THE POSTAGE STAMPS OF CANADA.
By BERTRAM W. H. POOLE.
INTRODUCTION.
Canada was originally the French colony of New France, which comprised
the range of territory as far west as the Mississippi, including the
Great Lakes. After the war of independence it was confined to what are
now the provinces of Quebec and Ontario--then known as Upper and Lower
Canada. At the confederation (1867) it included only these two
provinces, with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; and since then it has
been extended by purchase (1870), by accession of other provinces
(British Columbia in 1871 and Prince Edward Island in 1873), and by
imperial order in council (1880), until it includes all the north
American continent north of United States territory, with the exception
of Alaska and a strip of the Labrador coast administered by
Newfoundland, which still remains outside the Dominion of Canada. On the
Atlantic the chief indentations which break its shores are the Bay of
Fundy (remarkable for its tides), the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Hudson
Bay (a huge expanse of water with an area of about 350,000 square
miles); and the Pacific coast, which is small relatively, is remarkably
broken up by fjord-like indentations. Off the coast are many islands,
some of them of considerable magnitude,--Prince Edward Is., Cape Breton
Is., and Anticosti being the most considerable on the Atlantic side,
Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Is. on the Pacific; and in the extreme
north is the immense Arctic archipelago, bound in perpetual ice.
The surface of the country east of the great lakes is diversified, but
characterised by no outstanding features. Two ranges of hills skirt the
St. Lawrence--that on the north, the Laurentians, stretching 3,500 miles
from Lake Superior to the Atlantic, while the southern range culminates
in the bold capes and cliffs of Gaspé. The St. Lawrence and its
tributaries form the dominating physical feature in this section, the
other rivers being the St. John, the Miramichi, and the Restigouche in
New Brunswick. Eastern Canada is practically the Canadian part of the
St. Lawrence valley, (330,000 square miles), and the great physical
feature is the system of lakes with an area of 90,000 square miles. In
addition to the tributaries of the St. Lawrence already mentioned, the
Dominion boasts the Fraser, the Thompson, and the greater part of the
Columbia River in British Columbia; the Athabasca and Peace Rivers,
which flow into Lake Athabasca, and out of it as the Slave River, which
in its turn issues from the Great Slave Lake and flows into the Arctic
Ocean as the Mackenzie River (total length 2,800 miles); the Albany and
the Churchill, flowing into Hudson Bay, and the Nelson, which discharges
from Lake Winnipeg into Hudson Bay the united waters of the Assiniboine,
the Saskatchewan, the Red River and the Winnipeg.
West of the Great Lakes the scenery is less varied. From the lakes to
the Rockies stretches a vast level plain of a prairie character, slowly
rising from 800 feet at the east end to 3,000 feet at the foothills of
the Rockies.
The eastern and western portions of the Dominion are heavily wooded, and
comparatively little inroad has been made on the forest wealth of the
country. It is estimated that there are 1,200,000 square miles of
woodland and forest, chiefly spruce and pine, including about a hundred
varieties; consequently the industries connected with the forest are of
great importance, especially since the development of the pulp industry.
The central prairie plain is almost devoid of forest. Agriculture is the
dominant industry in Canada, not only in the great fertile plains of the
centre, but also on the lands which have been cleared of forest and
settled in other parts of the Dominion.
The Canadian climate is cold in winter and warm in summer, but healthy
all the year round. With all its extremes of cold it permits of the
cultivation in the open air of grapes, peaches, tobacco, tomatoes, and
corn. The snow is an essential condition of the prosperity of the timber
industry, the means of transport in winter, the protector of the soil
from frost, and the source of endless enjoyment in outdoor sports.
The French Canadians are almost exclusively the descendants of the
French in Canada in 1763, there being practically no immigration from
France. The French language is by statute, not by treaty, an official
language in the Dominion Parliament and in Quebec, but not now in any
other province, though documents, etc., may for convenience be published
in it. English is understood almost everywhere except in the rural parts
of Quebec, where the _habitants_ speak a patois which has preserved many
of the characteristics of 17th century French.
The Indian people, numbering a little over 108,000 in 1902, are
scattered throughout the Dominion. They are usually located on reserves,
where efforts, not very successful, are made to interest them in
agriculture and industry. Many of them still follow their ancestral
occupations of hunting and fishing, and they are much sought after as
guides in the sporting centres. The Dominion government exercises a good
deal of parental care over them and for them; but the race is
stationary, if not declining.
The constitution of Canada is of a federal character, midway between the
British and United States constitutions. The federated provinces retain
their local legislatures. The Federal Parliament closely follows the
British model, and the cabinet is responsible to the House of Commons.
The members of the Senate are appointed by the governor-general in
council, and retain their seats for life, and each group of provinces is
entitled to so many senators. The numbers of the commons vary according
to the population. The local legislatures generally consist of one
house, though Quebec and Nova Scotia still retain their upper houses.
The Federal Parliament is quinquennial, the local legislatures
quadrennial. The lieutenant-governors of the provinces are appointed by
the governor-general in council. The governor-general (appointed by the
King, though paid by Canada) has a right to disallow or reserve bills
for imperial consent; but the veto is seldom exercised, though the
imperial authorities practically disallowed temporarily the preferential
clauses of 1897. The Constitution of Canada can be altered only by
Imperial Parliament, but for all practical purposes Canada has complete
self-government.
In 1534, Jacques Cartier landed on the Gaspé coast of Quebec, of which
he took possession in the name of Francis I, King of France. But nothing
was done towards permanent occupation and settlement until 1608, when
Samuel de Champlain, who had visited the country in 1603 and 1604,
founded the city of Quebec. Meantime French settlements were made in
what is now the maritime provinces, but known to the French as Acadia.
France claimed, as a result of this settlement, exclusive control of the
whole immense region from Acadia west to Lake Superior, and down the
Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. But the control of this region was
not uncontested. England claimed it by right of prior discovery, based
mainly on the discovery of Newfoundland in 1497 by John Cabot.
In the north the charter granted in 1670 by Charles II to Prince Rupert
to found the Hudson's Bay Company, with exclusive rights of trading in
the Hudson Bay basin, was maintained till 1869, when, on a payment of
$1,500,000, their territory was transferred to the newly created
Dominion of Canada. A long struggle was carried on between England and
France for the dominion of the North American continent, which ended in
the cession of Acadia by the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, and the cession
of Canada by the treaty of Paris in 1763. Of all its Canadian dependency
France retained only the Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, off the
coast of Newfoundland, and the vexatious French-shore rights.
During the war of American Independence Canada was invaded by the
Americans, and the end of the war saw a great influx of loyalists from
the United States, and the formation of two new colonies--New Brunswick
and Upper Canada (now Ontario). The treaty of peace in 1783 took away
from Canada territory now included within Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1791, owing to differences of race,
Upper Canada was separated from Lower Canada; but discontent resulted in
rebellion in 1837-8 which occasioned Lord Durham's mission and report.
The results of that were the granting of responsible government to the
colonists, and in 1840 the reunion of the two provinces. But the
different elements, British and French Canadians, worked no better
together than they had done while separated; and in 1867, as an escape
from the deadlocks which occurred, confederation was consummated. After
the War of Independence the history of Canada is chiefly concerned with
the gradual removal of the commercial preferences she had enjoyed in the
English market, and the gradual concession of complete powers of
self-government.
The half-breeds of the north-west broke out in rebellion in 1869-70, but
it collapsed as soon as the forces led by Colonel Wolseley reached Fort
Garry on Winnipeg. Riel, the leader, escaped, to return later and foment
another outbreak in 1885. This proved more dangerous but was eventually
suppressed and Riel executed. The chief events since have been the
Halifax award (1888), which justified the Canadian contention against
the United States interference with fisheries. The Behring Sea award
(1897) settled the sealing difficulty; and a joint commission met at
Quebec in 1898 to determine all outstanding questions between Canada and
the United States. In 1903 these reached a final solution in the Alaskan
Boundary Commission's settlement of the frontier line between British
Columbia and Alaska.
CHAPTER I.--_Its Postal History._
The _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for August, 1868, contained an
interesting article on the history of the Canadian Post-office, largely
compiled from information given in the "Canadian Postal Guide," which we
cannot do better than quote in full.
The earliest records of the administration of the post-office in Canada,
are dated 1750, at which period the celebrated Benjamin Franklin was
Deputy Postmaster-General of North America. At the time of his
appointment, the revenue of the department was insufficient to defray
his salary of $1500 per annum, but under his judicious management, not
only was the postal accommodation in the provinces considerably
extended, but the revenue so greatly increased, that ere long the profit
for one year, which he remitted to the British Treasury, amounted to
$15,000.
In the evidence given by Franklin before the House of Commons in the
year 1766, in regard to the extent of the post-office accommodation in
North America, he made the following statement:--
The posts generally travel along the sea coasts, and only in a few
cases do they go back into the country. Between Quebec and Montreal
there is only one post per month. The inhabitants live so scattered
and remote from each other in that vast country, that the posts
cannot be supported amongst them. The English colonies, too, along
the frontier, are very thinly settled.
In 1774, Franklin was recalled, and the following year the War of
Independence broke out, and the office was filled by Mr. Hugh Finlay,
who had, under his predecessor, been postmaster at Quebec.
Canada is divided into Upper and Lower. From a Quebec almanack of 1796,
we glean that there were seven offices in the former and five in the
latter. Mr. Finlay is designated as "Deputy Postmaster-General of His
Majesty's Province of Canada."
At that time mails were dispatched monthly to England, and semi-weekly
between Quebec and Montreal, or Halifax. At Baie des Chaleurs the visits
of the postman must, we conclude, 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 Prince
Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, were all under the
authority of the Canadian administration.
The following is taken from the advertising column of the _Upper Quebec
Gazette_, printed in 1807:--
The mail for Upper Canada will be dispatched from the post-office
at Montreal, on the following days, to wit:
Monday, 14th January.
Monday, 12th February.
Monday, 12th March.
Monday, 7th April--the last trip.
A courier from Kingston may be looked for here in 14 or 15 days
from the above periods, where he will remain 2 or 3 days, and then
return to Kingston.
Another courier will proceed from this with the Niagara mail, via
Messrs. Hatts', where the Sandwich (co. Essex) letters will be
left, both from Niagara and this 'till the courier comes from there
to return with them.
Letters put into the post-office will be forwarded any time by
W. ALLAN,
Acting Deputy Postmaster.
Mr. Heriot resigned in 1816, and was succeeded by Mr. D. Sutherland,
who, on his accession to office, found Nova Scotia and Prince Edward
Island wholly withdrawn from the Canada charge. New Brunswick, however,
continued to be included in it. This appears also to have been withdrawn
in 1824, so that from that date until just lately, we have to do with
Canada proper.
In 1827 there were 101 post-offices, and 2,368 miles of established
post-route. The number of miles of mail-travel was 455,000. The letters
that year were estimated at 340,000, and newspapers, 400,000. From the
Canadian Postmaster-General's report for 1865, now lying before us, we
find the number of letters had increased to 12,000,000; the miles of
annual mail-travel was 6,350,000, the mails being carried regularly over
1,931 miles of railway route.
The following extract from the _Quebec Mercury_, published on July 18,
1829, conveys some idea of the postal communication with England at that
period:
No later advices have been received from Europe since our last.
Some further extracts from the London papers, to 31st May,
inclusive, brought to New York by the _Corinthian_, will be found
in another part of this number.
In the _Montreal Courant_, dated September 2nd, 1829, was the following
paragraph, showing the improvement which had been effected in the
communication between Prescott and that city:--
EXPEDITIOUS TRAVELLING.--On Saturday last, the Upper Canada line of
stages performed the journey from Prescott to this city in about 17
hours, leaving the former place at a little before 3 a. m., and
arriving here a few minutes before 8 in the evening. Not many years
ago this journey occupied two, and sometimes three days, but owing
to the great improvements made by Mr. Dickinson, the enterprising
proprietor, by putting steamboats on the lakes St. Francis and St.
Louis, and keeping his horses in excellent condition, it is now
performed in little more than one-third of the time.
Even so late as 1833, newspaper proprietors found it (particularly in
the Upper Province) better to employ their own couriers. As a proof of
this we transcribe from the _Queenston_ (Niagara) _Colonial Advocate_,
of that year the following advertisement:--
POST-RIDER WANTED IMMEDIATELY.
