the _Stamps of British North America_, by Messrs. C. B. Corwin + and Donald A. King (_Metropolitan Philatelist_, June 1891), this + watermark is given more attention. The possibility that it is the + words "Canada Postage" or "Canada Post Office Department" is + discussed and rejected, because the authors have found certain + letters and pairs of letters which do not occur in these words. + + It has seemed to me that it would be of interest, probably of value, + to know exactly what this watermark is. I have therefore given the + matter considerable study, and now have the pleasure of presenting + the result to your readers. The extensive stock of the Scott Stamp & + Coin Co., being placed at my disposal, together with a quantity of + stamps from private sources ... I believe I have correctly + reconstructed the watermark. + + As the broadest letter measures only 12 mm., and the stamps are + about 23mm. from center to center of perforations, there are usually + parts of two or three letters on each stamp. I have found a large + number of single letters, pairs, portions of three letters, and in + one instance, a pair and parts of two letters. Of many combinations + I have found several examples. I have also found quite a number of + stamps showing parts of two rows of letters, one above the other. + + Taking these in sequence we reconstruct the watermark + +[Illustration: + + E. & G. BOTHWELL + CLUTHA MILLS] + + The reader will please bear in mind, that when the stamps are viewed + from the back, the letters read from right to left (at least when + the sheets were placed normally in the press) as is usual with the + Crown and CC, CA and other watermarks. + + The letters are plain double lined capitals, except the third in the + first line, C, which is more fancy, having a decided hook at the end + of the lower curve and the upper curve ending in a point, instead of + being cut off squarely, as in the case of the other letters. The E + and C are followed by periods 2-1/2 mm. square. The initial capitals + E, C and B are 13 mm. high, the other letters 12-1/2 mm. The upper + row is about 140 mm. long, the lower about 122 mm., and the distance + between the rows 11-1/2 mm. The watermark will thus fall on twelve + stamps in each sheet of one hundred. But it cannot be argued from + this that the stamps with watermark are only eight times as rare as + those without, as we must take into consideration the + proportionately large number of sheets on ordinary unwatermarked + paper. The sheets were apparently placed on the press without much + care, as the letters are frequently found reversed and inverted. I + have not however found any placed vertically, nor have I found any + other letters than the above.... + + As to the position of the watermark in the sheets, I believe it to + be central. Its height, 37 mm., is great for a marginal watermark, + and the fact that none of the letters have been found vertically, as + is so frequently the case with marginal watermarks, is also in favor + of a central location. We might also expect to find stamps on + watermarked paper showing, as is not uncommon, the imprint of the + contractors above or below, if the watermark were marginal. I, at + least, have found none. + +Mr. Luff considers that the watermarked stamps "are on an unofficial +paper used temporarily," which is without doubt the case, at least as +far as the temporary nature goes. He says further: "Compared with the +large number without watermark, they are sufficiently scarce to indicate +a provisional use of the paper and at the same time there are enough of +them to show that a considerable number of sheets were printed." + +For other varieties in this series we have the 1/2 cent on "bluish-white +wove paper", listed by M. Moens in the sixth edition of his catalogue. +Messrs. Corwin and King say this "corresponds to our grayish paper, the +shade sometimes being quite intense." But they list the entire series on +"thin, soft, grayish wove paper", as well as the 1/2 cent and 1 cent +brown-red on "pelure grayish paper". It may be that imperfect wiping of +the plates had left an extra grayish tint upon the paper of the specimen +that Moens singled out for cataloguing, just as occurred in the case of +most values of the Post Office Department stamps of the United States. + +Messrs. Corwin and King[100] give an extremely lengthy reference list of +this issue on no less than _seventeen_ varieties of paper, with the +remark that, "every variety we mention is distinct from any other", but, +with Major Evans, we must remark that "we confess we are unable to +follow our friend Mr. King through all the intricacies of these +varieties of paper ... but the differences are, perhaps, more real than +is indicted in the descriptions." On inspection the "seventeen +varieties" seem to combine themselves into I: laid paper, of thick and +thin qualities; II: watermarked paper; III: yellowish wove paper, very +thin to very thick; and IV: grayish wove paper, from pelure to very +thick. In both of the wove papers are found the differences due to the +process of manufacture, the even texture of the plain wove variety and +the mottled texture of the so-called "wire-wove" variety. + +[100] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, II: 55 and =Monthly Journal=, VIII: +236. + +The paper used for this issue is responsible for variations in the size +of the stamps similar in character and origin to those we have already +thoroughly discussed in connection with the 7-1/2 and 10 pence stamps of +1855-7. The design of the series is not calculated to render these +variations so apparent as in the former case, but the extreme variations +we have found have been carefully noted and are presented in the +following list. It will be seen that the variation is confined to a half +millimeter in each dimension. + + 1/2 cent, 16-3/4 x 21-1/2 mm. + 17 x 21 mm. + 1 cent, 19-1/2 x 24-1/2 mm. + 20 x 24 mm. + 2 cents, 19-1/2 x 24-1/2 mm. + 20 x 24 mm. + 3 cents, 19-1/2 x 24-1/2 mm. + 20 x 24 mm. + 5 cents, 19 x 24-1/2 mm. + ? ? + 6 cents, 20 x 24-1/2 mm. + 20-1/2 x 24 mm. + 12-1/2 cents, 19-1/2 x 24-1/2 mm. + 20 x 24 mm. + 15 cents, 19-3/4 x 24-1/2 mm. + 20 x 24 mm. + +It is also stated that these stamps exist perforated 11-1/2 x 12,[101] +as well as the usual 12 all around. As the perforation was done by +guillotine machines, this would apparently indicate a machine of 11-1/2 +gauge used for the vertical perforations, and we should expect to find +some stamps at least perforated 12 x 11-1/2, if not 11-1/2 all around. +Such do not seem to have been reported and we have no further +information concerning the variety mentioned. + +[101] =Monthly Journal=, IX: 125. + +For imperforate stamps in this series we find the 1 cent, yellow, and +the 15 cents in a peculiar shade of brown violet. The former is known +only in cancelled condition, we believe, but we are able to illustrate +an unused block of four of the latter as No. 107 on Plate IX. + +The only case of the use of a split stamp in this issue that we have to +record is of the 6 cent, cut diagonally and used for the ordinary 3 cent +rate on a letter posted at "Annapolis, N. S. JY 2,1869." While having no +more authorization than any other of the occasional Canadian "splits," +yet this cover is particularly interesting because of its hailing from +Nova Scotia, where split stamps had been used and recognized for their +fractional values when the local issue was employed. An illustration of +this cover will be found as No. 98 on Plate VIII. + +Concerning the quantities issued of the various denominations in this +series we cannot be quite as exact as in some of the previous cases. No +distinction was made between the various issues in the tables of amounts +received from the manufacturers, provided the denomination was the same. +In the case of the 1/2, 3, 6 and 15 cent stamps, which were new values, +the quantities given in the Report for 1868 can be used, but with the 1, +2 and 12-1/2 cent stamps the last deliveries of the 1859 series and the +first of the 1868 series are lumped together. We have already made a +tentative division of the receipts for these latter values,[102] +however, which we think is safe enough to use for our purposes. It must +be recognized that we are approaching conditions in the business of the +Post Office where the quantity of stamps used, particularly if they be +of low value and are in service for a number of years, mounts to such an +enormous total that the actual figures representing the numbers issued +have practically no philatelic value. While interesting, therefore, the +totals shown below may be "out" by several per cent without appreciably +altering their usefulness--or lack of it. + +[102] See page 88. + +With these considerations as a basis, we can lay out the series up to +certain limits as follows:-- + + RECEIVED FROM MANUFACTURERS. + + 1/2c. 1c. 2c. 3c. + + 30th June, 1868 1,500,000 2,000,000(?) 2,000,000(?) 6,000,000 + " " 1869 ... 9,250,000 4,000,000 12,000,000 + " " 1870 ... 2,300,000 1,300,000 11,300,000 + " " 1871 ... ... 1,800,000 ... + " " 1872 500,000 ... 3,200,000 ... + " " 1873-82 4,756,700 ... ... ... + " " 1876-96 ... ... ... ... + --------- ---------- ---------- ---------- + Totals 6,756,700 13,550,000 12,300,000 29,300,000 + + + 6c. 12-1/2c. 15c. + + 30th June, 1868 2,000,000 500,000(?) 212,500 + " " 1869 2,000,000 1,000,000 600,000 + " " 1870 2,230,000 300,000 ... + " " 1871 3,070,000 734,000 ... + " " 1872 2,325,000 ... ... + " " 1873-82 ... ... ... + " " 1876-96 ... ... 1,765,400 + ---------- --------- --------- + Totals 11,625,000 2,534,000 2,577,900 + +The above table shows that the first deliveries of the 1/2 cent were +sufficient to last until 1872; from that time there were yearly +deliveries approximating a half million up to the issue of the miniature +1/2 cent in 1882. The figures for that year doubtless included a large +quantity of this latter stamp, so we can safely approximate the quantity +of the 1/2 cent of 1868 issued as 6-1/2 millions. The large 1 cent stamp +was superseded about March 1870, so the above figures may very likely +be reduced by say two millions in 1870, leaving 11-1/2 millions of the +large stamps, but in both brown-red and yellow. A large part of the +1868-9 deliveries must have been of the brown-red stamp, however, as the +yellow one did not appear until January 1869, and from the catalog +prices the former would seem to be twice as common as the latter. The +large 3 cent was also superseded about January 1870, so that a +considerable portion of the deliveries of 1869-70 were doubtless due its +successor. Some 20 millions or more can without doubt be credited to the +1868 stamp, nevertheless. + +The 2 cent and 6 cent were both superseded early in 1872, so their +totals can be reduced probably to approximately 10-11 millions for the +former and perhaps 10 millions of the latter. + +With the 12-1/2 and 15 cent stamps we find no successors, but we do find +that none of the former was delivered after 1871, so that our total of +2-1/2 millions is correct, barring our first approximation. From the +lists of "Issues to Postmasters" it is evident that the stamp was +regularly used, but in decreasing quantities, down to 1888, when the +last figures "1100" appear. A summing up of these issues to postmasters +(again allowing for the first approximation) gives us a total of +1,944,100 issued; but of these there were 44,086 returned by the +postmasters as unfit for use, the last return (84 copies) being received +in 1893. The result for the 12-1/2 cent stamp is therefore approximately +1,900,000 issued and used, and some 634,000 probably destroyed. + +The 15 cent stamp, after the amount received in the 1869 account, needed +no further supplies until the 1875 account, although it was issued to +postmasters each year. The changes in rates in 1875 made it again useful +as a multiple of the 5 cent stamp and in connection with registration. +From that time until 1893 it was regularly printed and delivered, but +this was evidently the end of its usefulness, as the only receipt +thereafter was of 400 in 1896--undoubtedly a small remainder which the +engravers wanted to get rid of. It was regularly issued to postmasters, +however, up to 1900, the last amount, 21,350 appearing in that year's +accounts, though 70 copies were turned in for destruction in 1901. Some +31,000 all told were returned as unfit for use, but the rest were +probably all used in the course of business. + +Of the large 5 cent stamp we can only judge as with the preceding. The +Report for 1876 includes the deliveries of both large and small stamps, +the total being 2 millions. As succeeding deliveries of the small stamp +averaged a million or more for several years thereafter, it is highly +probable that the above total was evenly divided and that the large 5 +cent was at least printed to the number of a million copies. + + * * * * * + +Turning now to the Postmaster General's Reports for the several years +during which the large sized stamps were the general issue, we find in +the _First Report of the Dominion of Canada, for the Year ending 30th +June, 1868,_ the following remarks concerning the new order:-- + + The Post Office Laws and Regulations of the several Provinces of the + Dominion, in force at the date of the Union, remained in operation + under the authority of the Union Act until superseded by the statute + known as "_The Post Office Act 1867_", passed in the first session + of the Dominion Parliament, for the regulation of the Postal + Service, and which general Act took effect from the 1st. April, + 1868. + + By this Act a uniform system of Post Office organization was + provided for, the ordinary rate of domestic letter postage was + reduced from five cents to three cents per half ounce, and the + charge on letters sent to and received from the United States was at + the same time lowered from ten to six cents per half ounce weight + (the latter being the combination of the three cent letter rates of + both Countries), and lastly, low rates of postage charge were + established for the conveyance of newspapers, periodicals, printed + papers, parcels and other miscellaneous matter by Post. + + In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick the additional newspaper postage + collected under the new Statute, applying equal charges on newspaper + matter throughout the Dominion, approximately balanced the loss in + the reduction of the letter rates, in fact the collections in Nova + Scotia in the first fiscal year after the change in the postage + rates, shew a marked improvement on the revenue of the previous + year, and there has been a material increase in the number of + letters passing by Post in the Maritime Provinces, as well as in + Ontario and Quebec. + + * * * * * + + Postage stamps of denominations corresponding to the reduced rates + of postage authorized by the Post Office Act of 1867, were prepared + by the British American Bank Note Co. at Ottawa, and distributed by + the Department throughout the Dominion for use on the 1st. April. + 1868, from which date the new rates of postage came into operation. + +Some statistics are also given which it will not be out of place to +quote here for future comparison. + +There were 87 new Post Offices established in Ontario and Quebec during +the [fiscal] year and 74 Post Offices and Way Offices in New Brunswick +and Nova Scotia. On the 1st January, 1869, there were 3638 Post Offices +and Way Offices in the Dominion, and also:-- + + _Miles of_ _Letters_ _Revenue_ + _Post Route_ _Annually_ (_fiscal year_) + Ontario & Quebec 18,716 14,750,000 $906,663.04 + New Brunswick 3,379 1,350,000 53,827.80 + Nova Scotia 5,579 2,000,000 64,219.77 + ------ ---------- ------------ + Totals 27,674 18,100,000 1,024,710.61 + +The total correspondence passing between the United States and Canada is +given as $319,352.53, but with no returns from the Maritime Provinces. + +The next year's Report, dated 30th June, 1869, gives the revenue as +$973,056, a drop of fifty thousand dollars, due to its being the first +complete year since the reduction of the postage rates. The total +correspondence with the United States is also given as $227,699.13, the +drop having come through the reduction to a 6 cent rate, although the +Maritime Provinces were included this time. The Report also notes that +"From 1st January, 1870, the Postal rate to the United Kingdom was +reduced from 12-1/2 to 6 cents per 1/2 ounce letter." + +The report for 1870 states that the Postal Packet rate was reduced on +the 1st January, 1870, but does not give the new rate. It is also said +that "measures will be taken to organize the whole postal system of the +new Province of Manitoba on the same footing as the rest of Canada, from +an early date." + +The Province of Manitoba, as we have already noted, was admitted to full +privileges in the Dominion on July 15, 1870, and the former Colony of +British Columbia came in on July 20, 1871. The Postmaster General's +Report for 30th June, 1871 says of these:-- + + The rates of postage have been made uniform in both newly + confederated Provinces with those prevailing in the older sections, + as well in respect to correspondence passing between British + Columbia and Manitoba, and the rest of the Dominion, as in regard to + the transmissions within each of the said Provinces. + + Arrangements have been made with the Post Office of the United + States, under which mails to and from British Columbia pass in + closed bags (through the United States mails) between Windsor + (Ontario) and Victoria (British Columbia), via San Francisco, for + the conveyance of which through the United States, a transit rate is + paid by the Dominion to the United States Post Office, as in the + case of similar closed mails passing to and from Manitoba. + +The report for 30th June 1872 states that:-- + + Arrangements between Canada and Newfoundland came into effect from + 1st. November, 1872, establishing a uniform prepaid rate of 6 cents + per 1/2 ounce on letters passing between any Post Office in the + Dominion and any Post Office in Newfoundland, instead of 12-1/2 + cents as before, and providing that Newspapers, Books, printed + matter and post cards shall be prepaid at ordinary Canadian rates + and vice versa. + +The postal revenue for the year was $1,193,062, it being the first year +that the postal business of British Columbia and Manitoba was included. +The former was credited with 38 Post Offices and the latter with 27 Post +Offices. + +It will be remembered that Prince Edward Island joined the Dominion on +July 1, 1873, and the Report of that year credits the former Colony with +180 Post Offices. + +The report of 30th June, 1874, states that "The System of free-delivery +by letter-carriers in the principal cities, of letters and papers coming +by mail has been commenced at Montreal and Toronto." This was under the +authority of section 36 of _The Post Office Act_ 1867 which we have +already quoted.[103] The text of a new postal treaty between Canada and +the United States is given from which we make the following excerpts:-- + +[103] See page 98. + + POSTAL ARRANGEMENT + + BETWEEN THE DOMINION OF CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES. + + ART. I. Correspondence of every kind, written and printed, ... + [_mailed in each country and addressed to the other_], shall be + fully prepaid at the domestic postage rates of the country of + origin, and the country of destination will receive, forward and + deliver the same free of charge. + + ART. II. Each country will transport the domestic mails of the other + by its ordinary mail routes in closed pouches through its territory, + free of charge. + + ART. III. [_Patterns and samples, weighing not over 8 oz., unsealed, + 10 cents each, prepayment obligatory._] + + ART. IV. [_No further accounts to be kept between the two + countries._] + + ART. VIII. The existing arrangements for the exchange of registered + letters between the two countries shall continue in full force; but + the registration fee on registered letters sent from the United + States to Canada shall be the same as the registration fee charged + in the United States for domestic registered letters. + + ART. IX. This arrangement, except so far as it relates to letter + postage, shall take effect from the first of January, 1875. The + reduced letter rate will come into operation on the first of + February, 1875.... + + Done in duplicate and signed at Ottawa the 27th day of January, + 1875. + +From the above it is seen that the double domestic postage rate on +letters between the two countries, and the keeping of accounts of the +total correspondence passing through the exchange offices, were done +away with on the 1st February, 1875, and since that date all such mail +matter has passed freely between the two countries at the ordinary +domestic rates of each. The figures given in this Report were the last +for the total correspondence between Canada and the United States, and +were presumably for the seven months from 1st July, 1874, to 1st +February, 1875: they were $478,516.91, which would represent some eight +million letters were that the only class included, and all of them +single letters; this would be at the rate of some thirteen million +letters per year, a very respectable figure for the intercommunication +of the two countries. + +Because of further postal changes which came in 1875 and also the fact +that a new type of stamp had gradually been replacing the large sized +first issue of the Dominion during the last few years, we will close +this chapter with the 1874 Report. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE SMALL "CENTS" ISSUE, 1870-82 + + +In the _American Journal of Philately_ for August 20, 1869 we find the +following: "Canada is shortly to have a new set of stamps. Taking +lessons in economy from our own country, it seems they are about +altering their stamps to make them smaller, so as to save paper. The +head will still remain exactly the same as now, but the frame and margin +around the head will be considerably less." The 1869 set of the United +States was then in use, and it may well be that the smaller sized stamps +appealed to the authorities in comparison with their own rather large +sized productions, even though their suggested parsimony had nothing to +do with it. The current 1/2 cent stamp was taken as the model, and the +other values reduced in size to correspond with it, while keeping their +former colors. The main features of the designs were therefore retained. + +No special announcement of the new series was made that we have been +able to discover, and they were only introduced, apparently, as stocks +of the large sized stamps on hand were used up. We find the first record +of the change in the _American Journal of Philately_ for February 20, +1870: "The stamps of the New Dominion have now made their appearance, +altered as described by us last August." Though not specified, this +referred to the 3 cent stamp, and its actual issue probably took place +in January. _The Philatelist_ chronicles it in the issue of March 1, +1870, as being of "the same colour and general description as before". +[Illustration No. 28 on Plate II.] + +The next value to appear was the 1 cent, which was noted in the _Stamp +Collector's Magazine_ for April 1, 1870; it was probably issued, +therefore, some time in March, for the _American Journal of Philately_ +records it in its issue of April 20, 1870. [Illustration No. 25 on Plate +II.] + +Two years then elapsed before further additions were made, and lent some +color to the report in several European journals that the cause of the +new issue was the destruction by fire in Montreal of the plates of the 1 +cent and 3 cent of 1868, and that the other values of the set would +remain as before. The _American Journal of Philately_ learned, however, +that only the press room of the Bank Note Co. was damaged, and that the +plates were intact. At last the 6 cent in reduced size made its +appearance and was chronicled in the _American Journal of Philately_ for +February, 1872, to be followed in the March issue by the announcement of +the 2 cent. The former value must therefore have been issued in January +and the latter in February. [Illustrations Nos. 30 and 26 on Plate II.] + +Again in the _American Journal of Philately_ for November 20, 1874, we +find it "reported" that Canada "has issued a 10c. rose", and the next +issue says it "is printed in a peculiar pale rose, we can not call to +mind any other stamp of this particular tint." The actual issue +therefore, was probably about November 1, 1874. Just what called forth +this new value in the Dominion series does not appear, unless it be the +section in the Postal Treaty between Canada and the United States which +fixed the rate on patterns and samples at 10 cents for not over 8 oz., +with prepayment obligatory.[104] This rate did not go into effect, +however, until January 1, 1875. Of course as a multiple of the 5 cent +rates which came into force on October 1, 1875, the new 10 cent stamp +was very useful, but that was nearly a year subsequent to its issue. The +new stamp is illustrated as No. 32 on Plate II. + +[104] See page 121. + +The next of the series to make its appearance was the 5 cent, which was +noted in the _American Journal of Philately_ for February 20, 1876 as +having "just been issued." [Illustration No. 29 on Plate II.] This +doubtless means about the 1st February, so that its large sized +predecessor had only about four months of life. There were now left in +the large sized stamps only the 12-1/2 and 15 cents. In its issue for +May, 1872, the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ quoted from the _Canadian +Philatelist_ as follows:--"It is unlikely that the 12-1/2 c. small size +will be issued, as the large ones are very little used, and can now be +bought at the post-office at 12 cents." This last statement is rather +surprising. Nevertheless, it was announced in the _American Journal of +Philately_ for October, 1879 that "Canada will shortly issue the 12-1/2 +and 15c. values of postals in small size, to correspond with the others +of the series." This paper seemed to have been usually well informed +concerning Canadian postal matters, but the expected new stamps did not +materialize. The dies and plates were undoubtedly prepared, for the +12-1/2 cent stamp at least exists in a finished state, but is very +scarce. Proofs of both values were illustrated in _Le Timbre-Poste_ for +November, 1888, with the following remarks: "On nous envoie les essais +des futurs timbres 12-1/2 et 15 centavos qui doivent compl['e]ter un +peu tardivement, la s['e]rie des timbres [a'] ce format. Nos exemplaires +sont imprim['e]s, le premier en lilas, le second en vert sur papier de +la Chine." Commenting on this in the _American Philatelist_ for +December, 1888, Mr. W. C. Stone says: "We heard of these some ten or +twelve years ago and saw them both last summer in New York." We have +been fortunate enough to be able to illustrate the 12-1/2 cent (see No. +89 on Plate V) from the Worthington collection, and this finished copy, +with full gum, is in a bright blue as we should expect. We regret that +it was impossible to locate a copy of the reduced 15 cent to illustrate +as a companion piece. The reasons that the plates of these two stamps +were never actually brought into use, though evidently prepared with the +other values in smaller size, were probably these: The 12-1/2 cent of +1868, as we have seen, though issued to postmasters for several +subsequent years, was not printed after 1871, nor was the old stock +exhausted when its use was discontinued. There was therefore no call for +any supply to be printed from the new plate. The 15 cent was not printed +between 1869 and 1875, and after that in such relatively small +quantities each year until 1896, that, unless we are greatly mistaken, +the original plate never wore out, but was used without change to the +end. + +The old adage that "history repeats itself" was again exemplified in +Canadian stamps when in July, 1882, the 1/2 cent stamp, for fourteen +years unaltered, was once more reduced to a smaller size than the +regular series. The general effect of the design remained the same, but +the foliate ornamentation gave place to angular outlines. The +illustration will be found as No. 27 on Plate II. + +All of the above mentioned stamps, except the 1/2 cent as will be +explained, were line engraved on steel and printed in sheets of 100, ten +rows of ten. The marginal imprints turn out to be of three varieties in +this series, and we have pieced together what information we can +concerning them, for strips with marginal imprints are extremely hard to +find now. The first plates made, including at least the 1, 2, 3, 5, and +6 cent stamps, and probably the 10 cent as well, since that was engraved +before the 5 cent, had the denomination in shaded Roman capitals, 4 mm. +high, [Illustration No. 121 on Plate XI], over stamps 2 and 3 of the top +row. Sometimes the shading is hardly apparent, as in our illustration, +but it can be detected. Beginning over stamp 4, extending over stamps 5 +and 6, and ending over stamp 7, is the inscription we found on the +series of 1868 (see illustration 107 on Plate IX), "BRITISH AMERICAN +BANK NOTE CO. MONTREAL & OTTAWA" in colorless Roman capitals in the +little strip of color 1 mm. wide and 51 mm. long. This imprint is also +beneath the bottom row of stamps and at each side, reading up at the +left and down at the right [Illustration No. 111 on Plate X]. We have so +far not seen this inscription on the 5 cent and 10 cent sheets, and +doubt if it exists on the former at least. + +About 1875 the engraving company seem to have dropped their Ottawa +branch, for on the large 5 cent stamp, whose plate was made in that +year, we find the new imprint "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal" +in capitals and lower case letters on a colored strip 56 mm. long and +2-1/2 mm. wide, having a pearled border. This imprint is found on all +four sides of the sheet, as before, as reference to Plates X, XI and XII +will show, and on the plates of all values. In the case of the 6 and 10 +cent stamps, and perhaps some others as well, the value SIX, TEN, etc. +is now found in the shaded Roman capitals over stamp number 9 of the top +row, but lacking the word CENTS. Over stamp number 2 of the top row is +the figure of value, 6 mm. high, [Illustration No. 118, Plate XI]. A +sheet of the small 5 cent stamps which we have seen, however, does not +follow this arrangement but reverts to the first style with FIVE CENTS +in the shaded Roman capitals over the first three stamps of the top row +only, though having the four "Montreal" imprints. Again, a sheet of 3 +cent that we have examined has the word THREE alone in the shaded Roman +capitals over the first two stamps of the top row, and the "Montreal" +imprint at the center of the top and bottom rows only, there being +nothing at the sides. A sheet of 1 cent presents still another style, +having the "Montreal" imprint at top and bottom alone, and no other +marginal inscriptions. We have seen no sheet or margin of the 2 cent +stamp bearing the "Montreal" imprint, but it doubtless exists. + +Whether the arrangement of these marginal inscriptions is a special one +for each value, or whether each style described exists in all values +there does not seem to be material enough at hand to determine. Probably +neither statement is wholly in accordance with facts, as there must have +been a great many plates of the 1 cent and 3 cent stamps, with +proportionately fewer for the less used values. There seems to have been +no system of plate numbering, as far as we can discover, though some +margins show reversed letters or figures about 3 to 4 mm. high in +various positions; they do not appear to have any special significance, +however. + +In regard to the 1/2 cent of 1882, which we excepted from the above +statements, there is a special arrangement to consider. The stamp was +of course line engraved on steel, as before, but the plate printed two +panes of 100 impressions each, side by side. These panes were the usual +10 x 10 arrangement, and were separated by a space of 11 mm. through +which they were cut into two "post office sheets". The marginal +inscriptions were simply the "Montreal" imprint [illustration No. 127 on +Plate XII] which appeared six times--at the top and bottom of each pane, +in the right margin of the right hand pane and the left margin of the +left hand pane, there being no imprint in the space between the two +panes. Over the top inscription of the right pane is the reversed figure +1, 4 mm. high, and in the same position on the left pane the +corresponding figure 2, evidently to designate the panes. + +Once again, and this time the fact was noted in some of the philatelic +journals, the imprint was changed. The engraving company had been +required by the Government to do its printing at Ottawa,[105] and under +"Canada Notes" in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ for December 21, 1892, +"Canadensis" reports: "The new plates of the Canada stamps now bear this +imprint: 'British American Bank Note Co. Ottawa', instead of Montreal. +The matrix being made from the old die are exactly like the previous +issues." The new imprint is a copy of the first one we described, with +"Montreal &" omitted. It is 40 mm. long and 1-1/2 mm. wide and is well +shown in illustration No. 123 on Plate XII. These new plates were +doubtless the ones heralded in the _Dominion Philatelist_ for September, +1892, wherein it is stated that "the present issue of Canada 3 c. Stamps +are being printed and issued in sheets of 200 instead of 100 as +formerly." And again in the same paper for May, 1893: "The Canada 1c., +2c., and 3c. stamps are now being printed in sheets of 200." This new +sheet arrangement consisted of ten horizontal rows of twenty stamps +each. The "Ottawa" imprint appears three times, once in the middle of +the top margin, over stamps 10 and 11, and twice in the bottom margin, +beneath stamps 5 and 6, and again beneath stamps 15 and 16. There are no +imprints at the sides. The denomination appears in the top margin at +both right and left and in a new style of lettering on these larger +plates. Thus we find ONE CENT or TWO CENT over stamps 2 and 3 as well as +18 and 19, or THREE CENT over the first four and last four stamps in +plain Egyptian capitals, (see illustration No. 120 on Plate XI). + +[105] See page 128. + +One other imprint was used on the 2 cent value at least, but we have so +far seen it on no other. It was 49 mm. long and nearly 2 mm. wide, but +otherwise is a duplicate of the smaller "Ottawa" imprint. A portion of +it is seen in illustration No. 129 on Plate XIII. The sheet was in the +10 x 10 form, and the imprint appeared at top and bottom only, there +being no other marginal inscriptions. From the sheet form it would seem +probable that it preceded the use of the sheets of 200 stamps. + +The colors of these small stamps were intended to be the same as those +of the larger stamps they superseded, and in the main they were so. The +orange and orange yellow shades of the 1 cent stamp appear to have been +the earlier ones, while the yellow tints came in the later printings. +The 2 cent follows the green of its predecessor very closely. The 3 +cent, as might be expected, is more prolific in the variety of shades +presented. The _Philatelist_ chronicled it (March, 1870) in the "same +colour as before," while Moens, in _Le Timbre-Poste_, was more specific +and gave it as red-brown. In May, 1873, the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ +lists it in orange-vermilion, while _The Philatelist_ says vermilion and +_Le Timbre-Poste_ bright orange. The 5 cent stamp did not vary a great +deal except in tone, though _Le Timbre-Poste_ notes it as "black-gray" +in July, 1877. The 6 cent was also fairly constant in its brown shade. +The 10 cent appeared at first in what, for want of a better name, may be +called a rose-lilac. The _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ called it pale +rose, and the _American Journal, of Philately_ said it was a "peculiar +pale rose" which was a new tint. The latter paper notes it again in a +"bright carnation" in March, 1876, while _Le Timbre-Poste_ in August of +the same year chronicles it in "pale red instead of lilac." + +We have been thus particular in listing the record of early shades +because of the changes which come later. + +In the January, 1888, issue of the _Halifax Philatelist_ we find the +following note under "Canada":--"The plate of the 2 c. stamp has been +re-engraved. Color is now dark green". No details of such re-engraving +were forthcoming, but in the June, 1888, number of the _Philatelic +Record_ is a paragraph which evidently refers to the same stamp:--"A +correspondent has sent us a specimen of the 2 cents, green, which he +calls a _new die_. We fail to see it; but what we do see is, that the +stamp is printed from a lithographed transfer." This surprising +statement seemed to excite no special comment save from the sagacious M. +Moens, who remarks:[106] "Nous avons ['e]galement re[c]u ce timbre qui +parait lithographi['e], par suite d'usure de la planche, croyons-nous, +car la feuille enti[e']re que nous avons annonce que l'impression a +['e]t['e] faite, comme ant['e]rieurement, par la British American Bank +Note Co. de Montreal et Ottawa, qui ne s'occupe pas d'impression +lithographique que nous sachions." + +[106] =Le Timbre-Poste=, XXVI: 61. + +Without doubt M. Moens gave the correct explanation, for the imprint +that he mentions will be recognized as the one to be found on the +earliest plates of the small stamps, and 1888 was thirteen years at +least after the second type of imprint with "Montreal" only had been +introduced. Hence the stamp in question was probably a late print from a +worn plate, which gave a rather flat and indistinct impression that +might suggest lithography, though it is certain that Canada has never +yet stooped to such a cheap means of postage stamp production. A similar +case may be recalled with the 1/2 penny stamp of St. Helena which was +issued in 1884, and which presented a like appearance. + +Whether the above incident had anything to do with the change of the +printing company from Montreal to Ottawa, which we have already noted in +describing the imprints, we cannot say, but it is certain that it was +the beginning of changes, in shade at least, which affected the whole +series of stamps. We have the authority of the Postmaster General's +Report for 1889 that the "removal of the British American Bank Note Co. +from Montreal to Ottawa" had taken place--evidently early in 1888, as +will be seen later--so that the use of an old worn-out plate might have +been a case of temporary necessity. Further details are given by the +Canadian correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_[107] as follows: +"About six years ago the Government insisted on their contractors doing +their printing at the Capital, and the British American Bank Note Co. +erected a handsome establishment on Wellington Street, where all postage +stamps have since been printed. It may be remembered that the Ottawa +printings were signalized by distinct varieties in shade from the +earlier Montreal issues, varieties that have never been sufficiently +distinguished in the standard catalogues." + +[107] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XII: 23. + +These changes in the stamp shades were soon noted. In March, 1888, the +_Philatelic Record_ described the 10 cent stamp as "now in carmine-red", +while two months later it chronicled the 5 cent as changed "from +bronze-green to greenish-grey." We have already noted the change in the +15 cent to a color approximating its original mauve, "only more of a +bluish tinge," which the _Halifax Philatelist_ recorded in July, 1888. +The following October the same paper listed the 3 cent in a "bright +carmine", and in July, 1889, announced the 2 cent in "blue green". The +6 cent lagged behind the others and did not manifest itself until the +_American Journal of Philately_ announced it in October, 1890, in a +"rich brown." Once again, _Le Timbre-Poste_ for April, 1892, stated that +the 5 cent had "since the 8th March, appeared in gray black". The 1 cent +doubtless had its special hue of yellow along with the other changes, +but it was not recorded, probably because not distinct enough from the +usual run of variations in which it had been appearing. + +That the above changes were hardly of a character to warrant dignifying +them as a "new issue," which is frequently done, is shown by a moment's +consideration. The 1/2 cent and 1 cent stamps showed no appreciable +difference in coloring and therefore caused no comment. The 2 cent did +not maintain its blue green shade unaltered, and the 3 cent soon +reverted to its former brilliant red hue, as the _Philatelic Journal of +America_ for May, 1889, says that "the carmine color recently adopted +has been dropped, and the stamps are printed in colors similar to the +ones in use before the change was made." The 5, 6 and 10 cent stamps, +however, made permanent changes, but only such as might readily be +traceable to a new mixing of the inks in the case of the first two. The +10 cent can hardly be so easily disposed of, as lake and brown-red are +of quite different composition from a rose-lilac. But there can have +been no official intention of altering the shades or colors or more +definite and permanent changes would certainly have been made throughout +the set. It remains, therefore, to classify them simply as shade +varieties of the original set. + +Mr. King gives a list of eight varieties of paper[108] for the "small +cents issues", but we have deemed it sufficient to note a thick and a +thin white wove paper, and a closely ribbed paper. All values are +reported as existing with the compound perforation (11-1/2 x 12) spoken +of under the 1868 issue. We also find all values occurring in an +imperforate condition. The 3 cent was first noted in the _Philatelic +Record_ for December, 1882; the 15 cent we have already spoken of under +the 1868 issue; and the 5, 6 and 10 cent at least, from the shades of +the specimens we have seen, belong to the printings subsequent to the +color modifications of 1888-90. Concerning these imperforates, we find +in a paper on Canada, read before the Royal Philatelic Society by Mr. M. +H. Horsley,[109] the following note:-- + + In my opinion, which I have had confirmed by several most competent + authorities, the various imperforated copies which I show you, some + used and some unused, are absolutely genuine varieties. Imperforated + copies of various values were sold over the Post-office counter in + Montreal about the years 1891-3, at their face value, and have been + good for postage whenever people cared to use them. The quantities + in this condition are, I believe, extremely small. + +[108] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 237. + +[109] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 88. + +Supplementing this Mr. Pack writes:[110]-- + + I quite agree with Mr. Horsley in regard to the various imperforate + copies of the issues of 1882 to 1895. There are a good many + specimens of these stamps imperforate, and they were on sale at a + Canadian Post Office. + +[110] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 144. + +The above statements are correct, and we can vouch for them by +documentary evidence. Not only were the various values of the series we +are considering on sale in imperforate condition, but also the 8, 20 and +50 cent stamps which we are next to consider, and the shade of the 8 +cent stamp shows it to have been among the earlier printings--probably +in 1893. We are fortunate in being able to present illustrations of all +these imperforates in blocks of four or more, which will be found on +Plates IX, X and XII. + +That these imperforates are perfectly good for postage and are +recognized by the Canadian Post Office to this day, equally with their +perforated prototypes, has been proved to our satisfaction because we +have employed some on registered matter addressed to the United States. +As this class of mail requires to be fully prepaid, any irregularity +would at once be detected and the covers would tell the story. We +illustrate a pair of the 2 cent imperforate on a registered cover mailed +at Como, Quebec, on March 20, 1905. [Plate XIII, No. 129.] + +As before, we find that a few stamps have been "split" and used for half +their value, copies of the 2 cent and 6 cent having been cut vertically +and doing unquestioned duty as 1 cent and 3 cent stamps respectively. As +this practise is unauthorized they can be regarded mearly as freaks that +have slipped through by carelessness--or favor. + +Turning once more to the Postmaster General's Reports, we begin with +that of the 30th June, 1875. This notes that:-- + + The Act passed in the last Session of Parliament for the regulation + of the Postal Service of Canada, came wholly into force on the 1st + October, 1875. + + 1. Letters passing by mail at 3 cents per 1/2 oz. + + 2. Local or drop letters at 1 cent per 1/2 oz. + + 3. Post cards 1 cent each. + + 4. Canadian newspapers and periodicals, from office of publication + at 1 cent per pound of bulk weight. + + 5. Transient newspapers and periodicals, circulars, books, + pamphlets, etc., open, 1 cent per 4 oz. + + 6. Newspapers or periodicals weighing less than 1 oz. each, when + posted singly, 1/2 cent each. + + 7. Closed parcels not containing letters, 12-1/2 cents per 8 oz. + +The Act referred to was "An Act to amend and consolidate the Statute Law +for the regulation of the Postal Service. [_Assented to 8th April, +1875._]"[111] and was mainly a repetition of _The Post Office Act, +1867_,[112] with certain amendments incorporated. The principal changes +which interest us are as follows:-- + +[111] 38^o Vict. Chap. 7. + +[112] 31^o Vict. Cap. X. See page 95. + + 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as "The Post Office Act, + 1875," etc., etc. + + 10.--6. Cause to be prepared and distributed postage and + registration stamps necessary for the prepayment of postages and + registration charges, under this Act; also stamped envelopes for the + like purpose and post-cards and stamped post bands or wrappers for + newspapers or other mailable articles not being post letters. + + 19. [_Letter rate of 3 cents per 1/2 oz._]: and such postage rate of + three cents shall be pre-paid by postage stamp or stamps at the time + of posting the letter, otherwise such letter shall not be forwarded + by post, except that letters addressed to any place in Canada and on + which one full rate of three cents has been so pre-paid, shall be + forwarded to their destination charged with double the amount of the + postage thereon not so prepaid, which amount shall be collected on + delivery. + + 20. [_Drop letter rate restricted to_ "one cent per half ounce + weight."] + + 22. The rate of postage on newspaper and periodical publications + printed and published in Canada, and issued not less frequently than + once a month from a known office of publication or news agency, and + addressed and posted by and from the same to regular subscribers or + news agents, shall be one cent for each pound weight, or any + fraction of a pound weight, to be prepaid by postage stamps or + otherwise as the Postmaster General may, from time to time, direct; + and such newspapers and periodicals shall be put into packages and + delivered into the post office, and the postage rate thereon prepaid + by the sender thereof, under such regulations as the Postmaster + General may, from time to time, direct. + + 23. Newspapers and periodicals weighing less than one ounce each may + be posted singly at a postage rate of half a cent each, which must + be in all cases prepaid by postage stamp affixed to each. + + 24. On all newspapers and periodicals posted in Canada, except in + the cases hereinbefore expressly provided for, and on books, etc., + etc., [_repeats Sec. 26 of Act of 1867_], the rate of postage shall + be one cent for each four ounces or fraction of four ounces, ... and + this postage rate shall be prepaid by postage stamps or stamped post + bands or wrappers.... + + 27. [_Repeats Sec. 29 of Act of 1867_] And when any letter or other + mailable matter is posted in Canada without prepayment, or + insufficiently prepaid, in any case in which prepayment is by this + Act made obligatory, the Postmaster General may detain the same, and + cause it to be returned, when practicable, to the sender. + + 28. [_Replaces Sec. 30 of Act of 1867_] And for avoiding doubts, and + preventing inconvenient delay in the posting and delivery of + letters,--no Postmaster shall be bound to give change, but the exact + amount of the postage on any letter or other mailable matter shall + be tendered or paid to him in current coin as respects letters or + other things delivered, bearing unpaid postage, as shall also the + exact value in current coin as respects postage stamps, registration + stamps, stamped envelopes or post cards, post bands or wrappers, + purchased from any Postmaster and the exact amount of postage + payable to any letter-carrier on any letter or mailable matter + delivered by him. + + 38. [_Repeats Sec. 40 of Act of 1867 concerning dead letters, but + lowers the charge for returning to three cents and allows for + deduction of postage prepaid in the case of insufficiently prepaid + matter._] + + 87. The foregoing sections of this Act shall come into force and + effect on the first day of October, in the present year one thousand + eight hundred and seventy-five, except only in so far as they relate + to the rates of postage on newspapers and periodicals sent to the + United States, as to which they shall come into force on the first + day of May now next.... + +From the above quotations we see that the new Act made prepayment of +letters by stamps obligatory, and imposed a fine of double the +deficiency if insufficiently prepaid; that the unlimited weight of drop +letters was restricted to 1/2 oz. per rate; that newspapers and +periodicals were classed together and publishers given the low rate of 1 +cent per pound; that the rate of 2 cents on transient newspapers was +reduced to 1/2 cent per ounce, and 1 cent up to four ounces; etc. + +The Report of 1875 further informs us that the free delivery of letters +by carrier had been commenced in the following cities on the dates +given:-- + + Montreal 1st October, 1874. + Toronto 1st March, 1875. + Quebec 1st April, " + Ottawa 1st May, " + Hamilton 1st " " + St. John, N.B. 1st " " + Halifax, N.S. 1st July, " + + Previous to the above dates a charge (in addition to the ordinary + postage) of two cents on each letter received by mail, of one cent + on each letter posted in the city, and of one cent on each + newspaper, was collected by the letter-carrier on delivery of the + same. Halifax was an exception, as letters and papers sent out for + delivery by letter-carrier had been delivered without extra charge + since 1851. + +The British American Bank Note Co. was paid for + + Engraving and printing postage stamps for Post Office Department, + $22,675.50. + +The Report of 1876 contains no special items not already noted, but that +of 1877 states that the letter rate of postage with Newfoundland had +been reduced from 6 cents to 5 cents per 1/2 oz., and the same rate had +been obtained with Germany from 1st April, 1877. + +The Report of 1878 announces the admission of Canada into the Universal +Postal Union from the 1st July, as we have already detailed.