CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THIS BOOK IS ONE OF A COLLECTION MADE BY BENNO LOEWY 1854-1919 AND BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY '<^>. Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030133122 Plate II 26 87 31 ■rrt-KJSTXCKiXT^ 33 34 mdm. 3J 36 40 41 4S 43 44 45 Plate III iTV'UT.-w-V'w't, ."t'l^^V^^^ 47 v^-w^-fcTW-trv-v-k 'v»M '^■v"V"« 'u"w% - - *: >": J4 55 56 58 57 59- 60 Plate IV 67 70 69 75 Plate V 79 81 8S 83 84 85 89 Plate VI ^«^.^^" 90 ^^.^ 1 \ — -1 91 Plate vii ™ If. iiiw« m «i ,^ T^^^f^ (^.J. An^^r^,<^ ^WBW^HW P7 i.-i'-«*!a!)9»-3Miyii»t- .*■«•«»/?>." ','!''= Plate viii :^^:^. ^ £), Plate LX /o/ !0O ws Al 1 1 ■•nmu llniiU ^ !03 104 LI«I.....IH.^..l«..IILUUI.lHl...aJlH[ iiffliaiffiT!BfBn !«i."i-»'j«i«i.ii.'i* 10 e 107 108 Plate x 109 CANADA ^ r#; POSTAGE 1 e^: ;-* f fe^i . mim "MM|rs ,* — 112 IIS i .A0^^^1^?^>.. npnciALLisE)\irn 115 nVZA M MAT TER I 116 f .1 9 « n o er •4-* • «.<« a O r b fk ». *-=* ^ »«* g m ».. T" » rj^tritvn^'o^i^' ■.r'r^^y"^ Plate xii »iViinii..iiiiiiniin.iin[iimiii[iiinfcn» 123 194 !S5 IS6 1S7 Plate xiii T-^ §^:. I ^JV \7 ■^'^ >: '^. ^ ^ C^ ^^ i^ ^^^a^S- r J^A-^-U^ ' W 7/ V 1S8 IS 9 Plate xiv wift'^imrwimfymw 1 V n ..^ /5(3 /T- ^ ^^f^^^^ ^oc^ ^/^^ fc^'l 1 til Mill ( I 4 Cornell University Library HE6185.C2 H85 + Canada: 3 1924 030 133 122^^^^^ olin ,1^5^,^ TV -+- -iM|ei| -4-^ THICK 30FT-W0VE. PAPEJ*. . Specimen Page: From the Collection of Charles Lathrop Pack Eso, CANADA ITS POSTAGE STAMPS AND POSTAL STATIONERY BY CLIFTON A. HOWES, B. Sc, F. R. P. S. L. PUBUSHED BY THE NEW ENGLAND STAMP CO. BOSTON, U. S. A. 1911 u& copyright 1911 By the New England Stamp Co. Boston, Mass. Press of NEWCOMB & GAUSS Salem, Mass. CONTENTS Key to Plates. fobewobd Inteoduotion . . Chaptee I. 11. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. Refeeenoe List. . Page .. 4 . . 9 . . 11 J) J? Preliminary Matters 18 The Issue of 1851 28 The Remaining Pence Issues 46 The Perforated Pence Issues 68 The Cancellations of the Early Issues 77 The Issue of 1859 82 The Dominion of Canada — Preliminary 94 The Issue of 1868 106 The Small "Cents" Issue, 1870-1882 122 The Supplementary Values of 1893 138 The Jubilee Issue of 1897 145 The "Maple Leaf" Issue of 1897 161 The "ITumerals" Issue of 1898-1902 167 The "Christmas" Stamp of 1898 179 The "King's Head" Issue of 1903-1908 188 The "Tercentenary" Issue of 1908 199 The "Registration" Stamps 205 The Postage Due Stamps . .215 The Special Delivery Stamp 217 The OfficiaUy Sealed Labels ..221 The Stamped Envelopes 224 The Wrappers 243 The Post Cards ' 249 The Letter Cards 263 Official Stationery 267 Precancellation and Permits - . • . .272 277 KEY TO PLATES Plate I. ISTo. 1. 2. 6 pence. 12 " , 1851. 3. 10 " 1855. 4. 5. 6. % penny, 1857. 7% pence, 1857. 3 " 1851. 7. 8. 9. l^ penny 6 pence, 3 " , 1859. 10. 1 cent. jj 11. 2 cents, }} 12. 10 " >j 13. 14. 121/2 " 17 " 15. 5 " » 16. 1 cent. 1868. 17. 1/ " 72 }> 18. 2 cents, J5 19. 20. 5 " 3 " 1859, variety. 1868. 21. 5 " 1875. 22. 6 " 1868. 23, 24. 121/2 " 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." KEY TO PLATES 40. 1/2 cent, 1898, "Numeral." 41. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1899, "Maple Leaf." 42. 2 " "3 " " "JSTumeral." 43. 1 cent, 1903, "King's Head." 44. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1899, inverted, "ISTmneral." 45. 2 " "3 " " " "Maple Leaf." Plate III. JSTo. 46. 1/2 cent, 1908, "Tercentenary." 4Y. 1 " " " 48. 2 cents, " " 49. 5 1) 50. 7 j> 61. 10 jj 52. 15 }} 53. 20 » 54. 2 1875, Eegistration. 55. 5 }} >} 56. 8 >} }> 57. 10 1898, Special Delivery. 58. 1 cent. 1906, Postage Due. 59. 2 cents, jj }} j> 60. 5 )j 5J jj )> 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% pence, 1857, wide oval. 68. 7% " " narrow oval. 69. 71/2 " " 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 Worth- ington collection. 74. 10 cents, 1859, black brown, from Pack collection. Plate V. pair. strip of 3 on very thick hard paper, from Pack No. 75. 6 pence, 1851. 76. 6 " " 77. 3 " " 78. 6 " " 79. 6 " SO. 6 " " collection. 6 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS No. 81. lYz 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% 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 Sey- bold 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 imperfc 101. 5 cents, " 4 " 102. 2 >j " 4 " 103. 121/2 " " 4 104. 10 " 4 " 106. 17 " 4 " 106. 20 1893, " 4 " 107. 15 1868, " 4 " 108. 50 1893, " 4 " The above blocks were selected from the Pack and Worthing- ton collections and some in the possession of the New England Stamp Co. KEY TO PLATES Plate X. No. 109. 10 cents, 1874, block of 4 imperforate. 1893, " " 4 " 1872, " " 4 1897, "Maple Leaf," block of 4, imperforate. 1898, "Map," " » 4 " 1903, block of 4 imperforate. Registered, pair imperforate. "Officially Sealed" Label, 1905. " " 1879. The above blocks of imperforates were from the same sources as noted for Plate IX. Plate XL 110. 8 IIL 6 112. 5 113. 2 114. 2 115. 5 116. "0 ffici 117. » 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, in- cluded 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 avail- able 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 E. Seybold, late of Syra- cuse, 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 10 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 Lon- don, 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. E. 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 pro- duce. 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 dis- covered such in the publishers of this volume. With the broad-minded policy that whatever helps Philately benefits all, even indirectly, the ISTew Eng- land 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 in- debtedness to this Company, through whose munificence it has been possible to produce this volume in its present form, C. A. HOWES, B. So., F. K. P. S. L. Boston, U. S. A. December, 1910. INTRODUCTION THE DOMHSTION OF CAJSTADA, as we know it to-day, is a confedera- tion of the former British Colonies and unorganized territories of ITorth America which lie to the northward of the United States. The single ex- ception 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 Can- ada 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 pop- ulated portion of the present Dominion was explored and settled by the French. In 1534 Jacques Cartier entered the St. Lawrence Kiver and took possession of the country in the name of France, and in 1608 the first per- manent 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,^ 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 sig- nifies a collection of dwellings, in other words a settlement."^ 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. >In the Bibllotheque Nationale, Paris. 'A Memoir of Jacques Cartier, by J. P. Baxter, p. 135. 12 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 adminis- tration of a Governor and Legislative Council appointed by the Crovm. Fol- lowing 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 "Constitu- tional 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 w^as elected consisting of an equal number of repre- sentatives 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 JSTova 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 Ed- ward 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 traippers, and their chief prey from the time the first French explorers be- gan to search the Canadian lakes, and later when the Hudson's Bay Com- pany succeeded to the French domain, was the beaver. In fact the early his- tory 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 INTEODUCTION 13 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 gor- geous 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 re- pealed 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 expe- dition 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." Eor 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 estab- lished 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-Oeneral." "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 14 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS been so identified with the interests of the Colonial postoffice as he, and from 173Y 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 terri- tory. 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 l^orth 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 Jan- uary 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-Gieneral 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 Bale 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 Bale 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 au- thority of the Canadian administration. The number of post-offices was in- creased 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, 13th February. mTKODUCTION 15 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 t]ien 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-ofBce will be forwarded any time by W. ALLAN, Acting Deputy-Postmaster. Mr. Herlot resigned in 1816 and was succeeded by Mr. Daniel Suther- land who, on his accession to office found Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island withdrawn from Canadian charge. New Brunswick, however, con- tinued 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 Mon- treal 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 communi- cation 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 enter- prising 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. 16 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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-KiDER 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 Is. 2d. sterling, per half ounce, was adopted in 1841 between any place in Canada and the mother country. This resulted from the estab- lishment 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.* 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 £7184 ($35,000) against the $47,000 given above for fourteen years earlier. This amount rose to £22,188 ($110,000) in 1848, fell to £15,725 ($78,500) the next year, and had risen again to a basis of £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 /4 ounce in weight: For any distance not exceeding 60 miles, 4d. Eor any distance exceeding 60 miles and not exceeding 100 miles .... 6d. Eor any distance exceeding 100 miles and not exceeding 200 miles. .8d. And for every additional 100 miles or fraction an additional 2d. 'Most of the foregoing information is taken from extracts from thie Canadian Postal Guide, published in the Stamp Collector's Magazine for Aug. 1, 1868, and the Halifax Philatelist, II: 138, INTRODUCTION 17 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 Parlia- ment passed an "Act for enabling Colonial Legislatures to establish Inland Posts."^ 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, vfithin Her Majesty's Colonies, and the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have Authority from Time to Time to fix the Bates of Postage to be charged vyithin such Colonies : And whereas the said Postmaster General and Commis- sioners 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 Kates in Her Majesty's Colonies by the Legislatures of such Colonies : Be it en- acted, 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 pro- visions 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. IL IM'here the Postmaster General has actually established posts and his power has not "determined" such colonial acts, etc., shall not take effect until approved hy 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.] 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 do- mestic postal system to the control of its own Government. The next chapter will therefore start the Canadian postal history proper. =12° & 13° Vict. Cap. LXVI. 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 fore- lock" 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 32, 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 36th.'" A year later, after the passage of the enabling act by the British Parlia- ment, 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: — 'Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 253. PEELIMINARY MATTEES 19 13° & 14° Viotoriae., 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 tv^elfth and thirteenth years of Her Majesty's Eeign, and intituled, An Act for enabling Colonial Legisla- tures 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 estab- lishment, maintenance, and regulation of Posts and Post Communica- tions within such Colonies respectively, and for charging rates of postage for the conveyance of letters by such Posts and Post Com- munications, and for appropriating the Revenue to be derived there- from : And whereas it is , expedient that a uniform and cheap rate of postage should be established throughout the several Col- onies of British North America, and with a view to the estab- lishment 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, un- less such moneys belong of right to the United Kingdom or to some other Colony, or to some foreign state ; and the expenses of manage- ment 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 Prov- ince, 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 Gov- ernor's pleasure. VI. [All privileges, powers and authority of Her Majesty's Dep- uty Post Master General are transferred to and vested in the Pro- vincial Post Master General.] VIII. And in conformity to the agreement made as aforesaid between the Local Governments of the several Colonies of British North Amer- ica, 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 20 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS ounce : that no transit postage shall he 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 ster- ling 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 Govern- ment 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 re- ceived 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 OfBce, 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 Pro- vincial Postage : That Provincial Stamps for the pre-payment of postage may be prepared under the orders of the Governor in Coimcil, 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 evi- dence 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, Maga- zines 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 Prov- ince, 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 regu- lations 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, PRELIMINARY MATTERS 21 for prescribing the conditions and circumstances under wliicli letters, accounts and papers relating solely to the business of the Post Office, and addressed to or sent by some oiEcer thereof, shall be free from Provincial Postage, for providing, vchen 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 Depart- ment 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^ 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 efEective 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 per- son 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 pos- session any letter for the purpose of conveying or delivering it, other- wise than in conformity with this Act, shall for each and every letter so unlawfully conveyed or undertaken to be conveyed, received, de- livered or found in his possession, incur a penalty not exceeding five pounds currency : [exceptions are letters taken by friends journeying, hy 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 or such letter or packet : and that all postage may be recov- ered 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. ^sic. 22 CANADIAJ^ POSTAGE STAMPS XIV. [Letters of Soldiers, Seamen, etc., shall lie charged a cer- tain fixed sum in place of all British or Provincial •postage.'] XV. [Posted letters to 6e 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 For- eign Country, or knovs-ingly 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 ofBcer 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, coun- terfeit or unlawfully imitate, use or diflix to or upon any letter or packet, any stamp, signature, initials, or other mark or sign pur- porting 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, punish- able by imprisonment in the Provincial Penitentiary for life. The passage of the above Act and its approval by the Queen in Council gave opportunity for preparations to be made to carry o\it its provisions, the date being set for the 6th April, 1851. Three vs^eeks previous to the appointed time the following notice was sent out to postmasters in anticipation of the transfer. NOTICE TO POSTMASTERS. GENEKAL POST OFFICE, MONTBEAL, 14th MAECH, 1851. Sie:— I am commanded by His Excellency the Governor General, to com- municate 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 Pro- vincial Parliament, which will take effect, and supersede the Im- perial 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 Let- ter, one single rate for every additional half-ounce, counting the frac- tion of a half -ounce as a full rate, thus : A Letter, weighing not exceeding % ounce, will be liable to 3d. Postage. PRELIMINARY MATTERS , 23 A Letter, weighing more than % ounce, and not exceeding 1 ounce, will be liable to 6 d. Postage. A Letter, weighing more than 1 ounce, and not exceeding 1% ounces, will be liable to 9d. Postage. A Letter, weighing more than li/^ ounces, and not exceeding 2 ounces, will be liable to 1 s. Postage. A Letter, weighing more than 2 ounces, and not exceeding 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 Is. 2d. sterling, if un-paid, and Is. 4d. currency if pre-paid, as also the rate on Letters by those mails, via Halifax, of Is-: . sterling, if un-paid, and Is. 1% 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 Eng- lish 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 re- main as at present.] 8. [Printed matter addressed to Editors is free.] 9. The charge on Letters posted at an OfBce for delivery in the same City, Town, or Place, and any additional charge made on Let- ters delivered at the residences of parties to whom they are ad- dressed, are to remain as at present, until further instructions. 10. No Pranking Privilege is allowed under the New Act except with regard to Letters and Packets on the business of the Post OiBce, 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. STAYNEE, Deputy Post Master General. 24 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS Meanwhile, under the authority given the Governor in Council by The Post Office Act, an agreement had been drawn up between the post oiEce De- partments 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: — DEPAETMENT ORDER [NO. 1.] LETTERS, ETC., BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING CALIFORNIA AND OREGON. POST OFEICE DEPARTMENT, TORONTO, 2nd April, 1851. Commenomg on and from the 6tli 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. 3. Letters posted in any part of the United States, except Cal- ifornia 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, cur- rency, equal to iifteen cents per half-oimce. 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 % 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 ad- dressed to a place within the Province ; the said rates must, how- ever, 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. PRELIMINARY MATTERS 25 9- — 10. — 11. IGopies of newspapers or printed documents sent hy 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: POET SAENIA, WINDSOE, FOET EEIE, QUEENSTON, Intended in the mean time to be the Channel of Communication with the United States for the Country West of Toronto. NIAGARA, TOEONTO, COBOUEG, •1 A Communication during Summer only, by Steamer to Eochester. KINGSTON, BEOCKVILLE, PEESCOTT, MONTEEAL, ST. JOHN'S, DUNDEE, STANSTEAD, By Command, W. H. GEIPFIN. 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: — DEPAETMENT OEDEE, [NO. 3.] POST OFFICE DEPAETMENT, TOEONTO. nth April, 1851. Printed Circulars, Price Currents, Bandhills, Pamphlets, Periodi- cals, Books, and other Printed Matter transmitted iy Post in Canada. 1. Upon each Printed Circular, Price Current or Handbill, and other Printed matter of a like description, when unconnected with any man- uscript 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. 26 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 4. On such Printed matter received into Canada by Mail from the United States, the above Canada Eates 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 mil be treated as a letter.] 7. No Book or packet of Periodicals, Magazines, &c., can be for- warded through the Post, if exceeding the weight of forty-eight ounces. JAMBS 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 j^d. 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 pre- ceding, 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, 19m April, 1851. Book Post with England. Under the authority of Her Majesty's Government, an arrange- ment will take effect on the fifteenth day of May next, under which Printed Books, Magazines, Reviews, or Pamphlets, whether British, Co- lonial, or Foreign, may be sent through the Post, between Canada and the United Kingdom, at the Following Rates of Postage : For a single volume, i. e., Book, Magazine, Review, or Pamplilet, not exceeding half lb in weight For a single volume, &c., exceeding half lb. and not exceeding one lb. " " " one lb. " " two lbs. " " " two lbs. " " three lbs. Stebliho 6d. Is. 2s. CUREBNOY Equal to T^d. " to Is. 3d. " " 28. 6d. " 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-pajrment 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% pounds, will be rated : — "Paid 4s. sterling — equal to 5s. currency." »»♦»»»**»• JAMES MORRIS, Post Master General. PEELIMINAEY MATTERS 27 The Department Circular No. 5, published from Toronto on 20th June, 1851, contains but one paragraph of interest to us. Post Masters are informed tliat 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 uni- form rate of 3d. per % 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° & 15° 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 ad- dressed 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 Half- penny, 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 pro- portions 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 ACCOKDING 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: — DEPAKTMENT 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, repre- senting 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 expir- ation of each Quarter, and with his Quarterly Postage Accounts, he will render an account of Stamps on a form which will be hereafter sup- plied, charging himself therein with any amount which remained on hand at the close of the preceding Quarter, and with the amounts re- ceived during the Quarter just ended, and creditinig 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 inunediately cancelled in the office in which the Letter or Packet may be deposited, with an instrument THE ISSUE OF 1851 29 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 in- variably 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 man- ner in the Monthly Sheets. J. MORRIS, Post Master General. From the above it is plainly evident that the new stamps were noi 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.