The proprietor of this newspaper wishes to contract with a steady
man (who can find and uphold his own horse) to deliver it to the
subscribers once a week during the winter, on the route between
York and Niagara, _via_ Ancaster.
Mr. Thomas A. Stayner was postmaster in 1841, and through his
recommendation a uniform rate of 1s 2d sterling, per half ounce, was
adopted between any place in Canada and the mother country. About this
time regular steam communication across the Atlantic was established.
The transfer of the Canadian post-office from the control of the
imperial authorities to the Colonial government, was effected April 6th,
1851. Mr. Stayner then resigned, and the office was filled by the Hon.
James Morris, who was the first Postmaster-General. This may be termed
the red-letter year of the Canadian post-office. In the first place, the
postage, which had hitherto been according to distance and had averaged
15 cents on each letter, was reduced to a uniform rate of 5 cents per
half ounce. The newspaper charge was also considerably reduced. Within a
year after, the number of letters transmitted through the post had
increased 75 per cent. The operation of the department was greatly
extended, and last, but most decidedly not least, was the introduction
of postage stamps. In February, 1855, the money-order system was first
begun, and has within the last few years been greatly extended. Letters
seem to have been first registered in 1856. In October of that year the
Grand Trunk Railway was completed as far as Toronto so that, in
connection with the Great Western, an unbroken line of postal
communication was established between Quebec in the east and Windsor in
the west.
The decimal system of coinage was introduced in 1859; this, of course,
as is well known, necessitated a new issue of postal labels.
We now arrive at the issue of labels for the new Dominion. The
post-office act was passed on the 21st of December, 1867, and came into
operation the 1st of April last. The internal rate is reduced from 5
cents to 3 cents the half ounce; but the postage to this country remains
unchanged.
The following is the order for the issue of the new labels:--
POSTAGE STAMPS.
To enable the public to prepay conveniently by postage stamp the
foregoing rates, the following denominations of postage stamps for
use throughout the Dominion, have been prepared, and will be
supplied to postmasters for sale:--
Half-cent stamps, one-cent ditto, two-cent ditto, three-cent ditto,
six-cent ditto, twelve-and-a-half-cent ditto, fifteen-cent ditto,
all bearing as a device the effigy of Her Majesty.
The postage stamps now in use in the several provinces may be
accepted, as at present, in prepayment of letters, etc., for a
reasonable time after the 1st of April; but from and after that
date all issues and sales to the public will be of the new
denomination.
Continuing the postal history from where the article in the _Stamp
Collector's Magazine_ concludes we find that in 1869 the color of the 1c
value was changed to yellow as it was found that the brown-red color was
too easily confused with the red of the 3c. Early in the following year
the 3c denomination appeared in a reduced size to be followed about
April by the 1c and it was, naturally, presumed that the whole set would
appear in this form. Two years elapsed, however, before further
additions were made for it was not until 1872 that the 2c and 6c values
appeared.
In 1874, an entirely new value--10 cents--was issued and in 1875 a 5c
stamp made its appearance in the large size of the 1868 series. Mr. C.
A. Howes, in his admirable monograph on the stamps of Canada, explains
the belated appearance of this label as follows:--"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
denomination 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." This large 5 cent stamp had a short
life of about four months when it was superseded by the 5c value in the
same size as the other denominations of 1869-73.
In 1882, the 1/2c value was reduced in size so that this stamp, as in
the case of its predecessor of 1868, was smaller than the other
denominations. From that date until 1892 no further changes were made so
far as new designs or values were concerned though some striking
alterations in shade took place, notably in the case of the 6c and 10c
values.
In 1892, 20c and 50c stamps were issued for use on heavy packages. These
not only differed in design from the other stamps of the series then
current but were also very much larger. In 1893 an 8c stamp was issued
which was used for prepayment of postage and the registration fee and
upon its advent the special registration stamps ceased to be printed
though existing stocks were, presumably, used up. In 1897, the Diamond
Jubilee of Queen Victoria was celebrated by the issue of a special
series of stamps comprising no less than sixteen values ranging all the
way from 1/2c to $5. As to the utility, to say nothing of the necessity,
of some of the higher denominations perhaps the less said the better for
before and since Canada has managed to get along very well with a
highest regular denomination of 50c.
In the latter months of the same year, and early in 1898 a new set was
issued in a uniform design showing the jubilee portrait of the Queen.
This is known as the maple leaf issue from the fact that the lower
angles are ornamented with maple leaves and in contradistinction to a
modified design which almost immediately replaced it which had numerals
in the lower corners.
The Christmas of 1898 was marked by the issuance of the celebrated 2c
map stamp with its proud motto "We hold a vaster Empire than has been".
This stamp was issued to mark the introduction of Imperial Penny
Postage, and one consequence of the reduction in the postal rate was so
to reduce the demand for the 3c value that in order to use up existing
supplies more quickly they were overprinted "2 cents".
In 1899, the color of the 2c stamp was changed from purple to carmine,
thus conforming to Postal Union regulations, in December, 1900, a 20c
stamp of the type of 1898 was issued on the final exhaustion of the
stock of the 1893 type; and in 1902 a 7c value was issued in place of
the 8c for combined use in payment of registration and postage.
In 1903, 1c, 2c, 5c, 7c, and 10c values were issued bearing King
Edward's portrait, a year later the 20c value in the same type was
placed on sale, and in 1908, the stock of the old 50c stamps of 1893
having at last been used up, a King Edward stamp of that value was
issued. In the same year the three hundredth anniversary of the founding
of Quebec by Champlain was celebrated by the issue of a special set of
stamps these being of the same large size as the Jubilee series of 1897,
but with a different design for each denomination, while in 1912 a new
series bearing the portrait of King George V made its bow and this
completes Canada's postal history to date.
CHAPTER II.--_A Postmaster's Provisional._
Postage stamps were first placed on sale to the public in Canada on
April 23rd, 1851, as we shall show later, but, according to an
interesting article which appeared in the _London Philatelist_ for June,
1904, it seems possible that at least one postmaster anticipated events
slightly by issuing a stamped envelope of his own shortly before the
regular governmental stamps were ready. It will perhaps simplify matters
to reproduce the article in its original form, viz.:--
CANADA: HAND-STAMPED 3D ENVELOPE OF 1851.
We are indebted to Mr. E. B. Greenshields, of Montreal, for the
following very interesting information:--
The following facts may be of interest to collectors of the stamps
of British North America. Some time ago a cover was offered to me,
which seemed to me to be absolutely genuine, yet I had never, up to
that time, heard of such envelopes being in existence. This letter
was posted in New Carlisle, Gaspé, Lower Canada, on April 7th,
1851, and was stamped "Three Pence" in two lines, inside a square,
with a black border of neat design around the sides. Across this
was written, "Letter R. W. Kelly Apl. 1851". The letter was
addressed to Toronto, C. W., and on the other side was stamped the
date the letter was received, "Apl. 16 1851". I sent the envelope
to Mr. Donald A. King, of Halifax, and received the following reply
from him:--
HALIFAX, N. S., February 22nd, 1904.
"Dear Sir,--I have yours of 19th inst. with cover, and am much
obliged for your kindness in permitting me to have a look at it. It
is new to me. I have no doubt it is absolutely genuine, and
probably was made by the Postmaster at New Carlisle to save trouble
in stamping the letter '3d' as was then the custom. It is just
possible that the writer (whose name appears to be endorsed on the
envelope) was the Postmaster there. A reference to the
Postmaster-General's report for that year would give his name. As
far as my memory serves me, the Canadian stamps were not then in
issue, though an advance circular may have been sent out. I have
shown the cover to a friend of mine who is an expert in typography,
and he assures me that the printing is as old as dated, and that
such type and border could not be procured now at any cost. The
only thing that I have seen that resembles it in any way was a
cover from Prince Edward Island, prepaid with a square of white
paper stamped 3d and cancelled. This was an adhesive, and used some
years after stamps were in use. As in your case, it had been
recognised as paying postage. As to the value of your cover, it is
impossible for me to say, but very considerable to any collector of
British North America.
"Yours faithfully,
"DONALD A. KING."
Following up the clue given to me by Mr. King, I wrote to the Post
Office Department at Ottawa, and received the following courteous
answer:--
OTTAWA, 2nd March, 1904.
"Sir,--I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your communication
of the 26th ultimo, inquiring whether R. W. Kelly was Postmaster of
New Carlisle, Co. Gaspé, Quebec, in 1851, and in reply am directed
to inform you that R. W. Kelly, doubtless the same man, was
Postmaster of New Carlisle in 1851. Owing to the incompleteness of
the early records of the department, which was then under the
direction of the British Office, the date of Mr. Kelly's
appointment cannot be ascertained. He appears to have been
Postmaster from 1851, however, until his resignation on the 9th
April, 1855.
"As regards your inquiry as to whether postage stamps were used on
the 7th April, 1851, and your statement that you have an envelope
sent on that date from New Carlisle to Toronto with 'Three Pence'
printed on it, inside a fancy border, I have to say that postage
stamps were issued to the public for the first time on the 23rd
April, 1851, and that stamped envelopes were not issued until some
years later. The stamped envelope to which you refer may have been
an envelope so stamped on the prepayment in the New Carlisle Post
Office, of three pence, the required charge for postage.
"I am, sir, your obedient servant,
"WILLIAM SMITH, Secretary."
It will be noted from the conclusion of this letter that, according to
the department at Ottawa, one might infer that the use of such a stamp
would not be irregular. This is confirmed by the following extract from
a reply to a letter a friend of mine wrote to Ottawa at my request:--
OTTAWA, March 2nd, 1904.
"I took those questions of Mr. Greenshields over to Mr. ---- of the
Post Office Department. He tells me that before the first issue of
stamps, which took place on the 23rd of April, 1851, each
Postmaster had a steel stamp which he used to mark the amount
prepaid on the letter. These stamps were of different patterns, and
it is probably the impression of one of them that appears on Mr.
Greenshield's envelope. In some of the smaller post-offices they
continued to use these stamps as late as 1875.
"It is rather a singular coincidence that if the inquiry had been,
regarding the position of Postmaster, more than one day earlier,
the Canadian records would not have shown whether the man named had
held office or not, the reason being that it was on the 6th of
April, 1851, that the Post Office Department was transferred from
the Imperial Government, and all records prior to that date are in
the possession of the Imperial authorities."
It seems strange that more of these covers have not been found.
Such well-known authorities on the stamps of British North America
as Mr. Lachlan Gibb and Mr. William Patterson, of Montreal, and Mr.
Donald A. King, of Halifax, had not seen any until I consulted them
about this one. I think it is very interesting to hear of a stamped
envelope like this being used by the Post Office just before the
issue of postage stamps.
So far as we have been able to find out the above constitutes all that
has been published regarding this envelope. We can find no further
mention of it in the columns of the _London Philatelist_ or of any other
journal published since 1904 nor does Mr. Howes so much as refer to it
in his recently published monograph on Canada's postal issues. Yet, on
the face of it, the matter seems one worthy of extended investigation by
some Canada specialist or other. Its history, as given above, is similar
in many respects to the history of many of the much sought after
Postmaster's provisional stamps of the United States and there is a
possibility that this envelope may represent a legitimate postmaster's
provisional.
CHAPTER III.--_The First Issue._
In common with the other Colonies of British North America Canada was
granted the privilege of administrating its own postal service in 1850,
and in the same year an Act was passed providing for the change. It is
hardly necessary to quote this Act in full though the following extracts
are of interest:--
CAP. VII.
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.
II.--And be it enacted, that the Inland Posts and Post
Communications in this 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 revenues arising from the duties and postage dues
receivable by the officers employed in managing such Posts and Post
Communications shall form part of the Provincial Revenue, unless
such monies belong of right to the United Kingdom, or to some other
Colony, or to some Foreign State, and the expenses of management
shall be defrayed out of Provincial Funds, and that the Act passed
in the Eighth year of Her Majesty's Reign, and entitled An Act to
provide for the management of the Customs, and of matter relative
to the collection of the Provincial Revenue, shall apply to the
said Posts and Post Communications, and to the officers and persons
employed in managing the same, or in collecting or accounting for
the duties and dues aforesaid, except in so far as any provision of
the said Act may be insusceptible of such application, or may be
inconsistent with any provision of this Act.