[113] The +Report of 1879 says: "A reduction has been made, from the 1st September +last, in the postage rate on closed parcels sent by post within the +Dominion, from 12-1/2 cents per 8 oz. of weight to 6 cents per 4 oz. +Under this change small parcels not exceeding 4 ounces in weight are +admitted to pass for 6 cents instead of 12-1/2 cents as before." This +sounded the death knell of the 12-1/2 cent stamp, which dropped in the +number issued to postmasters from 84,150 in 1879 to 13,400 in 1880 and +4950 in 1881. It was issued in decreasing numbers down to 1888, when it +disappears from the accounts. + +[113] See page 109. + +Nothing further of importance transpired until 1881, when a +supplementary agreement touching certain points was signed with the +United States Post Office Department:-- + + ADDITIONAL ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DOMINION OF CANADA AND + THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + + For the purpose of affording to the public increased facilities for + the exchange of written correspondence, and also of preventing + evasions by publishers, of the postal laws and regulations of the + United States, the undersigned, duly authorized by their respective + Governments, have agreed upon the following additional articles to + the Postal Agreement of 27th January and 1st February, 1875: + + + Article I. + + Insufficiently paid letters mailed in the United States and + addressed to Canada, or _vice versa_, mailed in Canada and addressed + to the United States, on which a single rate of postage or more has + been prepaid, shall be forwarded charged with the amount of the + deficient postage, to be collected on delivery and retained by the + Post Department of the country of destination. The amount of such + deficient postage shall be indicated in figures, by the despatching + exchange office, on the upper left-hand corner of the address. + + + Article II. + + When newspapers, periodicals and other printed matter, published or + originating in the United States, are brought into Canada and posted + there for destinations in the United States, apparently to evade the + postage rates or regulations applicable to such matter in the United + States, the Canada Post Office may require prepayment of the same to + be made at a rate equivalent to double the Canada domestic rates. + + * * * * * + + + Article IV. + + The present articles shall be considered additional to those agreed + upon between the two offices on the 27th January and 1st February, + 1875, and shall come into operation on the 1st of May, 1881. + + * * * * * + +The Report of June 30, 1882 states that newspapers and periodicals +published in Canada (under certain conditions as to form and manner of +posting) are transmitted free by Post within the Dominion when posted +from the office of publication to regular subscribers, from 1st June, +1882. This must have been due to a Department Order, as the Statutes of +Canada reveal no such enactment at this time. The same Report announces +the issue of reply post cards, but those will be dealt with later. + +Statistics make up most of the Reports until that of 1886, when an item +of interest in connection with the completion of the Canadian Pacific +Railway is found: "The first through train left Montreal on Monday the +28th June, 1885, and arrived at Port Moody, the Pacific terminus of the +road on the 4th July. Mails for British Columbia commenced to pass over +the Canadian Pacific Railway by this first train." This marked the +independence of Canada from the United States in the matter of +transcontinental transportation of mails. The distance from Montreal to +Port Moody is given as 2892 miles. + +In connection with this event the following note may be of +interest:[114]-- + + Up to the time the Canadian Pacific Railway was built, nearly all + letters from the Northwest bore United States stamps. The Northwest + mounted police took their mail to Bismarck, Dak., and others were + sent to Fargo, from whence they were sent around to Detroit and + thence into Canada. The pony express was used in the Canadian + Northwest, but no system, no stamps and probably no stipulated + charges were made to get a letter to the frontier of the United + States. + +[114] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, II: 32: 2. + +The Report of 1887 says that:-- + + Provision has been made for the transmission by mail between all + places in Canada, from 1st February, 1888, of small articles of + ordinary goods and manufactures in packages, open to inspection, on + payment of a postage charge of 1 cent per oz. Also a new convention + with the United States Post Office providing that from the 1st + March, 1888, the same class of matter will be admitted to pass + between Canada and the United States, subject to Customs inspection. + +The Report of 1888 announces the extension of free delivery by letter +carriers to Victoria, B. C. Since the list of free delivery offices +given on page 133, there are to be added as well:-- + + London, Ontario 24th April, 1876. + Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1st April, 1882. + Kingston, Ontario, 1st July, 1882. + +The Report of 1889 states that "the Post Office Act of 1889 increased +the limit of weight of a single rate letter from 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce. +The rate on drop letters at the same time was fixed at 2 cents per +ounce." The Act[115] referred to was an amendment to the Post Office +Act, (assented to on the 2nd May, 1889), and the notice of the changes +issued to the public was as follows:-- + + NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. + + * * * * * + + CHANGES IN POSTAGE RATES UNDER AUTHORITY OF POST OFFICE ACT 1889. + + The rate of postage upon Letters posted in Canada, addressed to + places within the Dominion or in the United States, will be 3 cents + per ounce instead of 3 cents per half ounce as heretofore. + + Upon Drop Letters posted at an Office from which letters are + delivered by Letter Carrier, the postage rate will be 2 cents per + ounce, instead of 1 cent per half ounce. The rate of postage upon + Drop Letters, except in the Cities where free delivery by Letter + Carrier has been established, will be 1 cent per ounce. + + The fee for the Registration of a letter or other article of mail + matter, will be five cents upon all classes of correspondence + passing within the Dominion. For the present and until further + instructed, the registration fee may be prepaid by using the 2 cent + Registration Stamps and Postage Stamps to make up the amount. + + Letters insufficiently prepaid will be charged double the deficiency + as heretofore, provided at least a partial prepayment has been made. + + Letters posted wholly unpaid will be sent to the Dead Letter Office + for return to the writer. + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, JOHN G. HAGGART. + OTTAWA, 8th MAY, 1889 _Postmaster General_ + +[115] 52^o Vict. Chap. 20. + +The Act also made another change, not noted in the circular, by which +section 24 of _The Post Office Act_, 1875, which provided a rate of 1 +cent per 4 ounces on printed matter, seeds, etc., and samples of +merchandise, was amended so as to limit the weight of printed matter to +2 ounces for the 1 cent rate. + +The 1889 Report also chronicles the "removal of the British American +Bank Note Co. from Montreal to Ottawa," a fact which we have already +commented upon at length in its results upon the stamps issued after the +transfer.[116] + +[116] See page 128. + +In 1890 we find that "the complaints which were so prevalent some time +since, of the want of adhesiveness in the postage stamps have almost +entirely ceased. It is hoped, therefore, that the efforts of the +manufacturer to remove the cause of complaint have been successful." And +again in 1891: "Complaints of defective mucilage would be far less +frequent if the public would kindly bear in mind that it is the +_envelope_ of a letter, or the _cover_ of a packet, and _not the postage +stamp_, which should be moistened when stamps are affixed in prepayment +of postage. When a stamp is passed over the tongue the mucilage is +frequently almost wholly removed." They should have had these +instructions engraved on the margins of the plates, as did the British +authorities with the old one penny black! + +The Report for 1892 announces the preparation of letter cards, which +will be treated of later, and also says: "Postage stamps of the value of +20 cents and 50 cents are about to be issued. These will be useful in +prepayment of parcel post." And this brings us to our next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SUPPLEMENTARY VALUES OF 1893 + + +Before proceeding with the subject matter of this chapter in detail, it +may be well to reproduce here a synopsis of the Canadian Postal Rates +and Regulations as set forth in the _Dominion Philatelist_ in December, +1893, and taken from the then current _Canada Postal Guide_. This will +give a comprehensive review of the results of the various Acts and +Amendments and Department Orders that we have quoted--and of some of the +last that we have been unable to obtain. + + _1st. Class Matter._--Includes Letters, Post Cards, Legal and + Commercial Papers wholly or partially written, with the exception of + those specially exempted, and all matter of the nature of a letter + or written correspondence. + + The letter rate for Canada, Newfoundland and the United States is 3 + cents per oz., and for all other destinations 5 cents per 1/2 oz. + + Insufficiently paid letters posted in and addressed to Canada are + charged with double the amount of the postage due thereon. + + When posted wholly unpaid they will be sent to the Dead Letter + Office. + + Insufficiently paid letters for or from the United States, are + charged with the deficient postage on delivery. Letters for the + United States must be prepaid at least one full rate, 3 cents. + + Wholly unpaid letters for and from the United Kingdom and other + countries, are charged double postage on delivery, and + insufficiently prepaid letters double the deficiency. + + Letters addressed to mere initials, or to fictitious names, will not + be delivered, unless a street address, the number of a box, or some + other definite direction is added. + + Letters bearing mutilated stamps, or stamps so soiled and defaced as + to make it impossible for the sorting clerks to decide whether they + have been used before or not, will be sent to the Dead Letter + Office. + + _Post Cards._ Nothing whatever may be attached to a post card, nor + may it be cut or altered in any way. A previously used post card, + bearing a 1 cent stamp, will not be accepted as a post card. + + _2nd Class Matter.--For Canada, Newfoundland and the United + States._--Newspapers and Periodicals posted from the office of + publication, for regular subscribers in other places in Canada, + Newfoundland and the United States, pass free of postage. + + Newspapers and periodicals issued less frequently than once a month, + and addressed to regular subscribers or news agents, and on all + specimen newspapers, one cent per pound or fraction of a pound. + + British newspapers and periodicals brought by mail to Canadian + booksellers, or News Agents, for regular subscribers in Canada are + liable to 1 cent per lb. or fraction of a lb. + + Newspapers from offices of publication for city delivery are subject + to ordinary transient newspaper rates. + + _3rd Class Matter.--Addressed to Canada._--1. Transient newspapers + and periodicals. Rate, 1 cent per 4 oz.; prepayment compulsory; + limit of weight, 5 lbs. A single paper weighing not more than 1 oz. + may pass for 1/2 cent. + + 2. Book packets. Rate, 1 cent per 4 oz.; limit of weight, 5 lbs., + except for a single book, in which case the limit is 7 lbs. + + 3. Miscellaneous matter. (_a_) Printed pamphlets, printed circulars, + etc., and also seeds, cuttings, bulbs, etc.; rate, 1 cent per 4 oz. + (_b_) Maps, lithographs, photographs, circulars produced by a + multiplying process easy to recognize, deeds, mortgages, insurance + policies, militia, school and municipal returns, printed stationery, + etc.; rate, 1 cent per 2 oz. + + Circulars, Prices Current, etc., to pass at 1 c. rate must be + ENTIRELY PRINTED. Any insertion in ink is not permissible, except + the name and address of the addressee, the name of the sender and + the date of the circular itself. + + Circulars type-written, or in such form as to resemble type-written, + are liable to letter rate. + + All miscellaneous matter must be put up so as to admit of easy + inspection. The limit of weight is 5 lbs. + + 4. Patterns and samples. Rate, 1 cent per 4 oz.; limit of weight 24 + oz.; must be securely put up and open to inspection, and boxes or + linen bags should be used for flour and similar matter. + + _Miscellaneous Matter for the United States._--(_a_) Newspapers and + periodicals; rate 1 cent per 4 oz. (_b_) Other miscellaneous matter, + including books; rate, 1 cent per 2 oz., but a minimum prepayment of + 5 cents is required for legal and commercial papers. + + The limit of weight for patterns and samples is 8 oz., and for other + matter under this head 5 lbs. + + _4th Class Matter.--Parcel Post for Canada._--Parcels must not + exceed five lbs. in weight nor two feet in length by one foot in + breadth or thickness. The postage is 6 cents per 4 oz., and the + parcel should be marked "by PARCEL POST." Parcels may be registered + by affixing a 5 cent Registration Stamp thereto, in addition to the + postage. + + Insufficiently paid parcels may be forwarded charged with simply + the deficient postage, provided one full rate is paid and the + deficiency does not exceed one rate. + + _5th Class Matter._--Comprises such articles of general merchandise + as are not entitled to any lower rate of postage. Postage 1 cent per + oz., or fraction of an ounce. Limit of weight, 5 lbs.; of size, two + feet in length by one foot in width or depth. Matter claiming to be + 5th Class _must be open to inspection_ and there must be no + correspondence enclosed. Packages of 5th Class matter, including + Seeds, Bulbs, Cuttings, Roots, may be sent to the United States for + the same prepayment as required within the Dominion, but the + contents will be liable to Customs inspection and collection of duty + in the United States. Sealed tins containing fish, lobster, + vegetables, meats, &c., if put up in a solid manner and labelled in + such a way as to fully indicate the nature of their contents may be + sent as 5th Class Matter within the Dominion, but no sealed matter + can be forwarded to the United States under this head. Liquids, oils + and fatty substances may be sent to places in Canada and the United + States as 5th Class Matter, if put up in accordance with the ruling + referring to such articles in the Canada Postal Guide. Electrotype + blocks are included in this class. An insufficiently prepaid packet + of 5th Class Matter may be forwarded charged with double the + deficient postage, provided the deficiency does not exceed 5 cents. + + _Parcel Post.--For the United Kingdom and the Countries and Colonies + with which the United Kingdom maintains Parcel Post relations, and + for Newfoundland, Barbados, British Guiana, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. + Vincent, Jamaica, Turks Island, Curacoa and Japan._--Parcels + securely and substantially packed and closed for the United Kingdom, + and other countries and colonies to which parcels may be sent via + England, and for Newfoundland, limited in size to 2 feet in length + by one foot in width or depth. The postage for the United Kingdom, + which must be prepaid, is 20c. for the first lb. and 16c. for each + additional lb. or fraction of a pound; the limit of weight is 11 + lbs. For Japan the postage is 25c., the limit of weight is 7 lbs. + For Newfoundland, 15 c. per lb., or fraction of a pound. For + Barbados, British Guiana, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. + Vincent, 20 c. per lb. Parcels for Newfoundland are daily forwarded + on to Halifax, N.S. For Japan, on to Vancouver, B. C. For Barbados, + British Guiana, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, on to St. John, + N.B., and for the United Kingdom and other countries and colonies by + the weekly mail and conveyed by the steamers of the Canadian Lines. + Parcels posted without the formalities required are sent to the Dead + Letter Office, Ottawa. + + _Registration._--All classes of matter may be registered to places + in Canada, the United States and Postal Union Countries, and the + sender may entitle himself to an acknowledgement of delivery from + the party addressed by the payment of a fee of 5 cents in addition + to the registration fee. + + (A) _Commercial Papers_, (B) _Books and_ (C) _Samples, for Postal + Union Countries_. + + "Commercial papers" comprise all papers or documents, written or + drawn, wholly or partly by hand, (except letters or communications + in the nature of letters, or other documents having the character of + an actual and personal correspondence), documents of legal + procedure, Deeds drawn up by public functionaries, copies of, or + extracts from Deeds under private seal, Way-Bills, Bills of Lading, + Invoices and other documents of a mercantile character, documents of + Insurance and other public companies, all kinds of manuscript music, + the manuscript of books and other literary works, and other papers + of a similar description. + + "Printed Papers" include periodical works, books, stitched or bound, + sheets of printed music, visiting cards, address cards, proofs of + printing with or without the manuscript relating thereto, + engravings, photographs, when not on glass or in frames containing + glass, drawings, plans, maps, catalogues, prospectuses, + announcements and notices of various kinds, printed, engraved, + lithographed, printed circulars. + + (A) Limits of weight and size: 5 lbs. for the United Kingdom, and 4 + lbs. for other countries, 18 inches in length and 12 inches in width + or depth. + + (B) 5 lbs. for the United Kingdom, and 4 lbs. to other countries, 2 + feet long and 1 foot wide or deep. + + (C) United Kingdom, 5 lbs. in weight, 2 feet in length by 1 foot in + breadth or depth. + + (D) Limits of weight to Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Egypt, France, + Hawaii, Italy, Portugal, Roumania and Switzerland, is 12 ozs., limit + of size 1 foot in length by 8 inches in width and 4 inches in depth. + If in form of a roll it may be 12 inches in length and 6 inches in + diameter. + + The limit of weight to other Postal Union Countries is 8 ozs., limit + of size same as to Austria-Hungary, &c., &c. + + _Matter Which Cannot be Forwarded Through the Post._--Liquids, Oils, + etc., not properly put up. Explosive Substances and other matter + likely to entail risk or injury to the ordinary contents of the + mail, cannot be sent by post. + + Letters containing Gold or Silver Money, Jewels, or precious + articles, or anything liable to Customs duties, cannot be forwarded + by Post to any of the Postal Union Countries except the United + States. + +We see from the above postal packet rates where the use of a 20 cent +stamp would be convenient, which accounts for the announcement of the +new value in the Postmaster General's Report last quoted in the +preceding chapter. The 50 cent stamp of course would serve a useful +purpose in making up relatively large amounts of postage. The above +rates also show that there was still use for the 15 cent stamp in +payment of parcels to Newfoundland. + +We find notice of the issue of the new values in the _Dominion +Philatelist_[117] as follows:-- + + As foreshadowed in the Postmaster General's report, there have + appeared Canada postage stamps of the value of 20c. and 50c.; the + 20c. is a bright deep orange and the 50c. is indigo blue, they are + of similar design and resemble very much the third issue bill stamp + and may be described as follows: head and shoulders of Queen to + left, with widow's cap and chin resting on right hand, enclosed in a + circle; above the circle the words "Canada Postage", below the + circle at either side the value in figures and across the bottom the + value in words.... The above were all placed on sale Feb. 22nd. The + 20c. and 50c. stamps were intended for parcel post. + +[117] =Dominion Philatelist=, V: 31. + +The somewhat ambiguous description will be more readily understood by +reference to the illustrations, numbers 33 and 35 on Plate II. + +The stamps, as stated, are very evidently copied from the design of the +dollar values of the Bill Stamps issued in 1868. The portrait of the +Queen in her widow's weeds, in fact, is doubtless reproduced directly +from the original die engraved twenty-five years previously. The stamps +were of course line engraved on steel, and printed in the usual sheet +arrangement of 100, ten rows of ten. The plates of course emanated from +Ottawa, but bear a new imprint, similar to the second one used in +Montreal. The colored strip is now 38 mm. long and 2-1/2 mm. high with +square ends, and bears the legend: "British American Bank Note Co. +Ottawa." within a pearled border. It appears only twice, in the center +of the top and of the bottom margins, and can be seen in illustrations +Nos. 106 and 108 on Plate IX. The colors are not exactly as described in +our quotation, the 20 cent being a vermilion or bright red, similar to +the colors of the 3 cent, and the 50 cent a deep blue, but not indigo. +According to the advices of the _American Journal of Philately_ (VI: +102) the stamps were issued on the 17th February--five days earlier than +the above quotation states. + +Both values were printed on a medium white wove paper and perforated 12. +Both were ordered to the number of half a million copies in 1893, and in +1895 25,000 more of the 20 cent and 30,000 more of the 50 cent were +delivered, with a final 200 copies of each in 1896. These quantities +were sufficient to last until the 20 cent was superseded by the newer +type in 1901, and the 50 cent by the King's head stamp in 1908. Some +1500 of the 20 cent were returned for destruction and about 10,000 of +the 50 cent! + +Both these stamps are found imperforate and in this condition are to be +classed in the same category as the imperforates of the "small cents +issue," which we have already considered.[118] Illustrations of blocks +of four of each will be found as numbers 106 and 108 on Plate IX. The 50 +cent is in a peculiar black blue shade. + +[118] See page 130. + + * * * * * + +In the preceding chapter we quoted a circular from the Postmaster +General which called attention to the changes made by _The Post Office +Act, 1889_. A uniform registration fee of 5 cents was one of these, and +to enable the 2 cent registration stamps to be used up permission was +given to make up the difference by postage stamps when registering mail +matter. Four years later it was decided to discontinue the use of the +special stamp for the registration fee, and to permit its prepayment by +ordinary postage stamps. As the combined letter and registration rate +was eight cents, a stamp of this value for use on registered letters was +deemed advisable. We read under "Canadian Notes" in _Mekeel's Weekly +Stamp News_ for August 10, 1893:-- + + The following orders were posted up in all the Canadian post-offices + on August 1st: + + "A new postage stamp of the value of 8c. is now being put into + circulation. This stamp will be available for the prepayment either + of registration fee and postage combined, or of postage only. The + 5c. registration stamp, when the present supply is exhausted, will + be withdrawn." + +The new stamp reverted to the small size and general design of the +"small cents issue", but with the important difference that the head was +turned to the _left_ instead of the right, as with all the others of +that series. It was line engraved on steel, as usual, and the only +entire sheet we have seen was of 200, in ten horizontal rows of twenty +stamps, but without a sign of any marginal imprints. The perforation +variety 11-1/2 x 12 is reported as occurring in this value also, as well +as the regular gauge 12. The color was at first a bluish gray, which +soon darkened and ran through a series of shades as if in emulation of +the old 6 pence stamp. Mr. Horsley states[119] that it appeared in +slate-blue in October of 1893, and slate in 1895. _Alfred Smith's +Monthly Circular_ for December, 1895, records it in a "dark +slate-black," and the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for November 30, 1895, +says that "a peculiar feature in connection with the new shade of the +current eight cent Canada postage stamp is that upon being put in water +and left there for a few minutes the paper becomes of a pinkish tint +which after the stamp becomes dry still remains." This "new shade" was +doubtless the dark slate color referred to, which must have been issued, +therefore, in October or November of 1895. In December, 1897, the +_Monthly Journal_ notes it in a "deep purple", similar in shade to the 8 +cent Jubilee stamp, and very likely printed from the same mixing of ink. + +[119] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 88. + +The stamp was printed upon a medium white wove paper, and is found in +imperforate condition like the other values of the then current stamps, +which we have already described.[120] The imperforates are in the early +bluish gray color, so that it is fair to suppose they were from the +first printings in 1893. A block of four is illustrated as number 110 on +Plate X. + +[120] See page 130. + +The first delivery of these stamps--and of course the first +printing--was of 100,000, as recorded in the stamp accounts for 1893. As +these accounts were made up to 30th June, and there is no record of any +"issue to postmasters," the stamps were doubtless delivered just before +the accounts were closed, so that opportunity had not been given to +distribute the new value. For the next few fiscal years the amount +received from the manufacturers averaged over a million and a half +annually, so that by the time it was superseded it had been printed to +the number of at least 7-1/2 millions. + +There is nothing of special importance concerning postage stamps in the +Postmaster General's Reports from 1893 to 1897, but we glean an item of +interest from _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ of December 3, 1896:-- + + A new regulation has been put in force by the Canadian post-office + department. Until a few days ago it was unlawful for any person to + sell unused current Canadian stamps without a government license [as + a stamp vendor]. Merchants and others who received a great many + unused stamps as remittances, have heretofore been compelled to send + them to the department at a discount of five per cent, or dispose of + them by illegitimate means, running the risk of being prosecuted for + selling without license. A great deal of complaint was made to the + department concerning this matter, and last week Hon. Mr. Mulock + announced that thenceforth, all unused Canadian stamps would be + cashed at one per cent. discount in amounts of over $1.00. The + stamps may be pasted on paper, as they will not be put in + circulation again. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897 + + +The so-called "Diamond Jubilee" of the accession of Queen Victoria, who +had then been on the throne of the United Kingdom for sixty years, +occurred on the 20th June, 1897, and several of the British Colonies, as +on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary, considered it fitting to +celebrate the event with a commemorative issue of postage stamps. +Probably no proprieties would be violated were it observed, sub rosa, +that the pecuniary gains connected with such issues were probably more +of a factor in determining their birth than the superabundance of +jubilation over the auspicious occurrence. Such a suspicion is quite +readily aroused when considering all the facts in connection with the +special set of stamps that Canada felt it necessary to put forth at this +time. + +But the story runs a little farther back and hinges on other changes. +What proved a prophetic utterance appeared under "Canadian Notes" in the +_Weekly Philatelic Era_ of August 1, 1896, as follows:-- + + For the first time in 18 years a Liberal, or Reform government has + full control of the Dominion.... Mr. William Mulock, J. C., of + Toronto, is the new Postmaster General and I am informed that + considerable pressure is being brought to bear upon him to have an + entirely new set of stamps issued to replace those which have been + in use in Canada for something over a quarter of a century. + +Under the same "Notes" in the issue of the above paper for January 23, +1897, we find the result of the "pressure":-- + + The British American Bank Note Company, which for so many years have + had the contract for printing Canada's paper currency and postage + stamps, have been notified that their services will no longer be + required. The shareholders in that company were not of the right + political stripe for the new Government. The contract has now been + given to the American Bank Note Company of New York. This company + will have to establish a branch office at Ottawa and all the work + will have to be done in Canada. + +_Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ gives further details in a clipping from +the _Montreal Herald_, dated "Ottawa, Jan. 11," [1897]:[121]-- + + The contract for the Government engraving, for which tenders were + called two months ago, has been awarded to the American Bank Note + Company, of New York, for a period of five and a quarter years. The + contract is worth $600,000, and may be renewed for a similar period. + The work consists of engraving Dominion bank notes, revenue and + postage stamps, postal cards, etc. At present the British American + Bank Note Company, better known as Burland and Company, formerly of + Montreal, have the contract. They tendered this time, but the New + York company was the lowest. The New York company is one of the + largest and best known in the world. The firm engraves notes for + some of the banks in Canada, including the Canadian Bank of + Commerce. Under the terms of the new contract, the Company will + require to establish a place in Ottawa to do the work, where the + Government can have supervision of it. As compared with the prices + paid under the Burland contract, the Government will effect a saving + of $120,000 by the new contract. + +[121] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, IX: 25. + +The next step appears in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ of January 30, +1897, where we read under "Canadian Notes":-- + + Many suggestions are being made and many plans laid for the fitting + celebration of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign. In Canada + this celebration is being coupled with that of the four hundredth + anniversary of Cabot's discovery of America. Tn this connection a + proposal has been made and an agitation started for the issue of a + commemorative set of postage stamps by the Dominion government.... + It has been suggested that the new stamps be made a trifle larger + than the present ones, that a somewhat recent picture of Her Majesty + replace the present one, and that the figures and colors be made + more pronounced. If possible some reference to the combined + celebrations will likely be made. The agitation for a new issue is + quite pronounced and is by no means confined to philatelists. There + appears to be general desire on the part of the people to have a + change. + +A step further is recorded in the _Era_ for March 27th, as follows:-- + + The _Toronto World_ in its edition of March 15th. contained the + following as one of its leaders: "Here is good news for postage + stamp collectors. The Postmaster-General proposes, as far as his + department is concerned, to commemorate Her Majesty's diamond + jubilee by the issue of a new 3-cent postage stamp appropriate to + the occasion. It will have a limited circulation only, probably for + a period of months covering the jubilee celebrations during the + coming summer. When the sale is stopped the present 3-cent stamp + will be put in circulation again.... So far the design of the new + stamp has not been made public although the Hon. Mr. Mulock, the + Postmaster-General, has sent a sketch of it to the British-American + [_sic_] Bank Note Company to be engraved. It it said to be oblong + and nearly as large as the Columbian issue". + +If only this original intention had been adhered to! + +More precise information finally appeared in the _Era_ for May 29th:-- + + During the last week the Canadian papers have been full of Canada's + Jubilee issue, which has now been definitely decided upon. + + _The Toronto Evening Telegram_ of a few days ago has perhaps the + most to say concerning the stamps, and it is to that paper that your + correspondent is indebted for the following. The new Jubilee stamp + will be issued in another month. The design represents Her Majesty + at two important eras in her life, namely at her accession on the + 20th of June, 1837, and within a few weeks of her Jubilee in 1897. + The first vignette, showing her on her coronation day, is from a + well known portrait of that period. It is a full faced portrait and + her Majesty wears the crown. Looking at the stamp this vignette is + at the left side. To the right is a picture of Her Majesty as she + appears today; the face is profile looking toward the vignette of + 1837. The latter picture represents Her Majesty wearing the Empress + crown. Between and above the two vignettes is a beautifully executed + copy of the Imperial crown of England and under it the letter "V" + with the letters "R. I." in the fork of the "V". The three letters + meaning Victoria Regina (Queen), Imperatrix (Empress). In the + semi-circle or upper part of the vignette are the words "Canada + Postage" and underneath these are respectively the dates 1837-1897 + and between the vignettes are ornamentation of maple leaves, while + in the lower corners of the stamps are also maple leaves, and + between these and at the base of the stamp is its denomination in + black letters on a white ground. There will be sixteen varieties of + the new stamp and a post card. + + * * * * * + + The first set of stamps printed will be sent to H. R. H. the Prince + of York [_sic_], who is an enthusiastic stamp collector. The second + set will be presented to Her Excellency Lady Aberdeen (wife of the + Canadian Governor General). + +The same paper credits the suggestion of the general idea of the Jubilee +design to Mr. Pareira, an official of the Interior Department. + +A few days later the matter of the proposed issue came up in Parliament, +and the Postmaster General was interpellated in the House of Commons. +His reply was published in the _Canadian Hansard_, the official record, +of 20th May, 1897, as follows:-- + + The Postmaster-General (Mr. Mulock): It is the intention of the + Government to issue a set of Jubilee postage stamps. Such stamps + will be put into public use by being delivered to postmasters + throughout Canada for sale to the public in the same manner as + ordinary postage stamps are sold. There will be a limit to the + quantity to be issued. The denominations of Jubilee stamps, and the + total number of such Jubilee stamps to be issued, are set forth in + the following schedule:-- + + Schedule showing the Denominations and Total Number of Jubilee + Stamps to be issued: + + Number to be issued. Denomination. + + 150,000 1/2 c. stamps + 8,000,000 1 c. " + 2,500,000 2 c. " + 20,000,000 3 c. " + 750,000 5 c. " + 75,000 6 c. " + 200,000 8 c. " + 150,000 10 c. " + 100,000 15 c. " + 100,000 20 c. " + 100,000 50 c. " + 25,000 $ 1 00 " + 25,000 $ 2 00 " + 25,000 $ 3 00 " + 25,000 $ 4 00 " + 25,000 $ 5 00 " + 7,000,000 1 c. post cards. + + Total value of one stamp of each kind, $ 16.21-1/2. + + As soon as the total number of stamps mentioned in said schedule is + issued the plates from which they will have been engraved will be + destroyed in the presence of the head and two officers of the + department. On the 10th June the Post Office Department will proceed + to supply Jubilee postage stamps to the principal post offices in + Canada, and through them the minor post offices will obtain their + supply until the issue is exhausted. If this Jubilee issue were to + wholly displace the ordinary postage stamps it would supply the + ordinary wants of the country for between two and three months, but + as the use of the ordinary postage stamps will proceed concurrently + with that of the Jubilee stamps, it is expected that the Jubilee + stamp will last beyond the three months. Inasmuch as the department + is already receiving applications for the purchase of Jubilee + stamps, it may be stated that the department will adhere to the + established practice of supplying them only to postmasters, and + through them to the public, who may purchase them on and after the + 19th June, 1897. + + + +Promptly, "as advertised", the stamps were placed on sale throughout the +Dominion on the morning of Saturday, the 19th of June. The natural +result followed: an expectant populace, for various reasons but with one +main object, literally besieged the post offices for the coveted +treasures. The advance publication of the quantities of the various +denominations to be issued gave speculators the hint as to the most +desirable values to "corner", and as a result the 1/2 cent and 6 cent +stamps were a special mark in all quarters. This action seems to have +been more or less anticipated, for these values were doled out in very +small quantities, if at all, in spite of the large orders that were +everywhere given for them. This was doubtless largely due to the +following circular, sent out with the initial supply of the stamps to +all postmasters:[122]-- + + N. B.--Requisitions for _full sets_ of the Jubilee stamps will be + filled until the issue is exhausted.--E. P. S. + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, + POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, + OTTAWA, _June_,1897. + + SIR,--I am directed by the Postmaster-General to send you herewith a + supply of the Jubilee stamps and 1 c. post card, equal to one + month's ordinary requirements of your office. Should this quantity + prove insufficient it will, on your requisition addressed to this + branch, be supplemented; but as the Jubilee issue is limited, it + would be necessary for you to apply early in order to secure further + supplies of the same. + + I am also to instruct you not to sell any of the accompanying stamps + or post cards before the opening of your office at the regular + office hours on the 19th June instant--the eve of the anniversary + they are intended to commemorate. + + These stamps and cards are, of course, like the ordinary issues, to + be sold at face value. + + I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, + + E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. + + THE POSTMASTER. + + P. S.--As there appears to be a somewhat general desire on the part + of many persons to purchase, for souvenir purposes, complete sets of + the Jubilee stamps, it is hoped that you will so manage the sale of + such stamps that persons applying to purchase full sets may be able + to get them. + + E. P. S. + +[122] =Monthly Journal=, VIII. 177. + +The conditions that developed when the stamps were actually issued seem +to have surprised the Department, and caused additional measures to be +taken for an equable distribution. We quote Mr. F. W. Wurtele:[123]-- + + The experience of the first day's sale convinced our government that + halves and sixes would very soon be bought up by speculators unless + some action was taken to further restrict their sale; they therefore + came to the conclusion that those persons who were willing to + contribute to the revenues of the Canadian Government to the extent + of $16.22 for a complete set of jubilee stamps were entitled to + protection, and decided that they at least should not pay more than + face value for their 1/2 and 6. In consequence the following + circular was issued by the post-office department, and no more of + these values could be obtained from any licensed vendor. + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, + POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, + OTTAWA, 26th June, 1897. + + SIR,--With reference to the numerous demands upon this office for + the 1/2 c. and 6c. Jubilee stamps, I am directed to explain that the + respective quantities of Jubilee stamps ordered bear, relatively, + the same proportions to the actual requirements of the Postal + Service, but the tendency to exhaust the HALVES and SIXES has + increased to such a degree, that it has become necessary to restrict + their sale to the purchasers of full sets. Hence I am to express the + Postmaster-General's regret that he is unable, having regard to the + limited character of the Jubilee issue, to comply with any requests + for the 1/2c or 6c denomination, apart from those for full sets. + These sets may be obtained as long as the series of Jubilee stamps + lasts, but as the demands upon it are unusually heavy, it would be + advisable to apply for full sets at the earliest possible moment. + + When Postmasters obtain such sets to fill orders actual or + prospective at their respective offices, they must not, in any case, + break the sets. + + I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, + + E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. + + P. S.--Under no circumstances will there be any issue of Jubilee + stamps, beyond the limits mentioned in the accompanying extract from + Hansard, containing the Postmaster-General's statement on the + subject. + + * * * * * + + It was necessary to print 3,000 copies of the foregoing circular in + order to reply to all the demands on the department at Ottawa for + 1/2 c. and 6 c. + +[123] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, X: 54. + +Not only were the sales of the 1/2 and 6 cent stamps thus restricted, +but notices were posted in the offices that none of the 1/2c., 6c., 8c., +$1.00, $2.00, $3.00, $4.00, or $5.00 stamps would be sold unless the +whole set were taken. This proceeding naturally resulted in considerably +more protest on the part of stamp collectors and the public (?). Rumor +had it just after the issue was placed on sale that the 8 cent stamp had +been withdrawn, which probably accounts for the "run" upon that value +and its inclusion in the above restrictions. In fact a correspondent of +_Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_, writing from Winnipeg, Man., on 25th June, +stated that "a sensation was caused amongst those interested by the +government on Tuesday [22nd June] recalling, by wire, all the 8c. stamps +of the new issue on hand at this office." This was later explained by a +letter published in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_:[124]-- + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, + POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, + OTTAWA, 29th July, 1897. + + SIR,--In reply to your letter of the 26th inst., I am directed to + say that the question of issuing partial sets of Jubilee stamps is + now under the consideration of the Department. In respect to the + recall of the 8 c. Jubilee stamps, I may say that it was but a + partial one, and intended to render possible a re-distribution of + that stamp on a basis more in accordance with the actual demand + therefor. + + * * * * * + + I am, Sir, + Your obdt. servant, + E. P. STANTON, + Superintendent. + + +[124] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XI: 416. + +Under date of 31st July it was announced from Ottawa that "the demand +for complete sets has been very large, about nine thousand sets having +already been issued".[125] The "partial sets" referred to in the above +letter were the next step in the unbending process, the decision to put +them on sale having been reached on 31st July, and their issue to the +public beginning on 4th August. Concerning this concession Mr. Donald A. +King says:[126]-- + + So soon as the demand for these [complete] sets was, to some extent + satisfied, the department yielding to another class of enquiries and + requests for sets up to and including the 50 cents and $1.00 + respectively, made a distribution of such sets, the numbers being + apportioned upon a basis of the revenue of each money order office + throughout the Dominion. Between 30,000 and 40,000 sets were thus + distributed, and rapidly sold, as a very large number of requests + for further supplies came in from the different offices. The + following is the circular sent to postmasters regulating the sale of + these partial sets: + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. CANADA, + POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, + OTTAWA, [August] 1897. + + SIR.--I am directed to transmit to you the accompanying partial sets + of Jubilee stamps. These sets consist of two kinds: one from a 1/2c. + to $1.00 (value $2.20-1/2), the other from 1/2c. to 50c. (value + $1.20-1/2). You are instructed to sell these stamps as sets, and as + sets only, representations having been made to the department that + in various parts of the Dominion there is a desire to obtain such + sets for souvenir purposes. You must not, under any circumstances, + break a set; for, besides the disappointment that such a course + would cause, you would render yourself liable to loss, the + department having decided not to allow credit for any broken sets + returned to it by a postmaster who, notwithstanding the instructions + herein given, sells any denominations of the stamps making up a set + apart from the rest. + + I am also to ask you to use your best judgment in the sale of these + sets, checking, as far as possible, any attempt on the part of + speculators to monopolize them, and thus securing as general a + distribution of such sets in your vicinity as the circumstances may + permit. To enable you to make change in connection with the sale of + the enclosed sets I include a sufficient quantity of ordinary 1/2 c. + postage stamps. + + I may add that the accompanying supply has been based strictly upon + the annual revenue of your office, and, having regard to the total + number of sets available and the extent of their distribution, + represents that proportion to which you are entitled. + + I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, + + E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. + THE POSTMASTER. + +[125] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XI: 78. + +[126] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 178. + +For disingenuousness, for pathetic regard for the public and the +postmaster, and yet withal a keen eye for the "interests" of the +department, this circular is a model which should be preserved for +posterity--and "businesslike" post office departments. + +Mr. King continues:-- + + The demand for the small sets was so great that the supply was + exhausted almost all at once, and in reply to repeated requests for + more sets the department issued the following circular:--#/ + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + (_Office of the Superintendent of the Postage Stamp Branch_). + Ottawa,... 1897. + + SIR,--The partial sets of Jubilee stamps already issued to your + office constituted its share of these sets, having regard to their + limited number and the area of their distribution, which comprised + all the money order offices in the Dominion. + + Except a reserve for complete sets (from 1/2c. to $5.00 inclusive, + cost $16.20-1/2) there is not a Jubilee stamp left in the + department--all having been issued to postmasters. The plates, I may + add, were destroyed on the 10th September instant. + + I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, + + E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. + THE POSTMASTER. + + + +Such is the history of the Diamond Jubilee set of Canadian stamps. We +make no comment on it--it seems as if none were necessary and that the +presentation is amply sufficient for each to judge for himself +concerning it. We will only add Major Evans sapient remark[127]: "All +the trouble was the natural result of pretending to treat a +commemorative and limited issue as if it had been an ordinary and +permanent one. Ordinary common sense should have suggested the issue of +large supplies of the lowest value, and a certain number of all values +to every office." + +[127] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 230. + +To revert to the stamps themselves. We have already given a description +of the design in one of our previous quotations, but it needs to be +amended in one or two particulars. The portrait of Queen Victoria +labelled "1837" on the stamp will be recognized as identical with that +on the old 12 pence and later 7-1/2 pence values. In fact Mr. Wurtele +tells us[128] that a prominent Montreal collector, whose advice was +asked when the issue was under consideration, gave the government a +magnificent unused copy of the 7-1/2d. green, to be used in engraving +the picture. It does not, as stated, show Her Majesty on her coronation +day, but is from the painting representing her on the occasion of the +prorogation of Parliament, on 17th July, 1837, as already +described.[129] The portrait labelled "1897" is from a full length +painting executed by command in 1886 by Prof. Von Angelo of Vienna. It +represents Her Majesty as she appeared on the assumption of the title +"Empress of India", and the curious may find the entire figure copied on +the 3 pence post card of Great Britain issued in 1889, and also on the +1 penny card of 1892. This State portrait of the Queen is now in +Buckingham Palace. The crown at the top center of the stamp is not the +Imperial State Crown of Great Britain but the so-called Tudor Crown. The +Imperial Crown is well illustrated on the 3 pence and 5 cent "beaver" +stamps, and a comparison with the Jubilee issue will plainly show the +difference in the "style" of these two crowns. + +[128] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, X: 63. + +[129] See page 33. + +Our illustration (No. 34 on Plate II) shows a sample of the whole set, +the only variation, outside of the color, being the denomination in the +label at the bottom. This is in each case expressed in words. The stamps +are beautifully engraved on steel as usual, and are printed on stout +wove paper and perforated 12. The values from 1/2 cent through 5 cents +were printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. Above the 5 cent, that +is from 6 cents through 5 dollars, they were printed in sheets of 50, +ten horizontal rows of five stamps each. The marginal inscriptions are +very meagre, consisting merely of "OTTAWA--No--1" (or some other plate +number) in hair-line Roman capitals 2-1/2 mm. high, at the top of the +sheet only. The inscription is 40 mm. long, being centered over stamps 5 +and 6 of the top row in the sheets of 100, and over stamp number 3 in +the sheets of 50. This is the first time that plate numbers appear on +the sheets of Canadian postage stamps, and it is well to record them. +Taking them serially we find the plates of the various values were made +as follows:-- + + Plate 1 3 cents + 2 3 " + 3 3 " + 4 3 " + 5 1 " + 6 1 " + 7 2 " + 8 2 " + 9 1/2 " + 10 5 " + 11 3 " + 12 3 " + 13 3 " + 14 3 " + 15 1 " + 16 1 " + 17 6 cents + 18 15 " + 19 10 " + 20 8 " + 21 20 " + 22 4 dollars + 23 50 cents + 24 3 dollars + 25 5 " + 26 2 " + 27 1 " + 28 3 cents + 29 3 " + 30 3 " + 31 3 " + +The colors, which will be found in the Reference List, are quite +constant, as would be expected. The principal variation is only one of +tone in a few values. + +A newspaper despatch from Ottawa tells us that "A return brought down +to-day shows that the cost of printing the jubilee stamp was 20 cents +per thousand."