the United States, the rate will be one cent per four ounces.
17.--A like rate will be payable on delivery in Canada, when
received for the United States, Prince Edward Island or
Newfoundland.
18.--Periodicals weighing less than one ounce per number, when
posted in Canada for any place within the Dominion, Prince Edward
Island, Newfoundland or the United States may, when put up singly,
pass for one-half cent per number, to be prepaid by Postage Stamp.
19.--As the Postage Rates on Periodicals, other than Newspapers,
will be payable in advance, and as certain classes of such
periodicals, printed and published in Canada, and sent from the
office of publication to regular subscribers, have for some time
past been exempted from postage when exclusively devoted to the
education of youth, to temperance, agriculture and science, or for
other reasons, it is ordered, that with respect to periodicals
which do now enjoy this privilege or exemption, the exemption shall
continue until the expiration of the current year--that is, until
the 31st December, 1868, and that from the 1st January, 1869, all
such special exemptions and privileges shall cease.
PARCEL POST.
20.--The rate on Parcels, by Parcel Post, will be 12-1/2 cents per
8 ounces, that is to say:--
On a parcel not exceeding 8 oz., 12-1/2 cents.
Over 8 oz., and not exceeding 1 lb., 25 cents.
Over 1 lb. and not exceeding 24 oz., 37-1/2 cents.
And so on, to the limit of three lbs.
BOOK AND NEWSPAPER MANUSCRIPT, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS MATTER.
21. On Book and Newspaper Manuscript (meaning written articles
intended for insertion in a newspaper or periodical, and addressed
to the Editor or Publisher thereof, for insertion), Printers' Proof
Sheets, whether corrected or not, Maps, Prints, Drawings,
Engravings, Music, whether printed or written, packages of Seeds,
Cuttings, Roots, Scions or Grafts, and Botanical Specimens, the
rate will be 1 cent per ounce, when posted for any place in Canada
or the United States, and prepaid by Postage Stamp.
POSTAGE STAMPS.
22.--To enable the Public to prepay conveniently by Postage Stamps
the foregoing rates, the following denominations of Postage Stamps
for use throughout the Dominion, have been prepared, and will be
supplied to Postmasters for sale:--
Half cent Stamps }
One cent do. }
Two cent do. } All bearing,
Three cent do. } as a device,
Six cent do. } the effigy
Twelve and a half cent do. } of Her Majesty.
Fifteen cent do. }
23.--The Postage Stamps now in use in the several Provinces may be
accepted, as at present, in prepayment of letters, etc., for a
reasonable time after the 1st. of April; but from and after that
date all issues and sales to the public will be of the new
denomination.
The section regarding "Franking and Free Matter" provides that only
letters sent to or by the Governor-General, the Speaker or Chief Clerk
of the Senate or of the House of Commons, Parliamentary papers, and
legislative documents, such as petitions, addresses, and votes, shall be
carried free of postage.
The most important change effected by the above quoted regulations was
the reduction of domestic postage from five cents to three cents. It
will be noted there are now no prepaid 5c or 17c rates and but one at
10c (on letters sent to British Columbia and Vancouver Island)
consequently these denominations were dropped from the new series. On
the other hand the 1/2c rate on transient newspapers, which had to be
prepaid, the regular 3c letter rate, the 6c rate to the United States,
and 15c for the new British Packet rate made necessary the issue of
these four values in addition to the 1c, 2c, and 12-1/2c denominations,
which were retained. All these stamps were printed by the line-engraved
process, as in the case of the earlier issues, the sheets consisting of
one hundred specimens arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten each. A new
firm--the British American Bank Note Company, of Montreal and
Ottawa--were entrusted with the manufacture of these stamps and, like
their predecessors, they applied their imprint to the plates, so that it
is shown four times on the margins of the sheets of the printed stamps.
Mr. Howes describes the imprint as follows:--
The imprint appears in colorless capitals on a narrow strip of
color with bossed ends, and reads BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO.,
MONTREAL & OTTAWA. This strip is framed by a very thin parallel
line, its entire width being but one millimeter, while its length
is about 51 mm. It occurs but once on a side, being placed against
the middle two stamps (numbers 5 and 6) of each row at a distance
of about 3 mm. The inscription reads up on the left and down on the
right, as before, but the bottom one is now upright, instead of
being reversed.
In the case of the half cent stamp at least, we find an additional
marginal imprint over the second and third stamps of the top row.
This consists of the words HALF CENT, in shaded Roman capitals 4
mm. high, the whole being about 40 mm. long. Presumably the same
thing, varied for each denomination, occurs on other values of the
series, as we find it does on the succeeding issue; but a strip
from the top of a sheet of the 15 cent stamps proves that it was
lacking on that value at least.
The new stamps came into use on April 1st, 1868, and are all much alike
in design. All values show a profile portrait of Queen Victoria, with
head to right, on a background of horizontal lines within a circle, but
the ornamentation and disposition of the inscriptions and numerals of
value in the surrounding frame is different on each. The _Stamp
Collector's Magazine_ for May, 1868, in announcing the issue, gives a
good description which we cannot forbear quoting, viz:--
We are now in possession of, as we presume, the entire series of
stamps for the Dominion of Canada, consisting of seven values--1/2
cent, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12-1/2, and 15 cents. It would be indeed odious
to compare them with the issues for another confederation lately
formed. They are the work of a newly-formed colonial company, and
are worthy to take rank beside any which have been manufactured by
the rival companies of New York. The design, as we stated last
month in noticing the 15c--the first of the set to appear--bears a
resemblance to that of the lower values of Nova Scotia, but shows
the Queen's head turned to the right. The new "British American
Bank Note Company, of Montreal and Ottawa", has done well to copy
so good a device, and certainly has not spoilt it, as the English
engravers did in the four penny South Australian. Moreover, whilst
retaining the central figure, by enclosing it in a
differently-patterned frame for each value, they have given greater
variety to the series. In all, care has been taken to make the
numerals distinct; and it is as well that this has been done, as
two of the values assimilate considerably in shade. The half cent
is distinguished from the rest by its smallness--it is quite
one-third less in size, but the device is the same. The stamps are
all printed on substantial paper, are perforated, and of the
following colors:
1/2 cent black
1 " dull red
2 " green
3 cents vermilion
6 " brown
12-1/2 " deep-blue
15 cents mauve
The two lowest values are for newspapers, and are far from being
acceptable, notwithstanding their beauty of design, to the
journalists. It had been expected that newspapers would be sent
throughout the Canadian provinces free of charge; and there has
been in consequence, a loud but ineffectual outcry against the
general imposition of even a reduced rate of postage, and more
especially at the enactment, that the charge must be paid by
senders. "Proprietors of journals," says the _Quebec Chronicle_,
"find it hard enough at present to collect the simple subscription,
without demanding postage in advance. People who writhe at present
under the payment of their bare paper account, will find forwarding
postage, in advance, an excruciating sacrifice." The 2 cents is no
doubt primarily intended for soldiers' letters. The 3 cents pays
the new single rate for postage; the 6 cents the charge on letters
to the United States. The 12-1/2c represents the postage to
England; and the 15c the rate for letters sent via New York.
Possibly a 10c will yet be added to the series, but the old 17c
will find no substitute in it. The new rates came into operation on
the 1st April, and we suppose on that date all the pre-existing
stamps of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were withdrawn.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
The stamps of this series provide quite an extensive range of shades,
especially as regards the 2c, 6c, and 15c. In the case of the latter
value the range of tints is so great that it is difficult to know what
was its originally intended color. The first shade was evidently mauve,
as given in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ chronicle, but, as is so
frequently the case with mauves, lilacs and violets, tint variations
were soon noticed. Shades varying from deep red lilac to grey and
blue-grey are known. It is difficult to draw the line, in some
instances, between true shades and "fades" but the grey would appear to
be undoubtedly a true color variety and one that should be recognised as
a provisional, if wholly unintentional, color change. Scott, in fact,
lists it as a separate issue under the date 1875-77, but this is an
arbitrary classification which has, apparently, no foundation in fact,
and the best plan is to include the variety in its logical place with
the rest of the 1868 series.
The paper used for this set of stamps is what is generally known as
"wove" and it varies, as Mr. Howes states, "from a very thin, almost
pelure quality to a quite hard and thick variety." Mr. King, who was
evidently untiring in his efforts to discover varieties of paper, says,
"This series is of a most interesting nature, having a very large number
of varieties of paper, all quite distinct, and specimens of some are of
considerable rarity." Mr. King then lets himself go and describes some
_seventeen_ varieties of paper but, with the exception of two well
marked varieties to which we shall make extended reference shortly, they
all seem to resolve themselves into minute variations of the wove paper
such as can be found in connection with most stamps of the 'sixties and
'seventies with the aid of a micrometer and a well trained imagination!
We doubt whether any specialist, however willing and enthusiastic, could
follow Mr. King through his intricate listing.
Scott's catalogue lists a sub-variety of all values except the 1/2c on
"watermarked" paper. The watermarked letters found in these stamps were
known at least as early as 1870 and much speculation was rife as to
their meaning. Mr. John N. Luff finally solved the problem by assembling
a large number of the watermarked stamps so that he was able to
reconstruct the complete watermark, viz:--
E. & C. BOTHWELL
CLUTHA MILLS
The letters are large double lined capitals 12-1/2 mm. high with the
exception of the initial letters E, C and B of the upper line, which
are 13 mm. high. The "watermark" is, of course, the trademark of the
paper manufacturer and, like other watermarks of a similar nature, it is
not of very great philatelic importance. It is very generally presumed
that the paper watermarked in this manner was used provisionally--an
opinion with which Mr. Howes seems to concur by his statement that "the
watermarked paper must therefore have been used sometime during the
course of the year 1868, probably the middle, when supplies of all
values except the 1/2c were printed." But we fail to find from any
evidence so far adduced that this watermarked paper was in use only
during some well defined period. The fact that it is not found in
connection with the 1/2c proves nothing for this value was of a
different size from the others and doubtless paper of a different size,
but the same quality was used so as to prevent unnecessary waste in
cutting into sheets for printing. At best, as we have already stated, it
is but a papermaker's trade mark, and it is difficult to understand on
what grounds it is included in the catalogue as a variety to the
exclusion of similar and well known examples in the stamps of other
countries. We must confess that more importance seems to be attached to
the variety than is warranted by its philatelic status and we commend to
our readers' attention Major E. B. Evans' pertinent comments regarding
it, viz:--
We feel bound to state that, unless the paper itself is of a
different nature from the plain wove, this watermark seems to us to
possess no interest whatever. It is evidently entirely unofficial,
and it is quite possible that it only occurred in one sheet out of
several of identically the same paper.
The other variety of paper which calls for special mention is a "laid"
paper found in connection with the 1c and 3c values. It is obviously a
true "laid" paper, the laid lines being very distinct, fairly wide and
quite evenly spaced. While the use of this paper was, no doubt, quite
unintentional, it is a distinct variation from the normal wove which
cannot be ignored by specialists, though we hardly think it is entitled
to rank as a "major" variety as shown by the classification followed in
Scott's catalogue. The 3c was discovered first and was mentioned in the
_Philatelic Record_ for March, 1882, as follows:--"Mr. Tapling informs
us that he possesses the 3 cents red, issue of 1868, on laid paper." A
few months later Mr. Corwin discovered a copy of the 1c which he
described in the _National Philatelist_ for January, 1883, as follows:--
Some time since I saw noted in the _Philatelic Record_ the
existence of a 3 cent Canada stamp, emission of 1868, on laid
paper. In looking through my Canadian varieties, after reading this
note, I discovered also a copy of the one cent red, same emission,
on laid paper.
This laid paper was evidently used during the printing of the early
supplies of the 1c and 3c denominations. Scott's catalogue lists the
varieties under the date "1870" but we can find no evidence of any kind
in support of this classification. Messrs. Corwin and King record a copy
of the 1c postmarked November 27th, 1868, and the 3c is known dated
August 31st, 1868, all of which points to the early use of this laid
paper. The 15c on "thin paper, horizontally laid" was mentioned in the
_American Journal of Philately_ for October, 1892, on the authority of
Mr. F. de Coppet but as the variety is not now catalogued and no copy
seems to be known we presume its authenticity is a debatable question.