VIII.--And in conformity to the agreement made as aforesaid between
the Local Governments of the several Colonies of British North
America, be it enacted that the Provincial Postage on letters and
packets not being newspapers, printed pamphlets, magazines or
books, entitled to pass at a lower rate, shall not exceed
Threepence currency per half-ounce, for any distance whatsoever
within this Province, any fraction of a half-ounce being chargeable
as a half-ounce; that no transit postage shall be charged on any
letter or packet passing through this Province, or any part
thereof, to any other Colony in British North America, unless it be
posted in this Province, and the sender choose to prepay it; nor on
any letter or packet from any such Colony, if prepaid there; that
Twopence sterling the half-ounce shall remain as the rate in
operation as regards letter by British mails, to be extended to
countries having Postal Conventions with the United Kingdom, unless
Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom shall see fit to
allow this rate to be changed to Threepence currency; that the
prepayment of Provincial Postage shall be optional.
That all Provincial Postage received within the Province shall be
retained as belonging to it, and that all Provincial Postage
received within any other Colony of the British North American
Colonies may be retained, as belonging to such Colony. That no
privilege of franking shall be allowed as regards the Provincial
Postage. That Provincial Stamps for the prepayment of postage may
be prepared under the orders of the Governor in Council, which
stamps shall be evidence of the prepayment of Provincial Postage to
the amount mentioned on such stamps; and that such stamps, prepared
under the direction of the proper authorities in the other British
North American Colonies, shall be allowed in this Province as
evidence of the prepayment of Provincial Postage in such other
Colonies respectively, on the letters or packets to which they are
affixed and which have been mailed there.
The passage of the above Act and its approval by the Imperial government
was followed by a notice to postmasters which gave the date at which the
transfer of the postal system from Imperial to Provincial authority was
to take effect, gave more explicit instructions with regard to rates of
postage, and stated that postage stamps were being prepared. Mr. Howes
gives the chief provisions of this Notice as follows:--
NOTICE TO POSTMASTERS.
GENERAL POST OFFICE.
MONTREAL, _14th March, 1851._
Sir:--
I am commanded by His Excellency the Governor General, to
communicate to you the following instructions, for your guidance in
the performance of your duties, under the New Post Office Law of
the 13th and 14th Vict., chap. 17, passed at the last Session of
the Provincial Parliament, which will take effect, and supersede
the Imperial Post Office Acts, hitherto in force in Canada, on and
from the 6th day of April next:
1.--From the above date, all Letters transmitted by the Post in
Canada, with the exception of Packet Letters to and from the United
Kingdom, will be liable to a uniform rate of _Three Pence_,
currency, per half-ounce for whatever distance conveyed: prepayment
will be optional: the charge increasing according to the weight of
the Letter, one single rate for every additional half-ounce,
counting the fraction of a half-ounce as a full rate, thus:
A Letter, weighing not exceeding 1/2 ounce, will be liable to 3d
postage.
A Letter, weighing more than 1/2 ounce, and not exceeding 1 ounce,
will be liable to 6d Postage.
A Letter, weighing more than 1 ounce, and not exceeding 1-1/2
ounces will be liable to 9d Postage, and so on.
It will be observed that the above scale differs from that now
followed, in advancing one rate for each half-ounce after the first
ounce.
2.--The single Packet rate for Letters by the Atlantic Steam Packet
Mails to and from England, via the United States, of 1s 2d
sterling, if _unpaid_, and 1s 4d currency, if _prepaid_, as also
the rate on Letters, by those mails, via Halifax, of 1s sterling,
if _unpaid_, and 1s 1-1/2d currency, if _prepaid_, remain
unaltered, and the present scale of weights is to remain in force
as regards such Letters.
Post Masters must be very careful to observe this distinction when
taxing letters, weighing over one-ounce, intended for the English
Mails.
3.--The regulations now in force with regard to Letters to and from
Soldiers and Sailors in Her Majesty's Service, by which under
certain conditions such Letters pass through the Post on prepayment
of a penny only, 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 prepaid at the time of Posting.
9.--The charge on Letters posted at an office for delivery in the
same City, Town, or Place, and any additional charge made on
Letters delivered at the residence of parties to whom they are
addressed, are to remain as at present, until further instructions.
10.--No Franking Privilege is allowed under the New Act, except
with regard to Letters and Packets on the business of the Post
Office, addressed to or transmitted by the Post Master General.
13.--Stamps for the prepayment of Postage are being prepared and
will be distributed for the use of the public at an early date.
T. A. STAYNER.
_Deputy Post Master General._
Shortly afterwards a Notice, or Department Order, dated April 2nd, 1851,
was issued to postmasters regarding the rates of postage between Canada
and the United States, California and Oregon. It is hardly necessary to
reproduce this in its entirety and it will suffice to state that the
rate on single letters to the United States was sixpence currency,
equivalent to ten cents in United States money, while to California and
Oregon the rate was nine pence currency per half-ounce. On newspapers,
pamphlets, etc., the rates were the same as those for Canada itself with
the stipulation that all such mail must be prepaid. Certain offices were
named for handling the mail between Canada and the United States, viz:
Post Sarnia, Windsor, Fort Erie, Queenston (the channel of communication
with the United States for the country west of Toronto), Niagara,
Toronto, Cobourg (a communication during summer only, by steamer to
Rochester), Kingston, Brockville, Prescott, Montreal, St. John's,
Dundee, and Stanstead.
On the 21st of April, 1851, an Order was issued from the Post Office
Department referring to the issue of stamps. The most interesting
paragraphs from this order are:--
Postage Stamps are about to be issued, one representing the Beaver,
of the denomination of Three pence; the second representing the
head of Prince Albert, of the denomination of Six pence; and the
third, representing the head of Her Majesty, of the denomination of
One shilling; which will shortly be transmitted to the Post Masters
at important points, for sale.
Any 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 prepaid Letter or Packet; but if
the Stamps affixed be not adequate to the proper Postage, the Post
Master receiving the Letter or Packet for transmission will rate it
with the amount deficient in addition. This Regulation concerning
Letters short paid has reference only to Letters passing within the
Province.
Stamps so affixed are to be immediately _cancelled_ in the office
in which the Letter or Packet may be deposited, with an instrument
to be furnished for that purpose. In Post Offices not so furnished,
the stamps must be cancelled by making a cross (X) on each with a
pen. If the cancelling has been omitted on the mailing of the
Letter, the Post Master delivering it will cancel the stamp in the
manner directed, and immediately report the Post Master who may
have been delinquent, to the Department. Bear in mind that Stamps
must invariably be cancelled before mailing the Letters to which
they are affixed.
It is rather interesting to note that the series comprised only three
values, though the postal rates, as shown in the Notice quoted above,
and further amplified in a lengthy set of "Regulations and Instructions"
called for numerous rates of 1/2d and 1d as well as 7-1/2d so that it
certainly seems strange that no provision was made for stamps by means
of which such rates could be prepaid.
The beaver is typical of Canada, for the prosperity of the Colony is
largely founded on this animal, whose skin has been a valuable article
of commerce since the days of the early trappers in the land of the
maple tree. The choice of a beaver as the central theme of the design of
Canada's first stamp--the 3d value--is, therefore, particularly
appropriate. The stamp is rectangular in shape and the centrepiece is
enclosed within a transverse oval band inscribed "CANADA POSTAGE" at the
top, and "THREE PENCE" below. Above the beaver is an Imperial crown
which breaks into the oval band and divides the words "CANADA" and
"POSTAGE." This crown rests on a rose, shamrock, and thistle (emblematic
of the United Kingdom) and on either side are the letters "V R"
(_Victoria Regina_, i.e. Queen Victoria). In each of the angles is a
large uncolored numeral "3". Mr. Howes tells us that this stamp was
designed by Sir Stanford Fleming, a civil engineer and draughtsman.
[Illustration]
The beaver, depicted on this stamp, rejoices in the scientific name of
_Castor fiber_. It is a rodent of social habits and was at one time
widely distributed over Europe and North America. It is now practically
extinct except in Canada and even there it is said to be in great danger
of extermination. Full-grown animals vary in length from thirty to
thirty-six inches. They are covered with short, thick fur, which is of
considerable value and their structural peculiarities are well worth
noting. The beaver is furnished with powerful incisor teeth, with which
it is able to bite through fairly large trees, and its fore paws are
very strong. Its hind feet are webbed, so that it is a powerful swimmer,
and its tail is flattened, and serves as an excellent rudder. Its ears
are small and when laid back prevent any water entering them. Beavers
generally live in colonies, and show remarkable intelligence and
ingenuity in the construction of their homes or "lodges" and in the
building of dams, where water in the vicinity of their dwellings has
become too shallow to suit their tastes. These dwellings are often
constructed on the banks of rivers, but the Canadian beaver is
particularly fond of building lodges in the centre of large expanses of
fairly shallow water. These are made of turf, tree-trunks, and other
materials, and are often used as store houses for food reserves, as well
as for living in.
The 6d stamp follows the usual upright rectangular form and its central
design consists of the portrait of Prince Albert, the Royal Consort. The
portrait is enclosed within an upright oval inscribed in a similar
manner to the 3d but with, of course, "SIXPENCE" on its lower portion.
The numeral "6" is shown in each of the four angles. Albert Francis
Charles Augustus Emanuel the younger of the two sons of Ernest, Duke of
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, was born in 1819. He was carefully educated at
Brussels and Bonn (1836-8), where he showed himself an ardent student,
acquired many accomplishments, and developed a taste for music and the
fine arts. King Leopold and Baron Stockmar had long contemplated an
alliance between Prince Albert and Princess Victoria, and the pair were
brought together in 1836. When the succession of Victoria was assured
the betrothal took place, and on February 19th, 1840, the marriage,
which was one of real affection on both sides, was solemnized in the
Chapel Royal, St. James Palace. The Prince Consort's position as the
husband of a constitutional sovereign was difficult, and in the early
years of his married life his interference in matters of state was
resented. Ultimately he became "a sort of minister, without portfolio,
of art and education", and in this capacity won much esteem and
popularity. He also interested himself in agriculture and in social and
industrial reform. To him was due the Great Exhibition of 1851, which
resulted in a balance of a million dollars available for the
encouragement of science and art. His personal character was very high,
and he exercised great influence on his children. He was an ideal
consort, and entirely worthy of the title "Albert, the Good". On
December 14th, 1861, he succumbed to an attack of fever, and was buried
in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. His remains were afterwards removed to
the mausoleum at Frogmore.
[Illustration]
The 12d stamp is very similar in design to the 6d denomination but bears
the portrait of Queen Victoria. The life and reign of Queen Victoria are
matters of such general knowledge that biographical details are hardly
necessary. A few words, however, regarding the source of this handsome
portrait, which was used to adorn so many of the earlier British
Colonial stamps, will not be amiss. Mr. Howes tells us that this
portrait "was taken from the full length painting by Alfred Edward
Chalon, R. A., which was ordered by the Queen for her mother, the
Duchess of Kent, as a souvenir of Her Majesty's first visit to the House
of Lords. The occasion was the prorogation of Parliament, on July 17th,
1837, and the Queen is portrayed in her robes of state, because of which
fact the painting is sometimes described as 'in Coronation Robes', but
this is erroneous."
The 12d requires a few words in explanation of the manner in which the
value was expressed for "One Shilling" would appear to be a more natural
form for this amount rather than "Twelve Pence". Mr. Donald A. King
says:--"This was undoubtedly done intentionally, as though it was
intended for a one shilling stamp, yet it could not be called that, as
there were a number of _shillings_ of different values in circulation in
the Colony. If the stamp had been lettered 'One Shilling', the Post
Office was liable to have tendered for it 6-1/2d, 7-1/2d, 10d or 12d,
according to locality".
Mr. Howes gives a fuller explanation which we cannot do better than
quote in his own words:--
"A glance back at the rates of postage we have already quoted will
show that it was generally necessary to give them in two forms,
'currency' and 'sterling'. The somewhat depreciated Canadian
currency required fifteen pence, as will be noted, to equal the
shilling sterling--a point brought out on the two stamps issued
subsequently for the British Packet rates. Add to this fact that in
New England the 'shilling' was a current expression for 16-2/3
cents (10 pence currency), while in New York it represented 12-1/2
cents (7-1/2 pence currency) and we can readily see that in
Canadian territory contiguous to these sections the number of pence
to a 'shilling' might often be a debatable quantity. As a matter of
fact the French Canadians of Lower Canada made general use of the
'shilling' as reckoned at 10 pence (20 cents) in the old currency,
while the 'York shilling' was extensively used in Upper Canada.