[130] + +[130] =Post Office=, IX: 37. + +Considerable criticism was naturally aroused by the inclusion of the +values from one to five dollars, and outside of the palpable attempt to +"make capital" from stamp collectors and others, it was claimed that the +four and five dollar values were useless, as the "highest amount that +can _possibly_ be required on a parcel sent by mail from Canada is $3.59 +(including registration). This owing to limitations of weight, etc., and +the highest amount that can be required on a letter is $1.65".[131] An +"official" replied[132] that "very frequently parcels leave the Toronto +Post Office with $15 and $20 postage on them, and in some cases the +postage has reached the amount of $63. There is another way in which the +$4 and $5 stamps may be used, viz.:--in second class rate books. Canada +does not issue Newspaper or Periodical stamps so these two high values +can be used in this way." + +[131] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XI: 383. + +[132] =ibid.=, XI: 406. + +Someone wrote the Postmaster General, quoting the above letter and +asking further particulars. The reply stated[133] that "the regulations +do not fix any limit to the weight of letters.... According to the +regulations of this Department 'Second Class Matter' comprises +newspapers and periodicals addressed to regular subscribers, (including +sample copies) and that, postage being payable upon such matter at a +bulk rate of 1c. per lb., the stamps required for prepayment are not +affixed to the packages, but are placed in small books and cancelled. +The books for this purpose are supplied by the Department to all Post +Offices where they are required." This was analogous to the practice in +the United States, only regular postage stamps were employed instead of +special newspaper and periodical stamps. As a matter of fact the high +value Jubilee stamps, which later became a drug on the market, were +largely used for this purpose. Mr. King confirms the fact of large +postage payments:[134] "I have seen packages originating at and passing +through the post office here [Halifax] that had from $12.00 to $15.00 +postage on them ... and the case can be recalled of a letter on which +$40 was prepaid." + +[133] =ibid.=, XI: 426. + +[134] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 177. + +The question of the unlimited validity of the Jubilee stamps for postage +was also brought up, doubtless because of the temporary nature of their +issue, and a special circular was issued touching this point, of which +the following is a copy:[135]-- + + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH. + OTTAWA, 24th June, 1897. + + SIR--I am directed to send you for your information and guidance, + the following statement, which has just been given to the press: + + "Enquiry having been made at the Post Office Department as to + whether the Canadian Jubilee Postage Stamps would continue good as + postage for a limited period only, it has been officially stated + that the Jubilee stamp will remain valid for postage purposes so + long as they may continue in circulation. _They will not, however, + be redeemed by the Department, a distinction being drawn in this + respect between them and the ordinary postage stamps._" + + I am Sir, + Your obedient Servant, + E. P. STANTON, + Superintendent. + + +[135] =Weekly Philatelic Era= XII: 210. + +A curious case of splits is recorded from the _Sussex, N. B., +News_:[136]-- + + The _Railway News_ last week on account of not receiving permission + from the Post-Master General to allow papers to go through the mails + free, was compelled to pay postage. No half cent stamps being + available, the post office department allowed one cent stamps to be + cut in halves for postage. This is the first time on record we + believe where such was allowed and the stamps have been eagerly + sought after, one dollar being paid for a single stamp with the post + office stamp on it. The _News_ will pay twenty-five cents each for + the one cent Jubilee stamps cut in halves bearing the post office + stamp of November 5th, 6th, or 8th, which was allowed to pass + through the mails on that date owing to there being no regular half + cent stamps obtainable. + +[136] =ibid.=, XII: 96. + +The 1 cent ordinary also did duty at some offices for like reasons, but +the practice was not approved from headquarters, as postmasters were +officially instructed in such cases to use whole 1 cent stamps and get a +refund on the difference in value. + + * * * * * + +It may be recalled that one of our quotations stated that the first set +of Jubilee stamps printed would be presented to the "Prince of York"--a +slip for the "Duke of York," afterwards Prince of Wales, and now His +Most Gracious Majesty King George V. An account of this presentation +set may not be without interest here:[137]-- + + A very unique and handsome piece of work is the postal portfolio + which is to be presented to His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, by + the Dominion Government, and which is on exhibition in the window of + Kyrie Brothers, Jewelers, Toronto. The portfolio is in the form of + an album, the cover of which is of royal blue morocco leather, + handsomely decorated in gold. In the center of the front cover is a + raised shield in white on which are the words in gold letters, + "Dominion of Canada, Diamond Jubilee Postage Stamps, 22nd June, + 1897." The corners of the portfolio are decorated with guards of + Canadian gold made from British Columbia and Ramey district ore. The + right hand upper corner decoration is a design of maple leaves, and + the lower corner of English oak leaves and acorns. The portfolio is + fastened with a clasp of Canadian gold in the form of oak leaves, + while the bracket on the front holding the clasps in position is + entwined with maple leaves with the monogram of H. R. H. the Duke of + York--G. F. E. A.--George Frederick Ernest Albert. On the third page + is the inscription, "This collection of postage stamps issued at + Ottawa by the Dominion of Canada in commemoration of the Diamond + Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria is presented to + H. R. H. the Duke of York, K. G., by the Government of Canada, + 1897." The last page of this unique stamp album will contain the + certificate of the destruction of the dies and plates in the + presence of Hon. Wm. Mulock, postmaster-general of Canada.... This + is probably the dearest stamp album in the world, and contains only + a single specimen of each denomination of the jubilee issue. + +[137] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, X: 28 + +It will be noted that the Superintendent's last circular concerning the +exhaustion of the Jubilee stamps stated that the plates had been +destroyed. An eye witness sent _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ (X: 166) an +account of the process which is interesting enough to reproduce. + + On Friday afternoon, Sept. 10th, ... I presented myself at the + Post-Office Department and joined a party who were just leaving the + building to go over to the American Bank Note Co's. building, a + couple of blocks away.... Arriving, we were conducted to the top + floor by the manager. The plates, dies, etc., were brought out by + those in charge, and the seventeen original dies after inspection by + those present were placed one by one under a press and an + obliterating roller passed over them several times: proofs were then + pulled which faintly showed the outline of the ovals, etc., but the + words showing the value could not even be made out. Next the rolls + for transferring the impression from the dies to the plates came in + for their share of attention. There were nineteen of them, and a few + burns from an emery wheel quickly put each one "out of sight". The + plates, 31 in number, were subjected to the same treatment as the + dies and the total time occupied in the destruction of the various + parts occupied almost two hours. + +The Postmaster General's Report for the 30th June, 1897, reprints the +extract from the _Canadian Hansard_ of 20th May, which we have already +given.[138] The stamp accounts show a few curious things. In the first +place the announcement of the issue gave the quantity of 8 cent stamps +as 200,000. The accounts for 1897 give the number received from the +manufacturers as 240,000, and we find in the column headed "Returned by +Postmasters as unfit for use," 40,000 copies, and in the column headed +"Stamps destroyed as unfit for use", a like amount! When the Post Office +Department estimates for the ensuing year were being discussed in +Parliament in May, 1898, the following interpellation occurred and was +replied to by the Postmaster General:[139]-- + + _Mr. Ingram._ I notice that 40,000 eight cent stamps were returned + by the postmasters as unfit for use, and that 40,000 were destroyed + as unfit for use. + + _The Postmaster-General._ The explanation of that is this: The total + number issued was limited to the schedule mentioned in the answer + that I gave to Parliament. By a mistake a larger quantity was + delivered to the department, and before it was discovered the + department had distributed a larger quantity than was mentioned in + the schedule.[140] They discovered it when the mail had gone out, + and at once recalled the over-issue. Of course they were at once + destroyed, so as to keep the amount within the figure named by + Parliament. + + _Mr. Ingram._ Then it was not through stamps being unfit? + + _The Postmaster-General._ I do not know how it is worded there; + "Unfit for use" is not a proper description. There was not one stamp + in excess of the limit stated in Parliament that got into the hands + of the public. There was that little error I speak of, but it was + detected at once and corrected, and of course the extra amount was + at once destroyed--I suppose by the Auditor-General and by Mr. + Stanton of the stamp department. + +[138] See page 148. + +[139] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 230. + +[140] The stamp accounts show that 223,600 8 cent stamps had been +"issued to postmasters" previous to 30th June, 1897. + +Well, perhaps the excess did not reach the public, but the stamp +accounts exhibit a peculiar coincidence in connection therewith. The +tables of receipt and issue of stamp supplies for 1897, as already +stated, contain the memos of the return of 40,000 8 cent stamps, by +postmasters, and their destruction. The tables for 1898 contain two +columns, one of stamps returned by postmasters, "unfit for use", and the +other "fit for use". The former were supposed to be destroyed, the +latter placed in stock again. Now note: the values from 1/2 cent to 50 +cents inclusive, "fit for use", were returned in quantities varying from +200 to 250 copies, with two exceptions; the dollar values in quantities +from 400 to 675. The two exceptions were the 6 cent at 1,148 copies, +_and the 8 cent at 42,300 copies_!! This last figure looks so familiar +that we cannot help wondering whether a second call had been sent out +for the return of 40,000 _more_ of the 8 cent, subsequent to the closing +of the 1897 accounts, or if (which seems more probable) the first return +had not been slipped into stock instead of being actually destroyed, and +reappeared thus in the 1898 accounts! _Quien sabe?_ + +All the other values to and including the 2 dollars, were received in +their proper amounts and were all issued to postmasters, the last record +of the series from 1/2 cent to 1 dollar, inclusive, appearing in the +1900 Report. The figures for the dollar values prove rather interesting +so we give them here:-- + + 1905 Ret'd and + 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. Total. On hand. Destroyed. + $1.00 received 7,500 15,000 2,400 100 ... 25,000 ... 94 + issued 5,830 16,771 3,599 500 ... 26,700 + + $2.00 received 7,500 5,000 ... 6,000 6,500 25,000 ... 66 + issued 5,830 4,334 888 7,225 8,775 27,052 + + $3.00 received 7,500 5,000 ... 500 1,000 14,000 2,650 1,835 + issued 5,830 4,044 591 1,700 1,250 13,415 + + $4.00 received 7,500 5,000 ... 500 2,000 15,000 3,050 2,013 + issued 5,830 3,945 640 1,675 1,775 13,865 + + $5.00 received 7,500 5,000 ... 500 3,000 16,000 2,100 1,240 + issued 5,830 3,844 689 2,075 3,325 15,763 + +Comment:--The three highest dollar values were apparently never +delivered to their full requisition--25,000 each. All but the 1 dollar +were issued in goodly numbers in 1901,--four years after their first +appearance! The 1 and 2 dollar stamps were both issued to an amount of +about 2,000 more than were received from the manufacturers, but this +excess is easily explained by the reissue of stamps returned by +postmasters and placed again in stock. The entire issue drops out of +sight with the 1901 Report, but the 1905 Report suddenly presents the +figures given for the three high values still on hand, and records 30 of +the 5 dollar stamps turned in for destruction. Once more, in the 1909 +Report, we find 1,783 of the 3 dollar, 1,954 of the 4 dollar and 1,151 +of the 5 dollar stamps returned for destruction, so that allowing for +the total number destroyed and the amount on hand (which may be) we have +for the actual issue of the three high values, instead of 25,000 each, +but 9,515 of the 3 dollar, 9,937 of the 4 dollar and 12,660 of the 5 +dollar stamps. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE "MAPLE LEAF" ISSUE OF 1897 + + +Rumors of a new issue, as we know, had been "in the air" ever since the +change in the contractors for supplying stamps had been announced. Of +course the Jubilee issue was a special affair, and for a time +sidetracked other considerations. A new permanent series was not +forgotten, however, and under "Ottawa Notes" in the _Weekly Philatelic +Era_ for October 9, 1897, we find the following advance information +concerning it:-- + + A new general issue of Canadian postage stamps is imminent, being + necessitated by the fact that the present Liberal government has + entered into a new contract for engraving and printing Dominion + treasury notes, postage and revenue stamps, and in short, all + government matter. The previous contractors were the British + American Bank Note Co. of Montreal.... When the bids for a renewal + of the engraving contract were opened last winter, it was found that + the American Bank Note Company of New York were the lowest bidders, + and that they bound themselves in the event of the acceptance of + their tender to build and equip a printing establishment in Ottawa, + in compliance with the conditions of the bids. Their tender was + accepted and they have carried out their undertaking by building a + commodious and fully equipped establishment near that of their + rivals on Wellington Street. Of the new presses the Jubilee issue of + postage stamps were the first fruits. The impending general issue + will be required as soon as the existing stock of the current issue + is exhausted, and it is rumored that the supply of some values is + running low. + + This much is announced,--that the design for the new issue has been + decided upon; that the center of the stamp will contain a portrait + of the Queen taken at the time of the Jubilee, approved and signed + by the Queen as the best existing likeness of her, and that our + national emblem, the maple leaf, will appear in the corners--not the + unnatural and misshapen leaf that appears on the Jubilee issue, but + the real article, copied from actual leaves gathered on Parliament + hill. This would indicate that there will be only one die for all + the values, but I have as yet no information as to size, colours, or + details. + +A couple of weeks later a circular was sent to postmasters announcing +the new stamps, etc., of which the following is a copy:[141]-- + + Circular to Postmaster. + + NEW ISSUE OF POSTAGE STAMPS, ETC. + + The Postmaster-General has made arrangements for a new issue of + postage stamps, letter cards, stamped envelopes, post cards and post + bands. These will be supplied to postmasters in the usual way. + + Postmasters are, however, instructed not to sell the stamps of any + denomination of the new issue until the stamps of the corresponding + denomination of the present issue are disposed of. The filling of + requisitions by the Postage Stamp Branch will be regulated by the + same principle--that is to say, no item of the proposed issue will + be sent out until the corresponding item of the present issue has + been exhausted. + + To conform to the requirements of the International Postal Union, + the color of the new 1c. stamp will be green and that of the 5c. + stamp a deep blue. + + R. M. COULTER, + Deputy Postmaster-General. + Post-Office Department, Canada. + Ottawa, 25th October, 1897. + +[141] =American Journal of Philately=, 2nd Series, X: 502. + +These instructions were followed out, and the issue of the new series +was thus stretched over a considerable length of time. The first to +appear was the 1/2 cent, two weeks after the date of the above circular. +The circumstances of its d['e]but are told under "Ottawa Notes" in the +_Weekly Philatelic Era_:[142]-- + + The half cent stamp of the new issue was placed on sale today [9th + November, 1897], its appearance having been precipitated by events + over which the postal authorities had no control.... The + philatelists, anticipating an early exhaustion of the old half cent + stamp, helped the thing along by quietly but assiduously buying in + every copy in sight. As a consequence the stock ran down much faster + than that of other values, and a few weeks ago orders were issued + that no more were to be sold to the public, but that publishers + entitled to the half cent rate should take their papers to the + post-offices and there have the stamps affixed by the staff. Even + that did not save the distance [_sic_]. I hear that in Montreal it + was found necessary to use cent stamps to prepay the half cent + rate.[143] Fortunately for the reputation of Canadian stamps, these + stamps were not over-printed with new value, and we have been spared + a surcharge. However, the postal authorities hurried forward the + printing and circulation of the new issue, in that value at least, + and it is an accomplished fact. + +[142] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XII: 86. + +[143] See page 156. + +The next value to appear was the 6 cent, which was announced in the +_Weekly Philatelic Era_ under date of 4th December, 1897 as having been +put in circulation. Following closely upon this came the 1, 2, 5 and 8 +cent stamps, and in January, 1898 the 3 and 10 cent. + +The new stamps were very simple in design, the central oval containing a +portrait of Queen Victoria copied from a photograph by W. & D. Downey of +London, taken at the time of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. CANADA +POSTAGE and the value in words only appear in Egyptian capitals on the +oval frame to the portrait, and each spandrel is occupied by a maple +leaf. Much criticism was engendered by the fact that the portrait was +too large for its frame, making the design appear cramped and thus +giving a disappointing effect to what otherwise might have proved a most +neat and effective stamp. [Illustration No. 36 on Plate II]. + +The stamps were as usual line engraved on steel, and printed on the same +stout white wove paper that was employed for the Jubilee issue, as well +as on a thinner and more brittle quality. The 5 cent, for the first time +in Canadian philatelic history, appeared on a colored paper, the stock +having a decidedly bluish tint. The perforation was the regulation gauge +12. But one irregularity seems to be known, and that is the 5 cents +imperforate, a block of four of which we are able to illustrate as No. +112 on Plate X. + +The sheet arrangement was intended to be the usual block of 100 +impressions, ten by ten, but the Ottawa correspondent of the _Weekly +Philatelic Era_ tells us that in the case of the 1/2 cent stamp the +first plate was twice this size. + + By some misunderstanding the contractors, the American Bank Note + Co., set the sheet up with 200 stamps, and the first five hundred + sheets were so printed. The sheets were afterwards cut in two + through the imprint, and we have these half sheets with a close + imperforated margin on either the left or right edge. Afterwards + sheets of 100 stamps were issued, all the stamps perforated on all + four sides. Plate number collectors will find the earliest sheets + difficult to obtain. Both sheets bear the plate number 1.[144] + +[144] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XII: 132. + +The imprint on the sheets was the same as that on the Jubilee sheets, +OTTAWA--No--1, etc., but instead of numbering the plates all +consecutively, each denomination began its own series with "No 1." The +imprint is placed in the top margin only, over the middle two stamps (5 +and 6) of the top row. In the case of the 14 cent stamps each style of +the first two plates was numbered "1". The plate of 200 impressions was +arranged in ten horizontal rows of twenty stamps each, thus bringing the +imprint over stamps 10 and 11 of the top row, and as it was between +these that the large sheets were severed, the imprint was cut in two in +the process. All the other values were made up in sheets of 100 only. + +For the information of plate number collectors we give a list of such +numbers as we have been able to ascertain. + + 1/2 cent, No. 1 (2 plates). + 1 " Nos. 1, 2. + 2 " Nos. 1, 2, 3. + 3 " Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. + 5 " No. 1,. + 6 " No. 1. + 8 " No. 1. + 10 " No. 1. + +The quantity of each value issued before they were replaced by the +stamps with numerals is stated to have been as follows:[145]-- + + 1/2 cent 2,000,000 + 1 " 34,000,000 + 2 " 12,000,000 + 3 " 44,000,000 + 5 " 3,500,000 + 6 " 500,000 + 8 " 1,400,000 + 10 " 500,000 + +[145] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, X: 117. + +A similar variation is found in the dimensions of these stamps to that +occurring in the 7-1/2 d. and 10d. stamps and the issue of 1868, and has +caused quite a little comment from those unfamiliar with this +phenomenon. As much as 1/2 mm. in the vertical measurements can be found +between many stamps. The cause is of course the uneven shrinking of the +dampened paper when drying after being printed upon. This was fully +discussed in an earlier chapter.[146] As the paper in the present +instance is very similar in quality to that used for printing the +United States stamps, in which the same peculiarity occurs, we will +quote Mr. Melville's comment on the subject:[147]-- + + As we have said, the paper is impressed when damp.... This + wetting-down business has another effect which has always puzzled + philatelists. The wet paper is taken into a hot room to dry, and in + drying it contracts. The contraction is not uniform and the + philatelist in trying to prove the existence of more than one + original die will pin his faith to the idea that if the varieties + noticeable were due to contraction of the paper the contraction + would be proportionate on all sides of the stamp. This is not the + case however. + + Paper, when absorbing moisture, expands more in one direction than + the other. The direction of greater expansion is what is technically + known as the "cross direction", and is the direction _across_ the + flow of pulp in the paper making machine. During the flow of the + pulp the bulk of the fibres lie parallel with the movement of the + wire gauze, and it is a scientific fact that the diameter of a fibre + is increased by absorption of water much more than is the length. + The subsequent shrinking on drying also is uneven. + +[146] See page 53 =et seq.= + +[147] =United States Postage Stamps=, 1894-1910, page 16. + + * * * * * + +The Postmaster General's Report for 1897 says:-- + + The contract with the British American Bank Note Company expired on + the 22nd April, 1897, and a contract was entered into with the + American Bank Note Company for the manufacture and supply of postage + stamps &c. An estimate of the probable ordinary requirements for the + next fiscal year and the comparison based thereon between the old + and the present rates show that, under the new contract, stamp + supplies will cost the department, say, $10,000 per annum less than + under the old contract, a reduction in outlay of about 20%. + +It is also noted that during 1896-7 electric cancelling ("mail marking") +machines were introduced, six of which were rented and installed in the +Montreal Post Office and one at Ottawa. + +The reduction in the domestic letter rate from 3 cents to 2 cents per +ounce is forecasted, as well as a proposed reduction from 5 cents to 2 +cents per 1/2 ounce on letters between Great Britain and many of her +colonial possessions. This will be more thoroughly discussed later. + +Concerning the postal changes we have been considering the report +says:-- + + Owing to the change of contract for the manufacture and supply of + postage stamps, a new series of stamps became necessary at the + beginning of the present fiscal year. New stamps ranging in value + from the 1/2 cent to the 10 cent denomination (inclusive) were + printed, and the first supplies thereof sent out to postmasters as + the corresponding denominations of the old stamps became exhausted. + A considerable quantity of the higher values of that series (15 + cents, 20 cents and 50 cents) remaining over from the late contract, + these three stamps continued to be issued, so that the department, + previous to the introduction of the same denominations in the new + series, might, in accordance with the universal practice, dispose of + the old stamps in each case before issuing any of the new. The + design of the new stamps is of a uniform character, and consists of + an engraved copy (reduced) of an authorized photograph of Her + Majesty taken during the Diamond Jubilee year. This, placed within + an oval bearing the usual inscriptions, is enclosed in a rectangular + frame, a maple leaf on a lined ground occupying each of the + triangular spaces between the two frames. To conform to the + regulations of the Universal Postal Union, the colour of the new 1 + cent stamp is green, and that of the 5 cents a deep blue. This + necessitated corresponding changes in the colours of the other + stamps of the new series; for example, purple, instead of green, + being selected for the 2 cent denomination, and orange instead of + slate for the 8 cent. + +The special delivery system was also introduced, and will be treated of +later. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE "NUMERALS" ISSUE, 1898-1902 + + +Hardly had the "maple leaf" issue gotten generally into use before +complaints began to be heard about the difficulty of distinguishing the +different values. The _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for June 4, 1898, quotes a +plaint of this character as follows:-- + + The Toronto _World_ says: "We take the liberty of suggesting to the + Postmaster-General that we have a large figure indicating the value + in cents of the various issues of Canadian stamps. It is hard to + make them out at present." + + This is only one of the numerous complaints made daily against our + new issue. Some changes ought to be made. + +But the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ in its issue for April 2, 1898, had +already given information of an impending change which in the main +proved correct. It says:-- + + Much dissatisfaction is expressed by the French speaking inhabitants + of the rural parts at the lack of figures of value on the stamps, + the denomination in all cases being printed in English which they + are unable to understand. It has, therefore, been decided to alter + the new stamps by removing the maple leaves from the lower corners + and inserting large numerals of value in their place. The space + occupied by the head will also be somewhat enlarged and the value + will be placed on a straight band below. + +All of which transpired save the placing of the value on the "straight +band". In the issue of the _American Journal of Philately_ for June 1, +1898, a Canadian correspondent reported: "I saw yesterday the proof of +the new Canadian stamps. The frame is slightly changed and the value in +figures is at the bottom on each side of the stamp, in place of the +maple leaves." No date is given, but it was doubtless early in May. +Finally _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ reported the actual issue of the 1 +cent and 3 cent stamps, stating that a Montreal correspondent had +purchased them at the post office on June 21st, which was doubtless +their approximate date of issue. + +No further news of the numeral set is recorded until the issue of the +_Weekly Philatelic Era_ for September 17th, wherein its Toronto +correspondent says that "Last week the 2c. purple with numerals in lower +corners made its debut, a few days later the 1/2c arrived similarly +altered, followed closely by the 6c." This evidently puts the issue of +these three values within the first ten days of September. The 8 cent +was recorded in the same paper for October 15th, so that it must have +been issued about the first of the month. The 10 cent did not make its +appearance until November, being noticed under the "Toronto Letter" in +the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for November 19th, so that again it was +doubtless the early part of the month that saw its advent. + +For six months nothing further was heard of new "numeral" stamps, when +finally the 5 cent, which was the one value lacking to complete the set +in its altered form, made its appearance on July 3, 1899, according to a +correspondent of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_.[148] + +[148] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 265. + +The new type of stamp, as already stated, was merely an alteration of +the preceding "maple leaf" design, due to two criticisms--that no +numerals were shown, making it often difficult without a close look to +tell the denomination, and bothersome to the large population of French +origin who did not speak English; and that the portrait was too large +for its oval frame, giving a somewhat cramped effect. In the new design, +illustrated as number 40 on Plate II, the first objection was met by +placing the proper numerals in small squares in the lower corners, which +necessitated the removal of the maple leaves from the lower spandrels; +and the second objection was met by enlarging the oval frame containing +the portrait, thus giving a much better effect. To do this the oval was +extended to the outside of the stamp, cutting the rectangular border +lines instead of lying wholly within them, as in the design it +superseded. + +The stamps were of course line engraved on steel and printed in the +usual sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. The imprint was the same as on the +last issue, and the plates again began with No. 1 for each denomination. +As far as we have been able to ascertain, the plate numbers are as +follows:-- + + 1/2 cent No. 1. + 1 " " 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. + 2 " " 1, 2, 3, 4. + 3 " " 1, 2, 3, 4. + 5 " " 1, 2, 3. + 6 " " 1. + 8 " " 1. + 10 " " 1. + + + +There were of course many more plates of the 1 cent stamp, at least, +which remained in use for five years, and probably several more of the +2, 3, and 10 cent, but there seems to have been very little interest in +Canada in keeping track of these. + +But during the life of this series there were important changes taking +place which were reflected in the stamp issues, and we must keep track +of them. + +In the first place, the Hon. William Mulock, the Canadian +Postmaster-General, was a firm believer in and an active agitator for +Imperial Penny Postage. At the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates in +London, in July, 1898, the project was carried through, and a rate of +one penny (2 cents) per half ounce established by certain colonies in +connection with the Mother Country, to take effect on Christmas Day of +1898. Concerning this we shall have more to say in the next chapter; but +meanwhile Canada's domestic rate stood at 3 cents per ounce or fraction, +in spite of attempts to reduce it, particularly since the United States +had lowered its internal rate in 1883. The anomaly would be presented +under such conditions of a letter mailed from one town to another in +Canada costing three cents, even if weighing a half ounce or less, while +the same letter could cross to Great Britain and travel to Cape Colony, +for instance, on payment of but two cents postage. + +The agitation and the London conference evidently had their effect, for +on the 13th June, 1898, a bill[149] in amendment of the Post Office Act +was assented to in Parliament which substituted 2 cents for 3 cents as +the domestic postage rate per ounce weight. It also provided that the +new rate should not take effect until a date to be named by the Governor +General. After the date for the inauguration of Imperial Penny Postage +was fixed, the Governor General named New Year's day following as the +date for the change in Canada's domestic rate. The following notice was +published in the _Canada Gazette_:[150]-- + + Order in Council, + + Post Office Department. + + By Proclamation dated the 29th day of December, 1898, in virtue of + the Act further to amend the Post Office Act (61 Victoria, chapter + 20) and of an Order in Council in accordance therewith, it was + declared that the postage rate payable on all letters originating in + and transmitted by post for any distance in Canada for delivery in + Canada, should be one uniform rate of two cents per ounce weight, + from the 1st January, 1899. + +[149] 61 Vict. Chap. 20. + +[150] =Canada Gazette=, XXXII: 1223. + +This of course had the immediate effect of vastly increasing the +consumption of 2 cent stamps and also of rendering the 3 cent stamps +practically useless. Another point would be that whereas the Postal +Union requirements named red as the color for the stamp used for +domestic postage, and the 3 cent had been in its proper hue, the stamp +for the new internal rate was printed in purple and would therefore have +to be changed. This change was not forced, however, the Post Office +Department as usual preferring to use up the stock on hand of the +current 2 cent stamp before issuing the new one. It took considerable +time to do this, so that the 2 cent carmine did not make its appearance +until the 20th August, according to a correspondent of _Mekeel's Weekly +Stamp News_.[151] It was of course the same stamp as before but printed +in the color of the 3 cent value, and we have to record plate numbers 3, +4, 5, 6 and 7, though there were doubtless many more. + +[151] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 324. + +But the 3 cent stamp still remained on hand in large quantities, and in +order to use them up more quickly and perhaps save confusion between +them and the new 2 cent stamps, the Post Office Department decided upon +surcharging the stock on hand down to 2 cents, thus making Canada's +first offence in this line. The notice concerning this change and some +others that were decided upon was as follows:-- + + + _Department Circular_. + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, + OTTAWA, 1st July, 1899. + + Owing to the reduction in the Domestic letter rate of postage, the + issue of the 3 c. letter-card, the 3c. stamped envelope and the 3 + cent postage stamp from the Department has ceased. Any unused 3c. + letter-cards, 3c. stamped envelopes or 3c. stamps, still extant, + will, however, continue available for postage purposes, or may be + exchanged at any Post Office, at their full face value, for postage + stamps of other denominations. + + The color of the Domestic-rate postage stamp, as prescribed by the + Universal Postal Union, is red, and it is intended to discontinue + the issue of the ordinary two cents purple colored stamps as soon as + the present supply on hand is exhausted. This will be about the 20th + July, 1899. Thereafter the Department will issue two cents stamps in + red, first, however, surcharging down to two cents the unissued + remnant of the three cents stamps in red, now in the possession of + the Department, and as soon as the supply of such surcharged + _threes_ is exhausted, the issue of two cents stamps in red will + begin. The surcharged stamps will be issued to Postmasters as 2c. + postage stamps and be recognized as postage stamps of that + denomination. + + Postmasters are requested to exchange, as above mentioned, all + unused 3c. letter-cards, 3c. stamped envelopes and 3c. stamps which + may be offered them to be exchanged for other postage stamps of an + equal value. + + Postmasters, who as a result of such exchange, may find the 3c. + stamps, etc., unsaleable, are at liberty, in the case of an + _Accounting Post Office_, to send them direct to the Department for + credit; and in the case of a _Non-Accounting Post Office_, to send + them to the City Post Office from which it obtains its supplies, + asking in lieu of those returned other stamps to an equal value. + + It is especially requested that, in the case of stamps sent direct + to the Department, under this authority, that is to say, _by + Accounting Post Offices_,--Postmasters will be so good as to carry + out the following instructions:-- + + (1) Each transmission should be registered, and accompanied with a + brief memorandum, plainly stamped with the date stamp of the Post + Office, and indicating the number and value of the 3c. stamps, etc., + claimed to be enclosed. If other stamps are required to replace + those returned, a separate requisition therefor (not enclosed in the + package) should be sent direct to the Department in the usual way. + + (2) Single stamps, and stamps that are not in complete sheets, + should be pasted on alternate pages of separate sheets of paper, + with _not more than one hundred stamps on each page_. Any stamps + that have stuck together whilst in the possession of the Postmaster, + must be taken apart (which can easily be done by immersing them for + a few minutes in water) and then pasted on sheets of paper as above + directed. + + Postmasters of _Non-Accounting_ Offices are particularly asked to + bear in mind that any 3c. letter-cards, 3c. stamped envelopes or 3c. + postage stamps which conformably to this instruction, they may + receive from the public in exchange for other stamps and find + unsaleable, _must be returned, as above directed, to the City Post + Offices from which they respectively obtain their supplies_, and not + to the Department. + + _As only the unused remnant of 3c. stamps now in the Department will + be surcharged_, Postmasters must not send in, with a view to their + surcharge, any 3c. stamps in their possession nor accept 3c. stamps + from the public for that purpose. + + Postmasters must distinctly understand that the exchange of stamps + herein permitted applies _only_ to the 3c. letter-card, the 3c. + stamped envelope and 3c postage stamp. + + R. M. COULTER, + _Deputy Postmaster General_. + + + +As a matter of fact the 2 cent purple seems to have lasted about a week +longer than was anticipated in the above circular, so that the +surcharged 3 cent stamps were not issued until the 28th July.[152] A +correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_, in its issue for 22nd +July, said: "I learn that the 3c numeral and some 3c with the four maple +leaves will be surcharged," which proved correct; those first issued on +the date mentioned above were of the numeral type, while on the 8th +August[153] the "maple leaf" 3 cent made its appearance with the same +surcharge. + +[152] =Monthly Journal=, X: 35. + +[153] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 308. + +Illustrations of the two stamps will be found as numbers 41 and 42 on +Plate II. It is stated that the surcharge was made up in its peculiar +form so as to prevent counterfeiting by the use of ordinary type. At any +rate the graded height of the numeral and letters, giving the concave +effect to the top of the surcharge, shows it to have been specially +prepared. There is some variation in the thickness of the surcharge, due +perhaps to inking and to wearing of the plates. The overprinting was +done in full sheets of one hundred from a special plate, in black ink, +and should normally be horizontally across the bottom of the stamps. +Poor registering of the sheets in printing caused the position to vary +even up to about the middle of the stamp in some cases, and of course +there had to be some inverted surcharges in both varieties. The number +of these has not been published. Illustrations of the inverts will be +found as numbers 44 and 45 on Plate II. + +The quantity of 3 cent stamps surcharged was reported by the Ottawa +correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_[154] as "variously stated +to be 9,000,000 to 11,000,000," while _Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal_ +is more definite[155] in saying that "there are some 9,000,000 of 3c. +stamps in stock, of which about 6,000,000 are of the four leaves type, +and the rest have the numerals in the lower corners." Just where these +figures were obtained does not appear, but the Postmaster General's +report for 30th June, 1900, makes the following statement:--"Included in +the stamp output of the year was $123,600 worth of 3 cent stamps, which +constituted the unissued remnant of 3 cent stamps in the possession of +the department; on the occasion of the reduction of the domestic letter +rate of postage they were surcharged and issued as 2 cent stamps." The +figures quoted account for only 4,120,000 of the 3 cent stamps, and +this quantity is confirmed in the Report for 1901, which says:--"In +1899-1900 3 cent stamps to the number of 4,120,000 were included in the +output solely with a view to surcharging them down to 2 cents and +transference to that column." The two varieties, however, are not +separated in the accounts, but inasmuch as the catalogue prices are now, +after ten years, at the same figure for each, it is reasonable to +suppose that one is as common as the other and that therefore they must +have been issued in approximately equal amounts. + +[154] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 393. + +[155] =Monthly Journal=, X: 35. + +Plate numbers for the surcharges seem to be again recorded in only a +half hearted way. But one reference has been found to those of the +numeral type, plates 5 and 6[156], and none for the "maple leaf" type. + +[156] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 400, 403. + +The reduction in the domestic rate of postage was also the cause of +another provisional, but of quite a different character. _Stanley +Gibbons Monthly Journal_ for January 31, 1899, says:-- + + In some offices 1c. and 2c. stamps ran short, and their places were + supplied by one-third and two-thirds portions of 3c. stamps divided + vertically. In some places, our correspondent says, these divided + stamps were employed without further alteration, but in others we + regret to hear that they were surcharged with a figure "2", in + _purple_, upon the figure "3" of the larger portion, or the word + "one" in _green_, upon the smaller part; or, to further complicate + matters, when thirds of two adjoining stamps were used for 2c. each + part was impressed with a figure "2". Our informant's letter is + franked in part by 2/3 of a 3c. stamp surcharged "2" so we fear that + this horrible tale is founded on fact. + +In the _Journal_ for March 31, 1899, is further light:-- + + The surcharged fractions appear to have been used only at the office + at Port Hood, N. S., where the Postmaster apparently did not + consider it safe to use divided stamps without some distinguishing + mark. We have seen other copies since, and find that a figure "1" + was struck upon the smaller portion; not the word "one" as + previously stated. + +Again in the _Journal_ for April 29, 1899, we find:-- + + In reference to the cut and surcharged 3c. stamps, a correspondent + sends us the following extract from a letter from the postmaster of + Port Hood:-- + + "When the change in Canadian postage was made--of which we got + notice by wire--I had only very few two cent stamps in stock, so + that before I got my supply from Ottawa I ran completely out of + them, and, to keep my account straight, I was compelled to cut + threes. This was for one day only, and not over 300 stamps were cut. + I would say about 200 '2' and 100 '1' were used. Those stamps I put + on letters for delivery within the county as much as possible. About + 100 '2' and probably nearly as many '1' were marked with the figures + 3 and 1 as you describe, and were placed on letters for delivery in + towns throughout the Dominion. Those were the only provisional + stamps used by this office." + +Mr. Horsley reports having a copy on the original cover with the +postmark of Port Hood dated 5 January, 1899, which is doubtless the "one +day" that they were employed. + +A Canada correspondent, writing in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_[157] +concerning these "splits", says that "the Dominion Government has +announced that they were not authorized and letters having them on for +postage should have been charged double rate when delivered." They may +be interesting as curiosities, but they are assuredly not worthy of any +great attention from collectors. Illustrations of the "2" cent and a +pair of the "1" cent will be found as Nos. 37 and 39 respectively on +Plate II. + +[157] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 187. + +Nothing further in the line of novelties is to be reported until the +29th December, 1900, when a new 20 cent stamp suddenly made its +appearance as a companion in design to the rest of the "numeral" series. +The large 20 cent stamp of 1893 had finally been exhausted, and the new +comer in its neat olive green was a welcome addition to the current set. +It of course conformed to the others in engraving, sheet arrangement, +etc., and had the plate number 1. An examination of the stamp accounts +during its term of life make it appear probable that approximately +500,000 were issued. + +Finally the long heralded 7 cent stamp, which was supposed to take the +place of the 8 cent stamp after the reduction of domestic postage, made +its appearance nearly four years late! It was announced in a despatch to +the _Toronto Mail and Empire_ as follows:-- + + Ottawa, Dec. 18th, [1902].--The Post Office Department announces + that on the 24th instant it will be in a position to supply a + seven-cent postage stamp to accounting post offices throughout + Canada. This stamp, which is of a yellow color, will be especially + convenient for postage and registration fee on single rate letters, + while it may also be used for other postage purposes to the extent + of its face value. Non-accounting offices can obtain their supply + through the city post offices. This new stamp will bear the Queen's + head, the department not having yet decided on the design for the + King's head issue. + + + +The Postmaster General's Report for 1903, however, gives the issue of 7 +cent stamps as occurring on the 23rd December, 1902. The stamp, as was +the case with the 20 cent, conformed in all respects to the others of +the numeral issue, but was printed in a hideous shade of olive yellow. +There was but one plate number, No. 1. It seems probable that about one +million copies constituted its total issue. + + * * * * * + +The above completes the issues of the numeral type stamps with the +Queen's head. Glancing over the Reports of the Postmaster General, as +usual, for the period during which they were in issue, we find the +following items of interest. + +In the Report for 30th June, 1899, the introduction of "Domestic Penny +Postage" is thus recorded:-- + + On the 1st January, 1899, the letter rate within Canada was reduced + from 3 to 2 cents per ounce. This change has been accompanied by + such a marked and continuous increase in the number of domestic + letters being transmitted through the mails, as to warrant the + conclusion that the loss of revenue consequent on such reduction + will soon be overcome. + + As a result of the reduction in the Domestic Letter rate of postage, + the issue of the 3c. letter card, 3c. stamped envelope and 3c. + postage stamp has been discontinued, unused quantities of these, + however, continuing available for postage purposes or exchangeable + at any post office for their equivalent in postage stamps of other + denominations. + +On the 1st January, 1899, also, the provisions of the Act which +reimposed postage payment on newspapers and periodicals went into +effect. This was _An Act further to amend the Post Office Act_ (assented +to 13th June, 1898)[158] which we have already quoted as being the Act +authorizing the reduction in the domestic postage rate to 2 cents per +ounce. The third section of this Act repealed section 26 of the _Post +Office Act_ and substituted the following therefor:-- + + =26.