26601	----	GAMBIA BY FRED J. MELVILLE, PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR PHILATELIC SOCIETY. MDCCCCIX--PUBLISHED--BY--THE MELVILLE--STAMP--BOOKS, 47,--STRAND,--LONDON,--W.C. * * * * * [page 7] INTRODUCTORY NOTE. In collecting the stamps of Gambia one cannot too strongly emphasise the necessity for guarding the stamps of the "Cameo" series against deterioration by the pressure of the leaves in an ordinary unprotected album. In their pristine state with clear and bold embossing these stamps are of exceptional grace and beauty. Sunk mounts or other similar contrivances, and a liberal use of tissue paper, should be utilised by the collector who desires to retain his specimens in their original state. A neat strip of card affixed to each side of the page in an ordinary album will have the effect of keeping the pages above from flattening out the embossing, but tissue paper should be used as an additional safeguard. We have to express thanks to Mr. Douglas Ellis, Vice-President of the Junior Philatelic Society, for his notes on the postmarks--of which he has made a special study--and also for the loan of his entire collection of the stamps of Gambia for reference and illustration; to Mr. H. H. Harland for a similar courtesy in the loan of his collection; to Mr. W. H. Peckitt for the loan of stamps for illustration; to Mr. D. B. Armstrong for interesting notes on the postal affairs of the Colony; and to Mr. S. R. Turner for his diagrams. To the first two gentlemen we are also indebted for their kindness in undertaking the revision of the proofs of this handbook. [page 8] TABLE OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY NOTE, 7 CHAPTER I. THE COLONY AND ITS POSTS, 11 CHAPTER II. CAMEO ISSUE OF 1869, 16 CHAPTER III. ISSUE OF 1874, 20 CHAPTER IV. ISSUE OF 1880, 25 CHAPTER V. ISSUE OF 1886-87, 37 CHAPTER VI. QUEEN'S HEAD SERIES, 1898, 45 CHAPTER VII. KING'S HEAD SERIES, 1902-1906, 50 CHAPTER VIII. PROVISIONAL ISSUE, 1906, 53 CHAPTER IX. BIBLIOGRAPHY, 56 CHAPTER X. CHECK LIST, 58 APPENDIX. NOTES ON THE POSTMARKS, by Douglas Ellis, 66 [page 11] GAMBIA. CHAPTER I. The Colony and Its Posts. The British West African possession known as the Colony and Protectorate of the Gambia occupies a narrow strip of territory (averaging 12 miles in width) on both sides of the Gambia river. The territory comprises the settlement of St. Mary, where the capital--Bathurst--is situated, British Cambo, Albreda, M'Carthy's Island and the Ceded Mile, a protectorate over a narrow band of land extending from Cape St. Mary for over 250 miles along both banks of the river. The Gambia river was discovered by a Portuguese navigator in 1447; under a charter of Queen Elizabeth a company was formed to trade with the Gambia in 1588. In the reign of James II. a fort was erected by British traders at the mouth of the river (1686), and for many years their only traffic was in slaves. The territory became recognised as a British possession under the Treaty of Versailles, and on the enforced liquidation of the chartered company it [page 12] was incorporated with the Crown as one of the West African settlements. Until 1843, when it was granted separate government, it was administered by the Governor of Sierra Leone. In 1868 it was again annexed to Sierra Leone, and not until twenty years later was it created a separate Crown Colony with a Governor and responsible government of its own. At present the staple trade of the Colony is ground nuts, but efforts are being made to induce the natives to take up other products. Postally there is little to record prior to 1866, which is the date ascribed by Mr. F. Bisset Archer, Treasurer and Postmaster-General, to an alteration in the scale of postage, the half ounce weight for letters being introduced. The rate to Great Britain was, we believe, from that date 6d. per half ounce. Mr. Archer also gives this year (1866) as the date when the first postage stamps of the Colony were issued. This date was for a time accepted in the stamp catalogues, but it is now generally believed to be an error, the earliest records in the stamp journals of the period shewing the date to be 1869. The postal notices we have been able to trace are of but little interest, the following being all that bear on matters of interest to collectors:-- POST OFFICE NOTICE. _Reduction of Postage, &c._ On and from the 1st April, 1892, the Postage to all parts of the World on Letters, Newspapers, Books, etc., will be as follows:-- For Letters, 2½d. per ½ oz. For Postcards, 1d. each. For Reply Postcards, 2d. each. [page 13] For Newspapers, books, printed papers, commercial papers, patterns and samples, ½d. per 2 oz., with the Postal Union proviso of a minimum payment of 2½d. for a packet of commercial papers, and of 1d. for a packet of patterns or samples. Fee for registration of any of the above named articles, 2d. Fee for the acknowledgment of the delivery of a registered article, 2½d. By His Excellency's Command, (Signed) J. H. FINDEN, _Postmaster._ Post Office, Bathurst, Gambia, _3rd March, 1892._ POST OFFICE. Ordinance No. 6 of 1897. _March 11th, 1897._ 1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Post Office Ordinance, 1897, Inland Postal Regulations. 13. From and after the commencement of this Ordinance, postal packets may be sent by post between such places in the Colony of the Gambia and the Protected Territories adjacent thereto as may be from time to time notified by the Administrator. 14. The Administrator-in-Council may from time to time make in relation to the inland post hereby established such regulations as he may think fit-- For prescribing and regulating the places, times, and modes of posting and delivery. For fixing the rates of postage to be payable on inland letters and postal packets. For prescribing payment of postage and regulating the mode thereof. For regulating the affixing of postage stamps. For prescribing and regulating the payment again of postage in case of redirection. For regulating the dimensions and maximum weight of packet. [page 14] For prohibiting or restricting the printing or writing of marks or communications or words. For prohibiting enclosures. For restricting the sending or conveyance of inland letters. and such other regulations as the Administrator shall from time to time consider desirable for the more efficient working of such Inland Post. And may affix a penalty not exceeding ten pounds, to be recovered summarily before the Chief Magistrate, or two Justices of the Peace, or, in default of payment, imprisonment not exceeding two weeks for a contravention of any such regulation. 15. Any revenue derived from the Inland Post herein established shall be paid into the Colonial Treasury at such times and in such a manner as the Administrator shall direct, and shall be applied to the general purposes of the Colony. Insurance of and Compensation for loss and damage to Parcels. 11. Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, if any article of pecuniary value enclosed in, or forming part of, a parcel be lost or damaged whilst in the course of transmission through the post, it shall be lawful for the Administrator to cause to be paid out of the public revenues of the Colony to any person or persons who may, in the opinion of the Postmaster, establish a reasonable claim to compensation (having regard to the nature of the article, the care with which it was packed, and other circumstances), the following rates of compensation-- (a) In respect of an uninsured parcel, such sum, not exceeding twenty shillings, as he may think just. (b) In respect of an insured parcel the following scale shall apply-- To secure compensation up to £12 there shall be payable a fee of 5d " " " £24 " " " 7½d " " " £36 " " " 10d " " " £48 " " " 1/0½d " " " £50 " " " 1/3 We gather from the official handbook edited by Mr. Archer that a Government steamer maintains weekly [page 15] communication between the Capital, Bathurst, and M'Carthy's Island both for passengers and mails. There is no house-to-house delivery of mails at either place. Gambia joined the Universal Postal Union on January 1st, 1879; the Imperial Penny Postage rate was adopted from December 25th, 1898; and the unit of weight for colonial and foreign letter postage was raised from half an ounce to one ounce on October 1st, 1907. The Cash on Delivery system was introduced on October 15th, 1908. The following table gives an outline of the postal business, the large fluctuations in the revenue being chiefly due to the fluctuations in the demand for postage stamps from dealers and collectors:-- Year Revenue Expenditure Letters Parcels ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1895 £686 1896 1,506 1897 1,845 1898 2,140 1899 589 1900 459 66,612 782 1901 769 77,937 1151 1902 1,452 77,918 1340 1903 553 94,365 1532 1904 597 94,358 1677 1905 2,731 £808 0 0 91,768 1554 1906 1,317 712 15 10 98,379 1994 [page 16] CHAPTER II. "Cameo" Issue of 1869. [Illustration] The _Philatelist_ for March 1, 1869, contained the first intimation of the preparation of stamps for the Colony of "GAMBIA. "We are proud to announce the preparation of stamps for this African settlement. In a central circle is Queen Victoria's coroneted head in white relief; in straight bands above is GAMBIA; below, the value, which, as well as the spandril ornamentation, is embossed in white. The stamp is nearly square, and the specimens possessed by our correspondent are imperforate. Values: 4 pence, deep brown. 6 " " blue." [page 17] The stamps were manufactured by Messrs. de la Rue & Co. by a double process of flat printing and of relief embossing, the flat printing being doubtless effected first and the embossing afterwards. This combination was unusually effective, and the finished stamps rank among the handsomest adhesive postage stamps known to collectors. As embossing evenly over a large area presented considerable difficulties, the plates were made up of fifteen stamps only, in three horizontal rows of five stamps. The plates for both processes evidently fitted each other with precision, though in the printing occasionally the embossing is slightly out of register. The paper is white wove and has no watermark, and the stamps were not perforated. There are two colours of the gum, one being the usual clear white: the other is a pale yellow colour, which may, however, be due to climatic influence, particularly as it is a noticeable feature of a number of the later issues. The colour of the 4d. value varies in shade from a deep chocolate brown to brown and pale brown. The 6d. is pale to deep blue. There is a quite pale shade which is very rarely met with, most of the so-called "pale blue" specimens being an intermediate shade better described as "blue." The sheets of both values shew one printer's guide dot in each side margin, opposite stamps No. 6 and 10 respectively (plate I). Both values are known with the embossing shewing a distinct double impression. There are some peculiarities in these stamps which, although their significance is uncertain, it may not be well to overlook. [page 18] Firstly, there frequently occurs throughout the embossed stamps of Gambia a small spot of colour on the back hair, which in later embossed stamps becomes a large spot, and even develops into a coloured indentation from the coloured circular ground. In this issue the spot, when it occurs, is usually quite small, two copies of the 6d. examined shewing it somewhat enlarged. Secondly, there are noticeable varieties of the pendant curl at the back. The normal design shews a fairly thick wavy curl with a hair branching out from it into the space between the curl and the neck. This sub-curl, as we may call it, is occasionally missing, broken, or as in No. 11 on the imperforate 6d. sheet (plate I), the curl and sub-curl have joined together, giving a very different appearance to the back hair. There are also varying lengths of the main curl. In the sheet of the 6d. value the plates seem to have been slightly defective, and there is a gentle slope down from the centre to the outside stamp on each side (Nos. 1 and 5), the slope being more pronounced on No. 5, where the upper label containing the word Gambia is recognised as the variety with slanting label. The left side of stamp 5 is 22½mm. high, and the right side 22mm. That the peculiarity occurs reversed on stamp No. 1, though it is less pronounced, there can be no doubt. In later issues both stamps 1 and 5 shew the defect more prominently, as will be readily seen from an examination of plates I., X., and XI. Curiously enough, the fault is not confined to the two outside stamps, as is generally supposed. The trouble is in the entire top row being ½mm. taller than the normal stamps of rows 2 and 3, except the left and right sides [page 19] respectively of the end stamps (Nos. 1 and 5). The middle stamp of the top row shews a further peculiarity in the shape of the base of the neck. (Compare plates I., X., XI., with XIV.) Copies of both values exist overprinted SPECIMEN, and we have seen similar copies of all the regular issues of this Colony. [Illustration] [page 20] CHAPTER III. Issue of 1874. The introduction of watermarked paper for these stamps occurred in 1874, the paper being that familiar to collectors of British Colonial stamps as watermarked "Crown C.C." The paper was not readily adaptable for the small sheets of the Gambia stamps, and the method of cutting it to suitable sizes for these sheets has produced some varieties for the specialist. Major Evans, writing in the _Philatelic Record_ for January, 1883, says:-- "Most collectors are probably aware that the stamps of the British Colonies printed in England are, as a rule, in sheets of 240, divided into four panes of 60, each pane consisting of ten horizontal rows of six stamps. The Crown and C.C. watermarks are arranged in the same manner upon the sheet of paper; each pane is enclosed in a single-lined frame. Down the centre of the sheet is a blank space of about half an inch wide; across the centre is a wider space, watermarked with the words CROWN COLONIES, which are also repeated twice along each side of the sheet. "Some of my readers may have noticed that the watermark is not always very clearly shown in the Gambia stamps. This is due partly to the fact of their being embossed, and partly to [page 21] their being arranged in small blocks of fifteen--three horizontal rows of five--so that a row of five stamps is printed on a row of six watermarks, and in most cases a complete watermark is not found on any one of the stamps in a block. Very frequently the upper and lower blocks on a sheet encroach on the margins, and consequently some of the stamps show portions of the words CROWN COLONIES in watermark; and I have seen a block which had been printed in the centre of one side of a sheet, and the middle row of which was watermarked COLONIES, while the upper and lower rows bore the Crown and C.C. Recent printings of some of the values of Gambia show the blocks printed sideways on the sheet, in which case each stamp will not show a complete watermark; and of these again I have seen a block with the vertical division of the sheet running across the central row." In addition the stamps have been found with the watermark reversed, indicating that occasionally a sheet has been fed into the press the wrong side up. Inverted watermarks of this Crown and C.C. type are also to be found. Of this issue, which comprises the same two values--4d. brown and 6d. blue, imperforate--we get the following variations in the watermark-- Crown C.C. upright (Fig. A). " inverted (Fig. C). " reversed (Fig. B). Portions of the words CROWN COLONIES. Bars (i.e., division lines of the panes). The gum shews the same variation--white and yellow--as in the original issue. The 4d. stamp varies in colour from deep brown to pale brown; the 6d. deep blue to blue, the solid colour in this case presenting a very mottled appearance. Again, both values are known with the embossing doubly impressed. [page 22] Very few copies of the 4d. of this issue examined shew the spot on the hair, but in the sheet of the 6d. (plate I.) there are faint spots on stamps Nos. 1, 4, 5, 9, 12 and 13. No. 11 on the same sheet shews the curl and sub-curl joined. The date of issue of these watermarked stamps is uncertain, but the 6d. was chronicled in _Le Timbre Poste_ for December, 1874. The 4d. was not recorded in any of the contemporary magazines, and was probably not issued until some time after the higher denomination. [Illustration: Fig. A.] [Illustration: Fig. B.] [Illustration: Fig. C.] [page 25] CHAPTER IV. Issue of 1880. Together with a number of other colonial possessions, Gambia was admitted to the Universal Postal Union on January 1st, 1879, and in June of the following year (1880) a more comprehensive series of postage stamps was issued, all modelled after the same fashion as the two denominations which had done service in the Colony for the previous twelve years. The convenience of perforation was adopted at the same time. The new series comprised the following values, the shades being given in the approximate order of printings-- ½d. golden yellow, deep golden yellow, pale orange, vermilion, deep orange vermilion, citron,[1] pale ochre.[1] 1d. lake, deep lake. 2d. pale rose, rose, deep rose. 3d. pale ultramarine, deep ultramarine, deep blue. 4d. sepia brown, deep sepia brown. 6d. pale blue, blue, deep blue. 1s. bright green, deep green. [Footnote 1: The ½d. citron and ½d. pale ochre are generally believed to be changelings, due to atmospheric or other influences after the stamps were printed.] [page 26] [Illustration: Fig. D.] [Illustration: Fig. E.] The watermark on this issue appears variously upright or sideways, varieties of each being inverted. The normal "sideways" may be taken as from left to right. Portions of the marginal lettering and the vertical division lines of the panes are also to be found. The following is a synopsis of these varieties-- Crown C.C. vertical (Fig. A). " " inverted (Fig. C). " sideways (Fig. D). " " inverted (Fig. E). Portions of words "CROWN COLONIES." Division lines of the panes. The subject of perforations is of peculiar interest in this and the next issue of the stamps of Gambia, as while to a certain extent the printings are to be differentiated by shade the chief distinctions may be made in the case of blocks and sheets by the perforations. At first the stamps were perforated by a single line machine gauging 14. A single line machine, as its name implies, simply makes a single long row of holes in one direction-- ................................................................. In the present case, where the sheets were so small, the row is much longer than necessary, so in the sheets it extends through the margins on all sides, as in plate II. [page 29] The horizontal rows may be perforated first (one row at a time), and then the sheet is turned sideways and the vertical divisions are similarly perforated. A peculiarity of this style of perforating machine is that the points where the vertical lines cross the horizontal lines rarely fail to fall foul of each other, and an effect is produced like this-- [Illustration: Single line perforation. Note the crossing of perforated lines.] In this manner it is possible to tell blocks and pairs of this perforation without any side margins. Single copies perforated in this manner can occasionally be detected by the distance between the vertical perforations. In the later perforation of this issue the distance is fixed (as will be shewn), and the distance is 20½mm., [page 30] measuring from perf. point to perf. point across the stamp. Any stamp differing in width to any extent more than ½mm. from 20½mm. may therefore be set down as perforated by the single line machine. We have seen all the values except the 2d. rose and 1/- green perforated by the single line machine, in practically every case the C.C. watermark being upright, the exception being a strip of three 6d. with the sideways watermark. All the sheets with this perforation appear to have one printer's guide dot in the centre of each side margin. The next form of perforating machine introduced in later printings of the Crown and C.C. 1880 issue is known as a comb machine. The comb machine perforates three sides of a stamp at once, and the form of the first comb machine was arranged thus-- ............................................................... : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The arrangement of the teeth of the comb fitted the arrangement of the panes of the regular Colonial postage stamps printed by Messrs. De la Rue & Co., the narrow spaced teeth in the centre marking the dividing space between two horizontal panes. In perforating the stamps of Gambia in the small sheets of fifteen in three horizontal rows of five, both sides of the machine appear to have been used, the extreme end portion of the comb at either end running off the side margin of the small sheet. When the left portion of the machine was being used the sheet was [page 33] inserted upright and the top row of stamps perforated first, the effect being that the top margin is not cut through by vertical perforations, and the bottom row is (see plate III.). When the right-hand portion was in use the sheets appear to have been systematically inverted when placed in the machine. This left the bottom margin blank and the top margin cut through. Had the sheet been simply inverted and perforated by the same portion of the machine, as already described, the narrow spaced teeth would have been produced on the left hand margin instead of the right. A comparison of plates III. and VI. will shew that the narrow spacing is on the right in both cases, but in III. the perforating has been started at the top on the left side of the machine, and in VI. from the bottom on the right side of the machine. It is possible that sheets exist with the narrow spaced lines of perforation on the left side. We have searched in vain for such varieties, but they may exist. A sheet inverted when placed on the left side of the machine would shew the top margin perforated through, and narrow spaced perforation to left; while a sheet inserted top first on the right hand side would leave the top margin blank and the bottom one perforated through, and the narrow spaced perforation to left. This comb generally perforates so evenly that there is no clashing of the perforations where the lines meet. Occasionally, however, a sheet may get off the straight and an irregular perforation occurs. The sheets perforated in this machine generally have one guide dot in the left margin, and three at the right (see sheets III.-VII., IX.-XI., XIV., XV.). [page 34] [Illustration: Comb perforation. Compare crossing of perforated lines with illustration on page 29.] The ½d. pale orange vermilion exists doubly perforated at the top and sides. A minor variety of the 2d. rose shews a small white spot ½mm. from the nose. The stamp is No. 6 on the sheet. The variety has been noted on several (not all) the sheets of this value, and in various blocks, pairs and singles. The left and right hand top stamps (1 and 5) of the 6d. value shew the sloping label, which is now very prominent (see plate X.). All the values shew variations in the marks on the back hair and in the curls. [page 37] CHAPTER V. Issue of 1886-87. In 1886 a number of the stamps began to appear on the paper watermarked Crown C.A., the initials of "Crown Agents." The colours were changed, and a new value inscribed "2½ PENNY" on the value tablet was added. The values and colours are-- ½d. grey-green, myrtle-green (shades). 1d. carmine, rose-carmine, crimson. 2d. orange-yellow, orange, deep orange. 2½d. pale ultramarine, deep ultramarine. 3d. grey, slate-grey, pearl-grey. 4d. brown, deep brown. 6d. olive-green, bronze-green, grey-green. 1s. violet, deep violet. All values exist with the embossing double; several with the embossing double, one of the impressions being inverted; part double and treble perforations; and the white and the yellow gum. The watermark Crown C.A. is uniformly sideways in this issue, the normal position being from right to left (Fig. F.), but it may be found inverted (Fig. G.). [page 38] [Illustration: Fig. F.] [Illustration: Fig. G.] The method of cutting up the sheets of Crown C.A. paper was to guillotine the half sheets horizontally in half and then twice vertically, dividing each horizontal half into three small sheets, the half C.A. sheet of paper yielding six small Gambia sheets (plates XII. and XIII.). The operators both at the guillotine and at the press seem to have taken the utmost care to arrange all the small sheets uniformly for passing through the press, as the varieties shewing the watermark from left to right are rare. The diagrams on plates XII. and XIII. will illustrate more clearly than a verbal explanation the precise method of dividing up the Crown C.A. paper. The early printings of the Crown C.A. issue were perforated with the comb machine described in the previous chapter, but in the later printings a new comb machine was introduced, which has not the narrow spaced teeth in the margin, and, consequently, has not the double row of perforation on the right hand margins of the sheets. The perforations produced by the two machines gauge the same, and are not distinguishable in single specimens or blocks, but only in sheets or specimens with pieces of margins. The effect of the two different combs on the sheet may be compared on the two sheets of the 6d. value illustrated on plates X. and XI. We may note (plate VIII.) the second comb with the teeth extending [page 41] through the top margin, leaving the bottom margin blank, shewing that some of the sheets were perforated from the bottom, which would produce this effect. Unused imperforate copies exist of all values in the following shades-- Imperforate ½d. grey-green. " 1d. pale crimson. " 2d. orange-yellow. " 2½d. pale ultramarine. " 3d. pearl-grey. " 4d. brown. " 6d. slate-green. " 1s. deep violet. Copies in trial colours, perforated 12 instead of 14, exist as follows-- ½d. rose. ½d. violet. ½d. dull green. ½d. pale dull orange. 3d. olive-green. On some of the sheets of the ½d. value stamp 2 shews a slightly elongated left stroke of the letter m in Gambia; No. 5 on the same sheet shews a similar defect in the right stroke of the letter. (See plate III., which reproduction, however, only shews the variety on stamp 2.) Stamps Nos. 1, 12, 13 on the same sheet illustrated shew a peculiarity in the form of a broken nose. We have not been able to trace other copies shewing a similar defect, so possibly it is simply due to over-inking or faulty inking of the colour plate. The plate of the 3d. was altered in the final printing, two additional printers' guide dots being added in the [page 42] left margin, and the top and bottom dot on the right being removed (plate VIII.). This was printed in pearl-grey only. The early printings of the 6d. value shew the sloping labels; they also shew the slight enlargement of the stamps in the top row. These varieties occur in the olive-green, bronze-green, and grey-green shades. Later a new plate was made without the defect in the top row, and this was printed in grey-green only. (Cp. plates XI. and XIV.) It may be noted that there are two varieties of the overprint on the SPECIMEN stamps of this series, one having the letters sloping upwards from left to right, the other being horizontal. [Illustration] [page 45] CHAPTER VI. Queen's Head Series, 1898. [Illustration] On the 31st January, 1898, the following notice was issued in reference to the postage stamps of the Colony:-- "WITHDRAWAL OF PRESENT ISSUE OF GAMBIA POSTAGE STAMPS. "On the 1st May, 1898, the present issue, if not previously exhausted, of all denominations of Postage Stamps in the Gambia that are then in the hands of the Government will be destroyed, and a complete new set of stamps will then be put in circulation. "ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, BATHURST, GAMBIA, _31st January, 1898_." [page 46] After being faithful for nearly thirty years to the graceful design of the "cameo" stamps the Colony adopted the regular De la Rue type printed from a general key plate which did duty for a number of colonial issues. Essays were prepared by making impressions from this key plate, shewing the profile of the Queen to left in a circle, and the words POSTAGE--POSTAGE at the sides, the top tablet being left blank for the name of the Colony, and a space for the sexagonal tablet of value at bottom also being left blank. The essays consist of such impressions with the name GAMBIA and the proposed values painted in by hand, to shew the approximate effect of the stamps which would be produced from this key plate. Only a very few such essays are known. The values which were actually produced in the new series were-- ½d. dull green and green (plates 2 and 3). 1d. carmine and carmine (plate 2). 1d. deep carmine and deep carmine (plate 3). 2d. orange and mauve (plate 2). 2½d. ultramarine and ultramarine (plate 2). 3d. mauve and pale ultramarine (plate 2). 3d. deep mauve and deep ultramarine (plate 3). 4d. brown and ultramarine (plate 2). 6d. olive-green and carmine (plate 2). 1s. violet and green (plate 2). All the stamps were printed at two impressions, the general design being printed from the key plate, and the name GAMBIA and the value tablet by a "duty" plate printed separately. In the ½d., 1d. and 2½d. values, however, both key and duty plates were impressed in the same colour. The plates are constructed [page 49] to print sheets of 120 stamps, divided in two panes of 60 stamps each. The plate number appears in the margin above and below each pane (plate XVI.). It consists of an uncoloured figure on a circular ground of colour, and is printed by the key plate. The plate numbered "2" was used for all the values in the set, but later printings of the ½d., 1d. and 3d. were printed from plate III. In the case of the ½d. and 1d. the printings from plate III. do not shew any marked variation in shade; but in the case of the 3d. both the mauve and the ultramarine colours are distinctively deeper. The perforation throughout gauges 14; the watermark is Crown C.A. as in the last issue, but upright instead of sideways, as these POSTAGE--POSTAGE plates were constructed to fit the watermarked paper. [page 50] CHAPTER VII. King's Head Series, 1902-1906. [Illustration] The change from the Queen's Head type to the King's Head type of design came in 1902, the new general Colonial key plate being used. It is numbered 1 in a similar manner to the numbering on the Queen's Head plates. All the denominations in the previous set were repeated, and a 2s. value was added; later (May, 1905) three new stamps appeared of the face values 1s. 6d., 2s. 6d. and 3s. respectively. Of these three denominations it is stated that only 6000[2] copies of each were printed. The stamps, which were perforated 14 and were [page 51] printed on the same paper (Crown and C.A.) as the last issue, comprised the following values-- Watermarked Crown C.A. [Illustration] ½d. green and green. 1d. carmine and carmine. 2d. orange and mauve. 2½d. ultramarine and ultramarine. 3d. magenta and ultramarine. 4d. brown and ultramarine. 6d. sage-green and carmine. 1s. violet and green. 1s. 6d. green and carmine on yellow paper. 2s. deep slate and orange. 2s. 6d. purple and brown on yellow paper. 3s. carmine and green on yellow paper. [Footnote 2: Compare numbers overprinted in 1906 (Chapter VIII.).] [Illustration] In May, 1905, appeared also three new values printed on multiple Crown C.A. paper, each stamp shewing portions of two or more watermark designs instead of one more or less complete design as heretofore. The new values were the 5d., 7½d. and 10d. These being rather unusual denominations, their appearance caused considerable ferment among collectors, who ascribed their issue to motives not strictly associated with legitimate postal business. Reference to the Post Office Ordinance No. 6 of 1897 (quoted in Chapter I.) will shew that the fees for insured parcels in force in the Gambia were 5d. for compensation up to £12, 7½d. up to £24, and 10d. up to £36; so it is not unreasonable if, as one may assume, the colonists availed themselves of these rates of insurance, that there was a use for such denominations. [page 52] The new multiple watermarked paper had been adopted for the 1d. value in 1904, and was during 1905-6 introduced for all the regular denominations except the 1s. 6d., 2s. 6d. and 3s. On this paper, therefore, we get the following-- Multiple Crown C.A. ½d. green and green. 1d. carmine and carmine. 2d. orange and mauve. 2½d. ultramarine and ultramarine. 3d. magenta and ultramarine. 4d. brown and ultramarine. 5d. grey and black. 6d. sage-green and carmine. 7½d. green and carmine. 10d. olive-brown and carmine. 1s. violet and green. 2s. deep slate and orange. [Illustration] [page 53] CHAPTER VIII. Provisional Issue 1906. [Illustration] The next and only remaining issue we have to describe are in the nature of Provisionals issued during a temporary shortage of halfpenny and penny stamps. The Bathurst correspondent of _Ewen's Weekly Stamp News_, writing April 30, 1906, communicated the following information, which is published in the issue of that journal for May 26, 1906:-- "The surcharged penny and halfpenny postage stamps on the 3/- and 2/6 denominations respectively were issued on the [page 54] 10th instant, and withdrawn on the 23rd April. The issue was necessary owing to a delay in receipt of a requisition for stamps sent to England on the 9th February, and by the abnormal sales, from some unknown reason, of the usual penny and halfpenny stamps during February and March. "A very small issue was made pending the arrival of the mail on the 24th, by which the indent above mentioned was received. The total issue was 4500 penny and 3780 halfpenny." The stamps overprinted to provide these emergency supplies were the 2s. 6d. purple and brown on yellow paper, which was overprinted for the halfpenny, and the 3s. carmine and green on yellow paper for the penny overprint. The surcharging was effected in the Colony. In the case of the ½d. the overprint consists of the word HALF PENNY in two lines of block capitals, and below this are two bars formed by ordinary printers' rules about 8½mm. long cancelling the figures denoting the original value of the stamp. The type and rules were set up to overprint the stamps thirty at a time (5 horizontal rows of 6 stamps); thus the complete sheet of 120 stamps had to pass four times through the press. There is a slight variation in the distance between the bottom of the letters comprising the word PENNY and the uppermost bar, in the third and fourth rows of the setting. In rows 1, 2 and 5 the bar is 5mm. away from the bottom of the type; in rows 3 and 4 it is only 4mm. distant. The first stamp in the second row of the setting is a variety in which the E of PENNY is broken and the word reads PFNNY. The only other variety occurring in the setting is a slightly depressed Y of PENNY. This occurs in the first stamp in the 5th row. [page 55] The 3s. stamp was overprinted with the words "ONE PENNY" in one line of small capitals. The overprint was applied to a complete pane of 60 stamps at a time, so that the entire sheet of 120 was surcharged at two impressions instead of four, as in the ½d. on 2s. 6d. stamp. The only varieties which have been recorded of this ONE PENNY overprint are of slight defects, possibly occurring only in particular impressions. It, however, exists with the overprint double. The issue of these two Provisional overprints, following upon the appearance in 1905 of the 5d., 7½d. and 10d. stamps, brought a good deal of censure from philatelists, who considered that the Colony was descending to undignified means of increasing the revenue by the sale of stamps to collectors. At the instance of Lord Crewe an inquiry has lately been held into the reasons for the emission of various Colonial postage stamps, and the report of the Governor of the Gambia is quoted in the printed report of the Commission:-- "The Governor of the Colony states that as the supply of the ½d. and 1d. stamps had been exhausted before the arrival of a new supply which had been ordered, no [regular] stamps of these denominations were available from the 2nd to the 10th April, letters requiring such postage being stamped 'Postage Paid.' The surcharged stamps were on sale from the 10th to the 24th of April, the date on which the new supply became available. A surplus was left over, which was destroyed with proper precautions." The unsold balance of the Provisional ½d. stamps on hand was destroyed "under direction from the Secretary of State and by a special Board appointed by His Excellency the Acting Governor" on October 16, 1906. How small the "unsold balance" was is not stated. [page 56] CHAPTER IX. Bibliography. INDEX TO THE CHIEF PRINTED ARTICLES AND PAPERS IN PHILATELIC PERIODICALS. ABBREVIATIONS. 2 A.J.P.--American Journal of Philately, 2nd series. E.W.S.N.--Ewen's Weekly Stamp News. G.S.W.--Gibbons Stamp Weekly. M.W.S.N.--Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News. P.J.G.B.--Philatelic Journal of Great Britain. P.R.--Philatelic Record. P.S.--The Postage Stamp. S.--Stamps. S.C.F.--Stamp Collectors' Fortnightly. S.C.M.--Stamp Collectors' Magazine. S.G.M.J.--Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal. NOTE.--Roman figures thus--V.--denote the volume, and Arabic figures--135--indicate the page. In a few cases the date takes the place of the volume number. In E.W.S.N. the number of the issue alone is given. COLONIAL POST OFFICES COMMISSION [Ward], G.S.W., IX., 88. Contains the report of the Governor of the Gambia on the Provisional stamps of 1906. CORRECTED PLATE, 6d., S.C.F., III., 207. FORGERIES, 6d. [Hilckes], S.C.F., II., 217. [page 57] GENERAL. The Postage Stamps, etc. ... of the British Colonies, Possessions and Protectorates in Africa. Part II., London, 1900. The Philatelic Society's work on Africa, pp. 65-72, covers the issues of Gambia adhesives from 1869-1898; also the postcards and reply paid cards. ---- S.G.M.J., VI., 26, 144; [Pemberton], P.J.G.B., XVII., 78; [Barnsdall], G.S.W., VIII., 65, 81; [Nankivell], P.S., II., 3; 2 A.J.P., IV., 498; [Lehner], S., I., 90; [Clark], S., I., 102, reprinted in M.W.S.N., X., 255. ISSUE OF 1869, S.C.M., VII., 57. ---- Date of [Lehner], S., I., 90; [Nankivell], S., I., 106. MINOR VARIETIES. Sloping label. [Hilckes], S.C.F., II., 253. PERFORATIONS [Bacon], P.R., XXV., 3. *** Plates. [Napier & Bacon], S.G.M.J., XIV., 97. *** Plates. PROVISIONALS, E.W.S.N., 347, 348, 350, 352, 353, 360, 373. SHEETS [Thiele], _The Adhesive_, July, 1904. SPECULATION, S.C.F., VI., 142. VALUES, S.C.F., VI., 119, 126. WATERMARKS [Evans], P.R., IV., 224. [page 58] CHAPTER X. Check List. 1869.--No watermark. Imperforate. White gum. 4d. deep chocolate-brown. 4d. brown. 4d. pale brown. Yellow gum. Double embossing. 6d. deep blue. 6d. blue. Yellow gum. Label sloping to right. " " left. Double embossing. 1874.--Watermarked vertically Crown C.C. Imperforate. White gum. 4d. deep brown. 4d. brown. 4d. pale brown. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " reversed. " inverted and reversed. " bars (division lines of the panes). " portions of words CROWN COLONIES. [page 59] 6d. deep blue. 6d. blue. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " reversed. " inverted and reversed. " bars. " portions of words CROWN COLONIES. 1880.--Watermarked Crown C.C. vertical. Perf. 14. White gum. ½d. golden-yellow. ½d. deep golden-yellow, ½d. pale orange-vermilion. ½d. deep orange-vermilion. ½d. citron. ½d. pale ochre. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " sideways. " " inverted. " portions of words Crown Colonies. " division lines of the panes. Single line perf. 1st comb perf. Double perf. top and sides (pale orange-vermilion). 1d. lake. 1d. deep lake. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " sideways. " " inverted. " portions of words Crown Colonies. " division lines of the panes. Single line perf. 1st comb perf. [page 60] 2d. pale rose. 2d. rose. 2d. deep rose. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " sideways. " " inverted. " portions of words Crown Colonies. " division lines of the panes. ? Single line perf. 1st comb perf. Dot variety. 3d. pale ultramarine. 3d. deep ultramarine. 3d. deep blue. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " sideways. " " inverted. " portions of words Crown Colonies. " division lines of the panes. Single line perf. 1st comb perf. 4d. sepia-brown. 4d. deep sepia-brown. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " sideways. " " inverted. " portions of words Crown Colonies. " division lines of the panes. Single line perf. 1st comb perf. 6d. pale blue. 6d. blue. [page 61] 6d. deep blue. Slanting label to right. " " left. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " sideways. " " inverted. " portions of words Crown Colonies. " division lines of the panes. Single line perf. (vertical watermark). " " (sideways watermark). 1st comb perf. 1s. bright green. 1s. deep green. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " sideways. " " inverted. " portions of words Crown Colonies. " division lines of the panes. ? Single line perf. 1st comb perf. 1886-7.--Watermarked Crown C.A. sideways. Comb perf. 14. ½d. grey-green. ½d. myrtle-green. Double embossing. " " one inverted. Yellow gum. Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS. " division lines of the panes. Imperforate (grey-green). Treble perf. at bottom. Left stroke of M long. Right " " Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations. [page 62] 1d. carmine. 1d. rose-carmine. 1d. crimson. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS. " division lines of the panes. Imperforate (pale crimson). Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations. 2d. orange-yellow. 2d. orange. 2d. deep orange. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS. " division lines of the panes. Imperforate (orange-yellow). Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations. 2½d. pale ultramarine. 2½d. deep ultramarine. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " portions of words CROWN AGENTS. " division lines of the panes. Imperforate (pale ultramarine). Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations. 3d. grey. 3d. slate-grey. 3d. pearl-grey. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS. " division lines of the panes. Imperforate (pearl-grey). Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations. Final printing, 3 guide dots in left margin (pearl-grey only). [page 63] 4d. brown. 4d. deep brown. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark inverted. " portions of words CROWN AGENTS. " division lines of the panes. Imperforate (brown). Sheets--1st comb perforation. 6d. olive-green. 6d. bronze-green. 6d. grey-green. Label slanting to right. " " left. Double embossing. Yellow gum. Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS. " division lines of the panes. Imperforate (slate-green). Sheets--1st and 2nd comb perforations. New plate without defective top row. 1s. violet (shades). 1s. deep violet. Double embossing. " " one inverted (violet). Yellow gum. Watermark portions of words CROWN AGENTS. " division lines of the panes. Imperforate (deep violet). Sheets--1st comb perforation. [page 64] 1898.--Watermarked Crown C.A. (upright). Perf. 14. [NOTE.--Unless otherwise stated, the plate number is 2.] ½d. dull green and green (plates 2 and 3). 1d. carmine and carmine. 1d. deep carmine and deep carmine (plate 3). 2d. orange and mauve. 2½d. ultramarine and ultramarine. 3d. mauve and pale ultramarine. Imperforate. 3d. deep purple and deep ultramarine (plate 3). 4d. brown and ultramarine. 6d. olive-green and carmine. 1s. violet and green. 1902-1905.--Watermarked Crown C.A. Perf. 14. [Printed from plate 1 in each case.] ½d. green and green. 1d. carmine and carmine. 2d. orange and mauve. 2½d. ultramarine and ultramarine. 3d. magenta and ultramarine. 4d. brown and ultramarine. 6d. sage-green and carmine. 1s. violet and green. 1s. 6d. green and carmine on yellow paper. 2s. deep slate and orange. 2s. 6d. purple and brown on yellow paper. 3s. carmine and green on yellow paper. [page 65] 1904-1905.--Watermarked Multiple Crown C.A. Perf. 14. ½d. green and green. 1d. carmine and carmine. 2d. orange and mauve. 2½d. ultramarine and ultramarine. 3d. magenta and ultramarine. 4d. brown and ultramarine. 5d. grey and black. 6d. sage-green and carmine. 7½d. green and carmine. 10d. olive-brown and carmine. 1s. violet and green. 2s. deep slate and orange. 1906 (April 10).--Provisional Issue. Overprinted in black. HALF PENNY on 2s. 6d. purple and brown on yellow paper. 5mm. between letters and bars. 4mm. " " Depressed Y in PENNY. ONE PENNY on 3s. carmine and green on yellow paper. Double overprint. Depressed Y in PENNY. " E " [page 66] APPENDIX. Notes on the Postmarks. By DOUGLAS ELLIS. The first Gambia stamps appeared early in 1869, and postmarks of that year are usually composed of a circle with "Gambia" across the centre in a straight line, and the date in two lines below and a control letter above. This postmark is usually in red, but is also found in black. It was apparently only in use for a short time, being superseded by a circular postmark of the same size, but with "Gambia" at top and "Paid" at bottom, both following the line of the circle. The day and month are in a straight line across the centre of the circle, with the year (last two figures only) below and a control letter above. This, in the early dated specimens, is A, followed by B and then C. The postmark is always in red down to the early part of 1887. On the early imperforate stamps we find a similar postmark in black, but lettered "Gambia" above and "Unpaid" below. This was probably intended for use on letters posted without a stamp. The control letter is A. [page 67] From 1887 to 1892 the Gambia-Paid postmark appears in black. The control letters are B or C. In 1892 this was superseded by a fresh cancellation with "Bathurst" above and "Gambia" below, both following the line of the circle, the date across the centre as before, and the control letter being C. The lettering may be found in two sizes; on one the distance between the B of Bathurst and the G of Gambia is 3mm. and on the other 6mm. In 1895 the control letter C was replaced by a six-pointed *, and this cancellation is still in use. About 1901 a special postmark for Registered letters was brought into use, consisting of a large ellipse with "Registered" above and "Gambia" below, both following the line of curve, and with date in centre and control letter above, either B or C, the latter often being found reversed or upside down. This is still in use. From 1895 onwards stamps may be found cancelled with a circular postmark with "Received" above and "Gambia" below, and either a control letter C or a six-pointed *. Possibly this was a Fiscal cancellation wrongly used on postage stamps. Most Gambia stamps, from the C.C. perforated issue onwards, may be found with a cancellation consisting of seven parallel bars forming a circle of 19mm. diameter, the two outside bars being rounded off to form part of the circle. Though this can be found on the last issue of Queen's Head stamps, it does not appear to be now used. On the 1887 and later issues we find a cancellation composed of four concentric circles, the diameter of the largest being 18mm. [page 68] Many letters appear to have been posted on board the mail steamer, or sent from the post office without the stamp being cancelled, as Gambia stamps are found with the mail steamer postmark, which consists of two circles with "Paquebot" above, and either "Plymouth" or, "Liverpool" below, both being between the two circles. The date, comprising not only the year and month but day and hour, is in three lines in the centre. Many Gambia stamps can also be found postmarked "Freetown, Sierra Leone," or "Registered, Sierra Leone," but as we have no record of Gambia stamps being used to defray postage from Sierra Leone, we must conclude that they were sent on by a steamer which did not possess a post office, and cancelled at Sierra Leone before being shipped on the mail steamer. Stamps of Gambia can also occasionally be found with the postmark of the French Colony of Senegambia. * * * * * [Illustration: Plate I.--6d. Imperforate.] [Illustration: Plate II.--½d. Single line perforation.] [Illustration: Plate III.--½d. First comb perforation (points down).] [Illustration: Plate IV.--1d. First comb perforation.] [Illustration: Plate V.--2d. First comb perforation.] [Illustration: Plate VI.--2½d. First comb perforation (points up).] [Illustration: Plate VII.--3d. First comb perforation. Three guide dots to right.] [Illustration: Plate VIII.--3d. Second comb perforation. Three guide dots to left.] [Illustration: Plate IX.--4d. First comb perforation.] [Illustration: Plate X.--6d. First comb perforation (sloping label stamps, 1 and 5).] [Illustration: Plate XI.--6d. Second comb perforation (sloping label stamps, 1 and 5).] [Illustration: Plate XII.--Diagram of an uncut sheet of "Crown C.A." paper.] [Illustration: Plate XIII.--Diagram showing method of cutting the "Crown C.A." paper for the "Cameo" stamps.] [Illustration: Plate XIV.--6d. New plate. Without defective top row.] [Illustration: Plate XV.--1s. First comb perforation.] [Illustration: Plate XVI.--2½d. Complete Sheet, shewing arrangement of panes, fitting half sheet of watermarked paper, which shews through the page from the back.] [Illustration: N.B.--To be examined through the stamps on the other side of the plate.] 
34007	----	Transcriber's Notes: In this Plain Text version of the book only symbols from the ASCII and Latin-1 character set have been used. Italic typeface is indicated by _underscores_. Small capital typeface is indicated by UPPER CASE. Irregular ordering and duplicate figure numbering has been retained as in the original. Minor inconsistencies in punctuation and formatting in the original are retained. Detailed corrections and observations on the text are listed in further Transcriber's Notes at the end. * * * * * The Postage Stamp in War. _By the same Author._ A new work on the postage stamps of the new British Protectorate of EGYPT in the Melville Stamp Book series (_No._ 20) is now on the press and will be published in January, 1915, by Stanley Gibbons, Ltd., 391 Strand, W.C. Price 6d. Post free. 7½d. ... THE ... POSTAGE STAMP IN WAR BY FRED J. MELVILLE, EDITOR OF "THE POSTAGE STAMP." MDCCCCXV - PUBLISHED - BY - FRED. J. - MELVILLE, - 14 - SUDBOURNE - RD., BRIXTON, - LONDON, - ENGLAND. COPYRIGHT. All rights of translation and reproduction reserved. _ACKNOWLEDGED WITH THANKS._ _To many collectors and dealers we are indebted for the loan of stamps, envelopes, etc., for illustration in this work, including Messrs. E. Bentley Wood, H. H. Harland, W. J. Holmes, Nathan Heywood, J. Ireland, R. Wedmore, Stanley Gibbons, Ltd., Hugo Griebert & Co., Alfred Smith & Son, W. T. Wilson, Whitfield King & Co., Charles Nissen & Co., Lewis May & Co., W. S. Lincoln & Son, Bright & Son, R. Roberts, Bridger & Kay, A. C. Roessler, C. Davies, and others._ _Captain Lionel Crouch has kindly assisted in revising the proofs._ CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE POSTAGE STAMP WITH THE FLAG.--British Posts in the Crimea--The Abolition of the Capitulations--The British Fleet in the Baltic--Abyssinian Expedition--The First Army Postal Corps-- Egypt--Dongola Expedition--South Africa--The British Army Post in France, 1914--How to Address Soldier's Letters--The Postmarks from France--The Navy's Postmarks. Page 7. CHAPTER II. INDIAN ARMY POSTAL SERVICE--China Expeditionary Force--British Railway Administration in China--Somaliland--The Forbidden City of Lhassa--Indian Expeditionary Force in France. Page 28. CHAPTER III. SOUTH AFRICAN WARS--Transvaal--Orange River Colony--Krugersdorp-- Kuruman--Lydenburg--Mafeking--Pietersburg--Rustenburg--Schweizer Renecke--Volksrust--Vryburg--Wolmaranstad--The Union--South African War of 1914. Page 37. CHAPTER IV. FRANCE--Napoleon's Minister of Posts--The Second Republic--The Presidency--Empire--French Expeditions to China and Mexico-- Sedan--Metz--Strasburg--The Siege of Paris--Balloon Post--Pigeon Post--Peace--Military Frank Stamps--The German Invasion, 1914--Red Cross Stamps--War Postcards and Postmarks. Page 49. CHAPTER V. RUSSIA--War Charity Stamps--Portraits of the Tsars--War Stamps of 1914--Japan--War with China--The Empress Jingo--Triumphal Military and Naval Reviews--Kiao-chow--Belgium--King Albert-- Bombardment of Malines--Private Postal Service--Germanised Posts--Red Cross Stamps--Bogus Stamps--Postmarks--Serbia--"Death Mask" Stamps--King Peter--Montenegro--King Nicholas. Page 59. CHAPTER VI. THE ENEMY'S STAMPS--Germany--Austria--Bosnia--Hungary--Turkey. Page 75. CHAPTER VII. AMERICAN WARS.--United States--Civil War--Confederate Stamps--Hispano-American War--Vera Cruz--Canada--Mexican Revolution--South and Central America. Page 91. CHAPTER VIII. MISCELLANEOUS WARS AND COMMEMORATIONS--Patriotic Empire Stamps--Victoria--New Zealand--Barbados' Nelson Stamp--A Dutch Naval Commemoration--Balkan Wars--Greece--Albania--Epirus-- Bulgaria--Roumania--Italy--Portugal--Spain--Mysterious Melillas--China. Page 100 CHAPTER IX. THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-1915. Check List of New War Stamps. Page 113. [Illustration: Russia's New War Stamps. (_Figs. 189-192. See Chapter V._)] THE POSTAGE STAMP IN WAR. CHAPTER I. THE POSTAGE STAMP WITH THE FLAG.--British Posts in the Crimea--The Abolition of the Capitulations--The British Fleet in the Baltic--Abyssinian Expedition--The First Army Postal Corps--Egypt--Dongola Expedition--South Africa--The British Army Post in France, 1914--How to Address Soldier's Letters--The Postmarks from France--The Navy's Postmarks. The Postage Stamp follows the Flag. The same small talisman which passes our letters across the seven seas to friends the world over maintains the lines of personal communication with our soldiers and sailors in time of war. Wherever the British Tommy goes he must have his letters from home; like the lines of communication, which are the life-line of the army, postal communication is the chief support of the courage and spirit of the individual soldier. His folk at home send him new vigour with every letter that tells of the persons, places and things that are nearest and most cherished in his memory. In these days letter-sending and letter-getting are so common-place that few give any thought to the great organisation by which thousands of millions of postal packets are posted and delivered in this country every year. And now that most of us have friends at the Front, in France, in Belgium, or on the high seas, we are perhaps inclined to take it all just as a matter of course that letters pass and repass much in the ordinary humdrum way. This is plain to the conductors of our postal services when during war time they get numerous complaints from individuals of delay or even non-delivery, or any one of a number of other minor inconveniences which must often be unavoidable in the stirring times of war. To-day many thousands of letters and postal packets are being sent to and received from the troops of the British Expeditionary Force in France, yet it is a simple fact that but a small percentage of the civilian population in this country knows anything of the existence, far less of the workings, of the Army Postal Service as an organisation separate and distinct from the postal department of the home Government. The Army Postal Service is administered under a Director of Postal Services, who is responsible to the Commander in Chief of the Army, and whose system is established with the co-operation of the Inspector-General of Communications. The formation of a British Army Post Office Corps is of comparatively recent date. It was first suggested by Colonel du Plat Taylor in the seventies, as a means of using the services of the Post Office Rifle Volunteers in war time, but it was not until the Egyptian campaign in 1882 that the corps was formed. Prior to this, however, bodies of servants of the Post Office had done duty with the army in organising and maintaining postal communication with the armies in the field and with the links connecting up with the home service. During the Crimean War extensive arrangements were made by the Post Office to maintain postal communication with the forces in Turkey, the Black Sea, and the Baltic. Prior to the war, the British Government did not maintain any postal packets between Mediterranean ports save some steam vessels for the transport of the Indian mails, and some of these were taken up by the military and naval authorities. Letters for Constantinople and the Levant ordinarily went through the French and Austrian administrations and were chargeable at the then high foreign rates of postage. With the assistance of the French Government, letters were sent _viâ_ Marseilles to Constantinople (or _vice-versâ_) at first at intervals of three times a month, but afterwards six times a month, and during the latter period of the war, twice a week. But the French mail packets went no further than Constantinople, so the British Postmaster-General sent out an experienced officer, Mr. E. J. Smith, of the London General Post Office, to Turkey as Postmaster of His Majesty's Forces; and three Assistant Postmasters, together with seven Letter Sorters. As the facilities for land transport accorded the Postmaster proved insufficient he was furnished with eighteen horses and mules for the exclusive use of his office. The Postmaster was supplied with the postage stamps of the home country, then (so far as the penny and twopence denominations were concerned) in the early and beautifully engraved design of William Wyon's "Queen's Head." This was the first use of British postage stamps on foreign territory, or indeed anywhere beyond the limits of the British Isles, and stamp collectors take a considerable interest in the English stamps which survive with the various Crimean postmarks specially supplied to the Postmaster of His Majesty's Forces in the East. Stamps used on letters from the forces may be recognised by either the Crown and Stars or Cypher and Stars or the circular dated postmarks (_Figs._ 1-4). A range of the early penny red stamps, from the imperforate red-brown stamp of 1841 to the Die II. large Crown perforated 14 stamp may be found, as well as the twopence blues of the same period, and the 4d. rose (1857), 6d. violet (1854), and 1s. green (1847) (_see Figs. 5-10_). There are possibly others not yet known to collectors. [Illustration: 1 2 3 4 _Figs. 1-4. Crimean Postmarks._] [Illustration: 5 6 7 8 9 10 _Figs. 5-10. British stamps found with Crimean postmarks._] The correspondence dealt with by this small staff was considerable, averaging 45,250 letters despatched to and 43,125 received from the seat of war in each month. In one year 543,000 letters were despatched to and 517,500 received from the forces in the Crimea. The chief officer in charge at the British post offices in Turkey and the Crimea during the war, Mr. E. J. Smith, is specially mentioned in the Postmaster-General's report for 1857 as having discharged his duties in a very creditable manner. In that year his services were offered to and accepted by the Turkish Government with a view to establishing an improved postal service in the Sultan's dominions. Since this date British post offices have been maintained (in common with post offices of other Powers) in various parts of the Turkish dominions, using British stamps with or without a special overprint. These offices were closed in October, 1914, as a result of Turkey's declaration of the "abolition of the Capitulations," just prior to Turkey's open acts of war against the allied forces of Great Britain, France, and Russia in the present war. Ordinary British stamps used at the British post-offices in the Ottoman Empire may be distinguished by postmarks (_Figs._ 11-17). [Illustration: 11 12 13 (Constantinople)] [Illustration: 14 15 (Smyrna) 16 17 (Beyrout) _Postmarks of British Post Offices in Turkish Empire._] The first three are from Constantinople, the fourth and fifth from Smyrna, and the last two Beyrout. There are also "S" Stamboul, "B01" Alexandria, "B02" Suez, as well as ordinary date stamps of all these places. The following are illustrations of samples of the stamps which were in use at the British post-offices in Turkey at the time of the abolition of the Capitulations. (_Figs._ 18, 19). [Illustration: 18 19 20] Special arrangements were also made for maintaining postal communications with the British Fleet in the Baltic, the stamps used being distinguishable by postmarks of diamond-shaped internal configuration (_Fig._ 20). It is possible that date marks of Dantzig may also be found on British stamps of this period; they appear on the covers of letters bearing British stamps with the diamond cancellations. In the early part of the naval campaign letters were transmitted exclusively by war vessels or transports, but in the beginning of May, 1854, when the greater part of the Fleet had reached its destination the Admiral commanding in chief was directed to establish regular weekly communication by steamer between the ships under his command and the port of Dantzig. Mails for the Fleet were despatched from London every Tuesday to Dantzig, under cover of a bag addressed to Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at that port, who handed the bag over to the commander of the steamer which was timed to arrive at Dantzig each Friday. This arrangement, while satisfactory in respect of speed and regularity, involved the charging of the high foreign rates of postage, as the route was through Belgium and Prussia, but, as often as facilities offered, mails were made up for transmission by Government transports passing to and from England and the Baltic, by which soldiers and sailors were able to send and receive letters at their privilege rate of one penny each. ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. The following is the type of date stamp used by the British post-office corps accompanying Sir Robert Napier's successful expedition to Abyssinia in 1867-1868 (_Fig._ 21). [Illustration: 21] The Indian Government sent an army postal corps to Abyssinia, the mails to and from the United Kingdom connecting up with the vessels carrying the Indian mails off Jubbel Teer in the Red Sea. The late Mr. J. G. Hendy of the G.P.O. Muniment Room records[1] that, in April 1868, a direct weekly mail service was established between Suez and Zoulla. The rates for letters under half an ounce were the same as to India, _viz._: _Viâ_ Southampton. _Viâ_ Marseilles. Officers of Army or Navy, 6d. 10d. Soldiers and Seamen, 1d. 5d. For persons serving on board transports or other persons not belonging to the naval or military forces, 9d. 1s. 1d. He also states that naval and military officers, when serving on colonial or foreign stations, were permitted, under Treasury Warrant of May 16, 1857, to send or receive letters at the reduced British postage of 6d. per ounce, in all cases where the postage of ordinary letters to or from the same place was higher than 6d. The privilege was withdrawn on January 1, 1870, and then letters became liable to the general rates of postage. [Footnote 1: "The Postmarks of the British Isles from 1840." By J. G. Hendy. London, 1909; p. 13.] EGYPT. The organisation of an Army Postal Corps was authorised on July 18, 1882, for service in Egypt, and it was promptly completed. Colonel du Plat Taylor was instructed to form the corps of two officers and one hundred men from the Post-Office Volunteers (24th Middlesex) for enrolment in the first-class Army Reserve. The men combined the advantages of experience in postal work, as sorters and postmen, with army training. The officers selected were Major Sturgeon (of the Money Order Office) and Captain Viall (Receiver and Accountant General's Department), the former taking command with the army rank of Captain, and the latter seconding him, with the army rank of Lieutenant. The men received their post-office pay, and, while on active service, in addition to free kit and rations, the privates drew army pay of 1s., corporals 1s. 8d., and sergeants 2s. 4d. per day. [Illustration: 22] The famous blind Postmaster-General, Henry Fawcett, inspected the corps at the General Post Office on July 26, and the officers with 50 men sailed on August 8, disembarking at Alexandria on August 21. Their first postal duties were undertaken at Alexandria and Ramleh, but two days after disembarkation they re-embarked, joining up with Lord Wolseley's main forces at Ismailia on August 26. The base was at Ismailia, whence the post office corps sent out its branches, planting advanced base and field post offices connecting the base with the changing front, between which and the base a daily service was maintained. In September, shortly after the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, the Army and the Army Post Office reached Cairo, and re-embarked for home on October 7. The despatches gave high praise to the efficiency and useful service of the corps. Three years later, Major Sturgeon (promoted in recognition of his services in Egypt, 1882) again commanded a corps of twenty N.C.O.'s and men, in Sir Gerald Graham's Suakim expedition of 1885. The corps left England on March 3, and returned on July 28, after a more difficult experience with the Suakim garrison than they had met with in the first Egyptian campaign. DONGOLA EXPEDITION. Of the Dongola Expeditionary Force under General Kitchener in 1896 we have no record of the use of English stamps, but Mr. H. H. Harland has shown us an interesting envelope with the postmark of Wadi-Halfa camp, the letter not being prepaid as no stamps were available (_Fig._ 23). [Illustration: _Fig. 23. Dongola Expeditionary Force._] SOUTH AFRICA, 1899-1902. Major Sturgeon was succeeded in the command of the Army Postal Corps by his second in command, Captain Viall. On the death of the latter (1890), Captain G. W. Treble of the London Postal Service took the command, which he held at the outbreak of the South African War in 1899, aided by Captain W. Price (now Colonel W. Price, C.M.G., in command of the Army Post Office with the British Expeditionary Force in France) and Lieutenant H. M'Clintock, these latter officers belonging to the Secretary's Office of the G.P.O., London. A first portion of the company, with Captain Treble, left England with General Buller and his staff, and the rest followed on October 21, and several further detachments went out with later contingents. In South Africa they had a very wide area to cover. At the outset Captain Treble established himself with the headquarters of the Inspector General of Communications in Cape Colony, and moved about keeping close touch with the movements of the forces, an important part of his duties being to forward to the various offices the information necessary to ensure the correct circulation of the mails. Captain Price was at Cape Town, and Lieutenant M'Clintock at Pietermaritzburg. The British military mails were made up in the London G.P.O. in special bags addressed to the Army Post Office, and sent to the G.P.O. at Cape Town, in which building the detachment of the Army Postal Corps under Captain Price had established its base office. The bags containing military mails were handed over to the Army Base Post Office at Cape Town whence they were distributed to the various military post offices established at the centres of the troops, and to field post offices with each Brigade or Division in the field. In the return direction the soldiers' letters were handed in at field post offices and forwarded through various channels, sometimes ordinary and ofttimes military to the base at Cape Town, whence they were despatched to England in the ordinary way. Early in 1900 the average weekly mail from London to the Field Forces was 150 bags of letters, postcards, etc., and 60 boxes of parcels; the incoming mail from the Field Forces was 11 bags of letters per week. In a letter dated from Cape Town, February 27, from Lieutenant Preece, who went out with reinforcements for the Army Post Office Corps in February, are some interesting glimpses of the difficulties of the work of this service[2]: "Price, of the Post Office Corps, met us and told us (Captain) Palmer was to leave at once for Kimberley with 17 men (Captain) Labouchere and (Lieut.) Curtis to proceed on to Natal with 50 men, and I was to take the remainder ashore here (Cape Town) and stop to help at the base. At 9.30 on Monday morning I marched off with my 57 men to the main barracks and bid good-bye to the good ship 'Canada' and her merry cargo. After lodging the men in barracks I went off to the G.P.O., where I found Price and his 40 men ensconced in one huge wing, overwhelmed with work, and at breaking-down point. The mails every week increase now, and we have 250,000 pieces of mail matter to sort and distribute every week, over a country larger than France, among a shifting population of soldiers, each of whom expects to get his letters as easily as he gets his rations. It is a vast job, and we have done wonderfully so far with a totally inadequate staff. We have come in the nick of time. The recent movements (the advance of Lord Roberts from Modder River, relief of Ladysmith, etc.) have caused chaos among our mails. We receive and send telegrams every hour either to a field post office or to headquarter staffs. The latter order immediate reinforcement at Modder River, and Price has decided to send me up with more men to proceed to Paardeberg, or wherever the troops are, to get things straight." [Footnote 2: St. Martins le Grand, vol. x., page 201.] The preliminary arrangements necessitated by the vast area of the operations provided for two base offices, the one in Cape Colony and the other in Natal, and 43 field post offices, and by June, 1900, the Army Postal Corps was composed of ten officers and 400 N.C.O.'s and men, exclusive of post office telegraphists, etc., serving with the Royal Engineers. Many interesting statistics of the mails at different periods of the war have been given in various records, but it will suffice to quote some general ones on the authority of the Postmaster-General. His forty-sixth report, 1900, states: During eight months of the Crimean War, 362,000 letters were sent out, and 345,000 were sent home. During a similar period of the war in South Africa 5,629,938 letters were sent out, and 2,731,559 were sent home. The work of the corps was not undisturbed by the depredations of the enemy, and not infrequently the members of the corps had to defend the mails in their charge along with the guards provided by the military. On June 7, 1900, General De Wet, who has lately extinguished the admiration in which Britons held him for his brilliant and elusive tactics, by his treachery in the present war, swooped down with 1200 men and 5 guns on Roodewal Station where Lieutenant Preece had 2000 bags, a several weeks' accumulation of mails for Lord Roberts' main army. There were 17 men of the Army Postal Corps, and these, with about 160 men in charge of supplies, etc., had to defend the station. Two of the seventeen were killed, and Lieutenant Preece and the remainder of his gallant little corps were taken prisoners. The 2000 mail bags were used as a barricade. It is recorded that when the gallant little band surrendered, and De Wet, riding an English cavalry horse, came up, the Boer general was most polite and even kind in many ways, and expressed himself as "very sorry to do it," when asked not to destroy the letters and registered parcels. He said if he did not do so, his young Boers would open and read them and turn the letters of the soldiers into ridicule. The bags were opened, the contents strewed about, and the Boers possessed themselves of the valuables, while tobacco, cigarettes, cakes, chocolates were so plentifully strewed about that the young Boers even invited their prisoners to help themselves, as the General was going to burn everything. And he did burn the entire station. In his forty-seventh report (1901) the Postmaster-General states: The Army Post Office is still in operation in South Africa. The staff now consists of 7 officers and about 540 men. The weekly mail for the Army Post Office contains on an average 204,000 letters and 115,300 packets of printed matter; and it is estimated that during the year ended 31st March, 1901, 11,551,300 letters were sent to the troops and 9,250,000 were received from them. During the same period the parcels sent out to the forces in South Africa by post amounted to 534,245, the largest number despatched on any one occasion, namely, on the 1st of December, 1900, being 19,672. About 8745 such parcels are now sent each week. As to the magnitude and difficulties of the work of the Army Post Office, I cannot do better than quote the following paragraph from Earl Roberts' despatch of the 16th August last:-- "The magnitude of the task set the Military Postal Service may be appreciated when it is realised that the Army Mails from England have exceeded in bulk the whole of the mails arriving for the inhabitants of Cape Colony and Natal, and contained each week little short of 750,000 letters, newspapers, and parcels for the troops. No little credit is therefore due to the department under Major Treble in the first few months, and for the greater part of the time under Lieut.-Colonel J. Greer, Director of Military Postal Services, for the way in which it has endeavoured to cope with the vast quantity of correspondence, bearing in mind the incessant manner in which the troops have been moved about the country, the transport difficulties which had to be encountered, the want of postal experience in the bulk of the personnel of the corps, and the inadequacy of the establishments laid down for the several organisations." His Majesty has been pleased to confer the honour of C.M.G. on Messrs. Greer and Treble in acknowledgment of their services. The forty-eighth report (1902) mentions no change of any importance in the Army Postal Service in South Africa, and gives the weekly average mail from England as 184,000 letters and 143,600 packets of printed matter: the total number of letters for the year ended March 31, 1902, was 10,774,000 outward, and 8,372,000 homeward, showing a decrease compared with previous returns. During the same period 528,000 parcels were sent out. The last official reference to the Army Postal Service in South Africa is contained in the forty-ninth (1903) report, announcing its withdrawal, postal communications with the troops still on service in the old colonies and the new ones being carried on through the Colonial Post Offices under the ordinary regulations. The Peace was declared May 31, 1902. The war in South Africa left its impress on many pages of the stamp collector's album, but at this juncture we are chiefly concerned with the immediate work of the British military postal service. Collectors have followed the use of the stamps of the home country into the distant fields of operations by means of the various postmarks which are summarised as follows from the collection of Captain Guy R. Crouch, of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry[3]: [Footnote 3: _The Postage Stamp_, vol. XIV., pp. 234-237.] [Illustration: 24 25 26 27] Type 1 (_Fig._ 24). Office Numbers from 1 to 56, and 100. Used also at Cape Town base with initials BO (Base Office) and an asterisk (sometimes omitted) in lieu of the office number. Also at sub-base offices with larger office numerals 1 to 9. Type 2 (_Figs._ 25, 26). Commonly without the year being noted, as in the first illustration but also found with the year as in the second illustration of this mark. It has been largely supposed, but without much, if any, foundation that these year-less marks originated in Ladysmith during the siege, but little correspondence can have been passed out of the town during that period, and the origin of many of these marks is known _not_ to have been Ladysmith. [Illustration: 28 29 30 31 32] Type 3 (_Fig._ 27). Used in sub-offices supplementary to type 1, found stamped in blue-green as well as in black. Office numbers 41-60. Type 4 (_Fig._ 28). Used in Base Office at Cape Town. Type 5 (_Fig._ 29). A locally made rubber-stamp cancellation found in several sub-varieties. Type 6 (_Fig._ 30). Used in the field post offices attached to the Natal Field Force with name of place or number. Type 7 is similar to type 2 but lettered NATAL FIELD FORCE, found in black and in violet. Type 8, a newspaper cancellation, with NFF (Natal Field Force) in white letters on a black ground, circular shape. [Illustration: 30A 32A.] Type 9 (_Fig._ 30A). A thick lined circle, 20 mm. in diameter, lettered F.P.O. (Field Post Office) and a number, also used for newspapers. Type 10. An almost circular obliteration lettered P.O.A. (Post Office, Africa) with the number 43, a bracket at each side and two thick bars at top and at bottom. Type 11 (_Fig._ 31). Used in travelling post offices (T.P.O.), struck in black or violet. The travelling post offices are "EAST NO. 1," "MIDLAND," "WESTERN," and "NORTHERN." Type 12 (_Fig._ 32). For fixed army post offices in Orange River Colony and Transvaal, used from about the end of 1901 and for a short time after the declaration of peace. A fancy type of town postmark is shown in _Fig._ 32A. Another interesting postmark relic of the war in South Africa is one struck in red "RECOVERED FROM WRECK OF MEXICAN" a ship which was returning from South Africa with mails from the troops, and which foundered after collision with the ss. _Winkfield._ The bulk of the mail was recovered. THE GREAT WAR, 1914. The Army Postal Service with the British Expeditionary Force on the Continent in the present war is under the command of Colonel W. Price, C.M.G., who as Captain Price had the long experience of service with the Army Post Office in South Africa. It is scarcely necessary to say that the volume of correspondence now being dealt with by the service is unprecedented in the history of the British Army. In the early months of the war the outgoing mail to the Army Base Post Office in France averaged 12,000 parcels and 250,000 to 300,000 letters a day. It is impossible to give statistics of the number of branch offices of all grades established, but already there are many interesting postmarks originating with the British Army in France. The various types of marks so far recorded are:-- Army Base Post Office (_Fig._ 33). Advance Base Post Office (_Fig._ 34). [Illustration: 33 34] Army Post Offices with the Troops (_Figs._ 35-37). [Illustration: 35 36 37] There are also a number of types of Censor marks, not all necessarily military, and printed labels used in re-sealing opened letters (_Figs._ 38-40): [Illustration: 38 38A 39 40. 40A. 40B. 40C. 40D.] In this connection may also be mentioned the various marks used on letters sent by prisoners of war in charge of the British military authorities at home and abroad. An old type of prisoner-of-war mark dated 1800 is illustrated in _Fig._ 41, from "Pre-Victorian Postage Stamps and Franks" by Mr. G. A. Foster.[4] [Footnote 4: London. 1910: Charles Nissen & Co.] [Illustration: 41] The following are examples of the marks now being used (_Figs._ 42, 43): [Illustration: 42 43 42A. 43A.] It may be well to give a brief outline of the methods of the Army Postal Service, that its work may be better known and understood. In addressing letters to the troops it is important to give the full military particulars of the addressee, _viz_:--Regimental number, rank, name, squadron, battery or company, battalion, regiment (or other unit), staff appointment or department, and title of the Expeditionary Force. With these details set out clearly on the envelope, the work of the Army Postal Service is facilitated and the letter stands every chance of going through without delay. In France, as the postmarks already illustrated denote, the British Army Postal Service has several grades of post offices. The chief is the Base Post Office, the principal sorting establishment for all mail matter passing between our British Post Office and the Army Postal Service. The Base Office is quite a large concern and has a vast amount of clerical work to perform. In it letters are sorted, letters taking precedence over all other mail matter, after which the newspapers, and lastly the parcels are dealt with. Accounts of all the branch post offices are filed and the general routines and formulae of the Post Office at home are adhered to in detail. Letters, etc., for services, departments and units at the base are put into callers' boxes for delivery to the post orderlies. Those for more distant services and units are forwarded to the various grades of branch offices. At the Base Office one of the most complicated and difficult tasks is the re-direction of letters. Here are kept hospital lists, giving names of men away from their units in hospital, and these hospital rolls are revised weekly. Here also records have to be kept of the movements of the units, and these records are constantly in process of revision, and frequent communication is maintained with every branch office in the field. From the Base Office mails for field units are forwarded to the Advanced Base Post Office, which in its turn distributes them to the Field Post Offices serving the units to which the letters are addressed. There are several kinds of field post offices; those "with train" are attached to the headquarters of each train, and handle the letters of the units served by the train. Branch field post offices are attached to the general headquarters, and to the headquarters of armies, divisions, and brigades. Then there are stationary field post offices at various points on the line of communication, and in some cases travelling post offices on railway lines. It devolves upon the Director of Army Postal Services, who is represented at general headquarters, and at the headquarters of each Army by an Assistant Director, to organise the service, and to supply to the various offices the information necessary to ensure the proper circulation of the mails. This, especially in a campaign like the present, is a delicate task, often complicated by the restrictions necessary in military policy to preserve secrecy as to the movements of the troops. * * * * * NAVAL POSTMARKS. Of the naval postal arrangements, reference has already been made to the cancellations used on letters originating with the British Fleet in the Baltic during the Crimean War (_Fig._ 20). Special navy post offices were in the early days established by local postmasters at various ports as a link between the land service and the Fleet in home waters. The letters were marked with _Fig._ 44, and the local postmaster collected an extra penny charge upon such letters for delivery to ships lying in the harbour or roadstead. [Illustration: 44] The late Mr. W. G. Hendy, of the Muniment Room, records that with the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage (1840) it was decided so far as Portsmouth was concerned, that such letters should be delivered free in the harbour as far as Spithead; but it was not until May, 1852, that the practice of charging the extra penny for delivery was abolished at Devonport and Plymouth, and free delivery extended to all vessels lying in the harbour (Hamoaze), although not to vessels lying in Plymouth Sound. The following are types of postmarks used after free delivery was granted. (_Figs._ 45, 46.) [Illustration: 45 46] The same authority states that a privilege was accorded to non-commissioned officers, seamen, and soldiers of sending and receiving within any part of the British dominions, under certain regulations, letters on their own concerns only, not exceeding half an ounce, at the rate of one penny each. Such letters had to be superscribed with the name of the seaman or soldier, his class and description, the name of the ship or regiment to which he belonged; and if they were the writers of the letters, they had to be countersigned by the officer commanding. When this regulation was not complied with letters were charged as ordinary, and postmarked with _Fig._ 47. [Illustration: 47] No doubt there are many more postmarks with a naval interest, including those valued by collectors as indicating stamps on letters originating in the various naval stations abroad from 1858 to 1870, recognised by the following letters and numbers:-- A79 to A89. Pacific Naval Stations. A90 to A99. Atlantic Naval Stations. B03, B12, B56. African Naval Stations. B53 (Mauritius), B62 and C79 (Hong Kong), B64 (Seychelles). Also "B", "H", and the date stamp in the case of "Ascension". In the present war the naval postmarks promise to be of exceptional interest. The postmarks for both Army and Navy give no clue to the locality in which the correspondence originates; this, of course, applies to mails coming from the field or area of operations; there is no occasion to disguise place of origin of letters going out to sailors or soldiers. Most of the naval marks at present in use bear no inscriptions of any kind, though there is a type inscribed Fleet Post Office (_Fig._ 48). [Illustration: 48] Even the machine cancellation, doubtless used in some large centre of naval concentration, has had bars (or type turned base upwards) in lieu of the lettering and date (_Fig._ 49). [Illustration: 49. _Machine Cancellation_ (_Navy_).] Other naval marks introduced in the present campaign, in accordance no doubt with a secret code, are in various devices, such as a propeller, a target, and various arrangements of rings, etc. (_Figs._ 50-57). [Illustration: 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 54A. 57A.] CHAPTER II. INDIAN ARMY POSTAL SERVICE--China Expeditionary Force--British Railway Administration in China--Somaliland--The Forbidden City of Lhassa--Indian Expeditionary Force in France. The Army Postal Service forms a highly organised branch of the Indian Army organisation. It dates from 1878-1880, when, during the Afghan War, a mail cart route was set up between Peshawar and Jellalabad, and a horse post was conducted thence to Kabul, in all about 176 miles. Jhelum and Peshawar were also connected by rail, a military transport train being run by the Post Office between these points. Even earlier than this date there were postal arrangements for Indian Expeditionary Forces, including that operating in Abyssinia (1867-68), the type of postmark being lettered F.F. (Field Force), as in _Fig._ 58. [Illustration: 58] The postmarks used on letters despatched from troops accompanying the numerous Indian military expeditions form a very considerable range for philatelic exploration. They include Egypt, Miranzi, Kurrum, Hazara, Waziristan, Suakim, Tochi, Chitral, Malakand, Tirah, China, Tibet, Somaliland, and South Africa. The system of the Indian Army Postal Service is similar to that already described for the British Expeditionary Force on the Continent. A base office is established at each military base, and works as a head office, communicating with India and with the field. Field post offices of 1st and 2nd class are attached to brigades, divisional troops, and divisional headquarters, and these fly a distinguishing flag by day and display a distinguishing lamp by night. The establishment of base and field offices varies according to the size of the force which they are to serve, but ordinarily the establishment of a base office is: 1 postmaster, 2 deputy postmasters, 15 clerks, 2 khalassis, 6 packers, 1 sweeper. First class field post offices are accompanied by 1 postmaster, 2 clerks, 1 packer, 2 tent khalassis, and 1 sweeper, while for second class field post offices the establishment consists only of a postmaster, a packer, and a sweeper. In addition there are supervising officers for each division, and in the event of the post office making its own arrangements for transport between the base and the field offices, a number of overseers are required. The officers and men all have the word "POST" in brass letters on the shoulders of their uniforms. Postage stamps of India (including postcards and embossed envelopes, both ordinary and "official") are stocked by all field post offices, and ordinarily a six-months' supply is sent out with the force, and is distributed from the base office to the field post offices. It is part of the duty of the base office to see that each field office maintains a sufficient stock of stamps, in accordance with a minimum determined by the chief superintendent in respect of each field post office. In 1900, in connection with the Boxer Troubles in China, Indian troops were despatched to assist with contingents from all the Powers in the relief of the Legations, and with them went their Army Post Office. Since the settlement of the troubles a permanent Legation Guard has been maintained by the Indian Army in China. On reaching China, the Indian Army Post Office established its base at Hong Kong, but this was temporarily shifted to Wei-hai-wei on account of objections raised by the Postmaster-General of the British colony of Hong Kong. The new base did not prove satisfactory, however, and ultimately Hong Kong became the permanent base, and the Army Post Office worked in harmonious co-operation with the British Post Office and the Chinese Imperial Post. Field post offices were set up at Pekin, Tientsin, Shanghai, Stonecutters' Island, Wei-hai-wei, Tongshau, Matao, Ching-Wang-Tao, Yangstun, Tongku, Sinho, Hanku, Shan-hai-Kwan, and many other points, sometimes consisting of a couple of tents, but often during this campaign in more substantial structures, and even (according to Mr. Ashley C. Vernieux) in the Temple of Heaven at Pekin. With the troops sent to China in 1900 the Indian Post Office started the supply of specially overprinted Indian stamps, so that stamps bought in China could not be subject to speculation and sale in India by reason of varying rates of exchange. The Queen Victoria stamps then current, values from 3 pies to 1 rupee were overprinted with the initials C.E.F. (China Expeditionary Force), and the successive issues of Indian stamps have been similarly overprinted for the use of the troops still maintained in China (_Figs._ 59-61.). [Illustration: 59 60 61 62 63] The postmarks used on the expedition were _Fig._ 62 for the base office, and _Fig._ 63 for the advanced base, similar marks inscribed at top "_FIELD P.O. No._ ..." or "F.P.O. NO. ..." or single line circular marks inscribed F.P.O. (_Figs._ 64, 65). There are also a single-line circular date mark of the base office, and registered marks (_Fig._ 66). [Illustration: 64 65 66 67] Fig. 67 illustrates the postmark of the present base post office of the Indian troops in China, located at Tientsin. On the suppression of the Boxer rising the troops of the Allies were in occupation of Chihli, and the Pekin Shanhaikwan railway was divided up between the English, Japanese, Germans and Russians. By February, 1901, the administration of the whole of the line was in the hands of the British, but it was under the control of a Board consisting of a British director and two deputies, one German and the other Japanese. At this period the Allies had about 100,000 men in Chihli, but the British troops were stationed at various stations on the line. To facilitate the prompt delivery of the letters of these British troops, the postal superintendent of the British force applied for a sorting van to be attached to the train so that letters could be dealt with _en route_.... To this application the reply was that no concession could be given to the British which was not given to all the other forces, and that as the service was then restricted to one train a day, such a concession might result in the train consisting largely of mail vans. But to meet the general convenience, subject to the British postal authorities undertaking to receive and deliver the letters of all nationalities posted at the stations or in a box attached to the van, thus making the service international, a van was placed at their disposal from April 20, 1901. The new facilities were announced in the circular, of which a facsimile is given (_Fig._ 68), and the extra fee was collected by surcharging and selling a number of ½ cent Chinese stamps "B.R.A. 5 Five Cents" in black or green (_Fig._ 69). The B.R.A. stands for British Railway Administration. [Illustration: 68] DIRECTOR OF RAILWAYS: CIRCULAR No. 15 d/ 15: 4: 1901. BRITISH RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION. RAILWAY POSTAL SERVICE. 1.--In order to allow of letters being posted up to the latest possible time, it has been arranged, with effect from the 20th April, 1901, to open post offices at the Railway Stations at Peking, Tientsin, Tongku, Tongshan and Shanhaikwan. These offices will open an hour before the advertised time of departure of the trains carrying the mails and will close ten minutes before the trains leave. 2.--Only ordinary letters will be accepted at these post offices. Registered or insured letters cannot be accepted, nor can newspapers or parcels. 3.--The letters should in all cases have affixed to them the same stamps, or be franked in the same manner, as if they were going through the post in the ordinary way. The Railway Postmaster will therefore accept letters stamped with the stamps of any nationality with post offices now in Northern China, and the stamp will indicate the nationality of the post office to which the letter will have to be handed over for delivery, or further transit, at the end of the railway portion of the journey. Unpaid, underpaid, and unfranked letters will be accepted, but they will be liable to all penalties now existing, and unpaid and unfranked stamps will also run the risk of misdelivery. 4.--The letters must be handed, _together with a fee of five cents for each letter_, to the Railway Postmaster at any of the stations above named. This five cents is a late letter fee and is in addition to the ordinary postage. 5.--The Railway Postmaster will then affix the Railway stamp, and will retain the letter for posting in the train. The Railway stamp will not be issued to the public to affix themselves, nor will the Railway Postmaster accept any letters with the Railway stamp already affixed. 6.--This service can be used for letters to Europe or any country over sea. The trains carrying mails leave the stations as detailed below: Peking to Tientsin 8.28 Tientsin to Peking 12.00 Tientsin to Tongku 7.20 Tongku to Tientsin 9.10 Tongku to Tongshan 9.50 Tongshan to Tongku 8.30 Tongshan to Shanhaikwan 7.30 Shanhaikwan to Tongshan 8.47 J. R. L. MACDONALD. [Illustration: 69] About the same period India had military post offices with the troops engaged on the Swat frontier and against the Waziris. Field Post Office No. 25 was the office at Camp Khar on the Swat Frontier, Nos. 5A and 22 were respectively at Zam and Jani Khel in connection with the blockading of the Mahsud Waziris (_Type of Fig._ 70). [Illustration: 70] Indian stamps were also used by the forces engaged in the Somaliland campaign of 1903-4, at first without overprint, of which the following are types of the postmarks (_Figs._ 71, 72): [Illustration: 71 72 73 74] and during 1903 stamps of India appeared overprinted for use in British Somaliland (_Fig._ 73). Colonel Younghusband's mission to the Tibetan Government was accompanied by army postal service which set up its base in the Chumbi valley, and during the occupation of the forbidden city a field post office was set up at Lhassa. Indian stamps used on this mission are recognisable by the postmarks of Lhassa, including two mis-spellings of the name LAHASSA (_Fig._ 74), and LAHSSA (_Fig._ 75). [Illustration: 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 85A] The Indian forces in South Africa also had their own postal establishment, with a special series of postmarks. In the present campaign the Indian forces are accompanied by fully-equipped field postal arrangements, and following up the precedent of the China Expeditionary Force, the Indian Expeditionary Force in Europe is furnished with a set of current Indian postage stamps, cards, etc., overprinted I.E.F. (_Figs._ 76-85). The Indian troops enjoy free postage on unregistered letters and postcards posted to the United Kingdom, France, and India, but correspondence to all other countries, such as Switzerland, Holland, Scandinavia, and the rest of the world has to be prepaid with I.E.F. stamps, as also the parcels and registered letters for all countries. The next figure (85A) illustrates the type of base post office mark used in France, and no doubt similar marks are being used on these stamps supplied to the Indian forces engaged in Egypt and elsewhere during the present war. _Fig._ 85B although not definitely identified is probably an Indian army postmark in use in France. The first instalment of the "I.E.F." Indian stamps issued to troops included: 3 pies, grey (Fig. 76), 230,400 stamps. ½ anna, green (Fig. 77), 768,000 " 1 anna, rose-carmine (Fig. 78), 422,400 " 2 annas, mauve (Fig. 79), 204,800 " 2½ annas, ultramarine (Fig. 80) 51,200 " 3 " orange-brown (Fig. 81), 51,200 " 4 " olive (Fig. 82), 51,200 " 8 " purple (Fig. 83), 25,600 " 12 " dull claret (Fig. 84), 25,600 " 1 rupee, green and brown (Fig. 85), 9600 " and the following supplies of postcards and envelopes. ¼ anna inland postcard, single, 1800 reams ¼ anna inland postcard, reply, 700 " 1 anna international single postcard, 100 " ½ anna envelopes, small size, 1100 " [Illustration: 85B.] CHAPTER III. SOUTH AFRICAN WARS.--Transvaal--Orange River Colony--Krugersdorp-- Kuruman--Lydenburg--Mafeking--Pietersburg--Rustenburg--Schweizer Renecke--Volksrust--Vryburg--Wolmaranstad--The Union--South African War of 1914. [Illustration: 86 87] TRANSVAAL. The stamps of the Transvaal illustrate the important changes through which the country has passed during the past forty years. _Fig._ 86 represents an early stamp of the Republic, while the next figure (_Fig._ 87) is just one example of several denoting the annexation of the country by the British in 1877. There are several types of the "V.R. Transvaal" overprint, as in _Figs._ 88-90. [Illustration: 88 89 90] These were followed by stamps bearing the portrait of the British Sovereign (_Fig._ 91). A great blow to British prestige was struck in 1881, and the result of the disaster of Majuba Hill was the establishment of a Second Republic which in its turn overprinted the Queen Victoria stamps with a Dutch inscription "Een Penny" (_Fig._ 92), subsequently returning to the original Arms design of South African Republic stamps (_Fig._ 86). [Illustration: 91 92 93] Just before the outbreak of the last South African War in 1899 the ascendancy of President Kruger had led to the ambition to see his features depicted upon the postage stamps of his country, and a new stamp design (_Fig._ 93) was prepared for this purpose, and a special paper was manufactured watermarked Z.A.R. (Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek) as illustrated in _Fig._ 94. But the stamp was never issued, and the quantity of the "Z.A.R." paper was sold and used for purposes very different from that for which it was prepared. In 1900, after the late Lord Roberts' march to Pretoria, the contemporary South African Transvaal stamps came under British control again, and were issued at first with the overprinted initials of Queen Victoria, V.R.I. (_Fig._ 95), and later of King Edward, E.R.I. (_Fig._ 96). These were superseded in due course by the London printed issue of Transvaal stamps bearing the portrait of King Edward (_Fig._ 97). [Illustration: 94 95 96 97] ORANGE RIVER COLONY. On March 17, 1900, Field Marshal Lord Roberts issued the following PROCLAMATION. "Whereas it is deemed expedient and necessary for the welfare of the Orange Free State that the Postal Service shall be resumed in the aforesaid Republic as far as circumstances permit. "Now therefore, "I, Frederick Sleigh, Baron Roberts of Khandahar, K.G., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., V.C., Field Marshal and Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in South Africa, do hereby nominate and appoint David George Amosi Falck Administrator of the Civil Posts in such portions of the Orange Free State as have been or may hereafter be occupied by British troops. "And I do hereby order that the Postal and Telegraph Services shall be resumed in the portions of the aforesaid Republic already referred to, from the nineteenth day of March, 1900, under the existing Laws and Conventions of the Orange Free State, subject to such alterations as may from time to time be notified. Given under my hand at Bloemfontein this seventeenth day of March, 1900. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. (Signed) ROBERTS, _Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief British Forces in South Africa._ The Administrator shortly afterwards issued the following NOTICE. It is hereby notified for general information that Orange Free State postage stamps, in use up to the 14th inst., are no longer valid; surcharged stamps of the same denomination having been substituted. (Signed) A. FALCK, _Administrator._ General Post Office, _Bloemfontein, March 22nd, 1900._ [Illustration: 98] The stamps of the Orange Free State were successively overprinted "V.R.I." and "E.R.I." (_Fig._ 98), and later on new stamps were issued with the portrait of King Edward (_Fig._ 99). [Illustration: 99 100] Cape of Good Hope stamps were also used in the new Colony with a special overprint reading "Orange River Colony" (_Fig._ 100). A sixpence blue stamp of the Orange Free State (_type of Fig._ 98) was in readiness for issue at Bloemfontein when the British forces took over the control, and a few of these escaped the "V.R.I." overprint. The stamp is familiar to collectors with the overprint, and strictly speaking, without the overprint it has no record of postal use. A type-set label was issued by the Orange Free State early in the war to indicate the franking of official correspondence probably on military service. The stamp has a border of fancy type ornament and simple type inscriptions in three lines "IN DIENST--R.D.M.--O.V.S." The so-called "Commando Brief" stamp alleged to have franked the correspondence of burghers on commando is a bogus production. KRUGERSDORP. The South African Republic stamps alleged to have been used in this Transvaal town with V.R.I _typewritten_ across them are believed to be purely fictitious creations. KURUMAN. During the siege of this town in British Bechuanaland Cape of Good Hope stamps were overprinted "KURUMAN BESIEGED" and the date, but they are not fully credited by philatelists as _bonâ fide_ issues. LYDENBURG. During the temporary occupation of this South African Republic Town in September, 1900, the stamp commemorative of penny postage (_Fig._ 101) was surcharged "V.R.I. 1d." and the ordinary Transvaal stamps were locally overprinted "V.R.I." (_Fig._ 102). The values are ½d. green, 1d. carmine and green, 2d. brown, 2½d. blue, 3d. on 1d. carmine and green, 4d. sage green and deep green, 6d. lilac and green, 1s. ochre and green. [Illustration: 101 102] MAFEKING. During the memorable siege of Mafeking, a Bechuanaland town but under the Cape postal administration, arrangements were made for a local post, and for occasional transmission of letters to Cape Colony, Natal, Rhodesia, and the United Kingdom. The postal arrangements of the town had only been transferred to the Cape Colony shortly before the siege, a fact which explains the variety of Bechuanaland and Cape stamps available in the town during the siege. Payment of postage at the special rates chargeable for the service in the town and beyond was payable in the stamps of either "British Bechuanaland," "Bechuanaland Protectorate," or of the Cape overprinted "Mafeking--Besieged," and the new value (_Figs._ 103-114). As will be noticed from the illustrations, the Bechuanaland stamps were chiefly created by overprinting the name "BRITISH BECHUANALAND" or "BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE" on English stamps. [Illustration: 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114] The foregoing stamps were chiefly used for letters sent by native runners who had to dodge through the enemy's lines and get either to Buluwayo in the north or Kimberley in the south. A special penny and a threepence stamp were prepared by a photographic process in the town, and these form the most interesting philatelic souvenirs of the South African War. The penny stamp, designed by Dr. W. A. Hayes, shows a portrait of Sergeant-Major Goodyear, of the Cadet Corps (_Fig._ 115), and there are two sizes of threepence stamp, designed by Captain Greener, the Chief Paymaster, showing a portrait of the gallant defender of Mafeking, General Baden Powell. [Illustration: 115 116 117] PIETERSBURG. This town in the north of the Transvaal provided an interesting set of type-set provisional stamps during the Boer occupation, from March until April 9, 1901, when the British troops occupied the town and district. The stamps, which were but roughly printed in the office of _De Zoutpansberg Wachter_ in the town, are inscribed "POSTZEGEL" at top "Z. AFR. REP." at each side, and "1901" at foot. The value is expressed in figures and word in the rectangular opening of the frame of printer's rule (_Fig._ 118). The values issued were ½d. green, 1d. rose, 2d. orange, 4d. blue, 6d. green, and 1s. yellow, and owing to the crudity of the printing, specialists find a very extensive range of minor technical varieties amongst this issue of six denominations. [Illustration: 118] RUSTENBURG. After the relief of the British garrison by Baden Powell's force in June, 1900, the British hand-stamped South African Republic stamps with the _sans serif_ initials V.R. in violet, the values known being ½d. green, 1d. carmine and green, 2d. brown and green, 2½d. blue and green, 3d. purple and green, 6d. lilac and green, 1s. ochre and green, 2s. 6d. dull violet and green (_Fig._ 119). [Illustration: 119] SCHWEIZER RENECKE. This Transvaal hamlet, in which a British force under Colonel Chamier was besieged from August 19, 1900, to January 9, 1901, overprinted some Cape of Good Hope ½d. and 1d. and Transvaal ½d., 1d., 2d., and 6d. stamps with a handstamp, reading "BESIEGED" in violet, but this scarcely alters the postal status of the stamps (_Fig._ 120). [Illustration: 120] VOLKSRUST. Here also in June, 1900, a number of Boer stamps were overprinted "V.R.I." in serif letters. The stamps used for the overprinting were fiscal stamps of the type of _Fig._ 121, converted for postal use by the overprint "POSTZEGEL" (postage stamp) (_Fig._ 122). The values overprinted V.R.I. were 1d. pale blue, 6d. carmine, 1s. olive-bistre, 1s. 6d. brown, 2s. 6d. purple. [Illustration: 121 122] VRYBURG. In November, 1899, the Boers occupied this town in Griqualand West, and they surcharged some of our Cape Colony stamps in stock there with the initials of the South African Republic (Z.A.R.) and a new value (_Figs._ 124, 125, 129). [Illustration: 124 125] The town was retaken by the British in May, 1900, and certain stamps of the South African Republic left behind by the Boers were overprinted with an English inscription (_Figs._ 126-128). [Illustration: 126 127 128 129] WOLMARANSTAD. Occupied by the British in June, 1900, the available South African Republic stamps having the Dutch name overprinted "Cancelled" and the addition of the sans serif letters, separated by hyphens "V-R-I." in blue and red. The values are the ½d., 1d., 2d., 2½d., 3d., 4d., 6d., and 1s. of the regular South African stamps, and the 1d. red commemorative stamp, in which, however, the word cancelled is in a square, script type (_Figs._ 130, 131). [Illustration: 130 131] UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. It was fondly regarded as the settlement of British and Boer troubles in South Africa when the former belligerents in the Transvaal, Free State, Natal, and Cape Colony combined to form the Union of South Africa. The opening of the Union Parliament was commemorated in a special stamp (_Fig._ 132), the first to bear the portrait of H.M. King George V. after the decease of King Edward. [Illustration: 132 133] This has since been followed with a complete issue of Georgian stamps for the whole of the Union (_Fig._ 133). SOUTH AFRICA IN 1914. Already we have a first instalment of special marks used on letters of General Botha's loyal forces against the rebels, and against German raiders. The first (_Fig_. 134) is the handstamp struck in violet of an official regimental frank. The army base and field post offices have their postmarks of the pattern indicated in _Fig_. 135, and the censor label illustrated (_Fig_. 136) is printed in violet, apparently in sheets which before use are endorsed with a black mark of concentric circles bearing an inscription of which only a portion shows on each label, and of which we have only seen an undecipherable part. [Illustration: 134 135 136] All three of these were used on a letter from a member of the South African Scottish regiment at Luderitzbucht in German South-West Africa. CHAPTER IV. FRANCE--Napoleon's Minister of Posts--The Second Republic--The Presidency--Empire--French Expeditions to China and Mexico--Sedan--Metz--Strasburg--The Siege of Paris--Balloon Post--Pigeon Post--Peace--Military Frank Stamps--The German Invasion, 1914--Red Cross Stamps--War Postcards and Postmarks. The postal arrangements of France have been deranged oft-times within the past century by war and revolution. It is just a century since the famous episode of the Lavalettes occurred. The Count de Lavalette was Director of Posts under Napoleon, and in 1814 he did his best to upset the organisation and fled on the approach of the Allies. The following year he returned to his post, and after Waterloo he was arrested on a treason charge and sentenced to the guillotine. The Countess made desperate efforts to gain the clemency of Louis XVIII., but without avail. In the end she gained permission to go to her husband in his prison. She went in a sedan chair with her daughter, and an old servant of the family. The gaoler left the couple to their last farewell, and on his return saw the broken-hearted wife assisted out by her two companions. A little later he approached the Count, who lay collapsed upon his bed covered in a large cloak, and his face buried in his hands. It was some time after ere the gaoler discovered that his prisoner was the lady, and that the Count had got clear away. French stamps provide a very interesting record of the political changes in the country, and provide one of the best illustrations of how stamps demarcate the periods of a nation's history. We have dealt at some length with this aspect of French stamps elsewhere,[5] and limit our account here to a short pictorial one. The first French stamps (_Fig._ 137) are inscribed REPUB. FRANC., and followed in the wake of the revolution of 1848 when M. Etienne Arago was in charge of the post office. They were first issued January 1, 1849, after the election of Prince Louis Napoleon to the Presidency. The head on the stamp engraved by the elder Barre is not the head of Liberty, as is commonly supposed, but that of Ceres, the Italian goddess of Agriculture, who was the same as the Greek Demeter or "Mother Earth," appropriate for the design of the stamps of a country which is "one of Ceres' chiefest barns for corn." Napoleon's _coup d'etat_ of December, 1851, was followed by the issue in 1852 of stamps in which his portrait takes the place of Ceres (_Fig._ 138). Late in the same year the Empire was proclaimed, so in 1853 the abbreviated inscription REPUB. FRANC. was altered to EMPIRE FRANC. (_Fig._ 139). Napoleon's successes in Italy and elsewhere were acclaimed by adding the victor's crown of laurel to the portrait on the stamps in 1863 (_Fig._ 140). His various expeditions are marked for the collectors in a most interesting range of Army postmarks, used in the Crimea, China, Mexico, etc., and of French stamps used in the French post offices in the Levant, similar to the British ones described in chapter I., and now rendered obsolete by the closing of the post offices in October, 1914, as a result of the "abolition of the capitulations." The Mexican expedition, largely owing to the Civil War troubles in the States, led to the placing of Emperor Maximilian on the throne of Mexico, and to the issue of stamps of the Mexican Empire bearing that ill-fated ruler's portrait (_Fig._ 141). [Footnote 5: "All About Postage Stamps." By Fred J. Melville. London, 1913. T. Werner Laurie, Ltd.] [Illustration: 137 138 139 140 141] The Franco-German War has left the stamp collector an interesting series of stamps catalogued as Alsace and Lorraine (_Fig._ 233), but more properly called the stamps of the German Army of Occupation, as they were used in the parts of France occupied by the German Army during the war and afterwards in the two annexed provinces until superseded by the German Imperial issues. September 2, 1870, witnessed the surrender of Napoleon to the Prussians at Sedan, and in November we find the head of Ceres recur on the stamps lithographed at Bordeaux during the siege of Paris (_Fig._ 142). [Illustration: 142] This period is undoubtedly the most interesting one in modern postal history. There is a vast array of Army postmarks of the war, special postcards issued by the auxiliary committee of the Red Cross at Strasburg, letters sent from Metz during the siege by free balloons, and letters sent by a variety of ingenious methods from Paris. M. Steenackers was the Director of Posts under the republic proclaimed September 4, 1870, and his endeavours to maintain postal communications between Paris and the outer world are among the most fascinating of postal records. A cable was laid under the Seine to Rouen, but the Germans dragged the river and destroyed it. Telegraph wire had to be smuggled into the country, as the Swiss Government declared it to be contraband. Letters were enclosed in different forms of hollow spheres and thrown into the river; the spheres were flanged so that they would rotate with the current. Hundreds of gallant messengers, ladies as well as men, strove to reach the city with concealed messages, mostly without success. One lady is said to have succeeded in getting through with a letter which had been secreted in a hollow tooth and the tooth stopped with gold. Even dogs were sent with messages to Paris, but most of them were shot by the enemy. The chief means of sending letters out of Paris was the balloon post, and almost the only messages received within the city came by carrier pigeons. There were free balloons and passenger balloons, a higher rate of postage being charged for the latter. Letter sheets, etc., were issued for both services inscribed "PAR BALLON NON-MONTE," or PAR BALLON MONTE. A register was kept of the services of aeronauts during the siege. The messages sent by pigeons were at first written in very small handwriting, but afterwards they were photographed in microscopical minuteness, so that a very large number could be carried by one pigeon. These photomicrographs were projected on to a screen by means of an optical lantern to read and transcribe the messages when received in Paris. The films were placed in tubes attached to the pigeon's tail. One pigeon arriving in Paris January 28, 1871, delivered 40,400 messages by this means. The later and more peaceful history of France has been typified on its stamps by M. Jules Sage's allegory (_Fig._ 143) representing Peace clasping hands with Commerce across the world by means of the post, and by the late M. Roty's pleasing Semeuse or Sower design (_Fig._ 144). [Illustration: 143 144] By a law promulgated February 9, 1900, a long discussed project to allow soldiers and sailors serving with the colours a limited free postage was brought into operation. Each man coming under the description was allowed to send two letters a month free, and by another law of December 29, 1900, the _Franchise Militaire_ stamp system was introduced. These were at first the then current 15 centimes stamps with the overprint F.M. (_Fig._ 145); their distribution is in the hands of the military authorities, who allow two stamps a month to each private or non-commissioned officer in the Army and Navy, enabling them to send two letters not exceeding 20gr. free of postage. The two types of the 15 centimes "Rights of Man" issue exist with the F.M. overprint, issued in 1901 and 1903 respectively (_Figs._ 145, 146), and the succeeding Sower type (_Fig._ 147) appeared in 1904. When the French inland postage rate was reduced from 15 centimes to 10 centimes, April 16, 1906, the 10 centimes stamps were overprinted F.M. instead of the 15 centimes, two of the Sower types of 10 centimes value receiving the overprint F.M. respectively in 1906 and 1907 (_Figs._ 148, 149). Since January 30, 1912, these stamps have been used on the official correspondence of the French civil service as well as by the military. [Illustration: 145 146 147 148 149] After forty years the fair fields of France are once again ravaged by the German invaders, and already our allies across the channel have issued special stamps which serve the double purpose of denoting postage and of collecting small contributions to the French Red Cross. The following is the official decree: Le Président de la République Française. Sur le rapport du Ministre du Commerce, de l'Industrie, des Postes et des Télégraphes, Décrète: Article premier.--Il est créé un timbre-poste spécial, dénommé "Timbre de la Croix-Rouge Française." Le public aura la faculté, dans le régime interieur seulement, d'utiliser ce timbre qui vaudra affranchissement jusqu'à concurrence de 10 centimes seulement. Art. 2.--Ce timbre-poste est vendu 15 centimes. La différence entre le prix de vente et le valeur d'affranchissement, déduction faite de la remise réglementaire de 1p. 100, sera versée à la Commission institutée par le décret du 8 août, 1914, au ministère de la Guerre, sous l'autorité du service de santé militaire et avec le concours des Sociétés formant la Croix-Rouge française. Art. 3.--Par mesure transitoire et en attendant l'impression du nouveau timbre, le public aura à sa disposition des timbres-poste ordinaires à 10 centimes, portant en surcharge le signe de la Croix-Rouge et le chiffre 5. Art. 4.--Le ministre du Commerce et le ministre des Finances sont chargés, chacun en ce qui le concerne, de l'execution du présent décret. Fait à Paris, le 11 août, 1914. R. POINCARE. Par le Président de la République: _Le Ministre du Commerce, de l'Industrie, des Postes et des Télégraphes_, GASTON THOMSON, _Le Ministre des Finances_, J. NOULENS. [Illustration: 150 151 152] As indicated in the decree, the first stamp (_Fig._ 150) was only of provisional character, the ordinary French 10 centimes stamp being surcharged "+ 5c", and selling for 15 centimes, two-thirds representing the postage, and one-third the Red Cross contribution. This was issued on August 18, 1914, and in all 600,000 were printed before the definite Red Cross stamp (_Fig._ 151) was issued on September 10. The Principality of Monaco has also issued a similarly overprinted stamp for the French Red Cross (_Fig._ 152), and yet another of this class of stamp has been issued for the French Protectorate in Morocco (_Fig._ 153). [Illustration: 153 154] Special postcards have been furnished to the French troops and there is a special postcard for the use of the public in writing to soldiers. They are decorated with the flags of the Allies in colours, and the first kind, "Modèle A," bear instructions to the effect that "This card must be handed to the Quartermaster. It must bear no indication of the place of sending nor any information relating to military operations, past or future. Otherwise it will not be forwarded." On "Modèle B" (_Fig._ 154), for the use of the public, it is stated that "if it is to be forwarded immediately the card shall contain _personal news_ only." Messrs. Alfred Smith & Sons report the existence of an unofficial imitation of "Modèle B" sold in the streets of Paris. It differs from the genuine variety in the following details: (i) The flags are misplaced so that the French flag leans over to the right, instead of being vertical; (ii) The red and blue colours are shaded with black lines only, instead of white and black lines; (iii) The ruled line at the back is plain, instead of being composed of square dots. There is also a variety of plain letterpress cards, headed "CORRESPONDANCE MILITAIRE--REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE--CARTE POSTALE", and other textual inscriptions, or in some cases with only the first two words, with an arrangement of space for the address. [Illustration: 156] Many military postmarks have already been noted by collectors in connection with the present campaign, but it is too early yet to arrange them with proper regard to their use and significance. One interesting episode is marked by the postmark of the Central Military Postal administration of Paris (_Figs._ 155, 156). This establishment accompanied the French Government when the latter moved to Bordeaux on September 3, and continued to use the postmark inscribed Paris there, so that impressions of _Fig._ 155 bearing dates between September 3 and October 13 (the date of the return to Paris) originated not in Paris, but in Bordeaux. [Illustration: 155 157 158 159 160 161 162] A somewhat pathetic interest attaches to the mark _Fig._ 157 indicating "LIEU DE DESTINATION ENVAHI" (place of destination invaded), and it appears that Tours has been a temporary centre for civil correspondence undeliverable to parts of the country which have been invaded (_Figs._ 158-160). _Figs._ 161-168 represent various types of army postmarks, regimental franks, etc., being used during the present campaign. [Illustration: 167 168 163 164 165 166 167 168 169] CHAPTER V. RUSSIA--War Charity Stamps--Portraits of the Tsars--War Stamps of 1914--Japan--War with China--The Empress Jingo--Triumphal Military and Naval Reviews--Kiao-chow--Belgium--King Albert--Bombardment of Malines--Private Postal Service--Germanised Posts--Red Cross Stamps--Bogus Stamps--Postmarks--Serbia--"Death Mask" Stamps--King Peter--Montenegro--King Nicholas. RUSSIA. The Empire of the Tsars has provided collectors with a few stamps of philanthropic interest in connection with its wars. A set of four denominations was issued in 1905 and sold at 3 kopecs per stamp in excess of the face-value, this extra sum going to the fund organised by the Imperial Women's Patriotic Union for the benefit of orphans of soldiers and sailors who fell in the war with Japan. The following are the descriptions of the stamps which were printed by the Imperial Printing Office at St. Petersburg in the delicate colour work for which that establishment is justly celebrated; the figure in brackets denotes the price, in kopecs, charged for each, including the 3 kopecs charity contribution (_Figs._ 167-170): 3 (6) kopecs, red-brown, cerise, and yellow-green. 5 (8) " violet, red-lilac, and buff. 7 (10) " dark blue, pale blue, and rose. 10 (13) " dark blue, pale blue, and orange. [Illustration: 170] Normally the stamps are perforated 12 × 12½, but the 3 (6) kopecs exists perforated 13, 13½; 11½; and a compound of these two measures. The 7 (10) and 10 (13) kopecs also exist perforated 13, 13½. The stamps appear to have been designed by Richard Sarring, an artist attached to the great printing works of the Russian Government. The subjects represented are-- 3 kopecs. Monument of Admiral Nachimoff at Sebastopol, a hero who was wounded in the Crimean War. 5 " Monument to two national heroes of the Tartar dominion, Minin and Pascharski. 7 " Statue of Peter the Great. 10 " The Kremlin, with statue of Alexander II. in the foreground. The small doles of 3 kopecs per stamp collected in this manner for the orphans' fund yielded about 50,000 roubles, roughly £5600. The portraits of the Tsars never appeared on the stamps of Russia until 1913, when a very fine portrait and view series of stamps were issued (_Figs._ 171-187), and although not issued as war stamps they are full of reminiscence of the three centuries of the stirring history of the Romanofs. The set begins with a picture of Peter the Great, after a portrait by the Dutch painter De Moor, on the 1 kopec stamp. There is another portrait of Peter on the 4 kopecs stamp, this one being copied from an engraving of the picture painted by Kneller to the order of King William III., and now at Hampton Court. Czar Alexander II. figures on the green 2 kopecs stamp, and Alexander III. is portrayed on the 3 kopecs. The present Czar, Nicholas II., appears on the 7 kopecs brown, the 10 kopecs blue, and the highest value in the set, viz., the 5 roubles (1 rouble = 2s. 1½d.). A portrait of Catherine II., after the painter Skorodoñmow, and another of Elizabeth II. after Tchemesow, add two more to the list of illustrious females in the stamp collectors' portrait gallery. These are on the 14 kopecs green and 50 kopecs brown, respectively. The other Czars depicted are Nicholas I. (15 kopecs), Alexander I. (20 kopecs), Alexei Michaelovitch (25 kopecs), Paul I. (35 kopecs), and last, but actually the first and founder of the dynasty, Michael Feodorowitch (70 kopecs). On three of the rouble values are views which include The Kremlin at Moscow (1 rouble), the Winter Palace at St. Petersburg (2 roubles), and the Romanof House (3 roubles). [Illustration: 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187] Early in the course of the present war the Russians invaded East Prussia, and it is reported that they were using Russian stamps in that country, but up to the time of writing, examples have not come to hand. The only special marks yet noted in this country from Russia are various censor marks and labels (_Fig._ 188). [Illustration: 188] In this war philatelic history is repeating itself, for Russia has issued a new set of war charity postage stamps (_Figs._ 189-192) for a fund organised by the Imperial Women's Patriotic Union, of the face values 1 kopec, 3, 7 and 10 kopecs, each of which sells for one kopec more than the franking value denoted. The extra kopec goes to the fund, which is to relieve distress among widows and orphans of soldiers and sailors killed in the war (see _Frontispiece_). [Illustration: 193 194] JAPAN. The rapid modern rise of our Far Eastern Ally to power is marked upon a few interesting stamps of a commemorative character. Japan's successful war against China (1894-95) was commemorated by an issue of four stamps in 1896. These are of two denominations, each of which is in two varieties, an outcome of an Eastern etiquette which at a later date was evinced in the stamps of the Republic of China. The Japanese stamps in question portray two heroes of the war; the denominations were 2 sen and 5 sen, but that there should be no suggestion of any inequality in their admiration for the two heroes, the Japanese postal authorities had two stamps of each denomination prepared so that each warrior figured on a 2 sen and also a 5 sen stamp. Thus neither could be regarded as being valued higher than the other, and neither could be said to be given greater prominence. One of the portraits (_Figs._ 193, 194) is that of the late Marshall, Prince Arisugawa Taruhito, chief of the staff of the Army of the Japanese Empire, and the other (_Figs._ 195, 196) is the late Lieutenant General Prince Kitashirakawa, Commander of the Imperial Guards engaged in the subjugation of Formosa. [Illustration: 195 196] At a later date, 1901, there was a proposal to commemorate the services of the late Lieutenant General, and a 3 sen stamp was announced; its design was to comprise the imperial crest (the chrysanthemum) and a Formosan Shinto Shrine. The stamps were heralded as about to be issued in time for the festival of the Shrine celebrated at Taipeh on October 27 and 28, 1901. In 1905, as the outcome of Japanese military successes in the East against China and Russia, full administrative control was taken over Corea, and a special stamp of the value 3 sen was issued to mark the amalgamation of the Japanese and Corean postal services. Yet another pair of stamps commemorates somewhat ancient history; they were issued in 1908 and bear the portrait of the Empress Jingo-Kôgô (_Fig._ 197), who is stated to have been Regent from 201 to 269 in lieu of her son Ojin. She waged a victorious war against Corea. The legend goes that the god Sumiyoshi acting as pilot for her on the sea, caused gigantic fishes to surround the boat and keep it afloat when a great storm threatened to send the ship to the bottom. [Illustration: 197 198 199] The next two stamps (_Figs._ 198, 199) were issued on April 30, 1906, to mark, according to the inscriptions the "Campaign of the 37th and 38th years of Meiji. Memorial Postage Stamp of the Triumphal Military Review--One Sen five Rin" (or, for the higher value--Three Sen). In the centre is a trophy of arms, including a field gun, rifles, and ammunition, and the Imperial flag, the Crest or Chrysanthemum, within a wreath of rice plant and pine. In the spandrels are the five-pointed stars, badges worn by the Japanese soldiers. [Illustration: 200] Two years later a great naval review was held at Kobe, and although no special adhesive stamp was issued, a quaint postmark representing the bow of a battleship was used (_Fig._ 200). [Illustration: 201 202] The stamps already mentioned under Japan have only a commemorative association with war. In 1910 the 3 sen carmine stamp then current was specially overprinted with Japanese characters (_Fig._ 201), signifying war or field service. These were prepared for and issued to the Japanese military and naval forces in China and Corea, and it is very probable that the Japanese forces recently co-operating with the British at Kiaochow used stamps of this kind, but with the overprint on the new 3 sen stamp illustrated (_Fig._ 202). BELGIUM. Brave little Belgium, whose King is the outstanding hero of the present war has not hitherto had any occasion to provide collectors with war stamps since the first Belgian issue of adhesive postage stamps in 1849-50 with the portrait of Leopold I. (_Figs._ 203, 204). But the German invasion, and the gallant efforts to frustrate it, have left their mark imperishably in the stamp album. The last current ordinary stamps of Belgium were in four designs by M. Ed. Pellens, a professor at the Antwerp Académie des Beaux Arts, and these included a good portrait of King Albert (_Figs._ 205-208). [Illustration: 203 204 205 206] These stamps were manufactured at the Belgian State Stamp-printing factory at Malines, and as the factory was destroyed in the bombardment of the town late in August, it is unlikely that more of these stamps will be printed. The Belgian authorities had been preparing a new issue of stamps before the war, and had ordered machinery in England, which at the time of writing is not delivered, but which will probably be delivered to the Government at Havre, where temporary arrangements will be made to supply Belgian stamps to the inhabitants of the small part of the country not in the hands of the enemy, and incidentally to be ready to reorganise the Belgian postal system as the Germans get driven further and further back to their own country. [Illustration: 207 208] Early in September, 1914, it was reported that a private postal service was working between Ostend and Blankenberghe, and Brussels, Namur and Nivelles at a charge of 1 franc per letter, but no information is yet to hand of any special stamps or postmarks being used in connection with the service. [Illustration: 209] The Germans have conducted the posts in Belgium with a view to the requirements of their own countrymen in the temporarily conquered land, and incidentally to make profit out of the Belgians and out of philatelists. There will no doubt be many interesting curiosities in the postmark line arising from the Germanisation of the names on the cancelling cachets, such as Lowen (Louvain), Lüttich (Liège), Kales (Ostend), etc. But the chief philatelic interest attaches to the issue of special stamps, or rather the ordinary German stamps, overprinted in Gothic type "Belgien", and with the currency surcharged in centimes (_Fig._ 209). Of these there are four denominations, 3 centimes on 3 pfennig brown, 5 centimes on 5 pfennig green, 10 centimes on 10 pfennig red, and 25 centimes on 20 pfennig blue. The Belgian Government authorised the preparation of stamps for collecting funds for the Red Cross, and these made their appearance on October 3, 1914. There are two sets of three values--5, 10 and 20 centimes. The set in the smaller size portrays King Albert (_Figs._ 210, 211), and the larger size stamps bear a picture of a monument commemorating the Belgian War of Independence, 1830 (_Figs._ 212, 213). [Illustration: 210 211 212 213] The Belgian Red Cross stamps were for some time rather difficult to obtain, as it appears that the stock was left behind at post offices to which the Belgian authorities have not had access since their removal to Havre. Undoubtedly vast numbers of these stamps could have been sold in England and elsewhere had they been procurable from Belgian sources. [Illustration: 214 215] The interest aroused in the Belgian Red Cross stamps, and the difficulty in obtaining them, has probably been responsible for the attempt to exploit collectors with a set of three labels purporting to be "new Belgian stamps, sold in Flanders only during two days. The emission was very small, only 15,000 series, which were paid the double of the nominal value, i.e., 70 centimes." The "stamps" are figured 5 (green), 10 (red) and 25 (blue), but no "c" or centimes. They bear within a fancy frame lettered BELGIQUE at top and BELGIE below portraits of King Albert and his Consort (_Figs._ 214, 215). Messrs. Alfred Smith & Son submitted these "stamps" to the Belgian postal administration, and were told that not only are they not official stamps, but that "they have apparently been obliterated with a stolen or forged date-stamp." The "postmark" reads ROULERS--5 OCTO--18-19--1914. The Belgian Government moved to Havre in France on October 13, 1914, and there they have a special post office using the postmark _Fig._ 216. The headquarters of the habitations of the Belgian Government are reckoned part of Belgium, and while the Belgians may send letters to their different addresses in Havre or to Belgium, for the unit rate of 10 centimes (1d.), letters for France, even for another part of Havre, are treated as foreign letters, and require to be prepaid at the 25 centimes (2½d.) rate. There are also Belgian military postcards at present in use by the soldiers, and a variety of military postmarks, of which _Fig._ 217 is an example. [Illustration: 216 217] An interesting trio of covers has been received from a young marine who was with the Naval Brigade at Antwerp. The first, dated October 6, 1914, has the postmark (_Fig._ 218). [Illustration: 218 220] On the 11th he was evidently interned in Leeuwarden (_Fig._ 220) Holland, his letter being censored (_Fig._ 39). On the 27th he wrote from Groningen, where most of the naval brigade men were interned. The letter has the Groningen machine cancellation, and _Fig._ 221 struck in violet: PORTVRIJ FRANC DE POST. Militaires étrangers internés dans les Pays-Bas. [Illustration: 221] SERBIA. Revolutionary disturbances have assisted the changes of the stamps of Serbia. Michael Obrenovich III., who figures on the issue of 1866, was assassinated on June 10th, 1868, by the friends of the abdicated prince, Alexander Karageorgevich. Milan IV., his successor, had a troublous reign; during his period the country was recognised as a kingdom with Milan as king, but he abdicated in 1889 in favour of Alexander, his son. The portraits of Milan and Alexander figure on the stamps of their respective reigns, and in the case of Alexander we get one of those philatelic issues which must imprint on our minds the memory of notable or notorious events. It is within the memory of most of our readers that Alexander and his consort, Queen Draga, were assassinated by a number of military officers in 1903, and the house of Karageorgevich once again ruled in Serbia in King Peter, the present monarch. At the time of the assassination a new series of stamps bearing the portrait of Alexander was in readiness for issue, but before they were sent out under the new _regime_ the effigy of the murdered king was almost completely obliterated by the overprinting of a design of the Serbian Arms (_Fig._ 222). [Illustration: 222 223 224] The year following the grimmest of all the royal tragedies of Serbia the surviving dynasty commemorated its centenary, and issued perhaps the most sensational stamp series known to collectors. These will go down to posterity as the "Death Mask" stamps, although the curiosity of artistry which led to this designation probably owes more to the excited imagination of the Serbian and foreign public than to any gruesome intent on the part of revolutionary artists. The Coronation stamps of King Peter, issued September 21, 1904, are of large size, and in two designs, by G. Janovic. M. Mouchon was the engraver, and the stamps were printed at the French Government Stamp Printing Factory in Paris. The names of the designer and engraver appear in microscopic letters below the design of each stamp. The first design (_Fig._ 223) shows a medal on which the profile of the new King Peter is superimposed upon the profile of the founder of the dynasty "Kara," or Black George. The names inscribed upon the medal are KARA GJORGJE at left, and PETAR I. at right. To the left and right of the medal respectively are the centennial dates 1804-1904, and below are the Serbian Arms, with the motto SPES MIHI PRIMA DEUS. Along the top of the stamp in Sclavonic characters is KRALJEVINA SRBIJA (Kingdom of Servia), the value in PARA is in the lower left corner, and the word POSHTA in the lower right corner. This design was used for all the para values. For the higher values in dinar (_Fig._ 224), the same frame design is used, but for the medallion what may have been the reverse of a Coronation medal is shown. This is reputed to be an allegory representing the successes of the guerilla leader Kara-George, founder of the dynasty against the Turks in 1804. There is a minute inscription on the medallion below the picture signifying THE DAWN OF LIBERTY, 1804. These stamps were at first received by collectors with disdain and some disgust; the memory of the tragedy of June 10th, 1903, was still too fresh to allow the world to join readily in any jubilation over the centenary of a dynasty which had been dragged from obscurity after many years, to occupy a throne lately emptied by the foul hands of assassins. It is even said that the early sales of the stamps were entirely disappointing. But this was all changed from the moment rumours of a cunning intrigue attached themselves to the issue. It is probably--almost certainly--an accidental effect produced by the drawing or engraving of the two heads, one over the other, that they produce in more ways than one, other composite "faces." By masking the lower part of the profile of Kara George it is possible to distinguish a new face with an ugly gashed brow; but the alleged "Death Mask" of Alexander is seen by turning the stamp upside down, and regarding that portion of the inverted profiles which may be marked off in triangle fashion with the chins as the base of the triangle. There is certainly a curious and hideous effect, but similar, if less ghastly, artistic curiosities occur in numbers of other stamps, and in many other forms of pictorial representation, and in the case of the Serbian Coronation issue it is probably pure accident. _Fig._ 225 represents the current type of Serbian stamp, with a military portrait of King Peter. [Illustration: 225 226 227 228 229 230 231] MONTENEGRO. Tsar Nicholas of Montenegro has not given us any special war stamps, but the warrior King's portraits, at various stages in his career appear on the stamps issued in 1910 for his jubilee. The 1 para shows him as he was during his student days in Paris (_Fig._ 226), the 2 and 20 paras show him with his bride at the date of their marriage, 1860 (_Fig._ 227). The other values show various portraits of the King, including one of him on a charger leading his troops to battle (_Fig._ 228). CHAPTER VI. The Enemy's Stamps--Germany--Austria--Bosnia--Hungary--Turkey. GERMANY. In postal arrangements for armies in the field Germany has shown earlier organised war posts than any of our Allies. As with the regular postal systems on the Continent, their early history is bound up with the records of the princely house of Thurn and Taxis, of which house Count Roger set up in 1460 the first horse post between the Tyrol and Italy. About 1535 Johann Baptista von Taxis created the first field post offices operating with the armies of the Emperor Charles V. against the Turks and in Italy. The hereditary monopoly which the Thurn and Taxis family enjoyed from the fifteenth century continued well into the nineteenth, the last remnant of it being purchased from the family by Prussia in 1867 for three million thalers. The growth of Prussian dominion and the fusion of the German States into one vast empire is well demonstrated in the stamp album by the joint Austro-Prussian issues for the conquered Danish duchies, by the disappearance of the States from the list of separate stamp issuing countries, replaced at first by stamps of the North German Confederation, and later by stamps of the German Empire. The stamp collection plainly shows the modern progress of military Prussia to the lead in the Germanic countries. Collectors have many interesting postal relics of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 in the form of Feldpost Brief, and the Franco-Prussian War brought about the first special war stamps issued by Germany for the use of their armies of occupation in Alsace and Lorraine, and in the invaded parts of France (_Fig._ 233). Of this campaign there are also the "Feldpost Brief," and the then novel form of communication by postcard was also adopted for military purposes in the "Feldpost correspondenz karte." From the foundation of the Empire the stamps show little change. Being a collection of sovereign states it has never been regarded as appropriate for the Kaiser's portrait to figure on the stamps as King George's does on most of the stamps of the British Empire. The German stamps to-day bear a female head (_Fig._ 234) drawn by Paul Waldroff after a representation of "Germania" by an actress Fräulein Anna Führing, which so impressed the Kaiser that he adopted this as the symbol of Germany on its stamps. On modern high value German stamps there are pictures of more war-like interest. The 2 marks stamp shows an allegory of the Union of North and South Germany from a painting by Anton von Werner, with the motto "SEID EINIG, SEID EINIG" (be united, be united!); the 3 marks (_Fig._ 235) shows a group of German princes with the Kaiser on horseback at their head, a scene drawn by W. Pape of the unveiling of the memorial to Kaiser Wilhelm I. The highest German stamp denomination, the 5 marks (_Fig._ 236) shows another group, with the present Kaiser prominent in it. This is also by Pape, and represents one of those spectacular appearances which the Kaiser has revelled in, the delivery of an address on the anniversary of the reconstitution of the German Empire. The motto "EIN REICH, EIN VOLK, EIN GOTT" (one kingdom, one people, one God) is one which, as we now know, may be carried too far! [Illustration: 233 234 235 236] Since the outbreak of the present war the German armies have no doubt provided a great deal of new material for philatelic study, and a recent number of a stamp journal published in the Fatherland tells us that collectors there are zealously following the development of the German Field Post Offices, adding the following information: There is a lot of interesting material already, not only with regard to the printed forms used in the Field Mail Service, but also with regard to the Field Post cancellations, Troop Letter cancellations, and Censor postmarks. The correspondence coming from the garrisons very rarely bear a Field Post cancellation, and it is generally cancelled with ordinary town postmarks like the mails of troops still at home. Besides this, there is, occasionally, a censor Troop cancellation; to the latter also belong the Lazarett cancellation (hospital service), of which we have seen several that were interesting. Lately, a large number of pieces of mail have been coming from troops in the enemies' country, without postal cancellations--owing to strategic reasons--which is much to be regretted from the view-point of the collector. In the near future, the working out of German Field Post cancellations of the war of 1914 will be an exceptionally thankful philatelic report. We will only mention the news that France had issued several occupation stamps which were said to have been used during the occupation of Muelhausen. A collector in Muelhausen wrote to us about this mythological issue of stamps, that the French, during both occupations, have neither used their own stamps, nor have they organised any kind of postal service.[6] Belgium, as already noted in Chapter V., has been provided with stamps of the Germania type overprinted "Belgien" and the value in centimes (_Fig._ 209). These have, no doubt, been issued in enormous quantities with the hope of raking in shekels not only from the Belgians and from German stamp collectors, but also from collectors and curiosity hunters in neutral countries. Although there are plenty to be had in Switzerland, Holland, and other neutral countries at about sixpence the set of four, it is extraordinary to relate that in one or two isolated cases British dealers have obtained and sold supplies at very fancy prices. As in the case of the similar issue so called "Alsace and Lorraine" of 1870-1871, there will be plenty to go round, and it will be time enough when the Huns have ceased from troubling us to gather these relics into our albums as memorials of Germany's trail through the beautiful towns of Belgium. In any case it is inadvisable to buy any unused stamps originating in an enemy country since the outbreak of the war, as they represent a clear contribution to the enemy's Treasury. [Footnote 6: Incidentally the German journal, _Berliner Briefmarken-Zeitung_, in a very moderate article on the war's effect on the stamp trade, states that German collectors are buying up Belgian, Serbian, and Montenegrin stamps, evidently in the "opinion that these countries will become non-existent."] [Illustration: 237 238 239] Very few postmarks of the present war have so far reached us from Germany, but _Fig._ 237 is a type of the Field Post Office date mark. _Figs._ 238, 239 are Censor marks, and the next (_Fig._ 240) is the cover of a letter from a prisoner of war interned at Kissingen. [Illustration: 240 241 242 243] AUSTRIA. The stamps of Francis Joseph the Unlucky, who has been on the throne of Austria since the first Austrian issue appeared in 1850, do not call for more than pictorial representation here. The general postage stamps current in Austria were originally issued as a special series to mark the sixtieth year of the Emperor's reign (1908). Slightly modified, they were re-issued for the celebration of his eightieth birthday (1910). The illustrations (_Figs._ 241-257) show the original issue of 1908 as still current. The portraits are copied from paintings in the Royal palaces, and the subjects are: 1 heller (Charles VI.), 2 heller (Maria Theresa), 3 heller (Joseph II.), 6 heller (Leopold II.), 12 heller (Francis I.), 20 heller (Ferdinand). [Illustration: 244 245 246] Of the present Sovereign, unluckier than ever in the present war, the series comprises several good portraits. The 30 heller shows him at the time of his accession in 1848, the 35 heller a portrait painted thirty years later, 1878; the 50 heller shows him in the uniform of a Field Marshal, and on the 1 krone he figures with the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Contemporary portraits appear on the 5, 10, and 25 heller (_Figs._ 244, 246, 249), and a particularly fine portrait stamp of large size is the 10 kronen (_Fig._ 257) printed in deep brown, blue and ochre. [Illustration: 247 248 249 250 251 252] The 2 and 5 kronen stamps (_Figs._ 255, 256) respectively present views of the Imperial palaces Schönbrunn and Hofburg. [Illustration: 255 256 253 257 254] On October 4, 1914, two stamps were issued in Austria of a war charity postal character, selling for 2 heller more than the face value, the extra 2 heller going to the fund for the widows and orphans of Austrian soldiers killed in the war. The designs are adapted from the ordinary 5 and 10 heller stamps (_Figs._ 244, 246) by a lengthening of the stamps for the addition of the date 1914 (_Fig._ 258). These although paying postage to the value of 5 and 10 heller, sell at 7 and 12 heller respectively. [Illustration: 258 259] BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. The military occupation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by Austria under the treaty of Berlin, 1878, was followed thirty years later by the coup of October 5, 1908, by which the Emperor-King proclaimed his sovereignty over the two provinces. His portrait first appeared on a Bosnian stamp of the pictorial series of 1906-7 in which, incidentally, there are included views of Sarajevo where occurred the murder of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand on June 28, 1914, a tragedy which provided a pretext for hastening the German plans for a world war. In 1912 the Emperor-King's portrait re-appeared on the stamps of the military postal administration of these provinces (_Fig._ 259). The 5 and 10 heller stamps of 1906 giving views of the Pass of Narenta with a view of the river Prenj, and the valley of Vrba, are reported to have been overprinted "1914" and surcharged 7 and 12 hellers for use in collecting 2 heller contributions to the Austrian war fund. HUNGARY. The stamps of Hungary, in the lower values (_Fig._ 260) depict the Turul, the mythical bird of the Magyars, which was said to have been the messenger between them and Heaven, and their guide along the road that took them into Hungary. When the Magyars proclaimed Arpad their first King, the Turul perched upon his forehead. Two of these low value stamps have been, with modifications and overprint, adapted for selling as war charity postage stamps (_Fig._ 261) at 5 + 2 filler, and 10 + 2 filler. The war inscriptions read "HADI SEGELY" (War Relief) and on label at the foot, obliterating the original inscription, "OZVEGYEKNEK ES ARVAKNAK KET (2) FILLER" (for the widows and orphans two filler). The next illustration (_Fig._ 262) is a charity postcard from Hungary bearing one of the war relief stamps. [Illustration: 260 261] TURKEY. The coming of the Young Turk has completely changed the aspect of Turkish stamps. They have robbed the collector of a rare illusion, and we owe them a grudge for it. The picturesque fancies which we treasure in our memories as the children store up the fables of the nursery, are dear to us children of a larger growth. But our love of fantastic lore suffers many a shock. Ever since the first stamps of the Sublime Empire appeared in the reign of Abdul Aziz, on whom be Peace, we collectors of stamps (on whom there can be no Peace, for in stamps there is constancy but in change) have nourished a fond fancy that pictures and portraits are forbidden to the Muslim, and that Allah, who is great, and his prophet, Muhammed, have set the Curse upon such works of Satan. [Illustration: 262] Much has been written by philatelists, as well as by Muhammedan scholars, upon the subject, and the continued philatelic fidelity to the _Thoughra_ (the Sultan's sign manual) on the Turkish stamps has ingrained into collectors the belief that the Turks would never depart from their reading of the law as set forth by Muhammed in this particular. The verse which, in the Koran, sets forth the alleged prohibition is transcribed:-- O believers! surely wine and games of chance, and statues, and the divining arrows are an abomination of Satan's work! Avoid them that ye may prosper. The wise men of the East, who have drunk deep of the streams of wisdom that flow from the Book of Warnings, have read many different meanings into the verse, and in Turkey it has been taken to imply the forbidding of all figures, and even the ruminative game of chess is barred by the strict Muslim. We, of Christian faith, would appear to have a more emphatic prohibition of the making of pictures in the translation of the Mosaic law:-- And God spake all these words, saying, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. [Illustration: 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279] Our theologians have not regarded the second Commandment as a condemnation of the making of pictures, though many an earnest believer, during the phases of pictorial frenzy through which we have passed and are still passing, may have regarded the picture paper and the picture palace as abominations of Satan's work. The new pictorial stamps of Turkey have dispelled one of the mellow myths of our cult, a myth which, perhaps, was simply an exaggeration of a prohibition which is more in common with Western ideas than with Western practices. For instance, there have been recorded seizures of pictorial postcards in Turkey, attributed to the Muhammedan law; but these probably concerned cards which gave offence to Muslim susceptibilities by their blatant portrayal of the unveiled faces (_inter alia_) of women. If the prohibition of pictures in the past has been no myth, and the late departure from precedent is the result of the advent of the New Turk, then, indeed, the New Turk hath courage, for each true believer of the Prophet must needs regard every new-born child, whether a creature of the flesh or of the mind, as a thing that is touched by Satan. Yet one other illusion concerning Turkish stamps has been shattered of recent years. We are told now that the Crescent, so long an emblem of the Sublime Empire, owes nothing to the moon. The barking of dogs on the appearance of the moon at the siege of Byzantium may have saved the city, and the partial eclipse of the orb of night may have aided the Turks at the capture of Constantinople, but the Turkish Crescent is no memorial thereof, merely a horse-shoe or an amulet. Professor Ridgeway says it is the result of the base-to-base conjunction of two claw or tusk amulets. Says another writer, "There is no historical evidence that the Turks thought at all of the moon when they adopted a crescent as their national symbol." Turkey's first departure from the _Thoughra_ device for its stamps was in 1913, when a set of crude picture stamps displayed an alleged view of the new General Post Office at Constantinople (_Fig._ 280). Later in the same year a finely-engraved set of three denominations, 10, 20, and 40 paras, was issued to commemorate the recapture on July 22, 1913, of the fortress of Adrianople after the Balkan War. The design, which was engraved in London, shows a view of the Mosque of Selim (_Fig._ 281). [Illustration: 280 281] On January 15, 1914, a fine new set of London-printed stamps was issued depicting a number of scenes in the Turkish Empire and a portrait of H.M. Sultan Muhammed V. Incidentally some of the designs are of warlike interest, notably the cruiser _Hamidieh_ on the 2 piastres (_Fig._ 272), Turkish War Office on the 5 piastres (_Fig._ 274), and the forts of the Bosphorus on the 50 piastres (_Fig._ 277). The vignettes of the full set of the 1914 issue are: 2 paras, mauve. Hippodrome Obelisk. 4 " sepia. Column of Constantine. 5 " purple-brown. The Seven Towers. 6 " deep blue. Leander's Tower. 10 " green. Fanaraki. 20 " scarlet. Castle of Europe. 1 piastre, bright blue. Sultan Ahmed Mosque. 1½ " carmine and black. Martyr's Monument. 1¾ " grey and red-brown. Bathing Fountains of Salem. 2 piastres, green and black. Cruiser _Hamidieh_. 2½ " orange and green. Candilli. 5 " deep lilac. Ministry of War. 10 " red-brown. Sweet Waters of Europe. 25 " dull yellow-green. Suleimanieh Mosque. 50 " rose. The Bosphorus. 100 " indigo. Sultan Ahmed's Fountain. 200 " green and black. Sultan Muhammed V. [Illustration: 282 283] In addition there were issued four postage due stamps, one bearing the warlike "Arms" of Turkey, and the other the Thoughra, or sign-manual, of Sultan Muhammed V. (_Figs._ 282, 283). Already the present war, even before Turkey had on its part opened hostilities, has produced an important effect upon the postal arrangements of Turkey by the "abolition of the Capitulations" which took effect on October 1, 1914. The various Powers interested in Turkey have for many years maintained agencies of their own postal administrations in Constantinople and other parts of the Turkish Empire, and these, owing to the untrustworthiness of the Turkish service, secured the bulk of the foreign correspondence both of Europeans and Turks. Latterly, Turkey has been endeavouring to compete more keenly with these rival post offices within its own dominions, and they have sold specially earmarked stamps to business firms for use on foreign correspondence at a substantial discount off face value. [Illustration: 284 285] The star overprinted in blue or red (_Figs._ 284, 285) on the current stamps indicates those sold in this way. Each of the foreign post offices in Turkey, including our own British post office, used special stamps. Years ago, when the British office was first set up, ordinary English stamps were sold, but there were abuses of the currency values so that it was found desirable to overprint our English stamps for use in Turkey with either the value in Turkish currency, or with the word LEVANT, which effectually prevented any large purchases in Turkish money being exchanged at the English face value. The Turkish Government has long been trying to get these foreign post offices closed, but without success until the outbreak of the present war; they are all now closed, and their stamps consequently obsolete. The nations having had special stamps for their post offices in Turkey are:-- Great Britain (closed October, 1914). France ( " " ). Russia ( " " ). Italy ( " " ). Roumania (discontinued 1896). Austria (closed October, 1914). Germany ( " " ). [Illustration: 286] A curious set of stamps, never really required for postal duty, was issued by the Turks during the Graeco-Turkish War of 1898, under the pretext of being required for the use of the Turkish Army of Occupation. The Turkish inscription on these odd-shaped stamps (_Fig._ 286) reads "Special for Thessaly, that part of the country conquered." Even at the time these stamps first saw the light in Thessaly, the Turks were boarding their transports to evacuate the country. Large remainder stocks have been sold since the evacuation, and extensive forging of these stamps has been detected. CHAPTER VII. AMERICAN WARS--United States--Civil War--Confederate Stamps--Hispano-American War--Vera Cruz--Canada--Mexican Revolution--South and Central America. UNITED STATES. In December, 1860, South Carolina in convention repealed the act adopting the Constitution of the United States, a move which was promptly followed by other Southern States, and led to the American Civil War. On February 18, 1861, a provisional Confederate Government under Jefferson Davis was set up at Montgomery, Alabama, with all the appendages of military and civil administration, including a post office department. The Confederate Government later moved to Richmond, Virginia, and throughout the long and bloody war from 1861-1865 the Confederate States maintained a separate postal service, with separate postage stamps. Judge John H. Reagan was Postmaster-General. The United States postage stamps current at the beginning of the war were the beautiful series of 1851-60, and as large quantities remained in stock at Southern post offices, these issues were demonetized and replaced hurriedly by the now rare _première gravures_ of August, 1861, which were promptly superseded by the more finished designs of September, 1861. The Confederate States stamps lack the excellence of engraving and printing of the United States stamps, a deficiency due to the difficult conditions under which they were produced in the country or imported from England. But what they lack in this respect is more than amply compensated by their historic significance and associations. The home produced stamps were prepared under the stress of invasion; the foreign manufactured ones and much of the material for the local productions had to be brought through the blockade. In the annals of philately there are no more exciting records than those which tell of the capture of a ship bearing three De La Rue plates and 400,000 dollars worth of Confederate States stamps, which the agent of Davis's Government managed to throw overboard, or of the despatch (preparatory to the evacuation of Richmond) of printing press, dies, plates, and stamps to Columbia, in South Carolina, where they arrived only to be destroyed in the holocaust following upon General Sherman's capture of the city. The different designs of the successive issues of Confederate stamps are shewn in _Figs._ 287-295; their history we have dealt with at length in "Confederate States of America: Government Postage Stamps."[7] [Footnote 7: Melville Stamp Books, No. 19. Stanley Gibbons, Ltd., London, 1913.] Some bogus stamps purporting to have been used in various temporary services are illustrated (_Figs._ 296-299), including one showing a fort at Charlestown, and another which purports to prepay "blockade postage" to Europe. The postmasters of a number of towns in the Confederate States found it desirable pending the receipt of stamps from the Confederate Government to prepare and issue provisional stamps of their own to denote prepayment of postage. Among these are some of the rarest postage stamps known to collectors; the best authenticated issues emanated from:-- Athens and Macon in Georgia; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, in Louisiana; Beaumont, Goliad, Gonzales, Helena, Independence, and Victoria in Texas; Bridgeville, Greenville, Grove Hill, Livingston, Mobile and Uniontown in Alabama; Charleston and Spartanburg in South Carolina; Lenoir in North Carolina; Danville, Emory, Fredericksburg, Greenwood, Jetersville, Lynchburg, Marion, Petersburg, Pittsylvania, Pleasant Shade and Salem in Virginia; Kingston, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Rheatown, and Tellico Plains in Tennessee; and New Smyrna in Florida. [Illustration: 300 301] The war with Spain produced a considerable effect upon stamp issues; but the war tax stamps which were very popular with young collectors by reason of their bearing a picture of the battleship _Maine_ (_Figs._ 300, 301) were in no sense postage stamps, though often affixed to letters as small contributions to the war funds. Throughout the campaign there were many United States military postal cancellations used in Cuba (_Fig._ 302), Porto Rico (_Fig._ 303), and the Philippines (_Fig._ 304), and United States postage stamps were later overprinted for these and other former Spanish colonies, e.g., Cuba, Guam, Philippine Islands and Porto Rico (_Figs._ 305-307). These have since been replaced by definite issues for the Republic of Cuba, and for the Philippines. [Illustration: 287 288 289 290 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 302 305 303 306 304 307] The United States stamps offer a very wide field for association with war interest, many of them bear portraits of warrior heroes, and their cancellations in connection with expeditionary forces cover a wide range of territory from the neighbouring and troublesome republic of Mexico (where the United States recently used its own stamps at the post office of Vera Cruz) to China. [Illustration: 308 309 310 311] CANADA. Our great North American dominion gave us a patriotic Empire stamp a few years ago to mark the introduction at Christmas 1898, of Imperial Penny Postage (_Fig._ 308). It shows a map of the world on Mercator's projection with the British possessions coloured in red, and with a line quoted from Sir Lewis Morris's jubilee ode, "We hold a vaster Empire than has been." The "bumptiousness" of the quotation led _Punch_ to suggest a few alternatives: We are richer than anybody. We are Tremendous Swells. The Policeman outside Mansion House is the finest in the world. Our fleet can smash all the rest. Mind your eye! By Jingo, if we do--!!! Go to Jericho! The difficulties of printing a map of the world in colours within the space of a postage stamp led to "minor" geographical inexactitudes, such as the annexation by the red colour, of the United States, the invasion of France by England, and the removal of the Cape of Good Hope out into the sea. But unlike the Dominican Republic's map stamp of 1900 it did not lead to complications with other countries. Canada's Quebec Tercentenary issue includes some stamps of martial interest (_Figs._ 309-311), the 5 cents shows the French Governor Champlain's house in Quebec, round which a wide ditch was dug and breastworks were thrown up and cannon mounted to protect the colonists from the savages. Generals Wolfe and Montcalm are portrayed on the 7 cents, the 10 cents shows the old city and fort of Quebec in 1700, and the other denominations show incidents in the exploration of Canada and portraits of King Edward and Queen Alexandra, and of King George and Queen Mary. [Illustration: 312 313] MEXICO. Mexican stamps from 1856 to the rise of Porforio Diaz demonstrate some of the political changes through which the country has passed, from Republic to Empire, and back to Republic. Revolution has brought about provisional stamps of a rare order, such as the Guadalajara, Chiapas, and Campeche stamps of 1867-1868, and the more recent issues of the "Constitutionalist" party for Sonora (_Figs._ 312-314) and Tamaulipas (_Fig._ 315). [Illustration: 314 315] _Figs._ 316, 317 represent ordinary Mexican stamps commandeered and overprinted by the rebels. [Illustration: 316 317] Martial portraits figure on the stamps of many of the South and Central States; to mention them all would require a goodly sized dictionary of American biography. In addition, specialists find much interest in tracing, by extra-territorial postmarks, the movements of troops in the various wars between Brazil and Paraguay, Chili and Peru, etc.; and many of the countries give us scenes recording outstanding incidents in their histories, especially on their issues commemorative of the centenary of their freedom from the Spanish yoke. Chili, for example, depicts the battles of Chacabuco, Roble, Maipo, the sea fight of April 27, 1818, between the _Lautaro_ and the _Esmeralda_, and another ending in the capture of the _Maria Isabella_ on October 28. In this series also is a portrait of the renowned Admiral Cochrane, the 10th Earl of Dundonald, who organised the Chilian Navy and played a great part in Chili's struggles for freedom from Spain. Ecuador's issue of 1896 marks the end of a period of civil strife and the triumph of the Liberal Party, a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the stamps being devoted to the destitute families of soldiers killed while serving in defence of the Liberal cause. [Illustration: 318 319] Colombia gives us a number of stamp designs of war-like interest, including warrior heroes, and a crude picture (_Fig._ 318) of the cruiser _Cartagena_. A particularly bitter commemoration of the centenary of the independence of Colombia in 1910 was the picturing on a registration fee stamp of the wholesale executions ordered by the Spanish victors at Carthagena on February 24, 1816. (_Fig._ 319). To this stamp objections were raised by the Spanish Minister at Bogota, and in deference to his protests it was withdrawn from circulation. Guatemala displays its Artillery Barracks (_Fig._ 320). The much disturbed Dominican Republic warns off possible invaders by displaying the fortress of Santo Domingo. Its map issue of 1900 (_Fig._ 320A), owing to a dispute over the boundary indicated nearly led to war with the Haytian Republic. Hayti shows the fortress of Sans Souci (_Fig._ 321). Peru having had its stamps much overprinted by the Chilians in 1881-1883, vaunts more peaceful subjects on its recent picture stamps, e.g., its General Post Office, Municipal Institute of Hygiene, and the Lima Medical School. Uruguay, after its civil war of 1904, added a "peace" overprint to its contemporary stamps, reading PAZ-1904. It also illustrates the fortress and port of Montevideo, and its cruiser of the same name on its issues of 1908 and 1909 (_Fig._ 322), and Venezuela has given us crude sketches of the revolutionary steamer _Bankigh_ (_Fig._ 323), and a map stamp illustrative of the great boundary dispute with Great Britain. [Illustration: 320 320A 321 322 323] Brazil also furnishes examples of stamps specially furnished to soldiers and sailors for use on their letters home in war-time. These were printed by a stationer in Rio de Janeiro and were used during the war with Paraguay 1865-1870. The army franks are inscribed EXERCITO (Army), and those for the sister service ARMADA (Navy). CHAPTER VIII. Miscellaneous Wars and Commemorations.--Patriotic Empire Stamps--Victoria--New Zealand--Barbados' Nelson Stamp--A Dutch Naval Commemoration--Balkan Wars--Greece--Albania-- Epirus--Bulgaria--Roumania--Italy--Portugal--Spain--Mysterious Melillas--China. [Illustration: 324 325] Australasia has not had much occasion for war stamps, but it is worthy of note that at the time of the South African War Victoria issued two postage stamps of patriotic designs, obtained in public competition. The Victoria Cross design (_Fig._ 324) gained the prize for the penny stamps and the prize for the twopence stamps was awarded for the other design (_Fig._ 325) showing a picket on foot and armed scouts scanning the horizon of the open veldt in the Transvaal, whilst in the distance are the faint outlines of the hills which the British have had to scale. The central figures in the latter design are in the uniform of the Victorian contingent. These stamps sold at 1s. and 2s. each although they only prepaid 1d. and 2d. postage respectively, the balance going to the Patriotic Fund. [Illustration: 326] In connection with the same campaign New Zealand issued in 1901 a stamp printed in a khaki colour to commemorate the sending of a New Zealand contingent to the war. The stamp (_Fig._ 326), designed by Mr. J. Nairn of Wellington and engraved in New York, pictures the part of the contingent sent as New Zealand's response to "the Empire's call." Barbados marked the centenary of the battle of Trafalgar by an issue of stamps depicting the "first monument erected to Nelson's memory, 1813" (_Fig._ 327). The monument is in the capital of the Colony, Bridgetown, but its claim to be the first erected to Nelson's memory is contested. Another naval hero, Michael A. de Ruyter, Admiral-in-Chief of the Dutch Fleet, is commemorated on a set of stamps of Holland issued in 1907 for the ter-centenary of his birth. This design, in addition to a portrait of the Admiral, depicts a battle at sea (_Fig._ 328). [Illustration: 327 328 329] The recent Balkan Wars (1912-13) would require a volume to describe in detail the philatelic results. Two Greek stamp designs commemorate the victories of the troops allied against Turkey. One shows the cross of Constantine over the Acropolis and city of Athens and the Bay of Salamis; the other depicts the eagle of Zeus flying over Mount Olympus with a snake in its talons. _Fig._ 329 shows the design of two war charity stamps sold for the benefit of Greek soldiers incapacitated in the campaign, and for the widows and orphans of the killed. Greece overprinted stamps very lavishly for territories occupied during the war. When the fleet occupied Mytilene the Greek authorities overprinted the Turkish stamps they found there with a Greek inscription rendered "Greek occupation--Mytilene." Lemnos was furnished with Greek stamps overprinted LEMNOS in Greek characters, and many other places were provided with Greek stamps overprinted with an inscription signifying "Greek Administration." In Samos four issues of new stamps appeared in 1912-1913, and Icaria's Independent Government stamps prepared just prior to the Greek occupation were overprinted "Greek Administration." [Illustration: 330 331] Albania's separate stamp issues were an outcome of the Balkan Wars. The first were created in 1913 by overprinting Turkish stamps with a device of a double-headed eagle and the word SHQIPENIE (_Fig._ 330). Since then four or five new issues have appeared, crude labels of circular handstamp pattern (_Fig._ 331) with the value typewritten. More recently a series has appeared depicting Skanderbeg, the warrior hero of the Albanians, and these were overprinted in March, 1914, with an inscription "_7 Mars. 1467._ rroftë mbreti. 1914" to commemorate the arrival of Prince William of Wied as Mpret. The year 1467 was the date of the death of Skanderbeg. [Illustration: 332 333 334] The "autonomous state of Epirus," another outcome of the Balkan troubles, has given us some quaint stamps. The first was the skull and cross-bones issue (_Fig._ 332), the inscriptions on which read "Liberty or death--Defence of the fatherland--Lepta 10." This was succeeded by a more ambitiously designed stamp (_Fig._ 333) showing an evzone or light infantryman in the act of firing. The simple name "Epirus" was extended to "Autonomous Epirus" (_Fig._ 334). Other crude issues have appeared in Epirote districts, as yet not very satisfactorily authenticated. These include Koritza (_Fig._ 335) and Moschopolis (_Fig._ 336), both places in lower Albania. Another curious provisional is one for Gumuldjina (_Fig._ 337) in the vilayet of Adrianople. [Illustration: 335 336 337] Crete's troubles may be ended with the final settlement of the Turks; in its stamps since 1898 we see the influence of the British, Russian and Greeks, and a remarkable range of revolutionary stamps. On one modern stamp of 1907 (_Fig._ 338) is depicted the landing of Prince George of Greece at Suda on his appointment as High Commissioner. He is being received by Admirals of various Powers, Noel of Great Britain, Skrydloff of Russia, Pottier of France, and Bettolo of Italy. A still more recent stamp of Crete shows the fort at Suda, and was issued to celebrate the raising of the Greek flag on May 1, 1913. [Illustration: 338 339 340] On two stamps of 1901 commemorative of the War of Independence Bulgaria pictured a cherry wood cannon, a home-made affair used by the Bulgarian patriots against the Turks, and drawn from one which is preserved in the national museum at Sofia (_Fig._ 339). The following year, 1902, the 25th anniversary of the battle of Shipka Pass (August 21, 1877) was the occasion for a set of stamps showing a view of the ravine with the Bulgars tumbling rocks down upon their enemies (_Fig._ 340). Later stamps of this country show some interesting portraits of King Ferdinand (_Figs._ 341-343) in naval and military uniforms, and one showing the King with the sceptre in his right hand and the orb in his left, and wearing the garb of the ancient Tsars of Bulgaria. These form part of a fine pictorial issue of 1911, and it is noteworthy that these stamps may be found with Turkish cancellations, used by the victorious Bulgars in the recent campaign before they could substitute Bulgarian postmarks for those left behind by the Turks. In 1913 the pictorial set up to the 25 stotinki, was issued with an overprint in Sclavonic characters signifying "War of Liberty" to mark the successes against the Turks. [Illustration: 341 342 343] The enlightened Prince Cuza was responsible for the introduction of many reforms in Roumania, among them being postal reform, with the use of adhesive stamps, those of 1865 bearing his portrait. He was obliged to abdicate the year following the issue of the stamps as a result of a conspiracy. The late King Charles was his successor, there being no further developments to recall. Rather in this case we read from our stamps the more peaceful story of the growth of the King's beard. In commemorating the 40th year of King Charles' reign a long pictorial series of stamps showed among other pictures Prince Charles saluting the first shot fired at the Battle of Calafat, the meeting of Prince Charles and Osman Pasha in 1878, the Roumanian Army crossing the Danube in 1877, the triumphant entry of the victorious army into Bucharest, and Prince Charles riding at the head of his Army in 1877. [Illustration: 344 345] Italy has given us commemoration portraits of Garibaldi (_Figs._ 344, 345), and its war with Turkey in 1911 extended the use of the overprinted Italian stamps of Tripoli (_Figs._ 346-348). From the Italian pages of our albums much of the story of the makings of United Italy may be learnt chiefly by the absorption into one of all the separate stamp issuing states, Sardinia, Naples, Sicily, Parma, Modena, Romagna, Tuscany, and, although much later, the States of the Church. The jubilee of the Union was commemorated by a set of four fine designs in 1911, one by Signor A. Sezanne showing (_Fig._ 349) a sword grasped by a hand, symbolical of the Italian Union, and at the sides are branches of palm in memory of the warriors who died in the Wars of Independence. [Illustration: 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353] Portugal does not offer much war-interest, though plenty of historical associations, in its postage stamps. The Republic followed so soon after the assassination of King Carlos that the stamps with the portrait of the young King Manuel had no long service without a distinguishing mark to show that the stamps were issued by the Republican Government (_Fig._ 350). These have since given place to a distinctive Republican design (_Fig._ 351). It is interesting to note that the Red Cross Society and the Civilian Rifle Corps in Portugal have a limited privilege of free postage, for which they use their own special stamps (_Figs._ 352, 353). The postage stamps of Spain introduce us to the revolutionary element in 1868 in which year Isabella II. fled to France as a result of the revolution under Prim and Serrano. That was in September, and the current stamps were overprinted before the end of the year with the words HABILITADO POR LA NACION (authorised by the nation), signifying that they were now being used under the Provisional Revolutionary Assembly. One of the forms of overprint reads HALILITADO POR LA JUNTA REVOLUCIONARIA. Some of the known overprints did not emanate from the headquarters of the Provisional Government but were added at the order of local juntas or revolutionary councils. The familiar emblematic figure of Spain followed on the stamps issued on January 1, 1870. The republican form of government did not last long, and in 1870 the Duke of Aosta, second son of King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, was chosen King of Spain, now a limited monarchy, as Amadeus I., and his portrait was introduced on the stamps of 1872-73. The tiny ¼c. de peseta stamps of the former year bear a small design of a royal crown. Changes at this period followed in rapid succession, and Amadeus failing to make headway as a constitutional Sovereign resigned his troublesome crown in February, 1873, in favour of peaceful retirement in Italy. The little stamps aforementioned were changed under the new government--this time another form of republic--to shew a mural crown in lieu of the royal one, and the portrait of Amadeus gave way to an emblematic figure Peace in July, 1873. Peace! What most desire, but few can obtain and keep. Nor was the next stamp design of Justice (July, 1874) much less wide of the mark. There were actually in Spain between the revolution of 1868 and the restoration of the house of Bourbon three different types of republic, the limited monarchy under Amadeus, and a military dictatorship. In 1872, too, the pretender Carlos proclaimed himself King of Spain, and issued the celebrated Carlist stamps from 1873 to 1875. So far as the general issues of Spanish stamps are concerned, their changes subsequent to the restoration of Alphonso XII., son of Isabella II., are free from further revolutionary changes, but there are postal war tax stamps of 1874-1879, and 1898 (_Fig._ 354). [Illustration: 354] A remarkable instance of planting a bogus set of stamps on collectors occurred in connection with the Melilla campaign in 1893-1894. In the set there are 53 or possibly 54 varieties, each for a different detachment of the Spanish forces. The inventor of the scheme apparently launched his venture by going about amongst the troops, sailors, officers, etc., distributing specimens of the stamps he had conceived in their behoof, and consequently the appearance of some of the labels on letters emanating from soldiers and others at the war gave colour to the supposition that these gaudy labels had been provided by a generous and otherwise unoccupied government at Madrid. Of the fifty-three stamps, all _except_ Nos. 1 and 2 are perforated. Nos. 1 to 5 are in design of _Figs._ 355, 356, and were supposed to have been for the use of the five Army Corps. The colours are (1) black frame, arms red and yellow; (2) blue frame, arms red and yellow; (3) as No. 1 perforated; (4) as No. 2 perforated; (5) black, red, and orange; [Illustration: 355 (1-2) 356 (3-5) 357 (7-35) 358 (36-42) 359 (43)] 7-13. One for each Regiment of "Cazadores" or Chasseurs, the name of the Regiment on each stamp. 14-35. One for each Regiment of Foot, with the name of a Regiment on each stamp. 36-42. One for each warship, the name of a ship on each stamp. 43. Commissariat Department. 44. Civil Guard; a disciplinary Corps, half military, half police, à la Royal Irish Constabulary. 45. Staff. [Illustration: 360 (44) 361 (45) 362 (46) 363 (47) 364 (48) 365 (49-53)] 46. Engineers. 47. Artillery. 48. Medical Staff Corps. 49-53. One for each Fort; name of the Fort on each stamp. [Illustration: 366 367 368 369] China's troubles during the Boxer rebellion were reflected in the stamp album by the "C.E.F." stamps of India (see Chapter II.) and by the use of the stamps of several of the Powers co-operating in the defence of the Legations. The revolution of 1912 made its mark in the overprinting of the Imperial stamps with various republican overprints (_Figs._ 366, 367) and the revolution when completed was commemorated by two sets of stamps issued in November 1912; one set bears the portrait of Dr. Sun Yat Sen in a frame in which are unripe ears of wheat, and inscribed "in commemoration of the _revolution_" (_Fig._ 368); the second set bears the portrait of President Yuan Shi Kai, and in this set the ears of wheat are ripe, and the inscription reads "in commemoration of the _republic_" (_Fig._ 369). Although not issued in connection with warfare, it may be noted that the only separate postage stamps of Heligoland appeared while the island was in British possession (_Fig._ 369A). Since its cession to Germany in 1890 the islanders have used German stamps. [Illustration: 369A.] CHAPTER IX THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-1915. CHECK-LIST OF NEW STAMPS. At New Year, 1915 it is too early to show more than a few of the first philatelic signs of the great world war which is being waged between Great Britain, France, Russia, Japan, Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey. But the developments are already full of significance, and the stamps of each of the countries at war acquire a new interest in the occasions for their extra-territorial use as the armies invade the territories of their opponents. At the beginning of August the Germans invaded France and Belgium, accompanied, or followed shortly, by field postal organisations, of which few particulars are yet available. By the middle of August the French had entered Alsace and German Lorraine, and the Russians having invaded East Prussia set up posts there in which they used the current Russian stamps. The British Expeditionary Force, with its well-equipped Army Postal Service, was in France by the 16th. About this period the Germans invaded Cape Colony. The Tsar's promise of autonomy to Poland may ultimately demonstrate its fulfilment in the issue of new stamps for Poland. France issued its first Red Cross stamp, and similar war charity stamps have since appeared in Monaco, French Morocco, Russia, Austria, Hungary, and Bosnia. Japan's declaration of war, and successful attack on Kiaochow, probably led to the use of Japanese soldiers' stamps (_Figs._ 201, 202) by the forces engaged, possibly along with Indian stamps overprinted C.E.F. (China Expeditionary Force, _Fig._ 61), for the use of the co-operating British land forces. On the 26th the British along with the French took Togoland, and have already issued stamps of the Anglo-French occupation of that former German colony (_Figs._ 384-386). Prior to their issue the British Gold Coast stamps were used in Togo for a time (_Fig._ 370). Towards the end of the month the bombardment of Malines destroyed the Belgian State Stamp-printing works, rendering it necessary to create an entirely new series of Belgian stamps when the Government finds itself in a position to do so. On the 29th Samoa was taken by the New Zealand forces, and English stamps have been used there (_Fig._ 371), and already a provisional and a definitive set of British Samoa stamps have appeared (_Figs._ 382, 383). [Illustration: 370 370A. 370B. 371 372 373] German attacks in September on various British and French colonial possessions may in some cases leave philatelic records, chiefly in the way of war postmarks which may be looked for from the affairs in Nyasaland, British East Africa, Zanzibar, German South-West Africa, etc. Postmarks, too, record the withdrawal of the French Government to Bordeaux (_Figs._ 155, 156), and the sending of great loyal contingents from Canada (_Fig._ 372) Australia, and New Zealand (_Fig._ 373). The effect on stamp issues caused by Turkey's abolition of the capitulations has already been referred to as rendering a considerable number of stamp issues obsolete, and this event has been commemorated on the Turkish issue, which, by the way, was printed in London. Australia's capture of German New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago, is already reported to have been followed by the re-issue of the German colonial stamps of New Guinea (_Figs._ 370A, 370B) with a British "G.R.I." overprint. Some postal aspects of the retirement of the Belgian Government to Havre in October (_Fig._ 216) and the issue of German stamps for Belgium (_Fig._ 209) have already been referred to. Turkey's entry into the war in November may have the effect of removing Turkey from the list of European stamp-issuing States, and has already led to the long anticipated proclamation of a British protectorate over Egypt, and the annexation of Cyprus. The fall of Tsingtau renders obsolete the German colonial type of stamp for Kiaochow, although there may have been some interesting provisional issue here, and also possibly in the Marshall and Marianne Islands. All these and many more happenings of the past few months will leave their traces in new stamps, or in new uses for stamps, and when at last the enemy shall be vanquished and Peace reigns once more, one of the most fascinating histories of the great War will be that recorded in the pages of the stamp album. The following is a synopsis, or check list, of distinctive postage stamps already issued in connection with the war. Issues reported but not yet seen by or satisfactorily vouched for to the present writer are not included. AUSTRIA. October 4, 1914. War Relief stamps. Current design adapted (_Fig._ 258) sold at 2 heller over face-value. 5 heller green. 10 " carmine. BELGIUM. October 2, 1914. Red Cross Stamps. Lithographed on white wove unwatermarked paper. Perf. 13½. White gum. (a) _Head of King Albert (Figs. 210, 211)._ 5c. green. 10c. red. 20c. purple (cross in red). (b) _Monument design (Figs. 212, 213)._ 5c. green (cross in red). 10c. red. 20c. purple (cross in red). BELGIUM (GERMAN ADMINISTRATION). October, 1914. Current German Empire stamps, overprinted in black "Belgien," and new value in Gothic type (_Fig._ 209). Perforated 14. Issued in Brussels. 3 centimes on 3 pfennig, brown. 5 " 5 " green. 10 " 10 " carmine. 25 " 20 " ultramarine. BOSNIA. October (?), 1914. War Relief stamps. 5 and 10 heller stamps of the 1906 issue overprinted 7 and 12 heller, respectively. 7 heller on 5 heller, green. 12 " 10 " carmine. FRANCE. August 18, 1914. Contemporary 10 centimes stamp, surcharged "+5c." in red (_Fig._ 150). 10c. + 5c. vermilion. September 10, 1914. Definitive stamp. Sower design adapted, inscription reading "CROIX-ROUGE POSTES" (_Fig._ 151). 10c. + 5c. vermilion. FRENCH MOROCCO. September 1, 1914. Red Cross stamp. The 10 centimes "Rights of Man" type, already overprinted "10," and native inscription, further surcharged "+5c." (_Fig._ 153). 10c. + 5c. red. HUNGARY. October, 1914. War Relief stamps. The 5 and 10 filler "inundation" stamps of 1913 overprinted in black in the centre of the stamp "Hadi Ségély" (War Relief) and on label at the foot, obliterating the original inscription, "Ozvegyeknek es arvaknak ket filler" (for the widows and orphans two filler) (_Fig._ 261). Seventeen values 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, 50 and 60 filler, and 1, 2, and 5 korona. INDIA EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. October, 1914. Stamps of India overprinted I.E.F. in seriffed type, for use with British troops on the Continent (_Figs._ 76-85). Perf. 14. 3p. grey. ½a. green. 1a. carmine. 2a. mauve. 2½a. (Die 2) blue. 3a. brown orange. 4a. olive. 8a. purple. 12a. claret. 1r. green and brown. MONACO. October, 1914. Red Cross stamp. Current 10 centimes stamp of this Principality, surcharged "+ 5c." in red (_Fig._ 152). 10c. + 5c. red. NEW GUINEA. October, 1914. Provisional Issue. German Colonial (Ship) type for DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA, overprinted "G.R.I." and new value in English. (Similar to _Figs._ 374-381.) Perforated 14. 1d. on 3pf., brown. 1d. on 5pf., green. 2d. on 10pf., carmine. 2d. on 20pf., ultramarine. 3d. on 25pf., black and red on _yellow_. 3d. on 30pf., black and orange on _buff_. 4d. on 40pf., black and carmine. 5d. on 50pf., black and purple on _buff_. 8d. on 80pf., black and carmine on _rose_. RUSSIA. November 26, 1914. War Charity stamps. Surface-printed at the Russian Imperial State Printing Works on enamelled surface coloured papers (_Figs._ 189-192, see frontispiece). Sold for 1 kopec extra per stamp. 1 (2) kopec. 3 (4) kopecs. 7 (8) kopecs. 10 (11) kopecs. SAMOA (BRITISH). September 3, 1914. Provisional Issue. German Colonial (Ship) type for Samoa overprinted "G.R.I." and new value in English (_Figs._ 374-381). Wove paper, unwatermarked. Perforated 14. [Illustration: 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381] ½d. on 3pf. brown. No fraction bar to "½." Comma after "G.R.I," ½d. on 5pf. green. Two small fraction bars to "½." Comma after "G.R.I," 1d. on 10pf. carmine. 2½d. on 20pf. ultramarine. No fraction bar to "½." Inverted surcharge. Comma after "G.R.I," 3d. on 25pf. black and red on _yellow_. Double surcharge. 4d. on 30pf. black and orange on _buff_. 5d. on 40pf. black and carmine. 6d. on 50pf. black and purple on _buff_. Double surcharge. Inverted "9" for "6." 9d. on 80pf. black and carmine on _rose_. 1s. on 1 mark carmine. Error "1 shillings." 2s. on 2 marks blue. 3s. on 3 marks violet. 5s. on 5 marks carmine and black. September 29, 1914. Permanent Issue. New Zealand stamps overprinted "Samoa" in _sans-serif_ type 2mm. high and 14mm. long. The type of stamp is indicated in brackets (_Figs._ 382, 383). Orange-red overprints for ½d., 2d., 2½d.; and blue for 1d., 6d., and 1s. White wove paper. Watermarked "N.Z." single-lined and Star. Perfs. various. [Illustration: 382 383] ½d. green (King Edward). 1d. carmine (Dominion). 2d. mauve (King Edward). 2½d. blue (Pictorial). 6d. carmine (King Edward). 1s. vermilion (King Edward). TOGOLAND (BRITISH ISSUE). October, 1914. German Colonial stamps for Togo overprinted "Togo--Anglo-French--Occupation" in three lines in black (_Figs._ 384-386). Wove paper, perforated 14. [Illustration: 384 385 386] _(a) Surcharged with new value in pence (Figs. 384, 385)._ ½d. on 3pf. brown (no wmk.). 1d. on 5pf. green (wmk. lozenges). _(b) Without new value (Fig. 386)._ 3pf. brown. 5pf. green. 10pf. carmine. 20pf. blue. 25pf. black and red on _yellow_. 30pf. black and orange on _buff_. 40pf. black and carmine. 50pf. black and purple on _buff_. 80pf. black and carmine on _rose_. 1 mark carmine. 2 marks blue. TOGOLAND (FRENCH ISSUE). October, 1914. Similar stamps, but with overprint reading "TOGO--OCCUPATION--FRANCO-ANGLAISE," and new value in French currency. .05 on 3pf. brown. 10 on 5pf. green. 10pf. carmine. 20pf. blue. 25pf. black and red on _yellow_. 30pf. red and black on _buff_. 40pf. red and black. 80pf. red and black on _rose_. 1 mark carmine. 2 marks blue. TURKEY. October, 1914. Current stamps (_see Figs. 263 et seq._) overprinted (?) in commemoration of the closing of all foreign post offices in Turkey, as a consequence of the abolition of the Capitulations. The overprint is in two lines of Turkish characters. 5 paras, purple-brown. 10 paras, green. 20 paras, scarlet. 1 piastre, blue. 2 piastres, green and black. 5 piastres, deep lilac. 10 piastres, red-brown. _NOTICE._ [This check list of stamps of the war will be revised, continued and presented as a supplement which will be given away from time to time with _The Postage Stamp_ (1d. weekly), of all newsagents, or by post 4s. 4d. per annum from the publishers, S. R. Le Mare, 21 Paternoster Square, London, E.C.] APPENDIX. Egypt--Sudan--Morocco--Military Postcards--Additional Postmarks. EGYPT.--An event of the greatest interest to philatelists is the termination of the suzerainty of Turkey over Egypt, and the placing of the latter country under British protection. As a British protectorate, Egypt will be transferred to the British Empire division of the stamp catalogues, and a greatly increased interest will be taken in the postage stamps of the land of the Pharaohs, with the result that the earlier issues will rise appreciably in value. As recently as January 8, 1914, a handsome new series of stamps was issued in Egypt, on the anniversary day of the accession of the now deposed Khedive, Abbas II. These were not of a commemorative character, but were issued on the anniversary as a compliment to the then reigning Khedive. They probably call for no change in the designs under the new conditions, and as they are denominated in English the present stamps may be continued in use. But they will probably be changed in regard to the watermarked paper on which they are printed, as the watermarked device is that popularly known as the "star and crescent" (_Fig._ 387), although modern authorities appear to agree that the Turkish symbol is not a crescent (_vide_ p. 87). The new Egyptian flag, under Sultan Hussein I., is red with _three_ silver crescents each enclosing a star, instead of the Turkish flag with the single "crescent" and star. Thus although a new form of watermark may not be deemed necessary, a change to the "multiple" (or as printers term it, the "all-over") watermark of similar device would appropriately denote the new regime. [Illustration: 387 388 389 390] The designs on the fine series of stamps (_Figs._ 388-397) now current in Egypt are:--1 millieme, sepia: gyassas or sailing-boats on the Nile; 2m., green: Cleopatra in the garb and head-dress of the goddess Isis; 3m., orange-yellow: the Ras-el-Tin Palace in the Muhammedan quarter of modern Alexandria; 4m., vermilion: the Pyramids of Giza; 5m., lake: the Sphinx of Giza; 10m., cobalt: the two Colossi of Amenophis III. on the banks of the Nile at Thebes; 20m., olive: the Pylon or Gateway to the Karnak Temple; 50m., lilac: the Citadel at Cairo; 100m., slate: the Rock Temple at Abû Simbel, Ipsambul; 200m., marone: the Aswân Dam, at the first cataract of the Nile. [Illustration: 391 392 393 394 395 396 397] In view of the great future now opening up for British philatelists in the study and collection of Egyptian stamps, the present writer has completed a full illustrated history of these stamps for publication in the "Melville Stamp Books series," published by Messrs. Stanley Gibbons, Ltd., 391 Strand (_see_ page 2). This will be issued almost simultaneously with the present volume. [Illustration: 398] An Egyptian stamp which might have been included in the body of the present work is _Fig._ 398, a postage-due stamp issued in 1898. At that time the Egyptian postal regulations charged 3 milliemes for prepaid letters but double that sum (6 milliemes) for unpaid letters, from or to non-commissioned officers and men of the Egyptian Army in garrison on the frontier, as well as at Suakim and Tokar; the same tariff was applicable to soldiers taking part in the Expedition to the Sudan. In consideration of the fact that such soldiers would be most frequently in places where they would be unable to get postage stamps, the authorities decided that unpaid letters sent by them should only be liable to the single rate of 3 milliemes instead of the double rate of 6 milliemes. But as there was no postage-due stamp of 3 milliemes to use in collecting this sum, it was temporarily permitted to use a 2 millieme stamp, with half of another 2 millieme stamp divided diagonally, until the surcharged stamp (_Fig._ 398) 3 milliemes on 2 milliemes could be prepared and issued. [Illustration: 399 400 401] SUDAN.--The first stamps of the Sudan were created by overprinting Egyptian stamps in 1897 for use at the Camp Post Office at Wadi Haifa, and at points south thereof, the overprint reading "SOUDAN" and repeated in Arabic characters. The first stamps of special design, the attractive "camel" issue, also have military associations, being designed by Colonel Stanton of the Oxford Light Infantry, depicting a camel rider, alleged to be a portrait of Slatin Pasha. The rider is carrying mail, and is armed with a rifle and two spears (_Fig._ 399). These stamps were overprinted for use of army officials either with the words "OFFICIAL-ARMY" as in _Fig._ 400, or "Army Service" as in _Fig._ 401. Another interesting Sudanese military stamp design was used for the military telegraph service (_Fig._ 402). [Illustration: 402] MOROCCO.--Following upon the proclamation of Egypt as a British Protectorate, it was announced that Great Britain has recognised the French Protectorate in Morocco and has adhered to the Franco-Moroccan Treaty of March 30, 1912. The French stamps for Morocco (_Fig._ 403) have now been overprinted "PROTECTORAT-FRANCAIS", as may be seen by comparing this 10 centimes value with the same denomination utilised for Red Cross stamp purposes (_Fig._ 153). The change in the status of Morocco may render the British postal agencies there unnecessary, in which case the series of British stamps overprinted "MOROCCO AGENCIES" (_Figs._ 404, 405) may be rendered obsolete. [Illustration: 403 404 405] POSTCARDS AND POSTMARKS. The remaining illustrations, added as this work is being sent to press, supplement the philatelic records of the present war, as already outlined in the earlier chapters. _Fig._ 406 is the original issue of the French military postcard, on thin green card. _Fig._ 407 is also French, printed on a thicker Silurian card. _Fig._ 408 is a German field postcard (medium white) despatched by a British prisoner of war in the English Lager at Sennelager. A few additional naval postmarks are also shown (_Figs._ 409-413). _Fig._ 409 appears to be in the design of an "Iron Cross" (!) _Fig._ 414 is a mark used by the censor in handling registered mail, and 415 is on correspondence originating at a depot for convalescent horses. _Figs._ 416-420 are various types of censor marks, No. 419 being a Dutch one on a letter posted at Maastricht. At the time of going to press we have noted British military censor marks up to No. 1739. We are also able to state definitely that _Fig._ 85B (Chapter II.) is a field postmark of the Indian Expeditionary Force in France. [Illustration: 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 414 413 415 416 417 418 419 420] * * * * * Transcriber's Notes: Irregular and duplicate figure numbering has been retained throughout. The only intentional changes to the text are where typographical errors have been corrected as follows: Page 5, "page 47" changed to "page 49" (in Table of Contents: Chapter IV ... page 49.) Page 5, "page 77" changed to "page 75" (in Table of Contents: Chapter VI ... page 75.) Page 5, an Appendix starting on p. 122 is not listed in the Table of Contents. Page 32, Figure 69 originally on page 32 moved to page 33; appears as illustration for HTML version and is transcribed as text for this Plain Text version. Page 33, note hand-written correction to the poster (Figure 69) "stamps" should read "letters" (unpaid and unfranked letters will also run the risk of misdelivery.) Page 36, missing closing parenthesis added "(Fig. 77)". Page 45, there is no Figure 123. Page 45, "129" changed to "128" ("Figs. 126-128".) Pages 57 & 58, duplicate use of figure numbers 167 and 168. Page 59, "Womens'" changed to "Womens'" (the Imperial Women's Patriotic Union.) Page 70, Figure 221 appears as illustration for HTML version and is transcribed as text for this Plain Text version. Page 76, "Fraulein" changed to "Fräulein" (an actress Fräulein Anna Führing). Page 87, suspected error in original unchanged: "susceptibilities" for "sensibilities" (which gave offence to Muslim susceptibilities). Page 103, "incriptions" changed to "inscriptions" (the inscriptions on which read "Liberty or death...") Page 108, in the transcription of the overprint "HALILITADO POR LA JUNTA REVOLUCIONARIA" it is unclear whether "HALILITADO" is an error for "HABILITADO" in the typesetting or in the original overprint. Page 122, "Pharoahs" changed to "Pharaohs" (postage stamps of the land of the Pharaohs). 
