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Transcriber's note:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=).
Small caps typeface is shown as ALL UPPER CASE.
Footnotes are presented after the paragraph in which the
anchor appears.
This version uses the ASCII character set only. The
following substitutions have been made for Latin-1 symbols:
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[L] for the pound (Sterling)
[S] for the section symbol
x for the multiplication symbol
[a'] for a-grave
['e] for e-acute
[^e] for e-circumflex
[e'] for e-grave
[c] for c-cedilla
deg. for the degree symbol
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typographical errors which have been listed at the end.
CANADA
ITS POSTAGE STAMPS AND POSTAL STATIONERY
by
CLIFTON A. HOWES, B. Sc., F. R. P. S. L.
Published by
The New England Stamp Co.
Boston, U. S. A.
1911
[Illustration: 1852-1857
THICK HARD WOVE PAPER. DULL PURPLE. IMPERF.
THICK SOFT WOVE PAPER RED-VIOLET.
Specimen Page From the Collection of Charles Lathrop Pack Esq.]
CANADA
ITS POSTAGE STAMPS AND POSTAL STATIONERY
by
CLIFTON A. HOWES, B. Sc., F. R. P. S. L.
Published by
The New England Stamp Co.
Boston, U. S. A.
1911
Copyright 1911
By the New England Stamp Co.
Boston, Mass.
Press of
Newcomb & Gauss
Salem, Mass.
CONTENTS
Page
KEY TO PLATES 4
FOREWORD 9
INTRODUCTION 11
CHAPTER I. Preliminary Matters 18
" II. The Issue of 1851 28
" III. The Remaining Pence Issues 46
" IV. The Perforated Pence Issues 68
" V. The Cancellations of the Early Issues 77
" VI. The Issue of 1859 82
" VII. The Dominion of Canada--Preliminary 94
" VIII. The Issue of 1868 106
" IX. The Small "Cents" Issue, 1870-1882 122
" X. The Supplementary Values of 1893 138
" XI. The Jubilee Issue of 1897 145
" XII. The "Maple Leaf" Issue of 1897 161
" XIII. The "Numerals" Issue of 1898-1902 167
" XIV. The "Christmas" Stamp of 1898 179
" XV. The "King's Head" Issue of 1903-1908 188
" XVI. The "Tercentenary" Issue of 1908 199
" XVII. The "Registration" Stamps 205
" XVIII. The Postage Due Stamps 215
" XIX. The Special Delivery Stamp 217
" XX. The Officially Sealed Labels 221
" XXI. The Stamped Envelopes 224
" XXII. The Wrappers 243
" XXIII. The Post Cards 249
" XXIV. The Letter Cards 263
" XXV. Official Stationery 267
" XXVI. Precancellation and Permits 272
REFERENCE LIST 277
KEY TO PLATES
PLATE I.
No. 1. 6 pence, 1851.
2. 12 " "
3. 10 " 1855.
4. 1/2 penny, 1857.
5. 7-1/2 pence, 1857.
6. 3 " 1851.
7. 1/2 penny, 1859.
8. 6 pence, "
9. 3 " "
10. 1 cent, "
11. 2 cents, "
12. 10 " "
13. 12-1/2 " "
14. 17 " "
15. 5 " "
16. 1 cent, 1868.
17. 1/2 " "
18. 2 cents, "
19. 5 " 1859, variety.
20. 3 " 1868.
21. 5 " 1875.
22. 6 " 1868.
23. 12-1/2 " "
24. 15 " "
PLATE II.
No. 25. 1 cent, 1870.
26. 2 cents, 1872.
27. 1/2 cent, 1882.
28. 3 cents, 1870.
29. 5 " 1876.
30. 6 " 1872.
31. 8 " 1893.
32. 10 cents, 1874.
33. 20 " 1893.
34. 1/2 cent, 1897, "Jubilee."
35. 50 cents, 1893.
36. 1/2 cent, 1897, "Maple Leaf."
37. 2 cents on 3 cents, "Port Hood Provisional."
38. 2 cents, 1898, "Map."
39. 1 cent on 3 cents (pair), "Port Hood Provisional."
40. 1/2 cent, 1898, "Numeral."
41. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1899, "Maple Leaf."
42. 2 " " 3 " " "Numeral."
43. 1 cent, 1903, "King's Head."
44. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1899, inverted, "Numeral."
45. 2 " " 3 " " " "Maple Leaf."
PLATE III.
No. 46. 1/2 cent, 1908, "Tercentenary."
47. 1 " " "
48. 2 cents, " "
49. 5 " " "
50. 7 " " "
51. 10 " " "
52. 15 " " "
53. 20 " " "
54. 2 " 1875, Registration.
55. 5 " " "
56. 8 " " "
57. 10 " 1898, Special Delivery.
58. 1 cent, 1906, Postage Due.
59. 2 cents, " " "
60. 5 " " " "
PLATE IV.
No. 61. 6 pence, 1851, pair.
62. 12 " " pair from Pack collection.
63. 6 pence, 1851, pair.
64. 6 " " "
65. 12 " " from Worthington collection.
66. 6 pence, 1851, thick soft paper, from Pack collection.
67. 7-1/2 pence, 1857, wide oval.
68. 7-1/2 " " narrow oval.
69. 7-1/2 " " pair.
70. 10 " 1855, pair, wide oval.
71. 10 " " " narrow oval.
72. 6 " 1859, from Pack collection.
73. 6 " 1851, strip of 3 on very thick soft paper,
from Worthington collection.
74. 10 cents, 1859, black brown, from Pack collection.
PLATE V.
No. 75. 6 pence, 1851.
76. 6 " "
77. 3 " " pair.
78. 6 " "
79. 6 " "
80. 6 " " strip of 3 on very thick hard paper,
from Pack collection.
81. 7-1/2 pence, 1857, strip of three.
82. 12 " 1851, pair from Pack collection.
83. 12 " " " " " "
84. 12 " " from Pack collection.
85. 12 " " pair from Worthington collection.
86. 12 " 1851, wove paper, from Pack collection.
87. 6 pence, 1851, split, used on piece, from Pack collection.
88. 3 pence, 1851, ribbed paper, from Pack collection.
89. 12-1/2 cents, small, from Worthington collection.
PLATE VI.
No. 90. 12 pence, 1851, on cover, from Worthington collection.
91. 12 pence, 1851, on cover, from Pack collection (originally in
Seybold collection.)
PLATE VII.