'Twelve Pence' was without doubt wholly intentional, therefore, as
the designation of the stamp, and was happy solution of any
ambiguity in its use, even if it has proved a stumbling block to
the understanding of latter day collectors."
The three values forming this first issue were manufactured by Messrs.
Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson, of New York, who are, perhaps, better
known to fame as the engravers of the 1847, 5c and 10c stamps for the
United States government. All three stamps were printed from plates
engraved in _taille douce_ the plates consisting of one hundred
impressions arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten each. The
manufacturer's imprint--"Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York"--was
engraved twice on each of the four sides quite close to the stamps. The
imprints were so placed that the bottoms of the letters are always next
to the stamps with the consequence that on the printed sheets of stamps
the imprints read upwards at the left, downwards at the right, and
upside down on the bottom margins.
A variety of the 3d denomination is catalogued with "double transfer".
This is, of course, a plate variety caused like all similar ones by a
faulty or incorrect rocking of the roller impression on the plate and a
correction on top of this impression which did not always entirely
obliterate the first impression. Mr. Howes says this variety "is
recognized by the letters EE PEN being 'doubled' at the top, making it
appear as if a line had been drawn through the words and giving it the
name occasionally used of the 'line through threepence' variety." There
are at least two other similar varieties of "double transfers" known on
this value for in the _Philatelic World_ for December, 1908, Mr. A. J.
Sefi described and illustrated three different ones. One of these is a
variety mentioned by Mr. Howes, another shows a distinct doubling of
parts of the details of the two left-hand corners, while the third
variety shows a doubling of the upper right hand corner. It is quite
possible a close study of these stamps would reveal others and also
similar varieties in the 6d and 12d. "Double strikes" are not uncommon
on stamps produced by the line-engraved process though they are not
often so striking as the first of these Canadian varieties and those
found on the United States 10c stamp of 1847.
According to a valuable summary from official records published in the
_Metropolitan Philatelist_ we learn that the first delivery of stamps
from the manufacturers took place on April 5th, 1851, when 100,000 of
the 3d denomination were delivered to the Canadian Government. On April
20th, a second supply of the same value comprising 150,200 stamps
arrived in Canada. On May 2nd 100,400 of the 6d were received followed
two days later by 51,400 of the 12d this latter being the only
consignment of the highest value ever received from the printers. We
have already pointed out that the 3d was placed on sale on April 23rd,
1851. The date of issue of the 6d is not known for certain as there are
no official records relating to this though, as a supply was received on
May 2nd, they were doubtless issued some time during the same month. The
12d was issued on June 14th as we shall show later.
The three values of this series, as well as other denominations in pence
issued later, were withdrawn from use on July 1st, 1859, when decimal
currency was introduced. By means of much diligent search through Post
Office Reports and other records Mr. Howes has determined that a total
of 3,528,700 3d stamps were issued and a total of 402,900 of the 6d
value. Some of both these values were issued with perforation late in
1857 or early in 1858. Unfortunately there is no means of separating
these from the imperforate ones as shown by the official figures but if
we use the somewhat rough-and-ready means of reckoning afforded by
catalogue quotations it would seem that of the above totals about three
million of the 3d and 325,000 of the 6d were imperforate.
The 12d value, as every collector knows, is a very rare stamp. Even had
the full supply of 51,000 stamps, received in the first and only
consignment from the manufacturers on May 4th, 1851, been issued, it
would have been a rare variety, but as a matter of fact, the greater
portion of the consignment was destroyed and only 1510 were actually
issued. An interesting article published in the _Metropolitan
Philatelist_ in 1902 shows that this denomination was first issued on
June 14th, 1851, and supplies were made to various post offices as
follows:--
No. Stamps
June 14th, 1851, Hamilton, 300
Oct. 17th, 1851, Chippewa, 100
Nov. 13th, 1851, Thorold, 20
Nov. 25th, 1851, Toronto, 200
Mar. 8th, 1852, Montreal, 200
Sept. 14th, 1852, Ingersoll, 100
Apr. 5th, 1853, Ottawa (then known as Bytown), 100
Oct. 20th, 1853, Sherbrooke, 15
Jan. 13th, 1854, Smith's Falls, 50
Jan. 20th, 1854, Ottawa, 100
Feb. 8th, 1854, L'Islet, 15
Feb. 27th, 1854, Ingersoll, 20
Mar. 22nd, 1854, Sault S. Marie, 25
May 15th, 1854, Port. du Fort, 15
Oct. 21st, 1854, Rowan Mills, 50
Oct. 26th, 1854, Melbourne, 50
Oct. 27th, 1854, Montreal, 100
Dec. 4th, 1854, Smith's Falls, 50
Total stamps, 1,510
The consignment sent to Smith's Falls on December 4th, 1854, was the
last distributed. While we can trace no official notice referring to the
discontinuance of this denomination, or the actual date at which it
ceased to be used, the writer of the article referred to above says that
the balance of 49,490 stamps were destroyed on May 1st, 1857, "in
accordance with the practice of the Department in cases of the
discontinuance of stamps" though as this was the first Canadian stamp to
be discontinued, a precedent could hardly have been established.
The following interesting excerpt from the _Stamp Collectors' Magazine_
for April, 1870, states that the 12d value was discontinued in 1855 and
it also lays considerable stress on the scarcity of used specimens of
this stamp, viz:--
One of our readers observing from a reply we made to a
correspondent in the last October number, that we were in doubt as
to whether the 12d was ever actually used, has been good enough to
write the Deputy Postmaster-General on the subject and has obtained
from him the following reply:--
"OTTAWA, 28th October, 1869.
"DEAR SIR:--In reply to your note of the 26th inst., let me say
that the twelve penny postage stamps were issued to the public in
1851, but did not find favor, and so few were sold--only a few
hundred altogether in three or four years--that they ceased to be
issued in 1855.
"I am, dear Sir, yours very faithfully,
"W. A. SMYTH."
This is satisfactorily conclusive as to the emission of the stamp in
question; but if even only a few hundreds were used, we are surprised
that no used copies turn up. Were they used otherwise than for postage?
Mr. Philbrick informs us that no unused copy of the stamp was ever seen
by him, nor does he know of its existence. Plenty of proofs on India
paper, etc., exist, but the paper of the stamp was laid and thin, of a
hard texture.
An extract from the _Stamp Collectors' Monthly Gazette_, published at
St. John, New Brunswick, in September, 1869, shows that the rarity of
the 12d was already recognised as witnessed by the fact that "even $5"
could be obtained for a specimen. We give the paragraph in full:--
This stamp, as some of our readers are aware, was in use but a
short time, so short, that many persons even those residing in
Canada, knew nothing about it. One gentleman living in Quebec, to
whom we had written on the subject some time ago, informed us that
we must have been laboring under some mistake, when we asked him
for some particulars about it. He told us that no such stamp was
ever issued; but a subsequent letter from him told a totally
different tale (as was expected)--he gave us a few facts, and that
was all we wanted. It was first intended for postage to England,
and was actually used for a time. The postage was afterwards
reduced and the 10d stamp took the place of the 12d. The latter is
now (the genuine) one of the rarest in existence, and very readily
obtains such prices as $4.00 and even $5.00 for one specimen.
Proofs are often offered for sale on India paper, with the word
'specimen' written on one side. Amateur collections must content
themselves with this last, for it is utterly impossible to obtain
the real Simon Pure article for less than the sums we name, and
even then, it is doubtful whether it can be had at the price or
not. The color of the genuine stamp is black, it is an adhesive,
and contains a portrait of Queen Victoria in an inscribed oval,
with figures 12 at corners.
All three values of this first set were issued imperforate and while the
3d, of which at least three millions were issued, varies but little in
shade, the 6d, printed in comparatively small quantities, provides a
number of striking tints. In his check-list, Mr. Howes gives
"black-violet, deep-violet, slate-violet, brown-violet, dull purple,
slate, black brown, brownish black, and greenish black", and we have no
doubt the list could be considerably amplified, though the above should
be sufficient for the most exacting of specialists.
The catalogue gives two distinct sorts of paper--laid and wove--for all
three values, with a sub-variety of the latter, designated "thin", for
the 3d and 6d denominations. But specialists are not satisfied with this
meagre classification and recognise numerous other varieties such as
thick white laid, soft white wove, thin and thick grayish, thick hard,
thick soft, ribbed, etc. Mr. D. A. King, in his article in the _Monthly
Journal_, says, "There are fourteen varieties that we are able to
distinguish", and he gives a general classification of their
characteristics as follows:--
Series I, II, IV and V.--The texture of these papers is virtually
the same, and it is indeed often difficult, particularly in the
case of the 6d, to distinguish between the _laid_ and _wove_
papers. The lines in the _laid_ paper are of a most peculiar
character, and cannot, as a rule, be brought fairly out by holding
the stamp between one's eyes and the light. The best way to test
these two papers is to lay the stamps, face down, on a black
surface, and let the light strike them at about an angle of fifteen
degrees, when the _laid_ lines are brought most plainly into view.
It is necessary, however, to place the specimens so that the light
will strike them parallel to their length, as the _laid_ lines run
horizontally in the 3d, and vertically in the 6d and 12d.
Series III.--This is an entirely different paper to those mentioned
above. The _laid_ lines are most distinct, while the paper is of a
different texture and color from the regular gray shade.
Series VI.--The paper of this series is almost as thick as that
employed for series XII. There is a vast difference, however, in
its appearance, as the paper of series VI. is much harder than that
of series XII. It feels greasy when rubbed between the thumb and
finger, and the color of the paper is distinctly different from
that shown by series XII.
Series VII, VIII and IX.--We are able to divide the thin-ribbed
papers into three varieties, which the description plainly
indicates. They are very distinct, and can be distinguished by a
moment's inspection without hesitation.
Series X.--This is a very peculiar sort of paper, which is quite
fragile, and will not bear much handling. It is quite as soft as
that of series VII.
Series XI.--This paper is also of a peculiar texture; the surface
presents a sort of hairy appearance, and the quality is better than
Series X, although not as tough as series XII.
Series XII and XIII.--This paper presents, even when looking at the
face of the specimens, so entirely different an appearance to that
employed in any of the other series, that a reference to the back
is hardly necessary. It is found in two thicknesses, which have the
same appearance, and seems to have been employed for all the values
except the 12d.
Series XIV.--We are surprised that this variety has hitherto
escaped notice. It is so distinct, both in paper and color, from
any of the other 6d stamps. It has only been found in shades of a
peculiarly _brownish purple_ which is a color entirely different
from that presented by specimens on any other of the papers
employed. It is an exceedingly rare variety.
It would indeed be a task for the most intrepid of specialists to try
and complete his Canadian stamps on such ambitious lines, to say nothing
of acquiring the ingenuity necessary to differentiate between them.
Their philatelic importance is, in our humble opinion, not a matter of
very great consequence. At that period, hand-made paper was still being
used to a very large extent and even machine-made paper was not
manufactured with the nicety of standardisation that is possible with
the improved machinery of today. Consequently, the sheets of paper, even
in such a small commercial quantity as a ream, would generally show
considerable variation in texture. Thin and thick sheets were frequently
mixed to obtain the necessary weight per ream specified in any
particular grade of paper. No particular quality of paper was,
apparently, specified for the manufacture of these stamps, and so long
as it looked much about the same it is very obvious the printers made no
particular effort to maintain an exact standard. It is even questionable
that the wove and laid varieties mark distinct consignments or printings
of the stamps. Indeed, so far as the 12d is concerned at any rate, both
varieties must have been included in the same consignment. But, more
serious still, from the point of view of those collectors who consider
the wove and laid papers should be treated as major varieties, Mr. King
admits that "the lines in the laid paper are of a most peculiar
character" and that "it is often difficult to distinguish between the
laid and the wove papers", while Mr. Howes states, "It happens sometimes
that it is quite difficult to distinguish the laid paper, a very careful
scrutiny or even the extreme resort to the benzine cup being necessary
to bring out the watermarked lines, and perhaps then only in a half
suspicious way." Writing in the _Canada Stamp Sheet_ (Vol. IV, page
142), concerning the 12d value, Mr. John N. Luff stated, "It is my
opinion that both the wove and laid papers are quite genuine and I think
it is possible that both varieties might occur though there was only one
lot sent out by the printers. It does not, of course, follow that the
entire batch was printed on the same day or that two varieties of paper
may not have been used. The early printers were not always very
particular about their paper, provided it was somewhat alike in a
general way. Some collectors claim that laid paper is often of such
nature that the lines do not show in some parts of the sheet, and I
believe there is evidence to support this theory."
