THE SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP
The Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1898, contained the
following announcements:--
The calendar year has witnessed the introduction of the special
delivery stamp, whereby on the payment of a delivery fee of 10 cents
in addition to the ordinary postage, a letter immediately upon its
arrival at the office of destination is sent by special messenger
for delivery to the addressee.
A special-delivery stamp of the face-value of 10 cents was prepared,
and the first supplies thereof were sent out sufficiently early to
Postmasters to permit of the inauguration of the special delivery
service on the 1st July, 1898. The object of this service is to
secure special and prompt delivery of a letter on which a
special-delivery stamp, in addition to the ordinary postage, has
been affixed.
The following circular gives the details of the new system:--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA.
OTTAWA, 7th June, 1898.
_Circular to Postmasters._
The Postmaster General has approved of arrangements whereby, on and
from the first of July proximo, the senders of letters posted at any
Post Office in Canada and addressed to a City Post Office now having
Free Delivery by Letter Carriers shall, on prepayment by Special
Delivery stamps of the face-value of ten cents, affixed one to each
letter, in addition to the ordinary postage to which the same are
liable, secure their special delivery to the persons to whom they
are addressed within the limits of Letter Carrier Delivery at any
one of the following Post Offices in Cities, viz:--Halifax, St.
John, N. B., Fredericton, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston,
Toronto, Brantford, Hamilton, London, Winnipeg, Victoria and
Vancouver. The hours of delivery to be within 7 a. m. and 11 p. m.
daily, except Sunday. These hours are subject to change as dictated
by local circumstances.
Drop-letters posted for local delivery, and bearing Special-Delivery
stamps, in addition to the postage, will also be entitled to special
delivery in the same manner as letters received at the Post Office
by mail.
Registered letters may likewise come under the operations of this
scheme of Special Delivery, in the same way as ordinary letters,
provided they bear Special-Delivery stamps, in addition to the full
postage and the registration fee fixed by law, and the regulations
respecting the record and receipting of registered matter are
observed. In despatching registered letters that bear
Special-Delivery stamps, the Postmaster should write prominently
across the registered-package envelope the words "For Special
Delivery". When Special-Delivery letters (unregistered) number five
or more for any one office the Postmaster should make a separate
package of them, marking it "For Special Delivery"; if such letters
are fewer than five, he should place them immediately under the
"facing-slip" of the letter-package which he makes up, either
directly or indirectly, for the Special-Delivery office for which
they are intended, so that the most prompt attention may be secured
therefor.
Special-Delivery stamps will be sold at all Money Order Post Offices
in Canada, (which may secure a supply of such stamps in the same way
as ordinary stamps are obtained,) for which the Postmasters will
have to account as they do for ordinary stamps, and on the sales of
which a total commission of 10 per cent, shall be allowed to
Postmasters, except to Postmasters having fixed salaries. For the
present Postmasters will use the existing forms of requisition in
applying for Special-Delivery stamps. (The usual discount may be
allowed to a licensed stamp vendor at the time that he purchases
Special-Delivery stamps from the Postmaster). Special-Delivery
stamps are to be cancelled as postage stamps are cancelled. Stamps
intended for Special Delivery are not available for any other
purpose, and the article upon which one is affixed must have,
besides, the ordinary postage prepaid by postage stamps. Under no
circumstances will Special-Delivery stamps be recognized in payment
of postage or of registration fee, nor can any other stamp be used
to secure Special Delivery, except the Special-Delivery stamp.
Special-Delivery stamps are not redeemable.
Letters intended for Special Delivery at any one of the City Post
Offices above mentioned, and prepaid as directed, may be mailed at
any Post Office in Canada.
The regulations relating to First Class Matter (Inland Post) apply
also and equally to Special-Delivery letters, the only difference
being the special treatment which the latter receive with a view to
accelerating their delivery.
The object sought by the establishment of Special Delivery,--namely,
the special delivery of letters transmitted thereunder,--will be
much promoted if the senders of all such letters are careful to
address them plainly and fully, giving, if possible, the street and
number in every case. Such care will serve not only to prevent
mistakes, but also to facilitate delivery.
All employees of the Post Office are enjoined to expedite, in every
way in their power, the posting, transmission and delivery of
letters intended for Special Delivery.
* * * * *
R. M. COULTER,
_Deputy Postmaster General_.
For a description of the stamp itself we cannot do better than quote the
_Montreal Witness_:--
The Special Delivery stamp differs materially in design and size
from the ordinary series, the dimensions of the engraved work being
1-1/4 inches long by 7/8 of an inch wide [31 x 23 mm.]. The
advantage of such a contrast is obvious. The letter to which a
Special Delivery stamp is affixed can thus be at once picked out by
those handling the mails including it, and its delivery greatly
hastened. The design of the Special Delivery stamp is without any
vignette, and consists substantially of a panel across the top
containing the words "CANADA POST OFFICE", with a lathe-work border
round the other three sides of the stamp. The center of the stamp is
occupied by an oval containing lathe-work, with the word "TEN" in
the center, and the phrase "SPECIAL DELIVERY WITHIN CITY LIMITS" in
a white letter, on a solid panel encircling the word "TEN". On each
side of the stamp, connecting the oval with the border, is a circle
with the numeral "10"; the space between the oval and the border is
occupied by ornamental work. At the bottom of the stamp, in the
lathe-work border, appears a white panel with the words "TEN CENTS".
The stamp is illustrated as Number 57 on Plate III. It is line engraved
and printed in sheets of 50, ten rows of five. The usual imprint,
OTTAWA--No.--1, is found in the margin at the top of the sheet, over the
third stamp. But one plate number has yet appeared. The color was at
first a deep green which in 1908 took on a bluish cast. The paper used
is the thick white wove ordinarily employed for the regular postage
series, and the stamp has also appeared on the toned paper on which the
1 cent postage is known. The annual requisitions from the manufacturers
have increased from 25,000 in 1898 to 112,500 in 1910.
* * * * *
To return to the Postmaster General's Reports. That of the 30th June,
1899, states:--"The 10 cent Special-Delivery stamp, to which reference
was made in the last report, came into use at the beginning of the
current fiscal year, simultaneously with the commencement of the
Special-Delivery Service, and of this stamp 52,940 were issued to meet
the demands, which would go to show that the service is being availed
of to a considerable extent throughout the country." The date of the
first issue of the special delivery stamp to postmasters is given as the
28th June, 1898.
No further mention is made of the service until the Report dated 31st
March, 1908, which says that the special delivery service had been
extended to thirteen places where free carrier service had been
installed,[200] and further that "the regulations respecting special
delivery have been so modified that it is no longer necessary for a
person despatching a letter, which he desires to have delivered
immediately, to provide himself with the 'special delivery' stamp issued
by the department. He may now place upon his letter ordinary postage
stamps to the value of ten cents in addition to the stamps required for
prepayment of postage and write across the corner of the envelope the
words 'special delivery'. This will ensure the special delivery of the
letter as provided for in the regulations."
[200] See page 197.
The Report for 1909 states that the service has been extended to the
eight places where free letter delivery by carrier had been installed
during the year.[201]
[201] =Ibid.=