43857	----	Transcriber's Notes Several symbols appear in the left margin of certain catalogue entries: the equals sign (=), em-dash (--) and a circular "bullet" (o). No explanation is given in the book for the significance of these symbols which are reproduced as the original. A distinctive larger typeface is introduced on the title page and used to denote catalogue items donated by the Boston Philatelic Society. In this Plain Text version of the e-book this typeface is distinguished by preceding and following dollar symbols: $thus$. Other typeface conventions and symbol substitutions are as follows: Bold typeface is represented by =equals signs=; italic typeface by _surrounding underscores_; superscripts by a preceding caret (^) symbol; and small caps typeface by UPPER CASE. [oe] represents an oe-ligature character. [asterism] represents a triangle of three stars. Where changes or corrections have been made to the text, these are listed at the end of the book. * * * * * CATALOGUE OF BOOKS ON PHILATELY IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. ITEMS PRINTED IN THIS STYLE OF TYPE $(Albrecht, R. F., and Company, publishers. *2234.22)$ WERE GIVEN BY THE BOSTON PHILATELIC SOCIETY. JANUARY, 1903. PRESS OF D. H. BACON & CO., DERBY, CONN. Consult the Card Catalogue Under Headings: Envelopes, Perforation, Penny Postage, Post, Postage, Postage Stamps, Postal ----, Postal Cards, Postmarks, Post Office, Revenue, Revenue Stamps, Telegraph Stamps. Also public documents. CATALOGUE. =Adenaw, Julius.= *2234.13 A complete catalogue of the revenue stamps of the United States, including all private and state issues, and giving all minor varieties, with the market value of every stamp. New York, Scott Stamp & Coin Co. [1884?] 74, (1) pp 8^o. $=Albrecht, R. F.=, and Company, publishers. *2232.22$ $Auction prices. An epitome of the prices realized for postage stamps at R. F. Albrecht & Co.'s auction sales during four seasons. (1892-95, sales 1-29.)$ = $New York, 1895. (4), 127 pp. 8^o.$ $=American Journal of Philately.= *2234.23$ $Monthly, Henry L. Calman, editor, first series, vol. 1, 1868.$ = $New York: Scott Stamp & Coin Co., second series, 1888-1902, 15v., illus. plates, 8^o. The issues for 1889 were edited by J. W. Scott.$ =American Philatelic Association.= *2237.69 Books on philately in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. [Chicago] 1901. 7 pp. 8^o. $=American Philatelic Association.= 2237.137$ $Catalogue of the American Philatelic Association's loan exhibit of postage stamps to the United States Post Office Department, at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893.$ $Birmingham, Conn. Bacon & Co., 1893. 68 pp. 8^o.$ $=American Philatelic Association.= *2230a.13$ $Official circular. Sept., 1893-Aug., 1895.$ = $[St. Louis, Mo., 1893-95.] v. L. 8^o.$ $=American Philatelic Publishing Company.= 2239a.121$ $"Our catalogue." The standard American catalogue of all the postal issues of the world. Together with the revenue stamps of the United States and Canada.$ = $New York. Albrecht & Co. [1894] (2), 592 pp. Illus. 16^o.$ $=American Philatelist.= Vol. 1-13. *6233.9$ $Chicago. American Philatelic Association. 1888-99. 13 v. in 7. 8^o.$ $The annual number for Dec., 1884, is published as vol. 8. Previous to vol. 8 the periodical is called American Philatelist and Year Book of the American Philatelic Association.$ $=Bacon=, E. D. 2237.59$ $Reprints of postal adhesive stamps and their characteristics.$ = $London. [1900.] viii, 168 pp. Illus. [Stanley Gibbons' philatelic handbooks.] 8^o.$ $=Bacon=, E. D. *2236.47$ $And Francis John Hamilton Scott Napier.$ $Grenada: to which is prefixed an account of the perforations of the Perkins-Bacon printed stamps of the British Colonies.$ $London. Stanley Gibbons, 1902 (4) 173 pp. Illus. Pls. [The Stanley Gibbons Philatelic Handbooks] 8^o.$ =Bacon=, E. D. and Francis J. H. S. Napier. 2237.48 The stamps of Barbadoes, with a history and description of the star-watermarked papers of Perkins, Bacon & Co. London: 1896. xi., 119pp. Pls. [The Stanley Gibbons Philatelic handbooks.] 8^o. $=Bartels, J. M.=, Co., publishers. *2230a.2$ $Complete catalogue and reference list of the stamped envelopes, wrappers, and letter sheets regularly issued by the United States. 1853-97.$ $Washington, 1897, 38 pp. Illus Pls. L. 8^o.$ $=Bartels=, J. M., Co. 2230a.3$ $March, 1899. J. M. Bartels' second complete catalogue and reference list of the stamped envelopes, wrappers, letter sheets and postal cards, regularly issued by the United States. 1853-1899.$ $Washington (1899) Unpaged. Illus. F^o.$ $=Bartels=, J. Murray & Co., publishers. 2239a.112$ $The standard price catalogue and reference list of the plate numbers of United States adhesive postage stamps, issued from 1890 to 1898. 3d edition.$ $Washington, 1898, 37pp. 16^o.$ $Same. 2239a.113$ $Stamps issued from 1893 to 1899, 4th edition. With supplement, 1899, 1900, 2 parts in 1v.$ =Bazar=, Der. *6231.6 für Briefmarken-Sammler, Jahrgang 1, No. 5-11. Heidelberg: 1869-70, 4^o. =Bellars=, Henry John, and ---- Davie. 2237.53 The standard guide to postage stamp collecting ... 2d edition. London. Hotten. 1864. 130 pp. Sm. 8^o $=Boston Philatelic Society.= *2234.15$ $An historical reference list of the revenue stamps of the United States, including the private die proprietary stamps. Compiled by George L. Toppan, Hiram E. Deats and Alexander Holland, a committee of the ... society.$ $Boston, 1899, 423pp. L. 8^o.$ $=Boston Stamp Book=, The. *2237.74$ $[Monthly.] Edited and published by John Luther Kilbon. Vol. 1-3. May, 1895-May, 1898.$ = $Boston. Cassino & Co. [etc.] 1896-98. v. 12^o.$ =Bradt=, S. B. & Co. *6226.36 Catalogue of United States and foreign postage stamps, 1-9, from July 25, 1891-Dec. 14. 1892. Sold at Cobb's library. [Chicago, 1891, 92.] 9 pphs. in 1 v. 8^o. $=Bright & Sons= *2237.68$ $"A B C" descriptive priced catalogue of the world's postage stamps, envelopes, post cards, etc. 3d edition. Revised up to date.$ -- $London. Simpkin, Marshall & Co. [1898.] 2 parts in 1 v. Sm. 8^o. London. Simpkin, Marshall & Co. [1901.]$ $=Brown=, Frank P., publisher. 2239a.21$ $The standard postage stamp catalogue. 56th edition.$ = $Boston, 1896. xxxvi, 623, (4) pp. Illus. 16^o.$ $Two copies.$ $=Brown=, Mount. 2237.63$ $Catalogue of British, Colonial, and foreign postage stamps. 2d edition.$ = $London. Passmore. 1862. vii, (1), 72 pp. 16^o.$ $Same. 4th edition. 1863. xi, (1), 85 pp. 2237.18$ =Brown=, Walter Lee. 6226.18 = No. 1 in *2224.6 Descriptive catalogue of the revenue stamps of Italy, from 1836 to 1878. New York. J. J. Pusey & Co., prs. 1878. (2), 23, (1) pp. 8^o. $=Brown=, William, of Salisbury. 2230a.23$ $A reference list to the stamps of the Straits Settlements, surcharged for use in the Native Protected States.$ = $Salisbury, author, 1894. 108, (1) pp. Illus. Plates. 4^o. Reprinted with additions and corrections from the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain.$ =Chalmers=, Patrick. *2237.35 The adhesive postage stamp. Decision of the "Encyclopædia Britannica." James Chalmers was the inventor of the adhesive stamps. Also papers on the penny postage reform. London: E. Wilson, 1886, 64pp. 8^o. Chalmers, Patrick. *2237.37 The American Philatelic Association and the adhesive postage stamp. London: E. Wilson & Co., 1887, 16pp. Sm. 8^o. =Chalmers=, Patrick. 2237.30 How James Chalmers saved the penny postage scheme. Letter of the Dundee bankers and merchants to the lords of Her Majesty's treasury. London: E. Wilson & Co., 1890, 71pp. 8^o. [Relates to the adhesive postage stamp first proposed by James Chalmers.] =Chalmers=, Patrick. 2237.28 Mr. John Francis, of the Athenæum, on the plan of Sir Rowland Hill, 2d ed. London: E. Wilson & Co., 1889, 48pp. 8^o. [Relates to the adhesive postage stamp.] =Chalmers=, Patrick. *2237.34 Submission of the Sir Rowland Hill committee, 2d edition, with opinions from the press (4th series) on "the adhesive postage stamp." London: E. Wilson, 1886, 115pp. 8^o. =Chicago Stamp News.= Vol. 1. *6233.10 Chicago, 1891, 1892. 8^o. =Collin=, Henry, and Henry L. Calman. *2234.21 Catalogue of the stamps, envelopes, wrappers and postal cards of Mexico. Including the provisional issues of Campeche, Chiapas, Guadalajara, etc. = New York: Scott Stamp & Coin Co. [1900?] (1), 117pp. Illus. L. 8^o. $=Collin=, Henry and others. *2230a.25$ $Catalogue of the stamps, envelopes and wrappers of the United States of America, and of the Confederate States of America, by Henry Collin and Henry L. Calman, with the collaboration of John N. Luff and George L. Toppan.$ = $New York: Scott Stamp & Coin Co., 1900. (4), 206pp. Illus. Plates. Sm. f^o.$ $=Collin=, Henry, and Henry L. Calman. *2230a.122$ $A catalogue for advanced collectors of postage stamps, stamped envelopes and wrappers....$ $New York: The Scott Stamp & Coin Co. 1890-1901. 1349pp. Illus. Plates. 4^o.$ $=Coster=, Charles H. *2232.26$ $The United States locals and their history.$ $New York: Scott & Co., 1877, 111pp. Illus. 8^o.$ $=Coster=, Charles H. *2237.110$ $Les postes privées des Etats-Unis d'Amérique. Bruxelles, Moens, 1882, 85, 2v. in 1. Illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 16^o.$ $[Contents.--1. Les timbres adhésifs. 2. Les envelopes timbrées.]$ $=Daily Stamp Item.= *2230a.31$ $Vol. 1, 2. January 1 to June 30, 1896.$ = $St. Louis, Mo. C. H. Mekeel Stamp & Publishing Co. 1896, 2v. Portraits. F^o.$ $=Daniels=, J. H. 2237.31$ $A history of British postmarks, together with a list of numbers used in obliterations in Great Britain and certain colonial possessions. London: Gill. 1898 (5), 184pp. Illus. Sm^o.$ $=Deutsche Briefmarken-zeitung= 6230a.34$ $(Periodical) iii.-v. (3 vols.)$ =Dexter,= George. 2237.4 Catalogue of postage stamps, American and foreign, and U. S. revenue stamps. (Anon.) Cambridge: Sever and Francis. Two copies. 1868, 78pp. 16^o. $=Deutsche illustrirte Briefmarken-Zeitung.= *2237.154$ $[Monatlich.], vol. 1, 1883, Leipzig: 1883, 108pp., illus., 8^o. On the completion of this volume the publication was merged in Illustrirtes Briefmarken-Journal.$ $=Diena, E.= 2237.148$ $I Francobolli del Ducato Modena e della Provincie Modenesi, 8^o.$ $=Diena=, Emilio. 2237.150$ $Les timbres-postes des Romagnes. Suivi d'une étude sur leurs réimpressions par J.-B. Moens.$ $= Bruxelles. Moens, 1898, 95pp. Illus. 8^o.$ $=Dominion Philatelist=, 2234.31$ $(Periodical) ii.-iv. (3 vols.)$ $=Durbin= and Hanes. 2233.19$ $Descriptive catalogue of the postage stamps and stamped envelopes of all nations. 18th edition.$ $= Philadelphia: Chambers printing house, 1891, 180pp. Portrait, plates. 8^o.$ $=Earee=, Robert Brisco. *2237.64$ $Album weeds; or, how to detect forged stamps. 2d edition, enlarged.$ $= London: Gibbons [1892] xii., 726pp. Illus. 8^o.$ $=Eastern Philatelist=, The. *2232.28$ $A monthly magazine in the interests of philately. Vol. 1 to date.$ $= Newmarket, N. H. Pinkham, 1893 to date. v. 8^o & 4^o. The title is on the cover.$ $=Evans=, Edward Benjamin. *2234.104$ $A description of the Mulready envelope ... with an account of other illustrated envelopes of 1840 and following years.$ $London: Gibbons, 1891, 8, 240pp. Illus. 8^o.$ $=Evans=, Edward Benjamin. *2230a.104$ $The philatelic catalogue of postal stamps, envelopes, wrappers and cards, 1840-1890. St. Louis: Mekeel, 1891, (7,) 472, (2) pp., illus., Portr., 8^o.$ $=Evans=, Edward Benjamin. 2237.46$ $Stamps and stamp collecting. A glossary of philatelic terms and guide to the identification of the postage stamps of all nations. 2d edition.$ $London: Stanley Gibbons, 1898, 68pp. Illus. Pls. 8^o.$ $=Ewen=, Henry L'Estrange. 2239a.31$ $Standard priced catalogue of the stamps and postmarks of the United Kingdom. No. 6, 1898.$ $Bournemouth: Pardy, 1898. v. Illus. Sm. 8^o.$ $=Fabri=, Pio. 2237.97$ $Timbres des Etats de l'Eglise.$ $Bruxelles, Moens, 1878, (3), 41, (1) pp. Illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $Same. [In Moens, Jean Baptiste. Timbres des Etats de Toscana et Saint Marin. Pp. 69-109. Bruxelles, 1878.]$ =Fellows=, Eleanor C. *2237.38 Truth _v._ Fiction, _re_ the Chalmers' claim. By the Postal reformer's "home" secretary for 30 years. London: R. Forder, 1892, 15 pp. 8^o. [On the claim of Patrick Chalmers that his father, James Chalmers, was the inventor of the adhesive postage stamp. Signed, Eleanor C. Fellows.] $=Filatelic Facts and Fallacies.= *2237.78$ $A monthly magazine for stamp collectors and dealers. [Edited by S. Louis.] Vols. 1-6. October, 1892-September, 1898.$ $= San Francisco: Sellschop & Co., 1892-94. v. 8^o.$ =Firth=, Oliver. *2237.62 Postage stamps and their collection: a practical guide to philately for all collectors. -- London: Gill, 1897, (7), 188pp. Illus. Sm. 8^o. $=Fiscal Philatelist=, The, *2237.65$ $And revenue stamp guide. A monthly journal, devoted to fiscal collectors. Vol. 1. Edited by Fred Geo. C. Lundy, 1892-3.$ $London: Morley & Lundy (1893). Illus. Sm. 4^o.$ $=Friederich=, Rudolf. *2230a.37$ $Die Postwertzeichen Spaniens und seiner Kolonien.$ $= Berlin: Brendicke, 1894, 2 v. in 1. Illus. Plates. 8^o. Contents.--1. Die Postwertzeichen Spaniens. 2. Auflage. 3. Die Postwertzeichen der spanischen Kolonien. Benutzte Bücher und Zeitschriften, pp. xiii, xiv.$ $=Fulcher=, Lionel William. *2234.35$ $Catalogue of the revenue stamps of Spain and colonies, including the American occupation and revolutionary issues.$ $= London: Morley, 1902, (4), 98pp. Illus. 8^o.$ $=Gelli, G.=, and R. Tani, publishers. 2237.133$ $Catalogue illustré de timbres-poste et télégraphe, 3e édition$ $= Bruxelles [1902] (11), 536, 25pp. Illus. 8^o.$ $Bears date 1903 on the cover.$ =Girsewald=, Conway, Freiherr von. 2239a.107 The stamps of Switzerland--translated from the German. St. Louis: Mekeel, 1893, 64pp. Illus. 24^o. $=Glasewald=, A. E. 2239a.9$ $Die Postwerthzeichen von Griechenland. Nach den neuesten Forschungen bearbeitet.$ $Gössnitz S.-A. Glasewald, 1896, 64pp. Illus. Pl 8^o.$ $=Gray=, John Edward. 2237.17$ $The illustrated catalogue of postage stamps, 4th ed.$ $London: E. Marlborough & Co., 1866, xvi., 180pp.$ $Sm. 8^o. Same, do., do., 5th ed.$ Same--Revised by Overy Taylor, 6th ed. *2237.11 London: E. Marlborough & Co., 1875, xv. (1), 523pp. Sm. 8^o. $=Gray=, John Edward. 2237.16$ $A hand catalogue of postage stamps, 2d edition.$ $London: R. Hardwicke, 1863, xiv., 58pp. 12^o.$ $=Gremmel=, Henry. *2239a.125$ $Henry Gremmel's stamp catalogue of the western hemisphere, giving a full description ... of all the postage stamps, ... together with the present market value of every stamp.$ $= New York [189-.] 162pp. Illus. 16^o.$ $=Handford=, J. T. 2239.42$ $The illustrated postage stamp catalogue of United States and foreign postage stamps, stamped envelopes, postal and money order cards.... [4th edition.]$ $New York: Seebeck, 1882, (4), 112, (8) pp. Plates. 12^o.$ =Hardy=, William John, and E. D. Bacon. 2336.33 The stamp collector. A treatise on the issue and collecting of the postage stamps of all nations. With fac-similes. London: Redway, 1898, 300pp. Pls. Fac-similes. 8^o. =Harrison=, Gilbert, 2287.49 And Francis John Hamilton Scott Napier. Portuguese India [Handbook of its postal issues] with notes and publisher's prices. -- London: 1893, 87pp., plates [The Stanley Gibbons philatelic handbooks] 8^o. $=Harrison=, Gilbert. *2230a.99$ $The Nesbitt stamped envelopes and wrappers of the United States of America, with descriptions of the varieties of the dies.... Edited and completed by E. D. Bacon.$ $London: Smith, 1895, 44pp. Plates. 4^o.$ $Published as a supplement to the London Philatelist.$ =Herrick=, William. *2234.19 Catalogue of the Russian rural stamps. -- New York: Scott Stamp & Coin Co., 1896, 128pp. Illus. L. 8^o. =Horner=, W. E. V. *2332.55 History and catalogue of the stamped envelopes of the United States. Philadelphia: L. W. Durbin, 1879, 52 pp. Illus. Sm. 4^o. $=Horner=, W. E. V. *2232.14$ $The stamped envelopes of the United States, 3d edition.$ $Revised and continued by E. B. Hanes.$ $Phila.: Durbin and Hanes, 1889, 62pp. Illus.$ $[An earlier edition entitled, History and catalogue of the stamped envelopes of the United States is on shelf-number *2332.55.]$ $=Howes=, C. A. *2234.25$ $Photographs of a collection of Formosan stamps, the property of J. N. Luff.$ $N. p. 1901, 6 photos. Size, 6-1/2 x 4-5/8 inches. Mounted.$ $=Illustriertes Briefmarken Journal= 2237.154$ $(Periodical) vol. xxii.$ $=Illustriertes Briefmarken-Journal=. *6230a.28$ $Zeitschrift für Postwertzeichen-Kunde. Jahrgang 22.$ $= Leipzig: Senf. [1895.] v. Illus. 8^o.$ =International Collector.= *6226.17 Published monthly by the Collector publishing company. Vol. 1-4. San Francisco, 1887-89. 4 v. in 1. Sm. 4^o. Relates to postage stamps, coins, etc. The official organ of the Philatelic society of America. $=Internationaler Philatelisten-Verein=, *2233.17$ $Dresden.$ $Vertrauliche Mitteilung, No. 21, 15 Januar, 1899.$ $Dresden, Hesse and Becker (1899). 8^o.$ =Jioubukuro.= *5024.21 [Envelopes ornamented in colors.] 80 samples. L. 8^o. $=Kalckhoff=, F. 2239a.29$ $Die Postkarten der deutschen Schutzgebiete und der deutschen Postanstalten im Auslande.$ $Leipzig: [Naumann] 1902, 32pp. 8^o.$ $Berichtigter und ergänzter Sonderabdruck aus der Deutschen Briefmarken-Zeitung.$ =Kenyon=, Brewster C. 2385.15 History of the postal issues of Hawaii. A list of the adhesive postage stamps, stamped envelopes and postal cards of the Hawaiian government. = N. p., 1895, 26pp. Portr. 8^o. $=Koefoed=, O. *2237.75$ $Danske Postfrimærker, 1851-1901. En historisk Afhandling udarbejdet paa Grundlag af originale Aktstykker.$ $Kobenhavn, Jacobsen: 1901, 152, (4) pp., illus., portrs, pls. 8^o. [Some of the plates are colored.]$ $=Kohl=, Paul. *2239a.123$ $Freimarken-Katalog, 1902.$ $= Chemnitz: 1902, x, 736pp., illus. 16^o.$ $=Kropf=, H. 2230a.93$ $Die Postwertzeichen der Oster.-ungar. Monarchie. Prag: 1902, 430pp., 4^o.$ $=Koprovski=, Samuel 2237.93$ $Les timbres-poste ruraux de Russie. Nomenclature générale de tous les timbres connus jusqu'à ce jour, avec leurs prix de vente. Précédé d'une introduction sur l'histoire des postes rurales, avec notes géographiques et historiques.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1875, xxii, 3-108pp, Illus., 8^o.$ $=Kroetzsch=, Hugo. 2239a.16$ $Illustrierter ausführlicher Katalog über deutsche Postfreimarken.... Leipzig: Krötzsch, 1896, x., 150 pp., illus., 16^o.$ $=Kroetzsch=, Hugo. *2237.127.10$ $Die Postfreimarken der Grossherzogthümer Mecklenburg-Schwerin und Mecklenburg-Strelitz. [Leipzig, 1894.] viii, 36, 16pp. Plates. [Permanentes Handbuch der Postfreimarkenkunde. Theil 1, Abschnitt 10.] 12^o.$ $=Kroetzsch=, Hugo. *2237.127.11$ $Die Postfreimarken des Nordeutschen Postbezirks. [Leipzig, 1894.] ix., (1), 140pp. Plates. [Permanentes Handbuch der Postfreimarkenkunde. Theil 1, Abschnitt 11.] 12^o.$ =Longcope=, E. M. 9336 27a5 Things taxable. Stamp taxes under schedule A. Arranged and compiled alphabetically.... [3d ed., enlarged.] Houston: 1898, 86pp. 16^o. $=Le Grand=, A. 2237.100$ $Les écritures et la légende des timbres du Japon. Bruxelles: Moens, 1878, 43pp, illus. [Bibliothéque timbrolozique, 1.] 8^o. [Extrait du Bulletin de la Société francaise de timbrologie.]$ =Le Grand=, A. 2238.39 Le Grand's Manual for stamp collectors. A companion to the stamp album. From the French. Trans., adapted and annotated by Henri Pène Du Bois. International ed. -- N. Y.: Hurst [1896] 173 pp, 12^o. Two copies. $=Lindenberg=, C. 2239a.17$ $Die Briefmarken von Baden unter Benutzung amtlicher Quellen bearbeitet. Berlin: Brendicke, 1894, vi., (1), 171pp. 16^o.$ $=Lindenberg=, Carl. *2237.135$ $Die Briefumschläge der deutschen Staaten, unter Benutzung amtlicher Quellen. Heft 1-15.$ $= Berlin: Brendicke, 1892-95, 2v. and unbound parts, illus, 16^o. Contents--_Band 1_: Heft 1, Braunschweig 2, Mecklenburg-Schwerin und Mecklenburg-Strelitz 3, Lübeck 4, Thurn und Taxis 5, 6 Norddeutscher Postbezirk. _Band 2_: Heft 7, Oldenburg 8, Baden 9, Hamburg und Bremen 10, Sachsen 11, 12 Hannover. _Band 3_: Heft 13, Bayern 14, 15 Württemberg.$ $=Lockyer=, Gilbert E. 2237.70$ Colonial stamps: also those of Great Britain. With geographical and other notes. = London: Stanley Gibbons & Co. [1887] vii. (1), 242pp., illus., Sm. 8^o. $=London Philatelist=, *2230a.7$ $The monthly journal of the Philatelic Society, London. Editor, M. P. Castle. Vol. 3-7, 10-11, 1894-98, 1901-2.$ $= London: 1894-1902, v. illus., plates, L. 8^o.$ $=Luff=, John N. *2230a.39$ $The postage stamps of the United States.$ $= New York: The Scott Stamp & Coin Co., 1902, (2), 417 pp., illus. 4^o.$ =Luff=, John N. 2237.60 What philately teaches. -- New York: Scott Stamp & Coin Co., 1899, 75pp., illus. 12^o. =Lundy=, Frederick George C. 2231.115 History of the revenue stamps of Mexico. St. Louis: Mekeel, 1891, 45pp., illus. map, 8^o. $=Lundy=, Frederick George C., compiler. *2237.84$ $Handbook of the revenue stamps of Germany and Switzerland. Glasgow, 1896, 80pp 8^o.$ $=Lundy=, Frederick George C., compiler. *2237.85$ $Hand-book of the revenue stamps of Great Britain and Ireland. In commemoration of the bi-centenary of the first stamp duty act, 29th June, 1694. London: Morley, 1894, 46pp., sm. 4^o.$ =MacLean=, [McLean], William Seward. 2237.29 McLean's stamp collector's guide, containing articles on leading subjects; also lists of philatelic societies, and of periodicals devoted to the science; also a directory of over two thousand United States and Canadian collectors, 1889. Boston: W. S. McLean [1889] 100pp. 8^o. $=Martindale=, Isaac C. *2230a.33$ $Catalogue of [his] valuable collection of postage stamps to be sold ... October 24th and ... 25th, 1893. [And] List of prices realized at the sale.$ $= [Philadelphia, 1893] (6), 173, 16pp, 8^o.$ =Mason's Monthly= *6226.3 Coin and Stamp Collectors' magazine. Vol. 1-6, 1867-72. Phila.: Mason & Co. [1868-72] 6v. in 3, illus. 8^o. $=Masson=, David Parkes. 2237.145$ $The stamps of Jammu and Kashmir.$ $= Calcutta [& Lahore] 1900, 01, 2v., illus., plates. [Philatelic Society of India. Publications, vol. 4, 5] 8^o.$ =Mekeel=, Charles Haviland. 2231.116 The history of the postage stamps of the St. Louis postmaster, 1845-1847. o Saint Louis, 1895, 25pp., illus., portr., fac-similes 4^o. From the Philatelic journal of America [*6230a.10.14]. =Mekeel=, Charles Haviland. 2232.16 Descriptive priced catalogue of American postage stamps, including also a priced list of Mexican revenue stamps, 2d edition. = St. Louis: C. H. Mekeel Stamp and Publishing Co., 1891, 128pp. L. 8^o. =Mekeel=, C. H. *2234.114 Mekeel's complete standard catalogue of the postage stamps of the world, 1894, 95. St. Louis: 1893-95, 2v. 8^o and 16^o. =Mekeel=, Charles Haviland. 2280a.101 Mekeel's stamp collector's maps of the world. From original designs. St. Louis, 1895, Mekeel, (8) pp. 4^o. =Mekeel=, Charles Haviland. 2239a.105 A stamp collector's souvenir. St. Louis, 1892, 64pp. illus. portrs. 16^o. =Mekeel= (C. H.) Stamp and Publishing Co. 2239.87 Mexico. [A description of Mexican postage stamps, envelopes, etc.] -- St. Louis [1897?] 48 pp. illus., 16^o. $=Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News.= *2230.112$ $Edited by I. A. Mekeel [and others]. Vol. 1-13. St. Louis, 1895-99, 12v. and unbound parts, illus., portraits, map, F^o. Two copies of vol. 6-8, 10, 11. The incomplete set is kept in the children's room. Vols. 1-10 were edited by I. A. Mekeel; 11 and 12 by C. E. Severn and S. B. Hopkins; 13, by C. E. Severn alone. Nos. 26 and 47 of vol. 13 are wanting in the regular set, and Nos. 1-5 of vol. 6 in the "A" copy.$ $=Metropolitan Philatelist=, The. *2230a.11$ $[Monthly.] vol. 1-12, April, 1890-Sept. 1900.$ $--New York, Scott [etc.] 1890-1900, 12v, in 8, illus., sq. 8^o.$ =Millington=, H. Mackwood. 2237.72 An exhaustive catalogue of the adhesive postage stamps of the British Empire, up to January, 1894. With a short descriptive article on each colony. = London, Gibbons, 1894, xi., (1), 283pp. illus., sm. 8^o. $=Mirabaud=, Paul, and A. de Reuterskiöld. *2230a.1$ $The postage stamps of Switzerland, 1843-62.$ $= Paris, Motteroz, 1899, (5), xi, (1), 266, (1) pp., illus., plates, F^o. Bibliography, pp. 241-259.$ =Mitchell=, William H., D.D.S. No. 2 in 2236.41 The standard reference list of the private local postage stamps of the United States, including those used in Canada, Hawaiian Kingdom and Mexico. = Trenton: Sterling, 1887, xlii. pp. 8^o. $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. *2230a.35$ $Catalogue prix-courant de timbres-poste, télégraphes, enveloppes at bandes, cartes, etc., etc. = Bruxelles, Moens, 1892, 93, 3v., plates, L. 8^o. Contents--1. Timbres-poste et télégraphes; 2. Enveloppes, bandes, cartes and mandats; 3. Atlas.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. *2234.29$ $Héligoland et ses timbres.$ $= Bruxelles: Bureau du journal le timbre-poste, 1897, (3) 272pp., illus., 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. *2231.118$ $Histoire des timbres-poste et de toutes les marques d'affranchissement employées en Espagne, suivie de l'histoire des timbres fiscaux mobiles, depuis leur origine jusqu'à nos jours, 1840-1890.$ $= Bruxelles: Bureau du journal le Timbre-Poste, 1891, 564 pp., illus., L. 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2237.88$ $Timbres d'Egypte et de la Compagnie du Canal de Suez.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1880, 116 pp., illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles] 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. *2237.61$ $Les timbres de Belgique depuis leur origine jusqu'à nos jours. Bruxelles: Moens, 1880, 2 v. in 1, illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2237.98$ $Timbres de l'office Tour et Taxis, depuis leur origine jusqu'à leur suppression (1847-1867). Bruxelles, Moens, 1880, 107pp., illus., coat of arms. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. *2237.86$ $Timbres de la République argentine et de ses diverses provinces.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1882, 2 v. in 1, fac-similes, 8^o. 150 copies printed.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2237.89$ $Les timbres de Maurice depuis leur origine jusqu'à nos jours, 2e édition, augmentée.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1878, 147pp., illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles,] 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2237.99$ $Les timbres de Mecklenbourg-Schwérin et Strélitz. Bruxelles: Moens, 1879, 84pp. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2237.92$ $Les timbres de Prusse.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1887, 142pp., illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2232.45$ $Les timbres de Russie. Nomenclature générale de tous les timbres-poste, timbres locaux, ruraux timbres-téelégraphe, enveloppes, bandes, cartes & cartes-lettres.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1893 (4), 62pp., plates, 4^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2237.90$ $Les timbres de Saxe depuis leur origine jusqu'à nos jours.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1879, 104pp., illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2237.95$ $Timbres des duchés de Schleswig, Holstein & Lauenbourg et de la ville de Bergedorf.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1884, 94pp., illus., plates. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2237.91$ $Les timbres du Wurtemberg (1847-1880).$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1881, 2 v. in 1, illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $=Moens=, Jean Baptiste. 2237.96$ $Timbres des états de Toscane et Saint-Marin par J. B. Moens, et des Etats de l'Eglise par Pio Fabri. 2e édition augmentée.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1878, (1), 112pp., illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $=Mongeri=, F. 2237.87$ $Croissant-toughra (armoiries de l'Empire ottoman.) Bruxelles: Moens, 1887, 26pp., illus., 8^o. [Especially in regard to this device on postage stamps.]$ $=Morley=, Walter. *2237.80$ $Walter Morley's catalogue and price list of the revenue stamps of the British colonies, Nov., 1895. London: (1895) 8^o.$ $=Morley=, Walter. *2237.82$ $Walter Morley's catalogue and price list of the stamps of Great Britain, 2d edition, 1897. [London], [1897] viii., 191 pp., Sm. 8^o.$ $=Morley=, Walter. *2237.81$ $Walter Morley's complete catalogue and price list of British railway letter fee stamps, Sept., 1898. London: [1898] v. Sm. 8^o$. $=Morley=, Walter, compiler. 2237.83$ $Catalogue of the telegraph stamps of the world, Feb., 1900. London: (1900), (4), 179 pp., plates, Sm. 8^o.$ $=Morley's Philatelic Journal=. *2234.27$ $A monthly paper for collectors of postage, revenue, telegraph and railway stamps. Edited by A. Preston Pearce. Vol. 1-3, 1900, 1902.$ $= Catford: Morley, 1900-02, 3 v., illus., 8^o.$ $=Nankivell=, Edward J. 2237.152$ $Stamp collecting as a pastime. London: Gibbons, 1902, 68pp., illus. [The Stanley Gibbons Philatelic handbooks.] 8^o.$ =Napier=, Francis John Hamilton Scott, and E. D. Bacon. 2237.33 Saint Vincent. [Handbook of its postal issues.] With notes and publishers' prices. -- London: 1895, 107pp., plates [The Stanley Gibbons philatelic handbooks] 8^o. =Napier=, Francis John Hamilton Scott, and Gordon Smith. 2237.44 South Australia [Handbook of its postal issues] With notes and publishers' prices. -- London, 1894, (7), 135pp., plates [The Stanley Gibbons philatelic handbooks.] 8^o. =Nast=, F. A. 2237.139 A tentative price list of entire U. S. envelopes, arranged according to J. W. Scott's system, with the corresponding numbers, according to Prof. Horner. N. Y.: The J. W. Scott Co. [188-.] 51pp., 12^o. $=Nast=, F. A. 2237.139$ $A tentative price list of entire U. S. envelopes, arranged according to J. W. Scott's system, with the corresponding numbers, according to Prof. Horner. New York: The J. W. Scott Co. [1888?] 51pp., illus., 8^o. The title on the cover is J. W. Scott's catalogue....$ =Ogilvie=, W. T. 2236.31 Handbook for the collector of postage stamps, illus. London: Sonnenschein, 1892, 125pp. [The young collector] Sm. 8^o. $=Parker=, E. Y., publisher. 2239a.119$ $The pocket standard catalogue of the revenue stamps of Canada. Toronto: 1899, 23pp., 24^o.$ =Pemberton=, Edward L. 2237.27 The stamp collector's handbook, 2d ed. London: Stanley Gibbons & Co., 1878, x. (1), 340pp., illus., Sm. 8^o. $=Perlep=, A. 2237.159$ $Katalog der Stempelmarken aller Staaten. Kreuz a Ostbahn: Moersig [1880] vii., 224pp., plate [Philatelistische Bibliothek, band 6], 8^o.$ $=Permanentes Handbuch= der Postfreimarkenkunde mit Lichtdrucktafeln ... gleichzeitig Beibuch zum Permanente-Sammelwerk in losen Blätter von Hugo Krötzsch. [Auch Vierteljahrs Nachträge.]$ $= Leipzig: Krötzsch, 1894-1887, 17 v. in 9, illus., plates, maps, 12^o.$ $Theil 1. Deutsche Staaten. Abschnitt 1-13, 15 *2237.127$ $Theil 1. Abschnitt 4. 2. Auflage *2237.128$ $Theil 2.$ $Theil 3. Russland *2237.130$ $Vierteljahrs Nachträge. *2237.131$ $=Permanentes Handbuch der= *2237.131$ $Postfreimarkenkunde. Vierteljahrs-Nachträge zum Permanenten Handbuch der Postfreimarkenkunde und dem Permanent-Sammelwerk in losen Blättern von Hugo Krötzsch. Jahrgang 1-3, 1894-1896.$ $= Leipzig: Krötzsch, 1896, iv., 204pp., illus. plates, 12^o.$ $The Permanentes Handbuch, Theil 1, is on shelf-number *2237.127; Theil 3, *2237.130.$ $=Philatelic Californian=, The. *2233.21$ $Vol, 1, 2, October, 1893-December, 1895.$ $= San Francisco: California Philatelic Press Club, 1893-95, 2v., illus., 8^o. A monthly publication.$ $=Philatelic Era=, The *2237.77$ $A semi-monthly magazine devoted to stamp collecting. W. W. Jewett, editor and publisher. Vol. 6-8, September, 1892-August, 1894.$ $= Portland, Me., 1892-94, v., illus., 8^o. This magazine appeared monthly previous to September, 1893. The Philatelic Literary Review was published as a supplement to vol. 6 of the Philatelic Era, from September, 1892, to August, 1893.$ =Philatelic Journal=, The, of America. *6230a.10 An illustrated monthly magazine in the interest of stamp collecting. Edited by Charles Haviland Mekeel. Vol. 1-14. Philatelic Publishing Co., St. Louis, 1887-96, 13v., 8^o. =Philatelic Journal=, The, of America. *6230a.16 Special ed., vol. 2, No. 24, Feb., 1887. Ed. by Chas. Haviland Mekeel. -- St. Louis: Philatelic Pub. Co., 1887, 44pp., illus., portrs., 8^o. $=Philatelic Journal= *6231.62$ $of Great Britain, and philatelic review of reviews: official organ of the International philatelic union. Ed. by Percy C. Bishop, vol. 1-8. London: 1891-8, 8v., illus., portrs., 8^o.$ $=Philatelic Journal=, The, of India. *2230a.17$ $The monthly journal of the Philatelic Society of India. Editor, C. Stewart-Wilson, vol. 3-6, Jan. 1899-Dec., 1902.$ $= Calcutta: Thacker, Spink & Co., 1899-1902, 4 v., illus., plates, folded tables, L. 8^o.$ $=Philatelic Monthly and World=, vol. 19-21. *6230a.45$ $= Philadelphia, 1893-95, 2v., illus., 8^o.$ $=Philatelic Record=, The. *2237.103$ $Vol. 6-11, 18-24, February, 1884-December, 1902.$ $= London: Pemberton, Wilson & Co., 1884-1902, 13v. in 7, illus., portraits, 8^o. The portraits are photographs.$ $=Philatelic Record and Stamp News=. *2231.121$ $Edited by Edward J. Nankivell. Vol. 19-21, 1897-1901.$ $= London: Buhl & Co. [1897-1901]. v., illus., portraits, plates, 8^o.$ $=Philatelic Society=, London. *2232.18$ $The postage stamps, envelopes and post cards of Australia and the British colonies of Oceanica.$ $= London, 1887, (6), 147, (1) pp., plates, L. 8^o.$ $=Philatelic Society=, London. *2230a.19$ $The postage stamps, envelopes, wrappers, post cards, and telegraph stamps of the British colonies, possessions and protectorates in Africa, parts 1-2. London: 1895, 1900, 2v., illus. pls., L. 8^o.$ $=Philatelic Society=, London. *2230a.15$ $The postage stamps, envelopes, wrappers, post cards and telegraph stamps of British India and Ceylon. [With a supplement, by J. A. Tilleard, entitled, "Notes on the De la Rue series of the adhesive postage and telegraph stamps of India."] London: 1892, 1896 (4) lvii., 32pp. 24 pls., L. 8^o.$ $=Philatelic Society=, London. *2230a.41$ $The postage stamps, envelopes, wrappers, and post cards of the North American colonies of Great Britain.$ $= London, 1889, 67pp., plates, L. 8^o.$ =Philatelic World=, The; vol. 3. N. Y.: 1885, 8^o. *6238.36 $=Philatelist, Der= 2230a.120$ $(Periodical) Dresden: v.-xi. (7 vols.)$ $=Post Office=, The. *2230a.9$ $A monthly journal for stamp collectors. Vol. 1-8, 1891-99.$ $= New York [1891-97] 8v. in 5, illus., portraits, 8^o. Edited by Alvah Davison, 1891-94, Henry Gremmel, 1892-93, Crawford Capen, 1894-95-96-99.$ $=Postage Stamps.= Catalogues. *2237.125$ $[Priced catalogues of auction sales of postage stamps. March 17, 1892-May 30, 1893.]$ $= [Chicago, etc., 1892, 93] 31 pamphlets in 1 v., plate, 8^o.$ $=Postwertzeichen-Kunde= 6230a.25$ $(Periodical) 1893-4.$ =Rebellion Envelopes.= *4410.14 [A collection of envelopes bearing patriotic pictures, issued during the Civil war.] Mounted in scrap books, 5v., f^o. [A few of these were issued in the Confederate States.] Same. *"20th" 100.2 [Four envelopes and 884 pictures cut from envelopes] 4^o. $=Reinheimer=, A. 2237.161$ $Illustrierter Preiskatalog der deutschen postalischen Entwertungsarten. Dresden: Internationaler Philatelisten-Verein, 1894 (3), 52pp., illus., 8^o.$ =Revista filatelica=, La. *2232.60 Publicación mensual. Eduardo F. Cottilla [y I. A. Mekeel], editor [es] vol. 1, 2. St. Louis: Mekeel stamp and pub co., 1892-95, 2v. 8^o. $=Revue Philatelique=, 6230a.41$ $(Periodical) iv.-vi. (3 vols.)$ =Ribeiro=, Joao Pedro. **D. 192.9 Dissertacoes chronologicas e criticas sobre a historia e jurisprudencia ecclesiastica e civil de Portugal, publicadas por ordem da Academia R. das sciencias de Lisboa. Lisboa: Na typografia da mesma academia, 1810-13, 3v., Sm. 4^o. [Contenta ... vol. iii., parte 2, sobra o uso do papel sellado nos documentos publicos de Portugal.] =Robert=, Victor. *2235.131 Catalogue illustré de tous les timbres-poste émis depuis 1840 jusqu'à 1894 ... et leur prix de vente, 2e éd. Paris: Robert [1894] 10, 349pp., illus., 8^o. $=Robie=, Lewis, 2239.40$ $Stamp hunting. Chicago: Donohue, Henneberry & Co., 1898, 257pp. [The modern authors' library, No. 127] 12^o. This is a chatty account of a travelling drug salesman, who made a specialty of collecting revenue stamps.$ $=Roggenstroh=, Hermann. 2230a.97$ $Die Postwerthzeichen von Rumänien. Moldau, Moldau-Walachei, Fürstenthum Rumänien, Königreich Rumänien ... Magdeburg [1893?] 20pp., plates. [Verein für Briefmarkenkunde.] f^o.$ $=Rommel=, Otto. 2239a.18$ $Die Postwertzeichen des Bergedorfer Postbezirkes.$ $= München: Larisch, 1892 (7), 56pp., illus., 8^o. Literatur, pp. (5, 6).$ $=Rothschild=, Arthur de, Baron. 5649.19$ $Histoire de la poste aux lettres depuis ses origines les plus anciennes jusqu'à nos jours. Paris: Librairie nouvelle, 1873, (3), 335 pp., 12^o. A later edition is entitled, Histoire de la poste aux lettres et du timbre-poste [5649.166]$ $=Rothschild=, Arthur de, Baron. 5649.166$ $Histoire de la poste aux lettres et du timbre-poste depuis leurs origines jusqu'à nos jours. 3e édition.$ $= Bruxelles: Moens, 1876, 2v., 12^o. An earlier edition is entitled Histoire de la poste aux lettres [5649.19].$ =Salefranque=, Léon. 2231.56 Le timbre à travers l'histoire, avec dessins et fac-similés. Rouen: imp. E. Deshays et cie, 1890, 126pp., 4^o. $=Schueller=, Friedrich. 2232.30$ $Die Persische Post und die Postwerthzeichen von Persien und Buchara. Döbling: Im. Selbstverlage des Verfassers [1893] 90 (4) pp., plates, L. 8^o.$ $=Scott Stamp and Coin Co.=, 2237.47$ $[Catalogue] 1898, [N. Y., 1898,] illus. 16^o.$ $=Scott Stamp and Coin Co.=, 2237.57$ $The standard postage stamp catalogue, 55th-61st ed., 1895-1902. N. Y.: [1895]-1902. [Several copies of recent editions.]$ $=Scott=, J. Walter. 2239a.127$ $Standard stamp catalogue, 25th thousand.$ $= New York: The J. W. Scott Co. [189-] (2), 212pp., illus., 12^o.$ $=Scott=, J. W. 2239a.127$ $Standard stamp catalogue ... New York: The J. W. Scott Co. [1891] (2), 210pp., illus., 8^o.$ =Seltz=, C. M. 2237.5 The postage stamp collector's hand-book. A descriptive catalogue of all postage stamps issued from 1840 to the present time. Boston: C. M. Seltz, 1867 (3), 20pp., 16^o. $=Senf=, Richard, 2237.113$ $Handbuch sämtlicher Postmarken, Briefumschläge und Streifbänder. [7. Auflage nebst einem Nachtrag.]$ $= Leipzig: Senf [1891, 96] xvi., 632, 154pp [Dr. Moschkau's Handbuch für Postwertzeichen-Sammler; band 1] 8^o.$ $=Senf=, Gebrueder. *2239a.117$ $Gebrüder Senfs illustrierter Postwertzeichen-Katalog, 1899.$ $= Leipzig: 1899, v., illus., 16^o.$ =Stamp-collector's Magazine=, The, *6226.12 Illus., vol. 1-12. London: E. Marlborough & Co., 1863-74, 12v., Sm. 4^o $=Stamp News Annual=, 2230a.95$ $1891-5. (6 Nos. in 1 vol. All that were published.)$ $=Stamp News=, The. *2230a.29$ $A monthly illustrated journal for stamp collectors and dealers, vol. 7, 8, 10; 1891, 92, 94.$ $= London: Buhl & Co., 1891-94, 3 v., illus., portraits, 4^o.$ $=Stanley Gibbons= & Co. *2232.57$ $Descriptive catalogue and price list of British, colonial and foreign postage stamps, post cards, etc. London: 1881, 63, 54pp., illus., sm. 4^o.$ $=Stanley Gibbons=, Limited, publishers. 2237.51$ $Priced catalogue of stamps (1899), 12th edition, parts 1-4.$ $--London: [1899] 4 v. illus., /sm. 8^o. Contents--1. British empire; 2. Foreign countries; 3. Local postage stamps; 4. Envelopes, post cards, etc. (Two copies of Pt. 4.)$ Same. 2237.52 $(1900-1901) part 1, 2, 13th edition [1900] 2 v.$ $Same. 1902.$ $=Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal=. *2230a.5$ $[A philatelic periodical] edited by Edward B. Evans, vol. 3-8, 11 July, 1892-June, 1898; July, 1901; June, 1902.$ $= London, 1892-1902, v., illus. plates, L. 8^o.$ $=Sterling=, E. B., compiler. No. 1 in 2236.41$ $Sterling's standard descriptive and price catalogue of the adhesive postage and stamped envelopes of the United States, 6th edition.... Also, the standard reference list of the private local postage stamps, by W. H. Mitchell.$ $= Trenton, N. J., 1887, 74, xlii. pp., portrait, 8^o.$ $=Sterling=, E. B., compiler. 2236.40$ $Sterling's standard descriptive and price catalogue of the revenue stamps of the United States, 5th edition. Trenton, 1888, 168 pp., 8^o.$ $=Sternheim, Carl= 2239a.27$ $Catalogue Deutsche Privatpost-marken.$ $=Sternheim=, Carl. 2239a.27$ $Katalog der deutschen Privatpost-Marken. Schöneberg-Berlin: Im. verlage des Verfassers [1902] vii. 124pp. 16^o.$ $=Suppantschitsch=, Victor, *2233.15$ $Bibliographic, zugleich Nachschlagebuch, der gisammten deutschen philatelistischen Literatur seit ihrem entstehen bio ende, 1891, nebst einem Alriss der Geschichte der Philatelie mit besonderer Berücksichtigung Deutschland's und einerkurzen Geschichte der philatelistischen Literatur. München: Larisch, 1892-94, 748 (1) pp., 8^o.$ $=Suppantschitsch=, Victor. *2237.73$ $Die Entstehung und Entwicklung der philatelischen Literatur in der zweiten Hälfte des xix. Jahrhunderts. Wien: Im. Selbstverlage des Verfassers, 1901, 63pp. 8^o.$ $=Suppantschitsch=, Victor. 2239a.129$ $Grundzüge der Briefmarkenkunde und des Briefmarkensammelns.$ $= Leipzig: Weber, 1895, vi., 221pp., portrait, illus. [Webers illustrierte Katechismen.] 16^o.$ =Thornhill=, W. B. 2237.45 Shanghai [Handbook of its postal issues] with notes and publishers' prices. -- London: 1895, 78 pp., plates [The Stanley Gibbons philatelic handbooks] 8^o. =Tiffany=, John Kerr. *2231.50 A reference list of publications relating to postage stamps and their collection. Compiled by request for the Boston Public Library. [St. Louis] 1871, (38), pp., MSS. 4^o. =Tiffany=, John Kerr. 2236.30 History of the postage stamps of the United States of America. St. Louis: C. H. Mekeel, 1887, 272 pp. Portr. 8^o. =Tiffany=, John Kerr. *6162.33 The philatelic library. A catalogue of stamp publications. St. Louis: privately printed. [Cambridge: press of John Wilson & Son] 1874, vi, 109+pp, 4^o 1. p. [Note--150 copies printed, No. 1.] =Tiffany=, John Kerr. 2230a.105 A St. Louis symposium [of philatelists] St. Louis: Mekeel, [1894] 16pp., Illus. 4^o. [From the Philatelic journal of America (*6230a10.12)] $=Tiffany=, John Kerr. *2237.111$ $Les timbres des Etats-Unis d'Amérique depuis leur origine jusqu'à nos jours.$ $= Bruxelles, Moens, 1883, 3 v. in I., Illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 16^o. Contents--1. Les timbres-poste. 2. Timbres de journaux, officiels, taxe, administratifs et essais. 3. Cartes postales et leurs essais; de la fabrication des timbres-poste.$ =Tiffany=, John Kerr, and others. *2234.17 The stamped envelopes, wrappers and sheets of the United States by John K. Tiffany, R. R. Bogert and Joseph Rechert, a committee of the National philatelic society. New York: Scott Stamp and coin co., 1892, (1), 126, (1) pp. Pls. L. 8^o. $=Tilleard=, John Alexander. *2230a.15$ $Notes on the De La Rue series of the adhesive postage and telegraph stamps of India. London: 1896, 32 pp., L. 8^o. ["A supplement to the postage stamps, etc., of British India and Ceylon, published by the Philatelic Society, London," with which it is bound.]$ $=Timbre-poste.= *2232.12$ $Le, et le timbre fiscal. Journal du collectionneur. Paraissant le Ier de chaque mois. [Edité par J. B. Moens.] Année 1, 3-15, 17-38; 1863, 65-77, 79-1900.$ $= Bruxelles, Moens, 1863-1900, 8 v., illus., 8^o. Le timbre fiscal appeared separately from 1877-79, and quarterly during 1877. From 1881 to 1896 it was published as a Supplement to Le Timbre-poste, with which it was incorporated in 1897. Le Timbre-poste was discontinued with the issue of December, 1900.$ =Trifet=, Ferdinand. [asterism] 2237.19 Descriptive price catalogue of postage stamps of all nations. Appended a complete list of the Russian rural-posts stamps 9th edition, illus. with 259 engrs. Boston: 1875, 67 pp., 8^o. =Trifet=, Ferdinand. 2237.22 Descriptive price catalogue of the postage stamps of all nations, [with supplement] 12th ed., revised and corrected. Boston: 1879, 58, 13 + 42pp., 8^o. =United States= Internal revenue office. *9336.27--3 Law and regulations concerning documentary and proprietary stamps under the act of June 13, 1898. August 22, 1898. Washington: 1898, 40 pp., 8^o. =United States= Post office department. *9383.173a3 Report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1890-91. 98-99, Washington, 1891, 1899, 2 v., 8^o (This report deals chiefly with the registration, stamp and classification of mail matter divisions.) Earlier reports may be found in the annual reports of the Post Office department [*7656.1., 1854, 56-95]. $=Walker=, L. H. J., and Jean Baptiste Moens. 2237.94$ $Les timbres de Natal.$ $= Bruxelles, Moens, 1883, (1), 60 pp., illus. [Bibliothèque des timbrophiles.] 8^o.$ $=Weekly Philatelic Era.= *2230a.27$ $Published every Saturday in the interests of stamp collectors, vol. 9-16, September 1, 1894--September 23, 1902.$ $= Portland, Me., Jewett, 1894-1902, 7 v. in 6. F^o.$ $=Western Philatelist=, The. *2237.76$ $Vol. 1, 2 (no. 1-5), January, 1887--May, 1888.$ $= Chicago: Western philatelic publishing co., 1887-88, 2 v. in 1, illus, portraits, plate, 8^o. No more was published.$ =Westoby=, William Amos Scarborough. 2387.39 The adhesive postage stamps of Europe: a practical guide to their collection, identification and classification, Vol 1. -- London, Gill, 1898, vi, (1), 399 pp., illus., sm 8^o. =Westoby=, William Amos Scarborough. 2237.32 Penny postage jubilee. A descriptive catalogue of all the postage stamps of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland issued during fifty years. London: Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington 1891, xi, (4), 94, (3) pp. illus. 8^o. Same, new edition, with addenda, 1892, xi, (6), 94 pp *2237.40 $=Wilson=, Charles Stewart. 2237.146$ $British Indian adhesive stamps surcharged for native states, Part 1, 2.$ = Calcutta, Chakravarti, 1897, 98, 2 v., plates. [Philatelic Society of India, publications, vol. 1, 2] 8^o. Contents--1. Chamba, Faridkot, Gwalior. 2. Jhind, Nabha, Patiala. The title is on the cover. $=Wolsieffer=, P. M. *2237.107$ $Wolsieffer's auction sale[s] of rare stamps, January 30, 1897-July 14, 1900. Held at the Great Northern Hotel. [Priced catalogues].$ --Chicago: 1897-1900. 20 parts in 1 v., plates, 8^o. $=Wright=, Hastings Elwin *2230a.21$ $and Anthony Buck Creeke, Jr., compilers. A history of the adhesive stamps of the British Isles available for postal and telegraph purposes, with an introduction by Gordon Smith. London Philatelic Society, 1899, xxvi, 263 pp., fac-similes, 12 pls 26 diagrams, L. 8^o.$ $=Yvert= and Tellier 2239a.25$ $Catalogue prix-courant de timbres-poste, 6e édition. Amiens, 1902, xxxi, (1), 702 pp., illus. 12^o.$ =Zschiesche=, Alwin. 6229a.40 $Katalog über alle seit 1840 bis Jan. 1868 ausgegeben Briefmarken. Leipz. Zschiesche, 1868, iv, 32 pp, 16^o.$ * * * * * Boston Philatelic Society. Organized March 4, 1891. M. H. LOMBARD, President. C. A. HOWES, Secretary. L. L. GREEN, Treasurer. Extract from the Constitution: ARTICLE I. SECTION 1. This Society is constituted to encourage and promote: (1). The study of postage, telegraph and fiscal stamps, stamped envelopes, newspaper and other bands, and postal cards, their history, engraving, printing and other details. (2). The detection and prevention of forgeries and frauds. (3). The preparation and publication of papers and books bearing upon these subjects, and the undertaking of all such matters as may incidentally promote the above objects and contribute to the increase of the science and practice of Philately. * * * * * _Meeting, Third Tuesday of each month at Elks' Hall, 24 Hayward Place, Boston., 8 P. M._ _Visitors cordially welcomed._ LIST OF MEMBERS. * Indicates Charter Member. * 1. GILMORE, GEO. L. Lexington, Mass. * 2. SPRAGUE, F. W., 2d. 10 Tremont St., Room 77, Boston. * 4. WOODWARD, H. E. 1 Dunreath St., Roxbury, Mass. * 5. SIRCOM, S. R. 287 Washington St., Boston. * 6. HUMPHREY, H. D. Dedham, Mass. * 7. VAN DERLIP, W. C. 15 Berwick Park, Boston. * 9. BATCHELDER, A. W. Salem, Mass. 10. COBURN, W. E. Everett, Mass. 21. WOODWARD, C. E. 1 Dunreath St., Roxbury, Mass. 25. HOLTON, E. A. 8 Summer St., Boston. 27. KING, H. F. P. O. Box 33, Boston. 29. ROBINSON, W. E. Appleton St., Malden, Mass. 30. RICHARDSON, F. P. Salem, Mass. 31. MASON, E. H. 70 Kilby St., Boston. 32. GREEN, L. L. 47 Tremont St., Boston. 47. HARRIS, HOWARD P. 12 Northey St., Salem, Mass. 52. QUINBY, H. C. 52 Wall St., New York City. 54. THAYER, OLIVER, 2d. Salem, Mass. 57. CORBETT, H. 1413 Washington St., Boston. 69. BROWN, F. P. 339 Washington St., Boston. 72. ABBOTT, DR. CHAS. E. Andover, Mass. 76. MOTT, LUTHER W. Oswego, N. Y. 77. DEATS, H. E. Flemington, N. J. 78. PHELPS, E. S. 165 West Canton St., Boston. 81. BANKS, WM., JR. 44 State St., Boston. 82. JOHNSON, J. F. 383 Lexington St., Auburndale, Mass. 83. STURGIS, ELLIOT T. 125 Milk St., Boston. 88. LEBON, CHAS. P. 42 Waumbeck St., Roxbury, Mass. 89. OLNEY, HON. FRANK F. Providence, R. I. 96. CUTTER, CHAS. W. 138 Harvard St., Brookline, Mass. 98. DODGE, FRANK F. 6 High St., Boston. 99. JEWETT, WM. W. 502 Congress St., Portland, Me. 104. PITMAN, FRED H. 45 Dartmouth St., Somerville, Mass. 109. SMITH, FRED S. 11 South St., Boston. 111. DAVIS, A. D. 332 Palisade Ave., Yonkers, N. Y. 116. BURT, FRANK H. Room 1046, Tremont Bldg., Boston. 120. AYER, F. W. Bangor, Me. 121. DREW, B. L. 122 Oxford St., Cambridge B., Mass. 127. HOLLAND, ALEXANDER 40 Grace Court, Brooklyn, N. Y. 128. LINTON, CHAS. E. 59 Franklin St., Cambridge A., Mass. 132. NOLEN, WM. W. 2 Manter Hall, Cambridge, Mass. 137. NUTE, HENRY O. 863 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester, Mass. 143. WOLCOTT, CHAS. W. Dedham, Mass. 146. TOPPAN, GEO. L. 321 Main St., Racine, Wis. 148. PIERCE, WM. T. Watertown, Mass. 150. NEWELL, WARREN 39 Dudley St., Roxbury, Mass. 151. MACY, ARTHUR H. 39 Dudley St., Roxbury, Mass. 152. ANDREINI, J. M. 29 West 75th St., New York City. 155. PATTEN, FRANK W. Box 35, West Lynn Sta., Mass. 156. ALTHEN, EDW. C. 369 N. State St., Elgin, Ill. 162. FROST, WALTER L. 42 Hancock St., Boston. 169. PETERS, GEO. E. West Newton, Mass. 172. SMITH, FRANKLIN E. 56 Fairmont Ave., Newton, Mass. 174. RICE, H. J. c/o Blodgett, Merritt & Co., 16 Congress St., Boston. 175. LYONS, J. H. 27 Bromfield St., Boston. 177. HOWES, CLIFTON A. 334 Broadway, Cambridge A., Mass. 179. CARPENTER, ERNEST M. 21 Bromfield St., Boston. 180. LUFF, JOHN N. 18 East 23d St., New York City. 181. LOMBARD, BENJAMIN, JR. 1566 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass. 192. CLARK, DAVID O. Hingham, Mass. 193. STEVENS, EDWIN A. 52 Magnolia St., Boston. 194. BARKER, W. S., JR. Medford, Mass. 197. KIDDER, HENRY A. Arlington, Mass. 199. ROCKWELL, J. W. Medford, Mass. 201. BOGERT, R. R. 160 Nassau St., New York City. 207. CAPRON, J. F. 26 Bromfield St., Boston. 208. WOLSIEFFER, P. M. 1010 Atwood Bldg., Chicago, Ill. 209. ROTHFUCHS, C. F. 38 Munroe St., Roxbury, Mass. 210. DUTCHER, FRANK J. Hopedale, Mass. 211. WYLIE, WILLARD O. Beverly, Mass. 213. TENT, FRANK 47 Oxford Road, Newton Centre, Mass. 214. LOMBARD, M. H. 2 Lagrange St., Winchester, Mass. 215. DUNNING, A. W. Newton, Mass. 216. FLAGG, GEO. A. 100 Fairmount Ave., Malden, Mass. 218. TUTTLE, GEO. R. 87 Nassau St., New York City. 220. DRAKE, C. S. 142B Warren St., Roxbury, Mass. 223. IRELAND, GORDON Holyoke House 21, Cambridge, Mass. 225. BROWN, WALTER L. 410 Pleasant St., Worcester, Mass. 227. CONE, JOHN J., JR. 4 Russell Park St., New Dorchester, Mass. 229. MEARS, HENRY A. 21 Gray St., Cambridge, Mass. 230. LORING, ROBERT B. 95 South Market St., Boston. 231. WAYNE, A. A. 73 Glendale St., Dorchester, Mass. 232. SMITH, H. 42 Dudley St., Medford, Mass. 233. BURNS, R. F. 36 Union St., Boston. 234. MARSHALL, W. H. 141 Washington St., Cambridge A, Mass. 235. DODGE, FRANK A. 223 Franklin St., Cambridge A, Mass. 238. COLSON, WARREN H. 15 Crombie St., Salem, Mass. 239. SAWYER, EDWIN F. 101 Washington St., Brighton, Mass. 241. MASON, HENRY T. 385 Washington St., Cambridge A, Mass. 242. PORTER, H. L. 10 Columbus Sq., Boston. 243. PUTNEY, FREEMAN, JR. 21 Bromfield St., Boston. 244. WELLS, CLINTON G. 933 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 246. ELDREDGE, WM. D. P. O. Box 1352, Boston. 247. BURLEIGH, DR. CHAS. 199 Pleasant St., Malden, Mass. 248. STONE, CHAS. H. 91 Antrim St., Cambridge A, Mass. 249. BARRETT, LOUIS G. 613 Phillips Bldg., Boston. 250. WALL, JAMES H. Worcester, Mass. 253. POWERS, CHAS. F. 376 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 254. WOODWARD, HOWARD H. 1 Dunreath St., Roxbury, Mass. 256. FOSTER, F. APTHORP 28 State St., Boston. 257. SCHLENKER, SAM Brenham Texas. 258. NASH, FRED J. 243 School St., Somerville, Mass. 259. STONE, WM. C. 384 Union St., Springfield Mass. 261. GATES, WALTER L. Teaticket, Mass. 263. PORTER, JAMES M. 80 Water St., Boston. 264. CREHORE, FREDERICK M. Newton Lower Falls, Mass. 265. CROSBY, CLIFFORD F. 348 Summer St., West Somerville, Mass. 268. INGRAHAM, JOHN 86 O St., South Boston, Mass. 270. PARKER, HERMAN, 217 Newbury St., Boston. 271. MORGENTHAU, J. C. 87 Nassau St., New York City. 272. BARTELS, J. M. 230 Washington St., Boston. 273. POWER, E. B. 167 Broadway, New York City. 274. MASSOTH, F. N. 1603 Marquette Bldg., Chicago, Ill. 275. MAKINS, J. H. 506 Market St., San Francisco, Cal. 276. GIFFORD, T. MERRITT New Bedford, Mass. 277. WALDRON, GEORGE F. 59 Hudson St., Somerville, Mass. 279. BUTLER, W. R. 26 Rosedale St., Dorchester, Mass. 280. CROCKER, HENRY J. Crocker Bldg., San Francisco, Cal. 281. RHODES, ALBERT E. 36 Temple Place, Boston. 282. HOWE, LOUIS P. 235 Pleasant St., Marlboro, Mass. 283. SMITH, ROBERT BELDEN 7 Pine St., New York City. 284. LOW, EUGENE E. 11 Burnside Ave., West Somerville, Mass. 285. DENNISON, A. 86 Walnut St., Neponset, Mass. 287. SEVERN, C. E. 711 Journal Bldg., Chicago, Ill. 288. DONCYSON, S. T. S. 730 West 64th St., Chicago, Ill. 289. OESCH, JOHN J. 34 Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill. 290. KLEMANN, JOHN A. 237 Broadway, New York City. 292. BARNES, S. C. Amesbury, Mass. 293. TAYLOR, JOHN I. 228 Beacon St., Boston. 294. SAWTELLE, CHAS. W. 80 Water St., Boston. 298. SCOTT, JOHN W. 36 John St., New York City. 299. HUNT, JAMES T. Weymouth, Mass. 302. FOSTER, FRANCIS C. 15 Oxford St., Cambridge, Mass. 303. PICKMAN, DUDLEY L. 98 Beacon St., Boston. 304. VON PIRCH, REV. R. Berlin, Ontario, Canada. 305. MOFFATT, FRANK D. 181 Keap St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 306. LOVELL, W. O. 64 Maple St., Malden, Mass. 307. WEBER, ADOLPH H. 1809 Sutter St., San Francisco, Cal. 308. MARSTON, H. W. Amesbury, Mass. 309. JONES, FRED G. 2013 Brook St., Louisville, Ky. 310. MARTIN, EBEN S. 16 North Fourth St., Minneapolis, Minn. 311. BROWN, CHARLES A. Honolulu, Hawaii. 312. CAPEN, CRAWFORD 101 Miller Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 313. RICH, JOSEPH S. 489 Manhattan Ave., New York City. 314. SIMMONS, SAMUEL R., JR., 350 Alexander Ave., New York City. 315. CALMAN, HENRY L. 42 East 23rd St., New York City. 316. DORCHESTER, ERNEST DEAN Velasco, Texas. 317. ROBERTS, HOBART V. 420 Genesee St., Utica, N. Y. 318. CHASE, CHAS. N. Stoughton, Mass. 319. SHAW, HERBERT M. 44 Hastings St., West Roxbury, Mass. 320. DUNKHORST, H. F. 1005 7th St., N. W., Washington, D. C. 321. FRASIER, JOSEPH A., M. D. New Bedford, Mass. 323. LOW, JOHN F. 34 Portland St., Boston. 324. VIETS, JAMES R. 26 Greystone Park, Lynn, Mass. 326. PALMER, CHARLES H. Wellesley, Mass. 327. ASHENDEN, E. HAROLD 17 Tudor Terrace, Auburndale, Mass. 328. FOSTER, DOUGLASS B. 22 Dana St., Somerville, Mass. 329. BRUNER, P. F. 27 West 58th St., New York City. 330. GURLEY, WM. F. E. 6153 Lexington Ave., Chicago, Ill. 332. EATON, D. T. Muscatine, Iowa. 334. LEGG, H. W. 26 Hancock St., Boston. 335. HOWARD, ROBERT G. Newton, Mass. 336. BERNICHON, JULES 4 Rue Rochambeau, Paris (9e Arrondt.) 337. GINN, FREDERICK ROBERT 143 Strand, London, W. C. 338. GASCOYNE, DR. W. J. 23 South St., Baltimore, Md. 339. NEVIN, CHARLES K. B. 71 Gardner St., Allston, Mass. 340. PARKER, CHARLES W., JR., 38 Thorndike St., Brookline, Mass. 341. HART, H. L. 71 Gottingen St., Halifax, N. S. 342. WILLADT, CARL Pforzheim, Germany. 344. PHILLIPS, CHAS. J. 391 Strand, London, W. C. 345. KOHL, PAUL Chemnitz, Germany. 346. SWAIN, WILLIAM N. 15 Merlin St., New Dorchester, Mass. 347. TARR, R. A. 3125 North Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 348. GOTTESLEBEN, R. M. Box 571, Denver, Col. 349. BROWN, ALLEN A. 30 Kilby St., Room 19, Boston. 350. LORING, GEORGE F. 53 State St., Room 1108, Boston. 351. BEDDIG, A. Hanover, Germany. 352. BARTELS, WALTER 230 Washington St., Boston. 353. GRIMMONS, CHAS. A. 72 Thurston St., Somerville, Mass. 354. PREVOST, JOHN W. 17 Spencer Ave., Springfield, Mass. 355. BARTSCH, RUDOLF C. 186 Temple St., West Roxbury, Mass. 356. CROCKER, JAMES H. 28 Thorndike St., Brookline, Mass. 357. RANDALL, W. H. Medford, Mass. 358. BROWN, CLARK W. 22 Ladd St., Watertown, Mass. 359. PARKER, FREDERICK W. Highland Ave., Somerville, Mass. 360. KELLEY, EDWARD DE Z. Care Adams Express Co., Boston. 361. HILLS, ISAAC Siasconset, Nantucket, Mass. 362. VAN MALDER, W. F. 145 Bourne St, Roslindale, Mass. 363. BARTON, CHAS. J. 85 Meridian St., Melrose, Mass. 364. COOK, FREDERICK S. 22 Sparhawk St., Brighton, Mass. 365. BIGELOW, CHAS. C. 4 Sargent Ave., Somerville, Mass. 366. GELLI, GUSTAVE 10 Rue des Fripiers, Brussels, Belgium. 367. HANSCOM, A. P. 180 Pearl St., Cambridge A, Mass. 368. MAYNARD, ROBERT D. 36 Oak Grove Ave., Springfield, Mass. [Illustration] * * * * * Transcriber's Notes Page 1 (title page): changed "*2234.23" to "*2234.22" (Albrecht, R. F., ... *2234.22) Page 4: changed "fur" to "für" (für Briefmarken-Sammler) Page 5: changed comma after "Patrick" to full stop (=Chalmers=, Patrick.... *2237.35) Page 7: changed "108p." to "108pp." (Leipzig: 1883, 108pp., illus., 8^o.) Page 8: added missing full stop after "3" (3. Die Postwertzeichen der spanischen Kolonien.) Page 13: added missing full stop ( ... 1891, 128pp. L. 8^o.) Page 15: added missing opening bracket ([1897] viii., 191 pp., Sm. 8^o.) Page 16: changed "hand books" (with no hyphen at end of line) to "handbooks" (The Stanley Gibbons philatelic handbooks) Page 17: added missing final full stop (plate [Philatelistische Bibliothek, band 6], 8^o.) Page 19: added missing open bracket ([Verein für Briefmarkenkunde.]) Page 20: added missing opening bracket ([Several copies of recent editions.]) Page 22: added missing final full stop ([1902] vii. 124pp. 16^o.) Page 22: added (suspected) missing colon (Leipzig: Weber, 1895, vi., 221pp.) Page 23: added missing final full stop (vol. 9-16, September 1, 1894--September 23, 1902.) Page 23: added missing close parenthesis in "... classification of mail matter divisions.)" 
39569	----	generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) THE ADHESIVE POSTAGE STAMP. DECISION OF THE "ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA": _James Chalmers was the Inventor of the Adhesive Stamp--"Mr. Pearson Hill has not weakened the Evidence" to that effect._ ALSO Papers on the Penny Postage Reform, BEQUEATHED BY THE LATE SIR HENRY COLE. JAMES CHALMERS FIRST PROPOSED THE ADOPTION OF THE ADHESIVE POSTAGE STAMP, OF WHICH HE WAS THE INVENTOR. BY PATRICK CHALMERS, _Fellow of the Royal Historical Society_. [Illustration] LONDON: EFFINGHAM WILSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE. 1886. _Price Sixpence._ PREFACE. When a man of note dies, the journalist of the day can only reproduce in an obituary notice the accepted position of his life and works--it is no part of that writer's duty to examine, so as fully to certify, all the statements at hand, or to ransack old volumes dealing with the times when such reputation was established. That is the duty and the task of the later historian, or of some one specially interested. Such has been my duty, my task, as respects that public benefactor, the late Sir Rowland Hill, with the result arrived at in this and former publications. Upon the death of Sir Rowland Hill in August, 1879, a series of letters with comments thereon appeared in the Dundee press, recalling the name and services of a townsman who, in his day, had taken an active interest in post-office improvement, and had worked in that field to some purpose. Mr. James Chalmers, bookseller, Dundee, who died in 1853, had been an earnest postal reformer. Through his efforts, and after a long correspondence with the Post Office in London, he brought about such an acceleration of the mail as to lessen the time necessary for the reply to a letter from Dundee to London, or betwixt the chief commercial towns of the north and south, by two days--a day each way. Subsequently he conceived the idea of an adhesive stamp for postage purposes; and it was this invention, made known to such post-office reformers as Mr. Hume and Mr. Wallace--with both of whom, as with others, he was in communication--that formed the origin of the adoption of the adhesive stamp in the reformed Penny Postage system of 1840, the plan proposed by Mr. Rowland Hill in 1837 having been that of the impressed stamp. These letters in the Dundee press from old townsmen and friends of Mr. Chalmers, personally unknown to me as I was to them (I having left Dundee while a youth, over fifty years ago, and passed much of the interval abroad), with the consequent attention drawn to the subject, naturally called upon me to make an endeavour to vindicate my father's claim to the merit of such an important feature in the success of the Penny Postage scheme as was, and is, the adhesive stamp. These letters, moreover, acquainted me with what I was previously unaware of--that on the 1st January, 1846, a public testimonial had been presented in the Town Hall of Dundee to Mr. Chalmers, in recognition of his postal services, and of his having been the originator of the adhesive postage stamp; thus all the more calling upon me to investigate a subject of which hitherto I had only a dim and partial idea. This investigation was further facilitated by my withdrawal just before the same period of 1879 from active business, thus enabling me to examine at the library of the British Museum the papers, documents, speeches, and motions in Parliament, Reports of Parliamentary Committees, and all such evidence and information tending to throw light upon, from the year 1832 onwards, the history and events preceding the reformed system of postage introduced to the public in the year 1837 by the then Mr. Rowland Hill. My father long since dead (while I was abroad), and his establishment long ago broken up, difficulty was at first experienced in obtaining the specific evidence necessary to enable me to establish my claim on his behalf, but the attention publicly drawn to the matter by former publications of my own, and of Mr. Pearson Hill to which I was called upon to reply, brought forward ever-increasing evidence of the most conclusive nature, and to which I am now enabled to add material and interesting confirmation from papers left by the late Sir Henry Cole, whose connection with the Penny Postage Reform of 1837-40 is well known. THE PENNY POSTAGE SCHEME OF SIR ROWLAND HILL NOT ORIGINAL. My business, of course, in the investigation just named, was to ascertain what plan Sir Rowland Hill had proposed in his pamphlet of 1837 for the purpose of carrying out his Penny Postage Scheme, and to trace therefrom the adoption on his part of my father's plan of the adhesive stamp. But a discovery of much more historical importance before long presented itself, namely, that neither the conception of uniform penny postage itself, nor of any one of the valuable principles and figures of the penny postage scheme, were original conceptions on the part of Sir Rowland Hill. The reformed system of postage was not the work of one year nor of one man. For some years prior to 1837 the abuses and mismanagement of the post office were a constant theme of complaint, both in and out of Parliament--many able and earnest men combined to bring about some reform demanded by men of business and public opinion. Commissions of inquiry were held, evidence and suggestions taken, reports issued. Early in 1835 Mr. Wallace, M.P. for Greenock, a prominent post-office reformer, obtained a Commission of Inquiry on the subject, which Commission issued in all ten Reports; while, in addition to Parliamentary returns, a commission, termed the Commission of Revenue Inquiry, had sat for many years prior to the Commission of merely Post Office Inquiry, and had issued twenty-three Reports, in more than one of which post-office affairs were dealt with. In that large field of complaint, suggestion, information, and proposal may be found the substance, origin, and foundation of the subsequent writings and proposals of Sir Rowland Hill. It will be remembered that the old system of postage, prior to 1840, was that of a high and variable charge according to distance, of, say, twopence to one shilling and sixpence a letter, charged by sheet; and two sheets, however light in weight, were charged double. The same with circulars. But in these Reports, including the evidence of the numerous witnesses, are to be found embodied all the valuable principles and figures of the reformed system. And that all these Reports had come under Mr. Hill's review is left in no doubt, having been sent to him by Mr. Wallace, after Mr. Hill, freed from other occupations, had, in 1835, joined the circle of post-office reformers, when he "commenced that systematic study, analysis, and comparison which the difficulty of my self-imposed task rendered necessary."--("Life," page 246.) But to be looked upon as the _inventor_ of that scheme which he had introduced and (saved and rendered practicable by the adhesive stamp) had successfully carried out--to have this scheme understood as having been the unaided conception of his own mind--was with Sir Rowland Hill simply a mania, and to that mania James Chalmers, the originator in every sense of that adhesive stamp, was sacrificed. The bearing of all this non-originality of conception on the part of Sir Rowland Hill is obvious when the question of the stamp is under consideration. In propounding the scheme itself, what were only acquired ideas were assumed, or allowed to be assumed, as inventions or conceptions. As with the scheme, so with the stamp--the stamp also was an acquired idea, not Rowland Hill's invention. Having now, however, obtained from a quarter of the highest standing, after an impartial investigation, a full acknowledgment of my father's services, and this in addition to an already large amount of recognition from the press in general, further observations as to the non-originality of the scheme may be here dispensed with, for the present at least, and left to history. And if I have been compelled to show that, so far from the adhesive stamp having been the invention of Sir Rowland Hill, originality of conception formed no element whatever in any one of the proposals of even the Penny Postage Scheme itself, such course has been forced upon me by the unfortunate proceedings of Mr. Pearson Hill in denying, against the clearest evidence, my just claim in the matter of the stamp, without a pretence of proof that such was at any period an invention on the part of Sir Rowland Hill. THE IMPRESSED STAMP. The plan by which Mr. Rowland Hill, in his pamphlet of 1837, proposed to carry out in practice his uniform penny postage scheme was, shortly stated, first, simply to pay the penny or money with the letters; but secondly, and more especially, by stamped sheets of letter paper, and stamped wrappers or covers. "Let stamped covers and sheets of paper be supplied to the public, from the Stamp Office or Post Office, or both, and at such a price as to include the postage." ... "Economy and the public convenience would require that sheets of letter paper of every description should be stamped on the part used for the address; that wrappers, such as are used for newspapers, as well as covers made of cheap paper, should also be stamped," and kept on sale at the post offices. "Stationers would also be induced to keep them." What Mr. Hill overlooked in this proposal, was the broad fact that he sets up the Stamp Office or Post Office to do the business in letter paper of the stationers throughout the kingdom--some huge Government establishment against which competition would be hopeless, as the Stamp Office was to sell the writing paper at cost price, while the stationer requires a profit to pay his rent and expenses, and to live upon. The effect upon the stationers, consequently would have been confiscation--and against this plan the united body of paper makers and stationers subsequently protested. The Select Committee of the House of Commons of 1837-38, again, took exception to Mr. Hill's plan mainly on account of its liability to forgery--a stamp of the nature proposed would be extensively forged. After evidence on the part of the Stamp-Office authorities and paper makers had been taken, it was decided to recommend--that the paper for all stamped covers should be manufactured at the paper mills of a Mr. Dickenson, or of another, solely, under strict excise supervision. This paper of Mr. Dickenson's was of a peculiar make, having threads of cotton or silk so interwoven in the paper that a post-office clerk could readily know by the look or feel that a stamped cover was genuine. The paper makers protested and petitioned against this, objecting to one of the body having all the work. Besides, the proposal involved permanent excise supervision over the manufacture of paper. This proposal, however, extended only to covers or envelopes; how forgery was to be prevented in respect to the stamps upon the sheets of letter paper the Committee do not say. The whole position, in fact, remained in a state of chaos, only relieved by the ultimate adoption of the adhesive stamp, which plan Mr. Chalmers had laid before this Committee through Mr. Wallace, the Chairman, and likewise through Mr. Chalmers, M.P., a member of the Committee, and which plan had been publicly discussed, not without finding adherents, including Mr. Cobden, one of the witnesses in favour of the scheme. To the solution proposed by the Committee that all stamped covers should be made of Dickenson's peculiar paper the Government again highly objected, further adding to the dilemma; and when the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the 5th of July, 1839, introduced and carried a resolution sanctioning a Penny Postage Bill being brought forward, he distinctly only "asked hon. members to commit themselves to the question of a uniform rate of postage of one penny at and under a weight hereafter to be fixed." Everything else was to be left open. "If it were to go forth to the public to-morrow morning that the Government had proposed, and the House had adopted, the plan of Mr. Rowland Hill, the necessary result would be to spread a conviction abroad that, as a stamped cover was absolutely to be used in all cases, which stamped covers were to be made by one single manufacturer, alarm would be felt lest a monopoly would thereby be created, to the serious detriment of other members of a most useful and important trade. The sense of injustice excited by this would necessarily be extreme. I therefore do not call upon the House either to affirm or to negative any such proposition at the present. I ask you simply to affirm the adoption of a uniform penny postage, and the taxation of that postage by weight. Neither do I ask you to pledge yourselves to the prepayment of letters, for I am of opinion that, at all events, there should be an option of putting letters into the post without a stamp." "If the resolution be affirmed, and the Bill has to be proposed, it will hereafter require very great care and complicated arrangements to carry the plan into practical effect. It may involve considerable expense and considerable responsibility on the part of the Government; it may disturb existing trades, such as the paper trade." ... "The new postage will be distinctly and simply a penny postage by weight." ... "I also require for the Treasury a power of taking the postage by anticipation, and a power of allowing such postage to be taken by means of stamped covers, and I also require the authority of rating the postage according to weight."[1] In this dilemma, as to _how_ to carry out the scheme in practice, Mr. Wallace favourably suggested the adhesive stamp, the adoption of which plan, he had no hesitation in saying from the evidence adduced, would secure the revenue from loss by forgery. Mr. Warburton, also a member of the 1837-38 Committee, "viewing with considerable alarm the doubt which had been expressed of adopting Mr. Hill's plan of prepayment and collection by stamped covers," recommended that plans should be applied for from the public. Again, in the House of Lords on the 5th of August, Lord Melbourne, in introducing the Bill, is as much embarrassed as was the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Commons. The opponents of the Bill use, as one of their strongest arguments, the impossibility of carrying out the scheme in practice. The Earl of Ripon says:--"Why were their lordships thus called upon at this period of the session to pass a Bill, when no mortal being at that moment had the remotest conception of how it was to be carried into execution?" Here Lord Ashburton, like Mr. Wallace in the Commons, favourably suggested the adhesive stamp, "which would answer every purpose, and remove the objection of the stationers and paper makers to the measure." Let it, then, be clearly noted that, up to the period of the Bill in July and August, 1839, not a word is said in any way connecting Mr. Hill's name with other than the impressed stamp on the sheet of letter paper, or, more especially, on the stamped covers. That, _and that alone_, is taken on the one part as _his_ plan by all the speakers, official or otherwise--for that alone does the Chancellor of the Exchequer ask for "powers." The adhesive stamp is brought in, on the other part, as a distinct proposal, in no way entering into the proposals of Mr. Hill. (The above is given in more detail in my former pamphlet, entitled "Sir Rowland Hill and James Chalmers, the Inventor of the Adhesive Stamp," 1883). FOOTNOTES: [1] See "Hansard," Vol. 48. THE ADHESIVE STAMP. In my pamphlet entitled "Sir Rowland Hill and James Chalmers, the Inventor of the Adhesive Stamp," I have already proved from overwhelming evidence, both general and specific, the invention of the adhesive stamp for postage purposes by the late James Chalmers, bookseller, Dundee, in the month of August, 1834. In addition to friends and fellow-townsmen, several of those in his employment at that period have, unknown to me, come forward from various quarters to describe the process and to fix the date. The setting up of the form with a number of stamps having a printed device--the printing of the sheets--the melting of the gum--the gumming the backs of the sheets--the drying and the pressing--are all described, and the date already named is conclusively fixed.[2] That this was the first instance of such invention is clear; earlier instances of an _impressed_ stamp proposed for postage purposes are on record, but not one of a proposed adhesive stamp--while Sir Rowland Hill himself has left it on record, in his "Life," referring to the same period and occasion when an impressed stamp was proposed in 1834 for newspaper covers by Mr. Knight, "of course, adhesive stamps were yet undreamt of." (See page 69 of my pamphlet above named). I have further shown that Mr. Chalmers was one of the early postal reformers prior to the period of Mr. Rowland Hill, that he had done great service in the way of accelerating the mails betwixt London and the north, and that he was in communication with several of those early reformers, such as Mr. Hume, Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Knight--the publisher subsequently of Mr. Rowland Hill's pamphlet of 1837--so that his proposal of an adhesive stamp for postage purposes, a matter of notoriety in his own locality, would further have become well known in the general circle of postal reformers, amongst whom, and from whom, on joining same in the year 1835, Mr. Rowland Hill obtained the information which enabled him to draw up and publish his Penny Postage Scheme of 1837. (See page 5 of my pamphlet named.) One of those pioneers of postal reform, the Rev. Samuel Roberts, M.A., of Conway, gives his personal testimony of the adhesive stamp having been originated by James Chalmers. (Page 42.)[3] My pamphlet goes on to show (page 44) that on the appointment of the House of Commons Committee of 1837-38 on the proposed uniform Penny Postage Scheme, Mr. Chalmers sent in his plan of an adhesive stamp to Mr. Wallace, the Chairman, and to another Member of that Committee. Mr. Wallace's reply, stating that he will lay the plan before the Committee, is of date 9th December, 1837. In the dilemma in which the Government found itself (upon introducing on the 5th July, 1839, the Resolution preliminary to the Bill) as to _how_ to carry out the Penny Postage Scheme in practice (page 21) Mr. Wallace favourably suggested the plan of the adhesive stamp. The statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon this occasion, with the interposition of Mr. Wallace in the Commons, and of Lord Ashburton in the Lords, in favour of the adhesive stamp have already been given, conclusively showing that, up to this period, Mr. Hill had not included the adhesive stamp in his proposals. On the passing of the Bill in August, Mr. Hill was relegated to the Treasury for the purpose of carrying out the scheme. The first step taken was to invite plans, by Treasury Circular of 23rd August, from the public; some time was taken up in receiving and considering these plans, until, by Treasury Minute of December 26th, 1839, the adhesive stamp was at length officially adopted, in conjunction with Mr. Hill's stamped covers, or stamp impressed upon the sheet of letter paper itself. (See page 46.) But the adhesive stamp, indeed, had been practically adopted by Mr. Hill before the plans were received, considered, and nothing better found, a concurrence of opinion having set in in favour of same. It will be seen that Mr. Chalmers, in his published statement of date February, 1838, now produced from Sir Henry Cole's papers, called for petitions towards the adoption of the adhesive stamp. In August, 1839, both the Associated Body of Paper-Makers and certain Merchants and Bankers of the City of London pressed for the adoption of this stamp; Mr. Rowland Hill himself, in a paper entitled "On the Collection of Postage by means of Stamps," circulated by him about the period of the Bill being before Parliament, included the adoption of the adhesive stamp, in conjunction with his own impressed stamp. Mr. Cole also drew up an able paper on the stamp question, including the advocacy of the adhesive stamp. So general, indeed, had then become opinion in its favour, that of the plans sent in no less than forty-nine others besides Mr. Chalmers, who again sent in his plan, recommended the adoption of the adhesive stamp, invented by Mr. Chalmers in 1834, laid by him before the Committee of the House of Commons in December, 1837, and further, as we shall now see, sent in to Mr. Cole as Secretary to the Mercantile Committee of the City of London, in February, 1838, and acknowledged by Mr. Rowland Hill in a letter to Mr. Chalmers of date 3rd March, 1838. In this letter Mr. Hill makes no pretension to the merit or proposed adoption of the adhesive stamp on his part, for, as will be seen, Mr. Chalmers subsequently returned to Mr. Hill a copy of this very letter for the purpose of pointing out this fact to Mr. Hill. It was not until the propriety, and indeed necessity, of adopting Mr. Chalmers' plan--not until its final official acceptance--that, in a letter dated 18th January, 1840, Mr. Hill, then in despotic power, putting Mr. Chalmers aside upon the pretext afterwards mentioned, assumed the whole merit to himself. FOOTNOTES: [2] Since publishing my evidence specifically proving what is here stated, I have been favoured with the following letter:-- "BRECHIN, _9th October, 1883_ "DEAR SIR, "When I penned my anonymous note to the _Dundee Advertiser_ in August, 1879, expressing the hope that there might be still living some who could corroborate my statement that the late Mr. Chalmers was the inventor of the 'Adhesive Stamp,' I hardly expected it would be followed by such an amount of corroboration. "With regard to the _date_ of the invention, you appear to have received ample proof, and I am able to add thereto. It was in the autumn of 1834 that I left Dundee to reside here, and the Stamp was in existence in Mr. Chalmers' premises before I left. "I may add that when I wrote in 1879, I was not aware of the existence of a son of Mr. C. My sole object in writing was that _Dundee_ might claim and receive the honour of being the place of birth of the 'Adhesive Stamp.' "I am, &c., "(_Signed_) DAVID PRAIN. "P. CHALMERS, Esq., "Wimbledon." A Portrait of Mr. Prain, by the talented Scottish artist, Mr. Irvine, subscribed for by Mr. Prain's fellow-townsmen and former pupils, has just been presented in his honour to the Mechanic's Institute of Brechin. The proceedings upon this occasion, including the able speeches of Provost Lamb and of Mr. Prain, will be found in the _Brechin Advertiser_ of 16th June, 1885. On a former occasion Mr. Prain was presented with a Service of Plate and Testimonial to the value of several hundred pounds, subscribed for by former pupils at home and abroad. It is at the testimony of such men as this, including the late Mr. William Thorns, of Dundee, that my opponents sneer as being "the mere wandering fancies of a few old men!" The general testimony is that of an entire locality. [3] An interesting obituary of Mr. Roberts, lately deceased, will be found in the "_Times_" of 30th September, 1885. Mr. Roberts is there recognised as the pioneer of postal reform and originator of the proposal of a low and uniform postage. SIR HENRY COLE'S PAPERS AND THE ADHESIVE STAMP OF MR. CHALMERS. In his "Fifty Years of Public Life," lately published, Sir Henry Cole gives much information with respect to the Penny Postage reform, a boon with the obtaining and carrying out of which he was intimately associated--first as secretary to the Mercantile Committee of the City of London, and afterwards as coadjutor to Mr. Rowland Hill at the Treasury. "A General Collection of Postage Papers," having reference to this reform, elucidating the efforts made by this Committee of London Merchants and Bankers during the year 1838-39, to obtain for the scheme the sanction of the Legislature, has been bequeathed by Sir Henry Cole, "to be given to the British Museum after my death."[4] "The Mercantile Committee," he states, "was formed chiefly by the exertions of Mr. George Moffat in the spring of 1838. Mr. Ashurst conducted the Parliamentary Inquiry, and upon myself, as Secretary, devolved the business of communicating with the public." This Committee formed the source and focus of the agitation which brought about the ultimate enactment of uniform Penny Postage. Money was freely subscribed, meetings were held, public bodies in the provinces were urged to petition, Members of Parliament and Ministers were waited upon, and a special paper advocating the scheme, termed the "Post Circular," was issued and circulated gratis. Of these proceedings Mr. Cole was the guiding genius; and, amongst other successes, over two thousand petitions to Parliament were obtained--labours which were ultimately crowned with success. To Mr. Cole, then, it now turns out that Mr. Chalmers, in February, 1838, sent a copy of his plan of the adhesive stamp. Mr. Wallace and the House of Commons Committee had already got it, but it is only now that the particulars of the plan have been brought to light--and in this "Collection of Postage Papers," Sir Henry Cole has indeed left a valuable legacy to me, and to all prepared to recognise the true originator of the adhesive postage stamp. These papers include a printed statement of Mr. Chalmers' plan, dated "4 Castle Street, Dundee, 8th February, 1838." and which runs as follows:-- "_Remarks on various modes proposed for franking letters, under Mr. Rowland Hill's Plan of Post Office Reform._ "In suggesting any method of improvement, it is only reasonable to expect that what are supposed to be its advantages over any existing system, or in opposition to others that have been or may be proposed, will be explicitly stated. "Therefore, if Mr. Hill's plan of a uniform rate of postage, and that all postages are to be paid by those sending letters _before_ they are deposited in the respective post offices, become the law of the land, I conceive that the most simple and economical mode of carrying out such an arrangement would be by _slips_ (postage stamps) prepared somewhat similar to the specimens herewith shown. "With this view, and in the hope that Mr. Hill's plan may soon be carried into operation, I would suggest that sheets of stamped slips should be prepared at the Stamp Office (on a paper made expressly for the purpose) with a device on each for a die or cut resembling that on newspapers; that the _sheets_ so printed or stamped should then be rubbed over with a strong solution of gum or other adhesive substance, and (when thoroughly dry) issued by the Stamp Office to town and country distributors, to stationers and others, for sale in sheets or singly, under the same laws and restrictions now applicable to those selling bill or receipt stamps, so as to prevent, as far as practicable, any fraud on the revenue. "Merchants and others whose correspondence is extensive, could purchase these slips in quantities, cut them singly, and affix one to a letter by means of wetting the back of the slip with a sponge or brush, just with as much facility as applying a wafer."--Adding that in some cases, such as for circulars, the stamp might answer both for stamp and wafer; a suggestion which those who may recollect the mode of folding universally practised before the days of envelopes, will appreciate. Mr. Chalmers goes on--"Others, requiring only one or two slips at a time, could purchase them along with sheets of paper at stationers' shops, the _weight_ only regulating the rate of postage in all cases, so as a stamp may be affixed according so the scale determined on. "Again, to prevent the possibility of these being used a _second time_, it should be made imperative on postmasters to put the post office town stamp (as represented in one of the specimens), across the slip or postage stamp." Mr. Chalmers then goes on to point out the advantages to be derived from this plan, and to state objections to Mr. Hill's plan of impressed stamped covers or envelopes, or stamp impressed upon the sheet of letter paper itself. At that period envelopes--being scarcely known, and never used, as involving double postage--were a hand-made article, heavy and expensive; objections which have disappeared with the abolition of the Excise duty on paper, and the use of machinery. But how true were Mr. Chalmers' objections _then_, may be gathered from the fact, as recorded by Sir Rowland Hill in his "Life," that the large supply provided of the first postage envelope, the Mulready, had actually _to be destroyed_ as wholly unsuitable and unsaleable, while the supply of adhesive stamps was with difficulty brought up to the demand. The force and value of Mr. Chalmers' objections to the stamp impressed upon the sheet itself, are best exemplified by the fact that, though ultimately sanctioned by the Treasury at the instance of Mr. Hill, such plan never came into use. People bought their own paper from the stationers, and not from the Stamp Office, and applied the adhesive stamp as the weight required. Mr. Chalmers concludes, "taking all these disadvantages into consideration, the use of stamped slips is certainly the most preferable system; and, should others who take an interest in the proposed reform view the matter in the same light as I do, it remains for them to petition Parliament to have such carried into operation." This statement of Mr. Chalmers is printed on part of an elongated sheet of paper. On the half not occupied by the type are several specimens of a suggested stamp, about an inch square, and with the words printed, "General Postage--not exceeding half-an-ounce--One Penny." And the same--"Not exceeding one ounce--Twopence." (It is only of late years that a penny has franked one ounce in weight.) A space divides each stamp for cutting off singly,[5] and the back of the sheet is gummed over. One of the specimens is stamped across with the post-mark, "Dundee, 10th February, 1838," to exemplify what Mr. Chalmers states should be done to prevent the stamp being used a second time. Here is a complete description of the principle of the adhesive stamp as ultimately adopted by Mr. Hill at the Treasury by Minute of 26th December, 1839, when he sent Mr. Cole to Messrs. Bacon & Petch, the eminent engravers, to provide a die and contract for the supply of stamps (see Mr. Bacon's evidence, page 52 of my former Pamphlet), a plan in use to the present day. This description, as now brought to light under the signature of Mr. Chalmers himself, fully confirms the evidence with respect to the invention in August, 1834, as given by his then _employés_ yet living, W. Whitelaw and others. (See pages 34-39 of my former pamphlet.) Here, then, was the plan of the future adhesive stamp, already laid before Mr. Wallace and the House of Commons Committee, also sent to the Secretary of the City of London Mercantile Committee, in printed form, as to one of many, long before leave was asked, on 5th July, 1839, even to introduce the Bill into Parliament. That Mr. Hill saw Mr. Cole's copy, or had a special copy sent also to himself, is clear, because Mr. Hill at once writes to Mr. Chalmers, under date 3rd March, 1838. What Mr. Hill states in that letter we know not altogether, as Mr. Pearson Hill has not thought proper to publish that letter, and my request to him for a copy has not been complied with. (See page 64 of my former pamphlet.) We know thus much, however, that Mr. Rowland Hill makes no pretension _then_ to ever having suggested or approved of an adhesive stamp, as already pointed out. Not until writing to Mr. Chalmers on the 18th January, 1840 (see page 62 of former pamphlet), before which period, in obedience to the general demand, the adhesive stamp had at length been adopted, did Mr. Hill, in reply to Mr. Chalmers' claim as the originator, set up any counter-claim on his own part to any share in the merit of the adhesive stamp. But, as with the scheme itself, so now with the stamp which saved it, no second party was to be allowed to divide with Mr. Hill the sole merit of this great reform. So the far-fetched excuse, the mere afterthought, bred of the success which had attended Mr. Chalmers' proposal to the Committee and to Mr. Cole, is hit upon (page 54) to put Mr. Chalmers aside and to attach to himself the whole merit of the adhesive stamp. Mr. Hill had said something about a bit of gummed paper before the Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry in February, 1837 (subsequent to publishing the first edition of his pamphlet, in which nothing was said of an adhesive stamp), an idea Mr. Hill had acquired in the interval, just as he had acquired all the principles of the scheme itself, at second hand (page 60). On this occasion Mr. Hill had supposed a difficulty which might occur to a person who had to re-address a letter at a Post Office, but was unable to write, and at the same time precluded from paying the penny in cash, while the stamped wrapper would obliterate the address. In such an exceptional case, and in order to secure "the universal adoption" of the impressed stamp, a bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash, might be wetted and applied. Better, however, he goes on to say, allow the penny to be received in cash, so that you have only the impressed stamp or the penny in payment, and which penny was accepted up to the year 1855.[6] Up to the year 1855, consequently, no such exceptional case could have arisen, the penny in cash being sufficient acceptance. This allusion to an adhesive stamp is repeated by Mr. Hill in the second edition of his pamphlet. Here then, in February, 1837, was a passing allusion made by Mr. Hill to an adhesive stamp, showing that, subsequent to the issue of the first edition of his pamphlet, he had acquired from some quarter the idea of Mr. Chalmers' invention. February, 1837, was two years and a half after the proved invention of the adhesive stamp by Mr. Chalmers, one of the early postal reformers, one who "held correspondence with the postal reformers of his day, both in and out of Parliament" ("Encyclopædia Britannica," see page 39 following), the correspondent, amongst others, of Messrs. Knight & Co., who published for Mr. Hill. In a letter, then, of 18th January, 1840, as we learn from Mr. Pearson Hill's account of the matter, and from Mr. Chalmers' reply, Mr. Hill pointed out to Mr. Chalmers that his claim could not be admitted, because he, Mr. Hill, first proposed an adhesive stamp in February, 1837, the first official proposal of his plan by Mr. Chalmers, his letter to Mr. Wallace and the House of Commons Committee, having been only in December of the same year. In answer to this extraordinary pretension on the part of Mr. Hill, it is enough to point to Mr. Hill's letters to the Postmaster-General, Lord Litchfield, in January, 1838, explaining and enforcing his penny postage scheme then before the public--letters published in the papers of the period, and in which not a word is said of an adhesive stamp.[7] Or more than enough, to point to the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, already quoted (page 13), to prove that, up to so late a date as the 5th July, 1839, Mr. Hill had _not_ proposed to adopt an adhesive stamp. The press, up to 30th August, 1839, had heard of no such proposal on his part.[8] This allusion to an adhesive stamp in February, 1837, was a mere passing allusion as to what might be done in a supposed exceptional case which could never have arisen so long as the penny in cash was accepted, and was nothing more. For Mr. Hill to represent to Mr. Chalmers that he, Mr. Hill, had proposed to adopt the adhesive stamp as a means of carrying out his scheme in February, 1837, was to state what was _not the case_; consequently any admission so gained from Mr. Chalmers was wholly invalid. An extract from the reply of Mr. Chalmers, dated 18th May, 1840 (reproduced at page 62 of my former pamphlet), has been circulated by Mr. Pearson Hill, in whose hands alone is the entire correspondence, with the object of showing that Mr. Chalmers "honestly abandoned" his claim. But Mr. Chalmers honestly abandoned nothing; while no impartial person will, upon consideration, for a moment attach any importance to just what "extract" from his correspondence Mr. Pearson Hill has thought proper to produce. I again contend, as I have already maintained, that this correspondence was public, not private, property--that such should have remained at the Treasury, subject to the inspection of all concerned, in place of having been appropriated by Sir Rowland Hill as private, and thus so as to admit of only such portion being ultimately made known as may have suited himself. In this extract of 18th May, 1840, Mr. Chalmers, after stating he had delayed to reply until seeing the stamps in operation, writes with surprise at what Mr. Hill now states. Had he known or supposed that any one else, especially Mr. Hill himself, had proposed the adhesive stamp for the purpose of carrying out the scheme, he would not have troubled him at all. But having sent his plan to Mr. Wallace, M.P., and got his acknowledgment of 9th December, 1837, saying same would be laid before the Committee; also to Mr. Chalmers, M.P., and got his reply of 7th October, 1839, saying such had been laid before the Committee; also Mr. Hill's own letter of 3rd March, 1838, a copy of which he encloses--from _all_ these he was led to believe he had been first in the field. _Now_, not doubting Mr. Hill's assurance of 18th January, 1840, to the contrary (and in any case indisposed to contest a decision against which there was practically no appeal), he only regrets having through his ignorance put others as well as himself to any trouble in the matter; "while the only satisfaction I have had in this as well as in former suggestions--all original with me--is that these have been adopted, and have been and are likely to prove beneficial to the public." Such is the letter or extract which, placed in the hands of every editor in London, has led to my statements being here treated with comparative neglect.[9] But let my statements equally with those of Mr. Pearson Hill be read by any impartial writer, as in the case of the "Encyclopædia Britannica," afterwards noticed, and the result, it will be seen, is to lead to an entirely different conclusion. "James Chalmers was the inventor of the adhesive postage stamp--Mr. Pearson Hill has not weakened the evidence to that effect." Here was honesty certainly--simplicity indeed--on the side of Mr. Chalmers; but what about the representation on the part of Mr. Hill? Was it the case that he had proposed the adoption of the adhesive stamp in February, 1837, as represented to Mr. Chalmers? The proofs to the contrary are conclusive. Mr. Hill had made a passing allusion to an adhesive stamp in February, 1837, but _only_ a passing allusion. Nothing can be more clear than that the adoption of the adhesive stamp for the purpose of carrying out his scheme formed no part of the original proposals and intentions of Mr. Hill. His representation to Mr. Chalmers was therefore exaggerated, delusive, and misleading.[10] "Why did not you tell me anything of this before?" replies Mr. Chalmers in effect;--"_there_ is a copy of your letter of 3rd March, 1838, when I sent you my plan, in which letter of yours no such pretensions were put forward. It is only now that I learn for the first time that you had ever proposed or been in favour of an adhesive stamp. Further, how is it that neither of these members of the Committee before whom I laid my plan had ever heard of any such prior proposal on your part? However, I am now only sorry at having troubled you--I have at least the satisfaction of knowing that the public have got my plan somehow." "Why did you not tell me anything of this before?" Why indeed! Because Mr. Hill _then_ had not contemplated an adhesive stamp, as has been abundantly proved. An impressed stamped cover "was absolutely to be used in all cases," says the Chancellor of the Exchequer as late as in July, 1839--a "power" was asked for this, and for this alone. (See _ante_, page 14.) But much had happened in the interval betwixt Mr. Hill's two letters to Mr. Chalmers. The stamp not accepted by Mr. Hill in 1838 had become in 1840 the favourite of all opinions concerned, the adopted of the Treasury. It had saved his scheme. Mr. Chalmers must now be put aside, a matter which the entire contrast betwixt the dispositions of the two men rendered only too easy, and so this afterthought, this far-fetched pretext already noticed, was hit upon for the purpose. At the same time Mr. Chalmers appears to have been too apathetic in the matter, indifferent to personal considerations so long as the public got his stamp from some quarter; but the absence of any desire for personal advantage is a not unfrequent characteristic in those who have done some public service. But it is this neglect, or mere indifference, on the part of my father, in not having made a better stand in 1840 with respect to a matter the national and universal value of which no one could then appreciate or foresee, that all the more calls upon me now, under a better acquaintance with the facts and circumstances, to claim for his memory that recognition to which he is clearly entitled, as having been "The Originator and Inventor of the Adhesive Postage Stamp." FOOTNOTES: [4] These papers are in the Art Library of the South Kensington Museum. [5] The perforated sheets were not introduced until the year 1852. This improvement was the invention of a Mr. Archer, for which he got the sum of £4,000. [6] In his "Life" lately published, written by himself, Sir Rowland Hill _omits the clause_ in his original evidence which restores the payment of the penny in cash and does away with any necessity for an adhesive stamp, even in the exceptional case he had supposed. Not only does Sir Rowland Hill omit this clause, but he even gives the reader to understand that to the year 1837, the year of his pamphlet, is to be ascribed his adoption of the adhesive stamp. How then, it will be asked, does Sir Rowland Hill account for the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 5th July, 1839, and the interposition of Mr. Wallace in favour of an adhesive stamp? This difficulty Sir Rowland Hill surmounts by simply taking no notice of either. [7] In his letter to Lord Litchfield of 9th January, 1838, Mr. Hill states his plan to be:--"That the payment should always be in advance. And to rid this mode of payment of the trouble and risk which it would otherwise entail on the sending of letters, as well as for other important considerations, I propose that the postage be collected by the sale of stamped covers." [8] The "Times" of this date has the following paragraph:--"The Penny Postage will commence, we learn, on the 1st January next. It is intended that stamped envelopes shall be sold at every Post Office, so that stationers and other shopkeepers may, as well as the public, supply themselves at a minute's notice." Not a word as to an Adhesive Stamp being known as in contemplation. It will be evident from these two instances alone, independent of the proceedings in Parliament and of Mr. Hill's letter to Mr. Chalmers of 3rd March, 1838, that the Adhesive Stamp formed no part of the original proposals or intentions of Sir Rowland Hill. [9] See "The World," "Daily Chronicle," &c., also "Proceedings of the Commissioners of Sewers" for July, 1881, as reported in the "City Press." [10] The "Christian Leader" of Glasgow ably puts the matter thus:--"Sir Rowland Hill seems to have been at pains to obscure the facts of the case for the purpose of claiming to himself the credit of an invention which really belonged to the Dundee bookseller." THE "ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA." The nineteenth volume of the above-named standard work, lately published, contains an article headed "Postage Stamps," in which my late father is fully recognised as having been the inventor of the adhesive postage stamp. It is well known that the articles in this work are drawn up by learned experts upon the respective subjects dealt with, having access to and being in the habit of consulting official and historical documents, and edited under a strong sense of responsibility to the high standing of the work itself and to history; so that it is with unspeakable satisfaction that I now find myself enabled to produce from such a quarter an emphatic recognition of my father's services in connection with the great boon of Penny Postage reform. This article, so far as it deals with the origin of the adhesive stamp, is as follows; but in considering same it should be borne in mind that the article was drawn up _before_ the discovery of Mr. Chalmers' plan amongst the papers of the late Sir Henry Cole, with the consequent proofs given in the last chapter as to Mr. Chalmers having taken the initiative in urging the adoption of this stamp, not only to Members of the Select Committee of the House of Commons of 1837-38, but to Mr. Rowland Hill himself, long before Mr. Hill, in his paper of 1839 (see _ante_, page 21), gave in his adhesion to that plan in conjunction with his own:-- "POSTAGE STAMPS.--For all practical purposes the history of postage stamps begins in the United Kingdom, and with the great reform of its postal system in 1839-40." After giving instances in which the _impressed_ stamp had been in use, or had been suggested for postal purposes in this country and elsewhere, the article proceeds:--"Finally, and in its results most important of all, the 'adhesive stamp' was made, experimentally, in his printing-office at Dundee, by Mr. James Chalmers, in August, 1834.[11] These experimental stamps were printed from ordinary type, and were made adhesive by a wash of gum. Their inventor had already won local distinction in matters of postal reform by his strenuous and successful efforts, made as early as in the year 1822, for the acceleration of the Scottish mails from London. Those efforts resulted in a saving of forty-eight hours on the double journey, and were highly appreciated in Scotland. There is evidence that from 1822 onwards his attention was much directed towards postal questions, and that he held correspondence with the postal reformers of his day both in and out of Parliament. It is also plain that he was more intent upon aiding public improvements than upon winning credit for them. He made adhesive stamps in 1834, and showed them to his neighbours, but took no step for publicly recommending their adoption by the Post Office until long after such a recommendation had been published--although very hesitatingly--by the author of the now famous pamphlet entitled 'Post Office Reform.'[12] Mr. Hill brought the adhesive stamp under the notice of the Commissioners of Post Office Inquiry on the 13th February, 1837. Mr. Chalmers made no _public_ mention of his stamp of 1834 until December, 1837."[13] "Only a fortnight before his examination by the above-named Commissioners Mr. Hill, in his letter to the late Lord Monteagle (then Mr. Spring Rice, and Chancellor of the Exchequer), seems to have had no thought of the _adhesive_ stamp. He recommends to the Treasury 'that stamped covers and sheets of paper be supplied to the public from the Stamp Office or Post Office ... and sold at such a price as to include the postage.... Covers at various prices would be required for packets of various weights. Each should have the weight it is entitled to carry legibly printed with the stamp.... Should experience warrant the Government in making the use of stamped covers universal,[14] most important advantages would be secured. The Post Office would be relieved altogether from the collection of the revenue.'[15] "Then, upon suggestion, it would seem, of some possible difficulty that might arise from the occasional bringing to a post-office by persons unable to write, of unstamped letters, he added: 'Perhaps this difficulty might be obviated by using a bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp, and covered at the back with a glutinous wash.' It is a quite fair inference that this alternative had been suggested from without.[16] In reviewing the subject, long afterwards, in his 'History of Penny Postage,' Sir R. Hill says: 'The Post-Office opinions as to the use of stamps for ... prepayment were on the whole favourable.'[17] In a paper of 1839, entitled 'On the Collection of Postage by means of Stamps,' the author continued to look upon 'stamped covers or envelopes as the means which the public would most commonly employ; still believing that the adhesive stamp would be reserved for exceptional cases.'[18] "Mulready's well-remembered allegorical cover came into use on 1st May, 1840, together with the first form of the stamped letter-paper, and the adhesive labels. They all met at first, but only for a few days, with a large sale. That of the first day yielded £2,500. Soon afterwards the public rejection of the 'Mulready envelope,' writes Rowland Hill, 'was so complete as to necessitate the destruction of nearly all the vast number prepared for issue.' Whilst, on the other hand, the presses of the Stamp Office were producing more than half a million of [adhesive] labels, by working both night and day, they yet failed to meet the demand.[19] It was only after many weeks, and after the introduction of a series of mechanical improvements and new processes, due to the skill and ingenuity in part of Mr. Edwin Hill of the Stamp Office, in part of Mr. Perkins, an engraver, that the demand could be effectually answered." The above emphatic decision on the part of eminent men whom I have never seen in favour of James Chalmers as having been the inventor of the adhesive postage stamp, will give much satisfaction in those numerous quarters from which I have already met with countenance and support. After a full consideration of the respective statements put forward by myself and by Mr. Pearson Hill on the subject, James Chalmers at length obtains a recognition of which he has, as a rule, been only too long deprived. And that the same man who invented this stamp also first proposed its adoption has been already too clearly shown to require repetition here. Surely Sir Rowland Hill's "paper of 1839," mentioned in this article, was a trifle behindhand, when I have just proved from Sir Henry Cole's papers that Mr. Chalmers had already laid his plan before Mr. Hill himself in February, 1838. Did Mr. Hill tell us _that_ in his paper of 1839? No. Did he tell us that he drew up this paper of 1839 under a pressing demand for the adhesive stamp from all quarters? No. _Was it fair of Sir Rowland Hill to allow the readers of his "History of Penny Postage," or of his paper of 1839, to conclude that this proposal on his part of 1839 was put forward of his own initiation, and this with Mr. Chalmers' plan and statement of February, 1838, already in his possession?_ A plan which, in his reply to Mr. Chalmers of 3rd March following, Mr. Hill had pooh-poohed! Moreover, in referring to this "paper of 1839" in his "History of Penny Postage," vol. 1, page 346, Sir Rowland Hill takes special credit to himself for having therein recommended that the adhesive stamps "should be printed on sheets," putting same forward as a further idea of his own, and wholly ignoring the fact of such having been a special feature, "for sale in sheets or singly," in that plan of Mr. Chalmers _which lay before him_. (See _ante_, page 24.) It is unfortunate that the writer of this article was not at the time of writing in possession of the whole facts of the case, when doubtless Mr. Hill's "paper of 1839" would have been characterised as it deserved. Sir Rowland Hill's mode of obtaining credit for "inventions" or proposals of other men will now be better understood. If Mr. Hill alluded to this adhesive stamp (the admitted invention of Mr. Chalmers in 1834) in February, 1837, while Mr. Chalmers urged its adoption officially only in December, this, it will be seen, arose from Mr. Hill having been privileged to give evidence on postal affairs before the Commissioners of Inquiry. The proposal of 1834 with respect to newspapers came to nothing; consequently there was no opening _then_ for Mr. Chalmers to send in his invention _officially_. In sending in his plan to the Select Committee of the House of Commons in December, 1837, Mr. Chalmers was still a year and a half before the Penny Postage Bill was even introduced into Parliament. Mr. Hill did not adopt same until he issued his "paper of 1839." Mr. Hill's allusion to this stamp in February, 1837, this "publishing" of the idea "very hesitatingly," had no practical effect whatever on the cause in hand; such only shows that Mr. Hill had heard of the invention of 1834, without seeing its value or proposing to adopt it. Moreover, Mr. Chalmers was publishing his own invention, while Mr. Hill was only publishing an acquired idea, "suggested from without." It is to the man who not only invented the adhesive postage stamp, but who further first urged the adoption of same in its entirety for the purpose of carrying out the Penny Postage scheme, that the merit of this plan and of its results are due and will be ascribed. But if I was to stop here I should be told now, as I have been told before on obtaining important recognitions, that the present decision in my favour was again got upon mere _ex-parte_ statements--that had Mr. Pearson Hill only been given the opportunity, a very different aspect would have been put upon the matter. No choice, consequently, is left me but to show that it is to Mr. Pearson Hill himself I am indebted for the introduction which has led to my success, and without which introduction, now reproduced, I should have remained in entire ignorance as to any forthcoming article upon postal affairs, or have been most courteously afforded an opportunity of stating my case:-- [_Copy._] "ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA." "50, BELSIZE PARK, LONDON, N.W., _15th March, 1883_. "GENTLEMEN, "As you are now issuing a new edition of your 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' and as for years past a Mr. Patrick Chalmers has persistently been making false and groundless charges against my father, the late Sir Rowland Hill, I think it well to send you the enclosed printed documents for your information, as it is by no means improbable that he may strive to get you to insert some untrue statement when you deal with the question of the Post Office and Postal Reform. "I need hardly say that I shall be happy at any time to submit to you the original documents which are in my possession, which disprove the claims put forward in behalf of Mr. James Chalmers of Dundee, if you would desire to see them. "Your statistical information about the Post Office, as given in my copy of the Encyclopædia (the eighth edition) is of course now much behindhand. I dare say you have already on your staff of contributors some gentleman well able to supply you with fresh information; but should you be in want of any such help, I feel sure that my cousin, Mr. Lewin Hill, head of the statistical branch of the Secretary's office, General Post Office, London, would gladly undertake the work if you desired it. "I am, Gentlemen, "Your obedient servant, "(Signed) PEARSON HILL. "MESSRS. A. & C. BLACK, Edinburgh." It is thus manifest that, in having obtained this conclusive recognition, I have taken no undue advantage of Mr. Pearson Hill, while it will also be manifest that Mr. Pearson Hill's statements have found acceptance in other quarters only because I have not been afforded an equally impartial hearing as in the present case. His printed documents, his statements, with all the advantage of being sole possessor of the correspondence betwixt his late father and mine, have been put forward, and yet the decision is against him. Again, as respects the penny postage scheme itself, the proofs are conclusive that _originality of conception_ formed no element whatever in any one of the proposals of Sir Rowland Hill, preceded and heralded as the penny postage reform had been by the labours of a whole band of pioneers. Special reference may be made to the statements of the Rev. Samuel Roberts, whose biography as the pioneer of uniform penny postal reform is given in the _Times_ of 30th September last. The "Rowland Hill Memorial Fund" Committee have themselves admitted, after what has been laid before them, their sense of this non-originality by the change made in the inscription upon the City statue of Sir Rowland Hill, thereby confirming the accuracy of my statements. Moreover, a Treasury Minute of 11th March, 1864, distinctly states that uniform penny postage had been urged upon the Government prior to the proposals of Sir Rowland Hill. Thus, independent and conclusive testimony, as distinguished from the mere family tradition with which many writers have hitherto been content, leaves the question of plagiarism beyond dispute. As with the stamp, so with the scheme, the ideas were _acquired, not original_. Here, then, is the justification of my statements. So far from having been "persistently making false and groundless charges," I have been stating facts and elucidating the truth, and the aspersions of Mr. Pearson Hill are thus scattered to the winds. For Mr. Pearson Hill, however, every allowance will be made, though his style of controversy will not be admired. That gentleman forgets that my motives and objects are just as legitimate as his own, and should be met in a legitimate way. This leads me to mention that some time ago Mr. Samuel Morley, M.P. (at one period chairman of the "Sir Rowland Hill Memorial Fund" Committee) was good enough to suggest that this controversy should be decided by arbitration, and to which I agreed in principle, subject to due preliminaries, but met with no response. At a later period, in a letter already published, after pointing to my own evidence, I invited Mr. Morley's good offices, seeing that Mr. Pearson Hill declined to reply to or even to open any letter from me, to ascertain from Mr. Hill if he could produce any evidence, or anything beyond mere assumption, to the effect that the adhesive postage stamp was at any period an invention on the part of Sir Rowland Hill, but I was equally unsuccessful in obtaining any reply, there being, in fact, nothing beyond assumption in the matter. Nowhere does Sir Rowland Hill directly profess that this stamp was his invention. My friends, both in and out of the press, who have been puzzled at the silence of many of the London papers on this subject, will now be in a position to form some conclusion as to the cause of this silence. What has been sent to the Messrs. Black and to the Commissioners of City Sewers, may have been sent to the London papers; indeed, I have been given to understand has been generally circulated in these quarters, already compromised in their expressed opinions, and so in no way disposed to entertain fresh views.[20] My opponents, some of them in high position, others themselves connected with the press, are desirous, and naturally so, that public attention should not be drawn to my statements.[21] In this way, crushed beneath the weight of a hitherto great name, statements have been disregarded which, when read and investigated as in the case of the "Encyclopædia Britannica," have been found substantiated. I ask my supporters and others, therefore, to read and judge for themselves. Whether the London papers, hitherto silent, seeing the important recognition my claim has now met with, and the fresh and conclusive evidence now disclosed from the papers of Sir Henry Cole, will also now read and admit some discussion of this matter of public interest in their columns, remains to be seen. In any case, an enduring record of my father's share in the great postal reform of 1837-40 is secured. A work of the highest standing, and a reference to which is the first act of historical writers, has recorded James Chalmers as having been the originator of that adhesive postage stamp which saved the reformed scheme. Moreover, in lands beyond the sea, an interest is taken in this subject wholly unknown here; individuals and learned societies collect for their own information, and hand down for future perusal, everything published on the great Penny Postage reform, and in some of these quarters amazement is expressed at the single-hero-worship which prevails in this country with respect to a subject which investigation shows to have been the offspring of many minds, the result of the labours of not a few zealous but unassuming men. The services of Sir Rowland Hill, already cordially recognised in my pamphlets, it would be superfluous again to dwell upon here. And if, while cordially pointing out these great services, it has also fallen to my lot to put a fresh and less favourable aspect upon their nature and extent than hitherto understood, to bring to light his great failing of assuming or allowing to be assumed as conceptions of his own what were only acquired ideas, of omitting to notice what it was not convenient to notice, let it be remembered that such has been forced upon me as a necessity solely in the pursuit of what is now declared to have been a just claim. At one period, indeed, I had withdrawn from the whole matter, until recalled to it by Mr. Pearson Hill himself in a published statement to which I was challenged to reply. My replies, under ever-increasing and conclusive evidence, have now been put forward. Should the result not have proved such as the best friends of Sir Rowland Hill could have desired, upon his own son, and not upon me, rests the responsibility. It is enough for me that my father's memory as the originator and inventor of the adhesive postage stamp has been successfully vindicated. FOOTNOTES: [11] "Patrick Chalmers, Sir Rowland Hill, and James Chalmers, Inventor of the Adhesive Stamp (London, 1882), _passim_." See also the same writer's pamphlet, entitled "The Position of Sir Rowland Hill made plain (1882)," and his "The Adhesive Stamp; a Fresh Chapter in the History of Post-Office Reform (1881)." Compare Mr. Pearson Hill's tract, "A Paper on Postage Stamps," in reply to Mr. Chalmers, reprinted from the "Philatelic Record," of November, 1881. Mr. Hill has therein shown conclusively the priority of _publication_ by Sir Rowland Hill. He has also given proof of Mr. James Chalmers' express acknowledgment of that priority. But he has not weakened the evidence of the priority of _invention_ by Mr. Chalmers. [This admission on the part of Mr. Chalmers, obtained through an obscuring and consequent misapprehension of the facts, was, of course, wholly invalid. Even if valid, it will be seen at page 44 that such priority of publication of an idea "suggested from without" was of no practical consequence.--P.C.] [12] "Ninth Report of Commissioners of Post-Office Inquiry, 1837," pp. 32, 33, reprinted in Sir R. Hill's "History of Penny Postage" ("Life," &c., ii. 270). [13] [That Mr. Chalmers had not made an earlier offer of his stamp _officially_ is accounted for by the proposals of 1834 with respect to a penny postage on newspapers, in place of an impressed stamp of fourpence on the sheet, having come to nothing.--P.C.] [14] _I.e._, by prohibiting the prepayment of letters in money. [15] "Ninth Report," as above. [16] Moreover, what Sir Rowland Hill does _not_ tell in his "History," is that the compulsion to use a stamp in all cases was, in his _original evidence_ in this Ninth Report, at once _withdrawn_, the permission to pay the penny in cash being restored, so that the person "unable to write" was at once relieved of all "difficulty," and no bit of gummed paper required even in the exceptional case supposed. (See my former pamphlet, page 56.) Keeping this fact in view, there is thus only a passing "allusion" here in February, 1837, to the adhesive stamp, and nothing more, not even a partial proposal to use it. This clause restoring the permission to pay the penny in place of using any stamp, is taken no notice of by Sir Rowland Hill "in reviewing the subject long afterwards."--P.C. [17] "History of Penny Postage," as above. [18] _Ibid._ [19] Hill, _et supra_, p. 398. [20] In lately replying to Mr. Pearson Hill in the columns of the _Whitehall Review_, I have put this query, which has not been denied, "Will Mr. Pearson Hill undertake to say that he has not made a communication, written or verbal, similar to the above letter to Messrs. A. & C. Black to every editor in London, if not throughout a wider sphere?" [21] One mode of stifling the subject has been to circulate the impression that I am a person under the hallucination that "his father invented the _Penny Postage scheme_," thus rendering my claim too ludicrous to obtain attention. See, amongst others, the _Times_ and _Daily News_ of 13th July, 1881. VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE ADHESIVE STAMP. "Why should we be called upon to pass this Penny Postage Bill," said the opponents of that measure in August, 1839, "when no mortal being had at that moment the remotest conception of how it was to be carried into execution?" Mr. Rowland Hill's plan of the impressed stamp had not satisfied the Committee. This plan, as amended by the Committee, had not satisfied the Government. (See _ante_, page 13.) The paper makers and stationers were in a state of protest and alarm. "This part of the business must stand over," said the Government of the day, "How to carry out the scheme will require much consideration." It was here that James Chalmers, through Mr. Wallace, Chairman of the Committee, stepped in--the adhesive stamp saved the scheme. _That_ was the value and importance of his invention and proposal. It satisfied the paper trade; "Let the stationer, not the Stamp Office," said Mr. Chalmers, "sell the paper, the Post Office the stamp." He saved the scheme of Mr. Hill to the country by relieving and setting agoing the clogged wheels of penny postage--he supplied the engines to the much admired but immovable craft and sent her speeding smoothly and swiftly upon her beneficent mission. No wonder Sir Rowland Hill determined that no name but his own should be heard of in connection with the adhesive stamp, for of what use is a scheme, however desirable, if you cannot carry it out in practice? This is what he admits on the subject soon after the simultaneous introduction of the Mulready envelope and the adhesive stamp--"The public rejection of the former was so complete as to necessitate the destruction of nearly all the vast number prepared for issue." On the other hand--"Though the presses of the Stamp Office were producing more than half a million of adhesive stamps by working both night and day, they yet failed to meet the demand." Up to this day, after over forty years of public service, and notwithstanding the improvements in the production of impressed and embossed stamps, the adhesive stamp remains indispensable to our postal, inland revenue, telegraphic, and parcel-post systems--"Eighteen hundred millions are issued _yearly_ from the office of the Controller of stamps. These range in value from a halfpenny to twenty pounds, covering postage and inland revenue from a halfpenny to two shillings and sixpence; postage proper from five shillings to five pounds; inland revenue proper (such as foreign bills, sea policy stamps, &c.) from one penny to ten pounds; and fees (such as judicature, &c.), from one penny to twenty pounds. The penny stamp takes the first place amongst the numbers issued. Of these, as many as thirteen hundred millions and a half were despatched from Somerset House in the course of a recent twelvemonth."[22] Twenty-five millions of parcels are now annually conveyed by Parcel Post, a business only practicable through prepayment by adhesive stamp. Thus, ever increasing in utility, thus indispensable to the carrying out of all or any of these great public services, the value of James Chalmers' invention and proposal--the importance of this "powerful mechanism of the stamp"--may be best felt by the consideration that its suspension, even for a day, would paralyse the entire commercial and social system of the nation, it may be said "of the world" for in all other lands, one after another, has the adhesive stamp become an institution for similar purposes as in our own, and in corresponding numbers. In this sense an eminent writer has lately stated, "Whoever discovered the adhesive stamp, the discovery has socially revolutionised the world." "Should my plan be adopted," was the prophetic saying of Mr. Chalmers when he sent his plan to London and to Mr. Hill himself, long before the Penny Postage Bill was even introduced into Parliament, "should my adhesive stamp be adopted, the demand for these will in time become so vast, that I am only puzzled to think where premises can be found to get them up." Surely the man who rescued the Legislature from such a complication as has been described, surely the originator of this indispensable and ubiquitous adhesive stamp has done the State some service. FOOTNOTES: [22] "Chambers' Journal," March, 1885. CONCLUSION. Objections have been raised, both in and out of the press, to the effect that my claim comes "too late in the day." Such objection will, I believe, be found effectually met in my preface and former pamphlets, to the satisfaction of any impartial mind favouring me with a perusal. With those who decline to read my statements, amongst whom may be named several writers of biography wrapt up in a blind worship of pre-conceived ideas, nothing, of course, can be done. Others say, "Get an official recognition of your claim from the Post Office, then we will recognise you." This, again, is taking matters in the reverse order; if the Post Office is ever to recognise me, the pressure must come from outside, as the Post Office, under its late chief, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, simply declines to read or cause to be read for its information anything I may lay before it, as "not being deemed necessary." As I have nothing to ask from that quarter, having now gained a recognition promising to be sufficient for my purpose, I have no present intention of again troubling the Post Office on the subject. The feeling of _esprit de corps_, if nothing else, will probably render the Post Office the very last body to admit that any mistake by the late Sir Rowland Hill has been made. But it may be said, "Did not the Post Office give Palmer, the organiser of the mail-coach system, in addition to his pay of £3,000 a year, £50,000?" And was not James Chalmers the successor in that line, sixty years ago, of Palmer? Yes--but then Mr. Palmer was a man of business, and had made his bargain with the Post Office _before_ he took the mail-coach organisation in hand to be paid according to results; while, after all, the £50,000 was only a compromise, obtained, moreover, only after the repeated interference of Parliament. James Chalmers, recognised by the leading Scottish press of the period, and by his townsmen, never dreamt of asking a pecuniary reward. Again, was not the Post Office in 1852 most liberal with Archer, the inventor of the perforating machine--did they not give him £4,000 for the use of it? Yes--but then Mr. Archer had taken out a patent for his invention, and refused to sell the use of it for less, and it was not until after a fruitless negotiation of five years, ending in a Parliamentary Committee taking up the subject and insisting upon Mr. Archer being paid his moderate demand, that the Post Office and the Treasury gave in, and but for this Parliamentary pressure we might yet be cutting off our stamps with a pair of scissors to this day. In the same way, then, it has been asked, would not an infinitesimal royalty on the increasing millions of adhesive stamps have long ago placed that originator, him and his, amongst the wealthy of the land? Yes--but such was not the spirit in which James Chalmers trafficked and trifled with the public interests. What are his last words to Sir Rowland Hill on the subject? "The only satisfaction I have had in this, as well as in former suggestions, all original to me, is that these have been adopted, and have and are likely to prove beneficial to the public." This was the spirit in which the originator of the adhesive stamp ever tendered his services, public or private--the satisfaction of finding them useful and accepted. In the continued and ever-increasing utility of his stamp may be seen that silent yet irresistible tribute of the nation to its originator which James Chalmers would most have prized--only, let the hand which gave it be rightly known and recognised. For a time powerful influences to silence may prevail and popular delusion continue to hold its sway. But at some future day, if not now--in other lands if not in this--will the name of James Chalmers be yet recognised in connection with our constant friend and companion, the adhesive stamp, and the great boon of Penny Postage reform. APPENDIX. DUNDEE. So satisfied were the Dundee merchants of a past age as to the originality and value of Mr. Chalmers' invention and happy suggestion that, on the 1st January, 1846, a public Testimonial was presented to him in the Town Hall of Dundee in recognition of same and of other postal services. This Testimonial consisted of a silver jug and salver and a purse of 50 sovereigns. Just before this period, Mr. Rowland Hill had been presented by the merchants of the City of London with a cheque for over £13,000, in recognition of what now turns out to have been merely a borrowed scheme, and which scheme was only saved from untimely collapse by the adoption of Mr. Chalmers' plan of the adhesive stamp. In the present generation, again, the Town Council of Dundee have performed a graceful act to the memory of a deserving townsman, by having passed at a meeting held on the 3rd March, 1883, the following resolution:-- "That, having had under consideration the Pamphlet lately published on the subject of the Adhesive Stamp, the Council are of opinion that it has been conclusively shown that the late James Chalmers, bookseller, Dundee, was the originator of this indispensable feature in the success of the reformed Penny Postage Scheme, and that such be entered upon the minutes." The above resolution of the Town Council is now, it will be seen, fully confirmed by the able and learned writers of the "Encyclopædia Britannica," after an impartial investigation of the subject--a confirmation having all the greater weight as reversing, upon evidence which could not be resisted, previously recorded impressions. Dundee is now a large and wealthy community, returning two members to Parliament; few centres of business have benefited more conspicuously from the legislation of the past forty years, including as the foundation of all mercantile intercourse that great postal reform which James Chalmers saved from failure and made practicable. Two generations have already recognised and given every credit to the services of their townsman--what further notice Dundee may yet take of this matter of national and historical interest originated in the locality, the "value and importance" of which has elsewhere been inadequately described, remains to be seen. OPINIONS FROM THE PRESS. Having already published most of these in detail, to save space and repetition it will be sufficient here to give a list or little more, of the numerous Journals which have given me more or less support. Those to which I am more particularly indebted are:--In Scotland-- The "Dundee Advertiser," a consistent support during a past lengthened period, including powerful leading articles and notices. The "Montrose Standard," several cordial and able articles of the highest value, while the same is to be gratefully noticed of the other Forfarshire papers. The "Brechin Advertiser," the "Forfar Herald," the "Arbroath Guide," the "Montrose Review." The "North British Daily Mail," of Glasgow, in a leading article headed "A Neglected Inventor," after stating the case, goes on to say: "It is not creditable to the generosity of the Government of this country that an important invention of this kind, which has conferred such a great boon upon the public, should have remained so long unacknowledged and unrewarded." This article has been extensively reproduced. The "Glasgow News" and the "Christian Leader," of Glasgow, cordial articles. The "Paisley Herald," the same on several occasions. The "Aberdeen Free Press," a warm and able support. The "Blairgowrie Advertiser" has taken much interest and pains to support me; also the "Perthshire Constitutional," the "Fifeshire Journal," the "North British Advertiser," to all of which my best thanks are due. In the Metropolis and neighbourhood, considering how short a period has elapsed since the opinion has been almost unanimously expressed that the reformed Penny Postage scheme was the "sole and undisputed invention of Sir Rowland Hill," to whom has also been erroneously attributed the invention and proposal as well as the ultimate adoption of the adhesive stamp, fair progress has already been made in obtaining a recognition of Mr. Chalmers' services. That greater progress has not been made may be attributed to the powerful influences which have been at work to stifle the whole subject, including an attempt on the part of Mr. Pearson Hill to stop the publication of pamphlets. In the "Illustrated London News" Mr. G. A. Sala writes: "It seems tolerably clear that Sir Rowland Hill was not the inventor, in the strict sense of the term, either of the Penny Postage or of the Adhesive Postage Stamp ... Anent the invention of the Adhesive Stamp, a pamphlet has recently been published, but I have not yet had time to read it.... Whoever discovered the Adhesive Stamp, the discovery has socially revolutionised the world." According to this high authority, the Adhesive Stamp was thus at least _not_ the invention of Sir Rowland Hill. The "Whitehall Review" has given me consistent and most valuable support; also the "Metropolitan," the "People," the "Home and Colonial Mail." The "Machinery Market," of London and Darlington, a practical monthly journal of high position, while retaining all its former admiration for Sir Rowland Hill's services, decides, in a long and able article, in favour of James Chalmers as respects the stamp. The "Inventors' Record," in an article on "Disputed Inventions," supports the same view. The pretensions brought forward on the part of Sir Rowland Hill are declared to be wholly groundless, and the invention accorded to James Chalmers. The "Croydon Review," a monthly, in a series of able articles, has informed its readers candidly with respect to the untenable pretensions of Sir Rowland Hill, both as respects the scheme and the stamp, cordially ascribing the latter to James Chalmers. The "Surrey Independent" has ably supported me in several leading articles. As far as conception went, "Sir Rowland Hill displayed a remarkable facility for picking other people's brains." To the "Surrey Comet" and "Wimbledon Courier" my best thanks are due for cordial notices and recognition; as also to the "West Middlesex Advertiser," the "South Hampstead Advertiser," the "North Middlesex Advertiser," the "Christian Union," the "Hornsey and Finsbury Park Journal," the "American Bookseller," the "Acton and Chiswick Gazette," "Figaro," "Vanity Fair," the "Kensington News," "Life," and others. From the Provincial Press, much valuable support has been given me:-- The "Oldham Chronicle" and "Rastrick Gazette" have written often and ably on the subject, supported by such papers as the "Bradford Observer," the "Western Daily Press," of Bristol, the "Bristol Gazette," the "Norwich Argus," the "Brighton Herald," the "Brighton Argus," the "Dover and County Chronicle," the "Colchester Chronicle," the "Stratford and South Essex Advertiser," the "Essex Standard," the "Bradford Times," the "Burnley Express," the "Barnsley Times," the "Wigan Observer," the "Stockport Advertiser," the "Yorkshire Gazette," the "Westmoreland Gazette," the "Wakefield and West Riding Herald," the "Frome Times," the "Man of Ross," the "Totnes Times," the "Banner of Wales," the "West Bromwich Free Press," the "Swinton and Pendlebury Times," the "Accrington Gazette," the "Birkenhead News," the "Brighton Standard," the "Hastings Observer," the "Newcastle Courant," the "Preston Chronicle," the "Monmouthshire Beacon," the "Lydney Observer," the "West of England Observer," the "Cardiff Free Press," the "Monmouthshire Chronicle," the "Eskdale and Liddlesdale Advertiser," the "Irvine Express," the "Surrey Advertiser," the "Printers' Register," the "Newcastle Examiner," the "Malvern News," and others, with articles sympathetically copied into the "Brighton Guardian," the "Aberdeen Journal," the "Dundee Courier," the "Edinburgh Courant," the "Liverpool Albion," the "Building and Engineering Times" of London," &c. The late Sir Thomas Nelson, Solicitor to the Corporation of the City of London, writes:-- "HAMPTON WICK, _6th February, 1883_. "SIR, "I have read the pamphlet you sent me. Your statements are very interesting. It is nothing uncommon for the man to whom the idea first occurs to have it developed by others, who get the credit of it. "Yours truly, "(Signed) T. J. NELSON. "PATRICK CHALMERS, Esq. Wimbledon." If plagiarism is not uncommon it is none the less unfair to the original inventor, nor the less to be deprecated, more especially where the result has been to obtain unmerited "credit" heaped upon the wrong man at the expense of the man to whom "the idea first occurred," and who further, as is now more fully proved since Sir Thomas Nelson wrote, also first urged its "development" to the very man who ultimately took all the "credit" to himself. To plagiarism such as this a stronger term is applicable. Sir Bartle Frere writes:-- "WRESSIL LODGE, WIMBLEDON, _21st April, 1883_. "SIR, "I have received your letter of the 20th, and thank you for its enclosures on the subject of the invention of the adhesive postage stamp. "I have long believed that Mr. James Chalmers was the inventor of that important part of our present postal system, but I regret that I cannot suggest to you any means of giving further publicity to your father's claims to the merit of that most useful invention. "I remain, SIR, "Yours truly, (Signed) H. B. E. FRERE. "P. CHALMERS, Esq." Sir Bartle Frere introduced the adhesive postage stamp into Scinde during his administration of that province, having obtained his knowledge and belief as to James Chalmers having been the originator of same from independent sources thirty years before my own investigation of the subject. * * * * * In some quarters this matter is ignored on the ground that the subject of this pamphlet is not of sufficient importance or too late to call for notice. To such I reply--"Then let the issue of the adhesive stamp (see page 52) be discontinued." Should it be found that such cannot be done without serious detriment to the public service, then surely to continue to use a man's indispensable invention and proposal without so much as a word of recognition, will, if adhered to, prove a course of proceeding hard indeed to justify, as well as something wholly foreign to the antecedents of British journalism. EFFINGHAM WILSON, Printer, Royal Exchange, E.C. +-----------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's Note: | | | | Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the | | original document have been preserved. | | | | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | | | | Page 56 imformation changed to information | +-----------------------------------------------+ 
22190	----	generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) National Archives Archives Nationales of Canada du Canada [Illustration] THE STAMPS OF CANADA By BERTRAM W. H. POOLE PUBLISHED BY SEVERN-WYLIE-JEWETT CO. Publishers of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ BOSTON, MASS. * * * * * Beautiful 1912 Salvador Set 1c, 2c, 5c, 6c, 12c, 17c, 19c, 29c, 50c and 1 col, =Each in 2 Colors=, used, fine, Cat. $1.41. Price =50c= No. 354, 10c on 6c rose and black, o.g., =Rare= =10c= 1914 Oficial set. Nos. 950 to 957, unused, Cat. $1.30. Price =30c= =NICARAGUA=, Set 1909, Nos. 237 to 248, =used=, Cat. 59c. Special at .15 =MEXICO, Sets and Singles, New= 1910, 1c, 2c, 3c, 5c, 15c, 20c, 50c, 1 peso, o.g., fine .55 1910, 5 pesos, o. g. .75 1914, Gob. $ Con. on 1910 issue, 1c, 2c, 3c, 5c, 10c, 15c, 20c & 50c .24 1914, 5 pesos Gob. $ Con., Rare 2.25 1915, G. C. M. 2c, 3c & 5c. 3 for .03 Oficial No. 675, o.g., 5p. =Rare on No. 303= 2.98 Above 5p not priced in Scott's (Foreign Cats. $7.50.) Oficial, 1911, Set 1c to 1 peso complete, Scott's Nos. 676 to 685 1.48 Nos. 810 to 814 Postage Due, Gob. $ .75 Nos. 815 to 819 Postage Due, Carranza .75 Nos. 820 to 824 Postage Due, Villa 1.50 =RARE SINGLE STAMPS= U. S. No. 330, 10c on bluish, mint perf'n 6.75 Canal Zone No. 42A, 2c mint perfection, =center inverted, rare= 11.75 Above worth full catalogue =in fine condition.= =Wanted to Exchange= rare for rare, U. S. for U. S., Foreign for Foreign. Send selections against any of above or against other selections. =Even Trade.= C. E. HUSSMAN, Pres. COLUMBIA SUPPLY CO., ST. LOUIS, MO. References, Jefferson Bank or Publishers. * * * * * NEW UNITED STATES LOOSE LEAF ALBUM This Album is the only practical and feasible Loose Leaf Book on the market today. We have put this Album up in five sections so a collector is able to purchase such branches as he desires at a comparatively low cost. 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BARTELS CO. 99 Nassau Street, NEW YORK * * * * * EUGENE KLEIN Counterfeit Detector of the American Philatelic Society. Member of the Juries of the Chicago 1911 and New York 1913 International Philatelic Exhibitions. Honorary Member of the New York Stamp Society. Life Member of the Societe Francaise de Timbrologie, Paris, and the Junior Philatelic Society, London. I am prepared to examine stamps and give expert opinion for the following charges: Unsurcharged stamps 10c each. Overprints, stamps requiring plating and cancellations, 30c each. Minimum charge 50 cents. Postage and registration extra. EUGENE KLEIN 1318 Chestnut St., Philadelphia THE POSTAGE STAMPS OF CANADA By BERTRAM W. H. POOLE Author of Various Philatelic Books [Illustration] SEVERN-WYLIE-JEWETT CO. HANDBOOK No. 20 Price 25 Cents PUBLISHED BY SEVERN-WYLIE-JEWETT CO. Publishers _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ BOSTON, MASS. INDEX Page Introduction 3 Chapter I--Its Postal History 5 Chapter II--A Postmaster's Provisional 8 Chapter III--The First Issue 9 Chapter IV--The Second Issue 18 Chapter V--The Perforated Pence Stamps 21 Chapter VI--The First "Cents" Issue 24 Chapter VII--The First Dominion Issue 28 Chapter VIII--The 1c Orange of 1869 34 Chapter IX--The Large 5c Stamp 34 Chapter X--The Small "Cents" Stamps 35 Chapter XI--The 20c and 50c Stamps of 1893 40 Chapter XII--The 8c Stamp of 1893 41 Chapter XIII--The Diamond Jubilee Issue 43 Chapter XIV--The "Maple Leaf" Issue of 1897 48 Chapter XV--The "Numeral" Issue of 1898 50 Chapter XVI--The "Map" Stamp of 1898 52 Chapter XVII--The "2 Cents" Provisionals 54 Chapter XVIII--The Bi-sected Provisionals 56 Chapter XIX--The 2c Carmine 57 Chapter XX--The 20c Value of 1900 58 Chapter XXI--The Queen Victoria Seven Cents 58 Chapter XXII--The King Edward Issue 59 Chapter XXIII--The Quebec Tercentenary Issue 63 Chapter XXIV--King George Stamps 67 Chapter XXV--The War Tax Stamps 69 Chapter XXVI--A Proposed Commemorative Series 70 Chapter XXVII--Official Stamps 71 Chapter XXVIII--The Special Delivery Stamp 72 Chapter XXIX--The Registration Stamps 74 Chapter XXX--The Postage Due Stamps 77 Chapter XXXI--The "Officially Sealed" Labels 78 THE POSTAGE STAMPS OF CANADA. By BERTRAM W. H. POOLE. INTRODUCTION. Canada was originally the French colony of New France, which comprised the range of territory as far west as the Mississippi, including the Great Lakes. After the war of independence it was confined to what are now the provinces of Quebec and Ontario--then known as Upper and Lower Canada. At the confederation (1867) it included only these two provinces, with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; and since then it has been extended by purchase (1870), by accession of other provinces (British Columbia in 1871 and Prince Edward Island in 1873), and by imperial order in council (1880), until it includes all the north American continent north of United States territory, with the exception of Alaska and a strip of the Labrador coast administered by Newfoundland, which still remains outside the Dominion of Canada. On the Atlantic the chief indentations which break its shores are the Bay of Fundy (remarkable for its tides), the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Hudson Bay (a huge expanse of water with an area of about 350,000 square miles); and the Pacific coast, which is small relatively, is remarkably broken up by fjord-like indentations. Off the coast are many islands, some of them of considerable magnitude,--Prince Edward Is., Cape Breton Is., and Anticosti being the most considerable on the Atlantic side, Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Is. on the Pacific; and in the extreme north is the immense Arctic archipelago, bound in perpetual ice. The surface of the country east of the great lakes is diversified, but characterised by no outstanding features. Two ranges of hills skirt the St. Lawrence--that on the north, the Laurentians, stretching 3,500 miles from Lake Superior to the Atlantic, while the southern range culminates in the bold capes and cliffs of Gaspé. The St. Lawrence and its tributaries form the dominating physical feature in this section, the other rivers being the St. John, the Miramichi, and the Restigouche in New Brunswick. Eastern Canada is practically the Canadian part of the St. Lawrence valley, (330,000 square miles), and the great physical feature is the system of lakes with an area of 90,000 square miles. In addition to the tributaries of the St. Lawrence already mentioned, the Dominion boasts the Fraser, the Thompson, and the greater part of the Columbia River in British Columbia; the Athabasca and Peace Rivers, which flow into Lake Athabasca, and out of it as the Slave River, which in its turn issues from the Great Slave Lake and flows into the Arctic Ocean as the Mackenzie River (total length 2,800 miles); the Albany and the Churchill, flowing into Hudson Bay, and the Nelson, which discharges from Lake Winnipeg into Hudson Bay the united waters of the Assiniboine, the Saskatchewan, the Red River and the Winnipeg. West of the Great Lakes the scenery is less varied. From the lakes to the Rockies stretches a vast level plain of a prairie character, slowly rising from 800 feet at the east end to 3,000 feet at the foothills of the Rockies. The eastern and western portions of the Dominion are heavily wooded, and comparatively little inroad has been made on the forest wealth of the country. It is estimated that there are 1,200,000 square miles of woodland and forest, chiefly spruce and pine, including about a hundred varieties; consequently the industries connected with the forest are of great importance, especially since the development of the pulp industry. The central prairie plain is almost devoid of forest. Agriculture is the dominant industry in Canada, not only in the great fertile plains of the centre, but also on the lands which have been cleared of forest and settled in other parts of the Dominion. The Canadian climate is cold in winter and warm in summer, but healthy all the year round. With all its extremes of cold it permits of the cultivation in the open air of grapes, peaches, tobacco, tomatoes, and corn. The snow is an essential condition of the prosperity of the timber industry, the means of transport in winter, the protector of the soil from frost, and the source of endless enjoyment in outdoor sports. The French Canadians are almost exclusively the descendants of the French in Canada in 1763, there being practically no immigration from France. The French language is by statute, not by treaty, an official language in the Dominion Parliament and in Quebec, but not now in any other province, though documents, etc., may for convenience be published in it. English is understood almost everywhere except in the rural parts of Quebec, where the _habitants_ speak a patois which has preserved many of the characteristics of 17th century French. The Indian people, numbering a little over 108,000 in 1902, are scattered throughout the Dominion. They are usually located on reserves, where efforts, not very successful, are made to interest them in agriculture and industry. Many of them still follow their ancestral occupations of hunting and fishing, and they are much sought after as guides in the sporting centres. The Dominion government exercises a good deal of parental care over them and for them; but the race is stationary, if not declining. The constitution of Canada is of a federal character, midway between the British and United States constitutions. The federated provinces retain their local legislatures. The Federal Parliament closely follows the British model, and the cabinet is responsible to the House of Commons. The members of the Senate are appointed by the governor-general in council, and retain their seats for life, and each group of provinces is entitled to so many senators. The numbers of the commons vary according to the population. The local legislatures generally consist of one house, though Quebec and Nova Scotia still retain their upper houses. The Federal Parliament is quinquennial, the local legislatures quadrennial. The lieutenant-governors of the provinces are appointed by the governor-general in council. The governor-general (appointed by the King, though paid by Canada) has a right to disallow or reserve bills for imperial consent; but the veto is seldom exercised, though the imperial authorities practically disallowed temporarily the preferential clauses of 1897. The Constitution of Canada can be altered only by Imperial Parliament, but for all practical purposes Canada has complete self-government. In 1534, Jacques Cartier landed on the Gaspé coast of Quebec, of which he took possession in the name of Francis I, King of France. But nothing was done towards permanent occupation and settlement until 1608, when Samuel de Champlain, who had visited the country in 1603 and 1604, founded the city of Quebec. Meantime French settlements were made in what is now the maritime provinces, but known to the French as Acadia. France claimed, as a result of this settlement, exclusive control of the whole immense region from Acadia west to Lake Superior, and down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. But the control of this region was not uncontested. England claimed it by right of prior discovery, based mainly on the discovery of Newfoundland in 1497 by John Cabot. In the north the charter granted in 1670 by Charles II to Prince Rupert to found the Hudson's Bay Company, with exclusive rights of trading in the Hudson Bay basin, was maintained till 1869, when, on a payment of $1,500,000, their territory was transferred to the newly created Dominion of Canada. A long struggle was carried on between England and France for the dominion of the North American continent, which ended in the cession of Acadia by the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, and the cession of Canada by the treaty of Paris in 1763. Of all its Canadian dependency France retained only the Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland, and the vexatious French-shore rights. During the war of American Independence Canada was invaded by the Americans, and the end of the war saw a great influx of loyalists from the United States, and the formation of two new colonies--New Brunswick and Upper Canada (now Ontario). The treaty of peace in 1783 took away from Canada territory now included within Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1791, owing to differences of race, Upper Canada was separated from Lower Canada; but discontent resulted in rebellion in 1837-8 which occasioned Lord Durham's mission and report. The results of that were the granting of responsible government to the colonists, and in 1840 the reunion of the two provinces. But the different elements, British and French Canadians, worked no better together than they had done while separated; and in 1867, as an escape from the deadlocks which occurred, confederation was consummated. After the War of Independence the history of Canada is chiefly concerned with the gradual removal of the commercial preferences she had enjoyed in the English market, and the gradual concession of complete powers of self-government. The half-breeds of the north-west broke out in rebellion in 1869-70, but it collapsed as soon as the forces led by Colonel Wolseley reached Fort Garry on Winnipeg. Riel, the leader, escaped, to return later and foment another outbreak in 1885. This proved more dangerous but was eventually suppressed and Riel executed. The chief events since have been the Halifax award (1888), which justified the Canadian contention against the United States interference with fisheries. The Behring Sea award (1897) settled the sealing difficulty; and a joint commission met at Quebec in 1898 to determine all outstanding questions between Canada and the United States. In 1903 these reached a final solution in the Alaskan Boundary Commission's settlement of the frontier line between British Columbia and Alaska. CHAPTER I.--_Its Postal History._ The _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for August, 1868, contained an interesting article on the history of the Canadian Post-office, largely compiled from information given in the "Canadian Postal Guide," which we cannot do better than quote in full. The earliest records of the administration of the post-office in Canada, are dated 1750, at which period the celebrated Benjamin Franklin was Deputy Postmaster-General of North America. At the time of his appointment, the revenue of the department was insufficient to defray his salary of $1500 per annum, but under his judicious management, not only was the postal accommodation in the provinces considerably extended, but the revenue so greatly increased, that ere long the profit for one year, which he remitted to the British Treasury, amounted to $15,000. 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. In 1774, Franklin was recalled, and the following year the War of Independence broke out, and the office was filled by Mr. Hugh Finlay, who had, under his predecessor, been postmaster at Quebec. Canada is divided into Upper and Lower. From a Quebec almanack of 1796, we glean that there were seven offices in the former and five in the latter. Mr. Finlay is designated as "Deputy Postmaster-General of His Majesty's Province of Canada." At that time mails were dispatched monthly to England, and semi-weekly between Quebec and Montreal, or Halifax. At Baie des Chaleurs the visits of the postman must, we conclude, 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 Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, were all under the authority of the Canadian administration. The following is taken from the advertising column of the _Upper Quebec Gazette_, printed in 1807:-- The mail for Upper Canada will be dispatched from the post-office at Montreal, on the following days, to wit: Monday, 14th January. Monday, 12th February. Monday, 12th 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 (co. 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. D. Sutherland, who, on his accession to office, found Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island wholly withdrawn from the Canada charge. New Brunswick, however, continued to be included in it. This appears also to have been withdrawn in 1824, so that from that date until just lately, we have to do with Canada proper. In 1827 there were 101 post-offices, and 2,368 miles of established post-route. The number of miles of mail-travel was 455,000. The letters that year were estimated at 340,000, and newspapers, 400,000. From the Canadian Postmaster-General's report for 1865, now lying before us, we find the number of letters had increased to 12,000,000; the miles of annual mail-travel was 6,350,000, the mails being carried regularly over 1,931 miles of railway route. 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 steamboats 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 _Queenston_ (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. Thomas A. Stayner was postmaster in 1841, and through his recommendation a uniform rate of 1s 2d sterling, per half ounce, was adopted between any place in Canada and the mother country. About this time regular steam communication across the Atlantic was established. The transfer of the Canadian post-office from the control of the imperial authorities to the Colonial government, was effected April 6th, 1851. Mr. Stayner then resigned, and the office was filled by the Hon. James Morris, who was the first Postmaster-General. This may be termed the red-letter year of the Canadian post-office. In the first place, the postage, which had hitherto been according to distance and had averaged 15 cents on each letter, was reduced to a uniform rate of 5 cents per half ounce. The newspaper charge was also considerably reduced. Within a year after, the number of letters transmitted through the post had increased 75 per cent. The operation of the department was greatly extended, and last, but most decidedly not least, was the introduction of postage stamps. In February, 1855, the money-order system was first begun, and has within the last few years been greatly extended. Letters seem to have been first registered in 1856. In October of that year the Grand Trunk Railway was completed as far as Toronto so that, in connection with the Great Western, an unbroken line of postal communication was established between Quebec in the east and Windsor in the west. The decimal system of coinage was introduced in 1859; this, of course, as is well known, necessitated a new issue of postal labels. We now arrive at the issue of labels for the new Dominion. The post-office act was passed on the 21st of December, 1867, and came into operation the 1st of April last. The internal rate is reduced from 5 cents to 3 cents the half ounce; but the postage to this country remains unchanged. The following is the order for the issue of the new labels:-- POSTAGE STAMPS. To enable the public to prepay conveniently by postage stamp the foregoing rates, the following denominations of postage stamps for use throughout the Dominion, have been prepared, and will be supplied to postmasters for sale:-- Half-cent stamps, one-cent ditto, two-cent ditto, three-cent ditto, six-cent ditto, twelve-and-a-half-cent ditto, fifteen-cent ditto, all bearing as a device the effigy of Her Majesty. The postage stamps now in use in the several provinces may be accepted, as at present, in prepayment of letters, etc., for a reasonable time after the 1st of April; but from and after that date all issues and sales to the public will be of the new denomination. Continuing the postal history from where the article in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ concludes we find that in 1869 the color of the 1c value was changed to yellow as it was found that the brown-red color was too easily confused with the red of the 3c. Early in the following year the 3c denomination appeared in a reduced size to be followed about April by the 1c and it was, naturally, presumed that the whole set would appear in this form. Two years elapsed, however, before further additions were made for it was not until 1872 that the 2c and 6c values appeared. In 1874, an entirely new value--10 cents--was issued and in 1875 a 5c stamp made its appearance in the large size of the 1868 series. Mr. C. A. Howes, in his admirable monograph on the stamps of Canada, explains the belated appearance of this label as follows:--"The die of this large 5 cent stamp had been engraved in 1867 with the other values of the first Dominion series, but as there were no rates requiring such a denomination in the set, it was not issued. When in 1875 the need for a 5 cent value arose, the unused die was employed to make a plate for temporary use, until a new die conforming in size and design with the small stamps could be prepared." This large 5 cent stamp had a short life of about four months when it was superseded by the 5c value in the same size as the other denominations of 1869-73. In 1882, the 1/2c value was reduced in size so that this stamp, as in the case of its predecessor of 1868, was smaller than the other denominations. From that date until 1892 no further changes were made so far as new designs or values were concerned though some striking alterations in shade took place, notably in the case of the 6c and 10c values. In 1892, 20c and 50c stamps were issued for use on heavy packages. These not only differed in design from the other stamps of the series then current but were also very much larger. In 1893 an 8c stamp was issued which was used for prepayment of postage and the registration fee and upon its advent the special registration stamps ceased to be printed though existing stocks were, presumably, used up. In 1897, the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was celebrated by the issue of a special series of stamps comprising no less than sixteen values ranging all the way from 1/2c to $5. As to the utility, to say nothing of the necessity, of some of the higher denominations perhaps the less said the better for before and since Canada has managed to get along very well with a highest regular denomination of 50c. In the latter months of the same year, and early in 1898 a new set was issued in a uniform design showing the jubilee portrait of the Queen. This is known as the maple leaf issue from the fact that the lower angles are ornamented with maple leaves and in contradistinction to a modified design which almost immediately replaced it which had numerals in the lower corners. The Christmas of 1898 was marked by the issuance of the celebrated 2c map stamp with its proud motto "We hold a vaster Empire than has been". This stamp was issued to mark the introduction of Imperial Penny Postage, and one consequence of the reduction in the postal rate was so to reduce the demand for the 3c value that in order to use up existing supplies more quickly they were overprinted "2 cents". In 1899, the color of the 2c stamp was changed from purple to carmine, thus conforming to Postal Union regulations, in December, 1900, a 20c stamp of the type of 1898 was issued on the final exhaustion of the stock of the 1893 type; and in 1902 a 7c value was issued in place of the 8c for combined use in payment of registration and postage. In 1903, 1c, 2c, 5c, 7c, and 10c values were issued bearing King Edward's portrait, a year later the 20c value in the same type was placed on sale, and in 1908, the stock of the old 50c stamps of 1893 having at last been used up, a King Edward stamp of that value was issued. In the same year the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of Quebec by Champlain was celebrated by the issue of a special set of stamps these being of the same large size as the Jubilee series of 1897, but with a different design for each denomination, while in 1912 a new series bearing the portrait of King George V made its bow and this completes Canada's postal history to date. CHAPTER II.--_A Postmaster's Provisional._ Postage stamps were first placed on sale to the public in Canada on April 23rd, 1851, as we shall show later, but, according to an interesting article which appeared in the _London Philatelist_ for June, 1904, it seems possible that at least one postmaster anticipated events slightly by issuing a stamped envelope of his own shortly before the regular governmental stamps were ready. It will perhaps simplify matters to reproduce the article in its original form, viz.:-- CANADA: HAND-STAMPED 3D ENVELOPE OF 1851. We are indebted to Mr. E. B. Greenshields, of Montreal, for the following very interesting information:-- The following facts may be of interest to collectors of the stamps of British North America. Some time ago a cover was offered to me, which seemed to me to be absolutely genuine, yet I had never, up to that time, heard of such envelopes being in existence. This letter was posted in New Carlisle, Gaspé, Lower Canada, on April 7th, 1851, and was stamped "Three Pence" in two lines, inside a square, with a black border of neat design around the sides. Across this was written, "Letter R. W. Kelly Apl. 1851". The letter was addressed to Toronto, C. W., and on the other side was stamped the date the letter was received, "Apl. 16 1851". I sent the envelope to Mr. Donald A. King, of Halifax, and received the following reply from him:-- HALIFAX, N. S., February 22nd, 1904. "Dear Sir,--I have yours of 19th inst. with cover, and am much obliged for your kindness in permitting me to have a look at it. It is new to me. I have no doubt it is absolutely genuine, and probably was made by the Postmaster at New Carlisle to save trouble in stamping the letter '3d' as was then the custom. It is just possible that the writer (whose name appears to be endorsed on the envelope) was the Postmaster there. A reference to the Postmaster-General's report for that year would give his name. As far as my memory serves me, the Canadian stamps were not then in issue, though an advance circular may have been sent out. I have shown the cover to a friend of mine who is an expert in typography, and he assures me that the printing is as old as dated, and that such type and border could not be procured now at any cost. The only thing that I have seen that resembles it in any way was a cover from Prince Edward Island, prepaid with a square of white paper stamped 3d and cancelled. This was an adhesive, and used some years after stamps were in use. As in your case, it had been recognised as paying postage. As to the value of your cover, it is impossible for me to say, but very considerable to any collector of British North America. "Yours faithfully, "DONALD A. KING." Following up the clue given to me by Mr. King, I wrote to the Post Office Department at Ottawa, and received the following courteous answer:-- OTTAWA, 2nd March, 1904. "Sir,--I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the 26th ultimo, inquiring whether R. W. Kelly was Postmaster of New Carlisle, Co. Gaspé, Quebec, in 1851, and in reply am directed to inform you that R. W. Kelly, doubtless the same man, was Postmaster of New Carlisle in 1851. Owing to the incompleteness of the early records of the department, which was then under the direction of the British Office, the date of Mr. Kelly's appointment cannot be ascertained. He appears to have been Postmaster from 1851, however, until his resignation on the 9th April, 1855. "As regards your inquiry as to whether postage stamps were used on the 7th April, 1851, and your statement that you have an envelope sent on that date from New Carlisle to Toronto with 'Three Pence' printed on it, inside a fancy border, I have to say that postage stamps were issued to the public for the first time on the 23rd April, 1851, and that stamped envelopes were not issued until some years later. The stamped envelope to which you refer may have been an envelope so stamped on the prepayment in the New Carlisle Post Office, of three pence, the required charge for postage. "I am, sir, your obedient servant, "WILLIAM SMITH, Secretary." It will be noted from the conclusion of this letter that, according to the department at Ottawa, one might infer that the use of such a stamp would not be irregular. This is confirmed by the following extract from a reply to a letter a friend of mine wrote to Ottawa at my request:-- OTTAWA, March 2nd, 1904. "I took those questions of Mr. Greenshields over to Mr. ---- of the Post Office Department. He tells me that before the first issue of stamps, which took place on the 23rd of April, 1851, each Postmaster had a steel stamp which he used to mark the amount prepaid on the letter. These stamps were of different patterns, and it is probably the impression of one of them that appears on Mr. Greenshield's envelope. In some of the smaller post-offices they continued to use these stamps as late as 1875. "It is rather a singular coincidence that if the inquiry had been, regarding the position of Postmaster, more than one day earlier, the Canadian records would not have shown whether the man named had held office or not, the reason being that it was on the 6th of April, 1851, that the Post Office Department was transferred from the Imperial Government, and all records prior to that date are in the possession of the Imperial authorities." It seems strange that more of these covers have not been found. Such well-known authorities on the stamps of British North America as Mr. Lachlan Gibb and Mr. William Patterson, of Montreal, and Mr. Donald A. King, of Halifax, had not seen any until I consulted them about this one. I think it is very interesting to hear of a stamped envelope like this being used by the Post Office just before the issue of postage stamps. So far as we have been able to find out the above constitutes all that has been published regarding this envelope. We can find no further mention of it in the columns of the _London Philatelist_ or of any other journal published since 1904 nor does Mr. Howes so much as refer to it in his recently published monograph on Canada's postal issues. Yet, on the face of it, the matter seems one worthy of extended investigation by some Canada specialist or other. Its history, as given above, is similar in many respects to the history of many of the much sought after Postmaster's provisional stamps of the United States and there is a possibility that this envelope may represent a legitimate postmaster's provisional. CHAPTER III.--_The First Issue._ In common with the other Colonies of British North America Canada was granted the privilege of administrating its own postal service in 1850, and in the same year an Act was passed providing for the change. It is hardly necessary to quote this Act in full though the following extracts are of interest:-- CAP. VII. 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. II.--And be it enacted, that the Inland Posts and Post Communications in this 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 revenues arising from the duties and postage dues receivable by the officers employed in managing such Posts and Post Communications shall form part of the Provincial Revenue, unless such monies 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, and that the Act passed in the Eighth year of Her Majesty's Reign, and entitled An Act to provide for the management of the Customs, and of matter relative to the collection of the Provincial Revenue, shall apply to the said Posts and Post Communications, and to the officers and persons employed in managing the same, or in collecting or accounting for the duties and dues aforesaid, except in so far as any provision of the said Act may be insusceptible of such application, or may be inconsistent with any provision of this Act. 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 newspapers, printed pamphlets, magazines or books, entitled to pass at a lower rate, shall not exceed Threepence 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 prepay it; nor on any letter or packet from any such Colony, if prepaid there; that Twopence sterling the half-ounce shall remain as the rate in operation as regards letter 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 Threepence currency; that the prepayment 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 Colony of the British North American Colonies may be retained, as belonging to such Colony. That no privilege of franking shall be allowed as regards the Provincial Postage. That Provincial Stamps for the prepayment of postage may be prepared under the orders of the Governor in Council, which stamps shall be evidence of the prepayment of Provincial Postage to the amount mentioned on such stamps; 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 prepayment of Provincial Postage in such other Colonies respectively, on the letters or packets to which they are affixed and which have been mailed there. The passage of the above Act and its approval by the Imperial government was followed by a notice to postmasters which gave the date at which the transfer of the postal system from Imperial to Provincial authority was to take effect, gave more explicit instructions with regard to rates of postage, and stated that postage stamps were being prepared. Mr. Howes gives the chief provisions of this Notice as follows:-- 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: prepayment 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 6d Postage. A Letter, weighing more than 1 ounce, and not exceeding 1-1/2 ounces will be liable to 9d 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 _unpaid_, and 1s 4d currency, if _prepaid_, as also the rate on Letters, by those mails, via Halifax, of 1s sterling, if _unpaid_, and 1s 1-1/2d currency, if _prepaid_, 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 prepayment of a penny only, 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 prepaid at the time of Posting. 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 residence 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 prepayment of Postage are being prepared and will be distributed for the use of the public at an early date. T. A. STAYNER. _Deputy Post Master General._ Shortly afterwards a Notice, or Department Order, dated April 2nd, 1851, was issued to postmasters regarding the rates of postage between Canada and the United States, California and Oregon. It is hardly necessary to reproduce this in its entirety and it will suffice to state that the rate on single letters to the United States was sixpence currency, equivalent to ten cents in United States money, while to California and Oregon the rate was nine pence currency per half-ounce. On newspapers, pamphlets, etc., the rates were the same as those for Canada itself with the stipulation that all such mail must be prepaid. Certain offices were named for handling the mail between Canada and the United States, viz: Post Sarnia, Windsor, Fort Erie, Queenston (the channel of communication with the United States for the country west of Toronto), Niagara, Toronto, Cobourg (a communication during summer only, by steamer to Rochester), Kingston, Brockville, Prescott, Montreal, St. John's, Dundee, and Stanstead. On the 21st of April, 1851, an Order was issued from the Post Office Department referring to the issue of stamps. The most interesting paragraphs from this order are:-- 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 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 prepaid 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. It is rather interesting to note that the series comprised only three values, though the postal rates, as shown in the Notice quoted above, and further amplified in a lengthy set of "Regulations and Instructions" called for numerous rates of 1/2d and 1d as well as 7-1/2d so that it certainly seems strange that no provision was made for stamps by means of which such rates could be prepaid. The beaver is typical of Canada, for the prosperity of the Colony is largely founded on this animal, whose skin has been a valuable article of commerce since the days of the early trappers in the land of the maple tree. The choice of a beaver as the central theme of the design of Canada's first stamp--the 3d value--is, therefore, particularly appropriate. The stamp is rectangular in shape and the centrepiece is enclosed within a transverse oval band inscribed "CANADA POSTAGE" at the top, and "THREE PENCE" below. Above the beaver is an Imperial crown which breaks into the oval band and divides the words "CANADA" and "POSTAGE." This crown rests on a rose, shamrock, and thistle (emblematic of the United Kingdom) and on either side are the letters "V R" (_Victoria Regina_, i.e. Queen Victoria). In each of the angles is a large uncolored numeral "3". Mr. Howes tells us that this stamp was designed by Sir Stanford Fleming, a civil engineer and draughtsman. [Illustration] The beaver, depicted on this stamp, rejoices in the scientific name of _Castor fiber_. It is a rodent of social habits and was at one time widely distributed over Europe and North America. It is now practically extinct except in Canada and even there it is said to be in great danger of extermination. Full-grown animals vary in length from thirty to thirty-six inches. They are covered with short, thick fur, which is of considerable value and their structural peculiarities are well worth noting. The beaver is furnished with powerful incisor teeth, with which it is able to bite through fairly large trees, and its fore paws are very strong. Its hind feet are webbed, so that it is a powerful swimmer, and its tail is flattened, and serves as an excellent rudder. Its ears are small and when laid back prevent any water entering them. Beavers generally live in colonies, and show remarkable intelligence and ingenuity in the construction of their homes or "lodges" and in the building of dams, where water in the vicinity of their dwellings has become too shallow to suit their tastes. These dwellings are often constructed on the banks of rivers, but the Canadian beaver is particularly fond of building lodges in the centre of large expanses of fairly shallow water. These are made of turf, tree-trunks, and other materials, and are often used as store houses for food reserves, as well as for living in. The 6d stamp follows the usual upright rectangular form and its central design consists of the portrait of Prince Albert, the Royal Consort. The portrait is enclosed within an upright oval inscribed in a similar manner to the 3d but with, of course, "SIXPENCE" on its lower portion. The numeral "6" is shown in each of the four angles. Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emanuel the younger of the two sons of Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, was born in 1819. He was carefully educated at Brussels and Bonn (1836-8), where he showed himself an ardent student, acquired many accomplishments, and developed a taste for music and the fine arts. King Leopold and Baron Stockmar had long contemplated an alliance between Prince Albert and Princess Victoria, and the pair were brought together in 1836. When the succession of Victoria was assured the betrothal took place, and on February 19th, 1840, the marriage, which was one of real affection on both sides, was solemnized in the Chapel Royal, St. James Palace. The Prince Consort's position as the husband of a constitutional sovereign was difficult, and in the early years of his married life his interference in matters of state was resented. Ultimately he became "a sort of minister, without portfolio, of art and education", and in this capacity won much esteem and popularity. He also interested himself in agriculture and in social and industrial reform. To him was due the Great Exhibition of 1851, which resulted in a balance of a million dollars available for the encouragement of science and art. His personal character was very high, and he exercised great influence on his children. He was an ideal consort, and entirely worthy of the title "Albert, the Good". On December 14th, 1861, he succumbed to an attack of fever, and was buried in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. His remains were afterwards removed to the mausoleum at Frogmore. [Illustration] The 12d stamp is very similar in design to the 6d denomination but bears the portrait of Queen Victoria. The life and reign of Queen Victoria are matters of such general knowledge that biographical details are hardly necessary. A few words, however, regarding the source of this handsome portrait, which was used to adorn so many of the earlier British Colonial stamps, will not be amiss. Mr. Howes tells us that this portrait "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 17th, 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." The 12d requires a few words in explanation of the manner in which the value was expressed for "One Shilling" would appear to be a more natural form for this amount rather than "Twelve Pence". Mr. Donald A. King says:--"This was undoubtedly done intentionally, as though it was intended for a one shilling stamp, yet it could not be called that, as there were a number of _shillings_ of different values in circulation in the Colony. If the stamp had been lettered 'One Shilling', the Post Office was liable to have tendered for it 6-1/2d, 7-1/2d, 10d or 12d, according to locality". Mr. Howes gives a fuller explanation which we cannot do better than quote in his own words:-- "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 brought out on the two stamps issued subsequently for the British Packet rates. Add to this 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. 'Twelve Pence' was without doubt wholly intentional, therefore, as the designation of the stamp, and was happy solution of any ambiguity in its use, even if it has proved a stumbling block to the understanding of latter day collectors." The three values forming this first issue were manufactured by Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson, of New York, who are, perhaps, better known to fame as the engravers of the 1847, 5c and 10c stamps for the United States government. All three stamps were printed from plates engraved in _taille douce_ the plates consisting of one hundred impressions arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten each. The manufacturer's imprint--"Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York"--was engraved twice on each of the four sides quite close to the stamps. The imprints were so placed that the bottoms of the letters are always next to the stamps with the consequence that on the printed sheets of stamps the imprints read upwards at the left, downwards at the right, and upside down on the bottom margins. A variety of the 3d denomination is catalogued with "double transfer". This is, of course, a plate variety caused like all similar ones by a faulty or incorrect rocking of the roller impression on the plate and a correction on top of this impression which did not always entirely obliterate the first impression. Mr. Howes says this variety "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." There are at least two other similar varieties of "double transfers" known on this value for in the _Philatelic World_ for December, 1908, Mr. A. J. Sefi described and illustrated three different ones. One of these is a variety mentioned by Mr. Howes, another shows a distinct doubling of parts of the details of the two left-hand corners, while the third variety shows a doubling of the upper right hand corner. It is quite possible a close study of these stamps would reveal others and also similar varieties in the 6d and 12d. "Double strikes" are not uncommon on stamps produced by the line-engraved process though they are not often so striking as the first of these Canadian varieties and those found on the United States 10c stamp of 1847. According to a valuable summary from official records published in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ we learn that the first delivery of stamps from the manufacturers took place on April 5th, 1851, when 100,000 of the 3d denomination were delivered to the Canadian Government. On April 20th, a second supply of the same value comprising 150,200 stamps arrived in Canada. On May 2nd 100,400 of the 6d were received followed two days later by 51,400 of the 12d this latter being the only consignment of the highest value ever received from the printers. We have already pointed out that the 3d was placed on sale on April 23rd, 1851. The date of issue of the 6d is not known for certain as there are no official records relating to this though, as a supply was received on May 2nd, they were doubtless issued some time during the same month. The 12d was issued on June 14th as we shall show later. The three values of this series, as well as other denominations in pence issued later, were withdrawn from use on July 1st, 1859, when decimal currency was introduced. By means of much diligent search through Post Office Reports and other records Mr. Howes has determined that a total of 3,528,700 3d stamps were issued and a total of 402,900 of the 6d value. Some of both these values were issued with perforation late in 1857 or early in 1858. Unfortunately there is no means of separating these from the imperforate ones as shown by the official figures but if we use the somewhat rough-and-ready means of reckoning afforded by catalogue quotations it would seem that of the above totals about three million of the 3d and 325,000 of the 6d were imperforate. The 12d value, as every collector knows, is a very rare stamp. Even had the full supply of 51,000 stamps, received in the first and only consignment from the manufacturers on May 4th, 1851, been issued, it would have been a rare variety, but as a matter of fact, the greater portion of the consignment was destroyed and only 1510 were actually issued. An interesting article published in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ in 1902 shows that this denomination was first issued on June 14th, 1851, and supplies were made to various post offices as follows:-- No. Stamps June 14th, 1851, Hamilton, 300 Oct. 17th, 1851, Chippewa, 100 Nov. 13th, 1851, Thorold, 20 Nov. 25th, 1851, Toronto, 200 Mar. 8th, 1852, Montreal, 200 Sept. 14th, 1852, Ingersoll, 100 Apr. 5th, 1853, Ottawa (then known as Bytown), 100 Oct. 20th, 1853, Sherbrooke, 15 Jan. 13th, 1854, Smith's Falls, 50 Jan. 20th, 1854, Ottawa, 100 Feb. 8th, 1854, L'Islet, 15 Feb. 27th, 1854, Ingersoll, 20 Mar. 22nd, 1854, Sault S. Marie, 25 May 15th, 1854, Port. du Fort, 15 Oct. 21st, 1854, Rowan Mills, 50 Oct. 26th, 1854, Melbourne, 50 Oct. 27th, 1854, Montreal, 100 Dec. 4th, 1854, Smith's Falls, 50 Total stamps, 1,510 The consignment sent to Smith's Falls on December 4th, 1854, was the last distributed. While we can trace no official notice referring to the discontinuance of this denomination, or the actual date at which it ceased to be used, the writer of the article referred to above says that the balance of 49,490 stamps were destroyed on May 1st, 1857, "in accordance with the practice of the Department in cases of the discontinuance of stamps" though as this was the first Canadian stamp to be discontinued, a precedent could hardly have been established. The following interesting excerpt from the _Stamp Collectors' Magazine_ for April, 1870, states that the 12d value was discontinued in 1855 and it also lays considerable stress on the scarcity of used specimens of this stamp, viz:-- One of our readers observing from a reply we made to a correspondent in the last October number, that we were in doubt as to whether the 12d was ever actually used, has been good enough to write the Deputy Postmaster-General on the subject and has obtained from him the following reply:-- "OTTAWA, 28th October, 1869. "DEAR SIR:--In reply to your note of the 26th inst., let me say that the twelve penny postage stamps were issued to the public in 1851, but did not find favor, and so few were sold--only a few hundred altogether in three or four years--that they ceased to be issued in 1855. "I am, dear Sir, yours very faithfully, "W. A. SMYTH." This is satisfactorily conclusive as to the emission of the stamp in question; but if even only a few hundreds were used, we are surprised that no used copies turn up. Were they used otherwise than for postage? Mr. Philbrick informs us that no unused copy of the stamp was ever seen by him, nor does he know of its existence. Plenty of proofs on India paper, etc., exist, but the paper of the stamp was laid and thin, of a hard texture. An extract from the _Stamp Collectors' Monthly Gazette_, published at St. John, New Brunswick, in September, 1869, shows that the rarity of the 12d was already recognised as witnessed by the fact that "even $5" could be obtained for a specimen. We give the paragraph in full:-- This stamp, as some of our readers are aware, was in use but a short time, so short, that many persons even those residing in Canada, knew nothing about it. One gentleman living in Quebec, to whom we had written on the subject some time ago, informed us that we must have been laboring under some mistake, when we asked him for some particulars about it. He told us that no such stamp was ever issued; but a subsequent letter from him told a totally different tale (as was expected)--he gave us a few facts, and that was all we wanted. It was first intended for postage to England, and was actually used for a time. The postage was afterwards reduced and the 10d stamp took the place of the 12d. The latter is now (the genuine) one of the rarest in existence, and very readily obtains such prices as $4.00 and even $5.00 for one specimen. Proofs are often offered for sale on India paper, with the word 'specimen' written on one side. Amateur collections must content themselves with this last, for it is utterly impossible to obtain the real Simon Pure article for less than the sums we name, and even then, it is doubtful whether it can be had at the price or not. The color of the genuine stamp is black, it is an adhesive, and contains a portrait of Queen Victoria in an inscribed oval, with figures 12 at corners. All three values of this first set were issued imperforate and while the 3d, of which at least three millions were issued, varies but little in shade, the 6d, printed in comparatively small quantities, provides a number of striking tints. In his check-list, Mr. Howes gives "black-violet, deep-violet, slate-violet, brown-violet, dull purple, slate, black brown, brownish black, and greenish black", and we have no doubt the list could be considerably amplified, though the above should be sufficient for the most exacting of specialists. The catalogue gives two distinct sorts of paper--laid and wove--for all three values, with a sub-variety of the latter, designated "thin", for the 3d and 6d denominations. But specialists are not satisfied with this meagre classification and recognise numerous other varieties such as thick white laid, soft white wove, thin and thick grayish, thick hard, thick soft, ribbed, etc. Mr. D. A. King, in his article in the _Monthly Journal_, says, "There are fourteen varieties that we are able to distinguish", and he gives a general classification of their characteristics as follows:-- Series I, II, IV and V.--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. Series III.--This is an entirely different paper to those mentioned above. The _laid_ lines are most distinct, while the paper is of a different texture and color from the regular gray shade. Series VI.--The paper of this series is almost as thick as that employed for series XII. There is a vast difference, however, in its appearance, as the paper of series VI. is much harder than that of series XII. It feels greasy when rubbed between the thumb and finger, and the color of the paper is distinctly different from that shown by series XII. Series VII, VIII and IX.--We are able to divide the thin-ribbed papers into three varieties, which the description plainly indicates. They are very distinct, and can be distinguished by a moment's inspection without hesitation. Series X.--This is a very peculiar sort of paper, which is quite fragile, and will not bear much handling. It is quite as soft as that of series VII. Series XI.--This paper is also of a peculiar texture; the surface presents a sort of hairy appearance, and the quality is better than Series X, although not as tough as series XII. Series XII and XIII.--This paper presents, even when looking at the face of the specimens, so entirely different an appearance to that employed in any of the other series, that a reference to the back is hardly necessary. It is found in two thicknesses, which have the same appearance, and seems to have been employed for all the values except the 12d. Series XIV.--We are surprised that this variety has hitherto escaped notice. It is so distinct, both in paper and color, from any of the other 6d stamps. It has only been found in shades of a peculiarly _brownish purple_ which is a color entirely different from that presented by specimens on any other of the papers employed. It is an exceedingly rare variety. It would indeed be a task for the most intrepid of specialists to try and complete his Canadian stamps on such ambitious lines, to say nothing of acquiring the ingenuity necessary to differentiate between them. Their philatelic importance is, in our humble opinion, not a matter of very great consequence. At that period, hand-made paper was still being used to a very large extent and even machine-made paper was not manufactured with the nicety of standardisation that is possible with the improved machinery of today. Consequently, the sheets of paper, even in such a small commercial quantity as a ream, would generally show considerable variation in texture. Thin and thick sheets were frequently mixed to obtain the necessary weight per ream specified in any particular grade of paper. No particular quality of paper was, apparently, specified for the manufacture of these stamps, and so long as it looked much about the same it is very obvious the printers made no particular effort to maintain an exact standard. It is even questionable that the wove and laid varieties mark distinct consignments or printings of the stamps. Indeed, so far as the 12d is concerned at any rate, both varieties must have been included in the same consignment. But, more serious still, from the point of view of those collectors who consider the wove and laid papers should be treated as major varieties, Mr. King admits that "the lines in the laid paper are of a most peculiar character" and that "it is often difficult to distinguish between the laid and the wove papers", while Mr. Howes states, "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." Writing in the _Canada Stamp Sheet_ (Vol. IV, page 142), concerning the 12d value, Mr. John N. Luff stated, "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 may 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." It is quite within the bounds of possibility that the paper generally used for these stamps was intended to be what is known as "wove" to the trade, and that the "laid lines" originated in a purely accidental manner and are rather on the order of the "laid paper" varieties found in connection with the first 8c and 12c stamps of Sarawak. In short, it is probable that in some sheets at any rate the laid lines showed only in part. At best, therefore, it would appear that the "wove" is but a minor variety of the "laid" or vice versa, and while both varieties, as well as other varieties easily distinguished, such as the very thin and very thick, are of interest to specialists, they throw no light whatsoever on the history of the stamps, and do not, from all the available facts, represent separate printings, so that their _philatelic_ importance (aside from comparative rarity as minor varieties, with its accompanying variation in monetary worth) is not of a particularly high order. One peculiarity resulting from the use of papers of such varying quality is an apparent difference in the size of stamps of the same denomination. For instance, the stamps on the thinner kinds of paper generally measure 22 x 18 mm., while those on thicker paper measure 22-3/4 x 17-1/2 mm. and papers of other thicknesses provide still other measurements. These differences in size (fairly considerable in relation to the comparatively small area of a postage stamp) proved very puzzling to collectors of twenty years or so ago for, though it was felt that the stamps came from the same plates, it was at the same time found impossible to account for such varieties, except on the hypothesis that all the impressions of the plate were not all applied alike or that the hardening of the plates before printing resulted in contraction in parts with a consequent variation in the size of different impressions. The same sorts of varieties have been noticed in many other stamps printed by the line engraved process, notably in such stamps as the "pence" Ceylons, and proper investigation finally proved beyond a shadow of doubt that these differences in size were due to nothing more than uneven contraction of the paper after printing. It must be understood that in printing stamps by the line-engraved method the paper usually has to be slightly wetted (this was an invariable rule at the time these early Canada stamps were printed) and it can be easily seen that the wetting would have quite different results on different qualities of paper. Some would be more absorbent than others and would stretch while damp and contract again when drying. The amount of wetting administered would, also, result in differences even in the same qualify of paper. These variations in the size of the design, therefore, while interesting in themselves as examples of paper vagaries, are of little, if any, philatelic importance. Bi-sected stamps were not used in Canada to anything like the same extent that similar varieties were used in the other British North American provinces. The 6d is catalogued as having been divided diagonally and the halves used as 3d stamps, though there can have been no real necessity for such bi-section. A bi-sected stamp of quite another character was mentioned in the _Monthly Journal_ for April, 1898, as follows:-- The _Post Office_ describes a so-called "split provisional" of the early 3d stamp, which is described as consisting of one and a half of the unperforated 3d on wove, upon an entire envelope postmarked "Port Hope, July 16th, 1855, Canada, Paid 10c." Our contemporary does not appear to perceive that the postmark plainly indicates that the supposed half stamp is really only a badly cut copy; the 3d of Canada passed for 5 cents, and as this letter is plainly marked "Paid 10c", the stamps upon it evidently passed as two 3d, not as one and a half, which would have corresponded to no rate of postage. The same journal, two months later, made more extended reference to this variety and while its bona-fides as a "split" is established its use as a half stamp is as much a mystery as ever. We cannot do better than give the paragraph in full:-- In the New Issues column of our number for April, we called in question the character of a supposed "split" _three pence_ stamp of Canada, which had been chronicled in the _Post Office_, New York. In reply to our criticism, Messrs. Morgenthau & Co., the publishers of that magazine, have most kindly forwarded to us the letter bearing the divided stamp, and have requested our opinion upon it. The specimen is such a curious one and presents, we think, such a puzzle for philatelists, that we have taken the liberty--which we hope its owner will pardon--of having a photographic block made from it, and we give a full size illustration, showing both the stamps and the postmarks, herewith. As our readers may perceive, we were quite wrong in suggesting that the "split" stamp was merely a badly cut copy, as it appears to have been carefully bi-sected diagonally and to have been intended to pass as a half stamp, making up, with the entire stamp to which it is attached, a rate of 4-1/2d. If this were all, though the specimen would be a great rarity--indeed, we believe it to be unique--it would not be necessarily a great puzzle to us. It is true that we do not know of any 4-1/2d rate in Canada, and there never was a 4-1/2d stamp in use there; but still, such a rate might have existed, although there was no possible means of making it up except by the use of at least three 1/2d stamps; but the puzzling part about this letter is that it is addressed from Port Hope in Canada to New York, the single rate from Canada to the United States was 10 cents; the letter is marked "CANADA--_PAID 10 Cts_." by the side of the stamps, and that rate was sixpence in Canadian currency. The whole document appears to us to be perfectly genuine and _bona-fide_; we have examined it with a skeptical mind and a powerful magnifying glass, and we can only say that if it is a "fake" it is wonderfully well done. On the other hand, if it is genuine, the half stamp must have done duty as a whole one, because it certainly took two 3d stamps to make up the 10 cents rate. The puzzle remains a puzzle to us, but we are grateful to Messrs. Morgenthau for their courteous reply to what may have appeared a captious criticism. _Reference List._ 1851. Engraved and printed by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York, on laid or wove paper. Imperforate. 1. 3d vermilion, Scott's No. 1 or No. 4. 2. 6d violet, Scott's No. 2 or No. 5. 3. 12d black, Scott's No. 3 or No. 6. The third report of the Postmaster-General for Canada, dated March 31st, 1854, refers to a change in the rates of postage on single letters sent abroad and also mentions the possibility of additions to the meagre set of three values then current, viz.:-- In March, 1854, the charge on packet letters between Canada and the United Kingdom and most foreign countries was reduced by the Imperial Government from 1s 2d sterling to 8d sterling the 1/2 oz., when sent in the closed mails through the United States, and from 1s sterling to 6d when sent from a provincial port--Quebec and Halifax. Should no further changes be likely soon to take place in the charges on the correspondence with England, it would promote the public convenience to procure postage stamps of the value of 10d and 7-1/2d respectively, to correspond with the present packet charges. In the Postmaster-General's fourth annual report, issued in the following year, the above recommendation was adopted so far as the 10d value was concerned, for we read:-- To promote the general convenience of the public in prepaying letters to the United Kingdom at the new rate, postage stamps of the value of 10d currency, equal to 8d sterling, were procured, and issued to the public. [Illustration] According to documentary evidence unearthed by Messrs. King and Howes the plate for this value was made, and the first stamps were printed from it during the last quarter of 1854, for in the Post Office accounts for that period the item, "Rawdon, Wright & Co., Making Stamps, £42-18-6," appears. According to another list compiled from official sources the stamps did not reach Canada until January 2nd, 1855, and though we know of no official document bearing on the actual date of issue, or of any very early dated cover, in view of the fact that the stamps represented a denomination for which there was an urgent demand, it is only reasonable to suppose that this 10d value was placed on sale some time during the month of January, 1855. Mr. King states that this value was printed in sheets of 100 stamps, arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten, and with the manufacturers' imprint shown eight times on the margins, as in the case of the three stamps previously issued. Mr. Howes, however, is of the opinion that these 10d stamps were printed in sheets of 120, 10 rows of twelve each, like the 7-1/2d value issued later, and in support of his theory points out that the quantities delivered in the first supply (100,080) and second supply (72,120) are exactly divisible by 120 into 834 and 601 full sheets respectively, whereas neither of these numbers is divisible by 100 into an even number of complete sheets. In view of the absence of positive evidence in the shape of an entire sheet or full horizontal row of stamps, it must be admitted that there is much to be said in favor of Mr. Howes' theory. It will be noted the stamps have the values expressed in English currency, and the almost universal rule for stamps printed with values in shillings or pence, has been sheets of 60, 120, or 240 owing to the fact that with such an arrangement reckoning in this currency is greatly simplified. The design corresponds in its general appearance to the 6d and 12d of 1851 though the portrait in the central oval is of Jacques Cartier, the discoverer of Canada. In the 'eighties there was some little discussion regarding the portrait on this 10d stamp some claiming it was not intended to represent Cartier, but Sebastian Cabot. A writer on the _Halifax Philatelist_ for 1888 says: "It is identically the same as all the existing portraits of Jacques Cartier, and totally unlike those existing of Sebastian Cabot. The style of dress and the way the beard is worn is that of the sixteenth century, instead of the fifteenth. There is a very rare and old print of Sebastian Cabot, taken from the original painting in the possession of Charles Jost Harford, Esq., in the Legislative Library at Halifax, and anything more dissimilar to the face on the 10 pence stamp cannot be imagined." The official notice announcing the issue of the stamp, to which we have already referred, makes no mention of the design at all but the portrait is undoubtedly that of Cartier and Mr. Howes tells us that the original is a "three-quarter length portrait in the Hotel de Ville at St. Malo, France, the birthplace of Cartier." Jacques Cartier was born at St. Malo, as stated above, in 1491. In 1534 he sailed with two small vessels on a voyage of discovery, touching at Newfoundland, and discovering New Brunswick. In a second voyage (1535-6) he explored the St. Lawrence, and took possession of the land he discovered in the name of Francis I of France. He made a third voyage in 1541 and died in 1557. The words CANADA POSTAGE and TENPENCE on the inscribed oval frame are separated by a small beaver at the right and three maple leaves at the left. In the lower corners are the numerals "10" followed by "cy" for currency, while in each of the upper angles is "8d stg", representing the equivalent value in sterling. Only the two supplies of this value, mentioned previously, were printed making a total of 172,200 stamps. When the decimal currency was introduced there was a balance on hand of 31,200, which were afterwards destroyed so that the total quantity of 10d stamps issued was 141,000. A double-transfer variety of this denomination is described by Mr. Howes as follows:-- In this case we find the letters A D A and S of "Canada Postage", and P E N of "Pence"' showing a distinct doubling at the bottom, the transfer roller having been set a little too high at first and a very slight impression made on the plate. The stamp has not been seen in a pair to prove its character absolutely, but it bears all the ear-marks of being a proper plate variety and not due to a careless impression when printing. The Postmaster General's report dated Sept. 30th, 1857, refers to the many benefits accruing to both the Department and the public by the increased use of postage stamps in the prepayment of postal charges and also mentions the issue of two new denominations, viz:-- There is a very material economy of labor to the Department in dealing with letters prepaid by stamp as compared with letters on which the postage is collected in money, as well as a manifest gain to the public, in the increased facilities which prepayment by stamp enables the Post Office to afford for posting and delivering letters so prepaid. It is gratifying, therefore, to observe that the use of stamps is gradually gaining ground, encouraging as it does the hope that it may be found practicable and expedient ere long to make prepayment by stamp the prevailing rule in Canada, as it has for sometime been in, the United Kingdom, in France, and in the United States. A reduction in the charge of Book Post Packets when not exceeding 4 oz. in weight, between Canada and the United Kingdom of one-half the former rate has been made. To facilitate the prepayment of letters passing from Canada to England by the Canadian steamers, a new stamp bearing value of 6 pence sterling, or 7-1/2 pence currency, being the Canadian Packet rate, has been secured and put in circulation. A new stamp has also been introduced of the value of one halfpenny to serve as the medium for prepaying transient Newspapers. Moreover, the Department has been led, by the increasing use of Postage Stamps, to take measures for obtaining the Canadian Postage Stamps in sheets perforated in the dividing lines, in the manner adopted in England, to facilitate the separation of a single stamp from the others on a sheet when required for use. It will thus be seen that the 7-1/2d value, which was recommended three years earlier (at the time the 10d was issued), materialised at last, though there appears to be no official record bearing on the date the new value was placed on sale to the public. The volume dealing with the postage stamps of British North America, published by the Royal Philatelic Society some twenty years ago, gives the date of issue as June 2nd, 1857, though no authority for this statement is given. [Illustration] The design was adapted from that of the discarded 12d of 1851, the same portrait of Queen Victoria adorning the central oval. The inscribed band around this contains the words CANADA PACKET POSTAGE at the top, and SIX PENCE STERLING at the bottom, the two inscriptions occupying so much space that there was no room for dividing ornaments of any kind. In the upper and lower left hand corners is "6d stg." and in the right hand corners "7-1/2d cy." is shown. A word of explanation regarding the use of the word PACKET in the inscription is necessary. This does not refer to any parcel post (indeed, there was no parcel post at that period) as has sometimes been erroneously asserted, but refers to the fast mail steamers of the day which were then known as "packets". This denomination, as shown by the extract from the Postmaster-General's report printed above, was intended for use on single letters sent to England via the Canadian packets. This 7-1/2d stamp was, according to Mr. Howes, printed in sheets of 120 arranged in ten horizontal rows of twelve each, each sheet showing the imprint of the manufacturers eight times on the margins as in the case of the values issued previous to 1857. Only one consignment, consisting of 834 sheets (100,800 stamps) was received, and as 17,670 of these were still on hand when the decimal currency was introduced in 1859, a simple calculation will show that the total quantity issued was 82,410 stamps. Although there had been a real need for a halfpenny value since the first adhesives made their appearance in Canada--as shown by several rates it was impossible to prepay in stamps without them--it was not until 1857 that a stamp of this denomination was placed in use. The following circular announced their impending issue:-- POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. TORONTO. _18th July, 1857._ Under the Post Office Law of last Session taking effect from 1st August, 1857, Newspapers printed and published in Canada, and mailed direct from Office of Publication, will pass free of Canadian Postage. Periodicals so printed, published, and mailed when specially devoted to Religious and to General Education, to Agriculture, or Temperance, or to any branch of Science, will pass free from any one Post-Office to another within the Province. Transient and re-mailed Papers and Periodicals will pass by Post if prepaid by Postage stamp--one halfpenny if not exceeding 3 oz. in weight, and 2d if over 3 oz. Postage Stamps of the value of one halfpenny each will be sold to the public at all the principal Post Offices (including all Money Order Offices), with a discount of 5 per cent. upon purchases of not less than twenty stamps and will be available in prepayment of Newspapers and Periodicals, and of Drop and Town Letters. R. SPENCE, Postmaster-General. The Royal Philatelic Society's book gives the date of the above notice--July 18th, 1857--as the date of issue of the new stamp but, as Mr. Howes observes "it is more likely that the stamp was issued on 1st August, the day the new rates took effect." Although this stamp is generally conceded to be the last of the "pence" values to be issued, until more definite information regarding the date of issue of the 7-1/2d can be procured, this supposition can rest on no more substantial basis than that of mere conjecture. [Illustration] The design is quite unlike that of any of the other values expressed in pence and consists of the conventional profile portrait of the Queen shown on so many of the stamps of the British Empire, within an oval band inscribed CANADA POSTAGE, at the top, and ONE HALF PENNY, at the bottom. There are no numerals or inscriptions in the corners but merely a plain pattern of diagonally crossed lines. Mr. Howes states "the stamp was printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten, with the right marginal imprints as described for the series of 1851." From the Postmaster-General's report we gather that 1,341,600 halfpenny stamps were received prior to October 1st, 1857, though whether these were all in one consignment or not is not quite clear. At any rate judging from the statement in the same report that "the Department has been led to take measures for obtaining ... sheets perforated" it would appear that the above quantity comprised all the imperforate stamps of this denomination. On the other hand the total number of halfpenny stamps issued was 3,389,960 and catalogue quotations for the imperforate and the perforated varieties hardly bear out the supposition that only the first lot were issued without perforation. While the 10d value is found on several sorts of paper no such extreme variation is provided as in the case of the stamps of 1851. The 7-1/2d and 1/2d values, printed at a later date, provide still fewer varieties, which would seem to indicate that as time progressed the manufacturers exercised a nicer discrimination in their choice of paper. Most of the stamps seem to have been printed on a hard wove paper, varying a little in thickness; the 10d is found on a very thin paper; and the 1/2d is recorded on ribbed paper, though whether this is a true "ribbed" variety or merely the result of some peculiarity in printing is open to discussion. As the ribbed lines are anything but distinct, though the paper showing this peculiarity is a little softer than that generally used, it is more than likely that the ribbing was purely accidental. Owing to the differing qualities of paper used the same idiosyncrasies of measurement in the size of the designs may be noted, especially in the case of the 10d as was referred to in a previous chapter. But as all variations of this character in stamps printed from line-engraved plates were long ago conclusively proved to be due to nothing more exciting than paper shrinkage it is hardly worth while wearying our readers with a resurrection of all that has been written on the subject leading up to the proof. While examples showing the extremes of size are of interest in a specialised collection little can be said in favor of their philatelic value. _Reference List._ 1855-57. Engraved and printed by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York, on wove paper. Imperforate. 4. 1/2d pink, Scott's No. 8. 5. 7-1/2d green, Scott's No. 9. 6. 10d blue, Scott's No. 7. CHAPTER V.--_The Perforated Pence Stamps._ In the Report of the Postmaster-General for September 30th, 1857, to which we have already made reference, we read:-- Moreover, the Department has been led, by the increasing use of Postage Stamps, to take measures for obtaining the Canadian Postage Stamps in sheets perforated in the dividing lines, in the manner adopted in England, to facilitate the separation of a single stamp from the others on a sheet when required for use. From the above statement, one would naturally infer that such a useful innovation would be adopted at once, especially so when it is considered that the utility and convenience of perforation had already been amply tested and had proved eminently satisfactory in England. Unfortunately, no further mention of perforation is made in the Reports of succeeding years, and this absence of direct official evidence combined with the existence of certain facts has given rise to much theorising as to the actual date of issue of the perforated varieties, and as to whether the perforation was applied by the manufacturers of the stamps, by the Canadian Government, or by private parties in Canada. Mr. Donald A. King in his article in the _Monthly Journal_ says:-- It is an open question whether these stamps were delivered to the Canadian Post Office Department in a perforated condition or not. The manufacturers are wholly unable to throw any light on the subject; and while there is much to be said in favor of their having perforated the stamps, there are points against it almost as strong. In favor of it there is the fact that, at the date that these stamps were issued, it was more than probable that a firm like the manufacturers would have perforating machines. The normal gauge of the perforated set is 12, that being the only size ever used by the manufacturers, or their successors, the American Bank Note Company; indeed, they call 12 their standard and only gauge. On the other hand, we find that there are perforated stamps of the first series issued, viz., the 6d on _laid_ paper; also, that there exist two different varieties of perforation that were never used by the makers, viz., one gauging 14, and another that is described in the _American Journal of Philately_ for January, 1891, as follows:-- "CANADA.--In a large lot of pence issues, purchased by us lately, we have found two copies of the 3d. on greyish wove paper, perforated 13, with oblique parallel cuts. This seems to confirm the theory that the pence issues of Canada were not perforated by the manufacturers, but either by the Canadian Government, or by some persons authorized by them, who most likely experimented with different perforating machines, finally selecting the one perforating 12." Considering these facts, it may be that the stamps were sent to Canada in an imperforate condition, and that the Post Office Department had them perforated there, either buying a perforating machine, or entrusting them to some manufacturers of stationery. Perforations gauging 13 and 14 may have been experimental, as specimens of these varieties are rare; perforation 12 being adopted as giving the best results, the other sizes not being at all clearly cut, as the 12 generally is. All the stock of 1/2d, 3d and 6d on hand would, in this case, have been perforated, which might account for the copy of the 6d on laid paper that is known in this condition. There always remains the query why the 7-1/2d and 10d were not treated in the same manner, and to this no answer can be given. Probably the safest theory to advance, and the one that I think is correct, is that the 12 gauge was the official one used by the manufacturers, and that the 13 and 14 were the result of private enterprise by people using large quantities of stamps, and they may possibly antedate the regularly perforated issue. This point can only be settled by copies being found on the original covers. In commenting on the above it will save undue confusion if we state that the copy of the perforated 6d on laid paper to which Mr. King refers was proved to be a forgery as shown by the following extract from the _American Journal of Philately_ for 1891:-- There is no longer any mystery in regard to the origin of that _great rarity!_ the perforated 6 pence on laid paper, these stamps having been perforated for four or five years in the shop of Messrs. Benjamin, Sarpy & Co., Cullum street, London, who openly boast of having manufactured and sold those in the collection of the late Hon. T. K. Tapling and other prominent collectors. With regard to the varieties perforated 13 and 14--while these are undoubtedly rare, all the evidence strongly points to the fact that they are unofficial varieties, a statement, we believe, which has never been seriously combated by students of the early Canadian stamps. Thus, most of the "contrary" evidence adduced by Mr. King carries no weight with it at all. The most interesting point he raises is the fact that, though the 7-1/2d and 10d denominations were current at the same time as the 1/2d, 3d and 6d, these values were not perforated. So far as the 10d is concerned this seems all the more strange when it is considered that one supply of this value was certainly printed after September, 1857, the date of the Report mentioning the adoption of perforation. Mr. Howes has made diligent search through official records and carefully scanned itemised reports of more or less petty expenditures, and he was unable to find any reference whatsoever to a disbursement such as would have been necessary had the Government purchased a perforating machine or had the stamps perforated by some private concern. It is, therefore, unquestionable that the natural course--i. e., that the manufacturers should perforate the stamps--was the one followed. The real root cause of all the problems surrounding these perforated stamps seems to lie in the general acceptance of the assumption that they were issued in 1857 or early in 1858--an assumption that appears to be entirely devoid of the support of tangible facts when the matter is scrutinised thoroughly. Mr. Howes has delved into the subject with his usual thoroughness and his deductions are so well founded that we imagine no unbiased student will venture to do other than agree that his findings are fully borne out by the history of the stamps so far as we know it. We, therefore, make no apology for reproducing his arguments in full:-- The date usually assigned to the appearance of the perforated stamps is January, 1858. The London Society gave simply "1857," which is apparently set down merely because they have just quoted the announcement from the Postmaster General's Report for that year. Evans and Moens, in their catalogues, both name the date as November, 1858. Unfortunately, no more authoritative statement has been found, except that in Messrs. Corwin and King's article they say "Mr. Hooper positively states that it took place in January, 1858." Mr. John R. Hooper was at that time (1890) connected with the Canadian Post Office Department at Ottawa and took pains to look up much information for the above-mentioned gentlemen. His reasons for the "positive statement" are not given, and inasmuch as he is quoted elsewhere as saying that "the records of the Post Office Department are silent as to where this perforation was performed and by whom," and also seems a little uncertain in some other details, we feel that further confirmation is needed. In our table above we have given the supplies received after the 30th September, 1857, and deducted the remainders so as to have the actual number issued. The 10d has already proved a stumbling block, for it was not perforated at all! Next we find the 6d to the number of 150,000, when the total issue, including the laid paper, was but 400,000; yet the catalogue value of the imperforates is some $6 for each variety, and of the perforated stamp at least $30! Can anyone doubt that all these 150,000 6d stamps were _not_ perforated? In the case of the 3d we have one and a third millions to compare with a total issue of three and a half millions--about a third in the supposed perforated class. Yet the catalogue value of the latter is $2.50 against 36 cents for the wove paper imperforate alone. With the 1/2d stamp there are two millions against a total of three and a third millions, or about two to one in favor of the supposed perforated stamps, yet the latter are double the catalogue price of the former! The only conclusion to be drawn from these regularly appearing inconsistencies in each value is that all the supplies after 30th September, 1857, were _not_ perforated, as the 10d stamp very glaringly intimates! If this be so, is it not possible that the order to perforate the new supplies was given to the manufacturers much later than has hitherto been thought to be the case? It hardly seems likely that this improvement would be ordered for a few supplies and then dropped, only to re-appear a year and a half later as a permanent feature of the new set. Once adopted it was more than likely to be retained. Let us see, then, just for curiosity's sake, what the supplies of the last six months of issue yield us for data. For the 1/2d we find 850,000 roughly, with 60,000 remainders. Call it 800,000 issued which, if perforated, would be a quarter of the total issue of 1/2d stamps, or a ratio to the imperforates of one to three. This is not so far away from the catalogue ratio of two to one (inversely, of course,) in the value of the perforated stamps. With the 3d stamp we have 450,000 roughly, with 20,000 remainders, say 430,000 issued. Of a total issue of 3,500,000 this represents one-eighth, or a ratio of one to seven. The inverse ratio of seven to one for catalogue value comes pretty close when we compare $2.50 with 36 cents! In the case of the 6d there are 70,000, less 17,500 remainders, or 52,500. This is approximately one-eighth the total issue of 400,000, or again a ratio of one in seven. The inverse ratio of seven to one for a catalogue value would make the perforated stamp list $42 with the imperforate at $6. But both laid and wove paper 6d stamps list at approximately $6, whereas, if all had been issued on but one variety of paper, we might find, perhaps, a single list price of, say $4. With this as a basis, the catalogue value of $30 for the perforated 6d is in as close agreement with our supposition as are the others. And, best of all, the second supply of the 10d stamp is disposed of without any difficulty whatever under this hypothesis! It may be argued that reasoning thus from catalogue prices is too uncertain to prove of value. Granted in many cases. But here is an issue from fifty to sixty years old; the stamps were regularly used in increasing numbers during their years of issue; they have always been popular and eagerly collected, so that the stock in existence has been pretty well handled and pretty well distributed. Under these conditions the catalogue prices should by this time reflect fairly accurately the _relative_ rarity of the main varieties of each stamp at least; and it is this relative rarity that we are after in order to approximate the original supplies of the main varieties. The result is certainly of more than mere interest, the agreement being such that we are tempted to lay down the following propositions in regard to the perforated stamps for further proof or disproof:-- _First._ The regular perforation (gauge 12) was done by the manufacturers and applied to the last requisitions previous to the change to decimal stamps. _Second._ The date of the supposed issue of the perforated stamps should be changed from January, 1858, to November, 1858, or January, 1859. _Third._ The quantities of perforated stamps issued are placed approximately at:--1/2d, 789,440; 3d, 428,200; 6d. 52,422. In further support of the above postulates, we must say that every cover bearing any one of the three perforated stamps which we have been able to get a satisfactory date from has been postmarked in _1859!_ Not one has yet been seen which bore a date in 1858 even, and one 6d from the Seybold collection, which was dated at Brantford, December 29, 1857, turned out to be bad. Of course, perforated stamps are hard to find on original covers, but it is curious that so far not one has upset the theory we have laid down. These three perforated stamps do not provide much variation in the quality of the paper. Most of the stamps are found on a hard wove paper, varying slightly in thickness, and though the 1/2d and 3d are listed on ribbed paper, we venture to doubt that this is a true ribbed paper for the reasons set forth in our last chapter. Mr. King records the 6d bi-sected diagonally and the halves used as 3d stamps, but, as in the case of the similar variety in the imperforate issues, there could have been no real need for such bi-section. _Reference List._ 1858-9. Stamps of preceding issues perforated 12. 7. 1/2d pink, Scott's No. 11. 8. 3d red, Scott's No. 12. 9. 6d violet, Scott's No. 13. CHAPTER VI.--_The First "Cents" Issue._ While the somewhat cumbrous English currency of pounds, shillings and pence has presented little or no difficulty in those parts of the Empire where it has always been on the same basis as in the Mother country, the fact that in Canada it had two valuations--"currency" and "sterling"--made it an inevitable conclusion that a change would have to be made sooner or later. The close proximity of Canada to the United States gave it a very practical illustration of the advantages of a decimal system of money; the American currency of dollars and cents was legalised in the Province of Canada in 1853; and it is, therefore, small matter for wonder that ultimately a decimal system of currency similar to that in vogue in the United States was adopted. This change took place in 1859 and the Postmaster-General's Report for that year alluded to the necessary changes in the postage stamps as follows: The Law of last Session directing the conversion of all postage rates into decimals, and the collection of postage in the new decimal currency, was put in operation on the 1st July. Decimal stamps of the value of 1 cent, 5 cents, and 10 cents for ordinary correspondence, and of 12-1/2 cents for Canadian, and of 17 cents for British Packet Postage Rates were obtained in readiness for the commencement of the Decimal Postage Law in July, 1859, and have from that date been issued in lieu of the stamps previously in use. The Law referred to on the above mentioned Report was assented to on May 4th, 1859, and as some of the provisions are of philatelic interest we reproduce them as follows:-- 1.--There shall be payable on all Newspapers sent by Post in Canada, except "Exchange Papers" addressed to Editors and Publishers of Newspapers, such rate of Postage, not exceeding one cent on each such Newspaper, as the Governor in Council shall from time to time direct by regulation and such rate shall be payable on all such Newspapers, posted on or after the first day of July next. 2.--So much of any Act as provides that Newspapers posted within this Province shall pass free of postage, in cases other than those in which they will be free under this Act is hereby repealed. 3.--In order to adapt the operations of the Post Office to the Decimal Currency, the internal letter postage rate shall be changed from three pence to its equivalent of five cents, per half ounce--the charge for advertising a dead letter from three farthings to two cents--the charge for returning a dead letter to the writer, from one penny to three cents; and in all cases where a one halfpenny or penny rate of Postage is chargeable, these rates shall be changed to one cent and two cents respectively. 4.--To promote simplicity and economy in the business of the Post Office, all letters posted in Canada for any place within the Province, and not prepaid, shall be charged seven instead of five cents per half ounce on delivery; and on letters posted for the British Mails, for the other British North American Provinces, or for the United States, when not prepaid, there shall be charged such addition to the ordinary rate, not in any case exceeding a double rate, as the Post Master General may agree upon with the Post Office Authorities of those Countries, for the purpose of enforcing prepayment. 5.