It is quite within the bounds of possibility that the paper generally
used for these stamps was intended to be what is known as "wove" to the
trade, and that the "laid lines" originated in a purely accidental
manner and are rather on the order of the "laid paper" varieties found
in connection with the first 8c and 12c stamps of Sarawak. In short, it
is probable that in some sheets at any rate the laid lines showed only
in part. At best, therefore, it would appear that the "wove" is but a
minor variety of the "laid" or vice versa, and while both varieties, as
well as other varieties easily distinguished, such as the very thin and
very thick, are of interest to specialists, they throw no light
whatsoever on the history of the stamps, and do not, from all the
available facts, represent separate printings, so that their
_philatelic_ importance (aside from comparative rarity as minor
varieties, with its accompanying variation in monetary worth) is not of
a particularly high order.
One peculiarity resulting from the use of papers of such varying quality
is an apparent difference in the size of stamps of the same
denomination. For instance, the stamps on the thinner kinds of paper
generally measure 22 x 18 mm., while those on thicker paper measure
22-3/4 x 17-1/2 mm. and papers of other thicknesses provide still other
measurements. These differences in size (fairly considerable in relation
to the comparatively small area of a postage stamp) proved very puzzling
to collectors of twenty years or so ago for, though it was felt that the
stamps came from the same plates, it was at the same time found
impossible to account for such varieties, except on the hypothesis that
all the impressions of the plate were not all applied alike or that the
hardening of the plates before printing resulted in contraction in parts
with a consequent variation in the size of different impressions. The
same sorts of varieties have been noticed in many other stamps printed
by the line engraved process, notably in such stamps as the "pence"
Ceylons, and proper investigation finally proved beyond a shadow of
doubt that these differences in size were due to nothing more than
uneven contraction of the paper after printing. It must be understood
that in printing stamps by the line-engraved method the paper usually
has to be slightly wetted (this was an invariable rule at the time these
early Canada stamps were printed) and it can be easily seen that the
wetting would have quite different results on different qualities of
paper. Some would be more absorbent than others and would stretch while
damp and contract again when drying. The amount of wetting administered
would, also, result in differences even in the same qualify of paper.
These variations in the size of the design, therefore, while interesting
in themselves as examples of paper vagaries, are of little, if any,
philatelic importance.
Bi-sected stamps were not used in Canada to anything like the same
extent that similar varieties were used in the other British North
American provinces. The 6d is catalogued as having been divided
diagonally and the halves used as 3d stamps, though there can have been
no real necessity for such bi-section. A bi-sected stamp of quite
another character was mentioned in the _Monthly Journal_ for April,
1898, as follows:--
The _Post Office_ describes a so-called "split provisional" of the
early 3d stamp, which is described as consisting of one and a half
of the unperforated 3d on wove, upon an entire envelope postmarked
"Port Hope, July 16th, 1855, Canada, Paid 10c." Our contemporary
does not appear to perceive that the postmark plainly indicates
that the supposed half stamp is really only a badly cut copy; the
3d of Canada passed for 5 cents, and as this letter is plainly
marked "Paid 10c", the stamps upon it evidently passed as two 3d,
not as one and a half, which would have corresponded to no rate of
postage.
The same journal, two months later, made more extended reference to this
variety and while its bona-fides as a "split" is established its use as
a half stamp is as much a mystery as ever. We cannot do better than give
the paragraph in full:--
In the New Issues column of our number for April, we called in
question the character of a supposed "split" _three pence_ stamp of
Canada, which had been chronicled in the _Post Office_, New York.
In reply to our criticism, Messrs. Morgenthau & Co., the publishers
of that magazine, have most kindly forwarded to us the letter
bearing the divided stamp, and have requested our opinion upon it.
The specimen is such a curious one and presents, we think, such a
puzzle for philatelists, that we have taken the liberty--which we
hope its owner will pardon--of having a photographic block made
from it, and we give a full size illustration, showing both the
stamps and the postmarks, herewith. As our readers may perceive, we
were quite wrong in suggesting that the "split" stamp was merely a
badly cut copy, as it appears to have been carefully bi-sected
diagonally and to have been intended to pass as a half stamp,
making up, with the entire stamp to which it is attached, a rate of
4-1/2d. If this were all, though the specimen would be a great
rarity--indeed, we believe it to be unique--it would not be
necessarily a great puzzle to us. It is true that we do not know of
any 4-1/2d rate in Canada, and there never was a 4-1/2d stamp in
use there; but still, such a rate might have existed, although
there was no possible means of making it up except by the use of at
least three 1/2d stamps; but the puzzling part about this letter is
that it is addressed from Port Hope in Canada to New York, the
single rate from Canada to the United States was 10 cents; the
letter is marked "CANADA--_PAID 10 Cts_." by the side of the
stamps, and that rate was sixpence in Canadian currency. The whole
document appears to us to be perfectly genuine and _bona-fide_; we
have examined it with a skeptical mind and a powerful magnifying
glass, and we can only say that if it is a "fake" it is wonderfully
well done. On the other hand, if it is genuine, the half stamp must
have done duty as a whole one, because it certainly took two 3d
stamps to make up the 10 cents rate. The puzzle remains a puzzle to
us, but we are grateful to Messrs. Morgenthau for their courteous
reply to what may have appeared a captious criticism.
_Reference List._
1851. Engraved and printed by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson,
New York, on laid or wove paper. Imperforate.
1. 3d vermilion, Scott's No. 1 or No. 4.
2. 6d violet, Scott's No. 2 or No. 5.
3. 12d black, Scott's No. 3 or No. 6.
The third report of the Postmaster-General for Canada, dated March 31st,
1854, refers to a change in the rates of postage on single letters sent
abroad and also mentions the possibility of additions to the meagre set
of three values then current, viz.:--
In March, 1854, the charge on packet letters between Canada and the
United Kingdom and most foreign countries was reduced by the
Imperial Government from 1s 2d sterling to 8d sterling the 1/2 oz.,
when sent in the closed mails through the United States, and from
1s sterling to 6d when sent from a provincial port--Quebec and
Halifax. Should no further changes be likely soon to take place in
the charges on the correspondence with England, it would promote
the public convenience to procure postage stamps of the value of
10d and 7-1/2d respectively, to correspond with the present packet
charges.
In the Postmaster-General's fourth annual report, issued in the
following year, the above recommendation was adopted so far as the 10d
value was concerned, for we read:--
To promote the general convenience of the public in prepaying
letters to the United Kingdom at the new rate, postage stamps of
the value of 10d currency, equal to 8d sterling, were procured, and
issued to the public.
[Illustration]
According to documentary evidence unearthed by Messrs. King and Howes
the plate for this value was made, and the first stamps were printed
from it during the last quarter of 1854, for in the Post Office accounts
for that period the item, "Rawdon, Wright & Co., Making Stamps,
£42-18-6," appears. According to another list compiled from official
sources the stamps did not reach Canada until January 2nd, 1855, and
though we know of no official document bearing on the actual date of
issue, or of any very early dated cover, in view of the fact that the
stamps represented a denomination for which there was an urgent demand,
it is only reasonable to suppose that this 10d value was placed on sale
some time during the month of January, 1855.
Mr. King states that this value was printed in sheets of 100 stamps,
arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten, and with the manufacturers'
imprint shown eight times on the margins, as in the case of the three
stamps previously issued. Mr. Howes, however, is of the opinion that
these 10d stamps were printed in sheets of 120, 10 rows of twelve each,
like the 7-1/2d value issued later, and in support of his theory points
out that the quantities delivered in the first supply (100,080) and
second supply (72,120) are exactly divisible by 120 into 834 and 601
full sheets respectively, whereas neither of these numbers is divisible
by 100 into an even number of complete sheets. In view of the absence of
positive evidence in the shape of an entire sheet or full horizontal row
of stamps, it must be admitted that there is much to be said in favor of
Mr. Howes' theory. It will be noted the stamps have the values expressed
in English currency, and the almost universal rule for stamps printed
with values in shillings or pence, has been sheets of 60, 120, or 240
owing to the fact that with such an arrangement reckoning in this
currency is greatly simplified.
The design corresponds in its general appearance to the 6d and 12d of
1851 though the portrait in the central oval is of Jacques Cartier, the
discoverer of Canada. In the 'eighties there was some little discussion
regarding the portrait on this 10d stamp some claiming it was not
intended to represent Cartier, but Sebastian Cabot. A writer on the
_Halifax Philatelist_ for 1888 says: "It is identically the same as all
the existing portraits of Jacques Cartier, and totally unlike those
existing of Sebastian Cabot. The style of dress and the way the beard is
worn is that of the sixteenth century, instead of the fifteenth. There
is a very rare and old print of Sebastian Cabot, taken from the original
painting in the possession of Charles Jost Harford, Esq., in the
Legislative Library at Halifax, and anything more dissimilar to the face
on the 10 pence stamp cannot be imagined." The official notice
announcing the issue of the stamp, to which we have already referred,
makes no mention of the design at all but the portrait is undoubtedly
that of Cartier and Mr. Howes tells us that the original is a
"three-quarter length portrait in the Hotel de Ville at St. Malo,
France, the birthplace of Cartier."
Jacques Cartier was born at St. Malo, as stated above, in 1491. In 1534
he sailed with two small vessels on a voyage of discovery, touching at
Newfoundland, and discovering New Brunswick. In a second voyage (1535-6)
he explored the St. Lawrence, and took possession of the land he
discovered in the name of Francis I of France. He made a third voyage in
1541 and died in 1557.
The words CANADA POSTAGE and TENPENCE on the inscribed oval frame are
separated by a small beaver at the right and three maple leaves at the
left. In the lower corners are the numerals "10" followed by "cy" for
currency, while in each of the upper angles is "8d stg", representing
the equivalent value in sterling.
Only the two supplies of this value, mentioned previously, were printed
making a total of 172,200 stamps. When the decimal currency was
introduced there was a balance on hand of 31,200, which were afterwards
destroyed so that the total quantity of 10d stamps issued was 141,000.
A double-transfer variety of this denomination is described by Mr. Howes
as follows:--
In this case we find the letters A D A and S of "Canada Postage",
and P E N of "Pence"' showing a distinct doubling at the bottom,
the transfer roller having been set a little too high at first and
a very slight impression made on the plate. The stamp has not been
seen in a pair to prove its character absolutely, but it bears all
the ear-marks of being a proper plate variety and not due to a
careless impression when printing.
The Postmaster General's report dated Sept. 30th, 1857, refers to the
many benefits accruing to both the Department and the public by the
increased use of postage stamps in the prepayment of postal charges and
also mentions the issue of two new denominations, viz:--
There is a very material economy of labor to the Department in
dealing with letters prepaid 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 prepayment by
stamp enables the Post Office to afford for posting and delivering
letters so prepaid.
It is gratifying, therefore, to observe that the use of stamps is
gradually gaining ground, encouraging as it does the hope that it
may be found practicable and expedient ere long to make prepayment
by stamp the prevailing rule in Canada, as it has for sometime been
in, the United Kingdom, in France, and in the United States.
A reduction in the charge of Book Post Packets when not exceeding 4
oz. in weight, between Canada and the United Kingdom of one-half
the former rate has been made.
To facilitate the prepayment of letters passing from Canada to
England by the Canadian steamers, a new stamp bearing value of 6
pence sterling, or 7-1/2 pence currency, being the Canadian Packet
rate, has been secured and put in circulation.
A new stamp has also been introduced of the value of one halfpenny
to serve as the medium for prepaying transient Newspapers.
Moreover, the Department has been led, by the increasing use of
Postage Stamps, to take measures for obtaining the Canadian Postage
Stamps in sheets perforated in the dividing lines, in the manner
adopted in England, to facilitate the separation of a single stamp
from the others on a sheet when required for use.
