1879 (?).
The stamp in shape is a large oblong rectangular, printed in
_taille-douce_ upon white wove paper, and perforated 12. The design
consists of a straight label of solid colour inscribed, in white block
letters, “OFFICIALLY SEALED;” above this are the words “POST OFFICE
CANADA,” in a curved line; and below the label “DEAD LETTER OFFICE,” also
in a curve, both inscriptions being in small coloured Roman capitals. The
rest of the design is composed of engine-turning, with ornaments of a
trefoil character in the four corners. (_Illustration 38._)
Without expressed value; dark red-brown.
_Remarks._—The only information the Society can give about this stamp is
contained in an article in _The Halifax Philatelist_ for December, 1887,
which is reproduced here for the benefit of those collectors who may not
have seen it.
“THE ‘OFFICIALLY SEALED’ DEAD LETTER OFFICE STAMP OF CANADA.
“While endeavouring to afford some information about those
interesting and handsome adhesives emanating only from the Dead
Letter Office at Ottawa, I regret being unable to give all
their history or chronology. What is said here the writer has
gained his knowledge by observation and experience. Doubtless
there are others who can speak of matters connected with these
stamps which the writer knows nothing of. In the first place
they are scarce, very, which is to be accounted for when we
consider the manner of their use. They are never found on
Local Dead Letters, registered or unregistered. What have been
seen here have all come from the United States, and always on
returned dead registered letters. I discovered the manner of
their use quite accidentally. A friend who travels in Canada
for a United States firm showed me a letter which had been
returned to his address in Michigan, and which he had posted in
Canada for a Canadian address, and registered; and for some
reason, misdirection or what not, the letter was not delivered
to party addressed—had been sent to Dead Letter Office, Ottawa,
where, on being opened to ascertain address of writer, it was
resealed and adorned by Dead Letter Office Crown Official Seal
Stamp, sent to Dead Letter Office, Washington, U.S., and then
sent on registered to the writer’s address in Michigan, where
he obtained it, and exhibited it triumphantly to me.
“The stamp itself is a large oblong, 17 × 34, perforated, and
printed in brown, on thick white paper. Inscribed in three
lines, ‘POST OFFICE, CANADA—OFFICIALLY SEALED—DEAD LETTER
OFFICE.’
“It would be appropriate to have the colour of the stamp
_black_.
“No. 2, C. P. A.”