--The Post Master General may establish a Parcel Post and parcels other than letters and not containing letters, may be sent by such Parcel Post, and when so sent shall be liable to such charges for conveyance and to such regulations as the Governor in Council shall from time to time see fit to make. It will be noted that the above Act, aside from showing the rates in the new currency as compared with the old, provides for a greater limitation of the privilege of free transmission of newspapers, and also provides for the establishment of a Parcel Post. No further reference seems to have been made to the parcel post until the Postmaster-General's Report for June 30th, 1864, where it is stated:-- By means of the Parcel Post a parcel may be sent within the Province to or from any place, however remote from the ordinary lines of traffic conveyance, on prepayment of a postage rate of 25 cents per lb., provided that the weight or size of the parcel does not exceed the carrying capacity of an ordinary mail bag; and provided that the contents of the parcel are not of a character to injure the rest of the mail. Later the parcel post system was extended so that it embraced the sister Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the rate remaining at 25c per lb. Apparently the weight and size of a parcel acceptable by the postal authorities still remained delightfully vague and indefinite and was simply limited by "the carrying capacity of an ordinary mail bag." [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] As we have seen from the Postmaster-General's Report for 1859 the first "cents" stamps were placed in use on July 1st of that year. The series comprised the values 1c, 5c, 10c, 12-1/2c and 17c these corresponding to the 1/2d, 3d, 6d, 7-1/2d and 10d denominations previously in use. The designs of the new stamps were adapted from those of the corresponding values of the old issue as a comparison of the two series will amply demonstrate. The 1c differs from the 1/2d only in the words denoting the value below the portrait. The 5c differs from the 3d not only as regards the new inscription of value but has small ornaments on the oval band dividing CANADA POSTAGE from FIVE CENTS. In the corners the numerals "5," replacing "3," are placed in an oblique position on a ground of crossed lines. The 10c differs from the 6d in having the corner numerals (represented by the Roman "X") placed obliquely on a cross hatched ground instead of upright on a ground of foliate ornamentation, while TEN CENTS replaces SIX PENCE under the portrait. The 12-1/2c differs from the 7-1/2d only as regards the corners where "12-1/2c" replaces the former values of "6d. stg" and "7-1/2d cy". On the new 17c the words of value required so much more room than the TEN PENCE on the old denomination that the emblems between the upper and lower inscriptions on the oval were retired in favor of small elliptical ornaments. The upper corners were unaltered but in the lower ones "10cy" was removed and "17" substituted. [Illustration] It is obvious that the original dies were made use of in each case, the central portions being retained and new orders engraved. The stamps were manufactured by the American Bank Note Company, of New York, which firm had succeeded to the business established by Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson. The new firm name came into effect on May 1st, 1858. The stamps were printed in sheets of 100 by the line-engraved process the manufacturers' imprint, "American Bank Note Co., New York" appearing twice in each margin in very small letters. For some reason or other no imprint was applied to the plate for the 17c value. In the Law relating to the adoption of decimal currency, reproduced above, we read in section 3 that "in all cases where a one-half penny or penny rate of Postage is chargeable, these rates shall be changed to one cent and two cents respectively." Yet, though a 1c stamp was included in the series in 1859 no 2c made its appearance until 1864. This new value was issued on August 1st, 1864, according to the Postmaster-General's Report for that year while the Report for the following year states that "A provision has been made for the transmission and delivery of Canadian periodicals, addressed to the United Kingdom, at the reduced rate of two cents each" and it is probably due to the increased demand for the 2c denomination under this new rate that the stamp made its appearance. [Illustration] The design was evidently copied from the 1c though the addition of numerals in each of the lower corners gives it a strikingly different appearance from that of the lower value. Curiously enough the 2c was printed in almost the same color as the 1c and in commenting on this fact the _Stamp Collectors' Magazine_ for October 1st, 1864, stated:-- We are surprised that a different hue was not chosen for the 2 cents, and should imagine its great similarity to the 1 cent, should the latter not be withdrawn from circulation, would tend to create confusion. This new denomination was printed in sheets of 100 like the others of the series, and also had eight imprints in the margins. A close study of these stamps should reveal many points of interest. For many years a double transfer of the 5c, of a similar character to that found on its predecessor the 3d has been known. This is recorded in Scott's catalogue as a "double transfer" while Gibbons notes it as a variety "with extra line in outer oval at left". This variety, which is simply the most prominent of many double transfers found in connection with this 5c stamp, shows the outer line of the oval at left distinctly doubled, and the frame lines above are also double. Other varieties which, though not so prominent, are of equal philatelic importance are found. We have seen the following and have no doubt many others exist:-- (1) There are distinct traces of doubling in the letters ADA and POST of CANADA POSTAGE, in the numerals in the upper angles, and of the lines of the oval band. (2) There is a faint doubling of the outer frame lines at the top right hand corner. (3) There is a similar doubling of the outer frame lines affecting the lower right hand corner. (4) The lines of the oval band are faintly doubled at the lower left. (5) The letters POST of POSTAGE, the "5" above, and the lines of oval and frame all show distinct signs of double transferring. (6) This double transfer affects the lines, numeral, and letters NADA of CANADA at the upper left corner and while not so distinct as No. 5 is nevertheless a true plate variety. We have found no traces of double transfers in the other denominations except a slight one on the 12-1/2c. This shows a slight doubling of the frame lines in the top left corner, as well as traces of colored lines in the adjacent "12-1/2c". It is quite probable that any collector having sufficient material would find "doubles" in all of these values. In laying down the impressions on the plate or plates for the 5c value a guide dot was applied to the transfer roll. This occupied such a position that as each succeeding impression was applied to the plate it fell so that the guide dot would fall about the centre of the C of CENTS. Consequently, the vast majority of these stamps show a conspicuous dot of color in the position indicated. The stamps without the colored dot are, usually, those from the extreme left vertical row of the sheet. On this same value--the 5c--we have seen specimens with colored dots outside and slightly to the left of the lower left corner. These are possibly plate dots marked to indicate where each row should commence. Varieties with broken frame lines are not uncommon and these may be due in part to defective transfers and in part to wear. Extreme wear is also shown, in some instances, by the numerals appearing on an almost plain ground. Whether guide dots were used for the other denominations or not we cannot say. At any rate if they were used they were applied in such a position as to be completely hidden by some part or other of the designs. A small peculiarity in the 10c is worth noting. On the majority of specimens there is a slight defect or break in the outer line of the oval band above and to the right of the O of POSTAGE. This is probably due to a minute defect on the transfer-roll impression. Many specimens of the 12-1/2c value show the tongue of the E of POSTAGE the same length as the upper and lower arms though the end is generally covered with a colored smudge. We are at a loss to account for the cause of this variety but that it is a "constant" one we have satisfied ourselves by the examination of a number of identical specimens. The 17c also exhibits a small peculiarity of engraving. A colored line projects upwards into the uncolored oval band above the space between OS of POSTAGE. This was evidently caused by an accidental touch of the engraver's tool on the die for it is quite distinct on every specimen we have examined. The paper upon which the stamps of this series were printed does not provide so much variation as that of the earlier emissions. Mr. D. A. King in his article in the _Monthly Journal_ says: The papers upon which these stamps are printed may be divided into five classes: I.--Ordinary, coarse, white wove paper. II.--Similar paper, of a yellowish tint, and slightly ribbed. III.--A hard greyish paper, very slightly ribbed. IV.--White wove paper, very slightly ribbed. V.--A white paper, very hard and closely ribbed. In addition we are told that all the above varieties come in at least two thicknesses. Scott's catalogue is content with a classification of "wove" paper with a sub-variety of "ribbed" for the 1c and 5c denominations. Mr. Howes extends the "ribbed" variety to all values but, as we have pointed out in earlier chapters, it is extremely unlikely that any such variety as a real ribbed paper was used, the ribbed lines being simply due to some idiosyncrasy of manufacture. To again quote Mr. King: The best way to distinguish this paper from the others that have the appearance of ribbing, is to hold the stamp before a strong light, when the ribbing will appear like fine horizontal laid lines on the 5c, and vertical laid lines in the other values. Looking through the paper is the only sure test, as many of the stamps on the other papers have the appearance of being ribbed. To differentiate between stamps on ribbed paper and those having the "appearance" of being ribbed is surely getting very close to the ridiculous. With the exception of the 10c the stamps of this issue provide but little variation in shade but the 10c more than makes up for this lack in the others for it exists in almost every conceivable tint from bright red-lilac through shades of violet and brown to a brown so intense as to be catalogued as a distinct variety described as "black-brown". All the stamps of this series were normally perforated 12 by single line machines. All values are known entirely imperforate and it would seem that these, or most of them, are perfectly legitimate errors. The _Philatelic Record_ for October, 1882, says:--"We have seen a used _imperforate_ copy of the 5 cents, 1859, which is beyond challenge". Mr. King states:--"The imperforate varieties are all legitimate, and undoubtedly genuine, having been seen in pairs, or in single copies with margins beyond cavil". Mr. Charles L. Pack writing in the _London Philatelist_ regarding these varieties says:-- I have the 1c and 5c postmarked in 1860 and 1861 at Toronto and Prescott, Canada West. I also believe that these varieties were on sale at Kingston, Canada West, at about that time. I have also the 2c and 10c in undoubtedly early used condition. Bi-sected varieties of the 5c and 10c of this issue are known though, as Mr. Howes states of these varieties, they "were never authorised and seldom used". The _Philatelic Record_ for October, 1888, mentions a part of a cover with a 10c and half of a 5c side by side which were evidently used in prepayment of the 12-1/2c rate, while Mr. Howes records the existence of a pair of the 5c used with a half stamp of the same denomination to make up the 12-1/2c packet rate. The same writer records a diagonal half of the 10c used as a 5c stamp from Bowmanville, Upper Canada, on February 15th, 1860. Whether these "splits" were the work of private parties or were made by postal officials to fill a temporary shortage of certain values will probably never be known. _Reference List._ 1859-64. Engraved and Printed by the American Bank Note Co., New York, on white wove paper. Perforated 12. 10. 1c pink, Scott's No. 14. 11. 2c rose, Scott's No. 18. 12. 5c vermilion, Scott's No. 15. 13. 10c lilac, Scott's No. 16. 14. 12-1/2c green, Scott's No. 19. 15. 17c blue, Scott's No. 20. CHAPTER VII.--_The First Dominion Issue._ The steady growth of Upper Canada, chiefly due to immigration, until it had twice the population of its sister Province, Lower Canada, aroused cries for a readjusted representation, which threatened the French with a hopeless minority in Parliament and the country with another impasse. The federation of all the provinces under something like the American system was the only solution; and with, for the most part, the cordial coöperation of the maritime provinces, the great scheme was carried through, and the new dominion launched in 1867. Each province retained its local autonomy and separate legislature under a lieutenant-governor, always a Canadian, nominated by the federal executive. To the latter was reserved all great affairs, such as defense, customs, Crown lands, Indians, and the organisation of the vast western territories then just beginning to open up. The famous Sir John Macdonald, the most illustrious of Canadian statesmen, was prominent in the federal movement, as also was Sir Charles Tupper. A final meeting was held in London, and early in 1867 the British North America Act was passed through the Imperial Parliament. The new capital was fixed at Bytown, a small town up the Ottawa well removed from the frontier, fairly central to all the provinces, and felicitously rechristened Ottawa. Here were erected the stately houses of parliament for senate, commons, and the entire government staff, familiar to all travellers, and there, too, the governor-general of all British North America took up his residence, Lord Monck being the first to hold this high office, and Sir John Macdonald the first premier. The British North America Act, referred to above, provided for the division of the Dominion of Canada into four provinces named Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and also made provision for the admission of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, etc., when such admission should be deemed advisable. The Act went into force on July 1st, 1867, and as a mark of the importance of this event the first day of July is now a national holiday known as "Dominion Day". It only remains to say that Prince Edward Island, British Columbia and Manitoba (not then organised) came into the federation shortly afterwards. One of the chief duties of the first Parliament, which met at Ottawa on November 6th, 1867, was the revision and consolidation of the laws of the various provinces now federated, and amongst these were, of course, the laws relating to the Post Office. The Act passed for the regulation of the postal service is a lengthy one and the only provisions of special interest to us as philatelists, those relating to the rates of postage,--are more clearly and definitely tabulated in a Department Order issued from Ottawa on March 1st, 1868, to which we shall make reference later. Before doing so, however, we make a short extract from the Post Office Act insofar as it relates to definitions of various terms and expressions, viz.:-- The term "Letter" includes Packets of Letters; The term "Postage" means the duty or sum chargeable for the conveyance of Post Letters, Packets and other things by Post; The term "Foreign Country" means any country not included in the dominions of Her Majesty; The term "Foreign Postage" means the postage on the conveyance of Letters, Packets or other things, within any Foreign Country or payable to any Foreign Government; The term "Canada Postage" means the postage on the conveyance of Letters, Packets and other things by Post within the Dominion of Canada or by Canada Mail Packet; The term "Mail" includes every conveyance by which Post Letters are carried, whether it be by land or water; The term "British Packet Postage" means the postage due on the conveyance of letters by British Packet Boats, between the United Kingdom and British North America:--And the term "British Postage" includes all Postage not being Foreign, Colonial or Canadian; The term "Post Letter" means any letter transmitted or deposited in any Post Office to be transmitted by Post:--And a letter shall be deemed a Post Letter from the time of its being deposited or delivered at a Post Office, to the time of its being delivered to the party to whom it is addressed. The Department Order addressed to "All Postmasters, and Other Persons Employed in the Postal Service of Canada" dealt chiefly with the rates of postage and as these are important we feel it is necessary to reproduce most of this rather lengthy document _in extenso:_-- PRINCIPAL RATES OF POSTAGE. LETTERS. 5.--On letters passing between any two places within the Dominion of Canada, a uniform rate (irrespective of distance), of three cents per 1/2 oz., if prepaid; and five cents per 1/2 oz. if unpaid. 6.--On letters between any place in the Dominion and any place in the United States, 6 cents per 1/2 oz., if prepaid; and ten cents per 1/2 oz. if unpaid. 7.--On letters to or from the United Kingdom, in Mails by Canada Packets, to or from Quebec in summer, or Portland in winter; or by Mail Packet to or from Halifax, 12-1/2c per 1/2 oz. On do. in Mails via New York Packet, 15 cents per 1/2 oz. On letters to Prince Edward Island, if prepaid, 3 cents per 1/2 oz.; if posted unpaid, 5 cents per 1/2 oz. On letters to Newfoundland, to be in all cases prepaid, 12-1/2c per 1/2 oz. On letters to British Columbia and Vancouver Island, in all cases to be prepaid, 10 cents per 1/2 oz. On letters to Red River, to be in all cases prepaid, 6 cents per 1/2 oz. NEWSPAPER RATES. 8.--Newspapers printed and published in Canada may be sent by Post from the office of publication to any place in Canada at the following rates, if paid quarterly in advance, either by the Publisher, at the Post Office where the papers are posted, or by the subscriber, at the Post Office where the papers are delivered:-- For a paper published once a week, 5 cents per quarter of a year. For a paper published twice a week, 10 cents per quarter. For a paper published three times, 15 cents per quarter. For a paper published six times, 30 cents per quarter. If the above rates are prepaid by the Publisher, the Postmaster receiving payment must be careful to have the papers so prepaid separately put up, and marked, distinctly, as prepaid. When the above rates are not prepaid in advance, by either the Publisher at the office of posting or by the subscriber at the office of delivery, the papers are to be charged one cent each on delivery. 9.--Canadian Newspapers, addressed from the Office of publication to subscribers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, may be forwarded, on prepayment at the Office in Canada where posted, at the above commuted rates, applicable to such papers within the Dominion. 10.--Exchange Papers passing between publishers in Canada, between publishers in Canada and publishers in the United States, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, are to pass free--one copy of each paper to each publisher. 11.--Transient Newspapers include all Newspapers posted in Canada, other than Canadian Newspapers sent from the Office of publication, and when addressed to any place within the Dominion, to the United Kingdom, to the United States, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, must be prepaid two cents each by postage stamp. 12.--Newspapers coming into Canada will be subject to the following charges on delivery:-- If from the United Kingdom, by mail packet to Quebec, Halifax or Portland--Free on delivery. By mails via the United States (New York), two cents each. If from the United States, two cents each, to be rated at the Canada Frontier, or exchange office receiving mails from the United States. If from Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, when received by regular subscribers in Canada from the Office of publication, the ordinary commuted rates applicable to Canada Newspapers. Transient Papers--two cents each. 13.--The Canada Postage rates on Newspapers coming or going to the United Kingdom and the United States, will thus be the same as those charged in the United Kingdom and the United States on Newspapers there received from or sent to Canada. 14.--Canada News Agents may post to regular subscribers in Canada, British Newspapers free, and United States Newspapers unpaid, such papers in the latter case, must be duly rated two cents each for collection on delivery. PRINTED PAPERS, CIRCULARS, PRICES CURRENT, HAND BILLS, BOOKS, PAMPHLETS. 15.--The rate on printed matter of this description posted in Canada, and addressed to any place in Canada, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland or the United States, will be one cent per ounce, to be prepaid by Postage Stamp; and a like rate will be payable on delivery, when received from the United States, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland. PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS. 16.--When posted in Canada, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland or the United States, the rate will be one cent per four ounces. 17.--A like rate will be payable on delivery in Canada, when received for the United States, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland. 18.--Periodicals weighing less than one ounce per number, when posted in Canada for any place within the Dominion, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland or the United States may, when put up singly, pass for one-half cent per number, to be prepaid by Postage Stamp. 19.--As the Postage Rates on Periodicals, other than Newspapers, will be payable in advance, and as certain classes of such periodicals, printed and published in Canada, and sent from the office of publication to regular subscribers, have for some time past been exempted from postage when exclusively devoted to the education of youth, to temperance, agriculture and science, or for other reasons, it is ordered, that with respect to periodicals which do now enjoy this privilege or exemption, the exemption shall continue until the expiration of the current year--that is, until the 31st December, 1868, and that from the 1st January, 1869, all such special exemptions and privileges shall cease. PARCEL POST. 20.--The rate on Parcels, by Parcel Post, will be 12-1/2 cents per 8 ounces, that is to say:-- On a parcel not exceeding 8 oz., 12-1/2 cents. Over 8 oz., and not exceeding 1 lb., 25 cents. Over 1 lb. and not exceeding 24 oz., 37-1/2 cents. And so on, to the limit of three lbs. BOOK AND NEWSPAPER MANUSCRIPT, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS MATTER. 21. On Book and Newspaper Manuscript (meaning written articles intended for insertion in a newspaper or periodical, and addressed to the Editor or Publisher thereof, for insertion), Printers' Proof Sheets, whether corrected or not, Maps, Prints, Drawings, Engravings, Music, whether printed or written, packages of Seeds, Cuttings, Roots, Scions or Grafts, and Botanical Specimens, the rate will be 1 cent per ounce, when posted for any place in Canada or the United States, and prepaid by Postage Stamp. POSTAGE STAMPS. 22.--To enable the Public to prepay conveniently by Postage Stamps the foregoing rates, the following denominations of Postage Stamps for use throughout the Dominion, have been prepared, and will be supplied to Postmasters for sale:-- Half cent Stamps } One cent do. } Two cent do. } All bearing, Three cent do. } as a device, Six cent do. } the effigy Twelve and a half cent do. } of Her Majesty. Fifteen cent do. } 23.--The Postage Stamps now in use in the several Provinces may be accepted, as at present, in prepayment of letters, etc., for a reasonable time after the 1st. of April; but from and after that date all issues and sales to the public will be of the new denomination. The section regarding "Franking and Free Matter" provides that only letters sent to or by the Governor-General, the Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Senate or of the House of Commons, Parliamentary papers, and legislative documents, such as petitions, addresses, and votes, shall be carried free of postage. The most important change effected by the above quoted regulations was the reduction of domestic postage from five cents to three cents. It will be noted there are now no prepaid 5c or 17c rates and but one at 10c (on letters sent to British Columbia and Vancouver Island) consequently these denominations were dropped from the new series. On the other hand the 1/2c rate on transient newspapers, which had to be prepaid, the regular 3c letter rate, the 6c rate to the United States, and 15c for the new British Packet rate made necessary the issue of these four values in addition to the 1c, 2c, and 12-1/2c denominations, which were retained. All these stamps were printed by the line-engraved process, as in the case of the earlier issues, the sheets consisting of one hundred specimens arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten each. A new firm--the British American Bank Note Company, of Montreal and Ottawa--were entrusted with the manufacture of these stamps and, like their predecessors, they applied their imprint to the plates, so that it is shown four times on the margins of the sheets of the printed stamps. Mr. Howes describes the imprint as follows:-- The imprint appears in colorless capitals on a narrow strip of color with bossed ends, and reads BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO., MONTREAL & OTTAWA. This strip is framed by a very thin parallel line, its entire width being but one millimeter, while its length is about 51 mm. It occurs but once on a side, being placed against the middle two stamps (numbers 5 and 6) of each row at a distance of about 3 mm. The inscription reads up on the left and down on the right, as before, but the bottom one is now upright, instead of being reversed. In the case of the half cent stamp at least, we find an additional marginal imprint over the second and third stamps of the top row. This consists of the words HALF CENT, in shaded Roman capitals 4 mm. high, the whole being about 40 mm. long. Presumably the same thing, varied for each denomination, occurs on other values of the series, as we find it does on the succeeding issue; but a strip from the top of a sheet of the 15 cent stamps proves that it was lacking on that value at least. The new stamps came into use on April 1st, 1868, and are all much alike in design. All values show a profile portrait of Queen Victoria, with head to right, on a background of horizontal lines within a circle, but the ornamentation and disposition of the inscriptions and numerals of value in the surrounding frame is different on each. The _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for May, 1868, in announcing the issue, gives a good description which we cannot forbear quoting, viz:-- We are now in possession of, as we presume, the entire series of stamps for the Dominion of Canada, consisting of seven values--1/2 cent, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12-1/2, and 15 cents. It would be indeed odious to compare them with the issues for another confederation lately formed. They are the work of a newly-formed colonial company, and are worthy to take rank beside any which have been manufactured by the rival companies of New York. The design, as we stated last month in noticing the 15c--the first of the set to appear--bears a resemblance to that of the lower values of Nova Scotia, but shows the Queen's head turned to the right. The new "British American Bank Note Company, of Montreal and Ottawa", has done well to copy so good a device, and certainly has not spoilt it, as the English engravers did in the four penny South Australian. Moreover, whilst retaining the central figure, by enclosing it in a differently-patterned frame for each value, they have given greater variety to the series. In all, care has been taken to make the numerals distinct; and it is as well that this has been done, as two of the values assimilate considerably in shade. The half cent is distinguished from the rest by its smallness--it is quite one-third less in size, but the device is the same. The stamps are all printed on substantial paper, are perforated, and of the following colors: 1/2 cent black 1 " dull red 2 " green 3 cents vermilion 6 " brown 12-1/2 " deep-blue 15 cents mauve The two lowest values are for newspapers, and are far from being acceptable, notwithstanding their beauty of design, to the journalists. It had been expected that newspapers would be sent throughout the Canadian provinces free of charge; and there has been in consequence, a loud but ineffectual outcry against the general imposition of even a reduced rate of postage, and more especially at the enactment, that the charge must be paid by senders. "Proprietors of journals," says the _Quebec Chronicle_, "find it hard enough at present to collect the simple subscription, without demanding postage in advance. People who writhe at present under the payment of their bare paper account, will find forwarding postage, in advance, an excruciating sacrifice." The 2 cents is no doubt primarily intended for soldiers' letters. The 3 cents pays the new single rate for postage; the 6 cents the charge on letters to the United States. The 12-1/2c represents the postage to England; and the 15c the rate for letters sent via New York. Possibly a 10c will yet be added to the series, but the old 17c will find no substitute in it. The new rates came into operation on the 1st April, and we suppose on that date all the pre-existing stamps of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were withdrawn. [Illustration] [Illustration] The stamps of this series provide quite an extensive range of shades, especially as regards the 2c, 6c, and 15c. In the case of the latter value the range of tints is so great that it is difficult to know what was its originally intended color. The first shade was evidently mauve, as given in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ chronicle, but, as is so frequently the case with mauves, lilacs and violets, tint variations were soon noticed. Shades varying from deep red lilac to grey and blue-grey are known. It is difficult to draw the line, in some instances, between true shades and "fades" but the grey would appear to be undoubtedly a true color variety and one that should be recognised as a provisional, if wholly unintentional, color change. Scott, in fact, lists it as a separate issue under the date 1875-77, but this is an arbitrary classification which has, apparently, no foundation in fact, and the best plan is to include the variety in its logical place with the rest of the 1868 series. The paper used for this set of stamps is what is generally known as "wove" and it varies, as Mr. Howes states, "from a very thin, almost pelure quality to a quite hard and thick variety." Mr. King, who was evidently untiring in his efforts to discover varieties of paper, says, "This series is of a most interesting nature, having a very large number of varieties of paper, all quite distinct, and specimens of some are of considerable rarity." Mr. King then lets himself go and describes some _seventeen_ varieties of paper but, with the exception of two well marked varieties to which we shall make extended reference shortly, they all seem to resolve themselves into minute variations of the wove paper such as can be found in connection with most stamps of the 'sixties and 'seventies with the aid of a micrometer and a well trained imagination! We doubt whether any specialist, however willing and enthusiastic, could follow Mr. King through his intricate listing. Scott's catalogue lists a sub-variety of all values except the 1/2c on "watermarked" paper. The watermarked letters found in these stamps were known at least as early as 1870 and much speculation was rife as to their meaning. Mr. John N. Luff finally solved the problem by assembling a large number of the watermarked stamps so that he was able to reconstruct the complete watermark, viz:-- E. & C. BOTHWELL CLUTHA MILLS The letters are large double lined capitals 12-1/2 mm. high with the exception of the initial letters E, C and B of the upper line, which are 13 mm. high. The "watermark" is, of course, the trademark of the paper manufacturer and, like other watermarks of a similar nature, it is not of very great philatelic importance. It is very generally presumed that the paper watermarked in this manner was used provisionally--an opinion with which Mr. Howes seems to concur by his statement that "the watermarked paper must therefore have been used sometime during the course of the year 1868, probably the middle, when supplies of all values except the 1/2c were printed." But we fail to find from any evidence so far adduced that this watermarked paper was in use only during some well defined period. The fact that it is not found in connection with the 1/2c proves nothing for this value was of a different size from the others and doubtless paper of a different size, but the same quality was used so as to prevent unnecessary waste in cutting into sheets for printing. At best, as we have already stated, it is but a papermaker's trade mark, and it is difficult to understand on what grounds it is included in the catalogue as a variety to the exclusion of similar and well known examples in the stamps of other countries. We must confess that more importance seems to be attached to the variety than is warranted by its philatelic status and we commend to our readers' attention Major E. B. Evans' pertinent comments regarding it, viz:-- We feel bound to state that, unless the paper itself is of a different nature from the plain wove, this watermark seems to us to possess no interest whatever. It is evidently entirely unofficial, and it is quite possible that it only occurred in one sheet out of several of identically the same paper. The other variety of paper which calls for special mention is a "laid" paper found in connection with the 1c and 3c values. It is obviously a true "laid" paper, the laid lines being very distinct, fairly wide and quite evenly spaced. While the use of this paper was, no doubt, quite unintentional, it is a distinct variation from the normal wove which cannot be ignored by specialists, though we hardly think it is entitled to rank as a "major" variety as shown by the classification followed in Scott's catalogue. The 3c was discovered first and was mentioned in the _Philatelic Record_ for March, 1882, as follows:--"Mr. Tapling informs us that he possesses the 3 cents red, issue of 1868, on laid paper." A few months later Mr. Corwin discovered a copy of the 1c which he described in the _National Philatelist_ for January, 1883, as follows:-- Some time since I saw noted in the _Philatelic Record_ the existence of a 3 cent Canada stamp, emission of 1868, on laid paper. In looking through my Canadian varieties, after reading this note, I discovered also a copy of the one cent red, same emission, on laid paper. This laid paper was evidently used during the printing of the early supplies of the 1c and 3c denominations. Scott's catalogue lists the varieties under the date "1870" but we can find no evidence of any kind in support of this classification. Messrs. Corwin and King record a copy of the 1c postmarked November 27th, 1868, and the 3c is known dated August 31st, 1868, all of which points to the early use of this laid paper. The 15c on "thin paper, horizontally laid" was mentioned in the _American Journal of Philately_ for October, 1892, on the authority of Mr. F. de Coppet but as the variety is not now catalogued and no copy seems to be known we presume its authenticity is a debatable question. The 1c, orange, was at one time listed on laid paper but this has been satisfactorily proved to be simply a "figment of the imagination". In his article in the _London Philatelist_ Mr. C. L. Pack describes the 15c as existing on "distinctly soft ribbed paper". Mr. King gives "ribbed" varieties for all values on both thin and thick soft paper but, as in the case of the earlier Canadian stamps found on ribbed paper, we think a lot of proof is yet necessary before these varieties can be accepted as anything better than accidental vagaries of printing. The perforation used for the stamps of this series had a gauge of 12, as with the stamps of the preceding issue, and was the work of single line or guillotine machines. That is, each line of perforation, both horizontally and vertically, represented a separate stroke on the machine. The _Monthly Journal_ for February, 1899, lists a minor variety of perforation in the 2c, 3c, 6c, 12-1/2c and 15c denominations in which the measurement is 11-1/2 x 12. Whether a machine with a gauge of 11-1/2 was in temporary use at some time or other is uncertain but if such was the case it seems strange that no copies are known perf. 11-1/2 all round or perf. 12 x 11-1/2. Even if it were due to a slight error in the placing of the perforating needles in some part of the full row it is strange that specimens gauging 12 x 11-1/2 are not known. We have been unable to find any further references to these varieties other than that stated above so that, until more information is forthcoming on the subject, they should be accepted with reserve. The 15c of this series is known entirely imperforate and Mr. Howes records the 1/2c as existing in a horizontal pair, imperforate between. The only "split" found in connection with this series occurs in the case of the 6c denomination, diagonal halves of which are known to have done postal duty as 3c. These appear to have been entirely unauthorized though, as they undoubtedly passed through the mail, they have an interest to collectors of stamps on cover. _Reference List._ 1868. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note Company, at Ottawa. Wove paper. Perf. 12. 16. 1/2c black. Scott's No. 21. 17. 1c brown red. Scott's No. 22. 18. 2c green, Scott's No. 23. 19. 3c red, Scott's No. 24. 20. 6c brown, Scott's No. 25. 21. 12-1/2c blue, Scott's No. 26. 22. 15c lilac, Scott's No. 27. 23. 15c gray, Scott's No. 39. CHAPTER VIII.--_The 1c Orange of 1869._ The 1c and 3c stamps of 1868 were so alike in color that it was soon found that confusion was easily possible between the two values. Early in 1869, therefore, the color of the 1c was changed to orange to prevent further mistakes. The exact date at which this change took place is not known, but in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for March 1st, 1869, we read:-- We have just received copies of the one cent printed in brilliant orange. No doubt this colour has been adopted in order better to distinguish it from the 3 cents, which it has hitherto too nearly approached. From the above extract it would seem that the orange colored stamps were in use at least as early as February and though it has been asserted that the change took place on January 1st, 1869, we believe there are no official documents or early dated specimens in existence that would substantiate this statement. These 1c stamps may be found in both orange and yellow shades as well as a combination of both. So far as is known they were printed from the same plate or plates as the earlier brown-red stamps. The paper is the same as that used for the other denominations, _i.e._ wove, and the fact that this variety is not known with the watermark of the papermaker's trade mark is generally adduced as the strongest evidence in support of the theory that this watermarked paper was only of a provisional nature and was used some time during 1868. The perforation is the usual 12 and specimens are known entirely imperforate. _Reference List._ 1869. Change of color. Wove Paper. Perf. 12. 24. 1c orange, Scott's No. 31. CHAPTER IX.--_The Large 5c Stamp._ Although it somewhat interrupts the chronological sequence of our narrative, before dealing with the small "cents" stamps, first appearing in 1870, it will be as well to give the history of the large 5c stamp which, though not issued until 1875, really belongs by virtue of its type and general appearance to the series of 1868. It is known that the die for this 5c stamp was engraved in 1867 at the same time the dies for the 1/2, 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c, 12-1/2c and 15c values were prepared for, in the _American Journal of Philately_ for June, 1868, it is stated:-- The Canadian Government have had a 5 cent stamp prepared, engraved of the same type as the present set, the most noticeable difference being the circle round the head which is corded. The specimen sent us is printed in brown on India paper, bearing the Company's imprint underneath. Though the die was all ready, as amply proved by the above extract, no plate was made as there was then no postal rate which required such a denomination. In 1875, however, the single letter rate between Canada and Great Britain was reduced to 5c as stated in the Postmaster-General's Report for 1875, viz.:-- A treaty for the formation of a General Postal Union, and for the adoption of uniform postal rates and regulations for International correspondence, was arranged and signed at Berne, Switzerland, in October, 1874, by the representatives of the Post Offices of the chief Nations of the world. This agreement took effect between all the countries which were directly parties to the Treaty in July last. The Treaty did not include the British Possessions beyond the sea, but Canada has, with the concurrence of the Imperial Government, applied for admission as a member of this Postal Union. Meanwhile the letter rate of postage between Canada and the United Kingdom has, by arrangement with the Imperial Post Office, been reduced to the International rate of 2-1/2 pence sterling--5 cents currency--established by the Union Regulations; and this reduction has also been made applicable to correspondence passing by way of New York, making the rate between Canada and the United Kingdom uniform at 5 cents by whatever route conveyed. Although the Report alluded to above is dated June 30th, it must have been published at a later date as the "July last" mentioned refers to July, 1875, and when the 5 cent rate came into operation stamps to fit this new rate were wanted in such a hurry that, as a temporary expedient, a plate was made from the die engraved in 1867 pending the preparation of a die conforming to the small sized stamps then in general use. There was only one printing and the total number issued is believed to have been about one million. Mr. Howes says it was issued on October 1st, 1875. In 1877 the 5c single letter rate was, by treaty, extended to embrace the German states of Prussia, Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Saxony and Wurtemberg and in the same year the rate on a single letter to Newfoundland was reduced from 6c to 5c. At this time, of course, the small sized 5c stamps were in use but it will better preserve the continuity of our study of the postal rates to make one more extract from the Postmaster-General's Reports--that for 1878,--viz.: At the meeting of the International Postal Congress, which, under the provisions of the Postal Treaty of Berne, concluded in October, 1874, took place at Paris in May, 1878, Canada was admitted to be a member of the General Postal Union from the 1st July, 1878, and in consequence the rate of letter postage between Canada and all Europe became one uniform charge of 5 cents per half ounce. Newspapers and other printed matter, and samples and patterns of merchandise also became subject to uniform postage rates and regulations for all destinations in Europe. The 5c rate was, thus, now well established, and Canada had obtained membership in the Universal Postal Union, for which she had been striving since 1875. This large 5c stamp was printed by the line-engraved process, like the other denominations of similar designs. The portrait forming the centrepiece is like that on the values of 1868 though the medallion is enclosed within a "corded" circle instead of an ordinary plain line. "CANADA POSTAGE" is curved above the portrait, as usual, while below is "FIVE CENTS". The numerals, shown in the lower corners, are somewhat smaller than those on the other denominations of this type. The stamps were printed in sheets of 100, in ten rows of ten, and with regard to the marginal imprints Mr. Howes tells us that "The sheet bore four marginal imprints, arranged as before, but of a slightly different type for the 1868 issue. This new imprint is in capitals and lower case letters on a colored strip 56 mm. long and 2-1/2 mm. wide, with a border of pearls, and reads: 'British American Bank Note Co. Montreal'. Doubtless the words FIVE CENTS in shaded Roman capitals would be found over the second and third stamps of the top row if one were fortunate enough to possess this portion of a sheet." The stamps were printed on the wove paper then in use and perforated 12 in the usual manner. _Reference List._ 1875. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Montreal. Wove paper. Perf. 12. 25. 5c olive green, Scott's No. 37. CHAPTER X.--_The Small "Cents" Stamps._ In the _American Journal of Philately_ for August, 1869, we read "Canada is shortly to have a new set of stamps. Taking lessons in economy from our own country, it seems they are about altering their stamps to make them smaller, so as to save paper. The head will still remain exactly the same as now, but the frame and the margin around the head will be considerably less. We cannot see how this can be done without spoiling the beauty of the stamp. As to whether they are to retain the same colors we are unable to say." The 1869 issue of the United States was in use at that time and though this series is now generally popular it was regarded with very mixed feelings then as may be imagined from the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ comments on the above statement, viz.:--"We trust this intelligence is incorrect; that the example of the new United States stamps can have any attractive influence on the Canadian authorities is hardly possible." The new issues do not seem to have formed the subject of any special official document or notice, nor does the reduction in the size of the labels seem to have been considered worthy of special mention in any of the Reports issued by the Postmaster-General. These smaller sized stamps were issued as the stocks of the earlier issues became exhausted or, in some cases, presumably as the old plates were discarded owing to wear, but it appears very probable that the dies for the 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c and 10c denominations were all engraved at the same period and, as regards the 2c, 6c and 10c, it is very possible that supplies were printed and held in stock long before it became necessary to issue them to the public. The 3c was the first value to appear and was probably on sale some time in January, 1870. The _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for March 1st of that year chronicled this new stamp as follows:-- It appears that the reduction in the size of the Dominion postage stamps, to which reference was made some months ago, is really to be carried out, and as an earnest of the execution of the project, we receive the three cents red, cut down to the size of the half cent, and with the design made to resemble that of the latter. The numerals in the upper corners are absent; the inscription, CANADA POSTAGE, is in almost microscopic lettering, and in lieu of the full denomination--THREE CENTS--in the lower margin, the word CENTS alone appears, flanked by the figure on each side. The cause of the change is not to be sought in any desire to economise paper; it lies in the simple fact that the smaller size is found the more convenient. The design certainly is not improved by it, and we might call upon these little stamps to "hide their diminished heads," were it not that the head, and that alone, remains as large as ever. The stamps, though in a fair way to become small by degrees as the Canadian idea of convenience increases, are not likely to become "_beautifully_ less." A new value, however, made up from the parings of the old ones--an 8 cents--is said to be in preparation, and will help to make up in quantity, for any deterioration in the quality. The next value to appear was the 1 cent, which was recorded in the journal referred to above in its issue for April 1st, so that it was no doubt on sale some time in March, 1869. In design it is similar to the 3c, the main difference being in the inscription at base. The denomination is given in full--ONE CENT--and this follows the curve of the medallion instead of curving in the reverse direction as CENTS does on the 3c. [Illustration] Evidently there were large stocks on hand of some of the values of the 1868 issue for two years elapsed before any more of the small stamps appeared. Then in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for February, 1872, we read:--"We have received by the last mail specimens of a new 6 cents brown of the small size. It is printed of a warm tint, and is as effective as its congeners." The design follows that of the 3c very closely with, of course, the numerals "6" instead of "3" in the lower angles. In the following month the 2c was chronicled, its color being given as "a delicate chrome-green." The design differs from the 3c and 6c chiefly in the direction of the curve of the word CENTS, which is reversed, as compared with those denominations, and much less pronounced. The 10c was the next value to appear and it was not on sale until quite late in 1874, probably about November 1st. The design follows the general effect of the 2c but at the same time illustrates a new departure, inasmuch as the numerals of value are repeated in the upper corners in a smaller form. For what particular purpose this value was intended is not clear for there was, apparently, no regular rate at that time which required such a denomination. The next value placed on sale was the 5c, which was issued in February, 1876, and superseded the large 5c design after it had been in use for only about four months. Though the portrait is the same as that on the other values the frame is of a distinctly different style and CENTS is in much larger letters than before, showing that the previous values, following as they do a general pattern, were engraved much about the same time though many years elapsed before all were actually in use. [Illustration] Finally in July, 1882, the 1/2c value appeared and was recorded in the _Philatelic Record_ for July of that year in the following words:-- That "history repeats itself" is a proverb that is curiously illustrated by the latest issue of this colony. We all remember that in 1868 a 1/2c stamp of smaller size than the other values of the series was emitted. A few years later, some say for economical reasons, the other values were reduced to the smaller size. Recently it seems to have struck the Canadian authorities that their idea of fourteen years ago was a happy one, and the 1/2c has been proportionately cut down. The general arrangements of the design remain the same, but the ornamentation is simpler. The head and circle containing it are miniatures of the former, and the result is what the ladies would call "a dear little stamp," about the size of our lately defunct "Halfpenny," but an upright instead of an oblong rectangle. We trust the price of paper will not again cause a general reduction; for if the Canadian stamps go on growing "small by degrees, and beautifully less," they will in time become too microscopic to be collectible. After the issue of the 1/2c value the only denominations of the 1868 series not provided with successors in the issue under notice were the 12-1/2c and 15c. Regarding the former value the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for May, 1872, says, on the authority of a Canadian journal:--"It is unlikely that the 12-1/2c small size will be issued, as the large ones are very little used, and can now be bought at the post-office for 12 cents." But some three years later the _American Journal of Philately_ asserted that "Canada will shortly issue the 12-1/2c and 15c values of postals in small size, to correspond with the others of the series." These stamps, however, never materialised though that dies and plates were made and stamps printed from them is evident from the existence of perforated essays of these two values. The portrait is exactly like that of the other denominations, and the borders are, on general lines, so like the 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c and 10c as to give considerable support to the belief that these unissued varieties were prepared for use at quite an early date. The stamps of this series were all produced by the line-engraved process and all values, with the exception of the 1/2c, were at first printed in sheets of 100, arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten. The 1/2c was printed in sheets of 200, arranged in two panes of 100 each, placed side by side. A space of about 11 mm. separated the two panels and these large sheets were cut into halves before leaving the printing establishment, thus making "post-office" sheets of 100 stamps. In the later months of 1892 or early in 1893 the 1c, 2c and 3c values--the ones in most general demand--were printed in large sheets of 200 arranged in ten horizontal rows of twenty stamps each. A close study of a large quantity of these stamps would probably result in the discovery of many interesting varieties in the way of double transfers. In the few stamps at our disposal we have found but one of any prominence. This occurs on the 3c denomination the top portion of the design having plainly been applied to the plate twice, the doubling being especially noticeable in the inscription CANADA POSTAGE. As these stamps were in use for a fairly lengthy period--nearly thirty years in the case of the 3c--it is obvious that a large number of plates must have been made, especially for those denominations which were generally used. At different times different marginal imprints or arrangements of the imprints were used, and given sufficient material a study of these marginal varieties should reveal much of interest. Mr. Howes has paid particular attention to these varieties and the following notes are chiefly based on his investigations. The earliest plates of the 1c, 2c, 3c, 5c and 6c, and probably the 10c as well (as this value was in use before the 5c), had the denomination in words above the second and third stamps on the top row of each sheet. These inscriptions, "ONE CENT", etc., were in large shaded Roman capitals 4 mm. high. In the centre of each of the four margins is the manufacturer's imprint, BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. MONTREAL & OTTAWA, in colorless Roman capitals on a narrow strip of color 1 mm. wide and 51 mm. long; this imprint being, in fact, exactly like that found on the sheets of the 1868 issue. These remarks apply to the 1c, 2c, 3c and 6c (and probably to the 10c also), but not to the 5c. The 5c, which was not issued until 1876, has the denomination shown in the upper margin in large shaded Roman capitals, as in the case of the others, but the imprint is different, being like that found on the sheets of the large 5c stamp, _i.e._ "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal", in capitals and lower case letters on a strip of solid color 56 mm. long by 2-1/2 mm. wide, with a pearled border. This imprint was shown on each of the four margins. About this time new plates made for the other denominations also had this new style of imprint. Sheets of the 1c and 3c show the imprint on top and bottom margins only, but whether other plates were used for these denominations with imprints on all four sides is not known for certain, though this is highly probable. The 6c and 10c values of this series have large numerals, "6" or "10" as the case may be, above the second stamp in the top row, while above the ninth stamp of the same row is "SIX" or "TEN" in shaded Roman capitals. The numerals are very thick and 6 mm. in height, while the letters are 4 mm. high as on the earlier plates, though the word "CENTS" has now been dispensed with. This arrangement has not been noted on other denominations as yet, though there is no reason why it should not be found in connection with the 1c, 2c and 3c. A sheet of the 3c value, with two marginal imprints, is noted with "THREE" in shaded Roman capitals above the first two stamps of the top row, while the 1c is recorded without any marginal designation of value and with but two of the "Montreal" imprints. The printing establishment of the British American Bank Note Company was removed from Montreal to Ottawa in 1888 and plates made after that date show a new style of imprint viz:--"BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. OTTAWA", in white Roman capitals on a strip of solid color measuring 40 mm. long by 1-1/2 mm. wide. This, it will be noted, is like the first type of imprint but with the words "MONTREAL &" removed. On the 2c this is known 49 mm. long and nearly 2 mm. wide, this being from a sheet in the 100 arrangement. The smaller style of imprint seems to have been characteristic of the sheets printed in the 200 size, and writing with regard to these Mr. Howes says:-- The "Ottawa" imprint appears three times, once in the middle of the top margin, over stamps 10 and 11, and twice in the bottom margin, beneath stamps 5 and 6, and again beneath stamps 15 and 16. There are no imprints at the sides. The denomination appears in the top margin at both right and left and in a new style of lettering on these larger plates. Thus we find ONE CENT or TWO CENT over stamps 2 and 3 as well as 18 and 19, or THREE CENT over the first four and last four stamps in plain Egyptian capitals. [Illustration] The 1/2c value, which we have left until last on account of its different sheet arrangement, had the "Montreal" imprint, described in connection with the other values, arranged six times on the margins--above and below each pane, at the right of the right hand pane, and at the left of the left hand pane--so that there were three imprints on each of the "post-office" sheets of 100 stamps. In addition, to quote Mr. Howes, "over the top inscription of the right pane is the reversed figure 1, 4 mm. high, and in the same position on the left pane the corresponding figure 2, evidently to designate the panes." This series provides a number of shade varieties, as is only natural in a set having such long currency, and their proper treatment is a matter involving some little perplexity. It was evidently the original intention of the printers to keep the colors of the small stamps as nearly like those of the large ones they superseded as possible, and while many shades match the colors of the earlier stamps to a nicety others show a divergence that at times almost approaches a "color change." As early as May, 1873, the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ noted a change in the shade of the 3c viz.:-- By the courtesy of a Montreal correspondent we are in possession of specimens of the current three cents, printed in bright orange-vermilion. A supply in this color has just been issued. The _Philatelic Record_ for March, 1888, says "The 10c is now in carmine-red", and again in May that "the 5 cents has changed its color from bronze-green to greenish grey." More than a year later (July, 1889) the same journal says "the 2 cents stamp is now blue-green;" in December, 1890, the 6c is recorded in "chestnut-brown"; while in April, 1892, the 5c is chronicled as having been issued in "grey-black." Similar color changes in most values were recorded in other journals but as there is an almost total lack of agreement as regards the names chosen to designate the different shades these chronicles are of little value in determining the chronological order of issue of even the most striking of the tints. It is also more than probable that after a change had been made the original or earlier tints were reverted to later on. The catalogues are equally at variance in their choice of color names and while Gibbons' gives four shades for each of the 1c and 3c values, Scott gives but two for the 1c and of the four given for the 3c not one agrees with any of the names given by Gibbons'. The only point on which both catalogues agree is that a general change of colors took place during the period of 1888-90, _i.e._, after the printers had moved their establishment from Montreal to Ottawa. But though the later printings of the 6c and 10c do, undoubtedly, differ very materially from the earlier colors--almost enough so, in fact, to be classed as distinct colors--such varieties seem to have been purely accidental and to classify them as separate issues hardly seems correct. In this connection it is interesting to quote Mr. Howes' remarks:-- That the above changes were hardly of a character to warrant dignifying them as a "new issue," which is frequently done, is shown by a moment's consideration. The 1/2c and 1c stamps showed no appreciable difference in coloring and therefore caused no comment. The 2 cent did not retain its blue green shade unaltered, and the 3 cent soon reverted to its former brilliant red hue, as the _Philatelic Journal of America_ for May, 1889, says that "the carmine color recently adopted has been dropped, and the stamps are printed in colors similar to the ones in use before the change was made." The 5, 6, and 10 cent stamps, however, made permanent changes, but only such as might readily be traceable to a new mixing of the inks in the case of the first two. The 10 cent can hardly be so easily disposed of, as lake and brown-red are of quite different composition from a rose-lilac. But there can have been no official intention of altering the shades or colors or more definite and permanent changes would certainly have been made throughout the set. It remains, therefore, to classify them simply as shade varieties of the original set. Mr. Donald A. King, in his article in the _Monthly Journal_, gives no less than eight varieties of paper for the stamps of this issue, though all resolve themselves into slight, and in many cases probably imperceptible, variations in quality and thickness of the usual "wove" paper. Mr. Howes gives a thick and thin wove and "a closely ribbed paper." This latter like the ribbed varieties in the earlier issues, is evidently due to nothing more than some eccentricity of printing and is, consequently, of doubtful philatelic importance. The classification of the series into thick and thin papers seems to have more to be said in its favor if the statement made in Gibbons' catalogue is to be relied on. According to a foot note the stamps printed prior to 1888 (that is, in Montreal), are on a thinner paper than was used for subsequent printings. The _Philatelic Record_ for October, 1893, mentions the 10c as being found on "fine laid paper" but this was evidently the variety more generally classified as "ribbed." The perforation used for the stamps of this series was the usual 12--the work of single-line or guillotine machines. All values are reported to exist perforated 11-1/2 by 12, as mentioned in connection with the issues of 1868, but this statement requires verification before it can be accepted as authoritative. All values are known entirely imperforate, the 3c in this condition being first recorded in the _Philatelic Record_ for December, 1882. Writing in the _London Philatelist_ in 1907 Mr. M. H. Horsley says with regard to these varieties:--"Imperforated copies of various values were sold over the Post-office counter in Montreal about the years 1891-3 at their face value, and have been good for postage whenever people cared to use them." Writing a little later on the same subject Mr. C. L. Pack also vouches for them, viz.:--"I quite agree with Mr. Horsley in regard to the various imperforate copies of the issues of 1882 to 1895. There are a good many specimens of these stamps imperforate, and they were on sale at a Canadian Post Office." Curiously enough Gibbons' catalogue entirely ignores these imperforate stamps though Mr. Howes is able to adduce documentary evidence in support of the statements made by philatelists of such undoubted authority as Messrs. Horsley and Pack. Scott's catalogue records the 1/2c as existing in a horizontal pair imperforate between. The same work records the 2c bi-sected diagonally or vertically and the halves used for 1c stamps, while Mr. Howes adds the 6c, cut vertically and used for 3c. But as the "Canadian Postal Guide" declares that "a mutilated stamp, or a stamp cut in half, is not recognised in payment of postage" such freaks can only have passed through the mails by carelessness or favor and their philatelic interest is negligible. In 1875 an Act of Parliament was passed making the prepayment of letters by postage stamp obligatory and imposing a fine of double the deficiency on all insufficiently prepaid letters. At the same time local or drop letters (accepted for 1c) were restricted to 1/2 oz. in weight. The Postmaster-General's Report for 1879 says:-- A reduction has been made, from the 1st September last, in the postage rate on closed parcels sent by post within the Dominion, from 12-1/2 cents per 8 oz. of weight to 6 cents per 4 oz. Under this change small parcels not exceeding 4 ounces in weight are admitted to pass for 6 cents instead of 12-1/2 cents as before. It will thus be seen that this change did away with the chief use of the 12-1/2c value and made it practically useless. Hence the reason it was never included among the series of small "cents" stamps. In 1889 another Post Office Act increased the limit of weight of single letters from 1/2 oz. to 1 oz., and at the same time increased the postal rate on local or drop letters from 1c to 2c, though a weight of 1 oz. was allowed under the new schedule. An official notice recording these changes was published as follows:-- NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC CHANGES IN POSTAGE RATES UNDER AUTHORITY OF POST OFFICE ACT 1889. The rate of postage upon Letters posted in Canada, addressed to places within the Dominion or in the United States, will be 3 cents per ounce instead of 3 cents per half ounce as heretofore. Upon Drop Letters posted at an Office from which letters are delivered by Letter Carrier, the postage rate will be 2 cents per ounce, instead of 1 cent per half ounce. The rate of postage upon Drop Letters, except in the Cities where free delivery by Letter Carrier has been established, will be 1 cent per ounce. The fee for the Registration of a letter or other article of mail matter, will be five cents upon all classes of correspondence passing within the Dominion. For the present and until further instructed, the registration fee may be prepaid by using the 2 cent Registration Stamps and Postage Stamps to make up the amount. Letters insufficiently prepaid will be charged double the deficiency as heretofore, provided at least a partial payment has been made. Letters posted wholly unpaid will be sent to the Dead Letter Office for return to the writer. JOHN G. HAGGART, _Postmaster-General._ Post Office Department, OTTAWA, 8th May, 1889. _Reference List._ 1870-82. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note Co. of Montreal and Ottawa. Wove paper. Perf. 12. 26. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 40. 27. 1c orange, Scott's No. 32. 28. 2c green. Scott's No. 33 or 41. 29. 3c red. Scott's No. 34 or 42. 30. 5c grey, Scott's No. 38 or 43. 31. 6c brown, Scott's No. 35 or 44. 32. 10c magenta or brown red, Scott's No. 36 or 45. CHAPTER XI.--_The 20c and 50c Stamps of 1893._ The Postmaster-General's Report for 1892 states that "Postage stamps of the value of 20 cents and 50 cents are about to be issued. These will be useful in prepayment of parcel post." These high values were, of course, intended to be used in making up relatively large amounts of postage. They were not issued to be used in prepayment of any specific rates though a study of the postal rates of the period show that the postage on a parcel weighing up to one pound sent to the United Kingdom would require a 20c stamp, while a 2 lb. parcel sent to Japan would take the 50c denomination. The same rates show that the postage on 1 lb. parcels sent to Newfoundland was 15c, though no stamp of this value had been issued subsequent to the series of 1868 nor has one ever since been included in the regular series. [Illustration] These new 20c and 50c labels were issued on February 17th, 1893, and while alike in design, except as regards the denotation of value, they are quite dissimilar from any of the previously issued postage stamps of the Dominion both as regards size and design. The portrait shows Queen Victoria in her widow's weeds and is similar to that shown on the Bill stamps which were first issued in 1868. Above the portrait CANADA POSTAGE is curved, and on straight labels at the foot is the value in words, while between this inscription and the lower part of the medallion are figures of value. The stamps were, as usual, produced by the line-engraved process, and they were printed in sheets of 100 at the Ottawa establishment of the British American Bank Note Company. The manufacturer's imprint was shown twice on each sheet--in the centre of the upper and lower margins. This imprint consisted of the words "British American Bank Note Co. Ottawa," on a strip of solid color measuring 38 mm. in length and 2-1/2 mm. in height. This colored strip has square ends and is enclosed within a pearled border. Both values were printed on the wove paper used for the other denominations then current and the perforation was the usual 12 made by single-line machines. Evidently these values were but sparingly used, for Mr. Howes tells us:-- Both were ordered to the number of half a million copies in 1893, and in 1895 25,000 more of the 20 cent and 30,000 more of the 50 cent were delivered, with a final 200 copies in 1896. These quantities were sufficient to last until the 20 cent was superseded by the newer type in 1901, and the 50 cent by the King's head stamp in 1908. Some 1500 of the 20 cent were returned for destruction and about 10,000 of the 50 cent. It seems hardly possible that but 200 copies of each were supplied in 1896--_i.e._ two sheets of each value--if they were the normal perforated stamps. Possibly this small supply consisted of the imperforates--both values being known in this condition--and if so they may have been printed to fill a special requisition. The imperforate 20c is on the normal shade but the 50c is, as Mr. Howes observes, in a "peculiar black blue" shade. There are no marked varieties in shade as can easily be understood from the few printings which took place. _Reference List._ 1893. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note Co. of Ottawa. Wove paper. Perf. 12. 33. 20c vermilion, Scott's No. 46. 34. 50c deep blue, Scott's No. 47. CHAPTER XII.--_The 8c Stamp of 1893._ Until 1889 the registration fee had to be prepaid by means of the special stamps issued for the purpose. When, in 1889, a uniform registration fee of 5c was adopted the public were given permission to use the ordinary postage stamps in making up the difference between the old rate of 2c and the new one. This was done largely to enable the old 2c labels to be used up. In 1893 it was decided to discontinue the use of special registration stamps altogether and to permit the payment of the registry fee by means of the regular postage stamps. As the rate of domestic postage was 3c at that time and the registration fee was 5c, a new stamp, by means of which both postage and registration could be paid together, it was decided, would be useful. Consequently an 8c denomination was issued, this being recorded in the _Philatelic Record_ for October, 1893, though, judging from the following extract from the WEEKLY for August 10th, 1893, it would appear that the new value was in general circulation at least as early as August 1st:-- The following orders were posted up in all Canadian post-offices on August 1st: A new postage stamp of the value of 8c is now being put into circulation. This stamp will be available for the prepayment either of registration fee and postage combined, or of postage only. The 5c registration stamp, when the present supply is exhausted, will be withdrawn. [Illustration] The new denomination, as stated in the _Philatelic Record_, "resembles in design the 3 cents of the current series; but the head of the Queen has been turned the other way, and is now to the left." This stamp was of similar size to the other values of the set then current (excepting the 20c and 50c, of course) and it was printed from steel plates in sheets of 200 arranged in ten horizontal rows of twenty stamps each. According to Mr. Howes, there were no marginal imprints of any kind. This denomination was printed on wove paper and perforated 12 like the others. The variety with gauge of 11-1/2 x 12 is reported in connection with this value but, like the similar varieties of the earlier issues which we have already mentioned, the statement requires verification before it can be definitely accepted. The 8c is known entirely imperforate in the blue-grey shade, which was one of the earliest if not the first shade for this stamp. The _Philatelic Record_ calls it "slate-grey" but evidently the tint now generally classified as "blue-grey" was meant. This stamp provides a large number of very distinct shade varieties. Just 13 months after it was first chronicled the _Philatelic Record_ says:--"Whether by accident or intention does not appear to be quite clear, but copies of the present 8 cents are found in much darker color than we have hitherto seen. Messrs. A. Smith & Son have shown us copies that are slate-black of the darkest kind." A writer in the _Canada Stamp Sheet_ for October, 1900, says:-- There are three varieties of this stamp, the slate, the lilac-grey and the purple. The first and second tints are comparatively common, but the purple is not found in every dealer's stock nor has it a place in many stamp collections. In fact, it is a variety but little known to the average collector, from the fact that it is seldom offered, either on approval sheets or on the counter of the dealer. There ought to be no difficulty in distinguishing this stamp from its mates of the same denomination, for while the backs of the rest present a white surface, in this case the back or paper is of a decidedly purplish hue. In my opinion this stamp is a good one to pick up now, as its present value is far below its intrinsic worth. Later still, a German paper referred to three main printings for this stamp a translation of the article appearing in _Gibbons Stamp Weekly_ for June 13th, 1908, as follows:-- The last stamp issued showing a portrait of the late Queen Victoria as a young girl was the 8 cents, Canada, issued in July, 1893. The stamp was intended for a combined postage and registration stamp; 3c for postage (inland) 5c registration fee. There were three distinct printings of this stamp; they may be easily distinguished from each other by differences of shade. July, 1893, blue-grey. October, 1895, slate-grey. ? 1897, purple-black. The total number issued of these stamps was 5,885,000, but unfortunately there are no records of the quantities of each of the three printings. It will be noticed that there is no 8 cents in the King Edward VII issue, for the simple reason that the inland rate had been reduced to 2 cents; therefore the present combined postage and registration stamp is a 7 cents. The above extract, it will be noted, is very explicit as regards the actual number issued as well as the dates of issue of the three most distinctive shades. On what authority these statements are based we cannot say, but Mr. Howes shows from official records that many more than the quantity stated were printed, viz.:-- The first delivery of these stamps, and of course the first printing, was of 100,000, as recorded in the stamp accounts for 1893. As these accounts were made up to 30th June, and there is no record of any "issue to postmasters," the stamps were doubtless delivered just before the accounts were closed, so that opportunity had not been given to distribute the new value. For the next few fiscal years the amount received from the manufacturers averaged over a million and a half annually, so that by the time it was superseded it had been printed to the number of at least 7-1/2 millions. _Reference List._ 1893. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note Co. Ottawa. Wove Paper. Perf. 12. 35. 8c grey, Scott's No. 48. 48a, 49 or 49a. CHAPTER XIII.--_The Diamond Jubilee Issue._ The year 1897 was an eventful one in the history of the British Empire, for on June 20th the greatly revered Queen Victoria celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of her accession to the throne. Naturally such an epochal event was marked in one way or another in even the most remote corners of the Empire. In some cases there were public celebrations and rejoicings with, perhaps the erection of memorials, while some of the colonies marked the event by the issue of special series of postage stamps. The Dominion of Canada commemorated the "Diamond Jubilee" by the issue of a highly ornate set of stamps comprising no less than sixteen different denominations, and the inclusion of what were widely termed "unnecessary" high values and the unbusinesslike and somewhat discreditable manner in which they were placed on sale by the Post Office Department cast a slur on Canada's postal history which took many years to live down. Early in 1897 the idea of issuing a special series of stamps was mooted as witness the following extract from the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for January 30th: Many suggestions are being made and many plans laid for the fitting celebration of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign. In Canada ... a proposal has been made and an agitation started for the issue of a commemorative set of postage stamps by the Dominion government.... It has been suggested that the new stamps be made a trifle larger than the present ones, that a somewhat recent picture of Her Majesty replace the present one, and that the figures and colors be made more pronounced.... The agitation for a new issue is quite pronounced and is by no means confined to philatelists. There appears to be a general desire on the part of the people to have a change. At first the intention seems to have been to issue only a 3 cent stamp but, alas, this original intention was stifled like many other good ideas and the Departmental officials, giving their enthusiasm free rein, finally decided on a set to consist of sixteen denominations ranging all the way from 1/2c to five dollars. The announcement of the forthcoming issue of the stamps aroused so much general interest that the series formed the subject of a question in Parliament and according to the _Canadian Hansard_--the official and verbatim record of Parliamentary proceedings--the Postmaster-General (Mr. Mulock) replied to his interrogator as follows:-- It is the intention of the Government to issue a set of Jubilee postage stamps. Such stamps will be put into public use by being delivered to postmasters throughout Canada for sale to the public in the same manner as ordinary postage stamps are sold. There will be a limit to the quantity to be issued. The denominations of Jubilee stamps, and the total number of such Jubilee stamps to be issued, are set forth in the following schedule: _Number to be issued._ _Denomination._ 150,000 1/2c stamps. 8,000,000 1c " 2,500,000 2c " 20,000,000 3c " 750,000 5c " 75,000 6c " 200,000 8c " 150,000 10c " 100,000 15c " 100,000 20c " 100,000 50c " 25,000 $1 " 25,000 $2 " 25,000 $3 " 25,000 $4 " 25,000 $5 " 7,000,000 1c postcards. Total value of one stamp of each kind $16.21-1/2. As soon as the total number of stamps mentioned in said schedule is issued the plates from which they will have been engraved will be destroyed in the presence of the head and two officers of the department. On the 10th of June the Post Office Department will proceed to supply Jubilee postage stamps to the principal post-offices in Canada, and through them minor post offices will obtain their supply until the issue is exhausted. If this Jubilee issue were to wholly displace the ordinary postage stamps it would supply the ordinary wants of the country for between two and three months, but as the use of the ordinary postage stamps will proceed concurrently with that of the Jubilee stamps, it is expected that the Jubilee stamps will last beyond the three months. Inasmuch as the department is already receiving applications for the purchase of Jubilee stamps, it may be stated that the department will adhere to the established practice of supplying them only to postmasters, and through them to the public, who may purchase them on and after the 19th June, 1897. It will be noted that the Post-Office Department made no pretense about the matter but stated quite candidly that the issue would be limited and before very long, by means of different official notices and communications it was made quite plain that the issue was intended to _sell_ and that restrictions would be placed on the scale of the more desirable values, which were issued in but small quantities. With the first supply of these stamps sent to postmasters the following circular was sent:-- N. B.--Requisitions for _full sets_ of the Jubilee stamps will be filled until the issue is exhausted.--E. P. S. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA, _June, 1897._ Sir:--I am directed by the Postmaster-General to send you herewith a supply of the Jubilee stamps and 1c post card, equal to one month's ordinary requirements of your office. Should this quantity prove insufficient it will, on your requisition addressed to this branch, be supplemented; but as the Jubilee issue is limited, it would be necessary for you to apply early in order to secure further supplies of the same. I am also to instruct you not to sell any of the accompanying stamps or postcards before the opening of your office at the regular office hours on the 19th June instant--the eve of the anniversary they are intended to commemorate. These stamps and cards are, of course, like the ordinary issues, to be sold at face value. I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent._ P. S.--As there appears to be a somewhat general desire on the part of many persons to purchase, for souvenir purposes, complete sets of the Jubilee stamps, it is hoped that you will so manage the sale of such stamps that persons applying to purchase full sets may be able to get them.--E. P. S. The stamps were placed on sale throughout the Dominion on the morning of Saturday, the 19th of June the eve of Jubilee day proper. Naturally there was a big rush on the part of the public to obtain specimens of the much heralded stamps and in the larger centres the post offices were literally besieged. Speculators tried to corner the 1/2c and 6c denominations, which advance particulars had shown to be the most desirable of the lower values, but the stamps were doled out carefully and large orders were promptly and firmly refused. But though care was exercised the department was convinced, from the result of the first day's sale, that steps would have to be taken to further restrict the sale of the desirable denominations. The demand for the stamps at the chief office was so great that a circular letter was prepared to be despatched to applicants, this reading as follows:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA, _26th June, 1897._ Sir,--With reference to the numerous demands upon this office for the 1/2c and 6c Jubilee stamps, I am directed to explain that the respective quantities of Jubilee stamps ordered bear, relatively, the same proportions to the actual requirements of the Postal Service, but the tendency to exhaust the HALVES and SIXES has increased to such a degree, that it has become necessary to restrict their sale to the purchasers of full sets. Hence I am to express the Postmaster-General's regret that he is unable, having regard to the limited character of the Jubilee issue, to comply with any requests for the 1/2c or 6c denomination, apart from those for full sets. These sets may be obtained as long as the series of Jubilee stamps last, but as the demands upon it are unusually heavy, it would be advisable to apply for full sets at the earliest possible moment. When Postmasters obtain such sets to fill orders actual or prospective at their respective offices, they must not, in any case, break the sets. I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent._ P. S.--Under no circumstances will there be any issue of Jubilee stamps, beyond the limits mentioned in the accompanying extract from Hansard, containing the Postmaster-General's statement on the subject. At the same time instructions were issued to postmasters that they were not to sell the 1/2c, 6c, 8c and dollar denominations except in the complete sets of sixteen values. Later this ruling was modified and sets to 50c and $1 inclusive were allowed to be sold resulting in the issue of another circular to postmasters worded as follows:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA, _August, 1897._ Sir,--I am directed to transmit to you the accompanying partial sets of Jubilee stamps. These sets consist of two kinds: one from a 1/2c to $1 (value $2.20-1/2), the other from 1/2c to 50c (value $1.20-1/2). You are instructed to sell these stamps as sets, and as sets only, representations having been made to the department that in various parts of the Dominion there is a desire to obtain such sets for souvenir purposes. You must not, under any circumstances, break a set; for, besides the disappointment that such a course would cause, you would render yourself liable to loss, the department having decided not to allow credit for any broken sets returned to it by a postmaster who, notwithstanding the instructions herein given, sells any denominations of the stamps making up a set apart from the rest. I am also to ask you to use your best judgment in the sale of these sets, checking, as far as possible, any attempt on the part of speculators to monopolise them, and thus securing as general distribution of such sets in your vicinity as the circumstances may permit. To enable you to make change in connection with the sale of the enclosed sets I include a sufficient quantity of ordinary 1/2c postage stamps. I may add that the accompanying supply has been based strictly upon the annual revenue of your office, and, having regard to the total number of sets available and the extent of their distribution, represents that proportion to which you are entitled. I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent._ So anxious did the department show itself in its efforts to circumnavigate the speculator, and so obvious was the fact that the Jubilee stamps were issued, like our own Columbian stamps, for the pecuniary profit the Government would derive from their sale, that it is small wonder that the series was condemned and discredited by the philatelic press almost universally. The following extract from the _Monthly Journal_ for June, 1897, is typical of many:-- We are indebted to various correspondents for papers and cuttings with reference to the Jubilee issue of this Colony which will have taken place by the time this is in print. While acknowledging that the design of the stamps appears to be a very handsome and appropriate one, we feel bound to add that the affair possesses no other redeeming feature whatever. The Canadian Government has made a new contract for the supply of stamps, etc., with an American firm, which will apparently involve a new issue of stamps within a short time. If the occasion had been taken for the issue of a permanent series appropriate to the Jubilee year, nothing could have been more agreeable to philatelists throughout the British Empire; but to bring out a set of labels, including unnecessarily high values and printed in limited numbers, to be issued concurrently with the present stamps, is to reproduce all the most objectionable features of the unnecessary and speculative emissions, which we all desire to put an end to. We cannot expect that on such an occasion as this loyal British subjects will be able to abstain altogether from purchasing Jubilee mementoes of this description, but we would most strongly recommend them to be satisfied with copies of one or two of the lower values. Outside the British Empire we trust that this discreditable issue will fall as flat as it deserves. To add to the unsavory tale we have only to say that there was much scandal on account of the openly expressed statements that the desirable values were, in many instances, cornered by postal employes who had, of course, "first option" on the supplies reaching their respective offices. Thus, in the _Philatelic Messenger_ of New Brunswick, we read: But now that the stamps have been issued in certain given numbers and in the Postmaster-General's peculiar way, _where are they?_ That is what a great many want to know and that is a question which must be answered. I know where some of them are. I had a letter from a postmaster's son at a small office in Quebec, asking me what I would give for 45 8c Jubilee stamps. I had a letter from an office in P. E. Island, asking my prices for 1/2, 6, and 8c Jubilee stamps. Collectors in the principal cities of the Dominion have seen whole sheets of 1/2c stamps in the possession of post-office employees. These little incidents may give one some idea where the stamps are. I also have a pretty good idea where the stamps are not. A prominent Toronto dealer laid $100 on the stamp counter the first day of sale, and was tendered two specimens of the 1/2c and 6c stamps. At Montreal, Toronto, St. Johns, Halifax, and all the principal cities, not more than two specimens of the 1/2, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 50c stamps were sold to the same person, that is, of course, outside the post-office staff. I have it on good authority that there is not a stamp dealer in Canada who has 100 of the 1/2c value unless he happens to be a post-office employé also. The stamps are not in the dealers' stock books then, for they have not been able to get them. I wrote to Fredericton the other day for a few 10, 15, 20 and 50c stamps and the postmaster returned the money and said they could be supplied only in complete sets. One meets with the same reception at nearly every post office. What were the stamps made for if not to be sold to the public as the public wants them? What would be thought of a furniture store where one could not purchase a table or a chair but must take a whole set? The thing is ridiculous. While the idea of issuing special stamps to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee was laudable enough, the restrictions applied to their sale and the inclusion of unnecessary high values was, to put it mildly, an official _faux pas._ It has been asserted that the values from $2 to $5 inclusive were quite unnecessary as it was not possible to use either of these denominations in prepayment of any legitimate postal charges. But it was also pointed out that as there was no limit to the weight of a package sent by first class mail a heavy letter could easily call for more postage than $5. Indeed, in his article in the _Monthly Journal_, Mr. Donald A. King stated:-- At a post office with which I am somewhat familiar the posting of letters and parcels for the United Kingdom and other Postal Union countries that called for postage from $1.00 upwards was, at certain periods, a matter of daily, often hourly, occurrence, so much so that the only comment it excited was from the clerk cancelling, who would audibly wish that there were higher values in the permanent issue than 50c and thus save time cancelling the entire length of a large envelope. Within my own experience there has been more than one case where a letter has been mailed on which there was not space to place the stamps; an entire sheet (100) of 15 cents stamps was pasted on, obliterated, and then another with some odd values completed the prepayment; and the case can be recalled of a letter on which $40.00 postage was prepaid. While the Jubilee set was in everyday use the sight of the higher values was quite common on any mail for the United Kingdom and Europe, shipping and commercial houses prepaying their mail with the "dollar" values simply as a matter of convenience. But though there may have been isolated instances in which high values could be used with convenience their very limited use is obvious from the fact that the Canadian government has always, both before and since the emission of the Jubilee set, found a 50c value high enough for all practical purposes. Had postal requirements called for such constant use of high values as Mr. King's remarks lead us to infer it is hardly likely that, when the remainders were finally withdrawn and destroyed in 1905, out of a comparatively small total issue of 25,000 of each of the dollar stamps 94 of the $1, 66 of the $2, 1,835 of the $3, 2,013 of the $4, and 1,240 of the $5 would be returned and destroyed. [Illustration] The design is the same for all denominations and, as we have already stated, is a very handsome one. The stamps are of extra large size and show two portraits of Queen Victoria. That on the left, with the date "1837" below it, is identical with the portrait shown on the old 12d and 7-1/2d stamps, while the one on the right, with date "1897" below, is from a full length portrait painted in 1886 by Professor von Angelo of Vienna. This shows the Queen in her robes of state as she appeared on the assumption of the title "Empress of India." Above the portraits is CANADA POSTAGE and between these words is the so-called Tudor Crown of Great Britain with the letters "V. R. I." below--these latter, of course, standing for Victoria Regina Imperatrix, (Victoria, Queen and Empress). At the base the value is shown on a straight tablet and in the angles, and between the two dates, are maple leaf ornaments. These Jubilee stamps were printed by the American Bank Note Company, who had recently secured the contract for the printing of stamps, bank notes, etc., for the Dominion. In the _Montreal Herald_ for January, 1897, the following particulars are given with regard to the change of printers:-- The contract for the Government engraving, for which tenders were called two months ago, has been awarded to the American Bank Note Company, of New York, for a period of five and a quarter years. The contract is worth $600,000, and may be renewed for a similar period. The work consists of engraving the Dominion bank notes, revenue and postage stamps, postal cards, etc. At present the British American Bank Note Company, better known as Burland and Company, formerly of Montreal, have the contract. They tendered this time, but the New York company was the lowest. The New York company is one of the largest and best known in the world. The firm engraves notes for some of the banks in Canada, including the Canadian Bank of Commerce. Under the terms of the new contract, the Company will require to establish a place in Ottawa to do the work, where the Government can have supervision of it. As compared with the prices paid under the Burland contract, the Government will effect a saving of $120,000 by the new contract. The stamps were, like all Canadian stamps, produced by the line-engraved process, the values from 1/2c to 5c inclusive being printed in sheets of 100 in ten horizontal rows of ten, and the other denominations in sheets of 50 in ten horizontal rows of five stamps each. The only marginal inscription consists of the name OTTAWA followed by the number of the plate. This inscription appears at the top of the sheets only--above the centre of the fifth and sixth stamps in the case of the 1/2, 1, 2, 3 and 5c values and above the third stamp on the values from 6c to $5. The name is in thin Roman capitals, 2-1/2 mm. high, the total length of the inscriptions being about 40 mm. The following are the numbers of the plates used:-- 1/2 cent, plate 9. 1 cent, plates 5, 6, 15, 16. 2 cents, plate 7, 8. 3 cents, plates 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 28, 29, 30, 31. 5 cents, plate 10. 6 cents, plate 17. 8 cents, plate 20. 10 cents, plate 19. 15 cents, plate 18. 20 cents, plate 21. 50 cents, plate 23. $1, plate 27. $2, plate 26. $3, plate 24. $4, plate 22. $5, plate 25. The paper was the usual wove variety and the perforation gauged 12--the production of single-line or guillotine machines. Even in the case of values of which large quantities were printed, like the 3c, variations in shade are remarkably slight. The 1c is known split diagonally and the halves used as 1/2c and while this practice was disproved of by the Post Office Department the half stamps undoubtedly filled a local need as shown by an extract from a Canadian newspaper printed in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_, viz.:-- The _Railway News_ last week on account of not receiving permission from the Post-Master General to allow papers to go through the mails free, was compelled to pay postage. No half cent stamps being available, the post office department allowed one cent stamps to be cut in halves for postage. This is the first time on record we believe where such was allowed and the stamps have been eagerly sought after, one dollar being paid for a single stamp with the post office stamp on it. The _News_ will pay twenty-five cents each for the one cent Jubilee stamps cut in halves bearing the post-office stamp of November 5th, 6th, or 8th, which was allowed to pass through the mails on that date owing to there being no regular half cent stamps available. One set of Jubilee stamps--said to be the first one printed, though of course this statement cannot be taken literally as meaning the stamps were printed one at a time:--was mounted in a specially designed portfolio and presented to the Duke of York, now His Most Gracious Majesty King George V. An account of this presentation set, taken from an old issue of the WEEKLY, is worthy of reproduction: A very unique and handsome piece of work is the postal portfolio which is to be presented to His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, by the Dominion Government, and which is on exhibition in the window of Kyrie Brothers, Jewelers, Toronto. The portfolio is in the form of an album, the cover of which is of royal blue morocco leather, handsomely decorated in gold. In the centre of the front cover is a raised shield in white on which are the words in gold letters, "Dominion of Canada, Diamond Jubilee Postage Stamps, 22nd June, 1897." The corners of the portfolio are decorated with guards of Canadian gold made from British Columbia and Raney district ore. The right hand upper corner decoration is a design of maple leaves, and the lower corner of English oak leaves and acorns. The portfolio is fastened with a clasp of Canadian gold in the form of oak leaves, while the bracket on the front holding the clasps in position, is entwined with maple leaves with the monogram of H. R. H. the Duke of York--G. F. E. A.--George Frederick Ernest Albert. On the third page is the inscription, "This collection of postage stamps issued at Ottawa by the Dominion of Canada in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria is presented to H. R. H. the Duke of York, K. G., by the Government of Canada, 1897." The last page of this unique stamp album will contain the certificate of the destruction of the dies and plates in the presence of Hon. Wm. Mulock, postmaster-general of Canada.... This is probably the dearest stamp album in the world, and contains only a single specimen of each denomination of the Jubilee issue. And now we conclude our history of this Jubilee issue by another extract from the WEEKLY giving an account of the destruction of the dies and plates from which the stamps were made:-- On Friday afternoon, September 10th, I presented myself at the Post-Office Department and joined a party who were just leaving the building to go over to the American Bank Note Co.'s building, a couple of blocks away. Arriving, we were conducted to the top floor by the manager. The plates, dies, etc., were brought out by those in charge, and the seventeen original dies after inspection by those present were placed one by one under a press and an obliterating roller passed over them several times; proofs were then pulled which faintly showed the outlines of the ovals, etc., but the words showing the values could not even be made out. Next, the rolls for transferring the impression from the dies to the plates came in for their share of attention. There were nineteen of them, and a few burns from an emery wheel quickly put each one "out of sight." The plates, 31 in number, were subjected to the same treatment as the dies, and the total time occupied in the destruction of the various parts occupied almost two hours. _Reference List._ 1897. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa, on wove paper. Perf. 12. 36. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 50. 37. 1c orange, Scott's No. 51. 38. 2c green, Scott's No. 52. 39. 3c rose, Scott's No. 53. 40. 5c deep blue, Scott's No. 54. 41. 6c yellow brown, Scott's No. 55. 42. 8c dark violet, Scott's No. 56. 43. 10c brown violet, Scott's No. 57. 44. 15c steel blue, Scott's No. 58. 45. 20c vermilion, Scott's No. 59. 46. 50c ultramarine, Scott's No. 60. 47. $1 lake, Scott's No. 61. 48. $2 dark purple, Scott's No. 62. 49. $3 yellow bistre, Scott's No. 63. 50. $4 purple, Scott's No. 64. 51. $5 olive green, Scott's No. 65. CHAPTER XIV.--_The "Maple Leaf" Issue of 1897._ Soon after the printing contract was awarded to the American Bank Note Company it was rumoured that a new series of stamps would be issued, but for a time public expectations of the new stamps were overshadowed by the appearance of the Diamond Jubilee issue. A cutting from an Ottawa paper dated September 28th, 1897, shows, however, that preparations for a new set were well in hand, viz.:-- The design for a new postage stamp has been approved by the Postmaster-General. There is a portrait of Her Majesty as she appeared at the coronation, except that a coronet is substituted for a crown. The portrait has been engraved from a photo procured during the Jubilee ceremonies, and upon which was the Queen's own autograph, so that it is authentic. The corners of the stamp will be decorated with maple leaves, which were pulled from maple trees on Parliament Hill and engraved directly from them. Everything indeed is correct and up to date, and the new issue will reflect credit on Mr. Mulock's good taste. The engravers will take care to make this permanent and ordinary issue a tribute to their skill. The present stock of stamps it will take some months to exhaust, and not till they are done will the new stamps be issued. It may be about November of this year. About a month later a circular was addressed to postmasters announcing the issue of the new stamps as follows: _Circular to Postmaster._ NEW ISSUE OF POSTAGE STAMPS, ETC. The Postmaster-General has made arrangements for a new issue of postage stamps, letter cards, stamped envelopes, post cards, and post bands. These will be supplied to postmasters in the usual way. Postmasters are, however, instructed not to sell the stamps of any denomination of the new issue until the stamps of the corresponding denomination of the present issue are disposed of. The filling of requisitions by the Postage Stamp Branch will be regulated by the same principle--that is to say, no item of the proposed issue will be sent out until the corresponding item of the present issue has been exhausted. To conform to the requirements of the International Postal Union the color of the new 1c stamp will be green and that of the 5c stamp a deep blue. R. M. COULTER, Deputy Postmaster-General. Post-Office Department, Canada. OTTAWA, 25th October, 1897. The Postmaster-General's Report for 1897, issued after the stamps had made their appearance, also refers to the new issue and to add completeness to our history we extract the following:-- Owing to the change of contract for the manufacture and supply of postage stamps, a new series of stamps became necessary at the beginning of the present fiscal year. New stamps ranging in value from the 1/2c to the 10c denomination (inclusive) were printed, and the first supplies thereof sent out to postmasters as the corresponding denominations of the old stamps became exhausted. A considerable quantity of the higher values of that series (15 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents) remaining over from the late contract, these three stamps continued to be issued, so that the department, previous to the introduction of the same denominations in the new series, might, in accordance with the universal practice, dispose of the old stamps in each case, before issuing any of the new. The design of the new stamps is of a uniform character, and consists of an engraved copy (reduced) of an authorized photograph of Her Majesty taken during the Diamond Jubilee year. This, placed within an oval bearing the usual inscriptions, is enclosed within a rectangular frame, a maple leaf on a lined ground occupying each of the triangular spaces between the two frames. To conform to the regulations of the Universal Postal Union, the color of the new 1 cent stamp is green, and that of the 5 cents a deep blue. This necessitated corresponding changes in the colors of the other stamps of the new series; for example, purple instead of green being selected for the 2 cent denomination, and orange instead of slate for the 8 cent. The first denomination of the new series--the 1/2 cent--was placed on sale on November 9th, 1897. About the end of the same month the 6c made its appearance, and this was quickly followed by the 1c, 2c, 5c and 8c in December. The 3c and 10c were issued early in January, 1898, so that official instructions that the new stamps were not to be issued until the supplies of the old issue were exhausted were fully carried out, though all values were on sale within the space of about three months. [Illustration] The design of the new stamps is at once simple and effective. In the central oval is a three-quarter face portrait of Her Majesty, with head to left, which was copied from a photograph taken by W. & D. Downey, of London, at the time of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Around the oval is a band of solid color containing the words CANADA POSTAGE above and the value in words below, all being in Egyptian capitals. The spandrels are filled with a ground of horizontal lines on which maple leaves rest. While, as Mr. Howes observes, "much criticism was engendered by the fact that the portrait was too large for its frame, making the design appear cramped," public verdict, as a whole, expressed unqualified approval of the new design. The stamps, like those of the preceding issues, were printed from line-engraved plates and, with one exception, these plates contained one hundred impressions arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten each. The exception referred to occurred in the 1/2c, the first plate for which contained 200 stamps, arranged in ten rows of twenty stamps each. This is mentioned in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ as follows:-- By some misunderstanding the contractors, the American Bank Note Co., set the sheet up with 200 stamps, and the first five hundred sheets were so printed. The sheets were afterwards cut in two through the imprint, and we have these half sheets with a close imperforated margin on either the left or right edge. Afterwards sheets of 100 stamps were issued, all the stamps perforated on all four sides. Plate number collectors will find the earliest sheets difficult to obtain. Both sheets bear the plate number 1. The imprint on the sheets followed the plan originated with the Jubilee series, "OTTAWA--No--1," etc., being placed in the centre of the top margin. Each value began with No. 1 and apparently for the 5c, 6c, 8c, and 10c the one plate sufficed. For the 1/2c, as we have already shown, there were two plates, both numbered "1"; while for the 1c there were two plates, for the 2c, three plates, and for the 3c, six plates. The stamps were printed on stout white wove paper, similar to that used for the Jubilee stamps and at some time or other a slightly thinner and more brittle paper seems to have been used. The paper for the 5c is of a distinctly bluish color--this being the first occasion on which colored paper was used for any of the postage stamps of the Dominion. The perforation was the regulation gauge of 12, which has been in continuous use since 1858, and, as the _Philatelic Record_ stated when first chronicling the issue, "many of the stamp are badly centered, a characteristic defect of the American Bank Note Company's work." The 5c is known entirely imperforate. _Reference List._ 1897. Engraved and Printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa, on wove paper. Perf. 12. 52. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 66. 53. 1c green, Scott's No. 67. 54. 2c purple, Scott's No. 68. 55. 3c carmine, Scott's No. 69. 56. 5c dark blue on bluish, Scott's No. 70. 57. 6c brown, Scott's No. 71. 58. 8c orange, Scott's No. 72. 59. 10c brown-violet, Scott's No. 73. CHAPTER XV.--_The "Numeral" Issue of 1898._ The "maple-leaf" issue had not been long in use before complaints were made that owing to the lack of plain numerals it was a difficult matter to distinguish the various denominations. In its issue for April 2nd, 1898, the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ stated another ground for complaint and also referred to a forthcoming change, viz.:-- Much dissatisfaction is expressed by the French speaking inhabitants of the rural parts at the lack of figures of value on the stamps, the denomination in all cases being printed in English which they are unable to understand. It has, therefore, been decided to alter the new stamps by removing the maple leaves from the lower corners and inserting large numerals of value in their place. The space occupied by the head will also be somewhat enlarged and the value will be placed on a straight band below. A few months later the redrawn stamps made their appearance, for the _Monthly Journal_ for July 30th, 1898, records the issue of the 1c and 3c denominations as follows:-- The design is certainly improved, the oval being enlarged so that its outer line covers the outer line of the rectangle at each side and at top and bottom. The band being the same width as before, this allows a larger space for the head, which no longer appears so closely "cribbed, cabined and confined." The inscriptions remain unchanged, but in each of the lower corners is a plain rectangular block, containing a colored numeral. Mr. Howes states that these two values were issued on June 21st, 1898, and, following its usual custom, the Canadian Post-office did not place the other denominations on sale until the corresponding values of the old series were all used up. Thus, the 1/2c, 2c and 6c did not appear until early in September, the 8c was placed on sale in the first few days of October, the 10c was issued in the early part of November, while the 5c, which was the laggard of the series, was not on sale until July 3rd, 1899. [Illustration] Although the design was entirely redrawn and the wider oval gave the portrait a less cramped effect, it did not satisfy all the critics--though, so far as this fact is concerned, it is doubtful if any stamp issued anywhere at any time has met with universal approbation! The stamps were produced by the usual method of steel engraved plates and they were printed in sheets of 100, in ten rows of ten, as had now become the regular custom. The imprint is like that on the sheets of the "maple leaf" issue and, again as with that series, the numbering of the plates started with "1" for each denomination. So little interest seems to have been taken in these marginal varieties that no authoritative record of the several plates employed has been kept. Mr. Howes gives but one plate for the 1/2c, 6c, 8c and 10c values, three for the 5c, four each for the 2c and 3c, and six for the 1c but it seems highly probable there were many more especially for such values as the 1c and 2c which were used in very large quantities. In 1901 there were rumours that some of the stamps of this type had been re-engraved, the foundation for the canard being the following paragraph from the WEEKLY:-- Mr. H. A. Chapman has sent me a specimen of a re-engraved 1c Canada numeral, in which the differences from the first issue demand recognition. The re-engraved type is shorter and wider than the one preceding it. I note also that the 2c is said to exist in the same condition. In reprinting this statement the _Philatelic Record_ observed "Can this be true; or is it only another case of a slight difference caused by the shrinkage after wetting the sheets for printing purposes?" The _Monthly Journal_ for September. 1901, soon set the matter at rest as shown by the following extract:-- Miss A. L. Swift very kindly informs us that a friend of hers made enquiries at headquarters in Ottawa, and was assured that no re-engraving whatever has taken place, and that any differences that exist must be due to shrinkage or expansion of the paper during the process of printing. Our correspondent, who is a well-known American writer upon philatelic subjects and a careful philatelist, tells us that the 1/2c, 1c and 2c of the numeral type and several values of the Maple Leaf type, show these variations, and adds that in the case of the 1/2c of both issues one size is found in grey-black only, and the other in deep black only. It is possible that the amount or thickness of the ink employed may have some effect upon the varying shrinkage of the paper. The same journal refers to the matter again in the following month, viz.:-- In reference to the question of the variations in the size of the stamps of the last two issues of this Colony, a correspondent tells us that he has been studying these stamps, and has come to the conclusion, no doubt correctly, that the variations are due to differences in the quality and thickness of the paper. As in the old case of the Ceylon stamps the longer copies are on thicker paper than the short ones. All stamps that are printed on damp paper, and especially those from plates engraved in _taille-douce_, are liable to vary in this way. The above seems to be the most reasonable explanation of the differences for the measurements of the so-called long and short stamps are practically constant, which one would naturally expect to find if two sorts of paper, differing slightly in thickness and quality, were used. _Reference List._ 1898-9. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa, on white wove paper. Perf. 12. 60. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 74. 61. 1c green, Scott's No. 75. 62. 2c purple, Scott's No. 76. 63. 3c carmine, Scott's No. 77. 64. 5c dark blue on bluish, Scott's No. 78. 65. 6c brown, Scott's No. 79. 66. 8c orange, Scott's No. 80. 67. 10c brown-violet, Scott's No. 81. CHAPTER XVI.--_The "Map" Stamp of 1898._ Shortly after Great Britain adopted penny postage for internal use in 1840 postal reformers began to dream of Ocean Penny Postage, and although universal penny postage is not yet an accomplished fact it is within reasonable distance of being so. A great step in this direction was made in 1898 when at an Imperial Convention on Postal Rates held in London the mother country and various colonies agreed to adopt the rate of one penny per half ounce on letters sent to or from Britain or one another. The following extract from the London _Standard_ for July 13th shows in an interesting manner how far the movement had then progressed:-- We are authorised by the Postmaster-General to state that, as the result of the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates, it has been agreed, on the proposal of the Representative of the Dominion of Canada, that letter postage of one penny per half-ounce should be established between the United Kingdom, Canada, Newfoundland, the Cape Colony, Natal, and such of the Crown Colonies as may, after communication with, and approval of, Her Majesty's Government, be willing to adopt it. The date on which the reduction will come into effect will be announced later on. The question of a uniform reduced rate for the whole Empire was carefully considered; but it was not found possible to fix upon a rate acceptable to all the Governments concerned. A resolution was therefore adopted, leaving it to those parts of the Empire which were prepared for penny postage to make the necessary arrangements among themselves. Since then other portions of the British Empire have fallen into line and the ties binding the English speaking peoples have been further strengthened by the adoption of penny postage between the United States and Great Britain as well as with many of her Colonies. Elihu Burritt, the "learned blacksmith" of New Britain, Connecticut, was one of the earliest advocates of Ocean Penny Postage and late in 1848 he issued a pamphlet setting forth his views on the subject. Exactly fifty years later Imperial Penny Postage was inaugurated though it was on a much broader and more liberal basis than Burritt had dared to hope in his fondest imaginings. Canada, as will be noted from the preceding extract, was the leader in the movement for Imperial Penny Postage and marked the culmination of its ambitious plans by issuing a special two cents stamp. Mr. Mulock, the then Postmaster-General of the Dominion, was responsible for the idea of issuing a special stamp as well as the sponsor for its design. The new stamp was first mentioned by the Ottawa correspondent of the _Outlook_ as follows:-- Mr. Mulock, the Postmaster-General, has chosen the new inaugurating stamp. It is in the form of a miniature map of the world distinguishing British possessions and illustrating the relative vastness of the Empire, in which Canada, of course, plays a prominent part. In commenting on this paragraph the _Philatelic Record_, for December, 1898, stated "A poster stamp even of the large plaster type, which 'distinguishes British possessions and illustrates the vastness of the Empire', will indeed be a _multum in parvo_, and probably the less said the better in anticipation of the realisation of such an apparently absurd idea for a design on such a small engraving as a postage stamp needs to be." The _Ottawa Evening Journal_ gave further particulars about the forthcoming stamp, viz.:-- The new Imperial Penny Postage Stamp, to be used between Great Britain and a number of her colonies after Christmas Day next, has been designed by the Postmaster-General and ready to be issued. It is not to be a special issue, but will take its place among the regular issues. When Mr. Mulock was in Britain he was surprised to notice that the great mass of the people did not appreciate the value or the greatness of the British possessions abroad. This was especially true of Canada. The idea, therefore, suggested itself to him when he was considering a new stamp, to prepare something that would show the dimensions of Greater Britain compared with all other countries. Mr. Mulock asked for some designs from a few artists when he came back to Canada, but they did not meet with his views, and he roughly sketched out something himself and passed it over to an artist to have it touched up. The feature of the new stamp is a neatly executed map in miniature of the world, showing the British possessions as compared with all other countries. The empire is distinguished from the possessions of the other powers by being in red. Surmounting this map is a representation of the crown, underneath which is a bunch of oak and maple leaves, symbolizing the unity of the Mother Country and Canada. At the upper edge of the stamp are the words "Canada Postage" in a neat letter. Underneath the map is placed "Xmas, 1898", so that the date of the inauguration of Imperial Penny Postage shall be a matter of record. On the lower corners are the figures "2," indicating the denomination of the stamp, and at the lower edge is this suggestive passage taken from the works of one of our patriotic poets: "We hold a vaster Empire than has been." Mr. Mulock will be able to claim the credit of giving the public the cheapest map of the world ever issued. The size of the stamp is about the same as the Jubilee issue. The printing of the new stamps began on December 1st, both the Governor-General and Postmaster-General being present while the first sheets were run off the presses. Although it was originally intended to issue the stamp on Christmas Day it was actually placed on sale quite early in the month as explained in the following extract from the WEEKLY: _Ottawa_, Dec. 5th.--It having been stated in some newspapers that the new two-cent Imperial stamp would not become available until Christmas Day, inquiry made at the Post Office Department today to ascertain the truth of this statement elicits the fact that, although it was the original intention of the department that the new stamp should not come into use until the 25th inst., the demand from the public for it has become so pressing that the department has decided to issue it at once, and permit its immediate use to the extent of its face value for all postage purposes. In other words, as soon as it reaches the public it may, if preferred by the purchaser, be used instead of the ordinary two-cent stamp. The two-cent inter-Imperial rate does not, of course, come into effect until Christmas Day. Under date of December 7th the Canadian correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ refers to the actual issue of the stamp, viz.:-- The new Imperial stamps referred to in past numbers of the _Era_ were issued this morning, and although the new Imperial rate does not come into effect until Xmas-day, and they bear that inscription, they are receivable for ordinary postage now. The general design has already been described, but it may be well to say that the stamps are printed in three colors. The frame is in black with white letters, the seas are in a pale blue, or rather a lavender, and the British possessions are in a bright red. The map of the world is on Mercator's projection, which magnifies high latitudes; consequently the Dominion of Canada, which occupies the middle of the upper part of the stamp, looks bigger than all the other British possessions put together. The border of the stamp is of cable pattern and measures 32 mm. in width by 22-1/2 in height. The stamp is printed on medium, machine-wove, white paper, similar to that used for the Jubilee and subsequent Canadian issues, and is perforated 12. [Illustration] The design is well-known to all our readers and as it has already been extensively dissected in the above quotations, further comment is hardly necessary. The new stamps naturally caused lots of criticism on account of their somewhat bombastic legend "We hold a vaster Empire than has been". This was taken from the jubilee ode written by Sir Lewis Morris on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the last stanza of which reads as follows:-- We love not war, but only peace, Yet never shall our England's power decrease! Whoever guides our helm of state, Let all men know it, England shall be great! We hold a vaster empire than has been! Nigh half the race of man is subject to our Queen! Nigh half the wide, wide earth is ours in fee! And where her rule comes all are free. And therefore 'tis, O Queen, than we, Knit fast in bonds of temperate liberty, Rejoice today, and make our solemn jubilee! The stamps were printed in the usual sheet arrangement of one hundred, arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten. The black portion was printed from line-engraved plates but the colored portions were, apparently, printed by lithography. Consequently, three operations were necessary before the stamps were completed and, as may readily be understood, a three color process in such a small compass made exact register a matter of difficulty. Thus on many stamps portions of the Empire are found much out of place, sometimes wandering into the sea and sometimes encroaching in an altogether too familiar manner on their neighbours. The new stamps came in for much criticism, of which the following extract from the _Monthly Journal_ for January, 1899, is a fair sample:-- It is not quite an occasion for captious criticism, and when we get a beautiful colored map of the world for a penny perhaps we ought not to criticise; but we cannot think that the design is a very appropriate one for a postage stamp. The blobs of red are not always quite correctly placed; we have even heard of cases in which a little irregularity of "register" has resulted in the annexation of the greater part of the United States, while England invaded France, and the Cape of Good Hope went out to sea! The Canadian newspapers are not quite happy about it, but that is natural, as they are to pay extra postage in future to make up any deficiency in the budget caused by the reduction in the Imperial rate; we hear that even a Ministerial organ at Ontario complains that the new stamp is too large to lick and too small for wall paper! Some people are never satisfied. The color chosen for the sea portion of the map was lavender at first, but as this was not considered altogether appropriate it was soon afterwards changed to sea-green. In addition to these two tints it also comes in a very pronounced blue. The line-engraved plates from which the black portion of the design was printed have four marginal imprints consisting of AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. OTTAWA in Roman capitals 1/2 mm. high, the whole inscription being 29 mm. long. These are placed above the third and eighth stamps of the top row and below the corresponding stamps of the bottom row. In addition a plate number, in hair-line figures about 4 mm. high, is shown above the division between the two central stamps of the top row, these figures being placed higher on the margin than the imprints. Mr. Howes tells us that plates 1, 2, 3, and 5 are known but that plate 4 does not seem to have been recorded though, presumably, it exists. All four plates are known with the lavender sea and this is known to indicate the first printings, it would appear that all the plates were at press together. The late Mr. H. L. Ewen wrote an exhaustive article on the numerous varieties of this stamp but as most of these were simply due to errors of register their philatelic importance is slight. One variety, however, which is constant is worthy of note. In this two small dots representing two islands in mid-pacific are shown side by side instead of one above the other as on the normal stamps. Mr. Ewen also referred to a slight retouching of one of the plates, viz.:-- Readers will have noted that the stamps are each surrounded by what appears to be a rope. On the sheet of plate 3 before us, the outer edge of this rope on the stamps at the end of each row (right hand side of each sheet) has worn away and has been replaced by a straight line engraved on the plate, except on stamp No. 80, which still shows the very defective nature of the rope. Mr. Howes states that the stamp, with all three colors for the sea, is known imperforate. How many were issued is not known for certain as these Imperial stamps were reckoned together with the ordinary 2c in the postal accounts but according to the _London Philatelist_ the total issue was about sixteen millions. In concluding this chapter we have only to add that the cost of manufacturing the stamps, on account of the three processes necessary, was the relatively high one of 45 cents per thousand. _Reference List._ Xmas, 1898. Engraved and Printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Unwatermarked. Perf. 12. 68. 2c black, lavender and red, Scott's No. 82 69. 2c black, green and red. 70. 2c black, blue and red, Scott's No. 83. CHAPTER XVII.--_The "2 Cents" Provisionals._ One result of the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates held in London, in addition to the inauguration of Imperial Penny Postage, was to revive the agitation for the reduction of the domestic rate on postage in Canada from 3c to 2c on letters weighing one ounce or less. Indeed just prior to this Convention a bill in amendment of the Post Office Act had been assented to by Parliament under which it was agreed the reduced rate of postage should prevail, but no immediate steps were taken to enforce the reduction, it being left to the Governor General to name a date when the change should take effect. The establishment of Imperial Penny Postage, however, brought matters to a head, for it was a ridiculous state of affairs under which a charge of 3c had to be levied in carrying a letter from one town to another in Canada while 2c would carry a similar letter (if under half an ounce in weight) to any point in the British Isles. Consequently the Governor General named New Year's Day as the date when the reduced rate of domestic postage should come into force as shown by the following "Order in Council":-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. By Proclamation dated the 29th day of December, 1898, in virtue of the Act further to amend the Post Office Act (61 Victoria, Chapter 20) and of an Order in Council in accordance therewith, it was declared that the postage rate payable on all letters originating in and transmitted by post for any distance in Canada for delivery in Canada, should be one uniform rate of two cents per ounce weight, from the 1st January, 1899. The immediate effect of this change of rates was a vast increase in the demand for 2c stamps and a corresponding decrease in the use of the 3c. Also, to fall in line with Postal Union requirements a change of color was necessary, but this did not take place at once, the postal authorities preferring to follow their usual precedent of using up the old stamps first. The 3c, which had been printed in large quantities, moved so slowly that the Post-Office Department decided that the only way the stock could be used up within a reasonable time would be to reduce the stamps to the value of 2c by means of a surcharge. This intention, as well as a change in the color of the regular 2c stamps, was set forth in a circular issued on July 1st, 1899, from which we extract the following:-- Owing to the reduction in the Domestic letter rate of postage, the issue of the 3c letter-card, the 3c stamped envelope, and the 3c postage stamp from the Department has ceased. Any unused 3c letter-cards, 3c stamped envelopes or 3c stamps, still extant, will, however, continue available for postal purposes, or may be exchanged at any Post Office, at their full face value, for postage stamps of other denominations. The color of the Domestic-rate postage stamp, as prescribed by the Universal Postal Union, is red, and it is intended to discontinue the issue of the ordinary two-cents purple colored stamps as soon as the present supply on hand is exhausted. This will be about the 20th July, 1899. Thereafter the Department will issue two cents stamps in red, first, however, surcharging down to two cents the unissued remnant of the three cents stamps in red, now in the possession of the Department, and as soon as the supply of such surcharged _threes_ is exhausted, the issue of two cents stamps in red will begin. The surcharged stamps will be issued to Postmasters as 2c postage stamps and be recognised as postage stamps of that denomination. The official estimate of the time the then existing stock of 2c purple stamps would last was not far wrong for on July 20th the first of the surcharged labels were issued. The surcharge follows a somewhat peculiar arrangement the numeral "2" and "S" of CENTS being larger than the rest of the inscription, which is flat at the bottom and concave at the top. This distinctive type is said to have been adopted to make counterfeiting difficult, though it is hardly likely anyone would have reduced a 3c stamp to the value of 2c with the idea of defrauding the Government! Evidently the inscription was specially engraved and from it a plate was constructed so that a sheet of one hundred stamps could be overprinted at one operation. Some little variation will be found in the thickness of the type of the surcharge though whether this is due to the use of more than one plate or simply to overinking or wear is a doubtful matter. The normal position of the surcharge is horizontally across the bottom of the stamps but owing to poor register it is sometimes found much out of position, and specimens with the overprint across the centre of the labels have been recorded. The surcharge was, at first, applied only to the 3c stamps of the numeral type but it was soon decided to also use up the unissued remainders of the 3c "maple-leaf" design by surcharging them in the same manner. These stamps were first issued on August 8th. Both varieties are known with inverted surcharge. How many of each of these three cent stamps were surcharged is not known for certain as the official figures dealing with the issue of stamps makes no distinction between the two varieties. It is stated that altogether 4,120,000 were surcharged and as the varieties are equally plentiful it is only reasonable to suppose that approximately equal numbers of both types were used up. _Reference List._ Stamps of 1897 and 1898 surcharged "2 CENTS" in black. 71. 2c on 3c carmine "maple leaf", Scott's No. 84 72. 2c on 3c carmine "numeral", Scott's No. 85. CHAPTER XVIII.--_The Bi-sected Provisionals._ The somewhat sudden reduction of the domestic postal rate from 3c to 2c on single letters led to the production of a few provisional stamps of peculiar character at Port Hood, N. S., the postmaster of that town dividing some of his 3c stamps into two unequal portions and using the smaller parts as 1c and the larger ones as 2c. In the _Monthly Journal_ for January, 1899, they are referred to as follows:-- In some offices 1c and 2c stamps ran short, and their places were supplied by one-third and two-thirds portions of 3c stamps divided vertically. In some places our correspondent says, these divided stamps were employed without further alteration, but in others we regret to hear that they were surcharged with a figure "2" in purple, upon the figure "3" of the larger portion or the word "one" in green, upon the smaller part; or, to further complicate matters, when thirds of two adjoining stamps were used for 2c each part was impressed with a figure "2." Our informant's letter is franked in part by 2/3 of a 3c stamp surcharged "2" so we fear that this horrible tale is founded on fact. In the same journal for March further reference is made to these provisionals, viz.:-- The surcharged fractions appear to have been used only at Port Hood, N. S., where the Postmaster apparently did not consider it safe to use divided stamps without some distinguishing mark. We have seen other copies since, and find that a figure "1" was struck upon the smaller portion; not the word "one" as previously stated. Again in the April number of the same paper these split stamps are referred to:-- In reference to the cut and surcharged 3c stamps, a correspondent sends us the following extract from a letter from the postmaster of Port Hood:--"When the change in Canadian postage was made--of which we got notice by wire--I had only a very few two cent stamps in stock, so that before I got my supply from Ottawa I ran completely out of them, and, to keep my account straight, I was compelled to cut threes. This was for one day only, and not over 300 stamps were cut. I would say about 200 '2' and 100 '1' were used. About 100 '2' and probably nearly as many '1' were marked with the figures '2' and '1' as you describe, and were placed on letters for delivery in towns throughout the Dominion. Those were the only provisional stamps used by this office." Once more, in June, the _Monthly Journal_ refers to the philatelically notorious Port Hood office:-- A correspondent tells us that the surcharged provisionals were not the first instances of the use of the scissors at Port Hood, an envelope emanating from that office and bearing the half of the 2c stamp, divided diagonally, having been found with the date July 27th, 1898. We do not know what the regulations are in Canada on the subject of receiving postage in cash, but we should suppose that if a postmaster runs out of 1c stamps, receives postage on certain letters, in cash, and then, to save an entry in his accounts, cuts 2c stamps in half and affixes the halves to the letters, it would not be considered a very heinous offence, and it would account for curiosities of this kind occasionally turning up. But Port Hood does not seem to have been the only office in which the scissors were used, for the following letter from the _Montreal Philatelist_ shows that stamps were bi-sected at at least one other office. In this instance the postmaster divided 5c stamps as well as the 3c though, apparently, he did not apply any surcharge to the fractions:-- CROSS ROAD, COUNTRY HARBOR, April 17th, 1900. Dear Sir,--Your enquiry re stamps to hand. At the time you mention the 2c postage was given us so suddenly that I was about out and all my neighbour P. M. was also out and as I could only charge the public 2c I could not afford to put on a 3c stamp so cut 3c and 5c to about even the thing up and sent them along. Three or four days' letters were mailed in this way, but I do not know where they went to. Yours very truly, E. S. SWEET, Postmaster. The same journal in referring to the Port Hood provisionals makes some interesting comments which are worth reproduction, viz.:-- This postmaster must be a relic of the anti-confederation regime, when such mutilations were allowed, as even an entire absence of the required values would not warrant, under present regulations, this antiquated process. In such cases the postmaster should forward the money to the office on which his mail is forwarded with a request to affix the necessary stamps; he can handstamp or write the amount paid on each letter if desired, but that is not necessary. As these fractional provisionals of the Port Hood P. O. were never issued to the public, but were affixed by the postmaster and the amount paid stamped on them, they are no more deserving of collection as postage stamps than the hand stamp or pen mark on an envelope would be if no stamp or portion of a stamp had been affixed. If it is asked "Why cut up and affix the stamps then?" the answer is the postmaster knew no better and wanted to make his cash account correspond with the total of stamps sold and on hand. He tried to simplify his book-keeping--nothing more--but went about it in an antiquated and unlawful way. While genuine copies of these splits on original covers are interesting curiosities their philatelic value is not of the greatest importance, for they were, seemingly, never sold to the public but simply affixed by the postmaster after he had received payment in cash, to simplify his accounts. They were certainly not authorised and if they had been detected at the larger offices they would not have passed as valid for postage. In concluding our notes with regard to these cut stamps we reproduce a letter from the Post Office Department in reply to a collector who had made enquiry about the validity of the splits: P. O. Dept., OTTAWA, _March 30th, 1904._ In reply to your letter of the 24th March, _re_ stamps '1' in blue, on 1/3 of 3, and '2' in violet on 2/3 of 3 cents, I beg to say that the Superintendent of the Stamp Branch assures me that no such stamps were ever issued or recognised by this Department, and if affixed to letters would be treated as ordinary mutilated stamps of no value. It appears that the Postmaster of Port Hood, N. S., at the time of the change of rate found himself short of 2 cents stamps, and, acting on the advice of some stamp fiend apparently, cut up a sheet or so of stamps to make twos and ones. He nearly lost his job over it, but the Department never got hold of any of the mutilated stamps. Anybody could make similar stamps by cutting up and marking old threes. Hoping this may be satisfactory to you, Yours, etc., W. H. HARRINGTON. _Reference List._ The 3c stamp of 1898 divided vertically and each portion surcharged with a new value. 73. 1(c) in blue on one-third of 3c carmine, Scott's No. 85A. 74. 2(c) in violet on two-thirds of 3c carmine. Scott's No. 85B. CHAPTER XIX.--_The 2c Carmine._ According to the Post Office circular quoted in our last chapter the issue of the 2c stamp in carmine--or red, as the color was officially termed--was to begin when the supply of surcharged 3c stamps was exhausted. The new 2c stamp was eventually placed on sale on August 20th, 1899, and it is, of course, exactly like the same value previously issued in purple in all respects except that of color. The same plates were used and later many new ones were put to press. No accurate record of the different plates used for this denomination has been kept but, in addition to plates 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 listed by Mr. Howes, there were probably many others. In 1900 Canada followed the lead of many other countries by issuing the 2c value in convenient booklet form. The Postmaster-General's Report for 1900 refers to these booklets as follows:-- In the month of June, 1900, the department commenced the issue to Postmasters, of a small book of 2 cent postage stamps, containing 12 stamps, disposed on two sheets of 6 stamps each, and interleaved with wax paper to prevent adhesion of the sheets. The size of the book is such as to make it convenient to be carried in the pocket or pocket-book. Printed on the cover is postal information calculated to be of interest to the public. The price at which the book is issued is 25 cents, one cent over the face value of the stamps being charged to cover the cost of binding, etc. These stamp books were first placed on sale on June 11th and they rapidly came into public favor as is evidenced by the increasing sales every year since. Mr. Howes tells us that "the books are about two by three inches in size, with stiff cardboard covers which are bound together by red cloth. The coat-of-arms of Canada with the words CANADA POSTAGE beneath are engraved in red on the front cover, while inside are four pages of postal information and the two sheets of six stamps each--three horizontal pairs--backed by leaves of paraffined tissue paper." _Reference List._ Aug. 20th, 1899. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No Wmk. Perf. 12. 75. 2c carmine, Scott's No. 86. CHAPTER XX.--_The 20c Value of 1900._ On the 29th of December, 1900, a 20c value was added to the numeral series, its advent being quite unannounced. The large 20c stamps of 1893 had been finally used up and the new label not only conformed to the others of the series in design but also took on a new color--olive-green in place of scarlet. It was printed from the usual style of line-engraved plate with the usual sheet arrangement of 100 stamps arranged in ten horizontal rows of ten each, with the imprint and plate number in the centre of the top margin. Only one plate--numbered "1"--seems to have been used and Mr. Howes tells us that "an examination of the stamp accounts during its term of life make it appear probable that approximately 500,000 were issued." _Reference List._ Dec. 29th, 1900. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No Wmk. Perf. 12. 76. 20c olive-green, Scott's No. 87. CHAPTER XXI.--_The Queen Victoria Seven Cents._ Although the reduction in the domestic rate of postage from 3c to 2c in 1899 made the 8c stamp--which was primarily intended for the combined payment of postage and the registration fee--of little use it was not until December, 1902, that this value was replaced by a seven cents denomination. The new stamp was first announced as being in preparation in a newspaper despatch dated Ottawa, Dec. 18th, 1902, viz.:-- The Post Office Department announces that on the 24th instant it will be in a position to supply a seven cent postage stamp to accounting post-offices throughout Canada. This stamp, which is of yellow color, will be especially convenient for postage and registration fee on single rate letters, while it may also be used for other postage purposes to the extent of its face value. Non-accounting offices can obtain their supply through the city post offices. This new stamp will bear the Queen's head, the department not having yet decided on the design of the King's head issue. This posthumous Queen's head stamp was of similar design to the other values of the numeral series and had the same sheet arrangement and marginal inscriptions. There was but one plate--numbered "1"--from which Mr. Howes estimates about one million stamps were printed. This stamp was issued on December 23rd, 1902, according to a statement in the official Report. _Reference List._ Dec. 23rd, 1902. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No Wmk. Perf. 12. 77. 7c olive-yellow, Scott's No. 88. CHAPTER XXII.--_The King Edward Issue._ King Edward VII ascended the throne on January 22nd, 1901, but it was not until nearly two and a half years later that the Dominion of Canada issued new stamps bearing the portrait of the new sovereign. In the meantime there was much comment and speculation as to when the new stamps would appear and as to what form they would take, though the Post Office Department for reasons best known to itself, exercised a discreet silence on the matter. Early in 1903 it was reported in the newspapers that designs had been submitted and that the Postmaster-General had chosen one "bearing an excellent likeness of His Majesty." But the earliest detailed information concerning the expected stamps appeared in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ for April 18th, 1903, viz:-- The King's head series of Canadian stamps will probably shortly make its appearance. The die has been received by the Post Office Department and approved of. The stamp will be very similar to the present stamp except that the maple leaf in each of the upper corners will be replaced by a crown. The figures of value will appear in the lower corners as at present and the value will be spelled out as at present in the oval frame which surrounds the portrait. This frame will be as in the present stamp. The portrait of the King shows him three-quarters to the right, head and shoulders, as the Queen is in the present stamp, but there is no crown on his head. The portrait is an exceptionally nice one and it is understood that Royalty has had something to do with its selection. The die was made in England, although the American Bank Note Co. are contractors for the government work. These details all proved correct and shortly afterwards postmasters were given definite information with regard to the forthcoming stamps by means of an official circular, dated June 10th, and worded as follows:-- Postmasters are hereby informed that a new issue of postage stamps, bearing the portrait of His Majesty, King Edward VII., and comprising five denominations (1c, 2c, 5c, 7c and 10c), is about to be supplied to Postmasters for sale in the usual way, but none of these stamps are to be sold until the first of July, 1903. The colors of the forthcoming series will be the same respectively as those now used for the denominations specified, except that the shade of the 7c will be slightly deeper. Postmasters will please bear in mind that, notwithstanding the new issue, they are not to return to the Department any of the old stamps on hand, but will sell them in the ordinary way. At first, the public may prefer getting new stamps, and if so, there is no objection to this wish being acceded to, but it is also desirable to work off in due course all remnants of old stamps. A change in the design of the stamp of the present series of postcards, post-bands and stamped envelopes, to correspond with that above referred to, will be made as soon as the present stock of these items shall have been exhausted. [Illustration] The new King Edward 1c, 2c, 5c, 7c and 10c stamps were accordingly issued to the public on Dominion Day (July 1st), 1903. It will be noted in one of the extracts quoted above that the die for the new stamps was engraved in London, and shortly after the appearance of the stamps the _London Philatelist_ published the following article which is of such interest as to merit its reproduction in full:-- Although for a long time past we have been aware of the circumstances attending the preparation of the new postage stamps for Canada, and in a position to illustrate the approved design, we have refrained from publishing the facts in compliance with the desire of the authorities that no details should be made public until the stamps have been completed and were ready to be put into circulation. We believe that the delay which has taken place in bringing out the new issue has been due to questions arising out of the existing contract under which the postage stamps of the Dominion are produced, and that even after the approval of the design and the receipt of the die some difficulties were experienced in connection with the preparation of the plates by the contractors. These have happily been surmounted, and now that the issue is an accomplished fact it is with much gratification that we illustrate the design of the new stamp, our illustration, prepared some time back, being taken from a proof from the steel die engraved by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co., of London, and used in the manufacture of the plates of the several values issued by the Canadian postal authorities on the 1st instant By comparing our illustration with the stamp as issued it will be seen that the contractors or the postal authorities have made some alterations in the design, which, in our judgment, are by no means improvements. The leaves in the lower corners have been redrawn on a smaller scale, and hardly impinge upon the frame; their drawing is vastly inferior, and the graceful effect of the broken circle is lost. The numerals of value are in color on a white ground reversing the original design, the labels being larger and the figures taller and thinner, this also detracting materially from the charming homogeneity of the stamp as first proposed. The greatest alteration, and the worst, is the substitution of heavy diagonal lines for horizontal ones in the background. The latter were finely drawn and delicately shaded, leaving the King's Head in clear outline, and _framed_ by the dark oval band containing the inscriptions. The background and frame no longer present this artistic effect, and the whole design materially suffers thereby. The circumstances connected with the inception of the issue are as gratifying as they are novel, and will be hailed with acclamation by the Philatelists of the British Empire. The Postmaster of Canada, Sir William Mulock, being one of the many distinguished visitors to this country during the Coronation festivities, took the opportunity afforded by his visit of approaching the Prince of Wales, and of meeting His Royal Highness's suggestions and advice in the preparation of a new die for the Canadian stamps. The Prince, with his characteristic energy and courtesy, cheerfully undertook the task, and it will be seen from our illustration with absolute and conspicuous success. H. R. H. wisely decided, in the first instance, that it is advisable to have some continuity of design in succeeding issues, and therefore adopted the frame and groundwork of the then current stamps as a basis. In selecting a portrait of His Majesty the Prince decided to rely upon a photograph giving a true likeness of the King as we know him, in lieu of an idealised representation by an artist. The photograph eventually chosen, with the full approval of His Majesty, was one taken shortly before the Coronation. The likeness is undoubtedly what is termed a speaking one, and with the addition of the Coronation robes represents as faithful and as pleasing a picture of the King, at the time of his accession to the throne, as it is possible to find. The introduction of the Tudor crowns in the upper angles, which was another of the Prince's innovations, obviates the difficulty that has so often made "the head that wears a crown" lie "uneasy" on a postage stamp. These emblems of sovereignty, taken in conjunction with the Canadian maple leaves in the lower angles, completes a design that for harmony, boldness and simplicity has assuredly not been excelled by any hitherto issued stamps of the British Empire. It is palpable, on analysing the stamp, (1) that the attractiveness of the design has in no way been allowed to militate against its utility, for the country of origin and denomination are clearly expressed; (2) that the boldness of the design has not been detracted from (as is so often the case) by superfluous ornamentation, and that the design has been artistically balanced by the introduction of the _right-sized portrait_ and the proper treatment of light and shade. These stamps were, of course, printed from line-engraved plates like those of the preceding issues, and the same sheet arrangement of 100 stamps in ten rows of ten each was followed. The marginal imprint shown on the top margin of each sheet is like that shown on the Queen's head sheets and the plates for each value were numbered from 1 upwards. Mr. Howes records the following plates as having been used up to December, 1910:-- 1 cent--Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 24, 25, 34, 47, 48, 51, 52, 55, 58. 2 cents--Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 47, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 78. 5 cents--Nos. 1, 2. 7 cents--No. 1. 10 cents--Nos. 1, 2. It is very possible other plates were used for most denominations before the King George stamps were issued in 1912. The colors were very similar to those employed for the corresponding values of the Queen's head series except as regards the 7c, which was printed in a darker and more pleasing shade. Nearly fifteen months elapsed before any other King Edward stamps were issued when, on September 27th, 1904, the 20c denomination made its appearance. This is of similar design to the others, was printed from the usual sized plate of 100, and bore imprint and plate number in the top margin as before. Only one plate has been recorded and as the use of this denomination did not average over 400,000 a year, it is quite probable that only this one plate was made. This value was issued in the olive-green shade adopted for its predecessor. More than four years elapsed before the next and last value of the King Edward series appeared. This was the 50c denomination, which was placed on sale on November 19th, 1908, after the supply of the old blue stamps first issued in 1893 was finally used up. In design, sheet arrangement, etc., it conforms with the others of the series. One plate--numbered 1--was used. The 2c value of this series is known entirely imperforate and the history of the variety, which is now quite common, is of considerable interest. The imperforate stamps were first mentioned in the WEEKLY for October 10th, 1908, in the following editorial:-- We are enabled to report the existence of the two-cent Canada, current issue, imperforate, a reader having shown us a sheet of one hundred of these varieties bearing the plate number 18. This is a discovery of momentous interest which must attract much attention not alone from specialists but from collectors, as we may say for the sake of distinction, as well. The fact that the pane bears so early a plate number removes it from any inclusion in the theory that the Canadian authorities propose to issue stamps in imperforate sheets in the manner that has been employed by the United States. Without doubt, the sheet under notice was regularly prepared for issue in the accepted way, and it is the belief from information at hand that a sheet of four hundred of the stamps was printed and reached the public. This announcement excited much interest among collectors of Canadian stamps and enquiry regarding the seeming irregularity was made of the postal authorities at Ottawa. The Post Office Department were convinced that no irregularity could have occurred, but finally made an enquiry, and were, of course, compelled to believe the evidence of the existence of imperforate specimens. In the issue of the WEEKLY for February 20th, 1909, a more complete story of the find is related, viz.:-- The sheet as found was not of 400 stamps, but of over 200 stamps, as the right-hand half of the sheet on which our report was based and which was not before us when we wrote, contained a pane of 100 stamps, plate number 14 and an irregularly torn part of plate number 13, showing about fifteen whole stamps and parts of others. Assuming that the lower pane in the left half was torn approximately in the manner of the right lower pane, or plate number 13, the find consisted originally of 230 stamps, more or less. This reckoning agrees, we believe, with the recollection of the person who rescued the imperforates from oblivion, in a philatelic sense. The plate numbers on the sheet that gave authority for the chronicling of the stamps by the WEEKLY are 13 and 14, and not 18, as first printed. A. N. Lemieux of Chicago is the man who found the stamps. While in Ottawa five years ago or so (this was later corrected to June, 1906), when he was in business in that city, he saw the stamps just within the iron fence that has been described as surrounding the establishment of the bank note company that prints the Canadian stamps. The day was a rainy one and the sheet had evidently been blown out of the window. Mr. Lemieux apparently attached no value to the sheet of over 200 stamps, which was in a wet, crumpled condition, and without gum. Mr. Lemieux was under the impression, no doubt, that gum had been on the sheet but had been washed off by the rain. Mr. Severn ultimately acquired what was left of this imperforate sheet, and later submitted the stamps to the officials at Ottawa, who pronounced them but "printer's waste". Mr. Severn, in adding to the history of these imperforates, says:-- They seemingly had been trampled upon and subjected to the usage that would be given such castoff material. Further, it was said that they had been blown or thrown out of a window, no doubt. It was suggested that the stamps be returned to Ottawa and that there were moral grounds for such a course on the part of the holders. The description of "printer's waste" seems to be correct and the inference is that the stamps never had been gummed. They belong to that class of curiosities that appeal strongly to the specialist, but which the ordinary collector regards as something apart from his collecting policy. The stamps did not go back to Ottawa, and the postal authorities there annoyed, doubtless righteously, that such things should escape from their well regulated printing establishment went to considerable trouble to make the imperforates of small monetary value. The following paragraph, written by a correspondent of the WEEKLY, was the first inkling collectors had that the department had thought any more of the matter:-- It may be of interest to know that the last supplement to the Canadian Post Office Guide contains the following: "In view of representations which have been made to the Department, it has been decided to permit the sale of the 2-cent denomination of Canadian postage stamps of the current issue, in sheets of 100, _without the usual perforation._" I at once asked for a sheet of the 2-cent, and incidentally said I would take a sheet of the other denominations if available. A reply came today informing me that only the 2-cent would be available, and then not for some time, as the department intends to make a separate printing of these stamps, to supply whatever demand may occur. It was stipulated that applications for these imperforate stamps should be made to the Postmaster at Ottawa. When the sheets of these stamps came into collectors' hands it was found they had been printed from plates 13 and 14--the same as those from which the originally chronicled "errors" were printed. It is obvious that the Department issued these stamps simply to "get back" at the holder of the sheet so unfortunately blown or thrown out of the printing-office window in 1906. That they were not intended for use in mailing machines seems amply proved from the fact that none of the 2c stamps of the present issue have been issued in imperforate sheets. No 1/2c value was issued in the King Edward design although the Queen's head stamp of that denomination continued in use until 1909. This value was primarily intended for use in prepaying the postage on transient newspapers, but for many years the number sold to the public was out of all proportion to those which could have been required for its legitimate use. There is no doubt that large quantities were purchased by stamp dealers for wholesaling to packet makers and dealers in the cheap approval sheet business and, undoubtedly, stamp collectors in Canada usually preferred to use four 1/2c stamps on their letters rather than an ordinary 2c one. This excessive demand for the 1/2c resulted in the Post Office Department issuing the following circular to Postmasters in 1902:-- The attention of postmasters is drawn to the fact that the postal necessity for the 1/2c stamp, as such, is now confined to one purpose--prepayment of newspapers and periodicals posted singly, and weighing not more than one ounce each. As publications of the kind referred to must, in the nature of things, be few, and as in the case of their being mailed to subscribers by the office of publication, the bulk rate of postage would be far cheaper and more convenient for the publisher, the demand for the 1/2c stamp throughout the Dominion must be appreciably diminished as a result of this restriction of its use. While, of course, any number of 1/2c stamps on an article of correspondence will be recognized to the full extent of their aggregate face value, it is not the wish of the Department to supply them except for the sole specific purpose above mentioned, and an intimation to that effect should be given by postmasters to patrons of their office who are in the habit of buying 1/2-cent stamps for other postal purposes. This circular had quite an effect on the use of 1/2c stamps, for only about one-third as many were used in the year following the publication of the circular. Finally, on May 19th, 1909, the Post Office Act was amended so that the special rate on newspapers was repealed and the minimum postage on any single piece of mail became 1c. This did away for the necessity of 1/2c stamps and, of course, discounted any further possibility of the value being included in the King's head series. _Reference List._ 1903-8. Die engraved by Perkins, Bacon & Co., London. Plates prepared and stamps printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12. 78. 1c green, Scott's No. 89. 79. 2c carmine, Scott's No. 90. 80. 5c blue on blue, Scott's No. 91. 81. 7c olive-bistre, Scott's No. 92 82. 10c brown lilac. Scott's No. 93. 83. 20c olive-green. No. 94. 84. 50c purple. No. 95. CHAPTER XXIII.--_The Quebec Tercentenary Issue._ The year 1908 marked the three hundredth anniversary of the first permanent settlement in Canada, made by Champlain at Quebec in 1608, and plans were formed to celebrate the event in a fitting manner by means of fêtes, historical pageants, etc. In fact, the occasion was considered of such importance that the then Prince and Princess of Wales (now King George V of England and his Royal Consort) were invited to be present at the festivities, and they made a special journey in one of Britain's most formidable battleships. Quite early it was rumoured that the Post Office Department would mark the event, as in Diamond Jubilee year, by the issue of a series of special stamps, and though in March the Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux, who was then Postmaster-General, announced that such an issue would assuredly be made, the Department exercised the greatest reticence as to what values would be included in the series, and what subjects would form the designs. Naturally the Department was inundated with all sorts of suggestions, more or less appropriate to the occasion, but, apparently, the "powers that be" had their plans already made and it was not until a few days before the stamps were ready for use that any information was made public regarding the series. The _Toronto Globe_ for July 4th printed the following despatch from its Ottawa correspondent:-- Postmaster-General Lemieux has given instructions to issue a series of postage stamps commemorating the tercentenary. They are eight in number. Four of them bear portraits of persons dear to Canada, or whose names recall great events. The first represents the Prince and Princess of Wales; the second the King and Queen. Next come Cartier and Champlain, and then, in connection with the battlefields park scheme, Wolfe and Montcalm. The second part of the issue represents Cartier's arrival before Quebec. On the calm waters of the mighty St. Lawrence stand in bold relief three ships of the discoverer of Canada, flying the fleur-de-lys. As a sequel to the above is a very picturesque tableau. In Champlain's narrative of his third voyage to Canada is found the following passage:-- "With our canoes laden with provisions, our arms and some merchandise to be given as presents to the Indians, I started on Monday, May 27, from the isle of Sainte Helaine, accompanied by four Frenchmen and one Indian. A salute was given in my honour from some small pieces of artillery." The artist, under the inspiration of these few lines, has depicted Champlain's departure for the west. There stand two canoes. In one Champlain's companions have already taken their places, paddle in hand, whilst the great explorer is still on shore, bidding good-bye to a few friends. The picture is full of life. The legend underneath reads as follows: "Partement de Champlain pour L'ouest." The word "partement", now obsolete, is the one used by Champlain for the modern one "depart". The same note of old France is used in connection with a view of the first house in Quebec, indeed in Canada, Champlain's habitation, which is called in his narrative "l'abitation de Quebécq". This stamp is a clear reproduction of a cut from Champlain's work. Quebec as it was in 1700 is the next view, copied from Bacqueville de la Potherie's "Histoire de la Nouvelle France". It is a quaint picture of the old city, showing steeples here and there, the fort on the river front and in faint lines the Laurentide Mountains in the background. All stamps bear with the words "CANADA POSTAGE" the line "IIIe centénaire de Quebec". The postmaster-general has given special attention to the selection of portraits and historical scenes to be represented. His choice has been an excellent one. The carrying out of the engraving part of the plan has been entrusted to Mr. Machado, of the American Bank Note Co., who, with keen artistic sense, has performed his part of the work with great success. In the same newspaper of the same date appears another despatch giving particulars of the designs alloted to each denomination and the chosen colors viz:-- The special postage stamps to be issued in commemoration of the tercentenary celebration at Quebec are now ready, and will be placed on sale next week. The stamps are of most artistic design, and are larger than the ordinary size, to allow of adequate representation of historic scenes, portraits, etc. The description of each denomination is as follows:-- Half-cent, grey, picture of the Prince and Princess of Wales. One-cent, green, portraits of Champlain and Cartier. Two-cent, red, King Edward and Queen Alexandria. Five-cent, blue, representation of L'Habitation de Quebec. Seven-cent, yellow, pictures of Montcalm and Wolfe. Ten-cent, mauve, picture of Quebec in 1700. Fifteen-cent, orange, picture of the Parliament of the West in the old regime. Twenty-cent, green, picture of a courier du sois with Indians. The stamps were placed on sale on July 16th and, as will be noted from our illustrations, they are as described above except that the 15c does not have Champlain's name on it as stated in the first quotation, and that the 15c and 20c are incorrectly described in the second despatch. The stamps are of similar shape to the special series issued in Diamond Jubilee year though they are a trifle larger--1 mm. taller and nearly 3 mm. longer. The Postmaster-General's Report for 1909 referred to this issue as follows:-- To meet what appeared to be a general wish a special series of postage stamps, which has come to be known as the Tercentenary Series, was introduced as a feature of the celebration in July, 1908, of the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of Quebec by Champlain. The first supply of these stamps was sent out to Postmasters about the middle of that month, and was on sale to the public by the time His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, reached Quebec for the celebration. The demand for the new stamps was extraordinary, and for the better part of a month was steadily kept up. The interest taken in them was, in no small measure, due to the historic associations with which in design they were so happily linked, the subjects depicted in the several denominations of the series being in variety and appropriateness admirably adapted to the end in view,--popular recognition of an epoch-making event. Except as regards the Postal Union denominations of 1c, 2c and 5c the colors chosen for the stamps of this series do not correspond with those of the regular set. The stamps were produced by the line-engraved process, which has long been the standard method of production for Canada's stamps, and as usual they were issued in sheets of one hundred in ten rows of ten. It seems probable that the plates for the 2c, and possibly for the 1c also, consisted of two panes of 100 stamps each placed one above the other. This seems to be proved from the fact that, whereas on most sheets the imprint "OTTAWA" followed by the plate number, appears in the centre of the top margin, sheets of the 2c are known with the imprint in the centre of the bottom margin, and in the case of plates 3 and 4 both imprint and number are inverted. The inversion on these particular plates was, probably, purely accidental. But though these large plates were used the stamps were always issued in the usual sheet size of 100. The following plates are known to have been used:-- 1/2c dark brown. No. 1. 1c blue-green, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4. 2c carmine, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4. 5c dark blue, Nos. 1, 2. 7c olive-green, No. 1. 10c dark violet, No. 1. 15c red-orange, No. 1. 20c yellow brown. No. 1. The stamps were all printed on the usual white wove paper and were perforated 12, though specimens of the 2c are known entirely imperforate. Fairly well marked shades may be found in connection with the 1c and 2c denominations but the other values show but very slight differences. [Illustration] [Illustration] The royal portraits on the 1/2c and 2c values call for little comment, though it is interesting to note that the portrait of the Princess of Wales (now Queen Mary) is exactly similar to that shown on the 4c stamp of Newfoundland which was first issued in 1901. The picture of the Prince of Wales (now His Majesty King George V) was from a photograph by W. & D. Downey, of London, taken just prior to his journey to India in 1906. [Illustration] The portrait of Jacques Cartier on the 1c is precisely like that which appears on Canada's first 10d stamp. In _Gibbons' Stamp Weekly_ for January 16th, 1909, the following interesting account of Cartier's voyage appears:-- In the year 1533 Jacques Cartier was empowered by Philipp Cabot, "the Admiral of France," to fit out ships "to explore new territories, to gain them, by robbery or otherwise, for France, and at the same time to endeavour to find a north-west passage to Cathay". As long before as 1506 the Florentine explorer, Giovanni Verozzani, had seized the territories of North America lying to the north of the St. Lawrence River in the name of the King of France, but the seizure had never been enforced, and remained a seizure only in name. On this, his first voyage, Cartier discovered Newfoundland, and, sailing on, anchored off the northerly coast of the Gaspé Peninsula, by which the River St. Lawrence sweeps into the gulf of the same name. The season was very late, however, and bad weather was to be expected, so Cartier was obliged to set sail for France without delay. He took with him to France two sons of an Indian chief, and they caused great excitement in Paris. King Francis I was so pleased with this exploit that on October 31, 1534, he nominated Captain Jacques Cartier to be "Royal Pilot" (_Pilote Royale_), and had three more ships prepared for him to make a second voyage to Newfoundland. Preparations for the departure were hurried on at St. Malo, Cartier's birthplace, and at the beginning of May all was ready for the departure. Three ships took part in the voyage, viz.: _La Grande Hermione_, _La Petite Hermione_, and _La Hermionette._ The first two were vessels rated at 120 and 80 tons respectively, and the last was a galleon of 40 tons. On the after part of the first two vessels there were no less than three decks as superstructure, while forward there was only one deck. They were provided with the full naval armament of the sixteenth century; on the gunwale were mounted small cannon, and also a battery of mortars or similar weapons. The galleon was a long slender ship of extremely low freeboard, rakish rigged as a single-master, both sails and oars being used as a means of propulsion; two small cannon were mounted forward, and a round dozen arquebuses were also carried. The total company and passengers of the three ships were only 110 all told. On the morning of May 19th, 1535, the little flotilla set forth on its long voyage of exploration after having saluted the town with every gun on board. On September 14th of the same year Cartier sighted land, which spread itself out on either side of the ships as far as the eye could reach, and found signs of a village; the place was called Canada by the natives, the meaning of the word in the native language being "The Town". This village was the seat of "government", and was occupied by an Indian chief called Donnacona; it was situate right on the shore of the bay formed by the junction of the rivers St. Charles and St. Lawrence. The village seemed to consist of huts built irregularly on the steep sides of a mountain, the spot later being the position of the southerly and easterly quarters of Quebec. [Illustration] The historical moment of the arrival of Cartier's brave little "fleet" is interestingly depicted on the 20c value of the tercentenary series. Samuel de Champlain, whose portrait is also shown on the 1c denomination, was born in 1570 and died in 1635. Again we are indebted to the article in _Gibbons' Stamp Weekly_ for the following particulars:-- In 1603 he was commissioned by King Henry IV of France to found a settlement in Canada. On his first voyage he sailed up the St. Lawrence, and established friendly relations with the various native chiefs of the tribes inhabiting the country through which the river flowed. On his second voyage he was accompanied by only thirty people, and on July 3rd, 1608, he landed at the village of Canada, which was mentioned above. His first thought was to find a site suitable for the erection of an "_abitation_" where he might pass the winter that was coming on. "I could find no more comfortable or better spot than the land around Quebec, where countless nut trees were to be seen," wrote Champlain. That was exactly the same place where Cartier had built his fort sixty years before. Thanks to extreme industry, winter quarters were rapidly erected. The habitation consisted of three principal buildings, each two stories high. Two of these buildings measured 18 ft. long by 9 ft. wide, and the third, used as a storehouse, was 36 ft. long by 18 ft. wide and had a large cellar. In the first building Champlain lived with a few of the workmen in the lower story; in the other the remaining workpeople lived, and had with them the arms and ammunition of the whole party. An annexe was attached to one of the buildings, and it was used as a smithy; a few of the people also slept there. The whole of the buildings were enclosed by a trench or moat 15 ft. wide and 9 ft. deep, to protect the settlers from the ravages of wild beasts. Champlain had earthworks thrown up on the inner side of the moat, on which cannons were mounted. Between the encampment and the river there remained a strip only 24 ft. wide; and behind, on the side of the mountain, there was a plot of arable land a little more than 100 ft. long and 60 ft. wide, where Champlain had corn sown and vines planted. [Illustration] This "abitation" is shown on the 5c value of the series, while on the 10c is shown the city of Quebec as it had grown by 1700 from such small and modest beginnings. [Illustration] In the following May Champlain decided to explore the river and his departure on this momentous journey is depicted on the 15c stamp. [Illustration] On the 7c denomination are portraits of the two famous generals, Montcalm and Wolfe, both of whom were killed fighting each other on the heights of Quebec. Again, to quote from the article in _Gibbons' Stamp Weekly:_-- [Illustration] So early as 1628 Quebec was captured by the English, in spite of Champlain's brave defence; but Canada was restored to France by one of the terms of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which was concluded in 1632. Richelieu at once sent Champlain back to Quebec as Governor-General of Canada. Twice more, in 1690 and 1711, the English besieged Quebec, but they were not able to capture the town. But in 1759 General James Wolfe was ordered by Pitt to clear the French right out of Canada. The French troops were under the command of Marquis Ludwig Joseph Montcalm, of Saint-Veran. Although the latter was in command of only a small force, he was able to claim several victories, but finally he was besieged in Quebec by General Wolfe, at the head of 30,000 men. He was obliged to give battle under unequal conditions, and on September 13th was mortally wounded at the battle of the Heights of Abraham and died two days later. The victorious English general was also killed in the same battle. The names of both these leaders, enemies though they were, have graven themselves inseparably on the memories of the inhabitants of Quebec. In 1827 the Governor of Canada, Lord Dalhousie, erected a marble monument to their memory, on which is a Latin inscription, which may be rendered freely thus:-- "Their courage caused their death. History praises them both. Posterity erects this monument to their honour." No advance information was published as to the numbers printed of the several values in the series, as in the case of the Jubilee set, so that little attempt at cornering any particular values was made by speculators. True, large quantities of the 1/2c value were bought up by people who imagined it would be as rare as the corresponding value of the Jubilee stamps, but as there were two million of these they did not turn out to be the gold-mine it was fondly imagined they would. By September, 1908, all values except the 10c, 15c and 20c had been exhausted and by the end of October these three values were sold out as well. The numbers issued were later given out by the Postmaster-General in answer to two questions propounded to him in the House of Commons by Mr. Perley, a member. The Canadian _Hansard_ gives this data as follows:-- 1.--What was the total amount received by the Post Office Department from the sale of the special Tercentenary stamps? 2.--What part of this sum would probably have been received as ordinary revenue if there had been no special issue of stamps? To these questions the Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General, responded: The following was the issue to Postmasters of the Tercentenary postage stamps: _Denominations._ _Quantities._ _Value._ 1/2 cent 2,000,000 $10,000 1 cent 22,530,000 $225,300 2 cent 35,100,000 $702,000 5 cent 1,200,000 $60,000 7 cent 700,000 $49,000 10 cent 500,000 $50,000 15 cent 300,000 $45,000 20 cent 304,200 $60,840 ---------- --------- Totals, 62,634,200 $1,202,140 The department has no knowledge whether the stamps in question have all been sold, as during their issue the ordinary postage stamps were also on sale, both issues being in use as preferred by the public. The proceeds derived from the sale of stamps of the two issues were not kept separately, but treated as arising from a common source. It is, therefore, impossible to state to what extent the issue of the Tercentenary postage stamps may have affected the ordinary revenue. The fact that the Prince of Wales was an ardent stamp collector resulted in the presentation to him of a specially mounted set as shown by the following paragraph from the WEEKLY:-- As the Prince of Wales is an enthusiastic collector of stamps, His Royal Highness will no doubt be very pleased to receive the set of the special tercentenary stamps which will be presented to him at Quebec. The stamps will be held in small gold boxes, enclosed in a handsome large box of Morocco leather. A second set accompanies the gift in a special gold box, on the cover of the large box is the Prince's crest and a gold plate inscribed as follows: "Set of Canadian postage stamps issued upon the occasion of the Quebec tercentenary, 1908. Presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales by Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General of Canada." Sets of these stamps, in boxes with appropriate crests and monograms, will be presented to Earl Grey, Sir Wilfred Laurier and Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux. _Reference List._ 1908. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12. 85. 1/2c dark brown, Scott's No. 96. 86. 1c blue green, Scott's No. 97. 87. 2c carmine, Scott's No. 98. 88. 5c dark blue, Scott's No. 99. 89. 7c olive green, Scott's No. 100. 90. 10c dark violet, Scott's No. 101. 91. 15c red orange, Scott's No. 102. 92. 20c yellow brown, Scott's No. 103. CHAPTER XXIV. _The King George Stamps._ On May 6th, 1910, King George V succeeded to the throne but the Dominion of Canada did not take steps towards issuing a series of stamps bearing the portrait of the new monarch until some time later. The 1c and 2c denominations were recorded in the _Monthly Journal_ for January, 1912, so they were doubtless on sale on the 1st day of that month. The other values--5c, 7c, 10c, 20c and 50c--were placed on sale very soon afterwards and we believe the full series was in circulation before the end of January. [Illustration] The new stamps form a highly attractive set and they are without question the handsomest set of "George" stamps issued by any of the British Colonies. The portrait, which shows His Majesty in an admiral's uniform, three-quarter face to left, is, as the _Monthly Journal_ states "the best portrait of King George that has yet appeared on stamps." The portrait is contained within an oval above which the words CANADA POSTAGE are curved in bold sans-serif capitals. Below is the value ONE CENT, etc., in words while in each of the lower angles the value is shown in figures on a plain square as in the case of the King Edward stamps. In the upper corners are crowns, again like the King Edward labels, but the treatment of the stamp as a whole is widely dissimilar. The portrait oval is smaller than before so that in place of the almost microscopical maple leaves shown on the King Edward stamps we now find a spray of these leaves, beautifully drawn, in each of the lower spandrels. The stamps were printed in sheets of 100 as before with the usual arrangement of marginal imprint and plate numbers. No record seems to have been made of the plates but that a very large number of the 2c at any rate were used is obvious from the high numbers found. The 1c and 2c values show a number of prominent shades. Just a month after the stamps were first chronicled the _Monthly Journal_ noted that the 1c existed in two distinct shades--"yellow-green and blue-green". In October, 1912, the same journal mentioned the receipt of the 5c "in a very markedly altered shade, deep ultramarine instead of the previous deep indigo", while in January, 1913, we read of two very pronounced shades of the 2c--bright carmine and dull rose-red--in addition to the usual rose-carmine tint. In November, 1913, this denomination was noted in still another striking shade described as "almost carmine-lake". In the February, 1913, issue of the _Philatelic Gazette_ reference is made to these shades and other varieties as follows:-- Collectors of shades should not fail to secure before it is too late, the interesting series of such varieties in the current King George series of Canada. In the 1 cent stamp four distinct shades are noted and in the 2 cent value no less than ten distinct shades from a pale carmine rose to deep carmine and from a real brick red to a reddish-brown or sienna red. Several "errors" or "freaks of printing" have appeared, mostly in the early impressions, caused probably by the rush and push of the printers in trying to meet the large demand. I have noted the following and believe they will be of interest to collectors: 1 Cent.--An accent between CANADA and POSTAGE; also accents between N and D of CANADA. 2 Cent.--The same varieties may be found on the 2 cent stamp printed from plate one. 2 Cent.--On plate two there appeared on the 97th stamp on the plate a marked accent on the C of CENTS. 2 Cent.--In February, 1912, some few sheets were issued, having the red horizontal guide lines running across the stamps. These were printed from unfinished plates from which the guide lines had not been removed. They are easily distinguished, having the lines about 2 millimeters apart running across every stamp on the sheet. The lines are very plain where they run through the figures of value.--C. L. P. The variety last described is a very interesting one which may also be found in connection with the 1c denomination. To term them guide-lines and prints from "unfinished plates" is, however, quite incorrect. Such guide-lines as are marked on a plate are only placed vertically or horizontally to correspond with the top or bottom or one of the sides of the stamp design. The lines, which we are now considering, appear comparatively close together though they are not equi-distant, as the above description would lead us to imagine, nor are they always parallel or straight. They are undoubtedly due to some inherent defects in the plates. Possibly, in the rush to finish sufficient plates to cope with the demand for the new stamps some of them were hardened too quickly with the result that the surfaces cracked. These defective plates were certainly among the earliest ones used and judging by the scarcity of the stamps showing these peculiarities they were not in use long before they were discarded. The 1c and 2c values of this series were issued in coil form for use in automatic vending machines. These were first issued in November, 1912, perf. 8 vertically and imperforate at top and bottom. In October, 1913, the 1c was issued perf. 8 horizontally and imperforate at the sides and shortly afterwards the 2c appeared in the same way. These coil stamps show quite a number of distinct shades. The 1c in coil form was also issued with the 12 perforation at top and bottom and imperforate at the sides. _Reference List._ Engraved and Printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12. 93. 1c green, Scott's No. 104. (a) Perf. 8 vertically. Scott's No. 104c. (b) Perf. 8 horizontally, Scott's No. 104b. (c) Perf. 12 horizontally, Scott's No. 104a. 94. 2c carmine. Scott's No. 105. (a) Perf. 8 vertically, Scott's No. 105a. (b) Perf. 8 horizontally, Scott's No. 105b. 95. 5c deep blue. Scott's No. 106. 96. 7c olive-yellow, Scott's No. 107. 97. 10c dull purple, Scott's No. 108. 98. 20c olive-green, Scott's No. 109. 99. 50c sepia, Scott's No. 110. CHAPTER XXV. _The War Tax Stamps._ One result of the European war was that Canada, in common with many other countries, had to impose special taxes. The Hon. W. T. White, Minister of Finance, outlined the various tariff changes and special taxes in the House of Commons, Ottawa, on February 11th, 1915, and a resume of the chief items in the new "budget" was published in the WEEKLY for Feb. 7th as follows:-- The tariff changes went into effect at the time of the announcement. The special tax on wine and champagne goes into effect at once. The other special taxes take effect at a date to be yet fixed. The stamp tax on letters means that the old 3 cent postage rate is restored, and a city letter costs 2 cents. There is to be no income tax. The following are some of the items of taxation:-- One cent on telegraph and cable messages. Five cents for every five dollars on railroad and steamboat tickets. Ten cents on sleeping car and five cents on parlor car tickets. One to three dollars per passenger from steamboat companies carrying to ports other than in Canada, Newfoundland, the United States of America, and British West Indies. Two cents on all bank checks, receipts and bills of exchange, express and post-office orders. One cent on postal notes. One cent (war stamp) on each letter and postcard. Five cents per quart on non-sparkling wines sold in Canada, and twenty-five cents per pint on champagne and sparkling wines. One cent on each twenty-five cents retail price of proprietary articles. The only tax that has interest to us as philatelists is the one cent impost on all letters and postcards. This came into effect on April 15th, 1915, and special stamps were issued for the purpose. These are the regular 1c postage stamps of the King George series with the words "WAR TAX", in two lines, in large colorless block capitals between the portrait and the value. As this stamp collected a tax on letters and postcards it will undoubtedly be considered collectible by the most advanced of the philatelic purists. A 2c value was also issued in this type and while this was primarily intended for use on money orders, checks, etc., it was also quite frequently used for postage. In fact there seems to have been no necessity for these special stamps, for so long as a letter had 3c postage on it (or 2c in the case of drop letters) the law was fully complied with. That both the 1c and 2c values were good for postage is proved by the following letter addressed to Mr. Gladstone Perry in answer to an enquiry by him:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, OTTAWA, _22nd April, 1915._ Dear Sir:-- I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 19th inst. on the subject of War Tax Stamps. In so far as the Post Office Department is concerned, the War Tax Stamps have only been issued in two denominations, namely:--the one cent and two cent. The Two Cent War Tax Stamp may be used on money orders, cheques, notes and wherever else the tax on that amount is applicable. I would also add that ordinary postage stamps may also be used to pay the War Tax and that Post Office War Tax Stamps are available for postage purposes. Very sincerely yours, E. J. LEMAIRE, Superintendent, _Postage Stamp Branch._ It was considered, however, that a stamp which would pay both postage and tax would be a great convenience to the public and in December, 1915, a stamp of this sort was issued. The official announcement regarding these was as follows:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, OTTAWA _December 30th, 1915._ Sir:--I have the honor to enclose three specimens of a stamp which this Department is issuing for postage and War Tax purposes, having a value of three cents. This is an ordinary two cent postage stamp surcharged as follows: 1 T c (one cent tax). This has been issued in response to the demand of the public for a stamp having the value of three cents so that postage and War Tax might be paid by affixing one stamp. This stamp is of permanent validity. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, R. M. COULTER, _Deputy Postmaster-General._ The new stamps were printed from engraved plates as usual from a special die adapted from the ordinary 2 cent stamp. Upon the King's coat, immediately below the portrait but within the portrait oval, is engraved a capital "T" beneath the left branch of which is the numeral "1", and beneath the right branch the letter "c" for cent. These presumably came into general use on January 1st, 1916. Sometime in July or August, 1916, this special 3c stamp was reported as existing with a perforation of 12 at top and bottom and 8 at the sides. It was generally presumed these were stamps from sheets which had been originally intended for coil use and this was confirmed in a letter sent to a correspondent from the Superintendent of the Postage Stamp Branch at Ottawa, viz.:-- The explanation of this lies in the simple fact that owing to quick deliveries of this stamp being required by the Department, the manufacturers were obliged to use part of stock which had been prepared for roll postage and perforated sidewise with the wide perforation. These sheets were then perforated endwise with the regular perforation and issued. It is said that 50,000 of these stamps were supplied to the Montreal Post-office but whether this represents the total quantity issued or not we cannot say. As this 3c tax stamp was in the same color as the ordinary 2c label much confusion resulted and the advantage of issuing the stamp in a distinctive color was ultimately considered by the Post Office Department. Rumours that the color would be changed began to circulate early in September, 1916, and shortly afterwards the stamp made its appearance in an attractive brown color. The new stamp was apparently distributed late in August and postmasters were instructed not to issue it until all stocks of the old 3c in carmine had been sold. The circular dealing with this matter is worded as follows:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, OTTAWA, _28th August, 1916._ TWO-CENT SURCHARGED POSTAGE AND WAR TAX STAMP. The Postmaster will please observe that the 2c Surcharged Postage and War Tax stamps, herewith enclosed, are printed in BROWN instead of in RED, as formerly. In future these stamps will be issued in the colour mentioned so as to overcome the difficulty experienced owing to the similarity in colour to the ordinary 2c stamp. Before offering to the public any of the new stamps it is very desirable that the old stock he entirely sold. R. M. COULTER, Deputy Postmaster-General. _Reference List._ 1915-16. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12. 100. 1c green, Scott's No. 201. 101. 2c+1c carmine, Scott's No. 202. (a) Perf. 12 x 8. 102. 2c+1c brown. CHAPTER XXVI. _A Proposed Commemorative Series._ Before concluding our notes regarding the postage stamps proper of Canada it will be as well to make brief reference to a proposed commemorative series which, fortunately or unfortunately as one views these special sets, never eventuated. Early in 1914 proposals were on foot to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Sir George Etienne Cartier by the issue of a series of stamps of distinctive designs. Cartier was a famous Canadian premier who was born in Lower Canada in 1814. Becoming attorney-general for Lower Canada in 1856, he was called to form the Cartier-Macdonald ministry in 1858. After the fall of his ministry he again became attorney-general in 1864. A fearless and upright leader, and a good orator, he did much for the moulding of a united Canada. He is also famed as a writer of French lyrics, which were published in 1875, two years after his death. Whether the stamps ever got beyond the proposal stage is a moot point but at any rate a list of chosen subjects was published, viz.:-- 1 cent, Portraits of King George and Queen Mary. 2 cents, The Cartier Monument. 5 cents, Cartier's birthplace. 7 cents, Portrait of the Prince of Wales. 10 cents, Victoria Bridge, inaugurated by Cartier. 20 cents, Canadian Pacific Railway train inscribed "All Aboard for the West." 50 cents, Cartier's Coat-of-Arms; motto, "Franc et sans dol"; inscription. "O Canada, mon pays, mes amours". It was at one time definitely announced that the stamps would be placed on sale on June 15th but a correspondent making enquiry at headquarters was informed that "the Department is not yet decided to sell the Cartier stamps." As the stamps still failed to make an appearance a firm of English stamp dealers wrote to the Canadian Post-Office department for information and received the following reply:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. _Office of the Superintendent of the Postage Stamp Branch._ OTTAWA, _29th June, 1914_. Dear Sirs:--I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor addressed to the late Mr. Stanton, and in which you ask information with reference to the proposed issue of stamps to commemorate the centenary of Sir George Etienne Cartier. The information which you have received from outside sources is not only premature, but inaccurate in several details, and I can only say that although it is possible that these stamps may be issued during the course of the next few months the whole question is still under the consideration of the Department. Yours very sincerely, E. J. LEMAIRE, _Superintendent_. Finally, owing very probably to the war, it was decided not to issue this special series of stamps. CHAPTER XXVII. _Official Stamps._ Canada has never issued special postage stamps for use on departmental correspondence but in November, 1884, a German paper,--_Der Philatelist_--on the advice of a correspondent, chronicled a series for official use. These were said to consist of the ordinary adhesives, two envelopes and a post card surcharged with the word OFFICIAL in black. To quote from the _Philatelic Record:_--"It is alleged that they were prepared and issued in 1877, but after a short time were called in again. The surcharges are in some cases oblique, and in others perpendicular. It is at least strange that, considering our intercourse with Canada, our first knowledge of the issue of official stamps so far back as 1877 should reach us from Temesvar, wherever that may be". Doubts were, naturally, expressed on all sides with regard to the authenticity of these labels and a letter addressed to Ottawa on the subject resulted in the following reply:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, OTTAWA, _18th May, 1885_. Sir:--I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 29th ult., enquiring whether postage stamps bearing the word "_Official_" on their face are in circulation in the Dominion of Canada, and beg, in reply, to say that no such stamp, card, newspaper wrapper, or envelope has _ever_ been issued by this Department. I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) WM. WHITE, _Secretary_. Two years later, in April, 1887, after this canard had been satisfactorily disposed of another set of alleged official stamps was referred to in the _Philatelic Record_ as follows:-- Mr. Hechler sent to the Transvaal correspondent of Major Evans a set of Canadian stamps surcharged SERVICE, and he certainly vouched for the authenticity of the Royal arms and supporters, with the word SERVICE on some Canadian envelopes, which he declared had been issued to the troops that were sent out in the Indian rebellion in 1885, and with whom Mr. Hechler was serving. This rebellion did not break out until April of that year, and yet we find these envelopes described in the _Timbre-Poste_ of February of the same year, on the authority of _Der Philatelist_ of the previous January. This all seems to be very remarkable, especially as no one but Mr. Hechler appears ever to have had any of them. A little delving into the history of these stamps and envelopes soon showed that they were nothing more than a private speculation on the part of their sponsor, Mr. Hechler. It appears that Hechler was a captain in a Volunteer regiment which was despatched to assist in putting down the rebellion. He had the words SERVICE printed on a number of envelopes, postcards, and probably stamps as well, which were used in sending notices of drill, etc., to his company. But they were never issued or recognised by the Government of Canada. CHAPTER XXVIII. _The Special Delivery Stamp._ In March, 1884, the _Philatelic Record_ contained the following paragraph:-- We are informed that there is likely to be issued shortly "a new ten cent stamp of special design, which, when attached to a letter, will ensure its immediate delivery to its address at any free delivery office, between the hours of 7 a. m. and 12 midnight." A similar system has, we believe, been in use for some years in Belgium, where the extra charge is paid in telegraph stamps. This was certainly a case of intelligent anticipation for it was not until fourteen years later that a stamp of this character was issued by the Dominion of Canada. The Postmaster-General's Report for 1898 referred to the introduction of the new stamp as follows:-- The calendar year has witnessed the introduction of the special delivery stamp, whereby on the payment of a delivery fee of 10 cents in addition to the ordinary postage, a letter immediately upon its arrival at the office of destination is sent by special messenger for delivery to the addressee. A special-delivery stamp of the face-value of 10 cents was prepared, and the first supplies thereof were sent out sufficiently early to Postmasters to permit of the inauguration of the special delivery service on the 1st July, 1898. The object of the service is to secure special and prompt delivery of a letter on which a special-delivery stamp, in addition to the ordinary postage, has been affixed. The new system was dealt with at some length in a circular issued to postmasters under date June 7th, 1898, and as this is of considerable interest we reproduce it below:-- The Postmaster-General has approved of arrangements whereby, on and from the first of July proximo, the senders of letters posted at any Post Office in Canada and addressed to a City Post Office now having Free Delivery by Letter Carriers shall, on prepayment by Special Delivery stamps of the face-value of ten cents, affixed one to each letter, in addition to the ordinary postage to which the same are liable, secure their special delivery to the persons to whom they are addressed within the limits of Letter Carrier Delivery at any one of the following Post Offices in Cities, viz.:--Halifax, St. John, N. B., Fredericton, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Brantford, Hamilton, London, Winnipeg, Victoria, and Vancouver. The hours of delivery to be within 7 a. m. and 11 p. m. daily, except Sunday. These hours are subject to change as dictated by local circumstances. Drop-letters posted for local delivery, and bearing Special Delivery stamps, in addition to the postage, will also be entitled to special delivery in the same manner as letters received at the Post Office by mail. Registered letters may likewise come under the operations of this scheme of Special Delivery, in the same way as ordinary letters, provided they bear Special Delivery stamps, in addition to the full postage and the registration fee fixed by law, and the regulations respecting the record and receipting of registered matter are observed. In despatching registered letters that bear Special Delivery stamps, the Postmaster should write prominently across the registered-package envelope the words "For Special Delivery." When Special Delivery letters (unregistered) number five or more for any one office the Postmaster should make a separate package of them, marking it "For Special Delivery"; if such letters are fewer than five, he should place them immediately under the "facing-slip" of the letter-package which he makes up, either directly or indirectly, for the Special Delivery office for which they are intended, so that the most prompt attention may be secured therefor. Special Delivery stamps will be sold at all Money Order Post Offices in Canada, (which may secure a supply of such stamps in the same way as ordinary stamps are obtained), for which the Postmasters will have to account as they do for ordinary stamps and on the sales of which a total commission of ten per cent. shall be allowed to Postmasters, except to Postmasters having fixed salaries. For the present Postmasters will use the existing forms of requisition in applying for Special Delivery stamps. (The usual discount may be allowed to a licensed stamp vendor at the time that he purchases Special Delivery stamps from the Postmaster). Special Delivery stamps are to be cancelled as postage stamps are cancelled. Stamps intended for Special Delivery are not available for any other purpose, and the article upon which one is affixed must have, besides, the ordinary postage prepaid by postage stamps. Under no circumstances will Special Delivery stamps be recognised in payment of postage or of registration fee, nor can any other stamp be used to secure Special Delivery, except the Special Delivery stamp. Special Delivery stamps are not redeemable. Letters intended for Special Delivery at any one of the City Post Offices above mentioned, and prepaid as directed, may be mailed at any Post Office in Canada. The regulations relating to First Class Matter (Inland Post) apply also and equally to Special Delivery letters, the only difference being the special treatment which the latter receive with a view to accelerating their delivery. The object sought by the establishment of Special Delivery,--namely, the special delivery of letters transmitted thereunder,--will be much promoted if the senders of all such letters are careful to address them plainly and fully, giving, if possible, the street and number in each case. Such care will serve not only to prevent mistakes, but also to facilitate delivery. All employees of the Post Office are enjoined to expedite, in every way in their power, the posting, transmission and delivery of letters intended for Special Delivery. [Illustration] These special delivery stamps are distinctly different in design from the ordinary postage stamps, the reason for this being, of course, that letters intended for special delivery may be at once identified and their handling facilitated. The stamps are oblong in shape, measuring about 31 mm. by 23 mm. high. The centre consists of an engine turned oval, in the middle of which is the word TEN in uncolored block letters on a solid disc of color. Around this is an oval filled with lathe-work and then comes an oval band inscribed "SPECIAL DELIVERY WITHIN CITY LIMITS" in similar lettering to that of the word of value. This, in turn, is enclosed within another oval of lathe-work. The frame shows "CANADA POST OFFICE" in a straight label across the top, while the lower and side borders are filled with lathe-work intercepted at the bottom by a straight label containing "TEN CENTS", and at each side by a small circle containing the numerals "10." The spandrels are filled with conventional foliate ornaments. The value and special use of the stamp is thus plainly depicted and letters bearing them are easily sorted from the ordinary mail. The stamps were, like all other Canadian stamps, printed from line-engraved plates. They were printed in sheets of fifty arranged in ten horizontal rows of five each. The imprint and plate number "OTTAWA----No.----1" are shown in the upper margin above the central stamp. Apparently this original plate is still in use, for no other plate number has yet been recorded. At first the stamps were printed in deep green, but in January, 1906, the _Philatelic Record_ mentioned a new shade, described as blue-green, and recent printings have been in a very deep shade of blue-green. The use of these special delivery stamps, though somewhat restricted at first, soon grew steadily in volume, showing that the public appreciated the special service. The Postmaster-General in referring to this matter in his Report for 1899 says:--"The 10 cent Special Delivery stamps, to which reference was made in the last report, came into use at the beginning of the current fiscal year, simultaneously with the commencement of the Special Delivery Service, and of this stamp 52,940 were issued to meet the demands, which would go to show that the service is being availed of to a considerable extent throughout the country." Later Reports simply indicate the extension of the service to other offices, though the one for 1908 also concedes that the use of a Special Delivery stamp is not compulsory to secure this service so long as the extra fee of ten cents is prepaid. We read that:-- The regulations respecting special delivery have been so modified that it is no longer necessary for a person despatching a letter which he desires to have delivered immediately, to provide himself with the "special delivery" stamp issued by the department. He may now place upon his letter ordinary postage stamps to the value of ten cents in addition to the stamps required for the prepayment of postage and write across the corner of the envelope the words "special delivery". This will ensure the special delivery of the letter as provided for in the regulations. _Reference List._ 1898. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12. 103. 10c deep green, Scott's No. 160. CHAPTER XXIX. _The Registration Stamps._ The convenience of the registry system was adopted in Canada in May, 1855, at which time the fee was the remarkably low one of one penny. In 1856 the system was extended to cover letters sent to the United States by mutual agreement between the post office departments of both countries, and while the domestic rate remained at one penny the fee for the registration of letters to the United States was three pence. Mr. Howes has discovered an interesting notice in the Canadian Directory for 1857-8 which gives further details as follows:-- Persons transmitting letters, which they desire should pass through the post as "registered letters", must observe that no record is taken of any letter unless specially handed in for registration at the time of the posting. Upon all such letters, with the exception of those addressed to the United States, one penny must be prepaid as a registration charge. If addressed to the United States, the ordinary postage rate on the letters to that country _must be prepaid_, and in addition a registration charge of 3d per letter. The registry thus effected in Canada will be carried on by the United States Post Office until the letter arrives at its destination. In like manner, letters addressed to Canada may be registered at the place of posting in the United States, and the registry made there will accompany the letter to the place of delivery in Canada. A certificate of registration will be given by the postmaster if required. The registration system can be applied to the letter portion of the mail only. The registration system at that time made no provision for compensation in case of the loss of letters, the small extra fee charged simply indicating that extra care would be taken to secure proper delivery. Evidently at that time the fee was paid in money, and the letters then marked with a handstamp of some sort, for in the Postmaster-General's Report for 1858 we read, "It is also considered that it would be an improvement on the system if the charge for registration were made pre-payable by a stamp, instead of by money as at present." It is probable that shortly after this the prepayment of the registry fee was indicated by the affixing of stamps of the required value. The report for 1860 refers to the system as follows:-- A rate of charge for Registration so low as, in no probable degree, to operate as a motive, with persons posting letters of value, to deny themselves the advantage of securing from the Post Office an acknowledgment of the receipt of the specific letter, has always been considered to be a cardinal point in the Canadian Registration System. The Registration fee, or charge, has, therefore, under the influence of this consideration, been maintained at 2 cents, though it is doubtful whether such a rate of charge covers the actual cost of the process; the address of the Registered Letter having, in the course of transmission, to be entered on an average not less than six times, and forms of certificate or receipt, and Books in which to preserve permanent records at each Post Office, to be supplied. The postal officials were evidently strong believers in the Registration system and lost no opportunity of dwelling on its merits. In his Report for 1864 the Postmaster-General tells of its manifold advantages as follows:-- When a letter is registered, that is to say, marked and recorded in the Post Office so as to individualise it from the bulk of ordinary letter correspondence, its presence in the Post Office can be identified and its course of transmission traced, and a registered letter is thus secured from the chance of abstraction by an unfaithful messenger employed to post it (as it is always open to proof whether the letter was posted for registration or not), from risk of loss by accidental mis-direction on the part of the sender, and from mistakes in the Post Office--such as mis-sending or delivery to a wrong party. Against actual dishonesty on the part of the Post Office employes, a registered letter is incomparably more secure than an unregistered one, for an unregistered money-letter and the nature of its contents are, to any person accustomed to handle letters, as manifest as though the letter had been singled out and marked by the registered stamp. Moreover, the safety of an unregistered letter is dependent on the integrity of a Post Office Clerk during the whole time that it remains in his custody, frequently for hours, or even days; whilst a registered letter will almost invariably have to be acknowledged at the moment of its passing into an officer's hands, and cannot thereafter be suppressed without leaving him individually accountable for its disposal. At what date the registry system was extended to letters sent to other countries than the United States is not clear but Mr. Howes has succeeded in unearthing a document which shows the rates prevailing in 1865-6:-- The charge for Registration, in addition to the Postage, is as follows, viz.:-- On Letters to any other place in Canada or British North America, 2 cents On Letters for the United States, 5 cents On Letters for the United Kingdom, 12-1/2 cents On Letters for British Colonies or Possession sent _via_ England, 25 cents On Letters for France and other Foreign Countries _via_ England, an equal amount to the postage rate. Both the postage charge and registration fee must in all cases be prepaid. It was not until 1872 that the idea of issuing special stamps for the prepayment of the registration fee was mooted but in the Postmaster-General's Report for that year we read:-- It seems expedient to adopt some distinctive postage stamp to be used only in prepayment of the Registration charge, both to make it clear that this charge has been duly paid and accounted for in every case, and to diminish the risk which is occasionally felt at points of distribution of omitting to carry on the Registration in cases where the ordinary Registration postmark is not as distinct and calculated to arrest attention as it should be. It has always been the policy of the Canadian Post Office to admit letters to Registration at a low rate of charge for the additional security thus given, so as to leave no adequate motive, on the score of cost, for sending valuable letters through the mails unregistered, and, doubtless, the very large proportion of such letters offered for registration demonstrates a gratifying measure of success in attaining the desired object. In spite of this recommendation it was not until three years later that special stamps for Registration purposes made their appearance. They were finally placed on sale on November 15th, 1875, and were referred to by the Postmaster-General in his Report for that year as follows:-- Registration stamps have been issued, to be used by the public in prepaying the registration charges on letters passing within the Dominion, or to the United Kingdom or United States, each destination being distinguished by a different color in the stamp, as well as by a variation in the amount of registration charge and corresponding value of the stamp. There is a red stamp of the value of two cents for the prepayment of the registration charges on letters within the Dominion. There is a green stamp of five cents value for registered letters addressed to the United States. There is a blue stamp of eight cents value for registered letters addressed to the United Kingdom. These stamps are to apply exclusively to the registration charges and the postage rates on registered letters are to be prepaid by the ordinary postage stamps. It is believed that the use of these distinctive stamps for the registration charges will tend to give registered letters additional security against the risk which is sometimes felt of the registration escaping observation, when such letters are dealt with hurriedly or handled at night, whilst passing through the post. [Illustration] These registration stamps were not only of distinctive design but also of distinctive shape so that they were readily recognised from ordinary postage stamps. They are long, narrow labels and the design is the same for each. On an engine-turned background the word "REGISTERED" in large uncolored Roman capitals is curved prominently across the centre. Below is "LETTER STAMP", also curved but in smaller letters, while above is "CANADA" on a straight label in still smaller lettering. At each end are tables containing the value in words reading up at the left and down at the right, and in the upper corners are large uncolored numerals plainly denoting the value. Like all other Canadian stamps they were printed from line-engraved plates on unwatermarked paper. They were at first printed in sheets of fifty in ten horizontal rows of five stamps each. Mr. Howes describes the marginal details as follows:-- The imprint was the same as the second type employed for the small "cents" issue--"British American Bank Note Co. Montreal" in a pearled frame--and likewise appeared four times on the sheet, as already fully described in the chapter dealing with that issue. The denomination of the stamp was also expressed as TWO CENTS, in the shaded Roman capitals which we found in the case of the postage stamps, over the first stamp in the top row of that value, but with the 5 cent the word FIVE alone appears. The 8 cent we have not seen. On the 2 cent there is also a large numeral 2, 7-1/2 mm. high, over the last stamp in the top row (number 5) but the 5 cent has none. The stamps were ordinarily perforated 12, like the then current postage stamps, but the 2c in orange and the 5c in dark green are both known entirely imperforate. The Postmaster-General's Report for 1877 stated that "the registration charge on registered letters between the United Kingdom and Canada has been reduced from 8 cents to 5 cents". This, naturally, largely reduced the demand for the 8 cents stamp though it is probable that the 8c rate still applied to foreign countries. Shortly afterwards (the exact date has not been traced) the registration fee on letters to all foreign countries was reduced to 5 cents so that the use of the 8c denomination was entirely abolished. The stamps in the hands of postmasters were called in and destroyed and by examining the official figures relating to the numbers originally issued and those destroyed Mr. Howes estimates that about 40,000 of these 8c registration stamps were used. In 1889 a general revision of postal rates took place, as already explained in Chapter X, and one of these changes affected the registration fee. The domestic fee was raised from 2c to 5c so that the registration charge was uniform and was 5c on letters sent anywhere. This, of course, did away with the usefulness of the 2c registration stamps but, as indicated in the official circular, "for the present, and until further instructed, the registration fee maybe prepaid by using the 2 cent Registration stamps and postage stamps to make up the amount." The Postmaster-General's Report for 1889, in referring to the advance in the registration charge, says:-- The charge for the registration of a letter, parcel, book or other articles of mail matter was also made uniform, and fixed at 5 cents for all classes of matter. The frequent delay consequent upon the prepayment of a wrong registration fee will no longer take place. The removal of the printing establishment of the British American Bank Note Company from Montreal to Ottawa resulted in some marked changes in the shades of the then current postage stamps as we have already shown in a previous chapter. The registration stamps were also affected in some degree the 2 cents value, in particular, appearing in a number of new and brighter tints. The 5c appeared in blue-green--a distinct contrast from the green and yellow-green shades previously current. In 1892 some of the postage stamps, it will be remembered, appeared in sheets of 200 instead of 100 as formerly. About the same period new plates were made for the 5c registration stamp, these containing one hundred impressions in ten rows of ten, instead of fifty as before. On August 1st, 1893, a regular postage stamp of the denomination of 8c was issued for the purpose of paying the postage and registration charge and the appearance of this sounded the death knell of the special registration stamps. The supplies in the hands of postmasters were used up and when exhausted no more were printed. Much has been written regarding the 2c registration stamp printed in brown. These were originally found at the Miscou Light House Post Office in New Brunswick and though the stamps were in an unmistakably dark brown shade it has since been satisfactorily proved that the change was quite accidental and that immersion in peroxide would restore them to their original color. Although the Postmaster of the above named office is said to have stated that the stamps were in brown when he received them there is little doubt he must have been mistaken. Much the same thing happened in connection with the current six cents United States stamps at an office on the Pacific Coast (San Pedro). Some of these stamps were found in a distinct brown shade almost exactly matching that of the 4c value and though some local collectors had dreams of a rare error of color it was easily proved that they were simply oxidised. _Reference List._ 1875-89. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Montreal or Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12. 104. 2c vermilion, Scott's Nos. 151 or 152. 105. 5c green, Scott's No. 153. 106. 8c blue, Scott's No. 154. CHAPTER XXX. _The Postage Due Stamps._ Like most other countries Canada managed to collect the postage due on insufficiently prepaid mail matter for many years without the use of special stamps for the purpose. About 1906 it dawned on the Post Office Department that the use of special stamps would simplify matters and place the collection of monies due on a more systematic basis. Consequently a circular was issued to postmasters, under date of June 1st, 1906, advising them that postage due stamps would be issued and must, for the future, be used in collecting insufficient postage. The salient points from this circular are given by Mr. Howes as follows:-- Commencing on the 1st July, 1906, the present system of collecting unpaid postage will be discontinued and thereafter the following arrangements will supersede the regulations now in force:-- (1) The Department will issue a special stamp which will be known as the "POSTAGE DUE" stamp and on delivery of any article of mail matter on which unpaid or additional postage is to be collected the Postmaster will affix and cancel as ordinary stamps are cancelled, postage due stamps to the amount of the extra postage charged on such article. (2) The short paid postage must be collected from the addressee before postage due stamps are affixed; otherwise the Postmaster is liable to lose the amount of such postage. (3) Postmasters will obtain postage due stamps on requisition to the Department but the initial supply will be furnished without requisition, so that the new system may go into operation on the date above mentioned. When a new form is ordered "postage due" stamps will be included in the printed list, but it is proposed to use the stock on hand at present which would otherwise have to be destroyed. The denominations of the new stamps will be 1, 2 and 5 cents. In his Report for 1906 the Postmaster-General refers to the new innovation as follows:-- A system of accounting for short paid postage collected by Postmasters, by means of special stamps known as "Postage Due" stamps, has been adopted by the Department. These stamps are to be affixed to shortpaid mail matter and cancelled by Postmasters when such matter is delivered to the addressee, and are not to be used for any other purpose. They cannot be used for the payment of ordinary postage, nor are they to be sold to the public. [Illustration] These stamps are of special design and though of the same size as the regular postage stamps the design is printed the longer way so that in general appearance they are greatly different. The design has, as its centerpiece, a large uncolored numeral on an eight-sided tablet. Above is CANADA and below is the word CENT while at the sides are elaborate scroll ornaments. Across the base the words POSTAGE DUE are shown in bold uncolored capitals while the balance of the design consists of an engine-turned groundwork. They are printed from line-engraved plates in sheets of one hundred, as usual. In the centre of the top margin is the imprint, "OTTAWA", followed by the plate number. Mr. Howes states that plate 1 is known for all three values and plate 2 for the 2 cent only. _Reference List._ 1906. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12. 107. 1c dull violet. Scott's No. 126. 108. 2c dull violet. Scott's No. 127. 109. 5c dull violet. Scott's No. 128. CHAPTER XXXI. _The "Officially Sealed" Labels._ Although "officially sealed" labels cannot by any stretch of the imagination be considered as postage stamps or, indeed, of having any philatelic significance yet they are collected by many, in common with adhesive registered labels, as having an interest owing to the fact that they are visible evidence of one phase of the working of the post office. The "officially sealed" labels used by the Canadian Post Office seem to have been first recorded in the latter part of 1879. The first type consists of a rectangular label, measuring about 25-1/2 by 38 mm. on which the words "OFFICIALLY SEALED" are shown straight across the centre. Above this, in a curve, is the inscription "POST OFFICE CANADA", while below, in a similar curve, is "DEAD LETTER OFFICE". The border consists of a handsome piece of engine-turned engraving. These labels were normally perforated 12 but they are also known entirely imperforate. Much misconception existed as to the use of these labels until Major E. B. Evans, when visiting Canada in 1889, took the opportunity of finding out exactly for what they were used. The results of his investigations were published in the _Philatelic Record_ for November, 1889, and as the article is full of interest we need make no apology for reproducing it _in extenso:_-- When I was in Canada last July I made special enquiries about these labels, as there appeared to be some mystery about their use. Everyone agreed that they were not placed upon _all_ letters opened at the Dead Letter Office and returned to their senders, and no two persons seemed to have quite the same theory as to the rules for their employment or non-employment in any particular case. Even gentlemen connected with the Post Office at Halifax, such as Mr. King and others, could give me no definite information. I therefore determined to see what I could do at headquarters in Ottawa. Fortunately, I was able, through a collector in an official position, to obtain an introduction to the Deputy Postmaster-General, who most kindly gave me the following particulars, which show that the employment of the _officially sealed_ labels is very restricted, thus accounting for their rarity. Letters in Canada, as in the United States, very frequently have on the outside the well-known notice containing the address of the sender, and a request that the letter may be returned if not delivered within a certain time. These, of course, are not opened at the Dead Letter Office, and in fact, I think, are ordered not to be sent there, but are returned direct from the office to which they were originally addressed or from the head office of the district. On the other hand, those that have no indication of the address of the sender on the outside are sent to the Dead Letter Office, and there necessarily opened; but neither of these classes thus properly dealt with is considered to require the _officially-sealed label._ It is only if one of the former class, having the sender's name and address on the outside, is sent to the Dead Letter Office and there opened in _error_ that the _officially-sealed_ label is applied, to show that such letter has been opened officially, and not by any unauthorized person. Whether these pieces of gummed paper ever had a more extended use or not I cannot say, but I was assured that the above was the substance of the regulations as to their employment. The Deputy Postmaster-General further stated that there had been so many requests for specimens of these labels that the Department had been obliged to make it a rule to turn a deaf ear to all of them. In any case they are not _postage stamps_, properly speaking, at all. They indicate neither postage paid nor postage due, but simply that the letters to which they are attached have been opened by proper authority, and they at the same time afford a means of reclosing them. About 1905 a label of new design was introduced, this, of course, being the work of the American Bank Note Company. These are larger than their predecessors and are very handsome labels. In the centre is an excellent portrait of Queen Victoria, adapted from the "Law Stamps" of 1897, with "CANADA" in heavy uncolored Roman capitals curved above, and, at the top, the words "OFFICIALLY SEALED" in letters so graded that the tops form a straight line, while the bottoms follow the curve of "CANADA". Under the portrait the words "DEAD LETTER" are shown on a straight label which extends right across the stamp, while below this is the word "OFFICE" on a curved tablet. The spaces at the sides and the bottom are filled with elaborate foliate ornaments and engine-turned work. These labels are also perforated 12 and exist on two kinds of paper. Until about 1907 the paper was of a pale blue color while subsequent printings have been on ordinary white paper. _Reference List._ 1879. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co. (No value) deep brown. 1905-7. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co. (No value) black on blue paper. (No value) black on white paper. THE END. [Illustration] MY SPECIALTY IS 20th Century English Colonials United States AND New Issues LARGE STOCK OF King Edward Heads King George Heads New Issues Always On Hand SEND YOUR WANT LISTS FRANK M. MASON Box 1462, PROVIDENCE, R. I. POPULAR HANDBOOKS =CANAL ZONE=--A specialized study of these stamps by Wm. Evans. M. D. Illus. Pr. 20c. =DEALER AND HIS STOCK=--By Bill Bloss. A useful book for any stamp dealer. Pr. 10c. =OAXACA=--By Roderick Enfield. Handsomely illustrated and printed. Price 10c. =RANGE TALES=--By E. B. Hill. Seventeen complete sketches of Arizona life into which philately is woven by the hand of an artist. Illus. Price 15c. A work of art. =3 CENT GREEN 1870-87=--By H. L. Wiley. A very fine study. Profusely illus. Pr. 12c. =STAMPS OF OLD GERMAN STATES=--By Poole, freely illustrated. Price 35c. =GERMANY AND ITS COLONIES=--By Poole. Freely illus. 70 pps. Price 25c. =U. S. PARCEL POST, STAMP BOOKLETS and POSTAL SAVING STAMPS=--Three books in one by H. L. Wiley. Price 25c. =U. S. STAMPED ENVELOPES=--By Louis G. Barrett and J. M. Bartels. 1853-1913 fully illustrated. 22 cuts. Price 10c. =THE STAMPS OF COOK ISLANDS=--By Poole. The only handbook published on these stamps. Illustrated. Price 15c. =STAMP COLLECTORS' GUIDE=--By Poole. Absolutely necessary to every collector. Every chapter full of merit. Price 25c. =HOW TO DEAL IN STAMPS=--A three part book by Grant, Wylie and Smith, all experienced at the business. Price 10c. =SPECIALIZED STUDY OF U. S. STAMPS=--By F. E. Goodwin. All adhesives fully covered. A book of great merit. Price 50c. =GAMBIA=--By Dalwick. Illus. Price 10c. =HAWAII=--A fine book by Luff, Howes and Richards. Two colors and illus. Price 10c. =EGYPT=--By Dalwick. Illus. Price 12c. =U. S. DEPT. STAMPS=--By Goodwin. All U. S. collectors need it. Price 10c. =U. S. GRILLS 1867 to 1872=--By W. L. Stevenson. Illus. Blank pages for notes. Pr. 10c. =VIRGIN IDS.=--By Dalwick. Price 10c. =SEVERN-WYLIE-JEWETT CO., BOSTON, MASS.= C. G. DIETRICH 212 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Entrance Fulton Street Member A. P. S., Dresden Philatelic Society, Berlin and Vienna Dealers' Association, offers his superb stock of medium and rare stamps of all countries. Moderate Prices--Fine copies only. SPECIALTIES British, British Colonials Used and Unused 19th and 20th Century SEND WANT LISTS Approval selections sent to responsible collectors B. N. A. This is my specialty, and I can supply good, clean copies of most varieties at reasonable prices. I have also other British Colonials and many nice foreign. Give me good reference and I will be pleased to send you a selection on approval. W. W. WALSH Roy Building HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA CANADA Unused. Used 1852, 3py $4.50 $ .38 6py fair .. 4.50 1857, 1/2py fair 6.50 2.50 1/2py perf. .. 4.50 1859, 1c .60 .12 5c .50 .05 10c shades 3.75 .60 1859-64, 2c fair .. .65 12-1/2c 2.50 .50 12-1/2c No. 19a 2.50 .60 1868, 1/2c .25 .20 1c .90 .30 2c 1.25 .25 3c 1.10 .08 6c shades 3.00 .38 12-1/2c shades 2.00 .40 15c .60 .25 15c No. 27a 3.00 .35 1869, 1c 2.00 .50 1c No. 31a 2.75 .65 1869-72, 1c orange 1.75 .15 1872-73, 6c .70 .05 10c shades 2.00 .40 1875, 5c 2.00 .85 15c .60 .18 1882-90, 3c No. 42a .60 .06 6c .50 .07 10c shades 1.00 .18 1892-93, 20c .40 .08 50c .80 .10 8c shades .75 .04 1897, Jubilee 1/2c .25 .25 6c .60 .60 8c .30 .18 10c .35 .20 15c .35 .35 20c .45 .40 50c .75 .30 Set 1/2-50c 3.00 2.40 Complete Set 17.50 12.00 1897, 6c .18 .10 8c .18 .05 10c .28 .22 1898, 6c .25 .20 8c shades .22 .15 10c .22 .06 7c No. 8 .15 .07 20c No. 87 .60 .15 Map-shades .05 .02 1903-08 2c No. 90a .05 .04 20c .30 .04 50c .75 .15 Complete Set 1.40 .28 Set Quebec 1.10 .90 Set King Geo. 1.25 .20 Set dues .15 .03 Special Del. .18 .06 40 var. Postage only .60 50 var. Postage only 1.00 60 var. Postage only 1.50 10 var. War Tax .30 A complete line of Canada Revenues in stock. If you collect these interesting stamps write us for a selection. All the cheaper varieties in stock at low prices. Send for complete list. NEWFOUNDLAND Unused. Used 1857, 1py $1.35 $3.00 5py 1.75 4.00 5py No. 5a 3.50 4.50 1866, 2c .75 .65 5c fair 5.50 3.50 10c 2.15 1.25 12c .60 .55 13c 1.00 .85 24c .70 .65 1867-73 1c No. 30 1.25 1.00 1c No. 30a 1.50 1.25 3c No. 31 2.60 1.75 3c No. 32 2.00 .50 6c .15 .15 1876, 1c 1.75 1.25 2c 1.00 .70 3c 1.75 .50 5c 1.25 .35 1880, 1c shades .20 .13 2c .35 .25 5c 1.00 .20 1887, 1/2c to 10c 1.85 .90 1890-95, 5c .18 .13 6c .30 .32 Re-Issue Set 1.60 1.50 Jubilee Set 3.75 3.25 1 on 3c No. 75 .55 .50 1897, 1c rose .04 .04 2c orange .08 .07 1898, set .20 .10 1901, 4c .07 .06 Guy 4c .11 .07 Guy 10c .60 .50 Eng. 6c .40 .30 Eng. 8c .80 .60 Eng. 10c .80 .65 Eng. 15c .70 .60 1911 Coronation complete 3.00 2.00 Other varieties in stock. Ask for our B. N. A. list--It's free on request. Terms:--Cash with order only. 10% discount on orders over $5.00. Postage extra on orders under $1.00. Registration 5c extra. Stamps returnable where condition is unsatisfactory. * * * * * STAMPS ON APPROVAL Our books are arranged in five different grades, which will suit all classes of collectors from the Beginner to the Specialist. All sorts of stamps; all kinds of prices; but only one result to you--SATISFACTION. Ask for circular describing our Selections or send commercial reference for a trial selection. * * * * * MARKS STAMP CO. The House of Stamp Bargains TORONTO CANADA Approval Department ¶ Special attention is paid to the Approval Department of my business, which is under my personal supervision. ¶ The most satisfactory manner in which to purchase stamps is from approval books when the collector has the opportunity of inspecting the specimens at his leisure. My stamps are all arranged in books by countries, mounted and arranged according to the latest edition of Scott's catalogue. Above each stamp the catalogue number and price is plainly shown and below my net selling price is marked. ¶ These books contain unused and used stamps, several copies of the same variety being included wherever possible so that the collector has ample choice. All minor varieties of shades, watermarks, perforation, etc., are included as well as occasional pairs and blocks of four. Prices are most reasonable and average about half catalogue. As most of these books are of considerable value they can only be sent to collectors well known to me or to those supplying first class references. Specialists ¶ A cordial invitation is extended to all advanced collectors and specialists to acquaint me of their special countries. I continually have rare and out-of-the-way items in stock and shall be glad to send particulars of these to interested clients. B. W. H. POOLE 312 Washington Building, LOS ANGELES, CAL. 