It will thus be seen that the 7-1/2d value, which was recommended three
years earlier (at the time the 10d was issued), materialised at last,
though there appears to be no official record bearing on the date the
new value was placed on sale to the public. The volume dealing with the
postage stamps of British North America, published by the Royal
Philatelic Society some twenty years ago, gives the date of issue as
June 2nd, 1857, though no authority for this statement is given.
[Illustration]
The design was adapted from that of the discarded 12d of 1851, the same
portrait of Queen Victoria adorning the central oval. The inscribed
band around this contains the words CANADA PACKET POSTAGE at the top,
and SIX PENCE STERLING at the bottom, the two inscriptions occupying so
much space that there was no room for dividing ornaments of any kind. In
the upper and lower left hand corners is "6d stg." and in the right hand
corners "7-1/2d cy." is shown. A word of explanation regarding the use
of the word PACKET in the inscription is necessary. This does not refer
to any parcel post (indeed, there was no parcel post at that period) as
has sometimes been erroneously asserted, but refers to the fast mail
steamers of the day which were then known as "packets". This
denomination, as shown by the extract from the Postmaster-General's
report printed above, was intended for use on single letters sent to
England via the Canadian packets.
This 7-1/2d stamp was, according to Mr. Howes, printed in sheets of 120
arranged in ten horizontal rows of twelve each, each sheet showing the
imprint of the manufacturers eight times on the margins as in the case
of the values issued previous to 1857. Only one consignment, consisting
of 834 sheets (100,800 stamps) was received, and as 17,670 of these were
still on hand when the decimal currency was introduced in 1859, a simple
calculation will show that the total quantity issued was 82,410 stamps.
Although there had been a real need for a halfpenny value since the
first adhesives made their appearance in Canada--as shown by several
rates it was impossible to prepay in stamps without them--it was not
until 1857 that a stamp of this denomination was placed in use. The
following circular announced their impending issue:--
POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
TORONTO. _18th July, 1857._
Under the Post Office Law of last Session taking effect from 1st
August, 1857, Newspapers printed and published in Canada, and
mailed direct from Office of Publication, will pass free of
Canadian Postage.
Periodicals so printed, published, and mailed when specially
devoted to Religious and to General Education, to Agriculture, or
Temperance, or to any branch of Science, will pass free from any
one Post-Office to another within the Province.
Transient and re-mailed Papers and Periodicals will pass by Post if
prepaid by Postage stamp--one halfpenny if not exceeding 3 oz. in
weight, and 2d if over 3 oz.
Postage Stamps of the value of one halfpenny each will be sold to
the public at all the principal Post Offices (including all Money
Order Offices), with a discount of 5 per cent. upon purchases of
not less than twenty stamps and will be available in prepayment of
Newspapers and Periodicals, and of Drop and Town Letters.
R. SPENCE, Postmaster-General.
The Royal Philatelic Society's book gives the date of the above
notice--July 18th, 1857--as the date of issue of the new stamp but, as
Mr. Howes observes "it is more likely that the stamp was issued on 1st
August, the day the new rates took effect."
Although this stamp is generally conceded to be the last of the "pence"
values to be issued, until more definite information regarding the date
of issue of the 7-1/2d can be procured, this supposition can rest on no
more substantial basis than that of mere conjecture.
[Illustration]
The design is quite unlike that of any of the other values expressed in
pence and consists of the conventional profile portrait of the Queen
shown on so many of the stamps of the British Empire, within an oval
band inscribed CANADA POSTAGE, at the top, and ONE HALF PENNY, at the
bottom. There are no numerals or inscriptions in the corners but merely
a plain pattern of diagonally crossed lines. Mr. Howes states "the stamp
was printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten, with the right marginal
imprints as described for the series of 1851."
From the Postmaster-General's report we gather that 1,341,600 halfpenny
stamps were received prior to October 1st, 1857, though whether these
were all in one consignment or not is not quite clear. At any rate
judging from the statement in the same report that "the Department has
been led to take measures for obtaining ... sheets perforated" it would
appear that the above quantity comprised all the imperforate stamps of
this denomination. On the other hand the total number of halfpenny
stamps issued was 3,389,960 and catalogue quotations for the imperforate
and the perforated varieties hardly bear out the supposition that only
the first lot were issued without perforation.
While the 10d value is found on several sorts of paper no such extreme
variation is provided as in the case of the stamps of 1851. The 7-1/2d
and 1/2d values, printed at a later date, provide still fewer varieties,
which would seem to indicate that as time progressed the manufacturers
exercised a nicer discrimination in their choice of paper. Most of the
stamps seem to have been printed on a hard wove paper, varying a little
in thickness; the 10d is found on a very thin paper; and the 1/2d is
recorded on ribbed paper, though whether this is a true "ribbed" variety
or merely the result of some peculiarity in printing is open to
discussion. As the ribbed lines are anything but distinct, though the
paper showing this peculiarity is a little softer than that generally
used, it is more than likely that the ribbing was purely accidental.
Owing to the differing qualities of paper used the same idiosyncrasies
of measurement in the size of the designs may be noted, especially in
the case of the 10d as was referred to in a previous chapter. But as all
variations of this character in stamps printed from line-engraved plates
were long ago conclusively proved to be due to nothing more exciting
than paper shrinkage it is hardly worth while wearying our readers with
a resurrection of all that has been written on the subject leading up to
the proof. While examples showing the extremes of size are of interest
in a specialised collection little can be said in favor of their
philatelic value.
_Reference List._
1855-57. Engraved and printed by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson,
New York, on wove paper. Imperforate.
4. 1/2d pink, Scott's No. 8.
5. 7-1/2d green, Scott's No. 9.
6. 10d blue, Scott's No. 7.
CHAPTER V.--_The Perforated Pence Stamps._
In the Report of the Postmaster-General for September 30th, 1857, to
which we have already made reference, we read:--
Moreover, the Department has been led, by the increasing use of
Postage Stamps, to take measures for obtaining the Canadian Postage
Stamps in sheets perforated in the dividing lines, in the manner
adopted in England, to facilitate the separation of a single stamp
from the others on a sheet when required for use.
From the above statement, one would naturally infer that such a useful
innovation would be adopted at once, especially so when it is considered
that the utility and convenience of perforation had already been amply
tested and had proved eminently satisfactory in England. Unfortunately,
no further mention of perforation is made in the Reports of succeeding
years, and this absence of direct official evidence combined with the
existence of certain facts has given rise to much theorising as to the
actual date of issue of the perforated varieties, and as to whether the
perforation was applied by the manufacturers of the stamps, by the
Canadian Government, or by private parties in Canada.
Mr. Donald A. King in his article in the _Monthly Journal_ says:--
It is an open question whether these stamps were delivered to the
Canadian Post Office Department in a perforated condition or not.
The manufacturers are wholly unable to throw any light on the
subject; and while there is much to be said in favor of their
having perforated the stamps, there are points against it almost as
strong.
In favor of it there is the fact that, at the date that these
stamps were issued, it was more than probable that a firm like the
manufacturers would have perforating machines. The normal gauge of
the perforated set is 12, that being the only size ever used by the
manufacturers, or their successors, the American Bank Note Company;
indeed, they call 12 their standard and only gauge.
On the other hand, we find that there are perforated stamps of the
first series issued, viz., the 6d on _laid_ paper; also, that there
exist two different varieties of perforation that were never used
by the makers, viz., one gauging 14, and another that is described
in the _American Journal of Philately_ for January, 1891, as
follows:--
"CANADA.--In a large lot of pence issues, purchased by us lately,
we have found two copies of the 3d. on greyish wove paper,
perforated 13, with oblique parallel cuts. This seems to confirm
the theory that the pence issues of Canada were not perforated by
the manufacturers, but either by the Canadian Government, or by
some persons authorized by them, who most likely experimented with
different perforating machines, finally selecting the one
perforating 12."
Considering these facts, it may be that the stamps were sent to
Canada in an imperforate condition, and that the Post Office
Department had them perforated there, either buying a perforating
machine, or entrusting them to some manufacturers of stationery.
Perforations gauging 13 and 14 may have been experimental, as
specimens of these varieties are rare; perforation 12 being adopted
as giving the best results, the other sizes not being at all
clearly cut, as the 12 generally is. All the stock of 1/2d, 3d and
6d on hand would, in this case, have been perforated, which might
account for the copy of the 6d on laid paper that is known in this
condition. There always remains the query why the 7-1/2d and 10d
were not treated in the same manner, and to this no answer can be
given. Probably the safest theory to advance, and the one that I
think is correct, is that the 12 gauge was the official one used by
the manufacturers, and that the 13 and 14 were the result of
private enterprise by people using large quantities of stamps, and
they may possibly antedate the regularly perforated issue. This
point can only be settled by copies being found on the original
covers.
In commenting on the above it will save undue confusion if we state that
the copy of the perforated 6d on laid paper to which Mr. King refers was
proved to be a forgery as shown by the following extract from the
_American Journal of Philately_ for 1891:--
There is no longer any mystery in regard to the origin of that
_great rarity!_ the perforated 6 pence on laid paper, these stamps
having been perforated for four or five years in the shop of
Messrs. Benjamin, Sarpy & Co., Cullum street, London, who openly
boast of having manufactured and sold those in the collection of
the late Hon. T. K. Tapling and other prominent collectors.
With regard to the varieties perforated 13 and 14--while these are
undoubtedly rare, all the evidence strongly points to the fact that they
are unofficial varieties, a statement, we believe, which has never been
seriously combated by students of the early Canadian stamps.
Thus, most of the "contrary" evidence adduced by Mr. King carries no
weight with it at all. The most interesting point he raises is the fact
that, though the 7-1/2d and 10d denominations were current at the same
time as the 1/2d, 3d and 6d, these values were not perforated. So far as
the 10d is concerned this seems all the more strange when it is
considered that one supply of this value was certainly printed after
September, 1857, the date of the Report mentioning the adoption of
perforation.
Mr. Howes has made diligent search through official records and
carefully scanned itemised reports of more or less petty expenditures,
and he was unable to find any reference whatsoever to a disbursement
such as would have been necessary had the Government purchased a
perforating machine or had the stamps perforated by some private
concern. It is, therefore, unquestionable that the natural course--i.
e., that the manufacturers should perforate the stamps--was the one
followed.
The real root cause of all the problems surrounding these perforated
stamps seems to lie in the general acceptance of the assumption that
they were issued in 1857 or early in 1858--an assumption that appears to
be entirely devoid of the support of tangible facts when the matter is
scrutinised thoroughly. Mr. Howes has delved into the subject with his
usual thoroughness and his deductions are so well founded that we
imagine no unbiased student will venture to do other than agree that his
findings are fully borne out by the history of the stamps so far as we
know it. We, therefore, make no apology for reproducing his arguments in
full:--
The date usually assigned to the appearance of the perforated
stamps is January, 1858. The London Society gave simply "1857,"
which is apparently set down merely because they have just quoted
the announcement from the Postmaster General's Report for that
year. Evans and Moens, in their catalogues, both name the date as
November, 1858. Unfortunately, no more authoritative statement has
been found, except that in Messrs. Corwin and King's article they
say "Mr. Hooper positively states that it took place in January,
1858." Mr. John R. Hooper was at that time (1890) connected with
the Canadian Post Office Department at Ottawa and took pains to
look up much information for the above-mentioned gentlemen. His
reasons for the "positive statement" are not given, and inasmuch as
he is quoted elsewhere as saying that "the records of the Post
Office Department are silent as to where this perforation was
performed and by whom," and also seems a little uncertain in some
other details, we feel that further confirmation is needed.
In our table above we have given the supplies received after the 30th
September, 1857, and deducted the remainders so as to have the actual
number issued. The 10d has already proved a stumbling block, for it was
not perforated at all! Next we find the 6d to the number of 150,000,
when the total issue, including the laid paper, was but 400,000; yet the
catalogue value of the imperforates is some $6 for each variety, and of
the perforated stamp at least $30! Can anyone doubt that all these
150,000 6d stamps were _not_ perforated? In the case of the 3d we have
one and a third millions to compare with a total issue of three and a
half millions--about a third in the supposed perforated class. Yet the
catalogue value of the latter is $2.50 against 36 cents for the wove
paper imperforate alone. With the 1/2d stamp there are two millions
against a total of three and a third millions, or about two to one in
favor of the supposed perforated stamps, yet the latter are double the
catalogue price of the former! The only conclusion to be drawn from
these regularly appearing inconsistencies in each value is that all the
supplies after 30th September, 1857, were _not_ perforated, as the 10d
stamp very glaringly intimates!
