when such mutilations were allowed, as even an entire absence of
the required values would not warrant, under present regulations,
this antiquated process. In such cases the postmaster should
forward the money to the office on which his mail is forwarded with
a request to affix the necessary stamps; he can handstamp or write
the amount paid on each letter if desired, but that is not
necessary. As these fractional provisionals of the Port Hood P. O.
were never issued to the public, but were affixed by the postmaster
and the amount paid stamped on them, they are no more deserving of
collection as postage stamps than the hand stamp or pen mark on an
envelope would be if no stamp or portion of a stamp had been
affixed. If it is asked "Why cut up and affix the stamps then?" the
answer is the postmaster knew no better and wanted to make his cash
account correspond with the total of stamps sold and on hand. He
tried to simplify his book-keeping--nothing more--but went about it
in an antiquated and unlawful way.
While genuine copies of these splits on original covers are interesting
curiosities their philatelic value is not of the greatest importance,
for they were, seemingly, never sold to the public but simply affixed by
the postmaster after he had received payment in cash, to simplify his
accounts. They were certainly not authorised and if they had been
detected at the larger offices they would not have passed as valid for
postage.
In concluding our notes with regard to these cut stamps we reproduce a
letter from the Post Office Department in reply to a collector who had
made enquiry about the validity of the splits:
P. O. Dept., OTTAWA,
_March 30th, 1904._
In reply to your letter of the 24th March, _re_ stamps '1' in blue,
on 1/3 of 3, and '2' in violet on 2/3 of 3 cents, I beg to say that
the Superintendent of the Stamp Branch assures me that no such
stamps were ever issued or recognised by this Department, and if
affixed to letters would be treated as ordinary mutilated stamps of
no value. It appears that the Postmaster of Port Hood, N. S., at
the time of the change of rate found himself short of 2 cents
stamps, and, acting on the advice of some stamp fiend apparently,
cut up a sheet or so of stamps to make twos and ones. He nearly
lost his job over it, but the Department never got hold of any of
the mutilated stamps. Anybody could make similar stamps by cutting
up and marking old threes. Hoping this may be satisfactory to you,
Yours, etc.,
W. H. HARRINGTON.
_Reference List._
The 3c stamp of 1898 divided vertically and each portion
surcharged with a new value.
73. 1(c) in blue on one-third of 3c carmine, Scott's No. 85A.
74. 2(c) in violet on two-thirds of 3c carmine. Scott's No. 85B.
CHAPTER XIX.--_The 2c Carmine._
According to the Post Office circular quoted in our last chapter the
issue of the 2c stamp in carmine--or red, as the color was officially
termed--was to begin when the supply of surcharged 3c stamps was
exhausted. The new 2c stamp was eventually placed on sale on August
20th, 1899, and it is, of course, exactly like the same value previously
issued in purple in all respects except that of color. The same plates
were used and later many new ones were put to press. No accurate record
of the different plates used for this denomination has been kept but, in
addition to plates 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 listed by Mr. Howes, there were
probably many others.
In 1900 Canada followed the lead of many other countries by issuing the
2c value in convenient booklet form. The Postmaster-General's Report
for 1900 refers to these booklets as follows:--
In the month of June, 1900, the department commenced the issue to
Postmasters, of a small book of 2 cent postage stamps, containing
12 stamps, disposed on two sheets of 6 stamps each, and interleaved
with wax paper to prevent adhesion of the sheets. The size of the
book is such as to make it convenient to be carried in the pocket
or pocket-book. Printed on the cover is postal information
calculated to be of interest to the public. The price at which the
book is issued is 25 cents, one cent over the face value of the
stamps being charged to cover the cost of binding, etc.
These stamp books were first placed on sale on June 11th and they
rapidly came into public favor as is evidenced by the increasing sales
every year since. Mr. Howes tells us that "the books are about two by
three inches in size, with stiff cardboard covers which are bound
together by red cloth. The coat-of-arms of Canada with the words CANADA
POSTAGE beneath are engraved in red on the front cover, while inside are
four pages of postal information and the two sheets of six stamps
each--three horizontal pairs--backed by leaves of paraffined tissue
paper."
_Reference List._
Aug. 20th, 1899. Engraved and printed by the American Bank
Note Co., Ottawa. No Wmk. Perf. 12.
75. 2c carmine, Scott's No. 86.
CHAPTER XX.--_The 20c Value of 1900._
On the 29th of December, 1900, a 20c value was added to the numeral
series, its advent being quite unannounced. The large 20c stamps of 1893
had been finally used up and the new label not only conformed to the
others of the series in design but also took on a new color--olive-green
in place of scarlet.
It was printed from the usual style of line-engraved plate with the
usual sheet arrangement of 100 stamps arranged in ten horizontal rows of
ten each, with the imprint and plate number in the centre of the top
margin. Only one plate--numbered "1"--seems to have been used and Mr.
Howes tells us that "an examination of the stamp accounts during its
term of life make it appear probable that approximately 500,000 were
issued."
_Reference List._
Dec. 29th, 1900. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note
Co., Ottawa. No Wmk. Perf. 12.
76. 20c olive-green, Scott's No. 87.
CHAPTER XXI.--_The Queen Victoria Seven Cents._
Although the reduction in the domestic rate of postage from 3c to 2c in
1899 made the 8c stamp--which was primarily intended for the combined
payment of postage and the registration fee--of little use it was not
until December, 1902, that this value was replaced by a seven cents
denomination. The new stamp was first announced as being in preparation
in a newspaper despatch dated Ottawa, Dec. 18th, 1902, viz.:--
The Post Office Department announces that on the 24th instant it
will be in a position to supply a seven cent postage stamp to
accounting post-offices throughout Canada. This stamp, which is of
yellow color, will be especially convenient for postage and
registration fee on single rate letters, while it may also be used
for other postage purposes to the extent of its face value.
Non-accounting offices can obtain their supply through the city
post offices. This new stamp will bear the Queen's head, the
department not having yet decided on the design of the King's head
issue.
This posthumous Queen's head stamp was of similar design to the other
values of the numeral series and had the same sheet arrangement and
marginal inscriptions. There was but one plate--numbered "1"--from which
Mr. Howes estimates about one million stamps were printed.
This stamp was issued on December 23rd, 1902, according to a statement
in the official Report.
_Reference List._
Dec. 23rd, 1902. Engraved and printed by the American Bank
Note Co., Ottawa. No Wmk. Perf. 12.
77. 7c olive-yellow, Scott's No. 88.
CHAPTER XXII.--_The King Edward Issue._
King Edward VII ascended the throne on January 22nd, 1901, but it was
not until nearly two and a half years later that the Dominion of Canada
issued new stamps bearing the portrait of the new sovereign. In the
meantime there was much comment and speculation as to when the new
stamps would appear and as to what form they would take, though the Post
Office Department for reasons best known to itself, exercised a discreet
silence on the matter. Early in 1903 it was reported in the newspapers
that designs had been submitted and that the Postmaster-General had
chosen one "bearing an excellent likeness of His Majesty." But the
earliest detailed information concerning the expected stamps appeared in
the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ for April 18th, 1903, viz:--
The King's head series of Canadian stamps will probably shortly
make its appearance. The die has been received by the Post Office
Department and approved of. The stamp will be very similar to the
present stamp except that the maple leaf in each of the upper
corners will be replaced by a crown. The figures of value will
appear in the lower corners as at present and the value will be
spelled out as at present in the oval frame which surrounds the
portrait. This frame will be as in the present stamp. The portrait
of the King shows him three-quarters to the right, head and
shoulders, as the Queen is in the present stamp, but there is no
crown on his head. The portrait is an exceptionally nice one and it
is understood that Royalty has had something to do with its
selection. The die was made in England, although the American Bank
Note Co. are contractors for the government work.
These details all proved correct and shortly afterwards postmasters were
given definite information with regard to the forthcoming stamps by
means of an official circular, dated June 10th, and worded as follows:--
Postmasters are hereby informed that a new issue of postage stamps,
bearing the portrait of His Majesty, King Edward VII., and
comprising five denominations (1c, 2c, 5c, 7c and 10c), is about to
be supplied to Postmasters for sale in the usual way, but none of
these stamps are to be sold until the first of July, 1903. The
colors of the forthcoming series will be the same respectively as
those now used for the denominations specified, except that the
shade of the 7c will be slightly deeper.
Postmasters will please bear in mind that, notwithstanding the new
issue, they are not to return to the Department any of the old
stamps on hand, but will sell them in the ordinary way. At first,
the public may prefer getting new stamps, and if so, there is no
objection to this wish being acceded to, but it is also desirable
to work off in due course all remnants of old stamps. A change in
the design of the stamp of the present series of postcards,
post-bands and stamped envelopes, to correspond with that above
referred to, will be made as soon as the present stock of these
items shall have been exhausted.
[Illustration]
The new King Edward 1c, 2c, 5c, 7c and 10c stamps were accordingly
issued to the public on Dominion Day (July 1st), 1903.
It will be noted in one of the extracts quoted above that the die for
the new stamps was engraved in London, and shortly after the appearance
of the stamps the _London Philatelist_ published the following article
which is of such interest as to merit its reproduction in full:--
Although for a long time past we have been aware of the
circumstances attending the preparation of the new postage stamps
for Canada, and in a position to illustrate the approved design, we
have refrained from publishing the facts in compliance with the
desire of the authorities that no details should be made public
until the stamps have been completed and were ready to be put into
circulation. We believe that the delay which has taken place in
bringing out the new issue has been due to questions arising out of
the existing contract under which the postage stamps of the
Dominion are produced, and that even after the approval of the
design and the receipt of the die some difficulties were
experienced in connection with the preparation of the plates by the
contractors.
These have happily been surmounted, and now that the issue is an
accomplished fact it is with much gratification that we illustrate
the design of the new stamp, our illustration, prepared some time
back, being taken from a proof from the steel die engraved by
Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co., of London, and used in the
manufacture of the plates of the several values issued by the
Canadian postal authorities on the 1st instant By comparing our
illustration with the stamp as issued it will be seen that the
contractors or the postal authorities have made some alterations in
the design, which, in our judgment, are by no means improvements.
The leaves in the lower corners have been redrawn on a smaller
scale, and hardly impinge upon the frame; their drawing is vastly
inferior, and the graceful effect of the broken circle is lost. The
numerals of value are in color on a white ground reversing the
original design, the labels being larger and the figures taller and
thinner, this also detracting materially from the charming
homogeneity of the stamp as first proposed. The greatest
alteration, and the worst, is the substitution of heavy diagonal
lines for horizontal ones in the background. The latter were finely
drawn and delicately shaded, leaving the King's Head in clear
outline, and _framed_ by the dark oval band containing the
inscriptions. The background and frame no longer present this
artistic effect, and the whole design materially suffers thereby.