40002	----	The Die Varieties of the NESBITT SERIES of United States Envelopes By VICTOR M. BERTHOLD. NEW YORK SCOTT STAMP & COIN CO. 1906. Copyrighted, 1906 All rights reserved. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION, 3 THE 1853-55 SERIES, 6 Reference List, 33 SECOND ISSUE: 1860, 40 One cent: Blue, 40 Three cents: Red, 45 Four cents, 47 Six cents: Red, 48 Ten cents: Green, 48 Reference List, 48 THIRD ISSUE: 1861, 53 Three cents: Rose, 53 Six cents: Rose, 59 Reference List, 60 FOURTH ISSUE: 1863 AND 1864, 63 Dies Inscribed "U. S. Postage", 64 Dies Inscribed "U. S. Post", 68 Reference List, 83 FIFTH ISSUE: 1864-1865, 90 Reference List, 97 APPENDIX, 103 ADDENDA, 105 ERRATA, 106 INTRODUCTION "Variety is the spice of Life". This aphorism, if applied to collectors of the dies of the early United States envelopes, changes with kaleidoscopic rapidity into: "Varieties are the bane of collectors". The truth of this statement is borne out by the fact that, though the die varieties of the Nesbitt issues are one of the most interesting phases of American philately, the amount of our knowledge concerning them is surprisingly small. If we recall that many of these dies have been in existence for half a century, embracing all issues prior to 1870, and thus, in comparison with modern issues, are hoary with age, that they have been collected for decades by ardent lovers of United States envelopes, our surprise is heightened. The honor of the first attempt at describing the various Nesbitt die varieties and making this knowledge public property belongs to an English philatelist of rare ability, the late Gilbert Harrison. While this confers great credit upon the latter, it is an humiliation to American philatelists that this page of our own history was left to be written by an English student. Even so, this work[A] did not appear until fully forty years after the Nesbitt dies were first issued. It is, likewise, true that Messrs. Tiffany, Bogert and Rechert in their "Historical Notes"[B] undertook to rescue the Nesbitt die varieties from an ignominious oblivion, and for this they are also entitled to praise, but up to the most recent time, the great body of collectors did not possess a guide-book, a "Philatelic Baedeker," which would enable the timorous traveler to proceed into the unknown country with a feeling of perfect safety. Naturally the question arises: What is the reason for this state of affairs? Why have the Nesbitt die varieties been relegated to an entirely unmerited obscurity? Unless I am greatly mistaken the answer is that the large majority of collectors believed the subject to be fraught with difficulties. Add to this both the lack of a catalogue and of any systematic exposition of the early die varieties, and it is easy to comprehend why the bugbear has continued to the detriment of United States philately. However, thanks to the good services of the Scott Stamp & Coin Co., and the J. M. Bartels Co., this wrong impression has been largely removed and the future collector of the Nesbitt dies has a rich and inviting field now open for his favorite pursuit. Moreover, henceforth no collection lacking these important die varieties can lay a claim to a full degree of completeness, and this remark refers equally to those who collect entire envelopes or cut square specimens. Indeed, of the two the latter is by far the larger gainer, because these varieties appear on comparatively few "knives" or shapes of envelopes. Assuming that not many collectors, either young or old, have busied themselves with die varieties a few remarks about the method or way of studying them, gained from practical experience, may not be out of place. Of course, I do not intend to give specific rules here. These will be in order as soon as we take up a special issue. It is true that die varieties may be found in half a dozen different ways, but it is equally plain that if we can use a uniform method, applicable to all, we shall be far better off. Although this fact is self evident, such a method was unknown when the writer commenced the study of the Nesbitt die varieties. Recognizing, however, the value of some simple means, various methods were pursued until, after numerous disappointing failures, the solution of the problem was found by means of line prolongation and the use of a unit distance measurement. As in redrawing a die the engravers of the Nesbitt envelopes have endeavored merely to reproduce the stamp in its general features, the result is that the spacings between the letters, the form of the letters, their size, and the size of the entire stamp may all be subject to many changes. Owing to this nonchalant procedure, and referring now to the very first issue, the engravers have left to posterity not less than ten different heads of the "Father of our Country" which can readily be seen on fine specimens. For the same reason there are ten dies of the 3 cent red, commonly known as Die 5 or E, which are further characterized by the "T" of "THREE" having a long cross stroke. This die was redrawn and the long cross stroke of "T" changed into a short line. The alteration added twenty varieties, among which are some highly interesting and valuable specimens. Suppose we select the "T" of "THREE" for our starting point and, noting that that letter is found in various positions, slanting to the right or left, or standing nearly vertically, we lay the edge of a fine piece of paper along the outside of the downstroke and thus virtually prolong the "T" line downward. Next we carefully note where that prolongation touches a letter in the lower label. If we find that in a number of dies the line touches the "N" of "CENTS", we have probably established a general class. Continuing our inquiry we may note that the "T" line falls outside of the "N", perhaps touches the "T" or may even cut the "S" of "CENTS"; a clear indication that we have other die varieties. The above, I believe, illustrates sufficiently what is meant by a system of line prolongation. Another great help is furnished by the use of a uniform distance measurement. For convenience take ten millimetres and, setting a divider at that distance, commence with the "T" of "THREE", selecting as our starting point the left end of the horizontal cross stroke of "T". Assume that, in our first specimen, the end of the ten millimetre line touches the end of the first "E", in the second it may fall between the two "E"s, while in a third the same distance reaches outside the final "E". In this simple and comparatively easy manner, we have ascertained three important classes. Knowing our main classes, the next step is to study a number of dies of the same general class for sub-varieties, using again one or both of the methods with which we are now well acquainted. In this manner order is brought out of apparent confusion, and if we work carefully, and are willing to have a little patience, the final success will pay well for all our trouble. Indeed the mental training gained by this work is very valuable and will assist us greatly in the knowledge of other stamps or dies. So far I have not spoken of the various forms of watermarks employed by Nesbitt, nor of the tresses, or seals, found on the flaps. These are of importance to the collector of entire envelopes, but are a negligible quantity for those who prefer to get the die varieties as cut square specimens. As it is evident that the purpose of the present work is to enable the great body of collectors of United States stamps to become well acquainted with the early Nesbitt varieties, hitherto considered the exclusive property of the specialist, I suggest to the powers that supply our need in the way of stamp albums to prepare a couple of extra pages, showing the die and its main varieties. A friend of the writer, an enthusiastic collector of cut square specimens, has adopted this plan and it is certain that if any of our readers had an opportunity to see how attractive and interesting these pages appear, they would not hesitate to do likewise. Perhaps this suggestion will be heeded by the album publishers. If so, there will soon spring up special groups of collectors of the early Nesbitt Die Varieties. In conclusion I desire to express to Messrs. J. M. Bartels, Edward H. Mason and Geo. Rauh, all of Boston, my sincere thanks for the valuable aid which they have rendered me in preparing this work. Mr. Bartels has worked with me continuously in my investigations into the intricacies of these dies; Mr. Mason has placed his grand collection of United States envelopes unreservedly at my disposal, besides aiding me in many other ways, and it is to Mr. Rauh that I am indebted for the very fine and conscientiously executed drawings of the various, heads of this series. VICTOR M. BERTHOLD. Boston, Mass. Feb. 1905. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote A: The--Nesbitt Stamped Envelopes--and Wrappers--of the--United States of America,--with descriptions of the varieties of the dies,--and fifteen full-page illustrations--by--the late Gilbert Harrison.--Edited and completed--by--E. D. Bacon.--Published as a supplement to the "London Philatelist",--by M. P. Castle,--Vice-President of the Philatelic Society, London,--1895.] [Footnote B: The--Stamped Envelopes.--Wrappers and Sheets--of the United States--by John K. Tiffany, R. R. Bogert,--and Joseph Rechert.--A Committee of the National Philatelical Society,--New York--1892.--Published by--The Scott Stamp & Coin Co. Limited.--12 East 23rd St.] THE 1853-55 SERIES. It is strange that the Yankee, who is generally so quick witted in all matters pertaining to trade and commerce, has been comparatively slow in recognizing the value of the stamped envelope for business purposes. As a matter of fact, the famous Mulready and its numerous caricatures had been used in Great Britain for nearly a dozen years when the Thirty-second Congress, on Aug. 31, 1852, authorized the issue of stamped envelopes in the United States. The next we hear of the matter is a short line in the Report of the Postmaster-General, dated December 4, 1852, which reads: "Such envelopes as are authorized are now in preparation and will soon be issued." And, in February of the following year, the _Scientific American_ mentions the interesting news that "G. F. Nesbitt has shown to the Postmaster-General an embossed stamp for prepaid envelopes which has been accepted, and the manufacture will at once proceed. Such, however, is the labor and care required for their production, that none will be ready for delivery before the middle of next April." The much heralded novelty of the Post Office finally appeared July 7, 1853. At least, this date is certified to by the National Intelligencer of the _Washington Journal_, which, in describing the envelopes just sent out for distribution, states: "they are as yet but of a single size and of the three cent value." It also adds that the addition of the Nesbitt seal is an outrage. Without entering into further details, it is of general interest to note that, up to 1869, Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co., of New York, continued to furnish the United States Post Office Department with envelopes. Recalling the fact that Nesbitt originated the dies; that the machinery for embossing was very crude compared with our modern apparatus, collectors must concede that his work deserves great credit. The question, however, of superlative interest to philatelists is: why has Nesbitt produced such a large number of dies or die varieties? The answer is simple: Pressed hard by the Department to manufacture several millions of envelopes, a gigantic task in the early days of stamp making, and lacking our present means of reproducing working dies from the matrix, he undoubtedly used his best effort; i.e. he probably ordered a number of engravers to reproduce the original die, and, in the hurry of the work, little attention was paid to exactness. This would seem a very plausible explanation, and in the absence of any official data let us permit the above assumption to stand. Whatever may be the facts in the case, one thing is certain; the varieties exist and have been a source of trouble to many collectors of United States envelopes. With wider knowledge and on better acquaintance, it is certain that in future they will prove a most interesting branch of United States philately. DIE I. [Illustration] Short labels with curved ends close to the letters. 10 loops in left side ornament and 9 in right. TEN HEADS--TWELVE VARIETIES. In accordance with the instructions of the United States Postal Department, the first issue of United States envelopes was to represent a profile of General Washington after Houdon's famous bust. No doubt the spirit of the engraver was willing, but the "flesh was woefully weak." Indeed, it is no exaggeration to affirm that the head, or heads, of Die I (or A) are as far from Houdon's masterpiece as the sun is from our planet. Moreover, on a close inspection we find a lot of curious and noteworthy details which seem to indicate that the artist, or artists, had peculiar ideas of the manly beauty of the "Father of our Country." Certainly, various national types are represented and the expression runs the gamut of meekness, aggressiveness, stolidity, stupidity and boozy hilarity. As a rule an artist would be satisfied to ornament the eye of his subject with one eyebrow, but several of the profiles of Die 1 have two, and in a position which would bewilder the student of anatomy. Another startling feature is the sidelock, which sometimes grows upon the eyebrow. And finally we are forced to conclude that the tonsorial artist who attended Washington performed queer tricks. In one die one-half of the head appears void of hirsutic covering. Well, perhaps this was the summer season! I must not forget to mention that on one side of the nostrils appears a Phrygian cap, probably an indication of the republican spirit of the United States. In conclusion the writer recalls a good joke by a gentleman prominent in philatelic circles. After a perusal of the above paragraphs he expressed himself that the bust of Washington of Die 1, instead of being "after Houdon" was a "Hoodoo", and there is a great deal of truth in the witticism. Owing to the antiquity of the first issue of Nesbitt dies, collectors must not expect to find an abundance of mint specimens. Of course they are the exception, but in many used envelopes the head is impressed with sufficient clearness to permit identification, and the cuts accompanying the dies, being photographic reproductions of pen drawings by an artist, will be found a valuable aid. Indeed, as far as the varieties of Die 1 are concerned, a thorough knowledge of, or acquaintance with, the various heads is necessary to avoid confusion, especially as the inscription in several labels is similar and not unfrequently the lettering is quite indistinct. If the question is asked why a unit distance measurement is not applied to differentiate these varieties, the answer is that the spacing of the letters of the inscription is nearly alike. Of course the slant of the letters differs. Such differences as are helpful and noticeable will be mentioned. The system of line prolongation, for example, the downward prolongation of the "T" of "THREE", discloses certain groups in the writer's opinion, but the differences obtained thereby are not of sufficient practical value for establishing groups. For a quick and reliable identification of these varieties an intimate knowledge of the heads is required. It having been decided to reproduce the heads, the question arose: Shall we draw every feature and every detail, or is it preferable to indicate merely such portions of the face as are different in the various dies? Evidently, many minor points could be omitted without in any way detracting from the usefulness of the drawings. Indeed, the adoption of this plan permitted the artist to emphasize and to bring out more strikingly such features as constitute the real differences. There are three prominent features in each of the ten heads. The first is the side-lock, which may be either single or double, straight or hooked, short or long. Second in importance is the distance between the end of the side-lock and the ear-lobe. Even a casual observation shows that the distance between the ear-lobe and the end of the side-lock varies greatly; very wide, near and close. The third feature is the lowest front-lock, which, by the taste or art of the die cutters has been, like man, "wonderfully and fearfully made", short or long, thin or full, single or double. In good specimens the eyebrow constitutes a valuable adjunct, and in all dies where this feature plays a prominent part it will be noted. Finally the attention of the collector is directed to the fact that only Head 1 shows Washington with circularly cropped hair, or, as the barber would express it, a "Dutch clip". This head was used for varieties 1, 2 and 3, the first being a rather scarce article. If the student fixes his attention on the above three main features, and does not attempt to get the entire ten heads fixed in his mind at a glance, it will be found that the task of differentiation is not at all a burden even to the youngest collector of cut square specimens. A certain amount of patience is, however, required; likewise a certain amount of willingness to be taught, but the collector possessing these two virtues--and it is one of the crowning glories of stamp collectors to be both studious and patient--will soon have the various Nesbitt heads of Washington engraved upon his memory. Taking the distance between the end of the side-lock and the ear-lobe as our main feature, the various heads may be grouped into three distinct classes: CLASS I. Distance between side-lock and ear-lobe very wide. Heads 1a, 3, 4, 6, 7. CLASS II. Distance between side-lock and ear-lobe near. Heads 1, 2, 8. CLASS III. Side-lock close to ear-lobe. Heads 5, 9, 10. * * * * * HEAD I. [Illustration: I.] A long side-lock commences a short distance above the corner of the eye, but stops quite a distance from it. Together with the side-lock commences a heavy lower lock which slants across the ear-lobe, leaving the lower half exposed. There is a considerable space between the end of the side-lock and the ear-lobe. The entire hair ends in a nearly horizontal line. Two folds in the garment on the right side of the neck. [HW: See Appendix page 103] [Illustration] Variety I:--"CENTS" close to outer oval line. "CE" on level and far apart. "C" quite a distance from curve. "N" and "T" wide apart at base. "S" close to curve. The final "E" of "THREE" is somewhat lower than the first "E", dips to the right, and is close to the curve. "T" of "Three" is also close to curve. Many of the white envelopes are on horizontally laid paper. Variety 2:--"THREE" near outer oval line. "T" further from curve. "RE" wider apart at top than in Var. 1, and "HR" slightly nearer than in Var. 1. The distance between "EN" and "NT" of "CENTS" is very wide. "S" far from curve. "CE" wide apart. HEAD Ia. [Illustration: Ia.] Same as Head I, but the side-lock is shorter and is further from the ear-lobe. [Illustration] Variety 3:--"C" is above level of "E", near inner oval line and close to curve. "CE" wide apart. Note that "ENT" is near and "NT" much nearer at base than in Var. 1 or 2. "NTS" is also nearer inner oval line. "TH" of "THREE" is close. The "R" of "THREE" slants to right. This variety is often seen on white paper horizontally laid. HEAD II. [Illustration: II.] An heavy eyebrow. Two side-locks, of which the first is merely a fine line, commence far from and high above the corner of the eye. The first side-lock is only half as long as the second; the latter is curved sharply at its end, and near the ear-lobe. Near the end of the side-lock commences the lowest front-lock, which slants only a little distance across the lobe. Front-lock and ear-lobe resemble the letter "T". Hair is divided into two parts. The lowest lock of the back row is in line with the queue. [Illustration] Variety 4.--"CENTS" is close to outer frame line and "C" is far from curve. "EN" near; "CE" wide. "NT" wide at base, "THR" near. HEAD III. [Illustration: III.] Side-lock starts some distance from the eye-brow and a little above it. The eyebrow is heavy. The side-lock is long, rather heavy and curved and ends far from the ear-lobe. The main feature is the heavy lowest front-lock, which slants across the lobe but ends in line with it. Side-lock, lobe and lowest front-lock somewhat resemble a figure 1. [Illustration] Variety 5:--"C" above level of "E": The entire word is high in label, especially "NT". "CE" wide. Note the top of "S" which almost touches the lower right curve. "TH" wide at top. "R" is nearly vertically placed and in centre of the label. The top of the "T" of "CENTS" is a little above final stroke of "N". HEAD IV. [Illustration: IV.] A heavy eyebrow ends near the middle of the side-lock. The latter is short and stops (as in Head III) far from the ear-lobe. The main feature is that the queue forms a direct continuation of the lowest front-lock. [Illustration] Variety 6:--"CE" of "CENTS" near. "EN" wide. "NT" wide at base. Note that the upper end of the lower right curve reaches well over the top of "S" and "C" is far from curve. "TH" close. Distance at top of "HR" and "RE" about the same. HEAD V. [Illustration: V.] A very heavy eye-brow. The side-lock starts in line with the corner of the eye and near the eyebrow; it curls slightly outward and, following closely the outline of the ear-lobe, ends almost above it. A heavy lock starts near the end of the side-lock, slants across the ear-lobe and ends in nearly a point. This feature distinguishes Head V from Head II, in which the lowest lock ends full and rounded. The queue is continued from the second heavy lock. Note also that the lock immediately behind the side-lock consists of two fine hairs and a heavy third strand. [Illustration] Variety 7:--"T" of "THREE" below level of "HREE". "CENTS" near outer oval line. "C" and "S" quite a distance from curves. "ENT" spaced nearer than "C" to "E" and "T" to "S". HEAD VI. [Illustration: VI.] An heavy eyebrow. Near its end starts a small side-lock together with a long, narrow lock which slants across ear-lobe. Note that half of this lock is below the lobe. There is some distance between the side-lock and the lobe. A second heavy strand of hair extends the entire length of the [HW: narrow] lock and continues into the queue. [Illustration] Variety 8:--"C" above level of "E" and far from it. "N" stands vertically and almost in centre of label. "NT" close at top and near at base. "C" and "S" are close to curves. Note that "HR" and "RE" are wide at top. HEAD VII. [Illustration: VII.] An heavy eyebrow extends beyond the corner of the eye. A long side-lock starts from the eyebrow and ends far from the ear-lobe. The lowest lock commences near the middle of the side-lock. Along the latter is another strand of hair of the same thickness but it is longer than the first and in line with the queue. The hair consists of two distinct rows, each of which has five locks. [Illustration] Variety 9:--"CENTS" near inner oval line. "CE" near; "ENT" near; "NT" close at top. "C" and "S" far from curves. "RE" wider at top than "HR". HEAD VIII. [Illustration: VIII.] An heavy eyebrow near the corner of the eye. It extends to the beginning of the side-lock, which is long, slim, almost straight, and ends a little distance from the ear-lobe. Note that the point of the side-lock is not turned up to the left. Together with the side-lock starts the lowest front-lock. It is rather thin, slants across the lobe, and is divided at the end, which is the main feature. Note that it extends but a little distance beyond the lobe. Immediately above the lowest strand is a second one, much longer than the first, forming the commencement of the queue. [Illustration] Variety 10:--"THREE" high in label. "HR" very close. "CENTS" near outer oval line. Base of "E" a little below that of "C". "EN" wide. "TS" near at base. HEAD IX. [Illustration: IX.] The side-lock starts above and far from the corner of the eye. It is short, curves outward towards its end, and terminates a little distance above the ear-lobe. Note that the ear-lobe is larger than usual and extends quite a distance beyond the end of the side-lock. Together with the side-lock commences the lowest bunch of hair, which resembles somewhat a pear, i.e. slim at the start and bulging towards the base. The hair is divided into two rows. The queue is in line with the back row. [Illustration] Variety 11:--"CENTS" near inner oval line; "C" high, and a little above level of "E". "CE" wide; "ENT" near at top. "S" close to curve. "THREE" close to inner oval line. "HR" and "RE" wide at top. HEAD X. [Illustration: X.] An heavy eyebrow starting upward from the bridge of the nose. A second eyebrow is close to the corner of the eye. A long side-lock starts near it and touches the ends in line with the ear-lobe. The hair is divided into two parts, four locks in front and three in the back row. The lowest lock in the front row is by far the heaviest. The hair is cut round similar to Head 1. Note that the queue is in line with the second row of hair. [Illustration] Variety 12:--"CENTS" close to inner frame line, especially "C". "THREE" close to inner oval line. "ENT" near at base. The die resembles closely Var. 9 with the exception of "C," which is high in the label. * * * * * Before leaving this issue some remarks about the paper and its various tints may be useful. The writer well remembers that when he first took up the study of these envelopes he was often sorely puzzled how to classify a specimen. The general catalogue knows but two shades of paper, white and buff, and is mute on the question of quality. As a matter of fact the quality of the paper used for the first issue varies from soft to a hard, brittle texture, from thin to thick, with a dull or even highly glazed surface. A decided rarity is a kind of wove paper, unwatermarked. We find fine laid lines, the cross lines near or far, and two very distinct varieties of watermarks. The white paper has sometimes a creamy and at other times a bluish tint, and the buff may be collected in various light and dark shades. The most pronounced shade varieties of buff appear, however, later, and will be mentioned when we study Die 5. For the benefit of collectors of entire envelopes we will conclude this chapter by adding that: Knife I appears only in five varieties, i.e. Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10, while Knife 2, both white and buff, exists in all varieties. THREE CENTS, RED. DIE 2. [Illustration] THE "STRAIGHT END" DIE. Short labels with straight ends. 8-1/2 loops on the left; 9 loops on the right. * * * * * It is generally conceded that this die is one of the earliest made, because many of the envelopes bear the Nesbitt tress or seal on the flap. In addition to Head 1, used for Die I, there now appear two new ones. This issue is also noticeable because in each of the three varieties the lettering is about the same. For this reason a knowledge of the heads is imperative for identification of the varieties. It may also assist the collector to note that Head I exists only with the seal on the flap of the envelope, and that in Heads XI and XII the garment at the back of the neck has four folds in contradistinction to Head I, in which the garment has but two folds. As far as we know, letter size envelopes, bearing Die 2, were issued in July, 1853, and note size in September of the same year. Excepting note size (Knife 1 of the present list), all other envelopes exist on both white and buff paper. [Illustration] Variety 1, Head I:--As this head has been fully described and illustrated under Die 1, it needs no additional remarks. HEAD XI. [Illustration: XI.] Variety 2, Head XI.--A small but heavy eyebrow near the corner of the eye. The side-lock commences close to the eye-brow and is rather short and shaped like a comma. Near the end of the side-lock begins the lowest front-lock, which is very short, heavy, and extends some distance beyond the ear-lobe. Note that the end of the side-lock reaches to the middle of the ear-lobe. The queue is continued from the second front-lock. There are five locks in the front row and two heavy upper locks in the back row: [HW: there is usually a flaw in the outer colored line opposite the lower left straight line near "C."] HEAD XII. [Illustration: XII.] Variety 3, Head XII:--A long, heavy-side-lock starts near a heavy eyebrow, which extends far beyond the corner of the eye. At its end the side-lock bends sharply to the left and is quite a distance from the ear-lobe. Together with the side-lock starts the lowest front-lock. It slants across the ear-lobe, broadens towards its middle and is pointed at the end. The side-lock, front-lock and ear-lobe somewhat resemble the figure 1. The queue is continued from the lowest lock immediately behind the second front-lock. There are five locks in the front row and three heavy locks in the back row. * * * * * THREE CENTS, RED. DIE 3. "THREE" in square label with a diagonal line across each corner _called "K Ends_." 8-1/2 loops on left; 9 loops on right. [Illustration] This die appeared in July, 1853, and exists on note and letter size envelopes. The former is extremely rare. Mr. Harrison, who has carefully studied this die, found two heads of Washington (XIII and XIV). He states, however, that: "in the heads in relief there is only a slight difference in the arrangement of the hair, which is of no practical use, as in most specimens of this series the head is so lightly impressed that it is impossible to detect any differences." Realizing how difficult it is to get a fine specimen of this die, the writer tried his best to obtain a clear impression, and the drawing shows that the search has not been in vain. HEAD XIII. Two small side-locks. (For further description see Head XIV). [Illustration] Variety 1.:--"C" of "Cents" low. HEAD XIV. [Illustration: XIV.] One short side-lock: A heavy eyebrow. A fine, short side-lock starts quite a distance from the latter and ends far from the ear-lobe. Together with the side-lock commences the short, lowest front-lock. Immediately above the latter commences the third front-lock, which is bifurcated to the middle. This is the main feature of the die. It is by far the heaviest strand and continues, uninterruptedly, into the queue. All other front or rear locks are short. Between the last-mentioned long front-lock and the short, lowest one lies a small rear lock, pointed at its start and broad at its end. Including the lowest front-lock, there are five locks in front and but three in the rear row, i.e., two above the long, bifurcated front-lock and a small one immediately below the latter. Variety 2:--"C" of "CENTS" high in the frame. THREE CENTS, RED. DIE 4. [Illustration] Wide label, measuring 20 mm. horizontally, with square ends; lower label short (17 mm.) but also with straight ends. 7 loops on each side. Issued July, 1853. Luckily the engraver has seen fit to use but one head for this issue and it is our old favorite, HEAD I, and needs no further description. There is but one variety, and none of the envelopes have the Nesbitt seal. [Illustration] Variety 1:--Letters of "THREE" very widely spaced, especially the last two letters. "T" nearer to left label than "E" to the right. "ENT" of "CENTS" nearer to each other than "C" to "E" and "T" to "S". The die has been used for note and letter size, i.e., Knives 1 and 2, on white, and for the latter on both white and buff paper. THREE CENTS, RED. DIE 5. [Illustration] The common die of the first series. Short labels (measuring 15 mm. horizontally) with curved ends. 9 loops on the left; 8-1/2 loops on the right. * * * * * This die appeared in March, 1854, and remained in existence until October, 1860. On account of its six years of constant use, it was not strange that the die should need repairing and retouching. Nevertheless, while admitting the necessity of repairs, this does not account in any way for the fact that we have thirty distinctly different dies in this series, many of which cannot be explained by the above theory. Of course, the various curves of the labels may be accounted for by repeated retouching, but no one who compares many of these dies would attempt to give the same reason for the totally different lettering and the great variety in the spacing. As a matter of fact, most of the so-called varieties are far more distinct dies than some of the well-known Reays and Plimptons of equal denominations. In spite of the great number of varieties of this issue, the engraver has seen fit to use but one head of Washington, which is totally different from any of those preceding. HEAD XV. [Illustration: XV.] Two fine, very short side-locks, reaching to the middle of the ear-lobe, which is rather large. There are seven very thin locks of hair, almost hair lines, in the upper part of the head, extending to the back of the head, each with a curve in the centre. Below these there is a short, thick bunch, or lock, bent upwards into the space left by the curve of the seventh thin lock. There is one short, thick front-lock and three in the back row, side by side, nearly at right angles to the bunch of hair which is bent upwards. The lowest front-lock slants a considerable distance across the ear, while the lock immediately above it is much longer and reaches into the queue. The latter is very thin and shows no subdivisions. Doubtless the thirty varieties of this die would have been highly prized by collectors and would have been well known many years ago if American philatelists had taken the trouble to study them with a view to systematic classification. Certainly, without a system the collector's task is troublesome, but, with a proper classification, the difficulty vanishes and what has hitherto been considered an annoyance becomes a pleasurable pursuit. This issue greatly favors the collector of cut square specimens, for a good many dies can easily be found. On the contrary, the collector of entires, especially the advanced collector who desires mint copies, will find it difficult to get unused specimens of many dies. The paper used is white and buff, and, as mentioned before, both the quality and color differ widely. For instance: "Buff" covers shades which would be called at the present time light chocolate, brown, oriental buff, light yellow, etc. A great many envelopes are of soft paper, nearly unsurfaced, while there are numerous others having a hard, brittle texture, highly surfaced or glazed. Often six shades may be obtained, and they are certainly worthy of being collected with care. It has already been stated that the thirty varieties can be classified, and that such classification is a great help to the philatelist. Fortunately, the first ten dies are quickly recognized by the long, horizontal cross stroke of "T" of "THREE," and "T" of "CENTS," while the remaining twenty dies have a short top stroke, and this differentiation, in the writer's humble opinion, should have been introduced long ago in the general catalogues. Before commencing the study of the first ten varieties, it is only proper to state that even Mr. Harrison has put himself on record that: "the ten earlier varieties are by no means easy to separate." Indeed, they are decidedly more troublesome and require far closer work than any of the other Nesbitt die varieties. The student is sure to find many specimens in which the upper curves are entirely worn away, and in judging the spacing of the letters errors are likely to occur, due to heavy impressions, which are not infrequent. Being well aware of these annoyances, the writer has tried, to the best of his ability, to make the description of these ten varieties as lucid as possible, and as they now stand they represent the labor of many hours. Expressions like "far", "near" or "close" are, of course, subject to individual interpretation, but by comparing the illustrations accompanying the text, what is meant by "close", etc., will be easily understood. Wherever greater accuracy seemed needful, the distance between two letters, either at the top or the base has been added. If a letter is stated to be below the level of another, the student, as a rule, should have no difficulty in recognizing this fact. This is true of varieties 4 and 5, but a certain amount of training of the eye is required to recognize quickly the lower position of "T" and "E" of "THREE" in varieties 1, 2 and 10. Together with the new die two new sizes of envelopes appear, known as Knives 4 and 5, respectively; both are termed "Full Letter" and have three black lines on the inside of the left side flap. * * * * * "T" WITH LONG CROSS STROKE. Dies 1 to 10. The ten die varieties are divided into three groups by drawing a straight line along the outside of the downward stroke of "T" of "THREE". 1) Line cuts through "S" of "CENTS" (Var. 1, 2, 3, 4). 2) Line goes to right of "S" (Var. 5, 6, 7). 3) Line goes through right lower curve (Var. 8, 9, 10). It should be understood, however, that the above line prolongation is only tentative, not absolute, and can only be relied upon in a general way as certain specimens will be found which will vary from it to a greater or less extent. Description of Dies. [Illustration] Variety 1:--"T" a considerable distance from upper left curve. "TH" widely spaced, but "HR" near and "R" the highest letter. "RE" wide at top. "EE" wide. "CE" wide at base. "EN" wide. "NT" wide at base. Lower curves deep and far from "C" and "S". Variety 2:--"T" near curve, and "T" and final "E" below level of "HRE". "TH" near, "HR" near, but "RE" and "EE" wide at top. Upper curves are frequently much deteriorated. Lower left curve far from "C". "CE" and "NT" wide at base. "TS" near. Lower right curve near "S". [Illustration] Variety 3:--Upper left curve very far from "T". "RE" wide and "R" slants sharply to the right. "EE" near at top. "C" far from lower left curve. "CE" wide at base. "E" slants sharply to the left and "EN" wide at base. "S" close to curve. Variety 4:--"T" near curve but below level of "H". "HR" wide but "RE" wider, and "EE" widest at top. The main feature of this die is that the lower left curve slants sharply downward and is far from base of "C". "CE" wide at base. "NT" very wide at base. "S" far from curve. Variety 5:--Upper right curve flattened and top of "T" near curve. "T" low and far from "H". "HR" widely spaced at top, but "RE" still wider. "EE" near. Upper right curve far from "E" both at top and base. Frequently the curves are nearly obliterated. [Illustration] Variety 6:--Upper right curve near "T". Top of "T" some distance from "H". "RE" wide at top. "EE" wide. The curve is far from top of "E", but slants so that, at the point where it meets the inner oval line, it is near base of "E". Lower left curve near "C" and reaches over the top of the letter. "CEN" near; "NT" near at base. "S" far from curve. [Illustration] Variety 7:--The FLAW VARIETY. Upper right curve very deep. Top of "T" considerably nearer curve than base. "TH" near. "HR" and "RE" near at top. "EE" very wide at top. Curve is very far from "E" both at top and base. Lower left curve flattened and near "C". "EX" near. "NT" well spaced. In the outer red frame line, near base of "T", a small portion of the die is broken away. Variety 8:--Upper left curve deep and top of "T" near curve. "TH" near. "HRE" near, and "RE" the closest spacing of all the varieties. "EE" near. Right curve is a good distance from top of "E". Lower left curve small and near "C". "CE" wide. "ENT" near and upper horizontal stroke of "N" often joined to "T". "TS" near and "S" close to curve. [Illustration] Variety 9:--Upper left curve much flattened and close to "T"; "T" and final "E" somewhat below level of "HRE". "TH" close and "H" sharply slanting to left. "HREE" near at top. Right curve far from "E". Lower left curve short and near "C". "CE" close. "EN" near. "NT" near at base. Right curve near "S". Variety 10:--Upper left curve near "T". "TH" near at top. "HRE" spaced as in Var. 9 but "EE" nearer, and top of "E" nearer the curve. Lower left curve near "C". "C" above level of "E" and near at base. "ENTS" near. "S" far from curve. LETTERS "T" WITH SHORT CROSS STROKES. Dies 11 to 30. These twenty die varieties are grouped into two classes by the use of a unit distance measurement of 14 and 12 mm. respectively. Class I. [Illustration] A line 14mm. long will extend from the point where the upper left curve meets the inner white frame-line to the end of the final "E" of "THREE". [Illustration] Group A:--A line 12mm. long, starting from the junction of the upper left curve and the inner, white, frame-line will extend to the end of the horizontal stroke of the first "E" of "THREE". (Var. 11 to 18.) Group B:--A line 12mm. long, starting from the junction of the upper left curve and the inner, white, frame-line will extend to a point just beyond the end of the horizontal stroke of the first "E" of "THREE". (Var. 19 to 27.) Class II. [Illustration] A line 14mm. long, starting from the junction of the upper left curve and the inner, white, frame-line, will extend to a point just outside of the final "E" of "THREE". (Var. 28 to 30.) [Illustration] Variety 11:--THE TOP STROKE OF "N," IF EXTENDED, WOULD BISECT THE VERTICAL STROKE OF "T". "RE" very wide at top. "T" and "E" about an equal distance from curves. Lower left curve well rounded. "EN" near at top. "N" broad. Variety 12:--THE SMALL HORIZONTAL LINE OF "N," IF EXTENDED, WOULD CUT THE VERTICAL DOWNSTROKE OF "T." All the centre crossbars of "Es" touch the horizontal upper stroke. "N" of "CENTS" is narrow; is the lowest letter, and has a heavy middle line. "T" and "E" are close to the curves, which are short. "TS" close and on level. There are often two dots in the central oval, one near the throat and the other opposite the third loop above "C". Compare variety 11 for "NT," also variety 21. Variety 13:--A FLAW IN THE DESIGN, caused by the addition of a short line immediately above the right lower curve and at the beginning of the first loop. "TH" wide. "RE" wide at top. "CE" near. The entire word "CENTS" is well in the centre of the label. "S" above level of "T". Note the wide distance of "C" from the lower left corner. [Illustration] Variety 14:--THIS DIE SHOWS THE WIDEST SPACING OF "THREE". Lower left curve is deep; slants back and is far from "C". Lower right curve near "S". "T" and "E" about equally far from curves. Upper right curve much flattened. Note "T" short and top of "C" considerably below inner oval line. Note also that centre of first loop below upper right curve is unfinished. "TH" wide at base; "CE" near: "EN" wide. "N" _tall and narrow_. Variety 15:--"RE" VERY WIDE. THERE IS A SMALL TRIANGLE IN THE DESIGN IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE CENTRE OF LOWER RIGHT CURVE. Upper left curve very deep and "T" far from it. "HRE" wide at base. Final "E" below level of first "E" and nearer curve than "T". Lower left curve is flat and "C" is far from it, both at top and base. "CE" wide. _Tall, narrow "N"._ Note that the entire word is high in the label. [Illustration] Variety 16:--"S" OF "CENTS" HIGH IN LABEL. Lower left curve very slightly curved and very far from "C," which is elongated. "CE" wide, likewise "EN". "N" large and broad. Lower right curve flattened and "S" far from curve. "T" and "E" about equally distant from upper curves, which are, likewise, flattened. "TH" nearer at top than "HR". "RE" wider at top than "HR". "EE" wide at top. Compare varieties 26 and 27 for upper right curve. Variety 17:--LOWER LEFT CURVE COMMENCES NEAR TOP OF "C" OF "CENTS", SLANTS SHARPLY DOWNWARD, AND IS, AT THE POINT WHERE THE CURVE MEETS THE OUTER OVAL LINE, FAR FROM BASE OF "C". Upper right curve is much flattened and close to "E" at base. Upper left curve is deep and a good distance from "T". The latter is short, thick and near "H". "RE" much wider at top than "HR". There are two small dots immediately below the upper right curve. In the lower label "C" and "S" are slightly above the level of "ENT"; "EN" near; "N" broad. Compare variety 18 for lower left curve and note position of "T" of "THREE" with regard to upper left curve. [Illustration] Variety 18:--LOWER LEFT CURVE SLANTS BACK AND IS FAR FROM "C" AT THE JUNCTION OF THE CURVE WITH THE OUTER FRAME LINE. "T" close to upper left curve. Upper left curve flat and "T" is much nearer to it than "E" to the right curve. "THR" near at top. "RE" very wide at top. "EE" near. The entire word "CENTS" is close to the inner oval line. "N" is broad, and top of "T" is slightly above "X". "TS" close. Note that there are three dots immediately above lower right curve. Compare Variety 17 for lower left curve. Variety 19:--"T" AND "E" CLOSE TO CURVES. Upper curves short. "HRE" wide at top. "EE" near. Lower left curve near "C". "CE" close. "EN" wide. "N" in upright position. "NT" wide at base. Compare variety 12 for arrangement of letters in upper label and note "NT". Note that the top of "E" is very near curve. [Illustration] Variety 20:--"C" HIGH; NEAR INNER OVAL LINE AND CLOSE TO "E". "C" and "S" above level of "ENT". "C" heavy and near lower left curve. "EN" wide. "NT" close. Upper curves are short. "T" near upper left curve. "TH" close and "T" has short top stroke. Upper right curve starts far from top of "E" and slants inward. "EE" near. Lower right curve deep. Compare varieties 12, 19 and 21 for lower label. Variety 21:--"T" SHORT, THICK AND NEAR CURVE. "TH" near. "R" in the centre of label and in a vertical position. Upper right curve slants inward and is much nearer to base than to top of "E". "C" and "S" in lower label are above level of "ENT". "S" of "CENTS" far from curve. Lower left curve short and close to "C". "N" is broad. Lower right curve deeper than lower left curve. "CEN" near. Compare variety 30 for lower right curve and 20 for upper right curve. [Illustration] Variety 22:--"EN" JOINED AT TOP. "HR" very wide at top and forming a sharp angle. "TH" close. Upper left curve flat. Upper right curve is deep; far from top of "E" and terminates at its base. Lower left curve far from "C". "C" and "S" above level of "ENT". Upper cross stroke of "T" short. "S" far from lower right curve. First loop above lower right curve has a very large centre. Compare variety 21. Variety 23:--"R" HIGHEST LETTER AND CLOSE TO OUTER FRAME LINE. "TH" close. "RE" very wide at top. "T" and "E" about the same distance from curves. There are two small, colored dots immediately below the upper right curve. Lower left curve slants. "C" and "S" equally far from curves. "CENT" on level and "CEN" close at base. Compare variety 17 for lower left curve. [Illustration] Variety 24:--TOP STROKE OF "E" IS ABOVE TOP OF "C". "CE" close. "EN" near at top. "N" short and thick. Top stroke of "N" nearly touches "T". "NT" high in label. Lower curves well rounded and short, but lower left curve deeper than lower right. "C" somewhat further from curve than "S". Upper right curve deep and far from "E". "TH" near and about parallel. "HR" near, but "RE" wider at top. "EE" near; centre strokes touch upper horizontal line. Compare, for distance of "THR", variety 29. Variety 25:--A FLAW, i.e., a white line running out from the middle of the third loop on the right, towards the inner oval line. Lower left curve a good distance away from "C". "C" round and full, but shorter than the rest of the letters. "S" far from lower right curve. "EE" widely spaced and upper right curve flat. "C" and "S" above level of "ENT". [Illustration] Variety 26:--"C" OF "CENTS" ELONGATED, VERY SLANTING AND FAR FROM "E". Lower left curve is very flat and far from "C". "ENT" near at top. Lower right curve slants back and is far from base of "S". Upper left curve is very flat. "HRE" very wide at top and "EE" widely spaced. "N" is broad. There are, also, two dots immediately below upper right curve. Compare varieties 16 and 29. Variety 27:--THE HORIZONTAL BAR OF THE FINAL STROKE OF "N" EXTENDS OVER THE TOP OF "T". Lower left curve fat and very far from "C". "CE" wide. Upper left curve much deeper than upper right curve, which is almost a straight line. "T" very short. "TH" wide at top, "HR" wider. Note that "R" stands to right of the centre of stamp and, also, the wide, colored space above the top of "THRE". "N" of "CENTS" is broad. Compare varieties 16 and 26. Variety 28:--"T" OF "THREE" IS LOW, SMALL AND HEAVY. "RE" nearest. "T" is near the inner oval line and much nearer to upper left curve than "E" to upper right curve. "TH" near, "H" and "E" at top about the same distance apart from "E", which is upright and close to outer frame line. "EE" near. Lower left curve short; lower right curve deep. "CE" on level and close. "EN" far. "N" short and thick and, at base, nearer "E" than "T". Compare variety 29. [Illustration] Variety 29:--"THR" SPACED CLOSEST. "T" of "THREE" slightly nearer the curve than "E" is to upper right curve. Upper curves are deep and well rounded. "TH" close. "C" of "CENTS" is heavy and close to the short, round curve. "NT" near and sometimes touching at top. "TS" wide and "S" far from curve. Lower right curve deep and well rounded. Note that the word "CENTS" is near the outer frame line. Compare variety 30 for "S" distance. Variety 30:--"C" NEAR OUTER FRAME LINE AND ON LEVEL WITH "E". "TH" very near and top of "T" close to curve. "RE" much wider at top than "HR". "EE" wide at top. Upper right curve much larger than upper left curve and much further from top than from base of "E". Lower curves short and round. "NT" wide at base. "TS" close at top and top of "S" close to curve. There is a colored dot, or circle, immediately above centre of the lower right curve. Note wide colored space above top of "R" and "E". Compare varieties 21 and 28. SIX CENTS, RED AND SIX CENTS, GREEN. Short labels with straight ends. 8-1/2 loops on the left; 9 loops on the right. The date of issue of the SIX CENTS red is generally placed about July 31st. 1853; that of its congener--but with color changed--sometime before Sept. 30th of the same year. As there has never been much demand for a six cent envelope, it is strange that this issue has four distinct heads of Washington, two forms of "SIX", small and large, and different spacings of the word "CENTS". Unlike the last issue, the die is exceedingly well printed, and it is not difficult to get fine copies. In Varieties 1 and 2 "SIX" is widely spaced: In Varieties 3 and 4 the spacing is closer. VARIETY 1. [Illustration] No description of the head is needed; it is HEAD I of Die 1 of 1853. "CE" very wide; "EN" wide; "NT" near at top and "S" is far from "T". VARIETY 2. [Illustration: XVI.] HEAD XVI. Side-lock is long, straight, curved at its point, and ends near the ear-lobe. There are five locks in the front row and four in the back row. The highest front-lock is split into two parts. Between the side-lock and the lowest front-lock and well towards the middle of the former, commences a thin lock which extends far beyond the ear-lobe and ends in the queue. "CE" wide; "EN" wide; "NT" further at base than in Var. 1. "TS" near. This head is found on the reprints on white and buff vertically laid paper. VARIETY 3. [Illustration: XVII.] HEAD XVII. A very heavy eyebrow which comes close to the side-lock. The latter is very fine and near the ear-lobe. The hair consists of five long and nearly parallel locks. The second longest and heaviest lock touches the queue. "CE" very wide; "EN" wide. "NT" wide at top. "TS" very widely spaced. VARIETY 4. [Illustration: XVIII.] HEAD XVIII. A heavy eyebrow. A short side-lock with a sharp point, starting near the eye-brow, ends [HW: some] distance from the ear-lobe. There are five locks in the front row and the same number in the back row. Of the five front locks four are heavy. There is also a long and thin strand between the second and third front-lock. Together with the side-lock starts the lowest front-lock which broadens out towards its middle and ends in a point a short distance behind the ear-lobe. The second front-lock is in line with the queue. "CENTS" close to outer frame line. "CE" nearer than in Var. 3. "T" has a short cross-stroke; "TS" is wide and "NT" is near at top. All varieties of the SIX CENTS red exist only on Knife 3, and all those of the SIX CENTS green only on Knife 2. The former is a newcomer and was styled "Official, Size 7". On account of its size (221 x 98 mm.) the envelope did not meet with much favor, and to-day it is difficult to find a cancelled specimen in fine condition. In accordance with the instructions of the Post Office the envelope should have been folded so that the right side flap overlapped the left, but this rule was not strictly adhered to, so that many collectors possess specimens with the opposite folding. TEN CENTS, GREEN. Narrow labels with straight ends. 8-1/2 loops on the left; 9 loops on the right. This die appeared in April, 1855. Its issuance is due to an Act of Congress of March 3, 1855, which fixed the letter rate for transportation over 3000 miles at 10 cents. [Illustration] HEAD XV: VAR. I:--Letters of "TEN" about equally spaced. "T" slants back and is somewhat nearer the left label than "N" to the right. "CE" close: "NT" near, and the top of the latter above "N". "S" closer to curve than "C". Frequently a little white line runs out from the left ornamental scrollwork a short distance above "C". TEN CENTS, GREEN. Very wide upper label (measuring horizontally 24-1/2 mm.) with straight ends. 7 loops on each side. * * * * * [Illustration: XIX.] [Illustration] HEAD XIX: VAR I:--A short fine eyebrow extends upward from the end of the nose. Another short, but much heavier one, is attached to the corner of the eye. Two fine, short side-locks commence a little distance from the heavy eyebrow and finish just above the ear-lobe. There is a double row of five short and heavy locks, while the queue is continued from the lowest lock in the back row. The garment at the back has three folds. "TEN" near, but "N" nearer to right label than "T" to the left. Letters of "CENT" closely spaced, but "S" some distance from "T". * * * * * A REFERENCE LIST OF ENTIRE ENVELOPES OF THE SERIES OF 1853 TO 1855. THREE CENTS, RED. DIE I. "THREE" IN NARROW CURVED LABEL. VAR. 1: HEAD I. No.[C] Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 1 W 2 3 139 x 83 Seal. 2 B 2 3 " " " VAR. 2: HEAD I. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 3 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 4 B 2 3 " " " " " VAR. 3: HEAD Ia. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 5 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 6 B 2 3 " " " " " VAR. 4: HEAD II. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 7 W 1 1 120 x 73 Plain. 8 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 9 B 2 3 " " " " " VAR. 5: HEAD III. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 10 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 11 B 2 3 " " " " " VAR. 6: HEAD IV. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 12 W 1 1 120 x 73 Plain. 13 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 14 B 2 3 " " " " " VAR. 7: HEAD V. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 15 W 1 1 120 x 73 Plain. 16 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 17 B 2 3 " " " " " VAR. 8: HEAD VI. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 18 W 1 1 120 x 73 Plain. 19 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 20 B 2 3 " " " " " VAR. 9: HEAD VII. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 21 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 22 W 2 3 " " No watermark, plain. 23 B 2 3 " " Plain and seal. VAR. 10: HEAD VIII. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 24 W 1 1 120 x 73 Plain. 25 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 26 B 2 3 " " " " " VAR. 11: HEAD IX. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 27 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal; also hor. laid. 28 B 2 3 " " Plain and seal. VAR. 12: HEAD X. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 29 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 30 B 2 3 " " " " " DIE II. "THREE" IN NARROW, STRAIGHT LABEL. VAR. 1: HEAD I. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 31 W 2 3 139 x 83 Seal. 32 B 2 3 " " " VAR. 2: HEAD XI. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 33 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 34 B 2 3 " " " " " VAR. 3: HEAD XII. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 35 W 1 1 120 x 73 Plain. 36 W 2 3 139 x 83 Plain and seal. 37 B 2 3 " " " " " DIE III. "THREE" IN SQUARE LABEL WITH A DIAGONAL LINE ACROSS EACH CORNER, CALLED "K ENDS". VAR. 1: HEAD XIII. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 38 W 1 1 120 x 73 39 W 2 3 139 x 83 40 B 2 3 " " VAR. 1: HEAD XIV. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 41 W 2 3 139 x 83 42 B 2 3 " " DIE IV. "THREE" IN WIDE LABEL WITH SQUARE ENDS. HEAD I. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 43 W 1 1 120 x 73 44 W 2 3 139 x 83 45 B 2 3 " " DIE V. "THREE" IN MEDIUM CURVED LABEL. "T" WITH LONG CROSS STROKE. VAR. 1: HEAD XV. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 46 W 2 3 139 x 82 47 B 2 3 " " 48 W 4 3 139 x 82 49 B 4 3 " " VAR. 2. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 50 W 1 1 120 x 73 51 W 2 3 139 x 83 52 W 2 3 " " No watermark. 53 B 2 3 " " VAR. 3. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 54 W 2 3 139 x 83 55 B 2 3 " " VAR. 4. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 56 W 1 1 120 x 73 57 W 2 3 139 x 83 58 B 2 3 " " VAR. 5. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 59 W 1 1 120 x 73 60 W 2 3 139 x 83 61 B 2 3 " " VAR. 6. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 62 W 2 3 139 x 83 63 B 2 3 " " VAR. 7. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 64 W 2 3 139 x 83 65 B 2 3 " " VAR. 8. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 66 W 2 3 139 x 83 67 B 2 3 " " VAR. 9. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 68 W 2 3 139 x 83 69 B 2 3 " " VAR. 10. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 70 W 2 3 139 x 83 71 B 2 3 " " "T" WITH SHORT CROSS STROKE. VAR. 11. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 72 W 2 3 139 x 83 73 B 2 3 " " VAR. 12. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 74 W 2 3 139 x 83 75 B 2 3 " " 76 W 4 3 139 x 82 77 B 4 3 " " VAR. 13. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 78 W 2 3 139 x 83 79 B 2 3 " " VAR. 14. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 80 W 2 3 139 x 83 81 B 2 3 " " VAR. 15. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 82 W 2 3 139 x 83 83 B 2 3 " " VAR. 16. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 84 W 1 1 120 x 73 85 W 2 3 139 x 83 86 B 2 3 " " VAR. 17. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 87 W 2 3 139 x 82 88 B 2 3 " " VAR. 18. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 89 W 2 3 139 x 83 [HW: Reprints on white and buff 90 B 2 3 " " vertically laid paper.] VAR. 19. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 91 W 2 3 139 x 83 92 B 2 3 " " VAR. 20. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 93 W 2 3 139 x 83 94 B 2 3 " " 95 W 4 3 139 x 82 96 B 4 3 " " VAR. 21. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 97 W 2 3 139 x 83 98 B 2 3 " " 99 W 5 3 139 x 82 100 B 5 3 " " VAR. 22. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 101 W 2 3 139 x 83 102 B 2 3 " " 103 W 5 3 139 x 82 104 B 5 3 " " VAR. 23. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 105 W 2 3 139 x 83 106 B 2 3 " " 107 W 4 3 139 x 82 108 B 4 3 " " 109 W 5 3 " " 110 B 5 3 " " VAR. 24. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 111 W 2 3 139 x 83 112 B 2 3 " " 113 W 4 3 139 x 82 114 B 4 3 " " 115 W 5 3 " " 116 B 5 3 " " VAR. 25. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 117 W 2 3 139 x 83 118 B 2 3 " " VAR. 26. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 119 W 2 3 139 x 83 120 B 2 3 " " VAR. 27. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 121 W 2 3 139 x 83 [HW: removed remarks] 122 B 2 3 " " VAR. 28. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 123 W 2 3 139 x 83 124 B 2 3 " " 125 W 4 3 139 x 82 126 B 4 3 " " VAR. 29. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 127 W 1 1 120 x 73 128 W 2 3 139 x 83 129 B 2 3 " " 130 W 4 3 139 x 82 131 B 4 3 " " 132 W 6 1 118 x 6 Ladies Note. VAR. 30. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 133 W 2 3 139 x 83 134 B 2 3 " " 135 W 4 3 139 x 82 136 B 4 3 " " SIX CENTS, RED. VAR. 1. HEAD I. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 137 W 3 7 221 x 98 138 B 3 7 " " VAR. 2. HEAD XVI. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 139 W 3 7 221 x 98 Reprints on vertically laid 140 B 3 7 " " paper. VAR. 3. HEAD XVII. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 141 W 3 7 221 x 98 142 B 3 7 " " VAR. 4. HEAD XVIII. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 143 W 3 7 221 x 98 144 B 3 7 " " SIX CENTS, GREEN. VAR. 1. HEAD I. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 145 W 2 3 139 x 83 146 B 2 3 " " VAR. 2. HEAD XVI. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 147 W 2 3 139 x 83 Reprints on vertically laid 148 B 2 3 " " paper. VAR. 3. HEAD XVII. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 149 W 2 3 139 x 83 150 B 2 3 " " VAR. 4. HEAD XVIII. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 151 W 2 3 139 x 83 152 B 2 3 " " TEN CENTS. DIE I. SHORT LABEL WITH SQUARE ENDS. HEAD XV. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 153 W 2 3 139 x 83 Various shades. 154 B 2 3 " " " " DIE II. LONG LABEL WITH SQUARE ENDS. HEAD XIX. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 155 W 2 3 139 x 83 Various shades. Reprints on 156 B 2 3 " " vertically laid paper. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote C: NOTE:--The numbers used in this list are arbitrary, consecutive, and have no relation to the numbers used in any other work of a similar nature. Under the heading "Paper," "W." means white and "B." buff paper. The numbers under the headings "Knife" and "Size" are those of the knives illustrated and described in the _Catalogue for Advanced Collectors_ and in _Bartel's Catalogue of United States Envelopes_, 1904 edition. Those under "Dimensions" give the size of the envelope in millimetres.] SECOND ISSUE: 1860. The 36th Congress, by an Act approved April 30, 1860, reduced postage on drop letters, also the charge for the delivery of a letter by carriers, to one cent. We further learn from the Report of the Postmaster-General, dated December 1st, 1860, that "the new one cent envelope is designed mainly for circulars and will also be used largely for city correspondence". In our days of cheap postage it strikes us as rather curious to be informed that the Post Office, to cover the expense of collecting letters, dropped into letter boxes attached to lamp posts, which letters were delivered by the mail carriers to the next post office, evolved the scheme of printing two entirely different stamps on the same envelope, i.e. a ONE CENT (BLUE), and a new THREE CENTS (RED). The one cent paying the carrier's fee, and the other stamp paying the postage. In addition to the one and three cent, the Post Office issued also a new SIX and TEN CENTS. In reality the latter two appeared in October, 1860, while the ONE and FOUR CENTS were added in December of the same year. For the collector the most interesting novelty is, however, the invention of the wrapper now-a-days so commonly used that we can scarcely think of the time when this commodity did not exist. The sizes of the envelopes were also increased by the addition of a new one known as knife 9, bearing on the inside of the left flap the "patent lines." ONE CENT: BLUE. HEAD OF FRANKLIN TO THE RIGHT, OVAL 20-1/2 x 24-1/2 MM. "ONE CENT" ABOVE; "U. S. POSTAGE" BELOW. TWELVE VARIETIES. The easiest way of classifying the various dies is to extend the base line of the bust and note its position with regard to the letters "A" and "G" of "POSTAGE". By this simple method we obtain the following groups:-- 1) Bust points at G; 2) " " between A and G; 3) " " at A. Next in importance is to note the position of the back of the bust with reference to the strokes of letter "U". Calling the stroke next to the star ornament the first stroke, and that next to "S" the _second_, we have two additional distinctive features. Finally, the distance from the back of the bust to inner oval line furnishes a third valuable clue. To the above we may add three 10 mm. unit distance measurements, taken from the upper end of the first stroke of "U" towards "ONE"; from the right end of the horizontal stroke of "T" of "CENT" towards the "E" of "POSTAGE"; and from the upper end of the final stroke of "N" of "CENT" towards the "E" of "ONE", noting each time the end of the 10 mm. line. The result is shown in the subjoined table:-- Measured from upper extremity of "U" the end of the 10 mm. line touches right side of "O"; strikes base of "N"; or falls between the strokes of "N"; Measured from "T" the end of the 10 mm. line touches end of "E" reaches to about the middle of the lower horizontal stroke; or falls behind "E". Measured from "N" end of 10 mm. line touches upper end of "E"; reaches to the middle of the upper horizontal stroke; or falls outside "E". We are now well prepared to take up the several varieties. PERIOD AFTER "POSTAGE". BUST POINTS AT "G". Base line of bust touches "G" to the left. Back of bust opposite 2nd bar of "U" in Varieties 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. Unless otherwise stated the stamp measures 20-1/2 x 24-1/2 mm. [Illustration] Variety 1:--"O" and "N" of "ONE" widely spaced. "SP" near at top. "CENT": "CEN" widely spaced at top. "NT" close. "POSTAGE": "GE" near to inner frame line. Back of bust far from inner oval. 10 mm. from "U" strikes first bar of "N". 10 mm. from "N" touches "E". 10 mm. from "T" strikes a little into the lower bar of "E" of "POSTAGE". Variety 2:--Widely spaced between "U. S." and inner frame line. "ONE": "ONE" near. Wide space between "U" of "U.S." and "O" of "ONE". "CENT": "EN" close. Distance between "ONE" and "CENT" only 3 mm. Back of bust far from inner oval line. 10 mm. from "U" touches right side of "O". " " " "N" touches middle of upper bar of "E" of "ONE". " " " "T" strikes a little into the lower bar of "E" of "POSTAGE". [Illustration] Variety 3:--"S" of "U. S." nearly touches inner frame line. "CENT": "C" of "CENT" near inner frame line. "NT" wide. Back of Bust far from inner oval line. 10 mm. from "U" reaches to centre of "N". " " " "N" touches "E" of "ONE". " " " "T" strikes a little into the lower bar of "E" of "POSTAGE". [HW: Distance from "E" to "C" is 3-1/2 mm.] BUST POINTS BETWEEN A AND G. [Illustration] [Illustration] BASE LINE OF BUST PASSES THROUGH RIGHT BAR OF A. Varieties 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Variety 4:--"O" of "POSTAGE" considerably above outer frame line; "TAGE" close, especially "GE", which are close to inner frame line and above level of the other letters. STAMP measures 20 x 24-1/2 mm. "ONE": "NE" far apart. Letters of "ONE" especially the "E" close to outer frame line. "CENT": "C" far from "E." "POSTAGE": "PO" close. "O" to "U": 7-1/2 mm. From end of upper right point of "C" to top of left stroke of "O" of "ONE" is 5 mm. Variety 5:--"PO" of "POSTAGE" wide; "OS" and "AGE" near lower frame line: "GE" near. "ONE": "NE" wide. Distance between "ONE" and "CENT" widest. Sometimes a spot under left star and also in central oval at back of head. A rare die. "O" to "U": 8 mm. "C" to "E": 5 mm. _falls considerably outside_ "E". Variety 6:--DISTANCE BETWEEN "S" of "U. S." and "P" of "POSTAGE" wide. "ONE": "NE" wide, and the latter tipped to right. "POSTAGE": "PO" wide: "TE" wide at foot: "GE" close. There is often a comma after the "S" of "POSTAGE", and a dot above the head in the central oval under the "N" of "ONE". "O" to "U": 7-1/4 mm. "C" to "E": 5 mm. is barely outside "E". 10 mm. from "U" falls at centre of "N". " " " "T" touches middle of lower bar of "E". This die is found greatly worn, especially in the wrappers. Variety 7:--"U" AND "S" close. This is the only die in which back of bust nearly touches inner frame line. "E" of "ONE" equidistant from oval lines. "ONE": "NE" far apart. "POSTAGE": "PO" wide; "ST" wide at foot: "AGE" close. "O" to "U": 8 mm. "C" to "E": 5 mm. 10 mm, from "T" touches "E" to the left; " " " "U" touches "N" " " " "N" touches middle of top stroke of "E" of "ONE". [Illustration] Variety 8:--Similar to the last, but _back of bust is some distance from inner oval line_. "POSTAGE": "TAGE" closely spaced and near outer frame line. 10 mm, from "T" strikes one-half mm. into the lower bar of "E". " " " "U" falls between "O" and "N". " " " "N" touches "E". 5-1/2 mm. strikes "E". "O" to "U": 8-1/2 mm. There is a dot under the left star, and sometimes, also, one above it. BUST POINTS AT A. BASE LINE OF BUST CUTS LEFT BAR OF A. Variety 9:--Back of bust opposite first bar of "U". "S" of "U. S." and "P" of "POSTAGE" very close. "U. S." widely spaced. "POSTAGE": "OS" close to lower frame line. 10 mm. from "U" touches "N". POINT OF BUST BETWEEN A AND G. Oval 20 x 24 mm. Variety 10:--Back and front of bust cut into inner frame line. NO PERIOD AFTER POSTAGE. Oval 21 x 25 mm. BUST POINTS BETWEEN A AND G. [Illustration] Variety 11:--Back of bust opposite second bar of "U". Base of bust nearly touches inner frame line, and entire bust low in frame. "CENT": "C" much nearer "E". "POSTAGE" close to outer frame line. BUST POINTS AT G. Variety 12:--Same as last, but back of bust far from inner frame line, and entire bust lower in frame. "CENT": "C" much nearer "E". "POSTAGE": "POST" close to inner frame line. NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS. By the Act of Feb. 27th, 1861, Chap. LVII, Sec. 2, the Postmaster-General was authorized "to adopt such improvements as may be deemed advisable from time to time in connection with postage stamps or stamped envelopes for letters or newspapers." Under authority of this Act the Postmaster decided to introduce one cent wrappers and they were first issued in October, 1861. By the Act of March 3, 1863, the rate for transient newspapers was changed to two cents, and accordingly, the Post Office issued what is known as the "two cent, Jackson", newspaper wrapper. * * * * * Collectors have often complained that the wrappers of this issue are troublesome. This is largely due to the fact that no one has undertaken the task of compiling a complete list of the fairly numerous varieties in existence. Again, the various tints of paper used in this issue have justly caused a good deal of confusion. The catalogues distinguished between coarse and yellow buff, salmon, pale buff and amber buff, pale and dark manila, but it is safe to assume that no two collectors would agree in regard to color. It seems reasonable to distinguish between buff, salmon buff (a pinkish yellow) and yellow buff, while the manila paper used for the one cent wrappers may properly be called coarse manila. To give the philatelist a broader hold on this issue and a better insight, Mr. J. M. Bartels, together with the writer, has made a thorough study of the one cent wrapper, and the result of their united labor is embodied in the list which will follow this series of articles. For the identification of a wrapper of this issue it is well to observe the following method: Note whether the paper is horizontally or vertically laid; Whether or not the wrapper has a watermark; Measure the distance between the top of the stamp and the horizontal edge of the wrapper; it will be found that this distance varies from 35 to 120 mm. and constitutes a valuable help for differentiation and identification of a wrapper; Note the dimensions of the wrapper which may be: 148 x 225 to 227 mm. 151 x 227 mm. 148 x 257 mm. 151 x 257 mm. In the absence of a watermark the paper may be either wove or laid. A noteworthy innovation in this issue is the introduction of orange paper used both for envelopes and wrappers. The one cent wrapper has also been found on a somewhat coarse, white paper, of which the writer has seen a single copy, contained in the magnificent collection of Mr. G. H. Worthington, of Cleveland, Ohio, but, as far as known, the white paper was not issued with the sanction of the Post Office authorities. An envelope on white paper, of a somewhat similar texture to the wrapper spoken of above, was in the collection of Mr. Van Derlip, of Boston, but, it is impossible to trace its present whereabouts, and, therefore, I have no means of ascertaining the die. THREE CENTS: RED. HEAD OF WASHINGTON TO LEFT. A SMALL UPRIGHT OVAL MEASURING 20 x 24 MM. "THREE CENTS" ABOVE; "U. S. POSTAGE" BELOW. At each side is a six-rayed star between the inscriptions. NINE VARIETIES. It has already been mentioned that the new die was issued in accordance with the action of the 36th Congress, and that this stamp is also used to form a compound value with the one cent die. The collector of entire envelopes finds in this issue two new shapes, knives 6 and 7, of which the former was supposed to supply the needs of the gentler portion of humanity, and is officially known as "Ladies' Note Size," while knife 7 is styled "Medium Letter" and is for commercial correspondence. These envelopes have "patent lines." With the exception of variety 8, which measures 24-1/2 mm., the vertical dimension of the die is 24 mm. The several varieties may be grouped by observing the position of the back of the bust with relation to the letters "G" and "E" of "POSTAGE." GROUP I.--Back of bust points at "G." (Vars. 1 to 7.) GROUP II.--Back of bust points between "G" and E." (Var. 8.) GROUP III.--Back of bust points almost at "E." (Var. 9.) For the specialist the writer recommends the use of a 10 mm. unit distance measurement to be applied as follows: Measure 10 mm. from the top of the highest ray of the left star towards the top of "P" of "POSTAGE." This measurement assists in the identification of varieties 1 and 3. Another measurement may be taken from the left end of the horizontal cross stroke of "N" of "CENTS" towards the "E" of "THREE," and reveals the different spacings between the latter and "CENTS." BACK OF BUST POINTS AT "G." [Illustration] Variety 1:--"PO" close. "AGE" widely spaced. Note that the distance between "T" and the left star is further in Var. 1 than in Var. 2 or 3. "C" of "CENTS" near "E." Width of "U. S." at top 4-1/2 mm. Variety 2:--An additional period close to the upper end of "S." "O" further from "P." "S" nearer "T" than in Var. 1. "U. S." wider than in Var. 1, measuring 5 mm. across the top. "CE" of "CENTS" wide. Variety 3:--"PO" spaced as in Var. 2, and "U. S." as in Var. 1; but "PO" and "TA" are spaced wider than in Var. 1. [Illustration] Variety 4:--"O" far from "P." "S" of "POSTAGE" almost touches inner frame line. "AGE" near. Variety 5:--"PO" close, but "OS" very wide. "AGE" wide. [Illustration] Variety 6:--"ST" very widely spaced; "OS" wide; "AGE" near. Variety 7:--"A" of "POSTAGE" has no bar; "PO" near; "OS" wide. BACK OF BUST BETWEEN "G" AND "E." [Illustration] Variety 8:--This is the largest die of the series. Its vertical measurement is 24-1/2 mm. "PO" close; "ST" close; "AGE" widely spaced. BACK OF BUST POINTS ALMOST AT "E." Variety 9:--"POSTAGE" short and lettering very close. 10 mm. measured from the top of "P," reaches "E." PROOF SET. It may be of interest to collectors of entire envelopes to mention that a set of envelopes has been catalogued under the supposition that they were regularly issued, but they are now generally believed to be proofs. They are all buff paper and are Var. 8. The following knives and sizes exist:[D] S. 3, Knife 3, 221 x 97 mm. Official. S. 7, " 13, 224 x 96 mm. " S. 8, " 14, 241 x 100 mm. Extra Official. S. 8, " 15, 249 x 104 mm. " " S. 8, " 16, 260 x 110 mm. " " S. 8, " 17. 271 x 118 mm. " " Letter sheets on blue and white paper with this die are essays or trial printings. FOUR CENTS. ONE CENT BLUE (FRANKLIN) AND THREE CENTS RED (WASHINGTON). The reason for the issue of this, the only compound stamp of the U. S. Post Office, has already been stated in the introduction to the one cent. The two stamps were impressed side by side, the one cent to the left and the three cents to the right. The Department issued two sizes of these rather scarce compounds, officially called size 2 and 3. Of the first there exists but one knife, i.e. knife 8 (137 x 77 mm), and of the second two knives, i.e. knives 2 and 9, both measuring 139 x 83 mm. All envelopes exist on white and buff paper, except perhaps variety 5. There are five different combinations of these compounds, which are as follows: ONE CENT. THREE CENTS. Variety 1. 3 x 8 Variety 2. 4 x 4 Variety 3. 6 x 8 Variety 4. 8 x 1 Variety 5. 10 x 8 It will be noted that the same variety of the three cents is used with three different combinations of the one cent. By far the rarest of the entire series is variety 5 which represents the Franklin die, in which the back and front of the bust cut into the inner frame line. The writer has seen a few copies of this variety on white paper but none on buff. From the reports of the Postmaster-General it has been ascertained that the compound stamp was issued only during fifteen months, ending June 30, 1863. On account of the short time that these envelopes remained on sale but 127,250 were issued. This explains their rarity. SIX CENTS: RED. HEAD OF WASHINGTON: SIX RAYED STARS FOR SIDE ORNAMENTS. OVAL 20 x 24 MM. This die, which was in use from October, 1860, to August 15, 1861, presents us with a new head, which was retained for the next higher denomination, the ten cents, green. Why the head used for the three cents was abandoned by the die maker we do not know. The principal new feature is a very short heavy front-lock which ends far from the ear-lobe. In addition to the front-lock there are three long clusters of hair in the front and four in the rear, of which the two lowest reach into the queue. From the middle of the side-lock extends the wedge-shaped lowest front-lock. It slants but a little distance across the ear-lobe. A long straight lock, made up of three strands, runs from the ear-lobe into the queue. The size of this envelope is "Official" or No. 7, measuring 221 x 98 mm. It is found both on white and buff paper and is very rare. TEN CENTS: GREEN. HEAD OF WASHINGTON; SIX RAYED STARS FOR SIDE ORNAMENTS. OVAL 20 x 24 MM. Envelopes bearing the ten cent die were issued from October, 1860, to August 15, 1861. As has already been stated the head is the same as that of the preceding die, but the envelope is different. It is the common knife 2, or "Full Letter," measuring 139 x 83 mm. The paper is white or buff. Of the two, the former is the rarer. Before taking up the next issue it may be well to remind the collector that the three cents, six cents and ten cents have been reprinted, not on entire envelopes, but on pieces of paper vertically laid, while the originals are on diagonally laid paper. A REFERENCE LIST OF ENTIRE ENVELOPES AND WRAPPERS OF THE SERIES OF 1860. ENVELOPES. ONE CENT, BLUE. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Gum. Remarks. VAR. 1. 157 B 2 3 139 x 83 U 158 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 2. 159 B 2 3 139 x 83 U 160 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 3. 161 B 2 3 139 x 83 U 162 B 2 3 " " G 163 B 5 3 " " G VAR. 4. 164 B 2 3 139 x 83 U 165 B 5 3 " " U 166 B 5 3 " " G VAR. 5. 167 B 2 3 139 x 83 U 168 B 2 3 " " G 169 B 5 3 " " G VAR. 6. 170 B 2 3 139 x 83 U 171 B 2 3 " " G 172 B 5 3 " " U 173 B 5 3 " " G 174 B 9 3 " " U 175 B 9 3 " " G VAR. 7. 175a B 2 3 139 x 83 U 176 B 5 3 " " U 177 B 5 3 " " G VAR. 8. 178 B 2 3 139 x 83 U VAR. 9. 179 B 2 3 139 x 83 U 180 B 5 3 " " U 181 Y.B. 5 3 " " U 182 Or 2 3 " " U Wove paper, no wmk. 183 L.Or 5 3 " " U " " " VAR. 10. 184 Or 11 3 139 x 83 G VAR. 11. 185 B 11 3 139 x 83 G VAR. 12. 186 B 11 3 139 x 83 G THREE CENTS, RED. VAR. 1. 187 W 7 2 137 x 77 G 188 W 8 2 " " G 189 B 8 2 " " G 190 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 191 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 2. 192 W 7 2 137 x 77 G 193 B 7 2 " " G 194 W 8 2 " " G 195 B 8 2 " " G 196 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 197 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 3. 198 W 6 1 118 x 65 G 199 W 1 1 120 x 73 G 200 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 201 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 4. 202 B 7 2 137 x 77 G 203 W 8 2 " " G 204 B 8 2 " " G 205 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 206 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 5. 207 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 208 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 6. 209 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 210 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 7. 211 W 6 1 118 x 65 G 212 W 1 1 120 x 73 G 213 W 7 2 137 x 77 G 214 B 7 2 " " G 215 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 216 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 8. 217 W 7 2 137 x 77 G 218 B 7 2 " " G 219 W 8 2 " " G 220 B 8 2 " " G 221 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 222 B 2 3 " " G VAR. 9. 223 W 7 2 137 x 77 G 224 B 7 2 " " G 225 W 8 2 " " G 226 B 8 2 " " G 227 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 228 B 2 3 " " G FOUR CENTS, RED AND BLUE. VAR. 1. 229 W 9 3 139 x 83 G Var. 3 of 1c. and 8 of 3c. 230 B 9 3 " " G " " " VAR. 2. 231 W 2 3 139 x 83 G Var. 4 of 1c. and 4 of 3c. 232 B 2 3 " " G " " " VAR. 3. 233 W 2 3 139 x 83 G Var. 6 of 1c. and 8 of 3c. 234 B 2 3 " " G " " " VAR. 4. 235 W 8 2 137 x 77 G Var. 8 of 1c. and 1 of 3c 236 B 8 2 " " G " " " VAR. 5. 237 W 8 2 137 x 77 G Var. 10 of 1c. and 8 of 3c. 238 B 2 3 139 x 83 G " " " SIX CENTS, RED. 239 W 3 7 221 x 98 G 240 B 3 7 " " G TEN CENTS, GREEN. 241 W 2 3 139 x 83 G 242 B 2 3 " " G WRAPPERS. ONE CENT, BLUE. Horizon'ly Dist'ce of or Vertic'ly st'p from No. Paper.[E] Dimensions. Laid. Edge. Remarks. VAR. 3. 243 S.B. 148 x 225 H 35 244 S.B. " " V 35 245 S.B. " " H 35 Unwatermarked. 246 A.B. 151 x 257 H 35 " 247 Y.B. 148 x 225 H 35 248 Y.B. " " V 35 249 Or 151 x 257 H 36 Unwatermarked. 250 Or " " V 36 " 251 Or " " Wove 36 " VAR. 4. 252 B 148 x 232 V 38 253 Y.B. 152 x 257 V 120 253a C.M. " " V 120 VAR. 5. 254 B 148 x 227 H 39 VAR. 6. 255 B 148 x 227 H 39 256 B " " V 39 257 C.M. " " H 68-71 258 Y.B. " " H 33-37 259 Y.B. " " V 33 260 W " " V 38 Very rare. But one copy known. VAR. 7. 261 Y.B. 151 x 227 H 35 262 Y.B. " " V 35 263 C.M. " " H 71 VAR. 8. 264 B 148 x 227 H 39 VAR. 9. 265 C.M. 148 x 225 H 68-71 266 C.M. " " Wove 71 Unwatermarked. 267 B " " H 39 268 B " " V 39 269 B " " V 70 270 Or 180 x 260 44 Unwatermarked. 270a Or 180 x 260 H 48 " VAR. 10. 271 C.M. 148 x 225 VAR. 12. 272 B 148 x 225 FOOTNOTES: [Footnote D: The Knives, Nos. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are those of the list in the CATALOGUE FOR ADVANCED COLLECTORS and are not referred to in the National Society's list.] [Footnote E: The abbreviations used to designate the papers are: W--white; B--buff; A.B--Amber-buff; S.B--salmon-buff; Y.B--yellow-buff; Or.--orange and C.M--coarse manila.] THIRD ISSUE: 1861. In the report of the Postmaster-General for the fiscal year 1861, it is stated that the three, six and ten cent dies would be changed, and the new ones were issued August 15th, 1861. They remained in use till September, 1864. Another important change was the abolishing of the former ten cents, or California, rate which took place shortly after July 1st, 1863. In addition to these new dies, the Post Office introduced the following new denominations: i.e. 12, 20, 24 and 40 cents. These latter appear on large sized envelopes, known to the cataloguers as Knives 14--Size 7, "Official," 19--Size 8, "Extra Official," and 20--Size 8, "Extra Official." The 1861 report says that the large envelopes were intended for the purpose of mailing large packages and for foreign correspondence. The total issue amounted to 20,000. THREE CENTS, ROSE. Head of Washington facing to left. Inscriptions in outline, block letters. "United States" above: "Three Cents" below, separated on each side by a small circle containing a colorless numeral of value. The die is an oval measuring in Die A:--23 mm. or less in width. Die B:--23 1/2 mm. or more in width. Die A includes varieties 1 to 7. Die B includes varieties 8 to 17. As in former issues, the engraver has presented the collector with various heads which differ in the arrangement of the hair but, as in addition to these minor details the lettering of the various dies is a far more essential feature, it has not been thought necessary to reproduce the heads. To find the main varieties the following system, based on line prolongation, has been adopted: Draw a straight line along the outer vertical stroke of the final "E" of "THREE" and note its position with regard to letters "D," "S" and "T" of " UNITED STATES." This establishes four main groups or classes. Class I.--The line runs to the left of "S" of STATES. Class II.--The line passes through "S." Class III.--The line touches the upper bar of "T" to left. Class IV.--The line runs through centre of "T" or beyond it. [Illustration: I, II, III, IV] The varieties of this die are, furthermore, plainly differentiated by the size of the letters used for the inscription. There are three sizes:--very tall letters, medium size, and decidedly small letters. Even a cursory observation reveals various shapes of the letter "C" of "CENTS," and "D" of "UNITED." Likewise, the spacing between the words and the distance from the words to the circles containing the numerals of value vary considerably. Formerly the existence of a broken circle at the side was chronicled as one of the most noteworthy varieties, but this feature is of little value. The philatelist may, however, be interested to hear the opinion of Messrs. Tiffany, Bogert and Rechert: "We have concluded that only two varieties are worthy of a place in our list. The others, though existing, are too minute to interest the average collector." The above statement only proves that Horace is right when he assures us "_Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus_." Now and then the best experts are asleep! In the writer's opinion all the varieties of the three cents rose cannot fail to interest the collector, and no two can be singled out as being of more or less importance. By using a 10 mm. unit distance measurement, we detect numerous other varieties, of which some are shown in the subjoined diagram. [Illustration] We are now prepared to study the several varieties of Dies A and B. DIE A. CLASS II. [Illustration] Variety 1:--Elongated "C" without dot in centre. The lettering is large. Wide, open "U." "NITE" widely spaced, especially "TE." "ED" near. "U" far from "3." "DS" near. "S" of "STATES" near "3." "T" of "THREE" far from "3." "HR" wide. "RE" wide at top. "NT" wide at base. "S" large and far from "3." Uncommon on white, very rare on buff. Variety 2:--Open, short "U." Large, wide open "C." Small lettering. Wide, open "U," and far from "3." "NITE" widely spaced. "TAT" well spaced at top. "S" near "3." "T" of "THREE" near "3." "EC" wide. "C" of "CENTS" is tall, well rounded, and its ends are far apart. "S" of "CENTS" far from "3." Found on white and buff paper, quite rare. CLASS III. Variety 3:--Smallest letters; "S" of "CENTS" not so near as in Var. 4. "U" very small, contracted at top, and far from "3." "UNITE" evenly spaced; "ED" wide at top and "D" in an almost vertical position. "DS" wide. "TA" of "STATES" wide at top. "T" of "THREE" near "3." "EC" wide. "C" small and wide open. "C" far from "E." "TS" close at top. Common on both papers. [Illustration] Variety 4:--Similar to variety 3. "S" of "STATES" nearer circle. The lettering of this variety is like that of Variety 3, but "U" of "UNITED" is nearer "3" and "S" of "CENTS" close to "3." Note also that the top stroke of the "T" of "THREE" is shorter on the left than on the right. Found only on buff, but quite common. CLASS IV. Variety 5:--"U" very near circle. Rather small letters. Space between bars of "U" narrow. "NI" wide at top. "DS" near. Final "S" of "STATES" near "3." "T" of "THREE" very far from "3." "C" small, open and end poorly rounded. "EC" wide. "S" of "CENTS" far from "3." Perhaps the rarest of all the varieties. Variety 6:--"C" large, well formed, and far from "E." Similar to Variety 5. "U" further from "3," more open, and larger than in Variety 5. "C" well rounded and large. "S" of "STATES" large. [Illustration] Variety 7:--Elongated "C" with dot in centre. Large lettering. "U" nearly horizontal and near "3." This variety has several characteristic features. 1st:--"TS" of "CENTS" is very widely spaced at base; 2nd:--"C" of "CENTS" is tall, straight and oval shaped. 3rd:--The left cross stroke of "T" of "THREE" is very short, and the letter is out of proportion to those of the rest of the inscription. "EE" of "THREE" widely spaced. "D" is large and slants decidedly to the left. "DS" close. Final "S" of "STATES" near "3." "EC" wide. "S" of "CENTS" far from "3." DIE B. Excepting perhaps numbers 9 and 14, the lettering of the varieties of this class is generally large. CLASS I. [Illustration] Variety 8:--Widest space between "S" of "CENTS" and circle. "U" narrow and tall, and in a nearly horizontal position; first bar much thicker than the second. "D" of "UNITED" well rounded at top. "DS" near. "S" in vertical position. Wide distance at base of letters "TE" of "STATES." "ES" close, and "S" near "3." "T" of "THREE" has a long crossbar and is far from "3." "HR" widely spaced, but "R" and "E," as well as "T" and "S" almost touch at top. "EC" near. "C" of "CENTS" is large, oval and open. CLASS II. [Illustration] Variety 9:--Circular "C." Smallest lettering in Die B, "U" near circle. "U" small, short and near "3." "TE" almost joined at top. "DS" close. "STATES" spaced closely, and final "S" far from "3." "T" of "THREE" slender and far from "3." "HR" wide. "EC" near. "C" of "CENTS" small, almost circular, and its end-curves close together. "S" far from "3." There is often a white dot over the centre of "R" of "THREE." Variety 10:--"U" nearly touches circle. Medium large lettering. "U" very close to "3;" it is long and wide open. "NT" widely spaced. "DS" wide at top. "T" of "THREE" far from "3." "RE" widely spaced. "EC" near. "C" of "CENTS" round with a wide space between the end-curves. Wide space between "C" and "E." "S" far from "3." "ENTS" appear smaller than the other letters. [Illustration] Variety 11:--"EC" very wide; "U" rather small. Large lettering. "U" narrow and far from "3." "D" of "UNITED" large and rounded, and "ED" close. "DS" close. Note in "STATES" wide space between "T" and "E." "ES" close at base. "S" far from "3." "T" of "THREE" near "3." "HRE" well spaced. "C" of "CENTS" round; top curve, short. "S" near "3." Variety 12:--"U" far from circle. Large, round "C" close to "E." Large lettering. Second bar of "U" thinner than first. "UNIT" closely spaced; "ED" wide at top. "DS" near. "ST" of "STATES" close. The entire word "STATES" is very closely spaced. "S" far from "3." "T" of "THREE" near "3." Note that "RE" are close at top. "EE" close. "N" is unusually broad. "TS" almost touch. "S" far from "3." [Illustration] Variety 13:--There is generally a dot under right circle. Large lettering. "U" near "3" "UNITED" closely spaced. "DS" near. "STATES" is also closely spaced. "S" near "3." "T" of "THREE" short and near "3," and "TH" wide at base. "REE" well spaced. "EC" near. "C" of "CENTS" elongated, tipped to the left, and its end curves wide apart. "CE" well spaced, but "ENTS" close. "S" near "3." There is frequently a dot after "S" of "CENTS." Found on white and buff. CLASS III. [Illustration] Variety 14:--"U" very far from circle. Small letters. "U" of "UNITED" small and contracted. "UNITED" is closely spaced, but "ED" is wide at top. "DS" near. Excepting "ST" the rest of "STATES" is also closely spaced. "S" near "3." "T" of "THREE" close to "3." "TH" near. "HREE" well spaced. "C" of "CENTS" is small and its curves short. "S" far from "3." CLASS IV. [Illustration] Variety 15:--"S" of "STATES" very far from circle. "U" near circle. "UNI" close. "T" has a long top stroke and "TED" wide at top. "DS" near. "S" large; "AT" spaced, and base of "E" short. "T" of "THREE" small and near "3." "TH" wide. "RE" close at top, "EC" near. "C" of "CENTS" is tall and its end-curves wide apart. "CE" wide. "S" near "3." [Illustration] Variety 16:--Largest "C." "RE" and "TS" joined. Large lettering. This variety has a wide color margin both above the upper inscription and below the lower one. "UNITED" close. "DS" near. "STATES" close. "S" close to "3." "T" near "3." "RE" nearly joined at top. "EC" near. "C" large, broad and the lower curve considerably longer than the upper one. "CE" close. "TS" touch at top. "S" far from "3." Variety 17:--Large square "D." "C" far from "E." "U" is close to "3," "U" contracted. "UNITED" close and "TE" touch at top. Note that "D" is nearly square. "DS" near. "STATES" close. "T" near "3." "HR" well spaced. "C" rather small and far from "E." "NTS" close; "TS" touch. "S" near. The subjoined tables are added merely to aid the collector in recognizing the different varieties: LETTERING. Very small:--Varieties 3, 4. Medium:--Varieties 5, 6, 9, 14. Large:--Varieties 2, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17. Very large:--Varieties 1, 12, 16. DISTANCE FROM "U" TO LEFT CIRCLE. 1) Close:--Varieties 5, 10. 2) Medium:--Varieties 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17. 3) Far:-- Varieties 1, 2, 3, 12, 14. Varieties 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 17 are found on Knife 2 only. SIX CENTS, Rose. The design of the SIX CENTS is very similar to the last one, but the numerals at sides are in ovals. The lettering is also in outline block capitals. No varieties of this die exist. In the beginning of the year 1861, Nesbitt produced new dies of the 12, 20, 24 and 40 cents values, and later, in August, the 10 cents. No varieties of these dies exist. The design consists of an horizontal oval, 27-1/2 x 25 mm. showing the bust of Washington in an upright, colored oval, surrounded by a broad, colorless band 3-1/2 mm. wide, inscribed in colored block capitals, with the value above and "U. S. POSTAGE" below. At each side is a circle with colored numerals. The ornaments above and below the circles consist of branches with seven leaves each. With the exception of the Ten Cents, the new stamps are bi-colored: i.e. 12 cents: brown and red. 20 " blue and red. 24 " green and red. 40 " black and red. A REFERENCE LIST OF THE ENTIRE ENVELOPES AND LETTER SHEETS OF THE SERIES OF 1861. ENVELOPES. THREE CENTS, ROSE. No. Class. Die. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. VAR. 1. 273 2 A B 7 2 137 x 77 274 " " W 2 3 139 x 83 275 " " " 11 3 " 276 " " B 11 3 " VAR. 2. 277 2 A W 2 3 139 x 83 277a 2 A B 2 3 " VAR. 3. 278 3 A W 1 1 120 x 73 279 " " W 2 3 139 x 83 280 " " B 2 3 " VAR. 4. 281 3 A B 2 3 139 x 83 VAR. 5. 282 4 A W 2 3 139 x 83 283 " " B 2 3 " VAR. 6. 284 4 A W 2 3 139 x 83 285 " " B 2 3 " VAR. 7. 286 4 A W 2 3 139 x 83 287 " " B 2 3 " VAR. 8. 288 1 B W 1 1 120 x 73 289 " " W 1 1 " Wove paper, no wmk. 290 " " W 10 1 122 x 76 291 " " B 7 2 137 x 77 292 " " W 2 3 139 x 83 293 " " W 2 3 " No wmk. 294 " " B 2 3 " 295 " " Or. 2 3 " 296 " " W 5 3 " 297 " " B 5 3 " 298 " " W 9 3 " 299 " " B 9 3 " 300 " " W 12 5 160 x 90 301 " " W 12 5 " No wmk. 302 " " B 12 5 " 303 " " B 12 5 " No wmk. 304 " " Or. 12 5 " " " VAR. 9. 305 2 B W 2 3 139 x 83 306 " " B 2 3 " 307 " " W 9 3 " VAR. 10. 308 2 B W 6 1 118 x 65 309 " " W 1 1 120 x 73 310 " " W 7 2 137 x 77 311 " " B 7 2 " 312 " " W 2 3 139 x 83 313 " " B 2 3 " 314 " " W 5 3 " 315 " " B 5 3 " 316 " " B 12 5 160 x 90 VAR. 11. 317 2 B W 2 3 139 x 83 318 " " B 2 3 " 319 " " B 9 3 " 320 " " W 12 5 160 x 90 321 " " B 12 5 " VAR. 12. 322 2 B W 6 1 118 x 65 323 " " W 1 1 120 x 73 324 " " W 10 1 122 x 76 325 " " W 2 3 139 x 83 326 " " B 2 3 " 326a " " W 5 3 " VAR. 13. 327 2 B B 3 [HW: 3] 137 x 77 327a " " W 2 [HW: 3] 139 x 83 328 " " B 2 3 " 329 " " B 9 3 " VAR. 14. 330 3 B W 6 1 118 x 65 331 " " W 1 1 120 x 73 332 " " W 7 2 137 x 77 333 " " W 2 3 139 x 83 334 " " B 2 3 " VAR. 15. 335 4 B B 2 3 139 x 83 336 " " W 9 3 " 337 " " B 9 3 " VAR. 16. 338 4 B W 7 2 137 x 77 339 " " W 2 3 139 x 83 340 " " B 2 3 " 341 " " W 9 3 " 342 " " B 9 3 " VAR. 17. 343 4 B W 2 3 139 x 83 344 " " B 2 3 " SIX CENTS, ROSE. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 345 W 3 7 221 x 98 346 W 3 7 " No wmk. 347 B 3 7 " Also left over right flap. 348 B 3 7 " No wmk. 349 W 21 7 225 x 98 350 B 21 7 " Also horizontally laid. TEN CENTS, GREEN.[F] 351 W 2 3 139 x 83 352 B 2 3 " 353 W 11 3 " 354 B 11 3 " 355 A 11 3 " 356 W 5 3 " 357 B 5 3 " 358 W 9 3 " 359 B 9 3 " TWELVE CENTS, BROWN AND RED. 360 A 19 7 226 x 97 TWENTY CENTS, BLUE AND RED. 361 A 14 8 241 x 100 TWENTY-FOUR CENTS, GREEN AND RED. 362 A 20 8 249 x 104 363 S.B. 20 8 " FORTY CENTS, BLACK AND RED. 364 A 20 8 249 x 104 365 S.B. 20 8 " * * * * * LETTER SHEETS. THREE CENTS, ROSE. No. Class. Die. Paper. Dimensions. Remarks. VAR. 8. 366 1 B Blue 256 x 205 Letter size. 367 " " " 205 x 171 Note " VAR. 10. 368 2 B Blue 256 x 205 Letter size. 369 " " " 205 x 171 Note " FOOTNOTES: [Footnote F: The shade of green varies greatly in these envelopes.] FOURTH ISSUE: 1863 AND 1864. The Act of March 3rd, 1863, establishing a two cent rate for drop letters and abolishing the carrier's fee, made the issue of a two cent stamped envelope and wrapper imperative. The new die appeared about the middle of 1863, and is a miserable caricature of Jackson, facing the left. The inscriptions are "U. S. POSTAGE" above, and "TWO CENTS" below, in colorless, block letters. We may as well state at once that in the next year (1864), the design, though retaining Jackson's bust, was altered, and the upper inscription changed to read "U. S. POST." Both of these issues have a number of varieties, but of the two the design inscribed "U. S. POST" is by far the most interesting, and any philatelist who devotes some study to this, the "spoiled child" of the Post Office, will quickly be fascinated with it. Indeed, a fine collection of these die varieties must be a revelation to those philatelists who have, so far, kept aloof from collecting them under the specious plea that such collection required too much study and labor, and the differences were mere gossamer threads woven by the overwrought imagination of some wild enthusiast. It is undeniable that until recently the multitude of Jackson varieties--unclassified and jumbled together as they were--did not present an inviting field for the general collector. But that difficulty has now been overcome, and we have the various designs grouped into distinct classes, which even an untrained person can recognize at a glance. Those who possess a number of Jackson dies cannot have failed to observe that in various specimens the forward end of the bust points to different letters of the word "TWO" in the lower label. It required no great amount of ingenuity to examine all known varieties of this die, and to reach the conclusion that this important feature should be selected as one point of a line measurement which would subdivide the varieties into distinct classes. In carrying out this idea it was equally apparent that in order to draw a straight line we need two definite points, but the problem was: which point would serve our purpose best? Luckily the design lent itself admirably to the construction of such a line and the second, or starting point, was found in the point of contact of the right hand oval with the inner frame line of the upper label. The line is, then, drawn from this point to the left extremity of the bust and prolonged until it strikes the letter "W" or "O" of "TWO." In this manner five definite and unmistakable classes are established, each of which may contain a number of varieties. While this system is indispensible for classification, the collector, after a very little training, may omit the actual line measurement, as the eye is sufficient to note the class to which any variety belongs. The five classes are: Class I.--Line cuts first stroke of "W" of "TWO." Class II.--Line cuts second stroke of "W" of "TWO." Class III.--Line cuts third stroke of "W" of "TWO." Class IV.--Line cuts last stroke of "W" of "TWO." Class V.--Line falls outside of "W" and sometimes cuts "O." [Illustration: I. II. III. IV. V.] It may be well to state here that the die reading "U. S. POSTAGE" exists only in classes I., II., IV., and V., and the reading "U. S. POST" in classes II., III., IV. and V. DIES INSCRIBED "U. S. POSTAGE." The design consists of two concave and convex curves, of which the first two form the upper, and the second two the lower label. Each of these two curves meet in a point. The sides of the design are a pointed oval consisting of the sections of a large circle. The inscription in the upper label is "U. S. POSTAGE"; in the lower "TWO CENTS" with the figure "2" in the ovals at the sides. The 1863 design was issued with two shapes of the figure "2", which is probably due to an oversight of the engraver; but, as every collector knows, the design in which the lowest stroke of the figure "2" starts sharply from the downstroke, and does _not_ curve back with it is a rarity possessed only by a few lucky mortals. In the general catalogues the common form is known as "Die A," the latter as "Die B." DIE A. (Seven Varieties). They are subdivided as follows: Class I.--Var. 1 Wrapper only. Class II.--Var. 2 Wrapper only. Class IV.--Var. 3 to 6 Envelope and Wrapper. Class V.--Var. 7 Wrapper only. DIE A. CLASS I. [Illustration] VARIETY 1 (22-1/4 x 25-3/4 mm.). Bust points to centre of "W," which touches line above. "O" of "POSTAGE" to left, but near the junction point of the inner frame line; "OS" nearly on level. "W" of "TWO" near inner frame line, and touching the latter in deteriorated dies. "OC" near. A line drawn through the junction point of the upper and lower inner frame lines cuts the end curves of the "C" of "CENTS." "CE" well spaced, but "C" lower than "E." "S" far from the right oval line. Figure "2" in right oval nearly touches at left. In deteriorated dies both figures touch at left. The tip of nose is near the left oval. CLASS II. [Illustration] VARIETY 2 (22-3/4 x 25-1/2 mm.). "POS" very near. "E" of "POSTAGE" touches frame. Top of "TWO" far from left oval line, and distance between "O" of "TWO" and "C" of "CENTS" nearer than in Var. 1. Nose near left oval. CLASS IV. [Illustration] VARIETY 3 (22 x 26 mm.). "O" in the centre of label and highest letter. Centre line passes through "O" and "C" of "CENTS." The downstroke of "2" in the left oval touches inner frame. "C" of "CENTS" is the lowest letter, and "ENT" is widely spaced. Distance between "OC" wider than in Var. 2. Nose near left oval. VARIETY 4 (22-1/2 x 25 mm.). "OS" on a level. "OC" very wide. "POS" wide and "O" to the left of the point. Centre line touches "O" to the right, and passes through the centre of "C" of "CENTS." Left numeral does not touch outer frame line. "S" of "CENTS" very far from right oval. Nose far from left oval. VARIETY 5 (22-1/2 x 25-3/4 mm.). "S" is the highest letter, far from line below. A considerable margin between top of letters "S. POS" and the outer frame line. "PO" close. "GE" wide at top. Centre line touches "O" to right and passes through the curves of "C" of "CENTS." Numerals in ovals do not touch. Distance between "O" of "TWO" "and "C" of "CENTS" wide. "C" low. Nose near left oval. VARIETY 6 (22 x 25-3/4 mm.). Back of head close to right oval. The entire inscription in the upper label is close to the inner frame line and the letters are spaced closely. "U. S." is spaced closer than in any other variety. Point of bust almost touches the frame line. Distance between "O" of "TWO" and "C" of "CENTS" near. "CE" very close. "S" near right oval. Nose near left oval. CLASS V. [Illustration] VARIETY 7 (22-1/2 x 25 mm.). Bust points between "W" and "O." "U. S." widely spaced. "OS" on level. "GE" close. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "OC" wide. "C" well under the point, and far from "E." "CENTS" well spaced, and "S" far from right oval. DIE B. CLASS IV. [Illustration] VARIETY 8 (21-1/2 x 25 mm.). In the numerals of value the end stroke does not curve back, but slants sharply from the downstroke. "S" of "U. S." and "P" of "POSTAGE" are spaced closely. "O" to left of point. Top of "S" is a little above "O" and "T." Distance between "O" of "TWO" and "C" of "CENTS" very wide. "C" by far the lowest letter. The hair projects beyond the forehead, and the nose is near left oval. This issue adds no new shapes of envelopes, only two knives are used, and they are No. 2 and 11, both known as "Full Letter," Size 3, measuring 139 x 83 mm. It has already been stated that the wrappers bearing the design of Dies A. and B. were issued in accordance with the Act of March 3, 1863, which changed the rate of postage for "transient newspaper" to two cents. Shortly after their issue the Post Office was informed that the wrapper, as issued with a marginal coating, infringed the patent issued to L. P. Mara, and that the inventor would assert his rights. We do not know what step the Department took to allay the ire of the famous patentee, but we do know that the issue of newspaper wrappers was suspended for about six months, to commence anew in April 1865. Of more interest to the collector is the paper of these wrappers which, generally speaking, is a rough manila, varying considerably in shade. The width of the wrapper varies also from 148 to 152 mm., the length from 227 to 230 mm., while the stamp is from 62 to 72 mm from the gummed top of the wrapper. DIES INSCRIBED "U. S. POST." Towards the end of 1864, Nesbitt (the contractor for furnishing the Post Office Department with stamped envelopes and newspaper wrappers) had considerable financial trouble in living up to his obligations and, at his earnest request, Congress passed a bill for his relief. As the then existing contract expired Sept. 11, 1864, the Post Office Department entered into a new agreement with Nesbitt, paying an advanced rate to the contractor and ordering a change of the dies of the two, three and six cents values. At present we are interested only in the change of the two cent die. In its new form the general features have been retained, but the inscription is altered to read "U. S. POST" and the shape of the stamp is either narrow or broad. The narrow die is called by the cataloguer "DIE C" and the broad one "DIE D." Using the system of line prolongation which has been already fully described, we are at once in a position to handle the large number of varieties and to collect them systematically. C Dies. (24 to 25 mm. width) Class II Var. 1 and 2. Bust points to intersection of 2nd and 3d stroke of "W." " III " 3 to 9. " " to last stroke of "W." " IV " 10 to 13. " " to left line of "O." " V " 14 to 16. " " to middle of "O." D Dies. (25-1/2 to 26-1/4 mm. in width.) Class III Var. 17 to 21. " IV " 22 to 27. " V " 28 to 40. As these varieties have never been thoroughly described and classified and as there are but few collectors who have recognized the great philatelic value of the Jackson dies, the writer desires to place himself on record with a prophecy; _i. e._ that as soon as the general collector knows how to find and to easily recognize the different varieties of "U. S. POST," these dies are going to be sought after enthusiastically. To assist those who desire to become better acquainted with them it will do no harm to give some additional information, showing how the writer has studied the varieties and what means he has employed to differentiate the several varieties belonging to one class. Although the description of the varieties accompanying the cuts, should be sufficient for the identification of any die variety, the writer has found that a system of line prolongation is very useful whenever, due to die deteriorations, a stamp appears to possess features which are not found in the descriptions. The system is based on the position of five letters which differ greatly in many varieties. These letters are:-- 1) "U" of "U. S." 2) "P" of "POST." 3) "T" of "POST" 4) "W" of "TWO." 5) "E" of "CENTS." and the measurements are made as follows: The left stroke of "U" is prolonged downward. Observe the line with regard to letters "O, C, E" and "N." The upright stroke of "P" is prolonged downward. Observe line with regard to letters "C" and "E." The central stroke of "T" is prolonged downward. Observe line with regard to letters "W, O, C" and "E." The left stroke of "W" is prolonged upward. Observe line with regard to letters "S" of "U. S." and "P" of "POST." The left stroke of "E" is prolonged upward. Observe line with regard to letters "U." and "S." The student who employs these measurements will find that, taking the various dies belonging to one class, _one_ of the above mentioned five line prolongations is sufficient to clearly differentiate any variety of that group from any other. For instance, Class one includes but two varieties. In Var. 1, a line prolongation of the "T" of "POST" cuts through the "O" of "TWO;" in Var. 2 it passes along the second stroke of "W." In case of doubt that single measurement is decisive. As an additional safeguard to the collector the characteristic line measurement is mentioned at the end of the description of each variety. CLASS II. Bust points to intersection of second and third stroke of "W." [Illustration] VARIETY 1 (24 x 26-3/4 mm.) Narrow "U" far from oval line. Buff and Orange. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. There is generally a dot near top of left bar of "U." "U. S." close. "P" nearly vertical. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval; "WO" close; "OC near; "S" of "CENTS" near right oval. Figures of value are exactly in centre of the side ovals. Nose near left oval. "E" line through left stroke of "U." Envelopes only. VARIETY 2. (24 x 25-1/2 mm.) Narrow "U" touching line below. Dark Manila. "POST" fully 8 mm. "P" vertical, much above level of "O." "O" turned to the right. "ST" wide and "T" far from right oval; "WO" very close; "OC" close; "CE" close; "NTS" near inner frame line. Nose near left oval. "E" line to left of "S" of "U. S." Wrapper only. CLASS III. Bust points to last stroke of "W." [Illustration] VARIETY 3. (24-1/2 x 26-1/4 mm.) Narrow "U." "PO" on a level. "O" and "C" near. Buff and Orange. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. "P" slants to left. "POST" evenly spaced. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval; "WO" close; "C" considerably to left of the junction of the inner frame line. "EN" spaced a little wider than "NTS." "S" near right oval. Nose further from oval line than in Variety 1 and 2. Downstroke of right figure "2" is slim. "U" line through "C." Envelopes only. [Illustration] VARIETY 4. (24-3/4 x 26-1/2 mm.) Narrow "U." "OC" and "EN" very wide. Dark Manila. "POST" 8 mm. Top of "P" near outer frame line. "PO" near, but "OS" widely spaced. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. Nose far from left oval. End of downstroke of right figure "2" nearly touches inner oval line. "W" line passes through head of "P." Wrapper only. VARIETY 5. (24-1/4 x 26 mm.) "U" tall, wide open, and near inner frame line. Buff and orange. "POST" 8 mm. "SP" near at base. "POST" closely spaced. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "W" narrow and close to "O." "OC" close. "CE" near at base. "S" near right oval. End of downstroke of right figure "2" near inner oval line. Nose far from left oval. "P" line passes through junction point of the two inner oval lines of lower label. Envelopes only. VARIETY 6. (24-3/4 x 25 mm.) "P" vertical and much above level of "O." Buff Orange and Dark Manila. Outer frame line of upper label near to "U. S." and "PS" of "POST" "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide and far from left oval. "SP" wide at top. "POST" well spaced. "O" considerably to right of point and slanting to right. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "WO" near. "OC" near, but top of "C" some distance below the point. "ENT" near. "S" near right oval. The left figure "2" is well in the centre of the oval, but the right one is near the inner frame line. Nose far from left oval. "E" line passes through center of "S" of "U. S." VARIETY 6a. (24-3/4 x 25 mm.) "P" slanting to left over point. "O" far from lower frame line and far to right of point. Buff. "POST" 8 mm. "U" large, wide open, tipped to left, and far from left oval. "O" slants to right. Letters of "POST" well spaced. "T" far from right oval line. "T" of "TWO" near left oval line. "WO" close. "OC" near. "CENTS" near; "S" close to right oval. Nose near left oval. "U" line cuts "E" from left to right. Similar to Var. 6, except that "P" and "O" are nearly on a level and the entire upper inscription is well in center of label. [Illustration] VARIETY 7. (24 x 26 mm.) Nose generally touches line. Buff, Orange and Dark Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" large, wide open, close to inner frame line and far from left oval. "P" well to left of junction of the two inner frame lines. "O" near the latter. "OS" widely spaced and "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" close. "OC" near and base of "C" touches outer frame line. "EN" far. "NT" wide at base. "S" close to right oval. End of down stroke of both figures far from their respective oval lines. "E" line passes through first stroke of "U." VARIETY 8. (23-3/4 x 26-1/4 mm.) "O" above level of "P." "U. S." close. Buff, Orange and Dark Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" large, wide open equally far from outer and inner frame line, and far from left oval. "P" to left of junction point of the two inner frame lines. "PO" closer than "OS." "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval and base of "T" touches outer frame line. "WO" close. "OC" near. "C" low. "EN" wide. "S" far from right oval. Nose quite near left oval. End of down stroke of right figure "2" nearly touches inner oval line. "U" line passes along downstroke of "E." [Illustration] VARIETY 9. (23-3/4 x 26-1/4 mm.) "U" almost vertical. "PO" wide. Buff and Orange. "POST" 8-1/2 mm. "U" large, nearly touching outer frame line and far from left oval. Wide space between "S" and "P." "O" well to the right of junction point of the two inner frame lines. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "WO" close. "OC" near. "CE" close, but "C" lower than "E." "EN" well spaced. "TS" close and "S" close to right oval. Figure in left oval well centered, but end of downstroke of right figure "2" near inner oval line. Nose near left oval. "T" line touches "O" of "TWO" to the left. Envelopes only. CLASS IV. Bust points to left line of "O." [Illustration] VARIETY 10. (24-1/4 x 26 mm.) Narrow "U." Pointed bust, often touching line below. Buff and Dark Manila. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" far from "S," and far from right oval. "SP" very widely spaced. "PO" close. "OST" near. Note that the outer frame line commencing above "T" is incorrectly drawn so that the width at the right end of the label is much smaller than it should be. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" close. "OC" very wide. "CENTS" close, far from inner frame line and letters in a straight line. "S" far from right oval. Nose far from left oval. Top of right figure "2" near inner oval line. "E" line passes just behind the dot after "U" of "U. S." Wrappers only. [Illustration] VARIETY 11. (25 x 26-1/2 mm.) Outer frame line strongly pointed at top. Buff and Orange. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" large, far from left oval and top of "U" far from outer frame line. Top of "S" close to outer frame line. "POST" closely spaced. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" almost touches left oval. "WO" close. "OC" close. "CENTS" close and "CE" on level. "S" far from right oval. Nose near left oval. Both figures well in center of ovals. "U" line passes along middle of "N." Envelopes only. VARIETY 12. (24 x 25-1/2 mm.) "U" nearly touches line below, and "O" of "POST" line above. Buff, Orange, Amber and Dark Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" large and far from left oval. "S" and "P" near. The latter is in a nearly vertical position and stands well to the left of the point. "POST" equally spaced. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval; "WO" close. "OC" near. "C" vertical, and at top near point of inner frame line. "EN" well spaced. "S" near right oval. Nose near left oval. Top of left figure "2" near point of oval. "U" line passes close to head of "E" and touches the latter at base. VARIETY 13. (24-1/2 x 25-3/4 mm.) Hair projecting. "CE" on level and nearly touch at top. Buff, Orange and Dark Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" large and nearer to left oval than in Var. 12. "U. S." near. "SP." near. "P" a little inclined to left and to left of the point. "POST" spaced near. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "WO" and "OC" close. "ENT" close. "S" far from right oval. Nose near left oval. "E" line passes near right stroke of "U". CLASS V. Point of Bust over middle of "O." [Illustration] VARIETY 14. (23-1/2 x 26 mm.) "OS" far apart. "S" of "CENTS" near oval line. Buff, Orange, Dark Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" large, far from left oval, and near inner frame line. "SP" wide at top. "PO" near, but top of letters some distance from outer frame line. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "OC" near and top of "C" under the point. "CE" wide at base. "EN" widely spaced. "NT" wide at base. "TS" near. Nose near left oval. Figures of value well centered in ovals. "W" line touches top of "P." A deterioration of this variety in which the nose almost touches left oval and "TW" touch upper and lower frame lines is called 14 a. VARIETY 15. (25 x 16 mm.) Bust touches line over center of "O." Buff, Orange, Amber, Dark Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" large, near left oval and at top far from outer frame line. "P" to left of point. "O" well to right of point and slanting to right. "OST" near. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "WO" close. "OC" wide. "C" low and touching outer frame line. "ENTS" spaced near, but "S" far from right oval. Nose near left oval. Left figure "2" well centered, but right figure "2" much nearer to inner frame line. "W" line falls between base of "S" and the period. A deterioration of this die is Var. 15a. VARIETY 16. (24-3/4 x 26-1/4 mm.) Bust nearly touches line to right of "O." Buff, Orange. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide and far from left oval. "P" to left of point and close to outer frame line. "PO" wide. "O" far to right of point. "OST" near. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. Inner frame line is some distance from top of letters "WO" of "TWO" and "N" of "CENTS." "OC" wide. "CE" near but "EN" wide. "S" far from right oval. Nose far from left oval. Left figure "2" well centered, but right figure "2" much nearer to inner oval line. D. DIES. 25-1/2 to 26-1/4 mm. NOTE:--In Var. 17, 18, 23, 24, 31, and 34 the word "POST" is short and spaced closely. Var. 22 has the narrow "U," and Var. 21, 27, 38, 39 and 40 show the widest spacing of "POST." CLASS III. Point of Bust over last bar of "W." [Illustration] VARIETY 17. (26-1/4 x 25-1/2 mm.) "O" of "POST" considerably above level of "P." Wide space, after "S" of "CENTS." Buff, Orange and Amber. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" near left oval and near inner frame line. "U.S." close. "P" far to left of point; "O" near point. "OST" close. "T" very far from right oval. "T" of "TWO," far from left oval. "WO" near. "OC" near. "CE" close at top. "N" above level of "E." "NT" close to inner frame line. Nose far from left oval. Figures well centered. "U" line touches "O" at right. VARIETY 18. (26 x 25-3/4 mm.) "OC" very near and "O" nearly touching line below. Buff, Orange and Amber. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, slanting sharply to left and near left oval. "P" is to left of point and slants to the left. "POS" near, but "ST" spaced wider. "T" very far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "WO" close. "CE" close at top. "EN" well spaced at top. "NTS" near and "S" close to right oval. Nose near left oval. "U" line touches base of "N." Envelopes only. VARIETY 19. (26 x 25-3/4 mm.) Letters evenly spaced, those in upper label almost in vertical position. Amber and Light Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, nearly vertical and far from left oval. "U.S." wide. "P" vertical and to left of point. "POS" widely spaced. "ST" near. "T" very far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval and top stroke of "T" nearly touches "W." "WO" near. "OC" near. "C" vertical but a little below "E." "Top stroke of "T" of "CENTS" close to inner frame line. "S" near right oval. Nose near left oval. Figures well in center of ovals. "T" line touches top of "E." [Illustration] VARIETY 20. (25-1/2 x 25-1/2 mm.) Sharp point at base of right "2." Amber and Light Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide and near left oval. "P" nearly vertical and to left of point. Top of "O" almost touches outer frame line. Base of "S" and "T" close to inner frame line. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" very close. "OC" close. "CENTS" close and "S" far from right oval. Nose far from left oval. "T" line touches "O" to right. VARIETY 21. (26 x 25-1/2 mm.) "ST" and "OC" extremely wide. Point of bust far from line. Sharply pointed nose. Amber and Light Manila. "POST" 9 mm. "U" wide, near left oval, and sharply slanting to left. "U.S." and "SP" very wide. "P" to left of point and slanting a little to the right. "PO" very wide. "O" far to right of point and turned to right. "OS" wide. "T" near right oval, "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "TW" very wide at base. "WO" close. "C" low and nearly under the point. "ENTS" near and "S" close to right oval. Nose pointed and far from left oval. Figures well centered. "U" line passes from tip of "E" to base of "N." CLASS IV. Bust points to left line of "O." [Illustration] VARIETY 22. (25-1/2 x 26 mm.) Narrow "U," the only one in DIE D. Buff. Extremely rare. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" nearly vertical and far from left oval. "P" small near the point and at top far from outer frame line. "O" far to right of point. "POST" equally spaced. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "WO" close. "OC" wide, "C" slants sharply to right and at base is within the angle, formed by the outer curves. "CENTS" are on the same level. "S" near right oval. The inner curves are far from top of letters "WO" and "CENTS." Nose near left oval. In both side ovals the downstroke of figure "2" ends in a sharp point. "U" line touches "O" to left. Buff envelope only. Knife 2. VARIETY 23. (26 x 25 mm.) Extremely wide space before "U" and after "T" in upper label. Bust pointed. Amber and Light Manila. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide. The inner curves of the label are close to the inscription. "P" nearly vertical. "POS" close. "ST" near. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "WO" near. "OC" near but "C" slants from left to right and its base touches the outer frame line. Top of vertical stroke of "E" close to inner point. "EN" well spaced at top. "S" slants to right and is close to right oval. Nose very far from right oval. Figure 2 in left oval is lower than figure "2" in right oval. "W" line passes through middle of "U." VARIETY 24. (26 x 26 mm.) "O" above level of "P," "C" sharply turned to left. Buff Orange and Light Manila. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide, inclined to left and near left oval. "U.S." near. "SP" near. "P" slanting to left and near the point. "POST" about equally spaced but "OST" high nearly touching outer frame line at top. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" near. "OC" near. "EC" close at top. "ENT" well spaced. "S" near right oval. Nose close to left oval. Figures in oval well centered. "C" line passes between "O" of "TWO" and "C" of "CENTS." [Illustration] VARIETY 25. (25-1/2 x 26 mm.) "P" tipped sharply to left and "O" to right. Buff and Orange. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide and far from left oval. Base of "U", close to inner frame line, but top of "S" close to outer frame line. "U S P" near. "P" far to left and "O" in line with point. "POS" near. "T" far from "S" and far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "WO" close. "OC" close. "CE" on level but "E" slanting to right. "TS" close. "S" near right oval. Nose some distance from left oval. Figures in ovals well centered. Envelopes only. [Illustration] VARIETY 26. (26 x 26 mm.) "P" nearly on a level with "O." "POST" close. "OC" near. Amber and Light Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide slanting to left, and far from left oval. "US." wide. "SP" wide. "P" to left of point and nearly vertical. "T" very far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "WO" close. "OC" near. "C" vertical. "CE" close. "EN" near. "NTS" close. "S" far from right oval. Nose near oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "T" line passes close to junction point of inner frame lines, and touches "C" to left. VARIETY 27. (26-1/2 x 25-1/2 mm.) Sharp point of bust high above left of "O." Amber and Light Manila. "POST" 9-3/4 mm. "U" wide slanting considerably to left and near left oval. The entire inscription in upper label is widely spaced, but "OS" widest. "T" slants sharply to right, nearly touches outer frame line and is far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "WO" near. "OC" wide. The junction point of the inner frame lines is over the center of "C", which is low. "EN" well spaced and close to inner frame line. "S" nearly horizontal and close to right oval. Nose near left oval. Downstroke of right figure "2" near inner oval line. "T" line passes through first stroke of "W" of "TWO." VARIETY 27a. (26-1/4 x 25-1/2 mm.) "POST" 9-3/4 mm. Same as last variety, but appearing to be different. This is due to great deterioration of the die. It is found on a wrapper only and is rather scarce. [Illustration] CLASS V. Bust points to middle of "O". VARIETY 28. (26 x 26 mm.) "ST" close. Wide space after "S" of "CENTS". Buff and Orange. "Post" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide, nearly vertical and near the left oval. "U.S." near. "PO" near, but "O" slightly above "P". There is a wide space between "OS". "T" near right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" very close. "OC near". "CE" close and top of "E" under the point. "EN" wide, especially at top: "N" slightly above "E". "NTS" close. Nose near left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "U" line cuts top of "O" of "TWO" at right. Envelopes only. VARIETY 29. (25 x 25-3/4 mm.) Space before "U" and after "T" extremely wide. Light Manila. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide. "U.S." near and both letters close to inner frame line. "P" well to left of point and on a level with "O." "O" close to point. "POS" near, but "T" further from "S". "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "WO" near. "OC" near and "C" under the point. "E" quite a distance to right of point. "EN" wide. "NTS" near right oval. Nose far from left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "U" line passes through middle of "C" of "CENTS". Point of bust very broad. Wrappers only. VARIETY 30. (26 x 25-1/2 mm.) Nose far from oval line. Amber and Light Manila. "POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide, nearly vertical and near left oval "U.S." wide. "SP" widely spaced. "PO" close and nearly on a level, "OST" near. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" near, but "OC" wide. "CE" on level and close at top. "EN" well spaced. "TS" wide at base. "S" far from right oval. Nose far from left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "E" line touches "S" of "U.S." at the right. [Illustration] VARIETY 31. (25-3/4 x 25-3/4 mm.) "P" considerably above "O". Point of bust square and nearly touches line. Buff and Orange. "Post" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide, inclined to left, and near left oval. "S" close to inner frame line. Top of "P" close to outer frame line. "POST" near. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval and base of "T" some distance from outer frame line. "WO" near. "OC" very wide. "C" low. Back stroke of "E" almost touches the point. "EN" wide and "N" high. "NT" wide at top. "TS" close. "S" near right oval. Nose near left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "T" line passes through center of "U" of "U. S." [Illustration] VARIETY 32. (26 x 26-1/4 mm.) Bust ends in a sharp point, which nearly touches line over centre of "O" of "TWO". Orange and light manila. "POST" 7-1/4 mm. "U" rather short, inclined to left and near left oval. "SP" wide at top. "P" near point and above level of "O". "PO" near but "O" slanting to right. "OS" well spaced, but "S" low. "ST" wide. "T" far from left oval. "WO" close. "C" of "CENTS" almost touches outer frame line and "CE" close at base. "ENTS" close and "S" near right oval. Nose near left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "U" line passes slantingly from top of "E" to base. VARIETY 33. (25-3/4 x 25-3/4 mm.) Projecting hair. Wide space after "S" of "CENTS." Buff, Orange and Light Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, close to inner frame line and near left oval. Base of "S" some distance from inner frame line. "P" leans to the left. "PO" close but "O" slants to the right and is near the point. "OS" well spaced but "ST" spaced wider. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" near. "OC" wide. "C" some distance to right of point but on level with "E." The backstroke of the latter nearly touches the point. "EN" wide, and "ENTS" close to inner frame line. Nose far from left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "P" line passes through back stroke of "E." [Illustration] VARIETY 34. (25-3/4 x 27 mm.) "S" of "U.S" touches line above. "OC" near. Buff envelope and wrapper. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, inclined to left and near left oval. "SP" near, "P" far to left of point. "PO" well spaced at top and "O" a little raised. "OS" widely spaced. "ST" low, so that top stroke of "T" is somewhat above top of "S." "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "WO" near. "C" slants to left, and "E" to right, so that there is a considerable space between the letters at base. "ENT" wide. "TS" close. "S" far from right oval. Figure in right oval near inner frame line, but in left oval well centered. "U" line passes between "CE." [Illustration] VARIETY 35. (25 x 25-3/4 mm.) "O" of "POST" slants sharply to left. Hair far from frame line. Buff, Orange and Light Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" almost vertical and quite near to left oval. "U.S." near. "P" inclined to left. "O" near point. "OST" close. "T" near right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" near. "OC" near. "CE" wide at base. "N" higher than "E" or "T." "S" slants sharply to right and is far from right oval. Nose far from left oval. Figures well centered in oval. "T" line slants through "C" from right to left. Bust ends in a rather short point. VARIETY 36. (26 x 26 mm.) "P" tipped to left. "O" nearly touches outer frame line. Point of bust short and over centre of "O." Amber and Light Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" large, inclined to left and near left oval. "U. S." near and base of "S" some distance from inner frame line. "P" near point and slanting to left. "PO" wide, "O" nearly vertical. "OST" wide. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" close. "OC" near. "C" is low and slants sharply to left. "CE" close at top. "ENTS" close. "T" almost touches line above. "S" near right oval. Nose near left oval. Figures in ovals well centered. "U" line touches ends of upper and lower stroke of "E." VARIETY 37. (26-1/2 x 26 mm.) "P" nearly touches line at top. "POST" near. Orange and Amber. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, inclined to left and near left oval. "US" wide. "P" nearly vertical and some distance to left of point. "PO" on a level. "T" "of "POST" very far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "WO" close. "OC" near. "C" nearly under the point and vertical. "EN" well spaced at top. "NTS" close, especially the last two letters, "S" near right oval. Nose far from left oval. Figures in ovals well centered. "T" line slants across top of "E." Envelopes only. A common die. [Illustration] VARIETY 38. (26 x 26 mm.) Bust point behind "O." "NT" wide. Orange, Amber, Light Manila. "POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, greatly inclined to left, and quite near left oval. "US" very wide. "P" near point and slanting to left. "O" some distance to right of point and inclined to right. "POS" wide but "ST" widest. Top stroke of "T" close to outer frame line. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "WO" near. "OC" very wide. "C" almost vertical and close to point. Top of "E" slightly above "C." "EN" near. "TS" wide at base and "S" close to right oval. Nose far from left oval. Figures in ovals well centered. "U" line touches base of "T" of "CENTS." VARIETY 39. (26-1/4 x 25-1/2 mm.) "P" considerably above level of "O." "POST" wide. Amber, and Light Manila. "POST" 9 mm. "U" wide, inclined to left, and near left oval. "US" wide. "SP" wide. "P" slants to left and is close to the point. "PO" very wide. "O" far to right of point and but little slanting. "OST" wide. "T" near right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval, "WO" close. The entire word is well above the outer frame line. "OC" very wide. "C" under the point and upright. Top of "E" slightly above "C." "NT" close. "TS" wide. "S" close to right oval. Nose near left oval. Figures in ovals well centered. "W" line touches base of "U" at right. Broad point to bust. Envelope and wrapper. VARIETY 40. (26 x 26 mm.) "NT" very near. "POST" wide. Buff, Orange, Amber, Light Manila. "POST" 9-1/2 mm. Inscription in upper label much resembles that of the preceding variety, but "S" of "U.S." is low and "PO" nearer. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "WO" close. "OC" wide. "TS" close at top. Nose far from left oval. Figures in ovals well centered. "U" line passes along middle stroke of "N." One of the most common varieties. REFERENCE LIST OF THE TWO CENT ENVELOPES AND WRAPPERS OF THE SERIES OF 1863 AND 1864. ENVELOPES. TWO CENTS, BLACK. 1863. Inscribed: "U. S. POSTAGE." DIE A. VAR. 3. No. Class. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 370 4 Buff 2 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 371 " " 2 3 " Ungummed. VAR. 5. 372 4 Buff 2 3 139 x 83 Ungummed. 373 " " 2 3 " Gummed. VAR. 6. 374 4 Amber 2 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 375 " Buff 2 3 " Ungummed. DIE B. VAR. 8. 376 4 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Ungummed. 377 " Orange 11 3 " " 1864. Inscribed: "U. S. POST." DIE C. VAR. 1. 378 2 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Ungummed. 379 " " 11 3 " Gummed. 380 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. VAR. 3. 381 3 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed 382 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed VAR. 5. 383 3 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed 384 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed VAR. 6. 385 3 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed VAR. 6A. 386 3 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed 387 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed VAR. 7. 388 3 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed 389 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed VAR. 8. 390 3 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed 391 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed VAR. 9. 392 3 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed 393 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed VAR. 10. 394 4 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. VAR. 11. 395 4 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 395a " " 12 5 160 x 90 " 396 " Or. 11 3 139 x 83 Ungummed. VAR. 12. 397 4 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. Generally "Specimen." 398 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. Generally "Specimen." 399 " Buff 12 5 160 x 90 " Generally "Specimen." VAR. 13. 400 4 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 401 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. VAR. 14. 402 5 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 403 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. VAR. 15. 404 5 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 405 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. 406 " Buff 12 5 160 x 90 " VAR. 16. 407 5 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 408 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. 409 " Buff 12 5 160 x 90 " DIE D. VAR. 17. No. Class. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 410 3 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed 411 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed 412 " Buff 12 5 160 x 90 " VAR. 18. 413 3 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 414 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. 415 " Buff 12 5 160 x 90 " 415a " " 12 5 " Gummed. VAR. 19. 416 3 Amber 12 5 160 x 60 Gummed 417 " " 12 5 " [HW: Gummed] VAR. 20. 418 3 Amber 12 5 160 x 90 Ungummed VAR. 21. 419 3 Amber 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed 420 " " 12 5 160 x 90 Ungummed VAR. 22. 421 4 Buff 2 3 139 x 83 Ungummed. Very rare. VAR. 23. 422 4 Amber 12 5 160 x 90 Ungummed. VAR. 24. 423 4 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 424 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. VAR. 25. 425 4 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 426 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. VAR. 26. 427 4 Amber 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. VAR. 27. 428 4 Amber 12 5 160 x 90 Ungummed. VAR. 27A. 429 4 Amber 12 5 160 x 90 Ungummed. VAR. 28. 430 5 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 431 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. VAR. 30. 432 5 Amber 12 5 160 x 90 Ungummed. VAR. 31. 433 5 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 434 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. 434a " Buff 12 5 160 x 90 " VAR. 32. 435 5 Or. 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. VAR. 33. 436 5 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 437 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. 438 " Buff 12 5 160 x 90 Gummed. VAR. 34. 439 5 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. VAR. 35. 440 5 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 441 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. VAR. 36. 442 5 Amber 12 5 160 x 90 Ungummed. VAR. 37. 443 5 Amber 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 444 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. VAR. 38. 445 5 Or. 11 3 139 x 83 Ungummed. VAR. 39. 446 5 Amber 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 447 " " 12 5 160 x 90 Ungummed. VAR. 40. 448 5 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 449 " Amber 11 3 " " 450 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. WRAPPERS. 1863. Inscribed: "U. S. POSTAGE." DIE A. VAR. 1. No. Class. Paper. Dimensions. Laid. Remarks. 451 1 D. M. 227 x 148 VAR. 2. 452 2 D. M. 227 x 148 VAR. 4. 453 4 D. M. 227 x 148 VAR. 6. 454 4 D. M. 227 x 148 VAR. 7. 455 4 D. M. 227 x 148 1864. Inscribed: "U. S. POST." DIE C. VAR. 2. No. Class. Paper. Dimensions. Laid. Remarks. 456 3 D. M. 100 x 200 V VAR. 4. 457 3 D. M. 100 x 200 V VAR. 6. 458 3 Buff 100 x 200 V 459 " D. M. " V VAR. 6A. 460 3 Buff 100 x 200 H 461 " D. M. " V VAR. 7. 462 3 D. M. 100 x 200 V VAR. 8. 463 3 D. M. 100 x 200 V VAR. 10. 464 4 D. M. 100 x 200 V VAR. 12. 465 4 D. M. 100 x 200 V VAR. 13. 466 4 D. M. 100 x 200 V VAR. 14. 467 5 D. M. 100 x 200 V VAR. 15. 468 5 Buff 100 x 200 V 469 " D. M. " V VAR. 16. 470 5 Buff 100 x 200 V DIE D. VAR. 17. 471 3 Buff 100 x 200 V VAR. 19. 472 3 L. M. 133 x 200 V VAR. 20. 473 3 L. M. 100 x 200 V 474 " " 133 x 200 -- VAR. 21. 475 3 L. M. 133 x 200 H 476 " " 115 x 375 H Stamp 137 mm. from top. VAR. 23. 477 4 L. M. 133 x 200 H 478 " " " V 479 " " " Wove VAR. 24. 480 4 L. M. 100 x 200 V 480a " Buff " V VAR. 25. 481 4 Buff 100 x 200 V VAR. 26. 482 4 L. M. 133 x 200 H VAR. 27. 483 4 L. M. 133 x 200 H VAR. 27A. 484 4 L. M. 133 x 200 V VAR. 29. 485 5 L. M. 133 x 200 H VAR. 30. 486 5 L. M. 133 x 200 H VAR. 31. 487 5 Buff 100 x 200 V VAR. 32. 488 5 L. M. 100 x 200 V VAR. 33. 489 5 L. M. 100 x 200 V 490 " Buff " V VAR. 34. 491 5 L. M. 100 x 200 V 492 " Buff " V 493 " " 150 x 212 V 494 " " " H VAR. 35. 495 5 L. M. 100 x 200 V 496 " Buff " V VAR. 36. 497 5 L. M. 133 x 200 V VAR. 38. 498 5 L. M. 133 x 200 H VAR. 39. 499 5 L. M. 133 x 200 H VAR. 40. 499a 5 L. M. 133 x 200 H FIFTH ISSUE: 1864-1865. THREE CENTS, ROSE; THREE CENTS, BROWN; SIX CENTS, ROSE AND SIX CENTS, PURPLE. In the Postmaster-General's report for 1864 it is stated that "during the last session of Congress a bill was passed for the relief of the contractor for furnishing the department with stamped envelopes and newspaper wrappers, under the provisions of which the existing contract expired on Sept. 11, 1864." With the renewal of the former contract Nesbitt changed the dies of the two, three and six cents. The first we have already exhaustively treated. It is, of course, the two cents, black, "U. S. POST". All these dies remained in use until June 30th, 1870. As a matter of history it may be noted here that the three cents printed in brown, likewise the six cents rose, both on official size, were issued in July, 1865. The dies have a portrait of Washington facing to the left in a plain oval. It is enclosed in a frame of colorless lines. Inscription above "UNITED STATES"; below, "THREE CENTS" or "SIX CENTS", in block capitals. Large numerals of value at each side. None of the Nesbitt die varieties have given the writer so many anxious hours and have required such prolonged study as the three cents of 1864. Indeed, the final solution of the problem of classification of the various dies was only arrived at after more than two years continuous research. Like the famous balancing of the egg of Columbus, the problem, when solved, is extremely simple. Looking backward on the long series of failures, it seems strange that the chief characteristics have so long escaped the attention of cataloguers. The fact, however, is patent. Even as thorough and painstaking a student as the late Gilbert Harrison who, in 1895, chronicled, as he thought, all of the existing die varieties of the three cents has failed to observe the most important differences. Indeed, in the entire philatelic literature dealing with the Nesbitt dies of 1864 there is but one allusion to the feature which constitutes the surest means for the identification of the die varieties, and this is only a single sentence contained in the Historical Notes of Messrs. Tiffany, Bogert and Rechert. It reads:-- "It is worth mentioning, however, that while dies 9, 15 and 26 (the latter the die under consideration) all have the small bust of Washington, there are small differences in each which show them to be different engravings. * * In die 26 the front hair shows only five locks and the back hair only four lines." We shall presently see that, like the three cents, red of 1853, (Die A) the diemakers have produced different groups of heads which, once known, are not only an absolute means of differentiating the varieties, but also protect the collector from acquiring a multitude of the same die. Although, as stated above, the die of the three cents rose equals that of the three cents red in the use of various heads, it is, otherwise, quite dissimilar to the first issue, as will be seen presently. As in the varieties of the two cent dies the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the three cents vary greatly. After careful research and taking the advice of experienced philatelists, it was decided to adopt only two sizes for classification: i.e. Size A:--to include all stamps measuring horizontally 24 mm. but not exceeding 25 mm. Size B:--to include all stamps measuring horizontally 25-1/2 mm. or more. In our study of the three cents red of 1853 we noted, in addition to the various heads, some minor differences in the spacing of the letters forming the inscription. Referring now to the three cents of 1864, even the unskilled eye of the layman will be struck with the surprising changes, not only in the spacing of the letters forming a word, but, also, in the relative position of the words to each other and their distance from a definite point, such, for instance, as the figure "3." The subsequent cuts well illustrate this point. [Illustration] In the first the "S" of "CENTS" is several mm. distant from the right figure "3": in the second it is close to "3". The same remarks apply to the "U" of "UNITED" in its relative position to the left figure "3". In the second cut there is also a square period after the final "E" of "THREE". [Illustration] Looking at cuts 3 and 4 the great variety of spacing between the letters of a word is strikingly apparent in the word "THREE." These differences are easily detected by the 10 mm. unit distance measurement, which has been explained in the introductory chapter of this series of articles. The subjoined diagram proves that there are at least three forms of each word, and, with a little study, the collector will soon recognize the leading types. [Illustration] It seems strange that such great and palpable differences remained unknown until 1892. Quoting from the work of Messrs. Tiffany, Bogert & Rechert, we are, however, informed: "Heretofore it has _not_ been noticed that there are a large number of minor varieties of this die depending on the relative position of the parts." Commenting on Die 26 (three cents rose) the writers make some valuable suggestions, but they discourage the would-be student from going deeper into the subject by the closing paragraph: "So few collectors would be interested in looking for these varieties that it has been thought unnecessary to devote space to them in a general work." In the writer's opinion the most valuable hint thrown out by Messrs. Tiffany, Bogert & Rechert is contained in the following sentence: "If a thread be laid along the lower stroke of the "U" it will pass at different distances from the tip of the nose and fall on different parts of the right numeral, of the space below it, or even as low as the "S" of "CENTS." Why these experts stopped at the gate and did not enter is one of those freaks of the human mind that defies explanation. Certainly the person who made this observation was on the very threshold of discovering a scientific classification of this elusive die. The writer confesses that, after having independently evolved this system of classification, nothing has given him greater satisfaction than to find that the basic idea had been chronicled as far back as 1892. To-day it is well known that a line prolongation along the "U" of "UNITED" establishes five distinct classes. As this system has been fully described in a lecture given by the writer before the Boston Philatelic Society, (April 19, 1904) which lecture has also been published in pamphlet form, and, as this classification has been accepted by the writer of the latest Scott Catalogue, it seems unnecessary to go into the details, especially as the subjoined diagram is self-explanatory. [Illustration] It is evident that we now possess various means for the classification of the three cents die varieties, but a system based solely on a line measurement, as has been stated heretofore, would not guard the collector sufficiently from acquiring a number of the same dies, due to unavoidable mistakes of measurement. To prevent duplication of dies it is imperative to know the various heads. Luckily the distinctive features are quite plain and it is easy to divide the heads into five classes for, as in the first issue, the die cutters have adorned the head of Washington with a variety of coiffures. In Heads 1 and 2 there is a _triangular open space_ between the middle bunch of hair and the lowest strand which meets the queue. [Illustration] [Illustration] HEAD 1.--The queue consists of three vertical strands extending from the top of the head to the neck. Next to the queue are 3 rear locks, of which the middle one is a large, pear-shaped bunch, consisting of five fine strands, while the second highest is by far the longest, and cuts into the queue, resembling the stem of a pear. HEAD 2.--Same as Head 1, but the second lowest strand of hair in the pear-shaped bunch is the longest and does not extend into the queue. The triangular space below is slightly larger than in Head 1. HEAD 3.--The queue consists of either three or four strands which extend from the top of the head to the neck. Next to the queue there are five locks in the rear row, the arrangement of which differs in the various specimens. The _main_ feature of Head 3 consists in the _absence of an open space_ between the middle bunch and the lowest lock. HEAD 4.--The queue consists of three strands which extend from the top of the head to the neck. The back row of hair consists of five locks of which the lowest is very small and runs almost perpendicularly into the queue. There is a small space between the perpendicular lock and the next lowest. HEAD 5.--Generally found on the second quality of buff paper. The queue consists of three strands, which extend from the top of the head to the neck. The main feature is the middle bunch of hair, which is oblong shaped and consists of three heavy strands, all of which slant diagonally into the queue. Immediately below this bunch is the lowest small lock, which also slants diagonally into the queue. Of the five heads, the first is certainly the one which is most commonly found; especially on amber paper. Knife 1 is always Head 4. Head 3 is less common, and Head 5 is most frequently found on the second quality buff paper. It is also useful to remember that Head 5 appears on Knife 11. The subsequent table gives the knives and heads of the three cents, Rose:-- K. 22 120 x 73 P. O. Size 1 Heads 1, 2, 3, 4 White " 1 120 x 73 " 1 " 4 White " 2 139 x 83 " 3 " 3 White " 11 139 x 83 " 3 " 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 White " 11 139 x 83 " 3 " 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Buff " 11 139 x 83 " 3 " 1, 2 Amber " 11 139 x 83 " 3 " 1, 5 Buff 2nd " 9 139 x 83 " 3 " 1, 2, 3, 4 White " 9 139 x 83 " 3 " 1, 3, 4 Buff " 9 139 x 83 " 3 " 1, 2 Amber " 12 160 x 90 " 5 " 1, 2, 3, 4 White " 12 160 x 90 " 5 " 1, 3, 4 Buff " 12 160 x 90 " 5 " 1, 2 Amber A similar table for the three cents, Brown shows that the following heads exist:-- K. 21 225 x 98 Size 7 Heads 1, 2, 3, 4 White " " " " " " 1, 2, 3, 4 Buff " " " " " " 1, 2 Amber The six cents, Rose and Purple comes only on heads 1 and 3. A systematic and rational classification of the three cents (both rose and brown) and their congener the six cents (purple and rose) is now ready. The collector of entire envelopes will proceed as follows:-- Given a certain specimen, he first ascertains the knife, second the color of the paper. He then decides which head is represented, and finally ascertains whether it is an "A" or "B" die. The specialist, or any collector who is sufficiently interested to possess the various sub-varieties, goes a step further. Having determined the head, he finds to which of the four classes of line measurement a given specimen belongs. Thus the apparently bewildering number of varieties, through the knowledge of the heads and the "U" line measurement, are brought into perfect order, and all risk of confusion is avoided. It is evident that, henceforth, the collector of cut squares will try to obtain at least one specimen of the different heads of both die A and B, while the collector of entires may go to any length to satisfy his zeal and ambition. The large die (Die B), measuring horizontally 25-1/2 mm. or more, is comparatively scarce and it is found most commonly on the small envelope, Knife 22. THREE CENTS, ROSE. K. 22 Heads 1, 2, 4 White " 11 " 4 Buff " 9 " 1, 4 White " 9 " 1 Buff " 12 " 2, 4 White " 12 " 2 Amber THREE CENTS, BROWN. K 21 Head 1 White " " " 1, 2 Buff " " " 2 Amber With the issue of the three cents, rose, the contractor, at the order of the Post Office Department, introduced a second quality of buff paper. This matter is of importance to all collectors and should be duly noted. In a circular letter from the Finance Office, dated "Washington Oct. 1866," signed "A. N. Zevely, 3d Asst. P. M. G.", it is stated:-- "Letter size envelopes stamped 3 cents, made of a _cheaper_ quality of paper than those hitherto furnished, are furnished by the Department at $32.80 per 1,000." The schedule of 1867 gives the prices of three cent envelopes, etc., and of letter size _second quality buff_. A circular to the public of the same date says that "letter size _second quality_ are furnished ONLY in buff." The white and colored paper of this issue exists in various qualities, of which the extremes may be called nearly cardboard paper and almost tissue. The texture is soft and highly surfaced. An interesting variety of the white paper is a decidedly brownish-white, which, as far as the writer knows, has not been mentioned heretofore. There are also various shades of buff and even a reddish toned orange paper. Doubtless collectors would like to possess some information about the rarity of the various heads found in the three cents, rose, of this issue. From a study of some six thousand envelopes of this series the writer can give a fairly accurate estimate. Calling the total number of envelopes examined one hundred per cent, the respective percentages of the five heads were: Head 1--50% " 2--30% " 3--10% " 4--09.5% " 5--00.5% -------- 100. In regard to the sub varieties of the various heads it is also of interest to observe that a considerable number are "repeating dies," _i.e._, generally a die, say of Head 1 on white paper and on Knife 11, is liable to be found on buff and amber paper not only on Knife 11, but also on Knife 9. Only very few sub varieties of a given Head exist on of this series. Although it is evident that of all Nesbitt issues the 3 cent rose 1864 has by far the largest number of die varieties, it is by no means an impossible task to classify all existing varieties as has been done with the two cent Jackson, and it is the intention of the writer to carry out this work at no distant day. Probably due to the apparent similarity of many dies collectors have been apathetic and have considered one as good as the other, but a little study speedily convinces the student of this error. Indeed, this issue contains a number of extremely rare dies, and as soon as proper information and classification is published, the 3 cent rose of 1864 will be a favorite of all true philatelists. Before leaving these interesting dies we must not fail to mention that, on the three cents and six cents, there is often a small dot on Washington's face shaped like a mole, about one mm. under the ear. It is of little importance, and is evidently merely a flaw. In addition to the 3 and 6 cents, Nesbitt produced, in 1864, a new design for the 9, 12, 18 and 30 cents, while the old design of the former 24 and 40 cents was changed in December 1865. The main difference between the new and the old design is that the oval band and small circular disks are with colored background bordered by colorless lines. The inscriptions and numerals are now colorless. The branches have eight leaves. Of these values no die varieties are known; but, excepting the 40 cents pink, there are several distinct shades of each stamp. Commencing with the Nine Cents, we have a decided lemon-yellow and an orange; the Twelve Cents appears in dark brown and red-brown; the Twenty-four Cents in two shades of blue; the Eighteen Cents exists in red and dark red, and the Thirty Cents in yellow-green, dark green and olive-green. This concludes the Nesbitt issues of United States envelopes. His connection with the Postal Department ceased March 31, 1870, when a new contract was awarded to George H. Reay, of New York. To the philatelists the Nesbitt issues are by far the most interesting series of all the United States Postal issues and, as the years pass on, the intrinsic value of these die varieties will increase rapidly. Specialization is the watchword of the now growing class of collectors, and there is no field so inviting and which will repay a student so richly for his labor as a specialized collection of the Nesbitt issues. What is wanted to-day is a special album for United States envelopes, which would insure to this prominent branch of United States philately that measure of official recognition for which collectors have long and earnestly contended. An equally valuable aid would be the formation of a Society of Collectors of United States envelopes. The writer confidently expects that this suggestion will soon assume a more tangible form. If this series of articles has, in even the slightest degree, helped collectors of United States envelopes to a wider knowledge and better appreciation of these hitherto unknown die varieties, the writer will feel well repaid for the many hours of labor. In closing, he again asserts; "Variety is the spice of life!" * * * * * A REFERENCE LIST OF THE ENVELOPES OF THE SERIES OF 1864 AND 1865. 1864. THREE CENTS, ROSE. DIE A. HEAD I. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Variety. Remarks. 501 White 22 1 120 x 73 1 502 " 22 1 " 2 503 " 22 1 " 3 504 " 22 1 " 4 505 " 11 3 139 x 83 1 506 " 11 3 " 1 Unwatermarked. 507 " 11 3 " 2 508 " 11 3 " 3 509 " 11 3 " 4 510 " 9 3 " 1 511 " 9 3 " 2 511a " 9 3 " 2 Without Patent Lines. 512 " 9 3 " 3 513 " 9 3 " 4 514 " 12 5 160 x 90 2 515 " 12 5 " 3 516 " 12 5 " 4 517 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 2 518 " 11 3 " 3 519 " 11 3 " 4 520 " 9 3 " 1 521 " 9 3 " 2 522 " 9 3 " 3 523 " 9 3 " 4 524 " 12 5 160 x 90 2 525 " 12 5 " 4 526 Buff 2nd 11 3 139 x 83 3 527 " 11 3 " 4 528 Amber 11 3 " 1 529 " 11 3 " 2 530 " 11 3 " 3 531 " 11 3 " 3 Ungummed. 532 " 11 3 " 4 533 " 9 3 " 3 534 " 9 3 " 4 535 " 12 5 160 x 90 2 536 " 12 5 " 3 537 " 12 5 " 4 538 Amber 2nd 11 3 139 x 83 2 539 " 11 3 " 3 540 " 11 3 " 4 HEAD II. 541 White 22 1 120 x 73 1 542 " 22 1 " 2 543 " 22 1 " 3 544 " 11 3 139 x 83 1 545 " 11 3 " 2 546 " 11 3 " 3 547 " 9 3 " 1 548 " 9 3 " 2 549 " 9 3 " 3 550 " 12 5 160 x 90 1 551 " 12 5 " 2 552 " 12 5 " 3 553 Amber 11 3 139 x 83 1 554 " 11 3 " 2 555 " 11 3 " 4 556 " 9 3 " 1 557 " 9 3 " 3 558 " 12 5 160 x 90 2 559 " 12 5 " 3 HEAD III. 560 White 22 1 120 x 73 1 561 " 22 1 " 2 562 " 22 1 " 3 563 " 2 3 139 x 83 3 Ungummed. Probably a proof. 564 " 11 3 " 1 565 " 11 3 " 2 566 " 11 3 " 3 567 " 9 3 " 1 568 " 9 3 " 2 569 " 12 5 160 x 90 1 570 " 12 5 " 2 571 Buff 2 3 139 x 83 3 Ungummed. Probably a proof. 572 " 11 3 " 1 573 " 11 3 " 2 574 " 11 3 " 3 575 " 9 3 " 1 576 " 9 3 " 2 577 " 9 3 " 2 Without patent lines. 578 " 9 3 " 3 579 " 12 5 " 2 580 " 12 5 " 3 HEAD IV. 581 White 22 1 120 x 73 1 582 " 22 1 " 2 583 " 22 1 " 3 581 " 1 1 " 2 585 " 11 3 139 x 83 2 586 " 11 3 " 3 587 " 11 3 " 3 Unwatermarked 588 " 9 3 " 1 589 " 9 3 " 2 590 " 9 3 " 3 591 " 12 5 160 x 90 1 592 " 12 5 " 2 593 " 12 5 " 3 594 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 1 595 " 11 3 " 2 596 " 11 3 " 3 596a Buff 2nd 11 3 " 2 597 Buff 9 3 " 1 598 " 9 3 " 2 599 " 9 3 " 3 600 " 12 5 160 x 90 1 601 " 12 5 " 2 HEAD V. 602 White 11 3 139 x 83 3 603 Buff 11 3 " 2 604 Buff 2nd 11 3 " 2 605 " 11 3 " 3 DIE B. HEAD I. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Variety. Remarks. 606 White 22 1 120 x 73 2 607 " 9 3 139 x 83 2 608 " 12 5 160 x 90 1 609 Buff 9 3 139 x 83 2 610 " 9 3 " 3 HEAD II. 611 White 22 1 120 x 73 1 612 " 22 1 " 3 613 " 9 3 139 x 83 3 614 " 12 5 160 x 90 4 615 Amber 9 3 139 x 83 1 616 " 12 5 160 x 90 2 617 " 12 5 " 3 HEAD III. 617a White 12 5 160 x 90 5 HEAD IV. 618 White 22 1 120 x 73 1 619 " 11 3 139 x 83 2 620 " 9 3 " 1 621 " 9 3 " 2 622 " 9 3 " 3 623 " 12 5 160 x 90 1 624 " 12 5 " 2 625 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 1 626 " 12 5 160 x 90 1 627 " 12 5 " 2 629 Amber 12 5 160 x 90 3 1865. THREE CENTS, BROWN. DIE A. HEAD I. 630 White 21 7 225 x 98 2 631 Buff 21 7 " 2 633 Amber 21 7 " 2 634 " 21 7 " 3 HEAD II. 635 White 21 7 225 x 98 2 637 Buff 21 7 " 3 HEAD III. 638 White 21 7 225 x 98 2 639 Buff 21 7 " 1 640 " 21 7 " 2 HEAD IV. 642 White 21 7 1 643 " 21 7 2 644 " 21 7 3 645 Buff 21 7 1 646 " 21 7 2 DIE B. HEAD I. 647 White 21 7 225 x 98 2 648 Buff 21 7 " 2 HEAD II. 649 White 21 7 225 x 98 2 650 Buff 21 7 " 4 650a Amber 21 7 " 2 650b " 21 7 " 4 SIX CENTS, PURPLE. HEAD I. 651 White 11 3 139 x 83 652 Amber 11 3 " HEAD III. 653 White 11 3 139 x 83 654 Buff 11 3 " 655 Amber 11 3 " SIX CENTS, ROSE. HEAD I. 656 White 21 7 225 x 98 657 Amber 21 7 " HEAD III. 658 White 21 7 225 x 98 659 Buff 21 7 " 660 Amber 21 7 " NINE CENTS, YELLOW. 661 Buff 21 7 225 x 98 662 Amber 21 7 " NINE CENTS, ORANGE. 663 Buff 21 7 225 x 98 664 Amber 21 7 " TWELVE CENTS, BROWN. 665 Buff 21 7 225 x 98 666 Amber 21 7 " TWELVE CENTS, RED-BROWN. 667 Buff 21 7 225 x 98 EIGHTEEN CENTS, RED. 668 Buff 20 8 249 x 104 TWENTY-FOUR CENTS, BLUE. 669 Buff 20 8 249 x 104 670 " 20 8 " Dark blue 671 Amber 20 8 " THIRTY CENTS, GREEN. 672 Buff 20 8 249 x 104 Yellow-green. 673 Buff 20 8 " Dark green. 674 Buff 20 8 " Olive green. FORTY CENTS, ROSE. 675 Buff 20 8 249 x 104 APPENDIX SERIES OF 1853-1855. DIE I. Since the publication of the early portion of the present work the writer has discovered two new varieties of this die, both with Head I, which must be known as varieties 1a and 2a and which, therefore, necessitate his re-writing the descriptions of Vars. 1 and 2. He has, also, re-written the description of variety 3 with the idea of enabling collectors to more easily differentiate between it and the other varieties. The following should, therefore replace the descriptions of these varieties on pages 107 and 108 of the JOURNAL for 1905. HEAD I. LONG SIDE LOCK. Var. 1. "CENTS" is near the frame line. "C" and "N" are in an almost vertical position. "N" is near "T." "S" is near curve. Letters "TH" are parallel and slant to left. A line drawn along the "E" of "CENTS" and prolonged upwards touches the right end of the top stroke of the first "E" of "THREE." Var. 1a. The "C" of "CENTS" and "E" of "THREE" slant distinctly to the right. "EN" close and near outer frame line. "N" and "T" are wide at base. A line drawn along "E" touches the left end of the top stroke of the final "E." Var. 2. "TH" of "THREE" widely spaced and "R" is almost in center of label and vertical. The "N" of "CENTS" slants to the right and is far from "T" at top and base. The top of "S" is some distance from curve. There is a flaw in the outer colored line nearly opposite the tip of nose. A line drawn along "E" touches right the end of the top stroke of the final "E." Var. 2a. There is a flaw in the red outer frame line nearly opposite the junction of the queue with the garment. "CENTS" is near the inner frame line. "HR" wide at top and near at base. "C" is some distance from the curve. "EN" near. "N" short and broad. The upper right curve is nearly a straight line. A line drawn along "E" touches the left end of the top stroke of the second "E" of "THREE." HEAD 1a. SHORT SIDE LOCK. Var. 3 The "C" of "CENTS" is high and close to curve. "CE" very wide. "EN" wide. "N" nearly vertical. "EN" close at top. A line drawn along "E" touches the left end of the top stroke of the final "E." */ ADDENDA. The following envelopes and wrappers have been discovered since the lists were published and should, therefore, be added to them. ENVELOPES. 1853-55. THREE CENTS, RED. DIE I. VAR. 1A. HEAD I. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Gum. Remarks. 2a W 2 3 139 x 83 Seal 2b B 2 3 " " VAR. 2A. HEAD I. 4a W 2 3 139 x 83 Seal. 4b B 2 3 " " DIE V. HEAD XV. VAR. 21. 98a B 4 3 139 x 83 VAR. 29. 131a B 5 3 139 x 83 1860. ONE CENT, BLUE. VAR. 3. 163a B 9 3 139 x 83 U VAR. 7. 177a L. Or. 5 3 139 x 83 U VAR. 8. 178a B 5 3 139 x 83 U 178b B 5 3 " U No watermark 178c Y. B. 5 3 " U " " wove paper VAR. 10. 183a B 11 3 139 x 83 G VAR. 11. 184a W 11 3 139 x 83 THREE CENTS, RED. VAR. 1. No. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Gum. Remarks. 187a B 7 2 137 x 77 G VAR. 3. 199a W 7 2 137 x 77 G WRAPPERS. VAR. 3. Distance of stamp No. Paper. Dimensions. Laid. from upper edge. Remarks. 245a S. B. 148 x 225 H 35 VAR. 4. 252a B 148 x 232 H 38 1863. TWO CENTS. BLACK. ENVELOPES. DIE A. No. Class. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks. 373a 4 Buff 11 3 139 x 83 Gummed. 1864. DIE D. VAR. 19. 415b 3 Buff 12 5 160 x 90 Gummed. WRAPPERS. DIE D. VAR. 35. No. Class. Paper. Dimensions. Laid. Remarks. 496a 5 Buff 100 x 200 H ERRATA. Page 13, last line under Head 6, read: _narrow_ for "norrow." " 18, add to description of Var 2, Head XI: _there is usually a flaw in the outer colored line opposite the lower left straight line near "C."_ Page 31, Head XVIII, second line, after "eye-brow", read; _some distance_ instead of: "a considerable distance." " 35, No. 46 should read: "W 2 3 139 x 82." " " " 47 " " "B 2 3 " " 37, No. 89 and 90, under "Remarks", add: "_Reprints on white and buff vertically laid paper_." " 38, No. 121 and 122, under "Remarks", cancel: "_Reprints on white and buff vertically laid paper_." " 42, Variety 3, add: "_distance from "E" to "C" is_ 3-1/2 _mm_." " " The cut marked "7" should have its number changed to "9." " 43, The cut marked "9" should have its number changed to "7." " 52, No. 248, read: "V" instead of "H". " " No. 270, dimensions should be: 180 x 260. " 62, No. 327 and 327a are: Size 3. " 85, No. 417, is gummed. * * * * * Transcriber's Notes [HW:] contains handwritten errata notes, as listed above. Roman and Arabic numeral inconsistencies were retained. Minor punctuation errors and the following typos were corrected: CONTENTS: Changed The 1853-55 Series from page 5 to 6. Page 3: Changed "humilation" to "humiliation". (it is an humilation to American philatelists) Page 3: Changed "unkown" to "unknown". (timorous traveler to proceed into the unkown country) Page 4: Deleted duplicate "the". (spacings between the the letters) Page 5: Changed "ascer" to "ascertained". (easy manner, we have ascer [end of line] three important classes.) Page 6: Changed "proceeed" to "proceed". (and the manufacture will at once proceeed.) Page 7: Changed "accordence" to "accordance". (In accordence with the instructions of the United States Postal) Page 7: Changed "pecular" to "peculiar". (artists, had pecular ideas of the manly beauty) Page 7: Deleted duplicate "the". (expression runs the the gamut of meekness) Page 8: Changed "aquaintance" to "acquaintance". (Die 1 are concerned, a thorough knowledge of, or aquaintance) Page 31: Deleted duplicate "the". (Together with the the side-lock) Page 40: Changed "realty" to "reality". (new SIX and TEN CENTS. In realty the latter two appeared) Page 44: Changed "broarder" to "broader". (To give the philatelist a broarder hold on this issue) Page 59: Changed "bu" to "but". (the SIX CENTS is very similar to the last one, bu) Page 64: Changed "uts" to "cuts". (Class V.--Line falls outside of "W" and sometimes uts "O.") Page 65: Changed "luckly" to "lucky". (a rarity possessed only by a few luckly mortals.) Page 68: Changed "contracter" to "contractor". (the contracter for furnishing the Post Office Department) Page 68: Changed "vareties" to "varieties". (five letters which differ greatly in many vareties.) Page 69: Changed "measurment(s)" to "measurement(s)". (and the measurments are made as follows:) (The student who employs these measurments) (In case of doubt that single measurment is decisive.) (the characteristic line measurment is mentioned) Page 75: Deleted duplicate "of". (top stroke of of "T" nearly touches "W.") Page 77: Changed "manilla" to "manila". (Buff Orange and Light Manilla.) Page 78: Changed "deteoriation" to "deterioration". (This is due to great deteoriation of the die.) Page 82: Changed "beheind" to "behind". (Bust point beheind "O.") Page 82: Deleted duplicate "and". ("C" almost vertical and and close to point.) Page 84: Under VAR. 13: Changed "041" to "401". Page 103: Changed "discriptions" to "descriptions". (replace the discriptions of these varieties) 
35566	----	Transcriber's Notes: 1. Passages in italics are surrounded by _underscores_. Passages in Decorative Fonts are surrounded by =equals=. Superscripted numbers are preceded by a ^carat. Multiple superscripted numbers are surrounded by curly brackets {1 2}. 2. Corrections from the "Errata" page have been incorporated into this e-text. 3. Horizontal tables exceeding the width of this e-text have been reformatted to fit vertically. 4. Additional Transcriber's Notes are located at the end of this e-text. [Illustration: PORTRAIT OF J. K. TIFFANY.] HISTORY OF THE =POSTAGE STAMPS= OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. BY JOHN K. TIFFANY, Author of THE PHILATELICAL LIBRARY, President of the American Philatelic Association and of the St. Louis Philatelic Society. Honorary Member of the Philatelic Society of London. Corresponding Member of the Societe Francaise de Timbrologie, the Societies of Dresden, Wurtemburg, Etc. 1887: C. H. MEKEEL, PHILATELIC PUBLISHER, ST. LOUIS, MO. Copyrighted by J. K. Tiffany. 1886. All Rights Reserved. =CONTENTS.= PORTRAIT OF J. K. TIFFANY (Frontispiece). PREFACE 9 INTRODUCTION 13 Chapter I, U. S. City Dispatch Post 19 " II, Uniform Postage 23 " III, Postmaster's Stamps 26 " IV, Stamp of the N. Y. Postmaster 29 " V, Stamps of the St. Louis " 36 " VI, Stamp of the Brattleboro " 48 " VII, Stamp of the New Haven " 51 " VIII, Stamps of the Providence " 54 " IX, Stamp of the Alexandria " 60 " X, Stamps of the Baltimore " 62 " XI, Stamp of the Millbury " 65 " XII, Stamped Env. of Wash'n " 67 " XIII, Stamps of the Phila'lphia " 69 " XIV, Stamp of the Worcester " 70 " XV, Stamp of the Pittsfield " 71 " XVI, Observations 72 " XVII, The Issue of 1847 74 " XVIII, The Issue of 1851 81 " XIX, The Issue of 1857 110 " XX, The Issue of 1861 122 " XXI, The Issue of 1867-9 137 " XXII, The Issue of 1869 144 " XXIII, The Issue of 1870 158 " XXIV, Postage Due Stamps 198 " XXV, Special Delivery Stamp 204 " XXVI, Newspaper and Periodical St'ps 209 " XXVII, Official Stamps 227 " XXVIII, Official Seals 249 " XXIX, Reprints 254 INDEX 267 PUBLISHERS' ANNOUNCEMENTS 275 =ERRATA.= Page 96, 3d line from top, for _25_c lilac read _24_ cents. Page 102 in lines 5, 6, 7 and 8 from bottom in last column for F^2 G^2 H^2 I^2 read F^4 G^4 H^4 I^4. Page 103 in lines 16 to 20 in second column for S^2 T^2 U^2 V^2 W^2 read S^3 T^3 U^3 V^3 W^3. Page 104 5th line from bottom, omit _u_ in "prolongued." Page 143, 9th line from top for "_follows_" read "_above_." Page 144, last line supply "_test of_" in the blank. Page 196, 4th line from top for (") read "_cochineal_." Page 196, 6th line from top, for "_12 cents_" read "_15 cents_." PREFACE. In seeking for information concerning the postage stamps of the United States, we shall turn in vain to sources which have furnished, in other countries, such accurate details in regard to the stamps issued by their postal authorities, for the stamps authorized by the United States Post Office Department are not manufactured by the government, and there is no "stamp office" to authenticate each plate, and register the number of sheets made from it, and no edict, proclamation or law informs the public of the values authorized for use, or of the designs, or other peculiarities of the stamps to be employed. The Postmaster General is authorized, in general terms of the law, to provide such stamps as he may, from time to time, judge most convenient and expedient for the collection of the postal rates fixed by other laws, and is required to have them manufactured by those who, under general provisions of other laws regulating all government work, offer to do it at the lowest price. The proposals for such work and the contracts made with the parties successful in the competition, reserve the right to the Postmaster General to change the values, designs, etc., from time to time as he may judge expedient, and specify nothing as to these particulars, while they are very specific as to the quality of the work, and the precautions to be observed in the manufacture, to prevent pecuniary loss to the Department. A government official inspects the work in order that it may conform in quality to the contract, and the records are kept of the number of stamps of each value made and turned over to the Department, without further specifications. In a word, no record is preserved of how many stamps of any particular design, paper, water-mark, perforation or other peculiarity, are made, or of the date of the adoption of any of these things. Third Assistant Postmaster General Ireland, during his term of office, once wrote "It has always surprised me that the Department has never kept any official history of its stamps." Many of these details might be gathered no doubt from the very voluminous correspondence between the Department and the several contractors, if it were accessible, but upon investigation it appears that many interesting changes have been made upon mere verbal instructions. We shall have therefore to rely upon quite different sources for our information. Fortunately the enterprise of collectors has probably discovered all the varieties of the stamps themselves, and only a careful study of them is necessary to their complete description. The materials upon which the present work is based were gathered together mostly as accident threw them into the hands of the author, from time to time, without any attempt at systematic research or arrangement, until at the request of J. B. Moens, of Brussells, they were arranged to form a volume of his "Bibliotheque Des Timbrophiles." The annual reports of the Postmaster General have furnished some points of interest directly and many inferentially; the circulars notifying postmasters of the more important changes, a nearly complete file of which has been consulted, have been a great guide; while frequently very interesting details have been extracted from the files of contemporaneous daily papers; and the published results of the researches of such indefatigable investigators as Messrs. Bagg, Brown and Scott, in the Philatelical Press, and the articles of Cosmopolitan and Scott have been freely drawn upon. Many large collections have been kindly submitted for inspection, in particular those of Messrs Van Derlip, Sterling and Casey, and thus we are able to describe every stamp and essay from actual specimens, except in a few instances specially noted. While there may be possible omissions, the reader may feel assured of the existence of everything described. Frequent demands for the translation of the French work have led to the present publication. But as that work was prepared to conform to the general plan of the works compiled for the series of M. Moens' Bibliotheque, it contained many things, concerning the history and customs of the post office of the United States, which the American collector is supposed to know, and omitted some details concerning the part played by various collectors and dealers in finding out the particulars of the history of certain stamps and like matters, which it was thought might be interesting to our home collectors, but which the impersonal character of the French Series made it advisable to omit in the original compilation. The entire work has been therefore largely recast in the hope of making it more acceptable to American collectors, and in several instances comments have been made upon stamps that were not mentioned in the French edition, in order to correct certain erroneous views entertained concerning them in this country, which it was supposed was sufficiently accomplished by their omission in the other series. _St. Louis, August, 1886._ INTRODUCTION. In 1676 John Heyward, by the authority of General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts, established his postal system with its office in Boston. In 1683 the government of Penn established a postal system for the Colony of Pennsylvania. In 1700 Col. J. Hamilton organized "his postal establishment for British America" including all the English colonies, but soon after disposed of his right to the English crown. In 1710 the English Parliament established by law the first governmental postal system with the general office at New York, which continued until in 1776 the Continental Congress adopted and set in action the postal system proposed by Franklin, who was appointed the first Postmaster General. The first law of the Federal Congress continued this system in operation as sufficient for the public wants, but the postal service was not finally settled until the act of 1792. This law (1792) liked a tariff which with unimportant changes remained in force until the adoption of the system of Uniform Postage in the United States. Single, double and triple letters were charged 8, 16 and 24 cents respectively when sent to other countries, and four cents plus the internal postage when arriving from foreign countries. The internal postage between offices in the United States was 6, 8, 10, 15, 17, 20, 22 and 25 cents for distances of 30, 60, 100, 150, 200, 250, 350, or 400 miles respectively for single letters, and double, triple, etc., this for double, triple, etc., letters. A single letter was defined by the law to be a single sheet or piece of paper, a double letter, two sheets or pieces of paper, etc., etc. The following acts of Congress may be consulted with advantage by those curious with regard to the Post Office before the introduction of stamps. I Congress. I Session. Chap. 16, Sept., 1789 I " II " " 36, Aug., 1790 I " III " " 23, March, 1791 II " I " " 27, Feb., 1792 III " I " " 23, 8 May, 1794 V " III " " 41, 2 March, 1799 XI " II " " 37, 30 April, 1810 XIII " III " " 16, 23 Dec., 1814 XIV " I " " 7, 1 Feb., 1815 XIV " I " " 43, 9 April, 1816 XIX " II " " 61, 3 March, 1825 XX " I " " 61, 3 March, 1827 XXVII " II " " 43, 2 March, 1845 The earliest letters which we have seen, consist of single sheets of paper folded and addressed upon the sheet. An envelope would have subjected them to double postage. They are penmarked with the name of the mailing office, the date occasionally, the amount of the postage paid or due, generally in simple figures, sometimes with the word "cents" in full or abbreviated, added. Gradually, hand stamps were introduced. At first the name of the mailing office in a simple frame, generally circular, the month and day being still written in with a pen, and the amount of postage written as before. A further improvement appears later on in the introduction of the month and day as part of the hand stamp. The word "paid" or "due," the amount of postage in figures or with "cents," either written or hand stamped, always added. And finally all the marks are included in one hand stamp. There was evidently no uniformity of practice, except the general requirement that the name of the mailing office, the month and day, and the amount of postage should in some form be marked on the letter. Improvements seem generally to have originated in the larger offices, but smaller offices sometimes took the lead in enterprise. An improvement once adopted does not seem always to have been adhered to; letters mailed at the same office on the same day and differently marked may be frequently found in old files. The hand stamps seem to have been obtained by the several offices for themselves, as there is no uniformity of style. Some of these hand stamps are curious enough to warrant a brief description, and it would be difficult to lay down a rule which would distinguish some of them from the stamps we admit to our albums. A letter mailed at Philadelphia in 1825, bears an octagonal hand stamp with a double lined frame and the words "Phila. 20 Jan." in three lines, a second similar but smaller hand stamp with the word "Paid," and the figures "26" written with a pen, all in red ink. These seem to have been regularly employed for several years. Other letters from the same city mailed in 1845-6-7 and 8, bear a circular hand stamp, the name of the City and State surrounding the edge, the month and day in the center, a single line surrounding all, the amount of postage in large numerals and the words "DUE" or "PAID" in a small oval are separately hand stamped. Letters from Baltimore of the same dates bear a similar circular hand stamp with name and date, the amount of postage in large numerals in an oval, and sometimes the word "PAID" in large letters without frame. Jacksonville, Ill., Pittsburgh, Pa., and Little Rock, Ark., employed similar hand stamps at the same time. Louisville, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Boston and New York letters of the same years have the same hand stamp with a numeral or numerals indicative of the amount of postage added at the bottom within the frame. When prepaid the word "PAID" was hand stamped below the other. Some New York, Boston and Philadelphia letters of the same dates bear the same hand stamp with "5 cts," "10 cts," etc., in the lower margin within the frame, the word "PAID" being separately hand stamped when the letter was prepaid. Many western letters bear also the word "Steam 5" hand stamped upon them. These hand stamps remained in use up to 1851 when the rates were changed and appear even upon letters bearing the adhesive stamps of the first issue. In 1851 when the rates were changed to 3 cents ordinary postage, and 1 cent for drop letters, many of the same stamps appear with the figures changed to 1 or 3, or to 1 ct., 3 cts., and 6 cts., Boston and Petersburgh, Va., for example. A New York hand stamp of this period has New York above, month and day in the middle and "PAID" and "3 cts" in two more lines. A Philadelphia hand stamp has name above, month and day in one line, and "3 cts" in another, in the center, and "PAID" in lower margin. Another, the ordinary dated postmark and a second circular stamp, nearly as large, with the word "PAID" in large letters crossed by the numeral "3" nearly an inch long. A Springfield letter has the ordinary dated postmark and a second hand stamp nearly as large with a large numeral "3" above and "PAID" below. Cincinnati, Buffalo, Quincy, Ill., and others have the ordinary hand stamp with the name above, month and day in the center and "3 PAID" below. Another letter has a round hand stamp fully an inch in diameter with the word "PAID" across the center crossed by a large outline "3." Another letter was hand stamped with a large "6" in an octagon double frame and "PAID" separately hand stamped across it. The Cincinnati hand stamp also appears with "1 PAID" in the margin. New Orleans has the ordinary hand stamp and "PAID," "1" in two lines of very large letters beneath. St. Louis, has the ordinary hand stamp, and another with "1 ct" in large octagonal frame added. Many letters where the word "paid" appears in the dated stamp are also separately hand stamped "PAID." Some of these letters bear also the 3 and 1 ct. adhesives of the period. Those that indicate postage to be paid differ from postage due stamps in no respect except that they are not adhesive. Those that indicate postage prepaid correspond to many other hand stamps in every thing except that they were applied after, instead of before payment; but in some countries we have examples of adhesive stamps applied in the same way. They are not beautiful but are interesting relics of the old system. A number of similar stamps with the words "Post Office" following the name of the town and "5 paid" have passed through the hands of the compiler, but having been cut from the letters the date could not be authenticated. These would appear to be very similar in character to the adhesives issued by the postmasters of some offices about the same time, and to many similar stamps used in the early days of the Southern Confederacy. I. UNITED STATES CITY DISPATCH POST. Hardly had the discussion of Postal reform begun in England than the subject was taken up in the United States. The daily press was full of it. Pamphlets were distributed broadcast. In nearly every city, private companies undertook to distribute mail matter at less than the government rates. Some even carried letters from city to city. In Congress, members related the expedients resorted to for sending letters at a reduced rate. In New York, a certain A. M. Greig had established a local delivery and employed an adhesive stamp, charging but two cents when the government exacted three. Such competition greatly harassed the department. The act of 1836 had authorized the Postmaster General to establish a carrier system in such cities as he might think advisable. Apparently with the view of disposing of Greig's post, Greig was made a government officer. The following letter authorizing the postmaster at New York to make the appointment was first published by the American Journal of Philately. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, _Contract Office, August 1st, 1842_. Sir-- By an order made on Saturday, but journalized to-day, the Postmaster General has established a letter carrier arrangement for the City of New York to be called the "United States City Despatch Post" for the conveyance of letters from one part of the city to another subject to a charge on each letter of three cents, under the 20th section of the Act of 1836, and authorizes you to employ Alex. M. Greig, nominated by you as letter carrier, other carriers are to be appointed from time to time as may be required, and you are requested to nominate for that purpose. And you are also authorized to obtain the necessary fixtures, pouches, boxes, labels, stamps, etc, at not exceeding $1,200.00 for the whole and to appoint a clerk to superintend said establishment at not exceeding $1,000 per annum. You will be pleased to report the date of commencement of this arrangement. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, S. R. HOBBIE, _First Ass't P. M. General_. JOHN LORIMER GRAHAM, _Postmaster, New York_. In another number of the same paper we have the text of the following notice concerning the same post. UNITED STATES CITY DISPATCH POST. Hours of delivery every day (Sundays excepted) at the principal office, upper P. O. Park and lower P. O. Merchants Exchange. Letters deposited before 8, 12, 3 and at the stations before 7, 11 and 2 will be sent out for delivery at 9, 1 and 4. Letters to be sent free must have a free stamp attached to them, which can be purchased at the upper and lower Post Offices and at all the stations. The charge will be 36 cents per dozen, 2 dols. 50 cents per hundred. All letters intended to be sent forward to the General Post Office for the inland mails must have a free stamp attached to them. Letters not having a free stamp will be charged 3 cents on delivery. JOHN LORIMER GRAHAM, P. M. _New York, June, 1843._ The stamp issued and used by this post was known in an early day and is catalogued in Kline's Manual 1862, but its true history was unknown until the publication of the above document. It is a stamp probably alone of its kind. Any one familiar with the law of 1836 will see that the Postmaster General widely exceeded the authority conferred on him as it would be construed to day in making the "arrangement" under the power to provide a carrier system. The labels and stamps mentioned in the letter quoted were probably however, not intended to include the postage stamp actually issued, as these terms are used in various documents, reports, etc., of the period to designate quite different articles, the "stamps" being invariably the hand stamps such as we have already described. But whatever may have been intended by the letter, the law did not confer any authority upon the Postmaster General to issue or authorize the issue of the stamp and undertake to insist on its use. It certainly has no more character than the hand stamps already described, but is none the less interesting or worthy of preservation on this account. It was probably employed because the public had seen and appreciated the utility of the adhesive stamp, by its employment by the local or private posts, in advance of the official adoption of the system. NEW YORK. ISSUE OF AUGUST, 1842. Portrait of President Washington turned ¾ to the right on plain oval, enclosed by plain oval band bounded within and without by two colored lines and inscribed: _United States City Despatch Post_ *_Three Cents_*, the lower legend separated from the upper by a star on each side; rectangular frame of two colored lines, corners filled with rayed ornaments between frame and oval. Plate impression 18 by 22 mm., in black on colored paper. 3 cents, black on violet. 3 " " " brown. 3 " " " green. 3 " " " blue glazed. II. UNIFORM POSTAGE. The "arrangement" put in operation in New York does not seem to have been a great success for it was not extended to other cities, and local posts continued to flourish and do the work at less than the government rates. The demand for better service and lower rates, for "reform" as it was called grew louder and louder, until the Postmaster General in his report dated November 25th, 1844, recommended to Congress a reduced uniform rate according to distance and weight. Stamps were recommended but only for use on foreign letters. The bill which was introduced in Congress in pursuance of this recommendation provided, it is said, both for obligatory prepayment and the use of postage stamps. But there was great hesitation in adopting the English system in the United States; the conditions were considered to be so different; the distances were so great that a greater rate was necessary; the country was so new that the risk from counterfeiting was much greater; the custom was not to prepay letters, and custom is stronger than law. Such and like objections were raised and the law passed without adopting prepayment by stamp, but the great principle of the reform, uniform rate by distance and weight was adopted. The only portion of the law that is of interest here is the following section of the Statutes of the United States, XXVIII Congress, II Session, XLIII Chapter, approved March 30, 1845. "From and after the first day of July next, members of Congress and Delegates from Territories may receive letters not exceeding two ounces in weight, free of postage during the recess of Congress anything to the contrary in this act notwithstanding; and the same franking privilege which is granted by this act to the members of the two Houses of Congress, is hereby extended to the Vice President of the United States; and in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates, viz: For every single letter in manuscript or paper of any kind by or upon which information shall be asked for or communicated in writing or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail, for any distance under three hundred miles, five cents: and for any distance over three hundred miles, ten cents: and for a double letter there shall be charged double these rates: and for a treble letter treble these rates: and for a quadruple letter quadruple these rates: and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage. And all drop letters, or letters placed in any post office, not for transmission through the mail, but for delivery only, shall be charged with postage at the rate of two cents each." The newspaper rate was one cent within one hundred miles and one and a half cents for a greater distance, for all newspapers not exceeding a certain size, and two cents for each sheet over that size, and two cents for all hand bills and circulars per sheet, and two and a half cents for all magazines and pamphlets. III. POSTMASTER'S STAMPS. Notwithstanding the failure of Congress to adopt postage stamps, and to authorize the Postmaster General to issue them, and to provide an appropriation for their manufacture, public attention had been drawn to the advantages of the system, and the convenience, to the business community particularly, of mailing and receiving letters at hours when the post office or business houses were closed. The question as to whether the Postmaster General might not issue postage stamps on his own authority was raised and officially decided in the negative, although the Postmaster General himself favored their use. The postmasters in several places however undertook to meet the public demand by having stamps prepared on their own responsibility, paying the expense of manufacture themselves and selling them to the public at a sufficient advance on the postal rates, to cover the cost of engraving and printing. In some cases the matter was brought to the attention of the Postmaster General and he saw no objection to the arrangement; in others the whole affair seems to have passed without any attention being paid to it by the Department. In fact it was a mere contract between the postmaster and the purchaser of his stamps, that when a letter bearing one of his stamps was mailed at his office, it should be treated as if the money were handed in with it. No postmaster recognized the stamp of any post office but his own. A letter adorned with a New York stamp mailed at the St. Louis office would have been treated as unpaid. A New York stamp was recognized only at the New York office, and a St. Louis stamp only at the St. Louis office. When a letter bearing a stamp was mailed _at the office that issued the stamp_, and accepted as prepaid, the contract between the postmaster and the purchaser of the stamp was fulfilled, the postmaster had to account to the government for the amount of the postage as if he had received it with the letter. The Department had nothing to do with the fact that the stamp had been actually paid for at another time or with its existence at all. Examination at several of these offices show that there was no stamp account kept in the records of the office. Such letters were treated exactly as letters were, on which the postage was either paid in money or charged in the open accounts which the postmaster chose to keep with the commercial houses. It was marked "Paid." The stamp had no significance at any other office, except as the mark or stamp indicating the amount charged, always put on letters at that date, but the word "paid" was recognized by every office. The letter was entered as a paid letter on the way bill, and was treated as prepaid, not because of the stamp, but because the forwarding office treated it as prepaid. It has been thought necessary to define the exact character of these stamps with some exactness, and at the risk of some re-iteration, because their true character seems to be little understood. They had no official sanction whatever, because no official had any authority to sanction them. It was a mere arrangement between the individual postmaster and the public for their mutual accommodation. Such stamps were issued at New York, St. Louis, Brattleboro, New Haven, Providence, Alexandria, Baltimore, Millbury and probably other places. Although not governmental or official stamps, they are none the less interesting or valuable mementoes. They show how determined the public were to have the postage stamp, and their history shows how the Public Will compelled the government to adopt the postage stamp in spite of the supposed difficulties in the way. IV. STAMP OF THE NEW YORK POSTMASTER. The stamp issued by the postmaster of New York was chronicled in the earliest American Catalogue, (Kline, 1862,) but its true character was not established until the resuscitation and republication in the communications of the author of this work to the Philatelist and Le Timbre Poste, in 1873-4, of the following articles from contemporaneous newspapers. The Express of New York in its issue of July 1st, 1845, contains an editorial mentioning, that the Act of March 3rd, 1845, went into force on the day of publication, and a report of the meeting of the Cheap Postage Association. In its issue of July 7th, 1845, the same paper published as part of its Washington correspondence, the following: _Washington, July 2nd._ It was suggested in New York to Mr. Morris, your postmaster, that he might accommodate the public very much by selling stamped envelopes, as the law does not authorize the sale of stamps on the English plan. When he was here he laid the subject before the Postmaster General, who has to-day decided that he may do this. The envelopes are to be marked with the amount of postage thereon, say 5 or 10 or more cents as the case may be, and the initials of the postmaster are to be superadded, and then the envelopes can be sold. The object is to facilitate the payment of prepaid letters. Postmasters can interchange envelopes whenever they can agree to do so among themselves. In the issue of the next day (Express, July 8th) appeared the following editorial: FREE STAMPED ENVELOPES. When the Bill for Cheap Postage was before Congress, it contained a clause authorizing the sale of stamps on the English system. The provision was however stricken out, leaving the public only the old method of prepaying letters during the business hours of the Post Office. A suggestion was made to our new Postmaster, Mr. Morris, that the public convenience would be very much promoted if he would sell envelopes which would pass free through his office. By this measure letters could be sent at any hour of the night to the post office and the postage paid, where the writer desires it, by enclosing it in a free envelope. The postmaster proposed to sell stamps at five cents each, but this not having been sanctioned by Congress, we should think would not be the best way, and as the public convenience demands something of the kind, we are glad to learn that he has prepared envelopes of the kind referred to, some of which we have seen. They are marked "Five Cents," and under these words is the name "R. H. Morris." For letters over one ounce they are marked according to the Post Office Rates in the same way. These envelopes will be sold by the Postmaster at six and a quarter cents each, or sixteen for a dollar of the common kind and common size. This will be as cheap or cheaper than they can be bought in small quantities at the stationers. A thin envelope will contain two letters and be subject only to a single postage. Envelopes of various sizes will also be furnished and of fine quality when desired by the purchaser. The plan we hear, has also been adopted by the postmaster at Washington, D. C., and has met the approval of the Postmaster General. We think it will add to the revenue of the Department very considerably. From the preceding extract we should infer that envelopes marked in some way "Five Cents," "R. H. Morris, P. M." had been issued and used at New York, and possibly something of the kind at Washington. The latter would be signed C. K. Gardner, P. M., but up to the present day none have been found. They must have been prepared at New York at least, since the editor of the Express claims to have seen them. They were probably made by some of the New York hand stamps noted as current at this time, leaving out the date and signed by the postmaster. Such an arrangement was clumsy and liable to abuse and could have had but a short duration in so large an office as New York, and in the Express of the 14th of July, 1845, appears another editorial as follows: Post Office Stamps. We would call the attention of merchants and indeed all who pay postage, to the advertisement of the postmaster, who offers to sell stamps of the value of five cents each for the prepayment of letters. This is the cost of the postage under 300 miles. The stamps should be generally adopted as they will give additional facilities to business men, and save them time in making change. The postmaster will receive nothing for this trouble and his stamps beyond the profit of lost stamps. The disposition of the postmaster to make the new system popular merits the thanks of our citizens. In another column of the same paper appears the advertisement of the postmaster referred to in the editorial. POST OFFICE, _New York, July 14th. 1845_. The public is respectfully informed that the undersigned has caused to be prepared stamps for the prepayment of postage, made for five cents each, which will be sold in parcels of five and upwards. To prevent counterfeits they will be sold only at this office and the branch office. The public may therefore be assured that any stamps which may be offered for sale at any place other than the two post offices are spurious and will not be considered as prepayment. (Signed.) Robert H. Morris, P. M. [Evening papers please copy.] Unfortunately these articles contain no description of the stamp issued, and it will occur to those familiar with the process of engraving stamps at that date, that the production of a stamp as elaborate as the stamp known, in so short a time as elapsed between the date of the first and last of these articles, was either a remarkable piece of work, or had been commenced some time before. Possibly the stamps first issued were not those known to collectors and have never been discovered. Be this as it may, the plate contained more than a single stamp. From double copies that have passed through our hands, we have proof that it consisted of at least eight different varieties, arranged in two horizontal rows of four stamps each, differing in minute details and at different distances apart. There may have been more, but this remains to be verified. The stamp which appears to have occupied the upper left hand corner of the sheet shows in each letter the outlines of the same letters, engraved in black and a little lower down than the white ones, as if the intention had originally been to have the value appear in black on a white label. It is said that the plate is now in the possession of the consolidated Bank Note Companies (American) of New York. At any rate PROOFS were struck from it long after the stamp was out of use, in various colors. NEW YORK POST OFFICE. ISSUE OF JULY 14, 1845. Portrait of President Washington, faced ¾ to left in an oval, 19½ mm. wide by 21½ mm. high, with a back ground of colored lines, crossed at right angles and bordered by a colorless line. Solid colored label bordered by a colorless line above and below the oval, inscribed in colorless ordinary capitals, above "_Post Office_," below "_Five Cents_." Foliated ornaments in the four corners, the upper enclosing small colorless labels inscribed in small colored capitals "_New_," at the left "_York_," at the right, the whole surrounded by a colored line forming a rectangle. Engraved on copper at New York by Messrs. Rawden, Wright and Hatch. Plate impression 20½ by 28 mm., on slightly bluish paper. 5 cents black. In most of the catalogues this stamp has been described also, as on white paper. Such specimens are shown, but they are produced by some chemical action of the gum used to fasten them to letters, or of the composition of the paper or other accidental causes. Specimens may be also found of a buff color as if steeped in coffee, another changeling produced by the action of strong gum. Each stamp is signed A. C. M. in red ink. They are generally cancelled with a pen and blue ink, or by the word "Paid" hand stamped in red ink, or by the dating stamp. There is another type of stamp said to have been issued by the postmaster of New York in 1849. The design is two concentric circles, the inner 13½, the outer 17½ mm. in diameter. In the center, "_One Cent_" in two lines of ordinary colored capitals, about 2 mm. high. Between the circles, above, "_U. S. Mail_;" below, "_Prepaid_" in similar letters 2½ mm. high. They were printed in black on small squares of rose colored paper, and afterwards on paper varying from bright yellow to pale drab and generally glazed. This stamp was chronicled in Kline's Manual, first edition, 1862, as a "Carrier Stamp," and has since been alternately considered a governmental, or a local stamp. Upon what ground it is so confidently asserted to have been issued by the New York postmaster, and its date assigned to 1849, seems never to have been stated. It is certain however that if it were issued prior to 1851, it did not prepay any authorized government postage, and if issued after 1847, such an issue was forbidden by law unless authorized by the Postmaster General. It is hardly to be supposed that the postmaster of New York City would have openly violated the law. The inscription, "U. S. Mail," does not prove anything but probably means "prepaid to the U. S. Mail," and the stamp is probably the issue of some of the local delivery companies. V. STAMPS OF THE ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER. Of all the stamps of this character, those issued by the St. Louis Postmaster have been most discussed in the Philatelical Press. The ten cents was first noticed in an article in the Stamp Collector's Magazine in November, 1863, and the five cents was mentioned in Kline's Manual, 3rd edition, 1865. Mr. L. W. Durbin first mentioned the second die of the 10 cents, Mr. Pemberton the second die of the 5 cents, and Mr. Scott is entitled to the credit of discovering the third die of each. It is unnecessary to repeat the numerous discussions, pro and con, concerning the authenticity of these stamps, since the present author discovered, and republished in Le Timbre Poste, in May, 1873, the following articles from contemporaneous daily papers, which leave no further room for doubt concerning the two values, 5 and 10 cents. _Missouri Republican._ July 17th. 1845. "Free stamped envelopes. For the convenience of those who may wish to prepay their packages at any hour of the night, Robert H. Morris, the postmaster of New York, as we learn from the Express, has prepared a variety of stamped envelopes. They are marked five cents, ten cents, &c., and under these words is the name R. H. Morris. The five cent envelopes will be sold by the postmaster at 6¼ cents each, or 16 for a dollar of the common kind and common size, and the others in proportion. This will be as cheap as they can be bought in small quantities at the stationers. A thin envelope will contain two letters and be subject only to a single postage. Envelopes of various sizes will also be furnished and of fine quality when desired by the purchaser. The plan has also been adopted by the postmaster at Washington and has met the approval of the Postmaster General. We think it not only a convenience to the public but that it will add to the revenue of the Department very considerably. The above arrangement would be a great convenience to many persons. Why should not the postmaster here adopt the same plan. We believe the public generally would buy them." This article, although a mere repetition of the article of the Express, and like that mentioning envelopes of New York and Washington which no one has ever seen, contains at the end a reference which was evidently the inspiration of the St. Louis postmaster to issue his stamps, for we read in the Missouri Republican of November 5th, 1845, the following: "LETTER STAMPS. Mr. Wimer, the postmaster, has prepared a set of letter stamps, or rather marks to put upon letters, indicating that the postage has been paid. In this he has copied after the plan adopted by the postmaster of New York and other cities. These stamps are engraved to represent the Missouri Coat of Arms, and are five and ten cents. They are so prepared that they may be stuck upon a letter like a wafer and will prove a great convenience to merchants and all those having many letters to send post paid, as it saves all trouble of paying at the post office. They will be sold as they are sold in the East, viz: Sixteen five cent stamps and eight ten cent stamps for a dollar. We would recommend merchants and others to give them a trial." And a few days later in the same paper of November 13th, 1845, we again read: "Post Office Stamps. Mr. Wimer, the postmaster, requests us to say that he will furnish nine ten cent stamps and eighteen five cent stamps for one dollar, the difference being required to pay for the printing of the stamps." The above articles contain nearly the whole history of the stamps of St. Louis. We learn the name of the postmaster who had them made, (the name, however is incorrectly spelled) their use and price, the date and object of their issue. A thorough search of all the files preserved, of the daily papers published in St. Louis from January, 1845, to December, 1848, resulted in no further discoveries concerning them. ST. LOUIS POST OFFICE. ISSUE OF NOVEMBER 5th, 1845. Arms of the State of Missouri. A round shield parted per pale; on the dexter side, gules (red or vertically lined ground), the grizzly bear of Missouri, passant guardant, proper; on a chief engrailed azure (horizontally lined), a crescent argent; on the sinister side, argent, the arms of the United States, (the stamp is dotted or gold) the whole with a band inscribed "United we stand, divided we fall" (The buckle below on the left, in the 5 cents, should be omitted). Supporters on each side, a grizzly bear of Missouri, proper; rampant guardant, standing on a scroll inscribed "Salus Populi Suprema lex esto." Above, the value is expressed in large outline numerals, ornamented and shaded. In the corners "_Saint_" and "_Louis_" with numerous flourishes. Below the arms "_Post Office_" in large ordinary capitals. The whole in a rectangular frame of a thin and thick colored line. Engraved on copper by J. M. Kershaw, at St. Louis. The plate consisted of six stamps, three of each value, and was delivered to Mr. Wymer, and is said to have been lost with other of his effects during the war. The engraver thinks he printed about 500 sheets, at three different times, upon such paper as he happened to have at hand, and that as the plate deteriorated easily, he probably retouched it slightly each time in parts, before printing. He denies positively the possibility of the figures upon the twenty cent value being his work. These are all the facts he can now vouch for, and states that many of the statements from time to time attributed to him "were the ideas of his interviewers, who tried to refresh his recollection and may have mixed him up." Plate Impression in black upon three qualities of bluish paper, 3 varieties of each value. 5 cents, black 17½ by 22½ mm. 10 cents, black 18½ by 22½ mm. These stamps are printed on a rather thick greenish blue paper, on a thinner grey-blue paper, and on a very thin greyish paper, which agrees with the recollection of the engraver that he printed three different lots of them. A pair is also known on a coffee colored paper. They were taken from buff envelopes, and are undoubtedly discolored by the action of the paper or gum. Those on white paper have been made so by chemical action. The varieties may be thus distinguished: FIVE CENTS. The dashes in the corners form a sort of triangular ornament, or branch. The letters are block capitals, shaded by a fine line. There are no lines or dashes under "_Post Office_." _First Variety._ (_a_) The buckle on the garter has the point and tongue turned up to the left. (_b_) There are six dashes above "_Saint_," and eight above "_Louis_," of which the top and bottom ones on each side are long strokes. (_c_) One long and two short lines and a speck under "_Saint_," and one long and three short lines under "_Louis_." (_d_) A long diamond in top of numeral, and a mis-shapened diamond in the bow of the numeral, with four dots above and nine below it, and a dot in the ball of the numeral. (_e_) The bear in the shield is on a vertically lined ground. _Second Variety._ (_a_) The buckle has the tongue and point turned down to the right. (_b_) There are eleven dashes above "_Saint_," and ten above "_Louis_," one of which cuts the frame on the right. (_c_) One long and two short lines, a dot, and a horizontal stroke below "_Saint_," one very long, and three short lines under "_Louis_," two above and two below the level of the bear's ear. (_d_) A triangle in the top of the numeral, and a diamond in the bow of the numeral, with four dots above and nine below the latter. No dot in the ball of the numeral. The right end of the scroll is double, and touches the frame. (_e_) The bear is on a vertically lined ground. _Third Variety._ (_a_) The buckle has the point turned down to the right. (_b_) There are twelve lines above "_Saint_," and seventeen above "_Louis_." (_c_) There are one long and three short lines under "_Saint_," and one long and two short lines and a dot under "_Louis_," the latter on a line between the ear and eye of the bear. (_d_) A diamond in the top of the 5, and an upright diamond in the back, with eleven dots below and four dots above it. (_e_) The bear is on a ground lined horizontally above and vertically below. Mr. Pemberton thinks, from a fine clear copy he had seen, that for some reason the numeral of this variety had been originally engraved as a 1. He says there is a thin line to the right of the down stroke of the 5, three small dots in a curve to the right of the diamond in the top of the 5, and two small dots, one over the other to the left of the diamond. _Fourth Variety._[A] Mr. Pemberton describes a fourth type of the Five cents which he claims is a restoration of the second variety, from which one variety of the 20 cents was made by alteration. (_a_) The buckle has the point turned down to the right. (_b_) There are eleven dashes above "_Saint_," and ten above "_Louis_." (_c_) There are four lines under "_Saint_," and three long and two short lines under "_Louis_," the last on a level with the bear's ear. (_d_) A diamond in the top, and a long diamond in the back of 5, with four dots over and four dots under the latter. Coarser shading around the figure, and a curved vertical line at the back of the bow, being part of the 0 of 20 badly erased. (_e_) Bear on a vertically lined ground. The two lines of the frame above Louis bulged. [A] NOTE.