If this be so, is it not possible that the order to perforate the new
supplies was given to the manufacturers much later than has hitherto
been thought to be the case? It hardly seems likely that this
improvement would be ordered for a few supplies and then dropped, only
to re-appear a year and a half later as a permanent feature of the new
set. Once adopted it was more than likely to be retained.
Let us see, then, just for curiosity's sake, what the supplies of the
last six months of issue yield us for data. For the 1/2d we find 850,000
roughly, with 60,000 remainders. Call it 800,000 issued which, if
perforated, would be a quarter of the total issue of 1/2d stamps, or a
ratio to the imperforates of one to three. This is not so far away from
the catalogue ratio of two to one (inversely, of course,) in the value
of the perforated stamps. With the 3d stamp we have 450,000 roughly,
with 20,000 remainders, say 430,000 issued. Of a total issue of
3,500,000 this represents one-eighth, or a ratio of one to seven. The
inverse ratio of seven to one for catalogue value comes pretty close
when we compare $2.50 with 36 cents! In the case of the 6d there are
70,000, less 17,500 remainders, or 52,500. This is approximately
one-eighth the total issue of 400,000, or again a ratio of one in seven.
The inverse ratio of seven to one for a catalogue value would make the
perforated stamp list $42 with the imperforate at $6. But both laid and
wove paper 6d stamps list at approximately $6, whereas, if all had been
issued on but one variety of paper, we might find, perhaps, a single
list price of, say $4. With this as a basis, the catalogue value of $30
for the perforated 6d is in as close agreement with our supposition as
are the others. And, best of all, the second supply of the 10d stamp is
disposed of without any difficulty whatever under this hypothesis!
It may be argued that reasoning thus from catalogue prices is too
uncertain to prove of value. Granted in many cases. But here is an issue
from fifty to sixty years old; the stamps were regularly used in
increasing numbers during their years of issue; they have always been
popular and eagerly collected, so that the stock in existence has been
pretty well handled and pretty well distributed. Under these conditions
the catalogue prices should by this time reflect fairly accurately the
_relative_ rarity of the main varieties of each stamp at least; and it
is this relative rarity that we are after in order to approximate the
original supplies of the main varieties. The result is certainly of more
than mere interest, the agreement being such that we are tempted to lay
down the following propositions in regard to the perforated stamps for
further proof or disproof:--
_First._ The regular perforation (gauge 12) was done by the
manufacturers and applied to the last requisitions previous to the
change to decimal stamps.
_Second._ The date of the supposed issue of the perforated stamps
should be changed from January, 1858, to November, 1858, or
January, 1859.
_Third._ The quantities of perforated stamps issued are placed
approximately at:--1/2d, 789,440; 3d, 428,200; 6d. 52,422. In
further support of the above postulates, we must say that every
cover bearing any one of the three perforated stamps which we have
been able to get a satisfactory date from has been postmarked in
_1859!_ Not one has yet been seen which bore a date in 1858 even,
and one 6d from the Seybold collection, which was dated at
Brantford, December 29, 1857, turned out to be bad. Of course,
perforated stamps are hard to find on original covers, but it is
curious that so far not one has upset the theory we have laid down.
These three perforated stamps do not provide much variation in the
quality of the paper. Most of the stamps are found on a hard wove paper,
varying slightly in thickness, and though the 1/2d and 3d are listed on
ribbed paper, we venture to doubt that this is a true ribbed paper for
the reasons set forth in our last chapter.
Mr. King records the 6d bi-sected diagonally and the halves used as 3d
stamps, but, as in the case of the similar variety in the imperforate
issues, there could have been no real need for such bi-section.
_Reference List._
1858-9. Stamps of preceding issues perforated 12.
7. 1/2d pink, Scott's No. 11.
8. 3d red, Scott's No. 12.
9. 6d violet, Scott's No. 13.
CHAPTER VI.--_The First "Cents" Issue._
While the somewhat cumbrous English currency of pounds, shillings and
pence has presented little or no difficulty in those parts of the Empire
where it has always been on the same basis as in the Mother country, the
fact that in Canada it had two valuations--"currency" and
"sterling"--made it an inevitable conclusion that a change would have to
be made sooner or later. The close proximity of Canada to the United
States gave it a very practical illustration of the advantages of a
decimal system of money; the American currency of dollars and cents was
legalised in the Province of Canada in 1853; and it is, therefore, small
matter for wonder that ultimately a decimal system of currency similar
to that in vogue in the United States was adopted. This change took
place in 1859 and the Postmaster-General's Report for that year alluded
to the necessary changes in the postage stamps as follows:
The Law of last Session directing the conversion of all postage
rates into decimals, and the collection of postage in the new
decimal currency, was put in operation on the 1st July. Decimal
stamps of the value of 1 cent, 5 cents, and 10 cents for ordinary
correspondence, and of 12-1/2 cents for Canadian, and of 17 cents
for British Packet Postage Rates were obtained in readiness for the
commencement of the Decimal Postage Law in July, 1859, and have
from that date been issued in lieu of the stamps previously in use.
The Law referred to on the above mentioned Report was assented to on May
4th, 1859, and as some of the provisions are of philatelic interest we
reproduce them as follows:--
1.--There shall be payable on all Newspapers sent by Post in
Canada, except "Exchange Papers" addressed to Editors and
Publishers of Newspapers, such rate of Postage, not exceeding one
cent on each such Newspaper, as the Governor in Council shall from
time to time direct by regulation and such rate shall be payable on
all such Newspapers, posted on or after the first day of July next.
2.--So much of any Act as provides that Newspapers posted within
this Province shall pass free of postage, in cases other than those
in which they will be free under this Act is hereby repealed.
3.--In order to adapt the operations of the Post Office to the
Decimal Currency, the internal letter postage rate shall be changed
from three pence to its equivalent of five cents, per half
ounce--the charge for advertising a dead letter from three
farthings to two cents--the charge for returning a dead letter to
the writer, from one penny to three cents; and in all cases where a
one halfpenny or penny rate of Postage is chargeable, these rates
shall be changed to one cent and two cents respectively.
4.--To promote simplicity and economy in the business of the Post
Office, all letters posted in Canada for any place within the
Province, and not prepaid, shall be charged seven instead of five
cents per half ounce on delivery; and on letters posted for the
British Mails, for the other British North American Provinces, or
for the United States, when not prepaid, there shall be charged
such addition to the ordinary rate, not in any case exceeding a
double rate, as the Post Master General may agree upon with the
Post Office Authorities of those Countries, for the purpose of
enforcing prepayment.
5.--The Post Master General may establish a Parcel Post and parcels
other than letters and not containing letters, may be sent by such
Parcel Post, and when so sent shall be liable to such charges for
conveyance and to such regulations as the Governor in Council shall
from time to time see fit to make.
It will be noted that the above Act, aside from showing the rates in the
new currency as compared with the old, provides for a greater limitation
of the privilege of free transmission of newspapers, and also provides
for the establishment of a Parcel Post.
No further reference seems to have been made to the parcel post until
the Postmaster-General's Report for June 30th, 1864, where it is
stated:--
By means of the Parcel Post a parcel may be sent within the
Province to or from any place, however remote from the ordinary
lines of traffic conveyance, on prepayment of a postage rate of 25
cents per lb., provided that the weight or size of the parcel does
not exceed the carrying capacity of an ordinary mail bag; and
provided that the contents of the parcel are not of a character to
injure the rest of the mail.
Later the parcel post system was extended so that it embraced the sister
Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the rate remaining at 25c
per lb. Apparently the weight and size of a parcel acceptable by the
postal authorities still remained delightfully vague and indefinite and
was simply limited by "the carrying capacity of an ordinary mail bag."
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
As we have seen from the Postmaster-General's Report for 1859 the first
"cents" stamps were placed in use on July 1st of that year. The series
comprised the values 1c, 5c, 10c, 12-1/2c and 17c these corresponding to
the 1/2d, 3d, 6d, 7-1/2d and 10d denominations previously in use. The
designs of the new stamps were adapted from those of the corresponding
values of the old issue as a comparison of the two series will amply
demonstrate. The 1c differs from the 1/2d only in the words denoting the
value below the portrait. The 5c differs from the 3d not only as regards
the new inscription of value but has small ornaments on the oval band
dividing CANADA POSTAGE from FIVE CENTS. In the corners the numerals
"5," replacing "3," are placed in an oblique position on a ground of
crossed lines. The 10c differs from the 6d in having the corner numerals
(represented by the Roman "X") placed obliquely on a cross hatched
ground instead of upright on a ground of foliate ornamentation, while
TEN CENTS replaces SIX PENCE under the portrait. The 12-1/2c differs
from the 7-1/2d only as regards the corners where "12-1/2c" replaces the
former values of "6d. stg" and "7-1/2d cy". On the new 17c the words of
value required so much more room than the TEN PENCE on the old
denomination that the emblems between the upper and lower inscriptions
on the oval were retired in favor of small elliptical ornaments. The
upper corners were unaltered but in the lower ones "10cy" was removed
and "17" substituted.
[Illustration]
It is obvious that the original dies were made use of in each case, the
central portions being retained and new orders engraved.
The stamps were manufactured by the American Bank Note Company, of New
York, which firm had succeeded to the business established by Messrs.
Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson. The new firm name came into effect on
May 1st, 1858.
The stamps were printed in sheets of 100 by the line-engraved process
the manufacturers' imprint, "American Bank Note Co., New York" appearing
twice in each margin in very small letters. For some reason or other no
imprint was applied to the plate for the 17c value.
In the Law relating to the adoption of decimal currency, reproduced
above, we read in section 3 that "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." Yet, though a 1c stamp was included in
the series in 1859 no 2c made its appearance until 1864. This new value
was issued on August 1st, 1864, according to the Postmaster-General's
Report for that year while the Report for the following year states that
"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 is probably due to the increased demand for the 2c
denomination under this new rate that the stamp made its appearance.
[Illustration]
The design was evidently copied from the 1c though the addition of
numerals in each of the lower corners gives it a strikingly different
appearance from that of the lower value. Curiously enough the 2c was
printed in almost the same color as the 1c and in commenting on this
fact the _Stamp Collectors' Magazine_ for October 1st, 1864, stated:--
We are surprised that a different hue was not chosen for the 2
cents, and should imagine its great similarity to the 1 cent,
should the latter not be withdrawn from circulation, would tend to
create confusion.
This new denomination was printed in sheets of 100 like the others of
the series, and also had eight imprints in the margins.
A close study of these stamps should reveal many points of interest. For
many years a double transfer of the 5c, of a similar character to that
found on its predecessor the 3d has been known. This is recorded in
Scott's catalogue as a "double transfer" while Gibbons notes it as a
variety "with extra line in outer oval at left". This variety, which is
simply the most prominent of many double transfers found in connection
with this 5c stamp, shows the outer line of the oval at left distinctly
doubled, and the frame lines above are also double. Other varieties
which, though not so prominent, are of equal philatelic importance are
found. We have seen the following and have no doubt many others exist:--
(1) There are distinct traces of doubling in the letters ADA and POST of
CANADA POSTAGE, in the numerals in the upper angles, and of the lines of
the oval band.
(2) There is a faint doubling of the outer frame lines at the top right
hand corner.
(3) There is a similar doubling of the outer frame lines affecting the
lower right hand corner.
(4) The lines of the oval band are faintly doubled at the lower left.
(5) The letters POST of POSTAGE, the "5" above, and the lines of oval
and frame all show distinct signs of double transferring.
(6) This double transfer affects the lines, numeral, and letters NADA of
CANADA at the upper left corner and while not so distinct as No. 5 is
nevertheless a true plate variety.
We have found no traces of double transfers in the other denominations
except a slight one on the 12-1/2c. This shows a slight doubling of the
frame lines in the top left corner, as well as traces of colored lines
in the adjacent "12-1/2c". It is quite probable that any collector
having sufficient material would find "doubles" in all of these values.