No. 92. 6 pence, 1851, very thick soft paper, split, used on cover,
from Pack collection.
93. 10 pence, 1855, pair, narrow oval.
94. 10 " " block of 4, wide oval.
95. 10 " " strip of 3, narrow oval.
96. 5 cents, 1859, block of 7, upper right corner stamp is
variety. From Pack collection.
97. 5 cents, 1859, pair and split, used on piece,
from Worthington collection.
PLATE VIII.
No. 98. 6 cents, 1868, split, used on cover,
from Worthington collection.
99. 10 cents, 1859, black brown, split, used on cover,
from Worthington collection.
PLATE IX.
No. 100. 1 cent, 1859, block of 4 imperforate.
101. 5 cents, " " " 4 "
102. 2 " " " " 4 "
103. 12-1/2 " " " " 4 "
104. 10 " " " " 4 "
105. 17 " " " " 4 "
106. 20 " 1893, " " 4 "
107. 15 " 1868, " " 4 "
108. 50 " 1893, " " 4 "
The above blocks were selected from the Pack and Worthington
collections and some in the possession of the New England Stamp Co.
PLATE X.
No. 109. 10 cents, 1874, block of 4 imperforate.
110. 8 " 1893, " " 4 "
111. 6 " 1872, " " 4 "
112. 5 " 1897, "Maple Leaf," block of 4, imperforate.
113. 2 " 1898, "Map," " " 4 "
114. 2 " 1903, block of 4 imperforate.
115. 5 " Registered, pair imperforate.
116. "Officially Sealed" Label, 1905.
117. " " " 1879.
The above blocks of imperforates were from the same sources as noted
for Plate IX.
PLATE XI.
No. 118. 10 cents, 1874, strip of 10, marginal imprints.
119. 1/2 cent, 1868, " " 3, " "
120. 3 cents, 1870, " " 3, " "
121. 1 cent, 1870, block of 8, " "
122. 3 cents, 1870, strip of 3, " "
The above are all from the Worthington collection.
PLATE XII.
No. 123. 1 cent, 1870, block of 12 imperforate.
124. 2 cents, 1872, " " 4 "
125. 3 " 1870, " " 4 "
126. 5 " 1876, " " 4 "
127. 1/2 cent, 1882, " " 12 "
Nos. 123 and 127 are from the Worthington collection and the other
three from the Pack collection.
PLATE XIII.
No. 128. 3 pence, 1875 (?) perforated 14, pair used on cover,
from Pack collection.
129. 2 cents, 1872, pair imperforate used on cover,
in possession of New England Stamp Co.
PLATE XIV.
No. 130. Stamped Envelope, 5 cents, 1860.
131. " " 10 " "
Both the above were in the Seybold collection.
PLATE XV. (Frontispiece).
A page of six pennies from the collection of Charles Lathrop Pack.
FOREWORD
Twenty years ago the Philatelic Society, London, brought out their work
on "The Postage Stamps, Envelopes, Wrappers and Post Cards of the North
American Colonies of Great Britain." This, of course, included Canada,
but since that time no special work, treating exhaustively of the postal
emissions of this important Colony, has been placed before the
philatelic public. It seems opportune, therefore, particularly in view
of the general popularity of the stamps of the Dominion, to present this
volume for the favor of the stamp collecting fraternity and especially
of that considerable portion which is interested to the extent of
specializing in the beautiful issues that Canada has given us.
This work had its inception in the now popular handbook idea, but in
looking over the ground it was soon realized by the author that there
was need of and material enough for a much more extended treatment of
the subject than could be encompassed in the limits of the usual
brochure. Plans were therefore laid for a thorough study of all
available material, and in furtherance of this it was found necessary to
make a special trip to Ottawa, where, in the library of the House of
Commons, is to be found the only complete set available of the Reports
of the Postmasters General of Canada. These naturally proved a mine of
first hand information which was availed of to its full extent; and in
this connection must be expressed the deep appreciation of the
assistance rendered the author by his friend M. Henri R. Landry, through
whose influence and untiring interest the way was made easy for
convenient and rapid examination of these invaluable files. Thanks are
also due Mr. Edward Y. Parker of Toronto, for notes and specimens
furnished, as well as Mr. A. McKechnie of Ottawa.
But documents and descriptions are not enough for the thorough study of
any subject which concerns tangible objects, and three famous
collections were inspected for first hand information upon the stamps
themselves. To Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack of Lakewood, N. J., Mr. George
H. Worthington of Cleveland, Ohio, and the lamented Mr. John F. Seybold,
late of Syracuse, N. Y., are due not only the author's fullest thanks
for opportunities freely given to examine their magnificent collections
of Canada, but the debt extends to philatelists in general for thus
being enabled to share, through study, description, listing and
pictorial reproduction, in the results of their specializing. Mr. Pack's
wonderful array of rarities, beautiful copies and remarkable series of
shades has been largely used in the compilation of the stamp lists. This
collection though since much enlarged and improved, obtained the gold
medal at the International Philatelic Exhibition in London, 1906. Mr.
Worthington's fine collection has also been used in the same way and has
furnished much information concerning plate numbers and marginal
imprints. Mr. Seybold's covers were particularly interesting in showing
the actual use of the stamps, the cancellations employed, and various
other features to be gleaned from the study of original covers,
particularly of early date. Selections for illustrative purposes were
made from all three collections, as will be noted.
Mr. John N. Morse and Mr. Edwin F. Sawyer, both of Boston, have very
kindly placed their collections of post cards and envelopes,
respectively, at our disposal for purposes of study.
Again, the philatelic press has been diligently searched for articles,
stray notes, etc., which would illumine the pathway, particularly by
throwing side lights on various phases of the subject. Prominent among
these were the articles on Canada by Messrs. C. B. Corwin, D. A. King
and J. R. Hooper in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ for 1890-91, and by
Mr. Donald A. King in Stanley Gibbons' _Monthly Journal_ for 1896-97.
It can readily be seen from the foregoing that the limits of a handbook
were soon passed, and the question really became one of a pretentious
volume which should be all that thorough research could offer and ample
means produce. A glance at the present work shows that this was no small
proposition, and to any one with experience in philatelic publishing it
was apparent that the desired production would mean a heavy balance on
the wrong side of the ledger. The author does not pose as a
philanthropist, but he feels he has discovered such in the publishers of
this volume. With the broad-minded policy that whatever helps Philately
benefits all, even indirectly, the New England Stamp Company of Boston,
having become greatly interested in the monograph, accepted the burden
and became responsible for the publication of the work. The advantages
of the co-operation of such a well-known firm are manifest, and the
author takes great pleasure in acknowledging his indebtedness to this
Company, through whose munificence it has been possible to produce this
volume in its present form.