--Without examining the specimen from which Mr. Pemberton described, it is impossible to say that it may not be one of the retouches which Mr. Kershaw thinks he made. TEN CENTS. The words "_Saint_," and "_Louis_" are in small, colored, ordinary capitals, unshaded. There is a long flourish curved upwards over each word. It seems to have been intended to have a point with a short dash on each side of it, above each of these, with a second long flourish curved upwards and then brought down round the end of the word, and continued as a flourish under them, but the details are different in the several types. The numerals are ornamented by a diamond in the middle of each down stroke, with three dots, above and below each diamond, except in type one, which has only two dots below the diamond in the 1. The following varieties will be noticed: _First Variety._ The point and right dash, between the corner flourishes on both sides, usually missing, and the upper flourish does not come distinctly round the right hand word. 3 lines beneath "Post Office." 5 " " "Saint." 4 " " "Louis." _Second Variety._ The point and right dash, between the flourishes in the right hand corner, gone, and the upper flourish, does not come round the right hand word distinctly. 3 lines beneath "Post Office," with a smaller stroke over each. 4 lines beneath "Saint." 4 " " "Louis." _Third Variety._ The point between the dashes, between the flourishes on the left, missing. 3 lines beneath "Post Office," with a smaller stroke over each, and dots between them. 3 lines and 2 dots beneath "Saint." 4 " 1 " " "Louis." Mr. Pemberton at one time chronicled a fourth variety of this value also, but could not afterward identify it. Indeed the impressions show great variation from the intended design in the corner flourishes, which seem to have been engraved too fine in parts. TWENTY CENTS. While the author and many others do not believe the twenty cent value to be genuine, in deference to such authorities as Messrs. Scott and Pemberton, who accept the few specimens known, they are here described. In the American Journal of Philately, of January, 1870, Mr. Scott, after describing the three varieties each of the 5 and 10 cents for the first time, mentions the 20 cent value as a new discovery. Comparing the three specimens, he says: Two are exactly alike, and have evidently been altered from variety three, above described, while the third is different, having evidently been altered from variety two. At a later date he mentions a fourth specimen. Five specimens are all that have ever been chronicled, we believe. Mr. Pemberton describes the first three more at length, in a paper in the Stamp Collector's Magazine, for January, 1871. He says he had before him 13 stamps of the 5 cent value, and 12 of the 10 cents, but he does not state how many he had of the 20 cents, but that 10 of the 25 specimens were lent him from America. The American Journal, for January, 1871, however, says he had the three known specimens of the 20 cents. The theory of his article is that the twenty cents was made by erasing the numerals, and of course incidentally other surrounding parts of the varieties two and three, of the five cent value on the plate, and engraving the numerals 20, printing that value and afterwards erasing the 20 and replacing the five. It is also the theory of the article that this was done with all three varieties of the 3 cents, although the author had seen only two varieties of the 20 cents, and only one specimen of the 5 cents, which he could torture into a re-engraving. He alters the arrangement of varieties of Mr. Scott, to which we prefer to adhere, and thus describes them: _Variety One_, from variety three of the five cents. One long and one short line under "_Saint_." Half of each of the original top strokes and the third stroke under "_Louis_" being erased, but the dot left. The inner line of the frame erased from the T to L, and a smaller portion of the outer frame above erased also. _Variety Two_, from variety two of the five cents. Four strokes under "_Saint_," but bolder and closer than the original, the vertical stroke over the left bear's paw nearly erased. Four strokes under "_Louis_," but deeper and more regular, the third stroke downwards on a level with the bear's ear. L of "Louis" has been re-engraved. Bear's paw on the garter erased. The inner line of frame half erased between "_Saint_," and "_Louis_." It remains to be added that the numerals are, in both these varieties, very badly drawn, single lined and solid, instead of open and ornamented, and are shaded by miserably drawn irregular horizontal fine lines of uneven length, totally different from the figures in the other two values. It is both impracticable and useless to attempt to repeat here all the arguments for and against the authenticity of these specimens. It is claimed that they were found in the same file of letters with the greater part of the specimens of the other values known. That the rate they indicate was a regular rate upon heavy letters from St. Louis to New York, and that many letters so marked that do not bear stamps, were found in the same and other files; that there are no traces of erasure of the 5 by scratching, and the paper is no thinner under the numerals than elsewhere. This seems to be the substance of what can be said in their favor. On the other hand they are not alluded to in the notices published in the Republican, above quoted, or elsewhere; the engraver is positive that he did not alter the values; says that he retained the plate until after Mr. Wyman had ceased to be postmaster, which was at least two years after the stamps were prohibited by law, and that the workmanship of the numerals could not possibly be his, and would be a disgrace to any engraver; the figures are apparently made by an unskilled hand with an ordinary pen and ink; competent authorities in such matters state that it is possible to remove printing ink from paper; three of the known specimens have been photographed, two of one variety and one of another; in all the numerals differ, those of the two varieties mentioned by Mr. Scott as corresponding, vary as much as the two from different varieties of the five cents. While it is true that a portion of the inner line of the frame is gone between Saint and Louis, and that the strokes are bolder beneath these words on one variety, it is not apparent that they are nearer together, or of different shape as Mr. Pemberton thought, or that the L of "Louis" has been re-engraved. The absent lines need no comment. Lastly, the work has a blurred appearance, as if the ink had slightly run into the paper around these famous 20 numerals, and in all the photographs they are of a different color from the remaining parts of the same stamps, and the other stamps photographed with them, particularly noticeable in light photographs, while the blurred appearance is more apparent in the dark photographs. If these facts do not convince those who believe in the authenticity of these 20 cent varieties, that they, with Messrs. Scott and Pemberton, have been the victims of a clever fraud, the question will probably never be settled for them, as no new facts are likely at this date to be discovered. The two cent value, once chronicled, is of a different design, and an admitted invention. VI. STAMP OF THE BRATTLEBORO POSTMASTER. The stamp issued by the Postmaster, of Brattleboro, Vermont, is catalogued as a local as early as Kline's Manual, 2nd edition, 1863. The first magazine to describe it was Taylor's Record, February, 1865, which states that it was issued in 1848, by F. N. Palmer, to supply a temporary lack of the current five cents and gives a fair description of it. The American Journal of Philately, in January, 1869, in an article by Dr. Petrie, gave the first correct account of it. The article gives a letter purporting to have been written by Dr. Palmer, who says it was a strictly private enterprise, neither ordered or repudiated by the Department, and did not appear in his account with the head office at Washington. "My object," he says, "in issuing it was to accommodate the people, and save myself labor in making and collecting quarterly bills, almost everything at that time being either charged or forwarded without prepayment. I was disappointed in the effect, having still to charge the stamps and collect my bills. As to the number issued, I should say five or six hundred as an experiment. They were engraved by Mr. Thomas Chubbuck, then of Brattleboro, now of Springfield." Mr. Palmer thinks the stamp was issued during his first year as postmaster, (1845). The March number of the same journal, for the same year, mentions a specimen on a letter of 1846, postmarked with a pen, November 10th, but the stamp cancelled with the word "PAID," hand stamped in red. In the Stamp Collector's Magazine, November, 1870, Mr. L. H. Bagg, recapitulating the foregoing, states incidentally, that one reason for this accommodating spirit on the part of the postmaster, was that his salary depended on the cash receipts of his office, and hence his anxiety to have as many letters prepaid as possible, a fact which assists us in understanding why a stamp should have been issued at such a small place as Brattleboro then was. The postmarked letter shows that the use of the stamp did not do away with the necessity of marking the letter "PAID," and that it was this mark and not the stamp that was recognized by other postmasters. In his interview with Mr. Bagg, the engraver, Mr. Chubbuck, was quite confident that Mr. Palmer burned all the unsold stamps in his possession upon the appearance of the first regular United States Stamps, that the bill for engraving them was not collected until June, 1848, and that the charges were $7.50 for engraving the plate, and $1.50 for printing 500 stamps. Mr. Bagg also obtained from Mr. Chubbuck a part of a sheet, eight stamps, which was afterwards purchased by Mr. Scott, who got together all the copies he could, and thus reconstructed the sheet, which was shown to have contained ten varieties, in two horizontal rows of 5 stamps each, each stamp separately engraved, the words "Eng. by Thos. Chubbuck, Bratt'o," appearing in small script under the middle stamp of the lower row, and not extending over the length of that stamp. BRATTLEBORO POST OFFICE. ISSUE OF 1845 OR 1846. "F. N. P.", the initials of the postmaster, Frederick N. Palmer, in fac-simile, with flourish beneath, on a vertically lined ground, in an oblong with cut corners, bordered by a heavy colored, a colorless and a finer colored line in a band lined diagonally, (from right above, to left below) and bordered by another fine colored, a colorless and heavier colored line, forming an oblong rectangle, and inscribed above "_Brattleboro, Vt._," in colored black letters, "_P._ and _O._" on left and right, in ordinary colored capitals, and "_5 Cents_" in outline capitals below. Plate impression 21 by 19 mm., in color, on brownish paper. 5 cents, black. VII. STAMP OF THE NEW HAVEN POSTMASTER. This stamp was discovered in an old collection by Mr. Wm. P. Brown, and described by him in his Curiosity Cabinet in May, 1871. The New Haven Palladium of May 11, 1871, has the following account of the discovery, which, though it contains some errors as to the former postal rates, and some ignorance as to the history of the stamps of the United States, is worthy of insertion here. "A CURIOSITY." "An old envelope post office stamp, issued at New Haven, of the denomination of 5 cents, marked 'PAID,' and subscribed by 'E. A. Mitchell, P. M.,' has lately turned up. It must have been issued over 20 years ago and is probably one of the oldest United States stamps in existence. Mr. Mitchell was postmaster of this city from 1844 to 1850. When he took office the rates were 6, 10, 12½, and 25 cents for single letters, according to distance, no prepayment being required. The rates were afterwards reduced to 10 and 5 cents according to distance, and subsequently to five cents, uniform for all distances, the weight not exceeding one quarter ounce, and prepayment required. At this period envelopes began to come in use, and as prepayment of postage could only be made at the office during business hours, Mr. Mitchell took the responsibility of issuing envelopes, stamped as above, with his signature on each, and selling them at the cost of envelopes and postage as an accommodation; some of the post offices refused to recognize them, and reported the fact to the Department. As however the stamps could only be used at the New Haven office, and were sent as prepaid matter, properly entered on the New Haven Post Bill, there could be no loss to the government, and the Department taking a liberal view of the subject, authorized their continuance. There is no doubt that the adoption of stamps by our government was much hastened by the issue of these prepaid envelopes, and it can truly be said that they were the first stamps issued by the United States. Mr. Mitchell is still in possession of the original plate." From a letter of Mr. Mitchell's, printed in the American Journal of Philately in May, 1871, it further appears that Mr. Mitchell permitted parties to bring their own envelopes to be stamped. The die was a simple hand stamp engraved by F. G. Gorham, and the ink employed was that in ordinary use for hand stamps in the office, red or blue. He was postmaster from September, 1844, to 1852, and thinks the stamp was issued first in 1845. Only one original stamp has so far been found. NEW HAVEN POST OFFICE. ISSUE OF 1845. Large rectangular stamp, with corners cut by quarter circles. Frame of a very heavy outside line with an interior fine line. "_Post Office_" in heavy block letters inclined to left, in a straight line across the top, "_New Haven, Ct._," in a curved line of Roman capitals, in a second line. Large numeral "5" with "PAID" in large block capitals beneath, signature (E. A. Mitchell) written, and "P. M." in ordinary capitals forming the fifth line. Impression 26 by 31 mm., from brass hand stamp, in color on white or colored envelopes. 5 cents, red. The only known original is cut square. In 1871, Mr. Mitchell made a few re-impressions in red and blue ink, which he signed and distributed to collectors. The die was then deposited in the archives of the New Haven Colonial Historical Society. Reprints. 5 cents, blue impression, red signature. 5 " red " blue " 5 " " " black " 5 " " " no " All on large white paper. VIII. STAMPS OF THE PROVIDENCE POSTMASTER. These stamps, of which the 5 cent value was catalogued as early as 1863, and the 10 cent in June, 1865, were issued by Mr. H. B. Sayles, postmaster at Providence, and engraved by a Mr. Kidden, of that city in 1846. None of the daily papers of the locality, which we have been permitted to consult, seem to have noticed the issue. The plate has however been preserved among the archives of the State of Rhode Island. PROVIDENCE POST OFFICE. ISSUE OF 1846. "_Post Office_," in a curved line, "_Prov. R. I._" in a straight line, and "_Five Cents_" in a curved line, all in outline colorless block capitals on a ground of fine horizontal lines, bordered by a fine colored, a broad colorless and second fine colored line, forming a horizontal oval, the space outside filled in with similar horizontal lined ground to form a rectangle, bordered by a fine colored line, the bottom and right side double thickness, and ornamented with a white foliated ornament in each of the four corners, separated by a white ball on the sides, and by from two to five balls above, but none at the bottom, where there is instead a prolongation of the foliation. Plate impression (copper), 20 by 28 mm., on yellowish white paper. 5 cents, black, 10 cents, black. These stamps were issued gummed. The paper of the sheet measures 85½ by 88 mm. On the plate there are three stamps in each horizontal and four in each vertical row, or twelve stamps. The upper right hand corner stamp alone bears the value "_Ten Cents_." If for the sake of convenience the first stamp on the left of the upper row is designated as type one, the next two, etc.; the first stamp on the left of the second row as type four; the first of the third row as seven; and the first of the fourth row as ten, the following may be noticed among the many points of difference. The plate was originally ruled into spaces for the stamps by very fine lines, which seem to have been carried straight through over the spaces intended to separate the stamps, and not always to have been perfectly obliterated afterwards. On the right of the plate there is also a vertical line parallel to the right side of all the stamps in the right hand row, at the distance separating two stamps (nearly 2 mm.) as if the intention had been to add another stamp to each horizontal row. _Type 1._ At the upper left corner, the horizontal frame line thickened projects to the left and the vertical line projects upward. 5 balls between the foliations the middle one is an oblong rectangle, the end ones touch the ornaments. The side balls are on a line with the tops of the letters of "Prov., R. I." There is a period after Cents. _Type 2._ At the upper left corner, the horizontal frame line thickened projects to the left. At the lower left corner both the horizontal and vertical lines thickened project. Both the horizontal top and bottom lines continue on the right to Type 3. 5 balls, the middle one is a square, the next on the right is the lower half of a circle, the next on left flat at top and bottom. These three are all small. The end ball on the right larger than the others. Both it and the end ball on the left are flat on top. "F" in "Five" very close to the border. Side balls above the line of the top of the letters of "Prov., R. I." A period after Cents. _Type 3._ Ten cents. The horizontal top line of frame projects each way. The vertical line at the right plain above but thickened and partially obliterated below the lower right corner. The lower horizontal line projects to the left to Type 2. 5 balls, the middle one large and square, the extreme right one nearly round, the remaining three irregular and nearly equal in size. "E" of "Office" touches the oval. Side balls below the line of the top of the letters of "Prov., R. I.," and lower point of left foliation cuts into the left ball. No period after Cents. _Type 4._ The top horizontal line projects to the left. The bottom horizontal line projects both to the left and right. 5 balls. The middle one is a small oblong rectangle. Those next to it very small. Left side ball on a level with the top line of letters of "Prov., R. I.," but the right ball smaller and lower down. No period after Cents. _Type 5._ The top horizontal line projects to the left, and part of it is thickened. It also projects to the right. The bottom horizontal line projects to the left. 5 balls. The middle one in an oblong rectangle. The "s" of Cents, resembles an 8. Side balls are above the line of the top of "Prov., R. I." No period after Cents. _Type 6._ The top horizontal line projects to left. The bottom horizontal line also. The vertical left line projects to type 9. 5 balls. The middle one is a square. Shading of "E" of "Office" touches the oval. The side balls are below the tops of "Prov., R. I." No period after Cents. _Type 7._ The top horizontal line projects both to left and right. The right vertical line projects above the corner. 4 balls only. The middle one is gone. They are all small. A period after Cents. _Type 8._ The top horizontal and left vertical lines both project at the upper left corner. 5 balls. The middle ball is a square. The top of the "E" of "Office" touches the oval. The "s" in Cents is very small, and is followed by a period. _Type 9._ The top horizontal line projects both ways, and the left vertical line projects above the upper left corner. Both vertical lines are continued down to type 12. 2 balls only, the middle ones are left out. "V" in "Prov." is too large and the "F" of "Five" touches the oval. No period after Cents. _Type 10._ The top horizontal and right vertical lines both project beyond the upper right corner. 5 balls. The middle one square. The lower leaf of the upper left foliation has no notch. Point after Cents. _Type 11._ The top horizontal line projects to the left and both verticals project upwards. 5 balls. The middle one is square. The end balls project above top line. No period after Cents. _Type 12._ Both vertical lines project up to Type 9. 5 dots. Middle one is an oblong rectangle. The next on the right projects above the frame. The one at right end is nearly round, but both those at the left are rectangular. Ball at right side large and flat. No period after Cents. It has been stated that the engraver of the original plate re-engraved these stamps for the benefit of collectors many years ago. However this may be, there are a number of very dangerous counterfeits in existence, as well as some that are easily detected. In the following table the lines which touch the letters or other parts are counted as well as those between them. By these differences and peculiarities the position of a given specimen on the plate can readily be determined. The following peculiarities are noticed in Le Timbre Poste, page 5, 1871. Row A, Width of the oval " B, Height of the oval Horizontal lines between the; Row C, Upper frame and oval " D, O of Office, and oval above " E, V of Prov., and oval above " F, V of Prov., and C of Cents " G, C of Cents, and oval below " H, P of Prov., & E or T of 5, 10 " I, I of R. I., and S of Cents " J, P of Post, and P of Prov. " K, E of Office, and I of R. I. ------------------------------------------------------------- |Type|Type|Type|Type|Type|Type|Type|Type|Type|Type|Type|Type| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A |24¼ | 24 | 24 | 23¾| 23¾| 24 | 24 | 24 | 24¼| 24 | 24 | 24¼| | | | | | | | | | | | | | B |18½ | 18¼| 18¼| 18½| 18¼| 18¼| 18¼| 18½| 18¼| 18½|18¼ | 18¼| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | D |12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | E |15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | F |13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | G | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | H | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | I | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | J | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | K | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | ------------------------------------------------------------- IX. STAMP OF THE ALEXANDRIA POSTMASTER. This stamp was discovered by the present author, and was first chronicled in an article by him in Le Timbre Poste, of February, 1873. A second specimen is chronicled in Durbin's Philatelic Monthly, of August, 1879. They are both postmarked with the ordinary dated hand stamp of Alexandria, D. C., the word "PAID," and large numeral "5." The first postmark is dated July 10th, that of the second is illegible, but the letter was dated Sept. 9th, 1846. ALEXANDRIA POST OFFICE. ISSUE OF 1846. Large round stamp, 30 mm. in diameter, with border of 40 six-rayed stars. Within "_Alexandria_," above, and "_Post Office_," below, in heavy block capitals, a six-rayed star separating the words, on each side. In the centre "PAID," in smaller capitals, with the numeral "5" beneath. Impression from wood block, 30 mm. in diameter, on yellow paper. 5 cents, black. This stamp appears to have been originally stamped upon the buff envelopes common at the time, and to have been cut out and fastened to the letter. No further information concerning it has yet been discovered. The files at Washington, of the Alexandria Gazette, the only Alexandria paper of that period, are defective from May 22nd, to October, 1845, and in part for 1847. Daniel Brien was Postmaster at Alexandria during 1845-47. X. STAMPS OF THE BALTIMORE POSTMASTER. This stamp was first chronicled in the Philatelical Journal in 1874. The copy there described was the only one known, until very recently, a second copy was described in the New York World, and subsequently that and another were mentioned in the Alexandria Gazette, of August 3rd, 1886, as having been in possession of Mr. Thomas Semmes, of Alexandria. These are described as postmarked respectively, January 15th, and 31st., 1847, with the other marks usual upon letters of the period. From 1845 to 1849, Mr. James Madison Buchannan was the postmaster at Baltimore, and is said to have issued this stamp in the fall of 1846. Further details are wanting. The stamp is a simple looking slip of paper containing the signature of the postmaster in fac-simile, in one line, and the value, "_5 Cents_," in a second line, bordered by a frame of single colored lines, crossed at the four angles. Impression, 55 by 15 mm., in color upon thin bluish paper. 5 cents, black. [Illustration: James M. Buchannan (handwritten signature) PAID 5 (with 5 inside circle)] Besides these adhesive stamps, Mr. Buchannan also issued a species of franked envelope. Two copies of this were found by Mr. Robt. H. Smith, in examining his old letters. They are the ordinary buff wove envelopes of the period, size 80 by 137 mm., of the old simple form with straight edged flaps. In the right upper hand corner the signature "James M. Buchannan," hand stamped, 50½ mm. long, the "B," 4½ mm. high. Beneath this in a second line the word "PAID," in capitals, 4 mm. high, and 16 mm. long is also hand stamped. Below this again, a large numeral "5," 11½ mm. high, in an oval 20½ mm. long by 7½ high, is also hand stamped. The specimen described is hand stamped with the ordinary round hand stamp of Baltimore, Md., and dated Nov. 24th, no year stated and is directed to the present owner and finder. Impression hand stamped in blue ink on buff envelopes. 5 cents, blue. Besides these it has been claimed that the stamp known as the "horseman," was also issued in 1860 or 1861, by the Postmaster of Baltimore. It may be described as a rough design of a horseman, galloping to the right, holding a streamer, inscribed: "_One Cent_." On ribbons above, "_Government City Dispatch_." Rough frame of vertical lines with rough ornaments in the corners, bordered by a single colored line. Impression, 23 by 17 mm., apparently lithographed in color on white paper. 1 Cent, red. 1 " black. Variety, 1 Sent " It will appear further on, that at this date, 1860, and long prior thereto, the law prohibited postmasters from recognizing or permitting to be used any stamps not received from the Postmaster General. In a letter published in the American Journal of Philately, July 20th, 1869, W. H. H. Corell, 3rd Assistant Postmaster General, says: "The records of the Department do not contain any reference to the other stamp, Post Rider." It is supposed to have been issued by one of the numerous "City Dispatch" companies located in New York. These facts and the very rough workmanship, so unlike any of the authorized Government issues, would seem sufficient to settle the absolutely unofficial character of this stamp. XI. STAMP OF THE MILLBURY POSTMASTER. In the collection of letters received by Col. Isaac Davis, of Worcester, Mass., now in the library of the American Antiquarian Society, were found, in 1884, two letters written and posted at Millbury, in August and December, 1846, postmarked with the ordinary dating stamp of Millbury, of the dates August 21st, and December 16th, respectively, and stamped with an adhesive stamp, cancelled with the word "PAID," in large capitals, partly on the letter and partly on the stamp. The earliest also bears a large "V," in an octagon frame, and the other a large numeral "5," in a circle. Col. Asa H. Waters, was postmaster of Millbury in 1846, having received his commission, dated January 2nd, 1836, from President Jackson, "Old Hickory," and retained the office until November, 1848, when he resigned and obtained the office for Henry Waterman, who had been his assistant. A third copy of the adhesive stamp is in the possession of Col. Waters, postmarked exactly as the first described specimen, but the date is July 18th. Both Col. Waters and Mr. Waterman state that the idea of the stamp was suggested by the reception of letters bearing the New York stamp, and that the stamp was printed in Boston, from a block cut in 1846. Neither gentleman has any data by which to fix more exactly the date of its issue. MILLBURY POST OFFICE. ISSUE OF 1846. Head of Washington, ¾ face to the right, on a colorless circular disk, 16½ mm. in diameter, shaded to left of the head, and part way in front by 4 diagonal lines, and bordered by a circular band, 2 mm. wide, edged outside and inside by a colored line. The band is inscribed above, "_Post Office_," below, "_Paid 5 Cents_," in colored block capitals, except "5 Cents," which is in script. There are three five-pointed stars irregularly formed on each side in the band. The outer circle is a little flat between T and O. The vertical diameter is ½ mm. longer than the horizontal. Impression from wood block 22 by 22½ mm. in diameter, in black on smooth unsurfaced white paper. 5 cents, black. XII. STAMPED ENVELOPES OF THE WASHINGTON POSTMASTER. The Daily Union, published at Washington, Wednesday, July 23rd, 1845, and the National Intelligencer, of Friday, July 25th, 1845, contain the following advertising editorial[A]: "INTERESTING TO CITIZENS AND SOJOURNERS IN WASHINGTON. Upon inquiring at the city post office, we learn that Col. Gardiner has had franked (or rather prepaid) envelopes prepared, which do away with the necessity of personal application at the delivery window when one wishes to pay postage on sending off a letter. They are for sale at the post office, at the following rates; which barely pay the cost, after deducting the sum chargeable on each for postage, viz: 18 envelopes to enclose letters charged at 5 cents for $1.00 9 " " " " 50 1 " " " " 6¼ 9 " " " 10 cents 1.00 4 " " " 10 " } 50 1 " " " 5 " } This plan, it will be recollected has been adopted in the northern cities to the great advantage of the public, and its introduction here will save our fellow citizens many a long and hitherto, indispensable trudge, in this metropolis of magnificent distances." The latter paper, however quotes the price of the 5 cent envelopes at 6 cents, instead of 6¼. These are evidently the envelopes mentioned in the article of the Express, of July 8th, quoted in the chapter on the stamps of the New York postmaster. Up to the present time none of them have been reported to have been found. [A] The newspaper articles concerning these envelopes were found by Mr. C. F. Rothfuchs who, at the suggestion of the author, kindly searched the files of the Washington papers. XIII. STAMPS OF THE PHILADELPHIA POSTMASTER. From 1845 to 1849, Dr. Geo. F. Lehman was postmaster of Philadelphia. It is asserted that he adopted for use in the post office at Philadelphia, a number of peculiar devices of his own, which appear to have been a substitute for postage stamps. They are described as bands with the names of the persons who mailed the letters upon them, which were fastened around the letters, and upon receipt at the post office, were removed by the clerks and kept as vouchers, the amount of postage due being charged to the account of the sender, and collected with the quarterly bill. There are also said to have been in use several other designs in the form of stamps, printed and sold by the post office, which when fastened upon the letter indicated that the office had received postage, and such letters were then forwarded and marked as paid. Although several varieties of these are said to have been in use, none of them have yet been found. XIV. STAMPS OF THE WORCESTER POSTMASTER. In the National Aegis, published at Worcester, Mass., September 2nd, 1846, may be found the following item: "POST OFFICE STAMPS. The postmaster has issued postage stamps of the denomination of five cents and ten cents. They are very convenient, and will save the trouble of making change at the post office, and will enable people to send prepaid letters at times when the office is closed. To cover the expense of engraving and printing, these stamps are sold at five per cent advance upon the regular rates of postage." Maturin L. Fisher was postmaster at Worcester, from 1839 to 1849, and Andrew A. Williams was his chief clerk in 1846. The above item was recently found by the present author in searching old files of newspapers, for information about the various postmaster's stamps. No other Worcester paper seems to have noticed the matter, and no further information has so far rewarded the limited inquiry and search possible since the discovery. Both of the gentlemen in the office at the time are now deceased. XV. STAMPS OF THE PITTSFIELD POSTMASTER. A short notice published in one of the Springfield, Mass., papers, in the summer of 1874, asserts that in overhauling the vaults of the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Pittsfield, a number of stamps were found that were issued by the Pittsfield postmaster, in 1846-7. Phineas Allen was postmaster of Pittsfield at the time. No further information concerning these stamps, has rewarded inquiry. XVI. OBSERVATIONS. It is by no means improbable that other similar devices were in use in other towns and cities at this period, by which prepayment of postage was secured. The salaries of many of the smaller offices depended on the amount of postage collected, and the importance of all offices was estimated by the revenue collected. It was natural, therefore, as the public demand for such accommodation grew, that the postmaster should adopt a device tending to their own benefit. There are in the possession of the present author a number of hand stamps, apparently cut from letters and envelopes, inscribed such and such a "Post Office," "5 Cents Paid," which would seem to be stamps of this kind, but in the absence of further information, are not here chronicled. The wide spread use of such stamps would appear from the following caution, published in the Courier, of New York, July 18th, 1845. "The postmaster of this city has given notice that he has prepared stamps for the use of merchants, and requests them to provide themselves with these stamps to facilitate the business of the post office, and for their own convenience. It will be observed that the postmaster warns the public that any stamps offered for sale at any place other than the post office of this city are spurious. That the use of proper stamps by merchants will be a great convenience is admitted; but these stamps, thus offered, should be considered in no other light than the personal obligations of the postmaster, unauthorized as far as the public know, by any proper authority, and if issued by the postmaster of one city, may also be issued by the postmaster of any town or city in the United States; and if this practice becomes general, the amount in these stamps held by the public will be very considerable, and will evidently lead to great abuses and probably losses. In case of the death or removal of a postmaster, we know of no legal obligation of his successor to consider these stamps of any value whatever. Post office stamps to be of general utility, should be issued by the General Post Office at Washington, sanctioned by law, and with suitable penalties in case of forgery: they would be of great advantage to the Post Office Department, and would much facilitate business in various ways, but if issued by any or all postmasters, will in some cases be used "to raise the wind," and may raise it pretty effectually in cases of death or default, as the amount held by the public in any of the large cities would be a very considerable sum." (Signed) CAVEAT. This article was reprinted by numerous journals, among them the Express, of New York, July 18th, 1845. XVII. THE ISSUE OF 1847. Notwithstanding these manifest dangers, noticed by the Courier and Express, the public continued to demand and use, and the postmasters to issue, as we have seen, these unauthorized stamps, without action on the part of Congress, or interference by the Department, until the beginning of 1847 when, apparently in response to the necessities of the case the following law was passed: STATUTES OF THE UNITED STATES, XXIX Congress, Session II, Chapter LXIII, Section 1, approved March 3rd, 1847. An Act to establish certain Post Roads and for other purposes. "And be it further enacted, that to facilitate the transportation of letters by mail, the Postmaster General be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which, when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of the prepayment of the postage chargeable on such letter, which said stamps the Postmaster General may deliver to any deputy postmaster who may apply for the same, the deputy postmaster paying or becoming accountable for the amount of the stamps so received by him, and if any of said stamps shall not be used, but be returned to the General Post Office, the amount so returned shall be credited to such deputy postmaster, and such deputy postmaster may sell or dispose of any stamps so received by him to any person who may wish to use the same, but it shall not be lawful for any deputy postmaster, to prepare, use, or dispose of any postage stamps not authorized by and received from the Postmaster General. And any person who shall falsely and fraudulently make, alter or forge any postage stamp with intent to defraud the Post Office Department, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and on conviction shall be subject to the same punishment as provided in the 21 Section of the Act approved March 3rd, 1825, entitled an Act," etc. This is the first authorization of postage stamps in the United States, and it will be well to observe that the use of any stamps other than _those authorized and received from_ the Postmaster General is strictly prohibited. The use of the stamps of the postmasters herein before treated of, must therefore have ceased from and after the 1st of July, 1847, when the law went into effect, or as soon thereafter as supplies were received from the Department. This effectually determines the character of such locals, as the so-called "Horseman," and "U. S. Mail Prepaid," before referred to. According to the law and custom in the United States, a contract for the engraving and printing of stamps, under the authority of this Act, was made by the Postmaster General with Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson, for four years. During this time they furnished 4,400,000, five cent stamps, and 1,050,000, ten cent stamps, of which 3,712,000 five cent, and 891,000 ten cent stamps are officially reported to have been distributed by the Department to deputy postmasters for sale. A portion of these, valued at $12,038.55, were however afterwards returned to the Department and exchanged for those of the subsequent issue, and credited to the deputies who returned them. ISSUE OF JULY 1ST, 1847. The issue consisted of two values only, five and ten cents. FIVE CENTS. Portrait of Benjamin Franklin, Continental Postmaster General, facing three quarters to the left, on an oval disk with hatched ground, 14½ by 17¼ mm., bounded by a broad colorless line with a fine colored line outside, in a rectangular frame, also bordered by a broad colorless line with a fine colored line outside. The ground work of this frame is composed of fine horizontal colored lines, and is ornamented by foliations, and inscribed in outlined colorless capitals, "_U._" and "_S._," in the upper corners, with "_Post Office_," between, following the form of the oval, large numeral "5," and "5," in the lower corners, with "_Five Cents_" between, following the form of the oval. Between the lines of the outer border, exactly in the centre, are the initials of the engravers, "R. W. H. & E.," in small colored capitals. Plate impression, 18½ by 23½ mm., in color, on faintly bluish paper. 5 cents, bronze. TEN CENTS. Portrait of George Washington, first President, facing three quarters to the right, on an oval disk, with hatched background, bordered by a broad colorless line, with a fine colored line outside, in a rectangular frame, bordered in the same manner. The ground of the frame and inscriptions are similar to the five cents, but changed for the value to a large "X," in each lower corner, with "_Ten Cents_," between. Same small initials in the lower border. Plate impression, 18½ by 23½ mm., in color, on faintly bluish paper. 10 cents, black. In the Hartford Times of August 5th, 1885, appeared a long article, entitled: "The First Postage Stamps," from which the following relating to the actual date of this issue may be here repeated. "Thirty eight years ago to-day the first postage stamps were used in the United States. * * * On the 25th of March, 1840, John M. Niles, of Hartford, became Postmaster General and signalized his administration by many reforms. * * * It was necessary to cap all by a genuine innovation, and he performed this by suggesting the postage stamp. The suggestion was received with ridicule, and Mr. Niles soon after retired. * * * When Cave Johnson assumed the post office, on the 5th of March, 1845, he found it an Herculian task to reinstate the reform measures of Mr. Niles. * * * Among the measures of Mr. Niles that he adopted was the postage stamp idea. * * * Johnson garnished his conversation with fathering the suggestion originated six years before. * * * The matter took form as a bill. * * * Approved March 3rd, 1847. The date of the issue was appointed as July 1st, but there was a delay in the contractors' work and the time ran over a month. On the 5th of August, soon after the opening of the Postmaster General's office for the day, an old gentleman called to see Mr. Johnson on business. The gentleman was the Hon. Henry Shaw, a New Yorker, * * * and the father of the well known Henry Shaw, Jr., (Josh Billings). * * * Mr. Johnson came into his office accompanied by the printer of the new stamps, a few minutes after Mr. Shaw had arrived, on that August morning. Sheets of the stamps were laid before the Postmaster General, who, after receipting for them, handed them to his visitor to inspect. Mr. Shaw returned them after a hasty glance, and then drawing out his wallet, he counted fifteen cents, with which he purchased two of the stamps--the first two ever issued. The five cent stamp he kept as a curiosity, and the ten cent stamp he presented to Governor Briggs, as an appropriate gift." OBSERVATIONS. In nearly all the early catalogues and in some recent foreign ones, these stamps are catalogued upon _white_ paper. Mr. Terrell, Third Assistant Postmaster General, in a letter published on page 111, American Stamp Mercury, 1870, states positively that this issue was never printed except upon faintly tinted bluish paper. It may be observed, generally, that the paper of all stamps of the early issues of all countries which were affixed to the blue or bluish paper in general use at the time, has a tendency to vary from the original color, sometimes becoming blue or bluish, when originally white, darker or lighter blue or even whitish if originally blue. This has been variously explained, as the action of some ingredient in the paper of the letter, or of the stamp, in the gum or the ink. It must be further observed that the color of the impression of the five cents varies greatly from the original pale red brown, called bronze. Many shades of faint red brown, red brown, faint dark brown, deep dark brown, black brown, bluish black, and almost pure black, may be found. Whether these result, as seems to be the case, from a natural change in the course of time, from something in the ink, paper or surroundings of the stamp itself, or whether it results from the use of different colored ink originally, may perhaps be impossible now to determine. The ten cent, however, varies very little in the color of the impression. Beyond a lighter, or grayish shade, a black with a bluish cast, and the ordinary black impression, little is to be noticed. The stamps are separated in the sheet by about 2 mm., each way. Double copies of the five cents, adhering either by the side, or by the top and bottom, are often found on old letters, and occasionally, three or four adhering specimens are encountered. The ten cents is almost invariably found in single specimens, though a few pairs, and even three used together are known. According to a statement in the American Journal of Philately, of April, 1871, this issue was withdrawn from circulation between June 11th and September 30th, 1851. The instructions of the Department to the deputy postmasters, concerning the distribution of the next issue, published in June, 1851, order that these five and ten cent stamps must not be recognized as prepaying letters after the 30th of June, 1851, and request the public to return them to the deputy postmasters, in exchange for others of the new issue. The report of the Postmaster General for the year expiring June 30th, 1851, and published in the fall of that year, further states: "Directions for the destruction of the dies and plates, employed in the manufacture of the stamps formerly used, have been given, and for counting and burning such stamps as have not been issued to postmasters or have been returned." These facts probably explain the extreme rarity of unused stamps of this issue, and the re-engraving of the dies by the Government, when it was considered advisable to make an exhibit of all its issues of adhesive stamps at the Centennial Exhibition. The existence therefore, of a specimen of four unused five cent stamps, adhering by the sides, and another of four unused ten cent stamps, adhering also by the sides, in the private collection of Mr. Sterling, is worthy of notice. The latter specimen, at any rate, is probably unique, and though called whitish paper by him, has nevertheless, the bluish tint, and certainly is not _white_ paper. NOTE. There are _proofs_ however on white paper. XVIII. THE ISSUE OF 1851. The Act of the XXXI Congress, Session II, Chapter XX, approved March 3rd, 1851, and entitled: "An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the United States, and for other purposes" reads: "Be it enacted, etc., that from and after the 30th day of June, 1851, in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates, viz: For every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind, upon which information shall be asked for, or communicated, in writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail for any distance, between places within the United States, not exceeding 3,000 miles, when the postage upon said letter shall have been prepaid, three cents, and five cents when the postage thereon shall not have been prepaid, and for any distance exceeding 3,000 miles, double these rates; for every such single letter or paper when conveyed wholly or in part by sea, and to or from a foreign country, for any distance over 2,500 miles, twenty cents, and for any distance under 2,500 miles, ten cents, excepting however, all cases where such postages have been or shall be adjusted at different rates by postal treaty or convention already concluded or hereafter to be made; and for a double letter there shall be charged double the rates above specified; and for a treble letter, treble these rates; and for a quadruple letter, quadruple these rates; and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight, shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or every additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage. And all drop letters, or letters placed in any post office, not for transmission, but for delivery only, shall be charged with postage at the rate of one cent each, and all letters which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over or uncalled for in any post office shall be charged with one cent in addition to the regular postage to be accounted for as other postages now are." The second section fixed the rates upon newspapers of all descriptions, coming from the publishers, etc., etc., which were not to be paid for by stamps, but: "Every other newspaper circular, hand bill, engraving, pamphlet," etc., etc., "shall be charged one cent an ounce under 500 miles and one cent each additional ounce between 500 and 1500 miles," double beyond, etc., etc. The third section provides: "And be it further enacted, that it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to provide and furnish to all deputy postmasters, and to all other persons applying and paying therefor, suitable postage stamps, of the denomination of three cents, and of such other denominations as he may think expedient to facilitate prepayment of postages provided for in this Act; and any person who shall forge or counterfeit any postage stamp, provided or furnished under this Act, whether the same are impressed or printed on or attached to envelopes or not, or any die, plate or engraving therefor, or shall make or print, or knowingly use or sell, or have in his possession, with intent to use or sell, any such false, forged or counterfeit die, plate, engraving, or postage stamps, or who shall make or print, or otherwise procure to be made or printed, any postage stamps of the kind provided and furnished by the Postmaster General, as aforesaid, without the especial authority and direction of the Post Office Department, or who, after such postage stamps have been printed, shall, with intent to defraud the revenue of the Post Office Department, deliver any postage stamps to any person or persons other than such as shall be authorized to receive the same by an instrument of writing duly executed under the hand of the Postmaster General, and the seal of the Post Office Department, shall on conviction thereof be deemed guilty of felony, and punishable by a fine not exceeding 500 dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding five years; or by both such fine or imprisonment, and the expenses of procuring and providing all such postage stamps and letter envelopes as are provided or authorized by this Act, shall be paid, after being adjusted by the auditor of the Post Office Department, on the certificate of the Postmaster General, out of any money in the Treasury, arising from the Revenues of the Post Office Department." The 4th section provides that postage stamps shall be defaced as the Postmaster General may direct, and the penalty for omitting so to do. The 10th section provides for the appointment of carriers, the rate to be one or two cents prepaid, the carriers to be paid out of the receipts from this postage. The 11th section authorizes the coining of the three cent coin, probably to facilitate the payment of these rates. The other matters mentioned in the foregoing Act are of little interest here, but the following circular contains some matters of importance: REGULATIONS CONCERNING POSTAGE STAMPS. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, _June 10th, 1851_. "To facilitate the payment of postages upon letters and packages, postage stamps of the following denominations are provided and furnished by the postmaster General, pursuant to the third section of the "Act to reduce and modify the rates of Postage in the United States," and for other purposes approved March 3rd, 1851. Viz: No. 1. Printed in black, representing the head of Washington, of the denomination of twelve cents. No. 2. Printed in red, representing the head of Washington, in profile, of the denomination of three cents. No. 3. Printed in blue, representing the head of Franklin, in profile, of the denomination of one cent. These stamps will be furnished to one or more of the principal postmasters in each county, who will be required to supply the other postmasters in their vicinities, upon being paid for the amount furnished." The remaining provisions relate to the mode of distribution, accounting, cancelling, etc., and are of no particular interest. The circular is signed "Nathan D. Hall, Postmaster General." A similar circular dated April 3rd, 1852, is almost an exact repetition of the foregoing. The stamps issued may be described more fully thus: ISSUE OF JULY 1ST, 1851. ONE CENT. Bust of Benjamin Franklin, first Postmaster General, in profile, facing to the right, in an oval disk 17 by 20½ mm., with a ground of very fine horizontal colored lines, slightly waved, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines. The colorless line is ornamented by a line of fine dots. Above is a label, bordered at the top by a similarly ornamented colorless line, between two fine colored lines, terminated at the ends by the corner ornaments of the stamp, with a ground of fine colored lines following the lines of the oval, and inscribed in outline capitals "_U. S. Postage_." Below the oval is a similar label, the ends terminated by a similar border, with a ground of fine colored lines, inscribed "_One Cent_" in outline capitals. This label is shaded by a number of vertical lines. Scroll and foliated corner ornaments extending down the sides. There is no outside line finishing the frame. The stamps are very near each other on the sheet. Plate impression, 19 by 22 mm., color, white paper. 1 cent, shades of indigo blue. THREE CENTS. Bust of Washington, first President of the United States, in profile to left, on an oval disk, with hatched ground, bordered by a fine colorless line between two fine colored lines, surrounded by a frame composed of colorless lines, forming diamonds on a solid ground, the alternate diamonds filled in with diagonal colorless lines, leaving a colored chain conspicuous, with rosettes in the four angles. The space between the oval and frame filled with horizontal lines, and the corners outside the rosettes filled with ornamented triangles. Above and below all these are solid colored labels, with a small piece containing a diamond cut off at each end by a vertical colorless line, inscribed in colorless Roman capitals, above "_U. S. Postage_," below "_Three Cents_." The whole is surrounded, at a little distance, by a colored line forming a rectangle. Plate impression 20 by 25 mm., color, white paper. 3 cents, in shades of brick and rose red. TWELVE CENTS. Bust of Washington, after Stewart, facing three quarters to the left, on an oval disk 13½ by 17 mm., with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two colored lines. This colorless line is crossed by horizontal lines. About this is a frame like that of the 3 cents, with rosettes at the angles, but showing six and two half links in the chain on each side, instead of five and two half links as in the three cents. The outside corners are filled by small foliations. The space between the oval and frame is filled by horizontal lines. Inscription above "_U. S. Postage_," below "_Twelve Cents_" in colorless capitals, shaded outside on the back ground and following the curve of the oval. The whole is surrounded by a fine colored line. Plate impression, 19 by 25 mm., color, white paper. 12 cents, black. As it was considered desirable to keep the amounts collected and paid for delivery by carriers (under section 10 of the act) separate, a special stamp for the payment of such postage was soon added: ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 29TH, 1851. ONE CENT. Bust of Benjamin Franklin, in profile, to the left, on an oval disk, 15 by 17½ mm. with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines. Frame, labels, etc., like the three cents, but with a colorless star between curved colorless lines at the end instead of the diamonds. The inscription is in colorless Roman capitals, on the upper label "_Carrier's_," and "_Stamp_" in the lower label. Plate impression, 19½ by 24 mm., color, rose paper. No value indicated, indigo blue. Specimens exist in brick red, some of which show the crack in the die. These must be proofs, although a letter purporting to be from W. M. Ireland, Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated August 10th, 1869, and published in the August number of the American Journal of Philately, after describing this stamp says: "Color, orange-brown, typographed in color on white paper. Proofs were issued printed in blue on pink paper; also in green and yellow. It was issued about September 29th, 1851, but was suppressed almost immediately, owing to its great similarity to the then three cent stamp. Only about 300,000 were ever issued. It has always surprised me that the Department has never kept any official history of its stamps." This stamp was succeeded by the; ISSUE OF NOVEMBER, 17, 1851. ONE CENT. Eagle poised for flight, turned to the left, resting on a branch of laurel, on an oval disk, 18 by 13 mm., the ground of clouds and rays, surrounded by a fine colored line, a colorless line, and a band of solid color inscribed in colorless Roman capitals above "_U. S. P. O. Dispatch_," below "_Prepaid, One Cent_," with ornaments of oak leaves on the left and of laurels on the right. Plate impression, 19 by 25 mm., color, white paper. 1 cent, blue. A letter dated from the Post Office Department, Finance Office. July 20th, 1869, and signed W. H. H. Corell, Third Assistant Postmaster General, published in the American Journal of Philately, says: "The blue stamp "Eagle" was used for prepaying City letters delivered by carriers. It was issued about Nov. 17th, 1851, and was withdrawn Jan. 27th, 1852. It was very little used except in Philadelphia, Pa., and Cincinnati, Ohio." As a matter of fact however, the published reports of the Postmaster General, shows that there were issued: 4,777,552 from Nov. 1851, up to June, 1852. 4,370,383 " June 1852, " " " 1853. 7,103,416 " " 1853, " " " 1854. These stamps were all engraved and printed by Messrs. Toppan, Carpenter, Cassilar and Co., of Philadelphia, under a contract with the Department. The collector naturally desires to know what supposed peculiarities of the public demand led to the selection of these values, and not others. As already shown, the carriers were paid out of the receipts from the sale of the two carrier stamps. The one cent was required for newspapers and other printed matter, either singly or in twos, threes, fours, fives, sixes, etc., and Mr. Sterling has preserved specimens thus used, adhering, either in strips by the sides or ends, or in blocks. The three cent stamp paid the ordinary letter rate, and two or more would be required on double, triple, etc., letters. Mr. Sterling has also preserved strips and blocks of these found so used. The single postage to California was six cents. This was also the double letter rate, and it seems singular that a stamp of this value was not issued. Its place was supplied by two three cent stamps, the double rate to California by four three cent stamps, etc. That it was also supplied occasionally by half of the twelve cent stamp, cut diagonally from corner to corner, specimens so used on the original envelopes in the possession of the same gentleman abundantly prove. The twelve cent must, therefore, have had no function except to replace a quadruple ordinary rate, or a double California rate. For foreign letters, the postage was 10 or 20 cents, when not provided for by treaty. Most of the treaties fixed the same rates, and stamps of those values would seem to have been required. The fact that prepayment was optional, may have influenced the demand for these values. Soon after the issue of the foregoing series, the postal rates were again discussed in congress, and the law amended as follows: XXXIII Congress, Session II, Chapter 173, Section 31, approved March 30th, 1885, entitled: "An Act further to amend the Act entitled: 'An Act to reduce, etc., approved March 3d, 1851.'" Be it enacted, etc. That in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates to wit: For every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind in which information shall be asked, or, communicated in writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail, for any distance between places in the United States not exceeding 3,000 miles, three cents; and for any distance exceeding 3,000 miles, ten cents. And for a double letter, there shall be charged double the rates above specified; and for a treble letter, treble these rates, and for a quadruple letter, quadruple these rates; and every letter or paper not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter; and every additional weight of half an ounce, or every additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage; and upon all letters passing through or in the mail of the United States, except such as are to or from a foreign country, the postages as above specified, shall be prepaid, except upon letters and papers addressed to officers of the government on official business, which shall be so marked on the envelope. And from and after the first day of January, 1856, the Postmaster General may require postmasters to place postage stamps upon all prepaid letters, upon which such stamps may not have been placed by the writers. And all drop letters, or letters placed in the post office, not for transmission through the mail, but for delivery only, shall be charged with postage at the rate of one cent each, and all letters which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over or uncalled for in any post office, shall be charged with one cent each in addition to the regular postage, both to be accounted for as other postages now are. Section 2. And be it further enacted, that it shall be unlawful for any postmaster or other person, to sell any postage stamp or stamped envelope for any larger sum than that indicated upon the face of such postage stamp, or for a larger sum than that charged therefor by the Post Office Department. [Here follows the penalty for so doing.] Section 3. And be it further enacted: That for the greater security of valuable letters posted for transmission in the mails of the United States, the Postmaster General be, and hereby is authorized to establish a uniform plan for the registration of such letters on application of parties posting the same, and to require the prepayment of the postage, as well as a registration fee of five cents, on every such letter or packet, to be accounted for by postmasters receiving the same, in such manner as the Postmaster General may direct: Provided, however, that such registration shall not be compulsory: and shall not render the Post Office Department, or its revenues liable for the loss of such letter or package, or the contents thereof. By this Act there was established for the first time compulsory prepayment, at a uniform rate of 3 and 10 cents, according as the distance was less or greater than 3,000 miles, upon letters in the United States, and the Act of the XXXIV Congress, Session III, Chapter 1, approved January 2d, 1857, entitled: "An Act to provide for the compulsory Prepayment of Postage on all transient printed matter," which provided, that such postage "shall be prepaid by stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster General may direct," completes the legislation upon the subject, so far as it is of interest here, up to the year 1861. Upon the approval of this Act, the following circular, dated at Washington, March 12th, 1855, was issued to postmasters: NEW POSTAGE ACT. INSTRUCTIONS TO POSTMASTERS. The particular attention of Postmasters and others is invited to the annexed Act, passed at the last session of Congress. It will be observed: 1st. That from and after April 1st, 1855, the single rate of postage on a letter conveyed in the mail, for any distance in the United States, not exceeding three thousand miles, is three cents, and for any distance exceeding three thousand miles, ten cents. 2nd. That from and after April 1st, 1855, prepayment by stamps, stamped envelopes or in money is compulsory. 3rd. That from and after January 1st, 1856, all letters, between places in the United States, must be prepaid either by postage stamps or stamped envelopes. 4th. That the laws relating to the Franking Privilege are not altered. 5th. That the existing rates and regulations in regard to letters to or from Canada, and all foreign countries, remain unchanged. Unpaid letters mailed before April 1st, 1855, will be forwarded and delivered upon payment of the postage, by the person addressed. Postage stamps and stamped envelopes, of the denomination of ten cents, will be prepared and issued speedily, and the Department will use every exertion to supply all post offices with one and and three cent stamps also, as fast as they are required. Absolute prepayment being required on all letters to places within the United States, from and after April 1st, 1855, great care should be used as well in prepaying the proper amount on letters above the weight of half an ounce, as on single letters. Postmasters will post up conspicuously in their respective offices a notice, calling attention to the provisions of the Act requiring prepayment. The provisions in regard to the registration of valuable letters will be carried into effect, and special instructions issued on the subject, as soon as the necessary blanks can be prepared and distributed. (Signed) JAMES CAMPBELL, Postmaster General. _Post Office Department, March 12, 1855._ N. B.--Copy of the Act of March 3d, 1855, on the back. Another circular dated at Washington, Nov. 20th, 1855, also signed by the Postmaster General, after reciting certain regulations which are addressed to and concern only the postmasters themselves, contains the following: "Section 7. The denominations of postage stamps authorized by the Department to be issued, are _one_, _three_, _five_, _ten_ and _twelve_ cents." The one, three and twelve cents of the issue of 1851, remaining in use without apparent change, and the same contract with Messrs. Toppan, Carpenter, Cassilar & Co., of Philadelphia, remaining in force, the following were added to the series: ISSUE OF MAY 5TH, 1855. TEN CENTS. Portrait of Washington, after Stewart, faced three-quarters to the left, on an oval disk with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines, the colorless line crossed in parts by small horizontal lines, on a hatched back-ground, bordered by outlined foliations, which form small ovals in the upper corners containing a colorless "X," with "_U. S. Postage_" in colored capitals between them. Thirteen colorless stars on the ground above the oval. "_Ten Cents_" in colorless capitals in a waved line below. Plate impression, 18 by 24 mm., in color, on white paper. 10 cents, green. This stamp was issued to provide for the single rate to California. ISSUE OF JANUARY 5TH, 1856. FIVE CENTS. Portrait of Jefferson, the third President of the United States, faced three quarters to the right, on an oval disk, 12½ by 15½ mm., with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines, in a broad frame with solid ground, ornamented by colorless lines forming a geometric lathe pattern. This frame is rounded at the corners, with a small projection of about 2 mm. between at the top, bottom and sides, and is surrounded at a little distance by a fine colored line following the same outline. On the back ground, without labels, above "_U. S. Postage_," below "_Five Cents_," in colorless Roman capitals. Plate impression, 19 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper. 5 cents, in shades of yellow brown, red brown, and dark brown. This stamp was issued to prepay the registration fee, but is often found in unsevered pairs upon California letters, and sometimes in triplets including the registration fee and a single postage to California. On the 24th of April, 1856, a stamp of the value of twenty-four cents was approved. TWENTY-FOUR CENTS. Portrait of Washington, after Stewart, faced three quarters to the right, on an oval disk, with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line, surrounded by a solid band of color, inscribed in colorless Roman capitals, above "_U. S. Postage_," below "_Twenty-four Cents_," separated by a sort of buckle at the sides. A broad solid colored frame, ornamented by colorless lathe work is surrounded, at a little distance, by a fine colored line, and the corners are rounded, with a single swell between them above and below, and three between them at the sides. Plate impression, 18½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper. 24 cents, lilac. Although made and approved, this stamp is said to have been withheld from issue in this imperforate condition. They were finished and gummed, and some of them seem to have gotten into circulation, as occasional specimens are to be found in collections, and one entire sheet, at least, is known to have existed. OBSERVATIONS. Every collector ought at least to be aware of the nature and character of the varieties that exist in these stamps. Although many of them are very minute, and can be distinguished only by the use of a good magnifying glass, others, once noticed, can readily be selected by the unassisted eye. Few will care, probably, to place more than the most marked varieties in their collections, still fewer will have the patience to explore the necessary piles of common "stock," in order to find these marked varieties, for the most marked are the most uncommon, or to distinguish the more minute varieties from each other. The plates of all values printed 200 stamps each upon the sheet. Before the stamps were distributed, each sheet was cut vertically into half sheets, the place where they were to be cut being marked on the plate by a vertical colored line, and each half containing ten rows of ten stamps each. Upon each side of the plate, at a little distance from the outer row of stamps, the tops of the letters being towards the stamps, and running along the sides of the 5th and 6th stamp from the top or bottom of the sheet, and part of the 4th and 7th stamp, is the maker's imprint, "Toppan, Carpenter, Cassilar & Co., BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS, Phila., New York, Boston and Cincinnati," with "No--P." in a second line. This imprint was afterwards changed by leaving out the third name. The one cent eagle is an exception, as the imprint here appears at the top and bottom of the sheet, running along the space covered by four stamps, and the sheet is said to have contained only 100 stamps. Upon some of the sheets, of the other values, from the first plate, there is also a vertical line from the top to bottom of the plate, probably upon each outer margin. Upon other sheets, this does not appear. Specimens of these are now difficult to obtain, as the wide borders at the sides, the top and bottom of the sheets, were usually cut off when the stamps were used. ONE CENT UNPERFORATED. The stamps are about ½ mm. apart between the nearest points of the tops and bottoms, and 1 mm. between the nearest points of the sides. It should be noticed that the top and bottom labels have a fine line parallel to the solid body of the inscribed labels, both at the top and bottom. The imprint is about 1½ mm. from the outer row of stamps. The central vertical line is about 1¾ mm. from each central row. The side vertical lines are about 3¾ mm. from the outside rows. These dimensions vary slightly. There is little appreciable difference in the stamps in a sheet, except in the thickness of the lines bordering or shading the ornaments. In some specimens, these lines are all fine in all parts of the stamp, in others, they are much heavier, and in others fine in parts and heavy in other parts, in many gradations. The color used seems to have been always the same, varying only in intensity, as more or less ink was left on the paper in printing. Dark, or pale specimens, with intermediate shades may therefore be found. The paper is always white, but more or less tinted with the color of the stamp from imperfect wiping of the plates. THREE CENTS UNPERFORATED. The number of plates used in printing this value unperforated, has not been possible to determine. The distance between the stamps varies considerably in different plates. In some, they are only 7/10 mm. apart between the tops and bottoms, in others a little over 1 mm. In some they are only 9/10 mm. apart between the side lines, in other fully 1-2/10 mm. Specimens with broad, white margins (A) show the paper to have extended, sometimes 15 mm. beyond the stamps. The vertical lines are (B) 6 mm., or (C) 2½, 3 and 3¾ mm. from the center rows. The makers imprint (D) is about 1½ mm. from the outer rows, but varies slightly in different sheets. The process of making these plates is said to have been; first to mark out on a soft plate of steel the points at which the right vertical line of each vertical row of stamps was to come, by a dot at the top and bottom of the plate. These dots were sometimes too large and too heavily put in, and may be found in some specimens (E) at or near, the upper or lower right hand corner of the stamp. The lines however were not always accurately drawn so that the dot appears (F) on the top or bottom line, at a distance to the left of the corner, or (G) above the line, or (H) below the line, or (I) entirely outside of the stamp to the right. These lines having been drawn, the next step in the process was to put in the body of the design, which had been engraved on a soft steel punch or die, and then hardened, by placing the die successively in the position to be occupied by each stamp on the plate, and "rocking" it back and forth under pressure. As this process was not as perfect as that now employed, the die was not always placed in exactly the proper position, not infrequently being too near or too far from the vertical side lines, or the die was not rocked far enough, and the edges were left imperfect. In the design, it was evidently intended that the outside lines should be equally distant from the top and bottom labels, and the side edges of the block, and that the corners should be exactly mitered. The top and bottom lines are practically always at the same distance from the labels, and one engraver maintains that they were engraved on the die. But specimens are plentiful in which (a) the top and bottom line projects beyond the side line, or (b) does not touch it, or rarely (c) is double or split, or again the side line (d) projects beyond the top or bottom line, or (e) does not touch it. Again, instead of the side line being (f) at the proper distance from the corner blocks, it is not infrequently (g) too far from one or more of them, or (h) too near one or more of them, or (i) touches one or more of them. Again, the side line is found (j) connecting with the next stamp above or below, and occasionally there is a second line (J) near this between two stamps. In the die itself it will be noticed that the lower left block is almost always a little further to the left than the top one, in fact, that the distance from the right of the right block to the left of the left block is about ¼ of a mm. greater at the bottom than at the top of the stamp. The lower right rosette is a little too far also to the right, ordinarily at least. The blocks vary in size in the same and different stamps, as well as the diamonds in them, which are not of uniform shape or size. The labels above and below are crowded upon the rosettes. The sides of the groundwork should terminate in a straight line, formed by the bases of the little colored triangles, which touch each other. But this line is often broken in appearance as parts of it are too finely cut, or the die was not rocked far enough. In some cases this seems to have been remedied by re-engraving this line, and there is a heavy line, independent of the base lines of the triangles extending, (K) from rosette to rosette, (L) from the lower rosette to the upper triangle, (M) from the lower rosette to the middle of the upper triangle, (N) from the lower rosette to the top of the upper triangle, (O) from the lower rosette to the upper block, (P) a light line extending from the lower rosette to the upper block, (Q) a heavy line extending from the middle of the lower block to the upper triangle, (R) or from the middle of the lower triangle to the upper rosette. Frequently there is a light line (S) from the side of the triangle in the corner to the adjacent block. The triangles are ordinarily shaded by horizontal parallel lines, and are formed by a single fine line on the top and vertical sides, while the curved side is double. But the following variations occur: (T) the triangle has a heavy side line, (U) a double side line, (V) a triple side line, (W) is white or nearly so, the horizontal line having disappeared. Again it will be found that there are added lines along the whole or part of either side line, making these double, or even triple. Thus whether there is a distinct line, as described, between the rosettes, etc., or not, if the next line be called the frame line, there may be found varieties with an extra line outside the frame line, but (k) very near it, (l) farther from it, (m) very heavy, the frame line being thin, (n) the frame line split into two parts from the middle up, (o) frame line split into two parts from chin up, (p) two extra side lines all the way, (q) extra line from the level of the chin to the upper rosette, (r) extra line from the level of the lips to upper rosette, (s) from the level of the lips to the centre of the rosette, (t) from the level of the nose to the top of the triangle, (u) from the level of the breast to the top of the triangle, (v) opposite the bottom rosette. If there be added to these letters the numerals 1 to express the left side, 2 the right when the variations occur along the whole side, and 1 for the top, 3 for the bottom on the left side, 2 for the top, and 4 for the bottom on the right side, when the variations occur only at the top or bottom, the following table will facilitate investigation. On the On the LEFT Specimens Showing RIGHT at the at the Top Bottom Top Bottom A^1 broad margin over 6 mm. and no line A^2 B^1 " " ver. line 6 mm. from stamp B^2 C^1 " " " 2½ to 3½ " C^2 D^1 " " printer's imprint D^2 ... ... dot on or near the corner E^2 E^4 ... ... " " the end line, away from corner F^2 F^4 ... ... " above " G^2 G^4 ... ... " below " H^2 H^4 ... ... " outside the corner I^2 I^4 a^1 a^3 end line projecting beyond the corner a^2 a^4 b^1 b^3 " " not touching " b^2 b^4 c^3 " " split or double c^4 d^1 d^3 side " projecting beyond " d^2 d^4 e^1 e^3 " " not touching " e^2 e^4 f^1 f^3 " " ordinary distance from block f^2 f^4 g^1 g^3 " " too far from " g^2 g^4 h^1 h^3 " " too close to " h^2 h^4 i^1 i^3 " " touching the " i^2 i^4 j^1 j^3 " " connecting with the next stamp j^2 j^4 ... ... " " and another " " " J^2 ... K^1 heavy " from rosette to rosette K^2 L^1 " " " low. roset. to up'r triangle L^2 M^1 " " " lo. r. to mid. of " " M^2 N^1 " " " " " top of " " N^2 O^1 " " " " " " block O^2 P^1 light " " " " " " P^2 Q^1 heavy " " mid. low. block to triangle Q^2 R^1 " " " " tri. to up. roset. R^2 S^1 S^3 fine " " triangle to adjoining block S^2 S^4 T^1 T^3 triangle with heavy side line T^2 T^4 U^1 U^3 " extra " U^2 U^4 V^1 V^3 " 2 " " V^2 V^4 W^1 W^3 " white or nearly so W^2 W^4 k^1 extra line, outside frame line near it k^2 l^1 " " " " far off l^2 m^1 heavy " " thin frame line m^2 n^1 frame " split into 2 parts half way n^2 o^1 " " " " ¾ " ... p^1 two extra lines, continuous ... q^1 extra line frame, lev. of chin to up'r roset. ... r^1 " " " lips " ... s^1 " " " " center roset. ... t^1 " " " nose, top of trian. ... u^1 " " " breast, " ... v^1 " opposite the bottom rosette ... All the variations mentioned in this table have been found. It is scarcely possible that each of them exists separately, i. e.; on specimens that are in other respects normal. Many of them have been found so, but most of them only in combination. The following may be mentioned: A, B, C, D. Specimens showing broad margins with no outer line, with outer line 6 mm. from stamp, with outer line about 3 mm. from the stamp, or with printer's imprint, have been found, both from the left and right sides of the sheet, with all the other parts normal. These would be, A^1 f^{1 2 3 4}, A^2 f^{1 2 3 4}, B^1 f^{1 2 3 4}, B^2 f^{1 2 3 4}, C^1 f^{1 2 3 4}, C^2 f^{1 2 3 4}, D^1 f^{1 2 3 4}, D^2 f^{1 2 3 4}. With the vertical line about 3 mm. from the stamp, three corners only normal, the side line too near the lower right block, a dot on the upper right corner, the right line connected with the stamp below, and a fine line from each of the upper triangles to the block above, which would be C^2 f^{1 2 3} h^4 E^2 j^4 S^{2 4}. And also with the vertical line about 3 mm. from the stamp, all the corners normal, a heavy line terminating the ground between the rosettes on the right, both the triangles on the right connected with the blocks next them, and an extra vertical line in the upper right triangle, which would be C^2 f^{1 2 3 4} K^2 S^{2 4} U^2, which will serve to show the character of the combinations in which these varieties may be found. Varieties showing the dot, E to I, generally present other varieties also. The following combinations may be noted: With the bottom line double, or rather split, three of the triangles have fine connecting lines, c^3 c^4 S^{2 3 4}. With the right side prolonged, and continuous with the side line of the stamp above or below, j^2 or j^4. With the right side line prolonged upwards, and continuous with the lower, but not with the upper stamp and a second line 1 mm. to left from stamp to stamp, J^2. With the extra line outside the frame line on right and near it, all the other parts being normal, the line of the ground work not appearing as a separate line, k^2. With an extra line outside the frame line on right and near it, a heavy line from rosette to rosette on the right, giving the appearance of three parallel lines on that side, a similar line from rosette to rosette on the left, and a fine line from the upper right triangle to block, k^2 K^{2 1} S^2. With the same arrangement, but the heavy line on the right of ground extends to the top of the upper triangle, there is a fine line to the block, k^2 K^1 N^2 S^2. With an extra line outside the frame line on the right but further from it. The left line touches the rosette, and is very near the upper left block. The upper triangles both have the extra vertical line, and the right triangles both have the fine line connecting them with the adjacent block, l^2 h^1 U^{1 2} S^{2 4}. With the right frame line split into two parts in its lower half. The upper right triangle has the extra vertical line, and the fine line to upper block, n^2 U^2 S^2. With the extra line outside the left frame line, and a distinct line between the left rosettes, the right line near the corner blocks, k^1 K^1 h^{2 4}. With the same peculiarities, but frame line touches the lower left corner, k^1 K^1 h^2 i^4. With two extra lines outside the left frame line, and a heavy line between the left rosettes, so that the stamp appears to have four lines on that side. The right frame line runs from block to block, touching both triangles and rosettes. There is a dot in the lower right corner, and another to the left of it, p^1 S^1 i^{2 4} E^4 F^4. With the extra line on the left very light, and a heavier one outside, and the ground does not appear to end in a line, m^1. With the extra line on the left the usual thickness, and the frame line heavier. The right frame line touches all the parts on that side, l^1 i^{2 4}. With the frame line on the left split into two parts from the level of the chin up, the inner touches the rosette, the triangle and almost touches the block. The right frame line is split into two parts in the lower half. Both the right triangles have the finer line, and the upper the extra vertical line, q^1 i^2 n^2 U^{2 4} S^4. With the extra outside line from level of lips to the upper rosette. All four triangles are connected with the blocks, the upper right and lower left have the extra vertical line, r^1 U^{1 2 3 4} S^{3 4}. With extra outside line from level of the lips to the level of the center of the rosette. The frame line is too near the top on the left, the upper right triangle is connected with the block, and has the extra vertical line, the lower right triangle is also connected with the block, s^1 h^1 S^{2 4} U^2. With the extra left line from the level of the nose to the top of the rosette, the upper right triangle connected with the upper block, and with extra vertical line, t^1 S^2 U^2. With the extra line on the left from the level of the breast to the top of the rosette, the frame line is too near the upper left corner, and an extra vertical line in all the triangles, u^1 i^1 U^{1 2 3 4}. With the extra line on the left opposite the bottom rosette only. The two upper triangles are connected with the blocks, and an extra line in the upper right one, v^1 S^{1 2} U^2. With the left frame line heavy, and too near to the bottom block, a split runs off to left half way down. Both sides appear to have a heavy line from rosette to rosette, but the left one is irregular, all the triangles are connected with the adjoining blocks, and all except the lower right one have the extra vertical line, h^3 n^1 S^{1 2 3 4} U^{1 2 3} K^{1 2}. In the above descriptions, no mention has been made of those parts that are in their proper ordinary position. These varieties are the leading ones, and are probably more than enough to show the combinations. Less conspicuous ones are numberless. Owing to the scarcity of adhering specimens, and the uncertainty as to how many plates were actually employed, no attempt has been made to reconstruct any plate. It is perhaps necessary to repeat that the collection of any, except perhaps the more marked varieties, is not advocated. The color of these stamps varies wonderfully, every shade from pale to dark, with yellowish vermilion, pink, red, and carmine may be found. Some are undoubtedly changelings from accidental causes, particularly those that run from brown and black brown, to an almost jet black, which were at one time much sought after. UNPERFORATED FIVE CENTS. The stamps are about 1½ mm. apart each way on the sheet. All have the projection at the top and bottom. Double and triple adhering specimens may be found, but are rare. The imprint is on the sides, 1¾ mm. from the stamps. No specimens have been found with vertical lines. The color is generally dark, either a chestnut brown, or with a stronger reddish cast. UNPERFORATED TEN CENTS. The stamps are 2½ mm. apart each way on the sheet. The imprint is at about 1¾ mm. from the side rows. The few specimens with the vertical lines examined, show it at 3 mm. from the stamps. The color is a yellow-green, of which dark and light impressions may readily be found. A block of four used, adhering 2 and 2, is possessed by Mr. Sterling. UNPERFORATED TWELVE CENTS. The stamps are 1 mm. apart each way on the sheet. The vertical line 2½ mm. from the stamps. No specimens with the imprint have come under the notice of the author. The color is very uniform, slightly greyish-black. Adhering specimens are rare. A pair adhering by the sides, used, and a block of four unused, are in Mr. Sterlings' collection, and the curious specimens divided diagonally, on the original letters, in the same collection, have already been mentioned. UNPERFORATED TWENTY-FOUR CENTS. The imprint is at the side, 1¾ mm. from the stamp. The stamps are 2 mm. apart. The rarity of specimens has prevented further examination. The color of the specimens seen is lilac, with the reddish cast. ONE CENT "CARRIER," (FRANKLIN.) This stamp was never issued perforated. The imprint is 4 mm. from the side rows, and the stamps are about 1 mm. apart. ONE CENT "CARRIER," (EAGLE.) This stamp was never issued perforated, and any specimens so catalogued will be found to be the reprints. The printer's imprint is at the bottom or top of the four centre rows in the sheet. As the Department is accustomed to call the half sheets issued "sheets," it is often difficult to know which is meant. It has been stated that there are only 100 stamps on the plate. The imprint is 4 mm. from the stamps, and the places where the stamps are to be cut apart are indicated by single lines ruled horizontally and vertically. XIX. THE ISSUE OF 1857. Without any change in the law, and, so far as is known, without any announcement of the improvement, on the 24th of February, 1857, the three cent value of the type of 1851 was issued perforated, and the other values of the series speedily followed with the perforation, and so remained without addition until the middle of 1860. ISSUE OF 1857. Same values, types and colors as the prior issue, perforated with 15 holes in the space of two millimetres. Plate impression, in color, on white paper, perforated 15. 1 cent, shades of indigo blue. 3 " " " red. 5 " " " brown. 10 " " " green. 12 " " " black. The report of the Postmaster General, dated December 1st, 1860, states that: "Larger denominations of postage stamps have been adopted and introduced, especially intended for the purpose of affording requisite facilities to prepay the postage on letters to foreign countries, and of removing all excuse heretofore existing for paying such postages in money. The new denominations are twenty-four cents, thirty cents and ninety cents. The two latter have been introduced since July 1st, last," i. e. since the commencement of the new fiscal year. ISSUE OF JUNE 15TH, 1860. TWENTY-FOUR CENTS. The stamp described on page 95 as prepared imperforated in 1856, but not regularly issued in that condition, was now issued perforated. Plate impression, 18½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 15. 24 cents, lilac. ISSUE OF AUGUST 12TH, 1860. THIRTY CENTS. Head of Benjamin Franklin, in profile to the left, similar to that on, the Carrier's Stamp of September, 1851, on an oval disk with hatched back-ground bounded by a colorless line ornamented by a single fine colored line. A colored back-ground fills out the rectangle and is ornamented by a shield of the United States in each of the four corners, the bottom of the shields pointed towards the center, and the ground just behind them ornamented by colorless rays, with a foliated ornament on each side of them. Between the ornaments in colorless capitals, on the solid ground, above, in two lines, "_U. S._" and "_Postage_," below "30," on the left side "_Thirty_," and on the right side "_Cents_." Plate impression, 20 by 24 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 15. 30 cents, orange. ISSUE OF AUGUST 13TH, 1860. NINETY CENTS. Bust of Washington, in General's uniform, after Trumbal, faced three quarters to the left, on closely hatched ground, appearing nearly solid, square below, arched above, bordered by a colorless line. Solid arched label above, inscribed in colorless capitals, "_U. S. Postage_"; below, solid straight label, inscribed in the same letters "_Ninety Cents_." The ends of the upper label are curved inwards, those of the lower label outwards, and the colorless line borders the ends and remaining side of each. Outside a double colored line borders all, forming foliated ornaments, etc. There is an added colored line at the top and bottom, and fine lines shading the ornaments. Plate impression, 18½ by 24 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 15. 90 cents, deep indigo blue. The twenty-four cents was required to prepay the single rate of postage on letters to England, and the thirty cents to prepay the single rate on letters to Germany. The ninety cents does not seem to have been required for any single rate. The contract with the Bank Note Engravers, Toppan, Carpenter and Co., expired on the 10th of June, 1861, and all the stamps made by them were withdrawn from circulation, and ceased to be available for postage, between August 1st, 1861, and January 1st 1862, as will appear from the circulars quoted, relating to the issue of 1861. They have been reprinted, differently perforated, and sold to collectors by the department. (See chapter on reprints.) OBSERVATIONS. The one, three, five, ten and twelve cent values were first made by perforating sheets from the original plates, and later, certain changes were made that require to be noticed. ONE CENT, PERFORATED. The first perforated sheets being from the same plates as the unperforated, the same observations apply to them. It is to be noticed that these had the fine colored line outside the labels _at the top and bottom_. Owing to the nearness of the stamps on the sheets the perforation generally cut into the stamps, either at the top or bottom, and cut these lines, but the remains will be found on the points left between the holes. Careful search will secure specimens in which both these lines are intact, though they are somewhat rare. The vertical lines, printer's imprint, etc., are of course in the same positions, and the same varieties of finer or coarser lines may be found. The color varies in the same degree. The paper is apparently the same, with the same tinting, from the imperfectly wiped plates. In later specimens, however, the attempt was made to keep the perforations from impinging on the printed portion. This was done by removing the larger portion of the fine colored lines outside the labels, and with them, portions of the upper and lower ornaments. In many cases, they appear to have been wiped off, and the ends are smudged. In others, they are clear and distinct. A great many varieties result, as a greater or less portion of the lines or ornaments were removed. Some of them are curious enough, in stamps that have always been supposed to present no varieties. The fact being pointed out, it is hardly worth while to attempt to distinguish them. The vertical lines and printer's imprints are in the same positions. The stamps are still so near together that evenly perforated specimens, i. e.; specimens in which the perforation does not cut some portion of the stamp, are not easily found. _Two marked varieties_ may be noticed. In one, the outer fine line _is removed above the top label_, while that under the bottom is left intact. In the other, this outer line is removed _below the bottom label_, while it remains intact above the top label. Both these variations are exceedingly uncommon and appear to belong to the bottom and top rows of the sheet respectively, though this has not been verified. The same observations may be repeated as to variations in the thickness of lines, the color of the paper and the impression. _Oddities._ Specimen showing two rows of perforations at the top and bottom. Specimen without the outer lines to labels, unperforated. THREE CENTS PERFORATED. The first perforated sheets of the three cents were from the same plate as the last unperforated sheets, and consequently have the rectangular outside frame lines, not only at the sides, but at the top and bottom as well. As the stamps measure 25 mm. vertically and are only 1 mm. apart, and the horizontal rows of perforation are about 25½ mm. from center to center of the holes vertically, the perforations generally cut into the stamp and partially obliterate these lines. As the stamps are only 1 mm. apart at the sides, and are 19½ mm. wide, and the vertical rows of perforations are 20½ mm. from center to center of the holes horizontally and the holes are nearly 1 mm. in diameter, the side perforations also usually cut into some part of the stamp. It is therefore quite difficult to find good specimens of this variety, and to distinguish some of the minor varieties, as the corners are generally imperfect. Specimens were found showing the sheet cut along the colored vertical line, and (X) perforated between this line and the stamp, from either half of the sheet. New plates were however, soon constructed. In one of these, No. 24, the side lines are drawn on the plate from the top to the bottom, and are about 19½ mm. apart. The fine outer lines at the top and bottom are entirely omitted. The maker's imprint, "Toppan, Carpenter & Co., Bank Note Engravers, Phila., New York, Boston and Cincinnati," 1¼ mm. from the outer rows, is 68 mm. long. "No. 24 P," is 4 mm. from the outer rows. The vertical center line is 1¾ mm. from the stamp. The sheet measures 418 mm. from side to side, and 252½ mm. from top to bottom of the printed part. The paper is 447 by 283 mm. The vertical rows of stamps are 1½ mm. apart, and the vertical rows of perforations nearly 21 mm. apart horizontally from center to center of the holes. The last two rows at the sides are a little further apart. The horizontal rows of holes are 25½ mm. apart vertically. Most of the differences in the stamps on this sheet arise from the fact that the central portion is not always placed in the same position in regard to the vertical lines. A few of the stamps show dots in or near the corners. In some the lines are too near some of the corners, in some too far off, and in others they touch and even cut into the blocks. Some few show double or partly double lines. The whole sheet from plate 24, above mentioned, does not contain all the varieties round, nor are they arranged just in the same order that they appear in portions of other sheets examined. All the varieties possible, considering merely the position of the corners and side lines, would be 246. So that each stamp on a sheet might be different in this respect without showing them all. In sheet 24 however, only 32 exist. There are therefore, a number of each variety, as follows, by the table previously given: hhhh 1 hiif 1 ifih 2 fihh 5 hhhf 2 hifh 1 ifif 13 fiih 8 hhih 16 hfif 3 fhhh 2 fiii 2 hhif 20 ihih 14 fhhi 1 fiif 9 hihh 2 ihif 32 fhhf 2 fihh 2 hihi 2 iiih 7 fhih 3 fihi 3 hiih 20 iiii 12 fhif 5 ffhf 1 hiii 5 iiif 1 fhff 1 ffif 2 The 11th stamp in the first horizontal row, the 11th and 12th in the second row, the 13th in the 4th row, and the 17th to 20th in the 10th row show an extra line to the left of the left bottom rosette, V^1. In the 18th vertical row the left line actually cuts through the left block in four specimens which are marked as if it merely touched in the foregoing list. The 14th and 15th stamps in the top row show the dot. The 13th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th stamps in the upper row show the right vertical line not only too far, g^2 g^4, as marked, but very far from the corner block. The 9th stamp in the upper row has the double left line. The center stamps of this sheet are all of the varieties marked hiih in the list, on the right half of the sheet, and hhih or hhif, on the left half. None of the more prominent varieties are to be found on this sheet unless the 9th stamp in the upper row may be considered as such. Loose specimens from other plates show the vertical line only 7/8 mm. from the stamps. Some of these are otherwise like those mentioned before, and hfhg, gfff and ffhf from the left side, and hfhh, fhfg, fgfg and ifig have also been noted. The above are all cut at or near the vertical line. Some of the same varieties exist perforated along this line, and higg and fihh exist also so perforated. In loose specimens have also been found, igig, ihih, ifif, hhhf, hhhi, hhfh, hhff, hhif, hfhh, hfif, hfig, hgig, hgif, hifi, hiih, gfgh, gfgf, gfff, ghgh, gigi, ffff, fffh, ffhg, fgfg, fghf, fghg, fgig, fhfh, figh, varieties not on sheet from plate 24. Passing now from these varieties dependent upon the nearness of the lines and corner blocks the following more interesting variations may be found: With the upper left corners too far from the blocks, the others being ordinary; there is an extra line outside the frame line and close to it, at the right, g^1 f^{2 3 4} k^2. With the upper left corner too far from the block, the lower left corner too near to the block, an extra line outside the frame line and close to it, g^1 f^2 h^3 f^4 k^2. With the upper left corner too far from the block, the others ordinary, the frame line light, the extra line heavier. Numerous specimens showing the frame line broken, those with it perfect are much rarer, g^1 f^{2 3 4} m^2. With the upper right corner very near the block, all the others ordinary but the right frame line runs only half way down, and into the ground work. The extra line outside is the real side line, beginning too far from the upper right corner, and running down to the right position at the bottom (Y). Both the triangles on the right have the fine line connecting them with the adjacent blocks, and also the extra vertical line, f^1 i^2 t^{3 4} Y^2 S^{2 4} U^{2 4}. With the side line on the right starting at the usual distance from the block, and running off to the right, and ending half way down, at nearly twice the distance from the body of the stamps at which it started. A second line starts at the proper distance from the stamp, and inside the other at about the level of the lower point of the upper triangle, and runs off to the right, down to the level of the lower rosette. A third line starts at the proper distance from the stamp, inside this at about the middle of the stamp, and runs down straight, (Z) g^1 f^2 i^3 f^4 S^{1 2 3} Z^2. With the right line split about ½ way down, into two or three parts, i^1 f^{2 3} g^4 n^2. With an extra line on both sides, f^{1 2} g^3 f^4 k^1 k^2. With an extra line outside the left frame line, but far from it (almost the same distance as the frame line is from the blocks), f^1 f^2 h^3 g^4 l^1. With the frame line thin, often broken, and the extra line heavy and further off. The outer line is really the one drawn on the plate, and the inner line probably put in afterwards. A number of differing specimens. Also one in which there is no side line on the left except a very thin line from the level of the chin down, and another from the middle of the lower triangle down, apparently an impression from a worn plate, the left margin is wide, the perforation cutting into the next stamp, m^1 in varieties. With the left frame line split into two parts from the level of the chin up, n^1. These variations, and a few others easily recognized, not found in the imperforate stamps add to the table: LEFT. RIGHT. Top Bottom Top Bottom X^1 perforated along center line X^2 ... extra line inside half way Y^2 ... side line starts thrice Z^2 extra line opposite lower ½ of stamp w^4 " " " ¼ " x^4 " cen. of roset. to cen. of stamp y^4 " lower block to upper " z^4 The color of all these stamps varies like the unperforated greatly, and the same remarks concerning it might be here repeated. PERFORATED FIVE CENTS. The stamps are 2½ mm. apart between the sides and 1½ between the tops and bottoms; the imprint etc., as before. In these sheets the perforations generally cut into the stamp. They were printed in many varying shades of several colors; dark brown, dark black-brown, yellow brown, red brown, and almost rose. The second plate was slightly altered. The little projection or salie at the top and bottom was partially or wholly removed, forming the following variations: 5 cents perforated, projection at top and bottom. " " ½ " " " " " no " " or " The color is very variable, numerous shades of dark black-brown, dark chestnut-brown, brown, and yellow-brown may be found. PERFORATED TEN CENTS. The stamps were apparently, a little further apart in some sheets than in others, and the color presents only shades of the yellow-green. A specimen is shown perforated in two rows at the sides. PERFORATED TWELVE CENTS. There seems to have been no change in this value. An oddity is shown, showing two extra lines at the right. TWENTY-FOUR, THIRTY AND NINETY CENTS. The plates for these values having been prepared with a view to perforating, the stamps are arranged about 1¾ mm. apart between the sides, and 1¼ mm. apart between the tops and bottoms. There is very little difference to be noted in the color beyond a dark and lighter shade of the orange of the thirty cents, and of the dark blue of the ninety cents. There are however, two shades of the lilac of the twenty-four cents, a red and a blue cast. XX. THE ISSUE OF 1861. The reason for the introduction of this issue is not to be found in any change in the law. The report of the Postmaster General, dated on December 2d, 1861, states that: "The contract for the manufacture of postage stamps having expired on the 10th of June, 1861, a new one was entered into with the National Bank Note Company of New York, upon terms very advantageous to the Department, from which there will result an annual saving of more than thirty per cent, in the cost of the stamps. In order to prevent the fraudulent use of the large quantity of stamps remaining unaccounted for, in the hands of postmasters in the disloyal States, it was deemed advisable to change the design and the color of those manufactured under the new contract, and also to modify the design of the stamp upon the stamped envelope, and to substitute as soon as possible the new for the old issues. It was the design of the Department that the distribution of the new stamps and envelopes should commence on the first of August, but, from unavoidable delays, that of the latter did not take place until the 15th of that month. * * * Those of the old issue have been exchanged and superseded. The old stamps on hand, and such as were received by exchange, at the larger offices, have been to a great extent counted and destroyed, and those at the smaller offices returned to the Department." The Act of the 27th Congress, Statute II, Chapter 37, Section 14, approved March 3d, 1861, had so qualified the Act of 1851: "As to require the ten cent rate of postage to be prepaid on letters in the mail, from any point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains to any State or Territory on the Pacific, and from any State or Territory on the Pacific to any point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. And all drop letters shall be prepaid by postage stamps." Other sections also introduced minor changes in the rates on printed matter, which it is not important to notice. The denomination of the stamps of the new issue therefore remained at first the same. The circular letter from the Department to the several postmasters, informing them of the change is as follows: POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. _Finance Office_ ... 1861. POSTMASTER, Sir: You will receive herewith a supply of postage stamps which you will observe are of a new style, differing both in design and color, from those hitherto used, and having the letters U. S. in the lower corners of each stamp, and its respective denomination indicated by figures as well as letters. You will immediately give public notice through the newspapers and otherwise, that you are prepared to exchange stamps of the new style for an equivalent amount of the old issue, during a period of six days from the date of the notice, and that the latter will not thereafter be received in payment of postage on letters sent from your office. You will satisfy yourself by personal inspection that stamps offered in exchange have not been used through the mails or otherwise; and if in any case you have good grounds for suspecting that stamps presented to you for exchange, were sent from any of the disloyal states, you will not receive them without due investigation. Immediately after the expiration of the above period of six days, you will return to the Third Assistant Postmaster General all stamps of the old style in your possession, including such as you may obtain by exchange, placing them in a secure package, which must be carefully registered in the manner prescribed by Chapter 39, of the Regulations of this Department. Be careful also to write legibly the name of your office as well as that of your county and state. A strict compliance with the foregoing instructions is absolutely necessary, that you may not fail to obtain credit for the amount of stamps returned. Instead of sending stamps to the Department you can if convenient, exchange them for new ones at some city post office, where large supplies are to be found. It being impossible to supply all offices with new stamps at once, you will deliver letters received from Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland and Pennsylvania, prepayed by stamps of the old issue, until September 10th, those from other loyal states east of the Rocky Mountains until the first of October, and those from the states of California and Oregon and from the Territories of New Mexico, Utah, and Washington, until the first of November, 1861. Your Obedient Servant, A. N. ZEVELY, Third Assistant Postmaster General. A second issue of this circular merely extended the dates September 10th, October 1st and November 1st, 1861 to November 1st, December 1st, 1861, and January 1st, 1862, respectively. ISSUE OF AUGUST 14TH, 1861. The portraits upon the 8 types or values of this issue seem to be copied from the same pictures as were those on the corresponding denominations of the preceeding issue. The same values are represented, that is: ONE CENT. Portrait of Benjamin Franklin, in profile to the right, on an oval disk with engine turned ground of interlaced colored lines on a solid colored ground, framed round with interlaced colorless lines of engine turned work on solid colored ground, bordered by a colorless line with exterior fine colored line. "_U. S. Postage_" in colorless ordinary capitals in a curved line following the oval above, "_One Cent_" in the same letters and reversed curve below. Corners of quarter circles and two foliated ornaments. "1" and "1" in the upper and "_U._" and "_S._" in the lower corners, in ornamental colorless numerals and letters, on a vertically lined ground. Plate impression, 20 by 25½ mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 Cent, pale and dark blue. THREE CENTS. Head of Washington, in profile to left, upon engine turned ground with sinuous frame of interlaced engine turned colorless lines upon a solid colored ground, bordered by a colorless line, with exterior fine colored line following the curves of the ground. Above, "_U. S._" in a straight line with "_Postage_" below it in an arched line, and large numeral "3" on each side. Below the head "_Three_," in reversed curve with "_Cents_" in double curve below and "_U._" and "_S._" at the sides all in colorless capitals and numerals on the engine turned frame and ground, the corner numerals and letters ornamented. Corners and sides filled out with foliated ornaments. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 3 cents, shades of rose. FIVE CENTS. Head of Jefferson, faced three quarters to the left on an oval disk with rectangular hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line with fine colored exterior line. Broad frame of engine turned colorless lines on a solid ground, with rounded corners, and curved outwards at top, bottom and sides, bordered by a colorless line and a fine colored line. Large "5" in upper corners, and "_U. S. Postage_" in a double curve above the oval, "_Five Cents_" in a curved line following the oval below, "_U._" in lower left, and "_S._" in lower right corner, all in colorless letters upon the engine turned work of frame. The corners are filled out with foliated ornaments. Plate impression, 20 by 25½ mm., in color, upon white paper, perforated 12. 5 cents, ochre, shades of brown. TEN CENTS. Head of Washington, faced three quarters to left, on a rectangularly hatched ground, bordered by four bands, forming a sort of oval. The bands are bordered all around by a colorless and exterior fine colored line. The upper band is inscribed "_U. S. Postage_," on the solid ground, and the ends of the bands are rounded; the lower band is inscribed "_Ten Cents_" on the solid ground, and the ends of the band are curved inwards; the side bands are of irregular shape, with the ends rounded and bear four stars each, on a horizontally lined ground. The rest of the stamp is composed of colorless foliated ornaments, between colored lines upon the solid ground, forming irregular ovals in the corners, with a band between the upper ones, bearing five stars, "10" and "10" in the upper, "_U._" and "_S._" in the lower corners, on horizontally lined ground, letters, numerals and stars all colorless in colored outlines. Plate impression, 20 by 24½ mm, in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 10 cents, green, yellow-green. TWELVE CENTS. Head of Washington, similar to the ten cents, on an oval disk, with rectangularly hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line and exterior fine colored line. Broad frame of engine turned colorless lines on a solid ground, with rounded corners and waved edges, bordered by a colorless line, and a fine colored line. The corners are filled out with loops on colored ground. "12" and "12" set diagonally in the upper corners, "_U. S. Postage_" following the curve of the oval above, "_Twelve Cents_" in double curve line below, and "_U._" and "_S._" in the lower corners. The letters and numerals are colorless, with colored outlines on the engine turned work of frame. Plate impression, 19½ by 24½ mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 12 cents, black. TWENTY-FOUR CENTS. Small portrait of Washington, faced three quarters to the right, on a rectangularly hatched ground, surrounded by a fancy lozenge-shaped frame of engine turned colorless lines on solid colored ground, bordered by a colorless line and exterior fine colored line. The upper corners are filled out with foliated ornaments, containing the numerals "24" and "24," set diagonally with 3 colorless stars between. The lower corners each contain a large colored star between foliated ornaments. "_U._" on the left and "_S._" on the right star; "_U. S. Postage_" above and "_Twenty-four Cents_" below the head, near and following the outer curve of frame. The letters, numerals and ornaments are all colorless, but with colored outlines. Plate impression, 19½ by 24 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 24 cents, lilac. THIRTY CENTS. Head of Benjamin Franklin, in profile to left, on a circular disk with diagonally hatched ground, 16½ mm. in diameter, bordered by a colorless line and exterior fine colored line. A colorless line between two fine colored lines, at about 2 mm. from the circle, with foliated ends, forms a label above and below, the upper inscribed "_U. S. Postage_," the lower "_Thirty Cents_," on lined ground, in colorless letters outlined with color. Foliated ornaments without color, but colored outlines form irregular spaces in the corners, with "30" and "30" in the upper, "_U._" and "_S._" in the lower ones, in colorless letters outlined and heavily shaded in color on a lined ground. Plate impression, 20 by 24 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 30 cents, orange. NINETY CENTS. Head of Washington, in General's costume, after Trumbal's portrait, faced three quarters to the left, on an oval disk, 13½ by 17½ mm., with rectangularly hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line and exterior colored line, surrounded by a band forming a point above and below, and bordered outside by a second colorless line and an exterior colored line, and crossed by fine colored lines. "90" and "90" on this band above, "_Ninety Cents_" below in colorless letters with colored outlines. Waved band with similar borders crossing the former above, and inscribed "_U. S. Postage_" in the same letters. The lower corners are filled with foliated ornaments upon which are "_U._" and "_S._" in similar letters. Plate impression, 19 by 24 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 90 cents, indigo blue. It will be noticed that the original contract under which these stamps were first manufactured by the National Bank Note Co., expired in 1865. On its expiration a new contract was made with the same company for a term of four years longer. To preserve the history of the postal legislation of the United States which effects the use of stamps, the provisions of the Act of the XXXVII Congress, Session III, Chapter 71, approved March 3d, 1863, must be noted here, although they did not result in any change in the stamps in use, except the addition of two new values: Sec. 3. No mail matter shall be delivered until postage is paid. Sec. 13. The Postmaster General is authorized to establish branch offices for the sale of stamps, etc. Sec. 17. Postage must be prepaid at the time of mailing on domestic letters, transient printed matter and all other things not herein provided for. Sec. 18. Daily, weekly, etc., publications must be prepaid quarterly in advance by the receiver. Sec. 23. Drop letters will be charged 2 cents, to be prepaid by postage stamps, but no carrier's fee. Sec. 32. The registration fee to be fixed by the Postmaster General, but not to exceed in any case 20 cents. In accordance with these last provisions however, there were issued two additional values. The report of the Postmaster General for the year 1863, states that a two cent stamp had been prepared and issued, principally to prepay the postage on drop letters, and the report for 1878, fixes the date of issue at of the 1st of July, 1863. ISSUE OF JULY 1ST, 1863. (As additional to the series of 1861.) TWO CENTS. Very large head of Andrew Jackson, on an oval disk with rectangularly hatched ground, bordered by a fine colorless line with an exterior colored line; on a band above, similarly bordered, and with parallel lined ground, "_U. S. Postage_" in colorless capitals outlined and shaded; on short bands, similarly constructed, below on the left "_Two_," on the right "_Cents_." Foliated ornaments in the four corners, forming small solid circles, bearing the numeral "2" in the upper, and colorless ovals bearing "_U._" on the left, and "_S._" on the right, in irregular shaped colored letters. Plate impression, 20 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 2 cents, black. The Postmaster General having fixed the registration fee at 15 cents, a stamp of that denomination was issued. ISSUE OF APRIL 1ST, 1866. FIFTEEN CENTS. Bust of Abraham Lincoln, on an oval disk 13½ by 18 mm. with rectangularly hatched ground, bordered by a broad colorless line, between two fine colored lines, and ornamented by short horizontal colored lines. On the sides, Roman fasces, without the ax, on each side. Above on a scroll, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines, curved up and back to form small ovals, and ending at the top in foliations and inscribed on the band "_U. S. Postage_" in colorless capitals, in the ovals "15" in colorless numerals; below, a curved band following the outline of the oval, similarly bordered, and inscribed in similar letters "_Fifteen Cents_"; foliated ornaments forming colored ovals in the corners, with "_U._" in the left, "_S._" in the right, in colorless capitals. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 15 cents, black. Issued originally for registered letters, this stamp also served the next year, principally to prepay the postage on letters to Belgium, Prussia, Holland, Switzerland and the German Postal Union. The entire series of 1861-63-66 was reprinted in 1874. It may also be noticed, that the act of the XXXIX Congress, Session I, Chapter 281, approved July 27, 1866, authorized the use in all post offices of weights of the denomination of grams, 15 grams to equal one half ounce, and the postal laws to be applied accordingly. Also the Act of the XL Congress, Session I, Chapter 246, Section 10 and 11, approved July 29th, 1868, provided penalties for re-using stamps that had once paid postage, and authorized the sale of stamps at a discount of five per cent to persons to sell again as agents. OBSERVATIONS. The plates of this issue having been prepared with a view of perforating, the stamps are placed sufficiently far apart to allow a perforation, without ordinarily cutting into the stamps. Occasionally eccentricities may be found, which are the result of accident. The sheets, as in the previous issue, consist of 200 stamps, the central point is indicated by three lines at the top and at the bottom, and the sheets are cut apart on this line and distributed in half sheets of 100, or ten stamps in ten rows. The printer's imprint is generally to be found at the center of the top and bottom of each half sheet, at about 4 mm. from the printed stamps, and consists of a small colored label with a dotted edge, inscribed "National Bank Note Co." preceded by "New York," and followed by "City" in colored capitals. The plate number also appears near this. The ONE CENT varies in color from a pale blue to a dark blue, generally of the shade known as ultramarine. The paper is ordinarily white with a yellowish cast, but there are specimens which appear surfaced with the same ink as the stamp, which is probably an accident from imperfect wiping of the plates, and others the paper of which has a pale pink cast, both on the front and back. The TWO CENTS varies from grey to black, with occasional specimens partially tinted with the ink, probably from the same cause as in the one cent. _Variety._ Doubly perforated at the sides. The THREE CENTS varies from a very faint rose to a deep rose, with occasional specimens tinted as in the other values, probably from the same cause. _Variety._ Doubly perforated at sides. " " top and bottom. There are also a few specimens known of a scarlet tint. They resemble the ordinary stamps of this value in all other particulars, and it does not appear to be settled whether they were ever used or not. Proofs, both perforated and unperforated, exist in this shade, and the better opinion would seem to be that all of this shade are proofs. It is claimed, however, that a sheet, or part of a sheet unused, was picked up at the New York Post Office by a collector. Strips of ten stamps adhering, forming a vertical row from the sheet, and showing a double perforation along the sides are also exhibited. Unperforated specimens have been catalogued. The FIVE CENTS was originally issued in a pale yellow brown or ochre, but was changed in September to a darker brown, with a reddish cast, there is also a brown with a yellowish cast, another with a blackish cast and a chestnut brown. It would appear that the latter is the true color composed of red, yellow and black, and that the others result from some improper mixing of these colors, by which one or the other predominates. _Variety._ Doubly perforated at the sides. A "yellowish brown," meaning the brown with a yellowish cast, has been chronicled unperforated. The TEN CENTS is light and dark green. The lighter shade is generally called a yellow-green, but the two shades differ only in intensity. The TWELVE AND FIFTEEN CENTS also vary from grey to deep black. The TWENTY-FOUR CENTS is violet, and pale or dark lilac. The THIRTY CENTS is of two shades of orange, and an orange-brown. The NINETY CENTS is faint deep blue and indigo blue. The number of the several values of these stamps issued, without the _grille_ is approximated as follows: it being not quite certain whether a few with the grille were not issued prior to the dates to which the enumeration is made. 1 cent 91,256,650 2 cents 254,265,050 3 cents 1,847,559,100 5 cents 8,258,460 10 cents 28,872,780 12 cents 7,639,525 15 cents 2,139,300 24 cents 10,238,650 30 cents 3,208,980 90 cents 337,770 XXI. THE ISSUE OF 1867-9. The Act of the XXXIX Congress, Session I, Chapter 114, Section 7, approved June 12th, 1866, entitled an Act to amend the Postal Laws, had provided among other things. "Sec. 7. And be it further enacted: that whenever it shall become expedient in the opinion of the Postmaster General to substitute a different kind of postage stamps for those now in use, he shall be, and is hereby authorized to modify the existing contracts for the manufacture of postage stamps, so as to allow the contractors a sum sufficient to cover the increased expenses, if any, of manufacturing stamps so substituted." The Report for the Postmaster General for the year ending June 30th, 1867, states that experiments had been made in printing postage stamps on an embossed paper, which appeared to offer a fair guarantee against fraud; that the tissues of the paper were broken by the process, so that the ink of the cancelling stamps penetrated the stamps in such a manner as to render cleaning impossible; that the adhesiveness of the stamps was also increased, to say nothing of other advantages, which recommend the invention. Some of these curious experiments will be noticed in the chapter on Essays. The plan adopted was, however, to emboss the stamp, after it was printed, with a series of small square points, arranged in the form of a rectangle, much in the same way that checks are sometimes treated to prevent alteration. This breaks the tissues of the paper. The French collectors call this a _grille_, or grating, which it resembles. There were several varieties used on this issue, and they were applied to the stamps then current, without other change in the design, paper, color or gum. ISSUE OF 1867 TO 1869. The first variety was a grille covering the entire stamp, adopted May 8th, 1867, and applied only to the; 3 cents, rose, perforated 12, grilled all over. If this is examined with a glass on the face of the stamp, there appear to be rows of slightly raised squares, separated by depressed straight lines, with a still more raised cross, formed by diagonal lines running from corner to corner of the square. If the back is examined, the straight lines appear raised, the crosses depressed. In all specimens examined, the embossing is very flat. The second variety does not cover the entire stamp, but shows a rectangle, measuring 13 by 16 mm., composed of 16 rows of 20 small squares each. It was adopted August 8th, 1867, and was applied only to the; 3 cents, rose, perforated 12, large grille. Copies with this grille may be found in which one side row or the other shows only half squares instead of whole ones, also with some of the top or bottom rows missing, wholly or partly. _Var._ 12½ by 16 mm., 15½ by 20 rows, 3c., perf. 12. 12¼ " 15 " 15 by 18½ " 3c " The appearance of this grille, examined on the face, is just the reverse of the preceding, as the straight lines are raised and the crosses depressed. The third variety was a still smaller rectangle, about 11 by 14 mm., composed of 14 rows of 17 small squares or parts of squares. The date is January 8th, 1868. Numerous variations may be found. It was applied only to the; 1 cent, blue, perforated 12, medium grille. 2 " black " 12 " 3 " rose " 12 " 10 " green " 12 " 12 " black " 12 " 15 " black " 12 " _Var._ 11½ by 14½ mm., 15 by 18 rows, 3c, rose, perf. 12. 11 by 14 mm., 14 by 17½ " 3c " " 14 by 17 " 3c " " 14 by 16½ " 1c blue " 14 by 16½ " 3c rose " 14 by 16½ " 10c green " 14 by 16½ " 12c black " 14 by 16½ " 2c " " 14 by 16½ " 3c rose " 11 by 13 mm., 14 by 16½ " 3c " " 14 by 16 " 3c " " 10½ by 14 mm., 14 by 16½ " 3c " " 13 by 16½ " 3c " " 13 by 16½ " 10c green " _Oddity._ With 2 grilles touching on the same stamp. 3 cents, rose, perforated 12. _Note._ It is not uncommon to find parts of two grilles on the same stamp at a distance from each other, part of a grille being at the top and part at the bottom, or part of a grille on each side. The oddity noted presents two grilles touching by the top and bottom, one a little farther to the left than the other, making a strip of squares from the top to the bottom of the stamp. This medium grille if examined on the face is quite different from the foregoing large grille. It appears to be composed of raised lines between the squares and depressed crosses in them. A glass transforms these lines into rows of diamonds. On the reverse it appears as if composed of depressed lines, between the squares, and raised crosses in them. _Note._ The other values so far as known, have not been found with this grille. Up to May, 1868, only the values from 1 to 12 cents had been noted by the stamp papers as having been found with any grille. The 24 and 30 cents are chronicled with a grille in the November, 1868, but the 90 cents was not so noticed until much later, February, 1869, (see American Journal of Philately). The fourth and most common grille is a square of 9 by 14 mm., composed of 12 rows of 16½ squares each. The date of its adoption is not known. It was applied to the whole series. 1 cent, blue, perforated 12, small grille. 2 " black " 12 " 3 " rose " 12 " 5 " brown " 12 " 10 " green " 12 " 12 " black " 12 " 15 " black " 12 " Nov. 1868, 24 " lilac " 12 " " 30 " orange " 12 " Feb. 1869, 90 " blue " 12 " _Varieties._ 9 by 14 mm., 12 by 16½ rows, 1c., perf. 12. " " " 3c " " 12 by 17 " 30c " OBSERVATIONS. The colors are generally stronger than in those without the grille. The majority of the specimens of these stamps appear to have the surface of the paper tinted slightly with the color of the stamps, possibly from some imperfection in cleaning the plates. A few values have been noted on pure white paper. 1 cent, blue, small grille, perforated 12. 2 " black " " 12 10 " green " " 12 The 3 cents, rose, small grille, unperforated, has been noted, and 2 cents, black, grille, variety 4 { unperforated 3 " rose " " 4 { at the 5 " brown " " 4 { sides. The re-impressions of these designs did not have the grille. The five cents was in use up to September, 1870. Some specimens examined seem to indicate that all these varieties of grille are occasionally to be found reversed, i. e. they present the appearance on the face that is usually to be seen on the back, and vice versa. Of these stamps with the grille, there were, issued approximately the following numbers: 1 cent 9,638,600 2 cents 46,440,000 3 " 231,773,300 5 " 1,006,400 10 " 3,076,070 12 " 2,087,575 15 " 868,080 24 " 167,453 30 " 214,000 90 " 26,870 During the currency of these stamps, a new contract was entered into with the same company. A special despatch to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, dated Oct. 3rd, 1868 states: "Postmaster General Randall to-day accepted the proposal of the National Bank Note Company, of New York, for furnishing stamps for four years at 25½ cents per 1000. This includes everything required for preparing the stamps for immediate use, gumming, perforation printing and preparing receipts. The contractors are also required to furnish new designs, at least four of which must be printed in combination colors." The number of the several values of these stamps issued, with the _grille_ is approximated as above, it being not quite certain whether a few without the grille were not in stock at the dates from which the enumeration is made. XXII. THE ISSUE OF 1869. The New York Evening Post of October 6th, 1868, also contains a notice of; "THE NEW CONTRACT FOR POSTAGE STAMPS. In June last, Postmaster General Randall, advertised for proposals for furnishing the Government with postage stamps for a term of years. The Committee of experts appointed for the purpose, decided in favor of the National Bank Note Company, and on Saturday last, the Postmaster General awarded the contract to that Company for a term of four years. We have been shown proofs of the new stamps, and they reflect credit upon the artistic taste of the Company." Some of these proofs are then described. "One of the characteristics of the stamps manufactured by this Company is that the ink used prevents persons washing, and using the stamps a second time. The fiber in the centre of the stamp is broken completely, and they adhere better, while the ink of cancellation sinks into the paper. The engraving on these stamps are remarkable copies of historical pictures, and bear the test of microscopical examination." These are probably the only words of approbation to be found in the daily press among the host of comments upon these stamps, which by the terms of the contract were to be ready on the first of February, 1869. Messrs. Butler & Carpenter, of Philadelphia, had claimed to be entitled to the award on the ground that they had submitted a better bid than the National Bank Note Co., which resulted in delay and the appointment of the commission above mentioned. However, in March, 1869, the greater part if not all the values were printed and ready for issue, but were distributed to the public only as the stock of the old issue was exhausted. About the end of April they began to appear, and even in September only the 1, 2, 3 and 6 cents were to be obtained in the larger post offices. Already the public demanded that they should be replaced, and this was done in April, 1870. As late as March, 1870, the 90 cents of the previous issue was on sale in some of the offices. This unfortunate issue was generally received with approval by the Philatelic press. It is certainly well engraved, and forms an interesting and handsome series for the most part, and is an adornment to the collectors' album. But it is hardly so well suited to the practical requirements of a postage stamp. It was announced that the series was intended in some sort, to portray the history of the Post Office in the United States, beginning with Franklin, the Continental postmaster, and the post rider of the early days, followed by the locomotive of a later day, and the Ocean Steamer carrying the mails which had become so important a branch of the postal service, the most important scenes in the early history of the country, its triumphant arms, and Washington its first and Lincoln its last President. But hardly had it been issued before its doom was sealed. In August the New York Tribune says: "The greater part of the stamps sold at the Post Office in this city are worthless, and have not sufficient gum to make them stick to letters. One can be amused, or become indignant, in watching people who buy stamps, demanding a little mucilage from the clerk, in order to fasten the stamp on their envelopes. It appears that the invention of embossing which is continued in this emission, while it spoils the stamps, does not increase their adhesive properties as was pretended." Other papers pronounced the stamp too small. The comic papers exhibited caricatures in which the people were looking for their stamps in their pocket books with powerful microscopes. The Evening Telegram says: "The new United States postage stamps have a very un-American look." The Evening Mail says: "Our old postage stamps were really neat and pleasing in appearance. They were National and American, as they ought to have been. The head of Washington was venerable, and our three cent stamps were as perfect as they well could be. So also the one cent stamp with the head of Franklin was equally appropriate. There was a fitness of congruity in putting the head of the old, thrifty economist, on the one cent stamp. Our youth were reminded of the wise saws and sayings of "Poor Richard" and it taught them that if they learned to save the cents, the dollars were more likely to take care of themselves. But now think of the miserable, confused looking thing, with its wretched printing, that the Post Office has given us for the present three cent stamp. It is neither historical, national, beautiful, nor anything but a paltry evidence of the fact, that some engraver has got paid or will get paid for a job that ought never to have been done. Can our authorities not let well enough alone? Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, all have railroad engines such as ours. What is there in a big chimney on a railroad carriage to indicate the nationality of our postal system. Aye, but there are words, "United States Postage" on the stamp. Just so. We remember to have seen a boy's drawing on a sheet of paper, the words "this is a church" underneath, and certainly the artistic performance needed the index, but not more so than the new stamp requires a similar proclamation to tell the world what it means. And then again look at the printing of the word "Postage." Can our engravers do nothing better than that? We hope that the contractors have been paid for their work. If so, then let the post office folks give us back again our old head of Washington, and save us from looking at the contemptible thing that we are now getting in its stead." Another paper says: "The present miserable experiments in blue, with a meaningless legend, are to be recalled and something new in red is to be substituted. The old heads of Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Franklin and Lincoln are to be restored. It is about time that some definite form and design of postage stamp should be adopted, so that people may know to a certainty what mucilaged square of paper will carry a letter to its designation, and what not." The New York Herald says: "The old style of three cent postage stamps had thereon a face of Washington, out of compliment to a good man. It now has a railway scene to represent how Congressmen make money. The two cent stamp represents a man on horseback. This represents Booth's death ride into Maryland. The one cent stamp should represent a cow with the favorite son of the Covington postmaster fast to her tail. This out of compliment to Grant." An Eastern paper says: "The Government introduced the present nondescript things called postage stamps, for the purpose of frightening counterfeiters." And later the Herald says: "Another attempt is to be made to give us decent postage stamps. We suppose it will fail, as so many have hitherto. Our postal authorities try too much. If they will only take the Italian or French stamp, and put Washington's head in place of Victor Emanuel's, or Napoleon's, they cannot fail; but they will try some improvements and spoil all." The post office department announced the issue in the following circular: POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. _Finance Office, March 1st, 1869._ Sir: At an early day, in the regular course of business, the Department will issue to Postmasters stamps of new designs. [See description annexed.] In the proposed issue the six cent stamp is substituted for the five cents. You are required to exhaust all of the present style on hand, before supplying the public with the new; and in no case will you be allowed to make exchanges for individuals, or to return stamps to the Department to be exchanged. The stamps now in use are not to be disregarded, but must be recognized in all cases equally with the new ones. Special attention is called to the fact that sheets of all denominations below 15 cents contain 150 stamps. The 15 cents and all higher denominations, contain 100 stamps on each sheet. This must be borne in mind to prevent mistakes in counting, as in the present issue each denomination has but 100 stamps to the sheet. Special requests for the new style of stamps will be disregarded until the stock of the present issue in possession of the Department is exhausted. Due notice will be given of the date of issue of any new design of stamped envelopes, therefor all inquiries respecting them will be disregarded. (Signed.) A. N. ZEVELY, Third Assistant Postmaster General. The description upon the other side requires to be supplemented for collectors, but is incorporated in those following. ISSUE OF MARCH 19TH, 1869. Composed of ten values each of a different type. ONE CENT. Head of Franklin, in profile, looking to the left, on a circular disk horizontally lined, surrounded by a broad circle ornamented with colorless pearls, bordered by a band of rayed lines between fine white lines, with exterior fine colored line, and divided into three labels by ornaments at the sides and bottom. "_U. S. Postage_" at the top; large numeral "1" in a small oval (sic) with a border of colorless loops between the words "_One Cent_" at the bottom. Color, Roman ochre. Corners plain without color. Plate impression, circular, 20 by 20 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12, grilled and without grille. 1 cent, Roman ochre. TWO CENTS. Post horse and rider facing to the left, trees, fence, etc., in background, surrounded by ornamental scroll work, "_United States_" in small colored capitals on the ground above, a curtain inscribed "_Postage_" in colorless capitals at the top. "_Two Cents_" at the bottom on a ribbon with large numeral "2" between the words, both in outline shaded. Color, light bronze. Plate impression, 20 by 19 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12, grilled and without grille. 2 cents, yellow-brown, light and dark chestnut-brown. THREE CENTS. Locomotive heading to the right, surrounded by ornamental scroll work, "_United States_" in colored block capitals on a curved band, "_Postage_" in colorless capitals in a tablet beneath, at top. "_Three Cents_" in outline shaded block capitals, in two scrolls at the bottom, with numeral "3" in a shield (sic) between the words. Color, Imperial ultramarine blue. There is no shield as stated in the official description. Plate impression, 20 by 19 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12, grilled and without grille. 3 cents blue. SIX CENTS. Head of Washington, three quarters face looking to the right, on a ground of vertical and horizontal lines, bordered by a solid broad colored line, ornamented by 68 pearls. Spandrels checkered and bordered by colorless lines. Frame square, composed of vertically lined squares in the upper corners, with narrower horizontally lined label between, with a broad colored border, ornamented by pearls and exterior colorless and colored line above. The colored labels are narrower than the upper squares at the sides, and are bordered by colorless pearls and an interior white line, an exterior colorless and fine colored line. Horizontally lined label across the entire bottom, widened at the ends to correspond with the upper squares, with exterior colorless and colored line. "_U. S._" in upper left and right corners of frame respectively. The word "_Postage_" in upper bar of frame, "_Six Cents_" in lower, the numeral "6" between the words, and "_United States_" on each side. Color, ultramarine. Plate impression, 20 by 20 mm., square, in color, on white paper, perforated 12, grilled and possibly without grille. 6 cents blue. TEN CENTS. Shield of the United States on which is resting an eagle with outspread wings, looking to the left. "_United States_" in small colored capitals with "_Postage_" in large outline capitals, shaded in a second line beneath, in the upper section of the shield, numeral "10" in lower. The words "_Ten Cents_" in scroll at the bottom in outline shaded capitals. The whole design surrounded by thirteen stars arranged in a semicircle, (sic) color, orange. The background is rayed behind the eagle and the semicircle of stars are upon this only, the background behind the shield is of clouds, there is no frame. Plate impression, 19 by 18 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12 and grilled, possibly also without grille. 10 cents orange. TWELVE CENTS. Ocean Steam ship, headed to left in horizontal oval, surrounded by ornamented scroll work. In a double tablet with arched top on horizontally lined ground, and colored capitals in a curved line, "_United States_" and "_Postage_" in outline capitals on a solid ground. On three scrolls in outline capitals and numerals shaded, "_Twelve Cents_" at the bottom, with numeral "12" between the words. Color, malori green. Plate impression, 20 by 19 mm., in color, on white paper, slightly surfaced green, perforated 12 and grilled, possibly also without grille. 12 cents, green. FIFTEEN CENTS. Microscopic reproduction of the large picture, in the Capitol at Washington, of the "Landing of Columbus," in an oblong rectangle 20 by 10 mm., with rounded upper corners, surrounded at a little distance by a single colored line. Ornamental and scroll work at top and bottom on a ground ruled horizontally inside and vertically outside of the scrolls, the whole surrounded by a colorless and fine colored line. On a colorless tablet, in Gothic capitals, "_U. S._"; in a curved line of outline capitals on the ground, "_Postage_" at top. _Fifteen Cents_ at bottom, with numerals "15" underneath in outline colorless capitals, on the ground. Colors: picture, Prussian blue, scroll and ornamental work pale Indian red. Plate impression, 21½ by 21½ mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12, grilled and not grilled. The paper is more or less surfaced with blue. 15 cents blue and brown. NOTE. There are two varieties of this stamp, depending on the type, and an error, the latter was however never circulated. The line of the frame, above the picture, is curved up on the left hand, beginning under the O, and on the right hand beginning under the G, in what is called the O. G. curve, till the two meet in a point. In the ordinary variety there are two fine lines within the space left for the picture, which along the whole top, including the curved corners and this central double curve, are united in a heavy line and at about ½ a millimeter from the center line on each side, curve down, as well as up, to a point, forming a diamond. On the sides and bottom within this line, there is a shading of fine diagonal lines. When the picture is exactly in position, which is rare, the colored line surrounding it falls between these fine lines, and on the heavy curved line, just touching the lower part of the diamond. In the rarer variety, the two fine lines, the broad top line, and the bottom of the diamond are all omitted, the entire space is either empty or shows one, two or three horizontal lines across the top of the space, and three or four across the bottom, with a row of short horizontal lines at the sides. When the picture is in proper place there is an almost blank space at the top, and apparently a white line surrounding the picture. When it is misplaced the colored lines described can be seen and there appear to have been several varieties, as there were more or less of them. _The error_ is not as is sometimes supposed an error of printing, but in the plate. Two plates, one for each color, had to be used. Originally, there were 150 stamps as in the smaller values, (See circular of March 1st, 1869 above cited) but upon the plate for printing the picture, it is said one picture was reversed, and the error once discovered, the plate was cut down to print only 100 stamps as stated in the circular. It is probable that no copies with the error were ever circulated. TWENTY-FOUR CENTS. Microscopic reproduction of the large picture at the Capitol, of the "Signing of the Declaration of Independence" forming an oblong rectangle 20 by 10 mm., with all four corners cut off diagonally, surrounded by a fine colored line at a little distance. Ornamental scroll work at top and bottom on a lined ground. A line of pearls on a colored line, between a colorless and colored line, forms the frame for the picture. In block capitals "_U._" and "_S._" surrounded by ovals at upper left and right corners respectively, the word "_Postage_" between the two, in a curved line of outline capitals, shaded on the background. "_Twenty-four Cents_" in scrolls at bottom, with numeral "24" beneath in outline letters shaded. Colors: the picture, purple lake, scroll and ornamental work, light malori green. Just beneath the picture in small colored numerals, "1776." Plate impression, 21½ by 22 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12, grilled and not grilled. 24 cents, purple and green. NOTE. There is the same error of this stamp "reversed picture" stated to be from the same cause, a defect in the plate as for the 15 cents, and the same remarks apply. THIRTY CENTS. Eagle facing to left, with outspread wings, resting on shield with flags grouped on either side. The words "_United States Postage_" in upper section of shield. The numeral "30" in lower. The words "_Thirty Cents_" across the bottom, with three stars arranged in a semi-circle at top of the design. Colors: Eagle and Shield, carmine, flags blue. Except for the change of numerals and words of value, the omission of the scroll, and the substitution of the two flags on each side for the clouds, the design, though not the drawing of this stamp is identical with the ten cents. "Thirty cents" is however in block letters, the T Y C E in outline, the rest shaded. Plate impression, 21½ by 22 mm., in color, on white paper, slightly tinted with pink, perforated 12, grilled and not grilled. 30 cents, carmine and blue. _Error._ There is also an error of this stamp in which the flags are reversed. It is also stated to be an error on the plate, but may be only an error in printing. NINETY CENTS. Portrait of Lincoln in an oval, looking to the right, surrounded by ornamental scroll work, numerals "90" at each of the upper corners, set diagonally in outline, and shaded on vertically lined ground. On a label with rayed ground, edged by a colorless and colored line, in outline capitals shaded, "_U. S. Postage_" at top of oval. "_Ninety_" and "_Cents_" on scrolls at the lower left and right corners of oval respectively, set diagonally and in colored capitals. In outline Gothic capitals "_U._" and "_S._" at the lower left and right corners of the stamp respectively. Colors: portrait black, surrounding ornamental and scroll work, carmine. It may be well to add that the portrait is three quarters face, on a square hatched ground, and a single colored line in same color surrounds the oval at a little distance. The space left in the frame for the picture is bordered by fine short horizontal lines, which show when the picture is not properly placed. Plate impression, 21½ by 21½ mm. square, in two colors, on white paper, slightly surfaced pink, perforated 12, grilled and not grilled. 90 cents, black and carmine. The grille in this series is a square 9½ by 9½ mm. composed of 11½ rows of 12 smaller squares each, apparently separated by raised lines crossing each other at right angles, each little square divided by depressed diagonals also, as if produced by forcing a series of pyramids set close together, but not touching, into the face of the stamp. Seen from the reverse, the dividing lines are depressed and the squares stand up like pyramids, with ragged edges showing the broken fibre of the paper. The numbers of the several values of this issue is approximated as follows: 1 cent, 24,988,100 2 cents, 114,058,000 3 cents 530,346,800 6 cents, 6,363,700 10 cents, 5,770,130 12 cents, 4,088,875 15 cents, 2,360,740 24 cents, 414,325 30 cents 513,180 90 cents, 77,650 XXIII. THE ISSUE OF 1870. In the report of the Postmaster General for the year ending the 30th of June, 1870, under date of Nov. 15th, 1870, he says: The adhesive postage stamps adopted by my predecessor in 1869, having failed to give satisfaction to the public, on account of their small size, their unshapely form, the inappropriations of their designs, the difficulty of cancelling them effectually, and the inferior quality of gum used in their manufacture, I found it necessary in April last, to issue new stamps of larger size, superior quality of gum and new designs. As the contract then in force contained a provision that the stamps should be changed, and new designs and plates furnished at the pleasure of the Postmaster General, without additional cost to the department, I decided to substitute an entire new series, one-third larger in size, and to adopt for designs the heads, in profile, of distinguished deceased Americans. This style was deemed the most eligible, because it not only afforded the best opportunity for the exercise of the highest grade of artistic skill in composition and execution, but also appeared to be the most difficult to counterfeit. The designs were selected from marble busts of acknowledged excellence, as follows: One cent, Franklin, after Rubricht; two cents, Jackson, after Powers; three cents, Washington, after Houdon; six cents, Lincoln, after Volk; ten cents, Jefferson, after Powers' statue; twelve cents, Clay, after Hart; fifteen cents, Webster, after Clevenger; twenty-four cents, Scott, after Coffee; thirty cents, Hamilton, after Cerrachi; ninety cents, Commodore O. H. Perry, profile bust, after Walcott's statue. The stamps were completed and issues of them began in April last. The superior gum with which they are coated is not the least of the advantages derived from the change. Upon the conclusion of the postal treaty with the North German Confederation, fixing the single letter rate by direct steamers at seven cents, to take effect the 1st of July last, a stamp of that denomination was adopted, and the profile bust of the late Edwin M. Stanton selected for the design. This has been completed in a satisfactory manner, but owing to the temporary discontinuance of the direct mail steamship service to North Germany, it has not yet been issued to postmasters. It may not be uninteresting to remark that the following stamps were adapted among other uses, to the payment of the rates under postal treaties as follows; 6 cents, England, Dec. 3d, 1869; Sandwich Islands, May 5th, 1870; British Columbia, July 15th, 1870; Germany, March 31st, 1871. 7 cents, Germany, April 7th, 1870; Denmark, Dec. 1st 1871. 10 cent, Italy, Feb. 8th, 1870; Belgium, March 1st, 1870; Switzerland, April 13, 1870; Salvador, Oct. 5th, 1870. 12 cents, British Honduras, August 11th. 1869; New Zealand, Oct. 5th, 1870. 15 cents, Brazil, May 9th, 1870. The series being ready for issue, was announced to the various Postmasters in the following: CIRCULAR TO POSTMASTERS. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Office of Third Assistant Postmaster General, _April 9th, 1870_. New Series of Postage Stamps. At an early date in the regular course of business, the Department will issue to Postmasters, postage stamps of a new design. [See description annexed.] You are required to exhaust all of the present style on hand before supplying the public with the new; and in no case will you be allowed to make exchanges for individuals or to return stamps to the Department to be exchanged. The stamps now in use are not to be disregarded, but must be recognized in all cases equally with the new ones. The stamps known as the series of 1861, of which a few are supposed to be yet outstanding, are also to be recognized. Those issued prior to the commencement of the war of the Rebellion were long since declared to be valueless. Special attention is called to the fact that each sheet, of all denominations of the new series, contains but 100 stamps. This must be borne in mind to prevent mistakes in counting, as in the present issue some of the denominations have 150 stamps to the sheet. Special requests for the new style of stamps will be disregarded until the stock of the present issue, in possession of the Department, is exhausted. [ * * * * relating to envelopes to be issued to conform * * * * ] [Signed] Wm. H. Terrell, Third Assistant Postmaster General. [The "description annexed" is on the other side and is merely a list of values, the bust from which the portrait was copied, the color, etc., exactly following that in the extract from the Postmaster General's report above.] The exact date of issue is fixed by the Postmaster General's report, as May, 1870. ISSUE OF MAY, 1870. Composed of ten values as follows: ONE CENT. Bust of Benj. Franklin, in profile to the left, after Rubricht, on an oval disk, lined horizontally and obliquely, bordered by a broad colorless line and exterior colored fine line. Outside of this a series of colorless curved lines, bordered by fine colored lines, and foliated at the corners on a ground of parallel vertical colored lines, completes the rectangle. There is no enclosing colored line at top or bottom. Short horizontal colored lines form the shadows of the oval and ornaments. The upper corners are formed by a line curved round from the oval and terminating in a large ball, a second line curving round from this and continued along the top, ending in two foliations with a small leaf-shaped dash beyond. There is a large ball at the intersection of these lines in the corner of the stamp. A slightly curved line continues down from the corner, forming the sides. The lower corner being formed by a curved line starting in a dot, curving upward and round, and terminating inside the side lines in a large foliation with three balls above it. The bottom is formed of a waved line. These are all distinct and plain colorless lines between fine colored lines, and about the width of the line surrounding the oval. The ornaments in the corners have shadows beneath, and on the inner edges, and the side lines have shadows on the outer edges, formed of short horizontal lines. The oval has heavy shadows similarly formed. The vertical lines of the background are fine, and of even width throughout. Above the oval, a thin colorless line, bordered by a fine colored line, within and without, parallel with the oval, but curved round at the ends to meet it, forms a label inscribed in outline capitals, "_U. S. Postage_," shaded without on a rectangularly hatched ground. Below the oval a large outline pearled numeral "1" shaded without, divides the lower border line, and a similar line parallel to the border line, but terminated at each end by a ball, forms a label inscribed in outline capitals "_One Cent_" shaded outside on a rectangularly hatched ground. Above this label are three small white pearls on each side of the numeral. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent, imperial ultramarine. TWO CENTS. Bust of Andrew Jackson, in profile to the left, after Powers, on an oval disk lined horizontally and doubly obliquely, bordered by a broad white line and fine exterior colored line, the whole super-imposed on a shield, with ground of vertical colored lines, and bordered by a very fine colored exterior line. The shield is curved in at the top, corners diagonal, sides curved in and then out, bottom rounded and rests on a background of horizontal colored lines. There are no exterior lines on the sides. Below the oval, a large outline numeral "2" divides a colorless ribbon bordered by fine colored lines, and inscribed "_Two Cents_" in outline colored capitals shaded outside, on a background of short vertical colored lines. Above the oval, a band bordered by a colorless line edged by fine colored lines, extends nearly to the outer edge of the stamp, and is inscribed, "_U. S. Postage_" in outline colorless capitals, shaded outside on a rectangularly hatched ground. The shadows of the shield are made by short vertical lines, those of the oval by short horizontal lines. The shield is ornamented by fine laurel leaves on each side, just above the lower label. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 2 cents, velvet brown. THREE CENTS. Bust of Geo. Washington, after Houdon, in profile to left, on oval disk with horizontally lined ground, and occasional diagonal latticed hatchings, bordered by a broad colorless line with exterior fine colored line, resting on a shield with vertically lined ground, on a background of horizontal lines, with a border line on the right side but none on the left. Above the oval, a band bordered by a colorless line, with a ball on each end and three little foliations above on each side, all edged by a fine colored line inscribed "_U. S. Postage_," in outline capitals, shaded outside on a horizontally lined ground. Below the oval a large numeral "3," shaded outside, divides a ribbon bordered by a colored line, and inscribed in similar capitals, "_Three Cents_" on a ground of short vertical lines. The shadows of the oval are made by short colored horizontal lines, and those of the shield by vertical lines. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 3 cents, malori green. SIX CENTS. Bust of Abraham Lincoln, in profile to the left, after Volk, on an oval disk lined horizontally and doubly lined obliquely, bordered by a colorless line. On a depressed panel, lined horizontally, the sides projected, darker than the frame of fine vertical lines which surrounds it, completes the rectangle. There is no terminal line at the sides. Above the oval a yoke-shaped label, bordered by a colorless line, edged by fine colored lines, inscribed "_U. S. Postage_" in outline colorless capitals, shaded outside on a ground of horizontal lines. Below the oval is a ribbon bordered by fine colored lines, inscribed in the same letters, "_Six Cents_" divided by a large outline numeral "6," on a ground of short colored vertical lines. A distinct line borders the depressed panel all the way around, being heaviest on the left side. The shadows of the oval and depressed panel are made by vertical colored lines, and those of the upper and lower labels are made by horizontal colored lines. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 6 cents, cochineal red. TEN CENTS. Bust of Thomas Jefferson, in profile to left, after Powers, on an oval disk, lined horizontally, and obliquely from right to left, bordered by a colorless line with exterior colored line, on a shield bordered by a fine colored line, vertically lined, on a rectangular background, which is lined horizontally. Above the oval a label formed by a colorless line edged by a colored exterior line, curved round from the oval line at the ends, and then parallel with it, having a small ball ornament at each end, is inscribed "_U. S. Postage_" in outline capitals, shaded outside, on a ground of vertical lines, except at the ends, where the lines are horizontal. Below the oval, on a ribbon bordered by colored lines, in the same letters "_Ten Cents_," on a ground of short vertical lines, the words separated by large outline numerals "10." Shadows of the oval in short horizontal lines crossed by lines parallel to the oval. Shadows of the lower ribbon in vertical lines. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 10 cents, chocolate. TWELVE CENTS. Bust of Henry Clay, after Hart, in profile to the left, on an oval disk, closely lined horizontally, and bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines, surrounded by labels bordered without by a second colorless line, between fine colored lines, but curved inwards, crossed and the sides united in a vertical line at the sides of the stamp, the whole arranged in a double tablet formed by vertical lines, terminated by an outside colored line at top and bottom. The outer edges representing a chamfer are horizontally lined. A little distance from the edge, a series of diagonal lines between two parallel lines, represent a beveled edge, making the parts within appear higher. The upper label is inscribed "_U. S. Postage_," in outline capitals, doubly shaded outside, on a ground of horizontal lines. The lower label is inscribed, "_Twelve Cents_," in outline block capitals, doubly shaded on a ground of horizontal lines. Large outline numerals "12," doubly shaded, divide the lower band and separate the words. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 12 cents, neutral tint. FIFTEEN CENTS. Bust of Daniel Webster, in profile to the left, after Clevenger, on an oval disk, very closely lined horizontally and obliquely, bordered by a colorless line, on a vertically lined background, with no terminal line at the top or bottom. There is a triangular depression represented in each of the four corners by horizontally lined ground and shade lines, and mitered at the angles. Above the oval and following its outline, is a label indicated by a colorless line between fine colored lines, square at the ends with a ball beyond, inscribed on a horizontally lined ground in colorless capitals, outlined by colored lines and shaded without, "_U. S. Postage_." Below the oval is a similarly formed label with pointed ends, inscribed in the same letters on horizontally lined ground, "_Fifteen Cents_," divided by large pearled numerals "15." Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 15 cents, orange. TWENTY-FOUR CENTS. Bust of Winfield Scott, in profile to the left, after Coffee, on an oval disk closely lined horizontally, and bordered by a colorless line with exterior colored line, on a rectangular background of horizontal lines. Above and following the line of the oval are thirteen five pointed stars, two at each end plain, and one letter of the inscription "_U. S. Postage_" in colored block capitals in each of the others. Above these and parallel to the oval is a colorless line between colored lines, divided and curving into two balls below, but curving into a single ball above and shaded by another colored line. Above these in each corner on a solid ground of color, bordered by a similar arrangement of lines, etc., in colorless block numerals "24." Below the oval is a label inscribed "_Twenty Four_," with another beneath it inscribed "_Cents_," both indicated by a colorless line between colored lines, with a horizontally lined background. The letters are colorless block capitals. In the lower left corner are flags and cannon, and in the right three muskets stacked. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 24 cents, pure purple. THIRTY CENTS. Bust of Alexander Hamilton, in profile to the left, after Cerrachi, on an oval disk horizontally and obliquely lined, bordered by a colorless line with outer colored line, on a shield shaped panel vertically lined, the edges beveled and obliquely lined, resting on a background of horizontal lines. The upper corners of the panel project beyond the rest at top and sides, the sides project beyond the curved bottom, the shadows of the oval on the shield are indicated by short horizontal lines; those of the shield by vertical lines. Across the curved top of the shield is a colorless line bordered by outside colored lines. Across the top of the shield in a double curve of outline capitals, shaded outside, "_U. S. Postage_." Below the oval, a small shield, outlined by a colorless line between colored lines, bears the outlined numerals "30," shaded outside on ground of horizontal lines, dividing a ribbon outlined by colored lines, inscribed "_Thirty Cents_," in colored spurred capitals, on a ground of vertical lines. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 30 cents, black. NINETY CENTS. Bust of Com. O. H. Perry, in profile to left, after Wolcutt, on an oval disk bordered by a colorless line with exterior colored line. The upper half of this line is covered by a cable, rove at each end to a ring, that supports the lower label. Above the oval a label with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line, with exterior colored line following the oval, the ends curved outward and inward in a sort of foliation, is inscribed "_U. S. Postage_" in outline capitals, shaded outside. A five pointed star in each corner. Below the oval, the lower label, square at the ends, with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line and outer colored line, is inscribed "_Ninety Cents_," in outline block capitals, shaded outside. There is a heavy shadow beneath the label, an anchor in each lower corner. The whole is on a vertically lined panel chamfered at the top, bottom and sides. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 90 cents, carmine. ISSUE OF JULY 1870. SEVEN CENTS. Bust of Secretary Edwin M. Stanton, in profile to left, on an oval disk, closely lined horizontally, bordered by a colorless line. Above and below, a label bordered by a colorless line following the outline of the oval, but curved round and terminated inside by a ball at each end. The whole on a panel, vertically lined, with rounded corners, and large ball on a rectangular background of horizontal lines. The labels are inscribed in outline capitals, shaded outside on a hatched ground, the upper, "_U. S. Postage_," the lower, "_Seven Cents_," divided by a large outline numeral "7," doubly shaded outside. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 7 cents, vermilion. All these values were first issued with a grille, of which there are several sizes, but on many, if not most, even of unused specimens it is so indistinct that it is impossible to distinguish the outlines, measure the size, or count the squares. Some very perfect unused specimens have been examined however, and on the face it appears to be composed of horizontal rows of depressed diamonds, divided by alternate rows of smaller raised diamonds, with deep-depressed lines along the sides of the latter. On the reverse, the appearance is of rows of squares divided by depressed lines, with little raised crosses in each square. By these specimens it has also been determined, that there were at least two distinct sizes of grille. The first measures 10½ by 12½ mm., composed of 13 by 15½ rows of squares. Perfect specimens of the 1, 2, 3, 7 and 10 cent so grilled, have been found, and satisfactory specimens of the 6, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. The other variety measures 8½ by 10½ mm., and is composed of 10 by 13 rows of squares. Perfect specimens of the 1, 2, 3 and 7 cents so grilled have been found, but no satisfactory specimens of any other value. Specimens with only a few distinct squares, are comparatively common. The difficulty of arriving at accurate measurement, is increased when the specimens examined have been used, but apparently the larger of the above grilles was gradually cut down row by row to the smaller, as specimens of the 1, 2 and 3 cents, the most used values, are found undoubtedly grilled. 10½ by 12½ mm., or 13 by 17 rows. 10 " 12 " " 13 " 15 " 9 " 11½ " " 12 " 15 " 9 " 11 " " 11 " 14 " 8½ " 10 " " 11 " 13 " These all now bear a deep yellow or brown gum. The colors are very uniform. As stated by the passage quoted above, there are 100 stamps, or ten rows of ten stamps in the so called sheet, or properly half sheet, there being 200 on the plate. The imprint was either "Engraved and printed by the," in one line, "National Bank Note Co., New York," in a second line in colorless capitals, on a solid ground, with pearled edges and outer fine colored line, or the second line above without pearls on colored ground, bordered by a double colored line. The author cannot state whether all the values bore both imprints, having only seen the 1, 2 and 3 cents with the first, and the 30 and 90 with the second, the latter without the grille. These imprints are placed 2 mm. from the stamps, above and below the 5th and 6th rows on each half sheet, the plate number being between the 8th and 9th rows. The line on which the sheets are divided is indicated by three lines forming a sort of arrow head, at the top and bottom of the sheet. The center rows of stamps are 2½ mm. apart, and there are no perforations between them. The vertical rows of perforation are 22½ mm. apart horizontally. The horizontal rows 27½ mm. apart vertically, but the upper and lower rows are sometimes 28½ and sometimes 29½ mm. apart. If a sheet is selected, where the vertical rows are so far from the center line as to cut into the stamps, and the horizontal rows too high or too low, and a stamp from the top or bottom of the row next to the center cut line is selected, and the perforations carefully cut off, specimens can be made that have a much larger margin than the ordinary perforated stamps, and might easily pass as unperforated. This may not account for all the unperforated specimens, some of which may be the result of accident, but all the values of this series and the following may be so made unperforated, and have been so catalogued. The number of these stamps issued with grille, is estimated as follows: 1 cent, 95,127,100. 2 cents, 208,375,550. 3 " 962,467,790. 6 " 21,600,900. 7 " 2,070,800. 10 cents 8,509,280. 12 " 2,857,975. 15 " 4,299,220. 24 " 637,450. 30 " 711,430. 90 " 165,180. ISSUE WITHOUT GRILLE (1873?) The use of the grille was finally abandoned altogether. The first notice of this change appeared in the stamp papers of February, 1873. They were made by the same company, and are in all respects the same, except the embossing. 1 cent, imperial ultramarine, perforated 12. 2 cents, velvet brown " " 3 " milori green " " 6 " cochineal " " 7 " vermilion " " 10 " chocolate " " 12 " purple " " 15 " orange " " 24 " pure purple " " 30 " black " " 90 " carmine " " The colors do not vary materially from those of the grilled series, but there are two quite distinct shades of the twelve cents, a blackish purple and a brownish tint. ISSUE OF 1873. In accordance with the provisions of the general law, before the expiration of the contract with the National Bank Note Company, the Postmaster General advertised in the daily papers, in December, 1872, that he would receive bids for furnishing the Department with postage stamps from the 1st of May, 1873, to the 1st of May, 1877. This contract, as well as the subsequent one which terminated the 1st of July, 1881, was awarded to the Continental Bank Note Company, of New York. The dies and plates, by the terms of the contract with the National Bank Note Company, were the property of the Government, and were turned over to the new contractors, who continued to print the stamps from the same plates, until they were worn out, and theoretically in the same colors. As new plates were required from time to time, they were made from the original dies, but bore the imprint of the new contractor, which resembles the first one described as used by the National Company, but reads "Printed by the" in the first line, "Continental Bank Note Co., New York," in the second line. This imprint probably, was not put upon one of the values above 15 cents. In fact the 30 and 90 cents sent out just before, and for some years after the expiration of the second contract awarded to this Company, bore the second named imprint of the National Bank Note Company. Specimens are found which show the heavier border lines and shadows of the different parts of the design, the fine lines of the background, of the tablets, and sometimes of the shields, being invisible to the eye, though more or less of them can generally be traced with a glass. These collectors have designated as "plain frames," as they appear to be without color. They are, really, defective impressions either from worn plates, when the plates made by the National Bank Note Company, were giving out in 1873, or from the poor results of the process of printing adopted, as is claimed by the Postmaster General. But similar varieties have certainly appeared, and for like causes, at other times. Collectors of curiosities will find: 1 cent plain frame, perforated 12. 2 cents " " " " 3 " " " " " 6 " " " " " 10 " " " " " The stamps from the plates with the imprint of this Company, now bear on the back a white gum, and not the brownish, used by the National Bank Note Company, which will help to distinguish impressions made by them from the old plates. The colors, however, are not identical, and will further serve to distinguish them. There may be exceptions, but ordinarily the ONE CENT is a pure indigo, without the red or ultramarine cast, of those printed previously, whether lighter or deeper impressions are chosen. The TWO CENTS has also lost its reddish tone, and is a dull brown, with a tendency to blackish-brown, whether lighter or deeper in shade. The THREE CENTS is of a duller and generally a pale shade. The SIX CENTS is much lighter and is a washy pink. The SEVEN CENTS is a more yellowish vermilion. The TEN CENTS approaches very nearly to the original shade of the two cents, but is a little more of a blackish brown, very unlike the delicate original shade. The oval and face lines are dark and heavy. The FIFTEEN CENTS is a much paler orange. The higher values, TWENTY-FOUR, THIRTY and NINETY CENTS, have a thinner tone than the deep rich color of the former Company's work. In the meantime, the following changes were announced in a circular to postmasters: POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Stamps, Stamped Envelopes & Postal Cards. _Washington, D. C., June 21st, 1875._ The Department is prepared to commence the issue of postage stamps of the denomination of five (5) cents to meet the new letter rate of postage, under the treaty of Berne, to the following countries, viz: [Here follow the names of all countries that had then joined the Postal Union, to which five cents was the rate.] The new five cent stamp is designed from a bust of Gen. Zackary Taylor in full face, and printed in dark blue color. The changes in foreign postages will render unnecessary the further use of the 7, 12 and 24 cent stamps and stamped envelopes, and they will accordingly be discontinued. In order to avoid the liability to mistake caused by the near similarity in color between the two cent and ten cent stamp, the former will in future be printed in vermilion, the color of the discontinued seven cent stamp. [Here follows directions to use up the stock of the discontinued stamps and envelopes, whenever they can be utilized.] (Signed.) E. W. BARBER, Third Assistant Postmaster General. ISSUE OF JULY 1ST, 1875. TWO CENTS. Same design, and from the same die and plate as the previous brown impression, the color only changed. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 2 cents, vermilion. ISSUE OF OCTOBER 5TH, 1875. One of the New York daily papers in April, 1882, speaking of the new five cent stamp (Garfield) about to be issued, says: The history of the current five cent stamp with Taylor's portrait is as follows: The rates for international postage had been decided upon as 5 cents, the United States series of postage stamps had not such a value. Mr. Jewell, the Postmaster General at the time, suggested to President Grant the propriety of having his portrait on the new stamp of the required value. Gen. Grant did not agree with his Cabinet officer. Finally, he suggested that if Mr. Jewell would insist upon consulting his wishes, he (Gen. Grant) would be well pleased if the portrait of old Zack Taylor, with whom he served in the Mexican war, could be used on the new stamp. Instead of instructing the then contractors to prepare a portrait of Gen. Taylor, which would be in harmony with the other stamps of the series, Mr. Jewell found in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a portrait of Taylor, which had been used on the old tobacco strip series. This portrait was transmogrified into the five cent stamp. It was badly engraved and of wretched color. ISSUE OF OCTOBER 5TH, 1875. FIVE CENTS. Bust of General Zachary Taylor, full face, on an oval disk lined horizontally and obliquely, the horizontal lines growing closer and closer towards the top, surrounded by a colorless line with outer colored line, and resting on a shield, vertically lined, and bordered by an exterior colored line, all on a background of colored horizontal lines, the shadows of short horizontal lines. Above the oval is a label, bordered by a colorless line between fine colored lines, and curved round and divided at the ends, the outer part terminating in a ball, horizontally lined and inscribed "_U. S. Postage_," in outline capitals shaded without. Below the oval is a ribbon, bordered by a colored line, and inscribed "_Five Cents_," the words divided by a large numeral "5", all in outline capitals, shaded without on a ground of short vertical lines. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 5 cents, dark blue. The stamp is identical with the two and ten cent values, with the value changed, and the portrait of Taylor from the six ounce tobacco stamp of the "series of 1871," placed in the medallion. Both the two cent vermilion and the five cent blue, bear the imprint "Printed by the Continental Bank Note Company," which also prepared the tobacco stamp in question. These two stamps have been chronicled as having been issued grilled. The error crept into the French edition of this work likewise, but they were at least never so issued for circulation. All the values as issued by this company have likewise been chronicled as unperforated. If they are not accounted for as indicated under the remarks made on page 172, they are the result of accident. In many cases indistinct dots can be seen where the perforating machine failed to do its work. Such specimens are curious but do not require more than mention. Before the second contract with the Continental Bank Note Co. expired, it was consolidated with the American Bank Note Co. under, the name of the American Bank Note Company, and new plates began to appear with the imprint of this company, in large colored block capitals, shaded by a colored line parallel to the letters and an outside row of lighter horizontal lines. The one, two, three, five and ten are found with this imprint, without material change. The seven, twelve and twenty-four cent having long been retired are not to be looked for with this imprint, and the fifteen, thirty and ninety cents at this time were still printed from the plates, with the imprint of the Continental Bank Note Co. The gum has the white shade and the colors are the same as used by that company. The _one cent_ of the dull indigo blue. The _two cents_ has a misty look. The _three cents_ inclines to a blue-green. The _five cents_ has heavier lines and is a darker blue. The _ten cents_ returns to the light appearance of the original of 1870 but is of the yellow-brown shade. ISSUE OF APRIL 10TH, 1882. With the letting of the contract for another term in June, 1881, the American Bank Note Company again secured the contract. Soon after the death of President Garfield, it was proposed that his portrait should be placed on the five cent stamp used for foreign postage, and the stamp printed in mourning, as was said to have been done with the fifteen cent stamp, then used for foreign postage, after the death of President Lincoln. The stamp with the head of Taylor, it was said had been hurriedly gotten up, and did not correspond with the rest of the series. By direction of Postmaster General James, the American Bank Note Co. therefore prepared the new stamp, after a photograph of President Garfield. Mrs. Garfield was consulted, and proofs in various colors were, it is said, submitted to her. Instead of black, she finally selected a vandyke brown. The first proofs were in black, and at the request of Mrs. Garfield it is stated, the Postmaster General sent one of them, mounted on card and placed in a frame of silver, surrounded by a second frame of gold, on a background of purple velvet, and protected by a glass in an ebony frame, to Her Majesty, the Queen of England. From the correspondence columns of the daily papers, we learn that the Department received the first invoice of these stamps at Washington, the 7th of February, 1882, and that it was expected to begin the issue the 1st of March, following. Mr. Durbin obtained some copies which he used on St. Valentines day. But the stamps were not distributed from the offices until the 10th of April, 1882 and were then sold only as the supply of the old ones was exhausted. This is the date officially given by the report of Postmaster General for the year, and the same date is also given by the New York papers. The description given by the Postmaster General it is not necessary to repeat. ISSUE OF APRIL 10TH, 1882. FIVE CENTS. Portrait in profile to the left, of President Garfield, in an oval disk 16 by 20 mm., lined horizontally and obliquely, and bordered by a line of colorless pearls on a broad colored band, resting on a shield lined horizontally, and bordered by a colored line, very heavy on the right side and at the bottom, and an exterior fine colorless line at the bottom and sides, all on a back ground of horizontal lines bordered at the sides by a terminal line of color. The shield is square at the top, of the width of the stamp, with perpendicular sides not quite so far apart, the corners being slanted back, and is pointed at the bottom which is formed of two diagonal lines. A large solid six pointed star, bordered by a colorless line and exterior colored line covers the lower point of the shield and a part of the pearled border, and bears a large colorless numeral "5." On each side of this a ribbon indicated by a colored line, inscribed on left "_Five_," on right "_Cents_," in outline capitals, on a ground of short vertical lines. On the background of the stamp, beneath all, "_U. S. Postage_" in colored block letters, shaded on the left and top by colorless lines. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 5 cents, dark chocolate. ISSUE OF NOVEMBER, 1882. Without any notice to the postmasters or the public, new plates were made by the American Bank Note Company, and slight changes were made in the engraving. These began to appear in November, 1882, and may be found in the one three, six and ten cent values. ONE CENT. The vertical lines of the background are thickened in the upper half and so nearly touch, that the ground now appears solid and in fact from the running of the ink, sometimes really is solid. The curved ornamental lines in the upper corners and the balls are now shaded with one or more interior colored lines, instead of being plain. The exterior shading of horizontal lines is omitted here, at the ends of the upper labels, and also outside of the side lines, and is very faint under the lower ornaments and label. (_a_) The first impressions of this altered plate are in an ashey blue and, the upper ornaments are rendered indistinct by the interior lines. There is a whitish space, like a reflection beneath the bust. (_b_) Later impressions in 1886, show the upper ornaments more distinctly white, and shaded outside again by lines parallel to their curves. A heavy shadow now appears under the bust, the ground being almost solid where it falls. The color by daylight is again slightly of the ultramarine cast, but differing only slightly from the ashey hue by gaslight. (_c_) Later impressions in 1887, show the return to the heavy upper ornaments, but their exterior shading remains as in (b). The ground work of the oval is uniform and there is no light or dark shadow under the bust. The ultramarine is of a more pronounced cast by daylight. TWO CENTS. There seems to have been no change beyond that already mentioned, as the design was soon changed. THREE CENTS. The altered die beside the other appears quite different, but a close examination is necessary to determine the differences at first. Once detected, they are very apparent. The lines of ground of the oval are heavier. The cross lines can still be seen with the glass, and the part behind the head is now crossed by vertical lines also. The shadows of the upper ornaments are now solid, and the horizontal lines cannot be detected. The shadows of the oval are also solid, and about half as broad as in the other die. The horizontal lines can be seen by the glass, but are very light. This is the most conspicuous difference. The vertical shadow lines under the lower label are omitted. The shield in the old die has a ground of horizontal lines on the right side, with an outside vertical border line, and two fine vertical lines on the horizontal lines form the shadow of the shield. The altered die has the three vertical lines, but the horizontal lines are omitted to the point where the bottom line begins. The color is a blue-green, not yellow-green as before. SIX CENTS. The ground work of the oval, is practically solid or mottled, that of the panel nearly so. The border line cannot be distinguished from the ground, while in the original issue, not only is the border line distinct, but in the "sallie" the fine vertical shadow lines can be counted inside, and on the right side three, very close together, and four lines besides these between the panel and the edge, counting the outside line. In the new, none of these shadows exist, and there are only _three_ lines between the panel and the edge, including the outside line. In the old, on the right side, there are fourteen lines in the frame above and below the projection. In the new there are thirteen above, and eleven below. The color is a brick red, neither the cochineal or pink previously used. TEN CENTS. The frame lines have all been strengthened as well as those of the background, so that the entire stamp is more uniform in engraving and color, but has entirely lost its light look. The edges no longer fade away, but stand out sharp from the paper. It is apparent to the eye that the space between the oval and the shield, is reduced one-third its width. There are only four vertical lines between the line of the shield and the line of the oval at their nearest point on the left, or six lines in all; in the originals, there were five lines, or seven in all. Beneath the ribbon containing the value in the old stamps, the horizontal lines of the background are scarcely visible, the vertical shade lines being conspicuous. In the new the horizontal lines are strong and clear. (_a_) The earliest impressions are in muddy yellow brown, quite uniform all over the stamp. (_b_) Later impressions, in 1886, are in a clearer shade of yellow-brown, and the light on the face has been increased, much improving the effect. (_c_) An odd purple-brown shade appeared in 1886. (_d_) A dark black-brown shade is now, 1887, in use. THE ISSUE OF OCTOBER, 1883. The Act of the 47th Congress, Session II, Chapter 92, approved March 3d, 1883, provided that: "Upon all matter of the 1st class [as defined by chapter 180 of the laws of Congress, approved March 3d, 1879, entitled: An Act, etc.] postage shall be charged on and after the first day of October, A. D. 1883, at the rate of two cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof, and all acts so far as they fix a different rate of postage than herein provided upon said first class matter, are to that extent hereby repealed." The report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General under date of November 8th, 1883, says: "Soon after the passage of the Act of March 3d, 1883, preparations were begun to carry the new law into effect. The change left the 3 cent denomination of postage stamps of little utility, it no longer representing the single rate of postage on any class of matter, and it was determined to discontinue its issue. As the public would have undoubtedly regarded with disfavor, the dropping of Washington from portraits, forming the distinguishing feature in the series of postage stamps, it was decided to replace the old 2 cent stamp by a new one bearing the profile of the first president, thus restoring it to its old place on the stamp in most general use. It was also decided to issue a new stamp of the value of four cents, a denomination not previously in use, and designed to cover two rates of letter postage. The portrait of Jackson, formerly on the 2 cent stamp, was transferred to this new (four cent) stamp. The following is a brief description of the new stamp: TWO CENT STAMP. An oblong shield, slightly shouldered on the upper square, the lower lines terminating in a point. Within this shield is an oval containing a profile bust of George Washington engraved in line, surrounded by a ribbon ending with small scrolls bearing the legend "United States Postage," in white letters. From each end of the scrolls a chain of pearls completes the outlines of the oval. A prominent white-faced figure "2" laps over the lower centre point of the oval and shield, dividing the words "Two Cents." The whole is enclosed in a dark upright square to give relief to the device. The stamp is printed in dark red. FOUR CENT STAMP. Over an oval containing a bust of Andrew Jackson in profile, is a ribbon with the legend "United States Postage," in white letters. A string of pearls forms round the lower half of the oval and unites the two ends of the ribbon. At the lower part of the oval, on either side, appears the figure "4," and under that the words "Four Cents," with a star on each side, all engraved in white faced letters. The whole device is inclosed in an upright oblong tablet. The stamp is printed in green. It is worthy of notice that these are the first postage stamps ever bearing the words "United States Postage" in full, the name of the country being abbreviated to "U. S." on all other stamps * * * Postmasters were notified by circular of the coming change of postage, and intrusted to make their requisitions for 3 cent stamps and envelopes sufficient only for carefully estimated needs to the 1st October. * * * The issue of the new 2 cent and 4 cent stamped envelopes was commenced on the 1st September, and of the 2 and 4 cent adhesive stamps on the 15th September; and they were so generally distributed by the 1st October that the change of postage was attended with but little inconvenience for want of the necessary stamps." The circular issued to postmasters read as follows: POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Office of Third Assistant Postmaster General. _Washington, D. C., July 18th, 1883._ On and after the first day of October, 1883, the rate of postage on domestic mail matter of the first class, will be reduced from three cents per half ounce, or fraction thereof, as provided by Act of Congress, approved March 3d, 1883. The department has adopted a new design for the two cent stamp. The head of Washington, in profile from Houdon's bust, placed on a plain tablet. Above the oval, surrounding the head, are the words "United States Postage," and underneath the tablet are the words "Two Cents." The stamp will be printed in metallic red. The engraved stamp on the 2 cent envelope will also bear the head of Washington. A four cent denomination of postage stamps and stamped envelopes, to cover double postage under the new rate, will also be issued. The design embraces the head of Jackson, similar to that on the present 2 cent stamp and envelope. No change will be made in the postage due stamps. The same 3 cent stamps and stamped envelopes of the present design, will continue to be valid after the 1st of October, and must be accepted in payment of postage whenever offered in appropriate amounts. The drop letter rate of postage will remain the same as now. A. D. HAZEN, _Third Assistant Postmaster General_. ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1883. TWO CENTS. Bust of General Washington, in profile to the left, after Houdon, on an oval disk, lined horizontally and doubly diagonally, bordered by a colorless line, surrounded by a solid colored band, ornamented in the lower two-thirds with a row of white pearls, the upper third broadened into a label, edged outside by a colorless line, with outside colored line, the ends curved round into a hook, the whole resting on a shield shaped tablet, corresponding to that of the last three cents, horizontally lined and edged by a colored line, very heavy on the right and bottom, with an outside colorless line, the whole on a rectangular background of horizontal lines, very close together below, and farther apart above. There are no shadows except a few vertical lines beneath the projecting part of the top parts of the shield. The label above the oval is inscribed "_United States Postage_," in full colorless capitals, on the solid ground. A large colorless numeral outlined in color and doubly shaded outside, obscures the point of the shield and the pearled and colorless border of the oval, dividing the words "_Two Cents_" in full colorless capitals on the background, so shaded as to be on a solid colored ground. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 2 cents, metallic red. FOUR CENTS. Bust of Andrew Jackson, in profile to left, after Powers, in an oval disk, horizontally lined, very closely at the top, and doubly diagonally bordered by a colorless line, twice as wide as that in the last two cents, surrounded by a solid colored band, ornamented with pearls below, and broadened above into a label, bordered above and at the ends by a colorless line, and inscribed "_United States Postage_," just as in the two cents, the whole resting on a rectangular tablet, with horizontally lined ground, crossed by vertical lines below the oval, and bordered by a vertical colorless line on the right and above the oval on the left, with mitered or bevelled edge, represented by five colored lines parallel with the top, bottom and sides, the right, upper third of the left, and bottom bevel crossed by short colored lines at right angles. On the ground below the oval, which is nearly solid color, in colorless capitals, "_Four Cents_," between colored five pointed stars. Large colorless numeral "4" on each side, above the stars and end letters of the value. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, slightly surfaced with green, perforated 12. 4 cents, blue green. The arrangement of the plates, printer's imprint, plate number, etc., is the same as before, for both of the new stamps. The report of 1883 also proposed that the 3 and 6 cent stamps should be called in, redeemed and destroyed. Nothing seems to have been done about it however, until Frank Hatton, Postmaster General, issued an order, dated December 1st, 1884, that the three and six cents of all issues with the exceptions following, should be exchanged by postmasters for other values. "Especial care must be taken not to redeem postage stamps issued prior to 1861, as such stamps were long since declared obsolete and valueless for postage. No six cent stamps were issued prior to 1861. The three cent issued before that time bears the head of Washington, and is printed in red. In a straight line at the top are the words "U. S. Postage," and at the bottom, the words "Three Cents." The figure 3 does not appear on the stamps, as it does upon all subsequent issues of that denomination. Stamps answering to this description, must in all cases be refused." On the 14th of January, 1885, Postmaster General Frank Hatton, by order No. 75, appointed a committee of three to proceed among other things to the stamp manufactory at New York, and effectually cancel all the plates, except one working plate of each denomination, of the issues of 1847, of 1851, including the two carrier stamps, of 1861, of 1865 newspaper and periodicals, of 1869, of the 3, 5, Taylor, 7, 12 and 24 cents of 1870, 3 and 9 cent newspaper and periodical of 1874, and of all the Department stamps. "One plate of each kind and denomination of postage stamp reserved as above, and the dies and rolls from which they have been produced, together with all the cancelled plates, to be inventoried, waxed and carefully boxed and sealed, and placed in the vault of the stamp manufactory, in the custody and under the control of the agent." The committee were also to cancel any worn out and unserviceable plates of the current series, and to count and destroy the official stamps remaining in the vaults of the American Bank Note Company, of all denominations and Departments, numbering 17,024,588, of the 3 and 9 cent newspaper and periodical stamps of 1874, numbering 324,990, and of the 7, 12, and 24 cent stamps of the 1870 issue, numbering 1,414,300, a grand total of 18,763,878 stamps. On the 24th of February, the committee reported that they had carried out the order. A. D. Hazen, Third Assistant Postmaster General, who recommended this holocaust, says: "I have excepted from this recommendation the 3 cent stamps of the current series, of which there are 135,800 in the vault, for the reason that though their general issue has been discontinued, occasional calls are made for them by some of the larger offices." The reports show further that from January 1st, to June 30, 1886, 1,094,200 three cent stamps were actually issued. During the same period, 201,600 six cent stamps were also issued, while 645,950 thirty cent stamps, and only 29,620 ninety cent stamps were issued. As a matter of fact therefore these values, though retired from general issue, are more in demand than the two higher values retained, nearly 2 to 1, as between the 3 and 30 cents, 50 to 1 as between the 3 and 90 cents, or 9 to 1 as between the 6 and 90 cents, and that too when the general public is unaware that these values can be obtained at all. CONTRACT FOR 1885-89. The contract for the manufacture of adhesive stamps between the Department and the American Bank Note Company, expiring on the 30th of June, 1885, sealed proposals were invited by public advertisement of March 30th, 1885, for a new contract for four years from July 1st, 1885. The important features of the new contract to be noticed here, are _first_, that a definite standard of paper to be used for printing the stamps, made by an improved formula, was for the first time required, all other contracts having provided that the paper should be equal to a sample only; and _second_, that all ordinary postage stamps should be printed wholly by machinery run by steam power. "The two previous contracts, 1877 to 1881, and 1881 to 1885, expressly stipulated that the printing should be done on hand roller presses, the use of steam presses under the contract immediately preceeding the same, 1873 to 1877, which was silent as to the mode of printing, having resulted in extremely unsatisfactory work." The act of the 48th Congress, Session II, Chapter 342, approved March 30th, 1885, provides: "That upon all matter of the first class, as defined by chapter 180 of the laws of Congress, approved March 3d, 1879, entitled: An Act, etc., and by that act declared subject to postage at the rate of three cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof, and reduced by act of March 3d, 1883, to two cents for each ounce or fraction thereof, postage shall be charged, on and after the first day of July, 1885, at the rate of two cents for each ounce or fraction thereof; and drop letters shall be mailed at the rate of two cents per ounce or fraction thereof, including delivery at letter carrier offices, and one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof where free delivery by carriers is not established." It was claimed that the improvements in machinery had produced steam presses that could produce better word than the hand presses, at less cost. Bids were taken for stamps printed entirely by hand, partly by hand and partly by steam, entirely by steam; the last two with or without an option reserved to the Postmaster General, to require the work to be done by hand roller presses. The Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Franklin Bank Note Co., and the American Bank Note Co., were the only bidders. The latter again secured the contract to print the ordinary stamps, by steam power entirely, and the newspaper, postage due and special delivery stamps by hand roller presses. For the latter of these they are paid $18 per 1000, for the postage due $8.49 per 1000, and for the steam printed stamps $6.99 per thousand. For these latter the Government paid $9.19 under the previous contract up to 1885, $9.98 up to 1881, and $14.99 up to 1877. The following is the number of stamps of the issue of 1870 as it is called without the grille. 1 cent, old plate, blue, 1,748,378,900 1 " altered " " 1,872,063,600 2 cents, old " brown 176,830,300 2 " " " vermilion 661,829,150 2 " new " red-brown 4,370,788,300 3 " old " 4,986,505,600 3 " altered " 629,537,100 5 " Jackson 80,390,500 5 " Garfield 14,454,640 6 " old plate 76,726,850 6 " altered " 8,013,300 7 " 3,349,100 10 " old " 79,126,690 10 " altered " 81,307,910 12 " 3,272,125 15 " 16,136,380 24 " 716,975 30 " 6,134,410 90 " 436,150 The paper provided for in this contract is the soft porous paper, which according to Mr. Sterling was introduced in 1883. It is not stiff and hard like the previous paper, and seems to have been adopted about the time of the change in the dies, the fall 1882. All the values employed since are to be found on it. It may be noted that the fifteen and thirty cents on this paper are with the imprint of the American Company. The fifteen is again a deep orange and the thirty a full black. ISSUE OF 1883, ETC. Same colors, values and designs, soft porous paper, perforated 12. 1 cent, ultramarine blue. 2 cents, red-brown. 3 cents, green. 4 " dark green. 5 " " brown. 6 " cochineal. 10 " brown. 15 " orange. 30 " black. 90 " carmine. ISSUE OF JUNE 15TH, 1887. The following circular explains itself: POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Office of the Postmaster General. _Washington, D. C., May 23d, 1887._ On or about the 15th of June, 1887, the Department will begin the issue of a new design of the ordinary one cent postage stamp, of which the following is a description: The center of the stamp consists of a profile bust of Benjamin Franklin (after-the original by Caracci), looking to the left, in an oval disk, with shaded background, the lower portion of the oval being bordered with pearls and the upper portion with a curved frame, containing in small white letters, the words, "United States Postage." The whole is engraved in line upon a shield shaped tablet, with a truncated pyramidal base, bearing on it the words "one" and "cent," on either side of the figure "1." The color of the stamp is ultramarine blue, and its general appearance is somewhat similar to that of the stamp now in use. Before ordering supplies of the new stamps, postmasters will be expected to exhaust their stock of the old, which will continue to be valid. Under no circumstances are the old stamps to be sent to the Department for redemption or exchange. WILLIAM T. VILAS, Postmaster General. H. R. HARRIS, Third Assist. P. M. General. ISSUE OF JUNE 15TH, 1887. ONE CENT. Head of Benjamin Franklin, in profile to the left, after Carraci, on an oval disk lined horizontally and doubly diagonally, the upper third bordered by a label, the lower two thirds by a broad solid colored line, ornamented with colorless pearls increasing in size from top to bottom, with a colorless line outside this, shaded by another heavy colored line. The label is of solid color, between two colorless lines, the upper one curved round the ends, forming a hook and edged outside by a fine colored line, and is inscribed in white capitals similar to the two cents last described, "United States Postage." The whole is on a horizontally lined shield shaped tablet, the top similar to that of the two cents, but with a small point in the centre of the top and the diagonals shorter. The bottom is curved at the corners, then curved back up and round, and spreads out into the lower part of a "truncated pyramid." It is edged with a heavy colored line on the right and bottom, with a heavy colored line on the left and top. On the truncated base is a large pearled outlined colorless numeral "1," dividing the border of the oval and the words "One Cent," in outline colorless capitals. The rectangle is filled out with horizontal lines at the sides of the shield and vertical line at the top. Plate impression, 20 by 25½ mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent, ultramarine blue. XXIV. POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. From the adoption of compulsory prepayment up to 1879, various regulations had been made from time to time regarding insufficiently paid letters, in order to relieve the Dead Letter Office as far as possible, and yet enforce the prepayment of all mail matter. Nevertheless mistakes continued to be made and the practice of forwarding all letters upon which one full rate was paid, and collecting the balance of the receiver had finally been adopted, the amount to be collected being written or stamped upon the letter. From this practice abuses arose, and by the Act of the XLV Congress, Section III, Chapter 180, Section 26, approved March 3d, 1879, it was enacted: "That all mail matter of the first class upon which one full rate of postage has been prepaid shall be forwarded to its destination charged with the unpaid rate, to be collected on delivery, but postmasters before delivering the same, or any article of mail matter upon which prepayment in full has not been made, shall affix, or cause to be affixed, and cancelled as ordinary stamps are cancelled, one or more stamps equivalent in value to the amount of postage due on such article of mail matter, which stamps shall be of such special design as the Postmaster General shall prescribe, and which shall in no case be sold by any postmaster or received by him in prepayment of postage," etc. Sec. 27. "That any postmaster or other person engaged in the postal service who shall collect and fail to account for the postage due upon any article of mail matter which he may deliver without having previously affixed and cancelled such stamp as herein before provided shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars." Shortly after the passage of this Act the following circular was addressed to all postmasters: Form No. 3288. SPECIAL STAMP FOR POSTAGE DUE. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Stamps, Stamped Envelopes and Postal Cards. _Washington, D. C., May 5th 1879._ By Sections 26 and 27 of the Act of Congress, making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department for the year ending June 30th, 1880, and for other purposes "approved March 3d, 1879, it is made the duty of postmasters to affix to all mail matter that has arrived at destination without full payment of postage, and before delivery of the same, an amount of stamps equal to the postage due, the stamps to be of such special design as the Postmaster General may direct." To avoid any confusion in the accounts of Postmasters with the Auditor, and on account of the length of the time necessary to prepare for the change contemplated by the above sections in the mode of collecting and accounting for short paid postage, it has been decided to have the same go into practical operation on the 1st of July next. The Department however, will begin issuing sometime during the present month, in anticipation of the wants of postmasters, special stamps for the collection of postage due of the denomination of 1, 2, 3 and 5 cents, and of the following general description: A large figure, representing the denomination is placed in the center of the stamp, and is surrounded by an oval of very delicate lathe work. On the upper border of this oval, the words "Postage Due" are printed in white letters; in the lower border is the denomination, in letters of the same kind; on either side of the oval are the letters "U. S." in a small white shield. Around the oval is a form of complex character, described upon an oblong tablet. The general design is the same for all the stamps, the only difference being in the figures and lettering for the several denominations. The color is the same, a reddish brown. These stamps are intended, exclusively for the collection of postage due on matter arriving at destination through the mails, and are to be used in combination, wherever required to cover unusual amounts of postage. They are to be cancelled in the customary way after being attached to mail matter, are never to be sold or received by Postmasters for prepayment of postage. Postmasters must distinctly understand, that these stamps are not to be used until July 1st, 1879. A supply of these will be sent at first to all post offices in advance of requisitions from postmasters, and charged to their account; but afterwards they must be ordered on blank forms (No. 3285) to be furnished by the First Assistant Postmaster General. With the first supply of stamps, however, blank requisitions for future use will be enclosed. The stamps will be accounted for to the auditor the same as other stamps, and will enter into the monthly reports of stamps, etc., received, sold and on hand, required by the regulations, to be made by postmasters at Presidential offices, to the Third Assistant Postmaster General. On the next page of this circular will be found the sections of the new postal law and regulations relating to the above described stamps, which are published in advance for the information and guidance of postmasters. The distinguishing numbers of the sections cannot now be given, but the instructions are here printed in the same order in which they will appear in the forthcoming volume of the new postal regulations. A. D. HAZEN, _Third Assistant Postmaster General_. ISSUE OF MAY 9TH, 1879. For use from and after July 1st, 1879. Large colorless numeral, 10 mm. high, representing the value, ornamented and shaded, on an oval disk, 17 by 13½ mm., with colored ground ornamented by colorless geometric lathe work, bordered by a solid colored band between two heavy colorless lines and an exterior fine colored line, interrupted by small white shields on the sides bearing "_U._" on the left, "_S._" on the right, in fancy colored capitals. The band is inscribed in white capitals, above, "_Postage Due_," below with the value in full letters, the whole on a tablet with vertically lined ground, with an irregular outline colorless line bordered by an extensive fine colored line, and a double rectangular frame, the interior formed by parallel, diagonal curved lines, and the exterior by vertical short lines at top and bottom, horizontal ones at sides, indicating a bevel. Plate impression, 20 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent, reddish brown. 2 cents, " 3 " " 5 " " The report of the Postmaster General dated December, 1879, states: "Under a provision in the act of Congress, approved March 3d 1879, authorizing a change in the mode of collecting postage due, on matter arriving at destination through the mails, the Department began issuing on the 9th of May, special stamps, called postage due stamps, of the denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 cents, and subsequently of the additional denominations of 10, 30, and 50 cents. Before the first of July, every office in the country was provided with a supply of these stamps, and the new system of collecting short paid postage is now fairly in operation." ISSUE OF AUGUST, 1879. Stamps of the same design, but there being two figures, the numerals are smaller. Plate impression, in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 10 cents, reddish brown. 