= On and after the first day of January, one thousand eight + hundred and ninety-nine, newspapers and periodicals, printed and + published in Canada, mailed by the publisher in the post office at + the place where they are published and addressed to regular + subscribers or newsdealers in Canada, resident elsewhere than in + the place of publication, shall be transmitted by mail to their + respective addresses as follows:-- + + If they are required to be transmitted by mail a distance within + twenty miles from the place of publication or within a circular area + of a diameter not exceeding forty miles, and if their publication is + of no greater frequency than once a week, they shall be so + transmitted free of postage within one or other of such areas to be + selected by the publisher in accordance with regulations in that + behalf to be established by the Postmaster General; if they are + required to be transmitted a greater distance, or if their + publication is of greater frequency than once a week, then in either + of such cases postage thereon shall be paid on and after the said + first day of January, and until and inclusive of the thirtieth day + of June next following, at the rate of one-quarter of one cent, and + thereafter at the rate of one-half of one cent, for each pound + weight or any fraction of a pound weight, which shall be prepaid by + postage stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster General from time to + time directs; provided that-- + + (_a_) such newspaper or periodical is known and recognized as a + newspaper or periodical in the generally received sense of the + word, and consists wholly or in great part of political or other + news or of articles relative thereto or to other current topics, + and is published regularly at intervals of not more than one + month; + + (_b_) the full title, place and date of publication, and the + distinguishing number of the issue are printed at the top of the + first page, and every subsequent page, and also on any paper, + print, lithograph or engraving purporting to be a supplement to + it and sent with it; + + (_c_) it is addressed to a _bona fide_ subscriber, or to a known + news-dealer in Canada; and-- + + (_d_) it is delivered into the post office under such + regulations as the Postmaster General, from time to time, makes + for that purpose. + + 2. For the purpose of determining the weights of such newspapers or + periodicals, each newspaper or periodical transmitted separately + through the mails shall be held to weight not less than one-half of + one ounce. + + 3. [_The Postmaster General to decide whether any publication comes + under this section, and whether the requirements have been complied + with in any case._] + + 4. [_Books for the blind transmitted free of Canadian postage._] + +[158] 61 Vict. Chap. 20. + +One other item, not strictly philatelic perhaps, but interesting to +record here, is the announcement of the issue of postal notes, the +system having been inaugurated throughout Canada on the 4th August, +1898. It was intended mainly to obviate the need of remitting small +sums by mail in postage stamps, with the consequent difficulty to the +recipient of disposing of any quantity. The notes were for certain fixed +values, odd amounts between values being made up by affixing postage +stamps. + +Their denominations and dates of issue are recorded as follows:-- + + 4th August issued notes of 25, 50 and 70 cents. + 23rd " " " " $1, $2.50 and $5. + 21st October " " " 40 cents, $1.50 and $2. + 25th November " " " 20, 30, 60 and 80 cents. + 23rd January, 1899 " " " 90 cents, $3. and $4. + +In the Report for 1900 we find mention of the issue of stamp books. + + In the month of June, 1900, the department commenced the issue to + Postmasters, of a small book of 2 cent postage stamps, containing 12 + stamps, disposed on two sheets of 6 stamps each, and interleaved + with wax paper to prevent adhesion of the sheets. The size of the + book is such as to make it convenient to be carried in the pocket or + pocket-book. Printed on the cover is postal information calculated + to be of interest to the public. The price at which the book is + issued is 25 cents, one cent over the face value of the stamps being + charged to cover the cost of binding, etc. + +The stamp accounts give the date of issue of the stamp books as 11th +June, 1900. That they have proved popular is evidenced by the increase +in the number issued to postmasters from some 320,000 in 1901 to about +1,400,000 in 1910. + +The books are about two by three inches in size, with stiff cardboard +covers which are bound together by red cloth. The coat-of-arms of Canada +with the words CANADA POSTAGE beneath are engraved in red on the front +cover, while inside are four pages of postal information and the two +sheets of six stamps each--three horizontal pairs--backed by leaves of +paraffined tissue paper. + +Notice is also given of the discontinuance of two denominations of +postage stamps, the old 15 cent of 1868 passing quietly away at the age +of 31 years, 1 month and 1 day--or on the 2nd November, 1899, to be +exact. The 6 cent stamp, for which there was but little call since the +reduction of the letter postage to 2 cents, was discontinued on the 10th +February, 1900. + +From the Report of 1901 we learn that the last issue of the $1 Jubilee +stamps took place on 27th June 1900, but nothing is said of dates for +the cents values, all of which appear for the last time in the "issued +to postmasters" column in amounts of 700 or 800, and even 2000 in the +case of the 1/2 cent. + +The Report of 1902 notes the last issue of the 3 cent stamp in March, +1901, and of the 8 cent stamp, which had been of but little use since +the reduction of postage, on the 16th December, 1901. + +The Report of 1903 announces the issue of the new King Edward stamps, +and of the prepayment of printed matter in cash, instead of by stamps, +under the "permit" system. Both of these subjects will be considered in +their proper chapters. + +Though the Report for 1904 takes us into the period of the King Edward +stamps, yet we find it noted therein that the last issue of 6 cent and 8 +cent stamps (Queen's head) took place on the 4th September, 1902. Both +these values had already been disposed of apparently, but it seems that +100,000 of the 6 cent and 125,000 of the 8 cent were "received from +manufacturers" and "issued to postmasters", according to the stamp +accounts of 1902-3, and rumor has it that some large concern ordered +them for the mailing of catalogues. The date, 4th September, was +probably that of delivery to the purchasers. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE "CHRISTMAS" STAMP OF 1898 + + +Ocean Penny Postage, which became the dream of Postal Reformers almost +from the date of the adoption of the plan of Rowland Hill, is at length +within measurable distance of becoming an accomplished fact. It is +true that it is not yet to be the Universal Penny Postage, or +even the Imperial Penny Postage so perseveringly advocated by Mr. +Henniker-Heaton; but these will come in time, and an immense step in the +desired direction has been taken by the adoption of the partial scheme, +which is to come into force within a few months." So wrote Major Evans +in July, 1898,[159] upon the conclusion of the Imperial Conference on +Postal Rates which took place in London during that month. + +[159] =Monthly Journal, IX=: 1. + +Many of our readers may have seen the illustrated envelopes, in various +designs, which were issued some fifty or sixty years ago in advocacy of +an "Ocean Penny Postage." Great Britain, having committed herself to +domestic penny postage in 1840, after the herculean labors of Sir +Rowland Hill in that behalf, seems to have been looked to by succeeding +postal reformers to furnish over-sea transportation along the same +lines. Chief among these advocates was Elihu Burritt, the "learned +blacksmith" of New Britain, Conn., who not only published documents on +the subject but went to England and delivered addresses in support of +the idea. Major Evans says:[160]--"What appears to have been the first +pamphlet on 'Ocean Penny Postage', issued by Elihu Burritt, was probably +published quite at the end of 1848, or early in 1849. It contains a poem +dated Christmas, 1848, which may give us approximately the date of +publication." This proves extremely interesting, inasmuch as Imperial +Penny Postage was put into effect on Christmas, 1898, just a half +century later to a day. + +[160] =Stamp Lover, I=: 263. + +But Burritt's proposal was not that which was accomplished so long +afterward. In his own words:[161]-- + + By the term "_Ocean Penny Postage_" we mean simply this:--That the + single service of transporting a letter, weighing under + half-an-ounce, from any port of the United Kingdom to any port + beyond the sea, at which the British mail-packets may touch, shall + be performed by the British Government for _one penny_; or one penny + for its mere conveyance from Folkestone to Boulogne, Liverpool to + Boston, &c., and _vice versa_. Thus the entire charge upon a letter + transmitted from any town in the United Kingdom to any port beyond + the sea, would be two pence;--one penny for the inland rate, and the + other for the ocean rate. + +[161] =A Penny All the Way=, Melville, p. 23. + +Of course this does not reckon in what might be added for an inland rate +at the "port beyond the sea", but the main point was the transportation +on the ocean part of the journey at a uniform rate of one penny. + +This was practically accomplished--and even bettered--by the +establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1875; for where Burritt +wrote:[162]--"It would meet the terms of our proposition if every letter +under half an ounce, from any town in Great Britain to any town in the +Colonies, should pay _three pence_; one penny for the home inland rate, +another penny for the ocean, and the third for the colonial inland rate, +and _vice versa_" the Postal Union fixed a charge of but twopence +halfpenny as the standard rate between _all_ countries that subscribed +to its provisions. + +[162] =ibid.=, page 22. + +To quote further:[163]-- + + The later discussion in England on the extension of Penny Postage + across the seas has alternated between the proposals for Universal + Penny Postage and Imperial Penny Postage. Mr. Henry Fawcett, who was + Postmaster-General in 1880, was keenly interested in endeavouring to + get the Colonies to accept a lower postal rate to and from the + Mother Country, but the Colonies were afraid to lower their + rates.... Mr. Henniker-Heaton brought up the subject in the House of + Commons in 1885 by moving for the opening of negotiations with other + Governments, with a view to establishing Universal Penny Postage.... + In 1890 the Jubilee of the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage was + celebrated in London and throughout the United Kingdom, and public + interest in postal matters received a new stimulus.... The long + sustained agitation for Imperial Penny Postage was at last brought + to a definite issue at the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates in + 1898. The London _Standard_ of 13th July, 1898, stated:-- + + "We are authorized by the Postmaster-General to state that, as the + result of the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates, it has been + agreed, on the proposal of the Representative of the Dominion of + Canada, that letter postage of one penny per half-ounce should be + established between the United Kingdom, Canada, Newfoundland, the + Cape Colony, Natal, and such of the Crown Colonies as may, after + communication with, and approval of, Her Majesty's Government, be + willing to adopt it. The date on which the reduction will come into + effect will be announced later on. The question of a uniform reduced + rate for the whole Empire was carefully considered; but it was not + found possible to fix upon a rate acceptable to all the Governments + concerned. A resolution was therefore adopted, leaving it to those + parts of the Empire which were prepared for penny postage to make + the necessary arrangements among themselves". + + The Postmaster-General who had the distinction of issuing this + important communication was the Duke of Norfolk, and the + representative of Canada was the Hon. (now Sir) William Mulock, LL. + D., Q. C., Postmaster-General of Canada, who gave the chief credit + for the reform to the British Empire League. + +[163] =ibid.=, page 36. + +Nevertheless, Mr. Mulock had been interested not only in the scheme of +Imperial Penny Postage but also in endeavoring to obtain a reduction of +the Canadian domestic postage to the penny (2 cents) basis. The inland +letter rate, it may be remembered, was made 3 cents per half ounce +throughout the new Dominion on the 1st April, 1868. Not until the 2nd +May, 1889, did legislative enactment raise the limit of weight to one +ounce. Meanwhile the United States, on the 1st October, 1883, had +lowered its inland rate, which also applied to letters for Canada, to 2 +cents per ounce. Agitation for the same reduction had naturally taken +place in Canada, but instead of this it was proposed late in 1897[164] +to reduce the Postal Union rate of 5 cents per half ounce to the +domestic rate of 3 cents per ounce on letters to Great Britain and the +Colonies. An Order in Council was actually passed announcing a rate of 3 +cents per half ounce to any place in the British Empire, to take effect +on 1st January, 1898, but the Imperial authorities objected to it as +exceeding Canada's powers as a member of the Postal Union, and it was +necessarily abandoned. + +[164] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XII: 129. + +Finally legislative enactment was passed on the 13th June, 1898, making +the long desired reduction in the domestic rate to 2 cents, but not to +come into operation until the date named by the Governor-General[165]. +Within a month, as we have already detailed, the Imperial Conference in +London decided on a penny (2 cent) rate for the British Empire and in +November it was decided to put this in operation on Christmas day of +1898. Thus the anomaly was created of a 2 cent rate from Canada to +England or Africa, but a 3 cent rate from one town to another in Canada. +This was remedied a week later, as we have seen, by the proclamation +putting the domestic 2 cent rate into force from 1st January, 1899. + +[165] See page 169. + +As a leader in the final adoption of Imperial Penny Postage, Canada +could look with pride upon its accomplishment and may be pardoned for +its mild celebration of the event in the guise of a _single_ +commemorative stamp. It was unnecessary, of course, and no other Colony +attempted it, but Mr. Mulock recognized the opportunity and rose to the +occasion. The following clipping from the _Ottawa Evening Journal_[166] +gives some interesting details:-- + + The new Imperial Penny Postage Stamp, to be used between Great + Britain and a number of her colonies after Christmas Day next, has + been designed by the Postmaster-General and is ready to be issued. + It is not to be a special issue, but will take its place among the + regular issues. When Mr. Mulock was in Britain he was surprised to + notice that the great mass of the people did not appreciate the + value of the greatness of the British possessions abroad. This was + especially true of Canada. The idea therefore suggested itself to + him, when he was considering a new stamp, to prepare something that + would show the dimensions of Great Britain compared with all other + countries. Mr. Mulock asked for some designs from a few artists when + he came back to Canada, but they did not meet with his views, and he + roughly sketched out something himself and passed it over to an + artist to have it touched up. + + The feature of the new stamp is a neatly executed map in miniature + of the world, showing the British possessions as compared with all + other countries. The empire is distinguished from the possessions of + the other powers by being in red. Surmounting this map is a + representation of the crown, underneath which is a bunch of oak and + maple leaves, symbolizing the unity of the Mother Country and + Canada. At the upper edge of the stamp are the words "Canada + Postage" in a neat letter. Underneath the map is placed "Xmas, + 1898", so that the date of the inauguration of Imperial Penny + Postage shall be a matter of record. On the lower corners are the + figures "2", indicating the denomination of the stamp, and at the + lower edge is this suggestive passage taken from the works of one + of our patriotic poets: "We hold a vaster empire than has been". Mr. + Mulock will be able to claim the credit of giving the public the + cheapest map of the world ever issued. The size of the stamp is + about the same as the Jubilee issue. + +[166] =Monthly Journal, IX=: 87. + +A reproduction of this _multum in parvo_ composition is shown as No. 38 +on Plate II. + +This remarkable stamp caused no end of criticism, at home and abroad, +not only because of its novel and startling design, but also because of +the bombastic legend which appeared upon it. The following clipping from +the _Chicago Tribune_[167] explains the origin of the motto:-- + + The motto chosen by Mr. Mulock, "We hold a vaster empire than has + been," is from the jubilee ode of Sir Lewis Morris, entitled a "Song + of Empire", with the date, June 20, 1897, as a subtitle, indicating + its tone and purpose. An excerpt from the last stanza, from which + the motto was taken, is as follows: + + "We love not war, but only peace, + Yet never shall our England's power decrease! + Whoever guides our helm of state, + Let all men know it, England shall be great! + We hold a vaster empire than has been! + Nigh half the race of man is subject to our Queen! + Nigh half the wide, wide earth is ours in fee! + And where her rule comes all are free. + And therefore 'tis, O Queen, that we, + Knit fast in bonds of temperate liberty, + Rejoice to-day, and make our solemn jubilee!" + +[167] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 76. + +In consequence of the peculiar legend, the stamp has been dubbed, not +ineptly, the "has been" stamp. + +We learn from a despatch to the _Toronto Telegram_ that the printing of +the stamp began on the 1st December:-- + + Ottawa, Dec. 2, 1898.--(Special)--The Governor-General and Hon. + William Mulock, Postmaster-General, presided yesterday at the + printing of the first copies of the new imperial penny postage + stamp. The design is Mr. Mulock's own[168]. + +[168] =Ibid.=, XII: 206. + +It was thus brought into the world under distinguished patronage--that +of its official father and god-father, so to speak. Its baptism came on +the 7th December, rather earlier than expected, but explained by the +following newspaper clipping[169]: + + Ottawa, Ont., Dec. 5--It having been stated in some newspapers that + the new two-cent Imperial stamp would not become available until + Christmas day, inquiry made at the Post Office Department today to + ascertain the truth of this statement elicits the fact that, + although it was the original intention of the department that the + new stamp should not come into use until the 25th inst., the demand + from the public for it has become so pressing that the department + has decided to issue it at once, and permit its immediate use to the + extent of its face value for all postage purposes. In other words, + as soon as it reaches the public it may, if preferred by the + purchaser, be used instead of the ordinary two-cent stamp. The + two-cent inter-Imperial rate does not, of course, come into effect + until Christmas Day. + +[169] =Ibid.=, XII. 213. + +In the _Weekly Philatelic Era_, the Canadian correspondent discourses +upon its advent as follows, under date of 7th December[170]:-- + + The new Imperial stamps referred to in past numbers of the _Era_ + were issued this morning, and although the new Imperial rate does + not come into effect until Xmas-day, and they bear that inscription, + they are receivable for ordinary postage now. + + The general design has already been described, but it may be well to + say that the stamps are printed in three colours. The frame is in + black with white letters, the seas are in a pale blue, or rather a + lavender, and the British possessions are in a bright red. The map + of the world is on Mercator's projection, which magnifies high + latitudes; consequently the Dominion of Canada, which occupies the + middle of the upper part of the stamp, looks bigger than all the + other British possessions put together. The border of the stamp is + of cable pattern and measures 32 mm. in width by 22-1/2 in height. + The stamp is printed on medium, machine-wove, white paper, similar + to that used for the Jubilee and subsequent Canadian issues, and is + perforated 12. + +[170] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 105. + +The above quotation settles the fact that the first color in which the +"seas" were printed was lavender. There has been some discussion on this +point. Again, a correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ wrote under +date of "Dec. 20th" that "A government official of Canada states that +the 2c Imperial postage stamp is to be changed in color from a lavender +to a blue. One of your contemporaries states that the color is to be +green[171]." Under date of "Ottawa, Dec. 29," another correspondent of +the same paper writes[172]:--"The first issue of these geographical +stamps, on the 7th instant, had the sea coloured a light lavender. About +the 20th, I cannot fix the exact day, a second supply had the sea +coloured a light blue, as nearly as I can judge Prussian blue. And now I +am told the third lot are to have the seas much darker in colour, but +that is only a rumour." A clipping from the _Winnipeg Free Press_, +however, states that "the second shipment, which arrived on Dec. 13th, +were of an entirely different print, although the fact passed unnoticed +for some days. The sea on these stamps--and on all the thousands +received since--is printed in pale green!" The first shipment is noted +as "lavender or pale blue" as usual. Evidently the change in color took +place within the first week or ten days after printing began. A dark +shade of green is apparently as common as the pale green, and a +cancelled copy dated January 13, 1899, is noted in _Ewen's Weekly Stamp +News_. Doubtless it was issued much earlier. The lavender shade seems to +have been reverted to in the later issues of the stamp, for it is noted +in chronicles as having been received from Canada in February and March, +1899, and the stamp was considered obsolete in April. We venture to +think, however, that it was not a reversion to lavender in the printing +of the stamp, but rather the remainder of the first printings--for it is +well known that when bundles of stamp sheets are placed in stock some of +the first packages received may remain at the bottom of the pile for +years, while the later ones, placed on top, are used to fill orders. + +[171] =ibid.=, XIII: 121. + +[172] =ibid.=, XIII: 129. + +The stamps were printed in the usual sheet arrangement of 100, ten rows +of ten. The black portion was from line engraved plates, but the red and +lavender (or green) portions were doubtless printed on the sheets by +lithography previous to the impression of the main design of the stamp +in black. There are four marginal imprints reading AMERICAN BANK NOTE +CO. OTTAWA in Roman capitals 1/2 mm. high, the inscription being about +29 mm. long, (see illustration number 113 on Plate X). They are placed +above the third and eighth stamps of the top row and beneath the +corresponding stamps of the bottom row. A plate number, in hair line +figures about 4 mm. high, is placed over the division between the fifth +and sixth stamps of the top row, and higher up than the imprints. Plates +1, 2, 3 and 5 are known, but we have been unable to find plate 4 +recorded, though it would be presumed to exist. All four known plates +come with the lavender sea, and probably all four were used with the +light green and dark green seas, although we have only been able to find +record of plate 1 with the former and plate 2 with the latter.[173] + +[173] =Ewen's Weekly Stamp News=, II: 122. + +Mr. Ewen, in his exhaustive article on these stamps,[174] notes an +apparent retouching of one of the plates. He says:--"Readers will have +noted that the stamps are each surrounded by what appears to be a rope. +On the sheet of plate 3 before us, the outer edge of this rope on the +stamps at the end of each row (right hand side of each sheet) has worn +away and has been replaced by a straight line engraved on the plate, +except on stamp No. 80, which still shows the very defective nature of +the rope." Much space is also given to a description of minor varieties +in the red portions of the stamp--omission of islands, extra islands, +peninsulas instead of islands, etc., etc. The chief variety, however, +occurs in the two dots representing two islands in mid-Pacific: in the +normal stamps these two lie one above and one below the "equator", if +properly placed; in the variety, which is the sixth stamp in the fifth +row (No. 46 in the sheet) both islands lie horizontally just below the +equator. + +[174] =Ewen's Weekly Stamp News=, II: 122. + +A further variety is the stamp in imperforate condition, of which we are +able to illustrate a block of four from the Worthington collection as +number 113 on Plate X. This occurs with the bluish, the pale green and +the deep green oceans. + +It would be interesting to know the number of stamps printed in each of +the distinct shades, but we do not know even the total issue of the map +stamps. The only reference is in the _London Philatelist_,[175] where it +is remarked that "we understand [it] has been issued to the number of +sixteen millions." They were not separated in the stamp accounts, but +were reckoned in with the ordinary 2 cent stamps, and the above figure +may very likely be the correct one as the number must have been large. +We find from a newspaper clipping that the cost of manufacture of these +stamps was 45 cents per thousand.[176] + +[175] =London Philatelist=, VIII: 79. + +[176] =Post Office=, IX: 37. + +In closing this account of the Christmas stamp it may be interesting to +record the story of the first letter sent from Canada at the new rate +and bearing the commemorative stamp in prepayment. It is taken from a +Toronto newspaper. + + Penny ocean postage came into force at midnight on Saturday. The + first letter to be posted was one by Mr. J. Ross Robertson, written + to Mr. Edward Letchworth, the Grand Secretary, at Freemason's Hall, + Great Queen-street, London.... The letter was received at the + General Post-Office, Adelaide-street, Toronto, at one second past 12 + o'clock on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 25th, by Mr. John Carruthers, + the Assistant Postmaster, who certified to the posting with his + signature on the envelope. At five seconds past 12 it was handed to + Mr. H. S. Allen, chief of the night staff, who, at twelve seconds + past the hour, dropped it into one of the electric stamping + machines, and at fifteen seconds past midnight it came out in due + and proper form, bearing the Toronto postmark of Dec. 25, and the + new two-cent stamp in the right-hand corner, duly cancelled, so that + it was all ready for the London mail bag, waiting for it and + succeeding letters going by the next British mail. + + On the envelope was the name of the sender in the upper left-hand + corner and the following endorsation in the lower left-hand corner. + + "This is to certify that this letter was mailed at the Toronto + Post-Office at one-quarter of a minute past 12 o'clock on the + morning of Dec. 25, 1898, and is the first letter to be posted and + cancelled at the Toronto postoffice, bearing the new imperial penny + postage stamp, addressed to Great Britain, (signed) John Carruthers, + assistant postmaster." + + And under this: + + "Received at Freemason's Hall, London, Eng., at ... o'clock, ... day + of January, 1899. + + ... + "Grand Secretary." + + +This is probably the first time in philatelic history that race-track +timing has been employed on the passage of mail matter through the +post! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE "KING'S HEAD" ISSUE OF 1903-1908 + + +The death of the beloved Queen Victoria on January 22, 1901, portended +momentous changes in the multitude of stamps bearing her effigy +throughout the Empire. Canada of course was expected to make the proper +substitution of the portrait of the new ruler, King Edward the Seventh, +but as time went on seemed in no hurry to do so. In fact it was nearly +two years and a half after the Queen's death before the King Edward +stamps appeared, and in the meantime but little could be learned +concerning Canada's intentions in the matter. + + * * * * * + +About the first of January, 1903, it was reported in the newspapers that +Postmaster-General Mulock had announced "that designs had been +submitted, and it has been decided to select one bearing an excellent +likeness of His Majesty." In its issue for 18th April, 1903, the +_Metropolitan Philatelist_ again gave advance information concerning +Canadian stamp matters in the following detailed account:-- + + The King's head series of Canadian stamps will probably shortly make + its appearance. The die has been received by the Post Office + Department and approved of. The stamp will be very similar to the + present stamp except that the maple leaf in each of the upper + corners will be replaced by a crown. The figures of value will + appear in the lower corner as at present and the value will be + spelled out as at present in the oval frame which surrounds the + portrait. This frame will be as in the present stamp. The portrait + of the King shows him three-quarters to the right--head and + shoulders, as the Queen is in the present stamp, but there is no + crown on his head. The portrait is an exceptionally nice one and it + is understood that Royalty has had something to do with its + selection. The die was made in England, although the American Bank + Note Co. are contractors for the government work. + +The details given proved correct. The official announcement of the +forthcoming issue was given in a circular to postmasters dated 10th June +and signed by the Deputy Postmaster-General:[177]-- + + Postmasters are hereby informed that a new issue of postage stamps, + bearing the portrait of His Majesty King Edward VII., and comprising + five denominations (1c., 2c., 5c., 7c., and 10c.), is about to be + supplied to Postmasters for sale in the usual way, but none of these + stamps are to be sold until the first of July, 1903. + + The colours of the forthcoming series will be the same respectively, + as those now used for the denominations specified, except that the + shade of the 7c. will be slightly deeper. + + Postmasters will please bear in mind that, notwithstanding the new + issue, they are not to return to the Department any of the old + stamps on hand, but will sell them in the ordinary way. At first, + the public may prefer getting new stamps, and if so, there is no + objection to this wish being acceded to, but it is also desirable to + work off in due course all remnants of old stamps. + + A change in the design of the stamp of the present series of + post-cards, post-bands and stamped envelopes, to correspond with + that above referred to, will be made as soon as the present stock of + these items shall have been exhausted. + +[177] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVII: 254. + +The new stamps were accordingly issued on "Dominion Day" (July 1st) of +1903. Their actual appearance brought forth the following interesting +account of their preparation in the _London Philatelist_:[178]-- + + Although for a long time past we have been aware of the + circumstances attending the preparation of the new postage stamps + for Canada, and in a position to illustrate the approved design, we + have refrained from publishing the facts in compliance with the + desire of the authorities that no details should be made public + until the stamps had been completed and were ready to be put into + circulation. + + We believe that the delay which has taken place in bringing out the + new issue has been due to questions arising out of the existing + contract under which the postage stamps of the Dominion are + produced, and that even after the approval of the design and the + receipt of the die some difficulties were experienced in connection + with the preparation of the plates by the contractors. + + These have happily been surmounted, and now that the issue is an + accomplished fact it is with much gratification that we illustrate + the design of the new stamp, our illustration, prepared some time + back, being taken from a proof from the steel die engraved by + Messrs. Perkins, Bacon and Co., of London, and used in the + manufacture of the plates of the several values issued by the + Canadian postal authorities on the 1st. instant. By comparing our + illustration with the stamp as issued it will be seen that the + contractors or the postal authorities have made some alterations in + the design, which, in our judgement, are by no means improvements. + The leaves in the lower corners have been redrawn on a smaller + scale, and hardly impinge upon the frame; their drawing is vastly + inferior, and the graceful effect of the broken circle is lost. The + numerals of value are in colour on a white ground, reversing the + original design, the labels being larger and the figures taller and + thinner; this also detracting materially from the charming + homogeneity of the stamp as first proposed. The greatest alteration, + and the worst, is the substitution of heavy diagonal lines for + horizontal ones in the background. The latter were finely drawn and + delicately shaded, leaving the King's Head in clear outline, and + _framed_ by the dark oval band containing the inscriptions. The + background and frame no longer present this artistic effect, and the + whole design materially suffers thereby. + + [Illustration] + + The circumstances connected with the inception of the issue are as + gratifying as they are novel, and will be hailed with acclamation by + the Philatelists of the British Empire. + + The Postmaster of Canada, Sir William Mulock, being one of the many + distinguished visitors to this country during the Coronation + festivities, took the opportunity afforded by his visit of + approaching the Prince of Wales, and of meeting His Royal Highness's + suggestions and advice in the preparation of a new die for the + Canadian stamps. The Prince, with his characteristic energy and + courtesy, cheerfully undertook the task, and it will be seen from + our illustration with absolute and conspicuous success. H. R. H. + wisely decided, in the first instance, that it is advisable to have + some continuity of design in succeeding issues, and therefore + adopted the frame and groundwork of the then current stamps as a + basis. In selecting a portrait of His Majesty the Prince decided to + rely upon a photograph giving a true likeness of the King as we know + him, in lieu of an idealised representation by an artist. The + photograph eventually chosen, with the full approval of His Majesty, + was one taken shortly before the Coronation. + + The likeness is undoubtedly what is termed a speaking one, and with + the addition of the Coronation robes represents as faithful and as + pleasing a picture of the King, at the time of his accession to the + throne, as it is possible to find. The introduction of the Tudor + crowns in the upper angles, which was another of the Prince's + innovations, obviates the difficulty that has so often made "the + head that wears a crown" lie "uneasy" on a postage stamp. These + emblems of sovereignty, taken in conjunction with the Canadian + maple leaves in the lower angles, complete a design that for + harmony, boldness, and simplicity has assuredly not been excelled by + any hitherto issued stamps of the British Empire. It is palpable, on + analyzing the stamp, (1) that the attractiveness of the design has + in no way been allowed to militate against its utility, for its + country of origin and denomination are clearly expressed; (2) that + the boldness of the design has not been detracted from (as is so + often the case) by superfluous ornamentation, and that the design + has been artistically balanced by the introduction of the + _right-sized portrait_ and the proper treatment of light and shade. + +[178] =London Philatelist=, XII: 162. + +We think it will be obvious, on comparing the illustration of the +original design above with the issued stamps, that the modifications +introduced into the lower corners by the American Bank Note Co. did not +improve the appearance of the design. [Illustration No. 43 on Plate II.] + +As stated in the Post Office circular, the colors followed those of the +Queen's head stamps, except that the 7 cent value was given a darker +shade, more of an olive than before and an improvement on its +predecessor. The stamps were of course line engraved and printed in the +usual sheet arrangement of ten rows of ten. The imprint was the same as +on the Queen's head plates, being placed only over stamps 5 and 6 of the +top row. The plate numbers began as before at No. 1 for each stamp, and +up to the present writing, (Dec. 1910) there have been recorded the +following:-- + + 1 cent--1-10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 24, 25, 34, 47, 48, 51, 52, 55, 58 + 2 cent--1-30, 35-40, 47, 53-59, 62, 63, 67-74, 78 + 5 cent--1, 2 + 7 cent--1 + 10 cent--1, 2 + +Over a year elapsed before any additions were made to the above set. +Finally _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_[179] published in its chronicle the +following note from a correspondent:--"On Tuesday, 27th September, +[1904] the last sheets of the 20c numerals were issued to the +distributing offices, and the first issue of the 20c King's Head was +made on the same day." The stamp of course corresponds in all +particulars with the others of the set and continues the fine olive +green color of its predecessor. But one plate number, 1, has so far +appeared. The amount delivered by the manufacturers since its appearance +has averaged about 400,000 per year. + +[179] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVIII: 338. + +The remaining value of the regular Canadian series, the 50 cent, because +of its limited use and the stock of the 1893 issue still on hand, had +escaped being included in either of the Queen's Head issues. But the old +stock at last ran out in 1908 and on the 19th November, according to +_Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_,[180] this value appeared in the King's +Head type, printed in a rich violet and making a very handsome addition +to the series. It conforms in all respects to the other values, and +bears the plate number 1. The supply of the stamp received up to 31st +March, 1910, was 300,000 copies. + +[180] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXII: 414. + +It may have been noticed, however, that no 1/2 cent stamp has appeared +in the King's head design. Trouble over this value seems to have begun +to brew with the Jubilee stamps. We have already detailed the story as +far as that issue is concerned, and also the manner in which the 1/2 +cent "maple leaf" was forced to appear before the authorities reckoned. +Primarily intended for prepaying the rate on transient newspapers, this +value was supposed to be employed only in that way, though its use had +never been so restricted. Its yearly issue to postmasters had gradually +increased from some 300,000 in 1869 to 900,000 in 1895. In 1898 the +latter number had doubled, and by 1902 had only fallen to about +1,200,000. The trouble seemed to be partly due, at least, to the fact +that stamp collectors were buying them up, and using them largely on +their letter mail. This came to the attention of the Post Office +Department, and resulted in the following Department Circular, published +in the _Montreal Star_ for the 6th December, 1902:[181]-- + + The attention of postmasters is drawn to the fact that the postal + necessity for the 1/2 cent stamp, as such, is now confined to one + purpose--prepayment of newspapers and periodicals posted singly, and + weighing not more than one ounce each (see Postal Guide, page xii, + section 47). As publications of the kind referred to must, in the + nature of things, be few, and as in the case of their being mailed + to subscribers by the office of publication, the bulk rate of + postage would be far cheaper and more convenient for the publisher, + the demand for the 1/2 cent stamp throughout the Dominion must be + appreciably diminished as a result of this restriction of its use. + While, of course, any number of 1/2 cent stamps on an article of + correspondence will be recognized to the full extent of their + aggregate face value, it is not the wish of the Department to supply + them except for the sole specific purpose above mentioned, and an + intimation to that effect should be given by postmasters to patrons + of their office who are in the habit of buying 1/2 cent stamps for + other postal purposes. + +[181] =ibid.=, XVI: 471. + +This circular seems to have had the desired effect, at least in good +measure, for the stamp accounts in the Reports for succeeding years +showed an average issue to postmasters of approximately 400,000 1/2 cent +stamps, being a reduction of two-thirds. Finally, on the 19th May, 1909, +an amendment[182] to the Post Office Act was passed which repealed the +provision granting the 1/2 cent rate to newspapers and periodicals +weighing less than one ounce, when posted singly. This placed them in +the one cent per ounce class and sounded the death knell of the 1/2 cent +stamp. The stamp accounts in the 1910 Report show 1,700 1/2 cent stamps +on hand April 1, 1909, and 600,000 more received from the manufacturers. +These were all issued to postmasters and a foot-note finishes the story: +"Discontinued June 10, 1909." + +[182] 8-9 Edward VII, Chap. 30. + +Just why the 1/2 cent stamp never was issued in the King's head type +cannot be stated. All the other values then in use in Canada had made +their appearance in this design, the 20 cent and 50 cent even having +delayed their advent until the stock of previous types had been +exhausted; but the 1/2 cent Queen's Head with numerals was regularly +received from the printers and distributed to postmasters down to the +middle of 1909, six years after the King's Heads first made their +appearance. With the end of its usefulness at that time, of course, +disappeared all hope of ever seeing it in the King's Head set. + +In the issue for October 10, 1908, _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ +published the following editorial:-- + + We are enabled to report the existence of the two-cent Canada, + current issue, imperforate, a reader having-shown us a sheet of one + hundred of these varieties bearing the plate number 18. This is a + discovery of momentous interest which must attract much attention + not alone from specialists but from collectors, as we may say for + the sake of distinction, as well. The fact that the pane bears so + early a plate number removes it from any inclusion in the theory + that the Canadian authorities propose to issue stamps in imperforate + sheets in the manner that has been employed by the United States. + Without doubt, the sheet under notice was regularly prepared for + issue in the accepted way and it is the belief from information at + hand that a sheet of four hundred of the stamps was printed and + reached the public. + +This announcement created some comment and was made the subject of +enquiry of the Post Office Department at Ottawa. The officials +repudiated the idea that any such irregularity could have happened, but +finally took steps to authenticate the report. In the issue of February +20, 1909, of the paper already quoted, is the full story of the "find", +which has a peculiar interest, as will be seen later. + + The sheet as found was not of 400 stamps but of over 200 stamps, as + the right hand half of the sheet on which our report was based and + which was not before us when we wrote, contained a pane of 100 + stamps, plate number 14 and an irregularly torn part of plate number + 13, showing about fifteen whole stamps and parts of others. Assuming + that the lower pane in the left half was torn approximately in the + manner of the right lower pane, or plate number 13, the find + consisted originally of 230 stamps, more or less. This reckoning + agrees, we believe, with the recollection of the person who rescued + the imperforates from oblivion, in a philatelic sense. The plate + numbers on the sheet that gave authority for the chronicling of the + stamps by the _Weekly_ are 13 and 14, respectively, and not 18 as + first printed. + + A. N. Lemieux of Chicago is the man who found the stamps. While in + Ottawa five years ago or so[183], when he was in business in that + city, he saw the stamps just within the iron fence that has been + described as surrounding the establishment of the bank note company + that prints the Canadian stamps. The day was a rainy one and the + sheet had evidently been blown out of the window. Mr. Lemieux + apparently attached no value to the sheet of over two hundred stamps + which was in a wet, crumpled condition and without gum. Mr. Lemieux + was under the impression, no doubt, that, gum had been on the sheet + but had been washed off by the rain.... Before he showed the stamps + to the _Weekly_, Mr. Lemieux had disposed of the left half of the + sheet or about 115 whole stamps to a collector ... on an exchange + basis.... Mr. Lemieux was informed that the stamps still in his + possession had no little philatelic interest as curiosities and he + sold the specimens to Mr. Severn. + +[183] This was later corrected to June, 1906. + +Mr. Severn subsequently submitted the stamps to the officials at Ottawa, +who pronounced them "printer's waste" and stated that "they seemingly +had been trampled upon and subjected to the usage that would be given +such cast off material. Further, it was said that they had been blown or +thrown out of a window, no doubt. It was suggested that the stamps be +returned to Ottawa and that there were moral grounds for such a course +on the part of the holders. The description of 'printer's waste' seems +to be correct and the inference is that the stamps never had been +gummed. They belong to that class of curiosities that appeals strongly +to the specialist but which the ordinary collector regards as something +apart from his collecting policy."[184] + +[184] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXIII: 66. + +But now mark the result. The stamps very naturally did not go back to +Ottawa, so Ottawa took pains to "get back" at the stamps! In the +_Weekly_ of May 22, 1909, a correspondent writes:-- + + It may be of interest to know that the last supplement to the + Canadian Post Office Guide contains the following: "In view of + representations which have been made to the Department, it has been + decided to permit the sale of the 2-cent denomination of Canadian + postage stamps of the current issue, in sheets of 100, _without the + usual perforation_." I at once asked for a sheet of 2-cent and + incidentally said I would take a sheet of the other denominations if + available. A reply came today informing me that only the 2-cent + would be available, and then, not for some time, as the department + intends to make a separate printing of these stamps, to supply + whatever demand may occur. + +The quotation from the _Guide_ appeared in the supplement for April, +1909, and concluded with the sentence:--"Applications for the same +should be made to the Postmaster at Ottawa." + +It might be inferred, perhaps, from the announcement in the _Guide_, +that the activities of the mailing machine companies had induced the +Canadian Post Office Department to cater to their convenience, as had +been done in the United States, by issuing sheets of stamps, only +purchaseable as such, in imperforate form. But no! The Department gave +itself away! Note the following points:--Mr. Severn sent the original +imperforates to Ottawa for examination. They had the plate numbers 13 +and 14 on them. They were returned with the intimation that "it would be +safer not to dispose of the sheet in view of the circumstances under +which it reached the public. It was suggested that Mr. Severn might be +'recouped' the amount that he paid for the stamps if he relinquished +them."