^ As a matter of fact the first supply of the 3 pence stamps was only received by the Depart- ment 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.^ In a letter to Mr. Donald A. King,^ 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 doubt- less 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 subsequent- ly, and can give the exact date of issue as June 14, 1851. At the time of the transfer, the Postmaster General issued a lengthy set of Regulations and Instructions for the Government of the Post Office De- partment 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 post- marked on the face or address side, with the name of the Post Office, '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. Corwln and King, (Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 149), the date is cor- rectly given. -Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83. "London Philatelist. Xni: 153. 30 CAJSTADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS the montli and the day of the month in which they are posted, and, except when they are Prepaid by Postage stamps, with the Kate of Postage in plain figures. In performing these operations great care must be used to avoid interference with the address. 23. 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 hlack ink. ********** 43. 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 % 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 Is. 2d. sterling, equal to Is. 4d. currency, on a Letter not exceeding y^ oz., in weight. 62. On Letters between Canada and the United Kingdom, con- veyed by the semi-monthly Mails by way of Quebec, New Brunswick and Halifax, the rate is : On Letters not exceeding % oz., Is. Od. sterling equal to Is. l%d. currency. On Letters not exceeding loz., 2s. Od. sterling equal to 2s. 3d. currency. On Letters not exceeding 2 oz., 4s. Od. 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 % oz. weight. 64. On Letters to California and Oregon, the rate is 9d., equal to 15c. per Va oz. 67. Letters to Newfoundland may be sent via Quebec and Halifax at a Postage rate of 7%d. per % oz. 68. Letters to British West Indies via Quebec, Halifax and Ber- muda will be charged the Canada rate of 3d. and in addition the THE ISSUE OF 1851 31 Packet rate for sea conveyance between Halifax and Bermuda of 4%d. currency, making on a letter not weighing more than % oz. a rate of TVad. 69. Letters may also be sent from Canada to the British West Indies and Havauah by the ordinary United States Mails to New York, and from thence by British Steam Packet to destination, on Prepay- ment in Canada of 9d. equal to 15c. per % 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 men- tioned : Letters to Halifax and Nova Scotia 7%d. currency. Letters to Newfoundland Is. currency. Letters to Bermuda and British West Indies Is. currency. 74 — 75 — 76. ^Almost identical loith first three paragraphs of De- partment 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 transmis- sion will rate it with the amount deficient in addition. 78. On Letters for the United States when Stamps are affixed rep- resenting 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 acco'»See Sees. 60 and 62 on page 30. "See Sec. 70 on page 31. 2»See Sees. 67 and 68 on page 30. 2iSee pages 35-36. THE ISSUE OF 1851 43 EEPORT OP 30TH SEPT., 1857, [including 1 year 6 months, by statute.] 22 3d. stamps 6d. stamps Balance on hand 31st March, 1856 355,800 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 OP 30TH. SEPT., 1858. Received from Mfrs. year ending 30th Sept., 1858.900,000 100,000 Total 981,700 134,078 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 693,700 94,000 Balance on hand 30th June, 1859 21,700 17,578 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 per- forated 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 M20° Vict. cap. XXV. Sec. VH; see page 61. 44 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 vrere such that slight variations in the proportions did not greatly affect the tone. The normal color being a bright red, we find it run- ning 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 varia- tion 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.^* 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."^* 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 22Monthly Journal, VII: 9. "London Philatelist XVI: 144. THE ISSUE OF 1851 45 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. Mr. King's varieties X and XI are both peculiar, the former being a "very soft, thin, cream vrove vs^hich 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. Erom 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 IN'orth 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"^" 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. 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. 2'Monthly Journal, VII: 9. CHAPTER III THE REMAINING PENCE ISSUES AEESUME of the chief happenings of the year and other items of in- terest 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,^ the Postmaster General was required by statute to "report to the Governor General of the Province an- nually, for the purpose of being laid before Parliament at each Session, First. A report of Finances, Receipts and Expenditure of the Post Office Depart- ment for the year ending on the fifth day of April previous," etc., etc. Ac- cordingly the first annual report of the Postmaster General was rendered on the 5th April, 1852. In it we find the following information: — Upon the transfer of the control of the Post Office Department in this Province, by the Imperial Post Office Authorities to the Provin- cial 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 £93,802 currency, including in that sum the collections in Canada of British Packet Postage, estimated to have amounted to £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 Worth America generally, to a uniform rate of 3d. per % oz. ; whereas under the tarifE in force pre- vious to the transfer, the average charge on each letter was com- puted to have been as nearly as possible 9d. per Y^ oz. ; the reduc- tion therefore consequent upon the introduction of the uniform 3d. rate was equivalent to %, or 66% 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 '14° &, 15° Vict., cap, LXXI, sec. 12. THE REMAINING PENCE ISSUES 47 each case been reduced to one half penny, being one half the former rates. With regard to newspapers, the Postage charge has been alto- gether taken ofE upon several important branches of newspaper cir- culation, 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 mod- ified and reduced. The gross receipts of the Department for the year under review are given as £71,788 18s. 5d. currency, a drop of over £20,000 from the pre- vious 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, 'Ko. of letters, 41,000; papers, 90,000. One week preceding 5th April, 1852, l^To. of letters, 86,051^; papers, 101,000. There were 243 new post offices added during the year and 1023 miles of post routes. "An agreement was concluded vsdth 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 rev- enue of the Department for the fiscal year is given as £84,866.6.11%, and the total postage on the correspondence passing between Canada and the United States was $104,966.40. ^Thls is explained in the report for 1853 as being "a clerical error for 71,726." 48 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 Is. 2d. sterling to 8d. ster- ling per V2 oz. when sent in closed mails through the United States, and from Is. 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 lOd. and 7I/& 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 swn 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 : — Eawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps furnished Post Office Department £13.11.3 This amount was of course only for printing supplies, evidently for the 250,000 3d, stamps received during the fiscal year. THE EEMAINING PENCE ISSUES 49 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 "ISTotwithstanding the important reduc- tion 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) £16,449.14.3J4. British Packet Postage collected in Canada in year ending 31 March, 1854 (postage rate Is. 2d. sterling) £17,495.1. 41/2. 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 3s. 8%d. Currency to Is. 8d. Currency per Yi oz. letter. The suggestions contained in the report for 1854 concerning the frank- ing 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 News- papers 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° 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, Tem- perance, Science, Agriculture and other special objects, are now exempt from postage ; And whereas it would further materially aid the diffu- sion of useful knowledge to remove all postal restrictions on the transmission of Newspapers in general, published within this Prov- ince, and of all documents printed by order of either House of Par- liament: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative 50 CAITADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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. rv. 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 regTilations 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 Legis- lative 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 Legis- lature 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 end- ing 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 Gen- eral'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 Pro- vincial control is illustrated by the following table : — Poat Offices Miles at Letters CorreBpondence Date in Post mailed Gross Revenue with operation, Koutes. per week the V, S. 6th April, 1851 601 7,595 41,000 £ 93,802 5th April, 1852 840 8,618 71,726 £ 71,788.18. 5 $ 85,636.97 31st Mar., 1853 1,016 9,122 81,896 £ 84,866. 6.11% $104,966.40 31st Mar., 1854 1,166 10,027 98,350 £ 98,495. 6. 7 $129,931.67 31st Mar., 1855 1,293 11,193 116,671 £110,747.13. gVa $145,377.69 THE REMAINING PENCE ISSUES 51 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 lOd. 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 pre- ceding year was carried out. In the accounts for the fiscal year we find the following entries: — 1st. Quarter, Eawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps for P. O. Dept £12.13.6 3rd. Quarter, Eawdon, Wright & Co., Making Stamps 43.18.6 4th. Quarter, Eawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps for P. O. Dept 17.13.6 From this it would appear that the bill for engraving ("making") the new lOd. 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 manu- facturers in the "summary" already quoted,* the lOd. stamp was first re- ceived by the Post Office Department on Jan. 2, 1855. In Mr. King's "Eef- erence List,"* however, the date "Dec. 5, 1854" is given as being "taken from used stamps on the original covers," but this must certainly be a mis- take. 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. 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 ^Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83. 'Monthly Journal, VII: 9. 52 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 lOd., illustrated as IlTo. 3 on Plate I, corres- ponds 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 por- trait on the 6d. stamp has been assigned to Lord Elgin, Governor-General of Canada from 1846 to 1854.^ 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 TEW PEliJ"CE, with the nu- merals "10" in the lower spandrels, followed by the letters "cy" for "cur- rency." 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. 16° 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 ^Philatelic Record, X: 50. THE REMAINING PENCE ISSUES 63 IV. And be it enacted, Tliat 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 lOd. stamp were not needed for three years, the next lot, numbering 72,120, having been delivered during the year end- ing 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 lOd. stamp of 141,000. Puzzling questions seem to be the rule with this first series of Canadian stamps, and the lOd. 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 ISTos. 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.® We quote this entire : — "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 an3rtMng relating to the difference in Canadians that is to be found in the 7%d. Canadian currency (6d. sterling), green, and the lOd., 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 lOd,, blue, there are three distinct varieties in design, viz., First (o) the long and narrow; Second (6) 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 difEerence lies in the fact of the oval or frame around the head having been, as the case may be, elongated or contracted, or some- times widened out. •London Philatelist, III: 34. 64 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS "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, what- ever 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 difEerences, and at first thought it pnly an optical delusion, owing to some of the copies having had their sides closely trimmed, but on closer observation the distinct difEerences, as I have mentioned, were manifest. What is said of the lOd. may also be said of the 7%d. (but to a lesser degree of variation), only the latter are generally found in the long and broad frame or oval. A slight diiference 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 con- traction 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 difEerences in size until I had verified the fact by exam- ination of specimens. Owing to the kindness of Messrs. Stanley Gib- bons, Limited, and Mr. W. H. Peckitt, I was enabled to inspect a number of these pence issues, and I have tabulated the measure- ments as nearly as I can: — HALFPENNY. Size. Paper, (o) 23 X 181/2 mm. Medium thick SEVENPENCE-HALrPENNT. (h) 22% X 18 mm. Medium thick ^ ' Size. Paper. THKEEPENCE. (o) 22l^ x 18%mm. (bare) Med. thick (o) 23% X 18% mm. Medium thick (a) 23 (full) X 18 mm. Very thin wove (a) 22% x 18 mm. Medium thick (o) 23 X 18mm. Very thin laid (a) 22% x 181/2 mm. Medium thick (6) 32V2 X 17% mm. Thin (c) 323/4 X 17% mm. Thick TENPENCE. SESPENCE. (o) 32% x 17% mm. Thin to very thin (6) 23% X 18 mm. (full) Thick (a) 23 X 18 mm. Thin wove (6) 32% x 18% mm (bare) Thick (a) 32 X 18 mm. Thin Laid (c) 22 x 18 mm. Thin (B) 22% X 17% mm. Thick THE EEMAINING PENCE ISSUES 56 "The varieties of the Tenpence are those described by Mr. Brouse as (o) long and narrow, (6) 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, v^hich corresponds exactly in measurement vyith variety (6) on the thick paper (22% x 18%mm.). 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 %d., the 3d., and 6d., the variation in the former being slight, but in the two latter noteworthy. The ques- tion 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 lOd. proof above cited, which is on all fours vrith the or- dinary 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.'^ Ten years later the reference list of Ceylon prepared by the London Philatelic Society® noted the fact that the stamps of 1863 on unwatermarked paper were in general about a millimeter shorter in the vertical dimension than the suc- ceeding issue on paper watermarked Crown C C, although the engraved designs were otherwise absolutely identical. Major Edw. B. Evans, in his catalogue," 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 'The Stamp Collectors' Magazine, 11: 191. 'The Philatelist, IX: 10. >A Catalogue for Collectors, page 39. 56 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS Later, in 1887, Mr. T. K. Tapling, writing in Le Timhre-Pode,^° 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 etaient tous identlques comma type. lis furent graves sur acler, je pense par MM. Perkins Bacon et Co., chaque timbre par un precede de reduplication, etant reproduit d'une matrice ; la planche etant ensuite durcie pour I'impression. II n'y a par consequent pas de variete de types, les lignes des gravures sur les timbres courts etant les memes que celles sur les timbres longs, excepte qu'elles sont un tant soit peu contractees II me semble plus que probable que la difference en longeur des exem- plaires puisse etre attribuee a un leger defaut dans le procede de re- duplication des planches de la matrice originale. 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,^^ 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 in- cluding 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 % to % mm. in 19 mm. or roughly 1% to 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. Mr. ThomhiU 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 '"Ue Tlmbre-Poste, Num6ro Jubilaire, page XXXV. "Philatelic Record, XI: 71. THE EEMAINING PENCE ISSUES 67 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 im- possible 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. Thomhill agrees with Mr. Tapling in turning down the shrinkage of paper theory and favor- ing 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 oppor- tunity for a slight variation in the size of the transferred impression, due to the expansion and contraction of the steel in the tempering process, ifext, this hardened transfer roller is impressed upon the printing plate of soft steel as many times as there are copies desired. These naturally aU agree among themselves and with the transfer roller impression in size. JSTow 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 im- pressions; 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 em- ployed, 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 pro- 58 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS duced, which is furnished by the third theory presented. Concerning this we quote from the London Philatelic Society's work on Ceylon :^^ — 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 differ- ences 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 ob- served 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 differ- ences are supposed to arise. Previous to printing from plates en- graved in taille-douce the paper is wetted, which, as is well known, causes it to expand; the amount of expansion varies, no doubt, consid- erably in difierent 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 impres- sion 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, uuwatermarked 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." So much for the Ceylon stamps, which we have discussed in extensoj but we have only to substitute in every case a reference to the first Canadian issues, particularly the lOd. 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 repro- duction is the same, and the varieties in the paper are very similar. Major Evans, in a reply to Mr. Thornhill's paper,^^ 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 '^Postage Stamps, &c., of British India and Ceylon, page 69. "Philatelic Record, XI: 158. THE REMAINING PENCE ISSUES 69 Newfoundland stamps, whicli he judged were on paper of almost the same nature as that of the unwatermarked Oeylons of the same year, and they gave precisely similar results. Mr. Frank 0. Young, who was in the priuting business, also tells of similar experiments which he carried still further.^* Having provided some twenty-five sheets of paper of different quali- ties and thicknesses, each vsras cut into sixteen pieces. Selecting a com- mon half tone cut vehich measured exactly 100 x 69 nun. and dampening the sheets of paper to different degrees of wetness I proceeded to im- press 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 no- ticeable, while, on the other hand, such measurements as 96 x 68, 97 x 68Vi, 99 X 67%, 98 x 68 mm. were fairly conmion, and one sheet, after several very careful measurements, was undeniably 951.^ x 69 mm., thus showing a shrinkage of 4% 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. Looking back now at Mr. Castle's tables,^^ we find his greatest variations in length amount to % mm. in 22 mm., or roughly 3^%, and in width 1 mm. in 18 mm., or roughly 51^% — 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. As for the paper actually used for the printing of the lOd. 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 evi- dent, to a medium and finally a considerably thicker quality. The pelure paper seems naturally to be the one on which the greatest variation in dimen- sions occurs, the long and broad size of the stamp coming principally on the thicker paper,^^ which is supposed to shrink the least upon drying and there- fore keeps the printed impression nearest the size of the plate impression. The long and narrow impression, being the commoner variation, was prob- "Canada Stamp Sheet, IV: 173. i=See page 54. "See page S5. 60 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS ably 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 tearj 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. One further variety we have to record in the lOd. stamp, this being a "shifted transfer" variety similar to that occurring in the 3d. value. In this case we find the letters ADA and S of "Canada Postage," and P E N of "Pence" showing a distinct doubling at the bottom, the transfer roller evi- dently 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 char- acter 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 lOd. currency per ^4 oz., which gave further employment to the new lOd. 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: — Kawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, for printing 300,000 postage stamps for Post Office Department £15.3.3. 