30 " " 50 " " The number of these stamps issued from May, 1879, to June 30th, 1885, was: 1 cent, 25,328,525 2 cents, 30,534,425 3 " 31,146,230 5 " 5,029,435 10 " 6,105,175 30 " 169,078 50 " 93,490 OBSERVATIONS. There are two quite distinct shades of the red-brown in which these stamps are printed, the earlier issues being of a brown that shows hardly a trace of red, while those printed under the 1885 contract are of the shade of the current two cent postage stamp. XXV. SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP. The history of the introduction and usage of these stamps is contained in the following extracts from two circulars, both dated at Post Office Department, Office of the Postmaster General, Washington, D. C., August 11th, 1885, and signed by William F. Vilas, Postmaster General. The first directed to postmasters reads as follows: "SIR:--On the first of October, 1885, you are directed to establish at your office, a system for special delivery of letters, in accordance with sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Act making appropriation for the postal service for the current fiscal year (XLVIII Congress, Session II, Chapter 342, approved March 3d, 1885,) which are as follows: SECTION 3. That a special stamp of the face valuation of 10 cents may be provided and issued, whenever deemed advisable or expedient, in such form and bearing such device as may meet the approval of the Postmaster General, which when attached to a letter, in addition to the lawful postage thereon, the delivery of which is to be at a free delivery office, or at any city, town or village containing a population of 4,000 or over, according to the Federal census, shall be regarded as entitling such letter to immediate delivery within the carrier limit of any free delivery office which may be designated by the Postmaster General as a special delivery office, or within one mile of the post office at any other office coming within, the provisions of this section which may in like manner be designated as a special delivery office." SECTION 4 provides for immediate delivery between the hours of 7 A. M. and midnight. SECTION 5 provides for the employment of special messengers and, SECTION 6 the mode of paying them. The rest of this circular gives the details of the service which it is not necessary to repeat here." The second circular after reciting the provisions of Section 3, of the Act of March 3d, 1885, and that it has been decided to introduce the system on the first day of October, at all the post offices permitted by the law; contains a description of the stamp prepared to carry out the law, which with some additions is as follows: SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP. ISSUE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 1885. A line engraving on steel, oblong in form; dimensions 13/16 by 1-7/16 inches, color dark blue. Design: on the left in an arched panel, 10½ by 15½ mm., a mail messenger boy on a run, faced to the right on a hatched back-ground, and surrounded above by the words "_United States_," in curved line of colorless capitals. On the right an oblong tablet, ornamented with a wreath of oak on the left, and laurel on the right, surrounding the words, "_Secures--Immediate--Delivery--At a special--Delivery--Office_," in six lines of white capitals on a solid ground. The ground of the tablet above is composed of light vertical lines with colorless border. Across the top of the tablet, but above it, is the legend, "_Special--Postal delivery_," and at the bottom the words, "_Ten Cents_," separated by a shield bearing the numeral "10." The entire ground of the stamp is composed of fine vertical lines except the edges, which are so contrived as to appear bevelled. Plate impression, 21 by 27 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 10 cents, dark blue. "They are to be sold by Postmasters to any required amount, and to any person who may apply for them, but they can be used only for the purpose of securing the immediate delivery of letters." About a year ago, after the system was inaugurated at carrier offices there was a further change in the law, and the system was further extended as is shown by the following extracts from three circulars, all dated August 10th, 1886, from the office of the Postmaster General, Washington, D. C., signed by William F. Vilas, Postmaster General. The first is addressed to Postmasters at carrier offices, the second to all other postmasters, and the third to the public. The following from the first circular: "By the Act of August 4th, 1886, Congress has authorized the extention of the special delivery system to all post offices and to all mailable matter. The Act is as follows, namely: 'That every article of mailable matter upon which the special stamp, provided for by Section 3 of the act entitled: an Act, etc., shall be duly affixed, shall be entitled to immediate delivery according to said act, within the carrier limit of any free delivery office, and within one mile of any other post office which the Postmaster General shall at any time designate as a special delivery office.'" From the second circular only this is of interest: "No change will be made in the general style of the special delivery stamp now in use. The following is its description: (same as in the original circular). The words 'Secures immediate delivery at a special delivery office,' will however, be changed to read: 'Secures immediate delivery at any post office.' But as stamps with the former words are now in the hands of the postmasters and the public, their use will continue until the present supply shall be exhausted." From the third circular only this is to be noticed: "The attention of the public is invited to the fact that under a recent Act of Congress the special delivery system heretofore in effect in cities and towns having a population of 4,000 and upwards, has been extended to all post offices in the United States, to take effect on and after October 1st, 1886. The privileges of this system have also been extended to all classes of mail matter." The remainder of these circulars are devoted to directions to postmasters at the two classes of offices, and to the public. These stamps are printed in sheets of 100, and distributed in half sheets of 50, the center of the sheets being marked as usual by an arrow head. There are consequently 10 stamps in a row, and 10 rows in the whole sheet. The makers imprint appears four times on the sheet, above and below the center row of each half sheet, and the plate number is also four times repeated on the sheet. 3,699,560 special delivery stamps were issued up to June 30th, 1886. XXVI. NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1865. The newspaper stamps issued by the United States Post Office Department do not correspond in their usage very nearly to the stamps denominated newspaper stamps in other countries. The series under review had a very limited and peculiar use. While the dissemination of learning and information had always been fostered in every way by the Acts of Congress, and the distribution of newspapers and periodicals had always been undertaken by the post office at rates that did not pay for the expense of the service, in the intention of encouraging these publications, the Department always found a great rival in the express companies, which, having conformed their rules to the exigencies of business, were enabled to deliver newspapers and periodicals from the trains to the agents and dealers always hours, sometimes days before those sent by the mails reached their destination, as these were sent to the post office and there assorted, some to be delivered locally and others to be made up again into the new mail for further transportation, while those sent by the express companies being transferred at the depot, often finished their journey before the mails could be made up and started. This service assisted the express companies in those violations of the postal laws which each year the Postmaster General called to the attention of Congress, and Congress endeavored to reach by new laws. The government got the expensive service, the express companies the paying business partly because of their more liberal rates, but particularly because of their more expeditious service. The attempt was therefore made to so frame the law that the post office might successfully compete for the carriage of newspapers. The Act of the XXXVII Congress, III Session, Chapter 71, Section 38, approved the 3rd of March, 1863, reads: "And be it further enacted that the Postmaster General may, from time to time, provide by order the rates and terms upon which route agents may receive and deliver, at the mail car or steamer, packages of newspapers and periodicals, delivered to them for that purpose by the publishers or any news agent in charge thereof, and not received from or designed for delivery at any post office." Under this act for some time payment was made in money, but the report of the Postmaster General dated November 15th, 1865, states: "New stamps have been adopted of the denominations of 5, 10, and 25 cents for prepaying postage on packages of newspapers forwarded by publishers or news dealers under the authority of law, whereby a revenue will be secured, hitherto lost to the Department." In the report of the Postmaster General for 1878, the date of this issue is stated to have been April 1st, 1865. In the accounts of the number of stamps issued in each quarter it appears, however, that the first issue was in the quarter between June 30th and September 30th, 1865. The stamps were of very large dimensions, and the figures conspicuous. A package adorned with the requisite number was mailed on the train and it could easily be seen that it was duly stamped. The stamps were ordinarily if not always, cancelled by smearing them with ink, with a brush, and not with hand stamps, and the packages were thrown out of the cars to the agents waiting at each station to receive them, and were often torn open by the agent at the depot and distributed to his customers there. Thus the delay that sending them to the post office for distribution would have caused, was avoided. ISSUE OF APRIL 1ST, 1865. FIVE CENTS. Large bust of Washington in profile, faced to the right, indicated by colorless curved lines, on a round medallion of straight horizontal lines, 28 mm. in diameter, surrounded by a circular band of curved interlaced colorless lines, all on a colored ground, a smaller circular disk, 11 mm. in diameter, interrupting this band on each side displays a large "V," in color on a horizontally lined ground. Above on a solid ground of color, but ornamented by interlaced colorless lines in colorless letters, "_U. S._" and "_Postage_," in a second curved line; below the head on a solid curved label covering a portion of the circular band in large colorless capitals, "_Five Cents_"; below this again, the ground is ornamented by several colorless lines upon which appear in colored capitals, "_Newspapers_," a colored label with "_and_"; in colorless capitals "_Periodicals_"; below this again, in two lines of colorless capitals on the colored ground, "_Sec. 18, Act of Congress approved--March 3d, 1863_." In each upper corner is a large colorless numeral "5." About all is a frame of 3 colorless lines, ornamented at the corners. The words "_National Bank Note Company, New York_," in small colorless capitals appear between the lower colorless lines. The colored ground extends between the stamps which were perforated. Plate impression, 55 by 98 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 5 cents, dark blue. Note. 20,140 of this value were issued. TEN CENTS. Similar design, but with the profile of Franklin in an oval, the side letters "X," the label "_Ten Cents_," the upper numerals "10," set at an angle. Plate impression, 55 by 98 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 10 cents, green. Note. 215,600 of this value were issued. TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. Similar design, but with the profile of Lincoln, faced to the left, in a rectangle with corners cut off, "25" in figures instead of numerals at the side, on the label "_Twenty Five Cents_," the upper numerals "25" set at an angle. Plate impression, 55 by 98 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 25 cents, vermilion. Note. 31,488 of this value were issued. In 1868-9 there were issued 35,420 more of the five cent value, but these were improved by having the broad colored border removed till only a fine colored line remained outside the colorless frame. Plate impression, 51½ by 95 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 5 cents, dark blue, white border. The Postmaster General's Report for 1869 states that the use of these stamps ceased about the 1st of February, 1869. They were used principally at Chicago, Ill., and Milwaukee, Wis. Reprints were made of all of them except the 5 cents with white border, with the other early issues in 1874. There was a very wide margin of some 65 mm. at the top and bottom of the sheet, the manufacturers imprint appearing at the top and bottom in colored letters on a small white label let into the colored ground. It is not known how many stamps formed a sheet. NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1874. Notwithstanding the very liberal provisions of all the laws regarding postage on printed matter, and particularly those of this Act of March 3rd, 1863, we find the Postmaster General in his report of November 15th, 1869, complaining that the Department was largely defrauded of its revenues by abuses rendered possible by the provisions of that Act, and suggesting that: "For this mischief there is but one adequate remedy, and that is to require prepayment on all printed matter. A due regard to the convenience of the publishers of newspapers would require that postage on newspapers should be charged according to the weight of packages, and that such packages should when suspected, be liable to be opened and searched, and penalties provided if they were found to contain improper matter." Nothing seems to have resulted from his recommendations, however. The inconveniences of the system led to calling the attention of Congress to the matter again in the Report of the Postmaster General, in 1873. He says: "In my report for 1869, I had the honor to suggest a plan for the prepayment of postage on newspapers and other matter of the second class by weight of packages rather than by the present system, which requires the manipulation of each particular paper, and allows the payment of postage at either the mailing office, or the office of delivery. A careful revision of the subject confirms me in the opinion, that the postage on all such matter should be collected in advance at the mailing office. * * * No stamps are used for the payment of such postage; and the Department is compelled to accept in full satisfaction whatever sums of money postmasters choose to charge against themselves. So execrably bad is this system, that postal officers of high standing have estimated that not more than one-third of the postage properly chargeable on newspapers is accounted for and paid over. Furthermore, disputes are continually arising, as to whether the sheets they transmit, come within the meaning of the term newspapers. * * * I respectfully submit the following plan for the prepayment of postage on newspapers of the second class, and urge its adoption. Let all publishers, their business managers or agents, be required at the beginning of every quarter, to state under oath the number of papers of a certain name, they will send by mail during the quarter, and pay the postage thereon in advance. On the other hand, postmasters to make return of all newspapers, with particulars, mailed to regular subscribers. No stamps would be required. Every paper answering to the description would be forwarded. No manipulation of each paper would be required, and the saving to publishers in time and labor, would, it is thought, be greater than the amount paid for postage, while the saving to the Department, would justify a reduction of 40 per cent in the rates, on this class of matter. Periodicals to come under the same law." The result of the deliberations upon this suggestion, was the passage by Congress of the following law: XLIII Congress, Statute 1, Chapter 456, approved June 23rd, 1874, "Section 5. That on and after the first day of January, 1875, all newspapers and periodical publications mailed from a known office of publication or news agency and addressed to regular subscribers or news agents shall be charged the following rates: On newspapers and periodical publications issued weekly and more frequently than once a week, two cents for each pound or fraction thereof, and on those issued less frequently than once a week three cents for each pound or fraction thereof, provided that nothing in this Act shall be held to change or amend Section 99 of the Act entitled: An Act to revise, consolidate and amend the statutes relating to the Post Office Department, approved June 8th, 1872. SEC. 6. That on and after the first day of January, 1875, upon the receipt of such newspapers and periodical publications at the office of mailing, they shall be weighed in bulk, and postage paid thereon by a special adhesive stamp; to be devised and furnished by the Postmaster General, which shall be affixed to such matter or to the sack containing the same; or upon a memorandum of such mailing, or otherwise as the Postmaster General may from time to time provide by regulation," etc., etc. The report of the Postmaster General also states Nov. 14th 1874, that being confined to these three modes of collecting this postage; "It was deemed best to recommend the adoption of the system of prepayment by postage stamps 'affixed to a memorandum of mailing' or in other words, to a stub in a book retained by the postmaster at the mailing office; a receipt, showing the weight of matter and the amount paid, being given by the postmaster to the person mailing the same; the stamps affixed to the stub, to be cancelled by a cutting punch, thus preventing their reuse. * * * The Postmaster General having approved the recommendations, a series of stamps have been devised of twenty four denominations, by means of which any sum which is a multiple of either the two or three cent rate, from two cents to seventy-two dollars, can be made by the use of not more than five stamps." In the report dated November 15th, 1875, we find the following observations and descriptions of this issue which will further explain the mode of using them, which seems to be little understood, except by publishers and post office officials. "On the first day of January 1875, the new law, requiring prepayment of postage by stamps, on all newspapers and periodicals sent from a known office of publication, to regular subscribers through the mails, went into operation. The system inaugurated to carry the law into effect, was approved in October, 1874 and has been found by experience to be admirably adapted to the purposes for which it was devised. No complaints of abuses on the part of publishers or postmasters, have been received at this office during the nine months, that have elapsed since the law went into effect. Indeed, it has worked so well in all its details, and has given such general satisfaction, that the idea of returning to the old system, or materially modifying the new one, ought not to be entertained. Previous to the time when this law began to operate, no stamps were required for the payment of postage on newspapers sent to regular subscribers, as the postage was collected in money quarterly, at the office of delivery. Last year there were 35,000 post offices at which newspaper postage was collected, while under the present true system of the absolute prepayment of all postage, the whole amount is collected at about 3,400 offices, the latter representing the number of places in the United States at which newspapers and periodicals are mailed. The papers for subscribers living outside of the county in which they are published, are made up in bulk at the publication office, carried to the post office and there weighed. The postage is computed on the whole issue, the proper amount in stamps handed to the postmaster, who gives the publisher a receipt as evidence of payment, and on the stubs of the receipt book he affixes and cancels the stamps which correspond in value, with the sum mentioned in the receipt. Thus one transaction is all that is required in paying the postage upon a single issue of any regular publication. The stubs with their cancelled stamps, are kept in the post office as vouchers for the postage paid. In no case are the stamps affixed to the papers or packages that pass through the mails. These stamps are twenty-four in number and were prepared by the Continental Bank Note Company, of New York, from designs selected in October, 1874." Elsewhere it is stated that the distribution to postmasters began December 11th, 1874. "The denominations are as follows, viz: 2 cents, 3 cents, 4 cents, 6 cents, 8 cents, 9 cents, 10 cents, 12 cents, 24 cents, 36 cents, 48 cents, 60 cents, 72 cents, 84 cents, 96 cents, $1.92 cents, $3, $6, $9, $12, $24, $36, $48 and $60. These denominations were found to be necessary, in order that payment might be made on any given quantity from one pound to one ton, at both the two and three cent rate, with the use of not to exceed five stamps in any transaction. No description of these stamps having been given in any official form. I may be pardoned for presenting herewith a detailed description of them, in order that it may be printed, and be permanently preserved in the records of the department." TWO CENTS TO TEN CENTS, inclusive, emblematical figure of America, looking to the right and modeled after Crawford's statue surmounting the dome of the capitol. The left hand rests on a shield, and holds a wreath; the right rests on a sword. The head is adorned with a head dress consisting of a coronet of stars, surmounted by an eagle's head and plumes. The background is horizontally lined and in parts diagonally also. The vignette stands in an arched frame, composed of vertical lines; and on either side of this frame, and at the top are slabs containing the inscriptions (the upper in colored letters on horizontally lined ground, the others in colorless block capitals, the sides upon vertically lined ground), "_Newspapers_" and "_Periodicals_" (at the sides), "_U. S. Postage_" (at top). At the bottom are shaded outline block letters, representing the value, which is also indicated by large outlined figures shaded on the face, in the upper corners, on foliated scrolls. The lower corners are ornamented with shields. The color of these stamps is black. TWELVE CENTS TO NINETY-SIX CENTS, inclusive. Vignette of Astraea or Justice, in niche, bordered by a colorless line curved at the top, holding in her right hand the balance, and resting with her left on a shield bearing the United States coat of arms. The figure is full robed, mailed and girdled as to the upper part and helmeted. Surmounting the helmet is an eagle with out-stretched wings on a background horizontally and diagonally lined. Figures representing values in shaded numerals on shields, in the upper corners; values also in sunken letters below, on solid labels bordered by a colorless and colored line, richly ornamented. Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," on side and at top in shaded outlined capitals on vertically lined ground. Color, pink. ONE DOLLAR AND NINETY-TWO CENTS. Vignette of Ceres, Goddess of Agriculture, in curved niche, bordered by a colorless line and a vertically lined frame. She holds in her left hand an ear of corn, her right holding a wreath, rests against the hip. The figure faced to the front and is clad in full flowing robes. "_U. S. Postage_" at the top, other inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," in italic capitals shaded on the face and outside, on obelisks at either side, resting on the lower slab, which is in solid color, containing value, "_One dollar and ninety-two cents_," in two lines of white capitals. Value also in figures, "$1-92/100" in upper corners. Color, deep brown. THREE DOLLARS. Goddess of Victory in curved niche, full-robed, girdled with sword to the left, and mantle thrown over shoulders. The right hand is stretched forward, holding a wreath; the left rests on a shield. Outline figures of value, "$3" on octagons in upper corners, value below in letters on either side of a large outline figure "3" on a shield. Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," in colorless capitals, in solid labels on either side, and "_U. S. Postage_" on lined ground above. The niche and labels are all edged with colorless lines. The background is vertically lined. Color, vermilion. SIX DOLLARS. Clio, the Muse of History in curved niche, bordered by colorless line, on horizontally lined ground, full robed the toga thrown over the left shoulder. In her right hand she holds a stylus, in the left a tablet. Outline colorless figures of value, "$6" in upper corners, surrounded by curved ornaments. Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," in white shaded letters on the sides, and above "_U. S. Postage_" in dark letters, value, "_Six Dollars_" in outline colorless letters in label, on vertically lined ground. Color, light blue. NINE DOLLARS. Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, full robed, in curved niche, bordered by a colorless line with horizontally and diagonally lined ground. The left hand is placed across her breast, holding a portion of her toga; the right is grasping a spear. Figures of value "$9" in upper corners, in foliated ornaments. Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," on sides in outline colorless and shaded italics, and above in small colored letters, on the lined ground, "_U. S. Postage_." Value, "_Nine Dollars_," also in letters shaded on the face, below on scroll. Beneath is a large "9" in curved foliated ornaments. Color, orange. TWELVE DOLLARS. Vesta, Goddess of the Fireside, full robed in curved niche, with horizontally lined ground, and bordered by a colorless line. The left hand lifts her drapery; the right holds a burning lamp. Figures of value, "$12" in upper corners on tablets. Value, "_Twelve Dollars_" also in colorless letters on beaded frame beneath. Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," on solid (sic), italic letters on sides, and "_U. S. Postage_" in small white letters above. Frame of vertical lines. Color, rich green. TWENTY-FOUR DOLLARS. Goddess of Peace in curved niche, bordered by a colorless line, and on horizontally lined ground, a half naked figure leaning against a broken column. She holds in her right hand an olive branch, while her left grasps three arrows. The value, "_Twenty-four Dollars_" is in colorless letters beneath, on a solid tablet; also in figures "$24" in ornamented curves in upper corners. Inscriptions, "_U. S. Postage_" in white shaded letters above, and "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_" on the sides between which latter and each upper corner is a six-pointed star. The back ground is vertically lined. The ornaments bordered by a colorless line. Color, purplish shade. THIRTY-SIX DOLLARS. Figure representing Commerce, in full garments, in curved niche, bordered by a colorless line with hatched background. She holds in her left hand the _caduceus_, the winged rod of Mercury, in her right a miniature ship. Figures of value, "$36" in the upper corners and "_Thirty-six Dollars_" in ornamented capitals below, in two lines. Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," also in ornamented capitals on sides and "_U. S. Postage_" in colorless capitals above. The frame is vertically lined. Color, dull red. FORTY-EIGHT DOLLARS. Hebe, the Goddess of Youth, partly draped in curved niche with colorless border and horizontally lined ground. The right hand holds a cup, which she is offering to the eagle around whose neck is thrown her left arm. Shaded figures of value, "$48" on shields in the upper corners, the word "_Postage_" between in colorless capitals on solid label. The value, "_Forty-eight Dollars_" also in colorless letters below on solid ground, in curved ornaments. The letters "_U._" and "_S._" in colorless circles between the corners and side inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," the latter being in colorless letters on solid curved labels. Frame vertically lined. Color, light brown. SIXTY DOLLARS. Vignette of an Indian Maiden, standing in a rectangular frame. She is robed from her waist downward. Her right arm is extended, while her left hangs by her side. The background is a landscape. Trees and vines to the left, and wigwams to the right in the distance, bordered by a colorless line between fine colored lines. Figures of value, "$60" on shields in the upper corners. Value, "_Sixty Dollars_" also in white letters on solid tablets below. Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," in white on solid labels on the sides. "_U. S._" in colorless capitals on the ground, and "_Postage_" on a band in colored letters above. Ground vertically lined. Color, rich purple. # # # # # POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Env. & Post Cards. _Washington D. C., April 25, 1879._ The attention of Postmasters is hereby called to the fact, that on and after the first of May proximo, under the act of March 3d, 1879, matter of the second class, commonly known as newspaper and periodical matter, will be entitled to pass through the mail, at a uniform rate of 2 cents per pound. Care will be taken not to collect payment on such matter, at more than that rate. The same general regulations concerning the collection of newspaper postage, as have been heretofore promulgated will remain in force, and the same books and blanks together with the newspaper and periodical stamps, that are now outstanding will continue to be used. In future, however, the issue of the three and nine cents denominations of newspaper and periodical stamps, will be discontinued. * * * * A. D. HAZEN, Third Assistant Postmaster General. Act of the XLV Congress, Session III, Chapter 180, approved March 3rd, 1879, Sections 10 and 14 merely change the classification to a uniform one at the rate of two cents per pound. The Act of the XLVIII Congress, Session II, Chapter 342, approved March 3rd, 1885, provides as stated in Order No. 109 of the Postmaster General, dated April 24th, 1885, "That all publications of the second class, * * * shall on and after July 1st, 1885, be entitled to transmission through the mails at one cent a pound or fraction thereof. * * * To provide for wants that may arise from this change in the rate of second class postage, the Department has decided to issue a newspaper and periodical stamp of the denomination of one cent, the design and color of which will be the same as those of the present series of newspaper and periodical stamps of the denomination of from 2 to 10 cents. Stamps of this new denomination will be ready for issue by the 1st of June, after which all postmasters needing them will make requisition for suitable supplies." NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. SERIES OF 1875-1885. Plate impression, 24 by 35½ mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. June 1st, 1885, 1 cent, black. Jan. 1st, 1875, 3 cents, " to April 25th, 1879. 9 " " " " " 2 " " 4 " " 6 " " 8 " " 10 " " 12 " carmine, 24 " " 36 " " 48 " " 60 " " 72 " " 84 " " 96 " " 1 dollar 92 " deep brown 3 dollars vermilion 6 " light blue 9 " orange 12 dollars rich green 24 " purplish slate 36 " dull red 48 " light brown 60 " rich purple These stamps were not reprinted in 1874, but samples ungummed and surcharged "specimen" were sold to collectors. OBSERVATIONS. A slight change in the regulations now prohibits postmasters from selling these stamps even to publishers, but the money is received and the requisite amount in stamps placed upon the stubs and cancelled. The amount sold and the amount used in an office should now correspond. The stubs are sent periodically to Washington with the accounts, compared and destroyed. Used specimens and even unused specimens are likely to grow rare in collections. XXVII. OFFICIAL STAMPS. A thorough understanding of the use of these stamps will best be obtained by a brief review of the system it for a time supplanted, which was briefly designated as the "Franking Privilege." As early as the 1st Session of the Second Congress the necessity and propriety of providing for the carriage of official correspondence and the correspondence of Government officers and Members of Congress upon public business was recognized, and Chapter 7, Section 19, approved February 1st, 1792, of the Acts of that Sessions provided: "That the following letters and packets and no others shall be received and conveyed by post, free of postage under such restrictions as are hereinafter provided, that is to say: all letters and packages to or from the President or Vice-President of the United States, and all letters and packages not exceeding 2 ounces in weight, to or from any member of the Senate or House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate, or Clerk of the House of Representatives, during their actual attendance in any session of Congress, and twenty days after such session, all letters to and from the Secretary of the Treasury and his assistant; Comptroller, Register and Auditor of the Treasury, Treasurer, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, the Committee for settling accounts between the United States and individual States, the Postmaster General and his assistant. Provided that no person shall frank or enclose any letter or packet other than his own, but any public letter or packet from the department of the Treasury may be franked by the Secretary of the Treasury, or the assistant Secretary, or by the Comptroller, Register, Auditor or Treasurer, and that each person before named shall deliver to the post office, every letter or packet enclosed to him, which may be directed to any other person, noting the place from whence it comes by post, and the usual postage shall be charged thereon." By various acts of Congress this privilege was gradually extended to various persons in the employ of the Government until, in 1869, the Postmaster General stated in his report that fully 31,933 persons were authorized by the laws to enjoy this privilege. As early as 1836, Congress appropriated the sum of $700,000 to pay the post office department for this carriage of official correspondence. The abuses became enormous. Signatures with hand stamps were even recognized. All sorts of favors were extended by persons having the privilege, to their friends. In 1869 the annual expense to the department of this free matter was estimated at $5,000,000. To remedy this abuse, which had the effect of preventing a proper reduction of postal rates to the general public, as the expenses of the Department, including the expense of carrying official matter so-called, greatly exceeded its annual revenue, there was but one remedy--the passage of an act abolishing the franking privilege and providing by appropriation for carrying the necessary government dispatches. The Act of the XLII Congress, Session III, Chapter 82, approved the 27th of January, 1873, accordingly provided: "That the franking privilege be hereby abolished from and after the first day of July, Anno Domini 1873, and that henceforth all official correspondence of whatever nature, and other mailable matter sent from or addressed to any officer of the government or person now authorized to frank such matter, shall be chargeable with the same rates of postage as may be lawfully imposed upon like matter sent by, or addressed to other persons. Provided that no compensation or allowance shall be now or hereafter made to Senators or Members and Delegates of the House of Representatives on account of postage." The Act of the XLII Congress, Session III, Chapter 228, approved March 3, 1873, after appropriating so much as should be necessary of a certain sum for the purchase of postage stamps for each department, continues: "That the Postmaster General shall cause to be prepared a special stamp or stamped envelope to be used only for official mail matter for each of the executive departments, and said stamp and stamped envelope shall be supplied by proper officer of said departments to all persons under its direction requiring the same for official use, and all appropriations for postage heretofore made shall no longer be available for said purpose, and all said stamps and stamped envelopes shall be sold or furnished to said several departments or clerks only at the price for which stamps and stamped envelopes of like value are sold at the several post offices." In the report of the Postmaster General for the year ending June 30, 1873, it is stated that: "The several Acts for the repeal of the franking privilege became operative on the first of July last. The results of the first quarter of the current year are highly satisfactory and more fully verified the predictions of the friends of the repeal. * * * Section 4 of the Act of March 3rd, 1873, making it the duty of the Postmaster General to provide official stamps and stamped envelopes for the several Executive Departments, has been strictly complied with. The stamps and envelopes furnished have been executed in the highest style of art and will compare favorably with those of any other country. From July 1st to September 30th of the current year the following varieties, numbers and values were issued: To whom issued. D'minat'n. Number. Value. The Executive Dep't 5 5,150 200.00 The State Dep't 14 60,495 20,749.70 The Treasury Dep't 11 7,842,500 407,000.00 The War Dep't 11 446,500 17,689.00 The Navy Dep't 11 247,230 12,239.00 The Post Office Dep't 10 10,054,660 354,535.00 The Interior Dep't 10 1,058,475 59,171.00 The Dep't of Justice 10 65,400 3,900.00 The Dep't of Agriculture, 9 275,000 20,730.00 -- ---------- ---------- Making a total of 91 20,055,410 896,213.70 * * * * * The stamps for the Departments other than the Post Office do not differ materially from those for sale to the public except that each Department has its own distinctive color and legend. The colors are: For the Executive, carmine; State Department, green; Treasury, velvet-brown; War, cochineal red; Navy, blue; Post Office, black; Interior, vermilion; Department of Justice, purple; and Department of Agriculture, straw color. In the stamps for the Post Office Department the medallion head gives place to a numeral representing the value with the words "Post Office Department" above and the denomination expressed in words below. All the official stamps correspond in denomination with those issued for the public, except in the case of the State Department, for which four of higher value were made for dispatch bags. These four are of the denominations of $2, $5, $10, and $20, respectively, are of large size and printed in two colors, and bear a profile bust of the late Secretary Seward." Elsewhere the Postmaster General states that the stamps were ready the 24th of May, for use the 1st of July, 1873. The following circular was accordingly issued to postmasters: OFFICIAL POSTAGE STAMPS AND STAMPED ENVELOPES. [Circular to postmasters.] POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Env. & Post Cards. _Washington, D. C., May 15th, 1873._ "The Franking Privilege having been abolished, to take effect on the first day of July, 1873, the Postmaster General is required by law to provide postage stamps or stamped envelopes of special design for each of the several Executive Departments of the Government for the prepayment of postage on official matter passing through the mails. DESCRIPTION. In place of the heads on the regular stamps, the official stamps adopted for the Post Office Department have conspicuous figures (numerals) to represent the denomination, with the word "_Official_" above, and the word "_Stamp_" below. These printed in black, and resting on an oval shaped background, render the stamps especially distinctive, and leave no good excuse for confounding them with the other stamps. To further distinguish them, the name of the Department is printed across the top in lieu of the words "U. S. Postage." There is also a slight difference in the ornamentation of the border. In design, the official stamps for the other Departments do not differ materially from those issued for sale to the public, the profile busts are retained but each stamp has at the top the name of the particular Department for which it is provided. Other changes appearing in the border need not be specified. The stamps for each Department have their own distinctive color, as follows: For the Executive, carmine; State Department, green; Treasury Department, velvet-brown; War Department, cochineal red; Navy Department, blue; Interior Department, vermilion; Department of Justice, purple; Department of Agriculture, straw; and for the Post Office Department, black. The official stamps will correspond in denomination with the regular stamps except that for the State Department there will be four additional denominations, viz: two, five, ten and twenty dollars respectively. These additional stamps are designed from a profile bust of the late Hon. William H. Seward, and are of double size and printed in two colors. OFFICIAL STAMPS FOR POSTMASTERS. Postmasters at all offices will be furnished with the official stamps of this Department in suitable denominations and amounts as far as they can be supplied. The Department will exercise its own discretion in filling requisitions, and will send only in such denominations and amounts, as the needs of an office may seem to require. The less important offices, say those at which the money order system has not been established, will need only three cent stamps, but comparatively few offices will require stamps above the denomination of six cents. The higher denominations will be supplied to a few of the larger offices only. Postmasters will combine stamps of the most convenient denominations at hand to meet emergencies for which they may have no single stamp exactly filling the rate required." * * * * * * * EDWARD W. BARBER, Third Assistant Postmaster General. ISSUE OF JULY 1st, 1873. The several denominations for all the departments have certain characteristics that are common to all stamps of that value, which may as well be stated once for all, to avoid repetition. With the exception of those of the post office department, the head is the same as that on the ordinary stamp of the same value then current. The value is expressed in numerals and words beneath the oval in the same numerals, letters and scrolls as on the ordinary stamps of the same value, except that in those for the Post Office Department the numerals in the 1, 12 and 30 cents and the letters in all are a trifle smaller. The ONE CENT has the head of Franklin in an oval as described, the large "1" dividing "_One Cent_" on a band bordered by heavy white lines as described, but the ornament across the ends is omitted except in that for the Executive and Agriculture, and is lessened in that for the Interior. The TWO CENTS has the head of Jackson as described, the large numeral "2" dividing "_Two Cents_" upon a scroll with white border as described, the ends of the scroll are, however, differently arranged to accommodate parts of the design. The THREE CENTS has the head of Washington as described, the large "3" dividing the words "_Three Cents_" upon a scroll as described. The SIX CENTS has the head of Lincoln, the large "6" dividing the words "_Six Cents_" upon a scroll with colorless borders as described. The SEVEN CENTS has the head of Stanton, the large "7" dividing the words "_Seven Cents_" upon a label following the oval and bordered by the white line between two colored lines and ending in a curve and ball as described. The TEN CENTS has the head of Jefferson, the large "10" dividing the words "_Ten Cents_" upon a colorless bordered scroll as described. The TWELVE CENTS has the head of Clay, the large numerals "2" dividing the words "_Twelve Cents_" in block letters following the oval bounded by the white line between two colored lines and curved back as described. The FIFTEEN CENTS has the head of Webster, the large numerals "15" dividing the words "_Fifteen Cents_" upon a label bordered as described. The TWENTY-FOUR CENTS has the head of Scott, no numerals below, the words "_Twenty-four_" and "_Cents_" upon two labels and in block letters as described. In that for the Department of Agriculture the upper label is changed into a scroll with large ends curved backwards, then forwards and then downwards. The THIRTY CENTS has the head of Hamilton, the large numerals "30" on the shield dividing the words "_Thirty Cents_" in colored letters on the scroll as described. The NINETY CENTS has the head of Perry, the large numerals "90" dividing the words "_Ninety Cents_" in block letters on a label bordered as described, but the ends have a small curve inward in those for the Post Office Department, are square in those for the Interior and Navy Departments, are curved inwards in that for the War Department, are terminated by curves forming a point in that for the Department of Justice, and are square with a projecting small half circle in those for the Treasury and State Departments. EXECUTIVE. The oval containing the bust, the scroll or label and numeral are all placed upon a back-ground of vertical parallel lines so disposed as to produce the stripes of the shield or flag. Above and following the oval a solid colored label inscribed in colorless capitals, "_Executive_," and bounded by a white and exterior colored line terminating in a foliated ornament against the oval; foliated ornaments in the corners forming small white circles enclosing "_U._" and "_S._" on rectangularly hatched disks. Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm. in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent carmine, 6,800 issued. 2 cents " 9,100 " 3 " " 23,500 " 6 " " 5,500 " 10 " " 5,150 " DEPARTMENT OF STATE. The oval containing the bust, the scroll or label and numeral are all placed upon a ground of parallel vertical lines. At the top these are crossed by horizontal lines at about 1 mm. from the edge over a space of equal width, so as to form a darker band and thus form a double frame half way down where the darker frame terminates on each side in a round ball, except in the 12 cents, which has the dark frame all the way round. In the values with scrolls "_U._" on the left, "_S._" on the right above the ends of the scrolls in large white letters shaded outside. In the values with labels the same letters in the corners below the ends of the labels, also colorless, except in the 15 cents, in which they are crossed by parallel horizontal lines. Above the ovals "_Dep't of State_," in similar capitals, large at the sides and gradually decreasing towards the center. Above these a fine curved colorless line between colored lines, the lower heavily shaded; beneath the letters a white ornament terminating on each side in a fleur de lis, and shaded by colored lines. Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent green, 31,800 issued. 2 cents green, 41,800 " 3 " 109,200 " 6 " 82,100 " 7 " 37,800 " 10 " 64,900 " 12 " 20,800 " 15 " 22,800 " 24 " 13,800 " 30 " 20,100 " 90 " 6,043 " To these are added the four higher values of larger size. These have a large profile head of Wm. H. Seward, facing to the left, on a hatched ground forming an oval disk, with a ground of fine parallel lines all printed in black. The lines are arranged to form a panelled triangle in the upper corners, the lines being horizontal and light in the borders and thickened to form the darker panels which contain a foliated ornament. On a broad colorless, curved label, with rounded ends, "_Department of_" in outline Roman capitals shaded at top by curved parallel colored lines, a series of curved parallel colored lines filling the lower part of the label. Beneath this, in outlined pearled capitals, following the label and shaded outside, "_State_." At the sides bunches of rods tied above and below with crossed bands with "_U. S. A._" in colorless letters below each. Across the bottom a hatched label with colorless borders inscribed in colorless letters shaded outside with the value. Plate impression 25 by 39 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. Two dollars, black and green, 3,508 issued. Five " " " 363 " Ten " " " 363 " Twenty " " " 363 " TREASURY DEPARTMENT. The oval containing the portraits, the scrolls or labels and large numerals are placed on a background of vertical parallel lines arranged to form a drapery with fringes, cords and tassels, and a panel similar to the State Department stamps. At the top a label indicated by a colorless line curved up at the ends and terminating above in foliated ornaments, is inscribed "_Treasury_" in the same letters as the other official stamps with "_U. S._" beneath the left end and "_Dept._" beneath the right end. Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent velvet-brown, 2,900,000 issued. 2 cents " 2,484,500 " 3 " " 11,250,000 " 6 " " 4,105,000 " 7 " " 220,000 " 10 " " 1,291,500 " 12 " " 783,000 " 15 " " 663,000 " 24 " " 100,000 " 30 " " 456,500 " 90 " " 312,500 " The shades of these stamps vary somewhat in depth, some specimens having a spotted appearance as if the ink did not work well. WAR DEPARTMENT. The oval containing the bust, the scrolls or labels and numerals are placed on a back ground of parallel vertical lines above and below, horizontal on the sides. In the upper corners "_U._" on the left, "_S._" on the right. A curved solid label bordered by a cord, cuts off the upper corners and is inscribed on the left "_War_" on right "_Dept._" in the usual capitals. The lines of the sides are arranged to show the stripes of the flag. A shield on each side above the scrolls or beneath the labels. Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent cochineal red, 3,301,230 issued. 2 cents " 1,867,160 " 3 " " 5,393,137 " 6 " " 3,584,813 " 7 " " 55,728 " 10 " " 342,152 " 12 " " 792,070 " 15 " " 284,960 " 24 " " 201,025 " 30 " " 336,641 " 90 " " 48,172 " The shades of these stamps vary somewhat in intensity, some being much lighter and some darker than ordinary. NAVY DEPARTMENT. The ovals containing the busts, the labels or scrolls and large numerals are placed on a ground of vertical parallel lines. A large, six-pointed star in each upper corner, and a smaller one on each side. A cable runs round the sides and top. The words "_Navy_" on the left and "_Dept._" on the right in the usual capitals across the upper corners and a losenge with "_U._" on the left and "_S._" on the right shaded in the lower corners and placed diagonally above the scrolls or below the labels. Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent, ultramarine-blue, 106,800 issued. 2 cents " 201,300 " 3 " " 580,700 " 6 " " 234,800 " 7 " " 16,000 " 10 " " 55,210 " 12 " " 61,300 " 15 " " 37,500 " 24 " " 26,000 " 30 " " 29,600 " 90 " " 11,270 " POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. The oval as before stated contains a large numeral of value instead of the head with the word "_Official_" above and "_Stamp_" below, on a plain colorless ground. Same labels or scrolls and numerals rather smaller below as in the stamps of other departments, with small circular disks bearing "_U._" and "_S._" on the left and right above the scrolls or under the labels. In the 1, 6, 10, 30 and 90 cents these small disks are shaded by vertical lines, in the other values by diagonal lines, and the letters are filled with horizontal lines. Around the top of the oval a solid colored label bordered by colorless lines and inscribed "_Post Office Department_." There is a small circle with four horizontal lines, and shaded outside in each upper corner, all on a ground of parallel vertical lines. Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent black, 1,114,250 issued. 2 cents " 894,600 " 3 " " 6,479,700 " 6 " " 3,306,800 " 10 " " 182,450 " 12 " " 298,780 " 15 " " 109,285 " 24 " " 87,625 " 30 " " 133,255 " 90 " " 65,200 " Two complete series of these stamps may be found, the one on white paper, the other having the surface tinted with the ink of the stamp, also intermediate or partly tinted specimens, showing that the tinting probably results from imperfect wiping of the plates. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. The ovals containing the heads, the scrolls, labels and large numerals are placed on a ground of vertically ruled lines, crossed in parts to form heavy shadows and showing stripes at the sides, small shields above the ends of the scrolls and below the ends of the labels, bearing the "_U._" and "_S._" lined and shaded. A large, six-pointed star in the upper corners. A broad, colorless band doubly curved and following in part the outline of the oval above, inscribed in lined and shaded Roman capitals, "_Dept. of the Interior_." Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent vermilion, 394,800 issued. 2 cents " 1,414,400 " 3 " " 5,255,300 " 6 " " 1,722,500 " 10 " " 284,550 " 12 " " 359,850 " 15 " " 257,100 " 24 " " 134,125 " 30 " " 138,300 " 90 " " 64,377 " DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. The ovals containing the heads, bands, scrolls and large numerals are placed on a ground of vertically ruled lines. Six pointed stars with the letters "_U._" and "_S._" above the ends of the scrolls or under the ends of the labels. Diagonally in small capitals in the upper left corner, "_Dept._" in the right "_of_" and in larger capitals following the line of the oval, "_Justice_" all in outline Roman capitals heavily shaded, on the ground without bands. The oval, stars, scrolls, etc., are also heavily shaded. Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent, purple, 25,000 issued. 2 cents, " 26,900 " 3 " " 182,000 " 6 " " 84,000 " 10 " " 20,500 " 12 " " 26,800 " 15 " " 12,800 " 24 " " 12,800 " 30 " " 8,600 " 90 " " 3,200 " The color varies very slightly in intensity. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The ovals containing the heads, bands scrolls and large numerals are placed upon a ground of vertically ruled lines, showing stripes at the sides. A solid label curved with the oval above bounded by a colorless line and rounded at the ends, is inscribed "_Agriculture_" in outlined capitals. In small similar capitals in the upper left corner, "_Dept. of_" in two lines. In the upper right corner in monogram, "_U. S._" Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 1 cent, straw, 95,415 issued. 2 cents " 230,150 " 3 " " 435,050 " 6 cents, straw, 120,000 issued. 10 " " 95,265 " 12 " " 51,265 " 15 " " 54,050 " 24 " " 60,265 " 30 " " 82,265 " By the appropriation acts each year from the Act of the 22 June, 1874, a certain amount was annually appropriated to each Department for the purchase from the Post Office Department of such of these official stamps as were necessary for the use of the Department and its subordinate officers. By the 9th Section of the Act of the XLIVth Congress, Session I, Chapter 287, approved the 15th of August, 1876, it was enacted. "That the Secretaries respectively of the Departments of State, Treasury, War, Navy and Interior and the Attorney General are authorized to make requisition upon the Postmaster General for the necessary amount of postage stamps for the use of their Departments not exceeding the amount stated in the estimates submitted to Congress, and upon presentation of proper vouchers therefore at the Treasury, the amount thereof shall be credited to the appropriation for the Post Office Department for the same fiscal year." This was the beginning of an entire change in the method of crediting the Post Office Department for work done in carrying official correspondence. By the Act of XLIVth Congress, Session II, Chapter 103, approved March 30, 1877, the law was modified in the following terms: Sec. 5. That it shall be lawful to transmit through the mail, free of postage any letters, packages or other matter relating exclusively to the business of the Government of the United States: Provided that every such letter or package to entitle it to pass free shall bear over the words "Official Business" an endorsement, showing also the name of the Department, and if from a bureau or office, the names of the Department and bureau or office, as the case may be, whence transmitted. And if any person shall make use of any such official envelope to avoid the payment of postage on his private letter, package or other matter in the mail, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of three hundred dollars, to be prosecuted in any court of competent jurisdiction. Sec. 6. That for the purpose of carrying this act into effect it shall be the duty of each of the Executive Departments of the United States to provide for itself and its subordinate officers the necessary envelopes, and in addition to the endorsement designating the Department in which they are to be used, the penalty for the unlawful use shall be stated thereon. Sec. 7. That Senators, Representatives and Delegates in Congress, the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives may send and receive through the mail all public documents printed by order of Congress, and the name of each Senator, Representative, Delegate, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, shall be written thereon with the proper designation of the office he holds, and the provisions of this section shall apply to each of the persons mentioned therein until the first day of December following the expiration of their terms of office. By this act the use of official stamps upon mail matter _from_ the Departments, bureaus and offices was practically abolished, but official stamps continued to be used by postmasters and other subordinate officers in their mail matter _to_ the Departments or each other on official business. By the 29th Section of the Act of the XLVth Congress, Chapter 180, approved March 3d, 1879, it was enacted that,-- "The provisions of the 5th and 6th Sections of the Act entitled, An Act Establishing Post Routes and for other purposes, approved March 3d, 1877, for the transmission of official mail matter, be and they are hereby extended to all officers of the United States Government, and made applicable to all official mail matter transmitted between any of the officers of the United States, or between any such officer and either of the Executive Departments or officers of the Government, the envelopes of such matter in all cases to bear appropriate endorsements containing the proper designation of the office from which the same is transmitted, with a statement of the penalty for their misuse. And the provisions of said 5th and 6th Sections are hereby likewise extended and made applicable to all official mail matter sent from the Smithsonian Institution. Provided, that this Act shall not extend or apply to pension agents, or other officers who receive a fixed allowance for their services, including expenses for postage." In his report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, D. M. Key, Postmaster General, had already stated that,-- "The amount of matter sent through the mails free is very large, adding greatly to our expenditures and giving us no revenue. The Franking Privilege has been restored to the members and chief officers of Congress, so as to allow them to send free almost anything which they were ever allowed to transmit through the mails free, except letters. Tons upon tons of books, documents, seeds, shrubs and the like are placed in our mails free of cost, on this score. The official letters of the Executive Departments of the general Government, their documents, etc., go free through the mails." The operation of the act of 1879, however, greatly increased the amount of free matter, and decreased the use of official stamps. The Post Office Department discontinued their use entirely. In a circular dated, Washington, D. C., April 22nd, 1879, and signed by A. D. Hazen, third assistant Postmaster General, it is stated that: "The Department will begin the issue on May 1st next, of envelopes for official business which will secure the free transmission through the mails of all official matter and which are intended to supercede the Post Office envelopes now in use, as well as official postage stamps and official stamped envelopes. Accordingly the issue of official stamps and official stamped envelopes will be discontinued on and after the date named. * * * The stock of post office envelopes now in the hands of postmasters will continue until exhausted to be used as heretofore by the attachment of official postage stamps. So also official stamped envelopes now in the hands of postmasters at Presidential offices will be used as heretofore until exhausted." This circular, of course, applies only to stamps, etc., of the Post Office Department. The other Departments continued to use them for certain purposes, though none were issued to the Executive Department. The report of the Postmaster General for the year ending June 30th, 1885, says: "The use of official stamps and stamped envelopes was wholly discontinued by this Department and substantially so by the other Departments on the 30th of June, 1879, under the Act authorizing the use of official penalty envelopes." By the Act of the XLVIIIth Congress, Session I, Chapter 234, Section 3, approved July 5, 1884, the provisions of the Act of 1879, were substantially re-enacted with the addition that any Department or officer authorized to use the penalty envelopes, might enclose them to any person from whom an answer was requested, and might register any letter required by law, or the regulations to be registered free, and might receive any letter partly paid free, and added that: "Section 3915 of the Revised Statutes of the United States so far as the same relates to stamps and stamped envelopes for official purposes is hereby repealed." To this the report of the Postmaster General for 1885, adds: "The use of official postage stamps and stamped envelopes having ceased on the 30th of June, 1884, and the same having been declared invalid for postages by the Act of July 5th, 1884, the stock remaining in the hands of the stamp and envelope contractors was destroyed in February last, under the supervision of the committee appointed by the Postmaster General." From the report of this committee it appears that they destroyed in all, 17,024,588 official stamps, and 1,739,290 of ordinary and newspaper stamps that had ceased to be of use. Also that about 2½ per cent of all the stamps manufactured annually, are destroyed, a single imperfect specimen on the "sheet" of 100 causing the rejection of at least fifty or half the sheet. XXVIII. OFFICIAL SEALS. The Post Office Department of the United States, besides the stamps for the collection of postage, has employed from time to time for special usages certain seals which, as they are adhesive and in the form of postage stamps and officially used, are here described, although they are of no postal value and not properly stamps, but are all employed to indicate that the packages which bear them are properly secured and have not been tampered with in transit. REGISTERED PACKAGE SEAL. This is a large rectangular seal 71½ by 39 mm., in the form of an adhesive stamp duly gummed and perforated. After the letters or parcels of registered letters were duly placed in the large registered package envelopes employed for the purpose, one of these seals was firmly secured over the tongue of the envelope and duly stamped with the date of mailing. It is simply an additional guarantee to the receiving office that the package has not been opened since it was sealed at the sending office. A circular announcing its issue and directing its use was issued from the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General at Washington, dated February 14, 1872. A second circular from the same office dated 1875, without stating the month or day, announces the adoption of a differently constructed envelope and the abandonment of the use of the registered seal. ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 14, 1872. Large, oblong, rectangular seals, having in the middle a circular disk with ground of fine concentric circles, so broken as to present the appearance of white rays, bounded by two heavier, but still fine colored lines, separated by a colorless line, and and a broad colorless band with exterior colored line, inscribed in plain block, colored capitals, above "_Stamp Here_," below, "_Date_" and "_Place of Mailing_" separated by a small maltese cross on each side. On each side of this is a ground of horizontal lines bordered by a heavy colored line with ornamental triangles of solid color, with colorless geometric lines forming the corners. Outside all a single colored line. On the ground in three lines of colored capitals, on each side are the inscriptions: on the left, reading from the bottom to the top, "_Post Office_," "_Department_"; on the right, reading from the top to the bottom, "_United States_," "_of America_"; in the upper corner triangles "_U. S._" in monogram; in the lower, "_P. O. D._" in white capitals. Across the middle of the whole stamp in large block capitals 8½ mm. high and shaded by horizontal lines is the word "_Registered_." Plate impression, 71½ by 39 mm., printed in color, on white paper, perforated 12. No value, green. A second seal employed for a time by the United States Postage Stamp Agency upon the packages of stamps sent out to postmasters, was equally an additional guarantee against opening or tampering with the package. ISSUE OF (END) 1875. A large rectangle bearing in the center the monogram, "_U. S._" in large colorless capitals in an oval of geometric colored lines, surrounded by a ground of interlaced colorless geometric lines on color. A frame of fifteen colored parallel lines crossing in the angles. A clover leaf of geometric work, also in the corners. On the frame above in large colorless capitals, "_U. S. Postage Stamp Agency_," all in brown. A black surcharge of eight lines reads: "_Postmasters Receiving this Package--Will Please--Note Its Condition--If showing signs of having been tam--pered with, report the same and return--this package to 3d Asst. P. M. General, at--Washington, D. C. This Package--Should be opened at the end. E. W. Barber, 3d Asst. P. M. G._" Lithographed in color on white paper, but not perforated, 102 by 52 mm. No value, brown and black. This was afterwards changed by merely changing the signature to "_A. D. Hazen, 3d Asst. P. M. G._" and the surcharge to vermilion. Lithographed in color on white paper and not perforated. No value, brown and vermilion. [The latter are still in use. Dec., '86]. A third seal was employed by the Dead Letter Office at Washington, and afterwards by other offices, to reseal letters opened at that office or broken in the mails. It was placed upon the flap of the envelope of letters opened at the Dead Letter Office, in order to ascertain the name of the sender, or on letters opened by the wrong persons through mistake, or upon the torn places of other packages. ISSUE OF (BEGINNING OF) 1877. A large rectangle with small head of Liberty, full face in an oval 11 by 8 mm. in the center. Above in curved line of colored block letters, "_Post Office Department_," below in double curve of Old English colored letters, "_United States of America_." On each side of the oval a solid label bearing in large colorless letters on left, "_Officially_," on right "_Sealed_." In the corners "_U. S._" in monogram. The frame is a broad band 3 mm. wide, vertically lined forming a rectangle with rounded corners, double lined outside and inside and shaded. The ground is covered with the words "_Post Obitum_" repeated in whole or part 180 times, in horizontal lines. On the frame below "National Bank Note Company New York" in small colored letters. Plate impression, in color, on white paper, 43¼ by 27 mm., perforated 12. No value, brown. ISSUE OF 1879. The foregoing stamp was replaced in 1879, by another of the same design, but the words "_Post Obitum_" in the ground are replaced by a pattern of interlaced circles. The same name on the frame. Plate impression, in color, on white paper, 43¼ by 27 mm., perforated 12. No value, brown. XXIX. REPRINTS. There seems to have been no special law authorizing the Postmaster General to issue reprints of the stamps of the United States, or as the authorities choose to call them, "Specimen Postage Stamps." On the other hand his general authority under the law is sufficient to make any re-issue for postal purposes of any of the issues of the Department legal, for none of them except the official stamps have ever been made invalid for postal purposes by any authority but his own, and this authority he undoubtedly has also. It has always seemed expedient to the Department to issue certain specimens of the stamps and envelopes in circulation, or to be circulated, from time to time, in the proper, as well as in trial colors. It has been said that it being considered expedient to exhibit at the Centennial Exhibition a complete series of all the various issues authorized from time to time, by the Department, as a part of its history, and unused specimens not being easily obtained, the old dies and plates were taken from their places of storage in order to print the necessary specimens, and that the Department having been solicited to furnish collectors with specimens of its old issues, took this opportunity to provide itself to satisfy these demands. It was, however, a mistaken kindness and unused originals were not unattainable. So that for exhibition purposes even reprinting was not necessary. Besides as the reprints or specimens of all except the current series, are in some respects or other unlike the originals, they were really only so many tolerably accurate pictures of what had been. When the Department was ready to furnish collectors with these doubtful boons the following official circular was issued: SPECIMEN POSTAGE STAMPS. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Office of Third Assistant Postmaster General, Div. of Postage Stamps, St'ped Envelopes & Postal Cards. _Washington, D. C., March 27, 1875._ The Department is prepared to furnish upon application, at face value, specimens of adhesive postage stamps issued under its auspices as follows: Ordinary Stamps for Use of the Public. 1. Issue of 1847. Denominations, 5 and 10 cents. Value of set, 15 cents. 2. Issue of 1851. Denominations, 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 24, 30 and 90 cents; also two separate designs of 1 cent carrier stamps. Value of set, $1.77. 3. Issue of 1861. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $1.92. 4. Issue of 1869. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $1.93. 5. Issue of 1870 (current series). Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $2. Official Stamps. 1. Executive. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 cents. Value of set, 22 cents. 2. Department of State. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents, and $2, $5, $10 and $20. Value of Set, $39. 3. Treasury Department. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $2. 4. War Department. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $2. 5. Navy Department. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $2. 6. Post Office Department. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $1.93. 7. Department of the Interior. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $1.93. 8. Department of Justice. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $1.93. 9. Department of Agriculture. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24 and 30 cents. Value of set, $1.03. Newspaper and Periodical Stamps. 1. Issue of 1865. Denominations, 5, 10 and 25 cents. Value of set, 40 cents. 2. Issue of 1874. Denominations, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 cents, $1.92, $3, $6, $9, $12, $24, $36, $48 and $60. Value of set, $204.66. The 1847 and 1851 stamps are obsolete, and no longer receivable for postage. The subsequent issues of ordinary stamps are still valid. The newspaper and periodical stamps of 1865 are also uncurrent; those of the issue of 1874 can be used only by publishers and news agents for matter mailed in bulk under the Act of June 23rd, 1874. The official stamps cannot be used except for the official business of the particular Department for which it is provided. All the specimens furnished will be ungummed, and the official stamps will have printed across the face the word "Specimen" in small type. It will be useless to apply for gummed stamps or for official stamps with the word "Specimen" omitted. The stamps will be sold by sets, and application must not be made for less than one full set of any issue except the State Department official stamps and newspaper and periodical stamps of the issue of 1874. The regular set of the former will embrace all the denominations from 1 cent to 90 cents inclusive, valued at $2; and any or all of the other denominations ($2, $5, $10 and $20) will be added or sold separately from the regular set as desired. The newspaper and periodical stamps will be sold in quantities of not less than two dollars worth in each case, of any denomination or denominations that may be ordered. Under no circumstances will stamps be sold for less than their face value. Payment must invariably be made in advance in current funds of the United States. Mutilated currency, internal revenue and postage stamps, bank checks and drafts, will not be accepted, but will in all cases be returned to the sender. To insure greater certainty in the transmission, it is strongly urged that remittances be made either by money order or registered letter. Applicants will also include a sufficient amount for return postage and registry fee, it being desirable to send stamps by registered letter. Losses in the mails or by any mode of transmission must be at the risk of the purchaser. [Symbol: Right Index] Applications must be addressed to "The Third Assistant Postmaster General, Washington, D. C." Specimens of stamped envelopes will not be furnished in any case. E. W. BARBER, Third Assistant Postmaster General. Here is truly a pretty kettle of fish. The proceedings do not seem to have been reported by the Department, and there seems to have been no account rendered of this peculiar transaction of the Stamp Office. Doubtless the amounts received for these specimens and the number of them sold are blended in the accounts of the number of stamps sold and no loss accrued to the service. The public are not, however, informed of the extent of the transactions, and judging from the difficulty of finding these specimens in collections, the business was not large. There was no law preventing any one from purchasing either the newspaper or periodical stamps from the Post office, and at the time there was probably no regulation of the Department which prevented postmasters from selling them to all desirous of purchasing. Certainly some were sold to dealers and collectors. Hence the privilege of purchasing the current newspaper and periodical stamps _without gum_ for the same price that actual and complete copies could be obtained, particularly in view of the fact that the purchaser, unless a publisher or agent, could not use them when so purchased, even if he were willing to gum them himself, was probably not largely taken advantage of. The specimens when found can hardly be called reprints and cannot be distinguished from the ordinary stamps that have by some accident lost their gum. There is reason to believe that some of them have been adorned with this appendage by private parties, so that the presence of gum is no guarantee of genuineness. As, however, they are only partly finished stamps of the regular issue, no great harm is done if a specimen is treasured in a collection. With the newspaper stamps of the 1865 issue the facts are different. While they are from the same plates apparently, they can generally be detected by the color. As the five cents with white border does not appear in the list of reprints or "specimens" the series was not, after all, complete, and the possessor of this stamp may feel confident of possessing an original. The companion five cents with colored border is exactly of the same color, varying only in different specimens of either variety in depths of color. The blue of the reprints is of a different shade, more intense and perhaps the difference can best be expressed by saying there is a _bloom_ about it that there is not about the originals. When the two are placed side by side the homely expression that the "new is worn off" of the originals will serve to express the difference, though in point of fact they never had the brightness of the reprints. The same remarks apply to the old and new ten cent values. The color of the 25 cents, is, however, very badly imitated, the originals have a yellowish-red cast, the reprint is a dull common red. A very good idea of it might be had by comparing what are called salmon brick and pressed brick together. Unfortunately some unscrupulous parties have "experimented" with the reprints and thus rendered some specimens rather harder to distinguish, but so far as the observation of the writer goes, comparison with originals will always satisfactorily expose the difference. The extreme anxiety of the Department that the revenue of the service should not suffer by the use of a private party of an official stamp for which he had paid the department full value, led as the advertisement states to the placing of the word "specimen" in small type across the face, and thereby saved the collector any trouble in identifying "specimens" from originals, though as the stamps were current the omission of the gum only reduced them to partly finished stamps, and not to the category of reprints or counterfeits. Of the "ordinary stamps for the use of the public," the 5th or 1870 issue was then current, and why ungummed stamps which the circular says were never the less available for postage, should have been sold when the Department had a large supply of finished originals at command, is a mystery to all but official minds. The 4th or 1869 series presents greater difficulties to the collector who desires to have only genuine originals. Made by the same company that produced the originals, and only a short time afterwards, the processes of printing, ink and paper making had not materially changed, but the reprints show signs of more careful workmanship. Notwithstanding the circular some of them at least were sent out by the department gummed. But strange to say as noticed by Mr. Coster (A. J. P. 1875 page 6) the gum of the originals "varied from decidedly brownish to almost white" and "on the 1861-69 issues of the reprints (as also on the eagles) simple gum arabic seems to have been used, the color being perfectly white. Furthermore, if the stamps are bent at all, the gum cracks, which is in no case true of the originals." Mr. Coster further says, "the originals all had the grille and the reprints have not." Unfortunately, Mr. Coster was not aware that the four higher values at least, with the brownish gum and without the grille, and undoubtedly original, existed in collections before the reprints were made, and have since been officially stated to have been so issued, and other values also in that condition are known, which have every appearance of being originals. Unfortunately also, it is not very difficult to remove the gum, imitate the grille or not and regum the stamp with brownish gum. Such experiments have been made with fair success by members of that fraternity who exist by the trade in bogus antiquities and counterfeit evidences of value, who sometimes do these little things merely to experience the delight they feel in deceiving the so-called experts, especially when as in this case a known reprint is almost unsalable, but if it can be made to pass as an original its value is increased several hundred fold and its salable qualities many times more. Fortunately there are not a large number of the reprints to encounter and grilled specimens are in all probability original. The 3d or 1861 issue was also made by the same company that did the reprinting. The originals were issued first without the grille and afterwards with it, both had the brownish gum. The reprints have the same perforation and, notwithstanding the circular, were issued both without the gum and with the white stiff gum noticed above. Originals without the grille are rarely on tinted or surfaced paper, though sometimes smurched in parts from careless wiping of the plates. Originals with the grille are generally on lightly tinted or surfaced paper and the colors are usually stronger than the earlier ones. The reprints were without the grille, but the colors are rather those of the grilled originals, the paper is however whiter, the printing more carefully worked, and there is the new look about them noticed when speaking of the reprints of the newspaper series of 1865. Sheets of the one cent reprinted show the printer's imprint on the sides and of the pattern of that on the 1869 issue. All the originals of this value probably had the imprint of the other pattern, and at the top or bottom. The reprints are therefore, probably from new plates. A few reprints with a forged grille have come under the observation of the writer, but as the grille was the small grille imitated from that on the 1869 issue it was easily detected. The 2nd or 1851 issue, as it is called in the circular, actually consisted of two series, the imperforate and perforate. Imperforate reprints were not furnished. The originals were perforated 15 to the mm. or 17 to the 7/8 of an inch. The reprints were perforated 12 to the mm. or 13 to the 7/8 of an inch. This is the perforation of the 1870 series and of most of the U. S. stamps. This is an absolute test then for perforated specimens. Attempts are, however, made to palm off trimmed reprints as imperforate specimens. The originals are on a yellowish paper and with brown gum. The reprints on a very white paper originally but easily manipulated to yellowish. The reprint of the one cent is from a new plate, the stamps have the outside fine labels of the original imperforate series, but are set farther apart on the plate so that even the larger perforation used does not cut into the stamp. The blue is too bright. The reprinted three cents has the outer top and bottom lines of the original imperforate stamp. The stamps do not seem to have been set quite far enough apart on the plate, as most specimens are somewhat marred by the large perforation. The color is however a vermilion and not the brick-red, pink or carmine of the originals. The reprinted five cents is from plate No. 2 without the top and bottom projection, and the stamps being too near together are marred by the large perforation. The color is a decided yellow brown, unlike any of the shades of the original. It would probably be impossible to remove the perforation so as to make this stamp pass for an imperforate specimen and then it would lack the projection of the original. The ten and twelve cents are harder to distinguish, the green is too green, the black too black. The twenty-four, thirty and ninety cents were not issued imperforate (except the very rare instances of the 24 cents) and are not likely to deceive any one, their colors, however, are the more brilliant new colors and not the old dull colors of the originals. The reprinted "Eagle" Carrier's stamp was first sent out perforated 12, the original was, of course, imperforate, and the stamps upon the sheet were separated by colored lines. The perforations of the reprints made sad havoc with these. Later the reprints were sent out imperforate. Such originals as the present writer has seen are on a yellowish tinted paper arising probably from the gum or age, the reprints are on a paper blued on the printed side by the ink of the stamp and with a blue cast at the back. The reprinted "Franklin" Carrier's stamp is on too deep a pink paper and the dark blue ink is not deep and dull enough. Finally the only safe test of any of these stamps is comparison with undoubted originals, in every case of doubt. The first or 1847 reprints are not from the original plates nor even from the original dies, but from newly engraved dies, and hence are absolutely worthless as representing the originals. They are not reprints, but official imitations. In speaking of this issue it was stated that the Department had ordered all remainders to be burnt and the plates and dies destroyed. Supposing this to have been done reprinting was impossible. To take the place of the originals, new dies were made. The imitations are both wider and shorter than the originals. The foliated ornaments are too conspicuous in both. The small letters, R. W. H. and E. in the margins, though clear in the originals are too small, and particularly in the five cents almost illegible, being too light, and apparently the engraver did not know whether to make an R or an H, an M or a W, an H or an N, an E or an F. These are the general and common differences. The Five Cents. The hair on the right of the head (left of the stamp) is in heavy dark masses in the original, but is too light, open and airy in the imitation. The mouth prolonged in the original beyond the dot on the right, ends with it in the imitation, in which there is a second dot to the right of the first. The eyes are clear and distinct in the original, with perhaps too much white in the right one, they are weak undecided eyes in the imitation. The shirt front in the original is terminated by a diagonal line which reaches the oval above the top of the F of "Five" in the original, but is more nearly horizontal in the imitation, reaching the oval nearly on a line with the top of the 5. The Ten Cents. In the hair on the right of the stamp there is a small, white circle with a dark center in the imitation which does not appear in the original. The lips are larger and the mouth longer in the original than the imitation, but in the latter the lower lip is indicated throughout by vertical lines, in the original there are three vertical lines, the rest indicated by points. In the original the white cravat is separated from the inner colored line marking the oval by a fine white line with a colored line above it; in the imitation the line of the oval terminates the cravat. The lines of the face are all too stiff and ridged and the execution does not compare in delicacy and boldness of touch with the original. INDEX. Agriculture Department; 230, 243 Alexandria; 28, 60 Baltimore; 28, 62, 63 Baltimore, Horseman; 63 Brattleboro; 28, 48, 50 Carrier Stamps; 87, 88, 100, 191, 264 Compulsory prepayment; 23, 90, 91 Eight Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 218 Eighty-four Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219 Executive Department; 230, 235 Fifteen Cents, 1866; 131, 135, 136, 191 " 1867, medium grille; 139, 142, 191 " 1867, small grille; 141, 142, 191 " 1869; 153, 191 " 1870; 166, 170, 173 " 1873; 176 " 1883; 195 " Official; 234 Fifty Cents, Postage Due; 202 Five Cents, 1847; 76, 78, 191, 265 " 1856; 94, 107, 191 " 1857; 110, 120, 191 " 1861; 126, 134, 135, 191 " 1867; 140, 141, 142, 191 " 1875; 178 " 1881; 180 " 1882; 181 " 1883; 196 " Newspapers, 1865; 191 " Postage Due; 200 Five Dollars, State Department; 237 Four Cents, 1883; 187, 189, 196 " Newspapers, 1874; 218 Forty-eight Cents, " 1874; 219 Forty-eight Dollars," 1874; 222 Grille of 1867; 138, 139, 140 " 1869; 157 " 1870; 170 Interior Dep't; 230, 241 Introduction; 13 Issue of 1847; 74, 191, 265 " 1851; 81, 85, 87, 88, 191, 263 " 1855; 94, 191 " 1856; 94, 191 " 1857; 110, 191 " 1860; 111, 191 " 1861; 122, 125, 191, 261 " 1863; 131, 191 " 1865; 209, 191 " 1866; 132, 191 " 1867; 137, 191 " 1869; 144, 149, 191, 260 " 1870; 158, 191, 260 " 1873; 173, 227 " 1874; 214 " 1875; 177 " 1879; 201 " 1882; 180 " 1883; 186, 189, 195 " 1885; 205 " 1887; 196 Justice Dep't; 230, 242 Millbury; 28, 65 Navy Dep't; 230, 240 Newspaper and Periodical, 1865; 209, 259 " " " 5 cts.; 211 " " " 10 cts.; 212 " " " 25 cts.; 213 " " 1874; 214 New Haven; 28, 51, 53 New York; 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33 New York "U. S. Mail"; 34 Nine Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 191, 192, 218 Nine Dollars, " " ; 221 Ninety Cents, 1860; 112, 121, 191 " 1861; 129, 135, 136, 191 " 1867; 140, 141, 142, 191 " 1869; 156, 191 " 1870; 169, 170, 173 " 1873; 176 " 1883; 195, 196 " Official; 235 Ninety-six Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219 Official Stamps; 227 Official Seals; 249 Officially Sealed; 250 One Cent Carrier, Eagle; 88, 109, 191, 264 " " Franklin; 87, 109, 191, 264 " 1851; 85, 89, 97, 191 " 1857; 110, 113, 191 " 1861; 125, 133, 134, 135, 191 " 1867, medium grille; 139, 191 " 1867, small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191 " 1869; 149, 191 " 1870; 161, 170, 172, 173 " 1873; 175 " 1881; 180 " 1882; 183 " 1883; 195 " 1886; 183 " 1887; 183 " 1887; 196 " Newspaper, 1885; 224 " Official; 233 " Postage Due; 200 One Dollar and Ninety-two Cents, Newspaper, 1874; 220 Philadelphia; 69 Pittsfield; 71 Postage Due; 198 " 1, 2, 3, 5; 200 " 10, 30, 50; 202 Postmarks; 14 to 18 Post Obitum; 252 Post Office Department; 230 Postmasters Stamps; 25, 72 Providence; 23, 54, 56 Registered Seals; 249 Registered Seals for stamp packages; 250 Reprints; 254 St. Louis; 27, 28, 36, 38 " 2 Cents; 47 " 5 " ; 40 " 10 " ; 42 " 20 " ; 44 Seven Cents, 1870; 159, 169, 170, 172, 173, 191, 192 " 1873; 176 " Official; 234 Seventy-two Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219 Six Cents, 1869; 151, 191 " 1870; 159, 164, 170, 172, 173 " 1873; 175, 176 " 1882; 184, 190, 192 " 1883; 196 " 1886; 192 " Newspapers, 1874; 218 " Official; 234 Sixty Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219 Sixty Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 223 Six Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 220 Specimen Postage Stamps; 225 Special Delivery; 204 State Department; 230, 236 Ten Cents, 1847; 77, 79, 191, 266 " 1855; 94, 108, 191 " 1857; 110, 121, 191 " 1861; 127, 135, 191 " 1867, medium grille; 139, 191 " 1867, small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191 " 1869; 151, 191 " 1870; 159, 165, 170, 173 " 1881; 180 " 1882; 185 " 1883; 185, 186 " 1886; 196 " 1887; 186 " Newspapers, 1874; 218 " Official; 234 " Postage Due; 202 " Special Delivery; 204 Ten Dollars, State; 237 Thirty Cents, 1860; 111, 112, 121, 191 " 1861; 129, 135, 136, 191 " 1867; 140, 141, 142, 191 " 1869; 155, 191 " 1870; 168, 170, 173 " 1873; 176 " 1883; 196 " Official; 235 " Postage Due; 202 Thirty-six Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219 Thirty-six Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 222 Three Cents, 1851; 85, 89, 98, 191 " 1857; 110, 115, 191 " 1861; 126, 134, 135, 191 " 1867 grilled all over; 138, 191 " " large grille; 139, 191 " " medium grille; 139, 191 " " small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191 " " imperforate; 142, 191 " 1869; 150, 191 " 1870; 163, 170, 172, 173 " 1873; 175, 176 " 1881; 180 " 1882; 184, 186, 190, 192 " 1883; 196 " 1886-7; 192 " Official; 234 " Newspapers, 1874; 191, 192, 218 " Postage due; 200 Three Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 220 Treasury Dept; 230, 238 Twelve Cents, 1851; 86, 89, 108, 191 " 1857; 110, 121, 191 " 1861; 127, 135, 191 " 1867 medium grille; 139, 191 " 1867 small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191 " 1869; 152, 191 " 1870; 159, 165, 170, 173, 191, 192 " 1883; 196 " Newspapers, 1874; 219 " Official; 234 Twelve Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 221 Twenty Dollars, State; 237 Twenty-four Cents, 1856; 93, 108, 191 " " 1860; 111, 112, 121, 191 " " 1861; 128, 135, 136, 191 " " 1867; 140, 141, 142, 191 " " 1869; 154, 191 " " 1870; 167, 170, 173, 191, 192 " " 1873; 176 " " Newspapers, 1874; 219 " " Official; 234 Twenty-four Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 222 Two Cents, 1863; 131, 135, 191 " 1867, medium grille; 139, 191 " 1867, small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191 " 1867, imperforate; 142, 191 " 1869; 150, 191 " 1870; 161, 170, 172, 173 " 1873; 175 " 1875; 177 " 1881; 180 " 1882; 184, 186 " 1883; 187, 189, 195 " Official; 234 " Newspaper; 218 " Postage Due; 200 Two Dollars, State; 237 Uniform Postage; 23 Unpaid Letter Stamps; 200 Unperforated Specimens, 1867; 142 " " 1870; 172 U. S. Mail; 34 U. S. City Dispatch Post; 19, 22 War Department; 230, 239 Washington; 31, 67 Worcester; 70 THE =PHILATELIC CATALOGUE= OF POSTAGE STAMPS, STAMPED ENVELOPES AND POSTAL CARDS. BY MAJOR EDW. B. EVANS, R. A. This work is fully illustrated with engravings, also gives full description of all stamps, particulars as to printing, perforation, paper, watermarks, colors, as well as market price. Also valuable notes by the author on subjects pertaining to the stamps. The following is the plan of the work: Part 1. Adhesives. Part 2. Stamped Envelopes. Part 3. Postal Cards. Each part is divided into sections: Section 1. America. Section 2. Great Britain and Colonies. Section 3. Europe. Section 4. Asia, Africa and Australasia. Each section is divided into groups, the groups of Part 1, Section 1 are now ready and are as follows: Group 1. United States (including Confederate issues). Group 2. Mexico and Central America. Group 3. U. S. of Columbia and states. Group 4. Other South American countries. The price of each group is 10c; a new one will be published every month. The work is limited to 500 copies and when completed will be the greatest philatelic work ever published. Subscriptions received $1.00 per 10 parts, until the number 500 is reached subscribers will receive the first numbers. _C. H. MEKEEL, Philatelic Publisher,_ _Room 71, Turner Building._ _ST. LOUIS, MO._ THE =Improved Stamp Album.= With a rational plan for the arrangement of a collection of stamps. Copyrighted. This is a blank album manufactured expressly for the purpose. Good paper is used; size of pages 8½ by 11 inches; a neat border surrounds each page and an ornamental band at top for the reception of the name of the country. Neatly printed names are provided on adhesive paper. Guards or stubs are bound between the pages, so that when filled it will not bulge, it is equally well adapted for postal cards, stamps or envelopes. One thousand lithographed stamp mounts are furnished with each album. The stamp mounts are on a new plan, a neat black border surrounds the stamp, and the mounts are provided in different sizes for the various stamps. No. 1. Album 168 pp., bound in cloth, good paper, with names and 1000 mounts $2.00 No. 2. Album 328 pp., same as above but border printed on only one side of the page $3.00 No. 3. Album 500 pp., same style as the No. 3, better paper, printed on one side of page $5.00 No. 4. Album 500 pp., handsomely bound in leather, superior paper, printed on one side of page $7.50 No. 5. Portfolio, with 200 sheets fine card-board, printed on one side with names and mounts $5.00 The album has given satisfaction wherever it has been sold. C. H. MEKEEL, Philatelic Publisher, _Room 71, Turner B'l'g_, _ST. LOUIS, MO._ THE =Philatelic Journal of America.= A large monthly magazine published in interest of stamp collecting. Contributed to, by the leading philatelic writers of the day, including, Major Edw. B. Evans, R. A., James M. Chute, John K. Tiffany, Edw. B. Hanes, Lieut. J. M. T. Partello, Joseph J. Casey, E. B. Sterling, Wm. E. Stone, and many others. The latest information regarding newly issued stamps and discoveries may always be found. Reports of the proceedings of the leading American philatelic societies. Answers to questions, and open letters on current topics, are important departments. The Philatelic Catalogue, by Major Edw. B. Evans, is being published in monthly installments. SUBSCRIPTION. Sent post free, 50 cents per annum, to United States, Canada and Mexico; 75 cents per annum to all countries in the Universal Postal Union. $1. per annum to Natal, Cape of Good Hope, Transvaal and Australian Colonies. Payment must be made in advance. Subscription can commence at any time. Back numbers of current volume, 10 cents each. UNBOUND COPIES, VOLS. I AND II. Volume I. March, 1885--February, 1886. 12 numbers, 250p., $3. Volume II. March, 1886--February, 1887. 12 numbers, 350p., $1. _C. H. MEKEEL, Philatelic Publisher_, Room 71, Turner Building, ST. LOUIS, MO. C. H. MEKEEL, PHILATELIC PUBLISHER --AND-- =POSTAGE STAMP DEALER,= Solicits business relations with all philatelists. Rarities are always on hand for the advanced collector. Rare stamps bought for cash or taken in exchange. New issues and novelties always on hand. A fine stock of desirable stamps at very reasonable prices. Selections of stamps on approval sent to responsible parties. Agents wanted for the sale of stamps on liberal commission. Foreign correspondence and exchange solicited. A large wholesale stock for sale by 10, 100 or 1000 at lowest prices. Mexican, South and Central American stamps is a specialty in wholesale trade. Hundreds of thousands of these stamps imported yearly. Cash paid for U. S. Department stamps, Newspaper and Periodical stamps, Old U. S. Envelopes, Confederate and U. S. Locals. Large or old collections wanted for cash. Send for U. S. Exchange list. Inquiries should contain stamp for reply. C. H. MEKEEL, _Room 71, Turner Building_, _ST. LOUIS, MO._ # # # # # Transcriber's Notes: 5. Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected without comment. 6. Inconsistent quote marks in cited materials have been retained. Mismatched quotes have been repaired. 7. Inconsistent abbreviations, punctuation, character spacing, etc., have been made uniform. 8. Inconsistent variations of millimeter fractions, _i. e._ 1/2 (with forward slash) and 1-2 (stacked 1 over 2), etc. have been made consistent. 9. Right justified page numbers in the "INDEX" have been replaced by a left justified semi-colon ";" immediately followed by the referenced page numbers. 10. SPELLING CORRECTIONS: (#) shows number of times word was correctly spelled in the text. p. 47, "apperance" to "appearance" (14) (has a blurred appearance) p. 47, "diffent" to "different" (30) (a different design) p. 48, "Brattleborro" to "Brattleboro" (8) (of Brattleboro, Vermont) p. 50, "seperately" to "separately" (7) (stamp separately engraved) p. 52, "accomodation" to "accommodation" (7) (as an accommodation;) p. 53, "impresions" to "impressions" (102) (re-impressions in red) p. 55, "orignally" to "originally" (11) (originally ruled into spaces) p. 64, "permiting" to "permitting" (4) (permitting to be used) p. 78, "Terell" to "Terrell" (2) (Mr. Terrell, Third Assistant Postmaster General) p. 80, "Goverment" to "Government" (34) (dies by the Government) p. 88, "Pastmaster" to "Postmaster" (200) (the Postmaster General) p. 91, "postmater" to "postmaster" (200) (unlawful for any postmaster) p. 92, "Priviledge" to "Privilege" (13) (the Franking Privilege) p. 93, "lettters" to "letters" (200) (amount on letters) p. 94, "Casellar" to "Cassilar" (2) (Toppan, Carpenter, Cassilar & Co.) p. 104, "prolongued" to "prolonged" (3) (right side prolonged) (this correction is noted on the publishers "Errata" page) p. 107, "vermillion" to "vermilion" (15) (with yellowish vermilion) p. 110, "millemetres" to "millimetres" (2) (space of two millimetres) p. 110, "impresion" to "impression" (102) (Plate impression,) p. 119, "runing" to "running" (5) (and running off to the right) p. 120, "Botom" to "Bottom" (110) (LEFT. Top, Bottom) p. 123, "newpapers" to "newspapers" (88+) (through the newspapers) p. 124, "Immediatly" to "Immediately" (3) (Immediately after the expiration) p. 127, "ocre" to "ochre" (5) (5 cents, ochre, shades of brown.) p. 129, "impresion" to "impression" (102) (Plate impression,) p. 132, "borderded" to "bordered" (105) (bordered by a broad) p. 140, "compossed" to "composed" (19) (composed of depressed lines) p. 159, "ninty" to "ninety" (27) (ninety cents, Commodore) p. 160, "posesion" to "possession" (11) (present issue, in possession) p. 170, "vermillion" to "vermilion" (15) (7 cents, vermilion.) p. 179, "ZEVERLY" to "ZEVELY" (2) ((Signed.) A. N. ZEVELY) p. 180, "hurridly" to "hurriedly" (0) (hurriedly gotten up) p. 185, "conspicious" to "conspicuous" (6) (shade lines being conspicuous) p. 194, "improvments" to "improvements" (5) (improvements in machinery) p. 197, "soild" to "solid" (60) (broad solid colored line) p. 200, "whereever" to "wherever" (1) (wherever required) p. 201, "beween" to "between" (117) (colored band between) p. 207, "cirular" to "circular" (55) (From the third circular) p. 209, "newpaper" to "newspaper" (88+) (newspaper stamps in other countries) p. 209, "newpapers" to "newspapers" (88+) (distribution of newspapers and periodicals) p. 213, "principly" to "principally" (3) (principally at Chicago) p. 219, "horizontically" to "horizontally" (49) (horizontally and diagonally) p. 220, "Ninty" to "Ninety" (27) (One Dollar and Ninety-Two) p. 224, "classs" to "class" (11) (publications of the second class) p. 227, "reveiw" to "review" (2) (by a brief review) p. 228, "Treasuay" to "Treasury" (16) (the Treasury may be) p. 229, "Ano" to "Anno" (0) (Anno Domini 1873) p. 232, "addional" to "additional" (19) (four additional denominations) p. 232, "excercise" to "exercise" (2) (exercise its own discretion) p. 232, "chocineal" to "cochineal" (7) (War Department, cochineal red;) p. 245, "judisdiction" to "jurisdiction" (0) (court of competent jurisdiction) p. 245, "theron" to "thereon" (9) (shall be stated thereon) p. 246, "transmision" to "transmission" (9) (for the transmission of) p. 246, "throught" to "through" (23) (through the mails free) p. 247, "attatchment" to "attachment" (6) (attachment of official postage) p. 259, "genuiness" to "genuineness" (0) (no guarantee of genuineness) p. 271, "Newpapers" to "Newspapers" (88+) (Three Dollars, Newspapers) p. 275, "Britian" to "Britain" (0) (Great Britain and Colonies) 11. PRINTER AND TYPOGRAPHY CORRECTIONS: Words with missing and misprinted letters, inconsistent hyphenation, punctuation and spacing have been corrected without comment. Additional corrections; p. 23, removed duplicate word "the" (the distances were so great) p. 56, removed duplicate word "the" (the lower half of a circle) p. 59, removed duplicate "of" (I, of R. I., and S of Cents) p. 67-68, added Footnote anchor [A] (following advertising editorial[A]:) p. 75, removed duplicate word "be" (shall be subject to) p. 76, removed duplicate word "been" (to have been distributed) p. 82, removed duplicate word "be" (shall be deemed) p. 98, removed duplicate word "the" ((A) show the paper) P. 104, corrected duplicate instance of D^2 f^{1 2 3 4}, to D^1 f^{1 2 3 4}, to match established pattern of data. p. 139, 3rd through 6th line from bottom, changed fraction from 16-2/2 to 16-1/2. p. 151, removed duplicate "the" (upper squares at the sides) p. 177, changed "E. M. BARBER" to "E. W. BARBER" to match all other instances. 12. WORD VARIATIONS: "back ground" (6), "back-ground" (5), "background" (32) "Caracci" (1), "Carraci" (1) "Cerrachi" (2) (misspellings appear in official documents referring to Giuseppe Ceracchi, aka Giuseppe Cirachi, the Italian sculptor.) "despatch" (3) and "dispatch" (9) "enclose(ed)" (7) and "inclose" (1) (in quoted Postmaster report) "extention" (1) (as shown in quoted postal circular) "grayish" (1) and "greyish" (2) "lozenge" (1) and "losenge" (1) (middle english) "millimeter" (1) and "millimetre(s)" (1) "preceding" (2) and "preceeding" (2) "prepaid" (15) and "prepayed" (1) (in quoted Postmaster letter) "Rawdon" (1) and "Rawden" (1) (part of a company name) "salie" (1) and "sallie" (1) "semi-circle" (1) and "semicircle" (2) "supersede(ed)" (1) and "supercede" (1) (in quoted Postmaster report) "Wyman" (1) and "Wymer" (1) "Zachary" (1) (in text) and "Zackary" (1) (General Taylor, in quoted Postmaster letter) 
37457	----	available by Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the numerous original illustrations. See 37457-h.htm or 37457-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37457/37457-h/37457-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37457/37457-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030133122 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. The ordinal superscript symbol is represented by ^o. The extensive block quotations within this book feature rows of closely spaced asterisks (* * * * *) which function as an ellipsis (unquoted or missing material). This is distinct from the "thought break", indicating a change of subject. Changes to the text have been limited to correction of 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, viâ 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 £7184 ($35,000) against the $47,000 given above for fourteen years earlier. This amount rose to £22,188 ($110,000) in 1848, fell to £15,725 ($78,500) the next year, and had risen again to a basis of £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, viâ 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, viâ 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. CHAPTER II 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., (§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, £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 £3127 10 0 100,400 6d. Stamps 2510 0 0 51,000 1s. Stamps 2550 0 0 _______ __________ 401,600 £8187 10 0 Of these have been issued to Postmasters for sale, to the same date: Value. 217,300 3d. Stamps £2716 5 0 63,400 6d. Stamps 1585 0 0 820 1s. Stamps 41 0 0 _______ ________ 281,520 £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 £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 viâ 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, viâ 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. CHAPTER III THE REMAINING PENCE ISSUES A resume of the chief happenings of the year and other items of interest is given in the annual reports of the Postmasters General, and a brief summary of these first few years will not be without its importance here. It will be recalled that the Provincial Government took over the control of its posts on the 6th April, 1851, and by the _Act to Amend The Post Office Act_, passed 30th August, 1851,[33] the Postmaster General was required by statute to "report to the Governor General of the Province annually, for the purpose of being laid before Parliament at each Session, _First_. A report of Finances, Receipts and Expenditure of the Post Office Department for the year ending on the fifth day of April previous," etc., etc. Accordingly the first annual report of the Postmaster General was rendered on the 5th April, 1852. In it we find the following information:-- [33] 14^o & 15^o Vict., cap. LXXI, sec. 12. Upon the transfer of the control of the Post Office Department in this Province, by the Imperial Post Office Authorities to the Provincial Government, on the 6th April, 1851, the number of Post Offices in operation was found to be 601--the number of miles of established Post Route, 7595--over which the annual transportation of the Mails was 2,487,000 miles--and the Gross Revenue raised under the authority of the Imperial Post Office, at the high tariff of rates then prevailing, had been for the year preceding the transfer £93,802 currency, including in that sum the collections in Canada of British Packet Postage, estimated to have amounted to £10,000 sterling. The Provincial Act of the 12th and 13th Vic. cap. 66, providing for the management of the Department after the transfer, reduced the Postage charges in Canada upon all letters passing between places within the Province, or within British North America generally, to a uniform rate of 3d. per 1/2 oz.; whereas under the tariff in force previous to the transfer, the average charge on each letter was computed to have been as nearly as possible 9d. per 1/2 oz.; the reduction therefore consequent upon the introduction of the uniform 3d. rate was equivalent to 2/3, or 66-2/3 per cent, on the former average letter Postage charge. The Postage charge on Box or Drop Letters, and the additional charge on letters delivered in the Cities by Letter Carriers, have in each case been reduced to one half penny, being one half the former rates. With regard to newspapers, the Postage charge has been altogether taken off upon several important branches of newspaper circulation, and papers to and from the other British North American Provinces, papers sent to the United States, and Editors' exchange papers, pass free of all Postage charge whatever. The rates on printed papers, circulars, pamphlets, books, &c., have also been modified and reduced. The gross receipts of the Department for the year under review are given as £71,788 18s. 5d. currency, a drop of over £20,000 from the previous year; but this is a good showing after all, for when it is remembered that the new uniform rate of postage was but one third the former average rate, it is readily figured out that correspondence nearly doubled under the new tariffs. This is confirmed by the following comparative statement of pieces mailed:-- One week preceding 5th April, 1851, No. of letters, 41,000; papers, 90,000. One week preceding 5th April, 1852, No. of letters, 86,051[34]; papers, 101,000. [34] This is explained in the report for 1853 as being "a clerical error for 71,726." There were 243 new post offices added during the year and 1023 miles of post routes. "An agreement was concluded with the Post Master General of the United States, which has continued in satisfactory operation since April, 1851, under which letters pass between any place in Canada, and any place in the United States, at a Postage rate of 6d. currency, per half oz., except to and from California and Oregon, when, the distance being over 3,000 miles, the rate is 9d. per half oz. Letters are posted on either side, paid or unpaid, at the option of the sender." The total correspondence passing between the two countries is given as having a postage rating of $85,636.97. The second annual report of the Postmaster General is dated the 31st March, 1853, and contains little of interest but statistics. 176 new post offices were established and 504 miles of new post routes added. The gross revenue of the Department for the fiscal year is given as £84,866.6.11-1/2. and the total postage on the correspondence passing between Canada and the United States was $104,966.40. The third report, of 31st March, 1854, speaks of a large reduction in the postal charges upon newspapers circulating within the Province and on certain classes of periodical prints, which took place on Feb. 1, 1854, but gives no further details. Concerning the British packet postage, however, the report says:-- In March, 1854, the charge on packet letters passing between Canada and the United Kingdom and most foreign countries was reduced by the Imperial Government from 1s. 2d. sterling to 8d. sterling per 1/2 oz. when sent in closed mails through the United States, and from 1s. to 6d. when sent direct from a Provincial Port, Quebec or Halifax. Further on are the following recommendations:-- Should no further change be likely soon to take place in the charges on the correspondence with England, it would promote the public convenience to procure Postage stamps of the value of 10d. and 7-1/2 d. respectively to correspond with the present packet letter charges. And again:-- Much unnecessary labor and waste of time is occasioned to this Department by the practice now followed of rating and collecting Postage on all Government and Legislative correspondence, and it would be an improvement, in my belief, very worthy of adoption, to authorize by enactment the transmission of all such matter through the mails, under proper regulations, free of Postage charge, and that in lieu thereof, a certain fixed annual sum estimated to be equivalent to the aggregate of the Postage arising upon such correspondence, should be paid by the Receiver General to the Post Office, to be accounted for as Post Office Revenue. Perhaps the most pregnant remark is one short statement:--"The use of stamps has materially increased"; for it will be remembered that the first annual report of the Postmaster General was pessimistic with regard to the employment of stamps, fearing that their use was diminishing. The accounts accompanying the report contain but one item concerning stamps:-- Rawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps furnished Post Office Department £12.11.3 This amount was of course only for printing supplies, evidently for the 250,000 3d. stamps received during the fiscal year. In the fourth report, of 31st March, 1855, there are several items of interest. The lowering of the British packet rates proved a popular step, naturally, and the report states that "Notwithstanding the important reduction granted by the Imperial Government in the postage rate between this country and the United Kingdom in March, 1854," the results were as follows:-- British Packet Postage collected in Canada in year ending 31 March, 1855 (postage rate 8d. sterling) £16,449.14.3-1/2. British Packet Postage collected in Canada in year ending 31 March, 1854 (postage rate 1s. 2d. sterling) £17,495.1.4-1/2. which was a drop of but six per cent. in receipts upon a reduction of over forty per cent. in the postal charge. Again:-- In March, 1855 the Imperial Post Office authorized a reduction in the charge on letters passing through the English Posts between Canada and France, from 2s. 8-1/2d. Currency to 1s. 8d. Currency per 1/4 oz. letter. The suggestions contained in the report for 1854 concerning the franking of official mail matter, and the payment of a fixed annual sum to the Post Office Department on this account, were acted upon, and the report states:-- In July last the Act of last Session came into effect, removing altogether the Postage charge on the circulation of Provincial Newspapers and according a franking privilege to the correspondence of the Legislature and of the Public Departments of the Government. The Act referred to was doubtless the following:-- 18^o Vict. Cap. LXXIX. An act to abolish Postage on Newspapers published within the Province of Canada, and for other purposes connected with the Post Office Department of this Province. [_Assented to_ 19th May, 1855.] WHEREAS papers devoted to the advancement of Education, Temperance, Science, Agriculture and other special objects, are now exempt from postage; And whereas it would further materially aid the diffusion of useful knowledge to remove all postal restrictions on the transmission of Newspapers in general, published within this Province, and of all documents printed by order of either House of Parliament: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, * * * * and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, as follows: I. All Newspapers published within the Province of Canada, shall be transmitted by mail free of Postage. * * * * * IV. All Letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by the Governor of this Province, or sent to or by any Public Department at the seat of Government, shall be free of Provincial Postage under such regulations as may be directed by the Governor in Council. V. All Letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by the Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Legislative Council or of the Legislative Assembly, or by or to any Member of either of said branches of the Legislature during any Session of the Legislature, shall be free of Provincial Postage. VI. All public documents and printed papers may be sent by the Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Legislative Council or of the Legislative Assembly, to any Member of either of the said branches of the Legislature of Canada, during the recess of Parliament, free of Postage. VII. Members of either branch of the Legislature of Canada may send during the recess of Parliament by mail, free of Postage, all papers printed by order of either branch of the Legislature of Canada. * * * * * IX. This Act shall come into effect on and after the first day of July, eighteen hundred and fifty-five. There is a bit of conflict here. The "enactment clause" of the above Act makes it operative unequivocally on July 1, 1855. Yet the Postmaster General's report, just quoted, which is supposed to be for the fiscal year ending 31st March, 1855, distinctly states that the provisions of the above Act came into effect "in July last," which would seem to be July, 1854. The Act itself is not in error, so the discrepancy must lie in the Postmaster General's report. Probably the report was written much later in the year than March 31st, as it was not presented to Parliament until the fall session, and therefore gave opportunity to refer back to happenings in July. The growth of the Department during the first four years under Provincial control is illustrated by the following table:-- Post Miles Letters Correspondence Date Offices of mailed Gross Revenue with in Routes. per the U. S. operation. week 6th April, 1851 601 7,595 41,000 £ 93,802 5th April, 1852 840 8,618 71,726 £ 71,788.18. 5 $ 85,636.97 31st Mar., 1853 1,016 9,122 81,896 £ 84,866. 6. 11-1/2 $104,966.40 31st Mar., 1854 1,166 10,027 98,350 £ 98,495. 6. 7 $129,921.67 31st Mar., 1855 1,293 11,192 116,671 £110,747.12. 9-1/2 $145,377.69 The number of post offices had more than doubled; the length of the post routes had increased by fifty per cent; and although the revenue had dropped one quarter during the first year, owing to the reduction in postage rates, it had increased by half in the next three years; while the total correspondence between Canada and the United States had increased by two thirds in the same three years. But the item that interests us particularly in this report reads:-- To promote the general convenience in prepaying letters to the United Kingdom at the new rate, postage stamps of the value of 10d. Currency, equal to 8d. sterling, were procured and issued for sale to the public. Thus part of the recommendation contained in the report for the preceding year was carried out. In the accounts for the fiscal year we find the following entries:-- 1st. Quarter, Rawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps for P. O. Dept. £12.12.6 3rd. Quarter, Rawdon, Wright & Co., Making Stamps 42.18.6 4th. Quarter, Rawdon, Wright & Co., Postage Stamps for P. O. Dept. 17.13.6 From this it would appear that the bill for engraving ("making") the new 10d. stamp was paid in the third quarter of the fiscal year, corresponding to the last quarter of 1854. According to the table of receipts from manufacturers in the "summary" already quoted,[35] the 10d. stamp was first received by the Post Office Department on Jan. 2, 1855. In Mr. King's "Reference List,"[36] however, the date "Dec. 5, 1854" is given as being "taken from used stamps on the original covers," but this must certainly be a mistake. The "summary" also gives the quantities issued to postmasters by quarters, and there were none issued (naturally) in the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1854. In the next quarter, ending Mar. 31, 1855, there were 16,200 issued to postmasters, so that the first issue probably took place soon after receipt, that is, in January, 1855. The total number received from the manufacturers in this first delivery was 100,080. [35] Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83. [36] Monthly Journal, VII: 9. The plate for this stamp is stated to have been made up for printing sheets of 100 impressions in ten rows of ten, like the three values of 1851, and also to have had the eight marginal imprints. But there are reasons for thinking it may have been made to print 120 impressions, ten rows of twelve each, concerning which more will be said later. Suffice it to remark here that the number delivered (100,080) is exactly divisible by 120, making 834 full sheets, which is not the case if 100 is used. The normal color of the stamp is a very deep blue. The design of the new 10d., illustrated as No. 3 on Plate I, corresponds in general style to the 6d. and 12d. of 1851, but the portrait in the central oval is of Jacques Cartier, the explorer and founder of Canada. There has been some discussion over the identity of the original, it having been claimed that the subject was Sebastian Cabot, the discoverer, just as the portrait on the 6d. stamp has been assigned to Lord Elgin, Governor-General of Canada from 1846 to 1854.[37] Unfortunately no circular announcing the issue of the stamp has come to hand, and, as seen from the quotation already given, the report of the Postmaster General does not give us the information. It is nevertheless a fact that the portrait represents Cartier, the original being a three-quarter length painting in the Hotel de Ville at St. Malo, France, the birthplace of Cartier. The inscriptions in the oval frame are in this case separated by a small picture of the beaver at the right, and three maple leaves at the left. The value is expressed as TEN PENCE, with the numerals "10" in the lower spandrels, followed by the letters "cy" for "currency." In the upper spandrels is the corresponding value in sterling money, expressed as "8d stg". The relation between sterling and currency values and their equivalents in the decimal coinage of the United States was fixed by law, and the matter seems important enough to reproduce the statute here. [37] Philatelic Record, X: 50. 16^o Vict. Cap. CLVIII. An Act to regulate the Currency. [Assented to 14th June, 1853.] * * * * * II. And be it enacted, That the denominations of money in the Currency of this Province, shall be pounds, dollars, shillings, pence, cents and mills: the pound, shilling and penny shall have, respectively, the same proportionate values as they now have, the dollar shall be one-fourth of a pound, the cent shall be one-hundredth of a dollar, and the mill one-tenth of a cent.... III. And be it enacted, That the Pound Currency shall be held to be equivalent to and to represent one hundred and one grains and three hundred and twenty-one thousandths of a grain Troy weight of Gold of the Standard of fineness now prescribed by Law for the Gold Coins of the United Kingdom; and the Dollar Currency shall be held to be equivalent to and to represent one fourth part of the weight aforesaid of Gold of the said Standard.... IV. And be it enacted, That the Pound Sterling shall be held to be equal to one pound, four shillings and four pence, or four dollars, eighty-six cents and two-thirds of a cent, Currency.... * * * * * IX. And be it enacted, That ... the Gold Eagle of the United States, coined after [1st. July, 1834], ... and weighing ten penny weights, eighteen grains, Troy weight, shall pass current and be a legal tender in this Province for ten Dollars or two pounds ten shillings currency.... Further supplies of the 10d. stamp were not needed for three years, the next lot, numbering 72,120, having been delivered during the year ending 30th Sept., 1858, according to the table of stamp statistics. These two lots were the only ones delivered, and the balance on hand when the decimal stamps appeared being 31,200, we find a total issue for the 10d. stamp of 141,000. Puzzling questions seem to be the rule with this first series of Canadian stamps, and the 10d. is no exception. The stamp occurs, to all appearances, in at least _two sizes_, one of which has been termed the "wide oval" and the other the "narrow oval." These are well brought out by illustrations Nos. 70 (wide) and 71 (narrow) on Plate IV. Very likely the peculiarity was noticed much earlier, but it seems to have been brought to the attention of collectors generally for the first time by Mr. W. H. Brouse, in a paper read before the London Philatelic Society on Feb. 3, 1894.[38] We quote this entire:-- [38] London Philatelist, III: 34. "I have carefully read such Philatelic articles or publications relating to British North American stamps as have come under my notice, but have as yet not come across anything relating to the difference in Canadians that is to be found in the 7-1/2d. Canadian currency (6d. sterling), green, and the 10d., blue, and so concluded that it may have passed my observation, or, if not, has not yet been 'written up.' Will you therefore pardon a short note on the subject? "Of the 10d., blue, there are three distinct varieties in design, viz., First (_a_) the long and narrow; Second (_b_) the long and broad: and Third (_c_) the short and broad. "The outside edges or ornaments are in all three cases the same, but the difference lies in the fact of the oval or frame around the head having been, as the case may be, elongated or contracted, or sometimes widened out. "The extreme variation in length is about one-sixteenth of an inch, which is considerable in a postage stamp. I doubt very much if this happened through intention, but rather think that it is the result of what might be termed 'engravers' license.' However, whatever it may be, the result is that there are three distinct varieties. "It will, I think, be found that the earlier one of these is the long and narrow, on thinnish paper; then the long and broad (which is the most common), on thicker paper; and lastly, the short and broad, on medium paper. The latter is the scarcer, and consequently the most valuable. "I have for a long time known of the above differences, and at first thought it only an optical delusion, owing to some of the copies having had their sides closely trimmed, but on closer observation the distinct differences, as I have mentioned, were manifest. What is said of the 10d. may also be said of the 7-1/2d. (but to a lesser degree of variation), only the latter are generally found in the long and broad frame or oval. A slight difference also occurs in the 6d., violet; no variation appears in the length of the stamp, though I have two specimens in which the oval or frame shows a contraction in width to the extent of about one-forty-eighth of an inch, and is quite noticeable. "This may be 'piper's news' to some of the members of the Philatelic Society, London, but to others it may be of interest, and for that reason I beg your indulgence." Mr. Castle, in reading the foregoing paper at the meeting of the London Philatelic Society, shewed specimens of the stamps described by Mr. Brouse, and added a few remarks as under. "I venture to think the modest disclaimer on the part of Mr. Brouse, in his closing sentence, is hardly borne out in view of the interesting communication he has made. To me the information was certainly novel, and I could hardly credit that there should exist such differences in size until I had verified the fact by examination of specimens. Owing to the kindness of Messrs. Stanley Gibbons, Limited, and Mr. W. H. Peckitt, I was enabled to inspect a number of these pence issues, and I have tabulated the measurements as nearly as I can:-- HALFPENNY. Size. Paper. (_a_) 22 � 18-1/2 mm. Medium thick (_b_) 22-1/2 � 18 mm. Medium thick THREEPENCE. (_a_) 22 (full) � 18 mm. Very thin wove (_a_) 22 � 18mm. Very thin laid (_b_) 22-1/2 � 17-1/2 mm. Thin (_c_) 22-3/4 � 17-1/2 mm. Thick SIXPENCE. (_a_) 22 � 18 mm. Thin wove (_a_) 22 � 18 mm. Thin Laid (_b_) 22-3/4 � 17-3/4 mm. Thick SEVENPENCE-HALFPENNY. (_a_) 22-1/4 � 18-1/2 mm. (bare) Med. thick (_a_) 22-1/2 � 18-1/2 mm. Medium thick (_a_) 22-3/4 � 18 mm. Medium thick (_a_) 22-3/4 � 18-1/2 mm. Medium thick TENPENCE. (_a_) 22-3/4 � 17-1/2 mm. Thin to very thin (_b_) 22-1/2 � 18 mm. (full) Thick (_b_) 22-3/4 � 18-1/2 mm. (bare) Thick (_c_) 22 � 18 mm. Thin "The varieties of the Tenpence are those described by Mr. Brouse as (_a_) long and narrow, (_b_) long and broad, and (_c_) short and broad. I may add that in the case of this value I have examined and measured some forty copies, including a strip of three, as also a proof on very thin India paper, which corresponds exactly in measurement with variety (_b_) on the thick paper (22-3/4 � 18-1/2mm.). It is obvious that to be absolutely accurate beyond a half mm. with an ordinary gauge is hardly possible, but in several of the given cases I have averaged the sizes of several that very closely approximated. "As will be seen, I have gone somewhat beyond the lines of Mr. Brouse's paper in including the 1/2d., the 3d., and 6d., the variation in the former being slight, but in the two latter noteworthy. The question how these varieties have arisen is an interesting one, nor can I see that they can be accounted for by shrinkage of the paper, as in the case of the 10d. proof above cited, which is on all fours with the ordinary stamp on thick paper. In the case of the strip of this value I found all three stamps measured the same, and the fact remains that variety (_c_) is short _and_ broad. In any case the existence of these varieties is palpable, the question of their origin a genuine philatelic problem, and I think that the thanks of us all are therefore due to Mr. Brouse for his interesting paper." This may have been the first record of the peculiarity in the case of the Canadian stamps, but it was at least not the first time that variation in the dimensions of certain line engraved stamps, supposed to have been produced from the same original die, had been noted and discussed. We refer to the case of the early Ceylon stamps, which furnished food for contention in the philatelic press for many years. The first mention of a difference in the length of these seems to have been in December, 1864.[39] Ten years later the reference list of Ceylon prepared by the London Philatelic Society[40] noted the fact that the stamps of 1863 on unwatermarked paper were in general about a millimeter shorter in the vertical dimension than the succeeding issue on paper watermarked Crown C C, although the engraved designs were otherwise absolutely identical. Major Edw. B. Evans, in his catalogue,[41] appends a note on the unwatermarked stamps of 1863 as follows:-- These stamps are apparently (indeed, we may say certainly) from the same plates as the other issues, but at the same time the impressions on this paper are about 1-16 inch shorter than those on other papers. This can only have been occasioned by the paper having shrunk to some extent since the stamps were printed.... [39] The Stamp Collectors' Magazine, II: 191. [40] The Philatelist, IX: 10. [41] A Catalogue for Collectors, page 39. Later, in 1887, Mr. T. K. Tapling, writing in _Le Timbre-Poste_,[42] claims the difference cannot be due to shrinkage of paper because the stamps have all shrunk evenly, and attributes it to some defect in the process of making the plates. He reasons thus:-- Les timbres sur les feuilles de n'importe quelle valeur étaient tous identiques comme type. Ils furent gravés sur acier, je pense par MM. Perkins Bacon et Co., chaque timbre par un procédé de réduplication, étant reproduit d'une matrice; la planche étant ensuite durcie pour l'impression. Il n'y a par conséquent pas de variété de types, les lignes des gravures sur les timbres courts étant les mêmes que celles sur les timbres longs, excepté qu'elles sont un tant soit peu contractées.... Il me semble plus que probable que la différence en longeur des exemplaires puisse être attribuée à un léger défaut dans le procédé de réduplication des planches de la matrice originale. [42] =Le Timbre-Poste=, Numéro Jubilaire, page XXXV. As a matter of fact the stamps did not shrink evenly, but very unevenly. Mr. W. B. Thornhill, writing on these same stamps in 1889,[43] says:--"You can hardly find two stamps of exactly the same measurements in the same value, though the difference in many cases is too small to signify"; and he proceeds to show the extreme variations in a carefully prepared table including every value on every variety of paper for issues from 1855 to 1867. The greatest variation in the vertical dimension seems to be about 1 mm. in 26 mm., or roughly 4%, and in the horizontal dimension about 1/4 to 1/2 mm. in 19 mm. or roughly 1-1/4 to 2-1/2%. These dimensional differences being so palpably existent, therefore, what factors are we to consider in looking for their cause? There seem to be but three: first, an original die or matrix for each different size; second, one original die only, whose impressions on the printing plate show variations resulting from the process of transferring them; third, a printing plate with all the impressions exact duplicates of the one original die, but whose reproductions in ink on dampened paper are varied by the shrinkage of the paper in drying. [43] =Philatelic Record=, XI: 71. Mr. Thornhill convinces himself by inspection that the first proposition is untenable; in fact its absurdity is at once apparent on a little thought, for the engraving of the original die is a laborious and costly piece of work, and that very fact, coupled with the comparative ease of exact reduplication by mechanical processes on the printing plate, furnishes the chief reason for the employment of this method of producing stamps. Since there is such a variety in the size of the stamps, therefore, the first theory would indicate many original dies, and this we know was not the case. Its refutation indeed is seen in the stamps themselves; for each original die, if differing in size from its fellows, meant a separate engraving, and it is humanly impossible to make these separate engravings exact duplicates, whereas, on the other hand, no appreciable variation in line or dot can be detected on the same stamp in its different sizes save the general expansion or contraction of the design, which is proportionate in all its parts. The different die or matrix theory is therefore thrown out on grounds of impracticability and absurdity. Accepting the one original die proposition, then, Mr. Thornhill agrees with Mr. Tapling in turning down the shrinkage of paper theory and favoring the second supposition, that the variation comes on the plates and is due to the process of transference. Let us glance at this a moment. The original die is engraved on a block of soft steel of very fine and even quality. When finished it is tempered to a very great degree of hardness. Next the engraving is transferred by tremendous pressure to a transferring roller of similar soft steel, which is in turn hardened. In this process there might be an opportunity for a slight variation in the size of the transferred impression, due to the expansion and contraction of the steel in the tempering process. Next, this hardened transfer roller is impressed upon the printing plate of soft steel as many times as there are copies desired. These naturally all agree among themselves and with the transfer roller impression in size. Now when the printing plate in turn receives its hardening, there may again be a chance for a slight difference between the transfer roller and the plate impressions; _but_ it is wholly unlikely that the plate impressions will vary much among themselves, otherwise the perfection of Mr. Jacob Perkins' invention, the chief merit of which was exact reduplication, would be impaired. As a matter of fact, the high grade and even quality of the steel necessarily employed, and the care naturally taken in hardening the plate, preclude any other than an even variation, if any, due to the tempering process. This means that such variations would be practically constant over the printing surface of the plate, and that therefore the impressions would still remain practically identical in size. Where, then, does this bring us? With such numerous and well defined variations in dimensions in the printed stamps, we should look for the cause in the simplest and most natural method by which they could readily be produced, which is furnished by the third theory presented. Concerning this we quote from the London Philatelic Society's work on Ceylon:[44]-- In reference to the variations in the size of the stamps of Issues III and V [no watermark and Crown CC], Major Evans, who was the first to propound the theory that these variations were due to differences in the nature of the paper employed, writes as follows:-- "The theory of the expansion and contraction of the paper being now pretty generally accepted, as accounting for the variations observed in the size of the stamps of the early issues of Ceylon, it seems necessary to explain exactly what that theory is, and how these differences are supposed to arise. Previous to printing from plates engraved in _taille-douce_ the paper is wetted, which, as is well known, causes it to expand; the amount of expansion varies, no doubt, considerably in different kinds of paper, and it must also vary with the amount of moisture in the same kind of paper, for as the paper dries it returns to its original dimensions, and, therefore, up to a certain point, the wetter it is the greater will be the expansion. In any case the paper is in a state of expansion at the time of printing, both from being wetted and from being stretched out flat and pressed, and the impression when first printed is then, and then only, in all cases the size of the engraving upon the plate. It then dries, and in so doing contracts, and the greater the amount of expansion the greater will be the amount of the subsequent contraction, so that the smallest stamps are those printed on the paper which expanded most, and the largest those on the paper which expanded least. The minor variations of size may be due to the paper being more or less damp when used, but probably a very slight difference in the thickness or density of the paper would cause some variation in its expansion. The marked difference in size of the stamps on thin, unwatermarked paper, which were the first to attract the attention of Philatelists, is no doubt due to that particular variety of paper, which is very tough and elastic, and which has been found to expand very greatly on being wetted and stretched." [44] =Postage Stamps, &c., of British India and Ceylon=, page 69. So much for the Ceylon stamps, which we have discussed _in extenso_; but we have only to substitute in every case a reference to the first Canadian issues, particularly the 10d. which we started out with, to make the discussion apply with equal force in this case as in the other. The question is the same--the variations occur in the same way, the method of engraving and reproduction is the same, and the varieties in the paper are very similar. Major Evans, in a reply to Mr. Thornhill's paper,[45] states that he tried some experiments in wetting a thin, tough note paper, and found an expansion of three per cent., while by stretching it he increased the expansion to eight per cent, without difficulty! Yet the greatest variation in Mr. Thornhill's table was only four per cent. Major Evans then tried some of the 1863 Newfoundland stamps, which he judged were on paper of almost the same nature as that of the unwatermarked Ceylons of the same year, and they gave precisely similar results. [45] =Philatelic Record=, XI: 158. Mr. Frank C. Young, who was in the printing business, also tells of similar experiments which he carried still further.[46] Having provided some twenty-five sheets of paper of different qualities and thicknesses, each was cut into sixteen pieces. Selecting a common half tone cut which measured exactly 100 � 69 mm. and dampening the sheets of paper to different degrees of wetness I proceeded to impress the cut on each sheet, using a common roller proof press. After the printed sheets had been allowed to dry it became a matter of a good millimeter gauge and careful measurements of the printed impressions, not the paper. ... Hardly two sheets of the whole lot were identical in size, nor was I able to formulate any table as to how much or how little or which way of the paper shrinkage would occur. The only general rule which seemed to come out clearly was that thin paper would invariably shrink more than thick. In many of the sheets the difference was barely noticeable, while, on the other hand, such measurements as 96 � 68, 97 � 68-1/2, 99 � 67-1/2, 98 � 68 mm. were fairly common, and one sheet, after several very careful measurements, was undeniably 95-1/2 � 69 mm., thus showing a shrinkage of 4-1/2 per cent, one way and none at all the other. This was very thin laid linen paper. Contrary to all expectations, more than one impression measured more than either the cut or those printed on dry paper, one on thin wove paper being fully 101 mm. long. [46] =Canada Stamp Sheet=, IV: 173. Looking back now at Mr. Castle's tables,[47] we find his greatest variations in length amount to 3/4 mm. in 22 mm., or roughly 3-1/2%, and in width 1 mm. in 18 mm., or roughly 5-1/2%--results entirely within bounds according to Major Evans' and Mr. Young's experiments, and doubtless settling once and for all the reason of the "three distinct varieties in design" of Mr. Brouse. [47] See page 54. As for the paper actually used for the printing of the 10d. stamp, we find it a hard, white wove variety varying very much in thickness from a very thin, almost pelure quality, through which the design is quite plainly evident, to a medium and finally a considerably thicker quality. The pelure paper seems naturally to be the one on which the greatest variation in dimensions occurs, the _long_ and _broad_ size of the stamp coming principally on the thicker paper,[48] which is supposed to shrink the least upon drying and therefore keeps the printed impression nearest the size of the plate impression. The _long_ and _narrow_ impression, being the commoner variation, was probably due to the paper being fed to the press the same way of the "grain" as a rule, while the _short_ and _broad_ variation, which is much scarcer, occurred by an occasional sheet of paper being fed the other way of the "grain." That paper has a "grain" is readily proved by tearing a piece in one direction and then tearing it at right angles to the first tear; one will be found much easier of accomplishment generally than the other, and this "grain" doubtless has its due effect in the amount of shrinkage in one way or the other upon drying a dampened sheet. [48] See page 56. * * * * * One further variety we have to record in the 10d. stamp, this being a "shifted transfer" variety similar to that occurring in the 3d. value. In this case we find the letters A D A and S of "Canada Postage," and P E N of "Pence" showing a distinct doubling at the bottom, the transfer roller evidently having been set a little too high at first and a very slight impression made on the plate. The stamp has not been seen in a pair to prove its character absolutely, but it bears all the ear-marks of being a proper plate variety and not due to a careless impression when printing. * * * * * To continue again with the Postmaster General's reports. We find in that for 31st March, 1856, a note to the effect that the postage on letters to France had been once more reduced, this time to 10d. currency per 1/4 oz., which gave further employment to the new 10d. stamp. There is also some information concerning the registry system, but this will be treated later under that head. One item is found in the accounts to interest us:-- Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, for printing 300,000 postage stamps for Post Office Department £15.2.3. As only 3d. stamps were received during the year, this of course refers to that value, and the price charged is found to be practically one shilling, currency, per thousand, or twenty cents American money. In June of 1857 the Canadian Parliament made further changes in the newspaper rates, etc., according to the following Act:-- 20^o Vict. Cap. XXV. An Act to Amend the Post-Office Laws of this Province. [Assented to 10th June 1857.] Whereas it is expedient to amend the Post-Office Laws, in the manner hereafter provided: Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Canada enacts as follows:-- I. [Repeals sections I and V of 18^o Vict. Cap. 79.][49] II. Newspapers printed and published within this Province and addressed from the Office of Publication, shall be transmitted from the Post-Office where mailed to any other Post-Office in Canada, or to the United Kingdom, or to any British Colony or Possession, or to France, free of Canadian Postage. III. Newspapers printed and published in the United Kingdom, or in any British Colony or Possession, or in France, when received in mails addressed to this Province, and directed to any place in Canada, shall pass through the Post and be delivered at the Post-Office addressed, free of Canadian postage. IV. For the purposes of this Act, the word "newspapers" shall be held to mean periodicals published not less frequently than once in each week, and containing notices of passing events, or any such newspaper published fortnightly or monthly at the time of the passage of this Act. V. Periodicals printed and published in this Province other than newspapers, when specially devoted to Religious and to General Education, to Agriculture or Temperance, or to any branch of Science, and addressed directly from the Office of Publication, shall be transmitted from the Post-Office where mailed to any other Post-Office in this Province free of postage. VI. Letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by the Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Legislative Council or of the Legislative Assembly, or to or by any Member of the Legislature at the seat of Government, during any session of the Legislature, or addressed to any of the Members or Officers in this section mentioned, at the seat of Government as aforesaid, during the ten days next before the meeting of Parliament, shall be free of postage. VII. So much of the twelfth section of the Post-Office Act, passed in the session held in the 14th and 15th years of Her Majesty's Reign and chaptered 71, as requires the Postmaster General to make to the Governor General of this Province, annually, certain Reports for the purpose of being laid before the Provincial Parliament at each Session thereof, for the year ending the fifth day of April previous to such Session, is hereby repealed; and it shall, hereafter, be the duty of the Postmaster General to furnish such Reports annually so that they may be laid before the Provincial Parliament within ten days after the assembling thereof, and such Annual Reports shall be made up to the thirtieth day of September previous to each Session. * * * * * X. This Act shall take effect on and from the first day of August next. [49] See page 50. Although the enactment clause made the above Act operative on 1st August, 1857, because of which we should not expect it to affect the Postmaster General's report for the year ending 31st March, 1857, yet we find this report dated 30th September, 1857, thus including the year and a half from 1st April, 1856. Among other items of interest in this report we find the following:-- There is very material economy of labor to the Department in dealing with letters pre-paid by stamp as compared with letters on which the postage is collected in money, as well as a manifest gain to the public, in the increased facilities which pre-payment by stamp enables the Post Office to afford for posting and delivering letters so pre-paid. It is gratifying, therefore, to observe that the use of stamps is gradually gaining ground, encouraging as it does the hope that it may be found practicable and expedient ere long to make prepayment by stamp the prevailing rule in Canada, as it has for some time been in the United Kingdom, in France, and in the United States. A reduction in the charge of Book Post Packets, when not exceeding 4 oz., in weight between Canada and the United Kingdom, of one half the former rate has been made. To facilitate the pre-payment of letters passing from Canada to England by the Canadian steamers, a new stamp bearing value at 6 pence sterling, or 7-1/2 pence currency, being the Canadian Packet rate, has been secured and put in circulation. A new stamp has also been introduced of the value of one halfpenny to serve as the medium for prepaying transient Newspapers. The above is the only reference we have to the issue of the 7-1/2d. stamp. The accounts for the fiscal year ending 30th September, 1857, contain the following item:-- "Rawdon, Wright and Co., Postage Stamps, £165.9.6" which must include the cost of dies and plates for the two new values. There is no record of the date of issue of the 7-1/2d. stamp, as far as our research has gone. The London Society's work[50] gives it as June 2, 1857, but upon what authority is not stated. It will be recalled that a stamp of this value was suggested, in company with the 10d., in the Postmaster General's report for 31st March, 1854, as being the reduced rate granted in that same month on letters sent "direct from a Provincial Port, Quebec or Halifax," to England. The _Halifax Philatelist_ states:[51]--"This stamp was rendered necessary on account of the contract between the Canadian Government and the Allan Line of Steamers in regard to carrying the mails, and by which contract the postage was reduced." It hardly seems to have been very "necessary" when it took three years at least to bring the Postmaster General's suggestion to a realization. Besides, the Allan Line steamers began their service over a year before the appearance of the stamp, and the rate it represented had even then been in force for two years, nor was it reduced for many years thereafter. [50] The Postage Stamps, etc., of the North American Colonies of Great Britain, page 14. [51] Halifax Philatelist, II: 74. The Postmaster General's Report for 1856 says:-- The month of May, 1856, was marked by the first voyage to the St. Lawrence of the line of Canadian Mail Steamers, under the contract between Mr. Hugh Allan of Montreal, and the Provincial Government. These vessels have performed the service for which they were bound, with laudable punctuality, and have crossed the Atlantic at an average speed which compares successfully with the performances of the steamers of the Cunard and Collins lines from New York and Boston. The average time of passage is given as--Westward, 12 days, 20-1/2 hours; Eastward, 11 days, 2 hours. The design of the stamp was simply adapted from that of the discarded 12d. stamp, as will readily be seen from the illustration (No. 5 on Plate I). The inscriptions were changed to CANADA PACKET POSTAGE, which of course referred to the fast mail steamers then known as "packets," and not to any "parcel post" as is sometimes erroneously stated; and SIX PENCE STERLING, a new departure in labeling a Canadian stamp. Like the 10d. that preceded it, however, the corresponding values were inserted in the spandrels, "6d. stg." in the left hand pair and "7-1/2d. cy." in the right hand pair. The stamp is generally listed under its "currency" value to conform with the rest of the set and avoid confusion with the regular "six pence" stamp. The normal color of the stamp is a dark green. The 7-1/2d. stamp is known to have been arranged on the plate for printing sheets of 120 stamps, ten rows of twelve stamps each, this being to facilitate the reckoning in English money. The eight marginal imprints appeared as on the other values. There was but one supply received, on the first order, of 100,080 stamps which, if we divide by 120, gives an even 834 sheets. Now, if we but glance back at the first supply received of the 10d. stamp[52] we find exactly the same number, evenly divisible by 120 but not by 100. The second supply of the 10d. stamp works out in exactly the same way,--72,120 makes an even 601 sheets at 120 per sheet. Is it not probable to suppose, therefore, in the absence of entire sheets or horizontal rows of the 10d. stamp, that the latter was also printed in sheets of 120, as previously suggested, instead of sheets of 100 as stated in Mr. King's article?[53] [52] See page 51. [53] =Monthly Journal=, VII: 8. When the issue of the decimal stamps took place, on July 1, 1859, there were 17,670 of the 7-1/2d. stamps on hand, so that the total issue of this value was 82,410 copies. As will be gathered from Mr. Brouse's paper, which we quoted in connection with the 10d. stamp, a similar variation in the width of the oval is to be found in the case of the 7-1/2d. stamp, but the extremes are not so great and it is therefore not so noticeable. A glance at the table of measurements[54] will show that the variation in width is confined to a half millimeter and that in height to practically the same amount. Of course the discussion and conclusions detailed at length under the 10d. stamp apply with equal force in the present instance, and the fact that the 7-1/2d. stamp is not found on the very thin paper probably accounts for the lack of extreme variations. It was printed upon paper of the same kind as used for the 10d., but only on the medium and thicker qualities. A pair of the stamps in juxtaposition, showing the wide oval and the narrow oval, will be found as numbers 67 and 68 respectively on Plate IV. [54] See page 54. * * * * * The last--and also least--of the pence issues was the half-penny stamp. There had been a need for this value since the introduction of stamps, for there were several rates that were impossible to make up with the denominations that were issued and which therefore had to be paid in money. Among these were the 1/2d. charge on newspapers from 1851 to 1855, the same charge per ounce on magazines and books during the entire period, the 1/2d. and 1d. carrier's fees, the 1d. rate on circulars and on soldier's letters, and the several 7-1/2d. rates for letters and for the book post with England. But the Act last quoted,[55] which restored a charge on transient newspapers, seems to have been the direct cause of the belated issue of the half-penny stamp. The circular announcing its issue is as follows:[56]-- POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, TORONTO, 18th July, 1857. Under the Post Office Law of last Session, taking effect from 1st. August, 1857, Newspapers printed and published in Canada, and mailed direct from Office of Publication, will pass free of Canadian Postage. Periodicals so printed, published, and mailed when specially devoted to Religious and to General Education, to Agriculture, or Temperance, or to any branch of Science, will pass free from any one Post-Office to another within the Province. Transient and re-mailed Papers and Periodicals will pass by Post if pre-paid by Postage stamp--one halfpenny on each Newspaper, and on each Periodical, one halfpenny, if not exceeding 3 oz., in weight, and 2d. if over 3 oz. Postage Stamps of the value of one halfpenny each will be sold to the public at all the principal Post Offices (including all Money Order Offices), with a discount of 5 per cent upon purchases of not less than twenty stamps, and will be available in prepayment of Newspapers and Periodicals, and of Drop and Town Letters. R. SPENCE, _Postmaster-General_. [55] See pages 60-61. [56] =Canada Stamp Sheet=, IV: 184. The London Society's work gives the date of issue of the 1/2d. value as 18th July, 1857, and it is clearly seen from the preceding notice where the date was obtained. But it is more likely that the stamp was issued on 1st. August, the day the new rates took effect. The new stamp was very plain, as will be seen from the illustration, No. 4 on Plate I. The profile head of Queen Victoria was quite evidently taken from the head on the British penny stamp. The usual inscription, CANADA POSTAGE, occupies the upper part of the oval frame, and ONE HALF PENNY the lower part, but the value is not expressed by numerals in the corners, as on all the other stamps of the issue, the spandrels being merely filled in with a reticulated pattern. The stamp was printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten, with the eight marginal imprints as described for the series of 1851. The tables of statistics in the Postmaster General's reports give the number of 1/2d. stamps received previous to 1st. October, 1857, as 1,341,600; during the next fiscal year 1,258,920 were received; and between 1st. October, 1858 and 30th June, 1859, when they were superseded, 850,100 more arrived, making a total stock of 3,450,620. The balance on hand when the decimal series was issued was 60,660, which makes the total issue of the 1/2d. stamp 3,389,960. The normal color of the stamp is a deep rose. It is found printed on a soft ribbed paper, with the ribbing both horizontal and vertical, as well as on the ordinary hard white wove paper of this issue in both the thin and thicker qualities. The London Society's work has the following remarks:[57]-- Two _soi-disant_ provisionals have been chronicled; viz., the Halfpenny surcharged in black--one with an Arabic numeral "1," and the other with "8d. STG." The Society can furnish no information concerning these two stamps; but supposing the surcharges to be genuine, they are probably only notifications of insufficient postage applied after the letters were posted. [57] =The Stamps, etc., of the North American Colonies of Great Britain=, page 14. We find that the original chronicle of these varieties was in _Le Timbre-Poste_ in 1869. Concerning them M. Moens writes as follows:-- Un de nos correspondants nous annonce qu'il possède un timbre rose 1/2 penny, surchargé de la marque: 8 _d. stg._ Cette émission, provisoire sans doute, doit être le résultat de la penurie momentanée de timbres 10 pence, dans un ou plusieurs bureaux secondaires.[58] [58] =Le Timbre-Poste=, VII: 82. And in the next issue of the paper:-- On nous a montré le 1/2 p. rose, non dentélé, surchargé en noir, du chiffre 1, de 20 mm. environ et placé dans le sens horizontal. C'est probablement encore un timbre émis provisoirement, pour une raison qui nous échappe, le 1 penny n'ayant jamais existé. Quant au timbre dont nous avons parlé le mois dernier, le chiffre 8 et la lettre S ont pour dimension 16 mm.[59] [59] =ibid.= VII: 94. We think all idea of a "surcharge" can be at once dismissed, as the raising of the value, particularly to 8d., would be a very foolish and doubtless wholly unnecessary proceeding, and certainly some record of such procedure would have been found ere this. The impressions were probably from rating stamps that were accidentally struck on the postage stamps, or possibly used purposely as cancellations. * * * * * The report of the Postmaster General for the 30th Sept. 1858, notes the fact that previous to 1854 all newspapers were rated at 1/2d. each, but in that year were granted free transmission. Concerning the new regulations it continues:-- In pursuance of the Act of 1857, limiting free transmission to such as are posted directly from the office of publication, a halfpenny rate, pre-payable by postage stamps, has been taken since 1st. August, 1857 on all transient newspapers--that is, papers posted by individuals other than the Publishers. The same report states:--"The Department has, from 1st. January, 1859, put in operation an arrangement for the conveyance of Parcel Packets between any two Post Offices in Canada with the ordinary mails." The charge was fixed at 1s. 3d. per pound with a maximum weight of two pounds, and prepayment was enforced. In the Department accounts we find the following:-- Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Co., Supply of letter and newspaper stamps £99.6.6 which was simply a printing bill. The last payment for the pence issue of stamps appears in the report for 30th Sept., 1859, and is for the deliveries during the nine months from 30th. Sept. 1858 to 30th June, 1859, when the pence stamps were retired. The charge is given in decimal currency:-- Rawdon, Wright & Co., supply of letter and newspaper stamps $238.69 The report for 1858 gives an interesting table showing the growth of the postal business by decades for the thirty years previous. The remarkable increase during the last period, within which the Province assumed control and the use of stamps was introduced, is to be noted:-- Number of Miles of Gross Letters Newspapers Year P. Offices P. Routes Postage Annually Annually 1828 101 2,368 £15,000 340,000 400,000 1838 380 5,486 35,000 1,000,000 1,250,000 1848 539 6,985 65,000 2,000,000 3,000,000 1858 1,566 13,600 151,000 9,800,000 13,500,000 The year 1859 brings us to the end of the pence issues, but before leaving them there is still one more question to consider, that of the perforated varieties, which will form the subject of the next chapter. CHAPTER IV THE PERFORATED PENCE ISSUES The perforated series of the pence issues of Canada furnishes another one of those knotty problems for which these stamps are noted. The first intimation of the improvement that was announced officially appears in the Report of the Postmaster General for 30th September, 1857, in these words:-- Moreover, the Department has been led, by the increasing use of Postage Stamps, to take measures for obtaining the Canadian Postage Stamps on sheets perforated in the dividing lines, in the manner adopted in England, to facilitate the separation of a single stamp from the others on a sheet when required for use. One would naturally suppose that the stamps would be ordered in this condition from the manufacturers, and we think they were; but no further light is thrown upon the matter by the Reports, and other facts that persist in intruding themselves have given rise to a theory that the Department either bought perforating machines of its own and operated upon the stock on hand, or engaged some local concern to perforate the stock in question. This _might_ have been done, but if so why were the 7-1/2 and 10 pence stamps omitted? Again, had such been the case, it is passing strange that the 1/2 penny, issued unperforated but two months before the date of the report, should be approximately twice as common in that state as perforated. In the case of the 3d., taking stock on hand the 30th September, 1857, and subsequent deliveries, two-fifths of the entire issue should have been perforated, which would make the latter stamps almost as common as the earlier issues; while in the case of the 6d., under similar conditions, almost the same ratio holds, the figures being a trifle more in favor of the perforated series. This does not conform with facts at all, and it can hardly be explained by supposing that a relatively small stock of but three values was operated upon in 1857 and the improvement then dropped for a couple of years. For further proof of the incorrectness of this theory we think the following fact speaks for itself. Appended to each Postmaster General's Report are various tables of expenditures. One of these statements is headed:-- "Sums paid in discharge of Tradesmen's Bills," and in it are found the amounts paid to various parties named for all kinds of supplies furnished the Department. This is where the payments to the engravers of the stamps appear, as well as items for cancelling stamps, post-marks, etc. Now a careful examination of all items for the years 1857, 1858 and 1859 fails to disclose any payment either for purchase of a perforating machine or for having the stamps perforated by outside parties. This may be "negative evidence" but we feel that it has its due weight. Nevertheless, we find at least two other perforations on stamps of this issue besides the regulation gauge 12, which has made it appear to some that the Department might have experimented with means of separation before settling definitely on the type adopted. The stamp operated upon was the 3d., probably as being the most commonly employed value, which would naturally be the case were the perforations the efforts of private parties. The first "irregular" perforation was listed by Major Evans[60] as gauging 13, and the London Society's work lists it as well, probably following the earlier catalog. But Messrs. Corwin and King state:[61]--"This perforation is totally unknown in America, and we doubt its existence." Neither the Pack nor the Worthington collection contains a copy and we think it can be passed by. [60] A Catalogue for Collectors, page 33. [61] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 226. The next perforation is of gauge 14, and this is well known though of extreme rarity. Messrs. Corwin and King did not know of over twenty specimens in 1891. We are fortunate in being able to illustrate a fine used pair on piece of cover from the Pack collection as No. 128 on Plate XIII. Most unfortunately, however, as will be noted, some vandal cut the cover, though perhaps unwittingly, just so as to destroy most of the postmark and thus lose forever the date and place of mailing. Messrs. Corwin and King state:[62]-- [62] ibid. I: 275. We have lately seen a pair of 3d. perf. 14, upon the original cover, but which, unfortunately, presents a most indistinct dating stamp, and, although endorsed by the recipient with date of writing, May 30, date of receipt and date of reply, all three year dates are so indistinctly written that one is unable to tell whether it is 1857 or 1859, although we think the former was the date. Should this be the case it would seem as though the perf. 14 and another curious perforation just discovered ... were experimental, or provisional, pending the receipt from the makers of those perf. 12. Most of the few stamps perf. 14 which we have seen, appear cut on one or more sides with the shears, as though the users were not familiar with the advantages of perforation as a means of separating the stamps, and adhering in a measure to the old methods. This is one of the reasons which lead us to believe that these stamps, perf. 14, were issued before those perf. 12, because the latter are almost invariably separated by tearing apart as is proper.... The writer has in his collection seven copies of the 3d. perf. 14, and of these four specimens show double perforation on one or more sides. It is a rare occurrence when a double perforation is found upon any of the stamps so treated by the American Bank Note Co. or their predecessors, and when we find four out of seven specimens in that condition, we are justified in stating that these stamps, gauging 14, were never perforated by the makers. In another part of the article just quoted is the following:[63]-- The American Bank Note Co. and Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson, their predecessors, have never, according to official information from them, employed any other gauge than 12, in fact they call 12 their standard and only perforation. Allowing that they did perforate the ones found perf. 12 (which are the rule, while those perf. 14 are the exception), then those perf. 14 must have been certainly operated upon elsewhere than in the shops of the Bank Note Co., where this perforation is unknown. [63] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 226. From all the foregoing we can seem to make but one deduction for the 3d. perforated 14 and that is--unofficial. The dated cover, if 1859, would be but a month before the issue of the decimal stamps, and the regular "perf. 12" stamps were plentifully supplied at that time. It would therefore seem that the date must have been 1857, as suggested, which would have been well ahead of the appearance of the "perf. 12" issues as we shall see later. Then the fact that the manufacturers cannot be held responsible for this perforation, and the Department accounts furnish no item of expenditure directly traceable to such work, make it seem wholly probable that it was done by private parties for their own or customers' convenience. The "curious perforation" alluded to as just discovered was announced by the Scott Stamp & Coin Co. as follows:[64]-- CANADA.--In a large lot of pence issues purchased by us lately, we have found two copies of 3 pence on grayish wove paper perforated 13 with oblique parallel cuts. This seems to confirm the theory that the pence issues of Canada were not perforated by the manufacturers, but either by the Canadian Government or by some persons authorized by them, who most likely experimented with different perforating machines, finally selecting the one perforating 12. [64] American Journal of Philately, 2d. Series, IV: 23. With regard to the deductions given, we think that what we have already presented concerning the unofficial character of the gauge 14 perforation applies with even more force in the present instance, and we unhesitatingly put these two curios in the "privately perforated" class. Messrs. Corwin and King give further details as follows:[65]-- As one of them has passed into the possession of the writer, we are able to particularize somewhat with reference to this particular perforation.... Our specimen is from the bottom of the sheet, or else the shears have been used, so that we find the perforation as it originally existed between each stamp, before separation. This perforation consists of oblique _curved_ parallel cuts; they are not straight, but show a very decided curve from right to left, looking at the face of the stamp. The other sides of our specimen present, having been torn from the stamp on either side, a very well defined saw-tooth perforation, very much like that found on the Bremen stamps, but much coarser, clearly gauging 13. It occurs to us that, perhaps, this is the 13 perforation listed by the London Society, although, had a specimen been before the society when the reference list was compiled, the peculiarity of this style of perforation would surely have been noted by them. [65] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 277. To return to the general subject, Mr. Donald A. King in his own article says:[66]-- It is an open question whether these stamps were delivered to the Canadian Post Office Department in a perforated condition or not. The manufacturers are wholly unable to throw any light on the subject; and while there is much to be said in favor of their having perforated the stamps, there are points against it almost as strong. In favor of it there is the fact that, at the date that these stamps were issued, it was more than probable that a firm like the manufacturers would have perforating machines. The normal gauge of the perforated set is 12, that being the only size of perforation ever used by the manufacturers, or their successors, the American Bank Note Company; indeed, they call 12 their standard and only gauge. [66] Monthly Journal, VII: 9. The stamps in issue from the time of the announcement of perforation in the Report of 1857, to the appearance of the decimal stamps in 1859, were the 1/2d., 3d., 6d., 7-1/2d., and 10d. values, but only the first three appeared with perforations. The first supply of the 10d. stamp, as we know, was received in January 1855, and was naturally unperforated. The first and only supply of the 7-1/2d. stamp was received probably in the second quarter of 1857, and these were all unperforated. The first supply of the 1/2d. stamp was doubtless delivered about midsummer of 1857, and these were evidently all unperforated. The other supplies received in the fiscal year of 1857 were 300,000 of the 3d. in September 1856, and the same number again in March 1857, together with the 50,078 of the 6d.[67] Evidently these were still in the unperforated class, as they were delivered before either the 7-1/2d. or 1/2d. supplies. We must therefore look to the supplies delivered _after_ the 30th September, 1857, as a basis for reckoning up the perforated series. The values and quantities given in the stamp accounts (already quoted) are as follows:-- 1/2d. 3d. 6d. 10d. Rec'd, yr. ending 30th Sept. 1858 1,258,920 900,000 100,000 72,120 Rec'd. half-yr. end'g 30th June, 1859 850,100 449,900 70,000 --------- --------- ------- ------ Total, 2,109,020 1,349,900 170,000 72,120 Balance on hand 30th June, 1859 60,660 21,700 17,578 31,200 (destroyed) --------- --------- ------- ------ Issued 2,048,360 1,328,200 152,422 40,920 The first thing that confronts us here is a second supply of the 10d. stamp in this supposed "perforated period," over half of which was issued for sale, and yet the 10d. stamp is practically unknown in a perforated condition! We say practically, because the London Society's work[68] remarks:--"The Seven Pence Halfpenny, green, and Ten Pence, blue, perforated, exist in the collection of a well known Parisian collector. The authenticity, however, of the perforations appears to be doubtful." We think it is more than doubtful, as it is practically certain that neither value was ever issued in this condition. Messrs. Corwin and King state:[69]--"We agree with the Society in doubting the authenticity of the 7-1/2d. and 10 pence, perforated, as these stamps, thus treated, have never been seen in America, nor can anything be ascertained from the makers of the Stamps or the Canadian Post Office Department concerning them." The last statement is hardly convincing, for neither party referred to can give any more information concerning the other three values that we know _were_ issued. We can heartily subscribe to the next remark, however:--"We have no hesitation in pronouncing them impostors." [67] Metropolitan Philatelist, XVII: 83. [68] North American Colonies of Great Britain, page 15. [69] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 226. The date usually assigned to the appearance of the perforated stamps is January 1858. The London Society gave simply "1857," which is apparently set down merely because they have just quoted the announcement from the Postmaster General's Report for that year. Evans and Moens, in their catalogs, both name the date as November 1858. Unfortunately no more authoritative statement has been found, except that in Messrs. Corwin and King's article[70] they say "Mr. Hooper positively states that it took place in January, 1858." Mr. John R. Hooper was at that time [1890] connected with the Canadian Post Office Department at Ottawa and took pains to look up much information for the above-mentioned gentlemen. His reasons for the "positive statement" are not given, and inasmuch as he is quoted elsewhere as saying that "the records of the Post Office Department are silent as to where this perforation was performed and by whom,"[71] and also seems a little uncertain in some other details, we feel that further confirmation is needed. [70] =Metropolitan Philatelist, I=: 275. [71] =ibid. I=: 226. In our table above we have given the supplies received after the 30th September, 1857, and deducted the remainders so as to have the actual number issued. The 10d. has already proved a stumbling block, for it was not perforated at all! Next we find the 6d. to the number of 150,000, when the total issue, including the laid paper, was but 400,000; yet the catalog value of the imperforates is some $6 for each variety, and of the perforated stamp at least $30! Can anyone doubt that all these 150,000 6d. stamps were _not_ perforated? In the case of the 3d. we have one and a third millions to compare with a total issue of three and a half millions--about a third in the supposed perforated class. Yet the catalog value of the latter is $2.50 against 36 cents for the wove paper imperforate alone. With the 1/2d. stamp there are two millions against a total of three and a third millions, or about two to one in favor of the supposed perforated stamps, yet the latter are double the catalog price of the former! The only conclusion to be drawn from these regularly appearing inconsistencies in each value is that all the supplies after 30th September, 1857 were _not_ perforated, as the 10d. stamp very glaringly intimates! If this be so, is it not possible that the order to perforate new supplies was given to the manufacturers much later than has hitherto been thought to be the case? It hardly seems likely that this improvement would be ordered for a few supplies and then dropped, only to reappear a year and a half later as a permanent feature of the new set. Once adopted it was more than likely to be retained. Let us see, then, just for curiosity's sake, what the supplies of the last six months of issue yield us for data. For the 1/2d. we find 850,000, roughly, with 60,000 remainders. Call it 800,000 issued which, if perforated, would be a quarter of the total issue of 1/2d. stamps, or a ratio to the imperforates of one to three. This is not so far away from the catalog ratio of two to one (inversely, of course) in the value of the perforated stamps. With the 3d. stamp we have 450,000, roughly, with 20,000 remainders, say 430,000 issued. Of a total issue of 3,500,000 this represents one-eighth, or a ratio of one to seven. The inverse ratio of seven to one for catalog value comes pretty close when we compare $2.50 with 36 cents! In the case of the 6d. there are 70,000 less 17,500 remainders, or 52,500. This is approximately one-eighth the total issue of 400,000, or again a ratio of one to seven. The inverse ratio of seven to one for a catalog value would make the perforated stamp list $42 with the imperforate at $6. But both laid and wove paper 6d. stamps list at approximately $6, whereas if all had been issued on but one variety of paper we might find perhaps a single list price of say $4. With this as a basis, the catalog value of $30 for the perforated 6d. is in as close agreement with our supposition as are the others. And, best of all, the second supply of the 10d. stamp is disposed of without any difficulty whatever under this hypothesis! It may be argued that reasoning thus from catalog prices is too uncertain to prove of value. Granted in many cases. But here is an issue from fifty to sixty years old; the stamps were regularly used in increasing numbers during their years of issue; they have always been popular and eagerly collected, so that the stock in existence has been pretty well handled and pretty well distributed. Under these conditions the catalog prices should by this time reflect fairly accurately the _relative_ rarity of the main varieties of each stamp at least; and it is this relative rarity that we are after in order to approximate the original supplies of the main varieties. The result is certainly of more than mere interest, the agreement being such that we are tempted to lay down the following propositions in regard to the perforated stamps for further proof or disproof:-- _First._ The regular perforation (gauge 12) was done by the manufacturers and applied to the last requisitions previous to the change to decimal stamps. _Second._ The date of the supposed issue of the perforated stamps should be changed from January 1858, to November 1858 or January 1859. _Third._ The quantities of perforated stamps issued are placed approximately at:--1/2d., 789,440; 3d., 428,200; 6d., 52,422. In further support of the above postulates, we must say that every cover bearing any one of the three perforated stamps which we have been able to get a satisfactory date from has been postmarked in _1859_! Not one has yet been seen which bore a date in 1858 even, and one 6d. from the Seybold collection, which was dated at Brantford, Dec. 29, 1857, turned out to be bad. Of course perforated pence stamps are hard to find on original covers, but it is curious that so far not one has upset the theory we have laid down. There is one point left which perhaps needs some attention. The London Society's work lists a 6d. on _laid_ paper, perforated 12, and Mr. King has followed by including it in his reference list. This would imply that the Canadian Government had perforated its stock on hand, in which might be a few remainders of the early laid paper issue, and naturally would go far toward confirming that view of the origin of the perforated series. But this stamp seems to be an unknown quantity, almost as much so as the 3d. "perforated 13" of Major Evans' Catalogue. Mr. Pack says:[72]--"I have never heard of the 6d. perforated, on laid paper. It is catalogued in the Society's publication, but a copy, so far as I can learn, has never been seen in Canada or in the United States." [72] =London Philatelist, XVI=: 144. We have been interested to track this stamp, and have apparently found the original located in the Tapling collection, now housed at the British Museum. In a catalog of the Canadian portion of this collection by Gordon Smith,[73] we find two unused copies listed on _laid_ paper, one marked "perf. 12" and the other "forged perf." The sequel is found in the _American Journal of Philately_ for 1891[74] in the following note:-- There is no longer any mystery in regard to the origin of that _great rarity_! the perforated 6 pence on laid paper, these stamps having been perforated for four or five years in the shops of Messrs. Benjamin Sarpy & Co., Cullum street, London, who openly boast of having manufactured and sold those in the collection of the late Hon. T. K. Tapling and other prominent collectors. [73] =The Stamp News, X=: 43. [74] =American Journal of Philately=, 2d. Series, IV: 365. The paper upon which the perforated pence series is found seems to give further confirmation to the theory that they came from but one or possibly two printings. Outside of the two lower values on ribbed paper, which are rare, the series seems to be entirely on a hard, white wove paper, varying in thickness from a medium to a thicker quality, which is in every way similar to the paper employed for the succeeding cents issue. On the thin ribbed paper the London Society (1889) and Messrs. Corwin and King (1891) list the 1/2d. stamp, but this is not found in the catalog of the Tapling collection already referred to, nor in the Pack or Worthington collections; we have therefore listed it with a query. The 3d. stamp we have seen, however, and Mr. Pack says it "is a scarce stamp even in used condition, but in unused condition I find it one of the great rarities of Canada."[75] [75] =London Philatelist, XVI=: 144. As noted under Chapter II,[76] the use of split stamps was not usual, as in Nova Scotia, but Mr. King chronicles the 6d. perforated, in dark violet, split diagonally and used as a 3d. in like manner to its unperforated predecessor. [76] See page 32. CHAPTER V THE CANCELLATIONS OF THE EARLY ISSUES A rather interesting study, particularly for the collector of entires, is that of postmarks and cancellations, and sometimes much assistance in the solution of knotty questions is rendered by these often despised and neglected adjuncts to the proper use of postage stamps. The early cancellations of Canada have been the subject of some attention, more so, in fact, than the postmarks, as they were required to be used on the stamps while the postmark was struck on the cover, where the date and place of mailing would be plainly visible. In one of the early volumes of reports it is stated that "Office Stamps and Seals were supplied from England on 21st July, 1851." It is presumed that this included postmarks and cancellations. It will be remembered, perhaps, that in the circular announcing the issue of stamps in 1851[77] it was ordered that "Stamps so affixed are to be immediately _cancelled_ ... with an instrument to be furnished for that purpose." The first one so supplied was the "concentric rings" cancellation, consisting of seven concentric circles and having an outer diameter of 18 mm. This is the most common of all, being found from the very earliest dates down to 1870, at least, as it occurs on the early shades of the "small" cents issue. It was generally struck in black ink, but may occasionally be found in a dull blue. A good illustration of this cancellation is seen on the cover numbered 90 on Plate VI. [77] See page 28. By 1855, at least, a modified form of the concentric ring cancellation was introduced. This had a number in the center in large figures, some 8 mm. high, with four concentric circles enclosing it, the outside diameter being about 23 mm. This type was generally struck in black, but is sometimes found in a dull blue also. It can be seen on the strip of stamps numbered 81 on Plate V. The numbers, of course, were placed in the cancellations with a definite purpose, and a little study of entire covers shows that certain numbers were assigned to certain post offices, as might be suspected. Number 21, for instance, is the most common one and will be found to be connected with Montreal. Further study will reveal the fact that the names of the post offices were taken in alphabetical order, and the numbers assigned to them consecutively in that way. Still further inspection develops the fact that most of the post offices were those in Upper Canada (or Canada West), while but a few of the most important ones were included from Lower Canada (or Canada East.) Mr. Edgar Nelton seems first to have made a study of these numbers in an attempt to identify their corresponding post offices, and he published a list of some twenty-two as the result of his examination of many original covers.[78] The numbers run up to 52 at least, and using the facts that we have deduced concerning the arrangement of the names, we have endeavored to fill out his skeleton list with such offices as it seems possible may yet be identified with the corresponding numbers. We have done this with some assurance for the following reasons:-- [78] =Chicago Collectors' Monthly, II=: 21. We were fortunately able to examine a Canada Directory for 1857-8, and on looking up the postal information given therein, found a list of the money order offices then existing. This was in two sections, the first containing the names, alphabetically arranged, of 31 offices in "Class No. 1," which included most of the principal cities and towns; and the second a lengthy alphabetical list of offices in "Class No. 2." The first section had a somewhat familiar appearance, and inspection showed that a majority of the names on Mr. Nelton's list of numbered cancellations were there in proper order! But 21 more names were needed, according to the cancellation numbers, to fill out the latter series. The second section was therefore examined for such towns as had the largest populations and were presumably most important. The result enabled more than one name, already on Mr. Nelton's list, to be fitted in its proper place! Here, then, was apparently the solution of the first series of numbered cancellations, and we hazard a guess that the 52 names are the original list of money order offices, arranged when the money order system was instituted in February, 1855. The subjoined table gives the list of post offices and their corresponding numbers, which has been worked out along the lines above mentioned. It is offered in the hope that more will be done to determine positively the correspondence between the two. The names in ordinary type are those that have been identified without any reasonable doubt; those that have been fitted in tentatively are in italics. The Roman numeral following indicates the Class to which the Money Order Office belongs. LIST OF NUMBERED CANCELLATIONS. 1. _Barrie, U. C._ I 2. Belleville, U. C. I 3. _Berlin, U. C._ I 4. Bowmanville, U. C. I 5. Brantford, U. C. I 6. _Brighton, U. C._ II 7. _Brockville, U. C._ I 8. Chatham, U. C. I 9. _Clinton, U. C._ II 10. _Cobourg, U. C._ I 11. _Cornwall, U. C._ I 12. _Dundas, U. C._ I 13. Galt, U. C. I 14. _Goderich, U. C._ I 15. _Guelph, U. C._ I 16. Hamilton, U. C. I 17. _Ingersoll, U. C._ II 18. Kingston, U. C. I 19. London, U. C. I 20. Melbourne, L. C. II 21. Montreal, L. C. I 22. Napanee, U. C. II 23. _Napierville, L. C._ II 24. _Newcastle, U. C._ II 25. _Niagara, U. C._ I 26. _Oakville, U. C._ II 27. Ottawa, U. C. I 28. _Paris, U. C._ I 29. Perth, U. C. II 30. Peterborough, U. C. I 31. Picton, U. C. II 32. _Port Dover, U. C._ II 33. _Port Hope, U. C._ I 34. Port Sarnia, U. C. II 35. Prescott, U. C. I 36. _Preston, U. C._ II 37. Quebec, L. C. I 38. St. Catherines, U. C. I 39. _St. Hyacinthe, L. C._ II 40. _St. Johns, L. C._ II 41. _St. Thomas, U. C._ I 42. _Sherbrooke, L. C._ II 43. Simcoe, U. C. II 44. _Smith's Falls, U. C._ II 45. Stanstead, L. C. II 46. Stratford, U. C. I 47. Three Rivers, L. C. I 48. _Toronto, U. C._ I 49. Whitby, U. C. II 50. _Windsor, U. C._ I 51. _Woodstock, U. C._ I 52. _York, U. C._ II It will be noticed, if Mr. Helton's list is compared with the above, that there are a few discrepancies. He assigns Toronto to No. 24, which is manifestly out of place. Owen Sound is given to No. 26, while 28 should be its location; the latter must be reserved for Paris, however, which is a first class office where Owen Sound is but second class. Richmond is given as No. 42, but as St. Catherines, a first class office, has been identified as No. 38, there seems no place for the second class office of Richmond, which should precede it alphabetically. Niagara has been assigned to No. 23, but in such case it would necessitate two blanks preceding Ottawa, so it seems that the proper number should be 25. With these few exceptions no further trouble was experienced in working out the list, and since it was drawn up Numbers 2, 4, 8, 38 and 49 have been identified and tallied exactly with it! Such proof has gone far toward confirming our propositions in regard to it, and we hope for more. A third cancellation, which was apparently used mainly for newspapers and packages, consisted of nine somewhat thick diagonal bars, the whole impression having a square outline. This was generally struck in black, but occasionally in dull blue. Postmarks were supposed to be used only on the cover, where they would plainly exhibit the story they were to tell, while the cancellation marks were intended to deface the stamp. But sometimes the postmarks are found used for the latter purpose. They seem to be mostly of two varieties, both circular in outline, a larger one having the town name in a curve above, with U. C., L. C., C. W., or C. E., at the bottom, and arcs of two concentric circles filling in the outline between; a second being smaller with a single arc of a circle filling in the outline. The first variety is plainly shown on the cover numbered 90 on Plate VI, and the second on the cover numbered 130 on Plate XIV. The date in the center seems always to be given in full--month, day and year. The postmarks are generally in black, as usual, but sometimes in dull blue. Penmarked specimens are sometimes met with, but not often. With the issue of 1859 the duplex mark seems to have been adopted, with the postmark (the ordinary complete circle with the usual arrangement of name, abbreviation of province and date) and the cancellation mark (a series of parallel lines with a circular outline) on the same instrument so as to be struck on the letter together. With the 1868 issue for the Dominion we of course find the cancellations of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, then British Columbia and finally Prince Edward Island, all of which introduce complications. A new cancellation, which seems to have been for the Dominion as a whole, consisted of two heavy concentric circles containing a number. It is one of this kind that Mr. Nelton refers to in his article as having the number 627. A notable cancellation is one in the shape of a large maple leaf. An interesting and rare postmark which was found on the 3 cent of the 1868 issue, is thus written up by Mr. F. G. Bing[79]:-- [79] =The Postage Stamp, VII=: 6. The stamp had been obliterated with a small thick lined circle in which appear the words "WAY LETTER" in large type. Eventually a full account of the matter was obtained from the Canadian postal authorities. * * * * * POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH. OTTAWA, 13th March, 1908. DEAR SIR:--Replying to your enquiry on the subject, as to the object of the post office mark consisting of a rather thick circle in which are the words "WAY LETTER" only, impressed upon a Canada postage stamp (3c.) similar to the one you enclosed, and which I herewith return, I find on enquiry that previous to the Confederation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867, there was in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick a regulation requiring mail couriers on the coach roads to accept letters for mailing, when these were offered them at a distance of not less than one or two miles from the nearest post office, to place them in a locked leather pouch provided for the purpose, and to post them at the first post office, the Postmaster of which was instructed to stamp these with the words "WAY LETTER." After Confederation this postmark lingered at some of the offices in the provinces named, when it was used for general cancellation purposes, if not for its primary purpose. It has now, however, wholly disappeared. Some think it lasted up to 1887 or 1891, but I am sorry I cannot furnish you with a more definite date as to its extinction. Very truly yours, E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. It will be seen from this interesting letter that the postmark was in the first instance applied to the postage stamps of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and it is quite possible that only upon the stamps of these two provinces does it possess its full original significance. At the same time it does not follow that the regulations under which this cancellation was in use were immediately withdrawn with the Confederation of the Dominion of Canada; and it is more than probable that the custom based upon these regulations of accepting letters from the public at a distance from a post office, and applying the special obliteration, would continue long after that date, as it is evident that the use of the "Way Letter" postmark was never definitely prohibited by the Canadian postal authorities, or the date of its extinction would not have been in doubt. It is, however, quite certain that only a comparatively small number of letters would be entitled to receive this special mark, and its rarity is therefore indisputable. Various new varieties came with the "small" cents issue and later, concerning which there is not so much of interest as in the earlier years of the postal service; we therefore pass them by, remarking only on the special "jubilee" machine cancellation which was used at Montreal in 1897. This was of the "flag" form and somewhat ornate, bearing the name "VICTORIA" and the dates "1837" and "1897." CHAPTER VI THE ISSUE OF 1859 With two valuations placed upon the cumbrous English monetary system inherited by Canada from the Mother Country--"sterling" and "currency"--and with the practical illustration of the advantages of the decimal system manifest in all the transactions with its great southern neighbor, whose currency was already legalized in the Province,[80] it was only a question of time when Canada would adopt a decimal system of its own. This was done, but all that interests us is the Decimal Postage law resulting, which is as follows:-- [80] See page 52. 22^o Vict. Cap. XVII. An Act to amend the Post Office Laws. [_Assented to 4th May, 1859._] Whereas it is expedient to amend the Post Office Laws, in the manner hereinafter provided: Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Canada, enacts as follows: 1. There shall be payable on all Newspapers sent by Post in Canada, except "Exchange Papers" addressed to Editors and Publishers of Newspapers, such rate of Postage, not exceeding one cent on each such Newspaper, as the Governor in Council shall from time to time direct by regulation, and such rate shall be payable on all such Newspapers posted on or after the first day of July next. 2. So much of any Act as provides that Newspapers posted within this Province shall pass free of Postage, in cases other than those in which they will be free under this Act, is hereby repealed. 3. In order to adapt the operations of the Post Office to the Decimal Currency, the internal letter postage rate shall be changed from three pence to its equivalent of five cents, per half ounce--the charge for advertising a dead letter from three farthings to two cents--the charge for returning a dead letter to the writer, from one penny to three cents; and in all cases where a one half-penny or penny rate of Postage is chargeable, these rates shall be changed to one cent and two cents respectively. 4. To promote simplicity and economy in the business of the Post Office, all letters posted in Canada for any place within the Province, and not prepaid, shall be charged seven instead of five cents per half ounce on delivery; and on letters posted for the British Mails, for the other British North American Provinces, or for the United States, when not prepaid, there shall be charged such addition to the ordinary rate, not in any case exceeding a double rate, as the Post Master General may agree upon with the Post Office Authorities of those Countries, for the purpose of enforcing prepayment. 5. The Post Master General may establish a Parcel Post and parcels other than letters and not containing letters, may be sent by such Parcel Post, and when so sent shall be liable to such charges for conveyance and to such regulations as the Governor in Council shall from time to time see fit to make. * * * * * 8. [_To inclose a letter in a parcel or a newspaper, posted as such, is a misdemeanor._] From the above Act we see that the transmission of newspapers has again been subjected to revision looking toward an increase of revenue, all free transmission by post being now limited to exchange copies between editors or publishers. The making of prepayment by stamps obligatory was another step which had been quite strongly recommended in the last Postmaster General's report in these terms:-- No single improvement would be so valuable to the Post Office service as the introduction of the system of the pre-payment of letters by stamp. It is not recommended that pre-payment of letters should be made absolutely compulsory, but where stamps are readily procurable, pre-payment in that form should be insisted on, and the principle of pre-payment should be enforced by imposing an additional charge on letters posted unpaid. By referring to the Act subsequently passed we see that these recommendations were carried out to the letter. In regard to the fifth section of the Act, concerning the Parcel Post, we come across another example of the curious shuffling of dates and apparent _ex post facto_ law making which we have previously noted. In quoting the Postmaster General's report for _30th Sept., 1858_,[81] we found it stated that the Parcel Post had been in operation "from _1st January, 1859_," and now we have the Legislative Act providing for it passed under date of _4th May, 1859_! This is going it one better on "reading history backward" by actually making it backward! The reports at least, as we previously deduced, were evidently written some time after the dates given them and did not confine their record to happenings previous to those fictitious dates. Confirmation of this is furnished by the Postmaster General's report that we have to consider, that of the Hon. Sydney Smith for the year ending 30th September, 1859, the report being actually dated 20th February, 1860. [81] See page 67. * * * * * Further details concerning the Parcel Post are not given until the Report for 30th June, 1864, where we read:-- By means of the Parcel Post a parcel may be sent within the Province to or from any place, however remote from the ordinary lines of traffic conveyance, on prepayment of a postage rate of 25 cents per lb., provided that the weight or size of the parcel does not exceed the carrying capacity of an ordinary mail bag; and provided that the contents of the parcel are not of a character to injure the rest of the mail. The rate is given in decimal currency, then in use, but at the time of the establishment of the Parcel Post the equivalent rate would have been 1s. 3d. currency. In the Report for 1865 it is stated that:-- The provisions of the Parcel Post have been extended to parcels passing between Canada and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and parcels not containing letters may now be forwarded by post from one end of British North America to the other, on prepayment of a uniform rate of 25 cents per lb. In the report for 1859, mentioned above, we find the following:-- The Law of last Session directing the conversion of all postage rates into decimals, and the collection of postage in the new decimal currency, was put in operation on the 1st July.... Decimal stamps of the value of 1 cent, 5 cents, and 10 cents for ordinary correspondence, and of 12-1/2 cents for Canadian, and of 17 cents for British Packet Postage Rates were obtained in readiness for the commencement of the Decimal Postage Law in July, 1859, and have from that date been issued in lieu of the stamps previously in use. The cents issue of Canadian stamps therefore dates from July 1, 1859. The stamps themselves were merely an adaptation of the designs of the pence series to the corresponding values of the decimal currency. The ONE CENT stamp was unchanged from the half-penny except for the substitution of the new for the former value. The FIVE CENTS stamp had these words in place of the old denomination, with a quarterfoil ornament separating them at each side from CANADA and POSTAGE. Oblique figures 5 were placed in the spandrels on a cross-hatched ground instead of the upright figures 3 on foliations. A similar change was made in the TEN CENTS, Roman numerals X being placed obliquely in the spandrels on a cross-hatched ground where upright figures 6 were previously on foliations; while the new denomination was substituted for the old. The sole change in the 12-1/2 cent stamp was to substitute "12-1/2c." in the spandrels for the former values in sterling and currency. The 17 cent stamp had the value in words replacing TEN PENCE, but the new value was so much longer that the emblems between the old value and CANADA POSTAGE were removed and replaced by two small elliptic ornaments. "8d. stg." still occupies the upper spandrels, but figures 17 are placed in each of the lower ones. The central designs in each of the above stamps are absolutely identical with those of the pence stamps that preceded them--indeed the portrait and surrounding oval with inscriptions on the 12-1/2 c. are all unchanged. From this it is evident that the new dies were "built up" from the old ones, the central portions being transferred and the required changes in surrounding inscriptions, etc., being newly engraved. This was easy enough of accomplishment since the American Bank Note Co., who furnished the new stamps, were the successors of Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson, the firm name having been changed on May 1, 1858, and the dies of the pence issue were of course in their possession. Illustrations of the five values will be found as Nos. 10, 15, 12, 13 and 14, respectively, on Plate I. There was one addition to the list of values in this set during its period of use--a 2 cent stamp. In the Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1864, it is noted:--"A new Postage Stamp, of the value of two cents, was added to the other denominations supplied, from the 1st. August last [1864]." The Report for the succeeding year has this further to say:--"A provision has been made for the transmission and delivery of Canadian periodicals, addressed to the United Kingdom, at the reduced rate of two cents each," and it was evidently largely on account of this that the new stamp was ordered. Its design was unmistakably "built up" as with the rest of the set, the 1 cent stamp serving as the model, figures 2 being placed in ovals in the spandrels and the wording of the value being changed to correspond. (Illustration No. 11 on Plate I). The stamp was issued as stated on the 1st August, 1864. All the stamps of this issue were, as before, line engraved and printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. The same style of marginal inscriptions as in the first issue is found--"American Bank Note Co. New-York" in minute letters of the type known as "diamond," repeated twice in each margin, reading up on the left, down on the right, and inverted at the bottom of the sheet. In the 1, 2, 5 and 12-1/2c. stamps the imprint is placed against the third and eighth stamps of each marginal row of ten, but from a block of 10c. at hand the inscriptions in the case of this value are apparently "centered" over the space between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth stamps of each marginal row, thus bringing them over two stamps instead of one. Curiously enough, the 17c. value has no marginal inscriptions at all. The same plate variety that occurs in the 3d. stamp--the "shifted transfer" or "double strike"--is repeated in its successor, the 5c. stamp. That it is a true plate variety is abundantly proved by the fine block of seven stamps illustrated as No. 96 on Plate VII. The variety will be found in the upper right corner stamp, and the doubling of the frame lines at the left and of the oval frame line above CANADA will be readily apparent. A single copy is illustrated as No. 19 on Plate I. It seems to have been first noted by Mr. R. Wuesthoff in the _American Journal of Philately_ for June, 1892. A minor variety of the 5c. stamp printed from a worn plate is also to be noted, in which the fine lines of the groundwork have almost disappeared. The entire series comes regularly perforated 12, the identical normal perforation of the pence stamps that immediately preceded it, and which we have endeavored to trace to the same source. The abnormal varieties in this series are of course the imperforate ones, and of these we present cuts of a full set in blocks of four, numbered 100 to 105 on Plate IX. That the stamps were actually issued and used in this condition is proved by copies of several with the proper postmarks of the period in the Pack collection. Mr. Pack writes of them[82]:-- I have the 1c. and 5c. postmarked in 1860 and 1861 at Toronto and Prescott, Canada West. I also believe that these varieties were on sale at Kingston, Canada West, at about that time. I have also the 2c. and 10c. in undoubtedly early used condition. [82] =London Philatelist, XVI=: 144. Further varieties are formed by "split" stamps, as before, though these were never authorized and seldom used. We are fortunate in being able to illustrate two five cent stamps used with half of a third to make up the 12-1/2c. packet rate. This is No. 97 on Plate VII. The postmark is unfortunately mostly torn away, but is evidently "Montreal," and the last numeral in the year figures seems to be an "8," which would mean "1868." A 10c. stamp also split and used for a 5c. is shown on the entire as No. 99 on Plate VIII. The postmark is "Bowmanville, U.C., Feb. 15, 1860." The normal colors for the stamps of this series may be given as 1 cent deep rose, 2 cents dull rose, 5 cents deep red, 12-1/2 cents deep green, and 17 cents Prussian blue. It will be noticed that we have omitted the 10 cents--and with reason. If the 6 pence stamp of the preceding issue was difficult to select a normal color for, how shall we find one for its successor? Messrs. Corwin and King say[83]:--"The most surprising fact about this issue is the vast number of colors and shades to be found in the 10 cents. We have several hundreds of them in our collection, and are continually adding new color varieties." They run all the way from a bright red lilac through shades of violet and brown to a black brown, which is so dark and distinct that it has for years been catalogued separately. [83] =Metropolitan Philatelist, II=: 3. The paper on which these stamps were printed does not show as much variation as in the previous issue. Mr. King[84] gives a list of five varieties, all of which vary considerably in thickness. It seems sufficient for our purposes, however, to list them under three heads as ordinary wove paper, a thick, hard wove paper, and ribbed paper. [84] =Monthly Journal, VII=: 32. These stamps were in issue from the 1st July 1859, until the series issued for the new Dominion of Canada appeared on 1st April, 1868. The stamp accounts in the various Postmaster General's Reports give the quantities received and issued, and we present here a summary of these tables as their reproduction entire would serve no useful purpose unless to show the increase in the consumption of stamps from year to year as the postal business increased. _Received from_ _manufacturers_: 1c. 5c. 10c. 12-1/2c. 17c. quarter ending 30th Sept. 1859 1,000,400 1,000,089 200,000 200,000 50,000 year ending 30th Sept. 1860 2,000,050 2,499,986 300,000 300,000 50,000 year ending 30th Sept. 1861 2,200,100 3,400,300 499,998 199,996 50,000 year ending 30th Sept. 1862 2,799,900 3,300,350 400,000 399,996 50,000 year ending 30th Sept. 1863 3,500,200 4,300,450 600,050 300,000 100,000 9mos. ending 30th June 1864 3,000,000 3,999,999 800,000 399,990 49,999 year ending 30th June 1865 3,064,800 4,890,598 700,000 676,600 100,000 year ending 30th June 1866 3,910,000 8,100,000 800,000 400,100 50,000 year ending 30th June 1867 5,100,000 5,100,500 999,650 299,950 100,000 year ending 30th June 1868 (?)900,000 3,199,900 400,000 ? ...... ---------- --------- ------- --------- ------- Totals 27,475,450 39,792,172 5,799,698 3,176,632 599,999 The yearly supplies of the 2 cent stamps, first appearing in the 1865 accounts, were as follows:-- 1865 360,000 1866 300,000 1867 200,500 1868 50,000(?) ------- Total 910,500 Unfortunately the stamp accounts for 1868 do not separate the supplies received in the old and new designs, so that in the case of the 1, 2 and 12-1/2 cent stamps, which appear in both issues, the quantity delivered by the manufacturers is a total which we cannot divide with certainty. An approximation may perhaps be made, particularly with the 2 cent stamp. The balance of this value on hand 30th June, 1867, was 171,000, and the deliveries in the year ending 30th June, 1868, were 2,050,000. Inasmuch as the yearly issue of this value had been some 250,000, the probability is that the odd 50,000 delivered belonged to the 1859 series, as this would make 221,000 for the nine month's supply to 1st April; the even two millions were doubtless the order for the new series. The yearly issue of the 1 cent had been some 3-1/2 to 4 millions; if from the 2,900,000 received, according to the 1868 Report, we take the odd 900,000, we find it makes 3,308,900 when combined with the balance on hand in 1867. This gives a sufficient supply for the nine months of the old issue and leaves an even two millions again for the new series. The 12-1/2 cent presents a slightly different aspect. The yearly issue had been some 400,000, and the amount on hand in 1867 was 385,750--without doubt a plentiful supply for the nine months preceding the issue of the new stamps. It must be remembered, also, in all these cases, that the "amount on hand" was that of the Department's stock, and that the postmasters were of course in possession of local stocks. It therefore seems probable that the 500,000 12-1/2 cent stamps received in 1868 were of the new series alone. The 5 and 10 cent stamps, however, which are lacking in the new set, can at once be added to their preceding deliveries, and it will be noted that no further supplies of the 17c. stamp were required during the year. We find in the Department accounts that the American Bank Note Co. was paid $1331.70 for "engraving postage stamps" during the fiscal year, which was the final settlement with that Company. What became of the remainder of the old issue does not appear, but it seems probable that they were largely used up in the course of regular business, as no object would be gained by turning in the relatively small quantities remaining, for accounting and destruction, unless it be the 17 cent value, which had become rather useless. Curiously enough, the stamp accounts _do_ separate the old and new issues in the "balance on hand, 30th June, 1868," which was three months after the appearance of the new set. These figures are as follows:-- 1 cent 319,900 2 cents 700 5 cents 138,400 10 cents 60,650 12-1/2 cents 68,750 17 cents 33,876 Glancing now over the Postmaster General's reports for the years 1859-1868, during which the above issue was in use, and which were the last years of the strictly provincial control, we find many items of interest. In the report for 1859 it is noted that "the issue and use by the public of Postage Stamps has increased with great rapidity since last return," and the issue of stamped envelopes "for the promotion of public convenience" is announced. These will be treated of by themselves in a later chapter. We find the experiment was made of placing street letter boxes in Toronto, and "with very encouraging results as to the extent to which the number of letters posted in these boxes would appear to demonstrate their usefulness. These Pillar Boxes are visited, at least twice each day, at suitable hours, by Post Office Messengers, in order to convey the letters deposited in them to the Post Office." Preparations were also being made to install letter boxes in Montreal and Quebec. The Department accounts have the following entries:-- Rawdon, Wright & Co., supply of letter and newspaper stamps $238.69 American Bank Note Co., engraving letter and newspaper stamps 1487.40 Of course the amounts all went to the same concern, as the firm name had been changed on May 1, 1858, as already noted. The report for 1860 contains interesting statistical information concerning the growth of the Department, which it may be well to put on record:-- Year No. of Miles of No. of letters Postal Revenue Remarks Offices. Post by Post (deducting Route. per annum. dead letters.) 1851 601 7,595 2,132,000 1852 840 8,618 3,700,000 $230,629.00 {First year of { account under { Provincial control. 1853 1016 9,122 4,250,000 278,587.00 {Charge on { newspapers { reduced one-half. 1854 1166 10,027 5,100,000 320,000.00 1855 1293 11,192 6,000,000 368,166.00 {Newspapers conveyed { without charge. 1856 1375 11,839 7,000,000 374,295.00 1857 1506 13,253 8,500,000 462,163.00 1858 1566 13,600 9,000,000 541,153.00 1859 1638 13,871 8,500,000 678,426.98 1860 1698 14,202 9,000,000 658,451.99 {Additional 2c. rate { on unpaid letters { and charge { made on newspapers. The Report continues:-- From the experience of the past, the confident hope may be entertained that, by a wise and judicious economy, (and without withholding from newly settled portions of the country, the Postal accommodations without which the settlement of the country cannot advance), in a comparatively short space of time the Postage upon letters may be reduced from the present five cent to a _three cent rate_, as near an approach to the Penny sterling postage system of the Mother Country as the relative value of our currency will conveniently permit. It was eight years before these hopes were realized, however. The "epistolary intercourse with the United States" is given for the same period, but we need only note that the postal value of the total correspondence exchanged was $83,630.97 in 1852, had increased to $187,469.59 in 1857, and then dropped gradually to $178,132.39 in 1860. The Report says:-- The prepayment of letters passing between the two countries continues optional on either side, at the combined rate of 10 cents per 1/2 oz. from any place in Canada to any place in the United States and _vice versa_, except to or from the States on the Pacific, California and Oregon, when the rate is 15 cents per 1/2 oz. The accounts present a charge in favor of the American Bank Note Co. of $1697.95 "for engraving Letter and Newspaper stamps and Stamped Envelopes." Of the latter we shall have more to say in their proper place. The Reports of 1861 and 1862 contain nothing special, and the accounts show payments of $1451.87 and $1583.63 respectively to the American Bank Note Co. The Report of 1863 states that in November of that year an agreement was entered into with the United States for the transmission between the two countries of seeds, bulbs, etc., at 1 cent per ounce, and also book manuscripts, printers' proof sheets, maps, prints, etc., at the same rate. In January 1864, the Imperial Post Office extended to the mails between Canada and the United Kingdom regulations conceding patterns of merchandise and trade samples at the same rates as books and printed matter. The American Bank Note Co. was paid $1946.62. The next Report is dated 30th June, 1864, instead of the usual 30th September, and is therefore for nine months only. This was done to bring the fiscal year of the Post Office Department to correspond with the financial year of the General Government. The enactment which was the cause of the change follows:-- 27^o--28^o Vict. Cap. VI. An Act to amend the Law respecting the Public Accounts, and the Board of Audit. (_Assented to 30th June, 1864_) 10. It shall be the duty of the Board of Audit to prepare and submit to the Minister of Finance the Public Accounts to be annually laid before Parliament. 