[185] Naturally the stamps did not again see Ottawa. Six months +later the Department placed on sale the 2 cent stamp in imperforate +sheets of 100, BUT--it was announced that they could only be procured +from the Postmaster at Ottawa; that only the 2 cent would be available; +that the Department intended to make a _separate printing_ of the +stamps; and when collectors obtained them they were found to be from the +identical plates 13 and 14 of the "irregular" imperforates that Mr. +Severn held, although the regular issues of 2 cent stamps at that time +were being printed from plates numbered at least up to 62. We said +"identical plates," but in view of the early plate numbers and the +delay in issuing the imperforates, the suspicion is strong that new +plates may have been made and given the old numbers. + +[185] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXIII: 190. + +As no other values have since been issued imperforate, and as no other +plate numbers have appeared in the 2 cent imperforate except the +original 13 and 14, there is but one explanation for this "special +printing" on these early plates, and that is an attempt to checkmate the +holder of the originals and "to destroy what may be called an accidental +monopoly of a stamp, the issue of which was not intended previously." As +a clincher we make one more quotation:--"Now that Mr. Lemieux, the +finder of the imperforates, has received the Quarterly Supplement +alluded to, containing the order creating the imperforates neatly +blue-pencilled, it is assumed that the issue of the stamps in this form +has been made with the idea of rendering the sheet that escaped the +department of no value. Thus philately plainly has its influence in this +new emission ... and an interesting variety has been added to the +philatelic supply by reason of the refusal to return the sheet that +accidentally escaped some years ago." + + * * * * * + +The Postmaster General's Reports for the several years of the King's +Head issue (1903 to date) have but little of special interest. The +Report of 30th June, 1903, says:--"Towards the end of the fiscal year a +new series of postage stamps, bearing the portrait of His Majesty King +Edward VII, and comprising five denominations was supplied to Post +Masters so as to be on sale throughout the Dominion on the 1st July, +1903." + +The Report of 1905 states that a Postal Convention between Canada and +Mexico came into operation on 1st July, 1905 by which first, second and +third class matter can be sent from either country to the other at the +domestic rates of the country of origin. + +The fiscal year was once more changed from the 1st July to the 1st April +of each year, so that the Reports of the Postmaster General have been +made up to the 31st March since 1907. The Report of 1908 states that +"for some time past the provisions of the Postal Convention between +Canada and the United States relative to the postage on newspapers and +periodicals passing between the two countries were felt to be +unsatisfactory, and an amendment was made to the Convention (taking +effect on 8th May, 1907) by which the rate was fixed at 1 cent for each +4 ounces, calculated on the weight of each package of newspapers or +periodicals, and prepaid by means of postage stamps affixed. The +amendment was subsequently modified: and copies of legitimate daily +newspapers posted from the office of publication addressed to regular +subscribers and newsdealers, can now be sent from Canada to the United +States and from the United States to Canada at the rate of 1 cent per +pound. Newspapers and periodicals published less frequently than daily +are still subject to the rate of 1 cent per 4 ounces." + +The issue of the "6c. International Reply Coupon" is recorded as having +taken place on the 5th October, 1907. A supply of 500,000 was received +from Berne, and of these 62,625 were distributed. The Report for 1909 +gives but 2,475 issued from headquarters, and the 1910 Report 14,050. + +The 1908 Report also notes the extension of free delivery of letters by +carrier to the following places: in Ontario:--Peterboro, Guelph, Berlin, +Stratford, Windsor, St. Catherines; in Quebec:--Sherbrooke, St. +Hyacinthe, Trois Rivi[e']res; in Prince Edward Island:--Charlottetown; +in Manitoba:--Brandon; in Alberta:--Calgary, Edmonton. + +The Report for 1909 states that "a greatly desired reduction was made in +August 1908, in the rate of postage on letters posted for local delivery +in cities and other places having free letter carrier delivery service. +The former rate was two cents per ounce; the present rate is one cent +per ounce." + +Further changes in newspaper regulations are noted as follows:-- + + Some changes have been made in the regulations respecting newspapers + and periodicals posted from the office of publication addressed to + regular subscribers and newsdealers. (1) The former rate of 1/2 cent + per pound applicable to newspapers and periodicals which required to + be transmitted a distance in Canada exceeding three hundred miles, + or which were addressed for delivery in a place having Free Letter + Carrier Delivery service has been abolished; and now all newspapers + and periodicals published not less frequently than once a month can + be posted from the place of publication to any place in Canada at + the bulk rate of a quarter of a cent per pound. (2) The extent of + the circular area in Canada within which newspapers and periodicals + published no more frequently than weekly and no less frequently than + monthly can be sent free of postage to regular subscribers has been + increased from an area having a radius of 20 miles to an area having + a radius of 40 miles, the center of which may either be the place of + publication or some place not more than 40 miles distant therefrom, + according to the wish of the publisher. + +The following places are given as having had the system of free delivery +of letters by carrier extended to them: in Ontario:--Chatham, Fort +William, Port Arthur, Sarnia, St. Thomas; in New Brunswick:--Moncton; in +Saskatchewan:--Regina; in British Columbia:--New Westminster. + +The Report for 1910 contains nothing special. New Parcels Post +regulations are noted with the United Kingdom, British West Indies, +British Guiana and Mexico, by which the rate is made 12 cents per pound +or fraction, with a limit of 11 pounds. + +In closing the chapter on the King Edward stamps, doubtless ere long to +be superseded by "King George" stamps, it may be well to record the +following statistics in order to note the progress made in the Post +Office Department for the period we have been considering. + + _31st. Mar. '03._ _31st. Mar. '10._ + Number of Post Offices, 10,150 12,887 + " " letters and post cards annually, 262,437,000 501,189,000 + " " registered letters annually, 5,470,000 10,465,000 + " " pieces of 3rd class matter annually, 46,794,000 87,237,000 + " " packets and parcels annually, 3,790,740 7,112,660 + Mileage travelled on mail routes annually, 35,752,087 46,773,727 + Net revenue, $4,366,127.75 $7,958,547.72 + +A very important fact is also to be found on examining the financial +reports of the Department--that from a deficit (as usual for many years) +of $416,183.99 in 1901, and a wee surplus of $5,109.14 in 1902, there +has grown to be a surplus of $743,210.25 in 1910. Evidently Canada's +Post Office Department is at least run efficiently and economically! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE "TERCENTENARY" ISSUE OF 1908 + + +It may be remembered, perhaps, that in our introductory chapter we noted +the fact that the first permanent settlement in Canada was made by +Champlain at Quebec in 1608. As the year 1908 approached, the idea of +celebrating in proper manner the three hundredth anniversary of this +event was strongly agitated, particularly by the French population of +the Province of Quebec. Plans were formed and materialized in the shape +of fetes, historical pageants, etc., which took place at Quebec in July, +1908, and to be present at which the Prince and Princess of Wales made a +special trip across the Atlantic in one of Britain's most powerful +warships. + +In view of former precedents it was to be expected that the Canadian +Post Office Department would also celebrate in a fitting way, and +although a new Postmaster General had taken the place of Sir William +Mulock, he nevertheless arose to the occasion as the following newspaper +despatch shows:-- + + QUEBEC, March 31.--Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux, Postmaster Gen. of Canada, + announces that a series of postage stamps commemorative of the + Champlain tercentenary will be issued at Ottawa on the third of + July, which marks the exact anniversary of the foundation of Quebec + by Champlain. + +No sooner was this fact made known than the Postmaster General was +showered with suggestions of all kinds as to the designs of stamps +appropriate to the occasion. But after the first announcement the Post +Office Department was very reticent in regard to the matter, and letters +of enquiry concerning the proposed issue were answered as evasively as +possible. + +At last the veil was lifted and the following despatch to the _Toronto +Globe_[186] gave definite information concerning the proposed issue:-- + + OTTAWA, July 3, (Special).--Postmaster-General Lemieux has given + instructions to issue a series of postage stamps commemorating the + tercentenary. + + They are eight in number. Four of them bear portraits of persons + dear to Canada, or whose names recall great events. The first + represents the Prince and Princess of Wales; the second the King and + Queen. Next come Cartier and Champlain, and then, in connection with + the battlefields park scheme, Wolfe and Montcalm. + + The second part of the issue represents Cartier's arrival before + Quebec. On the calm waters of the mighty St. Lawrence stand in bold + relief three ships of the discoverer of Canada, flying the + fleur-de-lys. + + As a sequel to the above is a very picturesque tableau. In + Champlain's narrative of his third voyage to Canada is found the + following passage: + + "With our canoes laden with provisions, our arms and some + merchandise to be given as presents to the Indians, I started on + Monday, May 27, from the Isle of Saincte H['e]laine, accompanied by + four Frenchmen and one Indian. A salute was given in my honor from + some small pieces of artillery." + + The artist, under the inspiration of these few lines, has depicted + Champlain's departure for the west. There stand two canoes. In one + Champlain's companions have already taken their places, paddle in + hand, whilst the great explorer is still on shore, bidding good-bye + to a few friends. The picture is full of life. The legend underneath + reads as follows: "Partement de Champlain pour L'ouest." The word + "partement", now obsolete, is the one used by Champlain for the + modern one "d['e]part." + + The same note of old France is used in connection with a view of the + first house in Quebec, indeed in Canada, Champlain's habitation, + which is called in his narrative "l'abitation de Qu['e]becq." This + stamp is a clear reproduction of a cut from Champlain's work. + + Quebec as it was in 1700 is the next view, copied from Bacqueville + de la Potherie's "Histoire de la Nouvelle France." It is a quaint + picture of the old city, showing steeples here and there, the fort + on the river front and in faint lines the Laurentide Mountains in + the background. + + All stamps bear with the words "Canada Postage" the line "IIIe + centenaire de Qu['e]bec." + + The postmaster-general has given special attention to the selection + of portraits and historical scenes to be represented. His choice has + been an excellent one. + + The carrying out of the engraving part of the plan has been + entrusted to Mr. Machado, of the American Bank Note Co., who, with + keen artistic sense, has performed his part of the work with great + success. + +[186] =Ewen's Weekly Stamp News=, No. 462. + +Excellent reproductions of this attractive series will be found as Nos. +46-53 on Plate III. + +The stamps were placed on sale at Ottawa on the 16th July. They are of +the same shape as the Jubilee issue, though the dimensions are 1 mm. +higher and nearly 3 mm. longer. The designs are as already described, +except that the legend "Partement pour l'ouest" does not have +Champlain's name in it, and the dates 1608 and 1908 are placed in the +upper corners. The colors do not wholly correspond with the regular set; +the 1, 2 and 5 cent naturally conform, but the 1/2 cent is in a +black-brown and the 7 cent in the fine olive green of the regular 20 +cent. The 10 cent is also changed to a handsome violet, while the 15 +cent is in orange and the 20 cent in a dark brown. + +The stamps are beautifully engraved, as usual, and printed in sheets of +100, ten rows of ten. Above the 5th and 6th stamps of the top row is the +regular marginal imprint: "OTTAWA--No.--" and the figure representing +the plate number. A peculiar variety has been recorded, however, in the +sheets of the 2 cent value, some of those with plate numbers 3 and 4 +having the imprint _inverted_ in the _bottom_ margin of the sheet.[187] +As it occurs both ways, the only explanation seems to be that the plates +may have printed _two panes_, which were afterwards separated into post +office sheets of 100 stamps each, and that by error, perhaps, the +imprint was inverted on one of these panes. + +[187] =Ewen's Weekly Stamp News=, Nos. 478, 480. + +The plate numbers of the several values are as follows:-- + + Plate No. 1. 1/2c., 7c., 10c., 15c., 20c. + " Nos. 1, 2. 5c. + " Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4. 1c., 2c. + +The stamps are on stout white wove paper and perforated 12. + +It may not be out of place to further describe some of the designs of +these stamps because of their historical interest. Of course the +portraits of the British Royal Family are familiar, that of the Princess +of Wales being the one used on the handsome 4 cent stamp of +Newfoundland, and that of the Prince of Wales being from a photograph +taken by W. and D. Downey of London, just before the Prince's journey to +India in 1906. The portrait of Cartier will also be recognized as the +one that appeared on the early 10d. stamp of the Province of Canada. + +Concerning the picture on the 20 cent stamp, "Arriv['e]e de Cartier, +Qu['e]bec 1535," we find some interesting details given by M. Th. +Lemaire:[188]-- + + In 1533 Jacques Cartier obtained from Philippe de Chabot, Admiral of + France, authority to arm ships "to voyage, discover and conquer in + New France, as well as to find, by the North-west, the passage to + Cathay." On his first voyage he touched Newfoundland, but the + advanced season obliged him to return to France. King Francis I + thereupon ordered him, as a "royal pilot", to arm three vessels for + a second voyage. On the 19th of May, 1535, the flotilla set out from + St. Malo. It was composed of two ships, the _Grande-Hermine_ of 120 + tons and the _Petit-Hermine_ of 80 tons, and a galley, the + _H['e]merillon_, of 40 tons. These are the ones shown on the stamp. + The ships were built with the high bows and sterns of those days, + and were armed with "falconets" (small cannon) along the sides and + "culverins" (long cannon) in a battery on the bridge. The galley was + long and narrow, low in the water, and was propelled both by sails + and oars; it was armed with two small cannon forward and a dozen + large arquebuses. The complement of the three ships comprised in + all--officers, gentlemen, volunteers, chaplains, sailors, workmen, + servants--a hundred and ten men. + + On the 14th September, Cartier arrived at an Indian village, + Stadacon['e], called also by the natives Canada (or _the town_), the + residence of the chief Donnacona. This village was built on the bay + which the river St. Charles forms where it flows into the St. + Lawrence, against the steep flank of a mountain, on the spot where + now is built the south-eastern section of Quebec. The 20-cent stamp + represents this arrival of Cartier at Stadacon['e], the future + Quebec. + + Samuel de Champlain, whose effigy figures on the 1 cent stamp beside + that of Cartier, was sent by Henri IV in 1603 to found a settlement + in Canada. On his first voyage he sailed up the St. Lawrence river + and established friendly relations with the native chiefs. On the + second expedition, in 1608, he disembarked on the 3d July at the + foot of the promontory of Stadacon['e], accompanied by only thirty + men. + + His first care was to find a favorable place to built a "habitation" + with a view to wintering there. "I could find nothing more + convenient or better situated, said he, than the point of + Qu['e]becq, so called by the savages, which was filled with walnut + trees." It was on the same spot where, seventy-three years before, + Cartier had constructed a fort of tree trunks. + + Thanks to the activity displayed by all, the "habitation" was + quickly finished. It was composed of three main houses of two + stories, each measuring fifteen by eighteen feet. The magazine was + thirty-six by eighteen feet, with a six foot cellar. Champlain + lodged in the same building with part of the workmen, but on the + first story. The other buildings served for the workmen and for + storing the arms and munitions. In an ell back of Champlain's + quarters, several artisans slept beside their forge. All around the + buildings a gallery six feet wide served as a promenade. A ditch + fifteen feet wide and six feet deep served to protect the colonists + from the aggressions of the savages. Champlain had several + breastworks thrown up outside the ditch where he placed his cannon. + There remained, between the habitation and the river, only a strip + of land about twenty-five feet wide, and behind, on the side of the + cape, a plot of cultivated ground about 100 to 120 paces by 60 + paces. There Champlain had wheat and rye planted and also set out + vines. + +[188] =Journal des Philat['e]listes=, 5th Series, page 298. + +As with the Jubilee stamps, some special sets were made up for +presentation purposes. The following press clipping gives the +details:[189]-- + + As the Prince of Wales is an enthusiastic collector of stamps, His + Royal Highness will no doubt be very pleased to receive the set of + the special tercentenary stamps which will be presented to him at + Quebec. The stamps will be held in small gold boxes, enclosed in a + handsome large box of Morocco leather. A second set accompanies the + gift in a special gold box. On the cover of the large box is the + Prince's crest and a gold plate inscribed as follows: "Set of + Canadian postage stamps issued upon the occasion of the Quebec + tercentenary, 1908. Presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of + Wales by Hon Rodolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General of Canada." Sets + of these stamps, in boxes with appropriate crests and monograms, + will be presented to Earl Grey, Sir Wilfred Laurier and Hon. + Rodolphe Lemieux. + +[189] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXII: 265. + +Unlike the Jubilee issue, no advance information concerning quantities +printed was given out. Many attempts were made to get this interesting +detail, but without result. Even an interpellation of the +Postmaster-General in the House of Commons was unproductive, as witness +the following excerpt:[190]-- + + Mr. McKechnie sends us information regarding the issue, indicating + that there is to be no such vexatious limits set upon the number to + be printed as was the case with the Jubilee 1/2c. Postmaster-General + Lemieux is reported, in the _Canadian Hansard_, to have said in + answer to a query as to the number printed of each denomination: + "Since the arrangements as to the respective quantities comprising + the series are thus far of a necessarily tentative character, being + largely dependent upon the demand therefor that may arise, no final + estimate has been made of the number to be issued in each + denomination." + +[190] =Canadian Hansard=, 31st March, 1909, page 3754. + +All of which was simply a parliamentary way of saying "mind your own +business", as the full quota of stamps was doubtless printed and +delivered at that time. At any rate, a _Memorandum for the Postmaster_, +issued from headquarters under date of 12th September, 1908, states that +"With the exception of the 10c, 15c and 20c stamps, all of the +Tercentenary postage stamps are now exhausted." However, the question of +the quantity issued was again brought up in the House of Commons, after +some time, and the following two questions propounded by a +member:[191]-- + + 1. What was the total amount received by the Post Office Department + from the sale of the special Tercentenary stamps? 2. What part of + this sum would probably have been received as ordinary revenue if + there had been no special issue of stamps? + + To these questions the Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General, + responded: The following was the issue to Postmasters of the + Tercentenary postage stamps: + + Denominations. Quantities. Value. + 1/2 cent 2,000,000 $10,000 + 1 " 22,530,000 225,300 + 2 " 35,100,000 702,000 + 5 " 1,200,000 60,000 + 7 " 700,000 49,000 + 10 " 500,000 50,000 + 15 " 300,000 45,000 + 20 " 304,200 60,840 + ---------- --------- + Totals, 62,634,200 $1,202,140 + + The department has no knowledge whether the stamps in question have + all been sold, as during their issue the ordinary postage stamps + were also on sale, both issues being in use as preferred by the + public. The proceeds derived from the sale of stamps of the two + issues were not kept separately, but treated as arising from a + common source. It is, therefore, impossible to state to what extent + the issue of the Tercentenary postage stamps may have affected the + ordinary revenue. + +[191] =Ibid.=, XXII: 256. + +The Report of 1909, in referring to this issue, had the following +remarks:-- + + To meet what appeared to be a general wish a special series of + postage stamps, which has come to be known as the Tercentenary + Series, was introduced as a feature of the celebration in July, + 1908, of the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of Quebec + by Champlain. The first supply of these stamps was sent out to + Postmasters about the middle of that month, and was on sale to the + public by the time His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales reached + Quebec for the celebration. The demand for the new stamps was + extraordinary, and for the better part of a month was steadily kept + up. The interest taken in them was, in no small measure, due to the + historic associations with which in design they were so happily + linked, the subjects depicted in the several denominations of the + series being in variety and appropriateness admirably adapted to the + end in view,--popular recognition of an epoch-making event. + +The Report of 1910 notes that the last issue of the Tercentenary stamps +was on Oct. 14, 1908,--apparently the 15 cent denomination. The whole +issue was thus exhausted in three months' time. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE REGISTRATION STAMPS + + +The first mention that we find concerning the registration system in +Canada is in the Postmaster General's report for the year ending 31st +March, 1856, in the following words:--"The number of letters passing +through the Post under the Registration System commenced in May 1855, is +very great, and is rapidly increasing." The number of letters is given +in even figures as 350,000 during the first year. The Report states +further:--"In October 1856, an agreement with the Post Office Department +of the United States took effect for a system of Registration to be +applied to letters passing between the two countries. Under this +arrangement a person posting a letter on either side can, by the +pre-payment of a fee of 3d. in addition to the ordinary postage, secure +a continuous record of its transmission from the place of posting to the +place of destination, where a receipt will be taken and preserved of the +due delivery of the letter so registered." Further details are found in +the postal section of the Canadian Directory for 1857-8, as follows:-- + + Persons transmitting letters, which they desire should pass through + the post as "registered letters," must observe that no record is + taken of any letter unless specially handed in for registration at + the time of posting. Upon all such letters, with the exception of + those addressed to the United States, one penny must be prepaid as a + registration charge. If addressed to the United States, the ordinary + postage rate on the letters to that country _must be prepaid_, and + in addition a registration charge of 3d. per letter. The registry + thus effected in Canada will be carried on by the United States Post + office until the letter arrives at its destination. + + In like manner, letters addressed to Canada may be registered at the + place of posting in the United States, and the registry made there + will accompany the letter to the place of delivery in Canada. + + A certificate of registration will be given by the postmaster if + required. + + The registration system can be applied to the letter portion of the + mail only.... + + _[The Postal Department is not liable for the loss of any registered + letters._] + +The next year's Report gives the number of registered letters posted +annually as computed at 500,000. The Report of 30th September, 1858 also +says: "About 500,000 letters were registered last year", and goes on to +state:--"It is also considered that it would be an improvement on the +system if the charge for registration were made pre-payable by a stamp, +instead of by money as at present." From this it is evident that the +postage stamps were not then used for indicating the payment of the +registration fee. Just when they were permitted to be so employed does +not appear, but it was doubtless within a comparatively short time +thereafter, as we have seen a cover with stamp so used which was dated +in 1862; in fact it seems probable that arrangements for using stamps to +indicate the payment for registration may have accompanied the +introduction of the decimal stamps in 1859. + +Further remarks upon the registration system are found in the Report for +1860, as follows:-- + + A rate of charge for Registration so low as, in no probable degree, + to operate as a motive, with persons posting letters of value, to + deny themselves the advantage of securing from the Post Office an + acknowledgement of the receipt of the specific letter, has always + been considered to be a cardinal point in the Canadian Registration + System. + + The Registration fee, or charge, has, therefore, under the influence + of this consideration, been maintained at 2 cents, though it is + doubtful whether such a rate of charge covers the actual cost of the + process; the address of the Registered Letter having, in the course + of transmission, to be entered on an average not less than six + times, and forms of certificate or receipt, and Books in which to + preserve permanent records at each Post Office, to to supplied. + +From the above it is evident that the domestic rate of registration was +2 cents in 1860, the equivalent of the 1 penny rate already noted as +being in force in 1857, and doubtless the original rate when the system +was inaugurated in 1855--certainly a remarkably cheap fee for the +service. Of course the rate for letters to the United States, which had +been fixed at 3 pence in 1856, was held at the equivalent of 5 cents +upon the change to decimal currency in 1859. + +Nothing further of special interest is found until the Report of 1864, +in which the following dissertation occurs:-- + + When a letter is _registered_, that is to say marked and recorded in + the Post Office so as to individualize it from the bulk of ordinary + letter correspondence, its presence in the Post Office can be + identified and its course of transmission traced, and a registered + letter is thus secured from the chance of abstraction by an + unfaithful messenger employed to post it (as it is always open to + proof whether the letter was posted for registration or not), from + risk of loss by accidental misdirection on the part of the sender, + and from mistakes in the Post Office--such as mis-sending or + delivery to a wrong party. Against actual dishonesty on the part of + the Post Office employ['e]s, a registered letter is incomparably + more secure than an unregistered one, for an unregistered + money-letter leaves no trace behind it whilst passing in the great + stream of ordinary correspondence, though its presence as a + money-letter and the nature of its contents are, to any person + accustomed to handle letters, as manifest as though the letter had + been singled out and marked by the registered stamp. Moreover, the + safety of an unregistered letter in dependent on the integrity of a + Post Office Clerk during the whole time that it remains in his + custody, frequently for hours or even days; whilst a registered + letter will almost invariably have to be acknowledged at the moment + of its passing into an officer's hands, and cannot thereafter be + suppressed without leaving him individually accountable for its + disposal. + +In the Report for 1865 it is stated that "there has been a reduction in +the charge on Registered letters" between Canada and the United Kingdom, +but we are left in the dark as to the amount of the reduction or the new +rate, as far as the Report goes, but in a _Post Office Directory for +1866_ (dated October 1, 1865) we find the following table which gives us +the information desired:-- + + REGISTRATION OF LETTERS. + + The charge for Registration, in addition to the Postage, is as + follows, viz.: + + On Letters to any other place in Canada, + or British North America 2 cents + On Letters for the United States 5 " + On Letters for the United Kingdom 2-1/2 " + On Letters for British Colonies or Possessions, sent + _via_ England 25 " + On Letters for France and other Foreign Countries, + _via_ England, an amount equal to the postage rate. + + Both the postage charge and registration fee must in all cases be + prepaid. + +The _Post Office Act_ 1867 made the domestic registration of letters +containing valuables compulsory, the Postmaster General being empowered +to prescribe and enforce regulations "in respect to the registration by +the officers of the Post Office of letters unquestionably containing +money or other valuable enclosure when posted without registration by +the senders of the same, and to imposing a rate of two cents +registration charge upon such letters."[192] + +[192] 31^o Vict. Cap. X. Sec. 10, par. 11. See page 96. + +The Report for 1868, which was the first of the Dominion of Canada, gave +the statistics of registered letters as 640,000 for Ontario and Quebec +(the former Province of Canada), 24,700 for New Brunswick, and 40,000 +for Nova Scotia, a total registered correspondence of 704,700. The next +year's Report especially notes the increase in the use of the +registration system, the total having advanced to 850,000 pieces, while +the Report for 1870 records an even million. + +Finally in the Report for 1872, we find the first hint of special stamps +for registration purposes, as follows:-- + + It seems expedient to adopt some distinctive postage stamp to be + used only in prepayment of the Registration charge, both to make it + clear that this charge has been duly paid and accounted for in every + case, and to diminish the risk which is occasionally felt at points + of distribution of omitting to carry on the Registration in cases + where the ordinary Registration postmark is not as distinct and + calculated to arrest attention as it should be. + + It has always been the policy of the Canadian Post Office to admit + letters to Registration at a low rate of charge for the additional + security thus given, so as to leave no adequate motive, on the score + of cost, for sending valuable letters through the mails + unregistered; and, doubtless, the very large proportion of such + letters offered for registration demonstrates a gratifying measure + of success in attaining the desired object. + +We have here the reason for the extremely cheap domestic registry fee of +2 cents--a reason which might, possibly with profit, even, enter more +deeply into the calculations and published rates of even larger +countries than Canada. + +The above recommendation did not bear immediate fruit, but after a delay +of three years the suggested special stamps made their appearance on +November 15, 1875. The Report of that year says of them:-- + + Registration stamps have been issued, to be used by the public in + prepaying the registration charges on letters passing within the + Dominion, or to the United Kingdom or United States, each + destination being distinguished by a different colour in the stamp, + as well as by a variation in the amount of registration charge and + corresponding value of the stamp. + + There is a red stamp of the value of two cents for prepayment of the + registration charges on letters within the Dominion. + + There is a green stamp of five cents value for registered letters + addressed to the United States. + + There is a blue stamp of eight cents value for registered letters + addressed to the United Kingdom. + + These stamps are to apply exclusively to the registration charges, + and the postage rates on registered letters are to be prepaid by the + ordinary postage stamps. + + It is believed that the use of these distinctive stamps for the + registration charges, will tend to give registered letters + additional security against the risk which is sometimes felt of the + registration escaping observation, when such letters are dealt with + hurriedly or handled at night, whilst passing through the post. + +The special registration stamps are too well known to need any +particular description, especially as they are excellently illustrated +as Numbers 54, 55 and 56 on Plate III. Like the ordinary postage stamps, +they are engraved on steel and were originally printed in sheets of 50, +ten horizontal rows of five stamps each, which made a sheet of nearly +the same size, only turned through an angle of 90 deg., as the ordinary +sheet of 100 postage stamps. The imprint was the same as the second type +employed for the "small" cents issue--"British American Bank Note Co. +Montreal" in a pearled frame--and likewise appeared four times on the +sheet, as already fully described in the chapter dealing with that +issue.[193] The denomination of the stamp was also expressed as TWO +CENTS, in the shaded Roman capitals which we found in the case of the +postage stamps, over the first stamp in the top row of that value, but +with the 5 cent the word FIVE alone appears. The 8 cent we have not +seen. On the 2 cent there is also a large numeral 2, 7-1/2 mm. high, +over the last stamp in the top row (number 5) but the 5 cent has none. + +[193] See page 125. + +The normal colors for the stamps were:-- + + 2 cents, orange varying through orange red to vermilion. + 5 cents, a slightly yellow green varying from pale to dark. + 8 cents, both bright and dull blue. + +The stamps were printed upon the same ordinary white wove paper as was +used for the contemporary postage stamps. The variation from thin to +thick quality is found in the case of the 2 cent and 5 cent stamps, but +very little variation in the 8 cent stamp. This is explained by the fact +that there were probably but two printings of the latter stamp, 100,000 +having been delivered by the manufacturers according to the Postmaster +General's Report for 30th June, 1875, and 25,000 more according to the +next year's report. + +The stamps were normally perforated 12, but the 2 cents in orange and +the 5 cents in dark green are both known in imperforate condition, the +latter having been chronicled in the _Halifax Philatelist_ for November, +1888. A vertical pair of the 5 cent is shown as illustration No. 115 on +Plate X. + +In the Report for 1877 we find the following:--"The Registration charge +on registered letters between the United Kingdom and Canada has been +reduced from 8 cents to 5 cents by the Post Offices of the United +Kingdom." This naturally dealt a heavy blow at the use of the 8 cent +stamp. The _Stamp Journal_ for February, 1878, said:--"Mr. E. Burpee +states that the 8 cent 'Registered' stamps have been called in, and that +hereafter the fee to Great Britain and foreign countries will be the +same as to the United States--5 cents." The next issue, however, +corrected this:--"After January, 1878, the cost of registering letters +to Great Britain has been fixed at 5 c, the same as to the United +States.... To foreign countries the rate is as before, 8 cents, and +therefore there is no suppression of the 8 cent registered stamps." + +Nevertheless, the rate to foreign countries must have been reduced not +long after, as the statistics for stamps issued to postmasters between +the 1st July, 1878 and the 1st July, 1879 give but 25 of the 8 cent +registered stamp, which must therefore have been sent out early in the +fiscal year. The total issues to postmasters, according to the Reports, +were as under:-- + + 1876 71,950 + 1877 17,200 + 1878 9,400 + 1879 25 + ------ + Total 98,575 + +The number returned as "unfit for use" and presumably destroyed during +the several years was 8,872. This gives a total issue of 89,700 for the +8 cent stamp, according to the Reports; but the Canadian correspondent +of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ stated:[194]--"In 1878 a little over +75,000 of these [original 125,000] were destroyed by order of the +Postmaster-General." This probably means that the stamps were called in +after their usefulness ceased, and allowing for the amount destroyed +during the period of issue gives us perhaps 40,000 as the number +actually issued to the public from post offices. + +[194] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, II: 45:2. + +The 2 cent and 5 cent stamps remained in use, but when the general +revision of rates took place in 1889 the domestic rate was raised to 5 +cents, and the 2 cent stamp lost its usefulness, the 5 cent alone +remaining. We have already reproduced the circular announcing these +changes,[195] and will only repeat here the paragraph relating to the +registration fee:-- + + The fee for the registration of a letter or other article of mail + matter will be five cents upon all classes of correspondence passing + within the Dominion. For the present, and until further instructed, + the registration fee may be prepaid by using the _2 cent + Registration stamps and postage stamps to make up the amount_. + +[195] See page 136. + +This notice was dated 8th May, 1889, and the Report of 30th June +following remarks further:-- + + The charge for the registration of a letter, parcel, book or other + articles of mail matter was also made uniform, and fixed at 5 cents + for all classes of matter. The frequent delay consequent upon the + prepayment of a wrong registration fee will no longer take place. + +The removal of the British American Bank Note Co. from Montreal to +Ottawa, which we have already noted as resulting in some marked changes +in the shades of the regular postage stamps,[196] was not without its +effect upon the registration stamps. Apparently the same ink used for +printing the ordinary 3 cent stamp was used for the 2 cent registration, +for we find both stamps chronicled in the _Halifax Philatelist_ for +October, 1888, as having appeared in a "bright carmine." The usual +catalog designation for this 2 cent registration stamp is "scarlet +vermilion", but we think that "brick red" best describes the ordinary +shade in which these Ottawa printings are found, though the _Halifax +Philatelist_ recorded a "dull rose" tint in March, 1889. + +[196] See page 128. + +The 5 cent stamp was also noted in blue green in the November, 1889, +issue of the _Philatelic Record_, a few months after the regular 2 cent +postage stamp appeared in the same shade, again apparently showing the +use of the same ink in printing both stamps. + +During its regular currency the 2 cent stamp had risen from an issue to +postmasters of 937,000 in 1876 to 2,800,000 in 1889, but the change in +rates caused a drop to 600,000 in 1890, 14,850 in 1891, and 100 in 1892, +while a straggling lot of 400 appeared in 1896. + +The 5 cent stamp was distributed to the amount of about 232,000 in 1876, +but ran up gradually from 135,000 in the next year to half a million in +1889. The increase in rates jumped it to nearly three times this amount +in 1890, and by 1893, when the regular 8 cent stamp was issued for +combined postage and registration, the annual output of the 5 cent +registration stamp was 2,260,000. + +It may be remembered that after the removal of the engraving company +from Montreal to Ottawa certain of the low value postage stamps appeared +printed from plates of two hundred impressions instead of the ordinary +one hundred. In like manner we find that new plates of double size were +made for the 5 cent registration stamp also, these being in one hundred +impressions, ten rows of ten, but without the "Ottawa" imprint which +appeared on the enlarged plates of the regular postage stamps, according +to the _Dominion Philatelist_, which noted the new sheet arrangement in +October, 1892. + +On the 1st August, 1893, the regular 8 cent stamp was issued to prepay +the combined postage and registration fee, and the notice we have +already quoted in that connection stated[197] that when the supply of +the 5 cent registration stamp on hand was exhausted no more would be +issued. The Report for 1894 states that 307,900 were issued to +postmasters for the year ending 30th June, and as over two and a half +millions had been issued in the previous twelve-month, the probability +is that the supply was exhausted about the time of the appearance of the +8 cent postage stamp, and therefore the stock in the hands of +postmasters must have been pretty well used up by 1894. + +[197] See page 143. + +There is one point left in connection with the registration stamps that +deserves mention, as it has so frequently been a bone of contention. The +2 cent stamp was formerly listed in _brown_, and quantities of printer's +ink and valuable space have been wasted in discussing its merits. Mr. +Donald A. King seems to have been the discoverer of the variety, +according to the _Halifax Philatelist_,[198] where it was exploited in +an article which is worth quoting here for its historical value. + +[198] =Halifax Philatelist=, II: 8. + + THE CANADIAN ERROR. + + The Canada 2c. brown registration is at this time mentioned + frequently in the _Figaro_ and several other philatelic + publications. As there seems to be considerable doubt as to the + origin, and as I was in the main instrumental in introducing them to + the philatelic public, I have decided to give the information I + possess on this subject to them. + + About the beginning of January, 1887, I was shown a registered + letter received from Miscou Light House Post Office in New + Brunswick. It had a BROWN 2c. registration stamp on it--a clear + unmistakable dark brown. I immediately wrote the postmaster there + for information relative to them. He answered and said that he had + 23 on hand. That he had originally received 50 from the P. O. Dept. + at Ottawa, and that they were BROWN when he received them. This he + stated positively. I then sent to him for them, but before my letter + reached him he had used two of them so that I received only 21. + + Those stamps I showed to several philatelists, and could not get two + to agree as to their origin. Some said the change in color was due + to the gum, others to chemical changes, others again said it was due + to the atmosphere from the salt water. Very few would allow a + misprint. In the meantime Mr. F. C. Kaye also came across another + registered letter with brown registration stamp. This time it was + from the P. O. of New Ross in Lunenberg Co., N. S. From this office + about 50 were obtained. The postmaster at this office was also + positive as to having received them from the Dept. at Ottawa in + brown. The same objections were raised to those as to the others, as + to whether they were a genuine misprint or not. In this case the + atmosphere of salt water was not the cause as New Ross is in the + interior. If the gum was the cause of their changing color, it is + peculiar that we do not get more of them. Changes by chemical means + were also tried. The only thing which would turn the red of the + genuine color to brown, was sulphuric acid mixed with water, and + this did not give a good clear color, having a somewhat greyish + shade in it. Those experiments have, in my opinion, confirmed their + genuineness. And now as if to make assurances in regard to their + genuineness more sure, we find a third post office with them. This + was Beauly, in Antigonish Co., N. S. There were, however, only 6 + received from there, the postmaster had the same story as the + others, he had received them from the Dept. at Ottawa in a brown + color. + + The Department at Ottawa was written to in regard to them, but as + was to be expected, knew nothing of them whatsoever. No doubt if + they had been seen they would not have been allowed to be issued to + the public. + +Again we find some details given in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_[199] +under "Canadian Notes" which evidently refer to another lot:-- + + In this color the stamps were first issued in 1885, and were + distributed to a number of small towns in Ontario. Some months later + the attention of the Postmaster at Toronto was called to this stamp, + and as he had received no official notification of an emission in + this color, he caused inquiry to be made as to the authenticity of + these stamps. A number of offices that had them on hand were + communicated with, and all the answers were positive in the + statement that the color of the stamps when received had been a + decided brown, and had not undergone the slightest change by the + action of either time or chemicals. A number of these letters are in + the hands of a collector here, and are proof positive that this + stamp was issued in a brown color. + +[199] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, VI: 96. + +In spite of this brave showing, however, it is practically certain that +the stamps are not a misprint but color changelings caused by oxidation, +or rather "sulphuretting" to be more exact, an effect peculiarly liable +to take place with stamps printed in red or orange. The same thing is +found to occur in other Canadian stamps, the 3 pence and 5 cent of the +Beaver type, the first issues of Newfoundland and the 3 cent, 1851, of +the United States, as well as some of the red and orange colored revenue +stamps of the Civil War period. In fact the change is carried almost to +a black, at times, but can be restored to the original color by the +application of hydrogen peroxide. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE POSTAGE DUE STAMPS + + +Canada managed for years, like many other countries, to collect the +postage due on insufficiently prepaid mail matter by merely marking the +amount on the cover. The use of stamps as checks on those responsible +for making the collections seems not to have been appreciated, or more +probably was not deemed necessary. At last the advantages of such a +system seem to have become manifest, and in the Postmaster General's +Report for the 30th June, 1906, we find the following:-- + + A system of accounting for short paid postage collected by + Postmasters, by means of special stamps known as "Postage Due" + stamps, has been adopted by the Department. These stamps are to be + affixed to short paid mail matter and cancelled by Postmasters when + such matter is delivered to the addressee, and are not to be used + for any other purpose. They cannot be used for the payment of + ordinary postage, nor are they to be sold to the public. + + The denominations of these stamps are 1, 2 and 5 cents. + +The first issue of the stamps to postmasters was on the 1st June, 1906, +but the system did not come into operation until a month later. The +following is the official notice with the technical portions omitted:-- + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + + OTTAWA, 1st June, 1906. + + _Circular to Postmasters of Accounting Offices._ + + Commencing on the 1st July, 1906, the present system of collecting + unpaid postage will be discontinued and thereafter the following + arrangements will supersede the regulations now in force:-- + + (1) The Department will issue a special stamp which will be known as + the "POSTAGE DUE" stamp and on delivery of any article of mail + matter on which unpaid or additional postage is to be collected the + Postmaster will affix and cancel as ordinary stamps are cancelled, + postage due stamps to the amount of extra postage charged on such + article. + + (2) The short paid postage must be collected from the addressee + before postage due stamps are affixed; otherwise the Postmaster is + liable to lose the amount of such postage. + + (3) Postmasters will obtain postage due stamps on requisition to the + Department but the initial supply will be furnished without + requisition, so that the new system may go into operation on the + date above mentioned. When a new form is ordered "postage due" + stamps will be included in the printed list, but it is proposed to + use the stock on hand at present which would otherwise have to be + destroyed. The denominations of the new stamps will be 1, 2 and 5 + cents. + +The new stamps were of the same size as the regular postage stamps, but +with the longer dimension horizontal. A large numeral in a central +tablet flanked by an acanthus scroll at each side, CANADA above, CENTS +below, and POSTAGE DUE in block letters along the bottom, all on an +engine-turned groundwork, make a very neat and effective design for the +purpose intended. [Illustrations Nos. 58, 59 and 60 on Plate III.] The +engraving is of course in the usual steel plate process, and the sheets +are of 100 stamps in ten rows of ten. The marginal imprint is at the +center of the top of the sheet and is the same as for the later postage +issues, "OTTAWA--No--1" or "2". So far there have appeared the following +plate numbers:-- + + 1 cent No. 1 + 2 " " 1 and 2 + 5 " " 1 + +The numbers printed, according to the Reports, have been as follows:-- + + 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 + 1 cent 500,000 700,000 300,000 600,000 + 2 " 1,100,000 500,000 900,000 900,000 1,300,000 + 5 " 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 400,000 + +All three values were printed in the same shade of dark violet, but in +1909 the 5 cent was reported in a red violet. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP + + +The Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1898, contained the +following announcements:-- + + The calendar year has witnessed the introduction of the special + delivery stamp, whereby on the payment of a delivery fee of 10 cents + in addition to the ordinary postage, a letter immediately upon its + arrival at the office of destination is sent by special messenger + for delivery to the addressee. + + A special-delivery stamp of the face-value of 10 cents was prepared, + and the first supplies thereof were sent out sufficiently early to + Postmasters to permit of the inauguration of the special delivery + service on the 1st July, 1898. The object of this service is to + secure special and prompt delivery of a letter on which a + special-delivery stamp, in addition to the ordinary postage, has + been affixed. + +The following circular gives the details of the new system:-- + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + + OTTAWA, 7th June, 1898. + + _Circular to Postmasters._ + + The Postmaster General has approved of arrangements whereby, on and + from the first of July proximo, the senders of letters posted at any + Post Office in Canada and addressed to a City Post Office now having + Free Delivery by Letter Carriers shall, on prepayment by Special + Delivery stamps of the face-value of ten cents, affixed one to each + letter, in addition to the ordinary postage to which the same are + liable, secure their special delivery to the persons to whom they + are addressed within the limits of Letter Carrier Delivery at any + one of the following Post Offices in Cities, viz:--Halifax, St. + John, N. B., Fredericton, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, + Toronto, Brantford, Hamilton, London, Winnipeg, Victoria and + Vancouver. The hours of delivery to be within 7 a. m. and 11 p. m. + daily, except Sunday. These hours are subject to change as dictated + by local circumstances. + + Drop-letters posted for local delivery, and bearing Special-Delivery + stamps, in addition to the postage, will also be entitled to special + delivery in the same manner as letters received at the Post Office + by mail. + + Registered letters may likewise come under the operations of this + scheme of Special Delivery, in the same way as ordinary letters, + provided they bear Special-Delivery stamps, in addition to the full + postage and the registration fee fixed by law, and the regulations + respecting the record and receipting of registered matter are + observed. In despatching registered letters that bear + Special-Delivery stamps, the Postmaster should write prominently + across the registered-package envelope the words "For Special + Delivery". When Special-Delivery letters (unregistered) number five + or more for any one office the Postmaster should make a separate + package of them, marking it "For Special Delivery"; if such letters + are fewer than five, he should place them immediately under the + "facing-slip" of the letter-package which he makes up, either + directly or indirectly, for the Special-Delivery office for which + they are intended, so that the most prompt attention may be secured + therefor. + + Special-Delivery stamps will be sold at all Money Order Post Offices + in Canada, (which may secure a supply of such stamps in the same way + as ordinary stamps are obtained,) for which the Postmasters will + have to account as they do for ordinary stamps, and on the sales of + which a total commission of 10 per cent, shall be allowed to + Postmasters, except to Postmasters having fixed salaries. For the + present Postmasters will use the existing forms of requisition in + applying for Special-Delivery stamps. (The usual discount may be + allowed to a licensed stamp vendor at the time that he purchases + Special-Delivery stamps from the Postmaster). Special-Delivery + stamps are to be cancelled as postage stamps are cancelled. Stamps + intended for Special Delivery are not available for any other + purpose, and the article upon which one is affixed must have, + besides, the ordinary postage prepaid by postage stamps. Under no + circumstances will Special-Delivery stamps be recognized in payment + of postage or of registration fee, nor can any other stamp be used + to secure Special Delivery, except the Special-Delivery stamp. + Special-Delivery stamps are not redeemable. + + Letters intended for Special Delivery at any one of the City Post + Offices above mentioned, and prepaid as directed, may be mailed at + any Post Office in Canada. + + The regulations relating to First Class Matter (Inland Post) apply + also and equally to Special-Delivery letters, the only difference + being the special treatment which the latter receive with a view to + accelerating their delivery. + + The object sought by the establishment of Special Delivery,--namely, + the special delivery of letters transmitted thereunder,--will be + much promoted if the senders of all such letters are careful to + address them plainly and fully, giving, if possible, the street and + number in every case. Such care will serve not only to prevent + mistakes, but also to facilitate delivery. + + All employees of the Post Office are enjoined to expedite, in every + way in their power, the posting, transmission and delivery of + letters intended for Special Delivery. + + * * * * * + + R. M. COULTER, + _Deputy Postmaster General_. + +For a description of the stamp itself we cannot do better than quote the +_Montreal Witness_:-- + + The Special Delivery stamp differs materially in design and size + from the ordinary series, the dimensions of the engraved work being + 1-1/4 inches long by 7/8 of an inch wide [31 x 23 mm.]. The + advantage of such a contrast is obvious. The letter to which a + Special Delivery stamp is affixed can thus be at once picked out by + those handling the mails including it, and its delivery greatly + hastened. The design of the Special Delivery stamp is without any + vignette, and consists substantially of a panel across the top + containing the words "CANADA POST OFFICE", with a lathe-work border + round the other three sides of the stamp. The center of the stamp is + occupied by an oval containing lathe-work, with the word "TEN" in + the center, and the phrase "SPECIAL DELIVERY WITHIN CITY LIMITS" in + a white letter, on a solid panel encircling the word "TEN". On each + side of the stamp, connecting the oval with the border, is a circle + with the numeral "10"; the space between the oval and the border is + occupied by ornamental work. At the bottom of the stamp, in the + lathe-work border, appears a white panel with the words "TEN CENTS". + +The stamp is illustrated as Number 57 on Plate III. It is line engraved +and printed in sheets of 50, ten rows of five. The usual imprint, +OTTAWA--No.--1, is found in the margin at the top of the sheet, over the +third stamp. But one plate number has yet appeared. The color was at +first a deep green which in 1908 took on a bluish cast. The paper used +is the thick white wove ordinarily employed for the regular postage +series, and the stamp has also appeared on the toned paper on which the +1 cent postage is known. The annual requisitions from the manufacturers +have increased from 25,000 in 1898 to 112,500 in 1910. + + * * * * * + +To return to the Postmaster General's Reports. That of the 30th June, +1899, states:--"The 10 cent Special-Delivery stamp, to which reference +was made in the last report, came into use at the beginning of the +current fiscal year, simultaneously with the commencement of the +Special-Delivery Service, and of this stamp 52,940 were issued to meet +the demands, which would go to show that the service is being availed +of to a considerable extent throughout the country." The date of the +first issue of the special delivery stamp to postmasters is given as the +28th June, 1898. + +No further mention is made of the service until the Report dated 31st +March, 1908, which says that the special delivery service had been +extended to thirteen places where free carrier service had been +installed,[200] and further that "the regulations respecting special +delivery have been so modified that it is no longer necessary for a +person despatching a letter, which he desires to have delivered +immediately, to provide himself with the 'special delivery' stamp issued +by the department. He may now place upon his letter ordinary postage +stamps to the value of ten cents in addition to the stamps required for +prepayment of postage and write across the corner of the envelope the +words 'special delivery'. This will ensure the special delivery of the +letter as provided for in the regulations." + +[200] See page 197. + +The Report for 1909 states that the service has been extended to the +eight places where free letter delivery by carrier had been installed +during the year.[201] + +[201] =Ibid.= + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE "OFFICIALLY SEALED" LABELS + + +Strictly speaking, the so-called "officially sealed stamps" are not +stamps, as that term is technically employed in philately. To the +uninitiated any design impressed upon a label, whether gummed and +perforated or not, may be termed a stamp; but the ordinarily accepted +use of the term has been restricted, at least in philatelic lore, to the +label that represents a value, collected or chargeable, in the service +in which it is employed. There may therefore be postal, telegraph or +fiscal stamps, and because of the identity in use--to show that _no_ fee +is required,--we can stretch our definition to include franking labels, +such as are often used officially. But the "officially sealed" label +performs no such function, and is, as its name implies, simply a _seal_ +which fulfils that purpose alone and therefore does not properly belong +in the company of postage stamps. Our only reason for touching upon +these labels here is that they have been included in some of the +catalogs for years and many collectors possess them; consequently it +seems desirable to give their history along with that of their more +worthy prototypes. + +The label figured as Number 117 on Plate X, seems to have been first +reported in _Le Timbre-Poste_ for October, 1879, and its date of issue +is usually given as that year. But little seems to have been known about +it for some time, which perhaps was partly due to its scarcity and +partly because it did not attract the notice that a regular postage +stamp issue would have. + +The London Society's book quoted a somewhat ambiguous explanation of the +use to which the label was put, which had appeared in the _Halifax +Philatelist_;[202] but it remained for Major Evans to clear up the +matter in the columns of the _Philatelic Record_.[203] We cannot do +better than quote this in full:-- + + With reference to what is said about the Canadian + _officially-sealed_ label in the London Society's new book, I am + glad to be able to throw some light upon the question as to the + manner of its employment. + + When I was in Canada last July [1889] I made special enquiries about + these labels, as there appeared to be some mystery about their use. + Everyone agreed that they were not placed upon _all_ letters opened + at the Dead Letter Office and returned to their senders, and no two + persons seemed to have quite the same theory as to the rules for + their employment or non-employment in any particular case. Even + gentlemen connected with the Post-Office at Halifax, such as Mr. + King and others, could give me no definite information. I therefore + determined to see what I could do at the head-quarters at Ottawa. + + Fortunately, I was able, through a collector in an official + position, to obtain an introduction to the Deputy + Postmaster-General, who most kindly gave me the following + particulars, which show that the employment of the _officially + sealed_ labels is very restricted, thus accounting for their rarity. + + Letters in Canada, as in the United States, very frequently have on + the outside the well-known notice containing the address of the + sender, and a request that the letter may be returned if not + delivered within a certain time. These of course are not opened at + the Dead Letter Office, and in fact, I think, are ordered not to be + sent there, but are returned direct from the office to which they + were originally addressed or from the head office of the district. + On the other hand, those that have no indication of the address of + the sender on the outside are sent to the Dead Letter Office, and + there necessarily opened; but neither of these classes thus properly + dealt with is considered to require the _officially-sealed_ label. + It is only if one of the former class, having the sender's name and + address on the outside, is sent to the Dead Letter Office and there + opened in _error_ that the _officially-sealed_ label is applied, to + show that such letter has been opened officially, and not by any + unauthorized person. Whether these pieces of gummed paper ever had a + more extended use or not I cannot say, but I was assured that the + above was the substance of the regulations as to their employment. + + The Deputy Postmaster-General further stated that there had been so + many requests for specimens of these labels that the Department had + been obliged to make it a rule to turn a deaf ear to all of them. + + In any case they are not _postage stamps_, properly speaking, at + all. They indicate neither postage paid nor postage due, but simply + that the letters to which they are attached have been opened by + proper authority, and they at the same time afford a means for + reclosing them. + +[202] =North American Colonies of Great Britain=, page 19; =Halifax +Philatelist=, I: 15. + +[203] =Philatelic Record=, XI: 210. + +The labels are of relatively large size, being 25-1/2 by 38 mm. The +design is mostly engine-turned work, with the words OFFICIALLY SEALED on +a label across the center; above this appears, in a curve, POST OFFICE +CANADA, and beneath likewise DEAD LETTER OFFICE. The label is a fine +piece of line engraving, but we have been unable to ascertain the size +of the sheets in which it was printed. Doubtless the usual four +marginal imprints were employed, being the "Montreal" type in pearled +border. + +It seems to be the general idea that the first printing of the labels, +which were in a dark red-brown, was the only one, but no information is +at hand concerning the quantity delivered. At any rate in the Canadian +Notes in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ for November 30, 1892 we read +that:--"From a reliable source it is learned that the old die of the +Canada official seal stamp has been spoiled or rather destroyed for +further use by the Bank Note Company, who have possession of it." We +suggest that the words "spoiled" and "destroyed" have been transposed in +the original, the meaning evidently being that the die had been defaced +as of no further use. + +The labels were normally perforated the usual 12, but the same journal +for April 13, 1892 reports that a whole sheet had been seen in an +imperforate condition. + +Though various rumors that the use of these labels was to be +discontinued are to be found in the late "90's" and early "00's", and +though the defacing of the die would perhaps indicate such intention, +yet a new issue in changed design made its appearance about 1905, which +was of course engraved by the American Bank Note Co., who then held the +contract for furnishing stamps. This handsome label, figured as Number +116 on Plate X, was adapted from the magnificent "Law Stamps" of the +"series of 1897", which stand as some of the finest fiscal stamps ever +issued. The central vignette, with its portrait of Queen Victoria at the +time of the Diamond Jubilee, the word CANADA arched above, and the +engine-turned border, are reproduced in their entirety from the fiscal +stamp; DEAD LETTER OFFICE and more engine-turned work replace the LAW +STAMP inscription of the prototype beneath the vignette, and OFFICIALLY +SEALED is filled in in block letters of varying heights at the top. + +The labels are of course line engraved and perforated 12, but the sheet +arrangement or details of quantity printed cannot be given. They were +issued at first on a pale blue paper, but subsequently, about 1907, +appeared on plain white paper. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE STAMPED ENVELOPES + + +In its issue for June, 1904, the _London Philatelist_[204] illustrated a +cover, submitted by Mr. E. B. Greenshields of Montreal, which had the +appearance of a provisional 3d. envelope. Concerning it Mr. Greenshields +said:--"This letter was posted in New Carlisle, Gasp['e], Lower Canada, +on April 7th, 1851, and was stamped 'Three Pence' in two lines, inside a +square, with a black border of neat design round the sides. Across this +was written 'Letter R. W. Kelly Apl. 1851'. The letter was addressed to +Toronto, C. W., and on the other side was stamped the date the letter +was received, 'Apl. 16, 1851.'" The design was printed on the right +upper corner of the envelope, "Three Pence" being in script type of a +style then in vogue, and the border being a common type of loops. No +stamp appeared on the cover nor the word PAID. + +[204] =London Philatelist=, XIII: 153. + +On enquiry of the Post Office Department at Ottawa the following reply +was sent:-- + + OTTAWA, _2nd. March_, 1904. + + SIR,--I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your communication of + the 26th ultimo, inquiring whether R. W. Kelly was Postmaster of New + Carlisle, Co. Gasp['e], Quebec, in 1851, and in reply am directed to + inform you that R. W. Kelly, doubtless the same man, was Postmaster + of New Carlisle in 1851.... + + As regards your inquiry as to whether postage stamps were used on + the 7th April, 1851, and your statement that you have an envelope + sent on that date from New Carlisle to Toronto with "Three Pence" + printed on it, inside a fancy border, I have to say that postage + stamps were issued to the public for the first time on the 23d + April, 1851, and that stamped envelopes were not issued until some + years later. The stamped envelope to which you refer may have been + an envelope so stamped on the prepayment in the New Carlisle Post + Office of three pence, the required charge for postage. + + I am, sir, your obedient servant, + + WILLIAM SMITH, _Secretary_. + + + +Inasmuch as the impression is type-set and printed, it was doubtless a +scheme of the Postmaster to prepare the envelopes and save stamping them +with the office seals afterwards, as would be necessary if no adhesive +stamp were attached. The cover in question was evidently used for his +own convenience, but its use as a stamped envelope would depend upon +whether it was sold to the public for their convenience as a prepaid +cover. Under such conditions it would assume a character akin to the +Postmaster's Provisionals of the United States, but no such evidence has +been forthcoming, nor are other copies known. It is an interesting +cover, particularly because of the lack of the word PAID, which should +have been stamped upon it as well as the indication of the amount, +according to the rules in force before adhesive stamps were used to +indicate prepayment in themselves; but it had no government sanction, +and has not yet been shown to have even the rank of a "semi-official +issue." + +Although following closely upon the heels of the United States in +issuing postage stamps, less than four years having intervened, Canada +was not so eager to introduce the stamped envelope, for she waited over +six years before following the example of her big neighbor. The first +reference to the innovation is found in the Postmaster General's Report +for 30th September, 1859 (although the Report is actually dated 20th +February, 1860), and reads as follows:-- + + For the promotion of public convenience by facilitating the + prepayment of letters, Stamped Envelopes bearing Medallion Stamps of + the postage value of 5c. and of 10c. respectively have been procured + and issued for sale to the public, at an advance of 1/2 a cent on + the value of each stamp, to cover the cost of the envelope, and of + engraving the stamp, &c. + +The precise date of issue does not seem to be on record, but the year +1860 is always given. From the stamp accounts, quoted below, we find the +quantity issued for sale is qualified by the remark "during 8 months to +Sept. 30", which would indicate that the envelopes were issued about the +1st February, 1860; and we have therefore assigned this date to them +until a more authoritative one is produced. + +The next reference to the envelopes, including the accounts, appears in +the Report for the year ending 30th September, 1860, as follows:-- + + STAMPED ENVELOPES. + 5c. 10c. Value + Received from Mfrs. 200,000 100,000 21,500.00 + Issued for sale during 8 months to Sept. 30, 136,177 45,651 12,283.09 + ------- ------- --------- + Remaining, 63,823 54,349 9,216.91 + + The number of Stamped Envelopes, actually used by the public, has + been but small, as a considerable proportion of those issued remain + in the hands of Postmasters. + +The cost of manufacture of the stamped envelopes was included, as we +have already seen,[205] in the payments made to the American Bank Note +Co. for stamps, etc., in 1860, so that they were obtained from that +firm. They were not manufactured by them, however, but by George F. +Nesbitt & Co. of New York, who at that time held the contract for +supplying the United States Government with stamped envelopes. The +similarity of the stamped impression, both in size and general +arrangement, to the United States envelope dies of 1860 will be noted, +and the paper used for the envelopes will be found to be similar, even +to the watermark, while the two "knives" used for cutting the envelope +blanks will be found to agree with numbers 2 and 11 of the Tiffany, +Bogert and Rechert catalog. It was evidently a case of the Bank Note Co. +subletting the contract to Nesbitt, who was regularly in the business. + +[205] See page 90. + +Nothing further appears in the Reports in regard to the stamped +envelopes, except the tables of statistics, until the Report of 30th +June, 1864, which says:--"In order to promote the use of the Stamped +Envelopes a reduction in the price to the public was made from 1st +October, 1864, from $5.50 per 100 for the five cent and $10.50 per 100 +for the ten cent envelopes, to $5.30 and $10.30 per 100 respectively." +But even this bait did not attract, for the next year's Report +remarks:--"The recent reduction in the price of stamped envelopes has +not led to any material increase in the demand." For two years longer +the accounts are given, but with the first Report of the Dominion of +Canada, for the year ending 30th June, 1868, they disappear, the +envelopes evidently having been given up as a bad investment at the +close of the accounts of the Province of Canada, when it was merged into +the Dominion. + +We have already quoted the figures for the first supplies received and +the quantities first issued to postmasters. It may be well to give the +entire record for its historical value:-- + + 5 cent. 10 cent. + Balance on hand, 30th Sept. 1860, 63,823 54,349 + Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 1,529 1,905 + ------ ------ + 65,352 56,254 + Issued for sale during year, 20,700 806 + ------ ------ + Balance on hand, 30th Sept. 1861, 44,652 55,448 + Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 251 314 + ------ ------ + 44,903 55,762 + Issued for sale during year, 9,595 844 + ------ ------ + Balance on hand, 30th Sept. 1862, 35,308 54,918 + Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 4 + ------ ------ + 35,308 54,922 + Issued for sale during year, 15,200 900 + ------ ------ + Balance on hand, 30th Sept. 1863, 20,108 54,022 + Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 5,000 2,997 + ------ ------ + 25,108 57,019 + Issued during 9 months, 14,800 850 + ------ ------ + Balance on hand, 30th June, 1864, 10,308 56,169 + Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 6,444 5,632 + Received from manufacturers, 25,000 + ------ ------ + 41,752 61,801 + Issued for sale during year, 23,583 5,698 + + Balance on hand 30th June, 1865, 18,169 56,103 + Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 382 225 + ------ ------ + 18,551 56,328 + Issued to 30th June, 1866, 16,225 625 + ------ ------ + Balance 30th June, 1866, 2,326 55,703 + Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 193 + ------ ------ + 2,326 55,896 + Deduct envelopes short received, 10 + ------ ------ + 2,316 55,896 + Issued to 30th. June, 1867, 2,270 172 + ------ ------ + Balance 30th. June, 1867, 46 55,724 + + + +These figures are the last that appear concerning the first issue of +envelopes, the next Report, as already stated, having no mention of them +at all. It was very probably because there were not enough to supply the +added Provinces of the Dominion, in the case of the 5 cent envelopes, +and principally because they did not seem to be popular enough to +warrant continuing their use that the envelopes did not remain in issue +under the Dominion Government. + +An inspection of the above table shows that the 5 cent envelopes were +apparently issued at an average rate of perhaps 15,000 a year, while 800 +only of the 10 cent were ordinarily put forth. This might indicate a +fair consumption of the lower value by the public, particularly as the +total receipt from the manufacturers was 225,000 and but 46 remainders +are given at the close of the account. But it must be remembered that +the table gives the quantities "issued to postmasters" and not the sales +to the public by the postmasters. We know the public did not take +particularly to the use of the envelopes, so that there were doubtless +large quantities of them in postmaster's hands when their sale was +discontinued. These would naturally be returned to the Department and +destroyed, which would of course materially reduce the quantity issued +as taken from the tables. Unfortunately these latter figures have not +been obtainable; but it is certain from the rarity of used copies that +nothing like 224,954 of the 5 cent and 44,276 of the 10 cent envelopes +could have been sold to the public. We are able to illustrate an entire +used copy of each value as Numbers 130 and 131 on Plate XIV. + +[Illustration] + +As already stated, the envelope stamps were very similar in size and +style to the United States envelope dies of 1860. The inscription CANADA +POSTAGE is in the frame above the head and the value below, reversing +the United States arrangement, and there are no stars separating the +legends. The embossed head of Queen Victoria was evidently copied from +the profile used on the 1 cent stamp of 1859. The 5 cent stamp is +printed in vermilion and the 10 cent in dark brown. There was but one +size of envelope, 5-1/2 x 3-1/4 inches (140 x 83 mm.), and but one +quality of paper for the first order--a white laid paper with a slightly +yellowish tone, watermarked with the letters Ca over POD (Canada Post +Office Department) which appears about twice in each envelope. The paper +was cut so that the laid lines run diagonally, and the knife used was +that numbered 2 in the Tiffany, Bogert and Rechert catalog of United +States envelopes, with rounded flap and yellowish gum, extending nearly +the length of the flap. + +In the table given it will be noticed that 25,000 more 5 cent envelopes +were received from the manufacturers in 1865. These latter were on a +white paper of similar quality with a slightly bluish tone, and a +slightly different knife had been used in cutting the blanks, which +corresponds to that numbered 11 in the catalog quoted. The difference +consists mainly in a more pointed flap than the first knife. + +The _London Philatelist_ for December, 1896, contained the following +startling announcement under the head of CANADA:[206]-- + + Mr. L. Gibb, of Montreal, kindly submitted to his fellow members of + the London Philatelic Society, at a recent meeting, a curious + variety among the stamps of the Colony he resides in. The specimen + in question was the 10 c. envelope of 1860 impressed in vermilion, + instead of its normal colour--brown, and being presumably printed in + error in the color of the 5c. The stamp was unfortunately cut round, + but was on the diagonally laid paper usual to the Issue, duly + postmarked, and, in the opinion of the members present, had every + appearance of authenticity, although surprise was expressed that so + marked a variety should never have been noted before. + +[206] =London Philatelist=, V: 345. + +Nothing further has apparently been learned about it since, but in the +face of the above statements and opinions it seems necessary to record +it. + +Both values were reprinted[207] by the Nesbitt Company in 1868 on pieces +of white wove paper and also vertically laid buff paper, the 5 cent +copying the color of the original, but the 10 cent being in a dark red +brown instead of black brown. They were also printed in the same colors +on entire envelopes of white and buff laid paper with the POD over US +watermark of the regular United States stationery. These were a size +smaller than the regular Canadian envelopes, being 137x77 mm. A further +variety is noted in the _Catalogue for Advanced Collectors_,[208] as +follows:--"There is also a second type of the 5c to be found on the same +papers as above reprints which was probably struck off in the same year. +The stamp is a trifle larger and the head smaller than on the accepted +die; this is probably a die prepared by Nesbitt but refused by the +Canadian Government." + +[207] =American Journal of Philately=, 2nd Series, III: 165. + +[208] =Ibid.= + +The Dominion Government, which discarded the Provincial stamped +envelopes from the beginning, did not essay anything in that line for +nearly ten years. Finally the following notice was sent out:-- + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA + + OTTAWA, 6th October, 1877. + + STAMPED ENVELOPES. + + 1. Letter envelopes bearing an impressed postage stamp of one cent, + and three cents respectively, are ready for issue to Postmasters and + through their agency to Stamp Vendors for sale to the public. + + 2. These envelopes when issued to Postmasters will be charged to + them, and will have to be accounted for by them at the following + rates: + + One cent envelopes, $1.30 + Three cent do No. 1 size, 3.30 + do do No. 2 size, 3.35 + + 3. The three-cent envelopes are of two sizes, No. 2 being larger + than No. 1 and Postmasters, when asking at any time for a supply, + will be careful to state how many of each size they want. + + 4. Postmasters and Stamp Vendors will be required to sell these + envelopes at the above rates per hundred to the public, and when a + request is made for a single envelope, or for any number less than a + hundred, the charge for the same must be made by the Postmaster or + Stamp Vendor, as near the exact proportionate value, as compared + with the above rates per hundred, as the fraction will permit + without loss to the Postmaster or Stamp Vendor, thus ten of the + three-cent envelopes, No. 1 size, should be sold for thirty-three + cents, five for seventeen cents, and two for seven cents. + + 5. When used these envelopes will represent the pre-payment of + postage to the amount of the stamp impressed thereon, and when used + for letters weighing more than 1/2 an oz., or on which the + pre-payment is required of more than is represented by the impressed + stamp, the difference may be affixed by ordinary postage stamps. + + 6. The impressed stamp must be carefully cancelled by Postmasters + when the envelopes are posted. + + 7. An impressed stamp cut from an envelope cannot be used for + pre-payment of postage in any shape, and when detached from the + envelope on which it was impressed, it loses all value as a postage + stamp. + + 8. In the accounts rendered by Postmasters, the amounts of stamped + envelopes received from the Department and sold to the public or to + Vendors, are to be added to the postage stamp items. + + * * * * * + + L. S. HUNTINGTON, + _Postmaster General._ + */ + + /# + _Memo._--Stamped Envelopes are to be sold to the public at the following + prices by Postmasters and Stamp Vendors:-- + #/ + + Per + Hundred. Per Ten. For Single Envelopes. + + 1 Cent Envelopes $1.30 13 cents 2 cents, or 3 cents for 2 + 3 do do No. 1 size $3.30 33 cents 4 cents, or 7 cents for 2 + do do No. 2 size $3.35 34 cents 4 cents, or 7 cents for 2 + +Curiously enough no mention is made in the Postmaster General's Report +of either the issue of the stamped envelopes or their reception by the +public, such as was the case with their predecessors in 1860. We find +from the stamp accounts, however, that the first supplies received from +the manufactures were 554,250 of the 1 cent; 1,257,000 of the 3 cent +size 1; and 564,250 of the 3 cent size 2. Further supplies of the 1 cent +were not needed until two years later, of the 3 cent size 1 until three +years later, and of the 3 cent size 2 until four years later, so it is +evident that no great popular demand sprang up for them. + +The 1 cent envelope, which was intended for the local or "drop letter" +rate, was issued in numbers averaging about 150,000 a year up to 1889, +when the Post Office Act of that year, which increased the limit of +weight of the single rate letter from 1/2 to 1 ounce and fixed the drop +letter rate at 2 cents per ounce for cities having a free delivery +service,[209] caused a falling off in the issue to 62,000 in the 1890 +Report, and this gradually diminished to about 25,000 per annum in the +Report for 1897, when the stamp under discussion was superseded by a new +design. + +[209] See page 136. + +The 3 cent envelopes, being the regular letter rate, had a larger use; +nevertheless the issue of the No. 1 size fell gradually from some +250,000 in 1879 to about 50,000 in 1897. The No. 2 size proved more +popular, though the demand was somewhat erratic. The issue went from +78,000 in 1879 to 116,000 in 1884; then averaged about 85,000 for three +years; next averaged about 120,000 for four years; and finally returned +to the 85,000 mark for the next six years, when a new issue took its +place. + +The design of these envelope stamps is in all respects similar to the +early type, but they are about half again as large. The embossed head +of the Queen is copied from the profile on the "large" cent stamps of +1868 and is tilted forward rather awkwardly in the frame. The 3 cent is +printed in bright red varying to rose, but the 1 cent instead of +following the yellow color of the adhesive is printed in blue, which +varies from quite pale to very dark. The envelopes were manufactured by +the British American Bank Note Co. from white laid unwatermarked paper, +and have a pointed flap with gum extending nearly the whole length. The +smaller sized envelope was also issued with the flap rounded into a +tongue, but the larger sized envelope is not known in this form. These +"tongued flap" envelopes were apparently an early variety, as the +_Philatelic Monthly_ records the 3 cent in its issue for April, 1878. +The 1 cent, however, does not seem to have been noted until the June, +1884 issue of _Le Timbre-Poste_. + +[Illustration] + +The earlier printings of the envelopes were upon a laid paper that had +the "cross vergures", or single laid lines that regularly cross the +general run, at a spacing of 18 mm. from each other. About 1888 another +paper came into use which had these "cross vergures" spaced 24 mm. +apart, and in some cases 27 mm. The two papers can be told at a glance +as they varied in tone, the latter variety having a slight cream tint +and the former being a pure white. These two varieties are of course +more noticeable in the entire envelope than in cut squares, and have +been listed as "rosy white" and "bluish white" papers, but we feel +unable to distinguish them thus as the terms seem wholly inapplicable. + +The 1 cent envelope was chronicled in ultramarine in April, 1897, of +course on the small sized envelope and the cream toned laid paper.[210] + +[210] =Monthly Journal=, VII: 175. + +In May, 1896, the _Philatelic Record_ stated[211] that "Our publishers +have the envelope of the 3 cents red value with stamp roughly +lithographed instead of being embossed. Mr. J. B. Lewis, of Ottawa, says +only 110 were printed." This was a somewhat startling statement, and +Major Evans thus comments on it:[212]-- + + There have been reports of late, in various quarters, of a certain + number of the 3c. envelopes, of the current type, having had the + stamp impressed upon them by lithography instead of in the usual + manner. + + The story goes that the embossing die was lost, or mislaid, that a + small supply of envelopes was wanted immediately by a business firm, + and that a few hundreds were lithographed to fill this demand. The + whole story sounds somewhat doubtful, to any one who knows how + stamped envelopes are produced, but until quite recently we had not + seen a specimen of the supposed lithographed envelopes, and + therefore would not express any opinion upon them. A copy has lately + been sent to our publishers, and we find it to be practically + identical, as far as _almost_ entire absence of embossing is + concerned, with some specimens which we obtained in Canada a few + years ago; the embossing, in the copy shown us, is not absolutely + invisible, there being slight traces of it about the head, and + especially the chignon; and if any envelopes have been lithographed, + which we greatly doubt, this is not one of them. + +[211] =Philatelic Record=, XVIII: 135. + +[212] =Monthly Journal=, VI: 188. + +The lithographing of a comparatively few envelopes by a country like +Canada appears somewhat incredulous on the face of it, and even more so +does the "loss" or "misplacing" of the embossing die; the true +explanation of the occurrence is doubtless found in the use of a much +worn die, or more likely a defective "counter-die" or "bed-plate" which +backs the paper. + +In the issue for January 1895, the _American Journal of Philately_ had +this statement:--"Mr. G. A. Lowe informs us that the 3c envelope exists +on wove paper and was issued in 1891, probably in error." Referring to +this, the _Monthly Journal_ for May 1895, states:-- + + Mr. King tells us that he found some packets of this variety in the + Post-office at Halifax, and that he thinks that they may be a new + edition, on a better paper than the last. He is not certain yet + about this, as the great majority of the stock consisted of the + _laid_ paper envelopes, and therefore the use of the wove may have + been unintentional or temporary. + +Again in the August 1895 issue, the last quoted paper says:-- + + In further reference to the 3c envelopes on _wove_ paper, Mr. King + sends us replies which he received from the P. O. Department to his + enquiries on the subject. The replies are vague, if not evasive, but + show plainly that no intentional change was made in the paper used; + they seemed to indicate, however, that the contractors are not + restricted to a particular nature of paper, so long as the envelopes + supplied are of sufficiently good quality. + + + +The references to Mr. King in 1895 seem to show that he discovered the +envelopes at about that time, so if the first statement about their +appearing in 1891 is correct there must have been two lots issued at two +different periods. That they were errors seems to admit of no doubt, as +the usual paper for these envelopes was of the laid variety. They were +only found in the large size envelope, known officially as No. 2. + +In the issue for September 1899, the _American Journal of Philately_ +noted two unusual varieties:-- + + Mr. Charles A. Benedict of Brantford has sent us samples of two + envelopes with stamp of the 1877 type, which have not as yet been + chronicled and which should probably be classed as printed-to-order + envelopes. They are said to be used by a certain firm in Brantford + for circulars and letters, and are printed on large manila amber + envelopes. + +The size of the envelopes is given as 265x113 mm., and both the 1 cent +and 3 cent stamps were impressed upon them. No further information seems +to have been obtained concerning these curiosities, which must have been +issued previous to the termination of the contract with the British +American Bank Note Co. in 1897. + +Although the rate on "drop letters" at free delivery offices was fixed +at 2 cents per ounce by the Post Office Act of 1889, in place of the +previous 1 cent per half ounce, it did not occur that a 2 cent envelope +might be desirable until about five years later. In the Postmaster +General's Report of 30th June, 1894, we read:--"It is proposed to issue +for use for drop letters, that is for letters passing within the limits +of a free delivery in cities, a 2 cent envelope which will no doubt be +found a convenience to the public." + +In the next year's Report we find:--"The 2 cent envelopes, used mainly +for drop letters, that is, for letters passing within the limits of a +free delivery in cities, and referred to in the report for last year, +have been issued during the year. Judging from the demand made for these +envelopes already, they are likely to prove a convenience to the +public." + +The new denomination was issued on the 14th June, 1895,[213] on the +larger sized envelope, the paper being the cream toned laid. It is a +rather bizarre production, being circular in form with a medallion of +the Queen's head in the center, and a beaver perched outside the design +at the top, while the sides are broken by maple leaves. The inscriptions +are in colored letters, and the numeral of value appears for the only +time on a Canadian envelope stamp. In spite of the "demand" for these +envelopes, a total supply of 94,970 received from the manufacturers was +found sufficient to last until the new type was issued from the +Government Printing Bureau in 1899, after the contract with the British +American Bank Note Co. had expired. + +[213] =American Journal of Philately=, 2nd Series, VIII: 365. + +[Illustration] + +The Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1898, says:-- + + New stamped envelopes also came into use, and the price thereof + _above the face value_ as compared with the old envelopes of the + same size, was reduced by 10 cents per 100, a reduction of 33-1/3 %. + A further concession given the public was that a blank form of + request (to return letter if not delivered within the specified + time) is printed without extra charge on the envelope, so that at + the option of the purchaser stamped envelopes with or without this + form of request may be obtained. Whilst the three denominations of + stamped envelopes (1 cent, 2 cents and 3 cents) are retained, it was + deemed advisable to have only one size instead of two as was the + case with the old envelopes,--the small size of the latter (known as + No. 1) being discontinued because of the tendency on the part of the + mercantile community to use envelopes of the larger size (known + officially as No. 2) or what in the commercial world is classed as + No. 7. The latter is now the uniform size of the new stamped + envelopes. + +The stamped envelopes referred to at the beginning of the above +quotation were the 3 cent envelopes, the first value to appear in a new +design, and the price, as stated, was reduced from the former rate of +$3.30 per hundred to $3.20 per hundred. But this apparently applied only +to the new style, for the old style envelopes returned to the department +as "unfit for use" in 1898, 1899 and 1900 were credited at the old +rates, while the new style envelopes in the same condition were credited +at the new rates in these same years. The Report for 1899 states that +the old style envelopes in their two sizes were discontinued on 31st +March, 1898. + +The new stamp, while perhaps not as bizarre as the 2 cent of 1895, was +yet a conspicuously ugly production by reason of the profile portrait of +Queen Victoria that was employed. The die was engraved by Messrs. De La +Rue & Co., of London, and outside of the embossed head is a very neat +design of engine turned work, with POSTAGE in small white letters above +the inner oval and THREE CENTS beneath. The word CANADA was added, +apparently as an afterthought, in colored letters _outside_ the design +at the top of the stamp, where it breaks the colored line surrounding +the oval! The impression is in a bright red on a white wove paper of a +slightly cream tone, and the flap is rounded, with gum extending its +full length. The return request referred to in the Report is printed in +black in the upper left hand corner and reads:-- + +[Illustration] + + If not called for in ten days return to.... + +It seems that the American Bank Note Co., upon taking the contract for +supplying the Canadian stamps in 1897, asked to be excused from printing +the stamped envelopes as well, because such a small number were used. +This work was therefore given to the Government Printing Bureau at +Ottawa,[214] which accounts for the dies having been furnished by +Messrs. De La Rue & Co. The stamp accounts give the number of 3 cent +envelopes furnished in the new type as 110,000 in 1898 and 70,000 in +1899, a total of 180,000; but the reduction of the domestic letter rate +from 3 cents to 2 cents on the 1st January, 1899, made the 3 cent +envelope useless, and large quantities were surcharged with the new +rate, so that it is impossible to tell what proportion of the amount +given is now represented by each variety. If catalog pricing is any +criterion, the unsurcharged issue of the envelope should be perhaps +80,000. + +[214] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XI: 308. + +The Report for 1899 states:-- + + As a result of the reduction in the Domestic Letter rate of postage, + the issue of the 3c. letter card, 3c. stamped envelope and 3c. + postage stamp has been discontinued, unused quantities of these, + however, continuing available for postage purposes, or exchangeable + at any post office for their equivalent in postage stamps of other + denominations. + +The Report does not give the date of issue of the 3 cent stamped +envelope, but it was chronicled in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ for May +5, 1898, and therefore was probably issued sometime in April. The date +of discontinuance is given, however, as December, 1898, so that it had a +life, unsurcharged, of only about nine months. + +[Illustration] + +But meanwhile the 1 cent envelope was being prepared, and evidently +because of the dissatisfaction expressed over the embossed head of the +Queen on the 3 cent value, the new envelope appeared with the familiar +youthful profile similar to that used on the British envelope dies for +so many years. This improved the appearance of the stamp, which +otherwise corresponded in design with the 3 cent and was likewise +engraved by Messrs. De La Rue & Co. It was printed in a dark green on +paper like that of the 3 cent value, and in the same size and cut of +envelope. The new type was issued on July 22, 1898, according to the +1899 Report, and was sold at $1.20 per hundred. The distribution of the +old style 1 cent envelopes was discontinued in the same month, according +to the stamp accounts. + +Following the 1 cent envelope came the 2 cent, being identical in every +respect save the expressed value and color, and emanating from the same +source as its two predecessors. The Report of 1899 gives the date of +issue of this envelope as the 2nd January, 1899, and, as the +corresponding value in the adhesive set was a deep violet, we should +expect the envelope stamp to follow suit. This it did, but was almost +immediately followed by an issue in bright red, because of the reduction +of the domestic letter rate from 3 cents to 2 cents. It will be +remembered that when Imperial Penny Postage was inaugurated on December +25, 1898, it was almost immediately announced that the internal postage +in Canada would be reduced to the 2 cent rate on and from the 1st +January, 1899. As the Postal Union requirements called for carmine as +the color of the stamp for the domestic letter rate, the change from +violet was necessary in the Canadian 2 cent stamp, but owing to the +large stock of the violet stamps on hand and the surcharging of the 3 +cent stamps down to 2 cent value, the change in color from violet to +carmine did not take place in the adhesives for some eight months. Not +so with the envelopes; the new 2 cent ones were about to be issued and +had been printed to the amount of 10,000 in dark violet. But with the +change in rates and therefore in color requirements, orders were given +to print further supplies of the 2 cent envelope in red, and the latter +color therefore appeared about a week after the violet stamp. + +We have gone thus into detail in the matter in order to make it evident +why the violet stamp was so short lived, and why the change was made. +This seems necessary because such a furor was created at the time, when +it became known that the issue of violet envelopes was small, and +speculation ran high; the Government was accused of speculating in them +and of putting them in the hands of favored ones, and finally, as in the +case of the alleged speculation in the Jubilee stamps, the matter came +up in Parliament. The following is an extract from the official report +of the debates in the House of Commons at Ottawa:[215]-- + + ISSUE OF STAMPED ENVELOPES. + + Mr. Hughes asked: 1. When will the present 2 cent purple stamped + envelope cease to be issued, and the red issued in its place? 2. How + many 2 cent purple envelopes were issued, and how many distributed? + At what offices were they distributed, how many at each office? Are + there any more to be distributed, and if so, where will they be + distributed? 3. Is it the intention of the Government to issue an + entire new set of stamped envelopes to replace those at present in + use? If so, when? * * * + + The Postmaster-General (Mr. Mulock): The issue of 2 cent + purple-stamp envelopes ceased when the supply thereof in the + department became exhausted, the last issue having been made on the + 7th January, 1899. The subsequent issue of 2-cent stamped envelopes + was in red, in accordance with the recommendation of the Postal + Convention. * + + * * The schedule hereto annexed shows the names of the post offices + supplied with such purple-stamp envelopes and the respective + quantities so supplied them. + + List of Post Offices to which 2c. purple envelopes were issued, and + the quantity in each case. + + Post Office. Quantity. + Belleville, Ont. 500 + St. Catherine's, Ont. 500 + Toronto, Ont. 2000 + Corinth, Ont. 100 + Haliburton, Ont. 100 + Mount Albert, Ont. 100 + Tamworth, Ont. 500 + Hagersville, Ont. 100 + Hamilton, Ont. 500 + Loring, Ont. 100 + Newton, Ont. 100 + Ottawa, Ont. 700 + St. Casimir, Que. 100 + Sherbrooke, Que. 500 + Montreal, Que. 1000 + Rigaud, Que. 100 + Maitland, N. S. 100 + Truro, N. S. 100 + Yarmouth, N. S. 100 + Andover, N. B. 200 + Centreville, N. B. 100 + Shoal Lake, Man. 100 + Winnipeg, Man. 2000 + New Westminster, B. C. 100 + Greenwood, B. C. 200 + +[215] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 285. + +Further questioning by the same gentleman, in an effort to show that +"inside" information had been given concerning the remainder of the 2 +cent green envelopes at Toronto and the limited issue of the so-called +"purple" ones, in order that favored parties might "corner" them, +resulted in nothing definite except that in replying to the question +"Was the issue of the 2c. purple stamped envelopes done by mistake?" the +Postmaster-General said: "There was no mistake whatever made in the +issue of said envelopes, but, on the contrary, the issue took place in +the ordinary course of business, and was made on requisitions in the +usual way, coming from postmasters." Considering the date of their +issue, the cause of the change in color and the above reply of the +Postmaster-General, in connection with an examination of the table of +distribution of the 2c. violet envelopes, we must say that it seems +clear that the whole business, as far as the Department was concerned, +was legitimate and straightforward, and the aspersions cast upon the +issue of this envelope were only animated by a spirit of jealousy or +revenge on the part of those who unfortunately did not happen to get +any, whether "tipped off" by friends in or out of the post-office, or +not. + +The 2 cent envelope in red may have been issued on the 8th January, +1899, or within a day or two of that date, and corresponds of course +with the one in violet and the 1 cent envelope in all respects. It was +sold at $2.20 per hundred. + +We have already spoken of the 3 cent envelope, issued in April, 1898, as +having been surcharged. This was due, of course, to the same reduction +in the domestic rate of postage that operated to change the 2 cent +envelope from violet to red, and which also rendered the 3 cent envelope +practically useless. In order to utilize the stock of the latter +envelopes, therefore, the Department decided on surcharging them down to +a 2 cent value. This was done sometime during the week of 6-11 February, +1899, and we can do no better than quote the letter of a Canadian +correspondent in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_[216] for details concerning +it. + +[216] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 204. + + OTTAWA, 17th Feb'y, 1899. + + Our weekly sensation was duly on tap last week, in the shape of + surcharges, Canada's first offence, but an aggravated case. The Post + Office Department announced that any holders of 3c. envelopes or + letter cards might send them in to the postage stamp branch, and + have them surcharged, and re-issued as 2c. emissions, the difference + in value being made good by an additional supply of surcharged + stationery or in some other equivalent stamps. + + It was not anticipated that a very large supply of 3c. stationery + was on hand, and consequently the arrangements for surcharging are + of the most primitive description. Stamps of soft rubber bearing the + figures 2c. are provided, and the surcharge is put on by hand, the + stamps being inked on black pads. The consequence is that the work + is ill done, and we have as many varieties of surcharge as there are + impressions, with quantities[217] of ink varying from a black blue + to a light grey. I have seen one envelope with the surcharge on + sidewise reading from bottom to top. + + Independently of the variations in printing, there are two types of + surcharge. In the first, which I shall christen the "capital + surcharge", the figure 2 is 10-1/2 mm. high by 8 wide, the heavy + parts of the figure being 2 mm. thick, the thin parts 3/4 mm. The C + is a capital letter 4-1/2 x 3-1/2 mm. There was only one stamp of + this type, and when it had been in use for two or three days the + difference in type was noticed and the stamp was destroyed. Any + stationery surcharged with it will be exceedingly rare. + + The other type, which I suggest should be called the "lower case + surcharge", has a similar figure 2 but the C is a heavy face lower + case letter 4 x 3-1/2 mm. It is possible that there may be varieties + of this type, as there are several stamps in use, but the printing + is so badly done, and the stamps so subject to distortion by + pressure, that one cannot depend on either inspection or + measurement, a change in pressure in printing altering the + appearance of the surcharge very materially. + +[217] Query: "qualities"? + +[Illustration] + +In the same issue of the _Era_ appeared further notes from another +correspondent. In regard to the then current 3 cent envelopes (the +so-called "Bureau print") he says:--"The P. O. Department has surcharged +the stock on hand, a few thousand. * * * Some of the old British +American Bank Note 3c envelopes were also surcharged, but it is +understood that there were very few of them on hand,--less than a +thousand." + +The opportunity given the public, however, to have 3 cent envelopes in +their possession surcharged, as well as the stock held by postmasters, +which was returned to a considerable extent (15,848 of the 3c. 1898 +returned 1899-1901; 6,788 of the 3c. No. 1, 1877, returned 1899-1900; +and 3,081 of the 3c. No. 2, 1877, returned 1899) and doubtless reissued +in surcharged condition, has made these provisional envelopes fairly +common. No details of the numbers so treated are available, but if the +catalogue value is any criterion the 3 cent of 1898 surcharged is half +again as common as the unsurcharged variety, or, as before remarked, +the numbers issued may be divided up roughly as perhaps 100,000 of the +former to 80,000 of the latter. Of the old envelopes of 1877, both sizes +of which are found surcharged, it is impossible to hazard any guesses, +save that a considerable number--several thousands of each size at +least--must have been operated upon to render them as reasonable in +catalogue price as we find them. + +The surcharge in its first type, as described in the quotation given, +with the capital C, has only been found on the 3 cent envelope of 1898, +which was the one in the reserve stock of the Department when the +reduction in postage took effect; but the second type, with the "lower +case" C is found not only on this envelope but also on both sizes of the +old "Burland & Co." envelopes of the 1877 issue. + +It will be remembered that it took considerably more than two years +after the death of Queen Victoria before the change to King's head +adhesives was made in Canada. It took even longer for the change in the +envelope dies, as the first one to appear, the 2 cent, was not issued +until the beginning of 1905. It was thus described in _Mekeel's Weekly +Stamp News_:[218]-- + + Mr. Wm. P. Anderson writes that the 2c Canada envelope, Queen's + Head, is now obsolete, and that a new issue bearing the King's Head + was first sent out Jan. 12. It is very similar to the existing + type--same colour, shape and size and same description of paper and + size of envelope. The bust of the King, a profile to the left, is + larger, filling more of the central oval than did that of the young + Queen. It is a very beautifully cut piece of embossing, the work of + Wyon, the celebrated London die sinker. The engine turned border is + not, Mr. Anderson thinks, so neat as that on the old stamp, from + which it differs in detail. The word Canada has been removed from + outside the frame to the upper label, which now reads Canada + Postage. This and the value, two cents, on a label below the bust, + are in white letters on a ground of solid colour. The lettering is + very thin, which is the only blemish in a very neat and effective + design. + +[218] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIX: 22. + +[Illustration] + +The size of the envelope was not exactly the same as the previous issue, +for it measures 152 x 90 mm., about 4 mm. longer than before and 3 mm. +wider, the rough measurements being 6 x 3-5/8 inches. The paper is a +very white wove variety, and the color of the impression is in carmine. + +The 1 cent envelope did not appear until about two months later, the +exact date not being available, but being very close to the 1st March, +1905. It is in all respects the same as the 2 cent envelope except that +it is printed in a deep green. + +The use of stamped envelopes in Canada, though never so popular as in +the United States, yet seems to be largely on the increase in the last +twelve years, the 1 cent having risen in number from 85,500 in 1899 to +1,360,100 in 1910, and the 2 cent from 262,000 to 2,928,400 during the +same period. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS + + +In the Postmaster General's Report for the 30th June, 1875, we find the +following:--"Post bands bearing an impressed stamp of one cent each have +been issued for sale to the public, at the rate of four for five cents, +to be used in putting up newspapers and such other transmissions +requiring to be prepaid one cent, for which they may be found +convenient." + +[Illustration] + +The issue took place in May, 1875, and consisted of a wrapper of light +buff wove paper measuring 9-1/2 inches in height by 5 inches in width +(235 x 127 mm.), with the stamp impressed at the right side, about 2-1/2 +inches from the top. The sheet is cut square and gummed along the top on +the back side. The stamp is typographed, and consists of an upright oval +containing the head of Queen Victoria copied from that on the adhesive +stamps, CANADA POSTAGE above, ONE CENT below, and the figure 1 in a +circle at each side. In this first type of the wrapper stamp these +circles containing the numerals are surrounded by foliations of acanthus +pattern, and each has a little quatrefoil ornament in the label beneath +it. There is also a thin, colored, wavy line which follows the border of +the inner oval, giving a scalloped effect, and serves as the +distinguishing feature of the first type. The impression is in dark +blue. The stamp accounts give the receipts from the manufacturers as +554,000 during 1875, and 918,000 during 1876. No further supplies were +received until 1879 so these figures doubtless represent the total +supply printed on the buff paper, as the small supply received in 1879 +is probably otherwise accounted for.[219] + +[219] See page 270. + +In its issue for June 1, 1878, the _Philatelic Monthly_ states that "We +have received specimens of the newspaper wrappers with the stamp on the +left and half way from the top." M. Moens lists it in his catalogue, +where he gives the dimensions as 290 x 165 mm., or about 11-1/2 x 6-1/2 +inches. This is somewhat larger than the previous size and we have been +unable to confirm it by a specimen, but the accuracy of M. Moens' +observations is seldom to be questioned. The London Society's work +states that this wrapper is unknown to the members of the Society, but a +cancelled copy, used by a business firm, is recorded in the _Monthly +Journal_ in 1892.[220] Evidently this variety was an error in the +cutting of the sheet. + +[220] =Monthly Journal=, III: 3. + +In the _Philatelic Record_ for December, 1881,[221] a change is noted in +the wrapper itself, the paper being described as white instead of buff; +but in Moens' catalogue it is listed as "very pale buff" and in fact is +what we might call "cream toned", being more correctly described later +in the _Philatelic Record_ as "almost white".[222] The wrapper was also +cut to a new size, 11 x 5 inches or 280 x 127 mm. It is very probable +that this wrapper comes from the lot of 197,000 received according to +the stamp accounts for 1880--the first since 1876, barring the small lot +in 1879.[223] + +[221] =Philatelic Record=, III: 205; corrected, III: 227. + +[222] =ibid=., IV: 142. + +[223] See page 270. + +[Illustration] + +Again, in its issue for June 1, 1882, the _Philatelic Monthly_ +illustrates a new variety in the stamp for the wrapper, stating that the +color is light blue. The distinguishing features of the new die are the +removal of the wavy line from the inner border of the oval, the removal +of the foliations from around the circles enclosing the numerals, and +the replacing of the little quatrefoil ornament beneath these circles by +an inverted triangular ornament. This wrapper was presumably of the +usual light buff tint as no mention is made of its color; but in the +issue of the same paper for October 1, 1882, it is recorded that "We +have received specimens of the newspaper wrapper, stamp of latest type, +on yellow-buff paper." The same wrapper is chronicled in the _Philatelic +Record_ which was issued the latter part of September as upon +"straw-colored wove paper," so it had doubtless appeared as early as +August, 1882. The size was the same as the last wrapper, 11 x 5 inches. + +From 1882 on the wrappers have been issued in numbers approaching half a +million per year, and as no note is made in the stamp accounts even of +changes in design, it is of course impossible to estimate the quantities +printed or issued of any one variety. + +In an article in the _Dominion Philatelist_ upon the postal stationery +of Canada,[224] the "yellow paper" wrapper is given as the first issued, +in 1882, and the date 1883 is given the ordinary "pale buff" paper. The +chronicles we have quoted, however, show that both were doubtless issued +in 1882 and that the straw colored paper was not the first. The wrapper +also appears on a cream paper, and the year of issue in the article +quoted is given as 1885, but we have been unable to find any +contemporary chronicle to confirm this. + +[224] =Dominion Philatelist=, V: 130. + +[Illustration] + +Once again, in 1887, we find a change in the impressed stamp. This time +the first design is reverted to, but with slight modifications which +readily distinguished the new type; these are the absence of the wavy +line running around the border of the inner oval, and the coarser +shading on the face and neck--dotted in the first type and composed of +lines in this third type. The new variety seems to have been chronicled +first in the _Philatelic Monthly_ for June 1, 1887, but nothing is said +about the color of the wrapper. The article in the _Dominion +Philatelist_, however, gives it as thin white paper with a variety in +"very thin tough white paper, fine quality." The same article under date +of 1888 gives this wrapper in cream toned paper of both thick and thin +quality, and in manila paper. The size of all these wrappers was the +usual one of 11 x 5 inches. + +[Illustration] + +Five years of the third type seemed to be sufficient, for in 1892 a +fourth variety made its appearance. This, curiously enough, reverts to +the second type in similarity, for the foliations around the numerals +again disappear and the only distinguishing feature is the ornaments +beneath the numerals--now little quatrefoils instead of the triangular +ornaments found on the second type. This fourth type seems to have been +first noted in the _Canadian Philatelist_ for March, 1892, and is more +fully described in the _Monthly Journal_ for 30th April, 1892, as being +upon "thin, surfaced, straw coloured paper." This wrapper was cut to a +slightly smaller size, 10-3/4 x 5 inches. The article in the _Dominion +Philatelist_ lists it upon "cream colored paper" alone, but both +varieties exist, though it would seem that the straw colored one was +perhaps the first issued. + +There is one variety analogous to the "stamp at left" wrapper of the +first type, and which is also doubtless due to faulty cutting of the +sheets; this has the stamp at the usual distance from the top of the +wrapper, but nearly in the middle as far as the spacing from the sides +goes. The impression is in dark blue on the straw colored paper. + +In its issue for 31 March, 1894, the _Monthly Journal_ chronicles a +change in the color of the wrapper stamp (fourth type) from blue to +"grey-black", the wrapper itself remaining a "straw" color as before. We +find the impression to be a plain black, though if lightly inked it +might show as gray black. Besides the pale straw colored wrapper there +exists a cream toned one and also one of stouter paper in a very light +brown tone. All these are cut to the last size noted, viz., 10-3/4 x 5 +inches. + +All the preceding wrappers were the product of the British American Bank +Note Co., but when their contract for supplying stamps ceased in 1897 a +new issue was naturally looked for. This did not materialize until June +or July, 1898, when a new wrapper of the usual size and of light manila +paper made its appearance with an impression of the 1 cent adhesive +stamp (maple leaves in the four corners) in dark green. Unlike the +stamped envelopes, it was manufactured by the American Bank Note Co., +but the die for stamping it, instead of being a reproduction of the +adhesive, was newly engraved for typographic work and is therefore much +coarser in appearance than the adhesive stamps. + +No change was made in the wrapper die to include the numeral of value +until the new issue with head of King Edward took place. As before, the +design of the adhesive was copied but the die was engraved for surface +printing and is coarser in its lines. The new wrapper probably appeared +early in October, 1903, as we find it recorded in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp +News_ for the 24th October of that year. The size was as before and the +paper a light manila. + +As a result of the changes in newspaper rates, due to the amending of +the Postal Convention with the United States in 1907,[225] we find a set +of special wrappers issued in that year, concerning which the Postmaster +General's Report for 1908 says:-- + + To facilitate the mailing of second class matter sent by publishers + to their subscribers in the United States, special newspaper + wrappers of the 1 cent, 2 cents and 3 cents denominations were + introduced. As a result of the reduction in rate of this class of + matter, made in February, so far as daily editions of newspapers + were concerned, the demand for 2c. and 3c. wrappers ceased, and + their issue was, accordingly, discontinued. + +[225] See page 196. + +The first issue of these wrappers is given as the 11th July, 1907, and a +reference to the Report of 1908, already quoted,[226] shows the reason +for their appearance. The rate on periodicals had been raised to 1 cent +per 4 ounces when sent to the United States, which in turn had made +provision for a like rate on periodicals addressed to Canada, at the +latter's behest. This move on Canada's part was aimed principally to +prevent the flooding of Canadian mails with cheap American monthlies. +But such a protest went up against this heavy increase, that the rates +were lowered, in February 1908, to 1 cent per pound on newspapers only, +which of course rendered any wrappers save the 1 cent of but little use. +With becoming thrift, however, the unissued remainder of the two +discarded values was surcharged "1c." in large block type in black and +used up in that way. + +[226] See page 196. + +[Illustration] + +The quantities of these special wrappers delivered to the Department are +given in the stamp accounts as:-- + + _1908._ _1909._ _1910._ + 1 cent 1,501,000 353,000 884,000 + 2 " 367,000 ... ... + 3 " 54,000 ... ... + +Of the 2 cent wrapper the accounts give 300,300 as issued in 1908 and of +the 3 cent wrapper 15,600. But during 1908 and 1909 213,546 of the +former and 13,790 of the latter were returned "fit for use" by +postmasters, and 4,574 2 cent and 790 3 cent "unfit for use" were +destroyed. It would appear from this that the actual issue to the public +of these two wrappers was 82,180 of the 2 cent and but 1,020 of the 3 +cent! The 1909 tables, however, record the issue to postmasters of the +total quantity of these wrappers then on hand, and the 1910 tables +explain this by the statement:--"Withdrawn from issue and surcharged one +cent, June 18, 1908." The quantities of the surcharged wrappers are +therefore 280,246 of the 1 c. on 2 cents, and 52,190 of the 1c. on 3 +cents. As these wrappers were not on sale to the general public but only +to publishers, who were obliged to purchase in quantity, their use was +considerably restricted; and as the wrappers often enclosed papers in +quantity, addressed to any one post office, they were removed in the +United States post offices before distributing the papers, and very many +probably lost sight of there as waste paper. + +While the usual newspaper wrappers are designated officially as "Post +Bands," these we have been describing are called "Special Wrappers." +They were of stout manila paper, cut to 15 x 6-1/2 inches (378 x 165 +mm.) in size for the 1 cent and 2 cent, and 13 x 8 inches (308 x 223 +mm.) for the 3 cent, and ungummed. The stamp occupied the usual +position, but at its left was the following two line legend in block +letters, printed in the same color as the stamp, and occupying a length +of 92 mm:-- + + =THIS WRAPPER TO BE USED ONLY BY PUBLISHERS AND FOR THE SOLE + PURPOSE OF MAILING SECOND CLASS MATTER TO THE UNITED STATES.= + +The 1 cent value was printed in dark green, the 2 cent in carmine, and +the 3 cent in a slate violet. The surcharges were first noted in +_Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News of_ 12th September, 1908, though they were +probably issued soon after the date quoted above. The overprint in each +case is in shiny black ink, the figure being 13 mm. high and the "c" 6 +mm. high, with a period after it. + +One curious circumstance has been noted in connection with the use of +these wrappers--large numbers have been used without the Post Office +authorities taking the trouble to cancel them, while in other cases they +have been cancelled in the usual manner. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE POST CARDS + + +We have already remarked that Canada lagged behind the United States in +adopting adhesive stamps and also stamped envelopes, but when we come to +post cards we find the United States to be the laggard by nearly two +years. In the Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1870, we find +the following:-- + + The introduction of what are known as "post cards" in the United + Kingdom, and the convenience which is stated to have attended their + use, have induced the Department to make arrangements for the + manufacture of similar post cards for the use of the public in + Canada. These post cards will be sold at one cent each, and may be + posted for any address within the Dominion--and will be conveyed to + destination, and be delivered in like manner with letters--the one + cent covering the cost both of the card and of postage. + + They may be used for any communication, which can advantageously be + written and sent by such a medium; and, it would seem + unquestionable, must, in Canada as in England, prove to be extremely + convenient for many objects and purposes. + +The next year's Report states:--"Post Cards have been issued to the +public from June, 1871, and it is believed have been found to be of +material convenience. The number issued up to the 31st December was +1,470,600." + +[Illustration] + +These cards were cut to a size approximately 4-5/8 x 3 inches (116 x 75 +mm.). The design consists of an engine turned border set about 3/16 of +an inch in from the edge, with the stamp in the upper right corner of +the enclosed space. This stamp shows a medallion bearing the head of +Queen Victoria that appears on the "large" cents issue of 1868, +surrounded by a frame that makes a roughly rectangular outline. The +arrangement and style of the inscriptions on the card are shown by the +illustration. At the bottom, just above the frame, is the imprint in +letters of "diamond" size, "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal & +Ottawa." The card is not of particularly heavy stock, has a somewhat +rough surface, and is of a light buff tint that varies some in tone. The +printing was done in sheets of several impressions and the engravings +were separated by thin colored lines running the whole length between +them. The color of the impression is a deep blue, though specimens in a +lighter tone are not uncommon. + +In the Postmaster General's Report for 1872 we learn that on the 1st +November of that year, amongst other changes in connection with rates to +Newfoundland, the exchange of post cards at the ordinary domestic rate +was provided for. In the Report for 1873 we read:--"By arrangement with +the United States Post Office, the post cards of Canada and of the +United States have, from the 1st July 1873, passed freely to destination +between the two countries on prepayment of 2 cents each, by affixing a 1 +cent postage stamp to the card in addition to the one cent stamp printed +thereon." The postal arrangement concluded between Canada and the United +States in 1874,[227] however, by which mail matter was to be exchanged +between the two countries at the domestic rates of each, obviated the +necessity of the extra cent on the post cards from the 1st January, +1875. + +[227] See page 120. + +It may be remembered that the marginal imprints on the sheets of +adhesive stamps began to be changed in 1875 and that the word "Ottawa" +was dropped. The same change took place in the post card some time +during 1876, it being first noted in _Le Timbre-Poste_ for January, +1877. The new card had the imprint at the bottom reading "British +American Bank Note Co. Montreal" in letters slightly larger than on the +first type. The frame of the card also seems to have been re-engraved as +slight differences can be detected, and the outside or "over all" +measurements are found to be about 1-1/2 mm. greater each way. Otherwise +the appearance of the card is the same, but it is cut a little larger, +measuring 4-3/4 x 3 inches (120 x 75 mm.), and the stock is a little +heavier than the first card and of a slightly paler buff. The engravings +on the plate were this time separated by short lines of color at the +center of the sides of the cards. The color of the impression was the +same as before and at times the front of the card was tinted bluish +because of imperfectly wiped plates during printing. + +[Illustration] + +Although Canada failed to obtain entrance into the Universal Postal +Union on its establishment in 1875, as already detailed,[228] yet she +was granted the new rates in her correspondence with the Mother +Country. This included a 2 cent rate for post cards, and on the 1st +January, 1877, a 2 cent post card made its appearance which was intended +particularly for British correspondence as is shown by the sub-heading +"TO UNITED KINGDOM." It was quite similar in design to the 1 cent card, +with the same medallion portrait of Queen Victoria on the stamp. The +frame of the card is of engine-turned work but of different pattern from +the 1 cent card, and has corner pieces. The arrangement of the +inscriptions is shown by the illustration. The card is cut to the same +size as the 1 cent (4-3/4 x 3 inches) and is of medium thickness and of +a very light yellowish buff. The impression is in a deep yellow green. + +[228] See page 108. + +Of these 2 cent cards the stamp accounts give 200,000 as having been +delivered in 1877 and 5000 more in 1879. But the issues to postmasters +are given as 98,300 in 1877, 6090 in 1878, and 13,680 in 1879, a total +of 118,070; and as there is a record of the return of but 35, it seems +fair to assume that the remaining 87,000 were destroyed. + +[Illustration] + +Canada was finally admitted to the Postal Union on the 1st July, 1878, +and consequently the 2 cent rate on post cards became applicable to all +the other Postal Union countries. We therefore find the "United Kingdom" +card altered to conform to the new conditions, the words "Union Postale +Universelle" now appearing at the top as shown in the illustration. The +stamp has also been re-engraved, the frame being changed and the words +CANADA and POSTCARD added in small capitals above and below the +medallion. The card is of the same size as before, on good stock of a +very pale yellowish tone and with a smooth surface, and the impression +is in a strong yellow green. + +This card appeared early in 1879 and continued in use until 1896. Its +issue to postmasters increased from 27,300 in 1879, to 67,400 in 1892, +though it dropped to 47,000 in 1895. + +[Illustration] + +All the previous cards had been line engraved on steel plates and of +artistic appearance and fine workmanship. Beginning with 1882, however, +a cheaper form of production began to be employed, the impression being +typographed probably from electrotypes. The frame of the card is now +omitted, the design consisting simply of a curved banderole bearing the +words CANADA POST CARD with the instructions beneath, and at the right +the oval stamp which, from now on, corresponds to the contemporary stamp +of the newspaper wrapper. + +The _Philatelic Monthly_ for 1st May, 1882, chronicled a new one cent +card as having just appeared, but did not describe it. It doubtless +appeared early in April and was of the design detailed in the last +paragraph, the stamp being that of the second type of the newspaper +wrapper, which lacked the foliations around the numerals and had the +inverted triangular ornaments beneath the circles containing the figures +"1". The impression was in blue or in ultramarine on a very light buff +card of stout quality and cut to 5-1/8 x 3 inches (129 x 76 mm.) + +About the end of the same year a reply card made its appearance +concerning which the following notice was issued:-- + +POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. + + OTTAWA, 13th December, 1882. + + Departmental Order + No. 27 + + * * * * * + + _Reply Post Cards._ + + 2. For the convenience of correspondence by Post Card within the + Dominion, a double Post Card has been prepared and is now ready for + issue, which will afford to the original sender of this form of Card + the means of sending with his communication, a blank prepaid Post + Card to be used in reply. Each half of the double card will bear a + one-cent postage stamp impressed thereon in prepayment. + + The ordinary Post Card regulations will apply to these reply cards, + both when originally posted, and with respect to the reply half when + re-posted. + + The reply or double Post Cards, will be issued at two cents each, + and are to be sold to the public at that rate by Postmasters and + stamp vendors. + + Canada reply Post Cards, to be used in correspondence with the + United Kingdom, will also be supplied at an early date, and when + Post Cards of this description originating in the United Kingdom and + bearing the impressed postage stamp thereof on both halves, have + been received here by mail, the reply half may be re-posted in + Canada, for return _to an address in the United Kingdom_, as a + prepaid Post Card, and may be forwarded to destination without + requiring the addition of any Canada postage stamp or other postage + prepayment in Canada. + + JOHN CARLING, + _Postmaster General._ + +Judging by the date of the circular the reply card was probably issued +the middle of December, 1882, although it was not reported in the stamp +journals until the next February. The stock used was the same as that +for the single cards and cut so as to be the same size as the latter +when folded. The design was the same as the single cards but printed in +a gray black on the first and third faces of the folded card. The reply +half is only distinguished by the word "(REPLY.)" placed between the +banderole and the line of instructions. + +Considerable interest was aroused among philatelists in 1891-2 by a +controversy that sprung up over a reported "error" in this reply card, +which occurred with the stamp at the left side and the inscriptions to +the right. Curiously enough, this card had been chronicled as a new +issue in the _Philatelic Monthly_ for March, 1885, where we read:--"We +are indebted to Mr. De Wolf for the first specimen of a new double 1 +cent card we have seen. It is slightly smaller than those first issued +and the stamp is placed on the left side instead of the right." The fact +of its existence had apparently lain dormant, except among post card +specialists, until the Canadian correspondent of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp +News_ rose to remark[229] that they could be produced by manipulating an +uncut sheet of the regular cards. This called forth a rejoinder from Mr. +A. Lohmeyer[230] who wrote:-- + + In the first place, the _Error Cards_, for such they are, do not + exist among the 1 cent cards, but only among the 1-1 cent of 1882, + or reply-paid cards. Of this issue a comparatively small quantity + were printed with the stamp in the upper left corner, and the + _error_ was not discovered until after a number of post-offices had + been supplied with them, whereupon they were recalled, withdrawn + from circulation and destroyed. This accounts for the great scarcity + of these error cards, which have, in reality, been in circulation, + for I have several used specimens (halves) in my collection. + + I will now proceed to prove the absurdity of the manipulation + described in the article referred to by facts and figures: The space + between the stamp and the points of the ribbon bearing the + inscription "Canada Post Card" on the correct issue, where the cards + would have to be cut to manufacture Canadensis' error (?) cards, is + 4 millimeters. If this space is equally divided in cutting the + sheet, it would leave a margin to the left of the stamp and to the + right of the ribbon, after being cut, of 2 millimeters, while the + space between the right side of the stamp and the ribbon would be 10 + millimeters. + + Now take an error card, and you will find the latter space to + measure only 3 millimeters, and the outer margin to the left of the + stamp and the right of the ribbon to be respectively 5 millimeters. + + "Figures do not lie". + + A. Lohmeyer. + Baltimore, Oct. 31, 1891. + +[229] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, I: 43: 1. + +[230] =ibid.=, I: 44: 2. + +This would seem conclusive proof, and also serve as a means of detecting +any false error cards which might possibly be made from an uncut sheet +as printed--but which have never been found. Yet six months later we +find the _Monthly Journal_ making inquiries along practically the same +lines. This brought out the following reply in _The Postal Card_:-- + + By referring to our paper No. 55, issued on the 14th of May, 1890, + you will find there a copy of a letter received by us, from the + Secretary of the Post Office Department at Ottawa regarding this + very card as follows: + + "I am directed to acknowledge your letter stating that you have in + your possession a Canadian reply post card, upon which the stamp + appears in the upper left-hand corner, and inquiring whether this + stamp was officially issued by the department, or whether the + position of the stamps was due to a mistake in cutting the sheets. + + "In reply, I am to say that the position of the stamp on the card to + which you refer (a certain number of specimens of which were + inadvertently issued by this Department) was due to a mistake in + printing." + + We have never seen one of these cards which could have been produced + by wrong cutting. + + If any Error cards _have_ been made by such a manipulation, either + by accident or design, we do not know it. However, the difference + between a wrongly cut card and a genuine error is so apparent that + it can be detected even without the use of a millimetre scale. + + The distance of the stamp from the end of the scroll on the error + card is 4 mm., while if produced by wrong cutting of a sheet of the + correct issue (stamp at right), the distance will be 14 mm. + + To prove this we take two of the latter cards (in the absence of an + uncut sheet which we have never seen), place them end against end, + measure the distance from the left end of the scroll on one card to + the outer circle enclosing the figure "1" on the other card, and + the result will be as stated above. + + This fact and the letter from the Canadian P. O. Department, quoted + above, removes all doubts as to the true character of this rarity, + known as the "Canada Error Card". + + We have several used specimens in our collection. + +The _Monthly Journal_[231] later received a copy of the error card which +was postmarked in September, 1884, and which is the earliest date that +has been recorded for it. + +[231] =Monthly Journal=, IV: 171. + +Direct evidence is given in a letter from H. F. Ketcheson to _Mekeel's +Weekly Stamp News_; he writes as follows:[232]-- + + Regarding the Canadian reply card (error with stamp on upper left + hand corner) issued in 1884 (not 1885) would say that I purchased a + quantity of them from various post-offices. I was at that time an + employe of the Canada Post-Office Department and saw a number of + these passing through the mails and writing to the offices at which + they were posted found that they had received a supply from Ottawa, + and one office informed me at the same time that they had + re-received instructions to forward all they had on hand to Ottawa + as they had been issued in error. + +[232] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, VI: 216. + +The cards were identical in every respect with the regular ones, except +for the peculiarity, and therefore call for no further description than +has already been given them. + +[Illustration] + +In the _Philatelic Monthly_ for March, 1887, is noted a change in the +stamp on the single post card, which otherwise remained as before. The +new stamp has the foliations around the numerals and is identical with +Type 3 of the wrapper stamps, already described, and which it preceded, +in fact, by two or three months. As was to be expected, the reply card +followed with the same change in the stamps, but no particular notice +seems to have been taken of it in the contemporary magazines. The +article in the _Dominion Philatelist_ records it as having appeared in +1887 in "black" and in 1888 in "dark green", but the only chronicles +that seem to have noted it were the _Philatelic World_ for January, +1888, which says merely that "the stamp on the reply paid card has been +slightly altered," and the _American Journal of Philately_ for February, +1888, which says a new reply card in "gray on buff" has just been +issued. The information is added that the inscription "Postage" had been +changed to "Postcard", but inasmuch as this was a hoax which apparently +started with _Le Timbre-Poste_ in the fall of 1887[233] and went the +rounds of the philatelic press, the value of the rest of the information +is considerably lessened in consequence and we shall therefore take the +dates as given in the _Dominion Philatelist_, which seem in the main to +be correct. The wrapper stamp of 1875, with wavy line inside the oval, +illustrated by _Le Timbre-Poste_ as appearing on the cards in May, 1888, +was never employed. It was probably confounded with the third type. + +[233] =Le Timbre-Poste=, XXV: 94. + +[Illustration] + +The next change in the cards was likewise due to a new variety in the +stamp, which once more lost its foliations and had only a quatrefoil +ornament beneath the numerals, as described for Type 4 of the wrappers, +which it again preceded by a couple of months. The new card was +apparently first noted in the _Canadian Philatelist_[234] as having been +issued at London, Ont., on the 7th December, 1891. This of course may +not have been its earliest date of issue but is doubtless not far from +it. The normal color of the impression is a dull ultramarine, but the +_Dominion Philatelist_ chronicled it in January, 1892, in a "very light +skim milk shade of blue", which may be listed as a very pale +ultramarine. + +[234] =Canadian Philatelist=, I: 49. + +The reply card in the new type is again an uncertainty. _Le +Timbre-Poste_ for June, 1892, chronicled it in _blue_, which it never +appeared in. _The Philatelic Monthly_ for July, 1892, noted that the +reply card had appeared in the latest type, but gave no color; probably +the item was borrowed from the French Journal without credit. Meanwhile +the _Dominion Philatelist_ for June, 1892, merely mentions that "the +reply cards of Canada are now appearing on a glazed thin card; design +same as before," which would indicate no change from the current type 3. +In December, 1892, however, the _Philatelic Journal of America_ reported +that it had received from Toronto "one of the new Canadian reply cards. +The message card bears a stamp the same type as that of the current 1 +cent postal card, but on the reply card the stamp is of the old type. +Perhaps this is an error as the former double card had the same die on +both." It may have been an error but it troubled no one but the +philatelist. The _Monthly Journal_ for 31st January, 1893, also notes +the receipt of a similar copy from Mr. D. A. King. The account +says:--"The specimen was found in a packet of reply-paid cards, the +remainder of which had the stamp of the now obsolete type upon both +halves." It would seem that the end of 1892 was therefore about the time +of the "semi-appearance" of the stamp of type 4 upon the reply cards; +nor does it appear that the double card with stamp of type 4 on both +halves was issued _before_ the "half-breed" card, as the latter +continued to be used for nearly two years, the card with type 4 alone +not being definitely chronicled until the issue of 30th November, 1894, +of the _Monthly Journal_. + +The next change recorded was the issue of a large sized card for +business purposes, which took place, according to the _American Journal +of Philately,_[235] on the 17th February, 1893, in company with the two +high value postage stamps and the letter card. The new card was of the +usual light buff stock and measured 6 x 3-1/8 inches (152 x 92 mm.). The +design was the same as for the ordinary card, the stamp being of the +wrapper type 4 but at a slightly greater distance from the end of the +banderole--4 mm. in the small card and 12 mm. in the large card. The +impression was in black. This new card was designated as No. 1, and the +ordinary small card became known as No. 2. The small sized card, 5 x 3 +inches, soon followed the large one in the color of its impression, +appearing in a very dark slate that was almost a black and being first +chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st July, 1893. + +[235] =American Journal of Philately=, 2nd Series, VI: 102. + +In the Postmaster General's Report for 1893 we find the following:--"The +introduction of the large size post card has not met with the success +which was anticipated, and it has been found expedient in Canada, as in +the United States, where the experiment has also been tried, to return +to the former practice, and for the future to have only one size which +will be somewhat smaller than the large card and a little larger than +that first issued." As the stamp accounts kept the number of large sized +cards separate from the small sized, we are able to give the amount +received from the manufacturer, which was 5,396,000. The number issued +is given as 4,983,900, but nothing is said about the disposition of the +remaining 412,100. + +The new medium sized card, which took the place of both the large and +the small sized cards, was apparently issued about February, 1894, as it +was chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st March, 1894. The new +card measured 5-1/2 x 3-3/8 inches (140 x 85 mm.) and the stock was of a +lighter tone than before--almost a cream. The impression was in black +and the distance between the banderole and the stamp was changed to 8 +mm. + +Whether issued especially for advertising purposes or not, this new card +appeared on a heavier stock of rough surface and straw color early in +1896, being chronicled in _Meheel's Weekly Stamp News_ for 30th April, +1896, as on a "thin card board." + +In its issue for 30th May, 1896, the _Monthly Journal_ chronicles the +receipt of the reply card in black on a very smooth buff card. This +indicates that the better grade of stock first used for the medium sized +single card was being employed for the reply card, and that the latter +was being printed in the dead black ink used for the medium card instead +of the dark slate color previously employed. + +It may be of interest to note here that on the 1st January, 1895, +regulations went into force in Canada providing for the admission to the +mails of advertising cards with a 1 cent stamp attached. This was very +likely due to the failure of the Department's large sized card which was +intended to fill such a want. As a sort of "rider" upon the circular +dealing with the special delivery service and stamps, issued by the +Department on 7th June, 1898, there is a paragraph headed:-- + + PRIVATE POST CARDS. + + Postmasters are informed that, as regards Private Post Cards posted + in Canada addressed to places in Canada, the words "Private Post + Card" may either be placed thereon or omitted according to the + option of the sender. Private Post Cards addressed to other + countries must, however, in every case bear on the address side the + words "Private Post Card." + +It is understood, however, that only in the domestic mails were private +cards allowed to pass at the usual post card rate. If addressed to a +foreign country a private card, if in writing, would be taxed at letter +rates. In the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for 19th November, 1898, however, +it is announced that the Postmaster General had issued an order +admitting private mailing cards into the foreign mails provided the size +conformed to that of the official post cards. + +[Illustration] + +The next official card that we have to consider is a new Postal Union +card which made its appearance suddenly in the latter part of 1896. This +is one of the most striking cards that Canada has produced, being +beautifully engraved on steel and printed in a brilliant orange red. +There is no frame, such as bordered the previous 2 cent card, and the +stamp in the upper right corner much resembles in size and design the +large 2 cent adhesive of the 1868 issue, except that the head of the +Queen is turned to the left. The inscriptions follow out, in a way, the +general style of British Colonial Postal Union cards, a small +reproduction of the British arms with supporters occupying the center at +the top. The arrangement will be seen from the illustration. + +The card is approximately 5-1/8 x 3-1/8 inches (130 x 80 mm.) in size +and printed on a very light buff stock. A variety in shade occurs, of +some degree of rarity, printed in carmine. The card was first chronicled +in the _American Journal of Philately_ for 1st November, 1896, and was +the last "new issue" put forth by the British American Bank Note Co. +before its long contract was closed. The card was noted in the +Postmaster General's Report for 1897 as follows:--"During the year a +Universal Postal Union Card, conforming more closely to the regulations +of the Union was introduced, thus superseding the old card." The new +dimensions of the card, the removal of the frame, and the completing of +the inscriptions in both English and French were among these +requirements. + +The American Bank Note Co., as we all know, began its work for the +Canadian Government by the production of the Jubilee Issue. As will be +seen by reference to the prospectus of this series already given,[236] +there was included a special post card of 1 cent to the number of 7 +millions. These were delivered and all issued with the exception of 3000 +on hand as shown by the stamp accounts in 1903. They do not appear in +the 1904 accounts, so it is not known what became of them. + +[236] See page 148. + +[Illustration] + +The cards were issued with the Jubilee stamps on the 19th June, +1897.[237] They were the size of the ordinary 1 cent cards and on the +same quality of stock. The stamp is a reproduction of the 1 cent +adhesive of the Jubilee issue, but engraved for typographic printing. +"Canada Post Card" is enclosed in a fancy frame at the left and the +usual instructions are found beneath it. + +[237] =Ibid.= + +A curious variety of this card was noted in the _Metropolitan +Philatelist_ for August, 1897, as follows:--"We have seen the new +jubilee card bearing the stamp only. This is an error caused by the +design being in two pieces and in this case the inscription has dropped +out." + +The regular post cards produced by the new contractors did not make +their appearance until several months after the first adhesives of the +new type were out. The two cent card was the first issued, having been +reported by the Canadian correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ +under date of 4th December, 1897, as just out. It was a copy of the 2 +cent card of 1896 in every respect except the stamp, which was naturally +of the new maple leaf type, and the color was a deeper shade of orange +red. + +The 1 cent card does not appear to have been chronicled until the number +for 1st February, 1898, of the _American Journal of Philately_, so that +it doubtless appeared early in January or possibly the latter part of +December, 1897, following closely the 2 cent card. It was also of the +usual size and same stock as before and, like the Jubilee card, had a +copy of the 1 cent adhesive printed in the corner. This was of the maple +leaf type, engraved for typographic printing and therefore of rather +coarser appearance than its prototype. The inscriptions were simply +CANADA POST CARD in plain Gothic letters, with the usual line of +instructions beneath, all printed in black; while the stamp was printed +in dark green. + +Early in December, 1897, the following news item appeared in the +Canadian daily press:-- + + Postmaster-General Mulock has formulated a scheme with respect to + postal cards which he has been thinking over for some time and which + he has now got so far into shape as to be ready for publication. It + is to remove the restriction which has hitherto existed with respect + to using the address side of the card for any purpose other than the + address. It is intended to allow pictures, ads., etc., on the face + of the card so long as there is room for the address. This will + enable a business man to advertise his business and will no doubt be + appreciated by both the advertiser and the public. It is intended + the cards shall be printed in sheets instead of singly for the + benefit of printers and lithographers. + + + +The following was the official announcement:-- + + NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. + + Regulations under which designs, illustrations, portraits, sketches, + or other forms of advertisement may be engraved, lithographed, + printed, etc., on the "address" side of the one-cent Post-Card. + + 1. A clear space of, at least, a quarter of an inch shall be left + along each of the four sides of the postage stamp. + + 2. There shall be reserved for the address a clear space at the + lower right hand corner on the "address" side of the card + immediately below the words "The space below is reserved for address + only," such space so reserved for the address being, at least, 3-1/4 + inches long by 1-1/2 inches wide. + + N. B. It is in the interest of both the Department and those + availing themselves of the privilege hereby, granted that the spaces + in question should be unconditionally reserved for the purposes + intended. If any printing, engraving, or other matter appears on the + spaces thus reserved, the Post-Cards cannot be permitted to pass + through the mails. + + Post-Cards may be ordered in sheets of sixteen or less, as desired, + or singly; orders therefor, specifying quantity of cards required + and number to the sheet, to be given in writing to the nearest + Postmaster. + + POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + OTTAWA, 9th December, 1897. + + +These "advertisement" cards were issued by the Post Office Department +singly, or printed in sheets of eight or sixteen. The single cards came +in packages of 100 like the ordinary cards; the eight card sheets were +made up in packages of 125 sheets, or 1000 cards all told; and the +sixteen card sheets also in packages of 125 sheets, or 2000 cards all +told. The reason for this is seen in the requirement that orders for +these cards should be for not less than 1000. It is seen from the stamp +accounts that the eight card sheets have proven the most popular, about +six times as many sheets of this size as of the larger size having been +issued in 1910, while the number of cards represented was five times the +number of single cards issued. + +The stock is the same as used for the ordinary cards and the size of the +single card is the same, while the arrangement on the sheets and the +regulations require that they be cut up into cards of the proper size. +The stamp is impressed in the right hand upper corner and is the same as +for the ordinary card but printed in carmine. The only other thing on +the card as issued is the directions, printed in small black Gothic +capitals:--THE SPACE BELOW IS RESERVED FOR ADDRESS ONLY. This is placed +about midway between the top and bottom of the card and about as far to +the right as it will go. + +The last of the Queen's head cards were chronicled in the _Monthly +Journal_ for 30th July, 1898. These were the reply card and the Postal +Union card in a change of color. The reply card was of the usual size, 5 +x 3 inches, and had printed inscriptions in black like the single card, +save that the word REPLY is placed between the two lines on the card for +answer. The stamp is from the same die as the single card but printed in +black instead of green. The stock is the usual pale buff. + +The same paper for 31st March, 1899, notes an error of impression in +this card, the reply portion being printed on the back of the message +card, so that the second card has no impression at all upon it. + +The Postal Union card was identical with the one it superseded, except +that it was printed in deep blue, and the card is of a cream tint rather +than a buff. The cause of the sudden change in color is not known. + +The King's head cards soon followed the adhesives. _Mekeel's Weekly +Stamp News_ reported the 1 cent in its issue for 5th September, 1903. It +needs no further description than to say it is a counterpart of the +preceding Queen's Head card, the stamp as before being a copy of the +adhesive engraved for typographic work. The impression is in green for +the stamp and black for the inscriptions. + +The advertising card or "Business Post-Card" was the next to appear, +having been issued early in December, 1903. Again it is in every way +similar to its predecessor save that the impression of the stamp is +lighter--rather a pink than a carmine. + +Finally, in its issue for 20th February, 1904, _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp +News_ reports the issue of the reply card in its usual form and the +Postal Union card, identical with the former save for the stamp, which +is of course line engraved on this card. The issue of cards in 1910 +comprised over 26 millions of the 1 cent, 430,000 of the reply cards and +70,000 of the Postal Union cards. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE LETTER CARDS + + +[Illustration: + + CANADA + LETTER CARD] + +The Postmaster General's Report for 1892 contained the following +announcement:--"Letter cards, similar to those in use in Great Britain, +Austria, and other European countries, are being prepared, and will be +issued to the public in a short time." Only one value was issued, the 3 +cents, and it appeared in company with the 20 and 50 cent adhesives and +large sized post card on the 17th February, 1893. Artistically it is a +pretty poor production, the stamp being apparently a rough wood-cut +imitation of the stock type used by Messrs. De La Rue & Co. at that time +for British Colonial stamps. The profile of the Queen is on a solid +ground within an octagonal frame, and the labels at top and bottom +contain the words POSTAGE and THREE CENTS respectively. At the left of +the stamp, in two lines, is CANADA--LETTER CARD, the first being in +Gothic, the second in Roman capitals. The entire impression is in +carmine. The size of the card, opened out, is 5-1/2 x 7 inches (138 x +175 mm.), the longer dimension being reduced one half by folding of +course. The perforation gauges 12 and is in Form A of Senf's catalogue +(both lines crossing at the corner intersections). The margin outside +the perforations measures 3/8 inch (10 mm.) and is gummed only around +the third face of the folded card. The stock is of fair quality and of a +light greenish-blue tint. + +The Postmaster General's Report for 1894 says that "so far the demand +for these letter cards has not equalled the expectations of the +Department." On looking at the stamp accounts we find that from their +date of issue to the 30th June, 1893, 265,350 of the letter cards were +distributed; but during the whole of the next fiscal year but 104,650 +were issued and for the third year the amount had dropped to 77,750. The +Postmaster General's plaint was therefore justified. + +It is perhaps best to record here a curious semi-official issue of what +might be termed a "letter sheet" for the use of the Canadian Pacific +Railway. It was first noted in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st January, +1894, as "a sheet stamped with the current 1 cent wrapper die, upon +which is printed the monthly statement of receipts and expenditure for +transmission to shareholders." Perhaps for the reason that the wrapper +stamp was impressed upon it, this variety has been listed under the +newspaper wrappers, but such it is not. The circular was printed upon a +stout gray-blue paper, and had the wrapper stamp of type 4 impressed +upon the back in black. Above the stamp appears the inscription "Printed +Matter Only," while in the lower left corner of the address side of the +folded sheet are two lines reading:-- + + Canadian Pacific Ry. + Monthly Statement of Earnings and Expenses. + +Three guide lines are printed for the address, as upon the old post +cards. The sheet must have been issued in 1893 subsequent to the +appearance of the large post card with the stamp of type 4 in black. It +is stated to have been issued as an experiment and was in use but a +short time. A second variety is known, however, on white laid paper, +which was probably issued subsequently to the blue variety, but at what +date is not known. Both sheets are rare so the experiment evidently was +not carried on for long. + +Returning to the regular letter cards we find again in the Postmaster +General's Report for 1895 that "arrangements have been made for the +issue of letter cards of the denominations of 1, 2 and 3c. for the use +of banks in transmitting certain notices to their customers, as well as +for ordinary letters within those postal limits to which their +denominations respectively apply." The next year's Report explains their +use a little more fully:-- + + During the year the 1 and 2 cent letter cards were introduced--the + former to serve the purpose of the "drop letter" (_i. e._, a letter + posted at, and delivered from, the same office) in places where + there is no free delivery by letter carrier; the latter to meet a + similar object in cities where there is such a delivery. Already + this extension of postal facilities appears to be appreciated--more + especially by banks, which largely use these cards in transmitting + notices to their customers. + +The 2 cent letter card is chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st +October, 1895, and the 1 cent in the same paper for the 30th November, +1895. Both were doubtless issued the early part of October. They +conformed in all respects to the 3 cent letter card issued two years and +a half previously, except for the stamp. If the 3 cent was wretched, the +two new ones were hideous. They were not only more poorly engraved, +which was needless, but the label at the bottom was enlarged by +extending it at either side. The 1 cent was printed in black and the 2 +cent in green--inscription and stamp in the same color in each case. + +In 1903 the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ published the following:[238]-- + + A correspondent in Vermont sends Mr. Lohmeyer a 1c. letter card of + the first issue, which he discovered in a Canadian post office + recently, it being the only copy there and damaged at that, the + perforated margin on the right hand side being torn off. In the + lower left corner the bottom perforation runs to the left side + perforation only, instead of crossing it, as on all Canadian letter + cards previously seen. + +[238] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XVII: 149. + +This is the style of perforation designated as C in Senf's catalogue--in +which the horizontal line does not project beyond the vertical lines at +either side. We have seen a perfect copy of the above described 1 cent +letter card, which seems to be unlisted; but the 3 cent card with this +perforation, listed and priced in Senf, we have not ourselves seen. It +is possible that if two of these cards exist with perforation C, the +third one--the 2 cent--will some day come to light. + +The change in the stamp contractors in 1897 and the use of a new design +naturally brought changes in the letter cards as well as the other +postal requisites. The new 2 cent letter card was chronicled in the +_Monthly Journal_ for 31st January, 1898, so it is safe to assume that +it appeared in December, 1897. The 1 cent and 3 cents are chronicled in +the same paper for 28th February, 1898, and must therefore have been +issued as early as January, 1898. The new letter cards were in all +respects the counterparts of the previous ones save the stamp, which was +now the same as that used for the new post cards and wrappers, viz., a +copy of the "maple leaf" Queen's head type engraved for typographic +work. These three letter cards are known only with the perforation A. + +The reduction in domestic postage to the 2 cent rate on the 1st January, +1899, rendered the 3 cent letter cards useless as well as the envelopes +of like denomination. We have already recounted the story of the +surcharged envelopes and the two types of the handstamp which were used +in doing the work.[239] Suffice it to say, therefore, that we have but +to add the letter cards to the same story to make it complete. Both the +3 cent letter cards of 1893 and 1898 were turned in for surcharging +purposes, and the former not only received both types of the rubber +hand-stamped surcharge in the usual blue-black or gray-black color, but +is found also with the second and common type in a violet color.[240] +The surcharging was begun and the letter cards so treated were issued as +early as February, 1899. The perforation, so far as known, is always A. + +[239] See page 240. + +[240] =Monthly Journal=, IX: 175. + +In its issue for 27th January, 1900, the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ notes +the receipt of the 1 cent and 2 cent letter cards of the maple leaf type +in new colors, conforming with the requirements of the Postal Union, the +one cent in green instead of black and the 2 cent in carmine instead of +green. In all other respects these letter cards conformed to their +predecessors. They were doubtless issued early in January, 1900. + +The letter cards had been used in considerable quantities each year, +particularly after 1895, when the 1 cent and 2 cent values were added to +the previous 3 cent; but in 1902 they were withdrawn without any +particular reason having been given that we have been able to discover. +The stamp accounts for the Report of 1902 give the numbers issued in +that fiscal year as 195,100 for the 1 cent and 352,000 for the 2 cent. +The only item of information we have to quote concerning their demise is +confined to the dates: the last issue of the 1 cent letter card is +recorded as the 4th April, 1902, and of the 2 cent letter card as the +28th June, 1902. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OFFICIAL STATIONERY + + +Outside of the Dead Letter Office seals the Canadian Government has +issued no official adhesive stamps. An attempt, however, to foist a +series of official stationery upon an unsuspecting philatelic public was +made by one Henry Hechler, a stamp collector and dealer, who thought he +saw his opportunity in the Indian troubles which broke out in the +Canadian Northwest in 1884-5. Mr. Hechler belonged to the Militia and +accompanied the troops that were sent to quell the disturbance. He took +it upon himself to have a quantity of envelopes, post cards and wrappers +surcharged OFFICIAL or SERVICE and evidently expected they would be +accepted without question. + +The first news of these surcharges seems to have come, very strangely, +from Germany. The _Philatelic Record_ for December, 1884,[241] says:-- + + _Der Philatelist_ chronicles, on the faith of a correspondent, Herr + Von Jerzabek, of Temesvar, a set of the adhesives with Queen's head + ..., two envelopes, and the 1 cent post card, all surcharged in + black, with the word OFFICIAL. It is alleged that they were prepared + and issued in 1877, but after a short time were called in again. The + surcharges are in some cases oblique, and in others perpendicular. + It is at least strange that, considering our intercourse with + Canada, our first knowledge of the issue of official stamps so far + back as 1877 should reach us from Temesvar, wherever that may be. + +[241] =Philatelic Record=, VI: 210. + +The Secretary of the Philatelic Society, London, whose official journal +the _Philatelic Record_ then was, wrote direct to the Canadian +Government to inquire into the authenticity of these so-called official +issues, and received the following reply:[242]-- + + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + OTTAWA, _18th May_, 1885. + + SIR:--I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge receipt + of your letter of the 29th ult., inquiring whether postage stamps + bearing the word "_Official_" on their face are in circulation in + the Dominion of Canada, and beg, in reply, to say that no such + stamp, card, newspaper wrapper, or envelope has _ever_ been issued + by this department. + + I am, sir, your obedient servant, + (_Signed_) Wm. White, _Secretary_. + +[242] =Ibid.=, VII: 84. + +This would ordinarily seem to have been enough of a disclaimer, but like +Banquo's ghost the official stationery would not down, though the stamps +seem to have been lost sight of. Not only were the envelopes of 1 cent +and 3 cents of the 1877 issue, but the newspaper wrappers of 1875 and +1882, and the post card of 1882, surcharged across the stamp with the +word "OFFICIAL" or "Service" in black, blue or red ink, but sometimes +the arms of Great Britain were added at the left of the stamp, and also, +in the lower left corner, the words + + "63RD. RIFLES" or HEADQUARTERS, } + 63RD. RIFLES. } + +The lack of uniformity, or rather attempt at variety, was enough in +itself to condemn the articles. Yet in the _American Philatelist_ for +June, 1888, we find an attempted defence of them. We quote:[243]-- + + Henry Hechler writes us as follows: "When the Indian outbreak in the + Northwest occurred in 1885, and some of the militia of the various + provinces were hurriedly ordered out for active service, stringent + measures for notifying the men calling for prompt attention had to + be adopted. To distinguish them from ordinary mail matter by showing + their official character they were stamped across the "adhesive" + with the word _Service_ and at the lower left corner _O. [H.] M. S. + only_. Some were thus printed in black, others in blue, and yet + others in red. They served for that purpose only, until an Act of + Parliament was passed to carry all military mail matter on active + service free." + + Mr. Hechler was captain of one of the companies of the Halifax + Battalion, and, therefore, in a position to obtain definite + information. + +[243] =American Philatelist=, II: 207. + +In other words Mr. Hechler knew all about these "official" stamps and +the Postmaster-General and his secretary, as we have seen, knew +absolutely nothing about them! This seems to tell its own story. In fact +another letter from the Post Office Department, dated 13th April, 1888, +and published in this same volume of the _American Philatelist_,[244] +reiterates the denials of the previous letter which we have already +quoted. The _Philatelic Record_ received later,[245] from the +Postmaster of Halifax, the information that Mr. Hechler had had this +stationery surcharged and that it was neither issued nor recognized by +the Government of Canada. The _Record_ says:--"It was a smart notion of +Mr. Hechler to turn his military duties into the direction of his +business as a stamp dealer." Mr. Hechler "came back" at this in the +columns of the _Philatelic Journal of America_[246] with the statement +that "the Post Office Inspector here referred the question to +headquarters, and, in reply, was instructed to allow such matter to pass +through the mails without question or delay." The communication was +enclosed in one of the envelopes in question, but the Editor's remarks +on this are conclusive:-- + + The surcharging has not impaired the postal value of the envelope + and they are permitted to pass through the Canadian mails, but as to + their value from a philatelic standpoint it is quite another thing. + + The printing in this case is of no more importance than any notice + or inscription that might be placed on an envelope bearing a regular + government stamp that in itself is sufficient to pay the postage. + + In fact the above writer admits that the surcharge had no other + value than to enable the recipient to distinguish the letter from + his other mail. They are of no philatelic value whatever. + +[244] =Ibid.=, II: 173. + +[245] =Philatelic Record=, XI: 44. + +[246] =Philatelic Journal of America=, V: 202. + +It was a private speculation, pure and simple, in spite of any claims of +"recognition", and of the fact that copies passed the post. The only +other quotation to make in the case is from Shakespeare--_Exeunt_. + +We now come to an actual official issue in the shape of a newspaper +wrapper. It seems to have been first noted in _Le Timbre-Poste_ for +February, 1883, but is stated to have been issued in 1879. The stamp is +of the 1875 issue (type 1) and at its left is printed in blue the +following:-- + +[Illustration: + + Inland Revenue, Canada. + + WEIGHTS & MEASURES SERVICE. + + _Official Circular._ + + _To_ + + This band is to be used =On Her Majesty's Service= only and must have + no writing thereon but the name and address. + +] + +Above the English inscription is its counterpart in French. The wrapper +itself is of a cream tone and measures 280 x 132 mm. + +The history of this wrapper does not seem to be known, save that it is +accredited to be what it purports to be. It is quite rare, and as far as +we have been able to find out is not known used. No mention is made of +it in the Department reports, but it happens that the stamp accounts for +1879, the year of its supposed issue, give only 8,000 wrappers as +received from the manufacturers. None had been received the two years +previously, as there were plenty on hand, and 192,000 were received the +next year. It would thus appear, on the face of it, that this small lot +of 8,000 was quite probably the order of the Inland Revenue wrappers. If +so, it was probably the only lot ever received and though they may have +been used, the chances seem somewhat against any such number having +actually been issued. + +One other official issue comes in the form of a Customs' post card +notice. It was first chronicled in the _American Philatelist_ for 10th +May, 1888, as having been issued in connection with the parcel post +system just then inaugurated with the United States. Postmasters +received instructions to forward these cards free through the mails, +although there was no stamp or notice on the address side. It is of +manila card, 130 x 88 mm., blank on one side and having printed on the +other:-- + + Customs Postal Package Office. + ...........................188 + _There has arrived at this office by mail from the United States, + addressed to you as over, the following dutiable package, which will + be delivered or forwarded to you on the receipt of the duty payable + and the return of this card._ + + ============================================================== + NO. OF | NO. OF | DESCRIPTION. | DUTY + MANIFEST. | PACKAGE. | | PAYABLE. + ----------+-------------+---------------------+-------+------- + | | | $ | cts. + | | | | + | | | | + | | | | + | | | | + -------------------------------------------------------------- + E. 14. ................_Collector_. + +In its September, 1888, number the _Halifax Philatelist_ notes that the +blank address side has been supplied with three dotted lines for the +address, and inscriptions reading, in the upper left corner, "_Advice +Note_", and in the upper right corner, "_Free, by order of the Post +Master General_." + +One further official variety is somewhat unusual. The _American +Philatelist_ for September, 1889,[247] says:-- + + "We are indebted to Donald A. King ... for information concerning + what is certainly a novelty in the postal line, namely, an unpaid + letter stamped envelope. When a letter is returned from the + dead-letter office the sender is required to pay the regular postage + and these envelopes have been prepared of various values. The only + one we have seen is the 3 cent value. It is about 175 x 120 mm., and + is made of manila paper. In the place for the stamp is a figure 3 + about 23 mm. high. In the left hand upper corner RETURNED DEAD + LETTER; in the lower corner-- + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, + DEAD LETTER OFFICE. + + On the reverse, _The enclosed Dead Letter is returned by order of + the Postmaster-General for the reasons thereon assigned_. The + following values are said to exist: + + 3 cents, black on manila. + 6 " " " ? + 9 " " " ? + 12 " " " ? + 18 " " " ? + + We have no further information concerning them. + +[247] =American Philatelist=, III: 350. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +PRECANCELLATIONS AND PERMITS + + +As a matter of record and without any attempt at lists of varieties, +which would prove futile, we deem it interesting and important to give +such information as is at hand concerning the precancellation of stamps +for use on large quantities of identical mail matter, and of the more +recent substitute for the precancelled stamp which is known as the +"permit". Both ideas were of course borrowed from the United States, +which was the originator of this form of labor saving expedient. + +The _London Philatelist_ for April, 1892, quoted a letter from Mr. L. +Gibb of Montreal which enclosed "a specimen used on the letter, but with +the obliteration on the stamp only, and also portions of sheets gummed +and unsevered, but neatly postmarked with horizontal wavy lines." Mr. +Gibb wrote:[248]-- + + Sometime back I received the enclosed stamp paying the postage on an + open envelope containing a circular from Toronto; it has not been + moved from its original place, and one could see it had not been + obliterated on the envelope. After some little trouble I found the + P. O. would, upon receiving whole sheets of stamps, cancel them, and + then hand them back to any known firm to be placed on letters in + quantity, these letters are then taken to a private part of the + office in bulk, and are allowed to pass through the post without + further marking. + +[248] =London Philatelist=. I: 100. + +The system in the United States made use of a cancellation giving the +town and state name, printed on the sheets by a press; but the Canadian +precancellation was of simpler form, being of two fairly heavy +horizontal lines with a wavy line between. No name occurs in the +cancellation and it was applied with a roller, thus making a universal +style which is more convenient in application than the type set form, +varying for every post office. + +Further information in regard to this cancellation is found in _Mekeel's +Weekly Stamp News_[249] where we read:--"The Canadian one-cent stamp +cancelled on circulars is obliterated by a revolving self-inking +canceler and is issued for use on the 5th class matter, i. e. parcels, +etc., to post offices with an annual revenue of $3000 and over." + +[249] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 388. + +In 1904 precancelled stamps began to appear with the town name and that +of the province, separated by two horizontal bars. In answer to an +inquiry concerning them the Department replied as follows:[250]-- + + The main conditions governing the case are the quantities required + for a given mailing and the limitation of the use of precancelled + stamps to the particular kind or class of mail matter for which they + have been issued. The minimum quantity in each such case is 25,000 + pieces.... As requisitions for precancelled stamps necessarily take + longer to fill than the ordinary, postmasters are expected to send + requisitions for them to the Department a few days in advance of + actual needs. + +[250] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVIII: 131. + +It is evident that the latter form of printed precancellation was the +only one intended to be employed by the Department, and that the earlier +form of impression from the roller canceller was unauthorized, for the +following circular was issued to make matters plain for +postmasters:[251]-- + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + + OTTAWA, 16th September, 1904. + + PRE-CANCELLATION OF POSTAGE STAMPS. + + The use of pre-cancelled stamps (or stamps cancelled before actually + used for payment of postage) is permitted in some of the larger + cities under very stringent regulations and only when required for + any one mailing in quantities of not less than 25,000 stamps, but + postage stamps cancelled with the small roller canceller have been + observed on letters and other matter passing in the mails, and + Postmasters are accordingly instructed that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES + are they permitted to precancel postage stamps. The roller canceller + is reserved for the cancellation of postage stamps on Second, Third + and Fourth Class Matter and must be used only on stamps after being + ACTUALLY AFFIXED to such matter. + + ANY POSTMASTER FOUND TO BE PRECANCELLING STAMPS IN ANY WAY OR + SELLING STAMPS PRE-CANCELLED WITHOUT AUTHORITY WILL BE HELD + RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL VALUE OF SUCH CANCELLED STAMPS. + + It is proper to explain that the authorized pre-cancelled stamps are + struck with a special die bearing the name of the mailing office and + are sold only to the largest mailing concerns under conditions + which it is considered preclude any danger of such stamps being used + a second time for postage. Such conditions would not attend the use + of stamps pre-cancelled with the ordinary roller stamp, and in + consequence the use of the roller stamps for such a purpose is + strictly forbidden, under the penalty above mentioned. + + Requisitions for pre-cancelled stamps must be made direct to the + Department (Stamp Branch). No request for pre-cancelled stamps can + be considered where the number of pieces to be prepaid thereby is + less than 25,000. + + R. M. COULTER, + Deputy Postmaster General. + + +[251] =Ibid.=, XVIII: 322. + +Not long afterward the bars were lowered somewhat on the size of the +mailing required for the use of precancelled stamps, as the following +circular shows:[252]-- + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + + OTTAWA, 29th October, 1904. + + PRECANCELLED STAMPS. + + (Amending Departmental Circulars of 11th March and 16th September.) + + It is desired that the use of precancelled stamps should be attended + with every possible degree of precaution and security and for that + purpose only requisitions for precancelled stamps to cover mailings + of _25,000 pieces at a time_ have been allowed. It is considered, + however, in the light of experience, that this limit is somewhat + high, and in future, therefore, postmasters will be allowed to make + requisition for precancelled stamps for mailings of _10,000 pieces + at a time_. + + R. M. COULTER, + Deputy Postmaster General. + + +[252] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVIII: 402. + +The style of cancellation which is employed by the Department at Ottawa, +where all the pre-cancelling is evidently done, is a three line one--the +town name above and the province name below, separated by two parallel +lines. It is applied in black ink. Evidently considerable mail is sent +out under this method for the precancelled stamps are fairly common. One +other variety comes from Montreal with "FOR-THIRD-CLASS-MATTER-ONLY", (a +line for a word) beneath MONTREAL and separated from it by two thin +parallel lines. + +The issuing of "Permits" was an outgrowth of the precancelled stamp +system, it being in effect a _stamped cover_ fulfilling the same purpose +as a cover with a precancelled adhesive affixed to it. The idea was +again borrowed from the United States. The circular issued to +postmasters will fully explain the methods adopted under this new +plan:[253]-- + + POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. + + OTTAWA, 2nd February, 1903. + + PREPAYMENT OF THIRD-CLASS (PRINTED) MATTER IN CASH. + + The Postmaster General in order to facilitate the posting of printed + matter mailed in considerable quantities addressed for delivery at + post-offices within the Dominion of Canada, has decided that + prepayment of postage on same may be effected in cash (instead of + postage stamps) in conformity with the following + + REGULATIONS. + + 1. Each lot of mail matter which is posted under this arrangement + must be accompanied by a Permit, which has been obtained from the + Postmaster of the office at which it is posted. The application must + be made in writing on one of the forms provided for the purpose, in + which shall be stated approximately the number of pieces it is + intended to mail, and the postage on each piece at the rate of one + cent per two ounces or fraction thereof. + + 2. The articles posted must be of an uniform weight, and must be put + up in such a way as to admit of their being readily counted. The + weight and number must be verified beyond doubt. Circulars to be put + up in packages of 50, 75 or 100, with addressed sides faced all one + way. Catalogues must be tied up in neat bundles. + + 3. Each article must have printed upon its wrapper or cover an + impression of an official stamp, a fac-simile of which is here + given, which shall be furnished by the Postmaster of the office of + posting, mentioning the name of the office at which posted, and + stating that the postage was prepaid in cash. + +[Illustration: + + POSTAGE PAID IN CASH + At OTTAWA, Canada + Authorized under Permit No. + ANYBODY USING THIS STAMP WITHOUT AUTHORITY + WILL RENDER HIMSELF LIABLE TO PROSECUTION + +] + + 4. The lowest amount which may be received in payment for matter + mailed under these regulations is $25.00. + + 5. Under these regulations payment may be made only by marked + cheque drawn in favour of the Postmaster of the office of posting + for deposit to the credit of the Receiver General. The cheque must + accompany the mail matter at the time it is posted. The cheque is to + be drawn as follows: + + "Pay to the Postmaster of ... for deposit to credit of Receiver + General." + + R. M. COULTER. + Deputy Postmaster General. + + +[253] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XVIII: 63. + +Electrotypes of the "stamp" shown were furnished to all offices where +there was a large output of the class of matter described, and the +permit number was printed in with the impression when the order under +which it was issued was being struck off. The "stamp" is usually printed +in black, but has been seen in dark blue. + +In the stamp account for the year ending 30th June, 1903, no returns +were given for mailings under these "Permits", but in 1904 we find that +"Postage Paid in Cash on 3d Class (Printed) Matter" is given as +$53,970.47, while in 1910 it had risen to $256,468.20--a quite +respectable amount for the use of the "Permits". + + + + +REFERENCE LIST + + + +PROVINCE OF CANADA + +1st. SERIES. Engraved and printed by Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & +Edson, New York. Unperforated. + + 1851. =THIN GRAYISH LAID PAPER.= + + April 23. 3 pence, deep red, red, vermilion. + _double strike_, deep red, red, vermilion. + May 15 (?) 6 pence, black violet, deep brown violet, slate. + _diagonal half_ used as 3d. + June 15. 12 pence, black. + + =STOUT WHITE LAID PAPER.= + + 3 pence, red. + 6 pence, dull purple. + + 1851-7. =GRAYISH WOVE PAPER, THIN TO STOUT.= + + 3 pence, deep red, red, vermilion. + _double strike_, deep red, red, vermilion. + 6 pence, black brown, brownish black, greenish black, slate, + slate violet, deep violet. + 12 pence, black. + + =SOFT WHITE WOVE PAPER.= + + 3 pence, deep red, red. + _double strike_, deep red, red. + + =STOUT HARD WHITE WOVE PAPER.= + + 3 pence, deep red, red, vermilion. + 6 pence, deep violet, slate violet, brown violet. + + =VERY THICK HARD PAPER.= + + 6 pence, slate violet. + + =VERY THICK SOFT PAPER.= + + 6 pence, dull purple. + _diagonal half_ used as 3d. + + =THIN SOFT RIBBED PAPER.= + + 3 pence, red. + _double strike_, red. + + =STOUT HARD RIBBED PAPER.= + + 3 pence, red. + _double strike_, red. + 6 pence, black violet. + + 1855, Jan. =THIN WOVE PAPER.= + + 10 pence, deep blue, Prussian blue. + _wide impression._ + _narrow impression._ + _double strike._ + + =STOUT HARD WOVE PAPER.= + + 10 pence, deep blue, Prussian blue. + _wide impression._ + + 1857, June 2 (?) =THIN WOVE PAPER.= + + 7-1/2 pence, dark yellow green. + _wide impression._ + _narrow impression._ + + =STOUT HARD WOVE PAPER.= + + 7-1/2 pence, dark yellow green. + _wide impression_. + + 1857, Aug. 1. =THIN WOVE PAPER.= + + 1/2 penny, deep rose. + + =STOUT HARD WOVE PAPER.= + + 1/2 penny, deep rose. + + =THIN SOFT RIBBED PAPER.= + + 1/2 penny, deep rose. + _horizontal ribbing._ + _vertical ribbing._ + +Same as before, but perforated 12 by the American Bank Note Co. (?) + + 1859, Jan. (?) =STOUT WOVE PAPER.= + + 1/2 penny, deep rose. + 3 pence, red. + _double strike._ + _perc['e] en scie 13_, (unofficial). + _perforated 14_, (unofficial). + 6 pence, black violet, slate violet, deep brown violet, + black brown. + + =THIN RIBBED PAPER= + + 1/2 penny, deep rose (?) + 3 pence, red. + _double strike._ + +2nd. SERIES. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., New +York. Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1859, July 1. + 1 cent, dull red, rose red, rose carmine. + _imperforate_, rose red. + _thick hard paper_, rose red. + _ribbed paper_, dull red. + 5 cents, bright red, brick red, deep red. + _double strike_, bright red, red, deep red. + _worn plate_, red. + _imperforate_, red. + _worn plate imperforate_, red. + _ribbed paper_, red, deep red. + _diagonal half_ used as 2-1/2c., red. + + 10 cents, bright red violet, dull red violet, deep red violet, + deep violet, slate violet, brown violet, yellowish + brown, brown, dark brown, black brown, gray brown. + _imperforate_, red violet, violet. + _ribbed paper_, deep red violet, brown violet, brown + (light to dark). + _diagonal half_ used as 5c., red violet, black brown. + + 12-1/2 cents, light yellow green, deep yellow green, green, + blue green. + _imperforate_, blue green. + _ribbed paper_, light yellow green. + 17 cents, deep blue, Prussian blue. + _imperforate_, Prussian blue. + _ribbed paper_, Prussian blue. + 1864, Aug. 1. + 2 cents, rose red, dull red. + _imperforate_, rose red, dull red. + _ribbed paper_, rose red. + + +DOMINION OF CANADA + +3rd. SERIES. LARGE STAMPS. Engraved and printed by the British American +Bank Note Co., Montreal & Ottawa. Perforated 12, Wove paper. + + 1868, April 1. + 1/2 cent, gray black, black. + _horizontal pair, imperforate between._ + _very thin paper._ + 1 cent, brown red, deep brown red. + _watermarked_, brown red. + _laid paper_, brown red, deep brown red. + _very thin paper_, deep brown red. + 2 cents, pale yellow green, pale green, green, + deep yellow green, deep blue green. + _watermarked_, green. + _very thin paper_, deep yellow green. + 3 cents, vermilion, bright red, deep red, brown red. + _watermarked_, brown red, red. + _laid paper_, vermilion, bright red. + _very thin paper_, deep red. + _very thick paper_, brown red. + + 6 cents, pale brown, brown, deep brown, gray brown, + pale yellow brown, deep yellow brown. + _watermarked_, deep brown. + _very thin paper_, deep brown. + _diagonal half_ used for 3c., deep brown. + 12-1/2 cents, dull blue, deep blue, pale blue. + _watermarked_, deep blue. + _very thin paper_, dull blue. + 15 cents, mauve, deep mauve, lilac gray, gray violet, + deep gray violet, blue gray, slate blue, + greenish blue. + _watermarked_, lilac gray, gray violet. + _thin laid paper_, mauve. + _ribbed paper_, lilac gray. + _very thick paper_, mauve, slate blue, purple. + _imperforate_, brown violet. + 1869, Jan. + 1 cent, yellow, pale orange, orange yellow, orange. + _imperforate_, yellow. + 1875, Oct. 1. + 5 cents, light olive gray, dark olive gray. + + + +4th SERIES. SMALL STAMPS. Engraved and printed by the British American +Bank Note Company, Montreal & Ottawa. Perforated 12. Thin to thick wove +paper. + + 1870, Jan. (?) + 3 cents, dull rose red, deep rose red, rose carmine (1888), + brown red, red, bright red, vermilion, orange red. + _imperforate_, dull red, vermilion. + _ribbed paper_, red. + + 1870, Mar. (?) + 1 cent, orange, orange yellow, deep yellow, bright yellow, + pale yellow, olive yellow. + _imperforate_, bright yellow. + _ribbed paper_, yellow. + _vertical half_, used for 1/2c. + + 1872, Jan. (?) + 6 cents, pale yellow brown, brown, dark yellow brown; + (1888) pale chestnut, deep chestnut. + _imperforate_, deep chestnut. + _ribbed paper_, deep chestnut. + _vertical half_, used for 3c. + + 1872, Feb. (?) + 2 cents, pale green, green, deep green; (1888) blue green, + deep blue green. + _imperforate_, green. + _ribbed paper_, green. + _vertical half_, used for 1c. + + 1874. Nov. 1. (?) + 10 cents, pale lilac, lilac, mauve, red violet, violet; + (1888) dull rose red, dull rose, salmon red, + brown red, indian red. + _imperforate_, brown red, indian red. + _ribbed paper_, dull rose red, dull rose. + + 1876, Feb. 1. (?) + 5 cents, pale olive gray, olive gray, dark olive gray; + (1888) gray, brownish gray, brownish black. + _imperforate_, brownish gray. + _ribbed paper_, brownish black. + + 1882, July. + 1/2 cent, gray black, black. + _imperforate._ + _horizontal pair, imperforate between._ + _vertical pair, imperforate between._ + _ribbed paper._ + +5th SERIES. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., +Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1893, Feb. 17. + 20 cents, bright red, vermilion. + _imperforate_, vermilion. + 50 cents, deep blue. + _imperforate_, black blue. + + 1893, Aug. 1. + 8 cents, bluish gray, bluish slate, slate violet, dark slate, + black violet, gray black. + _imperforate_, bluish gray. + + + +6th SERIES. JUBILEE ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American Bank +Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1897, June 19. + 1/2 cent, gray black, black. + 1 " yellow orange, orange, deep orange. + _vertical half_, used for 1/2c. + 2 cents, green, deep green. + 3 " carmine. + 5 " deep blue. + 6 " deep brown, deep yellow brown. + 8 " slate violet. + 10 " brown lilac. + 15 " bluish slate. + 20 " vermilion, bright scarlet. + 50 " ultramarine. + 1 dollar, carmine lake. + 2 dollars deep violet. + 3 " orange brown. + 4 " violet. + 5 " olive green. + +7th SERIES. "MAPLE LEAF" ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American +Bank Note Company, Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1897, Nov. 9. 1/2 cent, gray black, black. + Dec. 1. (?) 6 cents, deep brown. + Dec. 1 cent, dark blue green. + 2 cents, red violet, violet, deep violet. + 5 cents, dark blue on _bluish_ + (_pale_ and _strong_). + _imperforate_, dark blue on + _pale bluish_. + 8 cents, yellow orange, deep orange. + + 1898, Jan. 3 " deep carmine. + 10 " brown lilac. + +8th SERIES. "NUMERALS" ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American Bank +Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1898, June. 1 cent, blue green, deep blue green. + _toned paper_, deep green. + 3 cents, carmine, deep carmine. + Sept. 1/2 cent, gray black, black. + 2 cents, purple, pale violet, violet, deep violet. + 6 " deep yellow brown, dark brown. + Oct. 8 " yellow orange, orange, deep orange. + Nov. 10 " brown violet, deep brown violet. + 1899, July, 3. 5 " dark blue on _bluish + (pale_ and _strong)._ + Aug. 20. 2 " rose carmine, carmine. + 1900, Dec. 29. 20 " olive green. + 1902, Dec. 23. 7 " olive yellow. + + + +9th SERIES. IMPERIAL PENNY POSTAGE ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the +American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1898, Dec. 7 + {black, red and lavender. + { " " " bluish. + 2 cents, { " " " greenish blue. + { " " " green. + _imperforate._ + + {black, red and bluish. + 2 cents, { " " " greenish blue. + { " " " green. + _Unofficial Provisional._ Used at Port Hood only. + 1899, Jan. 5. 1 cent, greenish surcharge on vertical third of 3c. 1898. + 2 cents, purple surcharge on vertical two-thirds of 3c. 1898. + (These two occur as both "lefts" and "rights") + +10th SERIES. PROVISIONALS. Surcharge typographed in black. + + 1899, July 28. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1898, _carmine_. + _inverted surcharge_, carmine. + Aug. 8. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1897, carmine. + _inverted surcharge_, carmine. + +11th SERIES. KING'S HEAD ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American +Bank Note Co., Ottawa. (Portrait engraved by Perkins, Bacon & Co., +London). Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1903, July 1. + 1 cent, blue green, deep blue green. + _toned paper_, deep yellow green. + 2 cents, rose carmine, carmine. + _imperforate_, rose carmine. + 5 cents deep blue on _bluish_ + (_pale_ and _strong_). + indigo on _bluish_ + (_pale_ and _strong_). + 7 cents, deep olive yellow. + 10 cents, brown lilac, brown violet, deep brown violet. + 1904, Sept. 27. + 20 cents, deep olive green. + 1908, Nov. 19. + 50 cents, violet. + +12th SERIES. QUEBEC TERCENTENARY ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the +American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1908, July 16. + 1/2 cent, black brown, brown. + 1 " deep blue green. + 2 cents, carmine. + 5 " deep blue. + 7 " olive green. + 10 " deep violet. + 15 " red orange. + 20 " deep brown. + + +=STAMP BOOKS.= + +Manufactured by American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. 12-2 cent stamps. + + 1900, June 11. 2 cents, issue of 1898. + 1904, (?) 2 " " " 1904. + + +=REGISTRATION STAMPS=. + +1875, Nov. 15. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note +Co., Montreal and Ottawa. Perforated 12. Thin to thick wove paper. + + 2 cents, orange, orange red, vermilion; (1888) brick red. + _imperforate_, orange. + 5 cents, yellow green, green, dark green; (1888) deep blue green. + _imperforate_, dark green. + 8 cents, bright blue, dull blue. + + +=POSTAGE DUE STAMPS=. + +1906, July 1. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., +Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1 cent, deep violet. + 2 cents, deep violet. + 5 " deep violet, red violet. + + +=SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP=. + +1898, July 1. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., +Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 10 cents, deep green, deep blue green. + _toned paper_, deep green. + + +=OFFICIALLY SEALED LABELS=. + +Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Montreal. +Perforated 12. Wove paper. + + 1879 (?) (_no value_), dark brown. + _imperforate_ (?) + +Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated +12. Wove paper. + + 1905 (?) (_no value_), black on _light green._ + 1907 (?) (_no value_), black. + + +=Stamped Envelopes.= + +PROVINCE OF CANADA. + + Ca + Laid paper, watermarked POD Size 5-1/2 x 3-1/4 inches (138 x 83 mm.) + + 1860, Feb. 1.(?) _Cream toned paper_, flap rounded. + 5 cents, bright red. + 10 cents, black brown. + _error_(?) + 10 cents, bright red. + 1864 (?) _Very white paper_, flap more pointed. + 5 cents, bright red. + + + + +=UNOFFICIAL REPRINTS, 1868.= + + _On pieces of white wove or vertically laid buff paper._ + _5 cents, bright red._ + _10 cents, dark red brown_. + + _On diagonally laid white or buff envelopes, watermarked_ POD + US + + _Size 5-1/2 x 3 inches (138 x 77 mm)._ + _5 cents, bright red._ + _10 cents, dark red brown_. + + * * * * * + +DOMINION OF CANADA. + + Sizes: A--5-1/2 x 3-1/8 inches (138 x 79 mm.) + B--6 x 3-3/8 inches (150 x 85 mm.) + C--9-5/8 x 4-1/2 inches (265 x 113 mm.) + D--5-7/8 x 3-1/2 inches (148 x 87 mm.) + E--6 x 3-5/8 inches (152 x 90 mm.) + + Laid paper, cross vergures 18 mm. apart. Pointed flap. + + 1877, Oct. 6. White paper. + Size A: 1 cent, pale blue, deep blue. + 3 cents, red, rose. + Size B: 3 cents, " " + Same paper, tongued flap. + Size A: 1 cent, blue. + 3 cents, red. + + Laid paper, cross vergures 24 mm. apart. Pointed flap. + + 1888 (?) Cream toned paper. + Size A: 1 cent, blue, deep blue. + 3 cents, red, carmine. + Size B: 3 cents, " " + + Same paper, cross vergures 27 mm. apart. + Size A: 1 cent, deep blue. + + White wove paper. + 1895 (?) Size B: 3 cents, carmine. + + Laid paper, cream toned. + 1895, June 14. + Size B: 2 cents, blue green. + 1896 (?) Size A: 1 cent, ultramarine. + + Manila amber paper. + 1896 (?) Size C: 1 cent, ultramarine. + 3 cents, red. + + Wove paper, cream toned. + 1898, Apr. 1 (?) Size D: 3 cents, bright red. + 1898, July 22. Size D: 1 cent, dark green. + 1899, Jan. 2. Size D: 2 cents, deep violet. + 1899, Jan. 8 (?) Size D: 2 cents, bright red, vermilion. + 1899, Feb. 6. (?) Surcharged 2c in blue-black. + Type 1. + Size D: 2 c. on 3 cents, red, of 1898. + Type 2. + Size A: 2c. on 3 cents, red, of 1877; white paper, pointed flap. + 2c. on 3 " " " 1888 (?) cream toned paper. + Size B: 2c. on 3 " " " " " " " + Size D: 2c. on 3 " " " 1898. + + 1901 (?) Size D: 1 cent, dark green. + 2 cents, bright red. + + Very white wove paper. + + 1905, Jan. 12. Size E: 2 cents, bright red. + Mar. 1 (?) Size E: 1 cent, deep blue green. + + +=WRAPPERS.= + + TYPE 1. Size 9-1/2 x 5 inches (235 x 127 mm.). + + 1875, May 1 cent, dark blue, _light buff paper_. + " _variety_, stamp at left. + [Size 11-1/2 x 6-1/2 inches (290 x 165 mm.)] + + Size 11-1/8 x 4-7/8 inches (285 x 124 mm.). + + 1881, Nov. (?) 1 cent, dark blue, blue, _cream paper_. + + TYPE 2. Size as last. + + 1882, May (?) 1 cent, pale blue, _light buff paper_. + Aug.(?) 1 " blue, _straw paper_. + 1885, 1 " ultramarine, _cream paper_. + + TYPE 3. Size as last. + + 1887, May (?) 1 cent, ultramarine, _thin white paper_. + 1888, 1 " " _cream paper_. + 1 " " _light manila paper_. + + TYPE 4. Size 10-3/8 x 4-7/8 inches (264 x 124 mm.). + + 1892, Feb. (?) 1 cent, dark blue, _thin straw paper_. + " _variety_, stamp half way across wrapper. + 1 " blue, _cream paper_. + + Size 10-3/4 x 4-7/8 inches (272 x 125 mm.). + + 1 cent, dark blue, _straw paper_. + 1894, Feb. (?) 1 " black, _light buff paper_. + 1 " " _light brown paper_. + + 1898, June (?) 1 " dark green, _manila paper_. + + 1903, Oct. (?) 1 " " " " " + + Size 15 x 6-1/2 inches (378 x 165 mm.). Inscription. + + 1907, July 11. 1 cent, dark green, _manila paper_. + 2 " carmine, _manila paper_. + + Size 13 x 8 inches (308 x 223 mm.). Inscription. + + 3 cents, slate violet, _manila paper_. + 1908, June 18 (?) Last two wrappers, surcharged. + 1 c. on 2 cents, carmine. + 1 c. " 3 " slate violet. + + +=POST CARDS.= + +Size 4-5/8 x 3 inches (116 x 75 mm.). Imprint "Montreal & Ottawa." + + 1871. June 1 cent, dull blue, deep blue, _light buff + and pale buff card_. + +Size 4-3/4 x 3 inches (120 x 75 mm.). Imprint "Montreal" only. + + 1876. (end) 1 cent, dull blue, deep blue, _pale buff card_. + Inscribed "To United Kingdom." + + 1877. Jan. 1. 2 cents, deep yellow green, _pale buff card_. + Inscribed "Union Postale Universelle." + + 1879, 2 cents, yellow green, _pale yellowish card_. + Size 5 x 3 inches (127 x 76 mm.). No frame. + +TYPE 2 of wrapper stamp. + + 1882, Apr. (?) 1 cent, light blue, _pale buff card_. + Dec. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, slate, _pale buff card_. + _Error_, stamps at left. + + 1884, Sept. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, slate, _pale buff card_. + +TYPE 3 of wrapper stamp. + + 1887, Feb. (?) 1 cent, dull blue, _pale buff card_. + (?) 1 plus 1 cent, slate, _pale buff card_. + + 1888, (?) 1 plus 1 " slate green, _pale buff card_. + +TYPE 4 of wrapper stamp. + + 1891, Dec. (?) 1 cent, dull ultramarine, pale ultramarine, + _pale buff card_. + + 1892, Dec. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, slate green, (Type 3 on reply card), + _pale buff card_. + + 1894, Oct. (?) 1 plus 1 " gray black, (Type 4 on each card), + _pale buff card_. + +Size 6 x 3-5/8 inches (152 x 92 mm.). + + 1893, Feb. 17. 1 cent, black, _pale buff card_. + +Size 5-1/2 x 3-3/8 inches (140 x 85 mm.). + + 1894, Feb. (?) 1 cent, black, _pale yellowish card_. + + 1895, Apr. (?) 1 " " _rough straw card_. + +Size 5-1/8 x 3-1/8 inches (130 x 80 mm.). + + 1896, Oct. (?) 2 cents, orange red, carmine, _pale buff card_. + +Size 5-1/2 x 3-3/8 inches (140 x 85 mm.). + + 1897, June 19. 1 cent, black, _pale buff card_. + " _variety_, inscriptions lacking. + +Size 5-1/8 x 3-1/8 inches (130 x 80 mm.). + + 1897, Dec. 1 (?) 2 cents, deep orange red, _pale buff card_. + +Size 5-1/2 x 3-3/8 inches (140 x 85 mm.). + + 1898, Jan. (?) 1 cent, green, dark green, _pale buff card_. + 1 " carmine, _pale buff card_. + +Size 5 x 3 inches (127 x 76 mm.). + + 1898, June (?) 1 plus 1 cent, black, _pale buff card_. + " " _variety_, reply printed on back + of message card. + +Size 5-1/8 x 3-1/8 inches (130 x 80 mm.). + + 1898, June (?) 2 cents, deep blue, _cream card_. + +Size 5-1/2 x 3-3/8 inches (140 x 85 mm.). + + 1903, Aug. (?) 1 cent, green, _pale buff card_. + Dec. (?) 1 " rose, " " " + +Size 5 x 3 inches (127 x 76 mm.). + + 1904, Feb. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, black, _pale buff card_. + +Size 5-1/8 x 3-1/8 inches (130 x 80 mm.). + + 1904, Feb. (?) 2 cents, deep blue, _pale buff card_. + + +=LETTER CARDS.= + + 1893. Feb. 17. 3 cents, carmine, _blue-green card_. Perf. A. and C. + + 1895, Oct. (?) 1 " black, " " " Perf. A and C. + 2 " green, " " " Perf. A. + + 1897, Dec. (?) 2 " " " " " Perf. A. + + 1898, Jan. (?) 1 " black, " " " Perf. A. + 3 " carmine, " " " Perf. A. + +Surcharged "2c." in blue-black. + + 1899, Feb. (?) 2 cents on 3 c. card of 1893, type 1. + 2 " " 3 c. " " " " 2. + 2 " " 3 c. " " 1898, " 2. + + +Surcharged in violet. + + 2 cents on 3 c. card of 1893, type 2. + + 1900, Jan. (?) 1 cent, green, _blue-green card_. Perf. A. + 2 " carmine, " " " Perf. A. + + +=LETTER SHEET.= + + 1894 (?) 1 cent, black, _gray blue laid paper_. + 1 " " _white laid paper_. + + +=OFFICIAL STATIONERY.= + + Inland Revenue Wrapper, Size 11 x 5-1/8 inches (280 x 132 mm.). + + 1879 (?) 1 cent, dark blue, _cream paper_. + + Customs Post Card, Size 5-1/8 x 3-1/8 inches (130 x 88 mm.). + + 1888 (?) [plain front], _manila card_. + [inscriptions on front], _manila card._ + + Returned Dead Letter Envelopes. Size 6-7/8 x 4-3/4 inches + (175 x 120 mm.). + + 1889 (?) 3 cents, black, _manila paper_. + ? ? ? + + + +[Illustration: PLATE I] + +[Illustration: PLATE II] + +[Illustration: PLATE III] + +[Illustration: PLATE IV] + +[Illustration: PLATE V] + +[Illustration: PLATE VI] + +[Illustration: PLATE VII] + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII] + +[Illustration: PLATE IX] + +[Illustration: PLATE X] + +[Illustration: PLATE XI] + +[Illustration: PLATE XII] + +[Illustration: PLATE XIII] + +[Illustration: PLATE XIV] + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's notes: + +Page 21: changed "or" to "of" ( ... from the sender of such letter or +packet ...) + +Page 23: missing or unreadable value in the original ( ... the rate on +Letters by those mails, via Halifax, of 1s. [missing value] sterling, if +_un-paid_, ...) + +Page 90: changed "setttled" to "settled" ( ... newly settled portions of +the country ...) + +Page 99: changed "fradulent" to "fraudulent" (To remove with fraudulent +intent from any letter, newspaper or other mailable matter ...) + +Page 141: changed "(C)" to "(D)" ((D) Limits of weight to +Austria-Hungary, ...) + +Page 149: changed "beseiged" to "besieged" ( ... literally besieged the +post offices for the coveted treasures.) + +Page 149: changed "neceessary" to "necessary" ( ... it would be +necessary for you to apply early ...) + +Page 154: duplicate word "in" deleted (The principal variation is only +one of tone in a few values.) + +Page 196: changed "monoply" to "monopoly" ( ... an accidental monopoly +of a stamp, ...) + +Page 202: changed "promotory" to "promontory" ( ... he disembarked on +the 3d July at the foot of the promontory of Stadacon['e], ...) + +Page 228: changed "Qneen" (with inverted "u") to "Queen" (The embossed +head of Queen Victoria was evidently copied ...) + +Page 238: changed "suppy" to "supply" ( ... when the supply thereof in +the department became exhausted, ...) + +Page 256: changed "uncertainity" to "uncertainty" (The reply card in the +new type is again an uncertainty.) + +Page 286: corrected "130 x 80" to "140 x 85" (Size 5-1/2 x 3-3/8 inches +(140 x 85 mm.).) + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CANADA: ITS POSTAGE STAMPS AND +POSTAL STATIONERY*** + + +******* This file should be named 37457.txt or 37457.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/7/4/5/37457 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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