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° 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-OfBce 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: — THE EEMAINING PENCE ISSUES 61 I. [Repeals sections I and V of 18° Vict. Cap. 79.] it II. Newspapers printed and published within this Province and addressed from the Office of Publication, shall be transmitted from the Post-Offlce where mailed to any other Post-Office in Canada, or to the United Kingdom, or to any British Colony or Possession, or to Prance, 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 Can- ada, 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 pass- age of this Act. V. Periodicals printed and published in this Province other than newspapers, when specially devoted to Eeligious and to General Edu- cation, to Agriculture or Temperance, or to any branch of Science, and addressed directly from the Office of Publication, shall be trans- mitted 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 Legisla- tive 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 meet- ing 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 Majes- ty's Eeign and chaptered 71, as requires the Postmaster General to make to the Governor General of this Province, annually, certain Re- ports for the purpose of being laid before the Provincial Parlia- ment 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 Re- ports annually so that they may be laid before the Provincial Par- liament within ten days after the assembling thereof, and such An- nual 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. Although the enactment clause made the above Act operative on 1st August, 1857, because of which we should not expect it to affect the Post- master General's report for the year ending 31st March, 1857, yet we find "See page .50. 62 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS this report dated 30tli 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 OfBce 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 prepay- ment 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 ex- ceeding 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 tb England by the Canadian steamers, a new stamp bearing value at 6 pence sterling, or 7% 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 half- penny to serve as the medium for prepaying transient Newspapers. The above is the only reference we have to the issue of the 7V2d. stamp. The accounts for the fiscal year ending 30th September, 1857, contain the following item: — "Eawdon, Wright and Co., Postage Stamps, £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%d. stamp, as far as our research has gone. The London Society's work'^^ 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 vsdth the lOd., 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 Eng- land. The Halifax Philatelist states:^* — "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 "The Postage Stamps, etc., of the North American Colonies of Great Britain, page 14. ""Halifax Philatelist, II: 74, THE REMAINING PENCE ISSUES 63 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. The Postmaster General's Eeport 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 con- tract between Mr. Hng-h Allan of Montreal, and the Provincial Govern- ment. 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 per- formances 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% 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 (ISTo. 5 on Plate I). The inscriptions were changed to CAISTADA 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 PElSrCE STERLIISTG, a new departure in labeling a Canadian stamp. Like the lOd. that preceded it, however, the corresponding values were inserted in the spandrels, "6d. stg." in the left hand pair and "T%d. ey." 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 V%d. stamp is known to have been arranged on the plate for print- ing sheets of 120 stamps, ten rows of twelve stamps each, this being to facili- tate the reckoning in English money. The eight marginal imprints ap- peared 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 lOd. stamp^" we find exactly the same number, evenly divisible by 120 but not by 100. The second supply of the lOd. stamp works out in exactly the same way, — Y2,120 makes an even 601 sheets at 120 per sheet. Is it not probable to suppose, therefore, in the absence of entire sheets or horizontal ="866 page 51. 64 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS rows of the lOd. stamp, that the latter was also printed in sheets of 120, as pre- viously suggested, instead of sheets of 100 as stated in Mr. King's article ?^^ When the issue of the decimal stamps took place, on July 1, 1859, there were 17,670 of the 7l/^d. 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 con- nection with the lOd. stamp, a similar variation in the width of the oval is to be found in the case of the 7V2See page 28. 78 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS assigned to certain post offices, as might be suspected. !N"umber 21, for in- stance, is the most common one and will be found to be connected with Mon- treal. Further study will reveal the fact that the names of the post offices were taken in alphabetical order, and the numbers assigned to them consecu- tively 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.^ 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 fol- lowing reasons: — 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 l^o. 1," which included most of the principal cities and towns; and the second a lengthy alphabetical list of offices in "Class 'Eo. 2." The first section had a some- what 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 num- bers, to fill out the latter series. The second section was therefore examined for such towns as had the largest populations and were presumably most im- portant. The result enabled more than one name, already on Mr. ]S"elton'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 cor- ^Chlcago Collectors' Monthly, II: 21, THE CAiq-CELLATIONS OF THE EAELY ISSUES 79 respondence between the two. The names in ordinary type are those that have been identified without any reasonable doubt ; those that have been fitted m tentatively are in italics. The Roman numeral following indicates the Class to which the Money Order OiEce belongs. LIST OF NUMBEEED CANCELLATIONS. 9. 10. 11. 13. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. Barrie, V. I Belleville, U. C I Berlin, U. C I Bowraanville, U. C I Brantf ord, U. C I Brighton, U. G II BrocTcville, V. C I Chatham, U. C I Clinton, V. C II Coliourg, V. G I Cornwall, U. G I Dundas, V. C I Gait, U. C I Goderich, V. C I Guelph, U. G I Hamilton, U. C I Ingersoll, V. G II Kingston, U. C I London, U. C I Melbourne, L. C II Montreal, L. C I Napanee, U. C II Napierville, L. G II Newcastle, U. C II Niagara, V. C I Oakville, U. C 11 27. Ottawa, U. C I 28. Paris, V. G I 29. Perth, U. C II 30. Peterborough, U. C I 31. Picton, U. C II 32. Port Dover, V. G II 33. Port Hope, U. C I 34. Port Sarnia, U. C II 35. Prescott, U. C I 36. Preston, U. G II 37. Quebec, L. C I 38. St. Catherines, U. C I 39. St. Hyacinthe, L. G II 40. St. Johns, L. G II 41. St. Thomas, V. C I 43. Sherhrooke, L. G II 43. Simcoe, U. C II 44. Smith's Falls, V. C II 45. Stanstead, L. C II 46. Stratford, U. C I 47. Three Kivers, L. C I 48. Toronto, V. G I 49. Whitby, U. C II 50. Windsor, U. G I 51. Woodstock, U. G I 52. York, V. G II It will be noticed, if Mr. ISTelton's list is compared with the above, that there are a few discrepancies. He assigns Toronto to JSTo. 24, which is man- ifestly 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 iN'o. 42, but as St. Catherines, a first class office, has been identified as I^o. 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 2.5. With these few exceptions no further trouble was experienced in working out the list, and since it was drawn up Numbers 80 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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. 0., L. C, C. W., or C. E., at the bottom, and arcs of two concentric circles fill- ing 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, bat some- times 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 cancella- tions of New Brunsvrick and !N'ova Scotia, then British Columbia and finally Prince Edward Island, all of which introduce complications. A new can- cellation, 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. ISTelton 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 vn-itten up by Mr. E. G. Bing': — The stamp had been obliterated with a small thick lined circle in which appear the words "WAY LETTER" in large type. Eventually sThe Postage Stamp, Vn: 6, THE CANCELLATIONS OF THE EARLY ISSUES 81 a full account of the matter was obtained from the Canadian postal authorities. Post Office Dbpabtment, Canada. Office of the Supbbintendent of the Postage Stamp Beanch. Ottawa, 13th March, 1908. Deak Sie: — ^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 looked leather pouch provided for the pur- pose, 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 disap- peared. 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 prob- able 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 evi- dent 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, con- cerning 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 "VIC- TOEIA" and the dates "1837" and "1897." CHAPTER VI THE ISSUE OF 1 859 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 advan- tages of the decimal system manifest in all the transactions with its great southern neighbor, whose currency was already legalized in the Province,^ 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 re- sulting, which is as follows: — 22° Vict. Cap. XVII. An Act to amend the Post Office Laws. \Assented to ith May. 1859.1 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 Pub- lishers 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 Deci- mal 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 ^See page 52. THE ISSUE OF 1859 83 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 ad- dition 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 pre- payment. 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 Post- master General's report in these terms: — No single improvement would be so valuable to the Post OfBce 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 recom- mendations 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," 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 conilne 2See page 67. 84 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS their record to happenings previous to those fictitious dates. Confirmation of this is furnished by the Postmaster General's report that we have to con- sider, that of the Hon. Sydney Smith for the year ending 30th September, 1859, the report being actually dated 20th February, 1860, 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 fron[i 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 Is. 3d. currency. In the Eeport for 1865 it is stated that: — The provisions of the Parcel Post have been extended to par- cels 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^ deci- mal 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 12^4 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 THE ISSUE OF 1859 86 placed in the spandrels on a cross-hatched ground instead of the upright fig- ures 3 on foliations. A similar change was made in the TEN CENTS, Ro- man 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 121^ cent stamp was to substitute "12%c." 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 re- placed 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^ c. are all unchanged. Erom 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. Eawdon, 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 wiU 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 immistakably "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. (Illus- tration No. 11 on Plate I). The stamp was issued as stated on the Ist 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 86 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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, read- ing up on the left, down on the right, and inverted at the bottom of the sheet. In the 1, 2, 5 and 12%c. 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 I7c. value has no marginal inscriptions at all. The same plate variety that occurs in the 3d. stamp — the "shifted trans- fer" 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^: — I have the Ic. 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. 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%c. 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 'London Philatelist, XVI: 144. THE ISSUE OF 1859 87 year figures seems to be an "8," whicii would mean "1868." A 10c. stamp also split and used for a 5 c. is shown on the entire as ISTo. 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, 121/^ 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* : — "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. The paper on which these stamps were printed does not show as much variation as in the previous issue. Mr. King'' gives a list of five varieties, aU of which vary considerably in thickness. It seems sufficient for our pur- poses, however, to list them under three heads as ordinary wove paper, a thick, hard wove paper, and ribbed paper. 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 quan- tities 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 busi- ness increased. Received from manufacturers : Ic. quarter ending- 30th Sept. 1859 1,000,400 year ending 30th Sept. 1860 2,000,050 j'ear ending 30th Sept. 1861 2,300,100 year ending 30th Sept. 1862 3,799,900 year ending 30th Sept. 1863 3,500,300 9 mos. ending 30th June 1864 3,000,000 year ending 30th June 1865 3,064,800 year ending 30th June 1866 3,910,000 yearending30th June 1867 5,100,000 5,100,500 999,650 399,950 100,000 yearending30th June 1868 (?) 900,000 3,199,900 400,000 ? 5c. 10c. ISVac. 17c. 1,000,089 300,000 200,000 50,000 2,499,986 300,000 300,000 50,000 3,400,300 499,998 199,996 50,000 3,300,350 400,000 399,996 50,000 4,300,450 600,050 300,000 100,000 3,999,999 800,000 399,990 49,999 4,890,598 700,000 676,600 100,000 8,100,000 800,000 400,100 50,000 Totals, 37,475,450 39,793,173 5,799,698 3,176,633 599,999 ♦Metropolitan Philatelist, 11: 3. 'Monthly Journal, VH: 32. 88 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS Tlie 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 sup- plies received in the old and new designs, so that in the case of the 1, 2 and 12^ cent stamps, which appear in both issues, the qviantity delivered by the manufacturers is a total which we cannot divide with certainty. An approxi- mation 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 de- liveries 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 doubt- less the order for the new series. The yearly issue of the 1 cent had been some 3^ 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^ 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 post- masters were of course in possession of local stocks. It therefore seems prob- able that the 500,000 12% 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 E^ote Oo. was paid $1331.70 for "engraving postage stamps" during the fiscal year, which was the final settlement with that Company. THE ISSUE OF 1859 89 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 busi- ness, as no object would be gained by turning in the relatively small quanti- ties 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 60,650 131/2 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 Ofiice Messengers, in order to convey the letters deposited in them to the Post Ofiice." Preparations were also being made to install letter boxes in Montreal and Quebec. The Department accounts have the following entries: — Eawdon, 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 con- cerning the growth of the Department, which it may be well to put on record : — 90 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS Year 1851 1853 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 No. of Offices. 601 840 1016 1166 1293 1375 1506 1566 1638 Miles of No. of letters Post Route. 7,595 by Post per auDum. 2,133,000 8,618 3,700,000 9,122 10,037 11,192 11,839 13,253 13,600 13,871 4,250,000 5,100,000 6,000,000 7,000,000 8,500,000 9,000,000 8,500,000 1698 14,203 9,000,000 The Keport continues: — Postal Revenue (deductine dead letters.) $330,629.00 278,587.00 330,000.00 368,166.00 374,295.00 462,163.00 541,153.00 578,426.98 658,451.99 Remarks First year of account under Provincial control. Charge on newspapers reduced one-half. Newspapers conveyed without charge. Additional 2c. rate on unpaid letters and charge made on newspapers. From the experience of the past, the confident hope may be entertained that, by a wise and judicious economy, (and without with- holding from newly setttled 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 corres- pondence exchanged was $85,636.97 in 1852, had increased to $187,469.59 in 1857, and then dropped gradually to $178,132.39 in 1860. The Eeport says : — The prepayment of letters passing between the two countries continues optional on either side, at the combined rate of 10 cents per % 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, Califor- nia and Oregon, when the rate is 15 cents per % oz. The accounts present a charge in favor of the American Bank Note Co. of $1697.95 "for engraving Letter and E'ewspaper 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 THE ISSUE OF 1859 91 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 manu- scripts, 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 merchan- dise 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°— 28° 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 Ifote Co. The Report for 1865 states that "Regulations have been adopted estab- lishing 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 92 CANADIAN" POSTAGE STAMPS 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. 390_3o° 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 JJevenue, it is expedient to amend the Post Office Act: There- fore, 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 ex- ceeding Forty dollars for every such ofEense, 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. 3. [To enclose a letter in a parcel, packet of samples or news- paper, posted as such, shall 6e an offense punishaMe iy 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 Gen- eral, shall on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, incur a pen- alty of not exceeding forty dollars for each offence. 5. The Postmaster General may, when in his judgment the pub- lic 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. [Wilfulhj injtiring such letter taxes 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 THE ISSUE OF 1859 93 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 a'bove 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 Peelimiwaet. As outlined in our Introductory Chapter, the union of Upper and Lower Canada into the single Province of Canada had been so man- ifestly advantageous that it started an agitation for the union of all the British North American provinces. The result w^as 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 Grovernment thereof,"^ 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 Brit- ain 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 ap- pointed 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 Gen- eral 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 "Do- minion Day." The first Parliament of Canada, which convened at Ottawa on Novem- ber 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 i30»— 31° Vict. Cap. III. THE DOMINION OF CANADA 95 of former Acts were embodied almost as they stood in the new statute. A\"e reproduce its most important features in our line of inquiry. 31° 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 Coxmtry" means any country not included in the dominions of Her Majesty; The term "Foreign Postage" means the postage on the con- veyance 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 convey- ance of Letters, Packets and other things by Post within the Do- minion of Canada or by Canada Mail Packet ; The term "Mail" inchides 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 ; ■X- * « * * * 4C- * * The term "Post Letter" means any letter transmitted or deposited in any Post OiKce to be transmitted by the Post ; — And a letter shall be deemed a Post Letter from the time of its being so deposited or deliv- ered at a Post Office, to the time of its being delivered to the party to whom it is addressed 3. 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. 96 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 8. The Postmaster General shall be appointed by Commission under the Great Seal of Canada, and shall hold his ofBce during pleasure. 10. The Postmaster General may, subject to the provisions of this Act: 1. Establish and close Post OfBces and Post Eoutes ; 3. Enter into and enforce all contracts relating to the con- veyance of the Mails or other business of the Post OfSce ; 4. [Make regulations concerning mailaMe 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, neces- sary 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 di- rected to be registered as to him may seem necessary, in re- spect to the registration of letters and other matter passing by Mail, as well between places in Canada, as between Can- ada 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 un- questionably 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 commis- sion of not exceeding five per cent, on the amount of their sales. THE DOMINION OF CANADA 97 Eates op Postage. 19. On all letters transmitted by Post for any distance witMn Can- ada, 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 post- age 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 OfSce, commonly known as local or drop letters, the rate shall be one cent, to be in all cases prepaid by post- age stamp affixed to such letters. 31. [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 te freed lilceioise from Canadian postage.'] 33. 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 post- age 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. 33. 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. 34. 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 afiixed to the same. 98 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 26. On. books, pamphlets, occasional publications, printed cir- culars, prices current, handbills, book and newspaper manuscript, printer's proof sheets whether corrected or not, maps, prints, draw- ings, engravings, photographs when not on glass, in cases containing' glass, sheet music whether printed or written, packages of seeds, cut- tings, bulbous roots, scions or grafts, patterns or samples of merchan- dize or goods, the rate of postage shall be one cent per ounce ; pro- vided 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 OiEcers of the Post Office to ensure com- pliance with this provision — and this postage rate shall be prepaid by postage stamps in all cases when such articles are posted in Canada. 37. [Foregoing rates suhject to svcli conditions as may he agreed upon hetween Canada and any other country.] 