11. The said Public Accounts shall include the period from the thirtieth of June in one year to the thirtieth of June in the next year, which period shall constitute the Financial Year.... There is nothing particular in the Report for these nine months to quote here, except the payment of the relatively small sum of $619.25 to the American Bank Note Co. The Report for 1865 states that "Regulations have been adopted establishing a sample and pattern post in Canada, and packets of trade samples, or patterns of merchandise, may be sent by post between any places within this Province, on prepayment of one cent per ounce, under certain conditions to prevent an abuse of the privilege." It further announces that "Street Letter boxes are being placed in all the principal streets of Montreal." The Reports of 1866 and 1867 were published together, but contain little of interest beyond the statistics we have already used. Payments to the American Bank Note Co. were $2630.11 in 1866 and $1699.03 in 1867. The final payment to the American Co., which we have already quoted from the 1868 report, was $1331.70. We read that "The street letter boxes put up in the city of Montreal have worked satisfactorily. The number of letters and papers posted therein weekly, appeared from returns taken to be, Letters 2400, Papers 500, or at the rate of 150,000 letters and papers per annum." Authority to establish letter boxes was given by an Act of Parliament which contains several other matters of interest and which we therefore quote. 29^o--30^o Vict. Cap. XI. An Act to amend the Post Office Act. [_Assented to 15th August, 1866._] Whereas the more effectually to prevent frauds upon the Post Office Revenue, it is expedient to amend the Post Office Act: Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the consent of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Canada, enacts as follows: 1. If any person uses or attempts to use in payment of postage on any letter or mailable thing posted in this Province, any postage stamp which has been before used for a like purpose, such person shall be subjected to a penalty of not less than Ten and not exceeding Forty dollars for every such offense, and the letter or other mailable thing on which such stamp has been so improperly used may be detained, or in the discretion of the Postmaster General forwarded to its destination charged with double the postage to which it would have been liable if posted unpaid. 2. [_To enclose a letter in a parcel, packet of samples or newspaper, posted an such, shall be an offense punishable by a fine of not less than ten or more than forty dollars in each case._] 3. The Postmaster General may grant licenses, revocable at pleasure, to Agents, other than Postmasters, for the sale to the Public, of Postage Stamps and Stamped envelopes, and may allow to such Agents a commission not exceeding five per cent, on the amount of their sales;--and it shall not be lawful for any person to exercise the business of selling Postage Stamps or Stamped envelopes to the Public unless duly licensed to do so by the Postmaster General and under such conditions as he may prescribe: and any person who shall violate this provision by selling Postage Stamps or Stamped envelopes to the public without a license from the Postmaster General, shall on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, incur a penalty of not exceeding forty dollars for each offence. * * * * * 5. The Postmaster General may, when in his judgment the public convenience requires it, establish Street Letter Boxes or Pillar Boxes for the reception of letters and other mailable matter in the streets of any City or Town in this Province, and from the time that a letter is deposited in any such Street Letter Box or Pillar Box it shall be deemed to be a Post Letter within the meaning of the Post Office Act. 6. [_Wilfully injuring such letter boxes is a misdemeanor._] * * * * * 8. The Governor in Council may, by regulations to be from time to time made, provide for the transmission through the Mails of this Province, of patterns and samples of merchandise and goods for sale, and of packages of seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots and scions or grafts, on such terms and conditions as may be set forth in such regulations. 9. [_Wilfully destroying, damaging or detaining any of above articles is a misdemeanor._] The only other item to quote from the report of 1867 is the following:--"On 1st July, 1867 the Union Act came into operation, and brought under one central administration the Postal Service throughout the Dominion." With this statement we close the account of the Postal history of the Province of Canada, and in the next chapter open up the larger one of the Dominion of Canada, whose later issues, though not without interest, still lack the charm that time can never tear from the simple, yet dignified and beautiful stamps of the Province. CHAPTER VII THE DOMINION OF CANADA PRELIMINARY. As outlined in our Introductory Chapter, the union of Upper and Lower Canada into the single Province of Canada had been so manifestly advantageous that it started an agitation for the union of all the British North American provinces. The result was a convention, held at Quebec in 1864, which drafted a proposed Constitution that was later embodied by the British Parliament in "An Act for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and the Government thereof,"[85] which was passed on the 29th March, 1867. The preamble recites that "the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick have expressed their desire to be federally united into One Dominion under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with a Constitution similar in Principle to that of the United Kingdom." The Act is cited in brief as "The British North America Act 1867," and provides that the Dominion of Canada shall be divided into four provinces named Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; that there shall be a Governor General who may select his own Privy Council; that there shall be a Parliament consisting of a Senate, with members appointed by the Governor General for life, and a House of Commons of elected representatives; that the seat of Government shall be at Ottawa; that each Province shall have a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Governor General and a local legislature similar to the Dominion Parliament; and making provision for the admission of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia and Rupert's Land and the North-western Territory. The Act took effect on the 1st July, 1867, which day is annually observed as "Dominion Day." [85] 30^o--31^o Vict. Cap. III. The first Parliament of Canada, which convened at Ottawa on November 6, 1867, was naturally largely concerned in revising and consolidating the laws of the various Provinces, and among these of course appeared the Post Office Laws. A number of changes were introduced, but many of the provisions of former Acts were embodied almost as they stood in the new statute. We reproduce its most important features in our line of inquiry. 31^o Vict. Cap. X. An Act for the regulation of the Postal Service. [_Assented to 21st. December_, 1867.] Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: PRELIMINARY--INTERPRETATION. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as _The Post Office Act_ 1867; and the following terms and expressions therein shall be held to have the meaning hereinafter assigned to them.... The term "Letter" includes Packets of Letters; The term "Postage" means the duty or sum chargeable for the conveyance of Post Letters, Packets and other things by Post; The term "Foreign Country" means any country not included in the dominions of Her Majesty; The term "Foreign Postage" means the postage on the conveyance of Letters, Packets or other things, within any Foreign Country or payable to any Foreign Government; The term "Canada Postage" means the postage on the conveyance of Letters, Packets and other things by Post within the Dominion of Canada or by Canada Mail Packet; The term "Mail" includes every conveyance by which Post Letters are carried, whether it be by land or by water; The term "British Packet Postage" means the postage due on the conveyance of letters by British Packet Boats, between the United Kingdom and British North America;--And the term "British Postage" includes all Postage not being Foreign, Colonial or Canadian; * * * * * The term "Post Letter" means any letter transmitted or deposited in any Post Office to be transmitted by the Post;--And a letter shall be deemed a Post Letter from the time of its being so deposited or delivered at a Post Office, to the time of its being delivered to the party to whom it is addressed.... 2. All Laws in force in the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, at the Union thereof on the first of July, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in respect to the Postal Service, and continued in force by the "British North America Act 1867," shall be and the same are hereby repealed. * * * * * ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS. 7. There shall be at the seat of Government of Canada a Post Office Department for the superintendence and management of the Postal Service of Canada, under the direction of a Postmaster General. 8. The Postmaster General shall be appointed by Commission under the Great Seal of Canada, and shall hold his office during pleasure. * * * * * 10. The Postmaster General may, subject to the provisions of this Act: 1. Establish and close Post Offices and Post Routes; * * * * * 3. Enter into and enforce all contracts relating to the conveyance of the Mails or other business of the Post Office; 4. [_Make regulations concerning mailable matter and limits of weight and dimensions of such._] 5. [_Establish rates of postage and conditions on matter not already provided for._] 6. Cause to be prepared and distributed Postage Stamps, necessary for the prepayment of Postages under this Act, also stamped envelopes for the like purpose; 7. [_Make arrangements concerning Posts and Postal business with postal authorities outside of Canada._] * * * * * 11. Prescribe and enforce such Regulations as to letters directed to be registered as to him may seem necessary, in respect to the registration of letters and other matter passing by Mail, as well between places in Canada, as between Canada and the United Kingdom, any British Possession, the United States or any other Foreign Country, and to the charge to be made for the same; and also in respect to the registration by the officers of the Post Office of letters unquestionably containing money or other valuable enclosure when posted without registration by the senders of the same, and to imposing a rate of two cents registration charge upon such letters; * * * * * 14. Establish and provide Street Letter Boxes or Pillar Boxes or Boxes of any other description for the receipt of letters and such other mailable matter as he may deem expedient, in the streets of any City or Town in Canada, or at any Railway Station or other public place where he may consider such Letter Boxes to be necessary; 15. Grant licenses revocable at pleasure, to Agents other than Postmasters, for the sale to the Public of Postage Stamps and Stamped Envelopes, and allow to such Agents a commission of not exceeding five per cent, on the amount of their sales. RATES OF POSTAGE. 19. On all letters transmitted by Post for any distance within Canada, except in cases herein otherwise specially provided for, there shall be charged and paid one uniform rate of three cents per half ounce in weight, any fraction of an ounce being chargeable as a half ounce, provided that such three cents postage rate be prepaid by postage stamps or in current coin at the time of posting such letters; and when such letters are posted without prepayment being made thereon, then and in such case it shall be lawful to charge upon letters so posted unpaid a rate of five cents per half ounce. 20. On letters not transmitted through the mails, but posted and delivered at the same Post Office, commonly known as local or drop letters, the rate shall be one cent, to be in all cases prepaid by postage stamp affixed to such letters. 21. [_Seamen and Soldiers, etc. in Her Majesty's service, entitled to receive and send letters on payment of a certain special sum in lieu of all British postage, shall be freed likewise from Canadian postage._] 22. The rate of postage upon newspapers printed and published in Canada, and issued not less frequently than once a week, from a known office of publication, and sent to regular subscribers in Canada by mail, shall be as follows: upon each such newspaper, when issued once a week, the rate for each quarter of a year, commencing on the first of January, first of April, first of July, or first of October of each year, shall be five cents, when issued twice a week, ten cents, when issued three times a week, fifteen cents, when issued six times a week, thirty cents, and in that proportion, adding one rate of five cents for each issue more frequent than once a week; and such postage must be pre-paid in advance from the first day of the quarter from which the payment commences, for a term of not less than a quarter of a year: ... provided, nevertheless, that _Exchange Papers_, addressed by one editor or publisher of a newspaper to another editor or publisher, may be sent by Post free of charge. 23. On all newspapers sent by Post in Canada, except in the cases hereinbefore expressly provided for, there shall be payable a rate not exceeding two cents each, and when such newspapers are posted in Canada this rate shall in all cases be prepaid by postage stamp affixed to the same. 24. For the purposes of this Act, the word "Newspapers" shall be held to mean periodicals published not less frequently than once in each week, and containing notices of passing events. 25. The rate of postage upon periodical publications, other than newspapers, shall be one cent per four ounces, or half a cent per number, when such periodicals weigh less than one ounce and are posted singly, and when such periodical publications are posted in Canada, these rates shall in all cases be prepaid by postage stamps affixed to the same. 26. On books, pamphlets, occasional publications, printed circulars, prices current, handbills, book and newspaper manuscript, printer's proof sheets whether corrected or not, maps, prints, drawings, engravings, photographs when not on glass, in cases containing glass, sheet music whether printed or written, packages of seeds, cuttings, bulbous roots, scions or grafts, patterns or samples of merchandize or goods, the rate of postage shall be one cent per ounce; provided that no letter or other communication intended to serve the purpose of a letter be sent or enclosed therein, and that the same be sent in covers open at the ends or sides or otherwise so put up as to admit of inspection by the Officers of the Post Office to ensure compliance with this provision--and this postage rate shall be prepaid by postage stamps in all cases when such articles are posted in Canada. 27. [_Foregoing rates subject to such conditions as may be agreed upon between Canada and any other country._] 28. [_Postage on unpaid letters is due from addressee, or if refused may be recovered with costs by civil action from sender._ (See 13^o--14^o Vict. Cap. 17, Sec. 12.)] 29. In all cases where letters and other mailable matter are posted for places without the limits of Canada, on which stamps for pre-payment are affixed of less value than the true rate of Postage to which such letters are liable,--or when stamps for prepayment are affixed to letters addressed to any place as aforesaid for which prepayment cannot be taken in Canada,--the Postmaster General may forward such letters, charged with postage, as if no stamp had been affixed. 30. And for avoiding doubts, and preventing inconvenient delay in the posting and delivery of letters,--no Postmaster shall be bound to give change, but the exact amount of the postage on any letter or other mailable matter shall be tendered or paid to him in current coin as respects letters or other things delivered, and in current coin or postage stamps as the case may require in respect to the letters or other things posted. 31. [_The Postmaster General may make reasonable compensation to Masters of vessels not Post Office Packets for conveyance of ship letters from foreign ports to Canada._] 32. [_Postmaster General has exclusive privilege of collecting, conveying and delivering letters, etc._; $20 _penalty for infraction_. (See 13^o--14^o Vict. Cap. XVII. Sec. 9.)] * * * * * 35. [_The Postmaster General may employ Letter Carriers, and charge two cents for delivery of a letter and one cent for a newspaper or pamphlet._ (See 14^o--15^o Vict. Cap. LXXI. Sec. 15.)] 36. It shall be lawful for the Postmaster General, with the consent of the Governor in Council, to establish in any city, when he shall deem it expedient, a system of free delivery by Letter Carrier of letters brought by mail and he may direct that from the time that such system is established, no charge shall be made for the delivery of such letters by Letter Carriers in such city, and further that on drop or local letters when delivered by Letter Carrier in such city, one cent only per half ounce shall be charged in addition to the ordinary local or drop letter rate. 37. [_Postmaster General may establish a parcel post._ (See 22^o Vict. Cap. XVII. Sec. 5.)] 38. [_Usual franking of official matter._ (See 18^o Vict. Cap. LXXIX. Secs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 24^o Vict. Cap. XXV. Sec. 6), _but limited to transmission in Canada_.] * * * * * 40. Letters, or other articles, which from any cause remain undelivered in any Post Office, or which having been posted, cannot be forwarded by post, shall under such regulations as the Postmaster General may make, be transmitted by Postmasters to the Post Office Department as Dead Letters, there to be opened and returned to the writers on payment of any postage due thereon, with five cents additional on each Dead Letter to defray the costs of returning the same, or such Dead Letters may in any case or class of cases be otherwise disposed of as the Postmaster General may direct. * * * * * 77. [_Stealing mail matter or forging stamps, etc._, (see 13^o--14^o Vict. Cap. XVII. Sec. 16) _is a felony. Stealing or damaging printed matter, package of merchandise, etc., or enclosing a letter in other mail matter, or obstructing mails is a misdemeanor_.] Sub. sec. 16. To remove with fraudulent intent from any letter, newspaper or other mailable matter, sent by Post, any postage stamp which shall have been affixed thereon, or wilfully, with intent aforesaid remove from any postage stamp which shall have been previously used, any mark which shall have been made thereon at any Post Office, shall be a misdemeanor. * * * * * 81. If any person uses or attempts to use in prepayment of postage on any letter or other mailable matter posted in this Province, any postage stamp which has been before used for a like purpose, such person shall be subject to a penalty of not less than Ten and not exceeding Forty dollars for every such offense, and the letter or other mailable matter on which such stamp has been so improperly used may be detained, or in the discretion of the Postmaster General forwarded to its destination charged with double postage. * * * * * 91. This Act shall come into operation on the first day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight. Although the above Act gives most of the groundwork upon which the Post Office Department of Canada has since been operated, save of course the changes in detail that will be noted in their proper places, yet it seems advisable, in spite of some possible repetition, to quote the larger part of the Instructions sent out to Postmasters in preparation for the impending changes, because of additional details to be found therein. TO ALL POSTMASTERS, AND OTHER PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE POSTAL SERVICE OF CANADA: DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 2. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OTTAWA, 1ST MARCH, 1868. The Post Office Act, passed on the 21st December, 1867, for the regulation of the Postal Service, will come into operation throughout the Dominion on and from the 1st April, 1868. A copy of the Statute, and of the General Regulations founded thereon, will be forwarded to every Postmaster, whether in charge of a regular Post-Office, Way Office or Sub-Office, and to every Railway Mail Clerk; meanwhile the following summary of the principal provisions of the Act, as affecting the organization of the Department, in relation to the several Provinces of the Dominion, the postage rates to be charged from and after the 1st. April, etc., etc., is supplied for the information of Postmasters and other persons employed in the Post Office Service of Canada. ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT. 1. The Superintendence and Management of the Postal Service of Canada is vested in the Post Office Department, at the seat of Government, Ottawa, under the direction of the Postmaster General of Canada. 2. Subject to the directions of the Postmaster General, the general management of the business of the Department will be with the Deputy Postmaster General of Canada. 3. The local Superintendence of Post Office business, and performance of such duties as are assigned to them by the Statute, or entrusted to them from time to time by the Postmaster General, will be confided to the Post Office Inspectors, of whom there are seven, stationed and exercising their powers and functions in the undermentioned Postal Divisions. _Postal Division._ _Post Office Address._ Nova Scotia Halifax, N. S. New Brunswick and the Bay Chaleurs, Coast of Gaspé Frederickton, for the present Province of Quebec, as far West as Three Rivers Quebec Province of Quebec, from Three Rivers Westward Montreal Province of Ontario, as far as Cobourg Kingston Province of Ontario, from Cobourg to Hamilton Toronto Province of Ontario, from Hamilton Westward London */ /# 4. All Postmasters, including Way Office and Sub-Office Keepers, are continued in Office, and all Bonds and Mail Contracts continued in force, subject to the ordinary conditions of such appointments and engagements, and to the future action of the Department. PRINCIPAL RATES OF POSTAGE. LETTERS. 5. On letters passing between any two places within the Dominion of Canada, a uniform rate, (irrespective of distance) of three cents per 1/2 oz., if prepaid; and five cents per 1/2 oz., if posted unpaid. 6. On letters between any place in the Dominion and any place in the United States, 6 cents per 1/2 oz., if prepaid; and 10 cents per 1/2 oz., if posted unpaid. 7. On letters to or from the United Kingdom, in Mails by Canada Packets, to or from Quebec in summer, or Portland in winter; or by Mail Packet to or from Halifax, 12-1/2 cents per 1/2 oz. #/ On do. in Mails via New York Packet 15 cents per 1/2 oz. On letters to Prince Edward Island, if prepaid, 3 " " do if posted unpaid, 5 " " do On letters to Newfoundland, to be in all cases prepaid, 12-1/2 " " do On letters to British Columbia and Vancouver Island, in all cases to be prepaid, 10 " " do On letters to Red River, to be in all cases prepaid, 6 " " do On letters to Red River, to be in all cases prepaid, 6 " " do NEWSPAPER RATES. 8. Newspapers printed and published in Canada may be sent by Post from the office of publication to any place in Canada at the following rates, if paid quarterly in advance, either by the Publisher, at the Post Office where the papers are posted or by the subscriber, at the Post Office where the papers are delivered:-- For a paper published once a week 5 cents per quarter of a year. do twice a week 10 do do three times 15 do do six times 30 do If the above rates are prepaid by the Publisher, the Postmaster receiving payment must be careful to have the papers so prepaid separately put up, and marked, distinctly, as prepaid. When the above rates are not prepaid in advance, by either the Publisher at the Office of posting or by the subscriber at the Office of delivery, the papers are to be charged one cent each on delivery. 9. Canadian Newspapers, addressed from the Office of publication to subscribers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, may be forwarded, on prepayment at the Office in Canada where posted, at the above commuted rates, applicable to such papers within the Dominion. 10. Exchange Papers passing between publishers in Canada, and between publishers in Canada and publishers in the United States, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, are to pass free--one copy of each paper to each publisher. 11. Transient Newspapers include all Newspapers posted in Canada, other than Canada Newspapers sent from the Office of publication, and when addressed to any place within the Dominion, to the United Kingdom, to the United States, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, must be prepaid two cents each by postage stamp. 12. Newspapers coming into Canada will be subject to the following charges on delivery: If from the United Kingdom, by mail packet to Quebec, Halifax or Portland--Free on delivery. By mails viâ the United States (New York), Two cents each. If from the United States, two cents each, to be rated at the Canada Frontier, or exchange Office receiving mails from the United States. If from Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, when received by regular subscribers in Canada from the Office of publication, the ordinary commuted rates applicable to Canada Newspapers. Transient Papers--two cents each. 13. The Canada Postage rates on Newspapers coming or going to the United Kingdom and the United States, will thus be the same as those charged in the United Kingdom and the United States on Newspapers there received from or sent to Canada. 14. Canada News Agents may post to regular subscribers in Canada, British Newspapers free, and United States Newspapers unpaid, such papers in the latter case, must be duly rated two cents each for collection on delivery. PRINTED PAPERS, CIRCULARS, PRICES CURRENT, HAND BILLS, BOOKS, PAMPHLETS. 15. The rate on printed matter of this description posted in Canada, and addressed to any place in Canada, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland or the United States, will be one cent per ounce, to be prepaid by Postage Stamp; and a like rate will be payable on delivery, when received from the United States, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland. PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS. 16. When posted in Canada for any place in Canada, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland or the United States, the rate will be one cent per four ounces. 17. A like rate will be payable on delivery in Canada, when received from the United States, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland. 18. Periodicals weighing less than one ounce per number, when posted in Canada for any place within the Dominion, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland or the United States may, when put up singly, pass for one half cent per number, to be prepaid by Postage Stamp. 19. As the Postage Rates on Periodicals, other than Newspapers, will be payable in advance, and as certain classes of such periodicals, printed and published in Canada, and sent from the office of publication to regular subscribers, have for some time past been exempted from postage where exclusively devoted to the education of youth, to temperance, agriculture and science, or for other reasons, it is ordered, that with respect to periodicals which do now enjoy this privilege or exemption, the exemption shall continue until the expiration of the current year--that is until the 31st December, 1868, and that from the 1st. January, 1869, all such special exemptions and privileges shall cease. PARCEL POST. 20. The rate on Parcels, by Parcel Post, will be 12-1/2 cents per 8 ounces, that is to say:-- On a parcel not exceeding 8 oz 12-1/2 cents Over 8 oz., and not exceeding 1 lb 25 cents Over 1 lb., and not exceeding 24 oz 37-1/2 cents And so on, to the limit of three lbs. BOOK AND NEWSPAPER MANUSCRIPT, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS MATTER. 21. On Book and Newspaper Manuscript (meaning written articles intended for insertion in a newspaper or periodical, and addressed to the Editor or Publisher thereof, for insertion), Printers' Proof Sheets, whether corrected or not, Maps, Prints, Drawings, Engravings, Music, whether printed or written, packages of Seeds, Cuttings, Roots, Scions or Grafts, and Botanical Specimens, the rate will be 1 cent per ounce, when posted for any place in Canada or the United States, and prepaid by Postage Stamp. POSTAGE STAMPS. 22. To enable the Public to prepay conveniently by Postage Stamp the foregoing rates, the following denominations of Postage Stamps for use throughout the Dominion, have been prepared, and will be supplied to Postmasters for sale:--#/ Half Cent Stamps } One cent do } Two cent do } Three cent do } All bearing, as a device, the effigy Six cent do } of Her Majesty. Twelve and a half cent do } Fifteen cent do } 23. The Postage Stamps now in use in the several Provinces may be accepted, as at present, in prepayment of letters, etc., for a reasonable time after the 1st of April; but from and after that date all issues and sales to the public will be of the new denomination. FRANKING AND FREE MATTER. The following matter is exempt from Canadian Postage:-- 24. All letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by the Governor of Canada. 25. All letters or other mailable matter addressed to or sent by any Department of the Government, at the seat of Government at Ottawa, under such regulations as may from time to time be made by the Governor in Council. 26. All letters and other mailable matter addressed to or sent by the Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Senate or of the House of Commons, or to or by any Member of either House, at the Seat of Government, during any Session of Parliament--or addressed to any of the Members or Officers in this section mentioned at the Seat of Government as aforesaid, during the ten days next before the meeting of Parliament. 27. All public documents and printed papers sent by the Speaker or Chief Clerk of the Senate or of the House of Commons to any Member of either House during the recess of Parliament. 28. All papers printed by order of either House sent by Members of either House during the recess of Parliament. 29. Petitions and Addresses to either of the Provincial Legislatures of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, or to any branch thereof; and votes, proceedings and other papers, printed by order of any such Legislature, or any branch thereof, during any Session thereof,--provided such petitions and addresses, votes, proceedings and other papers, are sent without covers, or in covers open at the ends or sides, and contain no Letter or written communication to serve the purpose of a Letter. 30. Letters and other mailable matter (except that provided for as above) addressed to or sent by the Provincial Governments or Legislatures of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, will be liable to the ordinary rates of Postage. 31. Public documents and printed papers sent under the foregoing clauses should bear, as part of the address, the bona fide superscription of the Speaker, Chief Clerk, or Officer specially deputed for this purpose to act for those functionaries, or of the Member sending the same. 32. The privilege of free transmission, as above described, has effect only as respects Canada Postage rates. 33. All letters and other mailable matter to and from the Postmaster General and the Deputy Postmaster General, and all Official communications to and from the Post Office Department, and to and from the Post Office Inspectors, are to pass free of Canadian Postage. 34. All letters and communications on the business of the Post Office Department, intended for the Post Office Department at Ottawa, should be invariably addressed to "The Postmaster General." The branch of the Department for which the letter or communication is intended should be written on the left hand upper corner of the letter, thus:-- "For Accountant" "For Secretary" [etc.] as the case may be, but the main direction must be to the Postmaster General, or Deputy Postmaster General. 35. All letters containing a remittance on account of the Public Revenue sent by any Postmaster in Canada to a Bank or Bank Agency; and all remittances or acknowledgements sent by a Bank or Bank agency, on account of Public Revenue, to any Postmaster in Canada, are to pass free through the Post, as respects both postage and registration charge. 36. No change is made in the Way or Sub-Office system of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Quebec or Ontario. 37. No change is made in the Money Order System. 38. A system of Post Office Savings Banks will be instituted on the 1st. April, and will be extended as quickly as practicable to all the principal cities, towns and places throughout the Dominion. A. CAMPBELL, _Postmaster General_. CHAPTER VIII THE ISSUE OF 1868 A glance at the new regulations quoted in the last chapter will show that there is no five or seventeen cent prepaid rate, and but one at ten cents--to British Columbia and Vancouver Island; as a result these three denominations are not found in the new set of Dominion postage stamps. On the other hand the half cent transient newspaper rate, the three cent letter rate, with its double at six cents, and the new British Packet rate via New York of fifteen instead of seventeen cents, necessitated these four additional denominations in the new series. The stamps themselves are as usual line engraved on steel, and present more "continuity of design" throughout the set than before. The main feature of this design is a circular medallion bearing a diademed profile portrait of Queen Victoria to right, on a horizontally lined ground. Arched above this medallion are the words CANADA POSTAGE, and beneath it the value, both in words and Arabic numerals, a slightly different arrangement occurring on each denomination. Foliations of acanthus pattern fill in the remainder of the design, making the outline somewhat irregular. The stamps are fairly large, averaging 20 � 24 mm. in size, except the half cent, which is considerably smaller, being only 17 � 21 mm. They will be found illustrated as Nos. 17, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23 and 24 on Plate I. The stamps were printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten, and by the imprint we find they were the product of a new concern. This imprint appears in colorless capitals on a narrow strip of color with bossed ends, and reads BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. MONTREAL & OTTAWA. This strip is framed by a very thin parallel line, its entire width being but one millimeter, while its length is about 51 mm. It occurs but once on a side, being placed against the middle two stamps (numbers 5 and 6) of each row at a distance of about 3 mm. (see illustration 107 on Plate IX.) The inscription reads up on the left and down on the right, as before, but the bottom one is now upright, instead of being reversed. In the case of the half cent stamp at least, we find an additional marginal imprint over the second and third stamps of the top row. This consists of the words HALF CENT, in shaded Roman capitals 4 mm. high, the whole being about 40 mm. long, (illustration 119 on Plate XI). Presumably the same thing, varied for each denomination, occurs on other values of the series, as we find it does on the succeeding issue; but a strip from the top of a sheet of the 15 cent stamps proves that it was lacking on that value at least. The normal colors of the stamps of this series are approximately:--1/2 cent, black; 1 cent, brown red; 2 cents, green; 3 cents, deep red; 6 cents, dark brown; 12-1/2 cents, deep blue; 15 cents, mauve. We say approximately, since there is considerable variation as may be noted by a glance at the Reference List. Particularly is this the case with the 15 cent stamp. The earliest tint is the one we have noted--mauve; but the stamp was in practically continuous use down to 1900, and the gamut of shades and colors through which it passed in that time is almost equal to the 10 cent stamp of the preceding issue. Of the approximate dates of issue of some of the more pronounced shades of the 15 cent stamp it is possible to give an idea through the chronicles of various contemporary magazines which noted them. The original stamp we know was in a mauve tint, and was so chronicled in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for May 1868 (VI: 71). The _American Journal of Philately_ for April 20, 1868, (I:18) describes it as "lilac". The _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ in December, 1874 (XII: 182) says it has "just appeared in a dull deep mauve." Next M. Moens notes that it has become gray lilac, in _Le Timbre-poste_ for March, 1877. Again in the issue for June, 1880, he records it in bright violet, while in May, 1881, it is described as a dark slate color (_ardoise foncé_). In the July, 1888, issue of the _Halifax Philatelist_ the color is said to have reverted to the mauve tint of the first printings except that it was "more bluish", and once more in May, 1890, the _Dominion Philatelist_ states that "The Canada 15c. has again changed color. It is now bright violet." Finally, in _Mekeel's Weekly_ for March 12, 1896, under "Canadian Notes", we read that "quite a large stock is still on hand in the P.O. Department, but no more are being printed. What are going out now are the remainders of various batches. They are coming in all shades; some being almost the first issue colors." It remains to note two additions to this series. The first was a change in color:--the 1 cent and 3 cent stamps were quite naturally found to be too nearly alike in shade to properly differentiate them in the rush of post office business. Hence the 1 cent was changed to an orange yellow, appearing in its new dress in 1809. The exact date seems not to be available, but we find it first noted in _The Philatelist_ for April 1, 1809, in these words:--"The 1 cent and 3 c. of this colony have been hitherto almost identical in hue; that anomaly is now rectified by the recent emission of the former value in bright orange." In the "Summary for the year 1809", the same paper credits the issue to January, 1869.[86] [86] =The Philatelist=. IV: 42. The second addition was a 5 cent stamp, which is a bit of an anomaly inasmuch as it is a companion in size and design to the 1868 series, but was issued on October 1, 1875, after the series in reduced size, begun in 1870, had been practically completed. The explanation is simple: the die of this large 5 cent stamp had been engraved in 1867 with the other values of the first Dominion series,[87] but as there were no rates requiring such a denomination in the set, it was not issued. When in 1875 the need for a 3 cent value arose, the unused die was employed to make a plate for temporary use, until a new die conforming in size and design with the small stamps could be prepared. The large 5 cent stamp is thus really in the nature of a provisional, for its smaller and permanent successor followed it in about four months. [87] In the first series of the =American Journal of Philately= for June 1, 1868 (I: 25) we read: "The Canadian Government have had a 5 cent stamp prepared, engraved of the same type as the present set, the most noticeable difference being the circle round the head which is corded. The specimen sent us is printed in brown on India paper, bearing the Company's imprint underneath." The statement is often made that the 5 cent denomination was required because of Canada's entry into the Universal Postal Union, which was instituted on July 1, 1875. The statement has elements of truth in it, inasmuch as the indirect results of Canada's application produced the 5 cent rate which required the new stamp; but the statement is not exact because Canada was not actually admitted to the Postal Union until three years later. The Postmaster General's Reports tell the story. The Report for 30th June, 1875 says:-- A treaty for the formation of a General Postal Union, and for the adoption of uniform postage rates and regulations for International correspondence, was arranged and signed at Berne, Switzerland, in October, 1874, by the representatives of the Post Offices of the chief Nations of the world. This agreement took effect between all the countries which were directly parties to the Treaty, in July last. The Treaty did not include the British Possessions beyond the sea, but Canada has, with the concurrence of the Imperial Government, applied for admission as a member of this Postal Union. Meanwhile the letter rate of postage between Canada and the United Kingdom has, by arrangement with the Imperial Post Office, been reduced to the International rate of 2-1/2 pence sterling--5 cents currency, established by the Union regulations; and this reduction has also been made applicable to correspondence passing by way of New York, making the rate between Canada and the United Kingdom uniform at 5 cents by whatever route conveyed. From the Report of 30th June, 1876 we find that the application of Canada for admission to the Universal Postal Union was not successful owing to the opposition of France. Because of differences with Great Britain in regard to admitting Colonies beyond the seas at the same rates as European countries, British India and the French Colonies had been admitted with a reduced rate of 6 pence per half ounce letter, so as to include cost of sea transit. France contended that Canada should be kept to the same terms. From the Report of 30th June, 1877 we learn that Canada by treaty had obtained the Postal Union rate of 5 cents with Germany, including Prussia, Saxony, Hanover, Bavaria, Baden and Wurtemberg. The letter rate with Newfoundland had also been reduced from 6 cents to 5 cents per half ounce. The Report for 30th June, 1878 brings matters to fruition:-- At the meeting of the International Postal Congress, which, under the provisions of the Postal Treaty of Berne, concluded in October, 1874, took place at Paris in May, 1878, Canada was admitted to be a member of the General Postal Union from the 1st July, 1878, and in consequence the rate of letter postage between Canada and all Europe became one uniform charge of 5 cents per half ounce. Newspapers and other printed matter, and samples and patterns of merchandise also became subject to uniform postage rates and regulations for all destinations in Europe. Existing postal arrangements between the United States and Canada were, by mutual agreement, allowed to remain undisturbed by the entry of Canada into the Union, under a provision of the General Postal Union Treaty applicable to such a case. The last remark refers to the treaty which took effect on 1st February, 1875, by which letters posted in Canada or the United States could be sent to the other country at the single domestic rate of three cents--of which more later. This large 5 cent stamp was of course line engraved like the rest of the series, and issued in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. The sheet bore four marginal imprints, arranged as before, but of a slightly different type from the 1868 issue. This new imprint is in capitals and lower case letters on a colored strip 56 mm. long and 2-1/2 mm. wide, with a border of pearls, and reads: "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal." Doubtless the words "FIVE CENTS" in shaded Roman capitals would be found over the second and third stamps of the top row if one were fortunate enough to possess this portion of a sheet. The stamp is illustrated as No. 21 on Plate I, and the marginal imprint is of the type shown in illustration No. 118 on plate XI. The normal color of this 5 cent stamp is an olive gray, and it is perforated 12, as are all the other values of the set. The paper upon which the series of 1868 was printed was in general an ordinary white wove variety which varied considerably from a very thin, almost pelure quality to a quite hard and thick variety. Laid paper also makes its appearance again in this set. In Messrs. Corwin and King's article[88] we read:--"The 3 cents on laid paper was first brought to attention in the _Philatelic Record_ for March, 1882,[89] wherein it was stated that Mr. Tapling had a copy in his collection. The 1 cent was first mentioned in the _National Philatelist_ for January, 1883, by Mr. Corwin, its discoverer, in these words: 'Some time since I saw noted in the _Philatelic Record_ the existence of a 3 cent Canada stamp, emission of 1868, on laid paper. In looking through my Canadian varieties, after reading this note, I discovered also a copy of the one cent red, same emission, on laid paper'". The 1 cent yellow is likewise catalogued by the London Society,[90] but the following remark is added: "The One Cent, yellow, on laid paper, is not known to the Society. It is taken from _The Halifax Philatelist_ for July, 1888, page 74." Concerning this Messrs. Corwin and King state:[91] "This was inserted in the _Halifax Philatelist_ in error; so far as we know this stamp does not exist. The original sin of chronicling this stamp, however, rests with M. Moens, for in the _Philatelic Record_ for January, 1883, the fact is stated that M. Moens states that he knows of the existence of the 1c. orange on laid paper." Mr. Charles Lathrop Pack adds his testimony against this quondam stamp:[92] "I do not believe that the 1c, yellow, exists on laid paper, None of the large collectors of Canada or of this country have seen it, and I believe there is no real authority for listing it." There was none: and now that we have tracked it down, the laugh seems to be on the _Philatelic Record_, and M. Moens is absolved from his "original sin." In _Le Timbre-Poste_ for January, 1883, under the heading CANADA we read: "Semblable au 3 cents, 1868, sur papier _vergé_ blanc, il existe: 1 cent, brun-orange." This was the information quoted in the _Philatelic Record_,[93] but the translator evidently mistook the proper rendering of the French color name as _orange-brown_, and translated it simply _orange_, whence the error spread. We can therefore dispose quite effectually of the question and of the phantom stamp in the same breath. [88] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, II: 57. [89] This is an error, for in =Le Timbre-Poste= for November, 1877 (XV: 841). M. Moens says: "M. Fouré nous fait remarquer que le 3 cents [1868] a été imprimé exceptionnellement sur papier vergé." [90] =North American Colonies of Great Britain=, page 16. [91] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, II: 57. [92] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 144. [93] =Philatelic Record=. IV: 213. Concerning the laid paper stamps Messrs. Corwin and King say they "must have been among the first issued, as we have seen a copy of the 1 cent, red-brown, postmarked November 27, 1868."[94] That this must have been the case is proved by the existence of the 1 cent in brown-red and not in yellow, as would have been the case if the paper were used in 1869 or thereafter. _Mekeel's Weekly_[95] also records the 3 cent on a cover bearing date of August 31, 1868. [94] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, II: 57. [95] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, IX: 64. The 15 cent stamp was reported in the _American Journal of Philately_ for October, 1892, in these words: "Mr. F. de Coppet has shown us a 15 c. of the 1868 issue on thin paper, horizontally laid," and the stamp is described as "violet". We have not seen a copy, but if it was in the early "mauve" tint it probably was a companion of the 1 cent and 3 cents, the latter being found on both thick and thin horizontally laid paper according to Messrs. Corwin and King's lists. If the "violet" was of the gray shades, it belonged to a later printing and not with the early stamps. Mr. Pack lists another variety still[96]: "I also have a copy of the 15 c. on distinctly soft ribbed paper." This stamp is in the lilac gray shade and therefore belongs to later printings as we shall see, for this ribbed paper is found in all values of the small stamps of the succeeding issue. [96] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 144. One other variety of paper needs our attention, and that is the watermarked paper. The fact of its use was early known to collectors, for in _The Philatelist_ for February, 1870, in an article on "British North America" by W. Dudley Atlee, after the "Issue for Confederation" is the following "Note.--There is also in the last series of adhesives a Three Cent printed on paper _watermarked_ with maker's name; these were most probably issued after the thin paper and before the usual stout paper emissions." Mr. H. F. Ketcheson, commenting on the above in 1889,[97] remarks: "the one cent red also appears on same paper, as I have two specimens of each in my possession." The _Halifax Philatelist,_[98] in its contemporary issue, also happened to note the discovery of two more values: "Mr. F. C. Kaye has shown us the 2 cent and 6 cent of the 1868 issue, with large watermarked letters of the same type as those in the 1 cent and 3 cent." The 12-1/2 and 15 cent were later found, but the 1/2 cent and 1 cent yellow have never been discovered. This latter fact doubtless determines the period when the paper was used, for, like the laid paper, if employed in 1869 or later we should find the 1 cent yellow instead of brown red printed on it. On the other hand, it could not have been used when the first consignments were being printed, probably early in 1868, or the 1/2 cent would be included in the series. This is determined by the fact that the first supply of the 1/2 cent lasted until the fiscal year of 1871-2, before any further printings were made. The watermarked paper must therefore have been used sometime during the course of the year 1868, probably the middle, when supplies of all values except the 1/2 cent were printed. [97] =Dominion Philatelist=, I: 5. [98] =Halifax Philatelist=, III: 8. For the determination of the character of the watermark we are indebted to Mr. John N. Luff, whose thoroughness and acumen when delving into a philatelic problem are proverbial. The result of his study was published in 1895[99] and we take the following extracts from his interesting paper:-- [99] =American Journal of Philately=, VIII: 77. Most philatelic writers, when treating of the Canadian issue of 1868-75, give small space to the series watermarked with large letters. Most of them make a few speculative remarks as to the probable watermark and then drop the subject. So far as I am aware, no one has taken the trouble to ascertain what the watermark actually is. The London Society in the _North American Colonies of Great Britain_ says: "Some of the stamps on wove paper have been catalogued with a watermark, consisting of various letters. It is probable that these letters are portions of the name of the papermaker, which most likely exists in the margin of the sheets." Other writers are equally superficial. The _Catalogue for Advanced Collectors_ says: "Although we catalogue as varieties the stamps on watermarked paper, it is very possible that these form a separate issue. It may have happened that the printers, having-run short of the regular paper, replaced it by some similar paper that they had in stock, bearing this watermark".... In the _Stamps of British North America_, by Messrs. C. B. Corwin and Donald A. King (_Metropolitan Philatelist_, June 1891), this watermark is given more attention. The possibility that it is the words "Canada Postage" or "Canada Post Office Department" is discussed and rejected, because the authors have found certain letters and pairs of letters which do not occur in these words. It has seemed to me that it would be of interest, probably of value, to know exactly what this watermark is. I have therefore given the matter considerable study, and now have the pleasure of presenting the result to your readers. The extensive stock of the Scott Stamp & Coin Co., being placed at my disposal, together with a quantity of stamps from private sources ... I believe I have correctly reconstructed the watermark. As the broadest letter measures only 12 mm., and the stamps are about 23mm. from center to center of perforations, there are usually parts of two or three letters on each stamp. I have found a large number of single letters, pairs, portions of three letters, and in one instance, a pair and parts of two letters. Of many combinations I have found several examples. I have also found quite a number of stamps showing parts of two rows of letters, one above the other. Taking these in sequence we reconstruct the watermark [Illustration: E. & G. BOTHWELL CLUTHA MILLS] The reader will please bear in mind, that when the stamps are viewed from the back, the letters read from right to left (at least when the sheets were placed normally in the press) as is usual with the Crown and CC, CA and other watermarks. The letters are plain double lined capitals, except the third in the first line, C, which is more fancy, having a decided hook at the end of the lower curve and the upper curve ending in a point, instead of being cut off squarely, as in the case of the other letters. The E and C are followed by periods 2-1/2 mm. square. The initial capitals E, C and B are 13 mm. high, the other letters 12-1/2 mm. The upper row is about 140 mm. long, the lower about 122 mm., and the distance between the rows 11-1/2 mm. The watermark will thus fall on twelve stamps in each sheet of one hundred. But it cannot be argued from this that the stamps with watermark are only eight times as rare as those without, as we must take into consideration the proportionately large number of sheets on ordinary unwatermarked paper. The sheets were apparently placed on the press without much care, as the letters are frequently found reversed and inverted. I have not however found any placed vertically, nor have I found any other letters than the above.... As to the position of the watermark in the sheets, I believe it to be central. Its height, 37 mm., is great for a marginal watermark, and the fact that none of the letters have been found vertically, as is so frequently the case with marginal watermarks, is also in favor of a central location. We might also expect to find stamps on watermarked paper showing, as is not uncommon, the imprint of the contractors above or below, if the watermark were marginal. I, at least, have found none. Mr. Luff considers that the watermarked stamps "are on an unofficial paper used temporarily," which is without doubt the case, at least as far as the temporary nature goes. He says further: "Compared with the large number without watermark, they are sufficiently scarce to indicate a provisional use of the paper and at the same time there are enough of them to show that a considerable number of sheets were printed." For other varieties in this series we have the 1/2 cent on "bluish-white wove paper", listed by M. Moens in the sixth edition of his catalogue. Messrs. Corwin and King say this "corresponds to our grayish paper, the shade sometimes being quite intense." But they list the entire series on "thin, soft, grayish wove paper", as well as the 1/2 cent and 1 cent brown-red on "pelure grayish paper". It may be that imperfect wiping of the plates had left an extra grayish tint upon the paper of the specimen that Moens singled out for cataloguing, just as occurred in the case of most values of the Post Office Department stamps of the United States. Messrs. Corwin and King[100] give an extremely lengthy reference list of this issue on no less than _seventeen_ varieties of paper, with the remark that, "every variety we mention is distinct from any other", but, with Major Evans, we must remark that "we confess we are unable to follow our friend Mr. King through all the intricacies of these varieties of paper ... but the differences are, perhaps, more real than is indicted in the descriptions." On inspection the "seventeen varieties" seem to combine themselves into I: laid paper, of thick and thin qualities; II: watermarked paper; III: yellowish wove paper, very thin to very thick; and IV: grayish wove paper, from pelure to very thick. In both of the wove papers are found the differences due to the process of manufacture, the even texture of the plain wove variety and the mottled texture of the so-called "wire-wove" variety. [100] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, II: 55 and =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 236. The paper used for this issue is responsible for variations in the size of the stamps similar in character and origin to those we have already thoroughly discussed in connection with the 7-1/2 and 10 pence stamps of 1855-7. The design of the series is not calculated to render these variations so apparent as in the former case, but the extreme variations we have found have been carefully noted and are presented in the following list. It will be seen that the variation is confined to a half millimeter in each dimension. 1/2 cent, 16-3/4 � 21-1/2 mm. 17 � 21 mm. 1 cent, 19-1/2 � 24-1/2 mm. 20 � 24 mm. 2 cents, 19-1/2 � 24-1/2 mm. 20 � 24 mm. 3 cents, 19-1/2 � 24-1/2 mm. 20 � 24 mm. 5 cents, 19 � 24-1/2 mm. ? ? 6 cents, 20 � 24-1/2 mm. 20-1/2 � 24 mm. 12-1/2 cents, 19-1/2 � 24-1/2 mm. 20 � 24 mm. 15 cents, 19-3/4 � 24-1/2 mm. 20 � 24 mm. It is also stated that these stamps exist perforated 11-1/2 � 12,[101] as well as the usual 12 all around. As the perforation was done by guillotine machines, this would apparently indicate a machine of 11-1/2 gauge used for the vertical perforations, and we should expect to find some stamps at least perforated 12 � 11-1/2, if not 11-1/2 all around. Such do not seem to have been reported and we have no further information concerning the variety mentioned. [101] =Monthly Journal=, IX: 125. For imperforate stamps in this series we find the 1 cent, yellow, and the 15 cents in a peculiar shade of brown violet. The former is known only in cancelled condition, we believe, but we are able to illustrate an unused block of four of the latter as No. 107 on Plate IX. The only case of the use of a split stamp in this issue that we have to record is of the 6 cent, cut diagonally and used for the ordinary 3 cent rate on a letter posted at "Annapolis, N. S. JY 2,1869." While having no more authorization than any other of the occasional Canadian "splits," yet this cover is particularly interesting because of its hailing from Nova Scotia, where split stamps had been used and recognized for their fractional values when the local issue was employed. An illustration of this cover will be found as No. 98 on Plate VIII. Concerning the quantities issued of the various denominations in this series we cannot be quite as exact as in some of the previous cases. No distinction was made between the various issues in the tables of amounts received from the manufacturers, provided the denomination was the same. In the case of the 1/2, 3, 6 and 15 cent stamps, which were new values, the quantities given in the Report for 1868 can be used, but with the 1, 2 and 12-1/2 cent stamps the last deliveries of the 1859 series and the first of the 1868 series are lumped together. We have already made a tentative division of the receipts for these latter values,[102] however, which we think is safe enough to use for our purposes. It must be recognized that we are approaching conditions in the business of the Post Office where the quantity of stamps used, particularly if they be of low value and are in service for a number of years, mounts to such an enormous total that the actual figures representing the numbers issued have practically no philatelic value. While interesting, therefore, the totals shown below may be "out" by several per cent without appreciably altering their usefulness--or lack of it. [102] See page 88. With these considerations as a basis, we can lay out the series up to certain limits as follows:-- RECEIVED FROM MANUFACTURERS. 1/2c. 1c. 2c. 3c. 30th June, 1868 1,500,000 2,000,000(?) 2,000,000(?) 6,000,000 " " 1869 ... 9,250,000 4,000,000 12,000,000 " " 1870 ... 2,300,000 1,300,000 11,300,000 " " 1871 ... ... 1,800,000 ... " " 1872 500,000 ... 3,200,000 ... " " 1873-82 4,756,700 ... ... ... " " 1876-96 ... ... ... ... --------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Totals 6,756,700 13,550,000 12,300,000 29,300,000 6c. 12-1/2c. 15c. 30th June, 1868 2,000,000 500,000(?) 212,500 " " 1869 2,000,000 1,000,000 600,000 " " 1870 2,230,000 300,000 ... " " 1871 3,070,000 734,000 ... " " 1872 2,325,000 ... ... " " 1873-82 ... ... ... " " 1876-96 ... ... 1,765,400 ---------- --------- --------- Totals 11,625,000 2,534,000 2,577,900 The above table shows that the first deliveries of the 1/2 cent were sufficient to last until 1872; from that time there were yearly deliveries approximating a half million up to the issue of the miniature 1/2 cent in 1882. The figures for that year doubtless included a large quantity of this latter stamp, so we can safely approximate the quantity of the 1/2 cent of 1868 issued as 6-1/2 millions. The large 1 cent stamp was superseded about March 1870, so the above figures may very likely be reduced by say two millions in 1870, leaving 11-1/2 millions of the large stamps, but in both brown-red and yellow. A large part of the 1868-9 deliveries must have been of the brown-red stamp, however, as the yellow one did not appear until January 1869, and from the catalog prices the former would seem to be twice as common as the latter. The large 3 cent was also superseded about January 1870, so that a considerable portion of the deliveries of 1869-70 were doubtless due its successor. Some 20 millions or more can without doubt be credited to the 1868 stamp, nevertheless. The 2 cent and 6 cent were both superseded early in 1872, so their totals can be reduced probably to approximately 10-11 millions for the former and perhaps 10 millions of the latter. With the 12-1/2 and 15 cent stamps we find no successors, but we do find that none of the former was delivered after 1871, so that our total of 2-1/2 millions is correct, barring our first approximation. From the lists of "Issues to Postmasters" it is evident that the stamp was regularly used, but in decreasing quantities, down to 1888, when the last figures "1100" appear. A summing up of these issues to postmasters (again allowing for the first approximation) gives us a total of 1,944,100 issued; but of these there were 44,086 returned by the postmasters as unfit for use, the last return (84 copies) being received in 1893. The result for the 12-1/2 cent stamp is therefore approximately 1,900,000 issued and used, and some 634,000 probably destroyed. The 15 cent stamp, after the amount received in the 1869 account, needed no further supplies until the 1875 account, although it was issued to postmasters each year. The changes in rates in 1875 made it again useful as a multiple of the 5 cent stamp and in connection with registration. From that time until 1893 it was regularly printed and delivered, but this was evidently the end of its usefulness, as the only receipt thereafter was of 400 in 1896--undoubtedly a small remainder which the engravers wanted to get rid of. It was regularly issued to postmasters, however, up to 1900, the last amount, 21,350 appearing in that year's accounts, though 70 copies were turned in for destruction in 1901. Some 31,000 all told were returned as unfit for use, but the rest were probably all used in the course of business. Of the large 5 cent stamp we can only judge as with the preceding. The Report for 1876 includes the deliveries of both large and small stamps, the total being 2 millions. As succeeding deliveries of the small stamp averaged a million or more for several years thereafter, it is highly probable that the above total was evenly divided and that the large 5 cent was at least printed to the number of a million copies. * * * * * Turning now to the Postmaster General's Reports for the several years during which the large sized stamps were the general issue, we find in the _First Report of the Dominion of Canada, for the Year ending 30th June, 1868,_ the following remarks concerning the new order:-- The Post Office Laws and Regulations of the several Provinces of the Dominion, in force at the date of the Union, remained in operation under the authority of the Union Act until superseded by the statute known as "_The Post Office Act 1867_", passed in the first session of the Dominion Parliament, for the regulation of the Postal Service, and which general Act took effect from the 1st. April, 1868. By this Act a uniform system of Post Office organization was provided for, the ordinary rate of domestic letter postage was reduced from five cents to three cents per half ounce, and the charge on letters sent to and received from the United States was at the same time lowered from ten to six cents per half ounce weight (the latter being the combination of the three cent letter rates of both Countries), and lastly, low rates of postage charge were established for the conveyance of newspapers, periodicals, printed papers, parcels and other miscellaneous matter by Post. In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick the additional newspaper postage collected under the new Statute, applying equal charges on newspaper matter throughout the Dominion, approximately balanced the loss in the reduction of the letter rates, in fact the collections in Nova Scotia in the first fiscal year after the change in the postage rates, shew a marked improvement on the revenue of the previous year, and there has been a material increase in the number of letters passing by Post in the Maritime Provinces, as well as in Ontario and Quebec. * * * * * Postage stamps of denominations corresponding to the reduced rates of postage authorized by the Post Office Act of 1867, were prepared by the British American Bank Note Co. at Ottawa, and distributed by the Department throughout the Dominion for use on the 1st. April. 1868, from which date the new rates of postage came into operation. Some statistics are also given which it will not be out of place to quote here for future comparison. There were 87 new Post Offices established in Ontario and Quebec during the [fiscal] year and 74 Post Offices and Way Offices in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. On the 1st January, 1869, there were 3638 Post Offices and Way Offices in the Dominion, and also:-- _Miles of_ _Letters_ _Revenue_ _Post Route_ _Annually_ (_fiscal year_) Ontario & Quebec 18,716 14,750,000 $906,663.04 New Brunswick 3,379 1,350,000 53,827.80 Nova Scotia 5,579 2,000,000 64,219.77 ------ ---------- ------------ Totals 27,674 18,100,000 1,024,710.61 The total correspondence passing between the United States and Canada is given as $319,352.53, but with no returns from the Maritime Provinces. The next year's Report, dated 30th June, 1869, gives the revenue as $973,056, a drop of fifty thousand dollars, due to its being the first complete year since the reduction of the postage rates. The total correspondence with the United States is also given as $227,699.13, the drop having come through the reduction to a 6 cent rate, although the Maritime Provinces were included this time. The Report also notes that "From 1st January, 1870, the Postal rate to the United Kingdom was reduced from 12-1/2 to 6 cents per 1/2 ounce letter." The report for 1870 states that the Postal Packet rate was reduced on the 1st January, 1870, but does not give the new rate. It is also said that "measures will be taken to organize the whole postal system of the new Province of Manitoba on the same footing as the rest of Canada, from an early date." The Province of Manitoba, as we have already noted, was admitted to full privileges in the Dominion on July 15, 1870, and the former Colony of British Columbia came in on July 20, 1871. The Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1871 says of these:-- The rates of postage have been made uniform in both newly confederated Provinces with those prevailing in the older sections, as well in respect to correspondence passing between British Columbia and Manitoba, and the rest of the Dominion, as in regard to the transmissions within each of the said Provinces. Arrangements have been made with the Post Office of the United States, under which mails to and from British Columbia pass in closed bags (through the United States mails) between Windsor (Ontario) and Victoria (British Columbia), via San Francisco, for the conveyance of which through the United States, a transit rate is paid by the Dominion to the United States Post Office, as in the case of similar closed mails passing to and from Manitoba. The report for 30th June 1872 states that:-- Arrangements between Canada and Newfoundland came into effect from 1st. November, 1872, establishing a uniform prepaid rate of 6 cents per 1/2 ounce on letters passing between any Post Office in the Dominion and any Post Office in Newfoundland, instead of 12-1/2 cents as before, and providing that Newspapers, Books, printed matter and post cards shall be prepaid at ordinary Canadian rates and vice versâ. The postal revenue for the year was $1,193,062, it being the first year that the postal business of British Columbia and Manitoba was included. The former was credited with 38 Post Offices and the latter with 27 Post Offices. It will be remembered that Prince Edward Island joined the Dominion on July 1, 1873, and the Report of that year credits the former Colony with 180 Post Offices. The report of 30th June, 1874, states that "The System of free-delivery by letter-carriers in the principal cities, of letters and papers coming by mail has been commenced at Montreal and Toronto." This was under the authority of section 36 of _The Post Office Act_ 1867 which we have already quoted.[103] The text of a new postal treaty between Canada and the United States is given from which we make the following excerpts:-- [103] See page 98. POSTAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE DOMINION OF CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES. ART. I. Correspondence of every kind, written and printed, ... [_mailed in each country and addressed to the other_], shall be fully prepaid at the domestic postage rates of the country of origin, and the country of destination will receive, forward and deliver the same free of charge. ART. II. Each country will transport the domestic mails of the other by its ordinary mail routes in closed pouches through its territory, free of charge. ART. III. [_Patterns and samples, weighing not over 8 oz., unsealed, 10 cents each, prepayment obligatory._] ART. IV. [_No further accounts to be kept between the two countries._] ART. VIII. The existing arrangements for the exchange of registered letters between the two countries shall continue in full force; but the registration fee on registered letters sent from the United States to Canada shall be the same as the registration fee charged in the United States for domestic registered letters. ART. IX. This arrangement, except so far as it relates to letter postage, shall take effect from the first of January, 1875. The reduced letter rate will come into operation on the first of February, 1875.... Done in duplicate and signed at Ottawa the 27th day of January, 1875. From the above it is seen that the double domestic postage rate on letters between the two countries, and the keeping of accounts of the total correspondence passing through the exchange offices, were done away with on the 1st February, 1875, and since that date all such mail matter has passed freely between the two countries at the ordinary domestic rates of each. The figures given in this Report were the last for the total correspondence between Canada and the United States, and were presumably for the seven months from 1st July, 1874, to 1st February, 1875: they were $478,516.91, which would represent some eight million letters were that the only class included, and all of them single letters; this would be at the rate of some thirteen million letters per year, a very respectable figure for the intercommunication of the two countries. Because of further postal changes which came in 1875 and also the fact that a new type of stamp had gradually been replacing the large sized first issue of the Dominion during the last few years, we will close this chapter with the 1874 Report. CHAPTER IX THE SMALL "CENTS" ISSUE, 1870-82 In the _American Journal of Philately_ for August 20, 1869 we find the following: "Canada is shortly to have a new set of stamps. Taking lessons in economy from our own country, it seems they are about altering their stamps to make them smaller, so as to save paper. The head will still remain exactly the same as now, but the frame and margin around the head will be considerably less." The 1869 set of the United States was then in use, and it may well be that the smaller sized stamps appealed to the authorities in comparison with their own rather large sized productions, even though their suggested parsimony had nothing to do with it. The current 1/2 cent stamp was taken as the model, and the other values reduced in size to correspond with it, while keeping their former colors. The main features of the designs were therefore retained. No special announcement of the new series was made that we have been able to discover, and they were only introduced, apparently, as stocks of the large sized stamps on hand were used up. We find the first record of the change in the _American Journal of Philately_ for February 20, 1870: "The stamps of the New Dominion have now made their appearance, altered as described by us last August." Though not specified, this referred to the 3 cent stamp, and its actual issue probably took place in January. _The Philatelist_ chronicles it in the issue of March 1, 1870, as being of "the same colour and general description as before". [Illustration No. 28 on Plate II.] The next value to appear was the 1 cent, which was noted in the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ for April 1, 1870; it was probably issued, therefore, some time in March, for the _American Journal of Philately_ records it in its issue of April 20, 1870. [Illustration No. 25 on Plate II.] Two years then elapsed before further additions were made, and lent some color to the report in several European journals that the cause of the new issue was the destruction by fire in Montreal of the plates of the 1 cent and 3 cent of 1868, and that the other values of the set would remain as before. The _American Journal of Philately_ learned, however, that only the press room of the Bank Note Co. was damaged, and that the plates were intact. At last the 6 cent in reduced size made its appearance and was chronicled in the _American Journal of Philately_ for February, 1872, to be followed in the March issue by the announcement of the 2 cent. The former value must therefore have been issued in January and the latter in February. [Illustrations Nos. 30 and 26 on Plate II.] Again in the _American Journal of Philately_ for November 20, 1874, we find it "reported" that Canada "has issued a 10c. rose", and the next issue says it "is printed in a peculiar pale rose, we can not call to mind any other stamp of this particular tint." The actual issue therefore, was probably about November 1, 1874. Just what called forth this new value in the Dominion series does not appear, unless it be the section in the Postal Treaty between Canada and the United States which fixed the rate on patterns and samples at 10 cents for not over 8 oz., with prepayment obligatory.[104] This rate did not go into effect, however, until January 1, 1875. Of course as a multiple of the 5 cent rates which came into force on October 1, 1875, the new 10 cent stamp was very useful, but that was nearly a year subsequent to its issue. The new stamp is illustrated as No. 32 on Plate II. [104] See page 121. The next of the series to make its appearance was the 5 cent, which was noted in the _American Journal of Philately_ for February 20, 1876 as having "just been issued." [Illustration No. 29 on Plate II.] This doubtless means about the 1st February, so that its large sized predecessor had only about four months of life. There were now left in the large sized stamps only the 12-1/2 and 15 cents. In its issue for May, 1872, the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ quoted from the _Canadian Philatelist_ as follows:--"It is unlikely that the 12-1/2 c. small size will be issued, as the large ones are very little used, and can now be bought at the post-office at 12 cents." This last statement is rather surprising. Nevertheless, it was announced in the _American Journal of Philately_ for October, 1879 that "Canada will shortly issue the 12-1/2 and 15c. values of postals in small size, to correspond with the others of the series." This paper seemed to have been usually well informed concerning Canadian postal matters, but the expected new stamps did not materialize. The dies and plates were undoubtedly prepared, for the 12-1/2 cent stamp at least exists in a finished state, but is very scarce. Proofs of both values were illustrated in _Le Timbre-Poste_ for November, 1888, with the following remarks: "On nous envoie les essais des futurs timbres 12-1/2 et 15 centavos qui doivent compléter un peu tardivement, la série des timbres à ce format. Nos exemplaires sont imprimés, le premier en lilas, le second en vert sur papier de la Chine." Commenting on this in the _American Philatelist_ for December, 1888, Mr. W. C. Stone says: "We heard of these some ten or twelve years ago and saw them both last summer in New York." We have been fortunate enough to be able to illustrate the 12-1/2 cent (see No. 89 on Plate V) from the Worthington collection, and this finished copy, with full gum, is in a bright blue as we should expect. We regret that it was impossible to locate a copy of the reduced 15 cent to illustrate as a companion piece. The reasons that the plates of these two stamps were never actually brought into use, though evidently prepared with the other values in smaller size, were probably these: The 12-1/2 cent of 1868, as we have seen, though issued to postmasters for several subsequent years, was not printed after 1871, nor was the old stock exhausted when its use was discontinued. There was therefore no call for any supply to be printed from the new plate. The 15 cent was not printed between 1869 and 1875, and after that in such relatively small quantities each year until 1896, that, unless we are greatly mistaken, the original plate never wore out, but was used without change to the end. The old adage that "history repeats itself" was again exemplified in Canadian stamps when in July, 1882, the 1/2 cent stamp, for fourteen years unaltered, was once more reduced to a smaller size than the regular series. The general effect of the design remained the same, but the foliate ornamentation gave place to angular outlines. The illustration will be found as No. 27 on Plate II. All of the above mentioned stamps, except the 1/2 cent as will be explained, were line engraved on steel and printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. The marginal imprints turn out to be of three varieties in this series, and we have pieced together what information we can concerning them, for strips with marginal imprints are extremely hard to find now. The first plates made, including at least the 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 cent stamps, and probably the 10 cent as well, since that was engraved before the 5 cent, had the denomination in shaded Roman capitals, 4 mm. high, [Illustration No. 121 on Plate XI], over stamps 2 and 3 of the top row. Sometimes the shading is hardly apparent, as in our illustration, but it can be detected. Beginning over stamp 4, extending over stamps 5 and 6, and ending over stamp 7, is the inscription we found on the series of 1868 (see illustration 107 on Plate IX), "BRITISH AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. MONTREAL & OTTAWA" in colorless Roman capitals in the little strip of color 1 mm. wide and 51 mm. long. This imprint is also beneath the bottom row of stamps and at each side, reading up at the left and down at the right [Illustration No. 111 on Plate X]. We have so far not seen this inscription on the 5 cent and 10 cent sheets, and doubt if it exists on the former at least. About 1875 the engraving company seem to have dropped their Ottawa branch, for on the large 5 cent stamp, whose plate was made in that year, we find the new imprint "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal" in capitals and lower case letters on a colored strip 56 mm. long and 2-1/2 mm. wide, having a pearled border. This imprint is found on all four sides of the sheet, as before, as reference to Plates X, XI and XII will show, and on the plates of all values. In the case of the 6 and 10 cent stamps, and perhaps some others as well, the value SIX, TEN, etc. is now found in the shaded Roman capitals over stamp number 9 of the top row, but lacking the word CENTS. Over stamp number 2 of the top row is the figure of value, 6 mm. high, [Illustration No. 118, Plate XI]. A sheet of the small 5 cent stamps which we have seen, however, does not follow this arrangement but reverts to the first style with FIVE CENTS in the shaded Roman capitals over the first three stamps of the top row only, though having the four "Montreal" imprints. Again, a sheet of 3 cent that we have examined has the word THREE alone in the shaded Roman capitals over the first two stamps of the top row, and the "Montreal" imprint at the center of the top and bottom rows only, there being nothing at the sides. A sheet of 1 cent presents still another style, having the "Montreal" imprint at top and bottom alone, and no other marginal inscriptions. We have seen no sheet or margin of the 2 cent stamp bearing the "Montreal" imprint, but it doubtless exists. Whether the arrangement of these marginal inscriptions is a special one for each value, or whether each style described exists in all values there does not seem to be material enough at hand to determine. Probably neither statement is wholly in accordance with facts, as there must have been a great many plates of the 1 cent and 3 cent stamps, with proportionately fewer for the less used values. There seems to have been no system of plate numbering, as far as we can discover, though some margins show reversed letters or figures about 3 to 4 mm. high in various positions; they do not appear to have any special significance, however. In regard to the 1/2 cent of 1882, which we excepted from the above statements, there is a special arrangement to consider. The stamp was of course line engraved on steel, as before, but the plate printed two panes of 100 impressions each, side by side. These panes were the usual 10 � 10 arrangement, and were separated by a space of 11 mm. through which they were cut into two "post office sheets". The marginal inscriptions were simply the "Montreal" imprint [illustration No. 127 on Plate XII] which appeared six times--at the top and bottom of each pane, in the right margin of the right hand pane and the left margin of the left hand pane, there being no imprint in the space between the two panes. Over the top inscription of the right pane is the reversed figure 1, 4 mm. high, and in the same position on the left pane the corresponding figure 2, evidently to designate the panes. Once again, and this time the fact was noted in some of the philatelic journals, the imprint was changed. The engraving company had been required by the Government to do its printing at Ottawa,[105] and under "Canada Notes" in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ for December 21, 1892, "Canadensis" reports: "The new plates of the Canada stamps now bear this imprint: 'British American Bank Note Co. Ottawa', instead of Montreal. The matrix being made from the old die are exactly like the previous issues." The new imprint is a copy of the first one we described, with "Montreal &" omitted. It is 40 mm. long and 1-1/2 mm. wide and is well shown in illustration No. 123 on Plate XII. These new plates were doubtless the ones heralded in the _Dominion Philatelist_ for September, 1892, wherein it is stated that "the present issue of Canada 3 c. Stamps are being printed and issued in sheets of 200 instead of 100 as formerly." And again in the same paper for May, 1893: "The Canada 1c., 2c., and 3c. stamps are now being printed in sheets of 200." This new sheet arrangement consisted of ten horizontal rows of twenty stamps each. The "Ottawa" imprint appears three times, once in the middle of the top margin, over stamps 10 and 11, and twice in the bottom margin, beneath stamps 5 and 6, and again beneath stamps 15 and 16. There are no imprints at the sides. The denomination appears in the top margin at both right and left and in a new style of lettering on these larger plates. Thus we find ONE CENT or TWO CENT over stamps 2 and 3 as well as 18 and 19, or THREE CENT over the first four and last four stamps in plain Egyptian capitals, (see illustration No. 120 on Plate XI). [105] See page 128. One other imprint was used on the 2 cent value at least, but we have so far seen it on no other. It was 49 mm. long and nearly 2 mm. wide, but otherwise is a duplicate of the smaller "Ottawa" imprint. A portion of it is seen in illustration No. 129 on Plate XIII. The sheet was in the 10 � 10 form, and the imprint appeared at top and bottom only, there being no other marginal inscriptions. From the sheet form it would seem probable that it preceded the use of the sheets of 200 stamps. The colors of these small stamps were intended to be the same as those of the larger stamps they superseded, and in the main they were so. The orange and orange yellow shades of the 1 cent stamp appear to have been the earlier ones, while the yellow tints came in the later printings. The 2 cent follows the green of its predecessor very closely. The 3 cent, as might be expected, is more prolific in the variety of shades presented. The _Philatelist_ chronicled it (March, 1870) in the "same colour as before," while Moens, in _Le Timbre-Poste_, was more specific and gave it as red-brown. In May, 1873, the _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ lists it in orange-vermilion, while _The Philatelist_ says vermilion and _Le Timbre-Poste_ bright orange. The 5 cent stamp did not vary a great deal except in tone, though _Le Timbre-Poste_ notes it as "black-gray" in July, 1877. The 6 cent was also fairly constant in its brown shade. The 10 cent appeared at first in what, for want of a better name, may be called a rose-lilac. The _Stamp Collector's Magazine_ called it pale rose, and the _American Journal, of Philately_ said it was a "peculiar pale rose" which was a new tint. The latter paper notes it again in a "bright carnation" in March, 1876, while _Le Timbre-Poste_ in August of the same year chronicles it in "pale red instead of lilac." We have been thus particular in listing the record of early shades because of the changes which come later. In the January, 1888, issue of the _Halifax Philatelist_ we find the following note under "Canada":--"The plate of the 2 c. stamp has been re-engraved. Color is now dark green". No details of such re-engraving were forthcoming, but in the June, 1888, number of the _Philatelic Record_ is a paragraph which evidently refers to the same stamp:--"A correspondent has sent us a specimen of the 2 cents, green, which he calls a _new die_. We fail to see it; but what we do see is, that the stamp is printed from a lithographed transfer." This surprising statement seemed to excite no special comment save from the sagacious M. Moens, who remarks:[106] "Nous avons également reçu ce timbre qui parait lithographié, par suite d'usure de la planche, croyons-nous, car la feuille entière que nous avons annonce que l'impression a été faite, comme antérieurement, par la British American Bank Note Co. de Montreal et Ottawa, qui ne s'occupe pas d'impression lithographique que nous sachions." [106] =Le Timbre-Poste=, XXVI: 61. Without doubt M. Moens gave the correct explanation, for the imprint that he mentions will be recognized as the one to be found on the earliest plates of the small stamps, and 1888 was thirteen years at least after the second type of imprint with "Montreal" only had been introduced. Hence the stamp in question was probably a late print from a worn plate, which gave a rather flat and indistinct impression that might suggest lithography, though it is certain that Canada has never yet stooped to such a cheap means of postage stamp production. A similar case may be recalled with the 1/2 penny stamp of St. Helena which was issued in 1884, and which presented a like appearance. Whether the above incident had anything to do with the change of the printing company from Montreal to Ottawa, which we have already noted in describing the imprints, we cannot say, but it is certain that it was the beginning of changes, in shade at least, which affected the whole series of stamps. We have the authority of the Postmaster General's Report for 1889 that the "removal of the British American Bank Note Co. from Montreal to Ottawa" had taken place--evidently early in 1888, as will be seen later--so that the use of an old worn-out plate might have been a case of temporary necessity. Further details are given by the Canadian correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_[107] as follows: "About six years ago the Government insisted on their contractors doing their printing at the Capital, and the British American Bank Note Co. erected a handsome establishment on Wellington Street, where all postage stamps have since been printed. It may be remembered that the Ottawa printings were signalized by distinct varieties in shade from the earlier Montreal issues, varieties that have never been sufficiently distinguished in the standard catalogues." [107] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XII: 23. These changes in the stamp shades were soon noted. In March, 1888, the _Philatelic Record_ described the 10 cent stamp as "now in carmine-red", while two months later it chronicled the 5 cent as changed "from bronze-green to greenish-grey." We have already noted the change in the 15 cent to a color approximating its original mauve, "only more of a bluish tinge," which the _Halifax Philatelist_ recorded in July, 1888. The following October the same paper listed the 3 cent in a "bright carmine", and in July, 1889, announced the 2 cent in "blue green". The 6 cent lagged behind the others and did not manifest itself until the _American Journal of Philately_ announced it in October, 1890, in a "rich brown." Once again, _Le Timbre-Poste_ for April, 1892, stated that the 5 cent had "since the 8th March, appeared in gray black". The 1 cent doubtless had its special hue of yellow along with the other changes, but it was not recorded, probably because not distinct enough from the usual run of variations in which it had been appearing. That the above changes were hardly of a character to warrant dignifying them as a "new issue," which is frequently done, is shown by a moment's consideration. The 1/2 cent and 1 cent stamps showed no appreciable difference in coloring and therefore caused no comment. The 2 cent did not maintain its blue green shade unaltered, and the 3 cent soon reverted to its former brilliant red hue, as the _Philatelic Journal of America_ for May, 1889, says that "the carmine color recently adopted has been dropped, and the stamps are printed in colors similar to the ones in use before the change was made." The 5, 6 and 10 cent stamps, however, made permanent changes, but only such as might readily be traceable to a new mixing of the inks in the case of the first two. The 10 cent can hardly be so easily disposed of, as lake and brown-red are of quite different composition from a rose-lilac. But there can have been no official intention of altering the shades or colors or more definite and permanent changes would certainly have been made throughout the set. It remains, therefore, to classify them simply as shade varieties of the original set. Mr. King gives a list of eight varieties of paper[108] for the "small cents issues", but we have deemed it sufficient to note a thick and a thin white wove paper, and a closely ribbed paper. All values are reported as existing with the compound perforation (11-1/2 � 12) spoken of under the 1868 issue. We also find all values occurring in an imperforate condition. The 3 cent was first noted in the _Philatelic Record_ for December, 1882; the 15 cent we have already spoken of under the 1868 issue; and the 5, 6 and 10 cent at least, from the shades of the specimens we have seen, belong to the printings subsequent to the color modifications of 1888-90. Concerning these imperforates, we find in a paper on Canada, read before the Royal Philatelic Society by Mr. M. H. Horsley,[109] the following note:-- In my opinion, which I have had confirmed by several most competent authorities, the various imperforated copies which I show you, some used and some unused, are absolutely genuine varieties. Imperforated copies of various values were sold over the Post-office counter in Montreal about the years 1891-3, at their face value, and have been good for postage whenever people cared to use them. The quantities in this condition are, I believe, extremely small. [108] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 237. [109] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 88. Supplementing this Mr. Pack writes:[110]-- I quite agree with Mr. Horsley in regard to the various imperforate copies of the issues of 1882 to 1895. There are a good many specimens of these stamps imperforate, and they were on sale at a Canadian Post Office. [110] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 144. The above statements are correct, and we can vouch for them by documentary evidence. Not only were the various values of the series we are considering on sale in imperforate condition, but also the 8, 20 and 50 cent stamps which we are next to consider, and the shade of the 8 cent stamp shows it to have been among the earlier printings--probably in 1893. We are fortunate in being able to present illustrations of all these imperforates in blocks of four or more, which will be found on Plates IX, X and XII. That these imperforates are perfectly good for postage and are recognized by the Canadian Post Office to this day, equally with their perforated prototypes, has been proved to our satisfaction because we have employed some on registered matter addressed to the United States. As this class of mail requires to be fully prepaid, any irregularity would at once be detected and the covers would tell the story. We illustrate a pair of the 2 cent imperforate on a registered cover mailed at Como, Quebec, on March 20, 1905. [Plate XIII, No. 129.] As before, we find that a few stamps have been "split" and used for half their value, copies of the 2 cent and 6 cent having been cut vertically and doing unquestioned duty as 1 cent and 3 cent stamps respectively. As this practise is unauthorized they can be regarded mearly as freaks that have slipped through by carelessness--or favor. Turning once more to the Postmaster General's Reports, we begin with that of the 30th June, 1875. This notes that:-- The Act passed in the last Session of Parliament for the regulation of the Postal Service of Canada, came wholly into force on the 1st October, 1875. 1. Letters passing by mail at 3 cents per 1/2 oz. 2. Local or drop letters at 1 cent per 1/2 oz. 3. Post cards 1 cent each. 4. Canadian newspapers and periodicals, from office of publication at 1 cent per pound of bulk weight. 5. Transient newspapers and periodicals, circulars, books, pamphlets, etc., open, 1 cent per 4 oz. 6. Newspapers or periodicals weighing less than 1 oz. each, when posted singly, 1/2 cent each. 7. Closed parcels not containing letters, 12-1/2 cents per 8 oz. The Act referred to was "An Act to amend and consolidate the Statute Law for the regulation of the Postal Service. [_Assented to 8th April, 1875._]"[111] and was mainly a repetition of _The Post Office Act, 1867_,[112] with certain amendments incorporated. The principal changes which interest us are as follows:-- [111] 38^o Vict. Chap. 7. [112] 31^o Vict. Cap. X. See page 95. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as "The Post Office Act, 1875," etc., etc. 10.--6. Cause to be prepared and distributed postage and registration stamps necessary for the prepayment of postages and registration charges, under this Act; also stamped envelopes for the like purpose and post-cards and stamped post bands or wrappers for newspapers or other mailable articles not being post letters. 19. [_Letter rate of 3 cents per 1/2 oz._]: and such postage rate of three cents shall be pre-paid by postage stamp or stamps at the time of posting the letter, otherwise such letter shall not be forwarded by post, except that letters addressed to any place in Canada and on which one full rate of three cents has been so pre-paid, shall be forwarded to their destination charged with double the amount of the postage thereon not so prepaid, which amount shall be collected on delivery. 20. [_Drop letter rate restricted to_ "one cent per half ounce weight."] 22. The rate of postage on newspaper and periodical publications printed and published in Canada, and issued not less frequently than once a month from a known office of publication or news agency, and addressed and posted by and from the same to regular subscribers or news agents, shall be one cent for each pound weight, or any fraction of a pound weight, to be prepaid by postage stamps or otherwise as the Postmaster General may, from time to time, direct; and such newspapers and periodicals shall be put into packages and delivered into the post office, and the postage rate thereon prepaid by the sender thereof, under such regulations as the Postmaster General may, from time to time, direct. 23. Newspapers and periodicals weighing less than one ounce each may be posted singly at a postage rate of half a cent each, which must be in all cases prepaid by postage stamp affixed to each. 24. On all newspapers and periodicals posted in Canada, except in the cases hereinbefore expressly provided for, and on books, etc., etc., [_repeats Sec. 26 of Act of 1867_], the rate of postage shall be one cent for each four ounces or fraction of four ounces, ... and this postage rate shall be prepaid by postage stamps or stamped post bands or wrappers.... 27. [_Repeats Sec. 29 of Act of 1867_] And when any letter or other mailable matter is posted in Canada without prepayment, or insufficiently prepaid, in any case in which prepayment is by this Act made obligatory, the Postmaster General may detain the same, and cause it to be returned, when practicable, to the sender. 28. [_Replaces Sec. 30 of Act of 1867_] And for avoiding doubts, and preventing inconvenient delay in the posting and delivery of letters,--no Postmaster shall be bound to give change, but the exact amount of the postage on any letter or other mailable matter shall be tendered or paid to him in current coin as respects letters or other things delivered, bearing unpaid postage, as shall also the exact value in current coin as respects postage stamps, registration stamps, stamped envelopes or post cards, post bands or wrappers, purchased from any Postmaster and the exact amount of postage payable to any letter-carrier on any letter or mailable matter delivered by him. 38. [_Repeats Sec. 40 of Act of 1867 concerning dead letters, but lowers the charge for returning to three cents and allows for deduction of postage prepaid in the case of insufficiently prepaid matter._] 87. The foregoing sections of this Act shall come into force and effect on the first day of October, in the present year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, except only in so far as they relate to the rates of postage on newspapers and periodicals sent to the United States, as to which they shall come into force on the first day of May now next.... From the above quotations we see that the new Act made prepayment of letters by stamps obligatory, and imposed a fine of double the deficiency if insufficiently prepaid; that the unlimited weight of drop letters was restricted to 1/2 oz. per rate; that newspapers and periodicals were classed together and publishers given the low rate of 1 cent per pound; that the rate of 2 cents on transient newspapers was reduced to 1/2 cent per ounce, and 1 cent up to four ounces; etc. The Report of 1875 further informs us that the free delivery of letters by carrier had been commenced in the following cities on the dates given:-- Montreal 1st October, 1874. Toronto 1st March, 1875. Quebec 1st April, " Ottawa 1st May, " Hamilton 1st " " St. John, N.B. 1st " " Halifax, N.S. 1st July, " Previous to the above dates a charge (in addition to the ordinary postage) of two cents on each letter received by mail, of one cent on each letter posted in the city, and of one cent on each newspaper, was collected by the letter-carrier on delivery of the same. Halifax was an exception, as letters and papers sent out for delivery by letter-carrier had been delivered without extra charge since 1851. The British American Bank Note Co. was paid for Engraving and printing postage stamps for Post Office Department, $22,675.50. The Report of 1876 contains no special items not already noted, but that of 1877 states that the letter rate of postage with Newfoundland had been reduced from 6 cents to 5 cents per 1/2 oz., and the same rate had been obtained with Germany from 1st April, 1877. The Report of 1878 announces the admission of Canada into the Universal Postal Union from the 1st July, as we have already detailed.[113] The Report of 1879 says: "A reduction has been made, from the 1st September last, in the postage rate on closed parcels sent by post within the Dominion, from 12-1/2 cents per 8 oz. of weight to 6 cents per 4 oz. Under this change small parcels not exceeding 4 ounces in weight are admitted to pass for 6 cents instead of 12-1/2 cents as before." This sounded the death knell of the 12-1/2 cent stamp, which dropped in the number issued to postmasters from 84,150 in 1879 to 13,400 in 1880 and 4950 in 1881. It was issued in decreasing numbers down to 1888, when it disappears from the accounts. [113] See page 109. Nothing further of importance transpired until 1881, when a supplementary agreement touching certain points was signed with the United States Post Office Department:-- ADDITIONAL ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DOMINION OF CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. For the purpose of affording to the public increased facilities for the exchange of written correspondence, and also of preventing evasions by publishers, of the postal laws and regulations of the United States, the undersigned, duly authorized by their respective Governments, have agreed upon the following additional articles to the Postal Agreement of 27th January and 1st February, 1875: Article I. Insufficiently paid letters mailed in the United States and addressed to Canada, or _vice versâ_, mailed in Canada and addressed to the United States, on which a single rate of postage or more has been prepaid, shall be forwarded charged with the amount of the deficient postage, to be collected on delivery and retained by the Post Department of the country of destination. The amount of such deficient postage shall be indicated in figures, by the despatching exchange office, on the upper left-hand corner of the address. Article II. When newspapers, periodicals and other printed matter, published or originating in the United States, are brought into Canada and posted there for destinations in the United States, apparently to evade the postage rates or regulations applicable to such matter in the United States, the Canada Post Office may require prepayment of the same to be made at a rate equivalent to double the Canada domestic rates. * * * * * Article IV. The present articles shall be considered additional to those agreed upon between the two offices on the 27th January and 1st February, 1875, and shall come into operation on the 1st of May, 1881. * * * * * The Report of June 30, 1882 states that newspapers and periodicals published in Canada (under certain conditions as to form and manner of posting) are transmitted free by Post within the Dominion when posted from the office of publication to regular subscribers, from 1st June, 1882. This must have been due to a Department Order, as the Statutes of Canada reveal no such enactment at this time. The same Report announces the issue of reply post cards, but those will be dealt with later. Statistics make up most of the Reports until that of 1886, when an item of interest in connection with the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway is found: "The first through train left Montreal on Monday the 28th June, 1885, and arrived at Port Moody, the Pacific terminus of the road on the 4th July. Mails for British Columbia commenced to pass over the Canadian Pacific Railway by this first train." This marked the independence of Canada from the United States in the matter of transcontinental transportation of mails. The distance from Montreal to Port Moody is given as 2892 miles. In connection with this event the following note may be of interest:[114]-- Up to the time the Canadian Pacific Railway was built, nearly all letters from the Northwest bore United States stamps. The Northwest mounted police took their mail to Bismarck, Dak., and others were sent to Fargo, from whence they were sent around to Detroit and thence into Canada. The pony express was used in the Canadian Northwest, but no system, no stamps and probably no stipulated charges were made to get a letter to the frontier of the United States. [114] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, II: 32: 2. The Report of 1887 says that:-- Provision has been made for the transmission by mail between all places in Canada, from 1st February, 1888, of small articles of ordinary goods and manufactures in packages, open to inspection, on payment of a postage charge of 1 cent per oz. Also a new convention with the United States Post Office providing that from the 1st March, 1888, the same class of matter will be admitted to pass between Canada and the United States, subject to Customs inspection. The Report of 1888 announces the extension of free delivery by letter carriers to Victoria, B. C. Since the list of free delivery offices given on page 133, there are to be added as well:-- London, Ontario 24th April, 1876. Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1st April, 1882. Kingston, Ontario, 1st July, 1882. The Report of 1889 states that "the Post Office Act of 1889 increased the limit of weight of a single rate letter from 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce. The rate on drop letters at the same time was fixed at 2 cents per ounce." The Act[115] referred to was an amendment to the Post Office Act, (assented to on the 2nd May, 1889), and the notice of the changes issued to the public was as follows:-- NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. * * * * * CHANGES IN POSTAGE RATES UNDER AUTHORITY OF POST OFFICE ACT 1889. The rate of postage upon Letters posted in Canada, addressed to places within the Dominion or in the United States, will be 3 cents per ounce instead of 3 cents per half ounce as heretofore. Upon Drop Letters posted at an Office from which letters are delivered by Letter Carrier, the postage rate will be 2 cents per ounce, instead of 1 cent per half ounce. The rate of postage upon Drop Letters, except in the Cities where free delivery by Letter Carrier has been established, will be 1 cent per ounce. The fee for the Registration of a letter or other article of mail matter, will be five cents upon all classes of correspondence passing within the Dominion. For the present and until further instructed, the registration fee may be prepaid by using the 2 cent Registration Stamps and Postage Stamps to make up the amount. Letters insufficiently prepaid will be charged double the deficiency as heretofore, provided at least a partial prepayment has been made. Letters posted wholly unpaid will be sent to the Dead Letter Office for return to the writer. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, JOHN G. HAGGART. OTTAWA, 8th MAY, 1889 _Postmaster General_ [115] 52^o Vict. Chap. 20. The Act also made another change, not noted in the circular, by which section 24 of _The Post Office Act_, 1875, which provided a rate of 1 cent per 4 ounces on printed matter, seeds, etc., and samples of merchandise, was amended so as to limit the weight of printed matter to 2 ounces for the 1 cent rate. The 1889 Report also chronicles the "removal of the British American Bank Note Co. from Montreal to Ottawa," a fact which we have already commented upon at length in its results upon the stamps issued after the transfer.[116] [116] See page 128. In 1890 we find that "the complaints which were so prevalent some time since, of the want of adhesiveness in the postage stamps have almost entirely ceased. It is hoped, therefore, that the efforts of the manufacturer to remove the cause of complaint have been successful." And again in 1891: "Complaints of defective mucilage would be far less frequent if the public would kindly bear in mind that it is the _envelope_ of a letter, or the _cover_ of a packet, and _not the postage stamp_, which should be moistened when stamps are affixed in prepayment of postage. When a stamp is passed over the tongue the mucilage is frequently almost wholly removed." They should have had these instructions engraved on the margins of the plates, as did the British authorities with the old one penny black! The Report for 1892 announces the preparation of letter cards, which will be treated of later, and also says: "Postage stamps of the value of 20 cents and 50 cents are about to be issued. These will be useful in prepayment of parcel post." And this brings us to our next chapter. CHAPTER X THE SUPPLEMENTARY VALUES OF 1893 Before proceeding with the subject matter of this chapter in detail, it may be well to reproduce here a synopsis of the Canadian Postal Rates and Regulations as set forth in the _Dominion Philatelist_ in December, 1893, and taken from the then current _Canada Postal Guide_. This will give a comprehensive review of the results of the various Acts and Amendments and Department Orders that we have quoted--and of some of the last that we have been unable to obtain. _1st. Class Matter._--Includes Letters, Post Cards, Legal and Commercial Papers wholly or partially written, with the exception of those specially exempted, and all matter of the nature of a letter or written correspondence. The letter rate for Canada, Newfoundland and the United States is 3 cents per oz., and for all other destinations 5 cents per 1/2 oz. Insufficiently paid letters posted in and addressed to Canada are charged with double the amount of the postage due thereon. When posted wholly unpaid they will be sent to the Dead Letter Office. Insufficiently paid letters for or from the United States, are charged with the deficient postage on delivery. Letters for the United States must be prepaid at least one full rate, 3 cents. Wholly unpaid letters for and from the United Kingdom and other countries, are charged double postage on delivery, and insufficiently prepaid letters double the deficiency. Letters addressed to mere initials, or to fictitious names, will not be delivered, unless a street address, the number of a box, or some other definite direction is added. Letters bearing mutilated stamps, or stamps so soiled and defaced as to make it impossible for the sorting clerks to decide whether they have been used before or not, will be sent to the Dead Letter Office. _Post Cards._ Nothing whatever may be attached to a post card, nor may it be cut or altered in any way. A previously used post card, bearing a 1 cent stamp, will not be accepted as a post card. _2nd Class Matter.--For Canada, Newfoundland and the United States._--Newspapers and Periodicals posted from the office of publication, for regular subscribers in other places in Canada, Newfoundland and the United States, pass free of postage. Newspapers and periodicals issued less frequently than once a month, and addressed to regular subscribers or news agents, and on all specimen newspapers, one cent per pound or fraction of a pound. British newspapers and periodicals brought by mail to Canadian booksellers, or News Agents, for regular subscribers in Canada are liable to 1 cent per lb. or fraction of a lb. Newspapers from offices of publication for city delivery are subject to ordinary transient newspaper rates. _3rd Class Matter.--Addressed to Canada._--1. Transient newspapers and periodicals. Rate, 1 cent per 4 oz.; prepayment compulsory; limit of weight, 5 lbs. A single paper weighing not more than 1 oz. may pass for 1/2 cent. 2. Book packets. Rate, 1 cent per 4 oz.; limit of weight, 5 lbs., except for a single book, in which case the limit is 7 lbs. 3. Miscellaneous matter. (_a_) Printed pamphlets, printed circulars, etc., and also seeds, cuttings, bulbs, etc.; rate, 1 cent per 4 oz. (_b_) Maps, lithographs, photographs, circulars produced by a multiplying process easy to recognize, deeds, mortgages, insurance policies, militia, school and municipal returns, printed stationery, etc.; rate, 1 cent per 2 oz. Circulars, Prices Current, etc., to pass at 1 c. rate must be ENTIRELY PRINTED. Any insertion in ink is not permissible, except the name and address of the addressee, the name of the sender and the date of the circular itself. Circulars type-written, or in such form as to resemble type-written, are liable to letter rate. All miscellaneous matter must be put up so as to admit of easy inspection. The limit of weight is 5 lbs. 4. Patterns and samples. Rate, 1 cent per 4 oz.; limit of weight 24 oz.; must be securely put up and open to inspection, and boxes or linen bags should be used for flour and similar matter. _Miscellaneous Matter for the United States._--(_a_) Newspapers and periodicals; rate 1 cent per 4 oz. (_b_) Other miscellaneous matter, including books; rate, 1 cent per 2 oz., but a minimum prepayment of 5 cents is required for legal and commercial papers. The limit of weight for patterns and samples is 8 oz., and for other matter under this head 5 lbs. _4th Class Matter.--Parcel Post for Canada._--Parcels must not exceed five lbs. in weight nor two feet in length by one foot in breadth or thickness. The postage is 6 cents per 4 oz., and the parcel should be marked "by PARCEL POST." Parcels may be registered by affixing a 5 cent Registration Stamp thereto, in addition to the postage. Insufficiently paid parcels may be forwarded charged with simply the deficient postage, provided one full rate is paid and the deficiency does not exceed one rate. _5th Class Matter._--Comprises such articles of general merchandise as are not entitled to any lower rate of postage. Postage 1 cent per oz., or fraction of an ounce. Limit of weight, 5 lbs.; of size, two feet in length by one foot in width or depth. Matter claiming to be 5th Class _must be open to inspection_ and there must be no correspondence enclosed. Packages of 5th Class matter, including Seeds, Bulbs, Cuttings, Roots, may be sent to the United States for the same prepayment as required within the Dominion, but the contents will be liable to Customs inspection and collection of duty in the United States. Sealed tins containing fish, lobster, vegetables, meats, &c., if put up in a solid manner and labelled in such a way as to fully indicate the nature of their contents may be sent as 5th Class Matter within the Dominion, but no sealed matter can be forwarded to the United States under this head. Liquids, oils and fatty substances may be sent to places in Canada and the United States as 5th Class Matter, if put up in accordance with the ruling referring to such articles in the Canada Postal Guide. Electrotype blocks are included in this class. An insufficiently prepaid packet of 5th Class Matter may be forwarded charged with double the deficient postage, provided the deficiency does not exceed 5 cents. _Parcel Post.--For the United Kingdom and the Countries and Colonies with which the United Kingdom maintains Parcel Post relations, and for Newfoundland, Barbados, British Guiana, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Jamaica, Turks Island, Curacoa and Japan._--Parcels securely and substantially packed and closed for the United Kingdom, and other countries and colonies to which parcels may be sent via England, and for Newfoundland, limited in size to 2 feet in length by one foot in width or depth. The postage for the United Kingdom, which must be prepaid, is 20c. for the first lb. and 16c. for each additional lb. or fraction of a pound; the limit of weight is 11 lbs. For Japan the postage is 25c., the limit of weight is 7 lbs. For Newfoundland, 15 c. per lb., or fraction of a pound. For Barbados, British Guiana, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, 20 c. per lb. Parcels for Newfoundland are daily forwarded on to Halifax, N.S. For Japan, on to Vancouver, B. C. For Barbados, British Guiana, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent, on to St. John, N.B., and for the United Kingdom and other countries and colonies by the weekly mail and conveyed by the steamers of the Canadian Lines. Parcels posted without the formalities required are sent to the Dead Letter Office, Ottawa. _Registration._--All classes of matter may be registered to places in Canada, the United States and Postal Union Countries, and the sender may entitle himself to an acknowledgement of delivery from the party addressed by the payment of a fee of 5 cents in addition to the registration fee. (A) _Commercial Papers_, (B) _Books and_ (C) _Samples, for Postal Union Countries_. "Commercial papers" comprise all papers or documents, written or drawn, wholly or partly by hand, (except letters or communications in the nature of letters, or other documents having the character of an actual and personal correspondence), documents of legal procedure, Deeds drawn up by public functionaries, copies of, or extracts from Deeds under private seal, Way-Bills, Bills of Lading, Invoices and other documents of a mercantile character, documents of Insurance and other public companies, all kinds of manuscript music, the manuscript of books and other literary works, and other papers of a similar description. "Printed Papers" include periodical works, books, stitched or bound, sheets of printed music, visiting cards, address cards, proofs of printing with or without the manuscript relating thereto, engravings, photographs, when not on glass or in frames containing glass, drawings, plans, maps, catalogues, prospectuses, announcements and notices of various kinds, printed, engraved, lithographed, printed circulars. (A) Limits of weight and size: 5 lbs. for the United Kingdom, and 4 lbs. for other countries, 18 inches in length and 12 inches in width or depth. (B) 5 lbs. for the United Kingdom, and 4 lbs. to other countries, 2 feet long and 1 foot wide or deep. (C) United Kingdom, 5 lbs. in weight, 2 feet in length by 1 foot in breadth or depth. (D) Limits of weight to Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Egypt, France, Hawaii, Italy, Portugal, Roumania and Switzerland, is 12 ozs., limit of size 1 foot in length by 8 inches in width and 4 inches in depth. If in form of a roll it may be 12 inches in length and 6 inches in diameter. The limit of weight to other Postal Union Countries is 8 ozs., limit of size same as to Austria-Hungary, &c., &c. _Matter Which Cannot be Forwarded Through the Post._--Liquids, Oils, etc., not properly put up. Explosive Substances and other matter likely to entail risk or injury to the ordinary contents of the mail, cannot be sent by post. Letters containing Gold or Silver Money, Jewels, or precious articles, or anything liable to Customs duties, cannot be forwarded by Post to any of the Postal Union Countries except the United States. We see from the above postal packet rates where the use of a 20 cent stamp would be convenient, which accounts for the announcement of the new value in the Postmaster General's Report last quoted in the preceding chapter. The 50 cent stamp of course would serve a useful purpose in making up relatively large amounts of postage. The above rates also show that there was still use for the 15 cent stamp in payment of parcels to Newfoundland. We find notice of the issue of the new values in the _Dominion Philatelist_[117] as follows:-- As foreshadowed in the Postmaster General's report, there have appeared Canada postage stamps of the value of 20c. and 50c.; the 20c. is a bright deep orange and the 50c. is indigo blue, they are of similar design and resemble very much the third issue bill stamp and may be described as follows: head and shoulders of Queen to left, with widow's cap and chin resting on right hand, enclosed in a circle; above the circle the words "Canada Postage", below the circle at either side the value in figures and across the bottom the value in words.... The above were all placed on sale Feb. 22nd. The 20c. and 50c. stamps were intended for parcel post. [117] =Dominion Philatelist=, V: 31. The somewhat ambiguous description will be more readily understood by reference to the illustrations, numbers 33 and 35 on Plate II. The stamps, as stated, are very evidently copied from the design of the dollar values of the Bill Stamps issued in 1868. The portrait of the Queen in her widow's weeds, in fact, is doubtless reproduced directly from the original die engraved twenty-five years previously. The stamps were of course line engraved on steel, and printed in the usual sheet arrangement of 100, ten rows of ten. The plates of course emanated from Ottawa, but bear a new imprint, similar to the second one used in Montreal. The colored strip is now 38 mm. long and 2-1/2 mm. high with square ends, and bears the legend: "British American Bank Note Co. Ottawa." within a pearled border. It appears only twice, in the center of the top and of the bottom margins, and can be seen in illustrations Nos. 106 and 108 on Plate IX. The colors are not exactly as described in our quotation, the 20 cent being a vermilion or bright red, similar to the colors of the 3 cent, and the 50 cent a deep blue, but not indigo. According to the advices of the _American Journal of Philately_ (VI: 102) the stamps were issued on the 17th February--five days earlier than the above quotation states. Both values were printed on a medium white wove paper and perforated 12. Both were ordered to the number of half a million copies in 1893, and in 1895 25,000 more of the 20 cent and 30,000 more of the 50 cent were delivered, with a final 200 copies of each in 1896. These quantities were sufficient to last until the 20 cent was superseded by the newer type in 1901, and the 50 cent by the King's head stamp in 1908. Some 1500 of the 20 cent were returned for destruction and about 10,000 of the 50 cent! Both these stamps are found imperforate and in this condition are to be classed in the same category as the imperforates of the "small cents issue," which we have already considered.[118] Illustrations of blocks of four of each will be found as numbers 106 and 108 on Plate IX. The 50 cent is in a peculiar black blue shade. [118] See page 130. * * * * * In the preceding chapter we quoted a circular from the Postmaster General which called attention to the changes made by _The Post Office Act, 1889_. A uniform registration fee of 5 cents was one of these, and to enable the 2 cent registration stamps to be used up permission was given to make up the difference by postage stamps when registering mail matter. Four years later it was decided to discontinue the use of the special stamp for the registration fee, and to permit its prepayment by ordinary postage stamps. As the combined letter and registration rate was eight cents, a stamp of this value for use on registered letters was deemed advisable. We read under "Canadian Notes" in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ for August 10, 1893:-- The following orders were posted up in all the Canadian post-offices on August 1st: "A new postage stamp of the value of 8c. is now being put into circulation. This stamp will be available for the prepayment either of registration fee and postage combined, or of postage only. The 5c. registration stamp, when the present supply is exhausted, will be withdrawn." The new stamp reverted to the small size and general design of the "small cents issue", but with the important difference that the head was turned to the _left_ instead of the right, as with all the others of that series. It was line engraved on steel, as usual, and the only entire sheet we have seen was of 200, in ten horizontal rows of twenty stamps, but without a sign of any marginal imprints. The perforation variety 11-1/2 � 12 is reported as occurring in this value also, as well as the regular gauge 12. The color was at first a bluish gray, which soon darkened and ran through a series of shades as if in emulation of the old 6 pence stamp. Mr. Horsley states[119] that it appeared in slate-blue in October of 1893, and slate in 1895. _Alfred Smith's Monthly Circular_ for December, 1895, records it in a "dark slate-black," and the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for November 30, 1895, says that "a peculiar feature in connection with the new shade of the current eight cent Canada postage stamp is that upon being put in water and left there for a few minutes the paper becomes of a pinkish tint which after the stamp becomes dry still remains." This "new shade" was doubtless the dark slate color referred to, which must have been issued, therefore, in October or November of 1895. In December, 1897, the _Monthly Journal_ notes it in a "deep purple", similar in shade to the 8 cent Jubilee stamp, and very likely printed from the same mixing of ink. [119] =London Philatelist=, XVI: 88. The stamp was printed upon a medium white wove paper, and is found in imperforate condition like the other values of the then current stamps, which we have already described.[120] The imperforates are in the early bluish gray color, so that it is fair to suppose they were from the first printings in 1893. A block of four is illustrated as number 110 on Plate X. [120] See page 130. The first delivery of these stamps--and of course the first printing--was of 100,000, as recorded in the stamp accounts for 1893. As these accounts were made up to 30th June, and there is no record of any "issue to postmasters," the stamps were doubtless delivered just before the accounts were closed, so that opportunity had not been given to distribute the new value. For the next few fiscal years the amount received from the manufacturers averaged over a million and a half annually, so that by the time it was superseded it had been printed to the number of at least 7-1/2 millions. There is nothing of special importance concerning postage stamps in the Postmaster General's Reports from 1893 to 1897, but we glean an item of interest from _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ of December 3, 1896:-- A new regulation has been put in force by the Canadian post-office department. Until a few days ago it was unlawful for any person to sell unused current Canadian stamps without a government license [as a stamp vendor]. Merchants and others who received a great many unused stamps as remittances, have heretofore been compelled to send them to the department at a discount of five per cent, or dispose of them by illegitimate means, running the risk of being prosecuted for selling without license. A great deal of complaint was made to the department concerning this matter, and last week Hon. Mr. Mulock announced that thenceforth, all unused Canadian stamps would be cashed at one per cent. discount in amounts of over $1.00. The stamps may be pasted on paper, as they will not be put in circulation again. CHAPTER XI THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897 The so-called "Diamond Jubilee" of the accession of Queen Victoria, who had then been on the throne of the United Kingdom for sixty years, occurred on the 20th June, 1897, and several of the British Colonies, as on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary, considered it fitting to celebrate the event with a commemorative issue of postage stamps. Probably no proprieties would be violated were it observed, sub rosa, that the pecuniary gains connected with such issues were probably more of a factor in determining their birth than the superabundance of jubilation over the auspicious occurrence. Such a suspicion is quite readily aroused when considering all the facts in connection with the special set of stamps that Canada felt it necessary to put forth at this time. But the story runs a little farther back and hinges on other changes. What proved a prophetic utterance appeared under "Canadian Notes" in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ of August 1, 1896, as follows:-- For the first time in 18 years a Liberal, or Reform government has full control of the Dominion.... Mr. William Mulock, J. C., of Toronto, is the new Postmaster General and I am informed that considerable pressure is being brought to bear upon him to have an entirely new set of stamps issued to replace those which have been in use in Canada for something over a quarter of a century. Under the same "Notes" in the issue of the above paper for January 23, 1897, we find the result of the "pressure":-- The British American Bank Note Company, which for so many years have had the contract for printing Canada's paper currency and postage stamps, have been notified that their services will no longer be required. The shareholders in that company were not of the right political stripe for the new Government. The contract has now been given to the American Bank Note Company of New York. This company will have to establish a branch office at Ottawa and all the work will have to be done in Canada. _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ gives further details in a clipping from the _Montreal Herald_, dated "Ottawa, Jan. 11," [1897]:[121]-- The contract for the Government engraving, for which tenders were called two months ago, has been awarded to the American Bank Note Company, of New York, for a period of five and a quarter years. The contract is worth $600,000, and may be renewed for a similar period. The work consists of engraving Dominion bank notes, revenue and postage stamps, postal cards, etc. At present the British American Bank Note Company, better known as Burland and Company, formerly of Montreal, have the contract. They tendered this time, but the New York company was the lowest. The New York company is one of the largest and best known in the world. The firm engraves notes for some of the banks in Canada, including the Canadian Bank of Commerce. Under the terms of the new contract, the Company will require to establish a place in Ottawa to do the work, where the Government can have supervision of it. As compared with the prices paid under the Burland contract, the Government will effect a saving of $120,000 by the new contract. [121] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, IX: 25. The next step appears in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ of January 30, 1897, where we read under "Canadian Notes":-- Many suggestions are being made and many plans laid for the fitting celebration of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign. In Canada this celebration is being coupled with that of the four hundredth anniversary of Cabot's discovery of America. Tn this connection a proposal has been made and an agitation started for the issue of a commemorative set of postage stamps by the Dominion government.... It has been suggested that the new stamps be made a trifle larger than the present ones, that a somewhat recent picture of Her Majesty replace the present one, and that the figures and colors be made more pronounced. If possible some reference to the combined celebrations will likely be made. The agitation for a new issue is quite pronounced and is by no means confined to philatelists. There appears to be general desire on the part of the people to have a change. A step further is recorded in the _Era_ for March 27th, as follows:-- The _Toronto World_ in its edition of March 15th. contained the following as one of its leaders: "Here is good news for postage stamp collectors. The Postmaster-General proposes, as far as his department is concerned, to commemorate Her Majesty's diamond jubilee by the issue of a new 3-cent postage stamp appropriate to the occasion. It will have a limited circulation only, probably for a period of months covering the jubilee celebrations during the coming summer. When the sale is stopped the present 3-cent stamp will be put in circulation again.... So far the design of the new stamp has not been made public although the Hon. Mr. Mulock, the Postmaster-General, has sent a sketch of it to the British-American [_sic_] Bank Note Company to be engraved. It it said to be oblong and nearly as large as the Columbian issue". If only this original intention had been adhered to! More precise information finally appeared in the _Era_ for May 29th:-- During the last week the Canadian papers have been full of Canada's Jubilee issue, which has now been definitely decided upon. _The Toronto Evening Telegram_ of a few days ago has perhaps the most to say concerning the stamps, and it is to that paper that your correspondent is indebted for the following. The new Jubilee stamp will be issued in another month. The design represents Her Majesty at two important eras in her life, namely at her accession on the 20th of June, 1837, and within a few weeks of her Jubilee in 1897. The first vignette, showing her on her coronation day, is from a well known portrait of that period. It is a full faced portrait and her Majesty wears the crown. Looking at the stamp this vignette is at the left side. To the right is a picture of Her Majesty as she appears today; the face is profile looking toward the vignette of 1837. The latter picture represents Her Majesty wearing the Empress crown. Between and above the two vignettes is a beautifully executed copy of the Imperial crown of England and under it the letter "V" with the letters "R. I." in the fork of the "V". The three letters meaning Victoria Regina (Queen), Imperatrix (Empress). In the semi-circle or upper part of the vignette are the words "Canada Postage" and underneath these are respectively the dates 1837-1897 and between the vignettes are ornamentation of maple leaves, while in the lower corners of the stamps are also maple leaves, and between these and at the base of the stamp is its denomination in black letters on a white ground. There will be sixteen varieties of the new stamp and a post card. * * * * * The first set of stamps printed will be sent to H. R. H. the Prince of York [_sic_], who is an enthusiastic stamp collector. The second set will be presented to Her Excellency Lady Aberdeen (wife of the Canadian Governor General). The same paper credits the suggestion of the general idea of the Jubilee design to Mr. Pareira, an official of the Interior Department. A few days later the matter of the proposed issue came up in Parliament, and the Postmaster General was interpellated in the House of Commons. His reply was published in the _Canadian Hansard_, the official record, of 20th May, 1897, as follows:-- The Postmaster-General (Mr. Mulock): It is the intention of the Government to issue a set of Jubilee postage stamps. Such stamps will be put into public use by being delivered to postmasters throughout Canada for sale to the public in the same manner as ordinary postage stamps are sold. There will be a limit to the quantity to be issued. The denominations of Jubilee stamps, and the total number of such Jubilee stamps to be issued, are set forth in the following schedule:-- Schedule showing the Denominations and Total Number of Jubilee Stamps to be issued: Number to be issued. Denomination. 150,000 1/2 c. stamps 8,000,000 1 c. " 2,500,000 2 c. " 20,000,000 3 c. " 750,000 5 c. " 75,000 6 c. " 200,000 8 c. " 150,000 10 c. " 100,000 15 c. " 100,000 20 c. " 100,000 50 c. " 25,000 $ 1 00 " 25,000 $ 2 00 " 25,000 $ 3 00 " 25,000 $ 4 00 " 25,000 $ 5 00 " 7,000,000 1 c. post cards. Total value of one stamp of each kind, $ 16.21-1/2. As soon as the total number of stamps mentioned in said schedule is issued the plates from which they will have been engraved will be destroyed in the presence of the head and two officers of the department. On the 10th June the Post Office Department will proceed to supply Jubilee postage stamps to the principal post offices in Canada, and through them the minor post offices will obtain their supply until the issue is exhausted. If this Jubilee issue were to wholly displace the ordinary postage stamps it would supply the ordinary wants of the country for between two and three months, but as the use of the ordinary postage stamps will proceed concurrently with that of the Jubilee stamps, it is expected that the Jubilee stamp will last beyond the three months. Inasmuch as the department is already receiving applications for the purchase of Jubilee stamps, it may be stated that the department will adhere to the established practice of supplying them only to postmasters, and through them to the public, who may purchase them on and after the 19th June, 1897. Promptly, "as advertised", the stamps were placed on sale throughout the Dominion on the morning of Saturday, the 19th of June. The natural result followed: an expectant populace, for various reasons but with one main object, literally besieged the post offices for the coveted treasures. The advance publication of the quantities of the various denominations to be issued gave speculators the hint as to the most desirable values to "corner", and as a result the 1/2 cent and 6 cent stamps were a special mark in all quarters. This action seems to have been more or less anticipated, for these values were doled out in very small quantities, if at all, in spite of the large orders that were everywhere given for them. This was doubtless largely due to the following circular, sent out with the initial supply of the stamps to all postmasters:[122]-- N. B.--Requisitions for _full sets_ of the Jubilee stamps will be filled until the issue is exhausted.--E. P. S. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA, _June_,1897. SIR,--I am directed by the Postmaster-General to send you herewith a supply of the Jubilee stamps and 1 c. post card, equal to one month's ordinary requirements of your office. Should this quantity prove insufficient it will, on your requisition addressed to this branch, be supplemented; but as the Jubilee issue is limited, it would be necessary for you to apply early in order to secure further supplies of the same. I am also to instruct you not to sell any of the accompanying stamps or post cards before the opening of your office at the regular office hours on the 19th June instant--the eve of the anniversary they are intended to commemorate. These stamps and cards are, of course, like the ordinary issues, to be sold at face value. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. THE POSTMASTER. P. S.--As there appears to be a somewhat general desire on the part of many persons to purchase, for souvenir purposes, complete sets of the Jubilee stamps, it is hoped that you will so manage the sale of such stamps that persons applying to purchase full sets may be able to get them. E. P. S. [122] =Monthly Journal=, VIII. 177. The conditions that developed when the stamps were actually issued seem to have surprised the Department, and caused additional measures to be taken for an equable distribution. We quote Mr. F. W. Wurtele:[123]-- The experience of the first day's sale convinced our government that halves and sixes would very soon be bought up by speculators unless some action was taken to further restrict their sale; they therefore came to the conclusion that those persons who were willing to contribute to the revenues of the Canadian Government to the extent of $16.22 for a complete set of jubilee stamps were entitled to protection, and decided that they at least should not pay more than face value for their 1/2 and 6. In consequence the following circular was issued by the post-office department, and no more of these values could be obtained from any licensed vendor. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA, 26th June, 1897. SIR,--With reference to the numerous demands upon this office for the 1/2 c. and 6c. Jubilee stamps, I am directed to explain that the respective quantities of Jubilee stamps ordered bear, relatively, the same proportions to the actual requirements of the Postal Service, but the tendency to exhaust the HALVES and SIXES has increased to such a degree, that it has become necessary to restrict their sale to the purchasers of full sets. Hence I am to express the Postmaster-General's regret that he is unable, having regard to the limited character of the Jubilee issue, to comply with any requests for the 1/2c or 6c denomination, apart from those for full sets. These sets may be obtained as long as the series of Jubilee stamps lasts, but as the demands upon it are unusually heavy, it would be advisable to apply for full sets at the earliest possible moment. When Postmasters obtain such sets to fill orders actual or prospective at their respective offices, they must not, in any case, break the sets. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. P. S.--Under no circumstances will there be any issue of Jubilee stamps, beyond the limits mentioned in the accompanying extract from Hansard, containing the Postmaster-General's statement on the subject. * * * * * It was necessary to print 3,000 copies of the foregoing circular in order to reply to all the demands on the department at Ottawa for 1/2 c. and 6 c. [123] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, X: 54. Not only were the sales of the 1/2 and 6 cent stamps thus restricted, but notices were posted in the offices that none of the 1/2c., 6c., 8c., $1.00, $2.00, $3.00, $4.00, or $5.00 stamps would be sold unless the whole set were taken. This proceeding naturally resulted in considerably more protest on the part of stamp collectors and the public (?). Rumor had it just after the issue was placed on sale that the 8 cent stamp had been withdrawn, which probably accounts for the "run" upon that value and its inclusion in the above restrictions. In fact a correspondent of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_, writing from Winnipeg, Man., on 25th June, stated that "a sensation was caused amongst those interested by the government on Tuesday [22nd June] recalling, by wire, all the 8c. stamps of the new issue on hand at this office." This was later explained by a letter published in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_:[124]-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA, 29th July, 1897. SIR,--In reply to your letter of the 26th inst., I am directed to say that the question of issuing partial sets of Jubilee stamps is now under the consideration of the Department. In respect to the recall of the 8 c. Jubilee stamps, I may say that it was but a partial one, and intended to render possible a re-distribution of that stamp on a basis more in accordance with the actual demand therefor. * * * * * I am, Sir, Your obdt. servant, E. P. STANTON, Superintendent. [124] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XI: 416. Under date of 31st July it was announced from Ottawa that "the demand for complete sets has been very large, about nine thousand sets having already been issued".[125] The "partial sets" referred to in the above letter were the next step in the unbending process, the decision to put them on sale having been reached on 31st July, and their issue to the public beginning on 4th August. Concerning this concession Mr. Donald A. King says:[126]-- So soon as the demand for these [complete] sets was, to some extent satisfied, the department yielding to another class of enquiries and requests for sets up to and including the 50 cents and $1.00 respectively, made a distribution of such sets, the numbers being apportioned upon a basis of the revenue of each money order office throughout the Dominion. Between 30,000 and 40,000 sets were thus distributed, and rapidly sold, as a very large number of requests for further supplies came in from the different offices. The following is the circular sent to postmasters regulating the sale of these partial sets: POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. CANADA, POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA, [August] 1897. SIR.--I am directed to transmit to you the accompanying partial sets of Jubilee stamps. These sets consist of two kinds: one from a 1/2c. to $1.00 (value $2.20-1/2), the other from 1/2c. to 50c. (value $1.20-1/2). You are instructed to sell these stamps as sets, and as sets only, representations having been made to the department that in various parts of the Dominion there is a desire to obtain such sets for souvenir purposes. You must not, under any circumstances, break a set; for, besides the disappointment that such a course would cause, you would render yourself liable to loss, the department having decided not to allow credit for any broken sets returned to it by a postmaster who, notwithstanding the instructions herein given, sells any denominations of the stamps making up a set apart from the rest. I am also to ask you to use your best judgment in the sale of these sets, checking, as far as possible, any attempt on the part of speculators to monopolize them, and thus securing as general a distribution of such sets in your vicinity as the circumstances may permit. To enable you to make change in connection with the sale of the enclosed sets I include a sufficient quantity of ordinary 1/2 c. postage stamps. I may add that the accompanying supply has been based strictly upon the annual revenue of your office, and, having regard to the total number of sets available and the extent of their distribution, represents that proportion to which you are entitled. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. THE POSTMASTER. [125] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XI: 78. [126] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 178. For disingenuousness, for pathetic regard for the public and the postmaster, and yet withal a keen eye for the "interests" of the department, this circular is a model which should be preserved for posterity--and "businesslike" post office departments. Mr. King continues:-- The demand for the small sets was so great that the supply was exhausted almost all at once, and in reply to repeated requests for more sets the department issued the following circular:--#/ POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. (_Office of the Superintendent of the Postage Stamp Branch_). Ottawa,... 1897. SIR,--The partial sets of Jubilee stamps already issued to your office constituted its share of these sets, having regard to their limited number and the area of their distribution, which comprised all the money order offices in the Dominion. Except a reserve for complete sets (from 1/2c. to $5.00 inclusive, cost $16.20-1/2) there is not a Jubilee stamp left in the department--all having been issued to postmasters. The plates, I may add, were destroyed on the 10th September instant. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent_. THE POSTMASTER. Such is the history of the Diamond Jubilee set of Canadian stamps. We make no comment on it--it seems as if none were necessary and that the presentation is amply sufficient for each to judge for himself concerning it. We will only add Major Evans sapient remark[127]: "All the trouble was the natural result of pretending to treat a commemorative and limited issue as if it had been an ordinary and permanent one. Ordinary common sense should have suggested the issue of large supplies of the lowest value, and a certain number of all values to every office." [127] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 230. To revert to the stamps themselves. We have already given a description of the design in one of our previous quotations, but it needs to be amended in one or two particulars. The portrait of Queen Victoria labelled "1837" on the stamp will be recognized as identical with that on the old 12 pence and later 7-1/2 pence values. In fact Mr. Wurtele tells us[128] that a prominent Montreal collector, whose advice was asked when the issue was under consideration, gave the government a magnificent unused copy of the 7-1/2d. green, to be used in engraving the picture. It does not, as stated, show Her Majesty on her coronation day, but is from the painting representing her on the occasion of the prorogation of Parliament, on 17th July, 1837, as already described.[129] The portrait labelled "1897" is from a full length painting executed by command in 1886 by Prof. Von Angelo of Vienna. It represents Her Majesty as she appeared on the assumption of the title "Empress of India", and the curious may find the entire figure copied on the 3 pence post card of Great Britain issued in 1889, and also on the 1 penny card of 1892. This State portrait of the Queen is now in Buckingham Palace. The crown at the top center of the stamp is not the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain but the so-called Tudor Crown. The Imperial Crown is well illustrated on the 3 pence and 5 cent "beaver" stamps, and a comparison with the Jubilee issue will plainly show the difference in the "style" of these two crowns. [128] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, X: 63. [129] See page 33. Our illustration (No. 34 on Plate II) shows a sample of the whole set, the only variation, outside of the color, being the denomination in the label at the bottom. This is in each case expressed in words. The stamps are beautifully engraved on steel as usual, and are printed on stout wove paper and perforated 12. The values from 1/2 cent through 5 cents were printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. Above the 5 cent, that is from 6 cents through 5 dollars, they were printed in sheets of 50, ten horizontal rows of five stamps each. The marginal inscriptions are very meagre, consisting merely of "OTTAWA--No--1" (or some other plate number) in hair-line Roman capitals 2-1/2 mm. high, at the top of the sheet only. The inscription is 40 mm. long, being centered over stamps 5 and 6 of the top row in the sheets of 100, and over stamp number 3 in the sheets of 50. This is the first time that plate numbers appear on the sheets of Canadian postage stamps, and it is well to record them. Taking them serially we find the plates of the various values were made as follows:-- Plate 1 3 cents 2 3 " 3 3 " 4 3 " 5 1 " 6 1 " 7 2 " 8 2 " 9 1/2 " 10 5 " 11 3 " 12 3 " 13 3 " 14 3 " 15 1 " 16 1 " 17 6 cents 18 15 " 19 10 " 20 8 " 21 20 " 22 4 dollars 23 50 cents 24 3 dollars 25 5 " 26 2 " 27 1 " 28 3 cents 29 3 " 30 3 " 31 3 " The colors, which will be found in the Reference List, are quite constant, as would be expected. The principal variation is only one of tone in a few values. A newspaper despatch from Ottawa tells us that "A return brought down to-day shows that the cost of printing the jubilee stamp was 20 cents per thousand."[130] [130] =Post Office=, IX: 37. Considerable criticism was naturally aroused by the inclusion of the values from one to five dollars, and outside of the palpable attempt to "make capital" from stamp collectors and others, it was claimed that the four and five dollar values were useless, as the "highest amount that can _possibly_ be required on a parcel sent by mail from Canada is $3.59 (including registration). This owing to limitations of weight, etc., and the highest amount that can be required on a letter is $1.65".[131] An "official" replied[132] that "very frequently parcels leave the Toronto Post Office with $15 and $20 postage on them, and in some cases the postage has reached the amount of $63. There is another way in which the $4 and $5 stamps may be used, viz.:--in second class rate books. Canada does not issue Newspaper or Periodical stamps so these two high values can be used in this way." [131] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XI: 383. [132] =ibid.=, XI: 406. Someone wrote the Postmaster General, quoting the above letter and asking further particulars. The reply stated[133] that "the regulations do not fix any limit to the weight of letters.... According to the regulations of this Department 'Second Class Matter' comprises newspapers and periodicals addressed to regular subscribers, (including sample copies) and that, postage being payable upon such matter at a bulk rate of 1c. per lb., the stamps required for prepayment are not affixed to the packages, but are placed in small books and cancelled. The books for this purpose are supplied by the Department to all Post Offices where they are required." This was analogous to the practice in the United States, only regular postage stamps were employed instead of special newspaper and periodical stamps. As a matter of fact the high value Jubilee stamps, which later became a drug on the market, were largely used for this purpose. Mr. King confirms the fact of large postage payments:[134] "I have seen packages originating at and passing through the post office here [Halifax] that had from $12.00 to $15.00 postage on them ... and the case can be recalled of a letter on which $40 was prepaid." [133] =ibid.=, XI: 426. [134] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 177. The question of the unlimited validity of the Jubilee stamps for postage was also brought up, doubtless because of the temporary nature of their issue, and a special circular was issued touching this point, of which the following is a copy:[135]-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH. OTTAWA, 24th June, 1897. SIR--I am directed to send you for your information and guidance, the following statement, which has just been given to the press: "Enquiry having been made at the Post Office Department as to whether the Canadian Jubilee Postage Stamps would continue good as postage for a limited period only, it has been officially stated that the Jubilee stamp will remain valid for postage purposes so long as they may continue in circulation. _They will not, however, be redeemed by the Department, a distinction being drawn in this respect between them and the ordinary postage stamps._" I am Sir, Your obedient Servant, E. P. STANTON, Superintendent. [135] =Weekly Philatelic Era= XII: 210. A curious case of splits is recorded from the _Sussex, N. B., News_:[136]-- The _Railway News_ last week on account of not receiving permission from the Post-Master General to allow papers to go through the mails free, was compelled to pay postage. No half cent stamps being available, the post office department allowed one cent stamps to be cut in halves for postage. This is the first time on record we believe where such was allowed and the stamps have been eagerly sought after, one dollar being paid for a single stamp with the post office stamp on it. The _News_ will pay twenty-five cents each for the one cent Jubilee stamps cut in halves bearing the post office stamp of November 5th, 6th, or 8th, which was allowed to pass through the mails on that date owing to there being no regular half cent stamps obtainable. [136] =ibid.=, XII: 96. The 1 cent ordinary also did duty at some offices for like reasons, but the practice was not approved from headquarters, as postmasters were officially instructed in such cases to use whole 1 cent stamps and get a refund on the difference in value. * * * * * It may be recalled that one of our quotations stated that the first set of Jubilee stamps printed would be presented to the "Prince of York"--a slip for the "Duke of York," afterwards Prince of Wales, and now His Most Gracious Majesty King George V. An account of this presentation set may not be without interest here:[137]-- A very unique and handsome piece of work is the postal portfolio which is to be presented to His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, by the Dominion Government, and which is on exhibition in the window of Kyrie Brothers, Jewelers, Toronto. The portfolio is in the form of an album, the cover of which is of royal blue morocco leather, handsomely decorated in gold. In the center of the front cover is a raised shield in white on which are the words in gold letters, "Dominion of Canada, Diamond Jubilee Postage Stamps, 22nd June, 1897." The corners of the portfolio are decorated with guards of Canadian gold made from British Columbia and Ramey district ore. The right hand upper corner decoration is a design of maple leaves, and the lower corner of English oak leaves and acorns. The portfolio is fastened with a clasp of Canadian gold in the form of oak leaves, while the bracket on the front holding the clasps in position is entwined with maple leaves with the monogram of H. R. H. the Duke of York--G. F. E. A.--George Frederick Ernest Albert. On the third page is the inscription, "This collection of postage stamps issued at Ottawa by the Dominion of Canada in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria is presented to H. R. H. the Duke of York, K. G., by the Government of Canada, 1897." The last page of this unique stamp album will contain the certificate of the destruction of the dies and plates in the presence of Hon. Wm. Mulock, postmaster-general of Canada.... This is probably the dearest stamp album in the world, and contains only a single specimen of each denomination of the jubilee issue. [137] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, X: 28 It will be noted that the Superintendent's last circular concerning the exhaustion of the Jubilee stamps stated that the plates had been destroyed. An eye witness sent _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ (X: 166) an account of the process which is interesting enough to reproduce. On Friday afternoon, Sept. 10th, ... I presented myself at the Post-Office Department and joined a party who were just leaving the building to go over to the American Bank Note Co's. building, a couple of blocks away.... Arriving, we were conducted to the top floor by the manager. The plates, dies, etc., were brought out by those in charge, and the seventeen original dies after inspection by those present were placed one by one under a press and an obliterating roller passed over them several times: proofs were then pulled which faintly showed the outline of the ovals, etc., but the words showing the value could not even be made out. Next the rolls for transferring the impression from the dies to the plates came in for their share of attention. There were nineteen of them, and a few burns from an emery wheel quickly put each one "out of sight". The plates, 31 in number, were subjected to the same treatment as the dies and the total time occupied in the destruction of the various parts occupied almost two hours. The Postmaster General's Report for the 30th June, 1897, reprints the extract from the _Canadian Hansard_ of 20th May, which we have already given.[138] The stamp accounts show a few curious things. In the first place the announcement of the issue gave the quantity of 8 cent stamps as 200,000. The accounts for 1897 give the number received from the manufacturers as 240,000, and we find in the column headed "Returned by Postmasters as unfit for use," 40,000 copies, and in the column headed "Stamps destroyed as unfit for use", a like amount! When the Post Office Department estimates for the ensuing year were being discussed in Parliament in May, 1898, the following interpellation occurred and was replied to by the Postmaster General:[139]-- _Mr. Ingram._ I notice that 40,000 eight cent stamps were returned by the postmasters as unfit for use, and that 40,000 were destroyed as unfit for use. _The Postmaster-General._ The explanation of that is this: The total number issued was limited to the schedule mentioned in the answer that I gave to Parliament. By a mistake a larger quantity was delivered to the department, and before it was discovered the department had distributed a larger quantity than was mentioned in the schedule.[140] They discovered it when the mail had gone out, and at once recalled the over-issue. Of course they were at once destroyed, so as to keep the amount within the figure named by Parliament. _Mr. Ingram._ Then it was not through stamps being unfit? _The Postmaster-General._ I do not know how it is worded there; "Unfit for use" is not a proper description. There was not one stamp in excess of the limit stated in Parliament that got into the hands of the public. There was that little error I speak of, but it was detected at once and corrected, and of course the extra amount was at once destroyed--I suppose by the Auditor-General and by Mr. Stanton of the stamp department. [138] See page 148. [139] =Monthly Journal=, VIII: 230. [140] The stamp accounts show that 223,600 8 cent stamps had been "issued to postmasters" previous to 30th June, 1897. Well, perhaps the excess did not reach the public, but the stamp accounts exhibit a peculiar coincidence in connection therewith. The tables of receipt and issue of stamp supplies for 1897, as already stated, contain the memos of the return of 40,000 8 cent stamps, by postmasters, and their destruction. The tables for 1898 contain two columns, one of stamps returned by postmasters, "unfit for use", and the other "fit for use". The former were supposed to be destroyed, the latter placed in stock again. Now note: the values from 1/2 cent to 50 cents inclusive, "fit for use", were returned in quantities varying from 200 to 250 copies, with two exceptions; the dollar values in quantities from 400 to 675. The two exceptions were the 6 cent at 1,148 copies, _and the 8 cent at 42,300 copies_!! This last figure looks so familiar that we cannot help wondering whether a second call had been sent out for the return of 40,000 _more_ of the 8 cent, subsequent to the closing of the 1897 accounts, or if (which seems more probable) the first return had not been slipped into stock instead of being actually destroyed, and reappeared thus in the 1898 accounts! _Quien sabe?_ All the other values to and including the 2 dollars, were received in their proper amounts and were all issued to postmasters, the last record of the series from 1/2 cent to 1 dollar, inclusive, appearing in the 1900 Report. The figures for the dollar values prove rather interesting so we give them here:-- 1905 Ret'd and 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. Total. On hand. Destroyed. $1.00 received 7,500 15,000 2,400 100 ... 25,000 ... 94 issued 5,830 16,771 3,599 500 ... 26,700 $2.00 received 7,500 5,000 ... 6,000 6,500 25,000 ... 66 issued 5,830 4,334 888 7,225 8,775 27,052 $3.00 received 7,500 5,000 ... 500 1,000 14,000 2,650 1,835 issued 5,830 4,044 591 1,700 1,250 13,415 $4.00 received 7,500 5,000 ... 500 2,000 15,000 3,050 2,013 issued 5,830 3,945 640 1,675 1,775 13,865 $5.00 received 7,500 5,000 ... 500 3,000 16,000 2,100 1,240 issued 5,830 3,844 689 2,075 3,325 15,763 Comment:--The three highest dollar values were apparently never delivered to their full requisition--25,000 each. All but the 1 dollar were issued in goodly numbers in 1901,--four years after their first appearance! The 1 and 2 dollar stamps were both issued to an amount of about 2,000 more than were received from the manufacturers, but this excess is easily explained by the reissue of stamps returned by postmasters and placed again in stock. The entire issue drops out of sight with the 1901 Report, but the 1905 Report suddenly presents the figures given for the three high values still on hand, and records 30 of the 5 dollar stamps turned in for destruction. Once more, in the 1909 Report, we find 1,783 of the 3 dollar, 1,954 of the 4 dollar and 1,151 of the 5 dollar stamps returned for destruction, so that allowing for the total number destroyed and the amount on hand (which may be) we have for the actual issue of the three high values, instead of 25,000 each, but 9,515 of the 3 dollar, 9,937 of the 4 dollar and 12,660 of the 5 dollar stamps. CHAPTER XII THE "MAPLE LEAF" ISSUE OF 1897 Rumors of a new issue, as we know, had been "in the air" ever since the change in the contractors for supplying stamps had been announced. Of course the Jubilee issue was a special affair, and for a time sidetracked other considerations. A new permanent series was not forgotten, however, and under "Ottawa Notes" in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for October 9, 1897, we find the following advance information concerning it:-- A new general issue of Canadian postage stamps is imminent, being necessitated by the fact that the present Liberal government has entered into a new contract for engraving and printing Dominion treasury notes, postage and revenue stamps, and in short, all government matter. The previous contractors were the British American Bank Note Co. of Montreal.... When the bids for a renewal of the engraving contract were opened last winter, it was found that the American Bank Note Company of New York were the lowest bidders, and that they bound themselves in the event of the acceptance of their tender to build and equip a printing establishment in Ottawa, in compliance with the conditions of the bids. Their tender was accepted and they have carried out their undertaking by building a commodious and fully equipped establishment near that of their rivals on Wellington Street. Of the new presses the Jubilee issue of postage stamps were the first fruits. The impending general issue will be required as soon as the existing stock of the current issue is exhausted, and it is rumored that the supply of some values is running low. This much is announced,--that the design for the new issue has been decided upon; that the center of the stamp will contain a portrait of the Queen taken at the time of the Jubilee, approved and signed by the Queen as the best existing likeness of her, and that our national emblem, the maple leaf, will appear in the corners--not the unnatural and misshapen leaf that appears on the Jubilee issue, but the real article, copied from actual leaves gathered on Parliament hill. This would indicate that there will be only one die for all the values, but I have as yet no information as to size, colours, or details. A couple of weeks later a circular was sent to postmasters announcing the new stamps, etc., of which the following is a copy:[141]-- Circular to Postmaster. NEW ISSUE OF POSTAGE STAMPS, ETC. The Postmaster-General has made arrangements for a new issue of postage stamps, letter cards, stamped envelopes, post cards and post bands. These will be supplied to postmasters in the usual way. Postmasters are, however, instructed not to sell the stamps of any denomination of the new issue until the stamps of the corresponding denomination of the present issue are disposed of. The filling of requisitions by the Postage Stamp Branch will be regulated by the same principle--that is to say, no item of the proposed issue will be sent out until the corresponding item of the present issue has been exhausted. To conform to the requirements of the International Postal Union, the color of the new 1c. stamp will be green and that of the 5c. stamp a deep blue. R. M. COULTER, Deputy Postmaster-General. Post-Office Department, Canada. Ottawa, 25th October, 1897. [141] =American Journal of Philately=, 2nd Series, X: 502. These instructions were followed out, and the issue of the new series was thus stretched over a considerable length of time. The first to appear was the 1/2 cent, two weeks after the date of the above circular. The circumstances of its début are told under "Ottawa Notes" in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_:[142]-- The half cent stamp of the new issue was placed on sale today [9th November, 1897], its appearance having been precipitated by events over which the postal authorities had no control.... The philatelists, anticipating an early exhaustion of the old half cent stamp, helped the thing along by quietly but assiduously buying in every copy in sight. As a consequence the stock ran down much faster than that of other values, and a few weeks ago orders were issued that no more were to be sold to the public, but that publishers entitled to the half cent rate should take their papers to the post-offices and there have the stamps affixed by the staff. Even that did not save the distance [_sic_]. I hear that in Montreal it was found necessary to use cent stamps to prepay the half cent rate.[143] Fortunately for the reputation of Canadian stamps, these stamps were not over-printed with new value, and we have been spared a surcharge. However, the postal authorities hurried forward the printing and circulation of the new issue, in that value at least, and it is an accomplished fact. [142] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XII: 86. [143] See page 156. The next value to appear was the 6 cent, which was announced in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ under date of 4th December, 1897 as having been put in circulation. Following closely upon this came the 1, 2, 5 and 8 cent stamps, and in January, 1898 the 3 and 10 cent. The new stamps were very simple in design, the central oval containing a portrait of Queen Victoria copied from a photograph by W. & D. Downey of London, taken at the time of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. CANADA POSTAGE and the value in words only appear in Egyptian capitals on the oval frame to the portrait, and each spandrel is occupied by a maple leaf. Much criticism was engendered by the fact that the portrait was too large for its frame, making the design appear cramped and thus giving a disappointing effect to what otherwise might have proved a most neat and effective stamp. [Illustration No. 36 on Plate II]. The stamps were as usual line engraved on steel, and printed on the same stout white wove paper that was employed for the Jubilee issue, as well as on a thinner and more brittle quality. The 5 cent, for the first time in Canadian philatelic history, appeared on a colored paper, the stock having a decidedly bluish tint. The perforation was the regulation gauge 12. But one irregularity seems to be known, and that is the 5 cents imperforate, a block of four of which we are able to illustrate as No. 112 on Plate X. The sheet arrangement was intended to be the usual block of 100 impressions, ten by ten, but the Ottawa correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ tells us that in the case of the 1/2 cent stamp the first plate was twice this size. By some misunderstanding the contractors, the American Bank Note Co., set the sheet up with 200 stamps, and the first five hundred sheets were so printed. The sheets were afterwards cut in two through the imprint, and we have these half sheets with a close imperforated margin on either the left or right edge. Afterwards sheets of 100 stamps were issued, all the stamps perforated on all four sides. Plate number collectors will find the earliest sheets difficult to obtain. Both sheets bear the plate number 1.[144] [144] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XII: 132. The imprint on the sheets was the same as that on the Jubilee sheets, OTTAWA--No--1, etc., but instead of numbering the plates all consecutively, each denomination began its own series with "No 1." The imprint is placed in the top margin only, over the middle two stamps (5 and 6) of the top row. In the case of the 14 cent stamps each style of the first two plates was numbered "1". The plate of 200 impressions was arranged in ten horizontal rows of twenty stamps each, thus bringing the imprint over stamps 10 and 11 of the top row, and as it was between these that the large sheets were severed, the imprint was cut in two in the process. All the other values were made up in sheets of 100 only. For the information of plate number collectors we give a list of such numbers as we have been able to ascertain. 1/2 cent, No. 1 (2 plates). 1 " Nos. 1, 2. 2 " Nos. 1, 2, 3. 3 " Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 5 " No. 1,. 6 " No. 1. 8 " No. 1. 10 " No. 1. The quantity of each value issued before they were replaced by the stamps with numerals is stated to have been as follows:[145]-- 1/2 cent 2,000,000 1 " 34,000,000 2 " 12,000,000 3 " 44,000,000 5 " 3,500,000 6 " 500,000 8 " 1,400,000 10 " 500,000 [145] =Metropolitan Philatelist=, X: 117. A similar variation is found in the dimensions of these stamps to that occurring in the 7-1/2 d. and 10d. stamps and the issue of 1868, and has caused quite a little comment from those unfamiliar with this phenomenon. As much as 1/2 mm. in the vertical measurements can be found between many stamps. The cause is of course the uneven shrinking of the dampened paper when drying after being printed upon. This was fully discussed in an earlier chapter.[146] As the paper in the present instance is very similar in quality to that used for printing the United States stamps, in which the same peculiarity occurs, we will quote Mr. Melville's comment on the subject:[147]-- As we have said, the paper is impressed when damp.... This wetting-down business has another effect which has always puzzled philatelists. The wet paper is taken into a hot room to dry, and in drying it contracts. The contraction is not uniform and the philatelist in trying to prove the existence of more than one original die will pin his faith to the idea that if the varieties noticeable were due to contraction of the paper the contraction would be proportionate on all sides of the stamp. This is not the case however. Paper, when absorbing moisture, expands more in one direction than the other. The direction of greater expansion is what is technically known as the "cross direction", and is the direction _across_ the flow of pulp in the paper making machine. During the flow of the pulp the bulk of the fibres lie parallel with the movement of the wire gauze, and it is a scientific fact that the diameter of a fibre is increased by absorption of water much more than is the length. The subsequent shrinking on drying also is uneven. [146] See page 53 =et seq.= [147] =United States Postage Stamps=, 1894-1910, page 16. * * * * * The Postmaster General's Report for 1897 says:-- The contract with the British American Bank Note Company expired on the 22nd April, 1897, and a contract was entered into with the American Bank Note Company for the manufacture and supply of postage stamps &c. An estimate of the probable ordinary requirements for the next fiscal year and the comparison based thereon between the old and the present rates show that, under the new contract, stamp supplies will cost the department, say, $10,000 per annum less than under the old contract, a reduction in outlay of about 20%. It is also noted that during 1896-7 electric cancelling ("mail marking") machines were introduced, six of which were rented and installed in the Montreal Post Office and one at Ottawa. The reduction in the domestic letter rate from 3 cents to 2 cents per ounce is forecasted, as well as a proposed reduction from 5 cents to 2 cents per 1/2 ounce on letters between Great Britain and many of her colonial possessions. This will be more thoroughly discussed later. Concerning the postal changes we have been considering the report says:-- Owing to the change of contract for the manufacture and supply of postage stamps, a new series of stamps became necessary at the beginning of the present fiscal year. New stamps ranging in value from the 1/2 cent to the 10 cent denomination (inclusive) were printed, and the first supplies thereof sent out to postmasters as the corresponding denominations of the old stamps became exhausted. A considerable quantity of the higher values of that series (15 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents) remaining over from the late contract, these three stamps continued to be issued, so that the department, previous to the introduction of the same denominations in the new series, might, in accordance with the universal practice, dispose of the old stamps in each case before issuing any of the new. The design of the new stamps is of a uniform character, and consists of an engraved copy (reduced) of an authorized photograph of Her Majesty taken during the Diamond Jubilee year. This, placed within an oval bearing the usual inscriptions, is enclosed in a rectangular frame, a maple leaf on a lined ground occupying each of the triangular spaces between the two frames. To conform to the regulations of the Universal Postal Union, the colour of the new 1 cent stamp is green, and that of the 5 cents a deep blue. This necessitated corresponding changes in the colours of the other stamps of the new series; for example, purple, instead of green, being selected for the 2 cent denomination, and orange instead of slate for the 8 cent. The special delivery system was also introduced, and will be treated of later. CHAPTER XIII THE "NUMERALS" ISSUE, 1898-1902 Hardly had the "maple leaf" issue gotten generally into use before complaints began to be heard about the difficulty of distinguishing the different values. The _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for June 4, 1898, quotes a plaint of this character as follows:-- The Toronto _World_ says: "We take the liberty of suggesting to the Postmaster-General that we have a large figure indicating the value in cents of the various issues of Canadian stamps. It is hard to make them out at present." This is only one of the numerous complaints made daily against our new issue. Some changes ought to be made. But the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ in its issue for April 2, 1898, had already given information of an impending change which in the main proved correct. It says:-- Much dissatisfaction is expressed by the French speaking inhabitants of the rural parts at the lack of figures of value on the stamps, the denomination in all cases being printed in English which they are unable to understand. It has, therefore, been decided to alter the new stamps by removing the maple leaves from the lower corners and inserting large numerals of value in their place. The space occupied by the head will also be somewhat enlarged and the value will be placed on a straight band below. All of which transpired save the placing of the value on the "straight band". In the issue of the _American Journal of Philately_ for June 1, 1898, a Canadian correspondent reported: "I saw yesterday the proof of the new Canadian stamps. The frame is slightly changed and the value in figures is at the bottom on each side of the stamp, in place of the maple leaves." No date is given, but it was doubtless early in May. Finally _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ reported the actual issue of the 1 cent and 3 cent stamps, stating that a Montreal correspondent had purchased them at the post office on June 21st, which was doubtless their approximate date of issue. No further news of the numeral set is recorded until the issue of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for September 17th, wherein its Toronto correspondent says that "Last week the 2c. purple with numerals in lower corners made its debut, a few days later the 1/2c arrived similarly altered, followed closely by the 6c." This evidently puts the issue of these three values within the first ten days of September. The 8 cent was recorded in the same paper for October 15th, so that it must have been issued about the first of the month. The 10 cent did not make its appearance until November, being noticed under the "Toronto Letter" in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for November 19th, so that again it was doubtless the early part of the month that saw its advent. For six months nothing further was heard of new "numeral" stamps, when finally the 5 cent, which was the one value lacking to complete the set in its altered form, made its appearance on July 3, 1899, according to a correspondent of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_.[148] [148] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 265. The new type of stamp, as already stated, was merely an alteration of the preceding "maple leaf" design, due to two criticisms--that no numerals were shown, making it often difficult without a close look to tell the denomination, and bothersome to the large population of French origin who did not speak English; and that the portrait was too large for its oval frame, giving a somewhat cramped effect. In the new design, illustrated as number 40 on Plate II, the first objection was met by placing the proper numerals in small squares in the lower corners, which necessitated the removal of the maple leaves from the lower spandrels; and the second objection was met by enlarging the oval frame containing the portrait, thus giving a much better effect. To do this the oval was extended to the outside of the stamp, cutting the rectangular border lines instead of lying wholly within them, as in the design it superseded. The stamps were of course line engraved on steel and printed in the usual sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. The imprint was the same as on the last issue, and the plates again began with No. 1 for each denomination. As far as we have been able to ascertain, the plate numbers are as follows:-- 1/2 cent No. 1. 1 " " 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 2 " " 1, 2, 3, 4. 3 " " 1, 2, 3, 4. 5 " " 1, 2, 3. 6 " " 1. 8 " " 1. 10 " " 1. There were of course many more plates of the 1 cent stamp, at least, which remained in use for five years, and probably several more of the 2, 3, and 10 cent, but there seems to have been very little interest in Canada in keeping track of these. But during the life of this series there were important changes taking place which were reflected in the stamp issues, and we must keep track of them. In the first place, the Hon. William Mulock, the Canadian Postmaster-General, was a firm believer in and an active agitator for Imperial Penny Postage. At the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates in London, in July, 1898, the project was carried through, and a rate of one penny (2 cents) per half ounce established by certain colonies in connection with the Mother Country, to take effect on Christmas Day of 1898. Concerning this we shall have more to say in the next chapter; but meanwhile Canada's domestic rate stood at 3 cents per ounce or fraction, in spite of attempts to reduce it, particularly since the United States had lowered its internal rate in 1883. The anomaly would be presented under such conditions of a letter mailed from one town to another in Canada costing three cents, even if weighing a half ounce or less, while the same letter could cross to Great Britain and travel to Cape Colony, for instance, on payment of but two cents postage. The agitation and the London conference evidently had their effect, for on the 13th June, 1898, a bill[149] in amendment of the Post Office Act was assented to in Parliament which substituted 2 cents for 3 cents as the domestic postage rate per ounce weight. It also provided that the new rate should not take effect until a date to be named by the Governor General. After the date for the inauguration of Imperial Penny Postage was fixed, the Governor General named New Year's day following as the date for the change in Canada's domestic rate. The following notice was published in the _Canada Gazette_:[150]-- Order in Council, Post Office Department. By Proclamation dated the 29th day of December, 1898, in virtue of the Act further to amend the Post Office Act (61 Victoria, chapter 20) and of an Order in Council in accordance therewith, it was declared that the postage rate payable on all letters originating in and transmitted by post for any distance in Canada for delivery in Canada, should be one uniform rate of two cents per ounce weight, from the 1st January, 1899. [149] 61 Vict. Chap. 20. [150] =Canada Gazette=, XXXII: 1223. This of course had the immediate effect of vastly increasing the consumption of 2 cent stamps and also of rendering the 3 cent stamps practically useless. Another point would be that whereas the Postal Union requirements named red as the color for the stamp used for domestic postage, and the 3 cent had been in its proper hue, the stamp for the new internal rate was printed in purple and would therefore have to be changed. This change was not forced, however, the Post Office Department as usual preferring to use up the stock on hand of the current 2 cent stamp before issuing the new one. It took considerable time to do this, so that the 2 cent carmine did not make its appearance until the 20th August, according to a correspondent of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_.[151] It was of course the same stamp as before but printed in the color of the 3 cent value, and we have to record plate numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, though there were doubtless many more. [151] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 324. But the 3 cent stamp still remained on hand in large quantities, and in order to use them up more quickly and perhaps save confusion between them and the new 2 cent stamps, the Post Office Department decided upon surcharging the stock on hand down to 2 cents, thus making Canada's first offence in this line. The notice concerning this change and some others that were decided upon was as follows:-- _Department Circular_. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, OTTAWA, 1st July, 1899. Owing to the reduction in the Domestic letter rate of postage, the issue of the 3 c. letter-card, the 3c. stamped envelope and the 3 cent postage stamp from the Department has ceased. Any unused 3c. letter-cards, 3c. stamped envelopes or 3c. stamps, still extant, will, however, continue available for postage purposes, or may be exchanged at any Post Office, at their full face value, for postage stamps of other denominations. The color of the Domestic-rate postage stamp, as prescribed by the Universal Postal Union, is red, and it is intended to discontinue the issue of the ordinary two cents purple colored stamps as soon as the present supply on hand is exhausted. This will be about the 20th July, 1899. Thereafter the Department will issue two cents stamps in red, first, however, surcharging down to two cents the unissued remnant of the three cents stamps in red, now in the possession of the Department, and as soon as the supply of such surcharged _threes_ is exhausted, the issue of two cents stamps in red will begin. The surcharged stamps will be issued to Postmasters as 2c. postage stamps and be recognized as postage stamps of that denomination. Postmasters are requested to exchange, as above mentioned, all unused 3c. letter-cards, 3c. stamped envelopes and 3c. stamps which may be offered them to be exchanged for other postage stamps of an equal value. Postmasters, who as a result of such exchange, may find the 3c. stamps, etc., unsaleable, are at liberty, in the case of an _Accounting Post Office_, to send them direct to the Department for credit; and in the case of a _Non-Accounting Post Office_, to send them to the City Post Office from which it obtains its supplies, asking in lieu of those returned other stamps to an equal value. It is especially requested that, in the case of stamps sent direct to the Department, under this authority, that is to say, _by Accounting Post Offices_,--Postmasters will be so good as to carry out the following instructions:-- (1) Each transmission should be registered, and accompanied with a brief memorandum, plainly stamped with the date stamp of the Post Office, and indicating the number and value of the 3c. stamps, etc., claimed to be enclosed. If other stamps are required to replace those returned, a separate requisition therefor (not enclosed in the package) should be sent direct to the Department in the usual way. (2) Single stamps, and stamps that are not in complete sheets, should be pasted on alternate pages of separate sheets of paper, with _not more than one hundred stamps on each page_. Any stamps that have stuck together whilst in the possession of the Postmaster, must be taken apart (which can easily be done by immersing them for a few minutes in water) and then pasted on sheets of paper as above directed. Postmasters of _Non-Accounting_ Offices are particularly asked to bear in mind that any 3c. letter-cards, 3c. stamped envelopes or 3c. postage stamps which conformably to this instruction, they may receive from the public in exchange for other stamps and find unsaleable, _must be returned, as above directed, to the City Post Offices from which they respectively obtain their supplies_, and not to the Department. _As only the unused remnant of 3c. stamps now in the Department will be surcharged_, Postmasters must not send in, with a view to their surcharge, any 3c. stamps in their possession nor accept 3c. stamps from the public for that purpose. Postmasters must distinctly understand that the exchange of stamps herein permitted applies _only_ to the 3c. letter-card, the 3c. stamped envelope and 3c postage stamp. R. M. COULTER, _Deputy Postmaster General_. As a matter of fact the 2 cent purple seems to have lasted about a week longer than was anticipated in the above circular, so that the surcharged 3 cent stamps were not issued until the 28th July.[152] A correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_, in its issue for 22nd July, said: "I learn that the 3c numeral and some 3c with the four maple leaves will be surcharged," which proved correct; those first issued on the date mentioned above were of the numeral type, while on the 8th August[153] the "maple leaf" 3 cent made its appearance with the same surcharge. [152] =Monthly Journal=, X: 35. [153] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 308. Illustrations of the two stamps will be found as numbers 41 and 42 on Plate II. It is stated that the surcharge was made up in its peculiar form so as to prevent counterfeiting by the use of ordinary type. At any rate the graded height of the numeral and letters, giving the concave effect to the top of the surcharge, shows it to have been specially prepared. There is some variation in the thickness of the surcharge, due perhaps to inking and to wearing of the plates. The overprinting was done in full sheets of one hundred from a special plate, in black ink, and should normally be horizontally across the bottom of the stamps. Poor registering of the sheets in printing caused the position to vary even up to about the middle of the stamp in some cases, and of course there had to be some inverted surcharges in both varieties. The number of these has not been published. Illustrations of the inverts will be found as numbers 44 and 45 on Plate II. The quantity of 3 cent stamps surcharged was reported by the Ottawa correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_[154] as "variously stated to be 9,000,000 to 11,000,000," while _Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal_ is more definite[155] in saying that "there are some 9,000,000 of 3c. stamps in stock, of which about 6,000,000 are of the four leaves type, and the rest have the numerals in the lower corners." Just where these figures were obtained does not appear, but the Postmaster General's report for 30th June, 1900, makes the following statement:--"Included in the stamp output of the year was $123,600 worth of 3 cent stamps, which constituted the unissued remnant of 3 cent stamps in the possession of the department; on the occasion of the reduction of the domestic letter rate of postage they were surcharged and issued as 2 cent stamps." The figures quoted account for only 4,120,000 of the 3 cent stamps, and this quantity is confirmed in the Report for 1901, which says:--"In 1899-1900 3 cent stamps to the number of 4,120,000 were included in the output solely with a view to surcharging them down to 2 cents and transference to that column." The two varieties, however, are not separated in the accounts, but inasmuch as the catalogue prices are now, after ten years, at the same figure for each, it is reasonable to suppose that one is as common as the other and that therefore they must have been issued in approximately equal amounts. [154] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 393. [155] =Monthly Journal=, X: 35. Plate numbers for the surcharges seem to be again recorded in only a half hearted way. But one reference has been found to those of the numeral type, plates 5 and 6[156], and none for the "maple leaf" type. [156] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 400, 403. The reduction in the domestic rate of postage was also the cause of another provisional, but of quite a different character. _Stanley Gibbons Monthly Journal_ for January 31, 1899, says:-- In some offices 1c. and 2c. stamps ran short, and their places were supplied by one-third and two-thirds portions of 3c. stamps divided vertically. In some places, our correspondent says, these divided stamps were employed without further alteration, but in others we regret to hear that they were surcharged with a figure "2", in _purple_, upon the figure "3" of the larger portion, or the word "one" in _green_, upon the smaller part; or, to further complicate matters, when thirds of two adjoining stamps were used for 2c. each part was impressed with a figure "2". Our informant's letter is franked in part by 2/3 of a 3c. stamp surcharged "2" so we fear that this horrible tale is founded on fact. In the _Journal_ for March 31, 1899, is further light:-- The surcharged fractions appear to have been used only at the office at Port Hood, N. S., where the Postmaster apparently did not consider it safe to use divided stamps without some distinguishing mark. We have seen other copies since, and find that a figure "1" was struck upon the smaller portion; not the word "one" as previously stated. Again in the _Journal_ for April 29, 1899, we find:-- In reference to the cut and surcharged 3c. stamps, a correspondent sends us the following extract from a letter from the postmaster of Port Hood:-- "When the change in Canadian postage was made--of which we got notice by wire--I had only very few two cent stamps in stock, so that before I got my supply from Ottawa I ran completely out of them, and, to keep my account straight, I was compelled to cut threes. This was for one day only, and not over 300 stamps were cut. I would say about 200 '2' and 100 '1' were used. Those stamps I put on letters for delivery within the county as much as possible. About 100 '2' and probably nearly as many '1' were marked with the figures 3 and 1 as you describe, and were placed on letters for delivery in towns throughout the Dominion. Those were the only provisional stamps used by this office." Mr. Horsley reports having a copy on the original cover with the postmark of Port Hood dated 5 January, 1899, which is doubtless the "one day" that they were employed. A Canada correspondent, writing in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_[157] concerning these "splits", says that "the Dominion Government has announced that they were not authorized and letters having them on for postage should have been charged double rate when delivered." They may be interesting as curiosities, but they are assuredly not worthy of any great attention from collectors. Illustrations of the "2" cent and a pair of the "1" cent will be found as Nos. 37 and 39 respectively on Plate II. [157] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 187. Nothing further in the line of novelties is to be reported until the 29th December, 1900, when a new 20 cent stamp suddenly made its appearance as a companion in design to the rest of the "numeral" series. The large 20 cent stamp of 1893 had finally been exhausted, and the new comer in its neat olive green was a welcome addition to the current set. It of course conformed to the others in engraving, sheet arrangement, etc., and had the plate number 1. An examination of the stamp accounts during its term of life make it appear probable that approximately 500,000 were issued. Finally the long heralded 7 cent stamp, which was supposed to take the place of the 8 cent stamp after the reduction of domestic postage, made its appearance nearly four years late! It was announced in a despatch to the _Toronto Mail and Empire_ as follows:-- Ottawa, Dec. 18th, [1902].--The Post Office Department announces that on the 24th instant it will be in a position to supply a seven-cent postage stamp to accounting post offices throughout Canada. This stamp, which is of a yellow color, will be especially convenient for postage and registration fee on single rate letters, while it may also be used for other postage purposes to the extent of its face value. Non-accounting offices can obtain their supply through the city post offices. This new stamp will bear the Queen's head, the department not having yet decided on the design for the King's head issue. The Postmaster General's Report for 1903, however, gives the issue of 7 cent stamps as occurring on the 23rd December, 1902. The stamp, as was the case with the 20 cent, conformed in all respects to the others of the numeral issue, but was printed in a hideous shade of olive yellow. There was but one plate number, No. 1. It seems probable that about one million copies constituted its total issue. * * * * * The above completes the issues of the numeral type stamps with the Queen's head. Glancing over the Reports of the Postmaster General, as usual, for the period during which they were in issue, we find the following items of interest. In the Report for 30th June, 1899, the introduction of "Domestic Penny Postage" is thus recorded:-- On the 1st January, 1899, the letter rate within Canada was reduced from 3 to 2 cents per ounce. This change has been accompanied by such a marked and continuous increase in the number of domestic letters being transmitted through the mails, as to warrant the conclusion that the loss of revenue consequent on such reduction will soon be overcome. As a result of the reduction in the Domestic Letter rate of postage, the issue of the 3c. letter card, 3c. stamped envelope and 3c. postage stamp has been discontinued, unused quantities of these, however, continuing available for postage purposes or exchangeable at any post office for their equivalent in postage stamps of other denominations. On the 1st January, 1899, also, the provisions of the Act which reimposed postage payment on newspapers and periodicals went into effect. This was _An Act further to amend the Post Office Act_ (assented to 13th June, 1898)[158] which we have already quoted as being the Act authorizing the reduction in the domestic postage rate to 2 cents per ounce. The third section of this Act repealed section 26 of the _Post Office Act_ and substituted the following therefor:-- =26.= On and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, newspapers and periodicals, printed and published in Canada, mailed by the publisher in the post office at the place where they are published and addressed to regular subscribers or newsdealers in Canada, resident elsewhere than in the place of publication, shall be transmitted by mail to their respective addresses as follows:-- If they are required to be transmitted by mail a distance within twenty miles from the place of publication or within a circular area of a diameter not exceeding forty miles, and if their publication is of no greater frequency than once a week, they shall be so transmitted free of postage within one or other of such areas to be selected by the publisher in accordance with regulations in that behalf to be established by the Postmaster General; if they are required to be transmitted a greater distance, or if their publication is of greater frequency than once a week, then in either of such cases postage thereon shall be paid on and after the said first day of January, and until and inclusive of the thirtieth day of June next following, at the rate of one-quarter of one cent, and thereafter at the rate of one-half of one cent, for each pound weight or any fraction of a pound weight, which shall be prepaid by postage stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster General from time to time directs; provided that-- (_a_) such newspaper or periodical is known and recognized as a newspaper or periodical in the generally received sense of the word, and consists wholly or in great part of political or other news or of articles relative thereto or to other current topics, and is published regularly at intervals of not more than one month; (_b_) the full title, place and date of publication, and the distinguishing number of the issue are printed at the top of the first page, and every subsequent page, and also on any paper, print, lithograph or engraving purporting to be a supplement to it and sent with it; (_c_) it is addressed to a _bonâ fide_ subscriber, or to a known news-dealer in Canada; and-- (_d_) it is delivered into the post office under such regulations as the Postmaster General, from time to time, makes for that purpose. 2. For the purpose of determining the weights of such newspapers or periodicals, each newspaper or periodical transmitted separately through the mails shall be held to weight not less than one-half of one ounce. 3. [_The Postmaster General to decide whether any publication comes under this section, and whether the requirements have been complied with in any case._] 4. [_Books for the blind transmitted free of Canadian postage._] [158] 61 Vict. Chap. 20. One other item, not strictly philatelic perhaps, but interesting to record here, is the announcement of the issue of postal notes, the system having been inaugurated throughout Canada on the 4th August, 1898. It was intended mainly to obviate the need of remitting small sums by mail in postage stamps, with the consequent difficulty to the recipient of disposing of any quantity. The notes were for certain fixed values, odd amounts between values being made up by affixing postage stamps. Their denominations and dates of issue are recorded as follows:-- 4th August issued notes of 25, 50 and 70 cents. 23rd " " " " $1, $2.50 and $5. 21st October " " " 40 cents, $1.50 and $2. 25th November " " " 20, 30, 60 and 80 cents. 23rd January, 1899 " " " 90 cents, $3. and $4. In the Report for 1900 we find mention of the issue of stamp books. In the month of June, 1900, the department commenced the issue to Postmasters, of a small book of 2 cent postage stamps, containing 12 stamps, disposed on two sheets of 6 stamps each, and interleaved with wax paper to prevent adhesion of the sheets. The size of the book is such as to make it convenient to be carried in the pocket or pocket-book. Printed on the cover is postal information calculated to be of interest to the public. The price at which the book is issued is 25 cents, one cent over the face value of the stamps being charged to cover the cost of binding, etc. The stamp accounts give the date of issue of the stamp books as 11th June, 1900. That they have proved popular is evidenced by the increase in the number issued to postmasters from some 320,000 in 1901 to about 1,400,000 in 1910. The books are about two by three inches in size, with stiff cardboard covers which are bound together by red cloth. The coat-of-arms of Canada with the words CANADA POSTAGE beneath are engraved in red on the front cover, while inside are four pages of postal information and the two sheets of six stamps each--three horizontal pairs--backed by leaves of paraffined tissue paper. Notice is also given of the discontinuance of two denominations of postage stamps, the old 15 cent of 1868 passing quietly away at the age of 31 years, 1 month and 1 day--or on the 2nd November, 1899, to be exact. The 6 cent stamp, for which there was but little call since the reduction of the letter postage to 2 cents, was discontinued on the 10th February, 1900. From the Report of 1901 we learn that the last issue of the $1 Jubilee stamps took place on 27th June 1900, but nothing is said of dates for the cents values, all of which appear for the last time in the "issued to postmasters" column in amounts of 700 or 800, and even 2000 in the case of the 1/2 cent. The Report of 1902 notes the last issue of the 3 cent stamp in March, 1901, and of the 8 cent stamp, which had been of but little use since the reduction of postage, on the 16th December, 1901. The Report of 1903 announces the issue of the new King Edward stamps, and of the prepayment of printed matter in cash, instead of by stamps, under the "permit" system. Both of these subjects will be considered in their proper chapters. Though the Report for 1904 takes us into the period of the King Edward stamps, yet we find it noted therein that the last issue of 6 cent and 8 cent stamps (Queen's head) took place on the 4th September, 1902. Both these values had already been disposed of apparently, but it seems that 100,000 of the 6 cent and 125,000 of the 8 cent were "received from manufacturers" and "issued to postmasters", according to the stamp accounts of 1902-3, and rumor has it that some large concern ordered them for the mailing of catalogues. The date, 4th September, was probably that of delivery to the purchasers. CHAPTER XIV THE "CHRISTMAS" STAMP OF 1898 Ocean Penny Postage, which became the dream of Postal Reformers almost from the date of the adoption of the plan of Rowland Hill, is at length within measurable distance of becoming an accomplished fact. It is true that it is not yet to be the Universal Penny Postage, or even the Imperial Penny Postage so perseveringly advocated by Mr. Henniker-Heaton; but these will come in time, and an immense step in the desired direction has been taken by the adoption of the partial scheme, which is to come into force within a few months." So wrote Major Evans in July, 1898,[159] upon the conclusion of the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates which took place in London during that month. [159] =Monthly Journal, IX=: 1. Many of our readers may have seen the illustrated envelopes, in various designs, which were issued some fifty or sixty years ago in advocacy of an "Ocean Penny Postage." Great Britain, having committed herself to domestic penny postage in 1840, after the herculean labors of Sir Rowland Hill in that behalf, seems to have been looked to by succeeding postal reformers to furnish over-sea transportation along the same lines. Chief among these advocates was Elihu Burritt, the "learned blacksmith" of New Britain, Conn., who not only published documents on the subject but went to England and delivered addresses in support of the idea. Major Evans says:[160]--"What appears to have been the first pamphlet on 'Ocean Penny Postage', issued by Elihu Burritt, was probably published quite at the end of 1848, or early in 1849. It contains a poem dated Christmas, 1848, which may give us approximately the date of publication." This proves extremely interesting, inasmuch as Imperial Penny Postage was put into effect on Christmas, 1898, just a half century later to a day. [160] =Stamp Lover, I=: 263. But Burritt's proposal was not that which was accomplished so long afterward. In his own words:[161]-- By the term "_Ocean Penny Postage_" we mean simply this:--That the single service of transporting a letter, weighing under half-an-ounce, from any port of the United Kingdom to any port beyond the sea, at which the British mail-packets may touch, shall be performed by the British Government for _one penny_; or one penny for its mere conveyance from Folkestone to Boulogne, Liverpool to Boston, &c., and _vice versa_. Thus the entire charge upon a letter transmitted from any town in the United Kingdom to any port beyond the sea, would be two pence;--one penny for the inland rate, and the other for the ocean rate. [161] =A Penny All the Way=, Melville, p. 23. Of course this does not reckon in what might be added for an inland rate at the "port beyond the sea", but the main point was the transportation on the ocean part of the journey at a uniform rate of one penny. This was practically accomplished--and even bettered--by the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1875; for where Burritt wrote:[162]--"It would meet the terms of our proposition if every letter under half an ounce, from any town in Great Britain to any town in the Colonies, should pay _three pence_; one penny for the home inland rate, another penny for the ocean, and the third for the colonial inland rate, and _vice versa_" the Postal Union fixed a charge of but twopence halfpenny as the standard rate between _all_ countries that subscribed to its provisions. [162] =ibid.=, page 22. To quote further:[163]-- The later discussion in England on the extension of Penny Postage across the seas has alternated between the proposals for Universal Penny Postage and Imperial Penny Postage. Mr. Henry Fawcett, who was Postmaster-General in 1880, was keenly interested in endeavouring to get the Colonies to accept a lower postal rate to and from the Mother Country, but the Colonies were afraid to lower their rates.... Mr. Henniker-Heaton brought up the subject in the House of Commons in 1885 by moving for the opening of negotiations with other Governments, with a view to establishing Universal Penny Postage.... In 1890 the Jubilee of the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage was celebrated in London and throughout the United Kingdom, and public interest in postal matters received a new stimulus.... The long sustained agitation for Imperial Penny Postage was at last brought to a definite issue at the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates in 1898. The London _Standard_ of 13th July, 1898, stated:-- "We are authorized by the Postmaster-General to state that, as the result of the Imperial Conference on Postal Rates, it has been agreed, on the proposal of the Representative of the Dominion of Canada, that letter postage of one penny per half-ounce should be established between the United Kingdom, Canada, Newfoundland, the Cape Colony, Natal, and such of the Crown Colonies as may, after communication with, and approval of, Her Majesty's Government, be willing to adopt it. The date on which the reduction will come into effect will be announced later on. The question of a uniform reduced rate for the whole Empire was carefully considered; but it was not found possible to fix upon a rate acceptable to all the Governments concerned. A resolution was therefore adopted, leaving it to those parts of the Empire which were prepared for penny postage to make the necessary arrangements among themselves". The Postmaster-General who had the distinction of issuing this important communication was the Duke of Norfolk, and the representative of Canada was the Hon. (now Sir) William Mulock, LL. D., Q. C., Postmaster-General of Canada, who gave the chief credit for the reform to the British Empire League. [163] =ibid.