The circumstances connected with the inception of the issue are as
gratifying as they are novel, and will be hailed with acclamation
by the Philatelists of the British Empire.
The Postmaster of Canada, Sir William Mulock, being one of the many
distinguished visitors to this country during the Coronation
festivities, took the opportunity afforded by his visit of
approaching the Prince of Wales, and of meeting His Royal
Highness's suggestions and advice in the preparation of a new die
for the Canadian stamps. The Prince, with his characteristic energy
and courtesy, cheerfully undertook the task, and it will be seen
from our illustration with absolute and conspicuous success. H. R.
H. wisely decided, in the first instance, that it is advisable to
have some continuity of design in succeeding issues, and therefore
adopted the frame and groundwork of the then current stamps as a
basis. In selecting a portrait of His Majesty the Prince decided to
rely upon a photograph giving a true likeness of the King as we
know him, in lieu of an idealised representation by an artist. The
photograph eventually chosen, with the full approval of His
Majesty, was one taken shortly before the Coronation.
The likeness is undoubtedly what is termed a speaking one, and with
the addition of the Coronation robes represents as faithful and as
pleasing a picture of the King, at the time of his accession to the
throne, as it is possible to find. The introduction of the Tudor
crowns in the upper angles, which was another of the Prince's
innovations, obviates the difficulty that has so often made "the
head that wears a crown" lie "uneasy" on a postage stamp. These
emblems of sovereignty, taken in conjunction with the Canadian
maple leaves in the lower angles, completes a design that for
harmony, boldness and simplicity has assuredly not been excelled by
any hitherto issued stamps of the British Empire. It is palpable,
on analysing the stamp, (1) that the attractiveness of the design
has in no way been allowed to militate against its utility, for the
country of origin and denomination are clearly expressed; (2) that
the boldness of the design has not been detracted from (as is so
often the case) by superfluous ornamentation, and that the design
has been artistically balanced by the introduction of the
_right-sized portrait_ and the proper treatment of light and shade.
These stamps were, of course, printed from line-engraved plates like
those of the preceding issues, and the same sheet arrangement of 100
stamps in ten rows of ten each was followed. The marginal imprint shown
on the top margin of each sheet is like that shown on the Queen's head
sheets and the plates for each value were numbered from 1 upwards. Mr.
Howes records the following plates as having been used up to December,
1910:--
1 cent--Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 24, 25, 34, 47, 48,
51, 52, 55, 58.
2 cents--Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,
35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 47, 53, 54, 55,
56, 57, 58, 59, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 70,
71, 72, 73, 74, 78.
5 cents--Nos. 1, 2.
7 cents--No. 1.
10 cents--Nos. 1, 2.
It is very possible other plates were used for most denominations before
the King George stamps were issued in 1912. The colors were very similar
to those employed for the corresponding values of the Queen's head
series except as regards the 7c, which was printed in a darker and more
pleasing shade.
Nearly fifteen months elapsed before any other King Edward stamps were
issued when, on September 27th, 1904, the 20c denomination made its
appearance. This is of similar design to the others, was printed from
the usual sized plate of 100, and bore imprint and plate number in the
top margin as before. Only one plate has been recorded and as the use of
this denomination did not average over 400,000 a year, it is quite
probable that only this one plate was made. This value was issued in the
olive-green shade adopted for its predecessor.
More than four years elapsed before the next and last value of the King
Edward series appeared. This was the 50c denomination, which was placed
on sale on November 19th, 1908, after the supply of the old blue stamps
first issued in 1893 was finally used up. In design, sheet arrangement,
etc., it conforms with the others of the series. One plate--numbered
1--was used.
The 2c value of this series is known entirely imperforate and the
history of the variety, which is now quite common, is of considerable
interest. The imperforate stamps were first mentioned in the WEEKLY for
October 10th, 1908, in the following editorial:--
We are enabled to report the existence of the two-cent Canada,
current issue, imperforate, a reader having shown us a sheet of one
hundred of these varieties bearing the plate number 18. This is a
discovery of momentous interest which must attract much attention
not alone from specialists but from collectors, as we may say for
the sake of distinction, as well. The fact that the pane bears so
early a plate number removes it from any inclusion in the theory
that the Canadian authorities propose to issue stamps in
imperforate sheets in the manner that has been employed by the
United States. Without doubt, the sheet under notice was regularly
prepared for issue in the accepted way, and it is the belief from
information at hand that a sheet of four hundred of the stamps was
printed and reached the public.
This announcement excited much interest among collectors of Canadian
stamps and enquiry regarding the seeming irregularity was made of the
postal authorities at Ottawa. The Post Office Department were convinced
that no irregularity could have occurred, but finally made an enquiry,
and were, of course, compelled to believe the evidence of the existence
of imperforate specimens. In the issue of the WEEKLY for February 20th,
1909, a more complete story of the find is related, viz.:--
The sheet as found was not of 400 stamps, but of over 200 stamps,
as the right-hand half of the sheet on which our report was based
and which was not before us when we wrote, contained a pane of 100
stamps, plate number 14 and an irregularly torn part of plate
number 13, showing about fifteen whole stamps and parts of others.
Assuming that the lower pane in the left half was torn
approximately in the manner of the right lower pane, or plate
number 13, the find consisted originally of 230 stamps, more or
less. This reckoning agrees, we believe, with the recollection of
the person who rescued the imperforates from oblivion, in a
philatelic sense. The plate numbers on the sheet that gave
authority for the chronicling of the stamps by the WEEKLY are 13
and 14, and not 18, as first printed.
A. N. Lemieux of Chicago is the man who found the stamps. While in
Ottawa five years ago or so (this was later corrected to June,
1906), when he was in business in that city, he saw the stamps just
within the iron fence that has been described as surrounding the
establishment of the bank note company that prints the Canadian
stamps. The day was a rainy one and the sheet had evidently been
blown out of the window. Mr. Lemieux apparently attached no value
to the sheet of over 200 stamps, which was in a wet, crumpled
condition, and without gum. Mr. Lemieux was under the impression,
no doubt, that gum had been on the sheet but had been washed off by
the rain.
Mr. Severn ultimately acquired what was left of this imperforate sheet,
and later submitted the stamps to the officials at Ottawa, who
pronounced them but "printer's waste". Mr. Severn, in adding to the
history of these imperforates, says:--
They seemingly had been trampled upon and subjected to the usage
that would be given such castoff material. Further, it was said
that they had been blown or thrown out of a window, no doubt. It
was suggested that the stamps be returned to Ottawa and that there
were moral grounds for such a course on the part of the holders.
The description of "printer's waste" seems to be correct and the
inference is that the stamps never had been gummed. They belong to
that class of curiosities that appeal strongly to the specialist,
but which the ordinary collector regards as something apart from
his collecting policy.
The stamps did not go back to Ottawa, and the postal authorities there
annoyed, doubtless righteously, that such things should escape from
their well regulated printing establishment went to considerable trouble
to make the imperforates of small monetary value. The following
paragraph, written by a correspondent of the WEEKLY, was the first
inkling collectors had that the department had thought any more of the
matter:--
It may be of interest to know that the last supplement to the
Canadian Post Office Guide contains the following: "In view of
representations which have been made to the Department, it has been
decided to permit the sale of the 2-cent denomination of Canadian
postage stamps of the current issue, in sheets of 100, _without the
usual perforation._" I at once asked for a sheet of the 2-cent, and
incidentally said I would take a sheet of the other denominations
if available. A reply came today informing me that only the 2-cent
would be available, and then not for some time, as the department
intends to make a separate printing of these stamps, to supply
whatever demand may occur.
It was stipulated that applications for these imperforate stamps should
be made to the Postmaster at Ottawa. When the sheets of these stamps
came into collectors' hands it was found they had been printed from
plates 13 and 14--the same as those from which the originally chronicled
"errors" were printed. It is obvious that the Department issued these
stamps simply to "get back" at the holder of the sheet so unfortunately
blown or thrown out of the printing-office window in 1906. That they
were not intended for use in mailing machines seems amply proved from
the fact that none of the 2c stamps of the present issue have been
issued in imperforate sheets.
No 1/2c value was issued in the King Edward design although the Queen's
head stamp of that denomination continued in use until 1909. This value
was primarily intended for use in prepaying the postage on transient
newspapers, but for many years the number sold to the public was out of
all proportion to those which could have been required for its
legitimate use. There is no doubt that large quantities were purchased
by stamp dealers for wholesaling to packet makers and dealers in the
cheap approval sheet business and, undoubtedly, stamp collectors in
Canada usually preferred to use four 1/2c stamps on their letters rather
than an ordinary 2c one. This excessive demand for the 1/2c resulted in
the Post Office Department issuing the following circular to Postmasters
in 1902:--
The attention of postmasters is drawn to the fact that the postal
necessity for the 1/2c stamp, as such, is now confined to one
purpose--prepayment of newspapers and periodicals posted singly,
and weighing not more than one ounce each. As publications of the
kind referred to must, in the nature of things, be few, and as in
the case of their being mailed to subscribers by the office of
publication, the bulk rate of postage would be far cheaper and more
convenient for the publisher, the demand for the 1/2c stamp
throughout the Dominion must be appreciably diminished as a result
of this restriction of its use. While, of course, any number of
1/2c stamps on an article of correspondence will be recognized to
the full extent of their aggregate face value, it is not the wish
of the Department to supply them except for the sole specific
purpose above mentioned, and an intimation to that effect should be
given by postmasters to patrons of their office who are in the
habit of buying 1/2-cent stamps for other postal purposes.
This circular had quite an effect on the use of 1/2c stamps, for only
about one-third as many were used in the year following the publication
of the circular. Finally, on May 19th, 1909, the Post Office Act was
amended so that the special rate on newspapers was repealed and the
minimum postage on any single piece of mail became 1c. This did away for
the necessity of 1/2c stamps and, of course, discounted any further
possibility of the value being included in the King's head series.
_Reference List._
1903-8. Die engraved by Perkins, Bacon & Co., London. Plates
prepared and stamps printed by the American Bank Note
Co., Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12.
78. 1c green, Scott's No. 89.
79. 2c carmine, Scott's No. 90.
80. 5c blue on blue, Scott's No. 91.
81. 7c olive-bistre, Scott's No. 92
82. 10c brown lilac. Scott's No. 93.
83. 20c olive-green. No. 94.
84. 50c purple. No. 95.
CHAPTER XXIII.--_The Quebec Tercentenary Issue._
The year 1908 marked the three hundredth anniversary of the first
permanent settlement in Canada, made by Champlain at Quebec in 1608, and
plans were formed to celebrate the event in a fitting manner by means of
fêtes, historical pageants, etc. In fact, the occasion was considered of
such importance that the then Prince and Princess of Wales (now King
George V of England and his Royal Consort) were invited to be present at
the festivities, and they made a special journey in one of Britain's
most formidable battleships.
Quite early it was rumoured that the Post Office Department would mark
the event, as in Diamond Jubilee year, by the issue of a series of
special stamps, and though in March the Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux, who was
then Postmaster-General, announced that such an issue would assuredly be
made, the Department exercised the greatest reticence as to what values
would be included in the series, and what subjects would form the
designs. Naturally the Department was inundated with all sorts of
suggestions, more or less appropriate to the occasion, but, apparently,
the "powers that be" had their plans already made and it was not until a
few days before the stamps were ready for use that any information was
made public regarding the series. The _Toronto Globe_ for July 4th
printed the following despatch from its Ottawa correspondent:--
Postmaster-General Lemieux has given instructions to issue a series
of postage stamps commemorating the tercentenary. They are eight in
number. Four of them bear portraits of persons dear to Canada, or
whose names recall great events. The first represents the Prince
and Princess of Wales; the second the King and Queen. Next come
Cartier and Champlain, and then, in connection with the
battlefields park scheme, Wolfe and Montcalm. The second part of
the issue represents Cartier's arrival before Quebec. On the calm
waters of the mighty St. Lawrence stand in bold relief three ships
of the discoverer of Canada, flying the fleur-de-lys.
As a sequel to the above is a very picturesque tableau. In
Champlain's narrative of his third voyage to Canada is found the
following passage:--
"With our canoes laden with provisions, our arms and some
merchandise to be given as presents to the Indians, I started on
Monday, May 27, from the isle of Sainte Helaine, accompanied by
four Frenchmen and one Indian. A salute was given in my honour from
some small pieces of artillery."
The artist, under the inspiration of these few lines, has depicted
Champlain's departure for the west. There stand two canoes. In one
Champlain's companions have already taken their places, paddle in
hand, whilst the great explorer is still on shore, bidding good-bye
to a few friends. The picture is full of life. The legend
underneath reads as follows: "Partement de Champlain pour L'ouest."
The word "partement", now obsolete, is the one used by Champlain
for the modern one "depart".
The same note of old France is used in connection with a view of
the first house in Quebec, indeed in Canada, Champlain's
habitation, which is called in his narrative "l'abitation de
Quebécq". This stamp is a clear reproduction of a cut from
Champlain's work. Quebec as it was in 1700 is the next view, copied
from Bacqueville de la Potherie's "Histoire de la Nouvelle France".
It is a quaint picture of the old city, showing steeples here and
there, the fort on the river front and in faint lines the
Laurentide Mountains in the background.
All stamps bear with the words "CANADA POSTAGE" the line "IIIe
centénaire de Quebec".
The postmaster-general has given special attention to the selection
of portraits and historical scenes to be represented. His choice
has been an excellent one.
The carrying out of the engraving part of the plan has been
entrusted to Mr. Machado, of the American Bank Note Co., who, with
keen artistic sense, has performed his part of the work with great
success.
In the same newspaper of the same date appears another despatch giving
particulars of the designs alloted to each denomination and the chosen
colors viz:--
The special postage stamps to be issued in commemoration of the
tercentenary celebration at Quebec are now ready, and will be
placed on sale next week. The stamps are of most artistic design,
and are larger than the ordinary size, to allow of adequate
representation of historic scenes, portraits, etc. The description
of each denomination is as follows:--
Half-cent, grey, picture of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
One-cent, green, portraits of Champlain and Cartier.
Two-cent, red, King Edward and Queen Alexandria.
Five-cent, blue, representation of L'Habitation de Quebec.
Seven-cent, yellow, pictures of Montcalm and Wolfe.
Ten-cent, mauve, picture of Quebec in 1700.
Fifteen-cent, orange, picture of the Parliament of the West in the
old regime.
Twenty-cent, green, picture of a courier du sois with Indians.
The stamps were placed on sale on July 16th and, as will be noted from
our illustrations, they are as described above except that the 15c does
not have Champlain's name on it as stated in the first quotation, and
that the 15c and 20c are incorrectly described in the second despatch.
The stamps are of similar shape to the special series issued in Diamond
Jubilee year though they are a trifle larger--1 mm. taller and nearly 3
mm. longer. The Postmaster-General's Report for 1909 referred to this
issue as follows:--
To meet what appeared to be a general wish a special series of
postage stamps, which has come to be known as the Tercentenary
Series, was introduced as a feature of the celebration in July,
1908, of the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of Quebec
by Champlain. The first supply of these stamps was sent out to
Postmasters about the middle of that month, and was on sale to the
public by the time His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, reached
Quebec for the celebration. The demand for the new stamps was
extraordinary, and for the better part of a month was steadily kept
up. The interest taken in them was, in no small measure, due to the
historic associations with which in design they were so happily
linked, the subjects depicted in the several denominations of the
series being in variety and appropriateness admirably adapted to
the end in view,--popular recognition of an epoch-making event.
Except as regards the Postal Union denominations of 1c, 2c and 5c the
colors chosen for the stamps of this series do not correspond with those
of the regular set. The stamps were produced by the line-engraved
process, which has long been the standard method of production for
Canada's stamps, and as usual they were issued in sheets of one hundred
in ten rows of ten. It seems probable that the plates for the 2c, and
possibly for the 1c also, consisted of two panes of 100 stamps each
placed one above the other. This seems to be proved from the fact that,
whereas on most sheets the imprint "OTTAWA" followed by the plate
number, appears in the centre of the top margin, sheets of the 2c are
known with the imprint in the centre of the bottom margin, and in the
case of plates 3 and 4 both imprint and number are inverted. The
inversion on these particular plates was, probably, purely accidental.
But though these large plates were used the stamps were always issued in
the usual sheet size of 100. The following plates are known to have been
used:--
1/2c dark brown. No. 1.
1c blue-green, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4.
2c carmine, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4.
5c dark blue, Nos. 1, 2.
7c olive-green, No. 1.
10c dark violet, No. 1.
15c red-orange, No. 1.
20c yellow brown. No. 1.
The stamps were all printed on the usual white wove paper and were
perforated 12, though specimens of the 2c are known entirely
imperforate. Fairly well marked shades may be found in connection with
the 1c and 2c denominations but the other values show but very slight
differences.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
The royal portraits on the 1/2c and 2c values call for little comment,
though it is interesting to note that the portrait of the Princess of
Wales (now Queen Mary) is exactly similar to that shown on the 4c stamp
of Newfoundland which was first issued in 1901. The picture of the
Prince of Wales (now His Majesty King George V) was from a photograph by
W. & D. Downey, of London, taken just prior to his journey to India in
1906.
[Illustration]
The portrait of Jacques Cartier on the 1c is precisely like that which
appears on Canada's first 10d stamp. In _Gibbons' Stamp Weekly_ for
January 16th, 1909, the following interesting account of Cartier's
voyage appears:--
In the year 1533 Jacques Cartier was empowered by Philipp Cabot,
"the Admiral of France," to fit out ships "to explore new
territories, to gain them, by robbery or otherwise, for France, and
at the same time to endeavour to find a north-west passage to
Cathay". As long before as 1506 the Florentine explorer, Giovanni
Verozzani, had seized the territories of North America lying to the
north of the St. Lawrence River in the name of the King of France,
but the seizure had never been enforced, and remained a seizure
only in name.
On this, his first voyage, Cartier discovered Newfoundland, and,
sailing on, anchored off the northerly coast of the Gaspé
Peninsula, by which the River St. Lawrence sweeps into the gulf of
the same name. The season was very late, however, and bad weather
was to be expected, so Cartier was obliged to set sail for France
without delay. He took with him to France two sons of an Indian
chief, and they caused great excitement in Paris.
King Francis I was so pleased with this exploit that on October 31,
1534, he nominated Captain Jacques Cartier to be "Royal Pilot"
(_Pilote Royale_), and had three more ships prepared for him to
make a second voyage to Newfoundland. Preparations for the
departure were hurried on at St. Malo, Cartier's birthplace, and at
the beginning of May all was ready for the departure.
Three ships took part in the voyage, viz.: _La Grande Hermione_,
_La Petite Hermione_, and _La Hermionette._ The first two were
vessels rated at 120 and 80 tons respectively, and the last was a
galleon of 40 tons. On the after part of the first two vessels
there were no less than three decks as superstructure, while
forward there was only one deck. They were provided with the full
naval armament of the sixteenth century; on the gunwale were
mounted small cannon, and also a battery of mortars or similar
weapons.
The galleon was a long slender ship of extremely low freeboard,
rakish rigged as a single-master, both sails and oars being used as
a means of propulsion; two small cannon were mounted forward, and a
round dozen arquebuses were also carried. The total company and
passengers of the three ships were only 110 all told.
On the morning of May 19th, 1535, the little flotilla set forth on
its long voyage of exploration after having saluted the town with
every gun on board.
On September 14th of the same year Cartier sighted land, which
spread itself out on either side of the ships as far as the eye
could reach, and found signs of a village; the place was called
Canada by the natives, the meaning of the word in the native
language being "The Town". This village was the seat of
"government", and was occupied by an Indian chief called Donnacona;
it was situate right on the shore of the bay formed by the junction
of the rivers St. Charles and St. Lawrence. The village seemed to
consist of huts built irregularly on the steep sides of a mountain,
the spot later being the position of the southerly and easterly
quarters of Quebec.
[Illustration]
The historical moment of the arrival of Cartier's brave little "fleet"
is interestingly depicted on the 20c value of the tercentenary series.
Samuel de Champlain, whose portrait is also shown on the 1c
denomination, was born in 1570 and died in 1635. Again we are indebted
to the article in _Gibbons' Stamp Weekly_ for the following
particulars:--
In 1603 he was commissioned by King Henry IV of France to found a
settlement in Canada. On his first voyage he sailed up the St.
Lawrence, and established friendly relations with the various
native chiefs of the tribes inhabiting the country through which
the river flowed. On his second voyage he was accompanied by only
thirty people, and on July 3rd, 1608, he landed at the village of
Canada, which was mentioned above. His first thought was to find a
site suitable for the erection of an "_abitation_" where he might
pass the winter that was coming on. "I could find no more
comfortable or better spot than the land around Quebec, where
countless nut trees were to be seen," wrote Champlain. That was
exactly the same place where Cartier had built his fort sixty years
before.
Thanks to extreme industry, winter quarters were rapidly erected.
The habitation consisted of three principal buildings, each two
stories high. Two of these buildings measured 18 ft. long by 9 ft.
wide, and the third, used as a storehouse, was 36 ft. long by 18
ft. wide and had a large cellar. In the first building Champlain
lived with a few of the workmen in the lower story; in the other
the remaining workpeople lived, and had with them the arms and
ammunition of the whole party. An annexe was attached to one of the
buildings, and it was used as a smithy; a few of the people also
slept there. The whole of the buildings were enclosed by a trench
or moat 15 ft. wide and 9 ft. deep, to protect the settlers from
the ravages of wild beasts.
Champlain had earthworks thrown up on the inner side of the moat,
on which cannons were mounted. Between the encampment and the river
there remained a strip only 24 ft. wide; and behind, on the side of
the mountain, there was a plot of arable land a little more than
100 ft. long and 60 ft. wide, where Champlain had corn sown and
vines planted.
[Illustration]
This "abitation" is shown on the 5c value of the series, while on the
10c is shown the city of Quebec as it had grown by 1700 from such small
and modest beginnings.
[Illustration]
In the following May Champlain decided to explore the river and his
departure on this momentous journey is depicted on the 15c stamp.
[Illustration]
On the 7c denomination are portraits of the two famous generals,
Montcalm and Wolfe, both of whom were killed fighting each other on the
heights of Quebec. Again, to quote from the article in _Gibbons' Stamp
Weekly:_--
[Illustration]
So early as 1628 Quebec was captured by the English, in spite of
Champlain's brave defence; but Canada was restored to France by one
of the terms of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which was
concluded in 1632. Richelieu at once sent Champlain back to Quebec
as Governor-General of Canada.
Twice more, in 1690 and 1711, the English besieged Quebec, but they
were not able to capture the town. But in 1759 General James Wolfe
was ordered by Pitt to clear the French right out of Canada. The
French troops were under the command of Marquis Ludwig Joseph
Montcalm, of Saint-Veran. Although the latter was in command of
only a small force, he was able to claim several victories, but
finally he was besieged in Quebec by General Wolfe, at the head of
30,000 men. He was obliged to give battle under unequal conditions,
and on September 13th was mortally wounded at the battle of the
Heights of Abraham and died two days later. The victorious English
general was also killed in the same battle.
The names of both these leaders, enemies though they were, have
graven themselves inseparably on the memories of the inhabitants of
Quebec. In 1827 the Governor of Canada, Lord Dalhousie, erected a
marble monument to their memory, on which is a Latin inscription,
which may be rendered freely thus:--
"Their courage caused their death.
History praises them both.
Posterity erects this monument to
their honour."
No advance information was published as to the numbers printed of the
several values in the series, as in the case of the Jubilee set, so that
little attempt at cornering any particular values was made by
speculators. True, large quantities of the 1/2c value were bought up by
people who imagined it would be as rare as the corresponding value of
the Jubilee stamps, but as there were two million of these they did not
turn out to be the gold-mine it was fondly imagined they would. By
September, 1908, all values except the 10c, 15c and 20c had been
exhausted and by the end of October these three values were sold out as
well. The numbers issued were later given out by the Postmaster-General
in answer to two questions propounded to him in the House of Commons by
Mr. Perley, a member. The Canadian _Hansard_ gives this data as
follows:--
1.--What was the total amount received by the Post Office
Department from the sale of the special Tercentenary stamps?
2.--What part of this sum would probably have been received as
ordinary revenue if there had been no special issue of stamps?
To these questions the Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General,
responded: The following was the issue to Postmasters of the
Tercentenary postage stamps:
_Denominations._ _Quantities._ _Value._
1/2 cent 2,000,000 $10,000
1 cent 22,530,000 $225,300
2 cent 35,100,000 $702,000
5 cent 1,200,000 $60,000
7 cent 700,000 $49,000
10 cent 500,000 $50,000
15 cent 300,000 $45,000
20 cent 304,200 $60,840
---------- ---------
Totals, 62,634,200 $1,202,140
The department has no knowledge whether the stamps in question have
all been sold, as during their issue the ordinary postage stamps
were also on sale, both issues being in use as preferred by the
public. The proceeds derived from the sale of stamps of the two
issues were not kept separately, but treated as arising from a
common source. It is, therefore, impossible to state to what extent
the issue of the Tercentenary postage stamps may have affected the
ordinary revenue.
The fact that the Prince of Wales was an ardent stamp collector resulted
in the presentation to him of a specially mounted set as shown by the
following paragraph from the WEEKLY:--
As the Prince of Wales is an enthusiastic collector of stamps, His
Royal Highness will no doubt be very pleased to receive the set of
the special tercentenary stamps which will be presented to him at
Quebec. The stamps will be held in small gold boxes, enclosed in a
handsome large box of Morocco leather. A second set accompanies the
gift in a special gold box, on the cover of the large box is the
Prince's crest and a gold plate inscribed as follows: "Set of
Canadian postage stamps issued upon the occasion of the Quebec
tercentenary, 1908. Presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales by Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General of Canada." Sets
of these stamps, in boxes with appropriate crests and monograms,
will be presented to Earl Grey, Sir Wilfred Laurier and Hon.
Rudolphe Lemieux.
_Reference List._
1908. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12.
85. 1/2c dark brown, Scott's No. 96.
86. 1c blue green, Scott's No. 97.
87. 2c carmine, Scott's No. 98.
88. 5c dark blue, Scott's No. 99.
89. 7c olive green, Scott's No. 100.
90. 10c dark violet, Scott's No. 101.
91. 15c red orange, Scott's No. 102.
92. 20c yellow brown, Scott's No. 103.
CHAPTER XXIV.
_The King George Stamps._
On May 6th, 1910, King George V succeeded to the throne but the Dominion
of Canada did not take steps towards issuing a series of stamps bearing
the portrait of the new monarch until some time later. The 1c and 2c
denominations were recorded in the _Monthly Journal_ for January, 1912,
so they were doubtless on sale on the 1st day of that month. The other
values--5c, 7c, 10c, 20c and 50c--were placed on sale very soon
afterwards and we believe the full series was in circulation before the
end of January.
[Illustration]
The new stamps form a highly attractive set and they are without
question the handsomest set of "George" stamps issued by any of the
British Colonies. The portrait, which shows His Majesty in an admiral's
uniform, three-quarter face to left, is, as the _Monthly Journal_ states
"the best portrait of King George that has yet appeared on stamps." The
portrait is contained within an oval above which the words CANADA
POSTAGE are curved in bold sans-serif capitals. Below is the value ONE
CENT, etc., in words while in each of the lower angles the value is
shown in figures on a plain square as in the case of the King Edward
stamps. In the upper corners are crowns, again like the King Edward
labels, but the treatment of the stamp as a whole is widely dissimilar.
The portrait oval is smaller than before so that in place of the almost
microscopical maple leaves shown on the King Edward stamps we now find a
spray of these leaves, beautifully drawn, in each of the lower
spandrels.
The stamps were printed in sheets of 100 as before with the usual
arrangement of marginal imprint and plate numbers. No record seems to
have been made of the plates but that a very large number of the 2c at
any rate were used is obvious from the high numbers found.
The 1c and 2c values show a number of prominent shades. Just a month
after the stamps were first chronicled the _Monthly Journal_ noted that
the 1c existed in two distinct shades--"yellow-green and blue-green". In
October, 1912, the same journal mentioned the receipt of the 5c "in a
very markedly altered shade, deep ultramarine instead of the previous
deep indigo", while in January, 1913, we read of two very pronounced
shades of the 2c--bright carmine and dull rose-red--in addition to the
usual rose-carmine tint. In November, 1913, this denomination was noted
in still another striking shade described as "almost carmine-lake".
In the February, 1913, issue of the _Philatelic Gazette_ reference is
made to these shades and other varieties as follows:--
Collectors of shades should not fail to secure before it is too
late, the interesting series of such varieties in the current King
George series of Canada. In the 1 cent stamp four distinct shades
are noted and in the 2 cent value no less than ten distinct shades
from a pale carmine rose to deep carmine and from a real brick red
to a reddish-brown or sienna red.
Several "errors" or "freaks of printing" have appeared, mostly in
the early impressions, caused probably by the rush and push of the
printers in trying to meet the large demand. I have noted the
following and believe they will be of interest to collectors:
1 Cent.--An accent between CANADA and POSTAGE; also accents
between N and D of CANADA.
2 Cent.--The same varieties may be found on the 2 cent stamp
printed from plate one.
2 Cent.--On plate two there appeared on the 97th stamp on the plate
a marked accent on the C of CENTS.
2 Cent.--In February, 1912, some few sheets were issued, having the
red horizontal guide lines running across the stamps. These were
printed from unfinished plates from which the guide lines had not
been removed. They are easily distinguished, having the lines about
2 millimeters apart running across every stamp on the sheet. The
lines are very plain where they run through the figures of
value.--C. L. P.
The variety last described is a very interesting one which may also be
found in connection with the 1c denomination. To term them guide-lines
and prints from "unfinished plates" is, however, quite incorrect. Such
guide-lines as are marked on a plate are only placed vertically or
horizontally to correspond with the top or bottom or one of the sides of
the stamp design. The lines, which we are now considering, appear
comparatively close together though they are not equi-distant, as the
above description would lead us to imagine, nor are they always parallel
or straight. They are undoubtedly due to some inherent defects in the
plates. Possibly, in the rush to finish sufficient plates to cope with
the demand for the new stamps some of them were hardened too quickly
with the result that the surfaces cracked. These defective plates were
certainly among the earliest ones used and judging by the scarcity of
the stamps showing these peculiarities they were not in use long before
they were discarded.
The 1c and 2c values of this series were issued in coil form for use in
automatic vending machines. These were first issued in November, 1912,
perf. 8 vertically and imperforate at top and bottom. In October, 1913,
the 1c was issued perf. 8 horizontally and imperforate at the sides and
shortly afterwards the 2c appeared in the same way. These coil stamps
show quite a number of distinct shades. The 1c in coil form was also
issued with the 12 perforation at top and bottom and imperforate at the
sides.
_Reference List._
Engraved and Printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa.
No wmk. Perf. 12.
93. 1c green, Scott's No. 104.
(a) Perf. 8 vertically. Scott's No. 104c.
(b) Perf. 8 horizontally, Scott's No. 104b.
(c) Perf. 12 horizontally, Scott's No. 104a.
94. 2c carmine. Scott's No. 105.
(a) Perf. 8 vertically, Scott's No. 105a.
(b) Perf. 8 horizontally, Scott's No. 105b.
95. 5c deep blue. Scott's No. 106.
96. 7c olive-yellow, Scott's No. 107.
97. 10c dull purple, Scott's No. 108.
98. 20c olive-green, Scott's No. 109.
99. 50c sepia, Scott's No. 110.
CHAPTER XXV.
_The War Tax Stamps._
One result of the European war was that Canada, in common with many
other countries, had to impose special taxes. The Hon. W. T. White,
Minister of Finance, outlined the various tariff changes and special
taxes in the House of Commons, Ottawa, on February 11th, 1915, and a
resume of the chief items in the new "budget" was published in the
WEEKLY for Feb. 7th as follows:--
The tariff changes went into effect at the time of the
announcement. The special tax on wine and champagne goes into
effect at once. The other special taxes take effect at a date to be
yet fixed. The stamp tax on letters means that the old 3 cent
postage rate is restored, and a city letter costs 2 cents.
There is to be no income tax.
The following are some of the items of taxation:--
One cent on telegraph and cable messages.
Five cents for every five dollars on railroad and steamboat
tickets.
Ten cents on sleeping car and five cents on parlor car tickets.
One to three dollars per passenger from steamboat companies
carrying to ports other than in Canada, Newfoundland, the United
States of America, and British West Indies.
Two cents on all bank checks, receipts and bills of exchange,
express and post-office orders.
One cent on postal notes.
One cent (war stamp) on each letter and postcard.
Five cents per quart on non-sparkling wines sold in Canada, and
twenty-five cents per pint on champagne and sparkling wines.
One cent on each twenty-five cents retail price of proprietary
articles.
The only tax that has interest to us as philatelists is the one cent
impost on all letters and postcards. This came into effect on April
15th, 1915, and special stamps were issued for the purpose. These are
the regular 1c postage stamps of the King George series with the words
"WAR TAX", in two lines, in large colorless block capitals between the
portrait and the value. As this stamp collected a tax on letters and
postcards it will undoubtedly be considered collectible by the most
advanced of the philatelic purists. A 2c value was also issued in this
type and while this was primarily intended for use on money orders,
checks, etc., it was also quite frequently used for postage. In fact
there seems to have been no necessity for these special stamps, for so
long as a letter had 3c postage on it (or 2c in the case of drop
letters) the law was fully complied with.
That both the 1c and 2c values were good for postage is proved by the
following letter addressed to Mr. Gladstone Perry in answer to an
enquiry by him:--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
OTTAWA, _22nd April, 1915._
Dear Sir:--
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 19th
inst. on the subject of War Tax Stamps.
In so far as the Post Office Department is concerned, the War Tax
Stamps have only been issued in two denominations, namely:--the one
cent and two cent.
The Two Cent War Tax Stamp may be used on money orders, cheques,
notes and wherever else the tax on that amount is applicable.
I would also add that ordinary postage stamps may also be used to
pay the War Tax and that Post Office War Tax Stamps are available
for postage purposes.
Very sincerely yours,
E. J. LEMAIRE, Superintendent,
_Postage Stamp Branch._
It was considered, however, that a stamp which would pay both postage
and tax would be a great convenience to the public and in December,
1915, a stamp of this sort was issued. The official announcement
regarding these was as follows:--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
OTTAWA _December 30th, 1915._
Sir:--I have the honor to enclose three specimens of a stamp which
this Department is issuing for postage and War Tax purposes, having
a value of three cents. This is an ordinary two cent postage stamp
surcharged as follows: 1 T c (one cent tax). This has been issued
in response to the demand of the public for a stamp having the
value of three cents so that postage and War Tax might be paid by
affixing one stamp. This stamp is of permanent validity.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
R. M. COULTER,
_Deputy Postmaster-General._
The new stamps were printed from engraved plates as usual from a special
die adapted from the ordinary 2 cent stamp. Upon the King's coat,
immediately below the portrait but within the portrait oval, is engraved
a capital "T" beneath the left branch of which is the numeral "1", and
beneath the right branch the letter "c" for cent. These presumably came
into general use on January 1st, 1916.
Sometime in July or August, 1916, this special 3c stamp was reported as
existing with a perforation of 12 at top and bottom and 8 at the sides.
It was generally presumed these were stamps from sheets which had been
originally intended for coil use and this was confirmed in a letter sent
to a correspondent from the Superintendent of the Postage Stamp Branch
at Ottawa, viz.:--
The explanation of this lies in the simple fact that owing to quick
deliveries of this stamp being required by the Department, the
manufacturers were obliged to use part of stock which had been
prepared for roll postage and perforated sidewise with the wide
perforation. These sheets were then perforated endwise with the
regular perforation and issued.
It is said that 50,000 of these stamps were supplied to the Montreal
Post-office but whether this represents the total quantity issued or not
we cannot say.
As this 3c tax stamp was in the same color as the ordinary 2c label much
confusion resulted and the advantage of issuing the stamp in a
distinctive color was ultimately considered by the Post Office
Department. Rumours that the color would be changed began to circulate
early in September, 1916, and shortly afterwards the stamp made its
appearance in an attractive brown color. The new stamp was apparently
distributed late in August and postmasters were instructed not to issue
it until all stocks of the old 3c in carmine had been sold. The circular
dealing with this matter is worded as follows:--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
OTTAWA, _28th August, 1916._
TWO-CENT SURCHARGED POSTAGE AND WAR TAX STAMP.
The Postmaster will please observe that the 2c Surcharged Postage
and War Tax stamps, herewith enclosed, are printed in BROWN instead
of in RED, as formerly. In future these stamps will be issued in
the colour mentioned so as to overcome the difficulty experienced
owing to the similarity in colour to the ordinary 2c stamp.
Before offering to the public any of the new stamps it is very
desirable that the old stock he entirely sold.
R. M. COULTER,
Deputy Postmaster-General.
_Reference List._
1915-16. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12.
100. 1c green, Scott's No. 201.
101. 2c+1c carmine, Scott's No. 202.
(a) Perf. 12 x 8.
102. 2c+1c brown.
CHAPTER XXVI.
_A Proposed Commemorative Series._
Before concluding our notes regarding the postage stamps proper of
Canada it will be as well to make brief reference to a proposed
commemorative series which, fortunately or unfortunately as one views
these special sets, never eventuated. Early in 1914 proposals were on
foot to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Sir
George Etienne Cartier by the issue of a series of stamps of distinctive
designs. Cartier was a famous Canadian premier who was born in Lower
Canada in 1814. Becoming attorney-general for Lower Canada in 1856, he
was called to form the Cartier-Macdonald ministry in 1858. After the
fall of his ministry he again became attorney-general in 1864. A
fearless and upright leader, and a good orator, he did much for the
moulding of a united Canada. He is also famed as a writer of French
lyrics, which were published in 1875, two years after his death. Whether
the stamps ever got beyond the proposal stage is a moot point but at any
rate a list of chosen subjects was published, viz.:--
1 cent, Portraits of King George and Queen Mary.
2 cents, The Cartier Monument.
5 cents, Cartier's birthplace.
7 cents, Portrait of the Prince of Wales.
10 cents, Victoria Bridge, inaugurated by Cartier.
20 cents, Canadian Pacific Railway train inscribed "All Aboard for the
West."
50 cents, Cartier's Coat-of-Arms; motto, "Franc et sans dol";
inscription. "O Canada, mon pays, mes amours".
It was at one time definitely announced that the stamps would be placed
on sale on June 15th but a correspondent making enquiry at headquarters
was informed that "the Department is not yet decided to sell the Cartier
stamps."
As the stamps still failed to make an appearance a firm of English stamp
dealers wrote to the Canadian Post-Office department for information and
received the following reply:--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA.
_Office of the Superintendent
of the Postage Stamp Branch._
OTTAWA, _29th June, 1914_.
Dear Sirs:--I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor
addressed to the late Mr. Stanton, and in which you ask information
with reference to the proposed issue of stamps to commemorate the
centenary of Sir George Etienne Cartier. The information which you
have received from outside sources is not only premature, but
inaccurate in several details, and I can only say that although it
is possible that these stamps may be issued during the course of
the next few months the whole question is still under the
consideration of the Department.
Yours very sincerely,
E. J. LEMAIRE, _Superintendent_.
Finally, owing very probably to the war, it was decided not to issue
this special series of stamps.
CHAPTER XXVII.
_Official Stamps._
Canada has never issued special postage stamps for use on departmental
correspondence but in November, 1884, a German paper,--_Der
Philatelist_--on the advice of a correspondent, chronicled a series for
official use. These were said to consist of the ordinary adhesives, two
envelopes and a post card surcharged with the word OFFICIAL in black. To
quote from the _Philatelic Record:_--"It is alleged that they were
prepared and issued in 1877, but after a short time were called in
again. The surcharges are in some cases oblique, and in others
perpendicular. It is at least strange that, considering our intercourse
with Canada, our first knowledge of the issue of official stamps so far
back as 1877 should reach us from Temesvar, wherever that may be".
Doubts were, naturally, expressed on all sides with regard to the
authenticity of these labels and a letter addressed to Ottawa on the
subject resulted in the following reply:--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
OTTAWA, _18th May, 1885_.
Sir:--I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of the 29th ult., enquiring whether postage
stamps bearing the word "_Official_" on their face are in
circulation in the Dominion of Canada, and beg, in reply, to say
that no such stamp, card, newspaper wrapper, or envelope has _ever_
been issued by this Department. I am, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) WM. WHITE, _Secretary_.
Two years later, in April, 1887, after this canard had been
satisfactorily disposed of another set of alleged official stamps was
referred to in the _Philatelic Record_ as follows:--
Mr. Hechler sent to the Transvaal correspondent of Major Evans a
set of Canadian stamps surcharged SERVICE, and he certainly
vouched for the authenticity of the Royal arms and supporters, with
the word SERVICE on some Canadian envelopes, which he declared had
been issued to the troops that were sent out in the Indian
rebellion in 1885, and with whom Mr. Hechler was serving. This
rebellion did not break out until April of that year, and yet we
find these envelopes described in the _Timbre-Poste_ of February of
the same year, on the authority of _Der Philatelist_ of the
previous January. This all seems to be very remarkable, especially
as no one but Mr. Hechler appears ever to have had any of them.
A little delving into the history of these stamps and envelopes soon
showed that they were nothing more than a private speculation on the
part of their sponsor, Mr. Hechler. It appears that Hechler was a
captain in a Volunteer regiment which was despatched to assist in
putting down the rebellion. He had the words SERVICE printed on a number
of envelopes, postcards, and probably stamps as well, which were used in
sending notices of drill, etc., to his company. But they were never
issued or recognised by the Government of Canada.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
_The Special Delivery Stamp._
In March, 1884, the _Philatelic Record_ contained the following
paragraph:--
We are informed that there is likely to be issued shortly "a new
ten cent stamp of special design, which, when attached to a letter,
will ensure its immediate delivery to its address at any free
delivery office, between the hours of 7 a. m. and 12 midnight." A
similar system has, we believe, been in use for some years in
Belgium, where the extra charge is paid in telegraph stamps.
This was certainly a case of intelligent anticipation for it was not
until fourteen years later that a stamp of this character was issued by
the Dominion of Canada. The Postmaster-General's Report for 1898
referred to the introduction of the new stamp as follows:--
The calendar year has witnessed the introduction of the special
delivery stamp, whereby on the payment of a delivery fee of 10
cents in addition to the ordinary postage, a letter immediately
upon its arrival at the office of destination is sent by special
messenger for delivery to the addressee.
A special-delivery stamp of the face-value of 10 cents was
prepared, and the first supplies thereof were sent out sufficiently
early to Postmasters to permit of the inauguration of the special
delivery service on the 1st July, 1898. The object of the service
is to secure special and prompt delivery of a letter on which a
special-delivery stamp, in addition to the ordinary postage, has
been affixed.
The new system was dealt with at some length in a circular issued to
postmasters under date June 7th, 1898, and as this is of considerable
interest we reproduce it below:--
The Postmaster-General has approved of arrangements whereby, on and
from the first of July proximo, the senders of letters posted at
any Post Office in Canada and addressed to a City Post Office now
having Free Delivery by Letter Carriers shall, on prepayment by
Special Delivery stamps of the face-value of ten cents, affixed one
to each letter, in addition to the ordinary postage to which the
same are liable, secure their special delivery to the persons to
whom they are addressed within the limits of Letter Carrier
Delivery at any one of the following Post Offices in Cities,
viz.:--Halifax, St. John, N. B., Fredericton, Quebec, Montreal,
Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Brantford, Hamilton, London, Winnipeg,
Victoria, and Vancouver. The hours of delivery to be within 7 a. m.
and 11 p. m. daily, except Sunday. These hours are subject to
change as dictated by local circumstances. Drop-letters posted for
local delivery, and bearing Special Delivery stamps, in addition to
the postage, will also be entitled to special delivery in the same
manner as letters received at the Post Office by mail.
Registered letters may likewise come under the operations of this
scheme of Special Delivery, in the same way as ordinary letters,
provided they bear Special Delivery stamps, in addition to the full
postage and the registration fee fixed by law, and the regulations
respecting the record and receipting of registered matter are
observed. In despatching registered letters that bear Special
Delivery stamps, the Postmaster should write prominently across the
registered-package envelope the words "For Special Delivery." When
Special Delivery letters (unregistered) number five or more for any
one office the Postmaster should make a separate package of them,
marking it "For Special Delivery"; if such letters are fewer than
five, he should place them immediately under the "facing-slip" of
the letter-package which he makes up, either directly or
indirectly, for the Special Delivery office for which they are
intended, so that the most prompt attention may be secured
therefor.
Special Delivery stamps will be sold at all Money Order Post
Offices in Canada, (which may secure a supply of such stamps in the
same way as ordinary stamps are obtained), for which the
Postmasters will have to account as they do for ordinary stamps and
on the sales of which a total commission of ten per cent. shall be
allowed to Postmasters, except to Postmasters having fixed
salaries. For the present Postmasters will use the existing forms
of requisition in applying for Special Delivery stamps. (The usual
discount may be allowed to a licensed stamp vendor at the time that
he purchases Special Delivery stamps from the Postmaster). Special
Delivery stamps are to be cancelled as postage stamps are
cancelled. Stamps intended for Special Delivery are not available
for any other purpose, and the article upon which one is affixed
must have, besides, the ordinary postage prepaid by postage stamps.
Under no circumstances will Special Delivery stamps be recognised
in payment of postage or of registration fee, nor can any other
stamp be used to secure Special Delivery, except the Special
Delivery stamp. Special Delivery stamps are not redeemable.
Letters intended for Special Delivery at any one of the City Post
Offices above mentioned, and prepaid as directed, may be mailed at
any Post Office in Canada.
The regulations relating to First Class Matter (Inland Post) apply
also and equally to Special Delivery letters, the only difference
being the special treatment which the latter receive with a view to
accelerating their delivery.
The object sought by the establishment of Special
Delivery,--namely, the special delivery of letters transmitted
thereunder,--will be much promoted if the senders of all such
letters are careful to address them plainly and fully, giving, if
possible, the street and number in each case. Such care will serve
not only to prevent mistakes, but also to facilitate delivery. All
employees of the Post Office are enjoined to expedite, in every way
in their power, the posting, transmission and delivery of letters
intended for Special Delivery.
[Illustration]
These special delivery stamps are distinctly different in design from
the ordinary postage stamps, the reason for this being, of course, that
letters intended for special delivery may be at once identified and
their handling facilitated. The stamps are oblong in shape, measuring
about 31 mm. by 23 mm. high. The centre consists of an engine turned
oval, in the middle of which is the word TEN in uncolored block letters
on a solid disc of color. Around this is an oval filled with lathe-work
and then comes an oval band inscribed "SPECIAL DELIVERY WITHIN CITY
LIMITS" in similar lettering to that of the word of value. This, in
turn, is enclosed within another oval of lathe-work. The frame shows
"CANADA POST OFFICE" in a straight label across the top, while the lower
and side borders are filled with lathe-work intercepted at the bottom by
a straight label containing "TEN CENTS", and at each side by a small
circle containing the numerals "10." The spandrels are filled with
conventional foliate ornaments. The value and special use of the stamp
is thus plainly depicted and letters bearing them are easily sorted from
the ordinary mail.
The stamps were, like all other Canadian stamps, printed from
line-engraved plates. They were printed in sheets of fifty arranged in
ten horizontal rows of five each. The imprint and plate number
"OTTAWA----No.----1" are shown in the upper margin above the central
stamp. Apparently this original plate is still in use, for no other
plate number has yet been recorded.
At first the stamps were printed in deep green, but in January, 1906,
the _Philatelic Record_ mentioned a new shade, described as blue-green,
and recent printings have been in a very deep shade of blue-green.
The use of these special delivery stamps, though somewhat restricted at
first, soon grew steadily in volume, showing that the public appreciated
the special service. The Postmaster-General in referring to this matter
in his Report for 1899 says:--"The 10 cent Special Delivery stamps, to
which reference was made in the last report, came into use at the
beginning of the current fiscal year, simultaneously with the
commencement of the Special Delivery Service, and of this stamp 52,940
were issued to meet the demands, which would go to show that the service
is being availed of to a considerable extent throughout the country."
Later Reports simply indicate the extension of the service to other
offices, though the one for 1908 also concedes that the use of a Special
Delivery stamp is not compulsory to secure this service so long as the
extra fee of ten cents is prepaid. We read that:--
The regulations respecting special delivery have been so modified
that it is no longer necessary for a person despatching a letter
which he desires to have delivered immediately, to provide himself
with the "special delivery" stamp issued by the department. He may
now place upon his letter ordinary postage stamps to the value of
ten cents in addition to the stamps required for the prepayment of
postage and write across the corner of the envelope the words
"special delivery". This will ensure the special delivery of the
letter as provided for in the regulations.
_Reference List._
1898. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12.
103. 10c deep green, Scott's No. 160.
CHAPTER XXIX.
_The Registration Stamps._
The convenience of the registry system was adopted in Canada in May,
1855, at which time the fee was the remarkably low one of one penny. In
1856 the system was extended to cover letters sent to the United States
by mutual agreement between the post office departments of both
countries, and while the domestic rate remained at one penny the fee for
the registration of letters to the United States was three pence. Mr.
Howes has discovered an interesting notice in the Canadian Directory for
1857-8 which gives further details as follows:--
Persons transmitting letters, which they desire should pass through
the post as "registered letters", must observe that no record is
taken of any letter unless specially handed in for registration at
the time of the posting. Upon all such letters, with the exception
of those addressed to the United States, one penny must be prepaid
as a registration charge. If addressed to the United States, the
ordinary postage rate on the letters to that country _must be
prepaid_, and in addition a registration charge of 3d per letter.
The registry thus effected in Canada will be carried on by the
United States Post Office until the letter arrives at its
destination.
In like manner, letters addressed to Canada may be registered at
the place of posting in the United States, and the registry made
there will accompany the letter to the place of delivery in Canada.
A certificate of registration will be given by the postmaster if
required.
The registration system can be applied to the letter portion of the
mail only.
The registration system at that time made no provision for compensation
in case of the loss of letters, the small extra fee charged simply
indicating that extra care would be taken to secure proper delivery.
Evidently at that time the fee was paid in money, and the letters then
marked with a handstamp of some sort, for in the Postmaster-General's
Report for 1858 we read, "It is also considered that it would be an
improvement on the system if the charge for registration were made
pre-payable by a stamp, instead of by money as at present." It is
probable that shortly after this the prepayment of the registry fee was
indicated by the affixing of stamps of the required value. The report
for 1860 refers to the system as follows:--
A rate of charge for Registration so low as, in no probable degree,
to operate as a motive, with persons posting letters of value, to
deny themselves the advantage of securing from the Post Office an
acknowledgment of the receipt of the specific letter, has always
been considered to be a cardinal point in the Canadian
Registration System.
The Registration fee, or charge, has, therefore, under the
influence of this consideration, been maintained at 2 cents, though
it is doubtful whether such a rate of charge covers the actual cost
of the process; the address of the Registered Letter having, in the
course of transmission, to be entered on an average not less than
six times, and forms of certificate or receipt, and Books in which
to preserve permanent records at each Post Office, to be supplied.
The postal officials were evidently strong believers in the Registration
system and lost no opportunity of dwelling on its merits. In his Report
for 1864 the Postmaster-General tells of its manifold advantages as
follows:--
When a letter is registered, that is to say, marked and recorded in
the Post Office so as to individualise it from the bulk of ordinary
letter correspondence, its presence in the Post Office can be
identified and its course of transmission traced, and a registered
letter is thus secured from the chance of abstraction by an
unfaithful messenger employed to post it (as it is always open to
proof whether the letter was posted for registration or not), from
risk of loss by accidental mis-direction on the part of the sender,
and from mistakes in the Post Office--such as mis-sending or
delivery to a wrong party. Against actual dishonesty on the part of
the Post Office employes, a registered letter is incomparably more
secure than an unregistered one, for an unregistered money-letter
and the nature of its contents are, to any person accustomed to
handle letters, as manifest as though the letter had been singled
out and marked by the registered stamp. Moreover, the safety of an
unregistered letter is dependent on the integrity of a Post Office
Clerk during the whole time that it remains in his custody,
frequently for hours, or even days; whilst a registered letter will
almost invariably have to be acknowledged at the moment of its
passing into an officer's hands, and cannot thereafter be
suppressed without leaving him individually accountable for its
disposal.
At what date the registry system was extended to letters sent to other
countries than the United States is not clear but Mr. Howes has
succeeded in unearthing a document which shows the rates prevailing in
1865-6:--
The charge for Registration, in addition to the Postage, is as
follows, viz.:--
On Letters to any other place in Canada or British North America, 2
cents
On Letters for the United States, 5 cents
On Letters for the United Kingdom, 12-1/2 cents
On Letters for British Colonies or Possession sent _via_ England,
25 cents
On Letters for France and other Foreign Countries _via_ England, an
equal amount to the postage rate.
Both the postage charge and registration fee must in all cases be
prepaid.
It was not until 1872 that the idea of issuing special stamps for the
prepayment of the registration fee was mooted but in the
Postmaster-General's Report for that year we read:--
It seems expedient to adopt some distinctive postage stamp to be
used only in prepayment of the Registration charge, both to make it
clear that this charge has been duly paid and accounted for in
every case, and to diminish the risk which is occasionally felt at
points of distribution of omitting to carry on the Registration in
cases where the ordinary Registration postmark is not as distinct
and calculated to arrest attention as it should be.
It has always been the policy of the Canadian Post Office to admit
letters to Registration at a low rate of charge for the additional
security thus given, so as to leave no adequate motive, on the
score of cost, for sending valuable letters through the mails
unregistered, and, doubtless, the very large proportion of such
letters offered for registration demonstrates a gratifying measure
of success in attaining the desired object.
In spite of this recommendation it was not until three years later that
special stamps for Registration purposes made their appearance. They
were finally placed on sale on November 15th, 1875, and were referred to
by the Postmaster-General in his Report for that year as follows:--
Registration stamps have been issued, to be used by the public in
prepaying the registration charges on letters passing within the
Dominion, or to the United Kingdom or United States, each
destination being distinguished by a different color in the stamp,
as well as by a variation in the amount of registration charge and
corresponding value of the stamp.
There is a red stamp of the value of two cents for the prepayment
of the registration charges on letters within the Dominion.
There is a green stamp of five cents value for registered letters
addressed to the United States.
There is a blue stamp of eight cents value for registered letters
addressed to the United Kingdom.
These stamps are to apply exclusively to the registration charges
and the postage rates on registered letters are to be prepaid by
the ordinary postage stamps.
It is believed that the use of these distinctive stamps for the
registration charges will tend to give registered letters
additional security against the risk which is sometimes felt of the
registration escaping observation, when such letters are dealt with
hurriedly or handled at night, whilst passing through the post.
[Illustration]
These registration stamps were not only of distinctive design but also
of distinctive shape so that they were readily recognised from ordinary
postage stamps. They are long, narrow labels and the design is the same
for each. On an engine-turned background the word "REGISTERED" in large
uncolored Roman capitals is curved prominently across the centre. Below
is "LETTER STAMP", also curved but in smaller letters, while above is
"CANADA" on a straight label in still smaller lettering. At each end are
tables containing the value in words reading up at the left and down at
the right, and in the upper corners are large uncolored numerals plainly
denoting the value. Like all other Canadian stamps they were printed
from line-engraved plates on unwatermarked paper. They were at first
printed in sheets of fifty in ten horizontal rows of five stamps each.
Mr. Howes describes the marginal details as follows:--
The imprint was the same as the second type employed for the small
"cents" issue--"British American Bank Note Co. Montreal" in a
pearled frame--and likewise appeared four times on the sheet, as
already fully described in the chapter dealing with that issue. The
denomination of the stamp was also expressed as TWO CENTS, in the
shaded Roman capitals which we found in the case of the postage
stamps, over the first stamp in the top row of that value, but with
the 5 cent the word FIVE alone appears. The 8 cent we have not
seen. On the 2 cent there is also a large numeral 2, 7-1/2 mm.
high, over the last stamp in the top row (number 5) but the 5 cent
has none.
The stamps were ordinarily perforated 12, like the then current postage
stamps, but the 2c in orange and the 5c in dark green are both known
entirely imperforate.
The Postmaster-General's Report for 1877 stated that "the registration
charge on registered letters between the United Kingdom and Canada has
been reduced from 8 cents to 5 cents". This, naturally, largely reduced
the demand for the 8 cents stamp though it is probable that the 8c rate
still applied to foreign countries. Shortly afterwards (the exact date
has not been traced) the registration fee on letters to all foreign
countries was reduced to 5 cents so that the use of the 8c denomination
was entirely abolished. The stamps in the hands of postmasters were
called in and destroyed and by examining the official figures relating
to the numbers originally issued and those destroyed Mr. Howes estimates
that about 40,000 of these 8c registration stamps were used.
In 1889 a general revision of postal rates took place, as already
explained in Chapter X, and one of these changes affected the
registration fee. The domestic fee was raised from 2c to 5c so that the
registration charge was uniform and was 5c on letters sent anywhere.
This, of course, did away with the usefulness of the 2c registration
stamps but, as indicated in the official circular, "for the present, and
until further instructed, the registration fee maybe prepaid by using
the 2 cent Registration stamps and postage stamps to make up the
amount."
The Postmaster-General's Report for 1889, in referring to the advance in
the registration charge, says:--
The charge for the registration of a letter, parcel, book or other
articles of mail matter was also made uniform, and fixed at 5 cents
for all classes of matter. The frequent delay consequent upon the
prepayment of a wrong registration fee will no longer take place.
The removal of the printing establishment of the British American Bank
Note Company from Montreal to Ottawa resulted in some marked changes in
the shades of the then current postage stamps as we have already shown
in a previous chapter. The registration stamps were also affected in
some degree the 2 cents value, in particular, appearing in a number of
new and brighter tints. The 5c appeared in blue-green--a distinct
contrast from the green and yellow-green shades previously current.
In 1892 some of the postage stamps, it will be remembered, appeared in
sheets of 200 instead of 100 as formerly. About the same period new
plates were made for the 5c registration stamp, these containing one
hundred impressions in ten rows of ten, instead of fifty as before.
On August 1st, 1893, a regular postage stamp of the denomination of 8c
was issued for the purpose of paying the postage and registration charge
and the appearance of this sounded the death knell of the special
registration stamps. The supplies in the hands of postmasters were used
up and when exhausted no more were printed.
Much has been written regarding the 2c registration stamp printed in
brown. These were originally found at the Miscou Light House Post Office
in New Brunswick and though the stamps were in an unmistakably dark
brown shade it has since been satisfactorily proved that the change was
quite accidental and that immersion in peroxide would restore them to
their original color. Although the Postmaster of the above named office
is said to have stated that the stamps were in brown when he received
them there is little doubt he must have been mistaken. Much the same
thing happened in connection with the current six cents United States
stamps at an office on the Pacific Coast (San Pedro). Some of these
stamps were found in a distinct brown shade almost exactly matching that
of the 4c value and though some local collectors had dreams of a rare
error of color it was easily proved that they were simply oxidised.
_Reference List._
1875-89. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank
Note Co., Montreal or Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12.
104. 2c vermilion, Scott's Nos. 151 or 152.
105. 5c green, Scott's No. 153.
106. 8c blue, Scott's No. 154.
CHAPTER XXX.
_The Postage Due Stamps._
Like most other countries Canada managed to collect the postage due on
insufficiently prepaid mail matter for many years without the use of
special stamps for the purpose. About 1906 it dawned on the Post Office
Department that the use of special stamps would simplify matters and
place the collection of monies due on a more systematic basis.
Consequently a circular was issued to postmasters, under date of June
1st, 1906, advising them that postage due stamps would be issued and
must, for the future, be used in collecting insufficient postage. The
salient points from this circular are given by Mr. Howes as follows:--
Commencing on the 1st July, 1906, the present system of collecting
unpaid postage will be discontinued and thereafter the following
arrangements will supersede the regulations now in force:--
(1) The Department will issue a special stamp which will be known
as the "POSTAGE DUE" stamp and on delivery of any article of mail
matter on which unpaid or additional postage is to be collected the
Postmaster will affix and cancel as ordinary stamps are cancelled,
postage due stamps to the amount of the extra postage charged on
such article.
(2) The short paid postage must be collected from the addressee
before postage due stamps are affixed; otherwise the Postmaster is
liable to lose the amount of such postage.
(3) Postmasters will obtain postage due stamps on requisition to
the Department but the initial supply will be furnished without
requisition, so that the new system may go into operation on the
date above mentioned. When a new form is ordered "postage due"
stamps will be included in the printed list, but it is proposed to
use the stock on hand at present which would otherwise have to be
destroyed. The denominations of the new stamps will be 1, 2 and 5
cents.
In his Report for 1906 the Postmaster-General refers to the new
innovation as follows:--
A system of accounting for short paid postage collected by
Postmasters, by means of special stamps known as "Postage Due"
stamps, has been adopted by the Department. These stamps are to be
affixed to shortpaid mail matter and cancelled by Postmasters when
such matter is delivered to the addressee, and are not to be used
for any other purpose. They cannot be used for the payment of
ordinary postage, nor are they to be sold to the public.
[Illustration]
These stamps are of special design and though of the same size as the
regular postage stamps the design is printed the longer way so that in
general appearance they are greatly different. The design has, as its
centerpiece, a large uncolored numeral on an eight-sided tablet. Above
is CANADA and below is the word CENT while at the sides are elaborate
scroll ornaments. Across the base the words POSTAGE DUE are shown in
bold uncolored capitals while the balance of the design consists of an
engine-turned groundwork.
They are printed from line-engraved plates in sheets of one hundred, as
usual. In the centre of the top margin is the imprint, "OTTAWA",
followed by the plate number. Mr. Howes states that plate 1 is known for
all three values and plate 2 for the 2 cent only.
_Reference List._
1906. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12.
107. 1c dull violet. Scott's No. 126.
108. 2c dull violet. Scott's No. 127.
109. 5c dull violet. Scott's No. 128.
CHAPTER XXXI.
_The "Officially Sealed" Labels._
Although "officially sealed" labels cannot by any stretch of the
imagination be considered as postage stamps or, indeed, of having any
philatelic significance yet they are collected by many, in common with
adhesive registered labels, as having an interest owing to the fact that
they are visible evidence of one phase of the working of the post
office. The "officially sealed" labels used by the Canadian Post Office
seem to have been first recorded in the latter part of 1879. The first
type consists of a rectangular label, measuring about 25-1/2 by 38 mm.
on which the words "OFFICIALLY SEALED" are shown straight across the
centre. Above this, in a curve, is the inscription "POST OFFICE CANADA",
while below, in a similar curve, is "DEAD LETTER OFFICE". The border
consists of a handsome piece of engine-turned engraving. These labels
were normally perforated 12 but they are also known entirely
imperforate. Much misconception existed as to the use of these labels
until Major E. B. Evans, when visiting Canada in 1889, took the
opportunity of finding out exactly for what they were used. The results
of his investigations were published in the _Philatelic Record_ for
November, 1889, and as the article is full of interest we need make no
apology for reproducing it _in extenso:_--
When I was in Canada last July I made special enquiries about these
labels, as there appeared to be some mystery about their use.
Everyone agreed that they were not placed upon _all_ letters opened
at the Dead Letter Office and returned to their senders, and no two
persons seemed to have quite the same theory as to the rules for
their employment or non-employment in any particular case. Even
gentlemen connected with the Post Office at Halifax, such as Mr.