C. A. HOWES, B. Sc., F. R. P. S. L.
Boston, U. S. A.
December, 1910.
INTRODUCTION
The Dominion of Canada, as we know it to-day, is a confederation of the
former British Colonies and unorganized territories of North America
which lie to the northward of the United States. The single exception is
the Colony of Newfoundland, which so far has resisted all overtures
looking to its absorption. The Dominion was formed in 1867 by the union
of the then Colonies of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, to which
the others were added subsequently. At that time the Colony of Canada
consisted of two provinces, Ontario and Quebec, known also as Upper and
Lower Canada respectively. It is with these two provinces that our
philatelic story of Canada begins.
But first let us delve a bit into earlier times and trace the
development of the territory we are going to consider, as it may prove
interesting for its historical value. Passing by the claims of the
Norsemen in the tenth century to a somewhat vague exploration of the
eastern American coast, we come to the discovery of Newfoundland by John
Cabot in 1497, and it is upon this fact, in part, that England
subsequently based her claim to the whole of North America. But for the
most part the territory included within the well populated portion of
the present Dominion was explored and settled by the French. In 1534
Jacques Cartier entered the St. Lawrence River and took possession of
the country in the name of France, and in 1608 the first permanent
settlement was made at Quebec by Samuel de Champlain. The name of the
colony was apparently furnished by the Indians, for in the manuscript
narrative of Cartier's second voyage,[1] under "Vocabulary of the
natives," is found: "They call a town--Canada." Baxter says: "There can
be no doubt that the word Canada is derived from _Kannata_, which in
Iroquois signifies a collection of dwellings, in other words a
settlement."[2] French control continued until the middle of the
eighteenth century when, in the war with England, the decisive victory
of Wolfe over Montcalm at Quebec, in 1759, practically brought it to a
close, and by the treaty of Paris in 1763 Canada was permanently ceded
to Great Britain.
[1] In the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris.
[2] =A Memoir of Jacques Cartier=, by J. P. Baxter, p. 135.
Tracing the development of the Colony under English rule, we find that
by the so-called "Quebec Act" of 1774 it was placed under the
administration of a Governor and Legislative Council appointed by the
Crown. Following the American Revolution, however, there was a large
immigration of former colonists into Ontario, and because of their
English stock, while Quebec was French, a separation was deemed
advisable. By the "Constitutional Act" of 1791 this was effected and two
Colonies, Upper Canada (or Canada West) and Lower Canada (or Canada
East) were constituted, each with its own separate government. Just
fifty years later, in 1841, they were reunited under the single name of
Canada. This brings us near the opening of our philatelic history. The
united provinces had an area of about 350,000 square miles and a
population, in 1850, of some 1,800,000 people. The Governor was
appointed by the Crown and chose his own Executive Council; a
Legislative Council of life members was also appointed by the Crown; and
a Legislative Assembly was elected consisting of an equal number of
representatives for each province. The Governor was made
Governor-General of British North America.
The advantages of the union of Upper and Lower Canada gradually became
so manifest, that a convention was held at Quebec in 1864 for the
purpose of considering the advisability of uniting all the provinces.
The result bore fruit in the passage of an Act of Union by the British
Parliament on March 29, 1867, under which Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia were formally united as the Dominion of Canada, the
actual event being consummated on July 1, 1867. Subsequently, on July
20, 1871, the Colony of British Columbia, and on July 1, 1873, the
Colony of Prince Edward Island, were added to the Dominion. In 1869 the
vast territories of the Hudson's Bay Company were acquired by purchase,
and out of them the province of Manitoba was formed and admitted to full
privileges in the Dominion on July 15, 1870.
The absorption of the Company's Territories is interesting for, as we
all know, this was a trading concern whose sole commodity was fur. The
Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of the continent were the mecca of hunters
and trappers, and their chief prey from the time the first French
explorers began to search the Canadian lakes, and later when the
Hudson's Bay Company succeeded to the French domain, was the beaver. In
fact the early history of Canada was largely bound up with beaver
catching and the sale of the skins, and for nearly a century the
northern territories, both under French and English rule, were
organized with a view to this traffic. In the early days of the Company
the "standard of trade" of the Northwest was a beaver skin. Thus the
beaver naturally became emblematic, which resulted later in its use as
the "crest" of the Canadian coat-of-arms, a place that it retains to the
present day over those of the Dominion. In this connection it would be
unjust to omit a mention of that other symbol dear to the Canadian
heart--the maple leaf. Like the rose, the thistle and the shamrock of
the Mother land, the beautiful tree of the Colony, so widespread, so
useful, and so gorgeous in its autumn coloring of red and gold--the
blazon of the English arms--became a favorite emblem of the people. The
particular variety that is so used is of course the rock or sugar maple
(_acer saccharinum_).
Turning now to early postal history, it is necessary to go back to the
reign of Queen Anne, although Canada was not then under British
dominion. In the year 1710 an Act was passed by the British Parliament
"For establishing a General Post-Office in all Her Majesty's Dominions,"
which not only repealed all previous enactments but placed the
postoffice establishment on a new basis. A "General Post and
Letter-Office" was established in London "from whence all letters and
packets whatsoever may be with speed and expedition sent into any part
of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to North America and the
West Indies, or any other of Her Majesty's dominions, or any country or
kingdom beyond the seas," and "at which office all returns and answers
may be likewise received." For the better "managing, ordering,
collecting, and improving the revenue," and also for the better
"computing and settling the rates of letters according to distance, a
chief office is established in Edinburgh, one in Dublin, one at New
York, and other chief offices in convenient places in Her Majesty's
colonies of America, and one in the islands of the West Indies, called
the Leeward Islands." "The whole of these chief offices shall be under
the control of an officer who shall be appointed by the Queen's Majesty,
her heirs and successors, to be made and constituted by letters patent
under the Great Seal, by the name and stile of Her Majesty's
_Postmaster-General_." "The Postmaster-General shall appoint deputies
for the chief offices in the places named above." The rates to New York
under this Act were fixed at 1 shilling per single letter. Other rates
were charged to other parts of the American continent according to the
distance from New York.
In 1753 Benjamin Franklin received the royal commission as Deputy
Postmaster-General for the American Colonies. No man in America had
been so identified with the interests of the Colonial postoffice as he,
and from 1737 he had been postmaster of Philadelphia. All his energies
were devoted to his new work and when Canada passed by treaty to Great
Britain in 1763, as already mentioned, his jurisdiction was extended to
cover the new territory. It is thus curious to record that the
(afterwards) first Postmaster-General of the United States was also the
first Postmaster-General of Canada.
In the evidence given by Franklin before the House of Commons in the
year 1766, in regard to the extent of the post-office accommodation in
North America, he made the following statement:--
The posts generally travel along the sea coasts, and only in a few
cases do they go back into the country. Between Quebec and Montreal
there is only one post per month. The inhabitants live so scattered
and remote from each other in that vast country, that the posts
cannot be supported amongst them. The English Colonies, too, along
the frontier, are very thinly settled.
By 1774, however, Franklin, then in England as the Representative of the
Colonies, had become obnoxious to the British Government, and on January
31st of that year was removed from his office. After the Declaration of
Independence, Mr. Hugh Finlay, who had previously been postmaster at
Quebec, received the appointment of "Deputy Postmaster-General of His
Majesty's Province of Canada." He had in 1791 eleven post-offices under
his management, one as far west as Mackinaw and one as far east as the
Baie des Chaleurs. There was a weekly mail between Quebec and Montreal
and a monthly mail for the Western country. From a Quebec almanac of
1796 it appears that there were seven post-offices in Upper Canada and
five in Lower Canada. At that time mails were despatched monthly to
England, and semi-weekly between Quebec and Montreal, or Halifax. At the
Baie des Chaleurs the visits of the postman must have been few and far
between, as they were only favored with a mail "as occasion offered."
In 1800 Mr. George Heriot succeeded Mr. Finlay. At this time New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island were all under the
authority of the Canadian administration. The number of post-offices was
increased to twenty-six.
The following is taken from the advertising column of the _Upper Canada
Gazette_ in 1807:--
The mail for Upper Canada will be despatched from the post-office at
Montreal, on the following days, to wit:
Monday, 14th January.
Monday, 12th February.
Monday, 10th March.
Monday, 7th April--the last trip.
A courier from Kingston may be looked for here in 14 or 15 days from
the above periods, where he will remain 2 or 3 days, and then return
to Kingston.
Another courier will proceed from this with the Niagara mail, via
Messrs. Hatts', where the Sandwich [So. Essex] letters will be left,
both from Niagara and this, 'till the courier comes from there to
return with them.
Letters put into the post-office will be forwarded any time by
W. ALLAN,
Acting Deputy-Postmaster.
Mr. Heriot resigned in 1816 and was succeeded by Mr. Daniel Sutherland
who, on his accession to office found Nova Scotia and Prince Edward
Island withdrawn from Canadian charge. New Brunswick, however, continued
to be included, but appears to have been withdrawn in 1824, so that from
that year until the federation of the Provinces in 1867 the
Postmaster-General was concerned only with Canada proper. Mr. Sutherland
established a daily mail between Quebec and Montreal and a weekly mail
between Montreal and Toronto. In 1827 there were 101 post-offices and
2,368 miles of established post-route, the number of miles of
mail-travel being 455,000 per annum. The letters that year were
estimated at 340,000 and the newspapers at 400,000.
The following extract from the _Quebec Mercury_, published on July 18,
1829, conveys some idea of the postal communication with England at that
period:--
No later advices have been received from Europe since our last. Some
further extracts from the London papers, to 31st May, inclusive,
brought to New York by the _Corinthian_, will be found in another
part of this number.
In the _Montreal Courant_, dated September 2nd, 1829, was the following
paragraph, showing the improvement which had been effected in the
communication between Prescott and that city:--
EXPEDITIOUS TRAVELLING:--On Saturday last, the Upper Canada line of
stages performed the journey from Prescott to this city in about 17
hours, leaving the former place at a little before 3 a. m., and
arriving here a few minutes before 8 in the evening. Not many years
ago this journey occupied two, and sometimes three days, but owing
to the great improvements made by Mr. Dickinson, the enterprising
proprietor, by putting steam-boats on the lakes St. Francis and St.
Louis, and keeping his horses in excellent condition, it is now
performed in little more than one-third of the time.
Even so late as 1833, newspaper proprietors found it (particularly in
the Upper Province) better to employ their own couriers. As a proof of
this we transcribe from the _Queenstown_ (Niagara) _Colonial Advocate_
of that year, the following advertisement:--
POST-RIDER WANTED IMMEDIATELY.
The proprietor of this newspaper wishes to contract with a steady
man (who can find and uphold his own horse) to deliver it to the
subscribers once a week during the winter, on the route between York
and Niagara, via Ancaster.
Mr. Thos. A. Stayner succeeded Mr. Sutherland in 1831, at which time
there were 151 post-offices. Through Mr. Stayner's recommendation a
uniform rate of 1s. 2d. sterling, per half ounce, was adopted in 1841
between any place in Canada and the mother country. This resulted from
the establishment of regular steam communication across the Atlantic in
1840, by means of the Cunard Line between Liverpool and Halifax.
During all this period the carrying of letters was a profitable
business. There was, for example, a profit of $21,000 in 1824 and of
$47,000 in 1831, all which sums were duly remitted to England to swell
the Imperial revenue. The rates, however, were exceedingly high. It cost
eighteen cents to send a letter from Toronto to Kingston, and thirty
cents to send one to Montreal. The charge for sending a weekly paper
through the mails was a dollar a year, as much as the paper now costs,
and the postage on a daily was over two dollars a year.[3]
[3] Most of the foregoing information is taken from extracts from the
Canadian Postal Guide, published in the =Stamp Collector's Magazine= for
Aug. 1, 1868, and the Halifax Philatelist, II: 138.
The net revenues of the post-office given for 1831 must have dropped
considerably, for we find that in 1845 the surplus of the Canadian
Post-office was but [L]7184 ($35,000) against the $47,000 given above
for fourteen years earlier. This amount rose to [L]22,188 ($110,000) in
1848, fell to [L]15,725 ($78,500) the next year, and had risen again to
a basis of [L]20,000 ($100,000) in the year previous to the introduction
of postage stamps and the reduction of rates. The inland postage rates
then in force, as charged under the Imperial Laws, were, for a letter
not exceeding 1/2 ounce in weight:
For any distance not exceeding 60 miles, 4d.
For any distance exceeding 60 miles and not exceeding 100 miles 6d.
For any distance exceeding 100 miles and not exceeding 200 miles 8d.
And for every additional 100 miles or fraction an additional 2d.
For one hundred and forty years Great Britain had managed her colonial
posts, or at least directed them, when on 28th July, 1849, the British
Parliament passed an "Act for enabling Colonial Legislatures to
establish Inland Posts."[4] This was the signal for the voluntary
withdrawal of most of the colonial postal systems then under Imperial
direction, and for the establishment of local systems where none had
previously existed. Because of its historical interest we quote from the
provisions of the Act as follows:--
Whereas under or by virtue of [_various Acts_] Her Majesty's Post
Master General has, by himself or his Deputies, the exclusive
Privilege of establishing Posts, collecting, conveying, and
delivering Letters, and collecting Postage, within Her Majesty's
Colonies, and the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have
Authority from Time to Time to fix the Rates of Postage to be
charged within such Colonies: And whereas the said Postmaster
General and Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury respectively
have, in exercise of such Privilege and Authority, established Posts
and fixed Rates of Postage in certain of such Colonies: And whereas
it is expedient to Authorize the Establishment of Posts and Postage
Rates in Her Majesty's Colonies by the Legislatures of such
Colonies: Be it enacted, therefore.... That it shall be lawful for
the Legislatures or proper Legislative Authorities of Her Majesty's
Colonies, or any of them, by Acts, Laws, or Ordinances to be from
Time to Time for that Purpose made and enacted in the Manner and
subject to the Conditions by Law required in respect of Acts, Laws,
or Ordinances of such Legislatures or Legislative Authorities, to
make such provisions as such Legislatures or Legislative Authorities
may think fit for and concerning the Establishment, Maintenance, and
Regulation of Posts or Post Communications within such Colonies
respectively, and for charging Rates of Postage for the Conveyance
of Letters by such Posts or Post Communications, and for
appropriating the Revenue to be derived therefrom.
II. [_Where the Postmaster General has actually established posts
and his power has not "determined," such colonial acts, etc., shall
not take effect until approved by Her Majesty and Privy Council, nor
until such time as the assent may be proclaimed in the Colony, or
such subsequent time as may be signified._]
III. [_After the establishment of Posts by Colonial Legislatures the
powers of the Postmaster General shall cease._]
IV. [_The Acts of Colonial Legislatures are to apply only to Posts
within the limits of the Colony and to rates of postage within such
limits._]
[4] 12^o & 13^o Vict. Cap. LXVI.
Canada lost no time in taking advantage of the above Act, and in the
next year (1850) passed the required ordinances for the transfer of its
domestic postal system to the control of its own Government. The next
chapter will therefore start the Canadian postal history proper.
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY MATTERS
The most important of the British North American Colonies in 1850 were
Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Though not united politically,
they yet had the common bonds of fatherland, of race, of mercantile
interest, and the mutual dependence that comes, or should come, from
propinquity under these conditions. It is not surprising, therefore,
that all three should make provision for assuming control of their
domestic postal systems in the same year, nor that they should adopt
practically identical ordinances for this purpose, and should make
common postal rates for their internal and inter-colonial mail matter.
Still less surprising is it when we recall that it was but the breaking
up into sections of what had previously been a homogeneous postal system
for the whole of British North America, operated under the Imperial Laws
as detailed in the last chapter.
While the project of turning over local postal systems to the colonies
was taking shape in the British Parliament, Canada "took time by the
forelock" and made preparations for obtaining its own postage stamps.
"In the Journal of May 21, 1849, there is a message to the
legislative assembly of Canada relating to the establishing of a
general post-office for the Province, when handed over by the
Imperial government. A resolution was brought up in the assembly on
May 22, 1849, 'That postage stamps for prepayment be allowed and
that Colonial stamps be engraved.' This finally passed the assembly
on May 25, 1849, and received the assent of the legislative council
on the 26th."[5]
[5] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, I: 253.
A year later, after the passage of the enabling act by the British
Parliament, which has been already quoted, the Canadian Parliament took
up the consideration of the main subject and on the 10th August, 1850,
passed what is known briefly as _The Post Office Act_, the provisions of
which that are of most interest to us being such as follow:--
13^o & 14^o Victoriae., Cap. XVII.
An Act to provide for the transfer of the management of the Inland
Posts to the Provincial Government, and for the regulation of the
said Department.
Whereas by the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, passed
in the Session held in the twelfth and thirteenth years of Her
Majesty's Reign, and intituled, _An Act for enabling Colonial
Legislatures to establish Inland Posts_, the Legislatures or proper
legislative authorities of Her Majesty's Colonies are empowered ...
to make such provisions as [they] may think fit for and concerning
the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of Posts and Post
Communications within such Colonies respectively, and for charging
rates of postage for the conveyance of letters by such Posts and
Post Communications, and for appropriating the Revenue to be derived
therefrom: ... And whereas it is expedient that a uniform and cheap
rate of postage should be established throughout the several
Colonies of British North America, and with a view to the
establishment thereof, the Local Governments of the said Colonies
have agreed upon certain conditions hereinafter mentioned and
forming a part of the provisions of this Act, and it is therefore
expedient to exercise the powers so vested as aforesaid in the
Legislature of this Province: ...
II. And be it enacted, That the Inland Posts and Post Communications
in the Province shall, so far as may be consistent with the Acts of
the Parliament of the United Kingdom in force in this Province, be
exclusively under Provincial management and control; the Revenue
arising from the duties of postage and other dues receivable by the
Officers employed in managing such Posts and Post Communications
shall form part of the Provincial Revenue, unless such moneys belong
of right to the United Kingdom or to some other Colony, or to some
foreign state; and the expenses of management shall be defrayed out
of Provincial Funds....
* * * * *
V. And be it enacted, That the Provincial Post Master General shall
be appointed by Commission under the Great Seal of the Province, and
to hold his office during pleasure, but the Post Masters and other
Officers of the Department shall be appointed and may be removed by
letter from the proper Officer communicating the Governor's
pleasure.
VI. [_All privileges, powers and authority of Her Majesty's Deputy
Post Master General are transferred to and vested in the Provincial
Post Master General._]
* * * * *
VIII. And in conformity to the agreement made as aforesaid between
the Local Governments of the several Colonies of British North
America, Be it enacted, That the Provincial Postage on letters and
packets not being of Newspapers or Printed Pamphlets, Magazines or
Books, entitled to pass at lower rate, shall not exceed the rate of
three pence currency, per half ounce, for any distance whatsoever
within this Province, any fraction of a half ounce being chargeable
as a half ounce: that no transit postage shall be charged on any
letter or packet passing through this Province or any part thereof
to any other Colony in British North America, unless it be posted in
this Province and the sender choose to pre-pay it; nor on any letter
or packet from any such Colony if pre-paid there: that two pence
sterling the half ounce shall remain as the rate in operation as
regards letters by British Mails, to be extended to Countries having
postal conventions with the United Kingdom, unless Her Majesty's
Government in the United Kingdom shall see fit to allow this rate to
be changed to three pence currency:
That the pre-payment of Provincial Postage shall be optional:
That all Provincial Postage received within the Province shall be
retained as belonging to it, and that all Provincial Postage
received within any other of the British North American Colonies,
may be retained as belonging to such Colony:
That the British Packet Postage and other British Postage collected
in this Province shall be accounted for and paid over to the proper
authorities in the United Kingdom; but the Colonial Postage on the
same letters or packets shall belong to the Colony collecting it, or
if pre-paid to the British Post Office, it may be credited to the
Colony to which such letters or packets are addressed:
That no privilege of franking shall be allowed as regards Provincial
Postage:
That Provincial Stamps for the pre-payment of postage may be
prepared under the orders of the Governor in Council, which stamps
shall be evidence of the pre-payment of Provincial Postage to the
amount mentioned on such stamp, and that such stamps prepared under
the direction of the proper authorities in the other British North
American Colonies, shall be allowed in this Province as evidence of
the pre-payment of Provincial Postage in such other Colonies
respectively, on the letters or packets to which they are affixed,
and which have been mailed there:
That the Provincial Postage on Newspapers, Pamphlets, Magazines and
Printed Books, shall remain such as it now is until it be altered by
regulation under this Act.... Provided always, that one copy of each
newspaper published in this Province may be sent free from postage
to any Publisher of another Newspaper in this Province, that all
printed documents addressed to the Publisher of any Newspaper in
this Province shall be delivered to him free, and that all
Newspapers published in this Province and addressed to Subscribers
in the United States, shall pass free to the Provincial line, under
such regulations as the Governor in Council shall make to prevent
the abuse of the privileges hereby granted:
And, subject to the foregoing provisions of this section and to the
other express provisions of this Act, the Governor in Council shall
have full power and authority ... for establishing the rates of
postage on Newspapers and Printed Pamphlets, Magazines and Books,
and for declaring what shall be deemed such, or directing that in
any case or class of cases they be free of postage, either in the
first instance or the case of their being re-mailed, ... for the
preparing and distributing of Provincial stamps for pre-payment, for
limiting the weight and dimensions of letters or packets to be sent
by Post ... for prescribing the conditions and circumstances under
which letters, accounts and papers relating solely to the business
of the Post Office, and addressed to or sent by some officer
thereof, shall be free from Provincial Postage, ... for providing,
when he shall think it expedient, means for avoiding the risk of
transmitting small sums of money through the Post, by establishing a
system of money orders to be granted by one Post Master or officer
of the Department on another, and fixing the terms on which such
orders may be obtained, for establishing a system for the
Registering of letters and the charge[6] be made for such
registration, ... for the delivery of letters and packets in the
larger and more populous Cities and Towns, at the residences of
parties to whom they are addressed, and fixing the limits within
which such delivery shall take place, and the rates to be paid by
the parties who shall prefer to have their letters and packets so
delivered, rather than apply for them at the Post Office: ... and
generally to make such regulations as may be deemed necessary for
the due and effective working of the Post and Postal business and
arrangements, and for carrying this Act fully into effect:
IX. And be it enacted, That subject always to the provisions and
regulations aforesaid, the Provincial Post Master General shall have
the sole and exclusive privilege of conveying, receiving,
collecting, sending and delivering letters within this Province; and
that any person or party who shall (except in the cases hereinafter
excepted) collect, send, convey or deliver, or undertake to convey
or deliver any letter within this Province, or who shall receive or
have in his possession any letter for the purpose of conveying or
delivering it, otherwise than in conformity with this Act, shall for
each and every letter so unlawfully conveyed or undertaken to be
conveyed, received, delivered or found in his possession, incur a
penalty not exceeding five pounds currency: [_exceptions are letters
taken by friends journeying, by special messengers, Court
Commissions, etc._]
* * * * *
XI. And be it enacted, That as well the Colonial, British or Foreign
as the Provincial Postage on any letter or packet shall (if not
pre-paid) be payable to the Provincial Post Master General by the
party to whom the same shall be addressed, or who may lawfully
receive such a letter or packet, which may be detained until the
same be paid: ... and if any letter or packet be refused, or if the
party to whom it is addressed cannot be found, then such postage
shall be recoverable by the Provincial Post Master General from the
sender of such letter or packet: ... and that all postage may be
recovered with costs, by civil action in any Court having
jurisdiction to the amount, or in any way in which duties are
recoverable.
XII. And for avoiding doubts, and preventing inconvenient delay in
the delivery of letters, Be it declared and enacted, That no Post
Master shall be bound to give change, but the exact amount of the
postage on any letter or packet shall be tendered or paid to him in
current coin or in Provincial Postage stamps.
* * * * *
XIV. [_Letters of Soldiers, Seamen, etc., shall be charged a certain
fixed sum in place of all British or Provincial postage._]
XV. [_Posted letters to be property of party addressed._]
XVI.... To forge, counterfeit or imitate any Postage Stamp issued or
used under the authority of this Act, or by or under the authority
of the Government or proper authority of the United Kingdom, or of
any British North American Province, or of any Foreign Country, or
knowingly to use any such forged, counterfeit or imitated stamp, or
to engrave, cut, sink or make any plate, die or other thing whereby
to forge, counterfeit or imitate such stamp or any part or portion
thereof, except by the permission in writing of the Provincial Post
Master General, or of some officer or person who under the
regulations to be made in that behalf, may lawfully grant such
permission, or to have possession of any such plate, die or other
thing as aforesaid, without such permission as aforesaid, or to
forge, counterfeit or unlawfully imitate, use or affix to or upon
any letter or packet, any stamp, signature, initials, or other mark
or sign purporting that such letter or packet ought to pass free of
postage, or at a lower rate of postage, or that the postage thereon
or any part thereof hath been pre-paid or ought to be paid by or
charged to any person, department or party whomsoever, shall be
felony, punishable by imprisonment in the Provincial Penitentiary
for life.
[6] sic.
The passage of the above Act and its approval by the Queen in Council
gave opportunity for preparations to be made to carry out its
provisions, the date being set for the 6th April, 1851. Three weeks
previous to the appointed time the following notice was sent out to
postmasters in anticipation of the transfer.
NOTICE TO POSTMASTERS.
GENERAL POST OFFICE,
MONTREAL, 14TH MARCH, 1851.
SIR:--
I am commanded by His Excellency the Governor General, to
communicate to you the following Instructions, for your guidance in
the performance of your duties, under the New Post Office Law of the
13th and 14th Vict., chap. 17, passed at the last Session of the
Provincial Parliament, which will take effect, and supersede the
Imperial Post Office Acts, hitherto in force in Canada, on and from
the 6th day of April next:
1. From the above date, all Letters transmitted by the Post in
Canada, with the exception of Packet Letters to and from the United
Kingdom, will be liable to a uniform rate of _Three_ Pence,
currency, per half-ounce, for whatever distance conveyed:
pre-payment will be optional: the charge increasing according to the
weight of the Letter, one single rate for every additional
half-ounce, counting the fraction of a half-ounce as a full rate,
thus:
A Letter, weighing not exceeding 1/2 ounce, will be liable to 3d.
Postage.
A Letter, weighing more than 1/2 ounce, and not exceeding 1 ounce,
will be liable to 6 d. Postage.
A Letter, weighing more than 1 ounce, and not exceeding 1-1/2
ounces, will be liable to 9d. Postage.
A Letter, weighing more than 1-1/2 ounces, and not exceeding 2
ounces, will be liable to 1 s. Postage.
A Letter, weighing more than 2 ounces, and not exceeding 2-1/2
ounces, will be liable to 1 s., 3 d. Postage, and so on.
It will be observed that the above scale differs from that now
followed, in advancing one rate for each half-ounce after the first
ounce.
2. The single Packet rate for Letters by the Atlantic Steam Packet
Mails to and from England, via the United States, of 1s. 2d.
sterling, if _un-paid_, and 1s. 4d. currency if _pre-paid_, as also
the rate on Letters by those mails, via Halifax, of 1s. [missing
value] sterling, if _un-paid_, and 1s. 1-1/2 d. currency, if
_pre-paid_, remain unaltered, and the present scale of weights is to
remain in force as regards such Letters.
Post Masters must be very careful to observe this distinction when
taxing Letters, weighing over one ounce, intended for the English
Mails.
3. The regulations now in force with regard to Letters to and from
Soldiers and Sailors in Her Majesty's Service, by which under
certain conditions such Letters pass through the Post on pre-payment
of a penny only, will remain unaltered.
* * * * *
5. Letters addressed to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward's
Island, or Newfoundland, are to be rated with the uniform rate of
3d. per half-ounce.
6. Letters to and from the United States will be liable to the
uniform rate of 3d. per half-ounce, between the Frontier Line and
the place of posting or place of destination in Canada; and until
further arrangements can be made, this charge on Letters from Canada
to the United States must be pre-paid at the time of posting.
7. [_Rates and regulations for Newspapers, Pamphlets, etc., to
remain as at present._]
8. [_Printed matter addressed to Editors is free._]
9. The charge on Letters posted at an Office for delivery in the
same City, Town, or Place, and any additional charge made on Letters
delivered at the residences of parties to whom they are addressed,
are to remain as at present, until further instructions.
10. No Franking Privilege is allowed under the New Act except with
regard to Letters and Packets on the business of the Post Office,
addressed to or transmitted by the Post Master General.
* * * * *
13. Stamps for the pre-payment of Postage are being prepared, and
will be distributed for the use of the public at an early date.
* * * * *
16. [_Letters, etc., to Deputy Post Master General to pass free._]
T. A. STAYNER.
_Deputy Post Master General._
[*] [Transcriber's Note: 2 or 3 characters here are unreadable.]
Meanwhile, under the authority given the Governor in Council by _The
Post Office Act_, an agreement had been drawn up between the post office
Departments of Canada and the United States for the purpose of
establishing and regulating the interchange of mails between the two
countries. This was signed on the 25th March, 1851, and was communicated
to the Canadian post-masters by the first department order, as
follows:--
DEPARTMENT ORDER [NO. 1.]
LETTERS, ETC., BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING
CALIFORNIA AND OREGON.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
TORONTO, _2nd April_, 1851.
Commencing on and from the 6th instant, Letters, Newspapers, &c.,
will pass through the Mails between Canada and the United States,
including California and Oregon, at the Rates of Postage and under
the Regulations herein mentioned.
1. Letters posted at any Office in Canada, addressed to any place in
the United States, except California and Oregon, are to be rated
with a uniform rate of six-pence, currency, per half-ounce.
2. Letters posted in any part of the United States, except
California and Oregon, addressed to Canada, will be rated there with
a uniform charge of ten cents, equal to six-pence, currency, per
half-ounce.
3. The Postage Rate on Letters passing between Canada and California
and Oregon, will be a uniform charge of nine-pence, currency, equal
to fifteen cents per half-ounce.
4. It is to be understood that the above rates include the whole
charge for the transmission of a Letter between any place in Canada
and any place within the United States, including California and
Oregon.
5. The scale for computing the charge upon Letters weighing more
than 1/2 ounce, will be the same as that for Letters passing within
the Province.
6. Pre-payment of Letters passing between Canada and any place
within the United States, including California and Oregon, will, in
all cases, be optional.
7. Newspapers, Pamphlets, &c., posted in Canada, addressed to the
United States, including California and Oregon, are, ... to be
forwarded through the Post at the same rates of charge as if
addressed to a place within the Province; the said rates must,
however, be _pre-paid_--as, if the ordinary Canada Rate is not paid
at the time of posting a Newspaper or Pamphlet, &c., it cannot be
forwarded to the United States.
8. United States Newspapers, Pamphlets, &c., addressed to places in
Canada, will be received in the Province with the American Postage
thereon pre-paid--leaving the ordinary Canada Rate of charge from
the Frontier Line to the place of destination, to be ... collected
by the Post Master who may deliver the same in Canada.
9.-10.-11. [_Copies of newspapers or printed documents sent by or to
publishers or editors are free of Canadian postage._]
12. The Canada Postage Stamps, when used, will be taken in the
United States as evidence of pre-payment of Postage on Letters going
from Canada to the United States, and in like manner the United
States Postage Stamps on Letters coming into Canada, are to be taken
by Post Masters in this Province as evidence of pre-payment having
been made in the United States.
13. The following are appointed to be the Offices in Canada through
which the Post communication with the United States will be
maintained, and to which Post Masters are to forward their Mail
matter for the United States, according to the relative position of
their several Offices:
PORT SARNIA, |
WINDSOR, | KINGSTON,
FORT ERIE, |
| BROCKVILLE,
QUEENSTON, { Intended in the mean time to |
{ be the Channel of Communication | PRESCOTT,
{ with the United States for the |
{ Country West of Toronto. | MONTREAL,
|
NIAGARA, | ST. JOHN'S,
TORONTO, |
| DUNDEE,
COBOURG, { A Communication during Summer |
{ only, by Steamer to Rochester. | STANSTEAD,
By Command,
W. H. GRIFFIN.
Both the _Post Office Act_ and the above Department Order treat of the
disposition of periodicals and other printed matter without giving the
rates of postage required thereon. A subsequent Order gives us these
rates:--
DEPARTMENT ORDER, [NO. 3.]
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
TORONTO. _17th April_, 1851.
_Printed Circulars, Price Currents, Handbills, Pamphlets,
Periodicals, Books, and other Printed Matter transmitted by Post in
Canada._
1. Upon each Printed Circular, Price Current or Handbill, and other
Printed matter of a like description, when unconnected with any
manuscript or written communication and of no greater weight than
one ounce, there shall be charged One penny; and for each additional
ounce or fraction of an ounce, One penny additional.
2. Upon each Periodical or Magazine, Pamphlet and Book, bound or
unbound, there shall be charged a rate of One half-penny per ounce.
3. Pre-payment of the foregoing rates will be optional, except when
the Printed matter is addressed to the United States, and in that
case the charge must invariably be pre-paid.
4. On such Printed matter received into Canada by Mail from the
United States, the above Canada Rates will always remain to be
collected on delivery in this Province.
5.[_Exchange of one copy between publishers is free._]
6. [_Must be unsealed; if writing is enclosed will be treated as a
letter._]
7. No Book or packet of Periodicals, Magazines, &c., can be
forwarded through the Post, if exceeding the weight of forty-eight
ounces.
JAMES MORRIS. _Post Master General._
It is of course understood that the above does not apply to newspapers,
which were charged to a nominal rate of 1/2d. each, the term _newspaper_
being considered to aply to periodicals issued not less often than once
a week.
A supplementary order was issued, a couple of days later than the
preceding, which announces a book post with England. It is a bit curious
as prohibiting the use of postage stamps in prepayment of the charges,
at a time when their introduction was supposed to be an improvement in
the postal service.
SUPPLEMENTARY ORDER.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
TORONTO, 19_th April_, 1851.
_Book Post with England._
Under the authority of Her Majesty's Government, an arrangement will
take effect on the fifteenth day of May next, under which Printed
Books, Magazines, Reviews, or Pamphlets, whether British, Colonial,
or Foreign, may be sent through the Post, between Canada and the
United Kingdom, at the Following Rates of Postage:
[S] = Sterling
| [S] | Currency
For a single volume, | |
_i.e._, Book, Magazine, Review, or Pamphlet, | |
not exceeding half lb. in weight | 6d. | Equal to 7-1/2d.
| |
For a single volume, &c., | |
exceeding half lb. and not exceeding one lb. | 1s. | " to 1s. 3d.
| |
For a single volume, &c., | |
exceeding one lb. and not exceeding two lbs. | 2s. | " " 2s. 6d.
| |
For a single volume, &c., | |
exceeding two lbs. and not exceeding three lbs. | 3s. | " " 3s. 9d.
The above charge must always be pre-paid, on printed Books, &c.,
&c., sent to the United Kingdom under this Regulation, at the time
of posting in Canada; and the pre-payment must be made in money, and
cannot be taken in Canada Postage Stamps.
Postmasters, as with pre-paid Letters for England must rate the
Books, &c., posted under this Regulation, in _red ink_, with both
the sterling rate and its equivalent in currency, ...--thus, a Book,
&c., weighing 3-1/2 pounds, will be rated:--
"Paid 4s. sterling--equal to 5s. currency."
* * * * *
JAMES MORRIS, _Post Master General._
The Department Circular No. 5, published from Toronto on 20th June,
1851, contains but one paragraph of interest to us.
Post Masters are informed that the transfer of the Post Office in
the Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to Provincial
control, will take place on the 6th July next, and that from that
date the uniform rate of 3d. per 1/2 ounce will form the sole charge
on a Letter transmitted between any place in Canada and any place in
New Brunswick, or Nova Scotia. Pre-payment will be optional.
On the 30th August, 1851, the Canadian Parliament passed an _Act to
Amend the Post Office Act_. The only section of any particular interest
to us is the following:--
14^o & 15^o Vict. Cap. LXXI.
* * * * *
XV. And be it enacted, That the Post Master General shall be
authorized, whenever the same may be proper for the accommodation of
the public in any city, to employ Letter Carriers for the delivery
of letters received at the Post Office in such city, excepting such
as the persons to whom they are addressed may have requested, in
writing addressed to the Postmaster, to be retained in the Post
Office, and for the receipt of letters at such places in the said
city as the Postmaster General may direct, and for the deposit of
the same in the Post Office; and for the delivery by Carrier of each
letter received from the Post Office, the person to whom the same is
delivered shall pay not exceeding One Penny, and for the delivery of
each newspaper and pamphlet One Halfpenny, and for every letter
received by a Carrier to be deposited in the Post Office, there
shall be paid to him, at the time of the receipt, not exceeding One
Half-penny:--all of which receipts, by the Carriers in any city,
shall, if the Postmaster General so direct, be accounted for to the
Postmaster of the said city, to constitute a fund for the
compensation of the said Carriers, and to be paid to them in such
proportions and manner as the Postmaster General may direct.
But in the meantime the postage stamps, which will now be our main
study, were issued to the public, and we will therefore turn back to the
period of their birth and trace their history, together with the
development of the post that accompanies it, through the nearly sixty
years that have since elapsed.