The 1c, orange, was at one time listed on laid paper but this has been
satisfactorily proved to be simply a "figment of the imagination".
In his article in the _London Philatelist_ Mr. C. L. Pack describes the
15c as existing on "distinctly soft ribbed paper". Mr. King gives
"ribbed" varieties for all values on both thin and thick soft paper but,
as in the case of the earlier Canadian stamps found on ribbed paper, we
think a lot of proof is yet necessary before these varieties can be
accepted as anything better than accidental vagaries of printing.
The perforation used for the stamps of this series had a gauge of 12, as
with the stamps of the preceding issue, and was the work of single line
or guillotine machines. That is, each line of perforation, both
horizontally and vertically, represented a separate stroke on the
machine. The _Monthly Journal_ for February, 1899, lists a minor variety
of perforation in the 2c, 3c, 6c, 12-1/2c and 15c denominations in which
the measurement is 11-1/2 x 12. Whether a machine with a gauge of 11-1/2
was in temporary use at some time or other is uncertain but if such was
the case it seems strange that no copies are known perf. 11-1/2 all
round or perf. 12 x 11-1/2. Even if it were due to a slight error in the
placing of the perforating needles in some part of the full row it is
strange that specimens gauging 12 x 11-1/2 are not known. We have been
unable to find any further references to these varieties other than that
stated above so that, until more information is forthcoming on the
subject, they should be accepted with reserve.
The 15c of this series is known entirely imperforate and Mr. Howes
records the 1/2c as existing in a horizontal pair, imperforate between.
The only "split" found in connection with this series occurs in the case
of the 6c denomination, diagonal halves of which are known to have done
postal duty as 3c. These appear to have been entirely unauthorized
though, as they undoubtedly passed through the mail, they have an
interest to collectors of stamps on cover.
_Reference List._
1868. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note
Company, at Ottawa. Wove paper. Perf. 12.
16. 1/2c black. Scott's No. 21.
17. 1c brown red. Scott's No. 22.
18. 2c green, Scott's No. 23.
19. 3c red, Scott's No. 24.
20. 6c brown, Scott's No. 25.
21. 12-1/2c blue, Scott's No. 26.
22. 15c lilac, Scott's No. 27.
23. 15c gray, Scott's No. 39.
CHAPTER VIII.--_The 1c Orange of 1869._
The 1c and 3c stamps of 1868 were so alike in color that it was soon
found that confusion was easily possible between the two values. Early
in 1869, therefore, the color of the 1c was changed to orange to prevent
further mistakes. The exact date at which this change took place is not
known, but in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for March 1st, 1869, we
read:--
We have just received copies of the one cent printed in brilliant
orange. No doubt this colour has been adopted in order better to
distinguish it from the 3 cents, which it has hitherto too nearly
approached.
From the above extract it would seem that the orange colored stamps were
in use at least as early as February and though it has been asserted
that the change took place on January 1st, 1869, we believe there are no
official documents or early dated specimens in existence that would
substantiate this statement.
These 1c stamps may be found in both orange and yellow shades as well as
a combination of both. So far as is known they were printed from the
same plate or plates as the earlier brown-red stamps.
The paper is the same as that used for the other denominations, _i.e._
wove, and the fact that this variety is not known with the watermark of
the papermaker's trade mark is generally adduced as the strongest
evidence in support of the theory that this watermarked paper was only
of a provisional nature and was used some time during 1868.
The perforation is the usual 12 and specimens are known entirely
imperforate.
_Reference List._
1869. Change of color. Wove Paper. Perf. 12.
24. 1c orange, Scott's No. 31.
CHAPTER IX.--_The Large 5c Stamp._
Although it somewhat interrupts the chronological sequence of our
narrative, before dealing with the small "cents" stamps, first appearing
in 1870, it will be as well to give the history of the large 5c stamp
which, though not issued until 1875, really belongs by virtue of its
type and general appearance to the series of 1868.
It is known that the die for this 5c stamp was engraved in 1867 at the
same time the dies for the 1/2, 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c, 12-1/2c and 15c values
were prepared for, in the _American Journal of Philately_ for June,
1868, it is stated:--
The Canadian Government have had a 5 cent stamp prepared, engraved
of the same type as the present set, the most noticeable difference
being the circle round the head which is corded. The specimen sent
us is printed in brown on India paper, bearing the Company's
imprint underneath.
Though the die was all ready, as amply proved by the above extract,
no plate was made as there was then no postal rate which required
such a denomination. In 1875, however, the single letter rate between
Canada and Great Britain was reduced to 5c as stated in the
Postmaster-General's Report for 1875, viz.:--
A treaty for the formation of a General Postal Union, and for the
adoption of uniform postal rates and regulations for International
correspondence, was arranged and signed at Berne, Switzerland, in
October, 1874, by the representatives of the Post Offices of the
chief Nations of the world. This agreement took effect between all
the countries which were directly parties to the Treaty in July
last. The Treaty did not include the British Possessions beyond the
sea, but Canada has, with the concurrence of the Imperial
Government, applied for admission as a member of this Postal Union.
Meanwhile the letter rate of postage between Canada and the United
Kingdom has, by arrangement with the Imperial Post Office, been
reduced to the International rate of 2-1/2 pence sterling--5 cents
currency--established by the Union Regulations; and this reduction
has also been made applicable to correspondence passing by way of
New York, making the rate between Canada and the United Kingdom
uniform at 5 cents by whatever route conveyed.
Although the Report alluded to above is dated June 30th, it must have
been published at a later date as the "July last" mentioned refers to
July, 1875, and when the 5 cent rate came into operation stamps to fit
this new rate were wanted in such a hurry that, as a temporary
expedient, a plate was made from the die engraved in 1867 pending the
preparation of a die conforming to the small sized stamps then in
general use. There was only one printing and the total number issued is
believed to have been about one million. Mr. Howes says it was issued on
October 1st, 1875.
In 1877 the 5c single letter rate was, by treaty, extended to embrace
the German states of Prussia, Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Saxony and
Wurtemberg and in the same year the rate on a single letter to
Newfoundland was reduced from 6c to 5c. At this time, of course, the
small sized 5c stamps were in use but it will better preserve the
continuity of our study of the postal rates to make one more extract
from the Postmaster-General's Reports--that for 1878,--viz.:
At the meeting of the International Postal Congress, which, under
the provisions of the Postal Treaty of Berne, concluded in October,
1874, took place at Paris in May, 1878, Canada was admitted to be a
member of the General Postal Union from the 1st July, 1878, and in
consequence the rate of letter postage between Canada and all
Europe became one uniform charge of 5 cents per half ounce.
Newspapers and other printed matter, and samples and patterns of
merchandise also became subject to uniform postage rates and
regulations for all destinations in Europe.
The 5c rate was, thus, now well established, and Canada had obtained
membership in the Universal Postal Union, for which she had been
striving since 1875.
This large 5c stamp was printed by the line-engraved process, like the
other denominations of similar designs. The portrait forming the
centrepiece is like that on the values of 1868 though the medallion is
enclosed within a "corded" circle instead of an ordinary plain line.
"CANADA POSTAGE" is curved above the portrait, as usual, while below is
"FIVE CENTS". The numerals, shown in the lower corners, are somewhat
smaller than those on the other denominations of this type.
The stamps were printed in sheets of 100, in ten rows of ten, and with
regard to the marginal imprints Mr. Howes tells us that "The sheet bore
four marginal imprints, arranged as before, but of a slightly different
type for the 1868 issue. This new imprint is in capitals and lower case
letters on a colored strip 56 mm. long and 2-1/2 mm. wide, with a border
of pearls, and reads: 'British American Bank Note Co. Montreal'.
Doubtless the words FIVE CENTS in shaded Roman capitals would be found
over the second and third stamps of the top row if one were fortunate
enough to possess this portion of a sheet."
The stamps were printed on the wove paper then in use and perforated 12
in the usual manner.
_Reference List._
1875. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note
Co., Montreal. Wove paper. Perf. 12.
25. 5c olive green, Scott's No. 37.
CHAPTER X.--_The Small "Cents" Stamps._
In the _American Journal of Philately_ for August, 1869, we read "Canada
is shortly to have a new set of stamps. Taking lessons in economy from
our own country, it seems they are about altering their stamps to make
them smaller, so as to save paper. The head will still remain exactly
the same as now, but the frame and the margin around the head will be
considerably less. We cannot see how this can be done without spoiling
the beauty of the stamp. As to whether they are to retain the same
colors we are unable to say." The 1869 issue of the United States was in
use at that time and though this series is now generally popular it was
regarded with very mixed feelings then as may be imagined from the
_Stamp Collector's Magazine_ comments on the above statement, viz.:--"We
trust this intelligence is incorrect; that the example of the new United
States stamps can have any attractive influence on the Canadian
authorities is hardly possible."
The new issues do not seem to have formed the subject of any special
official document or notice, nor does the reduction in the size of the
labels seem to have been considered worthy of special mention in any of
the Reports issued by the Postmaster-General.
These smaller sized stamps were issued as the stocks of the earlier
issues became exhausted or, in some cases, presumably as the old plates
were discarded owing to wear, but it appears very probable that the dies
for the 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c and 10c denominations were all engraved at the
same period and, as regards the 2c, 6c and 10c, it is very possible that
supplies were printed and held in stock long before it became necessary
to issue them to the public.
The 3c was the first value to appear and was probably on sale some time
in January, 1870. The _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for March 1st of that
year chronicled this new stamp as follows:--
It appears that the reduction in the size of the Dominion postage
stamps, to which reference was made some months ago, is really to
be carried out, and as an earnest of the execution of the project,
we receive the three cents red, cut down to the size of the half
cent, and with the design made to resemble that of the latter. The
numerals in the upper corners are absent; the inscription, CANADA
POSTAGE, is in almost microscopic lettering, and in lieu of the
full denomination--THREE CENTS--in the lower margin, the word CENTS
alone appears, flanked by the figure on each side. The cause of the
change is not to be sought in any desire to economise paper; it
lies in the simple fact that the smaller size is found the more
convenient. The design certainly is not improved by it, and we
might call upon these little stamps to "hide their diminished
heads," were it not that the head, and that alone, remains as large
as ever. The stamps, though in a fair way to become small by
degrees as the Canadian idea of convenience increases, are not
likely to become "_beautifully_ less." A new value, however, made
up from the parings of the old ones--an 8 cents--is said to be in
preparation, and will help to make up in quantity, for any
deterioration in the quality.
The next value to appear was the 1 cent, which was recorded in the
journal referred to above in its issue for April 1st, so that it was no
doubt on sale some time in March, 1869. In design it is similar to the
3c, the main difference being in the inscription at base. The
denomination is given in full--ONE CENT--and this follows the curve of
the medallion instead of curving in the reverse direction as CENTS does
on the 3c.
[Illustration]
Evidently there were large stocks on hand of some of the values of the
1868 issue for two years elapsed before any more of the small stamps
appeared. Then in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for February, 1872,
we read:--"We have received by the last mail specimens of a new 6 cents
brown of the small size. It is printed of a warm tint, and is as
effective as its congeners." The design follows that of the 3c very
closely with, of course, the numerals "6" instead of "3" in the lower
angles.
In the following month the 2c was chronicled, its color being given as
"a delicate chrome-green." The design differs from the 3c and 6c chiefly
in the direction of the curve of the word CENTS, which is reversed, as
compared with those denominations, and much less pronounced.
The 10c was the next value to appear and it was not on sale until quite
late in 1874, probably about November 1st. The design follows the
general effect of the 2c but at the same time illustrates a new
departure, inasmuch as the numerals of value are repeated in the upper
corners in a smaller form. For what particular purpose this value was
intended is not clear for there was, apparently, no regular rate at that
time which required such a denomination.
The next value placed on sale was the 5c, which was issued in February,
1876, and superseded the large 5c design after it had been in use for
only about four months. Though the portrait is the same as that on the
other values the frame is of a distinctly different style and CENTS is
in much larger letters than before, showing that the previous values,
following as they do a general pattern, were engraved much about the
same time though many years elapsed before all were actually in use.
[Illustration]
Finally in July, 1882, the 1/2c value appeared and was recorded in the
_Philatelic Record_ for July of that year in the following words:--
That "history repeats itself" is a proverb that is curiously
illustrated by the latest issue of this colony. We all remember
that in 1868 a 1/2c stamp of smaller size than the other values of
the series was emitted. A few years later, some say for economical
reasons, the other values were reduced to the smaller size.
Recently it seems to have struck the Canadian authorities that
their idea of fourteen years ago was a happy one, and the 1/2c has
been proportionately cut down. The general arrangements of the
design remain the same, but the ornamentation is simpler. The head
and circle containing it are miniatures of the former, and the
result is what the ladies would call "a dear little stamp," about
the size of our lately defunct "Halfpenny," but an upright instead
of an oblong rectangle. We trust the price of paper will not again
cause a general reduction; for if the Canadian stamps go on growing
"small by degrees, and beautifully less," they will in time become
too microscopic to be collectible.
After the issue of the 1/2c value the only denominations of the 1868
series not provided with successors in the issue under notice were the
12-1/2c and 15c. Regarding the former value the _Stamp Collector's
Magazine_ for May, 1872, says, on the authority of a Canadian
journal:--"It is unlikely that the 12-1/2c small size will be issued, as
the large ones are very little used, and can now be bought at the
post-office for 12 cents." But some three years later the _American
Journal of Philately_ asserted that "Canada will shortly issue the
12-1/2c and 15c values of postals in small size, to correspond with the
others of the series." These stamps, however, never materialised though
that dies and plates were made and stamps printed from them is evident
from the existence of perforated essays of these two values. The
portrait is exactly like that of the other denominations, and the
borders are, on general lines, so like the 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c and 10c as to
give considerable support to the belief that these unissued varieties
were prepared for use at quite an early date.
The stamps of this series were all produced by the line-engraved process
and all values, with the exception of the 1/2c, were at first printed in
sheets of 100, arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten. The 1/2c was
printed in sheets of 200, arranged in two panes of 100 each, placed side
by side. A space of about 11 mm. separated the two panels and these
large sheets were cut into halves before leaving the printing
establishment, thus making "post-office" sheets of 100 stamps. In the
later months of 1892 or early in 1893 the 1c, 2c and 3c values--the ones
in most general demand--were printed in large sheets of 200 arranged in
ten horizontal rows of twenty stamps each.
A close study of a large quantity of these stamps would probably result
in the discovery of many interesting varieties in the way of double
transfers. In the few stamps at our disposal we have found but one of
any prominence. This occurs on the 3c denomination the top portion of
the design having plainly been applied to the plate twice, the doubling
being especially noticeable in the inscription CANADA POSTAGE.
As these stamps were in use for a fairly lengthy period--nearly thirty
years in the case of the 3c--it is obvious that a large number of plates
must have been made, especially for those denominations which were
generally used. At different times different marginal imprints or
arrangements of the imprints were used, and given sufficient material a
study of these marginal varieties should reveal much of interest. Mr.
Howes has paid particular attention to these varieties and the following
notes are chiefly based on his investigations.
The earliest plates of the 1c, 2c, 3c, 5c and 6c, and probably the 10c
as well (as this value was in use before the 5c), had the denomination
in words above the second and third stamps on the top row of each sheet.
These inscriptions, "ONE CENT", etc., were in large shaded Roman
capitals 4 mm. high. In the centre of each of the four margins is the
manufacturer's imprint, BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. MONTREAL &
OTTAWA, in colorless Roman capitals on a narrow strip of color 1 mm.
wide and 51 mm. long; this imprint being, in fact, exactly like that
found on the sheets of the 1868 issue. These remarks apply to the 1c,
2c, 3c and 6c (and probably to the 10c also), but not to the 5c.
The 5c, which was not issued until 1876, has the denomination shown in
the upper margin in large shaded Roman capitals, as in the case of the
others, but the imprint is different, being like that found on the
sheets of the large 5c stamp, _i.e._ "British American Bank Note Co.
Montreal", in capitals and lower case letters on a strip of solid color
56 mm. long by 2-1/2 mm. wide, with a pearled border. This imprint was
shown on each of the four margins.
About this time new plates made for the other denominations also had
this new style of imprint. Sheets of the 1c and 3c show the imprint on
top and bottom margins only, but whether other plates were used for
these denominations with imprints on all four sides is not known for
certain, though this is highly probable. The 6c and 10c values of this
series have large numerals, "6" or "10" as the case may be, above the
second stamp in the top row, while above the ninth stamp of the same row
is "SIX" or "TEN" in shaded Roman capitals. The numerals are very thick
and 6 mm. in height, while the letters are 4 mm. high as on the earlier
plates, though the word "CENTS" has now been dispensed with. This
arrangement has not been noted on other denominations as yet, though
there is no reason why it should not be found in connection with the 1c,
2c and 3c.
A sheet of the 3c value, with two marginal imprints, is noted with
"THREE" in shaded Roman capitals above the first two stamps of the top
row, while the 1c is recorded without any marginal designation of value
and with but two of the "Montreal" imprints.
The printing establishment of the British American Bank Note Company was
removed from Montreal to Ottawa in 1888 and plates made after that date
show a new style of imprint viz:--"BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO.
OTTAWA", in white Roman capitals on a strip of solid color measuring 40
mm. long by 1-1/2 mm. wide. This, it will be noted, is like the first
type of imprint but with the words "MONTREAL &" removed. On the 2c this
is known 49 mm. long and nearly 2 mm. wide, this being from a sheet in
the 100 arrangement. The smaller style of imprint seems to have been
characteristic of the sheets printed in the 200 size, and writing with
regard to these Mr. Howes says:--
The "Ottawa" imprint appears three times, once in the middle of the
top margin, over stamps 10 and 11, and twice in the bottom margin,
beneath stamps 5 and 6, and again beneath stamps 15 and 16. There
are no imprints at the sides. The denomination appears in the top
margin at both right and left and in a new style of lettering on
these larger plates. Thus we find ONE CENT or TWO CENT over stamps
2 and 3 as well as 18 and 19, or THREE CENT over the first four and
last four stamps in plain Egyptian capitals.
[Illustration]
The 1/2c value, which we have left until last on account of its
different sheet arrangement, had the "Montreal" imprint, described in
connection with the other values, arranged six times on the
margins--above and below each pane, at the right of the right hand pane,
and at the left of the left hand pane--so that there were three imprints
on each of the "post-office" sheets of 100 stamps. In addition, to quote
Mr. Howes, "over the top inscription of the right pane is the reversed
figure 1, 4 mm. high, and in the same position on the left pane the
corresponding figure 2, evidently to designate the panes."
This series provides a number of shade varieties, as is only natural in
a set having such long currency, and their proper treatment is a matter
involving some little perplexity. It was evidently the original
intention of the printers to keep the colors of the small stamps as
nearly like those of the large ones they superseded as possible, and
while many shades match the colors of the earlier stamps to a nicety
others show a divergence that at times almost approaches a "color
change." As early as May, 1873, the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ noted a
change in the shade of the 3c viz.:--
By the courtesy of a Montreal correspondent we are in possession of
specimens of the current three cents, printed in bright
orange-vermilion. A supply in this color has just been issued.
The _Philatelic Record_ for March, 1888, says "The 10c is now in
carmine-red", and again in May that "the 5 cents has changed its color
from bronze-green to greenish grey." More than a year later (July, 1889)
the same journal says "the 2 cents stamp is now blue-green;" in
December, 1890, the 6c is recorded in "chestnut-brown"; while in April,
1892, the 5c is chronicled as having been issued in "grey-black."
Similar color changes in most values were recorded in other journals but
as there is an almost total lack of agreement as regards the names
chosen to designate the different shades these chronicles are of little
value in determining the chronological order of issue of even the most
striking of the tints. It is also more than probable that after a change
had been made the original or earlier tints were reverted to later on.
The catalogues are equally at variance in their choice of color names
and while Gibbons' gives four shades for each of the 1c and 3c values,
Scott gives but two for the 1c and of the four given for the 3c not one
agrees with any of the names given by Gibbons'. The only point on which
both catalogues agree is that a general change of colors took place
during the period of 1888-90, _i.e._, after the printers had moved
their establishment from Montreal to Ottawa. But though the later
printings of the 6c and 10c do, undoubtedly, differ very materially from
the earlier colors--almost enough so, in fact, to be classed as distinct
colors--such varieties seem to have been purely accidental and to
classify them as separate issues hardly seems correct. In this
connection it is interesting to quote Mr. Howes' remarks:--
That the above changes were hardly of a character to warrant
dignifying them as a "new issue," which is frequently done, is
shown by a moment's consideration. The 1/2c and 1c stamps showed no
appreciable difference in coloring and therefore caused no comment.
The 2 cent did not retain its blue green shade unaltered, and the 3
cent soon reverted to its former brilliant red hue, as the
_Philatelic Journal of America_ for May, 1889, says that "the
carmine color recently adopted has been dropped, and the stamps are
printed in colors similar to the ones in use before the change was
made." The 5, 6, and 10 cent stamps, however, made permanent
changes, but only such as might readily be traceable to a new
mixing of the inks in the case of the first two. The 10 cent can
hardly be so easily disposed of, as lake and brown-red are of quite
different composition from a rose-lilac. But there can have been no
official intention of altering the shades or colors or more
definite and permanent changes would certainly have been made
throughout the set. It remains, therefore, to classify them simply
as shade varieties of the original set.
Mr. Donald A. King, in his article in the _Monthly Journal_, gives no
less than eight varieties of paper for the stamps of this issue, though
all resolve themselves into slight, and in many cases probably
imperceptible, variations in quality and thickness of the usual "wove"
paper. Mr. Howes gives a thick and thin wove and "a closely ribbed
paper." This latter like the ribbed varieties in the earlier issues, is
evidently due to nothing more than some eccentricity of printing and is,
consequently, of doubtful philatelic importance. The classification of
the series into thick and thin papers seems to have more to be said in
its favor if the statement made in Gibbons' catalogue is to be relied
on. According to a foot note the stamps printed prior to 1888 (that is,
in Montreal), are on a thinner paper than was used for subsequent
printings. The _Philatelic Record_ for October, 1893, mentions the 10c
as being found on "fine laid paper" but this was evidently the variety
more generally classified as "ribbed."
The perforation used for the stamps of this series was the usual 12--the
work of single-line or guillotine machines. All values are reported to
exist perforated 11-1/2 by 12, as mentioned in connection with the
issues of 1868, but this statement requires verification before it can
be accepted as authoritative. All values are known entirely imperforate,
the 3c in this condition being first recorded in the _Philatelic Record_
for December, 1882. Writing in the _London Philatelist_ in 1907 Mr. M.
H. Horsley says with regard to these varieties:--"Imperforated copies of
various values were sold over the Post-office counter in Montreal about
the years 1891-3 at their face value, and have been good for postage
whenever people cared to use them." Writing a little later on the same
subject Mr. C. L. Pack also vouches for them, viz.:--"I quite agree with
Mr. Horsley in regard to the various imperforate copies of the issues of
1882 to 1895. There are a good many specimens of these stamps
imperforate, and they were on sale at a Canadian Post Office." Curiously
enough Gibbons' catalogue entirely ignores these imperforate stamps
though Mr. Howes is able to adduce documentary evidence in support of
the statements made by philatelists of such undoubted authority as
Messrs. Horsley and Pack.
Scott's catalogue records the 1/2c as existing in a horizontal pair
imperforate between.
The same work records the 2c bi-sected diagonally or vertically and the
halves used for 1c stamps, while Mr. Howes adds the 6c, cut vertically
and used for 3c. But as the "Canadian Postal Guide" declares that "a
mutilated stamp, or a stamp cut in half, is not recognised in payment of
postage" such freaks can only have passed through the mails by
carelessness or favor and their philatelic interest is negligible.
In 1875 an Act of Parliament was passed making the prepayment of letters
by postage stamp obligatory and imposing a fine of double the deficiency
on all insufficiently prepaid letters. At the same time local or drop
letters (accepted for 1c) were restricted to 1/2 oz. in weight.
The Postmaster-General's Report for 1879 says:--
A reduction has been made, from the 1st September last, in the
postage rate on closed parcels sent by post within the Dominion,
from 12-1/2 cents per 8 oz. of weight to 6 cents per 4 oz. Under
this change small parcels not exceeding 4 ounces in weight are
admitted to pass for 6 cents instead of 12-1/2 cents as before.
It will thus be seen that this change did away with the chief use of the
12-1/2c value and made it practically useless. Hence the reason it was
never included among the series of small "cents" stamps.
In 1889 another Post Office Act increased the limit of weight of single
letters from 1/2 oz. to 1 oz., and at the same time increased the postal
rate on local or drop letters from 1c to 2c, though a weight of 1 oz.
was allowed under the new schedule. An official notice recording these
changes was published as follows:--
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
CHANGES IN POSTAGE RATES UNDER AUTHORITY OF POST OFFICE ACT 1889.
The rate of postage upon Letters posted in Canada, addressed to
places within the Dominion or in the United States, will be 3 cents
per ounce instead of 3 cents per half ounce as heretofore. Upon
Drop Letters posted at an Office from which letters are delivered
by Letter Carrier, the postage rate will be 2 cents per ounce,
instead of 1 cent per half ounce. The rate of postage upon Drop
Letters, except in the Cities where free delivery by Letter Carrier
has been established, will be 1 cent per ounce.
The fee for the Registration of a letter or other article of mail
matter, will be five cents upon all classes of correspondence
passing within the Dominion. For the present and until further
instructed, the registration fee may be prepaid by using the 2 cent
Registration Stamps and Postage Stamps to make up the amount.
Letters insufficiently prepaid will be charged double the
deficiency as heretofore, provided at least a partial payment has
been made. Letters posted wholly unpaid will be sent to the Dead
Letter Office for return to the writer.
JOHN G. HAGGART,
_Postmaster-General._
Post Office Department,
OTTAWA, 8th May, 1889.
_Reference List._
1870-82. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank
Note Co. of Montreal and Ottawa. Wove paper. Perf. 12.
26. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 40.
27. 1c orange, Scott's No. 32.
28. 2c green. Scott's No. 33 or 41.
29. 3c red. Scott's No. 34 or 42.
30. 5c grey, Scott's No. 38 or 43.
31. 6c brown, Scott's No. 35 or 44.
32. 10c magenta or brown red, Scott's No. 36 or 45.
CHAPTER XI.--_The 20c and 50c Stamps of 1893._
The Postmaster-General's Report for 1892 states that "Postage stamps of
the value of 20 cents and 50 cents are about to be issued. These will be
useful in prepayment of parcel post." These high values were, of course,
intended to be used in making up relatively large amounts of postage.
They were not issued to be used in prepayment of any specific rates
though a study of the postal rates of the period show that the postage
on a parcel weighing up to one pound sent to the United Kingdom would
require a 20c stamp, while a 2 lb. parcel sent to Japan would take the
50c denomination. The same rates show that the postage on 1 lb. parcels
sent to Newfoundland was 15c, though no stamp of this value had been
issued subsequent to the series of 1868 nor has one ever since been
included in the regular series.
[Illustration]
These new 20c and 50c labels were issued on February 17th, 1893, and
while alike in design, except as regards the denotation of value, they
are quite dissimilar from any of the previously issued postage stamps of
the Dominion both as regards size and design. The portrait shows Queen
Victoria in her widow's weeds and is similar to that shown on the Bill
stamps which were first issued in 1868. Above the portrait CANADA
POSTAGE is curved, and on straight labels at the foot is the value in
words, while between this inscription and the lower part of the
medallion are figures of value.
The stamps were, as usual, produced by the line-engraved process, and
they were printed in sheets of 100 at the Ottawa establishment of the
British American Bank Note Company. The manufacturer's imprint was shown
twice on each sheet--in the centre of the upper and lower margins. This
imprint consisted of the words "British American Bank Note Co. Ottawa,"
on a strip of solid color measuring 38 mm. in length and 2-1/2 mm. in
height. This colored strip has square ends and is enclosed within a
pearled border.
Both values were printed on the wove paper used for the other
denominations then current and the perforation was the usual 12 made by
single-line machines.
Evidently these values were but sparingly used, for Mr. Howes tells
us:--
Both were ordered to the number of half a million copies in 1893,
and in 1895 25,000 more of the 20 cent and 30,000 more of the 50
cent were delivered, with a final 200 copies in 1896. These
quantities were sufficient to last until the 20 cent was superseded
by the newer type in 1901, and the 50 cent by the King's head stamp
in 1908. Some 1500 of the 20 cent were returned for destruction and
about 10,000 of the 50 cent.
It seems hardly possible that but 200 copies of each were supplied in
1896--_i.e._ two sheets of each value--if they were the normal
perforated stamps. Possibly this small supply consisted of the
imperforates--both values being known in this condition--and if so they
may have been printed to fill a special requisition. The imperforate 20c
is on the normal shade but the 50c is, as Mr. Howes observes, in a
"peculiar black blue" shade. There are no marked varieties in shade as
can easily be understood from the few printings which took place.
_Reference List._
1893. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note
Co. of Ottawa. Wove paper. Perf. 12.
33. 20c vermilion, Scott's No. 46.
34. 50c deep blue, Scott's No. 47.
CHAPTER XII.--_The 8c Stamp of 1893._
Until 1889 the registration fee had to be prepaid by means of the
special stamps issued for the purpose. When, in 1889, a uniform
registration fee of 5c was adopted the public were given permission to
use the ordinary postage stamps in making up the difference between the
old rate of 2c and the new one. This was done largely to enable the old
2c labels to be used up. In 1893 it was decided to discontinue the use
of special registration stamps altogether and to permit the payment of
the registry fee by means of the regular postage stamps. As the rate of
domestic postage was 3c at that time and the registration fee was 5c, a
new stamp, by means of which both postage and registration could be paid
together, it was decided, would be useful. Consequently an 8c
denomination was issued, this being recorded in the _Philatelic Record_
for October, 1893, though, judging from the following extract from the
WEEKLY for August 10th, 1893, it would appear that the new value was in
general circulation at least as early as August 1st:--
The following orders were posted up in all Canadian post-offices on
August 1st:
A new postage stamp of the value of 8c is now being put into
circulation. This stamp will be available for the prepayment either
of registration fee and postage combined, or of postage only. The
5c registration stamp, when the present supply is exhausted, will
be withdrawn.
[Illustration]
The new denomination, as stated in the _Philatelic Record_, "resembles
in design the 3 cents of the current series; but the head of the Queen
has been turned the other way, and is now to the left."
This stamp was of similar size to the other values of the set then
current (excepting the 20c and 50c, of course) and it was printed from
steel plates in sheets of 200 arranged in ten horizontal rows of twenty
stamps each. According to Mr. Howes, there were no marginal imprints of
any kind. This denomination was printed on wove paper and perforated 12
like the others. The variety with gauge of 11-1/2 x 12 is reported in
connection with this value but, like the similar varieties of the
earlier issues which we have already mentioned, the statement requires
verification before it can be definitely accepted.
The 8c is known entirely imperforate in the blue-grey shade, which was
one of the earliest if not the first shade for this stamp. The
_Philatelic Record_ calls it "slate-grey" but evidently the tint now
generally classified as "blue-grey" was meant.
This stamp provides a large number of very distinct shade varieties.
Just 13 months after it was first chronicled the _Philatelic Record_
says:--"Whether by accident or intention does not appear to be quite
clear, but copies of the present 8 cents are found in much darker color
than we have hitherto seen. Messrs. A. Smith & Son have shown us copies
that are slate-black of the darkest kind."
A writer in the _Canada Stamp Sheet_ for October, 1900, says:--
There are three varieties of this stamp, the slate, the lilac-grey
and the purple. The first and second tints are comparatively
common, but the purple is not found in every dealer's stock nor has
it a place in many stamp collections. In fact, it is a variety but
little known to the average collector, from the fact that it is
seldom offered, either on approval sheets or on the counter of the
dealer. There ought to be no difficulty in distinguishing this
stamp from its mates of the same denomination, for while the backs
of the rest present a white surface, in this case the back or paper
is of a decidedly purplish hue. In my opinion this stamp is a good
one to pick up now, as its present value is far below its intrinsic
worth.
Later still, a German paper referred to three main printings for this
stamp a translation of the article appearing in _Gibbons Stamp Weekly_
for June 13th, 1908, as follows:--
The last stamp issued showing a portrait of the late Queen Victoria
as a young girl was the 8 cents, Canada, issued in July, 1893. The
stamp was intended for a combined postage and registration stamp;
3c for postage (inland) 5c registration fee.
There were three distinct printings of this stamp; they may be
easily distinguished from each other by differences of shade.
July, 1893, blue-grey.
October, 1895, slate-grey.
? 1897, purple-black.
The total number issued of these stamps was 5,885,000, but
unfortunately there are no records of the quantities of each of the
three printings.
It will be noticed that there is no 8 cents in the King Edward VII
issue, for the simple reason that the inland rate had been reduced
to 2 cents; therefore the present combined postage and registration
stamp is a 7 cents.
The above extract, it will be noted, is very explicit as regards the
actual number issued as well as the dates of issue of the three most
distinctive shades. On what authority these statements are based we
cannot say, but Mr. Howes shows from official records that many more
than the quantity stated were printed, viz.:--
The first delivery of these stamps, and of course the first
printing, was of 100,000, as recorded in the stamp accounts for
1893. As these accounts were made up to 30th June, and there is no
record of any "issue to postmasters," the stamps were doubtless
delivered just before the accounts were closed, so that opportunity
had not been given to distribute the new value. For the next few
fiscal years the amount received from the manufacturers averaged
over a million and a half annually, so that by the time it was
superseded it had been printed to the number of at least 7-1/2
millions.
_Reference List._
1893. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note Co.
Ottawa. Wove Paper. Perf. 12.
35. 8c grey, Scott's No. 48. 48a, 49 or 49a.
CHAPTER XIII.--_The Diamond Jubilee Issue._
The year 1897 was an eventful one in the history of the British Empire,
for on June 20th the greatly revered Queen Victoria celebrated the
sixtieth anniversary of her accession to the throne. Naturally such an
epochal event was marked in one way or another in even the most remote
corners of the Empire. In some cases there were public celebrations and
rejoicings with, perhaps the erection of memorials, while some of the
colonies marked the event by the issue of special series of postage
stamps. The Dominion of Canada commemorated the "Diamond Jubilee" by the
issue of a highly ornate set of stamps comprising no less than sixteen
different denominations, and the inclusion of what were widely termed
"unnecessary" high values and the unbusinesslike and somewhat
discreditable manner in which they were placed on sale by the Post
Office Department cast a slur on Canada's postal history which took many
years to live down.
Early in 1897 the idea of issuing a special series of stamps was mooted
as witness the following extract from the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for
January 30th:
Many suggestions are being made and many plans laid for the fitting
celebration of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign. In Canada
... a proposal has been made and an agitation started for the issue
of a commemorative set of postage stamps by the Dominion
government.... It has been suggested that the new stamps be made a
trifle larger than the present ones, that a somewhat recent picture
of Her Majesty replace the present one, and that the figures and
colors be made more pronounced.... The agitation for a new issue is
quite pronounced and is by no means confined to philatelists. There
appears to be a general desire on the part of the people to have a
change.
At first the intention seems to have been to issue only a 3 cent stamp
but, alas, this original intention was stifled like many other good
ideas and the Departmental officials, giving their enthusiasm free rein,
finally decided on a set to consist of sixteen denominations ranging all
the way from 1/2c to five dollars. The announcement of the forthcoming
issue of the stamps aroused so much general interest that the series
formed the subject of a question in Parliament and according to the
_Canadian Hansard_--the official and verbatim record of Parliamentary
proceedings--the Postmaster-General (Mr. Mulock) replied to his
interrogator as follows:--
It is the intention of the Government to issue a set of Jubilee
postage stamps. Such stamps will be put into public use by being
delivered to postmasters throughout Canada for sale to the public
in the same manner as ordinary postage stamps are sold. There will
be a limit to the quantity to be issued. The denominations of
Jubilee stamps, and the total number of such Jubilee stamps to be
issued, are set forth in the following schedule:
_Number to be issued._ _Denomination._
150,000 1/2c stamps.
8,000,000 1c "
2,500,000 2c "
20,000,000 3c "
750,000 5c "
75,000 6c "
200,000 8c "
150,000 10c "
100,000 15c "
100,000 20c "
100,000 50c "
25,000 $1 "
25,000 $2 "
25,000 $3 "
25,000 $4 "
25,000 $5 "
7,000,000 1c postcards.
Total value of one stamp of each kind $16.21-1/2.
As soon as the total number of stamps mentioned in said schedule is
issued the plates from which they will have been engraved will be
destroyed in the presence of the head and two officers of the
department. On the 10th of June the Post Office Department will
proceed to supply Jubilee postage stamps to the principal
post-offices in Canada, and through them minor post offices will
obtain their supply until the issue is exhausted. If this Jubilee
issue were to wholly displace the ordinary postage stamps it would
supply the ordinary wants of the country for between two and three
months, but as the use of the ordinary postage stamps will proceed
concurrently with that of the Jubilee stamps, it is expected that
the Jubilee stamps will last beyond the three months. Inasmuch as
the department is already receiving applications for the purchase
of Jubilee stamps, it may be stated that the department will adhere
to the established practice of supplying them only to postmasters,
and through them to the public, who may purchase them on and after
the 19th June, 1897.
It will be noted that the Post-Office Department made no pretense about
the matter but stated quite candidly that the issue would be limited and
before very long, by means of different official notices and
communications it was made quite plain that the issue was intended to
_sell_ and that restrictions would be placed on the scale of the more
desirable values, which were issued in but small quantities. With the
first supply of these stamps sent to postmasters the following circular
was sent:--
N. B.--Requisitions for _full sets_ of the Jubilee stamps will be
filled until the issue is exhausted.--E. P. S.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH,
OTTAWA, _June, 1897._
Sir:--I am directed by the Postmaster-General to send you herewith
a supply of the Jubilee stamps and 1c post card, equal to one
month's ordinary requirements of your office. Should this quantity
prove insufficient it will, on your requisition addressed to this
branch, be supplemented; but as the Jubilee issue is limited, it
would be necessary for you to apply early in order to secure
further supplies of the same.
I am also to instruct you not to sell any of the accompanying
stamps or postcards before the opening of your office at the
regular office hours on the 19th June instant--the eve of the
anniversary they are intended to commemorate.
These stamps and cards are, of course, like the ordinary issues, to
be sold at face value.
I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant
E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent._
P. S.--As there appears to be a somewhat general desire on the part
of many persons to purchase, for souvenir purposes, complete sets
of the Jubilee stamps, it is hoped that you will so manage the sale
of such stamps that persons applying to purchase full sets may be
able to get them.--E. P. S.
The stamps were placed on sale throughout the Dominion on the morning of
Saturday, the 19th of June the eve of Jubilee day proper. Naturally
there was a big rush on the part of the public to obtain specimens of
the much heralded stamps and in the larger centres the post offices were
literally besieged. Speculators tried to corner the 1/2c and 6c
denominations, which advance particulars had shown to be the most
desirable of the lower values, but the stamps were doled out carefully
and large orders were promptly and firmly refused. But though care was
exercised the department was convinced, from the result of the first
day's sale, that steps would have to be taken to further restrict the
sale of the desirable denominations. The demand for the stamps at the
chief office was so great that a circular letter was prepared to be
despatched to applicants, this reading as follows:--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA,
_26th June, 1897._
Sir,--With reference to the numerous demands upon this office for
the 1/2c and 6c Jubilee stamps, I am directed to explain that the
respective quantities of Jubilee stamps ordered bear, relatively,
the same proportions to the actual requirements of the Postal
Service, but the tendency to exhaust the HALVES and SIXES has
increased to such a degree, that it has become necessary to
restrict their sale to the purchasers of full sets. Hence I am to
express the Postmaster-General's regret that he is unable, having
regard to the limited character of the Jubilee issue, to comply
with any requests for the 1/2c or 6c denomination, apart from those
for full sets. These sets may be obtained as long as the series of
Jubilee stamps last, but as the demands upon it are unusually
heavy, it would be advisable to apply for full sets at the earliest
possible moment.
When Postmasters obtain such sets to fill orders actual or
prospective at their respective offices, they must not, in any
case, break the sets.
I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant,
E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent._
P. S.--Under no circumstances will there be any issue of Jubilee
stamps, beyond the limits mentioned in the accompanying extract
from Hansard, containing the Postmaster-General's statement on the
subject.
At the same time instructions were issued to postmasters that they were
not to sell the 1/2c, 6c, 8c and dollar denominations except in the
complete sets of sixteen values.
Later this ruling was modified and sets to 50c and $1 inclusive were
allowed to be sold resulting in the issue of another circular to
postmasters worded as follows:--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA,
_August, 1897._
Sir,--I am directed to transmit to you the accompanying partial
sets of Jubilee stamps. These sets consist of two kinds: one from a
1/2c to $1 (value $2.20-1/2), the other from 1/2c to 50c (value
$1.20-1/2). You are instructed to sell these stamps as sets, and as
sets only, representations having been made to the department that
in various parts of the Dominion there is a desire to obtain such
sets for souvenir purposes. You must not, under any circumstances,
break a set; for, besides the disappointment that such a course
would cause, you would render yourself liable to loss, the
department having decided not to allow credit for any broken sets
returned to it by a postmaster who, notwithstanding the
instructions herein given, sells any denominations of the stamps
making up a set apart from the rest.
I am also to ask you to use your best judgment in the sale of these
sets, checking, as far as possible, any attempt on the part of
speculators to monopolise them, and thus securing as general
distribution of such sets in your vicinity as the circumstances may
permit. To enable you to make change in connection with the sale of
the enclosed sets I include a sufficient quantity of ordinary 1/2c
postage stamps.
I may add that the accompanying supply has been based strictly upon
the annual revenue of your office, and, having regard to the total
number of sets available and the extent of their distribution,
represents that proportion to which you are entitled.
I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant,
E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent._
So anxious did the department show itself in its efforts to
circumnavigate the speculator, and so obvious was the fact that the
Jubilee stamps were issued, like our own Columbian stamps, for the
pecuniary profit the Government would derive from their sale, that it is
small wonder that the series was condemned and discredited by the
philatelic press almost universally. The following extract from the
_Monthly Journal_ for June, 1897, is typical of many:--
We are indebted to various correspondents for papers and cuttings
with reference to the Jubilee issue of this Colony which will have
taken place by the time this is in print. While acknowledging that
the design of the stamps appears to be a very handsome and
appropriate one, we feel bound to add that the affair possesses no
other redeeming feature whatever. The Canadian Government has made
a new contract for the supply of stamps, etc., with an American
firm, which will apparently involve a new issue of stamps within a
short time. If the occasion had been taken for the issue of a
permanent series appropriate to the Jubilee year, nothing could
have been more agreeable to philatelists throughout the British
Empire; but to bring out a set of labels, including unnecessarily
high values and printed in limited numbers, to be issued
concurrently with the present stamps, is to reproduce all the most
objectionable features of the unnecessary and speculative
emissions, which we all desire to put an end to. We cannot expect
that on such an occasion as this loyal British subjects will be
able to abstain altogether from purchasing Jubilee mementoes of
this description, but we would most strongly recommend them to be
satisfied with copies of one or two of the lower values. Outside
the British Empire we trust that this discreditable issue will fall
as flat as it deserves.
To add to the unsavory tale we have only to say that there was much
scandal on account of the openly expressed statements that the desirable
values were, in many instances, cornered by postal employes who had, of
course, "first option" on the supplies reaching their respective
offices. Thus, in the _Philatelic Messenger_ of New Brunswick, we read:
But now that the stamps have been issued in certain given numbers
and in the Postmaster-General's peculiar way, _where are they?_
That is what a great many want to know and that is a question which
must be answered. I know where some of them are. I had a letter
from a postmaster's son at a small office in Quebec, asking me what
I would give for 45 8c Jubilee stamps. I had a letter from an
office in P. E. Island, asking my prices for 1/2, 6, and 8c Jubilee
stamps. Collectors in the principal cities of the Dominion have
seen whole sheets of 1/2c stamps in the possession of post-office
employees. These little incidents may give one some idea where the
stamps are. I also have a pretty good idea where the stamps are
not. A prominent Toronto dealer laid $100 on the stamp counter the
first day of sale, and was tendered two specimens of the 1/2c and
6c stamps. At Montreal, Toronto, St. Johns, Halifax, and all the
principal cities, not more than two specimens of the 1/2, 6, 8, 10,
15, 20 and 50c stamps were sold to the same person, that is, of
course, outside the post-office staff. I have it on good authority
that there is not a stamp dealer in Canada who has 100 of the 1/2c
value unless he happens to be a post-office employé also. The
stamps are not in the dealers' stock books then, for they have not
been able to get them. I wrote to Fredericton the other day for a
few 10, 15, 20 and 50c stamps and the postmaster returned the money
and said they could be supplied only in complete sets. One meets
with the same reception at nearly every post office. What were the
stamps made for if not to be sold to the public as the public wants
them? What would be thought of a furniture store where one could
not purchase a table or a chair but must take a whole set? The
thing is ridiculous.
While the idea of issuing special stamps to commemorate the Diamond
Jubilee was laudable enough, the restrictions applied to their sale and
the inclusion of unnecessary high values was, to put it mildly, an
official _faux pas._ It has been asserted that the values from $2 to $5
inclusive were quite unnecessary as it was not possible to use either of
these denominations in prepayment of any legitimate postal charges. But
it was also pointed out that as there was no limit to the weight of a
package sent by first class mail a heavy letter could easily call for
more postage than $5. Indeed, in his article in the _Monthly Journal_,
Mr. Donald A. King stated:--
At a post office with which I am somewhat familiar the posting of
letters and parcels for the United Kingdom and other Postal Union
countries that called for postage from $1.00 upwards was, at
certain periods, a matter of daily, often hourly, occurrence, so
much so that the only comment it excited was from the clerk
cancelling, who would audibly wish that there were higher values in
the permanent issue than 50c and thus save time cancelling the
entire length of a large envelope.
Within my own experience there has been more than one case where a
letter has been mailed on which there was not space to place the
stamps; an entire sheet (100) of 15 cents stamps was pasted on,
obliterated, and then another with some odd values completed the
prepayment; and the case can be recalled of a letter on which
$40.00 postage was prepaid. While the Jubilee set was in everyday
use the sight of the higher values was quite common on any mail for
the United Kingdom and Europe, shipping and commercial houses
prepaying their mail with the "dollar" values simply as a matter of
convenience.
But though there may have been isolated instances in which high values
could be used with convenience their very limited use is obvious from
the fact that the Canadian government has always, both before and since
the emission of the Jubilee set, found a 50c value high enough for all
practical purposes. Had postal requirements called for such constant use
of high values as Mr. King's remarks lead us to infer it is hardly
likely that, when the remainders were finally withdrawn and destroyed in
1905, out of a comparatively small total issue of 25,000 of each of the
dollar stamps 94 of the $1, 66 of the $2, 1,835 of the $3, 2,013 of the
$4, and 1,240 of the $5 would be returned and destroyed.
[Illustration]
The design is the same for all denominations and, as we have already
stated, is a very handsome one. The stamps are of extra large size and
show two portraits of Queen Victoria. That on the left, with the date
"1837" below it, is identical with the portrait shown on the old 12d and
7-1/2d stamps, while the one on the right, with date "1897" below, is
from a full length portrait painted in 1886 by Professor von Angelo of
Vienna. This shows the Queen in her robes of state as she appeared on
the assumption of the title "Empress of India." Above the portraits is
CANADA POSTAGE and between these words is the so-called Tudor Crown of
Great Britain with the letters "V. R. I." below--these latter, of
course, standing for Victoria Regina Imperatrix, (Victoria, Queen and
Empress). At the base the value is shown on a straight tablet and in the
angles, and between the two dates, are maple leaf ornaments. These
Jubilee stamps were printed by the American Bank Note Company, who had
recently secured the contract for the printing of stamps, bank notes,
etc., for the Dominion. In the _Montreal Herald_ for January, 1897, the
following particulars are given with regard to the change of printers:--
The contract for the Government engraving, for which tenders were
called two months ago, has been awarded to the American Bank Note
Company, of New York, for a period of five and a quarter years. The
contract is worth $600,000, and may be renewed for a similar
period. The work consists of engraving the Dominion bank notes,
revenue and postage stamps, postal cards, etc. At present the
British American Bank Note Company, better known as Burland and
Company, formerly of Montreal, have the contract. They tendered
this time, but the New York company was the lowest. The New York
company is one of the largest and best known in the world. The firm
engraves notes for some of the banks in Canada, including the
Canadian Bank of Commerce. Under the terms of the new contract, the
Company will require to establish a place in Ottawa to do the work,
where the Government can have supervision of it. As compared with
the prices paid under the Burland contract, the Government will
effect a saving of $120,000 by the new contract.
The stamps were, like all Canadian stamps, produced by the line-engraved
process, the values from 1/2c to 5c inclusive being printed in sheets of
100 in ten horizontal rows of ten, and the other denominations in sheets
of 50 in ten horizontal rows of five stamps each. The only marginal
inscription consists of the name OTTAWA followed by the number of the
plate. This inscription appears at the top of the sheets only--above the
centre of the fifth and sixth stamps in the case of the 1/2, 1, 2, 3 and
5c values and above the third stamp on the values from 6c to $5. The
name is in thin Roman capitals, 2-1/2 mm. high, the total length of the
inscriptions being about 40 mm. The following are the numbers of the
plates used:--
1/2 cent, plate 9.
1 cent, plates 5, 6, 15, 16.
2 cents, plate 7, 8.
3 cents, plates 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 28, 29, 30, 31.
5 cents, plate 10.
6 cents, plate 17.
8 cents, plate 20.
10 cents, plate 19.
15 cents, plate 18.
20 cents, plate 21.
50 cents, plate 23.
$1, plate 27.
$2, plate 26.
$3, plate 24.
$4, plate 22.
$5, plate 25.
The paper was the usual wove variety and the perforation gauged 12--the
production of single-line or guillotine machines. Even in the case of
values of which large quantities were printed, like the 3c, variations
in shade are remarkably slight. The 1c is known split diagonally and the
halves used as 1/2c and while this practice was disproved of by the Post
Office Department the half stamps undoubtedly filled a local need as
shown by an extract from a Canadian newspaper printed in the _Weekly
Philatelic Era_, viz.:--
The _Railway News_ last week on account of not receiving permission
from the Post-Master General to allow papers to go through the
mails free, was compelled to pay postage. No half cent stamps being
available, the post office department allowed one cent stamps to be
cut in halves for postage. This is the first time on record we
believe where such was allowed and the stamps have been eagerly
sought after, one dollar being paid for a single stamp with the
post office stamp on it. The _News_ will pay twenty-five cents each
for the one cent Jubilee stamps cut in halves bearing the
post-office stamp of November 5th, 6th, or 8th, which was allowed
to pass through the mails on that date owing to there being no
regular half cent stamps available.
One set of Jubilee stamps--said to be the first one printed, though of
course this statement cannot be taken literally as meaning the stamps
were printed one at a time:--was mounted in a specially designed
portfolio and presented to the Duke of York, now His Most Gracious
Majesty King George V. An account of this presentation set, taken from
an old issue of the WEEKLY, is worthy of reproduction:
A very unique and handsome piece of work is the postal portfolio
which is to be presented to His Royal Highness, the Duke of York,
by the Dominion Government, and which is on exhibition in the
window of Kyrie Brothers, Jewelers, Toronto. The portfolio is in
the form of an album, the cover of which is of royal blue morocco
leather, handsomely decorated in gold. In the centre of the front
cover is a raised shield in white on which are the words in gold
letters, "Dominion of Canada, Diamond Jubilee Postage Stamps, 22nd
June, 1897." The corners of the portfolio are decorated with guards
of Canadian gold made from British Columbia and Raney district ore.
The right hand upper corner decoration is a design of maple leaves,
and the lower corner of English oak leaves and acorns. The
portfolio is fastened with a clasp of Canadian gold in the form of
oak leaves, while the bracket on the front holding the clasps in
position, is entwined with maple leaves with the monogram of H. R.
H. the Duke of York--G. F. E. A.--George Frederick Ernest Albert.
On the third page is the inscription, "This collection of postage
stamps issued at Ottawa by the Dominion of Canada in commemoration
of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria
is presented to H. R. H. the Duke of York, K. G., by the Government
of Canada, 1897." The last page of this unique stamp album will
contain the certificate of the destruction of the dies and plates
in the presence of Hon. Wm. Mulock, postmaster-general of
Canada.... This is probably the dearest stamp album in the world,
and contains only a single specimen of each denomination of the
Jubilee issue.
And now we conclude our history of this Jubilee issue by another extract
from the WEEKLY giving an account of the destruction of the dies and
plates from which the stamps were made:--
On Friday afternoon, September 10th, I presented myself at the
Post-Office Department and joined a party who were just leaving the
building to go over to the American Bank Note Co.'s building, a
couple of blocks away. Arriving, we were conducted to the top floor
by the manager. The plates, dies, etc., were brought out by those
in charge, and the seventeen original dies after inspection by
those present were placed one by one under a press and an
obliterating roller passed over them several times; proofs were
then pulled which faintly showed the outlines of the ovals, etc.,
but the words showing the values could not even be made out. Next,
the rolls for transferring the impression from the dies to the
plates came in for their share of attention. There were nineteen of
them, and a few burns from an emery wheel quickly put each one "out
of sight." The plates, 31 in number, were subjected to the same
treatment as the dies, and the total time occupied in the
destruction of the various parts occupied almost two hours.
_Reference List._
1897. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa, on wove paper. Perf. 12.
36. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 50.
37. 1c orange, Scott's No. 51.
38. 2c green, Scott's No. 52.
39. 3c rose, Scott's No. 53.
40. 5c deep blue, Scott's No. 54.
41. 6c yellow brown, Scott's No. 55.
42. 8c dark violet, Scott's No. 56.
43. 10c brown violet, Scott's No. 57.
44. 15c steel blue, Scott's No. 58.
45. 20c vermilion, Scott's No. 59.
46. 50c ultramarine, Scott's No. 60.
47. $1 lake, Scott's No. 61.
48. $2 dark purple, Scott's No. 62.
49. $3 yellow bistre, Scott's No. 63.
50. $4 purple, Scott's No. 64.
51. $5 olive green, Scott's No. 65.
CHAPTER XIV.--_The "Maple Leaf" Issue of 1897._
Soon after the printing contract was awarded to the American Bank Note
Company it was rumoured that a new series of stamps would be issued, but
for a time public expectations of the new stamps were overshadowed by
the appearance of the Diamond Jubilee issue. A cutting from an Ottawa
paper dated September 28th, 1897, shows, however, that preparations for
a new set were well in hand, viz.:--
The design for a new postage stamp has been approved by the
Postmaster-General. There is a portrait of Her Majesty as she
appeared at the coronation, except that a coronet is substituted
for a crown. The portrait has been engraved from a photo procured
during the Jubilee ceremonies, and upon which was the Queen's own
autograph, so that it is authentic. The corners of the stamp will
be decorated with maple leaves, which were pulled from maple trees
on Parliament Hill and engraved directly from them. Everything
indeed is correct and up to date, and the new issue will reflect
credit on Mr. Mulock's good taste. The engravers will take care to
make this permanent and ordinary issue a tribute to their skill.
The present stock of stamps it will take some months to exhaust,
and not till they are done will the new stamps be issued. It may be
about November of this year.
About a month later a circular was addressed to postmasters announcing
the issue of the new stamps as follows:
_Circular to Postmaster._
NEW ISSUE OF POSTAGE STAMPS, ETC.
The Postmaster-General has made arrangements for a new issue of
postage stamps, letter cards, stamped envelopes, post cards, and
post bands. These will be supplied to postmasters in the usual way.
Postmasters are, however, instructed not to sell the stamps of any
denomination of the new issue until the stamps of the corresponding
denomination of the present issue are disposed of. The filling of
requisitions by the Postage Stamp Branch will be regulated by the
same principle--that is to say, no item of the proposed issue will
be sent out until the corresponding item of the present issue has
been exhausted.
To conform to the requirements of the International Postal Union
the color of the new 1c stamp will be green and that of the 5c
stamp a deep blue.
R. M. COULTER,
Deputy Postmaster-General.
Post-Office Department, Canada.
OTTAWA, 25th October, 1897.
The Postmaster-General's Report for 1897, issued after the stamps had
made their appearance, also refers to the new issue and to add
completeness to our history we extract the following:--
Owing to the change of contract for the manufacture and supply of
postage stamps, a new series of stamps became necessary at the
beginning of the present fiscal year. New stamps ranging in value
from the 1/2c to the 10c denomination (inclusive) were printed, and
the first supplies thereof sent out to postmasters as the
corresponding denominations of the old stamps became exhausted. A
considerable quantity of the higher values of that series (15
cents, 20 cents and 50 cents) remaining over from the late
contract, these three stamps continued to be issued, so that the
department, previous to the introduction of the same denominations
in the new series, might, in accordance with the universal
practice, dispose of the old stamps in each case, before issuing
any of the new. The design of the new stamps is of a uniform
character, and consists of an engraved copy (reduced) of an
authorized photograph of Her Majesty taken during the Diamond
Jubilee year. This, placed within an oval bearing the usual
inscriptions, is enclosed within a rectangular frame, a maple leaf
on a lined ground occupying each of the triangular spaces between
the two frames. To conform to the regulations of the Universal
Postal Union, the color of the new 1 cent stamp is green, and that
of the 5 cents a deep blue. This necessitated corresponding changes
in the colors of the other stamps of the new series; for example,
purple instead of green being selected for the 2 cent denomination,
and orange instead of slate for the 8 cent.
The first denomination of the new series--the 1/2 cent--was placed on
sale on November 9th, 1897. About the end of the same month the 6c made
its appearance, and this was quickly followed by the 1c, 2c, 5c and 8c
in December. The 3c and 10c were issued early in January, 1898, so that
official instructions that the new stamps were not to be issued until
the supplies of the old issue were exhausted were fully carried out,
though all values were on sale within the space of about three months.
[Illustration]
The design of the new stamps is at once simple and effective. In the
central oval is a three-quarter face portrait of Her Majesty, with head
to left, which was copied from a photograph taken by W. & D. Downey, of
London, at the time of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Around the oval
is a band of solid color containing the words CANADA POSTAGE above and
the value in words below, all being in Egyptian capitals. The spandrels
are filled with a ground of horizontal lines on which maple leaves rest.
While, as Mr. Howes observes, "much criticism was engendered by the fact
that the portrait was too large for its frame, making the design appear
cramped," public verdict, as a whole, expressed unqualified approval of
the new design.
The stamps, like those of the preceding issues, were printed from
line-engraved plates and, with one exception, these plates contained one
hundred impressions arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten each. The
exception referred to occurred in the 1/2c, the first plate for which
contained 200 stamps, arranged in ten rows of twenty stamps each. This
is mentioned in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ as follows:--
By some misunderstanding the contractors, the American Bank Note
Co., set the sheet up with 200 stamps, and the first five hundred
sheets were so printed. The sheets were afterwards cut in two
through the imprint, and we have these half sheets with a close
imperforated margin on either the left or right edge. Afterwards
sheets of 100 stamps were issued, all the stamps perforated on all
four sides. Plate number collectors will find the earliest sheets
difficult to obtain. Both sheets bear the plate number 1.
The imprint on the sheets followed the plan originated with the Jubilee
series, "OTTAWA--No--1," etc., being placed in the centre of the top
margin. Each value began with No. 1 and apparently for the 5c, 6c, 8c,
and 10c the one plate sufficed. For the 1/2c, as we have already shown,
there were two plates, both numbered "1"; while for the 1c there were
two plates, for the 2c, three plates, and for the 3c, six plates.
The stamps were printed on stout white wove paper, similar to that used
for the Jubilee stamps and at some time or other a slightly thinner and
more brittle paper seems to have been used. The paper for the 5c is of a
distinctly bluish color--this being the first occasion on which colored
paper was used for any of the postage stamps of the Dominion.
The perforation was the regulation gauge of 12, which has been in
continuous use since 1858, and, as the _Philatelic Record_ stated when
first chronicling the issue, "many of the stamp are badly centered, a
characteristic defect of the American Bank Note Company's work." The 5c
is known entirely imperforate.
_Reference List._
1897. Engraved and Printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa, on wove paper. Perf. 12.
52. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 66.
53. 1c green, Scott's No. 67.
54. 2c purple, Scott's No. 68.
55. 3c carmine, Scott's No. 69.
56. 5c dark blue on bluish, Scott's No. 70.
57. 6c brown, Scott's No. 71.
58. 8c orange, Scott's No. 72.
59. 10c brown-violet, Scott's No. 73.
CHAPTER XV.--_The "Numeral" Issue of 1898._
The "maple-leaf" issue had not been long in use before complaints were
made that owing to the lack of plain numerals it was a difficult matter
to distinguish the various denominations. In its issue for April 2nd,
1898, the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ stated another ground for complaint
and also referred to a forthcoming change, viz.:--
Much dissatisfaction is expressed by the French speaking
inhabitants of the rural parts at the lack of figures of value on
the stamps, the denomination in all cases being printed in English
which they are unable to understand. It has, therefore, been
decided to alter the new stamps by removing the maple leaves from
the lower corners and inserting large numerals of value in their
place. The space occupied by the head will also be somewhat
enlarged and the value will be placed on a straight band below.
A few months later the redrawn stamps made their appearance, for the
_Monthly Journal_ for July 30th, 1898, records the issue of the 1c and
3c denominations as follows:--
The design is certainly improved, the oval being enlarged so that
its outer line covers the outer line of the rectangle at each side
and at top and bottom. The band being the same width as before,
this allows a larger space for the head, which no longer appears so
closely "cribbed, cabined and confined." The inscriptions remain
unchanged, but in each of the lower corners is a plain rectangular
block, containing a colored numeral.
Mr. Howes states that these two values were issued on June 21st, 1898,
and, following its usual custom, the Canadian Post-office did not place
the other denominations on sale until the corresponding values of the
old series were all used up. Thus, the 1/2c, 2c and 6c did not appear
until early in September, the 8c was placed on sale in the first few
days of October, the 10c was issued in the early part of November, while
the 5c, which was the laggard of the series, was not on sale until July
3rd, 1899.
[Illustration]
Although the design was entirely redrawn and the wider oval gave the
portrait a less cramped effect, it did not satisfy all the
critics--though, so far as this fact is concerned, it is doubtful if any
stamp issued anywhere at any time has met with universal approbation!
The stamps were produced by the usual method of steel engraved plates
and they were printed in sheets of 100, in ten rows of ten, as had now
become the regular custom. The imprint is like that on the sheets of the
"maple leaf" issue and, again as with that series, the numbering of the
plates started with "1" for each denomination. So little interest seems
to have been taken in these marginal varieties that no authoritative
record of the several plates employed has been kept. Mr. Howes gives but
one plate for the 1/2c, 6c, 8c and 10c values, three for the 5c, four
each for the 2c and 3c, and six for the 1c but it seems highly probable
there were many more especially for such values as the 1c and 2c which
were used in very large quantities.
In 1901 there were rumours that some of the stamps of this type had been
re-engraved, the foundation for the canard being the following paragraph
from the WEEKLY:--
Mr. H. A. Chapman has sent me a specimen of a re-engraved 1c Canada
numeral, in which the differences from the first issue demand
recognition. The re-engraved type is shorter and wider than the one
preceding it. I note also that the 2c is said to exist in the same
condition.
In reprinting this statement the _Philatelic Record_ observed "Can this
be true; or is it only another case of a slight difference caused by the
shrinkage after wetting the sheets for printing purposes?"
The _Monthly Journal_ for September. 1901, soon set the matter at rest
as shown by the following extract:--
Miss A. L. Swift very kindly informs us that a friend of hers made
enquiries at headquarters in Ottawa, and was assured that no
re-engraving whatever has taken place, and that any differences
that exist must be due to shrinkage or expansion of the paper
during the process of printing. Our correspondent, who is a
well-known American writer upon philatelic subjects and a careful
philatelist, tells us that the 1/2c, 1c and 2c of the numeral type
and several values of the Maple Leaf type, show these variations,
and adds that in the case of the 1/2c of both issues one size is
found in grey-black only, and the other in deep black only. It is
possible that the amount or thickness of the ink employed may have
some effect upon the varying shrinkage of the paper.
The same journal refers to the matter again in the following month,
viz.:--
In reference to the question of the variations in the size of the
stamps of the last two issues of this Colony, a correspondent tells
us that he has been studying these stamps, and has come to the
conclusion, no doubt correctly, that the variations are due to
differences in the quality and thickness of the paper. As in the
old case of the Ceylon stamps the longer copies are on thicker
paper than the short ones. All stamps that are printed on damp
paper, and especially those from plates engraved in _taille-douce_,
are liable to vary in this way.
The above seems to be the most reasonable explanation of the differences
for the measurements of the so-called long and short stamps are
practically constant, which one would naturally expect to find if two
sorts of paper, differing slightly in thickness and quality, were used.
_Reference List._
1898-9. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa, on white wove paper. Perf. 12.
60. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 74.
61. 1c green, Scott's No. 75.
62. 2c purple, Scott's No. 76.
63. 3c carmine, Scott's No. 77.
64. 5c dark blue on bluish, Scott's No. 78.
65. 6c brown, Scott's No. 79.
66. 8c orange, Scott's No. 80.
67. 10c brown-violet, Scott's No. 81.
CHAPTER XVI.--_The "Map" Stamp of 1898._
Shortly after Great Britain adopted penny postage for internal use in
1840 postal reformers began to dream of Ocean Penny Postage, and
although universal penny postage is not yet an accomplished fact it is
within reasonable distance of being so. A great step in this direction
was made in 1898 when at an Imperial Convention on Postal Rates held in
London the mother country and various colonies agreed to adopt the rate
of one penny per half ounce on letters sent to or from Britain or one
another. The following extract from the London _Standard_ for July 13th
shows in an interesting manner how far the movement had then
progressed:--
We are authorised by the Postmaster-General to state that, as the
result of the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates, it has been
agreed, on the proposal of the Representative of the Dominion of
Canada, that letter postage of one penny per half-ounce should be
established between the United Kingdom, Canada, Newfoundland, the
Cape Colony, Natal, and such of the Crown Colonies as may, after
communication with, and approval of, Her Majesty's Government, be
willing to adopt it. The date on which the reduction will come into
effect will be announced later on. The question of a uniform
reduced rate for the whole Empire was carefully considered; but it
was not found possible to fix upon a rate acceptable to all the
Governments concerned. A resolution was therefore adopted, leaving
it to those parts of the Empire which were prepared for penny
postage to make the necessary arrangements among themselves.
Since then other portions of the British Empire have fallen into line
and the ties binding the English speaking peoples have been further
strengthened by the adoption of penny postage between the United States
and Great Britain as well as with many of her Colonies.
Elihu Burritt, the "learned blacksmith" of New Britain, Connecticut, was
one of the earliest advocates of Ocean Penny Postage and late in 1848 he
issued a pamphlet setting forth his views on the subject. Exactly fifty
years later Imperial Penny Postage was inaugurated though it was on a
much broader and more liberal basis than Burritt had dared to hope in
his fondest imaginings.
Canada, as will be noted from the preceding extract, was the leader in
the movement for Imperial Penny Postage and marked the culmination of
its ambitious plans by issuing a special two cents stamp. Mr. Mulock,
the then Postmaster-General of the Dominion, was responsible for the
idea of issuing a special stamp as well as the sponsor for its design.
The new stamp was first mentioned by the Ottawa correspondent of the
_Outlook_ as follows:--
Mr. Mulock, the Postmaster-General, has chosen the new inaugurating
stamp. It is in the form of a miniature map of the world
distinguishing British possessions and illustrating the relative
vastness of the Empire, in which Canada, of course, plays a
prominent part.
In commenting on this paragraph the _Philatelic Record_, for December,
1898, stated "A poster stamp even of the large plaster type, which
'distinguishes British possessions and illustrates the vastness of the
Empire', will indeed be a _multum in parvo_, and probably the less said
the better in anticipation of the realisation of such an apparently
absurd idea for a design on such a small engraving as a postage stamp
needs to be."
The _Ottawa Evening Journal_ gave further particulars about the
forthcoming stamp, viz.:--
The new Imperial Penny Postage Stamp, to be used between Great
Britain and a number of her colonies after Christmas Day next, has
been designed by the Postmaster-General and ready to be issued. It
is not to be a special issue, but will take its place among the
regular issues. When Mr. Mulock was in Britain he was surprised to
notice that the great mass of the people did not appreciate the
value or the greatness of the British possessions abroad. This was
especially true of Canada. The idea, therefore, suggested itself to
him when he was considering a new stamp, to prepare something that
would show the dimensions of Greater Britain compared with all
other countries. Mr. Mulock asked for some designs from a few
artists when he came back to Canada, but they did not meet with his
views, and he roughly sketched out something himself and passed it
over to an artist to have it touched up.
The feature of the new stamp is a neatly executed map in miniature
of the world, showing the British possessions as compared with all
other countries. The empire is distinguished from the possessions
of the other powers by being in red. Surmounting this map is a
representation of the crown, underneath which is a bunch of oak and
maple leaves, symbolizing the unity of the Mother Country and
Canada. At the upper edge of the stamp are the words "Canada
Postage" in a neat letter. Underneath the map is placed "Xmas,
1898", so that the date of the inauguration of Imperial Penny
Postage shall be a matter of record. On the lower corners are the
figures "2," indicating the denomination of the stamp, and at the
lower edge is this suggestive passage taken from the works of one
of our patriotic poets: "We hold a vaster Empire than has been."
Mr. Mulock will be able to claim the credit of giving the public
the cheapest map of the world ever issued. The size of the stamp is
about the same as the Jubilee issue.
The printing of the new stamps began on December 1st, both the
Governor-General and Postmaster-General being present while the first
sheets were run off the presses. Although it was originally intended to
issue the stamp on Christmas Day it was actually placed on sale quite
early in the month as explained in the following extract from the
WEEKLY:
_Ottawa_, Dec. 5th.--It having been stated in some newspapers that
the new two-cent Imperial stamp would not become available until
Christmas Day, inquiry made at the Post Office Department today to
ascertain the truth of this statement elicits the fact that,
although it was the original intention of the department that the
new stamp should not come into use until the 25th inst., the demand
from the public for it has become so pressing that the department
has decided to issue it at once, and permit its immediate use to
the extent of its face value for all postage purposes. In other
words, as soon as it reaches the public it may, if preferred by the
purchaser, be used instead of the ordinary two-cent stamp. The
two-cent inter-Imperial rate does not, of course, come into effect
until Christmas Day.
Under date of December 7th the Canadian correspondent of the _Weekly
Philatelic Era_ refers to the actual issue of the stamp, viz.:--
The new Imperial stamps referred to in past numbers of the _Era_
were issued this morning, and although the new Imperial rate does
not come into effect until Xmas-day, and they bear that
inscription, they are receivable for ordinary postage now.
The general design has already been described, but it may be well
to say that the stamps are printed in three colors. The frame is in
black with white letters, the seas are in a pale blue, or rather a
lavender, and the British possessions are in a bright red. The map
of the world is on Mercator's projection, which magnifies high
latitudes; consequently the Dominion of Canada, which occupies the
middle of the upper part of the stamp, looks bigger than all the
other British possessions put together. The border of the stamp is
of cable pattern and measures 32 mm. in width by 22-1/2 in height.
The stamp is printed on medium, machine-wove, white paper, similar
to that used for the Jubilee and subsequent Canadian issues, and is
perforated 12.
[Illustration]
The design is well-known to all our readers and as it has already been
extensively dissected in the above quotations, further comment is hardly
necessary. The new stamps naturally caused lots of criticism on account
of their somewhat bombastic legend "We hold a vaster Empire than has
been". This was taken from the jubilee ode written by Sir Lewis Morris
on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the last stanza of
which reads as follows:--
We love not war, but only peace,
Yet never shall our England's power decrease!
Whoever guides our helm of state,
Let all men know it, England shall be great!
We hold a vaster empire than has been!
Nigh half the race of man is subject to our Queen!
Nigh half the wide, wide earth is ours in fee!
And where her rule comes all are free.
And therefore 'tis, O Queen, than we,
Knit fast in bonds of temperate liberty,
Rejoice today, and make our solemn jubilee!
The stamps were printed in the usual sheet arrangement of one hundred,
arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten. The black portion was printed
from line-engraved plates but the colored portions were, apparently,
printed by lithography. Consequently, three operations were necessary
before the stamps were completed and, as may readily be understood, a
three color process in such a small compass made exact register a matter
of difficulty. Thus on many stamps portions of the Empire are found much
out of place, sometimes wandering into the sea and sometimes encroaching
in an altogether too familiar manner on their neighbours. The new stamps
came in for much criticism, of which the following extract from the
_Monthly Journal_ for January, 1899, is a fair sample:--
It is not quite an occasion for captious criticism, and when we get
a beautiful colored map of the world for a penny perhaps we ought
not to criticise; but we cannot think that the design is a very
appropriate one for a postage stamp. The blobs of red are not
always quite correctly placed; we have even heard of cases in which
a little irregularity of "register" has resulted in the annexation
of the greater part of the United States, while England invaded
France, and the Cape of Good Hope went out to sea!
The Canadian newspapers are not quite happy about it, but that is
natural, as they are to pay extra postage in future to make up any
deficiency in the budget caused by the reduction in the Imperial
rate; we hear that even a Ministerial organ at Ontario complains
that the new stamp is too large to lick and too small for wall
paper! Some people are never satisfied.
The color chosen for the sea portion of the map was lavender at first,
but as this was not considered altogether appropriate it was soon
afterwards changed to sea-green. In addition to these two tints it also
comes in a very pronounced blue.
The line-engraved plates from which the black portion of the design was
printed have four marginal imprints consisting of AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO.
OTTAWA in Roman capitals 1/2 mm. high, the whole inscription being 29
mm. long. These are placed above the third and eighth stamps of the top
row and below the corresponding stamps of the bottom row. In addition a
plate number, in hair-line figures about 4 mm. high, is shown above the
division between the two central stamps of the top row, these figures
being placed higher on the margin than the imprints. Mr. Howes tells us
that plates 1, 2, 3, and 5 are known but that plate 4 does not seem to
have been recorded though, presumably, it exists. All four plates are
known with the lavender sea and this is known to indicate the first
printings, it would appear that all the plates were at press together.
The late Mr. H. L. Ewen wrote an exhaustive article on the numerous
varieties of this stamp but as most of these were simply due to errors
of register their philatelic importance is slight. One variety, however,
which is constant is worthy of note. In this two small dots representing
two islands in mid-pacific are shown side by side instead of one above
the other as on the normal stamps. Mr. Ewen also referred to a slight
retouching of one of the plates, viz.:--
Readers will have noted that the stamps are each surrounded by what
appears to be a rope. On the sheet of plate 3 before us, the outer
edge of this rope on the stamps at the end of each row (right hand
side of each sheet) has worn away and has been replaced by a
straight line engraved on the plate, except on stamp No. 80, which
still shows the very defective nature of the rope.
Mr. Howes states that the stamp, with all three colors for the sea, is
known imperforate.
How many were issued is not known for certain as these Imperial stamps
were reckoned together with the ordinary 2c in the postal accounts but
according to the _London Philatelist_ the total issue was about sixteen
millions. In concluding this chapter we have only to add that the cost
of manufacturing the stamps, on account of the three processes
necessary, was the relatively high one of 45 cents per thousand.
_Reference List._
Xmas, 1898. Engraved and Printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa. Unwatermarked. Perf. 12.
68. 2c black, lavender and red, Scott's No. 82
69. 2c black, green and red.
70. 2c black, blue and red, Scott's No. 83.
CHAPTER XVII.--_The "2 Cents" Provisionals._
One result of the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates held in London, in
addition to the inauguration of Imperial Penny Postage, was to revive
the agitation for the reduction of the domestic rate on postage in
Canada from 3c to 2c on letters weighing one ounce or less. Indeed just
prior to this Convention a bill in amendment of the Post Office Act had
been assented to by Parliament under which it was agreed the reduced
rate of postage should prevail, but no immediate steps were taken to
enforce the reduction, it being left to the Governor General to name a
date when the change should take effect. The establishment of Imperial
Penny Postage, however, brought matters to a head, for it was a
ridiculous state of affairs under which a charge of 3c had to be levied
in carrying a letter from one town to another in Canada while 2c would
carry a similar letter (if under half an ounce in weight) to any point
in the British Isles. Consequently the Governor General named New Year's
Day as the date when the reduced rate of domestic postage should come
into force as shown by the following "Order in Council":--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
By Proclamation dated the 29th day of December, 1898, in virtue of
the Act further to amend the Post Office Act (61 Victoria, Chapter
20) and of an Order in Council in accordance therewith, it was
declared that the postage rate payable on all letters originating
in and transmitted by post for any distance in Canada for delivery
in Canada, should be one uniform rate of two cents per ounce
weight, from the 1st January, 1899.
The immediate effect of this change of rates was a vast increase in the
demand for 2c stamps and a corresponding decrease in the use of the 3c.
Also, to fall in line with Postal Union requirements a change of color
was necessary, but this did not take place at once, the postal
authorities preferring to follow their usual precedent of using up the
old stamps first.
The 3c, which had been printed in large quantities, moved so slowly that
the Post-Office Department decided that the only way the stock could be
used up within a reasonable time would be to reduce the stamps to the
value of 2c by means of a surcharge. This intention, as well as a change
in the color of the regular 2c stamps, was set forth in a circular
issued on July 1st, 1899, from which we extract the following:--
Owing to the reduction in the Domestic letter rate of postage, the
issue of the 3c letter-card, the 3c stamped envelope, and the 3c
postage stamp from the Department has ceased. Any unused 3c
letter-cards, 3c stamped envelopes or 3c stamps, still extant,
will, however, continue available for postal purposes, or may be
exchanged at any Post Office, at their full face value, for postage
stamps of other denominations.
The color of the Domestic-rate postage stamp, as prescribed by the
Universal Postal Union, is red, and it is intended to discontinue
the issue of the ordinary two-cents purple colored stamps as soon
as the present supply on hand is exhausted. This will be about the
20th July, 1899. Thereafter the Department will issue two cents
stamps in red, first, however, surcharging down to two cents the
unissued remnant of the three cents stamps in red, now in the
possession of the Department, and as soon as the supply of such
surcharged _threes_ is exhausted, the issue of two cents stamps in
red will begin. The surcharged stamps will be issued to Postmasters
as 2c postage stamps and be recognised as postage stamps of that
denomination.
The official estimate of the time the then existing stock of 2c purple
stamps would last was not far wrong for on July 20th the first of the
surcharged labels were issued. The surcharge follows a somewhat peculiar
arrangement the numeral "2" and "S" of CENTS being larger than the rest
of the inscription, which is flat at the bottom and concave at the top.
This distinctive type is said to have been adopted to make
counterfeiting difficult, though it is hardly likely anyone would have
reduced a 3c stamp to the value of 2c with the idea of defrauding the
Government! Evidently the inscription was specially engraved and from it
a plate was constructed so that a sheet of one hundred stamps could be
overprinted at one operation. Some little variation will be found in the
thickness of the type of the surcharge though whether this is due to the
use of more than one plate or simply to overinking or wear is a doubtful
matter. The normal position of the surcharge is horizontally across the
bottom of the stamps but owing to poor register it is sometimes found
much out of position, and specimens with the overprint across the centre
of the labels have been recorded.
The surcharge was, at first, applied only to the 3c stamps of the
numeral type but it was soon decided to also use up the unissued
remainders of the 3c "maple-leaf" design by surcharging them in the same
manner. These stamps were first issued on August 8th. Both varieties are
known with inverted surcharge. How many of each of these three cent
stamps were surcharged is not known for certain as the official figures
dealing with the issue of stamps makes no distinction between the two
varieties. It is stated that altogether 4,120,000 were surcharged and as
the varieties are equally plentiful it is only reasonable to suppose
that approximately equal numbers of both types were used up.
_Reference List._
Stamps of 1897 and 1898 surcharged "2 CENTS" in black.
71. 2c on 3c carmine "maple leaf", Scott's No. 84
72. 2c on 3c carmine "numeral", Scott's No. 85.
CHAPTER XVIII.--_The Bi-sected Provisionals._
The somewhat sudden reduction of the domestic postal rate from 3c to 2c
on single letters led to the production of a few provisional stamps of
peculiar character at Port Hood, N. S., the postmaster of that town
dividing some of his 3c stamps into two unequal portions and using the
smaller parts as 1c and the larger ones as 2c. In the _Monthly Journal_
for January, 1899, they are referred to as follows:--
In some offices 1c and 2c stamps ran short, and their places were
supplied by one-third and two-thirds portions of 3c stamps divided
vertically. In some places our correspondent says, these divided
stamps were employed without further alteration, but in others we
regret to hear that they were surcharged with a figure "2" in
purple, upon the figure "3" of the larger portion or the word "one"
in green, upon the smaller part; or, to further complicate matters,
when thirds of two adjoining stamps were used for 2c each part was
impressed with a figure "2." Our informant's letter is franked in
part by 2/3 of a 3c stamp surcharged "2" so we fear that this
horrible tale is founded on fact.
In the same journal for March further reference is made to these
provisionals, viz.:--
The surcharged fractions appear to have been used only at Port
Hood, N. S., where the Postmaster apparently did not consider it
safe to use divided stamps without some distinguishing mark. We
have seen other copies since, and find that a figure "1" was struck
upon the smaller portion; not the word "one" as previously stated.
Again in the April number of the same paper these split stamps are
referred to:--
In reference to the cut and surcharged 3c stamps, a correspondent
sends us the following extract from a letter from the postmaster of
Port Hood:--"When the change in Canadian postage was made--of which
we got notice by wire--I had only a very few two cent stamps in
stock, so that before I got my supply from Ottawa I ran completely
out of them, and, to keep my account straight, I was compelled to
cut threes. This was for one day only, and not over 300 stamps were
cut. I would say about 200 '2' and 100 '1' were used. About 100 '2'
and probably nearly as many '1' were marked with the figures '2'
and '1' as you describe, and were placed on letters for delivery in
towns throughout the Dominion. Those were the only provisional
stamps used by this office."
Once more, in June, the _Monthly Journal_ refers to the philatelically
notorious Port Hood office:--
A correspondent tells us that the surcharged provisionals were not
the first instances of the use of the scissors at Port Hood, an
envelope emanating from that office and bearing the half of the 2c
stamp, divided diagonally, having been found with the date July
27th, 1898. We do not know what the regulations are in Canada on
the subject of receiving postage in cash, but we should suppose
that if a postmaster runs out of 1c stamps, receives postage on
certain letters, in cash, and then, to save an entry in his
accounts, cuts 2c stamps in half and affixes the halves to the
letters, it would not be considered a very heinous offence, and it
would account for curiosities of this kind occasionally turning up.
But Port Hood does not seem to have been the only office in which the
scissors were used, for the following letter from the _Montreal
Philatelist_ shows that stamps were bi-sected at at least one other
office. In this instance the postmaster divided 5c stamps as well as the
3c though, apparently, he did not apply any surcharge to the
fractions:--
CROSS ROAD, COUNTRY HARBOR,
April 17th, 1900.
Dear Sir,--Your enquiry re stamps to hand. At the time you mention
the 2c postage was given us so suddenly that I was about out and
all my neighbour P. M. was also out and as I could only charge the
public 2c I could not afford to put on a 3c stamp so cut 3c and 5c
to about even the thing up and sent them along. Three or four days'
letters were mailed in this way, but I do not know where they went
to.
Yours very truly,
E. S. SWEET, Postmaster.
The same journal in referring to the Port Hood provisionals makes some
interesting comments which are worth reproduction, viz.:--