28. [Postage on unpaid letters is due from addressee, or if re- fused may 6e recovered with costs by civil action from sender. (See 13°— 14° 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 afHxed 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 pre- payment 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 reasonahle compensation to Masters of vessels not Post Office Packets for conveyance of ship letters from foreign ports to Canada.] 32. [Postinaster General has exclusive privilege of collecting, con- veying and delivering letters, etc.; $20 penalty for infraction. (See 13°_14° 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 neivspaper or pamphlet. (See 14°— 15° Vict. Cap. LXXI. Sec. 15.)] 36. It shall be lawful for the Postmaster General, with the con- sent 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 THE DOMINION OF CANADA 99 such system is established, no charge shall be made for the de- livery 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 estahlish a parcel post. (See 23° Vict. Cap. XVII. Sec. 5.)] 38. [Usual franking of official matter (See 18° Vict. Cap. LXXIX. Sees. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 34° Vict. Cap. XXV. Sec. 6), but limited to trans- mission 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 addi- tional 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° — 14° 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 fradulent 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 pre- viously 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 post- age 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 ofEense, 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 100 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS changes in detail that will be noted in their proper places, yet it seems advis- able, in spite of some possible repetition, to quote the larger part of the In- structions sent out to Postmasters in preparation for the impending changes, because of additional details to be found therein. To All Postmasters, and Othbb Persons Employed in the Postal Service of Canada: Department Order No. 3. 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 OiRce or Sub-Office, and to every Railway Mail Clerk; meanwhile the following summary of the principal pro- visions 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 Gov- ernment, Ottawa, under the direction of the Postmaster General of Canada. 2. Subject to the directions of the Postmaster General, the gen- eral 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 per- formance 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 Gaspe 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 ProviTice of Ontario, from Cobourg to Hamilton Toronto Province of Ontario, from Hamilton Westward London THE DOMINION OF CANADA 101 4. All Postmasters, including Way OfBce and Sub-Office Keepers, are continued in Of&ce, 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. PKINCIPAL EATES OP POSTAGE. li:ttebs. 5. On letters passing between any two places within the Do- minion of Canada, a uniform rate, (irrespective of distance) of three cents per % oz., if prepaid ; and five cents per % oz., if posted unpaid. 6. On letters between any place in the Dominion and any place in the United States, 6 cents per % oz., if prepaid; and 10 cents per V2 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% cents per % oz. On do. in Mails via New York Packet 15 cents per 1^ 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% " " 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 sep- arately put up, and marked, distinctly, as prepaid. When the above rates are not prepaid in advance, by either the Publisher at the Ofiace 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 froia the Office of publication to subscribers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Prince Ed- 102 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS ward Island and Newfoundland, may be forwarded, on prepayment at the Office in Canada where posted, at the above commuted rates, ap- plicable to such papers within the Dominion. 10. Exchange Papers passing between publishers in Canada, and be- tween 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 Can- ada, 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 Newfound- land, must be prepaid two cents each by postage stamp. 13. Newspapers coming into Canada will be subject to the fol- lowing 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 publican tion, 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 naay post to regular subscribers in Can- ada, 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 PAPEES, 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 New- foundland. 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. THE DOMINION OF CANADA 103 17. A like rate will be payable on delivery in Canada, when re- ceived from the United States, Prince Edward Island or Newfound- land. 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 ofBce of publi- cation 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 priv- ilege 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 13% cents per 8 ounces, that is to say : — On a parcel not exceeding 8 oz 13% cents Over 8 oz., and not exceeding 1 lb 35 cents Over 1 lb., and not exceeding 34 oz 37% 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. 32. 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 : — 104 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS Half Cent Stamps One cent do Two cent do Tliree cent do V All bearing, as a device, the effigy Six cent do J ^j g-g^ 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 reason- able 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. FKANKING AND FKEE MATTEK. The following matter is exempt from Canadian Postage: — 34. 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 Com- mons, or to or by any Member of either House, at the Seat of Gov- ernment, 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 meet- ing 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 Mem- ber 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. 39. Petitions and Addresses to either of the Provincial Legisla- tures 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 Ses- sion thereof, — provided such petitions and addresses, votes, proceed- ings 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 Legis- latures of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, will be liable to the ordinary rates of Postage. THE DOMINION OF CANADA 105 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 pur- pose to act for those functionaries, or of the Member sending the same. 33. 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 Post- master 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, tihus: — 'Tor Accountant" "For Secretary" [etc.] as the case may be, but the main direction must be to the Postmaster General, or Deputy Postmaster General. 85. 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 regis- tration 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 denom- inations 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 fea- ture of this design is a circular medallion bearing a diademed profile por- trait 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 illus- trated 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 ap- pears in colorless capitals on a narrow strip of color with bossed ends, and reads BEITISH AMEKICAN BANK NOTE CO. MONTEEAL & OTTA- WA. 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 THE ISSUE OF 1868 107 imprint over the second and third stamps of the top row. This consists of the words HALF CEISTT, in shaded Eoman 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: — % cent, black; 1 cent, brown red; 2 cents, green; 3 cents, deep red; 6 cents, dark brown; 12% cents, deep blue; 15 cents, mauve. We say approximately, since there is considerable variation as may be noted by a glance at the Ref- erence 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 con- tinuous 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 Amencan Journal of Philately for April 20, 1868, (1:18) 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 Timhre-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 fonce). In the July, 1888, issue of the Halifax Philatelist the color is said to have reverted to the mauve tint of the first printings ex- cept 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 J^otes", 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 oifice busi- 108 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS ness. Hence the 1 cent was changed to an orange yellow, appearing in its new dress in 1869. The exact date seems not to be available, but we find it first noted in The Philatelist for April 1, 1869, 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 "Sunmiary for the year 1869", the same paper credits the issue to Jan- uary, 1869.1 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,^ but as there were no rates requiring such a denomina- tion in the set, it was not issued. When in 1875 the need for a 5 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 pro- visional, for its smaller and permanent successor followed it in about four months. The statement is often made that the 5 cent denomination was required because of Canada's entry into the Universal Postal Union, which was in- stituted 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 Post- master General's Eeports tell the story. The Report for 30th June, 1875 says : — A treaty for the formation of a General Postal Union, and for tlie adoption of uniform postage rates and reflations for Interna- tional correspondence, was arranged and signed at Berne, Switzer- land, 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 Philatelist, IV: 42. In the first series of the American Journal of Philately for June 1, 1868 (I: 25) we read: "Tha 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 im- print underneath." THE ISSUE OF 1868 109 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 OfBce, been reduced to the International rate of S% 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 ad- mitted to be a member of the General Postal Union from the 1st July, 1878, and in consequence the rate of letter postage between Can- ada 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 mu- tual agreement, allowed to remain undisturbed by the entry of Can- ada 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. 110 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 mar- ginal 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 21/2 mm. wide, with a border of pearls, and reads: "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal." Doubtless the words "FIVE CElSTTS" 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 l^o. 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 ap- pearance again in this set. In Messrs. Corwin and King's article* we read : — "The 3 cents on laid paper was first brought to attention in the Philatelic Record for March, 1882,* 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 cata- logued by the London Society,® 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:® "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 Ic. orange on laid paper." Mr. Charles La- throp Pack adds his testimony against this quondam stamp :^ "I do not be- 'Metropolltan Philatelist, II; 57. 'This is an error, for in Le TImbre-Poste for November, 1877 (XV: 84), M. Moens says: "M. Fourg nous fait remarquer que le 3 cents ri868] a §t6 imprimg exceptionnellement sur papier vergg." 'North American Colonies of Great Britain, page 16. "IVletropoiitan Philatelist, II: 57. 'London Philatelist, XVI: 144. THE ISSUE OF 1868 111 lieve that the Ic, yellow, exists on laid paper. iN'one of the large collectors of Canada or of this country have seen it, and I believe there is no real au- thority 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 Timhre-Poste for January, 1883, under the heading Canada we read: "Semblable an 3 cents, 1868, sur papier verge blanc, il existe: 1 cent, brun-orange." This was the information quoted in the Philatelic Record,^ but the translator evidently mistook the proper ren- dering of the French color name as orange-hrown, 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. 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 ISTovember 2Y, 1868."* 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. Meheel's Weehly'^^ also records the 3 cent on a cover bearing date of August 31, 1868. 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 stilP^ : "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. One other variety of paper needs our attention, and that is the water- marked paper. The fact of its use was early knovTU to collectors, for in The Philatelist for February, 1870, in an article on "British ISTorth America" by W. Dudley Atlee, after the "Issue for Confederation" is the following 'Philateirc Record, IV: 213. 'Metropolitan Philatelist, II: 67. I'Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, IX: 64. "London Philatelist, XVI: 144. 112 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS "]S"ote.— There is also in the last series of adhesives a Three Cent printed on paper watermarhed 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,^^ remarks: "the one cent red also appears on same paper, as I have two specimens of each in my posses- sion." The Halifax Philatelist,'^^ 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% and 15 cent were later found, but the % 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 % cent would be included in the series. This is determined by the fact that the first supply of the l^ 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 % cent were printed. For the determination of the character of the watermark we are indebted to Mr. John W. Luff, whose thoroughness and acumen when delving into a philatelic problem are proverbial. The result of his study was published in 1895-'* and we take the following extracts from his interesting paper: — Most pliilatelic 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 water- mark actually is. The London Society in the North American Col- onies 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 "^Dominion Philatelist, I: 5. "Haiifax Pliilateilst, III: 8. "American Journal of Philately, VIII: 77. a THE ISSUE OF 1868 113 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. Cor- win 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 dis- cussed 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 cor- rectly reconstructed the watermark. As the broadest letter measures only 13 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 combina- tions I have found several examples. I have also found quite a num- ber of stamps showing parts of two rows of letters, one above the other. Taking these in sequence we reconstruct the watermark %mw} 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 114 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS E and C are followed by periods 31/^ mm. square. The initial cap- itals E, C and B are 13 mm. high, the other letters 12% mm. The upper row is about 140 mm. long, the lower about 133 mm., and the distance between the rows 11% 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 mvist 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 nmi., is great for a marginal water- mark, and the fact that none of the letters have been found ver- tically, 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 im- print of the contractors above or below, if the watermark were mar- ginal. 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 provis- ional 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 Yo 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 some- times being quite intense." But they list the entire series on "thin, soft, grayish wove paper", as well as the % 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 De- partment stamps of the United States. Messrs. Corwin and King-^^ 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 "Metropolitan Philatelist, II: 55 and Monthly Journal, VIII: 236. THE ISSUE OF 1868 115 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. 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 71/2 and 10 pence stamps of 1855-7. The de- sign 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 coniined to a half millimeter in each dimension. }/^ cent, 16% X 21)^ mm. 5 cents, 19 x 241^ mm. 17 X 21 mm. ? ? 1 cent, 191^ X 24)^ mm. 6 cents, 20 x 24)^ mm. 20 X 24 mm. 20^^ x 24 mm. 2 cents, 19)^ x 241^ mm. 12)^ cents, 191^ x 241^ mm. 20 X 24 mm. 20 x 24 mm. 3 cents, 191^ x 24^^ mm. 15 cents, 19% x 24)^ mm. 20 X 24 mm. 20 x 24 mm. It is also stated that these stamps exist perforated 11% x 13,^® as well as the usual 12 all around. As the perforation was done by guillotine machines, this would apparently indicate a machine of 11% gauge used for the vertical perforations, and we should expect to find some stamps at least perforated 12 X 11%, if not 11% all around. Such do not seem to have been reported and we have no further information concerning the variety mentioned. 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 'So. 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, JST. S. JY 2,1869." While having no more authorization than any other of the occasional Canadian "splits," yet this "Monthly Journal, IX: 125. 116 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 ISTo. 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 dis- tinction was made between the various issues in the tables of amounts re- ceived from the manufacturers, provided the denomination was the same. In the case of the %? 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 121^ 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,-''^ 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 shovsm. below may be "out" by several per cent without appreciably altering their usefulness — or lack of it. With these considerations as a basis, we can lay out the series up to certain limits as follows: — Received Feom Manufactueees. ic. Ic. 2e. 3c. 6c. 12Jc. IBc. 30th June, 1868 1,500,000 2.000,000(?) 2,000,000(? 6,000,000 2,000,000 B00,000(?) 212,600 " 1869 9,250,000 4,000,000 ' 12,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 600,000 1870 2,300,000 1,300,000 11,300,000 2,230,000 300,000 1871 1,800,000 3,070,000 734,000 1872 500,000 3,200,000 2,325,000 1873-82 4,756,700 1875-96 1,765,400 Totals 6,756,700 13,650,000 12,300,000 29,300.000 11,625,000 2,634,000 2,677,900 The above table shows that the first deliveries of the % cent were suffi- cient to last until 1872 ; from that time there were yearly deliveries approx- imating a half million up to the issue of the miniature % 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 % cent of 1868 issued as 6% millions. The large 1 cent stamp was superseded about March 1870, "See page 88.. THE ISSUE OF 1868 117 so the above figures may very likely be reduced by say two millions in 1870, leaving ll^/^ 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 consid- erable portion of the deliveries of 1869-70 were doubtless due its suc- cessor. 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% 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^^ 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 121^ cent stamp is there- fore 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 use- ful as a multiple of the 5 cent stamp and in connection with registration. From that time imtil 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 Eeport for 1876 includes the deliveries of both large and small stamps, the total being 2 millions. As succeeding deliveries of the small stamp averaged 118 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 oper- ation under the authority of the Union Act vmtil superseded by the statute known as ''The Post Office Act 186T\ passed in the first ses- sion 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 re- duced 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, par- cels 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 pass- ing 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 pre- pared by the British American Bank Note Co. at Ottawa, and dis- tributed 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. THE ISSUE OF 1868 119 There were 87 new Post Offices established in Ontario and Quebec dur- ing the [fiscal] year and 74 Post Offices and Way Offices in ISTew Bruns- wick 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 53,837.80 Nova Scotia 5,579 3,000,000 64,319.77 Totals 37,674 18,100,000 1,034,710.61 The total correspondence passing between the United States and Can- ada 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 com- plete 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^ to 6 cents per % 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 "meas- ures 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 con- federated 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 120 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS in closed bags (tlirougli th.e United States mails) between Windsor (Ontario) and Victoria (British Columbia), via San JPrancisco, for the conveyance of which through the United States, a transit rate is paid by the Dominion to the United States Post OfSce, 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 efEect from 1st. November, 1873, establishing a uniform prepaid rate of 6 cents per ^4 ounce on letters passing between any Post OfSce in the Dominion and any Post Office in Newfoundland, instead of 13% 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-de- livery 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 Ojfice Act 1867 which we have already quoted.^® The text of a new postal treaty between Canada and the United States is given from which we make the following excerpts: — Postal Abbangement ijetween the dominion of canada and the united states. Aet. 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. Aet. 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. "See page 98. THE ISSUE OF 1868 121 Abt. III. [Patterns and samples, weighing not over 8 oz., un- sealed, 10 cents each, prepayment obligatory.] Aet. IV. [No further accounts to J>e kept between the two coun- tries. 1 Abt. VIII. The existing arrangements for the exchange of reg- istered 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. Abt. IX. This arrangement, except so far as it relates to letter postage, shall take efEect from the first of January, 1875. The re- duced letter rate will come into operation on the first of Febru- ary, 1875 Done in duplicate and signed at Ottawa the 27th day of Jan- uary, 1875. From the above it is seen that the double domestic postage rate on letters be- tween the two countries, and the keeping of accounts of the total correspondence passing through the exchange offices, were done away with on the 1st Febru- ary, 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 Eeport. 