King and others, could give me no definite information. I therefore
determined to see what I could do at headquarters in Ottawa.
Fortunately, I was able, through a collector in an official
position, to obtain an introduction to the Deputy
Postmaster-General, who most kindly gave me the following
particulars, which show that the employment of the _officially
sealed_ labels is very restricted, thus accounting for their
rarity.
Letters in Canada, as in the United States, very frequently have on
the outside the well-known notice containing the address of the
sender, and a request that the letter may be returned if not
delivered within a certain time. These, of course, are not opened
at the Dead Letter Office, and in fact, I think, are ordered not to
be sent there, but are returned direct from the office to which
they were originally addressed or from the head office of the
district. On the other hand, those that have no indication of the
address of the sender on the outside are sent to the Dead Letter
Office, and there necessarily opened; but neither of these classes
thus properly dealt with is considered to require the
_officially-sealed label._ It is only if one of the former class,
having the sender's name and address on the outside, is sent to the
Dead Letter Office and there opened in _error_ that the
_officially-sealed_ label is applied, to show that such letter has
been opened officially, and not by any unauthorized person. Whether
these pieces of gummed paper ever had a more extended use or not I
cannot say, but I was assured that the above was the substance of
the regulations as to their employment.
The Deputy Postmaster-General further stated that there had been so
many requests for specimens of these labels that the Department had
been obliged to make it a rule to turn a deaf ear to all of them.
In any case they are not _postage stamps_, properly speaking, at
all. They indicate neither postage paid nor postage due, but simply
that the letters to which they are attached have been opened by
proper authority, and they at the same time afford a means of
reclosing them.
About 1905 a label of new design was introduced, this, of course, being
the work of the American Bank Note Company. These are larger than their
predecessors and are very handsome labels. In the centre is an excellent
portrait of Queen Victoria, adapted from the "Law Stamps" of 1897, with
"CANADA" in heavy uncolored Roman capitals curved above, and, at the
top, the words "OFFICIALLY SEALED" in letters so graded that the tops
form a straight line, while the bottoms follow the curve of "CANADA".
Under the portrait the words "DEAD LETTER" are shown on a straight label
which extends right across the stamp, while below this is the word
"OFFICE" on a curved tablet. The spaces at the sides and the bottom are
filled with elaborate foliate ornaments and engine-turned work. These
labels are also perforated 12 and exist on two kinds of paper. Until
about 1907 the paper was of a pale blue color while subsequent printings
have been on ordinary white paper.
_Reference List._
1879. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co.
(No value) deep brown.
1905-7. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co.
(No value) black on blue paper.
(No value) black on white paper.
THE END.
[Illustration]
MY SPECIALTY IS
20th Century English Colonials United States
AND
New Issues
LARGE STOCK OF
King Edward Heads
King George Heads
New Issues
Always On Hand
SEND YOUR WANT LISTS
FRANK M. MASON
Box 1462, PROVIDENCE, R. I.
POPULAR HANDBOOKS
=CANAL ZONE=--A specialized study of these stamps by Wm. Evans. M. D.
Illus. Pr. 20c.
=DEALER AND HIS STOCK=--By Bill Bloss. A useful book for any stamp
dealer. Pr. 10c.
=OAXACA=--By Roderick Enfield. Handsomely illustrated and printed. Price
10c.
=RANGE TALES=--By E. B. Hill. Seventeen complete sketches of Arizona
life into which philately is woven by the hand of an artist. Illus.
Price 15c. A work of art.
=3 CENT GREEN 1870-87=--By H. L. Wiley. A very fine study. Profusely
illus. Pr. 12c.
=STAMPS OF OLD GERMAN STATES=--By Poole, freely illustrated. Price 35c.
=GERMANY AND ITS COLONIES=--By Poole. Freely illus. 70 pps. Price 25c.
=U. S. PARCEL POST, STAMP BOOKLETS and POSTAL SAVING STAMPS=--Three
books in one by H. L. Wiley. Price 25c.
=U. S. STAMPED ENVELOPES=--By Louis G. Barrett and J. M. Bartels.
1853-1913 fully illustrated. 22 cuts. Price 10c.
=THE STAMPS OF COOK ISLANDS=--By Poole. The only handbook published on
these stamps. Illustrated. Price 15c.
=STAMP COLLECTORS' GUIDE=--By Poole. Absolutely necessary to every
collector. Every chapter full of merit. Price 25c.
=HOW TO DEAL IN STAMPS=--A three part book by Grant, Wylie and Smith,
all experienced at the business. Price 10c.
=SPECIALIZED STUDY OF U. S. STAMPS=--By F. E. Goodwin. All adhesives
fully covered. A book of great merit. Price 50c.
=GAMBIA=--By Dalwick. Illus. Price 10c.
=HAWAII=--A fine book by Luff, Howes and Richards. Two colors and illus.
Price 10c.
=EGYPT=--By Dalwick. Illus. Price 12c.
=U. S. DEPT. STAMPS=--By Goodwin. All U. S. collectors need it. Price
10c.
=U. S. GRILLS 1867 to 1872=--By W. L. Stevenson. Illus. Blank pages for
notes. Pr. 10c.
=VIRGIN IDS.=--By Dalwick. Price 10c.
=SEVERN-WYLIE-JEWETT CO., BOSTON, MASS.=
C. G. DIETRICH
212 Broadway, New York, N. Y.
Entrance Fulton Street
Member A. P. S., Dresden Philatelic Society, Berlin and Vienna Dealers'
Association, offers his superb stock of medium and rare stamps of all
countries. Moderate Prices--Fine copies only.
SPECIALTIES
British, British Colonials
Used and Unused
19th and 20th Century
SEND WANT LISTS
Approval selections sent to responsible collectors
B. N. A.
This is my specialty, and I can supply good, clean copies of most
varieties at reasonable prices. I have also other British Colonials and
many nice foreign. Give me good reference and I will be pleased to send
you a selection on approval.
W. W. WALSH
Roy Building
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
CANADA
Unused. Used
1852, 3py $4.50 $ .38
6py fair .. 4.50
1857, 1/2py fair 6.50 2.50
1/2py perf. .. 4.50
1859, 1c .60 .12
5c .50 .05
10c shades 3.75 .60
1859-64, 2c fair .. .65
12-1/2c 2.50 .50
12-1/2c No. 19a 2.50 .60
1868, 1/2c .25 .20
1c .90 .30
2c 1.25 .25
3c 1.10 .08
6c shades 3.00 .38
12-1/2c shades 2.00 .40
15c .60 .25
15c No. 27a 3.00 .35
1869, 1c 2.00 .50
1c No. 31a 2.75 .65
1869-72, 1c orange 1.75 .15
1872-73, 6c .70 .05
10c shades 2.00 .40
1875, 5c 2.00 .85
15c .60 .18
1882-90, 3c No. 42a .60 .06
6c .50 .07
10c shades 1.00 .18
1892-93, 20c .40 .08
50c .80 .10
8c shades .75 .04
1897, Jubilee 1/2c .25 .25
6c .60 .60
8c .30 .18
10c .35 .20
15c .35 .35
20c .45 .40
50c .75 .30
Set 1/2-50c 3.00 2.40
Complete Set 17.50 12.00
1897, 6c .18 .10
8c .18 .05
10c .28 .22
1898, 6c .25 .20
8c shades .22 .15
10c .22 .06
7c No. 8 .15 .07
20c No. 87 .60 .15
Map-shades .05 .02
1903-08 2c No. 90a .05 .04
20c .30 .04
50c .75 .15
Complete Set 1.40 .28
Set Quebec 1.10 .90
Set King Geo. 1.25 .20
Set dues .15 .03
Special Del. .18 .06
40 var. Postage only .60
50 var. Postage only 1.00
60 var. Postage only 1.50
10 var. War Tax .30
A complete line of Canada Revenues in stock. If you collect these
interesting stamps write us for a selection.
All the cheaper varieties in stock at low prices. Send for complete
list.
NEWFOUNDLAND
Unused. Used
1857, 1py $1.35 $3.00
5py 1.75 4.00
5py No. 5a 3.50 4.50
1866, 2c .75 .65
5c fair 5.50 3.50
10c 2.15 1.25
12c .60 .55
13c 1.00 .85
24c .70 .65
1867-73 1c No. 30 1.25 1.00
1c No. 30a 1.50 1.25
3c No. 31 2.60 1.75
3c No. 32 2.00 .50
6c .15 .15
1876, 1c 1.75 1.25
2c 1.00 .70
3c 1.75 .50
5c 1.25 .35
1880, 1c shades .20 .13
2c .35 .25
5c 1.00 .20
1887, 1/2c to 10c 1.85 .90
1890-95, 5c .18 .13
6c .30 .32
Re-Issue Set 1.60 1.50
Jubilee Set 3.75 3.25
1 on 3c No. 75 .55 .50
1897, 1c rose .04 .04
2c orange .08 .07
1898, set .20 .10
1901, 4c .07 .06
Guy 4c .11 .07
Guy 10c .60 .50
Eng. 6c .40 .30
Eng. 8c .80 .60
Eng. 10c .80 .65
Eng. 15c .70 .60
1911 Coronation complete 3.00 2.00
Other varieties in stock. Ask for our B. N. A. list--It's free on
request.
Terms:--Cash with order only. 10% discount on orders over $5.00. Postage
extra on orders under $1.00. Registration 5c extra. Stamps returnable
where condition is unsatisfactory.
* * * * *
STAMPS ON APPROVAL
Our books are arranged in five different grades, which will suit all
classes of collectors from the Beginner to the Specialist. All sorts of
stamps; all kinds of prices; but only one result to you--SATISFACTION.
Ask for circular describing our Selections or send commercial reference
for a trial selection.
* * * * *
MARKS STAMP CO.
The House of Stamp Bargains
TORONTO CANADA
Approval Department
¶ Special attention is paid to the Approval Department of my business,
which is under my personal supervision.
¶ The most satisfactory manner in which to purchase stamps is from
approval books when the collector has the opportunity of inspecting the
specimens at his leisure. My stamps are all arranged in books by
countries, mounted and arranged according to the latest edition of
Scott's catalogue. Above each stamp the catalogue number and price is
plainly shown and below my net selling price is marked.
¶ These books contain unused and used stamps, several copies of the same
variety being included wherever possible so that the collector has ample
choice. All minor varieties of shades, watermarks, perforation, etc.,
are included as well as occasional pairs and blocks of four. Prices are
most reasonable and average about half catalogue. As most of these books
are of considerable value they can only be sent to collectors well known
to me or to those supplying first class references.
Specialists
¶ A cordial invitation is extended to all advanced collectors and
specialists to acquaint me of their special countries. I continually
have rare and out-of-the-way items in stock and shall be glad to send
particulars of these to interested clients.
B. W. H. POOLE
312 Washington Building, LOS ANGELES, CAL.