In laying down the impressions on the plate or plates for the 5c value a
guide dot was applied to the transfer roll. This occupied such a
position that as each succeeding impression was applied to the plate it
fell so that the guide dot would fall about the centre of the C of
CENTS. Consequently, the vast majority of these stamps show a
conspicuous dot of color in the position indicated. The stamps without
the colored dot are, usually, those from the extreme left vertical row
of the sheet. On this same value--the 5c--we have seen specimens with
colored dots outside and slightly to the left of the lower left corner.
These are possibly plate dots marked to indicate where each row should
commence. Varieties with broken frame lines are not uncommon and these
may be due in part to defective transfers and in part to wear. Extreme
wear is also shown, in some instances, by the numerals appearing on an
almost plain ground.
Whether guide dots were used for the other denominations or not we
cannot say. At any rate if they were used they were applied in such a
position as to be completely hidden by some part or other of the
designs. A small peculiarity in the 10c is worth noting. On the majority
of specimens there is a slight defect or break in the outer line of the
oval band above and to the right of the O of POSTAGE. This is probably
due to a minute defect on the transfer-roll impression. Many specimens
of the 12-1/2c value show the tongue of the E of POSTAGE the same length
as the upper and lower arms though the end is generally covered with a
colored smudge. We are at a loss to account for the cause of this
variety but that it is a "constant" one we have satisfied ourselves by
the examination of a number of identical specimens. The 17c also
exhibits a small peculiarity of engraving. A colored line projects
upwards into the uncolored oval band above the space between OS of
POSTAGE. This was evidently caused by an accidental touch of the
engraver's tool on the die for it is quite distinct on every specimen we
have examined.
The paper upon which the stamps of this series were printed does not
provide so much variation as that of the earlier emissions. Mr. D. A.
King in his article in the _Monthly Journal_ says:
The papers upon which these stamps are printed may be divided into
five classes:
I.--Ordinary, coarse, white wove paper.
II.--Similar paper, of a yellowish tint, and slightly ribbed.
III.--A hard greyish paper, very slightly ribbed.
IV.--White wove paper, very slightly ribbed.
V.--A white paper, very hard and closely ribbed.
In addition we are told that all the above varieties come in at least
two thicknesses. Scott's catalogue is content with a classification of
"wove" paper with a sub-variety of "ribbed" for the 1c and 5c
denominations. Mr. Howes extends the "ribbed" variety to all values but,
as we have pointed out in earlier chapters, it is extremely unlikely
that any such variety as a real ribbed paper was used, the ribbed lines
being simply due to some idiosyncrasy of manufacture. To again quote Mr.
King:
The best way to distinguish this paper from the others that have
the appearance of ribbing, is to hold the stamp before a strong
light, when the ribbing will appear like fine horizontal laid lines
on the 5c, and vertical laid lines in the other values. Looking
through the paper is the only sure test, as many of the stamps on
the other papers have the appearance of being ribbed.
To differentiate between stamps on ribbed paper and those having the
"appearance" of being ribbed is surely getting very close to the
ridiculous.
With the exception of the 10c the stamps of this issue provide but
little variation in shade but the 10c more than makes up for this lack
in the others for it exists in almost every conceivable tint from bright
red-lilac through shades of violet and brown to a brown so intense as to
be catalogued as a distinct variety described as "black-brown".
All the stamps of this series were normally perforated 12 by single line
machines. All values are known entirely imperforate and it would seem
that these, or most of them, are perfectly legitimate errors. The
_Philatelic Record_ for October, 1882, says:--"We have seen a used
_imperforate_ copy of the 5 cents, 1859, which is beyond challenge". Mr.
King states:--"The imperforate varieties are all legitimate, and
undoubtedly genuine, having been seen in pairs, or in single copies with
margins beyond cavil". Mr. Charles L. Pack writing in the _London
Philatelist_ regarding these varieties says:--
I have the 1c and 5c postmarked in 1860 and 1861 at Toronto and
Prescott, Canada West. I also believe that these varieties were on
sale at Kingston, Canada West, at about that time. I have also the
2c and 10c in undoubtedly early used condition.
Bi-sected varieties of the 5c and 10c of this issue are known though, as
Mr. Howes states of these varieties, they "were never authorised and
seldom used". The _Philatelic Record_ for October, 1888, mentions a part
of a cover with a 10c and half of a 5c side by side which were evidently
used in prepayment of the 12-1/2c rate, while Mr. Howes records the
existence of a pair of the 5c used with a half stamp of the same
denomination to make up the 12-1/2c packet rate. The same writer records
a diagonal half of the 10c used as a 5c stamp from Bowmanville, Upper
Canada, on February 15th, 1860. Whether these "splits" were the work of
private parties or were made by postal officials to fill a temporary
shortage of certain values will probably never be known.
_Reference List._
1859-64. Engraved and Printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
New York, on white wove paper. Perforated 12.
10. 1c pink, Scott's No. 14.
11. 2c rose, Scott's No. 18.
12. 5c vermilion, Scott's No. 15.
13. 10c lilac, Scott's No. 16.
14. 12-1/2c green, Scott's No. 19.
15. 17c blue, Scott's No. 20.
CHAPTER VII.--_The First Dominion Issue._
The steady growth of Upper Canada, chiefly due to immigration, until it
had twice the population of its sister Province, Lower Canada, aroused
cries for a readjusted representation, which threatened the French with
a hopeless minority in Parliament and the country with another impasse.
The federation of all the provinces under something like the American
system was the only solution; and with, for the most part, the cordial
coöperation of the maritime provinces, the great scheme was carried
through, and the new dominion launched in 1867. Each province retained
its local autonomy and separate legislature under a lieutenant-governor,
always a Canadian, nominated by the federal executive. To the latter was
reserved all great affairs, such as defense, customs, Crown lands,
Indians, and the organisation of the vast western territories then just
beginning to open up.
The famous Sir John Macdonald, the most illustrious of Canadian
statesmen, was prominent in the federal movement, as also was Sir
Charles Tupper. A final meeting was held in London, and early in 1867
the British North America Act was passed through the Imperial
Parliament. The new capital was fixed at Bytown, a small town up the
Ottawa well removed from the frontier, fairly central to all the
provinces, and felicitously rechristened Ottawa. Here were erected the
stately houses of parliament for senate, commons, and the entire
government staff, familiar to all travellers, and there, too, the
governor-general of all British North America took up his residence,
Lord Monck being the first to hold this high office, and Sir John
Macdonald the first premier.
The British North America Act, referred to above, provided for the
division of the Dominion of Canada into four provinces named Ontario,
Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and also made provision for the
admission of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, etc.,
when such admission should be deemed advisable. The Act went into force
on July 1st, 1867, and as a mark of the importance of this event the
first day of July is now a national holiday known as "Dominion Day".
It only remains to say that Prince Edward Island, British Columbia and
Manitoba (not then organised) came into the federation shortly
afterwards.
One of the chief duties of the first Parliament, which met at Ottawa on
November 6th, 1867, was the revision and consolidation of the laws of
the various provinces now federated, and amongst these were, of course,
the laws relating to the Post Office. The Act passed for the regulation
of the postal service is a lengthy one and the only provisions of
special interest to us as philatelists, those relating to the rates of
postage,--are more clearly and definitely tabulated in a Department
Order issued from Ottawa on March 1st, 1868, to which we shall make
reference later. Before doing so, however, we make a short extract from
the Post Office Act insofar as it relates to definitions of various
terms and expressions, viz.:--
The term "Letter" includes Packets of Letters;
The term "Postage" means the duty or sum chargeable for the
conveyance of Post Letters, Packets and other things by Post;
The term "Foreign Country" means any country not included in the
dominions of Her Majesty;
The term "Foreign Postage" means the postage on the conveyance of
Letters, Packets or other things, within any Foreign Country or
payable to any Foreign Government;
The term "Canada Postage" means the postage on the conveyance of
Letters, Packets and other things by Post within the Dominion of
Canada or by Canada Mail Packet;
The term "Mail" includes every conveyance by which Post Letters are
carried, whether it be by land or water;
The term "British Packet Postage" means the postage due on the
conveyance of letters by British Packet Boats, between the United
Kingdom and British North America:--And the term "British Postage"
includes all Postage not being Foreign, Colonial or Canadian;
The term "Post Letter" means any letter transmitted or deposited in
any Post Office to be transmitted by Post:--And a letter shall be
deemed a Post Letter from the time of its being deposited or
delivered at a Post Office, to the time of its being delivered to
the party to whom it is addressed.
The Department Order addressed to "All Postmasters, and Other Persons
Employed in the Postal Service of Canada" dealt chiefly with the rates
of postage and as these are important we feel it is necessary to
reproduce most of this rather lengthy document _in extenso:_--
PRINCIPAL RATES OF POSTAGE.
LETTERS.
5.--On letters passing between any two places within the Dominion
of Canada, a uniform rate (irrespective of distance), of three
cents per 1/2 oz., if prepaid; and five cents per 1/2 oz. if
unpaid.
6.--On letters between any place in the Dominion and any place in
the United States, 6 cents per 1/2 oz., if prepaid; and ten cents
per 1/2 oz. if unpaid.
7.--On letters to or from the United Kingdom, in Mails by Canada
Packets, to or from Quebec in summer, or Portland in winter; or by
Mail Packet to or from Halifax, 12-1/2c per 1/2 oz.
On do. in Mails via New York Packet, 15 cents per 1/2 oz.
On letters to Prince Edward Island, if prepaid, 3 cents per 1/2
oz.; if posted unpaid, 5 cents per 1/2 oz.
On letters to Newfoundland, to be in all cases prepaid, 12-1/2c per
1/2 oz.
On letters to British Columbia and Vancouver Island, in all cases
to be prepaid, 10 cents per 1/2 oz.
On letters to Red River, to be in all cases prepaid, 6 cents per
1/2 oz.
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.
For a paper published twice a week, 10 cents per quarter.
For a paper published three times, 15 cents per quarter.
For a paper published six times, 30 cents per quarter.
If the above rates are prepaid by the Publisher, the Postmaster
receiving payment must be careful to have the papers so prepaid
separately put up, and marked, distinctly, as prepaid.
When the above rates are not prepaid in advance, by either the
Publisher at the office of posting or by the subscriber at the
office of delivery, the papers are to be charged one cent each on
delivery.
9.--Canadian Newspapers, addressed from the Office of publication
to subscribers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Prince
Edward Island and Newfoundland, may be forwarded, on prepayment at
the Office in Canada where posted, at the above commuted rates,
applicable to such papers within the Dominion.
10.--Exchange Papers passing between publishers in Canada, between
publishers in Canada and publishers in the United States, Prince
Edward Island and Newfoundland, are to pass free--one copy of each
paper to each publisher.
11.--Transient Newspapers include all Newspapers posted in Canada,
other than Canadian Newspapers sent from the Office of publication,
and when addressed to any place within the Dominion, to the United
Kingdom, to the United States, Prince Edward Island or
Newfoundland, must be prepaid two cents each by postage stamp.
12.--Newspapers coming into Canada will be subject to the following
charges on delivery:--
If from the United Kingdom, by mail packet to Quebec, Halifax or
Portland--Free on delivery.
By mails via the United States (New York), two cents each.
If from the United States, two cents each, to be rated at the
Canada Frontier, or exchange office receiving mails from the United
States.
If from Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, when received by
regular subscribers in Canada from the Office of publication, the
ordinary commuted rates applicable to Canada Newspapers.
Transient Papers--two cents each.
13.--The Canada Postage rates on Newspapers coming or going to the
United Kingdom and the United States, will thus be the same as
those charged in the United Kingdom and the United States on
Newspapers there received from or sent to Canada.
14.--Canada News Agents may post to regular subscribers in Canada,
British Newspapers free, and United States Newspapers unpaid, such
papers in the latter case, must be duly rated two cents each for
collection on delivery.
PRINTED PAPERS, CIRCULARS, PRICES CURRENT, HAND BILLS, BOOKS,
PAMPHLETS.
15.--The rate on printed matter of this description posted in
Canada, and addressed to any place in Canada, Prince Edward Island,
Newfoundland or the United States, will be one cent per ounce, to
be prepaid by Postage Stamp; and a like rate will be payable on
delivery, when received from the United States, Prince Edward
Island or Newfoundland.
PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS.