THE ISSUE OF 1851
According to all good catalogues, the date of the first issue of stamps
for Canada is the year 1851. If we find some more precise statement put
forth in a special article on the subject, the date is apt to be given
as the 6th April, 1851. If we go back into the dusty archives of the
Canadian Post Office Department, we find the circular announcing the
forthcoming stamps is dated a fortnight later than the hitherto supposed
correct date for their issue. We reproduce it here in its entirety:--
DEPARTMENT ORDER [NO. 4.]
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
TORONTO, _21st April_, 1851.
_Stamps for the pre-payment of Postage on Letters._
Postage Stamps are about to be issued, one representing the Beaver,
of the denomination of Three pence; the second representing the head
of Prince Albert, of the denomination of Six pence; and the third,
representing the head of Her Majesty, of the denomination of One
shilling; which will shortly be transmitted to the Post Masters at
important points, for sale.
Any Post Master receiving Stamps from this Department will, by the
next mail, acknowledge the receipt of the amount. At the expiration
of each Quarter, and with his Quarterly Postage Accounts, he will
render an account of Stamps on a form which will be hereafter
supplied, charging himself therein with any amount which remained on
hand at the close of the preceding Quarter, and with the amounts
received during the Quarter just ended, and crediting himself with
the amount then remaining on hand. The balance of the account so
stated, representing the amount of Stamps he has sold or disposed
of, the Post Master will add to the balance due on his Return for
the same Quarter of Postages.
Any Letter or Packet, with one or more Stamps affixed, equal in
amount to the Postage properly chargeable thereon, may be mailed and
forwarded from any office as a pre-paid Letter or Packet; but if the
Stamps affixed be not adequate to the proper Postage, the Post
Master receiving the Letter or Packet for transmission will rate it
with the amount deficient in addition.--This Regulation concerning
Letters short paid has reference only to Letters passing within the
Province.
Stamps so affixed are to be immediately _cancelled_ in the office in
which the Letter or Packet may be deposited, with an instrument to
be furnished for that purpose. In Post Offices not so furnished, the
stamps must be cancelled by making a cross [X] on each with a pen.
If the cancelling has been omitted on the mailing of the Letter, the
Post Master delivering it will cancel the stamp in the manner
directed, and immediately report the Post Master who may have been
delinquent, to the Department. Bear in mind that Stamps must
invariably be cancelled before mailing the Letters to which they are
affixed.
Letters and Packets pre-paid by Stamps must be entered in the
Letter-Bill separately from other pre-paid Letters,--and in like
manner in the Monthly Sheets.
J. MORRIS, _Post Master General_.
From the above it is plainly evident that the new stamps were _not_
placed in use on April 6th, the day of the transfer of the Post Office
to Provincial control, as is usually stated. Furthermore, as this order
announcing them states that the stamps are "about to be issued," it is
evident that they did not appear concurrently with the order, which is
dated April 21st.[7] As a matter of fact the first supply of the 3 pence
stamps was only received by the Department from the manufacturers on
April 5th, the day before the transfer, and the second supply on April
20th, the day before the above circular was issued; while the 6 pence
and 12 pence stamps did not arrive until May 2nd and May 4th,
respectively.[8] In a letter to Mr. Donald A. King,[9] dated 2d March,
1904, from Mr. William Smith, Secretary of the Department at Ottawa, the
latter states "that postage stamps were issued to the public for the
first time on 23rd April, 1851." This agrees with the other known facts,
and can doubtless be taken as the correct date for the 3d. stamp. The
6d. stamp we have no further details for, but it was doubtless in use by
the middle of May. For the 12d. stamp we have, fortunately, all the
details, as will appear subsequently, and can give the exact date of
issue as June 14, 1851.
[7] This correction of the date must be noted, for in Mr. King's article
in the Monthly Journal, VII: 7, it is wrongly given as 1st April, which
might lead to erroneous conclusions. In the Article by Messrs. Corwin
and King, (Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 149), the date is correctly
given.
[8] Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83.
[9] London Philatelist, XIII: 153.
At the time of the transfer, the Postmaster General issued a lengthy set
of _Regulations and Instructions for the Government of the Post Office
Department in Canada_, and it is perhaps best to reproduce here such
sections as may prove of interest in connection with the use of the
stamps, various rates of postage, etc., etc.
* * * * *
20. Letters posted to be sent by Mail are to be carefully postmarked
on the face or address side, with the name of the Post Office, the
month and the day of the month in which they are posted, and, except
when they are Prepaid by Postage stamps, with the Rate of Postage in
plain figures. In performing these operations great care must be
used to avoid interference with the address.
* * * * *
22. If the Postage is Paid in Money when the Letter is posted, stamp
or write the word "_Paid_" against the Postage rate, and mark the
rate in _red ink_; but if the Letter is "_Unpaid_" the rate is to be
marked in _black ink_.
* * * * *
42. Should the Receiving Postmaster find that any of the Letters
have been under-rated, that is, not charged with sufficient
Postage,--if for example, a Letter weighing an ounce has only been
charged with one rate, he will mark the additional Postage with the
words "_More to pay_," and his initials on the Letter.