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 cur- rent % 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. ISTo 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 ISTo. 28 on Plate II.] The next value to appear was the 1 cent, which was noted in the Stamp Collectors Magazine for April 1, 1870 j 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 A^o. 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 THE SMALL "CENTS" ISSUE, 1870-82 123 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 Feb- ruary. [Illustrations jSTos. 30 and 26 on Plate II.] Again in the American Journal of Philately for ]!Tovember 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 prob- ably about ISTovember 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 fijxed the rate on patterns and samples at 10 cents for not over 8 oz., with prepayment obligatory.^ 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. 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% and 15 cents. In its issue for May, 1872, the Stamp Col- lector s Magazine quoted from the Canadian Philatelist as follows: — "It is unlikely that the 12^2 c. small size will be issued, as the large ones are very little used, and can now be bought at the post-oiSce 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% 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 121/2 cent stamp at least exists in a finished state, but is very scarce. Proofs of both values were illustrated in Le Timhre-Poste for November, 1888, with the following remarks : "On nous envoie les essais des futurs timbres 12% et 'See page 121. 124 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 15 centavos qui doivent completer un peu tardivement, la serie des timbres a ce format. iS'os exemplaires sont imprimes, le premier en lilas, le second en vert siir papier de la Chine." Commenting on this in the American Phil- atetist for December, 1888, Mr. W. 0. 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 121^ 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 impos- sible 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% 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 there- fore 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 % 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 ornamenta- tion gave place to angular outlines. The illustration will be found as No. 27 on Plate II. All of the above mentioned stamps, except the % cent as will be ex- plained, 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 de- nomination 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" THE SMALL "CENTS" ISSUE, 1870-82 125 in colorless Koman 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 ISTo. Ill 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 2i/2mm. 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 in- scriptions. 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 % cent of 1882, which we excepted from the above statements, there is a special arrangement to consider. The stamp was of 126 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 arrange- ment, 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 re- versed figure 1, 4 mm. high, and in the same position on the left pane the cor- responding 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 re- quired by the Government to do its printing at Ottawa,^ and under "Canada IN'otes" in MekeeVs Weekly Stamp News for December 21, 1892, "Canadensis" reports : "The new plates of the Canada stamps now bear this imprint : 'British American Bank E'ote 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% mm. wide and is well shown in illustration No. 123 on Plate XII. These new plates were doubtless the ones heralded in the Domin- ion 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 Ic, 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 mar- gin, 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 OlSTE CEISTT or TWO CENT over stamps 2 and 3 as well as 18 and 19, or THREE CEISTT over the first four and last four stamps in plain Egyptian capitals, (see illustration No. 120 on Plate XI). 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 ^See page 128, THE SMALL "CENTS" ISSUE, 1870-82 127 is seen in illustration ISTo. 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 mar- ginal inscriptions. From the sheet form it would seem probable that it pre- ceded 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 chron- icled 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 Phil- atelist 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 chroniclea it in "pale red instead of lilac." We have been thus particular in listing the record of early shades be- cause of the changes which come later. In the January, 1888, issue of the Halifax Philatelist we find the fol- lowing note under "Canada": — "The plate of the 2 c. stamp has been re- engraved. Color is now dark green". IN'o 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 su^rprising statement seemed to excite no special comment save from the sagacious M. Moens, who remarks:' "ISTous avons egalement recu ce timbre qui parait lithographic, par suite d'usure de la planche, croyons- nous, car la feuille entiere que nous avons annonce que I'impression a ete faite. 'Le Timbre-Poste. XXVI: 61, 128 CANADIAJSr POSTAaE STAMPS comme anterieiirenieiit, par la British American Bank l^ote Co. de Montreal et Ottawa, qui ne s'occupe pas d'impression lithographique que nous saehions." 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 % 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* as follows: "About six years ago the Government in- sisted on their contractors doing their printing at the Capital, and the British American Bank l^ote Co. erected a handsome establishment on Wellington Street, where all postage stamps have since been printed. It may be re- membered that the Ottawa printings were signalized by distinct varieties in shade from the earlier Montreal issues, varieties that have never been suffi- ciently distinguished in the standard catalogues." 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, an- ^Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, II: 32: 2. 136 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS Act^^ 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 KATES UNDEE AUTHORITY OF POST OFEICE 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 OiBce from which letters are de- livered 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. Eor the present and until further instructed, the registration fee may be prepaid by using the 3 cent Registration Stataps and Postage Stamps to make up the amount. Letters insufficiently prepaid will be charged double the defi- ciency as heretofore, provided at least a partial prepayment has been made. Letters posted wholly unpaid will be sent to the Dead Letter Ofiice for return to the writer. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, JOHN G. HAGGART. OTTAWA, 8th MAY, 1889 Postmaster General 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 Eeport also chronicles the "removal of the British American Bank JSTote 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.^* 1^52° Vict. Chap. 20. "See page 128. THE SMALL "CENTS" ISSUE, 1870-82 137 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 agaia in 1891: "Com- plaints of defective mucilage would be far less frequent if the public would kindly bear in miad 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 wiU be useful in prepayment of parcel post." And this brings us to our next chapter. CHAPTER X THE SUPPLEMENTARY VALUES OF 1 893 BEEOEE proceeding with the subject matter of this chapter in detail, it may be well to reproduce here a synopsis of the Canadian Postal Kates and Regulations as set forth in the Dominion Philatelist in De- cember, 1893, and taken from the then current Canada Postal Guide. This will give a comprehensive review of the results of the various Acts and Amend- ments 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 Com- mercial 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 % oz. InsulEciently 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 insuffi- ciently 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. THE SUPPLEMENTARY VALUES OF 1893 139 2nd Class Matter. — For Canada, Newfoundland and the United States. — Newspapers and Periodicals posted from the office of pub- lication, for regular subscribers in otter places in Canada, New- foundland 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 Cana- dian 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 sub- ject to ordinary transient newspaper rates. 3rd Class Matter. — Addressed to Canada. — 1. Transient news- papers and periodicals. Kate, 1 cent per 4 oz. ; prepayment com- pulsory; limit of weight, 5 lbs. A single paper weighing not more than 1 oz. may pass for % cent. 2. Book packets. Bate, 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, (o) Printed pamphlets, printed cir- culars, etc., and also seeds, cuttings, bulbs, etc. ; rate, 1 cent per 4 oz. (6) 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 EN- TIEELY PKINTED. Any insertion in ink is not permissible, ex- cept 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-writ- ten, 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. (6) 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 ex- ceed 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 affix- ing a 5 cent Eegistration Stamp thereto, in addition to the postage. Insufficiently paid parcels may be forwarded charged with simply 140 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS the deficient postage, provided one full rate is paid and the deficiency does not exceed one rate. 5th Glass Matter. — Comprises such articles of general merchan- dise 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 claim- ing to be 5th Class must he open to inspection and there must be no correspondence enclosed. Packages of 5th Class matter, including Seeds, Bulbs, Cuttings, Eoots, may be sent to the United States for the same prepayment as required within the Dominion, but the con- tents will be liable to Customs inspection and collection of duty in the United States. Sealed tins containing fi^h, 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 for- warded 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 refer- ring 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 de- ficient postage, provided the deficiency does not exceed 5 cents. Parcel Post. — For the United Kingdom and the Countries and Col- onies with which the United Kingdom maintains Parcel Post rela- tions, and for Newfoundland, Barbados, British Ouiana, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Jamaica, Turks Island, Curacoa and Japan. — Par- cels securely and substantially packed and closed for the United King- dom, 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 30e. 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. Eor Barbados, British Guiana, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, 20 c. per lb. Parcels for Newfoundland are daily forwarded on to Hali- fax, 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. THE SUPPLEMENTAEY VALUES OF 1893 141 (A) Commercial Papers, (B) Boolcs 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 communica- tions in the nature of letters, or other documents having the character of an actual and personal correspondence), documents of legal pro- cedure. Deeds drawn up by public functionaries, copies of, or ex- tracts from Deeds under private seal, Way-Bills, Bills of Lading, In- voices and other documents of a mercantile character, docmnents of Insurance and other public companies, all kinds of manuscript mu- sic, 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, draw- ings, 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 King- dom, 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, 3 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. (C) Limits of weight to Austria-Hungary, Belgium, "Egypt, France, Hawaii, Italy, Portugal, Eoumania and Switzerland, is 13 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 13 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 6e 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 Keport last quoted in the preceding chap- ter. The 50 cent stamp of course woiild 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 ISTewfoundland. 142 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS We find notice of the issue of the new values in the Dominion Phila- telist^ as follows: — As foreshadowed in the Postmaster General's report, there have appeared Canada postage stamps of the value of 30c. 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. 33nd. The 30c. and 50e. stamps were intended for parcel post. 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% mm. high with square ends, and bears the legend: "British American Bank l^ote 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 bhie, but not indigo. According to the advices of the American Journal of Phil- ately (VI: 102) the stamps were issued on the lYth Pebruary^ — 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 de- livered, with a final 200 copies of each in 1896. These -quantities were suffi- cient 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! ^Dominion Philatelist, V: 31, THE SUPPLEMENTAET VALUES OE 1893 143 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.^ 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. In the preceding chapter we quoted a circular from the Postmaster Gen- eral 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 com- bined 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 Meheel's Weehly Stamp News for August 10, 1893 : — The following orders were posted up in all the Canadian post-offices on Augnst 1st : "A new postage stamp of the value of 8c. is now being put into cir- culation. This stamp will be available for the prepayment either of reg- istration fee and postage combined, or of postage only. The 5c. registra- tion 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% 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^ that it appeared in slate-blue in October of 1893, and slate in 1895. Alfred Smith's Monthly Cir- cular for December, 1895, records it in a "dark slate-black," and the WeeMy Philatelic Era for ISTovember 30, 1895, says that "a peculiar feature in connec- ^See page 130. 'London Philatelist, XVI: 88. 144 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS tion 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. 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.* 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. 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 ac- counts 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 manufac- turers 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 Y% 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 per- son 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 com- pelled 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 circu- lation again. 'See page 130, 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. Prob- ably no proprieties would be violated were it observed, sub rosa, that the pe- cuniary gains connected with such issues were probably more of a factor in determining their birth than the superabundance of jubilation over the auspi- cious occurrence. Such a suspicion is quite readily aroused when consider- ing 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 IsTotes" in the WeeMy Philatelic Era of August 1, 1896, as follows: — For the first time in 18 years a Liberal, or Eeform government has full control of the Dominion Mr. William Mulock, J. C, of To- ronto, is the new Postmaster General and I am informed that consider- able pressure is being brought to bear upon Mm 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 resiilt 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 com- pany will have to establish a branch office at Ottawa and all the work will have to be done in Canada. 146 CANADIAiT POSTAGE STAMPS Mekeel's WeeMy Stamp News gives further details in a clipping from the Montreal Herald, dated "Ottawa, Jan. 11," [1897] i^— The contract for the Government engraving, for which tenders vrere 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 Com- merce. Under the terms of the new contract, the Company will re- quire to establish a place in Ottawa to do the work, where the Gov- ernment can have supervision of it. As compared with the prices paid under the Burland contract, the Government will efEect a saving of $120,000 by the new contract. The next step appears in the WeeMy Philatelic Era of January 30, 1897, where we read under "Canadian Notes" : — Many suggestions are being made and many plans laid for the fit- ting celebration of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign. In Canada this celebration is being coupled with that of the four hundredth anni- versary of Cabot's discovery of America. In this connection a proposal has been made and an agitation started for the issue of a commemora- tive set of postage stamps by the Dominion government .... It has been suggested that the hew stamps be made a trifle larger than the present ones, that a somewhat recent picture of Her Majesty replace the pres- ent one, and that the fig-ures 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 fol- lowing as one of its leaders : "Here is good news for postage stamp col- lectors. The Postmaster-Genex-al 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 ^Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, IX: 25. THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897 147 a limited circulation only, probably for a period of montis covering the jubilee celebrations during tbe 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. Mnlock, 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 Can- ada'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 30th 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 to- day; 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 Im- perial crown of England and under it the letter "V" with the letters "E. I." in the fork of the "V". The three letters meaning Victoria Eegina (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 [sicl, who is an enthusiastic stamp collector. The second set will be presented to Her Excellency Lady Aberdeen (wife of the Cana- dian 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 148 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 shov/ing the Denominations and Total Number of Jubilee Stamps to be issued : Number to be issued. 150,000 8,000,000 2,500,000 20,000,000 750,000 75,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 7,000,000 Total value of one stamp of each kind, $ 16.21%. 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 de- stroyed 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 ordi- nary 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 appli- cations 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 pur- chase them on and after the 19th June, 1897. Denomination. % c. stamps 1 c. 3 c. 3 c. 5 c. 6 c. 8 c. 10 c. 15 c. 20 c. 50 0. $ 1 00 $ 3 00 $ 3 00 $ 4 00 $ 5 00 1 c. post cards. THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897 149 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 beseiged the post offices for the coveted treasures. The ad- vance 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 % 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 follow- ing circular, sent out with the initial supply of the stamps to all post- masters •? — N. B. — Eequisitions for /«JJ seti of the Jubilee stamps will be iilled until the issue is exhausted. — E. P. S. POST OFFICE DEPAKTMENT, CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BEANCH, OTTAWA, June, 1897. Sib, — I am directed by the Postmaster-General to send you here- with a supply of the Jubilee stamps and 1 c. post card, equal to one month's ordinary requirements of your ofEce. Should this quantity prove insufBcient it will, on your requisition addressed to this branch, be supplemented; but as the Jubilee issue is limited, it would be nec- eessary 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 ofBce at the regular ofBce 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 POSTMASTEK. 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. •Monthly Journal, Vm. 177. 150 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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:^ — The experience of tlie first day's sale eonvinced our government that halves and sixes would very soon be bought up by speculators un- less some action was taken to further restrict their sale; they there- fore came to the conclusion that those persons who were willing to contribute to the revenues of the Canadian Government to the extent of $16.33 for a complete set of jubilee stamps were entitled to protec- tion, and decided that they at least should not pay more than face value for their % 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, 36th June, 1897. SlE, — ^With reference to the numerous demands upon this ofiBce for the % c. and 6c. Jubilee stamps, I am directed to explain that the re- spective 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 pur- chasers 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 %c or 6c denomina- tion, 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 pro- spective at their respective offices, they must not, in any case, break the sets. I am. Sir, your obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, Superuitendent. 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 % c. and 6 c. ■Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, X: 64. THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897 151 Not only were the sales of the % and 6 cent stamps thus restricted, but notices were posted in the offices that none of the %c., 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 prob- ably accounts for the "run" upon that value and its inclusion in the above restrictions. In fact a correspondent of MekeeVs 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] recall- ing, 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:* — POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA, 39th July, 1897. SIR,— In reply to your letter of the 36th 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. 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".^ 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:® — 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 re- spectively, made a distribution of such sets, the numbers being appor- 'Weekly PhllateUc Era, XI: 416. "Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, XI: 78. •Monthly Journal, Vin; 178. 152 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS tioned upon a basis of the revenue of each money order office through- out the Dominion. Between 30,000 and 40,000 sets were thus dis- tributed, 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 DEPAETMENT, CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BKANCH, OTTAWA, [August] 1897. SIE. — I am directed to transmit to you the accompanying partial sets of Jubilee stamps. These sets consist of two kinds : one from a %c. to $1.00 (value $3.20%), the other from %c. to 50c. (value $1.30%). You are instructed to sell these stamps as sets, and as sets only, rep- resentations having been made to the department that in various parts of the Dominion there is a desire to obtain such sets for souvenir pur- poses. You must not, under any circumstances, break a set ; for, be- sides 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 specula- tors 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 % 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, repre- sents that proportion to which you are entitled. I am. Sir, your obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, Superintendent. THE POSTMASTER. For dismgemiousness, for pathetic regard for the public and the post- master, and yet withal a keen eye for the "interests" of the department, this circular is a model which should be preserved for posterity — and "business- like" 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 : — THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897 153 POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. (Oifice of the Superintendent of the Postage Stamp Branch). Ottawa 1897. SIE, — The partial sets of Jubilee stamps already issued to your ofBce constituted its share of these sets, having regard to their limited number and the area of their distribution, which comprised all the money order ofBces in the Dominion. Except a reserve for complete sets (from %c. to $5.00 inclusive, cost $16.20%) there is not a Jubilee stamp left in the department — all having been issued to postmasters. The plates, I may add, were de- stroyed 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'': "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 num- ber of all values to every office." 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% pence values. In fact Mr. Wurtele tells us® that a prominent Mon- treal collector, whose advice was asked when the issue was under consideration, gave the government a magnificent unused copy of the 7%d. 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.® The portrait labelled "1897" is from a full length painting executed by com- mand 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 'Monthly Journal, VIH: 230. sMekeel's Weekly Stamp News, X: 63. "See page 33. 164 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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. 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 beau- tifully engraved on steel as usual, and are printed on stout wove paper and perforated 12. The values from % 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 — JSTo — 1" (or some other plate number) in hair-line Roman cap- itals 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 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 3 cents 3 3 3 1 1 3 3 % 5 3 3 3 3 1 1 Plate 17 . . 6 cents 18 15 " 19 . . 10 s» 20 . 8 )» 21 . . 20 )» 32 . 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 con- stant, as would be expected. The principal variation is only one of tone in in a few values. THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897 155 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."^" 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 registra- tion). This owing to limitations of weight, etc., and the highest amount that can be required on a letter is $1.65".-^^ An. "official" replied^^ that "very fre- quently 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." Someone wrote the Postmaster General, quoting the above letter and asking further particulars. The reply stated^^ that "the regulations do not fix any limit to the weight of letters. . . . According to the regulations of this De- partment 'Second Class Matter' comprises newspapers and periodicals ad- dressed to regular subscribers, (including sample copies) and that, postage being payable upon such matter at a bulk rate of Ic. per lb., the stamps re- quired 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 De- partment to all Post Offices where they are required." This was analogous to the practice in the United States, only regular postage stamps were em- ployed 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 :^* "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." 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. MPost Office, IX: 37. "Weekly Philatelic Era, XI: 383. i^ibld., XI: 406. "ibid., XI: 426. "Monthly Journal, VIH: 177. 156 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS and a special circular was issued touching this point, of which the following is a copy:^^ — POST OFFICE DEPAETMENT, CANADA. POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH. OTTAWA, 24th June, 1897. SIE, — I am directed to send you for your information and guid- ance, the following statement, which has just been given to the press : "Enquiry having been made at the Post OfBce 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, 6e redeemed by the Department, a distinction being drawn in this respect between them and the ordinary postage stamps." I atQ Sir, Your obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, Superintendent. A curious case of splits is recorded from the Sussex, N. B., Newsi^^ — The Railway News last week on account of not receiving permis- sion 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. 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 Pruice of Wales, and now His Most "Weekly Philatelic Era XII: 210. M|bld., XII: 96. THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897 157 Gracious Majesty King George V. An account of this presentation set may not be without interest here:^^ — A very unique and handsome piece of work is the postal portfolio which is to be presented to His Eoyal 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, "Domin- ion of Canada, Diamond Jubilee Postage Stamps, 32nd June, 1897." The corners of the portfolio are decorated with guards of Canadian gold made from British Columbia and Kamey 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 fast- ened 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. E. 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. E. 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 de- nomination of the jubilee issue. 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 MekeeVs 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-OfBce Department and joined a party who were just leaving the building to go over to the American Bank Note Go'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 "Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, X: 2S. 158 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 destruc- tion of the various parts occupied almost two hours. The Postmaster General's Eeport for the 30th June, 1897, reprints the extract from the Canadian Hansard of 20th May, which we have already given. ^® 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 "Keturned by Postmasters as unfit for use," 40,000 copies, and in the column headed "Stamps destroyed as unfit for use", a like amoimt! 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 :^^ — 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 de- livered t<» the department, and before it was discovered the department had distributed a larger quantity than was mentioned in the schedule.20 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. 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 "See page 148. '"Monthly Journal, VIII: 230. 2"The stamp accounts show that 223,600 8 cent stampa had been "Issued to postmasters" previous to 30th June, 1897. THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897 159 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. ISTow note: the values from % 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 li.2,300 copies! ! This last figure looks so familiar that we can- not 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 sahe? 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 % 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 Eet'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 27,053 $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 3,335 15,763 Comment: — The three highest dollar values were apparently never de- livered 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. 160 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS The entire issue drops out of sight with the 1901 Keport, but the 1905 Eeport 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 Eeport, 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 side- tracked other considerations. A new permanent series was not forgotten, however, and under "Ottawa Notes" in the Weehly Philatelic Era for Octo- ber 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 tbat the present Liberal g-overnment has en- tered into a new contract for engraving and printing Dominion treas- ury 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 engrav- ing 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 arti- cle, 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. 162 CAITADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS A couple of weeks later a circular was sent to postmasters announcing the new stamps, etc., of which the following is a copy :^ — 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 requi- sitions 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 Ic. stamp will be green and that of the 5c. stamp a deep blue. R. M. COULTER, Deputy Postmaster-General. Post-OfBce Department, Canada. Ottawa, 35th October, 1897. 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 % cent, two weeks after the date of the above circular. The circumstances of its debut are told under "Ottawa ISTotes" in the Weekly Philatelic Era-? — 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 phil- atelists, 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 staS. 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. 3 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 ^American Journal of Philately, 2n(J Series, X: 502. ^Weekly Philatelic Era, XII: 86. 'See page 156. * THE "MAPLE LEAF" ISSUE OF 1897 163 forward the printing and circulation of the new issue, in that value at least, and it is an accomplished fact. The next value to appear was the 6 cent, which was announced in the WeeUy 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. CAISTADA 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 disap- pointing 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 irregu- larity seems to be known, and that is the 5 cents imperforate, a block of four of which we are able to illustrate as N'o. 112 on Plate X. The sheet arrangement was intended to be the usual block of 100 impres- sions, ten by ten, but the Ottawa correspondent of the Weehly Philatelic Era tells us that in the case of the % cent stamp the first plate was twice this size. By some misunderstanding the contractors, the American Bank Note Co., set the sheet up with 300 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 difBcult to obtain. Both sheets bear the plate number 1.* 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, 'Weekly Philatelic Era, Xn: 132. 164 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS each denomination began its own series with "l^o 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 % cent stamps each style of the first two plates was num- bered "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, % 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. No. 1. The quantity of each value issued before they were replaced by the stamps vfith numerals is stated to have been as follows:® — 14 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 A similar variation is found in the dimensions of these stamps to that occurring in the 7% d. and lOd. stamps and the issue of 1868, and has caused quite a little comment from those unfamiliar with this phenomenon. As much as % 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.® As the paper in the present instance is very similar in quality to 'Metropolitan Philatelist, X: 117. 'See page 53 et seq. THE "MAPLE LEAF" ISSUE OF 1897 165 that used for printing the United States stamps, in which the same peculiarity occurs, we will quote Mr. Melville's comment on the subject :'^ — As we have said, the paper is impressed when damp. . . . This wet- ting-down business has another efEect which has always puzzled phil- atelists. 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 con- traction of the paper the contraction would be proportionate on all Bides 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 techni- cally 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 flbres 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. The Postmaster General's Eeport for 1897 says: — The contract with the British American Bank Note Company ex- pired on the 33nd 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 un- der 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 Mon- treal 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 3/^ 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 begin- 'Unlted States Postage Stamps, 1894-1910, page 16. 166 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS ning of the present fiscal year. New stamps ranging in value from the % cent to the 10 cent denomination (inclusive) were printed, and the first supplies thereof sent out to postmasters as the corresponding de- nominations of the old stamps became exhausted. A considerable quan- tity 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 charac- ter, arid 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 HAEDLY had the "maple leaf" issue gotten generally into use before complaints began to be heard about the difficulty of distinguishing the different values. The Weeliy 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 inhabi- tants 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 in- serting 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 MeJceeFs 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, ISTo further news of the numeral set is recorded until the issue of the 168 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS I Weehly 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/^c 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 Oc- tober 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 WeeMy 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 cor- respondent of Meheel's Weekly Stamp News.^ 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 denomi- nation, 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 iu small squares in the lower comers, which necessitated the removal of the maple leaves from the lower spandrels ; and the second objection was met by enlarg- ing 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 whoUy 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 : — V2 cent No 1 )> 1, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6 2 " 1, 2, 3, 4. 3 " 1, 2, 3, 4. 5 »» 1, 2, 3. 6 »» 8 9> 10 99 1* iMekeel's Weekly Stamp News, Xm: 266. THE "NUMEEALS" ISSUE, 1898-1902 169 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, par- ticularly 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 bilP 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 Tear's day following as the date for the change in Can- ada's domestic rate. The following notice was published in the Canada Ga- zette :^ — Order in Council, Post OfBce Department. By Proclamation dated the 39tli day of December, 1898, in virtue of tlie Act further to amend the Post OfBce 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 trans- '61 Vict. Chap. 20. •Canada Gazette, XXXH: 1223. 170 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS mitted 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. This of course had the immediate effect of vastly increasing the con- sumption 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 MekeeVs WeeMy Stamp News.* 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, G and 7, though there were doubtless many more. 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 sur- charging 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 OfBce, at their full face value, for postage stamps of other denom- inations. 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, *Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, XIII: 324. THE "NUMEEALS" ISSUE, 1898-1902 171 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 Mill 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 Ofjflee, to send them to the City Post Of&ce 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, 6j/ Accounting Post Offices, — Postmasters will be so good as to carry out the follow- ing instructions : — (1) Each transmission should be registered, and accompanied with a brief memorandum, plainly stamped with the date stamp of the Post OfSce, and indicating the nimiber 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. (3) 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 re- ceive from the public in exchange for other stamps and find unsaleable, must 6e returned, as aJ)ove directed, to the City Post Offices from which they respectively ohtain their supplies, and not to the Department. As only the unused remnant of 3c. stamps now in the Departm,ent will 6e 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. E. M. COULTEE, Deputy Postmaster General. 172 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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.^ 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 j those first issued on the date mentioned above were of the nu- meral type, while on the 8th August^ the "maple leaf" 3 cent made its ap- pearance with the same surcharge. 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 var- iation 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 po- sition 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 num- ber 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' as "variously stated to be 9,000,000 to 11,000,000," while Stanley Gihhons Monthly Journal is more definite^ 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 nu- merals 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 i^Monthly Journal, X: 35. ^Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, XIII: 308. 'Weekly Philatelic Era, XIII: 393. ^Monthly Journal, X: 35. THE "NUMEEALS" ISSUE, 1898-1902 173 cent stamps, and this quantity is confirmed in the Eeport for 1901, which says: — "In 1899-1900 3 cent stamps to the mimber of 4,120,000 were in- cluded 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 sep- arated 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 ap- proximately equal amounts. 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', and none for the "maple leaf" type. The reduction in the domestic rate of postage was also the cause of an- other provisional, but of quite a different character. Stanley Oihhons Monthly Journal for January 31, 1899, says: — In some offices Ic. 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 "3", 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 "3". Our informant's letter is franked in part by % of a 3c. stamp surcharged "3" 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 correspond- ent 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 •Weekly Philatelic Era, XIH: 400, 403, 174 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 '3' and 100 '1' were used. Those stamps I put on letters for delivery within the county as much as possible. About 100 '3' 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 through- out the Dominion. Those were the only provisional stamps used by this ofBce." Mr. Horsley reports having a copy on the original cover -with the post- mark of Port Hood dated 5 January, 1899, which is doubtless the "one day" that they were employed. A Canada correspondent, writing in MekeeVs Weekly Stamp News^^ 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 vdll be found as ISTos. 37 and 39 respectively on Plate II. E"othing 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 Y 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, [1903]. — The Post OfBce Department announces that on the 34th 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 ofBces 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. uMekeel's Weekfy Stamp News, xm: 187. THE "NUMERALS" ISSUE, 1898-1902 175 The Postmaster General's Eeport 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 Eeports of the Postmaster General, as usual, for the period during which they were in issue, we find the following items of interest. In the Eeport for 30th June, 1899, the introduction of "Domestic Penny Postage" is thus recorded : — On the 1st January, 1899, the letter rate within Canada was re- duced from 3 to 3 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 con- clusion 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 post- age, the issue of the 3c. letter card, 3c. stamped envelope and 3c. post- age stamp has been discontinued, unused quantities of these, however, continuing available for postage purposes or exchangeable at any post ofBce for their equivalent in postage stamps of other denominations. On the 1st January, 1899, also, the provisions of the Act which reim- posed postage payment on newspapers and periodicals went into effect. This was An Act further to amend the Post Ojfice Act (assented to 13th June, 1898)^^ 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 "61 Vict. Chap. 20. 176 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS or newsdealers in Canada, resident elsewhere than in the place of pub- lication, 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 estab- lished by the Postmaster General ; if they are required to be trans- mitted a greater distance, or if their publication is of greater fre- quency 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 w^eight or any fraction of a pound weight, which shall be prepaid by postage stamps or otherwise, as the Post- master General from time to time directs ; provided that — (o) 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; (6) the full title, place and date of publication, and the distin- gfuishing 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 supple- ment to it and sent with it; (c) it is addressed to a ionA fide subscriber, or to a known news- dealer in Canada; and — (} 5J CHAPTER XVI THE "TERCENTENARY" ISSUE OF 1 908 IT may be remembered, perhaps, that in our introductory chapter we noted the fact that the first permanent settlement in Canada was made by Cham- plain at Quebec in 1608. As the year 1908 approached, the idea of cele- brating 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. Eudolphe Lemieux, Postmaster Gen. of Canada, announces that a series of postage stamps commemorative of the Champlaiu 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 Olobe^ 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. 'Ewen's Weekly Stamp News, No. i62. 200 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS They are eight in number. Four of them bear portraits of persons dear to Canada, or whose names recall great events. The first repre- sents 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 Cham- plain's narrative of his third voyage to Canada is found the following passage : "With our canoes laden with provisions, our arms and some mer- chandise to be given as presents to the Indians, I started on Monday, May 37, from the Isle of Saincte Helaine, accompanied by four French- men 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 "partfe- ment", now obsolete, is the one used by Champlain for the modern one "depart." 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 "I'abitation de Quebecq." 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 "Ille centenaire de Quebec." 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 en- trusted to Mr. Machado, of the American Bank Note Co., who, with keen artistic sense, has performed his part of the work with great success. Excellent reproductions of tliis 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 THE "TERCENTENARY" ISSUE OF 1908 201 and nearly 3 mm. longer. The designs are as already described, except that the legend "Partement pour I'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 whoUy correspond with the regular set; the 1, 2 and 5 cent naturally con- form, but the y^ 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, whUe the 15 cent is in orange and the 20 cent in a dark brown. The stamps are beautifully engraved, as usual, and printed ia sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. Above the 5th and 6th stamps of the top row is the regu- lar 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 margiu of the sheet. ^ 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. The plate numbers of the several values are as follows : — Plate No. 1 %c., 7c., lOc, 15c., 20c. " Nos. 1, 2 5o. " Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 Ic, 2o. 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 Brit- ish 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 lOd. stamp of the Province of Canada. Concerning the picture on the 20 cent stamp, "Arrivee de Cartier, Quebec 1535," we find some interesting details given by M. Th. Lemaire:^ — In 1533 Jacques Cartier obtained from Philippe de Chabot, Admiral ol France, authority to arm ships "to voyage, discover and conquer in 'Ewen's Weekly Stamp News, Nos. 478, 480. 'Journal des Phllat£llstes, 5th Series, page 298. 202 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS New France, as well as to find, by the North-west, the passage to Ca- thay." On his first voyage he touched Newfoundland, but the advanced season obliged him to return to France. King Francis I thereupon or- dered 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 6rande-H ermine of 120 tons and the Petit-H ermine of 80 tons, and a galley, the Hdmerillon, 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 bat- tery 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- — ofBcers, gentlemen, volunteers, chaplains, sailors, workmen, servants — a hundred and ten men. On the 14th September, Cartier arrived at an Indian village, Stadacone, called also by the natives Canada (or the town), the resi- dence 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 Stadacone, the future Quebec. Samuel de Champlain, whose efBgy figures on the 1 cent stamp be- side 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 disenabarked on the 3d July at the foot of the promotory of Stadacone, 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 Quebecq, 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 quick- ly 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 muni- tions. 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, THE "TERCENTENARY" ISSUE OF 1908 203 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. As with the Jubilee stamps, some special sets were made up for presenta- tion purposes. The following press clipping gives the details :* — As the Prince of Wales is an enthusiastic collector of stamps, His Koyal 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 Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales by Hon Kodolphe 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. Kodolphe Lemieux. 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:^ — Mr. McKechnie sends ns information regarding the issue, indicat- ing' that there is to be no such vexatious limits set upon the niimber to be printed as was the case with the Jubilee %c. 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." 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 head- quarters 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 pro- pounded by a member :® — •Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, XXII: 265. •Canadian Hansard, 31st March, 1909, page 3754. •Ibid., XXn: 266. 204 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 1. What was the total amount received by the Post Office Depart- ment 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. Eodolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-Gener- al, responded: The following was the issue to Postmasters of the Ter- centenary postage stamps : Denominations. Quantities. Value. % 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 Totals, 304,200 60,840 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 Ter- centenary postage stamps may have afEected the ordinary revenue. 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 Champ- lain. 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 associa^ tions with which in design they were so happily linked, the subjects de- picted 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 pass- ing through the Post under the Kegistration 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 Ofiice 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 addi- tion 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 6e prepaid, and in addition a regis- tration charge of 3d. per letter. The registry thus effected in Canada will be carried on by the United States Post office until the letter ar- rives 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 re- quired. The registration system can be applied to the letter portion of the mail only [The Postal Department is not Uahle for the loss of any registered letters.] 206 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS The next year's Eeport 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 accom- panied the introduction of the decimal stamps in 1859. Further remarks upon the registration system are found in the Eeport for 1860, as foUows: — A rate of ctarge for Kegistration 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 acknowl- edgement of the receipt of the specific letter, has always been con- sidered to be a cardinal point in the Canadian Kegistration System. The Registration fee, or charge, has, therefore, under the influence of this consideration, been maintained at 2 cents, though it is doubt- ful whether such a rate of charge covers the actual cost of the process ; the address of the Eegistered 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 perma- nent 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 inaug- urated 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 cur- rency in 1859. ISTothing further of special interest is found until the Eeport 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 Ofiice can be identified THE KEGISTRATION STAMPS 207 and its course of transmission traced, and a registered letter is thus secured from the chance of abstraction by an unfaithful messenger em- ployed 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 mis- direction on the part of the sender, and from mistakes in the Post Office — such as mis-sending or delivery to a wrong party. Against actu- al dishonesty on the part of the Post OfBce employes, a registered let- ter is incomparably more secure than an unregistered one, for an un- registered 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 accus- tomed to handle letters, as manifest as though the letter had been sin- gled 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 indi- vidually accountable for its disposal. In the Eeport for 1865 it is stated that "there has been a reduction in the charge on Eegistered 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: — BEGISTBATION OF LETTEBS. *«««* ««» 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, 12% " 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 con- taining 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 val- uable enclosure when posted without registration by the senders of the same, 208 CAITADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS and to imposing a rate of two cents registration charge upon such letters."^ The Keport 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 Y04,700. The next year's Keport especially notes the increase in the use of the registration sys- tem, the total having advanced to 850,000 pieces, while the Report for 1870 records an even million. Finally in the Eeport 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 Eegistration 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 vyhere 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 OfBce to admit letters to Registration at a, low rate of charge for the additional secur- ity thus given, so as to leave no adequate motive, on the score of cost, for sending valuable letters through the mails unregistered : and, doubt- less, 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 Eeport 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 Do- minion, 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. '31° Vict. Cap. X, Sec. XO, par. 11. See page 96. THE REGISTRATION STAMPS 209 There is a green stamp of five cents value for registered letters ad- dressed 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 reg- istration 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 particu- lar description, especially as they are excellently illustrated as Numbers 54, 55 and 56 on Plate III. Like the ordinary postage stamps, they are en- graved 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°, 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. ^ The denomination of the stamp was also expressed as TWO CENTS, in the shaded Koman 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 3, 7% mm. high, over the last stamp in the top row (number 5) but the 5 cent has none. 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 Eeport for 30th June, 1875, and 25,000 more according to the next year's report. >See page 125. 210 CANADIA]!f POSTAGE STAMPS 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 Ifovember, 1888. A vertical pair of the 5 cent is shown as illustration l^o. 115 on Plate X. In the Report for 1877 we find the following: — "The Eegistration charge on registered letters between the United Kingdom and Canada has been re- duced 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 Pebruary, 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 dur- ing 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:* — "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. •Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, 11: 45:2. THE REGISTRATION STAMPS 211 The 2 cent and 5 cent stamps remained in use, but wLen 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,* 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. This notice was dated 8th May, 1889, and the Keport of 30th June fol- lowing 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 pre- payment 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,^ was not without its effect upon the registration stamps. Apparently the same ink used for printing the or- dinary 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. The 5 cent stamp was also noted in blue green in the ISTovember, 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 18Y6 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. See page 270. 244 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 un- known to the members of the Society, but a cancelled copy, used by a busi- ness firm, is recorded in the Monthly Journal in 1892.^ Evidently this va- riety was an error in the cutting of the sheet. In the Philatelic Record for December, 1881,^ 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".* 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.^ 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 folia- tions 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 news- paper wrapper, stamp of latest type, on yellow-buff paper." The same wrap- per 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,^ the "yellow paper" wrapper is given as the first issued, in 1882, 'Monthly Journal, III: 3. 'Philatelic Record, HI: 205; corrected, III: 227. ^ibid., IV: 142. "See page 270. 'Dominion Philatelist, V: 130. THE NEWSPAPER WEAPPEES 245 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. 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. 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 aroimd the numerals again disappear and the only distinguishing feature is the ornaments be- neath 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% x 5 inches. The article in the Dominion Phila- telist 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. 246 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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% x 5 inches. All the preceding wrappers were the product of the British American Bank l^ote 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 manUa paper made its appearance with an impression of the 1 cent adhesive stamp (maple leaves in the four comers) in dark green. Unlike the stamped envel- opes, 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 en- graved 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 print- ing and is coarser in its lines. The new wrapper probably appeared early in October, 1903, as we find it recorded in MeJceel's WeeMy 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,^ we find a set of special wrappers issued in that year, concerning which the Postmaster General's Ee- port 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, 3 cents and 3 cents denominations were introduced. As a re- sult 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, discon- tinued. 'See page 196. THE NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS 247 The first issue of these wrappers is given as the 11th July, 1907, and a reference to the Keport of 1908, already quoted,^ 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 1 "Ic." in large block type in black and used up in that way. I A The quantities of these special wrappers delivered to the ■ V» 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" WQre 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, how- ever, 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 Ic. on 3 cents. As these wrappers were not on sale to the general pub- lic 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. •See page 196. 248 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 61/^ 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 prc'iably 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 author- ities taking the trouble to cancel them, while in other cases they have been cancelled in the usual manner. CHAPTER XXIII THE POST CARDS WE liave 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, ISTO, 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 man- ufacture 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 advantageous- ly be written and sent by such a medium; and, it would seem unques- tionable, must, in Canada as in England, prove to be extremely conven- ient for many objects and purposes. The next year's Eeport 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." These cards were cut to a size approximately 4% 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 en- closed space. This stamp shows 9^A:M:^ ^-^^^ii^^^:^iiM^-^-i^f^^^ 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 illustra- tion. At the bottom, just above the frame, is the imprint in letters of "diamond" 260 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS size, "British American Bank ISTote 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 im- pressions 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 Keport 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 Keport 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,^ 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. It may be remembered that the marginal imprints on the sheets of ad- hesive 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 de- tected, and the outside or "over all" measurements are found to be about 1% mm. greater each way. Otherwise the appearance of the card is the same, but it is cut a little larger, measuring 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. Although Canada failed to obtain entrance into the Universal Postal Union on its establishment in 1875, as already detailed,^ yet she was granted 'See page 120. "See page 108. THE POST CARDS 251 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 cor- respondence 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 engiae- tumed work but of different pattern from the 1 cent card, and has comer pieces. The arrangement of the inscriptions is shown by the illustration. The card is cut to the same size as the 1 cent (4% x 3 inches) and is of medium thickness and of a very light yellowish buff. The impression is in a deep yellow green. Of these 2 cent cards the stamp accounts give 200,000 as having been de- livered ia 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 remainrag 87,000 were destroyed. Canada was finally admitted to the Postal Union on the 1st July, 1878, and consequently the 2 cent rate on post cards became ap- plicable 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 Univer- selle" 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 POSTCAED 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. Union PosialeUolverscUe Canada Post Card THttmacMOMiyTO u writtch omthis sipi 262 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS All the previous cards had been line engraved on steel plates and of artis- tic appearance and fine work- manship. Beginning with ^a|^^^^^£=^&=^^^^ 1882, however, a cheaper form of production began to ^THE>oDRcssjro.BEr.wRrrTEN on this s.oe. 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 CAKD 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 ultramar- ine on a very light buff card of stout quality and cut to 5% x 3 inches (129 X 76 mm.) About the end of the same year a reply card made its appearance concern- ing which the following notice was issued: — POST OFFICE DEPAKTMENT. Ottawa, 13th December, 1883. Departmental Order No. 27 ******** Reply Post Cards. 3. 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 bear- THE POST CARDS 253 ing the impressed postage stamp thereof on both halves, have been re- ceived 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 CAJRLING, 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 con- troversy 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. Curi- ously 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 Meheel's Weekly Stamp Neius rose to remark^ that they could be produced by manipu- lating an uncut sheet of the regular cards. This called forth a rejoinder from Mr. A. Lohmeyer* 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 3883, 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 discov- ered until after a number of post-offices had been supplied with them, whereupon they were recalled, withdrawn from circulation and de- stroyed. This accounts for the great scarcity of these error cards, which have, in reality, been in circulation, for I have several used spec- imens (halves) in my collection. I will now proceed to prove the absurdity of the manipulation de- scribed in the article referred to by facts and figures : The space be- >Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, I: 43: 1, ;;;;i ^ ^ ^ hesive of the Jubilee the address to be written on this smt issue, but engraved for stamp is a reproduc- tion of the 1 cent ad- "See page 148. "Ibid. 260 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS typographic printing. "Canada Post Card" is enclosed in a fancy frame at the left and the usual instructions are found beneath it. 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 WeeMy 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 3 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 comer. This was of the maple leaf type, engraved for typographic printing and therefore of rather coarser appear- ance than its prototype. The inscriptions were simply CAI^ADA 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 Mulook 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 ad- dress. 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 busi- ness 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 POST CARDS 261 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. 3. 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, 3i/4 inches long by II/2 inches wide. N. B. It is in the interest of both the Department and those avail- ing themselves of the privilege hereby granted that the spaces in ques- tion 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-OrpiCE 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 regu- lations require that they be cut up into cards of the proper size. The stamp is impressed in the right hand upper comer 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 262 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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, 5x3 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. Meheel'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 sim- ilar 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, MeTceeVs 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 CANADA LETTER CARD THE LETTER CARDS THE Postmaster General's Eeport for 1892 contained the following announcement: — "Letter cards, similar to those in use in Great Brit- ain, Austria, and other European coimtries, 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 Eue & Co. at that time for British Co- lonial stamps. The profile of the Queen is on a solid ground within an octagonal frame, and the la- bels at top and bot- tom contain the words POSTAGE "" and THKEE CENTS respectively. At the left of the stamp, in two lines, is CAISTADA — LETTEE 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% 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 Eorm A of Senf's catalogue (both lines crossing at the corner intersections). The mar- gin outside the perforations measures % 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 Eeport for 1894 says that "so far the demand 264 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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-o£Scial 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 wrappei: stamp of type 4 im- pressed 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 Ey. 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. Eeturning to the regular letter cards we find again in the Postmaster Gteneral'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 vchere there is no free delivery by letter carrier ; the latter to meet a similar object in THE LETTER CARDS 265 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 Oc- tober, 1895, and the 1 cent in the same paper for the 30th N'ovember, 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 WeeUy Philatelic Era published the following r^ — A correspondent in Vermont sends Mr. Lohmeyer a Ic. letter card of the first issue, which he discovered in a Canadian post oifice recent- ly, it being the only copy there and damaged at that, the perforated margin on the right hand side being torn ofE. In the lower left cor- ner the bottom perforation runs to the left side perforation only, in- stead of crossing it, as on all Canadian letter cards previously seen. 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 0, 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 requi- sites. 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 •Weekly Phllateirc Era, XVH: 149. 266 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS typographic work. These three letter cards are known only with the per- foration A. The reduction in domestic postage to the 2 cent rate on the 1st January, 1899, rendered the 3 cent letter cards useless as weU as the envelopes of like denomiaation. We have already recounted the story of the surcharged en- velopes and the two types of the handstamp which were used in doing the work.^ SuiSce 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 re- ceived 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. ^ 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. 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 aU 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, par- ticularly 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 ac- counts for the Eeport 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 informa- tion 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. 2See page 240. •Monthly Journal, JX: 176. CHAPTER XXV OFFICIAL STATIONERY OUTSIDE of the Dead Letter Office seals the Oanadian Govermnent 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 Oanadian 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 OFFI- CIAL 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,^ 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 pre- pared 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. The Secretary of the Philatelic Society, London, whose official journal the Philatelic Record then was, wrote direct to the Oanadian Government to inquire into the authenticity of these so-called official issues, and received the following reply :^ — POST OFFICE DEPAHTMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, 18th May, 1885. Sib: — I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 29th ult., inquiring whether postage 'Philatelic Record, YI: 210. sibld.. Vn: 84. 268 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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 de- partment. I am, sir, your obedient servant, {Signed) Wm. White, Secretary. This would ordinarily seem to liave 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 "OFFI- CIAL" 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 comer, the words "63ED. EIFLES" ^j, ^EADQUAKTEKS, ^ 63RD. EIFLES. J The lack of uniformity, or rather attempt at variety, was enough in it- self to condemn the articles. Yet in the American Philatelist for June, 1888, we iind an attempted defence of them. We quote:* — Henry Hechler writes us as follows : "When the Indian outbreak in the Northwest occurred in 1885, and some of the militia of the vari- ous 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 show- ing their official character they were stamped across the "adhesive" with the word Service and at the lower left corner 0. [if.] M. S. only. Some were thus printed in black, others in blue, and yet others in red. Xhey 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. In other words Mr. Hechler knew aU about these "official" stamps and the Postmaster-General and his secretary, as we have seen, knew absolutely nothiag 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* reiterates the denials of the previous letter which we have already quoted. The Philatelic Record re- sAmerlcan Philatelist, II: 207. •ibid., n: 173. OFFICIAL STATIONERY 269 ceived later,5 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 col- umns of the Philatelic Journal of America^ 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 ques- tion 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 suflBcient 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. It was a private speculation, pure and simple, in spite of any elaims 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 Timhre-Poste for Pebruary, 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: — Inland Revenue, Canada. WEIGHTS & MEASUEES SERVICE. Official Circular. ^ ____^ Tbis band is to be nsed On Her Majesty'! Service only and must have no writing tbereon t>nt tbe name and address. •^Phllatefic Record, XI: 44. •Philatelic Journal of America, V: 202. 270 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS Above the English inscription is its counterpart in French. The wrap- per 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 18Y9, 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 no- tice. 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 in- augurated with the United States. Postmasters received instructions to for- ward these cards free through the mails, although there was no stamp or no- tice on the address side. It is of manila card, 130 x 88 mm., blank on one side and having printed on the other : — Cusfoms Postal Package OflBce. .188 There has arrived at this offlce hy mail from the United States, addressed to you as over, the following dutiable package, which will 6e delivered or forwarded to you on the receipt of the duty payable and the return of this card. NO. OP MANIFEST. NO. OF PACKAGE. DESOKIPTION. DUTY 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 OFFICIAL STATIONEKY 271 inscriptions reading, in the upper left corner, "Advice Note", and in the upper right comer, "Free, ly order of the Post Master Oeneral." One further official variety is somewhat unusual. The American Phila- telist for September, 1889,'' 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 EETUElSrED DEAD LETTEE; in the lower comer— ' POST OEEICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, DEAD LETTER OEEICE. 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 " 5J " ? 12 " 55 " ? 18 " 55 » ? We have no further information concerning them. 'American Phllaterist, HI: 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 vsdth the obliteration on the stamp only, and also portions of sheets gummed and un- severed, but neatly postmarked with horizontal wavy lines." Mr. Gibb wrote :^ — Sometime back I received the enclosed stamp paying tlie postage on an open envelope containing a circular from Toronto ; it has not been moved from its original place, and one could see it bad not been obliterated on the envelope. After some little trouble I found the P. O. v?ould, 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 of&ce in bxdk, and are allowed to pass through the post without further marking. 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 pre- cancellation 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^ where we read: — "The Canadian one-cent stamp can- 'London Philatelist, I: 100. 'Mekeel'c Weekly Stamp News, XIII: 388. PKECANCELLATIONS AND PEEMITS 273 celled on circulars is obliterated by a revolving self-inking canceler and is issued for use on the Sth class matter, i. e. parcels, etc., to post offices with an annual revenue of $3000 and over." 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 in- quiry concerning them the Department replied as follows :^ — 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 piece's As requisitions for precancelled stamps necessarily take long- er to fill than the ordinary, postmasters are expected to send requi- sitions for them to the Department a few days in advance of actual needs. 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 cir- cular was issued to make matters plain for postmasters :* — POST OFFICE DEPAETMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, 16th September, 1904. PEE-CANCELLATION OF POSTAGE STAMPS. The use of pre-cancelled stamps (or stamps cancelled before act- ually 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 post- age stamps cancelled with the small roller canceller have been ob- served on letters and other matter passing in the mails, and Postmas- ters are accordingly instructed that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are they permitted to precancel postage stamps. The roller canceller is re- served 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 FOE THE FULL VALUE OP 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 >Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, XVIII: 131. *lbld., XVra: 322. 274 CAJTADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 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. E. M. COULTER, Deputy Postmaster General. N^ot 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 :" — POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, 29th October, 1904. PRECANCELLED STAMPS. (Amending Departmental Circulars of 11th March and 16th Sep- tember.) It is desired that the use of precancelled stamps should be attended with every possible degree of precaution and security and for that pur- pose 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 fu- ture, therefore, postmasters will be allowed to make requisition for precancelled stamps for mailings of 10,000 pieces at a time. E. M. COULTER, Deputy Postmaster General. 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 "FOE-THIED-CLASS-MATTER-ONLY", (a line for a word) beneath MOJSTTREAL 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 •Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, XVIII: 402. PRECANCELLATIONS AND PERMITS 275 cover with, a precancelled adhesive affixed to it. The idea was again bor- rowed from the United States. The circular issued to postmasters will fully explain the methods adopted under this new plan:« — POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, 2na 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 ofEloe 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. 3. 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. Authorized under Permit No. JUIVeOOV U3ING THIS STAMP WITHOUT AUTHOfllTV Wlkt. RENOER HIMSELF IIABIC TOPflOSECUTIOlt 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. 4. The lowest amount which may be received in payment for mat- ter mailed under these regnlations is $35.00. 5. Under these regulations payment may be made only by marked •Weekly Philatelic Era, xvni: 63. 276 CANADIAI^ POSTAGE STAMPS cheque drawn in favour of the Postmaster of the office of posting for deposit to the credit of the Eeceiver General. The cheque must accom- pany 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." E. M. COULTEE. Deputy Postmaster General. 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 num- ber 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. SEEIES. Engraved and printed by Messrs. Kawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York. Unperforated. 1851. THIN GRAYISH LAID PAPER. April 23. 3 pence, deep red, red, vermilion. douMe strike, deep red, red, vermilion. May 15 (?) 6 pence, black violet, deep brovifn violet, slate. diagonal half used as 3d. June 15. 13 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. 13 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, Priassian blue, wide impression, narrow impression, double strike. 278 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS STOUT HARD WOVE PAPER. 10 pence, deep blue, Prussian blue, wide impression. 1857, June 2 (7) THIN WOVE PAPER. 7% pence, dark yellow green. wide impression, narrow impression. STOUT HARD WOVE PAPER. TYz pence, dark yellow green. wide impression. 1857, Aug. 1. THIN WOVE PAPER. % penny, deep rose. STOUT HARD WOVE PAPER. % penny, deep rose. THIN SOFT RIBBED PAPER. ^ penny, deep rose. horizontal rihliing. vertical rilihing. Same as before, but perforated 12 by the American Bank Note Co, ( ?) 1859, Jan. (?) STOUT WOVE PAPER. Ys penny, deep rose. 3 pence, red. douMe strike. pero6 en seie 13, (unofficial). perforated 1-i, (unofficial). 6 pence, black violet, slate violet, deep brown violet, black brown. THIN RIBBED PAPER % penny, deep rose (?) 3 pence, red. double strike. 2nd. SERIES. Engraved and printed by the American Bank iN'ote 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. riiied 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 3%c., 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 brovyn. imperforate, red violet, violet. ribbed paper, deep red violet, brown violet, brovwi (light to dark) . diagonal half used as 5c., red violet, black brovyn. REFEEENCE LIST 279 121^ cents, light yellow green, deep yellow green, green, blue green. imperforate, blue green. rihied paper, light yellow green. 17 cents, deep blue, Prussian blue. imperforate, Prussian blue. rilled paper, Prussian blue. 1864, Aug. 1. 2 cents, rose red, dull red. imperforate, rose red,, dull red. rilled paper, rose red. DOMINION OF CANADA 3rd. SERIES. Laege Stamps. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Montreal & Ottawa. Perforated 12, Wove paper. 1868, April 1. % cent, gray black, black. horizontal pair, imperforate letween. 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^ 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. rilled 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. 280 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 4th SEKIES. 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. riihed paper, red. 1870, Mar. (?) 1 cent, orange, orange yellovy, deep yellow, bright yellow, pale yellow, olive yellow. imperforate, bright yellow, nftfted paper, yellow. vertical half, used for i/jc. 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. 1873, Feb. (?) 3 cents, pale green, green, deep green; (1888) blue green, deep blue green. imperforate, green. ribbed paper, green. vertical half, used for Ic. 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. 1883, July. Vs cent, gray black, black. imperforate. horizontal pair, imperforate between, vertical pair, imperforate between, ribbed paper. 5th SEKIES. 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. EEFERENCE LIST 281 6th SERIES. Jubilee Issue. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1897, June 19. Vs cent, gray black, black. 1 " yellow orange, orange, deep orange. vertical half, used for %c. 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 SEEIES. "Maple Leaf" Issue. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Company, Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1897, Nov. 9. V2 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 " brovyn lilac. 8th SERIES. "NuMEEALs" 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. % 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. 1903, Dec. 33. 7 " olive yellow. 282 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 9th SEEIES. Impeeial Pestnt Postage Issue. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1898, Dec. 7 f black, red and lavender. I " " " bluish 2 cents, -j „ „ „ greenish blue. L " " " green. imperforate. {black, red and bluish. " greenish blue. " green. Unofficial Provisionals. Used at Port Hood only. 1899, Jan. 5. 1 cent, greenish surcharge on vertical third of 3c. 1898. 3 cents, purple surcharge on vertical two-thirds of 3c. 1898. (These two occur as both "lefts'" and "rights") 10th SEKIES. Peovisionals, Surcharge typographed in black. 1899, July 28. 3 cents on 3 cents, 1898, carmine. inverted surcharge, carmine. Aug. 8. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1897, carmine. inverted surcharge, carmine. 11th SEEIES. King's Head Issue. Engraved and printed by the American Bank jSTote 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 hluish {pale and strong). 7 cents, deep olive yellow. 10 cents, brown lilac, brown violet, deep brown violet. 1904, Sept. 27. , , , J 20 cents, deep olive green. 1908, Nov. 19. 50 cents, violet. 12th SERIES. Quebec Teeoentenaey Issue. Engraved and printed by the American Bank ilSTote Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12, Wove paper. 1908, July 16. % cent, black brown, brown. 1 " deep blue green. 2 cents, carmine. 5 )J deep blue. 7 )» olive green. 10 )) deep violet. 15 5» red orange. 20 »> deep brown. KEFEEENCE LIST 283 STAMP BOOKS. Manufactured by American Bank E'ote Co., Ottawa. 12-2 cent stamps. 1900, June 11. 2 cents, issxie of 1898. 1904, (?) 2 " " " 1904. REGISTRATION STAMPS. 1875, Nov. 15. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank ISTote Co., Montreal and Ottawa. Perforated 12. Thin to thick wove paper. 3 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 ISTote 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 ]^ote 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 ISTote Co., Montreal. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1879 (?) (no value), dark brown. imperforate (?) Engraved and printed by the American Bank ITote Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1905 (?) (no value), black on light green. 1907 (?) (no value), black. stamped envelopes. Peovince of Canada. Laid paper, watermarked p^j^ Size 51/2 x 31,4 inches (138 x 83 mm.) I860, Feb. l.(?) 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. 284 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS UNOFFICIAL REPRINTS, 1868. On pieces of white wove or vertically laid huff paper. 5 cents, bright red. 10 cents, dark red hrown. On diagonally laid white or huff envelopes, watermarked POD US Size 5y2 X 8 inches (138 x 77 mm). 5 cents, hright red. 10 cents, dark red hrown. Dominion of Oanaba, Sizes: A — 5% x 3% inches (138 x 79 mm.) B— 6 X 33/3 inches (150 x 85 mm.) C— 9% X 41/2 inches (265 x 113 mm. D— 5% X 314 inches (148 x 87 mm.] E — 6 X 3% 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, tongned 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 v?ove 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. EEFEEENCE LIST 285 1899, Feb. 6. (?) Surcharged 2c in blue-black. Typei. I \-\-zm\im 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 9V2 x 5 inches (235 x 127 mm.). 1875, May 1 cent, dark blue, light 'buff paper. " variety, stamp at left. [Size 11% x 6% inches (290 x 165 mm.)] Size 11 Vs X i% 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% x 4% 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% X 4% 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% 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 nun.). Inscription. 3 cents, slate violet, manila paper. 1988, June 18 ( ?) Last two wrappers, surcharged. 1 c. on 2 cents, carmine. 1 c. " 3 " slate violet. 286 CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS 1871. June CI 1876. (end?) 1877. Jan. 1. 1879, 1882, Apr. (?) Dec. (?) 1884, Sept. (?) 1887, Feb. (?) (?) 1888, (?) 1891, Dec. (?) 1892, Dec. (?) 1894, Oct. (?) 1893, Feb. 17. 1894, Feb. (?) 1896, Apr. (?) 1896. Oct. (?) 1897, June 19. 1897, Dec. 1 (?) 1898, Jan. (?) 1898, June (?) 1898, 1903, June (?) Aug. Dec. (?) (?) POST CARDS. Size 4% X 3 inches (116 x 75 mm.). Imprint "Montreal & Ottawa." 1 cent, dull blue, deep blue, light iuff and pale huff card. Size 4% X 3 inches (130 x 75 mm.). Imprint "Montreal" only. 1 cent, dull blue, deep blue, pale 'buff card. Inscribed "To United Kingdom.'' 2 cents, deep yellow green, pale buff card. Inscribed "Union Postale Universelle." 3 cents, yellow green, pale yellowish card. Size 5x3 inches (127 x 76 mm.). No frame. Type 2 of wrapper stamp. 1 cent, light blue, pale buff card. 1 plus 1 cent, slate, pale buff card. Error, stamps at left. 1 plus 1 cent, slate, pale buff card. Ttpe 3 of wrapper stamp. 1 cent, dull blue, pale buff card. 1 plus 1 cent, slate, pale buff card. 1 plus 1 " slate green, pale buff card. Type 4 of wrapper stamp. 1 cent, dull ultramarine, pale ultramarine, pale buff card. 1 plus 1 cent, slate green, (Type 3 on reply card), pale buff card. 1 plus 1 " gray black, (Type 4 on each card), " " " Size 6x3% inches (152 x 93 mm.). 1 cent, black, pale buff card. Size 5% X 3% inches (140 x 85 mm.). 1 cent, black, pale yellowish card. 1 " " rough straw card. Size Si/s X 31/8 inches (130 x 80 mm.). 2 cents, orange red, carmine, pale buff card. Size 5%\ X 3% inches (140 x 85 mm.). 1 cent, "black, pale buff card. " variety, inscriptions lacking. Size 5% X 3% inches (130 x 80 mm.). 2 cents, deep orange red, pale buff card. Size SVi X 3% inches (140 x 85 mm.). 1 cent, green, dark green, pale buff card. 1 " carmine, pale buff card. Size 5x3 inches (127 x 76 mm.). 1 plus 1 cent, black, pale buff card. " " variety, reply printed on back of message card. Size SVs X 3% inches (130 x 80 mm.). 3 cents, deep blue, cream card. Size 5% X 3% inches (130 x 80 mm.). 1 cent, green, pale buff card. 1 " rose, " " REFERENCE LIST 287 Size 5x3 inches (127 x 76 mm.). 1904, Feb. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, black, pale buff card. Size Si/g X 3% inctes (130 x 80 mm.). 1904, Feb. (?) 3 cents, deep blue, pale huff card. LETTER CARDS. 1893. Feb. 17. 3 cents, carmine, Mue-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 " " wMte laid paper. OFFICIAL STATIONERY. Inland Revenue Wrapper, Size 11 x Si/g inches (280 x 133 mm.). 1879 (?) 1 cent, dark blue, cream paper. Customs Post Card, Size 5% x 3% inches (130 x 88 mm.). 1888 (?) [plain front], manila card. [inscriptions on front], manila card. Returned Dead Letter Envelopes. Size 678x4% inches (175 x120 mm.). 1889 (?) 3 cents, black, manila paper. 11 1