* * * * *
44.... Letters are to be postmarked on the back or seal side with
the date of the day on which they arrive....
* * * * *
58. On Letters not exceeding 1/2 oz. in weight between any place in
Canada and any other place in British North America, including
Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Cape
Breton, the rate is a uniform charge of 3d.
For every additional weight of half an oz., or any fractional excess
of half an oz., there shall be charged an additional rate of 3d.
59. On Letters deposited at an Office for delivery in the same
place, called Drop or Box Letters, the rate is One half-penny each,
to be brought to account by Postmasters.
60. On Letters between any place in Canada and any part of Great
Britain or Ireland, if conveyed in the Weekly closed Mails through
the United States, the rate is a uniform charge of 1s. 2d. sterling,
equal to 1s. 4d. currency, on a Letter not exceeding 1/2 oz., in
weight.
* * * * *
62. On Letters between Canada and the United Kingdom, conveyed by
the semi-monthly Mails by way of Quebec, New Brunswick and Halifax,
the rate is:
On Letters not exceeding 1/2 oz., 1s. 0d. sterling equal to 1s.
1-1/2d. currency.
On Letters not exceeding 1 oz., 2s. 0d. sterling equal to 2s. 3d.
currency.
On Letters not exceeding 2 oz., 4s. 0d. sterling equal to 4s. 6d.
currency.
63. On Letters between any place in Canada and any part of the
United States, except California and Oregon, the rate is a uniform
charge of 6d., equal to 10c. per 1/2 oz. weight.
64. On Letters to California and Oregon, the rate is 9d., equal to
15c. per 1/2 oz.
* * * * *
67. Letters to Newfoundland may be sent via Quebec and Halifax at a
Postage rate of 7-1/2d. per 1/2 oz.
68. Letters to British West Indies via Quebec, Halifax and Bermuda
will be charged the Canada rate of 3d. and in addition the Packet
rate for sea conveyance between Halifax and Bermuda of 4-1/2d.
currency, making on a letter not weighing more than 1/2 oz. a rate
of 7-1/2d.
69. Letters may also be sent from Canada to the British West Indies
and Havanah by the ordinary United States Mails to New York, and
from thence by British Steam Packet to destination, on Prepayment in
Canada of 9d. equal to 15c. per 1/2 oz.
70. Mails are made up at Montreal every fortnight for Halifax, Nova
Scotia, and despatched for conveyance to Halifax with the Mails by
the Royal Mail Steamers from Boston to Halifax and Liverpool by
which Letters may be sent to the following places at the rates
mentioned:
Letters to Halifax and Nova Scotia 7-1/2d. currency.
Letters to Newfoundland 1s. currency.
Letters to Bermuda and British West Indies 1s. currency.
* * * * *
74--75--76. [_Almost identical with first three paragraphs of_
Department Order No. 4. _describing and prescribing use of postage
stamps_. Vide supra.]
77. If the Stamps affixed to a Letter addressed to any place in
British North America or to the United Kingdom be not adequate to
the proper Postage, the Post Master receiving the Letter for
transmission will rate it with the amount deficient in addition.
78. On Letters for the United States when Stamps are affixed
representing less than the amount of Postage to which the Letters
are liable, the Stamps are to be cancelled and the Letters rated
with the full rate as Unpaid.
79--80--81. [_Identical with last two paragraphs of_ Department
Order No. 4. _concerning cancelling, omission of same, and accounts
of stamped letters_.]
82. Stamps affixed to Letters coming from either of the British
North American Provinces, the United Kingdom or the United States,
and recognized as equivalent to pre-payment at the Office where the
Letter has been posted--are to be allowed in Canada as evidence of
pre-payment accordingly, on the Letters to which they have been
affixed.
* * * * *
84. [_Postage Stamps must be taken when offered in payment of
postage on delivery of Unpaid Letters._]
* * * * *
88. [_Non-Commissioned Officers, Embodied Pensioners, Seamen and
Soldiers, while employed in Her Majesty's Service, can send and
receive letters at a rate of 1d. each, which must be paid at time of
posting, and letter must not exceed 1/2 oz. in weight._]
* * * * *
95. [_Rate on circulars, price currents, hand bills, etc., 1d. per
ounce or fraction._]
96. [_Rate on pamphlets, periodicals, magazines and books, 1/2d. per
ounce._]
* * * * *
100. [_Limit of weight for periodicals, etc., ([S]96) is 48 oz._]
* * * * *
103. [_Book post to England is 6d. sterling (7-1/2d. currency) for
1/2lb., 1s. sterling (1s. 3d. currency) for 1 lb., and at 1s. per
lb., rate thereafter._]
* * * * *
112. [_Postage on newspapers in Canada is 1/2d. except on exchange
copies, which are free._]
It strikes one as curious, in glancing over the above, to note the
several half penny and one penny rates, as well as two at 7-1/2 pence,
and to realize that no stamp of the lowest value, at least, should have
been arranged for whereby these amounts could have been prepaid by means
of stamps. To be sure, the 7-1/2d. rate could be obtained by halving a
three penny stamp in conjunction with a 6d. stamp as was the common
practice in Nova Scotia, but no such combination is known on a Canada
cover.
Of the three stamps issued, the first and most typical of Canada was the
3d. which was designed, so Mr. C. N. Robertson of Ottawa tells us, by
Sir Sanford Fleming, a civil engineer and draughtsman. The central
feature is a representation of the beaver in its native haunts, above
which is the royal crown of England resting on a rose, thistle and
shamrock, with the letters V and R (_Victoria Regina_) at either side. A
reference to figure 6 on Plate I makes further description unnecessary.
The normal color was a bright red.
A quite marked variety of this stamp occurs in what is generally known
as a "double strike" or "shifted transfer." It is _not_ due to
accidental light contact of the sheet in printing, previous to the
heavier impression in a slightly changed position, as is often
suggested, but is a true plate variety, caused by a slight impression of
the transfer roller in the wrong position on the plate previous to the
heavy impression sunk in the proper position. This fact is shown by its
being found in pairs and blocks with the normal stamp. It is recognized
by the letters EE PEN being "doubled" at the top, making it appear as if
a line had been drawn through the words and giving it the name,
occasionally used of the "line through threepence" variety. The figure 3
also appears doubled at the bottom. Its position in the sheet has not
been determined, but it occurs on all papers.
The 6d. stamp is in the usual upright form, containing a portrait of
Albert, the Prince Consort. It has been impossible to trace the original
of the picture, though diligent search has been made. The rose, thistle
and shamrock again appear on the stamp, at either side of the oval frame
and separating the inscriptions. Figure 1 of Plate I gives an excellent
reproduction of this value. The normal color may be said to have been a
slate violet.
The 12d. stamp is very similar in design to the 6d. stamp, but contains
a portrait of Queen Victoria. This beautiful head, so often seen upon
the early British Colonial stamps, was taken from the full length
painting by Alfred Edward Chalon, R. A., which was ordered by the Queen
for her mother, the Duchess of Kent, as a souvenir of Her Majesty's
first visit to the House of Lords. The occasion was the prorogation of
Parliament, on July 17, 1837, and the Queen is portrayed in her robes of
state, because of which fact the painting is sometimes described as "in
Coronation Robes," but this is erroneous.[10] The stamp is illustrated
as figure 2 on Plate I, and it will be noticed that the inscriptions in
the oval frame are this time separated on either side by the royal
crown. The color is black.
[10] London Philatelist, VI: 147.
The peculiarity in the expression of the value of this stamp as "Twelve
Pence" instead of "One Shilling," which would seem to be the natural
form for such an amount in English money, was long a moot question
amongst collectors. It was even suggested as an "error" of the American
manufacturers of the stamp! But the controversy has been practically
settled by reference to the monetary conditions of the period. A glance
back at the rates of postage we have already quoted will show that it
was generally necessary to give them in two forms, "currency" and
"sterling." The somewhat depreciated Canadian currency required fifteen
pence, as will be noted, to equal the shilling sterling--a point that is
brought out on the two stamps issued subsequently for the British Packet
rates. Add to this the fact that in New England the "shilling" was a
current expression for 16-2/3 cents (10 pence currency), while in New
York it represented 12-1/2 cents (7-1/2 pence currency) and we can
readily see that in Canadian territory contiguous to these sections the
number of pence to a "shilling" might often be a debatable quantity. As
a matter of fact the French Canadians of Lower Canada made general use
of the "shilling" as reckoned at 10 pence (20 cents) in the old
currency, while the "York shilling" was extensively used in Upper
Canada.[11] "Twelve pence" was without doubt wholly intentional,
therefore, as the designation of the stamp, and was a happy solution of
any ambiguity in its use, even if it has proved a stumbling block to the
understanding of latter day collectors.
[11] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 170.
An interesting essay for this stamp is in existence, being a companion
for the 3 pence "beaver," inasmuch as the shape of the stamp and the
central design are the same, though on a larger scale; the inscriptions,
however, are on an octagonal frame around the picture instead of an
elliptical one, and the value is expressed as "one shilling," with "1s"
in each spandrel. It was doubtless also a conception of Sir Sanford
Fleming, the designer of the 3 pence, and it would be interesting to
know what the companion 6 pence may have been.
The three issued stamps were ordered from and engraved on steel by
Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson of New York, who, it will be
interesting to note, were the engravers of the 1847 issue of United
States stamps--a fact which very likely may have had its influence on
the Canadian authorities. The stamps were printed in sheets of 100, ten
rows of ten, and had eight marginal imprints, two on each side. The
imprint reads, "Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York.", in minute
letters of the size known as "diamond" in the printing office, and it is
placed opposite the third and eighth stamps of the horizontal or
vertical row, as the case may be, but always with the bottom of the
imprint next the stamps. This causes the imprints to read up on the
left, down on the right, and upside down on the bottom margins of the
sheets.
We have found but one item in the departmental accounts for the fiscal
year 1851-2 referring to the stamps. This reads:--
Rawdon, Wright & Co., for engraving postage stamps, [L]31.8.2
This was doubtless simply a bill for printing, as it is altogether too
small an amount to account for the engraving of three stamp dies and the
making of three printing plates.
The first delivery of the stamps from the manufacturers took place on
April 5, 1851, according to a valuable summary from official records,
published in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_,[12] when 100,000 of the 3
pence value were received by the Canadian Government. A second lot,
numbering 150,200 of the 3 pence, arrived on April 20th. The 6 pence
value followed on May 2nd, to the number of 100,400; and the 12 pence
two days later, on May 4th, when the only consignment ever received from
the printers, numbering 51,400, was delivered.
[12] =Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII=: 83.
The paper on which the stamps were printed was a thin, tough, grayish
white variety which we should probably call bond paper, but which at
that time is said to have been known as bank note paper. It was
doubtless handmade, and therefore varies considerably in thickness, the
two extremes being usually listed as _medium_ or _ordinary_, and _very
thin_ or _almost pelure_.
It has been the custom to assume that the first deliveries of the stamps
were probably all upon _laid_ paper, which was borne out by dates on
covers or postmarked specimens of the stamps used during the first year
of issue. But by June of 1852, at least, according to Messrs. Corwin and
King,[13] the stamps were beginning to appear on paper which was simply
_wove_, without any trace of the laid lines, though in all other
respects similar to the first supplies. Of course a minor detail of
manufacture like this would have no official cognizance, so there is
nothing for us to go by in determining the quantities printed on one or
the other kind of paper, or the dates of issue, save for what can be
gleaned from dated covers and deductions to be drawn from them. The two
varieties of paper, however, have been as productive of controversy in
the case of the 12 pence stamp as the peculiar expression of its value
proved.
[13] =Metropolitan Philatelist, I=: 149.
But before discussing this question, let us see what we have to work on.
The first annual report of the Postmaster General, for the year ending
5th April, 1852, contains the following information concerning the new
stamps:--
Postage Stamps for the pre-payment of letters of the respective
values of 3d., 6d. and 1s. were procured and issued immediately
after the transfer, and have been kept for sale to the public at all
the principal Post Offices in the Province; the demand, however, has
not been great, as will be seen by the following statement, and the
sales of the last quarter of the year would seem to demonstrate that
the use of these Stamps in pre-payment of letters, is rather
diminishing than gaining ground in the community. There were
procured from the manufacturers, Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch &
Co., of New York, during the year ended 5th April 1852:
Value.
250,200 3d. Stamps [L]3127 10 0
100,400 6d. Stamps 2510 0 0
51,000 1s. Stamps 2550 0 0
_______ __________
401,600 [L]8187 10 0
Of these have been issued to Postmasters for sale, to the same date:
Value.
217,300 3d. Stamps [L]2716 5 0
63,400 6d. Stamps 1585 0 0
820 1s. Stamps 41 0 0
_______ ________
281,520 [L]4342 5 0
The succeeding annual reports of the Postmaster General, for the years
ending 31st March, 1853-6, give the following table of postage stamp
statistics:--
Postage stamps issued for sale as follows:--
REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1853.
3d. Stamps 6d. Stamps 1s. Stamps
On hand 5th April, 1852 32,900 37,000 50,180
Since received from Manufacturers 250,000
_________________________________
282,900 37,000 50,180
Issued for sale during year 163,000 2,575 100
_________________________________
On hand 31st March, 1853 119,900 34,425 50,080
REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1854.
Received from Manufacturers 250,000 ... ...
_________________________________
369,900 34,425 50,080
Issued for sale during year 240,700 10,825 325
_________________________________
On hand 31st March, 1854 129,200 23,600 49,755
REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1855.
Received from Manufacturers 250,000 50,000 ...
_________________________________
379,200 73,600 49,755
Issued for sale during year 355,000 25,800 265
On hand 31st. March, 1855 24,200 47,800 49,490
REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1856.
Received from Manufacturers 600,300 ... ...
_________________________________
624,500 47,800 49,490
Issued for sale during year 368,700 38,419 ...
_________________________________
On hand 31st. March, 1856 255,800 9,381 49,490
In this annual report of 31st March, 1856, is the last account of the
12d. stamp, from which it appears that none were issued to postmasters
during the fiscal year. It does not mean that none were sold or used
during that period, however, for with the increasing use of stamps this
was quite probable. But it is evident from the tables given that the
stamp was disbursed from headquarters in very limited quantities during
the four years from 1851 to 1855 only; and we are quite fortunate in
being able to give the exact details of this distribution. An anonymous
article was published in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ in 1902,[14]
from which we have already quoted, that contained a "_Valuable summary
of the first issue of postage stamps used in this Colony._" The
statement is made that "it is taken from official records and is
absolutely accurate." We quote here the information concerning the
CANADA ONE SHILLING POSTAGE STAMP.
Total number rec'd. from Contractors 51,000
Total number issued to postmasters 1,510
------
Balance (destroyed) 49,490
NOTE.--On May 4, 1851, the first and only consignment of the Canada
1 shilling postage stamp, to the number of 51,000 (value [L]2,550),
was received by the Post Office Department, Canada, from the
Contractors, Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York.
The issue of this stamp began on June 14, 1851, and concluded on
December 4, 1854, when the stamp was discontinued. During its issue
1510 stamps of that denomination were sent out to postmasters,
leaving a balance on hand of 49,490, which, on May 1st. 1857, were,
in accordance with the practice of the Department in cases of the
discontinuance of stamps, destroyed. As has already been observed,
there was only the one lot of this stamp received from the
contractors.
DETAILS OF ISSUE.
Date of Issue. Name of Office. Name of P. M. No.
June 14, 1851 Hamilton E. Ritchie 300
Oct. 17, 1851 Chippewa W. Hepburn 100
Nov. 13, 1851 Thorold J. Keefer 20
Nov. 25, 1851 Toronto C. Berchy 200
Mar. 8, 1852 Montreal J. Porteous 200
Sept. 14, 1852 Ingersoll D. Phelan 100
Apr. 5, 1853 [15]Bytown G. W. Baker 100
Oct. 20, 1853 Sherbrooke Wm. Brooks 15
Jan. 13, 1854 Smith's Falls Jas. Shaw 50
Jan. 20, 1854 Bytown G. W. Baker 100
Feb. 8, 1854 L'Islet Ballantyne 15
Feb. 27, 1854 Ingersoll Chadwick 20
Mar. 22, 1854 Sault S. Marie Jos. Wilson 25
May 15, 1854 Port. du Fort McLaren 15
Oct. 21, 1854 Rowan Mills de Blaquiere 50
Oct. 26, 1854 Melbourne Thos. Tait 50
Oct. 27, 1854 Montreal A. La Rocque 100
Dec. 4, 1854 Smith's Falls Jas. Shaw 50
-----
Total number issued, 1,510
[14] =Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII=: 83.
[15] Now Ottawa, Capital of Dominion of Canada.
From the above it is seen that Hamilton and Montreal each received a
total of 300 copies, Toronto and Bytown each 200, Ingersoll 120,
Chippewa and Smith's Falls each 100, and so on down.
So much for the 12d. stamp. The tables of the Post Office reports tell
us also that the issues of the 6d. stamp to postmasters for these same
four years totalled 102,600, or only 2200 more than the original number
delivered, the second delivery of the 6d. not having taken place until
March 21, 1855,[16] at the end of the last fiscal year of the four. If,
then, the entire first printings of the 6d. and 12d. stamps were on laid
paper, as is usually claimed, there would be no such thing as a 12d. on
wove paper, and the 6d. stamp in the same state would not be found
_used_ (provided proper postmark evidence were forthcoming) before the
end of March, 1855. During the same period there were at least five
deliveries of the 3d. stamp, so that several things may have happened to
that value. But, curiously enough, it is the other two stamps that
furnish us with our best evidence.
[16] Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83.
We now come literally to the "nigger in the wood-pile." The 12d. stamp
_does_ exist on the _wove_ paper! Mr. Worthington and Mr. Pack each
possess an unused copy, and careful examination by the writer has failed
to disclose any appreciable difference in the color, quality or
appearance of the paper, save for the impossibility of discovering the
laid lines, between these copies and those possessing proper credentials
as the regular laid paper 12d. of 1851. The color of the stamp and its
general appearance give no hint of the supposed irregularity, and a
letter to Mr. Worthington from the well known expert, Mr. John N. Luff,
gives his approval to the specimen in Mr. Worthington's collection. It
was formerly considered that the supposed 12d. on wove paper was merely
a proof, and in the "_Catalogue for Advanced Collectors_" we find the
following note concerning it under Canada.[17]
[17] American Journal of Philately, 2d. Series, III: 121.
Although the 12p is catalogued by some as existing on thin wove
paper, we do not believe in it as in every copy on wove paper sent
to us for examination some traces of the word _specimen_ were to be
discovered thus showing them all to be merely proofs.
As far as the writer has seen them, specimen copies have been on India
paper, which is quite distinct from the regular paper of the issue, and
they have been overprinted with the word "SPECIMEN" in carmine ink,
either diagonally or vertically upward. The copies referred to in the
paragraph just quoted probably had been treated with chemicals to remove
the red ink overprint.
Of course the desideratum for the settlement of the whole question is
to find a copy of the stamp used on cover; but inasmuch as up to the
present time but three copies of the 12d. on laid paper are known in
this condition, it seems a hopeless quest. Nevertheless there appear to
be several _used_ copies of the wove paper 12d. known, the first mention
we find of one being in the report of the proceedings of the Philatelic
Society of London for 4th May, 1888,[18] which reads: "The business of
the evening consisted in the revision of the Society's reference list of
the Stamps of Canada, which was concluded, Mr. F. Ransom showing an
undoubted postmarked specimen of the 12d. first issue, printed upon
stout wove paper." Mr. W. H. Brouse, the eminent Canadian philatelist,
also possessed a cancelled copy of this stamp, which later adorned the
Ayer collection, it is understood. An editorial in the _Dominion
Philatelist_ thus speaks of it:[19]--"We have received from W. H.
Brouse, of Toronto, a photograph of ... 12 pence Canada on _wove paper_
[which] appears to be a beautiful specimen with fine margin and light
cancellation." Two fine copies, one unused and one used, were sold in
the auction of the Mirabaud collection at Paris, in April, 1909.
[18] Philatelic Record, X: 124.
[19] Dominion Philatelist, No. 34, p. 8.
From the above it is plainly evident that the 12d. on wove paper
properly exists, in spite of the "first [and only] printing on laid
paper" theory, which is usually laid down as an _a priori_
consideration. Also it appears that it is found in a used condition,
though this cannot be taken as an absolute test, because of the
uncertainty that may lurk in a cancellation on a detached specimen of a
stamp. Only the discovery of a copy properly used on the original cover,
as already intimated, can effectually settle the question of its actual
issue and use. But there is a fact which doubtless furnishes the clue to
the seeming mystery of its being. We have already noted that the laid
paper first used varied considerably in thickness, and also that the
wove paper next used was in all respects similar to the former, but of
course without the laid lines. Now it happens sometimes that it is quite
difficult to distinguish the laid paper, a very careful scrutiny or even
the extreme resort to the benzine cup being necessary to bring out the
watermarked lines, and perhaps then only in a half suspicious way. If
such be the case, it is only a step further to the entire disappearance
of these "laid lines," and lo, the wove paper!
Writing to Mr. F. C. Young concerning the 12d. stamp, Mr. John N. Luff
says:[20]--"It is my opinion that both the wove and laid papers are
quite genuine and I think it is possible that both varieties might
occur though there was only one lot sent out by the printers. It does
not, of course, follow that the entire batch was printed on the same day
or that two varieties of paper might not have been used. The early
printers were not always very particular about their paper, provided it
was somewhat alike in a general way. Some collectors claim that laid
paper is often of such nature that the lines do not show in some parts
of the sheet, and I believe there is evidence to support this theory."
Finally Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack, in some notes sent the _London
Philatelist_, sums matters up in these words:[21]--"After a very careful
investigation I believe that the 12d., on wove paper, was issued, and
that the stamp was on sale at the Post Office, in Hamilton, Canada
West." Mr. Pack writes us further:--"When I was a boy I went to school
at St. Catherines, Ontario. There were keen stamp collectors in St.
Catherines at that time, not only among boys, but among grown people.
That was about 1869 or 1870. I was told that part of the 12d. Canada
which had been on sale at the Hamilton post office were on wove paper
and I was convinced that that was the case."
[20] Canada Stamp Sheet, IV: 142.
[21] London Philatelist, XVI: 144.
Concerning the laid and wove papers of this issue Mr. King writes as
follows:[22]--"The texture of these papers is virtually the same, and it
is indeed often difficult, particularly in the case of the 6d., to
distinguish between the _laid_ and _wove_ papers. The lines in the
_laid_ paper are of a most peculiar character, and cannot, as a rule, be
brought fairly out by holding the stamp between one's eyes and the
light. The best way to test these two papers is to lay the stamps, face
down, on a black surface, and let the light strike them at about an
angle of fifteen degrees, when the _laid_ lines are brought most plainly
into view. It is necessary, however, to place the specimens so that the
light will strike them parallel to their length, as the _laid_ lines run
horizontally in the 3d., and vertically in the 6d. and 12d."
[22] Monthly Journal, VII: 9.
We now come to the most interesting and confirmatory part of our
evidence. We have already referred to the fact that Messrs. Corwin &
King give June, 1852, as the date when the wove paper appeared, and 1852
is given in all catalogues and lists as the year of issue for all three
stamps on this paper. In their article on British North America, the
above gentlemen, in discussing early dates established by entire covers
for the varieties of paper that they describe, remark under the caption
"_Series IV_." (the _thin wove_ paper): "We took a six-pence from a
letter dated June 25th, 1852."[23] This statement can hardly be
questioned, after the careful and minute study that they gave to the
papers of this issue, and it therefore means just one thing: _the 6d. on
wove paper came in the first lot delivered_, for we have seen that the
second supply did not arrive until 1855. The fact is therefore
established that the first deliveries of stamps in April and May, 1851,
included the wove paper, and we therefore have here what amounts to the
proper credentials for the appearance and even use of the 12d. on wove
paper.
[23] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 149.
As the 3d., having been delivered first, was undoubtedly printed first,
this value may have been entirely upon the laid paper, particularly as
it seems to be not especially rare on this paper and has not been
recorded on wove paper used earlier than the receipt of the 1852
supplies. But this of course is negative evidence, and this value may
yet be found to have been printed upon the wove paper along with the
other two values in 1851.
* * * * *
We have remarked that there were but three covers known bearing copies
of the 12d. stamp. It is with great satisfaction, therefore, that we are
able to present reproductions of two of them for the benefit of our
readers. The earliest date is on the cover numbered 90 on Plate VI,
which is in the Worthington collection. This bears the postmark of
"Montreal, L. C. JY 21, 1852" in red. The stamp is a little heavily
cancelled by the concentric rings type of obliteration in black. The
word CANADA within the curved frame and the word PAID are stamped in red
on the cover. This was a requirement of the first postal convention
between Canada and the United States, signed on March 25, 1851. Section
9 reads:--
"The Offices designated for the despatch and receipt of Canadian
Mails on the side of the United States will stamp 'U. States' upon
all letters sent into Canada for delivery; and the Offices
designated for the despatch and receipt of United States mails on
the side of Canada will stamp 'Canada' upon all letters sent into
the United States for delivery."
The other two covers were both the property of the late John F. Seybold,
but the one upon which the stamp appears in finest condition now
ornaments the collection of Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack. This is
illustrated as No. 91 on Plate VI and bears the postmark of "Hamilton,
C. W. NO 23, 1853." The stamp is cancelled with the concentric rings in
blue, and an additional handstamp appears in red reading "CANADA--PAID
20 Cts" in two lines. The "20" is made over from "10" by the use of a
pen in changing the first figure. In this connection it will be
remembered that 6d. currency, equal to 10 cents, was the single rate for
1/2oz. letters between Canada and the United States.[24]
[24] See 63 on page 30.
The third cover is in all respects a companion piece of the second,
bearing the same marks and (probably) the same address originally, but
dated from Hamilton on "DE 8, 1853."
All three of these covers show the particular use of the 12d.
stamp--simply as a multiple of the 3d. and 6d. in currency rates. That
it was _not_ issued with any intention of being especially used for the
British packet rate must be evident, as we have seen that this was 1s.
4d. currency if prepaid and sent via the United States, or 1s. 1-1/2d.
currency if prepaid and sent via Halifax[25]--rates that could not be
made up by means of the three stamps first issued.
[25] See Secs. 60 and 62 on page 30.
On the other hand the stamp was quadruple the domestic rate, double the
rate to the United States, and the single rate for the fortnightly mails
from Montreal via Boston to Newfoundland, Bermuda and the British West
Indies.[26] Probably letters in the first category were not common, and,
as it happens, all our specimens fall in the second. The third category
doubtless did not entail a large correspondence, particularly as the
more direct route to the places mentioned, via Quebec and Halifax, was
at the lesser rate of 7-1/2d.[27] For the above reasons, then, the
covers as we find them evidently exemplify the usual use to which the
12d. stamp was put, and explain why more were not used, as surely would
have been the case had the stamp been convenient for prepaying the
packet rate to England, with which there was a large correspondence.
[26] See Sec. 70 on page 31.
[27] See Secs. 67 and 68 on page 30.
* * * * *
Having now described the two main varieties of paper common to the three
values of this issue, let us look at some further varieties of the stock
used for the 3d. and 6d. values, which, because of their long term of
use, were subject to quite a number of printings and therefore gave
opportunity for the variation in paper which is a characteristic of this
issue. We have already given the statistics of the receipt and issue of
3d. and 6d. stamps for the five years from 1851 to 1856,[28] and find
they total 1,600,500 for the 3d. and 150,400 for the 6d. From succeeding
reports of the Postmaster General we cull the following:--
[28] See pages 35-36.
REPORT OF 30TH SEPT., 1857, [including 1 year 6 months, by statute.][29]
3d. stamps 6d. stamps
Balance on hand 31st March, 1856 255,800 9,381
Received from Mfrs. in half-year to 30th. Sept. 50,000
--------- ---------
Total 255,800 59,381
Issued for sale during half-year 186,200 24,781
--------- ---------
Balance 1st October, 1856 69,600 34,600
Received from Mfrs. year ending 30th Sept., 1857 600,000 50,078
--------- ---------
Total 669,600 84,678
Issued for sale during yr. ending 30th Sept., 1857 587,900 60,600
--------- ---------
Balance on hand 81,700 24,078
REPORT OF 30TH. SEPT., 1858.
Received from Mfrs. year ending 30th Sept., 1858 900,000 100,000
--------- ---------
Total 981,700 124,078
Issued for sale during year 717,200 82,500
--------- ---------
Balance on hand 30th Sept., 1858 264,500 41,578
REPORT OF 30TH. SEPT., 1859.
Rec'd from Mfrs. during 9 mos. to 30th June, 1859 449,900 70,000
--------- ---------
Total 714,400 111,578
Issued for sale during above 9 months 692,700 94,000
--------- ---------
Balance on hand 30th June, 1859 21,700 17,578
[29] 20^o Vict. cap. XXV. Sec. VII; see page 61.
On July 1, 1859 the stamps in decimal currency were issued, so the above
remainders represent the last of the 3d. and 6d. stamps. Adding the
receipts from the manufacturers in the above tables, therefore, to the
totals already given for the years 1851-6, and then deducting the
remainders (which were later destroyed), we have for the total issue of
the 3d. stamp 3,528,700, and of the 6d. stamp 402,900. In these figures
are of course included the perforated stamps, which we will consider
later.
It will be seen from the tables that there were at least eight
deliveries of the 3d. stamps and at least six deliveries of the 6d.
stamps, but inasmuch as these are totalled by years, and as some of the
amounts are quite large (_e. g._ 900,000 of the 3d. in 1858), it seems
certain that there were even more deliveries and consequently more
printings of the stamps than is indicated. In no other way can we
account for the variety in the paper used, and also the variety in the
color of the 6d. stamp. The 3d. does not vary so much, probably because
its shade of red did not require much mixing of inks and the ingredients
were such that slight variations in the proportions did not greatly
affect the tone. The normal color being a bright red, we find it running
to a deeper, almost brick red in one direction, and to a vermilion in
the other. As to the normal color of the 6d. it would be almost
impossible to hazard a guess, if we had simply a series of one stamp of
each distinct variation in color or shade in which it is found. The
common run of shades is from a slate violet to a slate or "near black"
with a "cast" of violet, of brown, or even green. What can one do in
trying to describe the "color" of such a chameleon stamp with such an
uncertain basis to work upon? The check list gives the nearest
approximation to the various shades that we have been able to translate
into color names, but it is almost impossible to so describe some of
them as to convey the proper idea of the exact shade to the reader.
For papers used, Mr. King describes no less than fourteen.[30] Four of
these are the two grades of the laid and wove "bank-note" paper already
mentioned. A third variety of laid paper is described by him as entirely
different, being a stout white paper in which "the _laid_ lines are most
distinct, while the paper is of a different texture and color from the
regular grey shade." Mr. Pack states: "This paper is very rare, and I
have never seen but very few copies."[31] Mr. King's sixth variety is
described as "hard, stout, grayish wove," but we have included it with
the ordinary wove paper in the check list, of which it is but a little
heavier manifestation. The same may be said of his varieties XII and
XIII, described as "medium" and "thick, hard, white wove paper, very
slightly ribbed," respectively, which we have classed under "stout,
hard, white wove paper." There is an extreme case in the 6d. stamp,
which comes on a _very_ thick hard paper, concerning which Mr. Pack
says:--"The unused 6d. on very thick, hard paper is one of the greatest
rarities of Canada. It is as rare as the 12d. unused. Curiously enough,
this stamp in used condition is very rare in a pair or strip. So far as
I know there are only two or three strips or pairs in existence. It is
my understanding that the very thick _hard_ paper stamps were printed
previous to those on the _soft_ paper." The last remark refers to the
very thick, soft paper, almost a card board (Mr. King's variety XIV)
which is now well known as an exceedingly rare variety. It is distinct,
both in paper and color, from any other variety of the 6d. stamp, the
shade being a dull purple. The same may be said of the thick _hard_
paper stamp, which appears to be in a very even shade of slate violet.
[30] Monthly Journal, VII: 9.
[31] London Philatelist, XVI: 144.
Mr. King's varieties X and XI are both peculiar, the former being a
"very soft, thin, cream wove which is quite fragile and will not bear
much handling," and the latter a "soft, thick, coarse white wove paper;
the surface presents a sort of hairy appearance, and the quality is
better than series X." The 3d. is the only value occurring in these two
varieties, which we have placed under "soft white wove paper" in the
check list.
Lastly comes the ribbed paper. The first variety is a very soft, thin
paper on which the 3d. appears. This is Mr. King's variety VII, and he
makes a variety VIII of the same paper in a "cream" tone. The same value
comes on a thicker, hard paper, Mr. King's variety IX, and he lists a
6d. in violet black as well.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the first issue of Canadian
stamps furnishes plenty of material for study, and is an extremely
difficult series to work out and put into proper form for a reference
list. Mr. King truly says:--"If the papers and shades of this series of
stamps are thoroughly studied, there are more varieties than in all the
other British North American stamps put together; in many cases they are
minute, in others more decided, but in every case distinct." Some
criticism may be made of our not using _in extenso_, the excellent
"Reference List"[32] prepared by Messrs. King and Corwin, but it has
seemed wise, in working with the specialized collections already alluded
to, to condense this list to some extent; nor do we think its
correctness and usefulness have been impaired thereby.
[32] Monthly Journal, VII: 9.
We have spoken of the three values of stamps already treated as the
"first issue" of Canada. Some may cavil at this, for there are three
more values belonging to the pence series which may be regarded as part
of the "first issue," inasmuch as they were complementary as well as
supplementary to the original three. But they did not appear until
nearly four or more years later, and therefore escaped the laid paper
varieties. For this reason, and because there appears another important
question to solve in connection with two of them, we have reserved a
separate chapter for these three. We may also say that as one of them
appears in the perforated series of pence values we have left the
consideration of these latter stamps until the next following chapter.