=, page 36. Nevertheless, Mr. Mulock had been interested not only in the scheme of Imperial Penny Postage but also in endeavoring to obtain a reduction of the Canadian domestic postage to the penny (2 cents) basis. The inland letter rate, it may be remembered, was made 3 cents per half ounce throughout the new Dominion on the 1st April, 1868. Not until the 2nd May, 1889, did legislative enactment raise the limit of weight to one ounce. Meanwhile the United States, on the 1st October, 1883, had lowered its inland rate, which also applied to letters for Canada, to 2 cents per ounce. Agitation for the same reduction had naturally taken place in Canada, but instead of this it was proposed late in 1897[164] to reduce the Postal Union rate of 5 cents per half ounce to the domestic rate of 3 cents per ounce on letters to Great Britain and the Colonies. An Order in Council was actually passed announcing a rate of 3 cents per half ounce to any place in the British Empire, to take effect on 1st January, 1898, but the Imperial authorities objected to it as exceeding Canada's powers as a member of the Postal Union, and it was necessarily abandoned. [164] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XII: 129. Finally legislative enactment was passed on the 13th June, 1898, making the long desired reduction in the domestic rate to 2 cents, but not to come into operation until the date named by the Governor-General[165]. Within a month, as we have already detailed, the Imperial Conference in London decided on a penny (2 cent) rate for the British Empire and in November it was decided to put this in operation on Christmas day of 1898. Thus the anomaly was created of a 2 cent rate from Canada to England or Africa, but a 3 cent rate from one town to another in Canada. This was remedied a week later, as we have seen, by the proclamation putting the domestic 2 cent rate into force from 1st January, 1899. [165] See page 169. As a leader in the final adoption of Imperial Penny Postage, Canada could look with pride upon its accomplishment and may be pardoned for its mild celebration of the event in the guise of a _single_ commemorative stamp. It was unnecessary, of course, and no other Colony attempted it, but Mr. Mulock recognized the opportunity and rose to the occasion. The following clipping from the _Ottawa Evening Journal_[166] gives some interesting details:-- The new Imperial Penny Postage Stamp, to be used between Great Britain and a number of her colonies after Christmas Day next, has been designed by the Postmaster-General and is ready to be issued. It is not to be a special issue, but will take its place among the regular issues. When Mr. Mulock was in Britain he was surprised to notice that the great mass of the people did not appreciate the value of the greatness of the British possessions abroad. This was especially true of Canada. The idea therefore suggested itself to him, when he was considering a new stamp, to prepare something that would show the dimensions of Great Britain compared with all other countries. Mr. Mulock asked for some designs from a few artists when he came back to Canada, but they did not meet with his views, and he roughly sketched out something himself and passed it over to an artist to have it touched up. The feature of the new stamp is a neatly executed map in miniature of the world, showing the British possessions as compared with all other countries. The empire is distinguished from the possessions of the other powers by being in red. Surmounting this map is a representation of the crown, underneath which is a bunch of oak and maple leaves, symbolizing the unity of the Mother Country and Canada. At the upper edge of the stamp are the words "Canada Postage" in a neat letter. Underneath the map is placed "Xmas, 1898", so that the date of the inauguration of Imperial Penny Postage shall be a matter of record. On the lower corners are the figures "2", indicating the denomination of the stamp, and at the lower edge is this suggestive passage taken from the works of one of our patriotic poets: "We hold a vaster empire than has been". Mr. Mulock will be able to claim the credit of giving the public the cheapest map of the world ever issued. The size of the stamp is about the same as the Jubilee issue. [166] =Monthly Journal, IX=: 87. A reproduction of this _multum in parvo_ composition is shown as No. 38 on Plate II. This remarkable stamp caused no end of criticism, at home and abroad, not only because of its novel and startling design, but also because of the bombastic legend which appeared upon it. The following clipping from the _Chicago Tribune_[167] explains the origin of the motto:-- The motto chosen by Mr. Mulock, "We hold a vaster empire than has been," is from the jubilee ode of Sir Lewis Morris, entitled a "Song of Empire", with the date, June 20, 1897, as a subtitle, indicating its tone and purpose. An excerpt from the last stanza, from which the motto was taken, is as follows: "We love not war, but only peace, Yet never shall our England's power decrease! Whoever guides our helm of state, Let all men know it, England shall be great! We hold a vaster empire than has been! Nigh half the race of man is subject to our Queen! Nigh half the wide, wide earth is ours in fee! And where her rule comes all are free. And therefore 'tis, O Queen, that we, Knit fast in bonds of temperate liberty, Rejoice to-day, and make our solemn jubilee!" [167] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 76. In consequence of the peculiar legend, the stamp has been dubbed, not ineptly, the "has been" stamp. We learn from a despatch to the _Toronto Telegram_ that the printing of the stamp began on the 1st December:-- Ottawa, Dec. 2, 1898.--(Special)--The Governor-General and Hon. William Mulock, Postmaster-General, presided yesterday at the printing of the first copies of the new imperial penny postage stamp. The design is Mr. Mulock's own[168]. [168] =Ibid.=, XII: 206. It was thus brought into the world under distinguished patronage--that of its official father and god-father, so to speak. Its baptism came on the 7th December, rather earlier than expected, but explained by the following newspaper clipping[169]: Ottawa, Ont., Dec. 5--It having been stated in some newspapers that the new two-cent Imperial stamp would not become available until Christmas day, inquiry made at the Post Office Department today to ascertain the truth of this statement elicits the fact that, although it was the original intention of the department that the new stamp should not come into use until the 25th inst., the demand from the public for it has become so pressing that the department has decided to issue it at once, and permit its immediate use to the extent of its face value for all postage purposes. In other words, as soon as it reaches the public it may, if preferred by the purchaser, be used instead of the ordinary two-cent stamp. The two-cent inter-Imperial rate does not, of course, come into effect until Christmas Day. [169] =Ibid.=, XII. 213. In the _Weekly Philatelic Era_, the Canadian correspondent discourses upon its advent as follows, under date of 7th December[170]:-- The new Imperial stamps referred to in past numbers of the _Era_ were issued this morning, and although the new Imperial rate does not come into effect until Xmas-day, and they bear that inscription, they are receivable for ordinary postage now. The general design has already been described, but it may be well to say that the stamps are printed in three colours. The frame is in black with white letters, the seas are in a pale blue, or rather a lavender, and the British possessions are in a bright red. The map of the world is on Mercator's projection, which magnifies high latitudes; consequently the Dominion of Canada, which occupies the middle of the upper part of the stamp, looks bigger than all the other British possessions put together. The border of the stamp is of cable pattern and measures 32 mm. in width by 22-1/2 in height. The stamp is printed on medium, machine-wove, white paper, similar to that used for the Jubilee and subsequent Canadian issues, and is perforated 12. [170] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 105. The above quotation settles the fact that the first color in which the "seas" were printed was lavender. There has been some discussion on this point. Again, a correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ wrote under date of "Dec. 20th" that "A government official of Canada states that the 2c Imperial postage stamp is to be changed in color from a lavender to a blue. One of your contemporaries states that the color is to be green[171]." Under date of "Ottawa, Dec. 29," another correspondent of the same paper writes[172]:--"The first issue of these geographical stamps, on the 7th instant, had the sea coloured a light lavender. About the 20th, I cannot fix the exact day, a second supply had the sea coloured a light blue, as nearly as I can judge Prussian blue. And now I am told the third lot are to have the seas much darker in colour, but that is only a rumour." A clipping from the _Winnipeg Free Press_, however, states that "the second shipment, which arrived on Dec. 13th, were of an entirely different print, although the fact passed unnoticed for some days. The sea on these stamps--and on all the thousands received since--is printed in pale green!" The first shipment is noted as "lavender or pale blue" as usual. Evidently the change in color took place within the first week or ten days after printing began. A dark shade of green is apparently as common as the pale green, and a cancelled copy dated January 13, 1899, is noted in _Ewen's Weekly Stamp News_. Doubtless it was issued much earlier. The lavender shade seems to have been reverted to in the later issues of the stamp, for it is noted in chronicles as having been received from Canada in February and March, 1899, and the stamp was considered obsolete in April. We venture to think, however, that it was not a reversion to lavender in the printing of the stamp, but rather the remainder of the first printings--for it is well known that when bundles of stamp sheets are placed in stock some of the first packages received may remain at the bottom of the pile for years, while the later ones, placed on top, are used to fill orders. [171] =ibid.=, XIII: 121. [172] =ibid.=, XIII: 129. The stamps were printed in the usual sheet arrangement of 100, ten rows of ten. The black portion was from line engraved plates, but the red and lavender (or green) portions were doubtless printed on the sheets by lithography previous to the impression of the main design of the stamp in black. There are four marginal imprints reading AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. OTTAWA in Roman capitals 1/2 mm. high, the inscription being about 29 mm. long, (see illustration number 113 on Plate X). They are placed above the third and eighth stamps of the top row and beneath the corresponding stamps of the bottom row. A plate number, in hair line figures about 4 mm. high, is placed over the division between the fifth and sixth stamps of the top row, and higher up than the imprints. Plates 1, 2, 3 and 5 are known, but we have been unable to find plate 4 recorded, though it would be presumed to exist. All four known plates come with the lavender sea, and probably all four were used with the light green and dark green seas, although we have only been able to find record of plate 1 with the former and plate 2 with the latter.[173] [173] =Ewen's Weekly Stamp News=, II: 122. Mr. Ewen, in his exhaustive article on these stamps,[174] notes an apparent retouching of one of the plates. He says:--"Readers will have noted that the stamps are each surrounded by what appears to be a rope. On the sheet of plate 3 before us, the outer edge of this rope on the stamps at the end of each row (right hand side of each sheet) has worn away and has been replaced by a straight line engraved on the plate, except on stamp No. 80, which still shows the very defective nature of the rope." Much space is also given to a description of minor varieties in the red portions of the stamp--omission of islands, extra islands, peninsulas instead of islands, etc., etc. The chief variety, however, occurs in the two dots representing two islands in mid-Pacific: in the normal stamps these two lie one above and one below the "equator", if properly placed; in the variety, which is the sixth stamp in the fifth row (No. 46 in the sheet) both islands lie horizontally just below the equator. [174] =Ewen's Weekly Stamp News=, II: 122. A further variety is the stamp in imperforate condition, of which we are able to illustrate a block of four from the Worthington collection as number 113 on Plate X. This occurs with the bluish, the pale green and the deep green oceans. It would be interesting to know the number of stamps printed in each of the distinct shades, but we do not know even the total issue of the map stamps. The only reference is in the _London Philatelist_,[175] where it is remarked that "we understand [it] has been issued to the number of sixteen millions." They were not separated in the stamp accounts, but were reckoned in with the ordinary 2 cent stamps, and the above figure may very likely be the correct one as the number must have been large. We find from a newspaper clipping that the cost of manufacture of these stamps was 45 cents per thousand.[176] [175] =London Philatelist=, VIII: 79. [176] =Post Office=, IX: 37. In closing this account of the Christmas stamp it may be interesting to record the story of the first letter sent from Canada at the new rate and bearing the commemorative stamp in prepayment. It is taken from a Toronto newspaper. Penny ocean postage came into force at midnight on Saturday. The first letter to be posted was one by Mr. J. Ross Robertson, written to Mr. Edward Letchworth, the Grand Secretary, at Freemason's Hall, Great Queen-street, London.... The letter was received at the General Post-Office, Adelaide-street, Toronto, at one second past 12 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 25th, by Mr. John Carruthers, the Assistant Postmaster, who certified to the posting with his signature on the envelope. At five seconds past 12 it was handed to Mr. H. S. Allen, chief of the night staff, who, at twelve seconds past the hour, dropped it into one of the electric stamping machines, and at fifteen seconds past midnight it came out in due and proper form, bearing the Toronto postmark of Dec. 25, and the new two-cent stamp in the right-hand corner, duly cancelled, so that it was all ready for the London mail bag, waiting for it and succeeding letters going by the next British mail. On the envelope was the name of the sender in the upper left-hand corner and the following endorsation in the lower left-hand corner. "This is to certify that this letter was mailed at the Toronto Post-Office at one-quarter of a minute past 12 o'clock on the morning of Dec. 25, 1898, and is the first letter to be posted and cancelled at the Toronto postoffice, bearing the new imperial penny postage stamp, addressed to Great Britain, (signed) John Carruthers, assistant postmaster." And under this: "Received at Freemason's Hall, London, Eng., at ... o'clock, ... day of January, 1899. ... "Grand Secretary." This is probably the first time in philatelic history that race-track timing has been employed on the passage of mail matter through the post! CHAPTER XV THE "KING'S HEAD" ISSUE OF 1903-1908 The death of the beloved Queen Victoria on January 22, 1901, portended momentous changes in the multitude of stamps bearing her effigy throughout the Empire. Canada of course was expected to make the proper substitution of the portrait of the new ruler, King Edward the Seventh, but as time went on seemed in no hurry to do so. In fact it was nearly two years and a half after the Queen's death before the King Edward stamps appeared, and in the meantime but little could be learned concerning Canada's intentions in the matter. * * * * * About the first of January, 1903, it was reported in the newspapers that Postmaster-General Mulock had announced "that designs had been submitted, and it has been decided to select one bearing an excellent likeness of His Majesty." In its issue for 18th April, 1903, the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ again gave advance information concerning Canadian stamp matters in the following detailed account:-- The King's head series of Canadian stamps will probably shortly make its appearance. The die has been received by the Post Office Department and approved of. The stamp will be very similar to the present stamp except that the maple leaf in each of the upper corners will be replaced by a crown. The figures of value will appear in the lower corner as at present and the value will be spelled out as at present in the oval frame which surrounds the portrait. This frame will be as in the present stamp. The portrait of the King shows him three-quarters to the right--head and shoulders, as the Queen is in the present stamp, but there is no crown on his head. The portrait is an exceptionally nice one and it is understood that Royalty has had something to do with its selection. The die was made in England, although the American Bank Note Co. are contractors for the government work. The details given proved correct. The official announcement of the forthcoming issue was given in a circular to postmasters dated 10th June and signed by the Deputy Postmaster-General:[177]-- Postmasters are hereby informed that a new issue of postage stamps, bearing the portrait of His Majesty King Edward VII., and comprising five denominations (1c., 2c., 5c., 7c., and 10c.), is about to be supplied to Postmasters for sale in the usual way, but none of these stamps are to be sold until the first of July, 1903. The colours of the forthcoming series will be the same respectively, as those now used for the denominations specified, except that the shade of the 7c. will be slightly deeper. Postmasters will please bear in mind that, notwithstanding the new issue, they are not to return to the Department any of the old stamps on hand, but will sell them in the ordinary way. At first, the public may prefer getting new stamps, and if so, there is no objection to this wish being acceded to, but it is also desirable to work off in due course all remnants of old stamps. A change in the design of the stamp of the present series of post-cards, post-bands and stamped envelopes, to correspond with that above referred to, will be made as soon as the present stock of these items shall have been exhausted. [177] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVII: 254. The new stamps were accordingly issued on "Dominion Day" (July 1st) of 1903. Their actual appearance brought forth the following interesting account of their preparation in the _London Philatelist_:[178]-- Although for a long time past we have been aware of the circumstances attending the preparation of the new postage stamps for Canada, and in a position to illustrate the approved design, we have refrained from publishing the facts in compliance with the desire of the authorities that no details should be made public until the stamps had been completed and were ready to be put into circulation. We believe that the delay which has taken place in bringing out the new issue has been due to questions arising out of the existing contract under which the postage stamps of the Dominion are produced, and that even after the approval of the design and the receipt of the die some difficulties were experienced in connection with the preparation of the plates by the contractors. These have happily been surmounted, and now that the issue is an accomplished fact it is with much gratification that we illustrate the design of the new stamp, our illustration, prepared some time back, being taken from a proof from the steel die engraved by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon and Co., of London, and used in the manufacture of the plates of the several values issued by the Canadian postal authorities on the 1st. instant. By comparing our illustration with the stamp as issued it will be seen that the contractors or the postal authorities have made some alterations in the design, which, in our judgement, are by no means improvements. The leaves in the lower corners have been redrawn on a smaller scale, and hardly impinge upon the frame; their drawing is vastly inferior, and the graceful effect of the broken circle is lost. The numerals of value are in colour on a white ground, reversing the original design, the labels being larger and the figures taller and thinner; this also detracting materially from the charming homogeneity of the stamp as first proposed. The greatest alteration, and the worst, is the substitution of heavy diagonal lines for horizontal ones in the background. The latter were finely drawn and delicately shaded, leaving the King's Head in clear outline, and _framed_ by the dark oval band containing the inscriptions. The background and frame no longer present this artistic effect, and the whole design materially suffers thereby. [Illustration] The circumstances connected with the inception of the issue are as gratifying as they are novel, and will be hailed with acclamation by the Philatelists of the British Empire. The Postmaster of Canada, Sir William Mulock, being one of the many distinguished visitors to this country during the Coronation festivities, took the opportunity afforded by his visit of approaching the Prince of Wales, and of meeting His Royal Highness's suggestions and advice in the preparation of a new die for the Canadian stamps. The Prince, with his characteristic energy and courtesy, cheerfully undertook the task, and it will be seen from our illustration with absolute and conspicuous success. H. R. H. wisely decided, in the first instance, that it is advisable to have some continuity of design in succeeding issues, and therefore adopted the frame and groundwork of the then current stamps as a basis. In selecting a portrait of His Majesty the Prince decided to rely upon a photograph giving a true likeness of the King as we know him, in lieu of an idealised representation by an artist. The photograph eventually chosen, with the full approval of His Majesty, was one taken shortly before the Coronation. The likeness is undoubtedly what is termed a speaking one, and with the addition of the Coronation robes represents as faithful and as pleasing a picture of the King, at the time of his accession to the throne, as it is possible to find. The introduction of the Tudor crowns in the upper angles, which was another of the Prince's innovations, obviates the difficulty that has so often made "the head that wears a crown" lie "uneasy" on a postage stamp. These emblems of sovereignty, taken in conjunction with the Canadian maple leaves in the lower angles, complete a design that for harmony, boldness, and simplicity has assuredly not been excelled by any hitherto issued stamps of the British Empire. It is palpable, on analyzing the stamp, (1) that the attractiveness of the design has in no way been allowed to militate against its utility, for its country of origin and denomination are clearly expressed; (2) that the boldness of the design has not been detracted from (as is so often the case) by superfluous ornamentation, and that the design has been artistically balanced by the introduction of the _right-sized portrait_ and the proper treatment of light and shade. [178] =London Philatelist=, XII: 162. We think it will be obvious, on comparing the illustration of the original design above with the issued stamps, that the modifications introduced into the lower corners by the American Bank Note Co. did not improve the appearance of the design. [Illustration No. 43 on Plate II.] As stated in the Post Office circular, the colors followed those of the Queen's head stamps, except that the 7 cent value was given a darker shade, more of an olive than before and an improvement on its predecessor. The stamps were of course line engraved and printed in the usual sheet arrangement of ten rows of ten. The imprint was the same as on the Queen's head plates, being placed only over stamps 5 and 6 of the top row. The plate numbers began as before at No. 1 for each stamp, and up to the present writing, (Dec. 1910) there have been recorded the following:-- 1 cent--1-10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 24, 25, 34, 47, 48, 51, 52, 55, 58 2 cent--1-30, 35-40, 47, 53-59, 62, 63, 67-74, 78 5 cent--1, 2 7 cent--1 10 cent--1, 2 Over a year elapsed before any additions were made to the above set. Finally _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_[179] published in its chronicle the following note from a correspondent:--"On Tuesday, 27th September, [1904] the last sheets of the 20c numerals were issued to the distributing offices, and the first issue of the 20c King's Head was made on the same day." The stamp of course corresponds in all particulars with the others of the set and continues the fine olive green color of its predecessor. But one plate number, 1, has so far appeared. The amount delivered by the manufacturers since its appearance has averaged about 400,000 per year. [179] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVIII: 338. The remaining value of the regular Canadian series, the 50 cent, because of its limited use and the stock of the 1893 issue still on hand, had escaped being included in either of the Queen's Head issues. But the old stock at last ran out in 1908 and on the 19th November, according to _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_,[180] this value appeared in the King's Head type, printed in a rich violet and making a very handsome addition to the series. It conforms in all respects to the other values, and bears the plate number 1. The supply of the stamp received up to 31st March, 1910, was 300,000 copies. [180] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXII: 414. It may have been noticed, however, that no 1/2 cent stamp has appeared in the King's head design. Trouble over this value seems to have begun to brew with the Jubilee stamps. We have already detailed the story as far as that issue is concerned, and also the manner in which the 1/2 cent "maple leaf" was forced to appear before the authorities reckoned. Primarily intended for prepaying the rate on transient newspapers, this value was supposed to be employed only in that way, though its use had never been so restricted. Its yearly issue to postmasters had gradually increased from some 300,000 in 1869 to 900,000 in 1895. In 1898 the latter number had doubled, and by 1902 had only fallen to about 1,200,000. The trouble seemed to be partly due, at least, to the fact that stamp collectors were buying them up, and using them largely on their letter mail. This came to the attention of the Post Office Department, and resulted in the following Department Circular, published in the _Montreal Star_ for the 6th December, 1902:[181]-- The attention of postmasters is drawn to the fact that the postal necessity for the 1/2 cent stamp, as such, is now confined to one purpose--prepayment of newspapers and periodicals posted singly, and weighing not more than one ounce each (see Postal Guide, page xii, section 47). As publications of the kind referred to must, in the nature of things, be few, and as in the case of their being mailed to subscribers by the office of publication, the bulk rate of postage would be far cheaper and more convenient for the publisher, the demand for the 1/2 cent stamp throughout the Dominion must be appreciably diminished as a result of this restriction of its use. While, of course, any number of 1/2 cent stamps on an article of correspondence will be recognized to the full extent of their aggregate face value, it is not the wish of the Department to supply them except for the sole specific purpose above mentioned, and an intimation to that effect should be given by postmasters to patrons of their office who are in the habit of buying 1/2 cent stamps for other postal purposes. [181] =ibid.=, XVI: 471. This circular seems to have had the desired effect, at least in good measure, for the stamp accounts in the Reports for succeeding years showed an average issue to postmasters of approximately 400,000 1/2 cent stamps, being a reduction of two-thirds. Finally, on the 19th May, 1909, an amendment[182] to the Post Office Act was passed which repealed the provision granting the 1/2 cent rate to newspapers and periodicals weighing less than one ounce, when posted singly. This placed them in the one cent per ounce class and sounded the death knell of the 1/2 cent stamp. The stamp accounts in the 1910 Report show 1,700 1/2 cent stamps on hand April 1, 1909, and 600,000 more received from the manufacturers. These were all issued to postmasters and a foot-note finishes the story: "Discontinued June 10, 1909." [182] 8-9 Edward VII, Chap. 30. Just why the 1/2 cent stamp never was issued in the King's head type cannot be stated. All the other values then in use in Canada had made their appearance in this design, the 20 cent and 50 cent even having delayed their advent until the stock of previous types had been exhausted; but the 1/2 cent Queen's Head with numerals was regularly received from the printers and distributed to postmasters down to the middle of 1909, six years after the King's Heads first made their appearance. With the end of its usefulness at that time, of course, disappeared all hope of ever seeing it in the King's Head set. In the issue for October 10, 1908, _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ published the following editorial:-- We are enabled to report the existence of the two-cent Canada, current issue, imperforate, a reader having-shown us a sheet of one hundred of these varieties bearing the plate number 18. This is a discovery of momentous interest which must attract much attention not alone from specialists but from collectors, as we may say for the sake of distinction, as well. The fact that the pane bears so early a plate number removes it from any inclusion in the theory that the Canadian authorities propose to issue stamps in imperforate sheets in the manner that has been employed by the United States. Without doubt, the sheet under notice was regularly prepared for issue in the accepted way and it is the belief from information at hand that a sheet of four hundred of the stamps was printed and reached the public. This announcement created some comment and was made the subject of enquiry of the Post Office Department at Ottawa. The officials repudiated the idea that any such irregularity could have happened, but finally took steps to authenticate the report. In the issue of February 20, 1909, of the paper already quoted, is the full story of the "find", which has a peculiar interest, as will be seen later. The sheet as found was not of 400 stamps but of over 200 stamps, as the right hand half of the sheet on which our report was based and which was not before us when we wrote, contained a pane of 100 stamps, plate number 14 and an irregularly torn part of plate number 13, showing about fifteen whole stamps and parts of others. Assuming that the lower pane in the left half was torn approximately in the manner of the right lower pane, or plate number 13, the find consisted originally of 230 stamps, more or less. This reckoning agrees, we believe, with the recollection of the person who rescued the imperforates from oblivion, in a philatelic sense. The plate numbers on the sheet that gave authority for the chronicling of the stamps by the _Weekly_ are 13 and 14, respectively, and not 18 as first printed. A. N. Lemieux of Chicago is the man who found the stamps. While in Ottawa five years ago or so[183], when he was in business in that city, he saw the stamps just within the iron fence that has been described as surrounding the establishment of the bank note company that prints the Canadian stamps. The day was a rainy one and the sheet had evidently been blown out of the window. Mr. Lemieux apparently attached no value to the sheet of over two hundred stamps which was in a wet, crumpled condition and without gum. Mr. Lemieux was under the impression, no doubt, that, gum had been on the sheet but had been washed off by the rain.... Before he showed the stamps to the _Weekly_, Mr. Lemieux had disposed of the left half of the sheet or about 115 whole stamps to a collector ... on an exchange basis.... Mr. Lemieux was informed that the stamps still in his possession had no little philatelic interest as curiosities and he sold the specimens to Mr. Severn. [183] This was later corrected to June, 1906. Mr. Severn subsequently submitted the stamps to the officials at Ottawa, who pronounced them "printer's waste" and stated that "they seemingly had been trampled upon and subjected to the usage that would be given such cast off material. Further, it was said that they had been blown or thrown out of a window, no doubt. It was suggested that the stamps be returned to Ottawa and that there were moral grounds for such a course on the part of the holders. The description of 'printer's waste' seems to be correct and the inference is that the stamps never had been gummed. They belong to that class of curiosities that appeals strongly to the specialist but which the ordinary collector regards as something apart from his collecting policy."[184] [184] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXIII: 66. But now mark the result. The stamps very naturally did not go back to Ottawa, so Ottawa took pains to "get back" at the stamps! In the _Weekly_ of May 22, 1909, a correspondent writes:-- It may be of interest to know that the last supplement to the Canadian Post Office Guide contains the following: "In view of representations which have been made to the Department, it has been decided to permit the sale of the 2-cent denomination of Canadian postage stamps of the current issue, in sheets of 100, _without the usual perforation_." I at once asked for a sheet of 2-cent and incidentally said I would take a sheet of the other denominations if available. A reply came today informing me that only the 2-cent would be available, and then, not for some time, as the department intends to make a separate printing of these stamps, to supply whatever demand may occur. The quotation from the _Guide_ appeared in the supplement for April, 1909, and concluded with the sentence:--"Applications for the same should be made to the Postmaster at Ottawa." It might be inferred, perhaps, from the announcement in the _Guide_, that the activities of the mailing machine companies had induced the Canadian Post Office Department to cater to their convenience, as had been done in the United States, by issuing sheets of stamps, only purchaseable as such, in imperforate form. But no! The Department gave itself away! Note the following points:--Mr. Severn sent the original imperforates to Ottawa for examination. They had the plate numbers 13 and 14 on them. They were returned with the intimation that "it would be safer not to dispose of the sheet in view of the circumstances under which it reached the public. It was suggested that Mr. Severn might be 'recouped' the amount that he paid for the stamps if he relinquished them."[185] Naturally the stamps did not again see Ottawa. Six months later the Department placed on sale the 2 cent stamp in imperforate sheets of 100, BUT--it was announced that they could only be procured from the Postmaster at Ottawa; that only the 2 cent would be available; that the Department intended to make a _separate printing_ of the stamps; and when collectors obtained them they were found to be from the identical plates 13 and 14 of the "irregular" imperforates that Mr. Severn held, although the regular issues of 2 cent stamps at that time were being printed from plates numbered at least up to 62. We said "identical plates," but in view of the early plate numbers and the delay in issuing the imperforates, the suspicion is strong that new plates may have been made and given the old numbers. [185] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXIII: 190. As no other values have since been issued imperforate, and as no other plate numbers have appeared in the 2 cent imperforate except the original 13 and 14, there is but one explanation for this "special printing" on these early plates, and that is an attempt to checkmate the holder of the originals and "to destroy what may be called an accidental monopoly of a stamp, the issue of which was not intended previously." As a clincher we make one more quotation:--"Now that Mr. Lemieux, the finder of the imperforates, has received the Quarterly Supplement alluded to, containing the order creating the imperforates neatly blue-pencilled, it is assumed that the issue of the stamps in this form has been made with the idea of rendering the sheet that escaped the department of no value. Thus philately plainly has its influence in this new emission ... and an interesting variety has been added to the philatelic supply by reason of the refusal to return the sheet that accidentally escaped some years ago." * * * * * The Postmaster General's Reports for the several years of the King's Head issue (1903 to date) have but little of special interest. The Report of 30th June, 1903, says:--"Towards the end of the fiscal year a new series of postage stamps, bearing the portrait of His Majesty King Edward VII, and comprising five denominations was supplied to Post Masters so as to be on sale throughout the Dominion on the 1st July, 1903." The Report of 1905 states that a Postal Convention between Canada and Mexico came into operation on 1st July, 1905 by which first, second and third class matter can be sent from either country to the other at the domestic rates of the country of origin. The fiscal year was once more changed from the 1st July to the 1st April of each year, so that the Reports of the Postmaster General have been made up to the 31st March since 1907. The Report of 1908 states that "for some time past the provisions of the Postal Convention between Canada and the United States relative to the postage on newspapers and periodicals passing between the two countries were felt to be unsatisfactory, and an amendment was made to the Convention (taking effect on 8th May, 1907) by which the rate was fixed at 1 cent for each 4 ounces, calculated on the weight of each package of newspapers or periodicals, and prepaid by means of postage stamps affixed. The amendment was subsequently modified: and copies of legitimate daily newspapers posted from the office of publication addressed to regular subscribers and newsdealers, can now be sent from Canada to the United States and from the United States to Canada at the rate of 1 cent per pound. Newspapers and periodicals published less frequently than daily are still subject to the rate of 1 cent per 4 ounces." The issue of the "6c. International Reply Coupon" is recorded as having taken place on the 5th October, 1907. A supply of 500,000 was received from Berne, and of these 62,625 were distributed. The Report for 1909 gives but 2,475 issued from headquarters, and the 1910 Report 14,050. The 1908 Report also notes the extension of free delivery of letters by carrier to the following places: in Ontario:--Peterboro, Guelph, Berlin, Stratford, Windsor, St. Catherines; in Quebec:--Sherbrooke, St. Hyacinthe, Trois Rivières; in Prince Edward Island:--Charlottetown; in Manitoba:--Brandon; in Alberta:--Calgary, Edmonton. The Report for 1909 states that "a greatly desired reduction was made in August 1908, in the rate of postage on letters posted for local delivery in cities and other places having free letter carrier delivery service. The former rate was two cents per ounce; the present rate is one cent per ounce." Further changes in newspaper regulations are noted as follows:-- Some changes have been made in the regulations respecting newspapers and periodicals posted from the office of publication addressed to regular subscribers and newsdealers. (1) The former rate of 1/2 cent per pound applicable to newspapers and periodicals which required to be transmitted a distance in Canada exceeding three hundred miles, or which were addressed for delivery in a place having Free Letter Carrier Delivery service has been abolished; and now all newspapers and periodicals published not less frequently than once a month can be posted from the place of publication to any place in Canada at the bulk rate of a quarter of a cent per pound. (2) The extent of the circular area in Canada within which newspapers and periodicals published no more frequently than weekly and no less frequently than monthly can be sent free of postage to regular subscribers has been increased from an area having a radius of 20 miles to an area having a radius of 40 miles, the center of which may either be the place of publication or some place not more than 40 miles distant therefrom, according to the wish of the publisher. The following places are given as having had the system of free delivery of letters by carrier extended to them: in Ontario:--Chatham, Fort William, Port Arthur, Sarnia, St. Thomas; in New Brunswick:--Moncton; in Saskatchewan:--Regina; in British Columbia:--New Westminster. The Report for 1910 contains nothing special. New Parcels Post regulations are noted with the United Kingdom, British West Indies, British Guiana and Mexico, by which the rate is made 12 cents per pound or fraction, with a limit of 11 pounds. In closing the chapter on the King Edward stamps, doubtless ere long to be superseded by "King George" stamps, it may be well to record the following statistics in order to note the progress made in the Post Office Department for the period we have been considering. _31st. Mar. '03._ _31st. Mar. '10._ Number of Post Offices, 10,150 12,887 " " letters and post cards annually, 262,437,000 501,189,000 " " registered letters annually, 5,470,000 10,465,000 " " pieces of 3rd class matter annually, 46,794,000 87,237,000 " " packets and parcels annually, 3,790,740 7,112,660 Mileage travelled on mail routes annually, 35,752,087 46,773,727 Net revenue, $4,366,127.75 $7,958,547.72 A very important fact is also to be found on examining the financial reports of the Department--that from a deficit (as usual for many years) of $416,183.99 in 1901, and a wee surplus of $5,109.14 in 1902, there has grown to be a surplus of $743,210.25 in 1910. Evidently Canada's Post Office Department is at least run efficiently and economically! CHAPTER XVI THE "TERCENTENARY" ISSUE OF 1908 It may be remembered, perhaps, that in our introductory chapter we noted the fact that the first permanent settlement in Canada was made by Champlain at Quebec in 1608. As the year 1908 approached, the idea of celebrating in proper manner the three hundredth anniversary of this event was strongly agitated, particularly by the French population of the Province of Quebec. Plans were formed and materialized in the shape of fetes, historical pageants, etc., which took place at Quebec in July, 1908, and to be present at which the Prince and Princess of Wales made a special trip across the Atlantic in one of Britain's most powerful warships. In view of former precedents it was to be expected that the Canadian Post Office Department would also celebrate in a fitting way, and although a new Postmaster General had taken the place of Sir William Mulock, he nevertheless arose to the occasion as the following newspaper despatch shows:-- QUEBEC, March 31.--Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux, Postmaster Gen. of Canada, announces that a series of postage stamps commemorative of the Champlain tercentenary will be issued at Ottawa on the third of July, which marks the exact anniversary of the foundation of Quebec by Champlain. No sooner was this fact made known than the Postmaster General was showered with suggestions of all kinds as to the designs of stamps appropriate to the occasion. But after the first announcement the Post Office Department was very reticent in regard to the matter, and letters of enquiry concerning the proposed issue were answered as evasively as possible. At last the veil was lifted and the following despatch to the _Toronto Globe_[186] gave definite information concerning the proposed issue:-- OTTAWA, July 3, (Special).--Postmaster-General Lemieux has given instructions to issue a series of postage stamps commemorating the tercentenary. They are eight in number. Four of them bear portraits of persons dear to Canada, or whose names recall great events. The first represents the Prince and Princess of Wales; the second the King and Queen. Next come Cartier and Champlain, and then, in connection with the battlefields park scheme, Wolfe and Montcalm. The second part of the issue represents Cartier's arrival before Quebec. On the calm waters of the mighty St. Lawrence stand in bold relief three ships of the discoverer of Canada, flying the fleur-de-lys. As a sequel to the above is a very picturesque tableau. In Champlain's narrative of his third voyage to Canada is found the following passage: "With our canoes laden with provisions, our arms and some merchandise to be given as presents to the Indians, I started on Monday, May 27, from the Isle of Saincte Hélaine, accompanied by four Frenchmen and one Indian. A salute was given in my honor from some small pieces of artillery." The artist, under the inspiration of these few lines, has depicted Champlain's departure for the west. There stand two canoes. In one Champlain's companions have already taken their places, paddle in hand, whilst the great explorer is still on shore, bidding good-bye to a few friends. The picture is full of life. The legend underneath reads as follows: "Partement de Champlain pour L'ouest." The word "partement", now obsolete, is the one used by Champlain for the modern one "départ." The same note of old France is used in connection with a view of the first house in Quebec, indeed in Canada, Champlain's habitation, which is called in his narrative "l'abitation de Québecq." This stamp is a clear reproduction of a cut from Champlain's work. Quebec as it was in 1700 is the next view, copied from Bacqueville de la Potherie's "Histoire de la Nouvelle France." It is a quaint picture of the old city, showing steeples here and there, the fort on the river front and in faint lines the Laurentide Mountains in the background. All stamps bear with the words "Canada Postage" the line "IIIe centenaire de Québec." The postmaster-general has given special attention to the selection of portraits and historical scenes to be represented. His choice has been an excellent one. The carrying out of the engraving part of the plan has been entrusted to Mr. Machado, of the American Bank Note Co., who, with keen artistic sense, has performed his part of the work with great success. [186] =Ewen's Weekly Stamp News=, No. 462. Excellent reproductions of this attractive series will be found as Nos. 46-53 on Plate III. The stamps were placed on sale at Ottawa on the 16th July. They are of the same shape as the Jubilee issue, though the dimensions are 1 mm. higher and nearly 3 mm. longer. The designs are as already described, except that the legend "Partement pour l'ouest" does not have Champlain's name in it, and the dates 1608 and 1908 are placed in the upper corners. The colors do not wholly correspond with the regular set; the 1, 2 and 5 cent naturally conform, but the 1/2 cent is in a black-brown and the 7 cent in the fine olive green of the regular 20 cent. The 10 cent is also changed to a handsome violet, while the 15 cent is in orange and the 20 cent in a dark brown. The stamps are beautifully engraved, as usual, and printed in sheets of 100, ten rows of ten. Above the 5th and 6th stamps of the top row is the regular marginal imprint: "OTTAWA--No.--" and the figure representing the plate number. A peculiar variety has been recorded, however, in the sheets of the 2 cent value, some of those with plate numbers 3 and 4 having the imprint _inverted_ in the _bottom_ margin of the sheet.[187] As it occurs both ways, the only explanation seems to be that the plates may have printed _two panes_, which were afterwards separated into post office sheets of 100 stamps each, and that by error, perhaps, the imprint was inverted on one of these panes. [187] =Ewen's Weekly Stamp News=, Nos. 478, 480. The plate numbers of the several values are as follows:-- Plate No. 1. 1/2c., 7c., 10c., 15c., 20c. " Nos. 1, 2. 5c. " Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4. 1c., 2c. The stamps are on stout white wove paper and perforated 12. It may not be out of place to further describe some of the designs of these stamps because of their historical interest. Of course the portraits of the British Royal Family are familiar, that of the Princess of Wales being the one used on the handsome 4 cent stamp of Newfoundland, and that of the Prince of Wales being from a photograph taken by W. and D. Downey of London, just before the Prince's journey to India in 1906. The portrait of Cartier will also be recognized as the one that appeared on the early 10d. stamp of the Province of Canada. Concerning the picture on the 20 cent stamp, "Arrivée de Cartier, Québec 1535," we find some interesting details given by M. Th. Lemaire:[188]-- In 1533 Jacques Cartier obtained from Philippe de Chabot, Admiral of France, authority to arm ships "to voyage, discover and conquer in New France, as well as to find, by the North-west, the passage to Cathay." On his first voyage he touched Newfoundland, but the advanced season obliged him to return to France. King Francis I thereupon ordered him, as a "royal pilot", to arm three vessels for a second voyage. On the 19th of May, 1535, the flotilla set out from St. Malo. It was composed of two ships, the _Grande-Hermine_ of 120 tons and the _Petit-Hermine_ of 80 tons, and a galley, the _Hémerillon_, of 40 tons. These are the ones shown on the stamp. The ships were built with the high bows and sterns of those days, and were armed with "falconets" (small cannon) along the sides and "culverins" (long cannon) in a battery on the bridge. The galley was long and narrow, low in the water, and was propelled both by sails and oars; it was armed with two small cannon forward and a dozen large arquebuses. The complement of the three ships comprised in all--officers, gentlemen, volunteers, chaplains, sailors, workmen, servants--a hundred and ten men. On the 14th September, Cartier arrived at an Indian village, Stadaconé, called also by the natives Canada (or _the town_), the residence of the chief Donnacona. This village was built on the bay which the river St. Charles forms where it flows into the St. Lawrence, against the steep flank of a mountain, on the spot where now is built the south-eastern section of Quebec. The 20-cent stamp represents this arrival of Cartier at Stadaconé, the future Quebec. Samuel de Champlain, whose effigy figures on the 1 cent stamp beside that of Cartier, was sent by Henri IV in 1603 to found a settlement in Canada. On his first voyage he sailed up the St. Lawrence river and established friendly relations with the native chiefs. On the second expedition, in 1608, he disembarked on the 3d July at the foot of the promontory of Stadaconé, accompanied by only thirty men. His first care was to find a favorable place to built a "habitation" with a view to wintering there. "I could find nothing more convenient or better situated, said he, than the point of Québecq, so called by the savages, which was filled with walnut trees." It was on the same spot where, seventy-three years before, Cartier had constructed a fort of tree trunks. Thanks to the activity displayed by all, the "habitation" was quickly finished. It was composed of three main houses of two stories, each measuring fifteen by eighteen feet. The magazine was thirty-six by eighteen feet, with a six foot cellar. Champlain lodged in the same building with part of the workmen, but on the first story. The other buildings served for the workmen and for storing the arms and munitions. In an ell back of Champlain's quarters, several artisans slept beside their forge. All around the buildings a gallery six feet wide served as a promenade. A ditch fifteen feet wide and six feet deep served to protect the colonists from the aggressions of the savages. Champlain had several breastworks thrown up outside the ditch where he placed his cannon. There remained, between the habitation and the river, only a strip of land about twenty-five feet wide, and behind, on the side of the cape, a plot of cultivated ground about 100 to 120 paces by 60 paces. There Champlain had wheat and rye planted and also set out vines. [188] =Journal des Philatélistes=, 5th Series, page 298. As with the Jubilee stamps, some special sets were made up for presentation purposes. The following press clipping gives the details:[189]-- As the Prince of Wales is an enthusiastic collector of stamps, His Royal Highness will no doubt be very pleased to receive the set of the special tercentenary stamps which will be presented to him at Quebec. The stamps will be held in small gold boxes, enclosed in a handsome large box of Morocco leather. A second set accompanies the gift in a special gold box. On the cover of the large box is the Prince's crest and a gold plate inscribed as follows: "Set of Canadian postage stamps issued upon the occasion of the Quebec tercentenary, 1908. Presented to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales by Hon Rodolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General of Canada." Sets of these stamps, in boxes with appropriate crests and monograms, will be presented to Earl Grey, Sir Wilfred Laurier and Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux. [189] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXII: 265. Unlike the Jubilee issue, no advance information concerning quantities printed was given out. Many attempts were made to get this interesting detail, but without result. Even an interpellation of the Postmaster-General in the House of Commons was unproductive, as witness the following excerpt:[190]-- Mr. McKechnie sends us information regarding the issue, indicating that there is to be no such vexatious limits set upon the number to be printed as was the case with the Jubilee 1/2c. Postmaster-General Lemieux is reported, in the _Canadian Hansard_, to have said in answer to a query as to the number printed of each denomination: "Since the arrangements as to the respective quantities comprising the series are thus far of a necessarily tentative character, being largely dependent upon the demand therefor that may arise, no final estimate has been made of the number to be issued in each denomination." [190] =Canadian Hansard=, 31st March, 1909, page 3754. All of which was simply a parliamentary way of saying "mind your own business", as the full quota of stamps was doubtless printed and delivered at that time. At any rate, a _Memorandum for the Postmaster_, issued from headquarters under date of 12th September, 1908, states that "With the exception of the 10c, 15c and 20c stamps, all of the Tercentenary postage stamps are now exhausted." However, the question of the quantity issued was again brought up in the House of Commons, after some time, and the following two questions propounded by a member:[191]-- 1. What was the total amount received by the Post Office Department from the sale of the special Tercentenary stamps? 2. What part of this sum would probably have been received as ordinary revenue if there had been no special issue of stamps? To these questions the Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General, responded: The following was the issue to Postmasters of the Tercentenary postage stamps: Denominations. Quantities. Value. 1/2 cent 2,000,000 $10,000 1 " 22,530,000 225,300 2 " 35,100,000 702,000 5 " 1,200,000 60,000 7 " 700,000 49,000 10 " 500,000 50,000 15 " 300,000 45,000 20 " 304,200 60,840 ---------- --------- Totals, 62,634,200 $1,202,140 The department has no knowledge whether the stamps in question have all been sold, as during their issue the ordinary postage stamps were also on sale, both issues being in use as preferred by the public. The proceeds derived from the sale of stamps of the two issues were not kept separately, but treated as arising from a common source. It is, therefore, impossible to state to what extent the issue of the Tercentenary postage stamps may have affected the ordinary revenue. [191] =Ibid.=, XXII: 256. The Report of 1909, in referring to this issue, had the following remarks:-- To meet what appeared to be a general wish a special series of postage stamps, which has come to be known as the Tercentenary Series, was introduced as a feature of the celebration in July, 1908, of the three hundredth anniversary of the founding of Quebec by Champlain. The first supply of these stamps was sent out to Postmasters about the middle of that month, and was on sale to the public by the time His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales reached Quebec for the celebration. The demand for the new stamps was extraordinary, and for the better part of a month was steadily kept up. The interest taken in them was, in no small measure, due to the historic associations with which in design they were so happily linked, the subjects depicted in the several denominations of the series being in variety and appropriateness admirably adapted to the end in view,--popular recognition of an epoch-making event. The Report of 1910 notes that the last issue of the Tercentenary stamps was on Oct. 14, 1908,--apparently the 15 cent denomination. The whole issue was thus exhausted in three months' time. CHAPTER XVII THE REGISTRATION STAMPS The first mention that we find concerning the registration system in Canada is in the Postmaster General's report for the year ending 31st March, 1856, in the following words:--"The number of letters passing through the Post under the Registration System commenced in May 1855, is very great, and is rapidly increasing." The number of letters is given in even figures as 350,000 during the first year. The Report states further:--"In October 1856, an agreement with the Post Office Department of the United States took effect for a system of Registration to be applied to letters passing between the two countries. Under this arrangement a person posting a letter on either side can, by the pre-payment of a fee of 3d. in addition to the ordinary postage, secure a continuous record of its transmission from the place of posting to the place of destination, where a receipt will be taken and preserved of the due delivery of the letter so registered." Further details are found in the postal section of the Canadian Directory for 1857-8, as follows:-- Persons transmitting letters, which they desire should pass through the post as "registered letters," must observe that no record is taken of any letter unless specially handed in for registration at the time of posting. Upon all such letters, with the exception of those addressed to the United States, one penny must be prepaid as a registration charge. If addressed to the United States, the ordinary postage rate on the letters to that country _must be prepaid_, and in addition a registration charge of 3d. per letter. The registry thus effected in Canada will be carried on by the United States Post office until the letter arrives at its destination. In like manner, letters addressed to Canada may be registered at the place of posting in the United States, and the registry made there will accompany the letter to the place of delivery in Canada. A certificate of registration will be given by the postmaster if required. The registration system can be applied to the letter portion of the mail only.... _[The Postal Department is not liable for the loss of any registered letters._] The next year's Report gives the number of registered letters posted annually as computed at 500,000. The Report of 30th September, 1858 also says: "About 500,000 letters were registered last year", and goes on to state:--"It is also considered that it would be an improvement on the system if the charge for registration were made pre-payable by a stamp, instead of by money as at present." From this it is evident that the postage stamps were not then used for indicating the payment of the registration fee. Just when they were permitted to be so employed does not appear, but it was doubtless within a comparatively short time thereafter, as we have seen a cover with stamp so used which was dated in 1862; in fact it seems probable that arrangements for using stamps to indicate the payment for registration may have accompanied the introduction of the decimal stamps in 1859. Further remarks upon the registration system are found in the Report for 1860, as follows:-- A rate of charge for Registration so low as, in no probable degree, to operate as a motive, with persons posting letters of value, to deny themselves the advantage of securing from the Post Office an acknowledgement of the receipt of the specific letter, has always been considered to be a cardinal point in the Canadian Registration System. The Registration fee, or charge, has, therefore, under the influence of this consideration, been maintained at 2 cents, though it is doubtful whether such a rate of charge covers the actual cost of the process; the address of the Registered Letter having, in the course of transmission, to be entered on an average not less than six times, and forms of certificate or receipt, and Books in which to preserve permanent records at each Post Office, to to supplied. From the above it is evident that the domestic rate of registration was 2 cents in 1860, the equivalent of the 1 penny rate already noted as being in force in 1857, and doubtless the original rate when the system was inaugurated in 1855--certainly a remarkably cheap fee for the service. Of course the rate for letters to the United States, which had been fixed at 3 pence in 1856, was held at the equivalent of 5 cents upon the change to decimal currency in 1859. Nothing further of special interest is found until the Report of 1864, in which the following dissertation occurs:-- When a letter is _registered_, that is to say marked and recorded in the Post Office so as to individualize it from the bulk of ordinary letter correspondence, its presence in the Post Office can be identified and its course of transmission traced, and a registered letter is thus secured from the chance of abstraction by an unfaithful messenger employed to post it (as it is always open to proof whether the letter was posted for registration or not), from risk of loss by accidental misdirection on the part of the sender, and from mistakes in the Post Office--such as mis-sending or delivery to a wrong party. Against actual dishonesty on the part of the Post Office employés, a registered letter is incomparably more secure than an unregistered one, for an unregistered money-letter leaves no trace behind it whilst passing in the great stream of ordinary correspondence, though its presence as a money-letter and the nature of its contents are, to any person accustomed to handle letters, as manifest as though the letter had been singled out and marked by the registered stamp. Moreover, the safety of an unregistered letter in dependent on the integrity of a Post Office Clerk during the whole time that it remains in his custody, frequently for hours or even days; whilst a registered letter will almost invariably have to be acknowledged at the moment of its passing into an officer's hands, and cannot thereafter be suppressed without leaving him individually accountable for its disposal. In the Report for 1865 it is stated that "there has been a reduction in the charge on Registered letters" between Canada and the United Kingdom, but we are left in the dark as to the amount of the reduction or the new rate, as far as the Report goes, but in a _Post Office Directory for 1866_ (dated October 1, 1865) we find the following table which gives us the information desired:-- REGISTRATION OF LETTERS. The charge for Registration, in addition to the Postage, is as follows, viz.: On Letters to any other place in Canada, or British North America 2 cents On Letters for the United States 5 " On Letters for the United Kingdom 12-1/2 " On Letters for British Colonies or Possessions, sent _via_ England 25 " On Letters for France and other Foreign Countries, _via_ England, an amount equal to the postage rate. Both the postage charge and registration fee must in all cases be prepaid. The _Post Office Act_ 1867 made the domestic registration of letters containing valuables compulsory, the Postmaster General being empowered to prescribe and enforce regulations "in respect to the registration by the officers of the Post Office of letters unquestionably containing money or other valuable enclosure when posted without registration by the senders of the same, and to imposing a rate of two cents registration charge upon such letters."[192] [192] 31^o Vict. Cap. X. Sec. 10, par. 11. See page 96. The Report for 1868, which was the first of the Dominion of Canada, gave the statistics of registered letters as 640,000 for Ontario and Quebec (the former Province of Canada), 24,700 for New Brunswick, and 40,000 for Nova Scotia, a total registered correspondence of 704,700. The next year's Report especially notes the increase in the use of the registration system, the total having advanced to 850,000 pieces, while the Report for 1870 records an even million. Finally in the Report for 1872, we find the first hint of special stamps for registration purposes, as follows:-- It seems expedient to adopt some distinctive postage stamp to be used only in prepayment of the Registration charge, both to make it clear that this charge has been duly paid and accounted for in every case, and to diminish the risk which is occasionally felt at points of distribution of omitting to carry on the Registration in cases where the ordinary Registration postmark is not as distinct and calculated to arrest attention as it should be. It has always been the policy of the Canadian Post Office to admit letters to Registration at a low rate of charge for the additional security thus given, so as to leave no adequate motive, on the score of cost, for sending valuable letters through the mails unregistered; and, doubtless, the very large proportion of such letters offered for registration demonstrates a gratifying measure of success in attaining the desired object. We have here the reason for the extremely cheap domestic registry fee of 2 cents--a reason which might, possibly with profit, even, enter more deeply into the calculations and published rates of even larger countries than Canada. The above recommendation did not bear immediate fruit, but after a delay of three years the suggested special stamps made their appearance on November 15, 1875. The Report of that year says of them:-- Registration stamps have been issued, to be used by the public in prepaying the registration charges on letters passing within the Dominion, or to the United Kingdom or United States, each destination being distinguished by a different colour in the stamp, as well as by a variation in the amount of registration charge and corresponding value of the stamp. There is a red stamp of the value of two cents for prepayment of the registration charges on letters within the Dominion. There is a green stamp of five cents value for registered letters addressed to the United States. There is a blue stamp of eight cents value for registered letters addressed to the United Kingdom. These stamps are to apply exclusively to the registration charges, and the postage rates on registered letters are to be prepaid by the ordinary postage stamps. It is believed that the use of these distinctive stamps for the registration charges, will tend to give registered letters additional security against the risk which is sometimes felt of the registration escaping observation, when such letters are dealt with hurriedly or handled at night, whilst passing through the post. The special registration stamps are too well known to need any particular description, especially as they are excellently illustrated as Numbers 54, 55 and 56 on Plate III. Like the ordinary postage stamps, they are engraved on steel and were originally printed in sheets of 50, ten horizontal rows of five stamps each, which made a sheet of nearly the same size, only turned through an angle of 90°, as the ordinary sheet of 100 postage stamps. The imprint was the same as the second type employed for the "small" cents issue--"British American Bank Note Co. Montreal" in a pearled frame--and likewise appeared four times on the sheet, as already fully described in the chapter dealing with that issue.[193] The denomination of the stamp was also expressed as TWO CENTS, in the shaded Roman capitals which we found in the case of the postage stamps, over the first stamp in the top row of that value, but with the 5 cent the word FIVE alone appears. The 8 cent we have not seen. On the 2 cent there is also a large numeral 2, 7-1/2 mm. high, over the last stamp in the top row (number 5) but the 5 cent has none. [193] See page 125. The normal colors for the stamps were:-- 2 cents, orange varying through orange red to vermilion. 5 cents, a slightly yellow green varying from pale to dark. 8 cents, both bright and dull blue. The stamps were printed upon the same ordinary white wove paper as was used for the contemporary postage stamps. The variation from thin to thick quality is found in the case of the 2 cent and 5 cent stamps, but very little variation in the 8 cent stamp. This is explained by the fact that there were probably but two printings of the latter stamp, 100,000 having been delivered by the manufacturers according to the Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1875, and 25,000 more according to the next year's report. The stamps were normally perforated 12, but the 2 cents in orange and the 5 cents in dark green are both known in imperforate condition, the latter having been chronicled in the _Halifax Philatelist_ for November, 1888. A vertical pair of the 5 cent is shown as illustration No. 115 on Plate X. In the Report for 1877 we find the following:--"The Registration charge on registered letters between the United Kingdom and Canada has been reduced from 8 cents to 5 cents by the Post Offices of the United Kingdom." This naturally dealt a heavy blow at the use of the 8 cent stamp. The _Stamp Journal_ for February, 1878, said:--"Mr. E. Burpee states that the 8 cent 'Registered' stamps have been called in, and that hereafter the fee to Great Britain and foreign countries will be the same as to the United States--5 cents." The next issue, however, corrected this:--"After January, 1878, the cost of registering letters to Great Britain has been fixed at 5 c, the same as to the United States.... To foreign countries the rate is as before, 8 cents, and therefore there is no suppression of the 8 cent registered stamps." Nevertheless, the rate to foreign countries must have been reduced not long after, as the statistics for stamps issued to postmasters between the 1st July, 1878 and the 1st July, 1879 give but 25 of the 8 cent registered stamp, which must therefore have been sent out early in the fiscal year. The total issues to postmasters, according to the Reports, were as under:-- 1876 71,950 1877 17,200 1878 9,400 1879 25 ------ Total 98,575 The number returned as "unfit for use" and presumably destroyed during the several years was 8,872. This gives a total issue of 89,700 for the 8 cent stamp, according to the Reports; but the Canadian correspondent of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ stated:[194]--"In 1878 a little over 75,000 of these [original 125,000] were destroyed by order of the Postmaster-General." This probably means that the stamps were called in after their usefulness ceased, and allowing for the amount destroyed during the period of issue gives us perhaps 40,000 as the number actually issued to the public from post offices. [194] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, II: 45:2. The 2 cent and 5 cent stamps remained in use, but when the general revision of rates took place in 1889 the domestic rate was raised to 5 cents, and the 2 cent stamp lost its usefulness, the 5 cent alone remaining. We have already reproduced the circular announcing these changes,[195] and will only repeat here the paragraph relating to the registration fee:-- The fee for the registration of a letter or other article of mail matter will be five cents upon all classes of correspondence passing within the Dominion. For the present, and until further instructed, the registration fee may be prepaid by using the _2 cent Registration stamps and postage stamps to make up the amount_. [195] See page 136. This notice was dated 8th May, 1889, and the Report of 30th June following remarks further:-- The charge for the registration of a letter, parcel, book or other articles of mail matter was also made uniform, and fixed at 5 cents for all classes of matter. The frequent delay consequent upon the prepayment of a wrong registration fee will no longer take place. The removal of the British American Bank Note Co. from Montreal to Ottawa, which we have already noted as resulting in some marked changes in the shades of the regular postage stamps,[196] was not without its effect upon the registration stamps. Apparently the same ink used for printing the ordinary 3 cent stamp was used for the 2 cent registration, for we find both stamps chronicled in the _Halifax Philatelist_ for October, 1888, as having appeared in a "bright carmine." The usual catalog designation for this 2 cent registration stamp is "scarlet vermilion", but we think that "brick red" best describes the ordinary shade in which these Ottawa printings are found, though the _Halifax Philatelist_ recorded a "dull rose" tint in March, 1889. [196] See page 128. The 5 cent stamp was also noted in blue green in the November, 1889, issue of the _Philatelic Record_, a few months after the regular 2 cent postage stamp appeared in the same shade, again apparently showing the use of the same ink in printing both stamps. During its regular currency the 2 cent stamp had risen from an issue to postmasters of 937,000 in 1876 to 2,800,000 in 1889, but the change in rates caused a drop to 600,000 in 1890, 14,850 in 1891, and 100 in 1892, while a straggling lot of 400 appeared in 1896. The 5 cent stamp was distributed to the amount of about 232,000 in 1876, but ran up gradually from 135,000 in the next year to half a million in 1889. The increase in rates jumped it to nearly three times this amount in 1890, and by 1893, when the regular 8 cent stamp was issued for combined postage and registration, the annual output of the 5 cent registration stamp was 2,260,000. It may be remembered that after the removal of the engraving company from Montreal to Ottawa certain of the low value postage stamps appeared printed from plates of two hundred impressions instead of the ordinary one hundred. In like manner we find that new plates of double size were made for the 5 cent registration stamp also, these being in one hundred impressions, ten rows of ten, but without the "Ottawa" imprint which appeared on the enlarged plates of the regular postage stamps, according to the _Dominion Philatelist_, which noted the new sheet arrangement in October, 1892. On the 1st August, 1893, the regular 8 cent stamp was issued to prepay the combined postage and registration fee, and the notice we have already quoted in that connection stated[197] that when the supply of the 5 cent registration stamp on hand was exhausted no more would be issued. The Report for 1894 states that 307,900 were issued to postmasters for the year ending 30th June, and as over two and a half millions had been issued in the previous twelve-month, the probability is that the supply was exhausted about the time of the appearance of the 8 cent postage stamp, and therefore the stock in the hands of postmasters must have been pretty well used up by 1894. [197] See page 143. There is one point left in connection with the registration stamps that deserves mention, as it has so frequently been a bone of contention. The 2 cent stamp was formerly listed in _brown_, and quantities of printer's ink and valuable space have been wasted in discussing its merits. Mr. Donald A. King seems to have been the discoverer of the variety, according to the _Halifax Philatelist_,[198] where it was exploited in an article which is worth quoting here for its historical value. [198] =Halifax Philatelist=, II: 8. THE CANADIAN ERROR. The Canada 2c. brown registration is at this time mentioned frequently in the _Figaro_ and several other philatelic publications. As there seems to be considerable doubt as to the origin, and as I was in the main instrumental in introducing them to the philatelic public, I have decided to give the information I possess on this subject to them. About the beginning of January, 1887, I was shown a registered letter received from Miscou Light House Post Office in New Brunswick. It had a BROWN 2c. registration stamp on it--a clear unmistakable dark brown. I immediately wrote the postmaster there for information relative to them. He answered and said that he had 23 on hand. That he had originally received 50 from the P. O. Dept. at Ottawa, and that they were BROWN when he received them. This he stated positively. I then sent to him for them, but before my letter reached him he had used two of them so that I received only 21. Those stamps I showed to several philatelists, and could not get two to agree as to their origin. Some said the change in color was due to the gum, others to chemical changes, others again said it was due to the atmosphere from the salt water. Very few would allow a misprint. In the meantime Mr. F. C. Kaye also came across another registered letter with brown registration stamp. This time it was from the P. O. of New Ross in Lunenberg Co., N. S. From this office about 50 were obtained. The postmaster at this office was also positive as to having received them from the Dept. at Ottawa in brown. The same objections were raised to those as to the others, as to whether they were a genuine misprint or not. In this case the atmosphere of salt water was not the cause as New Ross is in the interior. If the gum was the cause of their changing color, it is peculiar that we do not get more of them. Changes by chemical means were also tried. The only thing which would turn the red of the genuine color to brown, was sulphuric acid mixed with water, and this did not give a good clear color, having a somewhat greyish shade in it. Those experiments have, in my opinion, confirmed their genuineness. And now as if to make assurances in regard to their genuineness more sure, we find a third post office with them. This was Beauly, in Antigonish Co., N. S. There were, however, only 6 received from there, the postmaster had the same story as the others, he had received them from the Dept. at Ottawa in a brown color. The Department at Ottawa was written to in regard to them, but as was to be expected, knew nothing of them whatsoever. No doubt if they had been seen they would not have been allowed to be issued to the public. Again we find some details given in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_[199] under "Canadian Notes" which evidently refer to another lot:-- In this color the stamps were first issued in 1885, and were distributed to a number of small towns in Ontario. Some months later the attention of the Postmaster at Toronto was called to this stamp, and as he had received no official notification of an emission in this color, he caused inquiry to be made as to the authenticity of these stamps. A number of offices that had them on hand were communicated with, and all the answers were positive in the statement that the color of the stamps when received had been a decided brown, and had not undergone the slightest change by the action of either time or chemicals. A number of these letters are in the hands of a collector here, and are proof positive that this stamp was issued in a brown color. [199] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, VI: 96. In spite of this brave showing, however, it is practically certain that the stamps are not a misprint but color changelings caused by oxidation, or rather "sulphuretting" to be more exact, an effect peculiarly liable to take place with stamps printed in red or orange. The same thing is found to occur in other Canadian stamps, the 3 pence and 5 cent of the Beaver type, the first issues of Newfoundland and the 3 cent, 1851, of the United States, as well as some of the red and orange colored revenue stamps of the Civil War period. In fact the change is carried almost to a black, at times, but can be restored to the original color by the application of hydrogen peroxide. CHAPTER XVIII THE POSTAGE DUE STAMPS Canada managed for years, like many other countries, to collect the postage due on insufficiently prepaid mail matter by merely marking the amount on the cover. The use of stamps as checks on those responsible for making the collections seems not to have been appreciated, or more probably was not deemed necessary. At last the advantages of such a system seem to have become manifest, and in the Postmaster General's Report for the 30th June, 1906, we find the following:-- A system of accounting for short paid postage collected by Postmasters, by means of special stamps known as "Postage Due" stamps, has been adopted by the Department. These stamps are to be affixed to short paid mail matter and cancelled by Postmasters when such matter is delivered to the addressee, and are not to be used for any other purpose. They cannot be used for the payment of ordinary postage, nor are they to be sold to the public. The denominations of these stamps are 1, 2 and 5 cents. The first issue of the stamps to postmasters was on the 1st June, 1906, but the system did not come into operation until a month later. The following is the official notice with the technical portions omitted:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, 1st June, 1906. _Circular to Postmasters of Accounting Offices._ Commencing on the 1st July, 1906, the present system of collecting unpaid postage will be discontinued and thereafter the following arrangements will supersede the regulations now in force:-- (1) The Department will issue a special stamp which will be known as the "POSTAGE DUE" stamp and on delivery of any article of mail matter on which unpaid or additional postage is to be collected the Postmaster will affix and cancel as ordinary stamps are cancelled, postage due stamps to the amount of extra postage charged on such article. (2) The short paid postage must be collected from the addressee before postage due stamps are affixed; otherwise the Postmaster is liable to lose the amount of such postage. (3) Postmasters will obtain postage due stamps on requisition to the Department but the initial supply will be furnished without requisition, so that the new system may go into operation on the date above mentioned. When a new form is ordered "postage due" stamps will be included in the printed list, but it is proposed to use the stock on hand at present which would otherwise have to be destroyed. The denominations of the new stamps will be 1, 2 and 5 cents. The new stamps were of the same size as the regular postage stamps, but with the longer dimension horizontal. A large numeral in a central tablet flanked by an acanthus scroll at each side, CANADA above, CENTS below, and POSTAGE DUE in block letters along the bottom, all on an engine-turned groundwork, make a very neat and effective design for the purpose intended. [Illustrations Nos. 58, 59 and 60 on Plate III.] The engraving is of course in the usual steel plate process, and the sheets are of 100 stamps in ten rows of ten. The marginal imprint is at the center of the top of the sheet and is the same as for the later postage issues, "OTTAWA--No--1" or "2". So far there have appeared the following plate numbers:-- 1 cent No. 1 2 " " 1 and 2 5 " " 1 The numbers printed, according to the Reports, have been as follows:-- 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1 cent 500,000 700,000 300,000 600,000 2 " 1,100,000 500,000 900,000 900,000 1,300,000 5 " 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 400,000 All three values were printed in the same shade of dark violet, but in 1909 the 5 cent was reported in a red violet. CHAPTER XIX 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 � 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.= CHAPTER XX THE "OFFICIALLY SEALED" LABELS Strictly speaking, the so-called "officially sealed stamps" are not stamps, as that term is technically employed in philately. To the uninitiated any design impressed upon a label, whether gummed and perforated or not, may be termed a stamp; but the ordinarily accepted use of the term has been restricted, at least in philatelic lore, to the label that represents a value, collected or chargeable, in the service in which it is employed. There may therefore be postal, telegraph or fiscal stamps, and because of the identity in use--to show that _no_ fee is required,--we can stretch our definition to include franking labels, such as are often used officially. But the "officially sealed" label performs no such function, and is, as its name implies, simply a _seal_ which fulfils that purpose alone and therefore does not properly belong in the company of postage stamps. Our only reason for touching upon these labels here is that they have been included in some of the catalogs for years and many collectors possess them; consequently it seems desirable to give their history along with that of their more worthy prototypes. The label figured as Number 117 on Plate X, seems to have been first reported in _Le Timbre-Poste_ for October, 1879, and its date of issue is usually given as that year. But little seems to have been known about it for some time, which perhaps was partly due to its scarcity and partly because it did not attract the notice that a regular postage stamp issue would have. The London Society's book quoted a somewhat ambiguous explanation of the use to which the label was put, which had appeared in the _Halifax Philatelist_;[202] but it remained for Major Evans to clear up the matter in the columns of the _Philatelic Record_.[203] We cannot do better than quote this in full:-- With reference to what is said about the Canadian _officially-sealed_ label in the London Society's new book, I am glad to be able to throw some light upon the question as to the manner of its employment. When I was in Canada last July [1889] I made special enquiries about these labels, as there appeared to be some mystery about their use. Everyone agreed that they were not placed upon _all_ letters opened at the Dead Letter Office and returned to their senders, and no two persons seemed to have quite the same theory as to the rules for their employment or non-employment in any particular case. Even gentlemen connected with the Post-Office at Halifax, such as Mr. King and others, could give me no definite information. I therefore determined to see what I could do at the head-quarters at Ottawa. Fortunately, I was able, through a collector in an official position, to obtain an introduction to the Deputy Postmaster-General, who most kindly gave me the following particulars, which show that the employment of the _officially sealed_ labels is very restricted, thus accounting for their rarity. Letters in Canada, as in the United States, very frequently have on the outside the well-known notice containing the address of the sender, and a request that the letter may be returned if not delivered within a certain time. These of course are not opened at the Dead Letter Office, and in fact, I think, are ordered not to be sent there, but are returned direct from the office to which they were originally addressed or from the head office of the district. On the other hand, those that have no indication of the address of the sender on the outside are sent to the Dead Letter Office, and there necessarily opened; but neither of these classes thus properly dealt with is considered to require the _officially-sealed_ label. It is only if one of the former class, having the sender's name and address on the outside, is sent to the Dead Letter Office and there opened in _error_ that the _officially-sealed_ label is applied, to show that such letter has been opened officially, and not by any unauthorized person. Whether these pieces of gummed paper ever had a more extended use or not I cannot say, but I was assured that the above was the substance of the regulations as to their employment. The Deputy Postmaster-General further stated that there had been so many requests for specimens of these labels that the Department had been obliged to make it a rule to turn a deaf ear to all of them. In any case they are not _postage stamps_, properly speaking, at all. They indicate neither postage paid nor postage due, but simply that the letters to which they are attached have been opened by proper authority, and they at the same time afford a means for reclosing them. [202] =North American Colonies of Great Britain=, page 19; =Halifax Philatelist=, I: 15. [203] =Philatelic Record=, XI: 210. The labels are of relatively large size, being 25-1/2 by 38 mm. The design is mostly engine-turned work, with the words OFFICIALLY SEALED on a label across the center; above this appears, in a curve, POST OFFICE CANADA, and beneath likewise DEAD LETTER OFFICE. The label is a fine piece of line engraving, but we have been unable to ascertain the size of the sheets in which it was printed. Doubtless the usual four marginal imprints were employed, being the "Montreal" type in pearled border. It seems to be the general idea that the first printing of the labels, which were in a dark red-brown, was the only one, but no information is at hand concerning the quantity delivered. At any rate in the Canadian Notes in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ for November 30, 1892 we read that:--"From a reliable source it is learned that the old die of the Canada official seal stamp has been spoiled or rather destroyed for further use by the Bank Note Company, who have possession of it." We suggest that the words "spoiled" and "destroyed" have been transposed in the original, the meaning evidently being that the die had been defaced as of no further use. The labels were normally perforated the usual 12, but the same journal for April 13, 1892 reports that a whole sheet had been seen in an imperforate condition. Though various rumors that the use of these labels was to be discontinued are to be found in the late "90's" and early "00's", and though the defacing of the die would perhaps indicate such intention, yet a new issue in changed design made its appearance about 1905, which was of course engraved by the American Bank Note Co., who then held the contract for furnishing stamps. This handsome label, figured as Number 116 on Plate X, was adapted from the magnificent "Law Stamps" of the "series of 1897", which stand as some of the finest fiscal stamps ever issued. The central vignette, with its portrait of Queen Victoria at the time of the Diamond Jubilee, the word CANADA arched above, and the engine-turned border, are reproduced in their entirety from the fiscal stamp; DEAD LETTER OFFICE and more engine-turned work replace the LAW STAMP inscription of the prototype beneath the vignette, and OFFICIALLY SEALED is filled in in block letters of varying heights at the top. The labels are of course line engraved and perforated 12, but the sheet arrangement or details of quantity printed cannot be given. They were issued at first on a pale blue paper, but subsequently, about 1907, appeared on plain white paper. CHAPTER XXI THE STAMPED ENVELOPES In its issue for June, 1904, the _London Philatelist_[204] illustrated a cover, submitted by Mr. E. B. Greenshields of Montreal, which had the appearance of a provisional 3d. envelope. Concerning it Mr. Greenshields said:--"This letter was posted in New Carlisle, Gaspé, Lower Canada, on April 7th, 1851, and was stamped 'Three Pence' in two lines, inside a square, with a black border of neat design round the sides. Across this was written 'Letter R. W. Kelly Apl. 1851'. The letter was addressed to Toronto, C. W., and on the other side was stamped the date the letter was received, 'Apl. 16, 1851.'" The design was printed on the right upper corner of the envelope, "Three Pence" being in script type of a style then in vogue, and the border being a common type of loops. No stamp appeared on the cover nor the word PAID. [204] =London Philatelist=, XIII: 153. On enquiry of the Post Office Department at Ottawa the following reply was sent:-- OTTAWA, _2nd. March_, 1904. SIR,--I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the 26th ultimo, inquiring whether R. W. Kelly was Postmaster of New Carlisle, Co. Gaspé, Quebec, in 1851, and in reply am directed to inform you that R. W. Kelly, doubtless the same man, was Postmaster of New Carlisle in 1851.... As regards your inquiry as to whether postage stamps were used on the 7th April, 1851, and your statement that you have an envelope sent on that date from New Carlisle to Toronto with "Three Pence" printed on it, inside a fancy border, I have to say that postage stamps were issued to the public for the first time on the 23d April, 1851, and that stamped envelopes were not issued until some years later. The stamped envelope to which you refer may have been an envelope so stamped on the prepayment in the New Carlisle Post Office of three pence, the required charge for postage. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM SMITH, _Secretary_. Inasmuch as the impression is type-set and printed, it was doubtless a scheme of the Postmaster to prepare the envelopes and save stamping them with the office seals afterwards, as would be necessary if no adhesive stamp were attached. The cover in question was evidently used for his own convenience, but its use as a stamped envelope would depend upon whether it was sold to the public for their convenience as a prepaid cover. Under such conditions it would assume a character akin to the Postmaster's Provisionals of the United States, but no such evidence has been forthcoming, nor are other copies known. It is an interesting cover, particularly because of the lack of the word PAID, which should have been stamped upon it as well as the indication of the amount, according to the rules in force before adhesive stamps were used to indicate prepayment in themselves; but it had no government sanction, and has not yet been shown to have even the rank of a "semi-official issue." Although following closely upon the heels of the United States in issuing postage stamps, less than four years having intervened, Canada was not so eager to introduce the stamped envelope, for she waited over six years before following the example of her big neighbor. The first reference to the innovation is found in the Postmaster General's Report for 30th September, 1859 (although the Report is actually dated 20th February, 1860), and reads as follows:-- For the promotion of public convenience by facilitating the prepayment of letters, Stamped Envelopes bearing Medallion Stamps of the postage value of 5c. and of 10c. respectively have been procured and issued for sale to the public, at an advance of 1/2 a cent on the value of each stamp, to cover the cost of the envelope, and of engraving the stamp, &c. The precise date of issue does not seem to be on record, but the year 1860 is always given. From the stamp accounts, quoted below, we find the quantity issued for sale is qualified by the remark "during 8 months to Sept. 30", which would indicate that the envelopes were issued about the 1st February, 1860; and we have therefore assigned this date to them until a more authoritative one is produced. The next reference to the envelopes, including the accounts, appears in the Report for the year ending 30th September, 1860, as follows:-- STAMPED ENVELOPES. 5c. 10c. Value Received from Mfrs. 200,000 100,000 21,500.00 Issued for sale during 8 months to Sept. 30, 136,177 45,651 12,283.09 ------- ------- --------- Remaining, 63,823 54,349 9,216.91 The number of Stamped Envelopes, actually used by the public, has been but small, as a considerable proportion of those issued remain in the hands of Postmasters. The cost of manufacture of the stamped envelopes was included, as we have already seen,[205] in the payments made to the American Bank Note Co. for stamps, etc., in 1860, so that they were obtained from that firm. They were not manufactured by them, however, but by George F. Nesbitt & Co. of New York, who at that time held the contract for supplying the United States Government with stamped envelopes. The similarity of the stamped impression, both in size and general arrangement, to the United States envelope dies of 1860 will be noted, and the paper used for the envelopes will be found to be similar, even to the watermark, while the two "knives" used for cutting the envelope blanks will be found to agree with numbers 2 and 11 of the Tiffany, Bogert and Rechert catalog. It was evidently a case of the Bank Note Co. subletting the contract to Nesbitt, who was regularly in the business. [205] See page 90. Nothing further appears in the Reports in regard to the stamped envelopes, except the tables of statistics, until the Report of 30th June, 1864, which says:--"In order to promote the use of the Stamped Envelopes a reduction in the price to the public was made from 1st October, 1864, from $5.50 per 100 for the five cent and $10.50 per 100 for the ten cent envelopes, to $5.30 and $10.30 per 100 respectively." But even this bait did not attract, for the next year's Report remarks:--"The recent reduction in the price of stamped envelopes has not led to any material increase in the demand." For two years longer the accounts are given, but with the first Report of the Dominion of Canada, for the year ending 30th June, 1868, they disappear, the envelopes evidently having been given up as a bad investment at the close of the accounts of the Province of Canada, when it was merged into the Dominion. We have already quoted the figures for the first supplies received and the quantities first issued to postmasters. It may be well to give the entire record for its historical value:-- 5 cent. 10 cent. Balance on hand, 30th Sept. 1860, 63,823 54,349 Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 1,529 1,905 ------ ------ 65,352 56,254 Issued for sale during year, 20,700 806 ------ ------ Balance on hand, 30th Sept. 1861, 44,652 55,448 Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 251 314 ------ ------ 44,903 55,762 Issued for sale during year, 9,595 844 ------ ------ Balance on hand, 30th Sept. 1862, 35,308 54,918 Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 4 ------ ------ 35,308 54,922 Issued for sale during year, 15,200 900 ------ ------ Balance on hand, 30th Sept. 1863, 20,108 54,022 Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 5,000 2,997 ------ ------ 25,108 57,019 Issued during 9 months, 14,800 850 ------ ------ Balance on hand, 30th June, 1864, 10,308 56,169 Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 6,444 5,632 Received from manufacturers, 25,000 ------ ------ 41,752 61,801 Issued for sale during year, 23,583 5,698 Balance on hand 30th June, 1865, 18,169 56,103 Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 382 225 ------ ------ 18,551 56,328 Issued to 30th June, 1866, 16,225 625 ------ ------ Balance 30th June, 1866, 2,326 55,703 Returned by Post Masters, unsold, 193 ------ ------ 2,326 55,896 Deduct envelopes short received, 10 ------ ------ 2,316 55,896 Issued to 30th. June, 1867, 2,270 172 ------ ------ Balance 30th. June, 1867, 46 55,724 These figures are the last that appear concerning the first issue of envelopes, the next Report, as already stated, having no mention of them at all. It was very probably because there were not enough to supply the added Provinces of the Dominion, in the case of the 5 cent envelopes, and principally because they did not seem to be popular enough to warrant continuing their use that the envelopes did not remain in issue under the Dominion Government. An inspection of the above table shows that the 5 cent envelopes were apparently issued at an average rate of perhaps 15,000 a year, while 800 only of the 10 cent were ordinarily put forth. This might indicate a fair consumption of the lower value by the public, particularly as the total receipt from the manufacturers was 225,000 and but 46 remainders are given at the close of the account. But it must be remembered that the table gives the quantities "issued to postmasters" and not the sales to the public by the postmasters. We know the public did not take particularly to the use of the envelopes, so that there were doubtless large quantities of them in postmaster's hands when their sale was discontinued. These would naturally be returned to the Department and destroyed, which would of course materially reduce the quantity issued as taken from the tables. Unfortunately these latter figures have not been obtainable; but it is certain from the rarity of used copies that nothing like 224,954 of the 5 cent and 44,276 of the 10 cent envelopes could have been sold to the public. We are able to illustrate an entire used copy of each value as Numbers 130 and 131 on Plate XIV. [Illustration] As already stated, the envelope stamps were very similar in size and style to the United States envelope dies of 1860. The inscription CANADA POSTAGE is in the frame above the head and the value below, reversing the United States arrangement, and there are no stars separating the legends. The embossed head of Queen Victoria was evidently copied from the profile used on the 1 cent stamp of 1859. The 5 cent stamp is printed in vermilion and the 10 cent in dark brown. There was but one size of envelope, 5-1/2 � 3-1/4 inches (140 � 83 mm.), and but one quality of paper for the first order--a white laid paper with a slightly yellowish tone, watermarked with the letters Ca over POD (Canada Post Office Department) which appears about twice in each envelope. The paper was cut so that the laid lines run diagonally, and the knife used was that numbered 2 in the Tiffany, Bogert and Rechert catalog of United States envelopes, with rounded flap and yellowish gum, extending nearly the length of the flap. In the table given it will be noticed that 25,000 more 5 cent envelopes were received from the manufacturers in 1865. These latter were on a white paper of similar quality with a slightly bluish tone, and a slightly different knife had been used in cutting the blanks, which corresponds to that numbered 11 in the catalog quoted. The difference consists mainly in a more pointed flap than the first knife. The _London Philatelist_ for December, 1896, contained the following startling announcement under the head of CANADA:[206]-- Mr. L. Gibb, of Montreal, kindly submitted to his fellow members of the London Philatelic Society, at a recent meeting, a curious variety among the stamps of the Colony he resides in. The specimen in question was the 10 c. envelope of 1860 impressed in vermilion, instead of its normal colour--brown, and being presumably printed in error in the color of the 5c. The stamp was unfortunately cut round, but was on the diagonally laid paper usual to the Issue, duly postmarked, and, in the opinion of the members present, had every appearance of authenticity, although surprise was expressed that so marked a variety should never have been noted before. [206] =London Philatelist=, V: 345. Nothing further has apparently been learned about it since, but in the face of the above statements and opinions it seems necessary to record it. Both values were reprinted[207] by the Nesbitt Company in 1868 on pieces of white wove paper and also vertically laid buff paper, the 5 cent copying the color of the original, but the 10 cent being in a dark red brown instead of black brown. They were also printed in the same colors on entire envelopes of white and buff laid paper with the POD over US watermark of the regular United States stationery. These were a size smaller than the regular Canadian envelopes, being 137�77 mm. A further variety is noted in the _Catalogue for Advanced Collectors_,[208] as follows:--"There is also a second type of the 5c to be found on the same papers as above reprints which was probably struck off in the same year. The stamp is a trifle larger and the head smaller than on the accepted die; this is probably a die prepared by Nesbitt but refused by the Canadian Government." [207] =American Journal of Philately=, 2nd Series, III: 165. [208] =Ibid.= The Dominion Government, which discarded the Provincial stamped envelopes from the beginning, did not essay anything in that line for nearly ten years. Finally the following notice was sent out:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA OTTAWA, 6th October, 1877. STAMPED ENVELOPES. 1. Letter envelopes bearing an impressed postage stamp of one cent, and three cents respectively, are ready for issue to Postmasters and through their agency to Stamp Vendors for sale to the public. 2. These envelopes when issued to Postmasters will be charged to them, and will have to be accounted for by them at the following rates: One cent envelopes, $1.30 Three cent do No. 1 size, 3.30 do do No. 2 size, 3.35 3. The three-cent envelopes are of two sizes, No. 2 being larger than No. 1 and Postmasters, when asking at any time for a supply, will be careful to state how many of each size they want. 4. Postmasters and Stamp Vendors will be required to sell these envelopes at the above rates per hundred to the public, and when a request is made for a single envelope, or for any number less than a hundred, the charge for the same must be made by the Postmaster or Stamp Vendor, as near the exact proportionate value, as compared with the above rates per hundred, as the fraction will permit without loss to the Postmaster or Stamp Vendor, thus ten of the three-cent envelopes, No. 1 size, should be sold for thirty-three cents, five for seventeen cents, and two for seven cents. 5. When used these envelopes will represent the pre-payment of postage to the amount of the stamp impressed thereon, and when used for letters weighing more than 1/2 an oz., or on which the pre-payment is required of more than is represented by the impressed stamp, the difference may be affixed by ordinary postage stamps. 6. The impressed stamp must be carefully cancelled by Postmasters when the envelopes are posted. 7. An impressed stamp cut from an envelope cannot be used for pre-payment of postage in any shape, and when detached from the envelope on which it was impressed, it loses all value as a postage stamp. 8. In the accounts rendered by Postmasters, the amounts of stamped envelopes received from the Department and sold to the public or to Vendors, are to be added to the postage stamp items. * * * * * L. S. HUNTINGTON, _Postmaster General._ */ /# _Memo._--Stamped Envelopes are to be sold to the public at the following prices by Postmasters and Stamp Vendors:-- #/ Per Hundred. Per Ten. For Single Envelopes. 1 Cent Envelopes $1.30 13 cents 2 cents, or 3 cents for 2 3 do do No. 1 size $3.30 33 cents 4 cents, or 7 cents for 2 do do No. 2 size $3.35 34 cents 4 cents, or 7 cents for 2 Curiously enough no mention is made in the Postmaster General's Report of either the issue of the stamped envelopes or their reception by the public, such as was the case with their predecessors in 1860. We find from the stamp accounts, however, that the first supplies received from the manufactures were 554,250 of the 1 cent; 1,257,000 of the 3 cent size 1; and 564,250 of the 3 cent size 2. Further supplies of the 1 cent were not needed until two years later, of the 3 cent size 1 until three years later, and of the 3 cent size 2 until four years later, so it is evident that no great popular demand sprang up for them. The 1 cent envelope, which was intended for the local or "drop letter" rate, was issued in numbers averaging about 150,000 a year up to 1889, when the Post Office Act of that year, which increased the limit of weight of the single rate letter from 1/2 to 1 ounce and fixed the drop letter rate at 2 cents per ounce for cities having a free delivery service,[209] caused a falling off in the issue to 62,000 in the 1890 Report, and this gradually diminished to about 25,000 per annum in the Report for 1897, when the stamp under discussion was superseded by a new design. [209] See page 136. The 3 cent envelopes, being the regular letter rate, had a larger use; nevertheless the issue of the No. 1 size fell gradually from some 250,000 in 1879 to about 50,000 in 1897. The No. 2 size proved more popular, though the demand was somewhat erratic. The issue went from 78,000 in 1879 to 116,000 in 1884; then averaged about 85,000 for three years; next averaged about 120,000 for four years; and finally returned to the 85,000 mark for the next six years, when a new issue took its place. The design of these envelope stamps is in all respects similar to the early type, but they are about half again as large. The embossed head of the Queen is copied from the profile on the "large" cent stamps of 1868 and is tilted forward rather awkwardly in the frame. The 3 cent is printed in bright red varying to rose, but the 1 cent instead of following the yellow color of the adhesive is printed in blue, which varies from quite pale to very dark. The envelopes were manufactured by the British American Bank Note Co. from white laid unwatermarked paper, and have a pointed flap with gum extending nearly the whole length. The smaller sized envelope was also issued with the flap rounded into a tongue, but the larger sized envelope is not known in this form. These "tongued flap" envelopes were apparently an early variety, as the _Philatelic Monthly_ records the 3 cent in its issue for April, 1878. The 1 cent, however, does not seem to have been noted until the June, 1884 issue of _Le Timbre-Poste_. [Illustration] The earlier printings of the envelopes were upon a laid paper that had the "cross vergures", or single laid lines that regularly cross the general run, at a spacing of 18 mm. from each other. About 1888 another paper came into use which had these "cross vergures" spaced 24 mm. apart, and in some cases 27 mm. The two papers can be told at a glance as they varied in tone, the latter variety having a slight cream tint and the former being a pure white. These two varieties are of course more noticeable in the entire envelope than in cut squares, and have been listed as "rosy white" and "bluish white" papers, but we feel unable to distinguish them thus as the terms seem wholly inapplicable. The 1 cent envelope was chronicled in ultramarine in April, 1897, of course on the small sized envelope and the cream toned laid paper.[210] [210] =Monthly Journal=, VII: 175. In May, 1896, the _Philatelic Record_ stated[211] that "Our publishers have the envelope of the 3 cents red value with stamp roughly lithographed instead of being embossed. Mr. J. B. Lewis, of Ottawa, says only 110 were printed." This was a somewhat startling statement, and Major Evans thus comments on it:[212]-- There have been reports of late, in various quarters, of a certain number of the 3c. envelopes, of the current type, having had the stamp impressed upon them by lithography instead of in the usual manner. The story goes that the embossing die was lost, or mislaid, that a small supply of envelopes was wanted immediately by a business firm, and that a few hundreds were lithographed to fill this demand. The whole story sounds somewhat doubtful, to any one who knows how stamped envelopes are produced, but until quite recently we had not seen a specimen of the supposed lithographed envelopes, and therefore would not express any opinion upon them. A copy has lately been sent to our publishers, and we find it to be practically identical, as far as _almost_ entire absence of embossing is concerned, with some specimens which we obtained in Canada a few years ago; the embossing, in the copy shown us, is not absolutely invisible, there being slight traces of it about the head, and especially the chignon; and if any envelopes have been lithographed, which we greatly doubt, this is not one of them. [211] =Philatelic Record=, XVIII: 135. [212] =Monthly Journal=, VI: 188. The lithographing of a comparatively few envelopes by a country like Canada appears somewhat incredulous on the face of it, and even more so does the "loss" or "misplacing" of the embossing die; the true explanation of the occurrence is doubtless found in the use of a much worn die, or more likely a defective "counter-die" or "bed-plate" which backs the paper. In the issue for January 1895, the _American Journal of Philately_ had this statement:--"Mr. G. A. Lowe informs us that the 3c envelope exists on wove paper and was issued in 1891, probably in error." Referring to this, the _Monthly Journal_ for May 1895, states:-- Mr. King tells us that he found some packets of this variety in the Post-office at Halifax, and that he thinks that they may be a new edition, on a better paper than the last. He is not certain yet about this, as the great majority of the stock consisted of the _laid_ paper envelopes, and therefore the use of the wove may have been unintentional or temporary. Again in the August 1895 issue, the last quoted paper says:-- In further reference to the 3c envelopes on _wove_ paper, Mr. King sends us replies which he received from the P. O. Department to his enquiries on the subject. The replies are vague, if not evasive, but show plainly that no intentional change was made in the paper used; they seemed to indicate, however, that the contractors are not restricted to a particular nature of paper, so long as the envelopes supplied are of sufficiently good quality. The references to Mr. King in 1895 seem to show that he discovered the envelopes at about that time, so if the first statement about their appearing in 1891 is correct there must have been two lots issued at two different periods. That they were errors seems to admit of no doubt, as the usual paper for these envelopes was of the laid variety. They were only found in the large size envelope, known officially as No. 2. In the issue for September 1899, the _American Journal of Philately_ noted two unusual varieties:-- Mr. Charles A. Benedict of Brantford has sent us samples of two envelopes with stamp of the 1877 type, which have not as yet been chronicled and which should probably be classed as printed-to-order envelopes. They are said to be used by a certain firm in Brantford for circulars and letters, and are printed on large manila amber envelopes. The size of the envelopes is given as 265�113 mm., and both the 1 cent and 3 cent stamps were impressed upon them. No further information seems to have been obtained concerning these curiosities, which must have been issued previous to the termination of the contract with the British American Bank Note Co. in 1897. Although the rate on "drop letters" at free delivery offices was fixed at 2 cents per ounce by the Post Office Act of 1889, in place of the previous 1 cent per half ounce, it did not occur that a 2 cent envelope might be desirable until about five years later. In the Postmaster General's Report of 30th June, 1894, we read:--"It is proposed to issue for use for drop letters, that is for letters passing within the limits of a free delivery in cities, a 2 cent envelope which will no doubt be found a convenience to the public." In the next year's Report we find:--"The 2 cent envelopes, used mainly for drop letters, that is, for letters passing within the limits of a free delivery in cities, and referred to in the report for last year, have been issued during the year. Judging from the demand made for these envelopes already, they are likely to prove a convenience to the public." The new denomination was issued on the 14th June, 1895,[213] on the larger sized envelope, the paper being the cream toned laid. It is a rather bizarre production, being circular in form with a medallion of the Queen's head in the center, and a beaver perched outside the design at the top, while the sides are broken by maple leaves. The inscriptions are in colored letters, and the numeral of value appears for the only time on a Canadian envelope stamp. In spite of the "demand" for these envelopes, a total supply of 94,970 received from the manufacturers was found sufficient to last until the new type was issued from the Government Printing Bureau in 1899, after the contract with the British American Bank Note Co. had expired. [213] =American Journal of Philately=, 2nd Series, VIII: 365. [Illustration] The Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1898, says:-- New stamped envelopes also came into use, and the price thereof _above the face value_ as compared with the old envelopes of the same size, was reduced by 10 cents per 100, a reduction of 33-1/3 %. A further concession given the public was that a blank form of request (to return letter if not delivered within the specified time) is printed without extra charge on the envelope, so that at the option of the purchaser stamped envelopes with or without this form of request may be obtained. Whilst the three denominations of stamped envelopes (1 cent, 2 cents and 3 cents) are retained, it was deemed advisable to have only one size instead of two as was the case with the old envelopes,--the small size of the latter (known as No. 1) being discontinued because of the tendency on the part of the mercantile community to use envelopes of the larger size (known officially as No. 2) or what in the commercial world is classed as No. 7. The latter is now the uniform size of the new stamped envelopes. The stamped envelopes referred to at the beginning of the above quotation were the 3 cent envelopes, the first value to appear in a new design, and the price, as stated, was reduced from the former rate of $3.30 per hundred to $3.20 per hundred. But this apparently applied only to the new style, for the old style envelopes returned to the department as "unfit for use" in 1898, 1899 and 1900 were credited at the old rates, while the new style envelopes in the same condition were credited at the new rates in these same years. The Report for 1899 states that the old style envelopes in their two sizes were discontinued on 31st March, 1898. The new stamp, while perhaps not as bizarre as the 2 cent of 1895, was yet a conspicuously ugly production by reason of the profile portrait of Queen Victoria that was employed. The die was engraved by Messrs. De La Rue & Co., of London, and outside of the embossed head is a very neat design of engine turned work, with POSTAGE in small white letters above the inner oval and THREE CENTS beneath. The word CANADA was added, apparently as an afterthought, in colored letters _outside_ the design at the top of the stamp, where it breaks the colored line surrounding the oval! The impression is in a bright red on a white wove paper of a slightly cream tone, and the flap is rounded, with gum extending its full length. The return request referred to in the Report is printed in black in the upper left hand corner and reads:-- [Illustration] If not called for in ten days return to.... It seems that the American Bank Note Co., upon taking the contract for supplying the Canadian stamps in 1897, asked to be excused from printing the stamped envelopes as well, because such a small number were used. This work was therefore given to the Government Printing Bureau at Ottawa,[214] which accounts for the dies having been furnished by Messrs. De La Rue & Co. The stamp accounts give the number of 3 cent envelopes furnished in the new type as 110,000 in 1898 and 70,000 in 1899, a total of 180,000; but the reduction of the domestic letter rate from 3 cents to 2 cents on the 1st January, 1899, made the 3 cent envelope useless, and large quantities were surcharged with the new rate, so that it is impossible to tell what proportion of the amount given is now represented by each variety. If catalog pricing is any criterion, the unsurcharged issue of the envelope should be perhaps 80,000. [214] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XI: 308. The Report for 1899 states:-- As a result of the reduction in the Domestic Letter rate of postage, the issue of the 3c. letter card, 3c. stamped envelope and 3c. postage stamp has been discontinued, unused quantities of these, however, continuing available for postage purposes, or exchangeable at any post office for their equivalent in postage stamps of other denominations. The Report does not give the date of issue of the 3 cent stamped envelope, but it was chronicled in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ for May 5, 1898, and therefore was probably issued sometime in April. The date of discontinuance is given, however, as December, 1898, so that it had a life, unsurcharged, of only about nine months. [Illustration] But meanwhile the 1 cent envelope was being prepared, and evidently because of the dissatisfaction expressed over the embossed head of the Queen on the 3 cent value, the new envelope appeared with the familiar youthful profile similar to that used on the British envelope dies for so many years. This improved the appearance of the stamp, which otherwise corresponded in design with the 3 cent and was likewise engraved by Messrs. De La Rue & Co. It was printed in a dark green on paper like that of the 3 cent value, and in the same size and cut of envelope. The new type was issued on July 22, 1898, according to the 1899 Report, and was sold at $1.20 per hundred. The distribution of the old style 1 cent envelopes was discontinued in the same month, according to the stamp accounts. Following the 1 cent envelope came the 2 cent, being identical in every respect save the expressed value and color, and emanating from the same source as its two predecessors. The Report of 1899 gives the date of issue of this envelope as the 2nd January, 1899, and, as the corresponding value in the adhesive set was a deep violet, we should expect the envelope stamp to follow suit. This it did, but was almost immediately followed by an issue in bright red, because of the reduction of the domestic letter rate from 3 cents to 2 cents. It will be remembered that when Imperial Penny Postage was inaugurated on December 25, 1898, it was almost immediately announced that the internal postage in Canada would be reduced to the 2 cent rate on and from the 1st January, 1899. As the Postal Union requirements called for carmine as the color of the stamp for the domestic letter rate, the change from violet was necessary in the Canadian 2 cent stamp, but owing to the large stock of the violet stamps on hand and the surcharging of the 3 cent stamps down to 2 cent value, the change in color from violet to carmine did not take place in the adhesives for some eight months. Not so with the envelopes; the new 2 cent ones were about to be issued and had been printed to the amount of 10,000 in dark violet. But with the change in rates and therefore in color requirements, orders were given to print further supplies of the 2 cent envelope in red, and the latter color therefore appeared about a week after the violet stamp. We have gone thus into detail in the matter in order to make it evident why the violet stamp was so short lived, and why the change was made. This seems necessary because such a furor was created at the time, when it became known that the issue of violet envelopes was small, and speculation ran high; the Government was accused of speculating in them and of putting them in the hands of favored ones, and finally, as in the case of the alleged speculation in the Jubilee stamps, the matter came up in Parliament. The following is an extract from the official report of the debates in the House of Commons at Ottawa:[215]-- ISSUE OF STAMPED ENVELOPES. Mr. Hughes asked: 1. When will the present 2 cent purple stamped envelope cease to be issued, and the red issued in its place? 2. How many 2 cent purple envelopes were issued, and how many distributed? At what offices were they distributed, how many at each office? Are there any more to be distributed, and if so, where will they be distributed? 3. Is it the intention of the Government to issue an entire new set of stamped envelopes to replace those at present in use? If so, when? * * * The Postmaster-General (Mr. Mulock): The issue of 2 cent purple-stamp envelopes ceased when the supply thereof in the department became exhausted, the last issue having been made on the 7th January, 1899. The subsequent issue of 2-cent stamped envelopes was in red, in accordance with the recommendation of the Postal Convention. * * * The schedule hereto annexed shows the names of the post offices supplied with such purple-stamp envelopes and the respective quantities so supplied them. List of Post Offices to which 2c. purple envelopes were issued, and the quantity in each case. Post Office. Quantity. Belleville, Ont. 500 St. Catherine's, Ont. 500 Toronto, Ont. 2000 Corinth, Ont. 100 Haliburton, Ont. 100 Mount Albert, Ont. 100 Tamworth, Ont. 500 Hagersville, Ont. 100 Hamilton, Ont. 500 Loring, Ont. 100 Newton, Ont. 100 Ottawa, Ont. 700 St. Casimir, Que. 100 Sherbrooke, Que. 500 Montreal, Que. 1000 Rigaud, Que. 100 Maitland, N. S. 100 Truro, N. S. 100 Yarmouth, N. S. 100 Andover, N. B. 200 Centreville, N. B. 100 Shoal Lake, Man. 100 Winnipeg, Man. 2000 New Westminster, B. C. 100 Greenwood, B. C. 200 [215] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 285. Further questioning by the same gentleman, in an effort to show that "inside" information had been given concerning the remainder of the 2 cent green envelopes at Toronto and the limited issue of the so-called "purple" ones, in order that favored parties might "corner" them, resulted in nothing definite except that in replying to the question "Was the issue of the 2c. purple stamped envelopes done by mistake?" the Postmaster-General said: "There was no mistake whatever made in the issue of said envelopes, but, on the contrary, the issue took place in the ordinary course of business, and was made on requisitions in the usual way, coming from postmasters." Considering the date of their issue, the cause of the change in color and the above reply of the Postmaster-General, in connection with an examination of the table of distribution of the 2c. violet envelopes, we must say that it seems clear that the whole business, as far as the Department was concerned, was legitimate and straightforward, and the aspersions cast upon the issue of this envelope were only animated by a spirit of jealousy or revenge on the part of those who unfortunately did not happen to get any, whether "tipped off" by friends in or out of the post-office, or not. The 2 cent envelope in red may have been issued on the 8th January, 1899, or within a day or two of that date, and corresponds of course with the one in violet and the 1 cent envelope in all respects. It was sold at $2.20 per hundred. We have already spoken of the 3 cent envelope, issued in April, 1898, as having been surcharged. This was due, of course, to the same reduction in the domestic rate of postage that operated to change the 2 cent envelope from violet to red, and which also rendered the 3 cent envelope practically useless. In order to utilize the stock of the latter envelopes, therefore, the Department decided on surcharging them down to a 2 cent value. This was done sometime during the week of 6-11 February, 1899, and we can do no better than quote the letter of a Canadian correspondent in the _Weekly Philatelic Era_[216] for details concerning it. [216] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XIII: 204. OTTAWA, 17th Feb'y, 1899. Our weekly sensation was duly on tap last week, in the shape of surcharges, Canada's first offence, but an aggravated case. The Post Office Department announced that any holders of 3c. envelopes or letter cards might send them in to the postage stamp branch, and have them surcharged, and re-issued as 2c. emissions, the difference in value being made good by an additional supply of surcharged stationery or in some other equivalent stamps. It was not anticipated that a very large supply of 3c. stationery was on hand, and consequently the arrangements for surcharging are of the most primitive description. Stamps of soft rubber bearing the figures 2c. are provided, and the surcharge is put on by hand, the stamps being inked on black pads. The consequence is that the work is ill done, and we have as many varieties of surcharge as there are impressions, with quantities[217] of ink varying from a black blue to a light grey. I have seen one envelope with the surcharge on sidewise reading from bottom to top. Independently of the variations in printing, there are two types of surcharge. In the first, which I shall christen the "capital surcharge", the figure 2 is 10-1/2 mm. high by 8 wide, the heavy parts of the figure being 2 mm. thick, the thin parts 3/4 mm. The C is a capital letter 4-1/2 � 3-1/2 mm. There was only one stamp of this type, and when it had been in use for two or three days the difference in type was noticed and the stamp was destroyed. Any stationery surcharged with it will be exceedingly rare. The other type, which I suggest should be called the "lower case surcharge", has a similar figure 2 but the C is a heavy face lower case letter 4 � 3-1/2 mm. It is possible that there may be varieties of this type, as there are several stamps in use, but the printing is so badly done, and the stamps so subject to distortion by pressure, that one cannot depend on either inspection or measurement, a change in pressure in printing altering the appearance of the surcharge very materially. [217] Query: "qualities"? [Illustration] In the same issue of the _Era_ appeared further notes from another correspondent. In regard to the then current 3 cent envelopes (the so-called "Bureau print") he says:--"The P. O. Department has surcharged the stock on hand, a few thousand. * * * Some of the old British American Bank Note 3c envelopes were also surcharged, but it is understood that there were very few of them on hand,--less than a thousand." The opportunity given the public, however, to have 3 cent envelopes in their possession surcharged, as well as the stock held by postmasters, which was returned to a considerable extent (15,848 of the 3c. 1898 returned 1899-1901; 6,788 of the 3c. No. 1, 1877, returned 1899-1900; and 3,081 of the 3c. No. 2, 1877, returned 1899) and doubtless reissued in surcharged condition, has made these provisional envelopes fairly common. No details of the numbers so treated are available, but if the catalogue value is any criterion the 3 cent of 1898 surcharged is half again as common as the unsurcharged variety, or, as before remarked, the numbers issued may be divided up roughly as perhaps 100,000 of the former to 80,000 of the latter. Of the old envelopes of 1877, both sizes of which are found surcharged, it is impossible to hazard any guesses, save that a considerable number--several thousands of each size at least--must have been operated upon to render them as reasonable in catalogue price as we find them. The surcharge in its first type, as described in the quotation given, with the capital C, has only been found on the 3 cent envelope of 1898, which was the one in the reserve stock of the Department when the reduction in postage took effect; but the second type, with the "lower case" C is found not only on this envelope but also on both sizes of the old "Burland & Co." envelopes of the 1877 issue. It will be remembered that it took considerably more than two years after the death of Queen Victoria before the change to King's head adhesives was made in Canada. It took even longer for the change in the envelope dies, as the first one to appear, the 2 cent, was not issued until the beginning of 1905. It was thus described in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_:[218]-- Mr. Wm. P. Anderson writes that the 2c Canada envelope, Queen's Head, is now obsolete, and that a new issue bearing the King's Head was first sent out Jan. 12. It is very similar to the existing type--same colour, shape and size and same description of paper and size of envelope. The bust of the King, a profile to the left, is larger, filling more of the central oval than did that of the young Queen. It is a very beautifully cut piece of embossing, the work of Wyon, the celebrated London die sinker. The engine turned border is not, Mr. Anderson thinks, so neat as that on the old stamp, from which it differs in detail. The word Canada has been removed from outside the frame to the upper label, which now reads Canada Postage. This and the value, two cents, on a label below the bust, are in white letters on a ground of solid colour. The lettering is very thin, which is the only blemish in a very neat and effective design. [218] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIX: 22. [Illustration] The size of the envelope was not exactly the same as the previous issue, for it measures 152 � 90 mm., about 4 mm. longer than before and 3 mm. wider, the rough measurements being 6 � 3-5/8 inches. The paper is a very white wove variety, and the color of the impression is in carmine. The 1 cent envelope did not appear until about two months later, the exact date not being available, but being very close to the 1st March, 1905. It is in all respects the same as the 2 cent envelope except that it is printed in a deep green. The use of stamped envelopes in Canada, though never so popular as in the United States, yet seems to be largely on the increase in the last twelve years, the 1 cent having risen in number from 85,500 in 1899 to 1,360,100 in 1910, and the 2 cent from 262,000 to 2,928,400 during the same period. CHAPTER XXII THE NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS In the Postmaster General's Report for the 30th June, 1875, we find the following:--"Post bands bearing an impressed stamp of one cent each have been issued for sale to the public, at the rate of four for five cents, to be used in putting up newspapers and such other transmissions requiring to be prepaid one cent, for which they may be found convenient." [Illustration] The issue took place in May, 1875, and consisted of a wrapper of light buff wove paper measuring 9-1/2 inches in height by 5 inches in width (235 � 127 mm.), with the stamp impressed at the right side, about 2-1/2 inches from the top. The sheet is cut square and gummed along the top on the back side. The stamp is typographed, and consists of an upright oval containing the head of Queen Victoria copied from that on the adhesive stamps, CANADA POSTAGE above, ONE CENT below, and the figure 1 in a circle at each side. In this first type of the wrapper stamp these circles containing the numerals are surrounded by foliations of acanthus pattern, and each has a little quatrefoil ornament in the label beneath it. There is also a thin, colored, wavy line which follows the border of the inner oval, giving a scalloped effect, and serves as the distinguishing feature of the first type. The impression is in dark blue. The stamp accounts give the receipts from the manufacturers as 554,000 during 1875, and 918,000 during 1876. No further supplies were received until 1879 so these figures doubtless represent the total supply printed on the buff paper, as the small supply received in 1879 is probably otherwise accounted for.[219] [219] See page 270. In its issue for June 1, 1878, the _Philatelic Monthly_ states that "We have received specimens of the newspaper wrappers with the stamp on the left and half way from the top." M. Moens lists it in his catalogue, where he gives the dimensions as 290 � 165 mm., or about 11-1/2 � 6-1/2 inches. This is somewhat larger than the previous size and we have been unable to confirm it by a specimen, but the accuracy of M. Moens' observations is seldom to be questioned. The London Society's work states that this wrapper is unknown to the members of the Society, but a cancelled copy, used by a business firm, is recorded in the _Monthly Journal_ in 1892.[220] Evidently this variety was an error in the cutting of the sheet. [220] =Monthly Journal=, III: 3. In the _Philatelic Record_ for December, 1881,[221] a change is noted in the wrapper itself, the paper being described as white instead of buff; but in Moens' catalogue it is listed as "very pale buff" and in fact is what we might call "cream toned", being more correctly described later in the _Philatelic Record_ as "almost white".[222] The wrapper was also cut to a new size, 11 � 5 inches or 280 � 127 mm. It is very probable that this wrapper comes from the lot of 197,000 received according to the stamp accounts for 1880--the first since 1876, barring the small lot in 1879.[223] [221] =Philatelic Record=, III: 205; corrected, III: 227. [222] =ibid=., IV: 142. [223] See page 270. [Illustration] Again, in its issue for June 1, 1882, the _Philatelic Monthly_ illustrates a new variety in the stamp for the wrapper, stating that the color is light blue. The distinguishing features of the new die are the removal of the wavy line from the inner border of the oval, the removal of the foliations from around the circles enclosing the numerals, and the replacing of the little quatrefoil ornament beneath these circles by an inverted triangular ornament. This wrapper was presumably of the usual light buff tint as no mention is made of its color; but in the issue of the same paper for October 1, 1882, it is recorded that "We have received specimens of the newspaper wrapper, stamp of latest type, on yellow-buff paper." The same wrapper is chronicled in the _Philatelic Record_ which was issued the latter part of September as upon "straw-colored wove paper," so it had doubtless appeared as early as August, 1882. The size was the same as the last wrapper, 11 � 5 inches. From 1882 on the wrappers have been issued in numbers approaching half a million per year, and as no note is made in the stamp accounts even of changes in design, it is of course impossible to estimate the quantities printed or issued of any one variety. In an article in the _Dominion Philatelist_ upon the postal stationery of Canada,[224] the "yellow paper" wrapper is given as the first issued, in 1882, and the date 1883 is given the ordinary "pale buff" paper. The chronicles we have quoted, however, show that both were doubtless issued in 1882 and that the straw colored paper was not the first. The wrapper also appears on a cream paper, and the year of issue in the article quoted is given as 1885, but we have been unable to find any contemporary chronicle to confirm this. [224] =Dominion Philatelist=, V: 130. [Illustration] Once again, in 1887, we find a change in the impressed stamp. This time the first design is reverted to, but with slight modifications which readily distinguished the new type; these are the absence of the wavy line running around the border of the inner oval, and the coarser shading on the face and neck--dotted in the first type and composed of lines in this third type. The new variety seems to have been chronicled first in the _Philatelic Monthly_ for June 1, 1887, but nothing is said about the color of the wrapper. The article in the _Dominion Philatelist_, however, gives it as thin white paper with a variety in "very thin tough white paper, fine quality." The same article under date of 1888 gives this wrapper in cream toned paper of both thick and thin quality, and in manila paper. The size of all these wrappers was the usual one of 11 � 5 inches. [Illustration] Five years of the third type seemed to be sufficient, for in 1892 a fourth variety made its appearance. This, curiously enough, reverts to the second type in similarity, for the foliations around the numerals again disappear and the only distinguishing feature is the ornaments beneath the numerals--now little quatrefoils instead of the triangular ornaments found on the second type. This fourth type seems to have been first noted in the _Canadian Philatelist_ for March, 1892, and is more fully described in the _Monthly Journal_ for 30th April, 1892, as being upon "thin, surfaced, straw coloured paper." This wrapper was cut to a slightly smaller size, 10-3/4 � 5 inches. The article in the _Dominion Philatelist_ lists it upon "cream colored paper" alone, but both varieties exist, though it would seem that the straw colored one was perhaps the first issued. There is one variety analogous to the "stamp at left" wrapper of the first type, and which is also doubtless due to faulty cutting of the sheets; this has the stamp at the usual distance from the top of the wrapper, but nearly in the middle as far as the spacing from the sides goes. The impression is in dark blue on the straw colored paper. In its issue for 31 March, 1894, the _Monthly Journal_ chronicles a change in the color of the wrapper stamp (fourth type) from blue to "grey-black", the wrapper itself remaining a "straw" color as before. We find the impression to be a plain black, though if lightly inked it might show as gray black. Besides the pale straw colored wrapper there exists a cream toned one and also one of stouter paper in a very light brown tone. All these are cut to the last size noted, viz., 10-3/4 � 5 inches. All the preceding wrappers were the product of the British American Bank Note Co., but when their contract for supplying stamps ceased in 1897 a new issue was naturally looked for. This did not materialize until June or July, 1898, when a new wrapper of the usual size and of light manila paper made its appearance with an impression of the 1 cent adhesive stamp (maple leaves in the four corners) in dark green. Unlike the stamped envelopes, it was manufactured by the American Bank Note Co., but the die for stamping it, instead of being a reproduction of the adhesive, was newly engraved for typographic work and is therefore much coarser in appearance than the adhesive stamps. No change was made in the wrapper die to include the numeral of value until the new issue with head of King Edward took place. As before, the design of the adhesive was copied but the die was engraved for surface printing and is coarser in its lines. The new wrapper probably appeared early in October, 1903, as we find it recorded in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ for the 24th October of that year. The size was as before and the paper a light manila. As a result of the changes in newspaper rates, due to the amending of the Postal Convention with the United States in 1907,[225] we find a set of special wrappers issued in that year, concerning which the Postmaster General's Report for 1908 says:-- To facilitate the mailing of second class matter sent by publishers to their subscribers in the United States, special newspaper wrappers of the 1 cent, 2 cents and 3 cents denominations were introduced. As a result of the reduction in rate of this class of matter, made in February, so far as daily editions of newspapers were concerned, the demand for 2c. and 3c. wrappers ceased, and their issue was, accordingly, discontinued. [225] See page 196. The first issue of these wrappers is given as the 11th July, 1907, and a reference to the Report of 1908, already quoted,[226] shows the reason for their appearance. The rate on periodicals had been raised to 1 cent per 4 ounces when sent to the United States, which in turn had made provision for a like rate on periodicals addressed to Canada, at the latter's behest. This move on Canada's part was aimed principally to prevent the flooding of Canadian mails with cheap American monthlies. But such a protest went up against this heavy increase, that the rates were lowered, in February 1908, to 1 cent per pound on newspapers only, which of course rendered any wrappers save the 1 cent of but little use. With becoming thrift, however, the unissued remainder of the two discarded values was surcharged "1c." in large block type in black and used up in that way. [226] See page 196. [Illustration] The quantities of these special wrappers delivered to the Department are given in the stamp accounts as:-- _1908._ _1909._ _1910._ 1 cent 1,501,000 353,000 884,000 2 " 367,000 ... ... 3 " 54,000 ... ... Of the 2 cent wrapper the accounts give 300,300 as issued in 1908 and of the 3 cent wrapper 15,600. But during 1908 and 1909 213,546 of the former and 13,790 of the latter were returned "fit for use" by postmasters, and 4,574 2 cent and 790 3 cent "unfit for use" were destroyed. It would appear from this that the actual issue to the public of these two wrappers was 82,180 of the 2 cent and but 1,020 of the 3 cent! The 1909 tables, however, record the issue to postmasters of the total quantity of these wrappers then on hand, and the 1910 tables explain this by the statement:--"Withdrawn from issue and surcharged one cent, June 18, 1908." The quantities of the surcharged wrappers are therefore 280,246 of the 1 c. on 2 cents, and 52,190 of the 1c. on 3 cents. As these wrappers were not on sale to the general public but only to publishers, who were obliged to purchase in quantity, their use was considerably restricted; and as the wrappers often enclosed papers in quantity, addressed to any one post office, they were removed in the United States post offices before distributing the papers, and very many probably lost sight of there as waste paper. While the usual newspaper wrappers are designated officially as "Post Bands," these we have been describing are called "Special Wrappers." They were of stout manila paper, cut to 15 � 6-1/2 inches (378 � 165 mm.) in size for the 1 cent and 2 cent, and 13 � 8 inches (308 � 223 mm.) for the 3 cent, and ungummed. The stamp occupied the usual position, but at its left was the following two line legend in block letters, printed in the same color as the stamp, and occupying a length of 92 mm:-- =THIS WRAPPER TO BE USED ONLY BY PUBLISHERS AND FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF MAILING SECOND CLASS MATTER TO THE UNITED STATES.= The 1 cent value was printed in dark green, the 2 cent in carmine, and the 3 cent in a slate violet. The surcharges were first noted in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News of_ 12th September, 1908, though they were probably issued soon after the date quoted above. The overprint in each case is in shiny black ink, the figure being 13 mm. high and the "c" 6 mm. high, with a period after it. One curious circumstance has been noted in connection with the use of these wrappers--large numbers have been used without the Post Office authorities taking the trouble to cancel them, while in other cases they have been cancelled in the usual manner. CHAPTER XXIII THE POST CARDS We have already remarked that Canada lagged behind the United States in adopting adhesive stamps and also stamped envelopes, but when we come to post cards we find the United States to be the laggard by nearly two years. In the Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1870, we find the following:-- The introduction of what are known as "post cards" in the United Kingdom, and the convenience which is stated to have attended their use, have induced the Department to make arrangements for the manufacture of similar post cards for the use of the public in Canada. These post cards will be sold at one cent each, and may be posted for any address within the Dominion--and will be conveyed to destination, and be delivered in like manner with letters--the one cent covering the cost both of the card and of postage. They may be used for any communication, which can advantageously be written and sent by such a medium; and, it would seem unquestionable, must, in Canada as in England, prove to be extremely convenient for many objects and purposes. The next year's Report states:--"Post Cards have been issued to the public from June, 1871, and it is believed have been found to be of material convenience. The number issued up to the 31st December was 1,470,600." [Illustration] These cards were cut to a size approximately 4-5/8 � 3 inches (116 � 75 mm.). The design consists of an engine turned border set about 3/16 of an inch in from the edge, with the stamp in the upper right corner of the enclosed space. This stamp shows a medallion bearing the head of Queen Victoria that appears on the "large" cents issue of 1868, surrounded by a frame that makes a roughly rectangular outline. The arrangement and style of the inscriptions on the card are shown by the illustration. At the bottom, just above the frame, is the imprint in letters of "diamond" size, "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal & Ottawa." The card is not of particularly heavy stock, has a somewhat rough surface, and is of a light buff tint that varies some in tone. The printing was done in sheets of several impressions and the engravings were separated by thin colored lines running the whole length between them. The color of the impression is a deep blue, though specimens in a lighter tone are not uncommon. In the Postmaster General's Report for 1872 we learn that on the 1st November of that year, amongst other changes in connection with rates to Newfoundland, the exchange of post cards at the ordinary domestic rate was provided for. In the Report for 1873 we read:--"By arrangement with the United States Post Office, the post cards of Canada and of the United States have, from the 1st July 1873, passed freely to destination between the two countries on prepayment of 2 cents each, by affixing a 1 cent postage stamp to the card in addition to the one cent stamp printed thereon." The postal arrangement concluded between Canada and the United States in 1874,[227] however, by which mail matter was to be exchanged between the two countries at the domestic rates of each, obviated the necessity of the extra cent on the post cards from the 1st January, 1875. [227] See page 120. It may be remembered that the marginal imprints on the sheets of adhesive stamps began to be changed in 1875 and that the word "Ottawa" was dropped. The same change took place in the post card some time during 1876, it being first noted in _Le Timbre-Poste_ for January, 1877. The new card had the imprint at the bottom reading "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal" in letters slightly larger than on the first type. The frame of the card also seems to have been re-engraved as slight differences can be detected, and the outside or "over all" measurements are found to be about 1-1/2 mm. greater each way. Otherwise the appearance of the card is the same, but it is cut a little larger, measuring 4-3/4 � 3 inches (120 � 75 mm.), and the stock is a little heavier than the first card and of a slightly paler buff. The engravings on the plate were this time separated by short lines of color at the center of the sides of the cards. The color of the impression was the same as before and at times the front of the card was tinted bluish because of imperfectly wiped plates during printing. [Illustration] Although Canada failed to obtain entrance into the Universal Postal Union on its establishment in 1875, as already detailed,[228] yet she was granted the new rates in her correspondence with the Mother Country. This included a 2 cent rate for post cards, and on the 1st January, 1877, a 2 cent post card made its appearance which was intended particularly for British correspondence as is shown by the sub-heading "TO UNITED KINGDOM." It was quite similar in design to the 1 cent card, with the same medallion portrait of Queen Victoria on the stamp. The frame of the card is of engine-turned work but of different pattern from the 1 cent card, and has corner pieces. The arrangement of the inscriptions is shown by the illustration. The card is cut to the same size as the 1 cent (4-3/4 � 3 inches) and is of medium thickness and of a very light yellowish buff. The impression is in a deep yellow green. [228] See page 108. Of these 2 cent cards the stamp accounts give 200,000 as having been delivered in 1877 and 5000 more in 1879. But the issues to postmasters are given as 98,300 in 1877, 6090 in 1878, and 13,680 in 1879, a total of 118,070; and as there is a record of the return of but 35, it seems fair to assume that the remaining 87,000 were destroyed. [Illustration] Canada was finally admitted to the Postal Union on the 1st July, 1878, and consequently the 2 cent rate on post cards became applicable to all the other Postal Union countries. We therefore find the "United Kingdom" card altered to conform to the new conditions, the words "Union Postale Universelle" now appearing at the top as shown in the illustration. The stamp has also been re-engraved, the frame being changed and the words CANADA and POSTCARD added in small capitals above and below the medallion. The card is of the same size as before, on good stock of a very pale yellowish tone and with a smooth surface, and the impression is in a strong yellow green. This card appeared early in 1879 and continued in use until 1896. Its issue to postmasters increased from 27,300 in 1879, to 67,400 in 1892, though it dropped to 47,000 in 1895. [Illustration] All the previous cards had been line engraved on steel plates and of artistic appearance and fine workmanship. Beginning with 1882, however, a cheaper form of production began to be employed, the impression being typographed probably from electrotypes. The frame of the card is now omitted, the design consisting simply of a curved banderole bearing the words CANADA POST CARD with the instructions beneath, and at the right the oval stamp which, from now on, corresponds to the contemporary stamp of the newspaper wrapper. The _Philatelic Monthly_ for 1st May, 1882, chronicled a new one cent card as having just appeared, but did not describe it. It doubtless appeared early in April and was of the design detailed in the last paragraph, the stamp being that of the second type of the newspaper wrapper, which lacked the foliations around the numerals and had the inverted triangular ornaments beneath the circles containing the figures "1". The impression was in blue or in ultramarine on a very light buff card of stout quality and cut to 5-1/8 � 3 inches (129 � 76 mm.) About the end of the same year a reply card made its appearance concerning which the following notice was issued:-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. OTTAWA, 13th December, 1882. Departmental Order No. 27 * * * * * _Reply Post Cards._ 2. For the convenience of correspondence by Post Card within the Dominion, a double Post Card has been prepared and is now ready for issue, which will afford to the original sender of this form of Card the means of sending with his communication, a blank prepaid Post Card to be used in reply. Each half of the double card will bear a one-cent postage stamp impressed thereon in prepayment. The ordinary Post Card regulations will apply to these reply cards, both when originally posted, and with respect to the reply half when re-posted. The reply or double Post Cards, will be issued at two cents each, and are to be sold to the public at that rate by Postmasters and stamp vendors. Canada reply Post Cards, to be used in correspondence with the United Kingdom, will also be supplied at an early date, and when Post Cards of this description originating in the United Kingdom and bearing the impressed postage stamp thereof on both halves, have been received here by mail, the reply half may be re-posted in Canada, for return _to an address in the United Kingdom_, as a prepaid Post Card, and may be forwarded to destination without requiring the addition of any Canada postage stamp or other postage prepayment in Canada. JOHN CARLING, _Postmaster General._ Judging by the date of the circular the reply card was probably issued the middle of December, 1882, although it was not reported in the stamp journals until the next February. The stock used was the same as that for the single cards and cut so as to be the same size as the latter when folded. The design was the same as the single cards but printed in a gray black on the first and third faces of the folded card. The reply half is only distinguished by the word "(REPLY.)" placed between the banderole and the line of instructions. Considerable interest was aroused among philatelists in 1891-2 by a controversy that sprung up over a reported "error" in this reply card, which occurred with the stamp at the left side and the inscriptions to the right. Curiously enough, this card had been chronicled as a new issue in the _Philatelic Monthly_ for March, 1885, where we read:--"We are indebted to Mr. De Wolf for the first specimen of a new double 1 cent card we have seen. It is slightly smaller than those first issued and the stamp is placed on the left side instead of the right." The fact of its existence had apparently lain dormant, except among post card specialists, until the Canadian correspondent of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ rose to remark[229] that they could be produced by manipulating an uncut sheet of the regular cards. This called forth a rejoinder from Mr. A. Lohmeyer[230] who wrote:-- In the first place, the _Error Cards_, for such they are, do not exist among the 1 cent cards, but only among the 1-1 cent of 1882, or reply-paid cards. Of this issue a comparatively small quantity were printed with the stamp in the upper left corner, and the _error_ was not discovered until after a number of post-offices had been supplied with them, whereupon they were recalled, withdrawn from circulation and destroyed. This accounts for the great scarcity of these error cards, which have, in reality, been in circulation, for I have several used specimens (halves) in my collection. I will now proceed to prove the absurdity of the manipulation described in the article referred to by facts and figures: The space between the stamp and the points of the ribbon bearing the inscription "Canada Post Card" on the correct issue, where the cards would have to be cut to manufacture Canadensis' error (?) cards, is 4 millimeters. If this space is equally divided in cutting the sheet, it would leave a margin to the left of the stamp and to the right of the ribbon, after being cut, of 2 millimeters, while the space between the right side of the stamp and the ribbon would be 10 millimeters. Now take an error card, and you will find the latter space to measure only 3 millimeters, and the outer margin to the left of the stamp and the right of the ribbon to be respectively 5 millimeters. "Figures do not lie". A. Lohmeyer. Baltimore, Oct. 31, 1891. [229] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, I: 43: 1. [230] =ibid.=, I: 44: 2. This would seem conclusive proof, and also serve as a means of detecting any false error cards which might possibly be made from an uncut sheet as printed--but which have never been found. Yet six months later we find the _Monthly Journal_ making inquiries along practically the same lines. This brought out the following reply in _The Postal Card_:-- By referring to our paper No. 55, issued on the 14th of May, 1890, you will find there a copy of a letter received by us, from the Secretary of the Post Office Department at Ottawa regarding this very card as follows: "I am directed to acknowledge your letter stating that you have in your possession a Canadian reply post card, upon which the stamp appears in the upper left-hand corner, and inquiring whether this stamp was officially issued by the department, or whether the position of the stamps was due to a mistake in cutting the sheets. "In reply, I am to say that the position of the stamp on the card to which you refer (a certain number of specimens of which were inadvertently issued by this Department) was due to a mistake in printing." We have never seen one of these cards which could have been produced by wrong cutting. If any Error cards _have_ been made by such a manipulation, either by accident or design, we do not know it. However, the difference between a wrongly cut card and a genuine error is so apparent that it can be detected even without the use of a millimetre scale. The distance of the stamp from the end of the scroll on the error card is 4 mm., while if produced by wrong cutting of a sheet of the correct issue (stamp at right), the distance will be 14 mm. To prove this we take two of the latter cards (in the absence of an uncut sheet which we have never seen), place them end against end, measure the distance from the left end of the scroll on one card to the outer circle enclosing the figure "1" on the other card, and the result will be as stated above. This fact and the letter from the Canadian P. O. Department, quoted above, removes all doubts as to the true character of this rarity, known as the "Canada Error Card". We have several used specimens in our collection. The _Monthly Journal_[231] later received a copy of the error card which was postmarked in September, 1884, and which is the earliest date that has been recorded for it. [231] =Monthly Journal=, IV: 171. Direct evidence is given in a letter from H. F. Ketcheson to _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_; he writes as follows:[232]-- Regarding the Canadian reply card (error with stamp on upper left hand corner) issued in 1884 (not 1885) would say that I purchased a quantity of them from various post-offices. I was at that time an employe of the Canada Post-Office Department and saw a number of these passing through the mails and writing to the offices at which they were posted found that they had received a supply from Ottawa, and one office informed me at the same time that they had re-received instructions to forward all they had on hand to Ottawa as they had been issued in error. [232] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, VI: 216. The cards were identical in every respect with the regular ones, except for the peculiarity, and therefore call for no further description than has already been given them. [Illustration] In the _Philatelic Monthly_ for March, 1887, is noted a change in the stamp on the single post card, which otherwise remained as before. The new stamp has the foliations around the numerals and is identical with Type 3 of the wrapper stamps, already described, and which it preceded, in fact, by two or three months. As was to be expected, the reply card followed with the same change in the stamps, but no particular notice seems to have been taken of it in the contemporary magazines. The article in the _Dominion Philatelist_ records it as having appeared in 1887 in "black" and in 1888 in "dark green", but the only chronicles that seem to have noted it were the _Philatelic World_ for January, 1888, which says merely that "the stamp on the reply paid card has been slightly altered," and the _American Journal of Philately_ for February, 1888, which says a new reply card in "gray on buff" has just been issued. The information is added that the inscription "Postage" had been changed to "Postcard", but inasmuch as this was a hoax which apparently started with _Le Timbre-Poste_ in the fall of 1887[233] and went the rounds of the philatelic press, the value of the rest of the information is considerably lessened in consequence and we shall therefore take the dates as given in the _Dominion Philatelist_, which seem in the main to be correct. The wrapper stamp of 1875, with wavy line inside the oval, illustrated by _Le Timbre-Poste_ as appearing on the cards in May, 1888, was never employed. It was probably confounded with the third type. [233] =Le Timbre-Poste=, XXV: 94. [Illustration] The next change in the cards was likewise due to a new variety in the stamp, which once more lost its foliations and had only a quatrefoil ornament beneath the numerals, as described for Type 4 of the wrappers, which it again preceded by a couple of months. The new card was apparently first noted in the _Canadian Philatelist_[234] as having been issued at London, Ont., on the 7th December, 1891. This of course may not have been its earliest date of issue but is doubtless not far from it. The normal color of the impression is a dull ultramarine, but the _Dominion Philatelist_ chronicled it in January, 1892, in a "very light skim milk shade of blue", which may be listed as a very pale ultramarine. [234] =Canadian Philatelist=, I: 49. The reply card in the new type is again an uncertainty. _Le Timbre-Poste_ for June, 1892, chronicled it in _blue_, which it never appeared in. _The Philatelic Monthly_ for July, 1892, noted that the reply card had appeared in the latest type, but gave no color; probably the item was borrowed from the French Journal without credit. Meanwhile the _Dominion Philatelist_ for June, 1892, merely mentions that "the reply cards of Canada are now appearing on a glazed thin card; design same as before," which would indicate no change from the current type 3. In December, 1892, however, the _Philatelic Journal of America_ reported that it had received from Toronto "one of the new Canadian reply cards. The message card bears a stamp the same type as that of the current 1 cent postal card, but on the reply card the stamp is of the old type. Perhaps this is an error as the former double card had the same die on both." It may have been an error but it troubled no one but the philatelist. The _Monthly Journal_ for 31st January, 1893, also notes the receipt of a similar copy from Mr. D. A. King. The account says:--"The specimen was found in a packet of reply-paid cards, the remainder of which had the stamp of the now obsolete type upon both halves." It would seem that the end of 1892 was therefore about the time of the "semi-appearance" of the stamp of type 4 upon the reply cards; nor does it appear that the double card with stamp of type 4 on both halves was issued _before_ the "half-breed" card, as the latter continued to be used for nearly two years, the card with type 4 alone not being definitely chronicled until the issue of 30th November, 1894, of the _Monthly Journal_. The next change recorded was the issue of a large sized card for business purposes, which took place, according to the _American Journal of Philately,_[235] on the 17th February, 1893, in company with the two high value postage stamps and the letter card. The new card was of the usual light buff stock and measured 6 � 3-1/8 inches (152 � 92 mm.). The design was the same as for the ordinary card, the stamp being of the wrapper type 4 but at a slightly greater distance from the end of the banderole--4 mm. in the small card and 12 mm. in the large card. The impression was in black. This new card was designated as No. 1, and the ordinary small card became known as No. 2. The small sized card, 5 � 3 inches, soon followed the large one in the color of its impression, appearing in a very dark slate that was almost a black and being first chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st July, 1893. [235] =American Journal of Philately=, 2nd Series, VI: 102. In the Postmaster General's Report for 1893 we find the following:--"The introduction of the large size post card has not met with the success which was anticipated, and it has been found expedient in Canada, as in the United States, where the experiment has also been tried, to return to the former practice, and for the future to have only one size which will be somewhat smaller than the large card and a little larger than that first issued." As the stamp accounts kept the number of large sized cards separate from the small sized, we are able to give the amount received from the manufacturer, which was 5,396,000. The number issued is given as 4,983,900, but nothing is said about the disposition of the remaining 412,100. The new medium sized card, which took the place of both the large and the small sized cards, was apparently issued about February, 1894, as it was chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st March, 1894. The new card measured 5-1/2 � 3-3/8 inches (140 � 85 mm.) and the stock was of a lighter tone than before--almost a cream. The impression was in black and the distance between the banderole and the stamp was changed to 8 mm. Whether issued especially for advertising purposes or not, this new card appeared on a heavier stock of rough surface and straw color early in 1896, being chronicled in _Meheel's Weekly Stamp News_ for 30th April, 1896, as on a "thin card board." In its issue for 30th May, 1896, the _Monthly Journal_ chronicles the receipt of the reply card in black on a very smooth buff card. This indicates that the better grade of stock first used for the medium sized single card was being employed for the reply card, and that the latter was being printed in the dead black ink used for the medium card instead of the dark slate color previously employed. It may be of interest to note here that on the 1st January, 1895, regulations went into force in Canada providing for the admission to the mails of advertising cards with a 1 cent stamp attached. This was very likely due to the failure of the Department's large sized card which was intended to fill such a want. As a sort of "rider" upon the circular dealing with the special delivery service and stamps, issued by the Department on 7th June, 1898, there is a paragraph headed:-- PRIVATE POST CARDS. Postmasters are informed that, as regards Private Post Cards posted in Canada addressed to places in Canada, the words "Private Post Card" may either be placed thereon or omitted according to the option of the sender. Private Post Cards addressed to other countries must, however, in every case bear on the address side the words "Private Post Card." It is understood, however, that only in the domestic mails were private cards allowed to pass at the usual post card rate. If addressed to a foreign country a private card, if in writing, would be taxed at letter rates. In the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for 19th November, 1898, however, it is announced that the Postmaster General had issued an order admitting private mailing cards into the foreign mails provided the size conformed to that of the official post cards. [Illustration] The next official card that we have to consider is a new Postal Union card which made its appearance suddenly in the latter part of 1896. This is one of the most striking cards that Canada has produced, being beautifully engraved on steel and printed in a brilliant orange red. There is no frame, such as bordered the previous 2 cent card, and the stamp in the upper right corner much resembles in size and design the large 2 cent adhesive of the 1868 issue, except that the head of the Queen is turned to the left. The inscriptions follow out, in a way, the general style of British Colonial Postal Union cards, a small reproduction of the British arms with supporters occupying the center at the top. The arrangement will be seen from the illustration. The card is approximately 5-1/8 � 3-1/8 inches (130 � 80 mm.) in size and printed on a very light buff stock. A variety in shade occurs, of some degree of rarity, printed in carmine. The card was first chronicled in the _American Journal of Philately_ for 1st November, 1896, and was the last "new issue" put forth by the British American Bank Note Co. before its long contract was closed. The card was noted in the Postmaster General's Report for 1897 as follows:--"During the year a Universal Postal Union Card, conforming more closely to the regulations of the Union was introduced, thus superseding the old card." The new dimensions of the card, the removal of the frame, and the completing of the inscriptions in both English and French were among these requirements. The American Bank Note Co., as we all know, began its work for the Canadian Government by the production of the Jubilee Issue. As will be seen by reference to the prospectus of this series already given,[236] there was included a special post card of 1 cent to the number of 7 millions. These were delivered and all issued with the exception of 3000 on hand as shown by the stamp accounts in 1903. They do not appear in the 1904 accounts, so it is not known what became of them. [236] See page 148. [Illustration] The cards were issued with the Jubilee stamps on the 19th June, 1897.[237] They were the size of the ordinary 1 cent cards and on the same quality of stock. The stamp is a reproduction of the 1 cent adhesive of the Jubilee issue, but engraved for typographic printing. "Canada Post Card" is enclosed in a fancy frame at the left and the usual instructions are found beneath it. [237] =Ibid.= A curious variety of this card was noted in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ for August, 1897, as follows:--"We have seen the new jubilee card bearing the stamp only. This is an error caused by the design being in two pieces and in this case the inscription has dropped out." The regular post cards produced by the new contractors did not make their appearance until several months after the first adhesives of the new type were out. The two cent card was the first issued, having been reported by the Canadian correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ under date of 4th December, 1897, as just out. It was a copy of the 2 cent card of 1896 in every respect except the stamp, which was naturally of the new maple leaf type, and the color was a deeper shade of orange red. The 1 cent card does not appear to have been chronicled until the number for 1st February, 1898, of the _American Journal of Philately_, so that it doubtless appeared early in January or possibly the latter part of December, 1897, following closely the 2 cent card. It was also of the usual size and same stock as before and, like the Jubilee card, had a copy of the 1 cent adhesive printed in the corner. This was of the maple leaf type, engraved for typographic printing and therefore of rather coarser appearance than its prototype. The inscriptions were simply CANADA POST CARD in plain Gothic letters, with the usual line of instructions beneath, all printed in black; while the stamp was printed in dark green. Early in December, 1897, the following news item appeared in the Canadian daily press:-- Postmaster-General Mulock has formulated a scheme with respect to postal cards which he has been thinking over for some time and which he has now got so far into shape as to be ready for publication. It is to remove the restriction which has hitherto existed with respect to using the address side of the card for any purpose other than the address. It is intended to allow pictures, ads., etc., on the face of the card so long as there is room for the address. This will enable a business man to advertise his business and will no doubt be appreciated by both the advertiser and the public. It is intended the cards shall be printed in sheets instead of singly for the benefit of printers and lithographers. The following was the official announcement:-- NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. Regulations under which designs, illustrations, portraits, sketches, or other forms of advertisement may be engraved, lithographed, printed, etc., on the "address" side of the one-cent Post-Card. 1. A clear space of, at least, a quarter of an inch shall be left along each of the four sides of the postage stamp. 2. There shall be reserved for the address a clear space at the lower right hand corner on the "address" side of the card immediately below the words "The space below is reserved for address only," such space so reserved for the address being, at least, 3-1/4 inches long by 1-1/2 inches wide. N. B. It is in the interest of both the Department and those availing themselves of the privilege hereby, granted that the spaces in question should be unconditionally reserved for the purposes intended. If any printing, engraving, or other matter appears on the spaces thus reserved, the Post-Cards cannot be permitted to pass through the mails. Post-Cards may be ordered in sheets of sixteen or less, as desired, or singly; orders therefor, specifying quantity of cards required and number to the sheet, to be given in writing to the nearest Postmaster. POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, 9th December, 1897. These "advertisement" cards were issued by the Post Office Department singly, or printed in sheets of eight or sixteen. The single cards came in packages of 100 like the ordinary cards; the eight card sheets were made up in packages of 125 sheets, or 1000 cards all told; and the sixteen card sheets also in packages of 125 sheets, or 2000 cards all told. The reason for this is seen in the requirement that orders for these cards should be for not less than 1000. It is seen from the stamp accounts that the eight card sheets have proven the most popular, about six times as many sheets of this size as of the larger size having been issued in 1910, while the number of cards represented was five times the number of single cards issued. The stock is the same as used for the ordinary cards and the size of the single card is the same, while the arrangement on the sheets and the regulations require that they be cut up into cards of the proper size. The stamp is impressed in the right hand upper corner and is the same as for the ordinary card but printed in carmine. The only other thing on the card as issued is the directions, printed in small black Gothic capitals:--THE SPACE BELOW IS RESERVED FOR ADDRESS ONLY. This is placed about midway between the top and bottom of the card and about as far to the right as it will go. The last of the Queen's head cards were chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 30th July, 1898. These were the reply card and the Postal Union card in a change of color. The reply card was of the usual size, 5 � 3 inches, and had printed inscriptions in black like the single card, save that the word REPLY is placed between the two lines on the card for answer. The stamp is from the same die as the single card but printed in black instead of green. The stock is the usual pale buff. The same paper for 31st March, 1899, notes an error of impression in this card, the reply portion being printed on the back of the message card, so that the second card has no impression at all upon it. The Postal Union card was identical with the one it superseded, except that it was printed in deep blue, and the card is of a cream tint rather than a buff. The cause of the sudden change in color is not known. The King's head cards soon followed the adhesives. _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ reported the 1 cent in its issue for 5th September, 1903. It needs no further description than to say it is a counterpart of the preceding Queen's Head card, the stamp as before being a copy of the adhesive engraved for typographic work. The impression is in green for the stamp and black for the inscriptions. The advertising card or "Business Post-Card" was the next to appear, having been issued early in December, 1903. Again it is in every way similar to its predecessor save that the impression of the stamp is lighter--rather a pink than a carmine. Finally, in its issue for 20th February, 1904, _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ reports the issue of the reply card in its usual form and the Postal Union card, identical with the former save for the stamp, which is of course line engraved on this card. The issue of cards in 1910 comprised over 26 millions of the 1 cent, 430,000 of the reply cards and 70,000 of the Postal Union cards. CHAPTER XXIV THE LETTER CARDS [Illustration: CANADA LETTER CARD] The Postmaster General's Report for 1892 contained the following announcement:--"Letter cards, similar to those in use in Great Britain, Austria, and other European countries, are being prepared, and will be issued to the public in a short time." Only one value was issued, the 3 cents, and it appeared in company with the 20 and 50 cent adhesives and large sized post card on the 17th February, 1893. Artistically it is a pretty poor production, the stamp being apparently a rough wood-cut imitation of the stock type used by Messrs. De La Rue & Co. at that time for British Colonial stamps. The profile of the Queen is on a solid ground within an octagonal frame, and the labels at top and bottom contain the words POSTAGE and THREE CENTS respectively. At the left of the stamp, in two lines, is CANADA--LETTER CARD, the first being in Gothic, the second in Roman capitals. The entire impression is in carmine. The size of the card, opened out, is 5-1/2 � 7 inches (138 � 175 mm.), the longer dimension being reduced one half by folding of course. The perforation gauges 12 and is in Form A of Senf's catalogue (both lines crossing at the corner intersections). The margin outside the perforations measures 3/8 inch (10 mm.) and is gummed only around the third face of the folded card. The stock is of fair quality and of a light greenish-blue tint. The Postmaster General's Report for 1894 says that "so far the demand for these letter cards has not equalled the expectations of the Department." On looking at the stamp accounts we find that from their date of issue to the 30th June, 1893, 265,350 of the letter cards were distributed; but during the whole of the next fiscal year but 104,650 were issued and for the third year the amount had dropped to 77,750. The Postmaster General's plaint was therefore justified. It is perhaps best to record here a curious semi-official issue of what might be termed a "letter sheet" for the use of the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was first noted in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st January, 1894, as "a sheet stamped with the current 1 cent wrapper die, upon which is printed the monthly statement of receipts and expenditure for transmission to shareholders." Perhaps for the reason that the wrapper stamp was impressed upon it, this variety has been listed under the newspaper wrappers, but such it is not. The circular was printed upon a stout gray-blue paper, and had the wrapper stamp of type 4 impressed upon the back in black. Above the stamp appears the inscription "Printed Matter Only," while in the lower left corner of the address side of the folded sheet are two lines reading:-- Canadian Pacific Ry. Monthly Statement of Earnings and Expenses. Three guide lines are printed for the address, as upon the old post cards. The sheet must have been issued in 1893 subsequent to the appearance of the large post card with the stamp of type 4 in black. It is stated to have been issued as an experiment and was in use but a short time. A second variety is known, however, on white laid paper, which was probably issued subsequently to the blue variety, but at what date is not known. Both sheets are rare so the experiment evidently was not carried on for long. Returning to the regular letter cards we find again in the Postmaster General's Report for 1895 that "arrangements have been made for the issue of letter cards of the denominations of 1, 2 and 3c. for the use of banks in transmitting certain notices to their customers, as well as for ordinary letters within those postal limits to which their denominations respectively apply." The next year's Report explains their use a little more fully:-- During the year the 1 and 2 cent letter cards were introduced--the former to serve the purpose of the "drop letter" (_i. e._, a letter posted at, and delivered from, the same office) in places where there is no free delivery by letter carrier; the latter to meet a similar object in cities where there is such a delivery. Already this extension of postal facilities appears to be appreciated--more especially by banks, which largely use these cards in transmitting notices to their customers. The 2 cent letter card is chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st October, 1895, and the 1 cent in the same paper for the 30th November, 1895. Both were doubtless issued the early part of October. They conformed in all respects to the 3 cent letter card issued two years and a half previously, except for the stamp. If the 3 cent was wretched, the two new ones were hideous. They were not only more poorly engraved, which was needless, but the label at the bottom was enlarged by extending it at either side. The 1 cent was printed in black and the 2 cent in green--inscription and stamp in the same color in each case. In 1903 the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ published the following:[238]-- A correspondent in Vermont sends Mr. Lohmeyer a 1c. letter card of the first issue, which he discovered in a Canadian post office recently, it being the only copy there and damaged at that, the perforated margin on the right hand side being torn off. In the lower left corner the bottom perforation runs to the left side perforation only, instead of crossing it, as on all Canadian letter cards previously seen. [238] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XVII: 149. This is the style of perforation designated as C in Senf's catalogue--in which the horizontal line does not project beyond the vertical lines at either side. We have seen a perfect copy of the above described 1 cent letter card, which seems to be unlisted; but the 3 cent card with this perforation, listed and priced in Senf, we have not ourselves seen. It is possible that if two of these cards exist with perforation C, the third one--the 2 cent--will some day come to light. The change in the stamp contractors in 1897 and the use of a new design naturally brought changes in the letter cards as well as the other postal requisites. The new 2 cent letter card was chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st January, 1898, so it is safe to assume that it appeared in December, 1897. The 1 cent and 3 cents are chronicled in the same paper for 28th February, 1898, and must therefore have been issued as early as January, 1898. The new letter cards were in all respects the counterparts of the previous ones save the stamp, which was now the same as that used for the new post cards and wrappers, viz., a copy of the "maple leaf" Queen's head type engraved for typographic work. These three letter cards are known only with the perforation A. The reduction in domestic postage to the 2 cent rate on the 1st January, 1899, rendered the 3 cent letter cards useless as well as the envelopes of like denomination. We have already recounted the story of the surcharged envelopes and the two types of the handstamp which were used in doing the work.[239] Suffice it to say, therefore, that we have but to add the letter cards to the same story to make it complete. Both the 3 cent letter cards of 1893 and 1898 were turned in for surcharging purposes, and the former not only received both types of the rubber hand-stamped surcharge in the usual blue-black or gray-black color, but is found also with the second and common type in a violet color.[240] The surcharging was begun and the letter cards so treated were issued as early as February, 1899. The perforation, so far as known, is always A. [239] See page 240. [240] =Monthly Journal=, IX: 175. In its issue for 27th January, 1900, the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ notes the receipt of the 1 cent and 2 cent letter cards of the maple leaf type in new colors, conforming with the requirements of the Postal Union, the one cent in green instead of black and the 2 cent in carmine instead of green. In all other respects these letter cards conformed to their predecessors. They were doubtless issued early in January, 1900. The letter cards had been used in considerable quantities each year, particularly after 1895, when the 1 cent and 2 cent values were added to the previous 3 cent; but in 1902 they were withdrawn without any particular reason having been given that we have been able to discover. The stamp accounts for the Report of 1902 give the numbers issued in that fiscal year as 195,100 for the 1 cent and 352,000 for the 2 cent. The only item of information we have to quote concerning their demise is confined to the dates: the last issue of the 1 cent letter card is recorded as the 4th April, 1902, and of the 2 cent letter card as the 28th June, 1902. CHAPTER XXV OFFICIAL STATIONERY Outside of the Dead Letter Office seals the Canadian Government has issued no official adhesive stamps. An attempt, however, to foist a series of official stationery upon an unsuspecting philatelic public was made by one Henry Hechler, a stamp collector and dealer, who thought he saw his opportunity in the Indian troubles which broke out in the Canadian Northwest in 1884-5. Mr. Hechler belonged to the Militia and accompanied the troops that were sent to quell the disturbance. He took it upon himself to have a quantity of envelopes, post cards and wrappers surcharged OFFICIAL or SERVICE and evidently expected they would be accepted without question. The first news of these surcharges seems to have come, very strangely, from Germany. The _Philatelic Record_ for December, 1884,[241] says:-- _Der Philatelist_ chronicles, on the faith of a correspondent, Herr Von Jerzabek, of Temesvar, a set of the adhesives with Queen's head ..., two envelopes, and the 1 cent post card, all surcharged in black, with the word OFFICIAL. It is alleged that they were prepared and issued in 1877, but after a short time were called in again. The surcharges are in some cases oblique, and in others perpendicular. It is at least strange that, considering our intercourse with Canada, our first knowledge of the issue of official stamps so far back as 1877 should reach us from Temesvar, wherever that may be. [241] =Philatelic Record=, VI: 210. The Secretary of the Philatelic Society, London, whose official journal the _Philatelic Record_ then was, wrote direct to the Canadian Government to inquire into the authenticity of these so-called official issues, and received the following reply:[242]-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, _18th May_, 1885. SIR:--I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 29th ult., inquiring whether postage stamps bearing the word "_Official_" on their face are in circulation in the Dominion of Canada, and beg, in reply, to say that no such stamp, card, newspaper wrapper, or envelope has _ever_ been issued by this department. I am, sir, your obedient servant, (_Signed_) Wm. White, _Secretary_. [242] =Ibid.=, VII: 84. This would ordinarily seem to have been enough of a disclaimer, but like Banquo's ghost the official stationery would not down, though the stamps seem to have been lost sight of. Not only were the envelopes of 1 cent and 3 cents of the 1877 issue, but the newspaper wrappers of 1875 and 1882, and the post card of 1882, surcharged across the stamp with the word "OFFICIAL" or "Service" in black, blue or red ink, but sometimes the arms of Great Britain were added at the left of the stamp, and also, in the lower left corner, the words "63RD. RIFLES" or HEADQUARTERS, } 63RD. RIFLES. } The lack of uniformity, or rather attempt at variety, was enough in itself to condemn the articles. Yet in the _American Philatelist_ for June, 1888, we find an attempted defence of them. We quote:[243]-- Henry Hechler writes us as follows: "When the Indian outbreak in the Northwest occurred in 1885, and some of the militia of the various provinces were hurriedly ordered out for active service, stringent measures for notifying the men calling for prompt attention had to be adopted. To distinguish them from ordinary mail matter by showing their official character they were stamped across the "adhesive" with the word _Service_ and at the lower left corner _O. [H.] M. S. only_. Some were thus printed in black, others in blue, and yet others in red. They served for that purpose only, until an Act of Parliament was passed to carry all military mail matter on active service free." Mr. Hechler was captain of one of the companies of the Halifax Battalion, and, therefore, in a position to obtain definite information. [243] =American Philatelist=, II: 207. In other words Mr. Hechler knew all about these "official" stamps and the Postmaster-General and his secretary, as we have seen, knew absolutely nothing about them! This seems to tell its own story. In fact another letter from the Post Office Department, dated 13th April, 1888, and published in this same volume of the _American Philatelist_,[244] reiterates the denials of the previous letter which we have already quoted. The _Philatelic Record_ received later,[245] from the Postmaster of Halifax, the information that Mr. Hechler had had this stationery surcharged and that it was neither issued nor recognized by the Government of Canada. The _Record_ says:--"It was a smart notion of Mr. Hechler to turn his military duties into the direction of his business as a stamp dealer." Mr. Hechler "came back" at this in the columns of the _Philatelic Journal of America_[246] with the statement that "the Post Office Inspector here referred the question to headquarters, and, in reply, was instructed to allow such matter to pass through the mails without question or delay." The communication was enclosed in one of the envelopes in question, but the Editor's remarks on this are conclusive:-- The surcharging has not impaired the postal value of the envelope and they are permitted to pass through the Canadian mails, but as to their value from a philatelic standpoint it is quite another thing. The printing in this case is of no more importance than any notice or inscription that might be placed on an envelope bearing a regular government stamp that in itself is sufficient to pay the postage. In fact the above writer admits that the surcharge had no other value than to enable the recipient to distinguish the letter from his other mail. They are of no philatelic value whatever. [244] =Ibid.=, II: 173. [245] =Philatelic Record=, XI: 44. [246] =Philatelic Journal of America=, V: 202. It was a private speculation, pure and simple, in spite of any claims of "recognition", and of the fact that copies passed the post. The only other quotation to make in the case is from Shakespeare--_Exeunt_. We now come to an actual official issue in the shape of a newspaper wrapper. It seems to have been first noted in _Le Timbre-Poste_ for February, 1883, but is stated to have been issued in 1879. The stamp is of the 1875 issue (type 1) and at its left is printed in blue the following:-- [Illustration: Inland Revenue, Canada. WEIGHTS & MEASURES SERVICE. _Official Circular._ _To_ This band is to be used =On Her Majesty's Service= only and must have no writing thereon but the name and address. ] Above the English inscription is its counterpart in French. The wrapper itself is of a cream tone and measures 280 � 132 mm. The history of this wrapper does not seem to be known, save that it is accredited to be what it purports to be. It is quite rare, and as far as we have been able to find out is not known used. No mention is made of it in the Department reports, but it happens that the stamp accounts for 1879, the year of its supposed issue, give only 8,000 wrappers as received from the manufacturers. None had been received the two years previously, as there were plenty on hand, and 192,000 were received the next year. It would thus appear, on the face of it, that this small lot of 8,000 was quite probably the order of the Inland Revenue wrappers. If so, it was probably the only lot ever received and though they may have been used, the chances seem somewhat against any such number having actually been issued. One other official issue comes in the form of a Customs' post card notice. It was first chronicled in the _American Philatelist_ for 10th May, 1888, as having been issued in connection with the parcel post system just then inaugurated with the United States. Postmasters received instructions to forward these cards free through the mails, although there was no stamp or notice on the address side. It is of manila card, 130 � 88 mm., blank on one side and having printed on the other:-- Customs Postal Package Office. ...........................188 _There has arrived at this office by mail from the United States, addressed to you as over, the following dutiable package, which will be delivered or forwarded to you on the receipt of the duty payable and the return of this card._ ============================================================== NO. OF | NO. OF | DESCRIPTION. | DUTY MANIFEST. | PACKAGE. | | PAYABLE. ----------+-------------+---------------------+-------+------- | | | $ | cts. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------- E. 14. ................_Collector_. In its September, 1888, number the _Halifax Philatelist_ notes that the blank address side has been supplied with three dotted lines for the address, and inscriptions reading, in the upper left corner, "_Advice Note_", and in the upper right corner, "_Free, by order of the Post Master General_." One further official variety is somewhat unusual. The _American Philatelist_ for September, 1889,[247] says:-- "We are indebted to Donald A. King ... for information concerning what is certainly a novelty in the postal line, namely, an unpaid letter stamped envelope. When a letter is returned from the dead-letter office the sender is required to pay the regular postage and these envelopes have been prepared of various values. The only one we have seen is the 3 cent value. It is about 175 � 120 mm., and is made of manila paper. In the place for the stamp is a figure 3 about 23 mm. high. In the left hand upper corner RETURNED DEAD LETTER; in the lower corner-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA, DEAD LETTER OFFICE. On the reverse, _The enclosed Dead Letter is returned by order of the Postmaster-General for the reasons thereon assigned_. The following values are said to exist: 3 cents, black on manila. 6 " " " ? 9 " " " ? 12 " " " ? 18 " " " ? We have no further information concerning them. [247] =American Philatelist=, III: 350. CHAPTER XXVI PRECANCELLATIONS AND PERMITS As a matter of record and without any attempt at lists of varieties, which would prove futile, we deem it interesting and important to give such information as is at hand concerning the precancellation of stamps for use on large quantities of identical mail matter, and of the more recent substitute for the precancelled stamp which is known as the "permit". Both ideas were of course borrowed from the United States, which was the originator of this form of labor saving expedient. The _London Philatelist_ for April, 1892, quoted a letter from Mr. L. Gibb of Montreal which enclosed "a specimen used on the letter, but with the obliteration on the stamp only, and also portions of sheets gummed and unsevered, but neatly postmarked with horizontal wavy lines." Mr. Gibb wrote:[248]-- Sometime back I received the enclosed stamp paying the postage on an open envelope containing a circular from Toronto; it has not been moved from its original place, and one could see it had not been obliterated on the envelope. After some little trouble I found the P. O. would, upon receiving whole sheets of stamps, cancel them, and then hand them back to any known firm to be placed on letters in quantity, these letters are then taken to a private part of the office in bulk, and are allowed to pass through the post without further marking. [248] =London Philatelist=. I: 100. The system in the United States made use of a cancellation giving the town and state name, printed on the sheets by a press; but the Canadian precancellation was of simpler form, being of two fairly heavy horizontal lines with a wavy line between. No name occurs in the cancellation and it was applied with a roller, thus making a universal style which is more convenient in application than the type set form, varying for every post office. Further information in regard to this cancellation is found in _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_[249] where we read:--"The Canadian one-cent stamp cancelled on circulars is obliterated by a revolving self-inking canceler and is issued for use on the 5th class matter, i. e. parcels, etc., to post offices with an annual revenue of $3000 and over." [249] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XIII: 388. In 1904 precancelled stamps began to appear with the town name and that of the province, separated by two horizontal bars. In answer to an inquiry concerning them the Department replied as follows:[250]-- The main conditions governing the case are the quantities required for a given mailing and the limitation of the use of precancelled stamps to the particular kind or class of mail matter for which they have been issued. The minimum quantity in each such case is 25,000 pieces.... As requisitions for precancelled stamps necessarily take longer to fill than the ordinary, postmasters are expected to send requisitions for them to the Department a few days in advance of actual needs. [250] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVIII: 131. It is evident that the latter form of printed precancellation was the only one intended to be employed by the Department, and that the earlier form of impression from the roller canceller was unauthorized, for the following circular was issued to make matters plain for postmasters:[251]-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, 16th September, 1904. PRE-CANCELLATION OF POSTAGE STAMPS. The use of pre-cancelled stamps (or stamps cancelled before actually used for payment of postage) is permitted in some of the larger cities under very stringent regulations and only when required for any one mailing in quantities of not less than 25,000 stamps, but postage stamps cancelled with the small roller canceller have been observed on letters and other matter passing in the mails, and Postmasters are accordingly instructed that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are they permitted to precancel postage stamps. The roller canceller is reserved for the cancellation of postage stamps on Second, Third and Fourth Class Matter and must be used only on stamps after being ACTUALLY AFFIXED to such matter. ANY POSTMASTER FOUND TO BE PRECANCELLING STAMPS IN ANY WAY OR SELLING STAMPS PRE-CANCELLED WITHOUT AUTHORITY WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL VALUE OF SUCH CANCELLED STAMPS. It is proper to explain that the authorized pre-cancelled stamps are struck with a special die bearing the name of the mailing office and are sold only to the largest mailing concerns under conditions which it is considered preclude any danger of such stamps being used a second time for postage. Such conditions would not attend the use of stamps pre-cancelled with the ordinary roller stamp, and in consequence the use of the roller stamps for such a purpose is strictly forbidden, under the penalty above mentioned. Requisitions for pre-cancelled stamps must be made direct to the Department (Stamp Branch). No request for pre-cancelled stamps can be considered where the number of pieces to be prepaid thereby is less than 25,000. R. M. COULTER, Deputy Postmaster General. [251] =Ibid.=, XVIII: 322. Not long afterward the bars were lowered somewhat on the size of the mailing required for the use of precancelled stamps, as the following circular shows:[252]-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, 29th October, 1904. PRECANCELLED STAMPS. (Amending Departmental Circulars of 11th March and 16th September.) It is desired that the use of precancelled stamps should be attended with every possible degree of precaution and security and for that purpose only requisitions for precancelled stamps to cover mailings of _25,000 pieces at a time_ have been allowed. It is considered, however, in the light of experience, that this limit is somewhat high, and in future, therefore, postmasters will be allowed to make requisition for precancelled stamps for mailings of _10,000 pieces at a time_. R. M. COULTER, Deputy Postmaster General. [252] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVIII: 402. The style of cancellation which is employed by the Department at Ottawa, where all the pre-cancelling is evidently done, is a three line one--the town name above and the province name below, separated by two parallel lines. It is applied in black ink. Evidently considerable mail is sent out under this method for the precancelled stamps are fairly common. One other variety comes from Montreal with "FOR-THIRD-CLASS-MATTER-ONLY", (a line for a word) beneath MONTREAL and separated from it by two thin parallel lines. The issuing of "Permits" was an outgrowth of the precancelled stamp system, it being in effect a _stamped cover_ fulfilling the same purpose as a cover with a precancelled adhesive affixed to it. The idea was again borrowed from the United States. The circular issued to postmasters will fully explain the methods adopted under this new plan:[253]-- POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA. OTTAWA, 2nd February, 1903. PREPAYMENT OF THIRD-CLASS (PRINTED) MATTER IN CASH. The Postmaster General in order to facilitate the posting of printed matter mailed in considerable quantities addressed for delivery at post-offices within the Dominion of Canada, has decided that prepayment of postage on same may be effected in cash (instead of postage stamps) in conformity with the following REGULATIONS. 1. Each lot of mail matter which is posted under this arrangement must be accompanied by a Permit, which has been obtained from the Postmaster of the office at which it is posted. The application must be made in writing on one of the forms provided for the purpose, in which shall be stated approximately the number of pieces it is intended to mail, and the postage on each piece at the rate of one cent per two ounces or fraction thereof. 2. The articles posted must be of an uniform weight, and must be put up in such a way as to admit of their being readily counted. The weight and number must be verified beyond doubt. Circulars to be put up in packages of 50, 75 or 100, with addressed sides faced all one way. Catalogues must be tied up in neat bundles. 3. Each article must have printed upon its wrapper or cover an impression of an official stamp, a fac-simile of which is here given, which shall be furnished by the Postmaster of the office of posting, mentioning the name of the office at which posted, and stating that the postage was prepaid in cash. [Illustration: POSTAGE PAID IN CASH At OTTAWA, Canada Authorized under Permit No. ANYBODY USING THIS STAMP WITHOUT AUTHORITY WILL RENDER HIMSELF LIABLE TO PROSECUTION ] 4. The lowest amount which may be received in payment for matter mailed under these regulations is $25.00. 5. Under these regulations payment may be made only by marked cheque drawn in favour of the Postmaster of the office of posting for deposit to the credit of the Receiver General. The cheque must accompany the mail matter at the time it is posted. The cheque is to be drawn as follows: "Pay to the Postmaster of ... for deposit to credit of Receiver General." R. M. COULTER. Deputy Postmaster General. [253] =Weekly Philatelic Era=, XVIII: 63. Electrotypes of the "stamp" shown were furnished to all offices where there was a large output of the class of matter described, and the permit number was printed in with the impression when the order under which it was issued was being struck off. The "stamp" is usually printed in black, but has been seen in dark blue. In the stamp account for the year ending 30th June, 1903, no returns were given for mailings under these "Permits", but in 1904 we find that "Postage Paid in Cash on 3d Class (Printed) Matter" is given as $53,970.47, while in 1910 it had risen to $256,468.20--a quite respectable amount for the use of the "Permits". REFERENCE LIST PROVINCE OF CANADA 1st. SERIES. Engraved and printed by Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York. Unperforated. 1851. =THIN GRAYISH LAID PAPER.= April 23. 3 pence, deep red, red, vermilion. _double strike_, deep red, red, vermilion. May 15 (?) 6 pence, black violet, deep brown violet, slate. _diagonal half_ used as 3d. June 15. 12 pence, black. =STOUT WHITE LAID PAPER.= 3 pence, red. 6 pence, dull purple. 1851-7. =GRAYISH WOVE PAPER, THIN TO STOUT.= 3 pence, deep red, red, vermilion. _double strike_, deep red, red, vermilion. 6 pence, black brown, brownish black, greenish black, slate, slate violet, deep violet. 12 pence, black. =SOFT WHITE WOVE PAPER.= 3 pence, deep red, red. _double strike_, deep red, red. =STOUT HARD WHITE WOVE PAPER.= 3 pence, deep red, red, vermilion. 6 pence, deep violet, slate violet, brown violet. =VERY THICK HARD PAPER.= 6 pence, slate violet. =VERY THICK SOFT PAPER.= 6 pence, dull purple. _diagonal half_ used as 3d. =THIN SOFT RIBBED PAPER.= 3 pence, red. _double strike_, red. =STOUT HARD RIBBED PAPER.= 3 pence, red. _double strike_, red. 6 pence, black violet. 1855, Jan. =THIN WOVE PAPER.= 10 pence, deep blue, Prussian blue. _wide impression._ _narrow impression._ _double strike._ =STOUT HARD WOVE PAPER.= 10 pence, deep blue, Prussian blue. _wide impression._ 1857, June 2 (?) =THIN WOVE PAPER.= 7-1/2 pence, dark yellow green. _wide impression._ _narrow impression._ =STOUT HARD WOVE PAPER.= 7-1/2 pence, dark yellow green. _wide impression_. 1857, Aug. 1. =THIN WOVE PAPER.= 1/2 penny, deep rose. =STOUT HARD WOVE PAPER.= 1/2 penny, deep rose. =THIN SOFT RIBBED PAPER.= 1/2 penny, deep rose. _horizontal ribbing._ _vertical ribbing._ Same as before, but perforated 12 by the American Bank Note Co. (?) 1859, Jan. (?) =STOUT WOVE PAPER.= 1/2 penny, deep rose. 3 pence, red. _double strike._ _percé en scie 13_, (unofficial). _perforated 14_, (unofficial). 6 pence, black violet, slate violet, deep brown violet, black brown. =THIN RIBBED PAPER= 1/2 penny, deep rose (?) 3 pence, red. _double strike._ 2nd. SERIES. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., New York. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1859, July 1. 1 cent, dull red, rose red, rose carmine. _imperforate_, rose red. _thick hard paper_, rose red. _ribbed paper_, dull red. 5 cents, bright red, brick red, deep red. _double strike_, bright red, red, deep red. _worn plate_, red. _imperforate_, red. _worn plate imperforate_, red. _ribbed paper_, red, deep red. _diagonal half_ used as 2-1/2c., red. 10 cents, bright red violet, dull red violet, deep red violet, deep violet, slate violet, brown violet, yellowish brown, brown, dark brown, black brown, gray brown. _imperforate_, red violet, violet. _ribbed paper_, deep red violet, brown violet, brown (light to dark). _diagonal half_ used as 5c., red violet, black brown. 12-1/2 cents, light yellow green, deep yellow green, green, blue green. _imperforate_, blue green. _ribbed paper_, light yellow green. 17 cents, deep blue, Prussian blue. _imperforate_, Prussian blue. _ribbed paper_, Prussian blue. 1864, Aug. 1. 2 cents, rose red, dull red. _imperforate_, rose red, dull red. _ribbed paper_, rose red. DOMINION OF CANADA 3rd. SERIES. LARGE STAMPS. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Montreal & Ottawa. Perforated 12, Wove paper. 1868, April 1. 1/2 cent, gray black, black. _horizontal pair, imperforate between._ _very thin paper._ 1 cent, brown red, deep brown red. _watermarked_, brown red. _laid paper_, brown red, deep brown red. _very thin paper_, deep brown red. 2 cents, pale yellow green, pale green, green, deep yellow green, deep blue green. _watermarked_, green. _very thin paper_, deep yellow green. 3 cents, vermilion, bright red, deep red, brown red. _watermarked_, brown red, red. _laid paper_, vermilion, bright red. _very thin paper_, deep red. _very thick paper_, brown red. 6 cents, pale brown, brown, deep brown, gray brown, pale yellow brown, deep yellow brown. _watermarked_, deep brown. _very thin paper_, deep brown. _diagonal half_ used for 3c., deep brown. 12-1/2 cents, dull blue, deep blue, pale blue. _watermarked_, deep blue. _very thin paper_, dull blue. 15 cents, mauve, deep mauve, lilac gray, gray violet, deep gray violet, blue gray, slate blue, greenish blue. _watermarked_, lilac gray, gray violet. _thin laid paper_, mauve. _ribbed paper_, lilac gray. _very thick paper_, mauve, slate blue, purple. _imperforate_, brown violet. 1869, Jan. 1 cent, yellow, pale orange, orange yellow, orange. _imperforate_, yellow. 1875, Oct. 1. 5 cents, light olive gray, dark olive gray. 4th SERIES. SMALL STAMPS. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Company, Montreal & Ottawa. Perforated 12. Thin to thick wove paper. 1870, Jan. (?) 3 cents, dull rose red, deep rose red, rose carmine (1888), brown red, red, bright red, vermilion, orange red. _imperforate_, dull red, vermilion. _ribbed paper_, red. 1870, Mar. (?) 1 cent, orange, orange yellow, deep yellow, bright yellow, pale yellow, olive yellow. _imperforate_, bright yellow. _ribbed paper_, yellow. _vertical half_, used for 1/2c. 1872, Jan. (?) 6 cents, pale yellow brown, brown, dark yellow brown; (1888) pale chestnut, deep chestnut. _imperforate_, deep chestnut. _ribbed paper_, deep chestnut. _vertical half_, used for 3c. 1872, Feb. (?) 2 cents, pale green, green, deep green; (1888) blue green, deep blue green. _imperforate_, green. _ribbed paper_, green. _vertical half_, used for 1c. 1874. Nov. 1. (?) 10 cents, pale lilac, lilac, mauve, red violet, violet; (1888) dull rose red, dull rose, salmon red, brown red, indian red. _imperforate_, brown red, indian red. _ribbed paper_, dull rose red, dull rose. 1876, Feb. 1. (?) 5 cents, pale olive gray, olive gray, dark olive gray; (1888) gray, brownish gray, brownish black. _imperforate_, brownish gray. _ribbed paper_, brownish black. 1882, July. 1/2 cent, gray black, black. _imperforate._ _horizontal pair, imperforate between._ _vertical pair, imperforate between._ _ribbed paper._ 5th SERIES. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1893, Feb. 17. 20 cents, bright red, vermilion. _imperforate_, vermilion. 50 cents, deep blue. _imperforate_, black blue. 1893, Aug. 1. 8 cents, bluish gray, bluish slate, slate violet, dark slate, black violet, gray black. _imperforate_, bluish gray. 6th SERIES. JUBILEE ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1897, June 19. 1/2 cent, gray black, black. 1 " yellow orange, orange, deep orange. _vertical half_, used for 1/2c. 2 cents, green, deep green. 3 " carmine. 5 " deep blue. 6 " deep brown, deep yellow brown. 8 " slate violet. 10 " brown lilac. 15 " bluish slate. 20 " vermilion, bright scarlet. 50 " ultramarine. 1 dollar, carmine lake. 2 dollars deep violet. 3 " orange brown. 4 " violet. 5 " olive green. 7th SERIES. "MAPLE LEAF" ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Company, Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1897, Nov. 9. 1/2 cent, gray black, black. Dec. 1. (?) 6 cents, deep brown. Dec. 1 cent, dark blue green. 2 cents, red violet, violet, deep violet. 5 cents, dark blue on _bluish_ (_pale_ and _strong_). _imperforate_, dark blue on _pale bluish_. 8 cents, yellow orange, deep orange. 1898, Jan. 3 " deep carmine. 10 " brown lilac. 8th SERIES. "NUMERALS" ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1898, June. 1 cent, blue green, deep blue green. _toned paper_, deep green. 3 cents, carmine, deep carmine. Sept. 1/2 cent, gray black, black. 2 cents, purple, pale violet, violet, deep violet. 6 " deep yellow brown, dark brown. Oct. 8 " yellow orange, orange, deep orange. Nov. 10 " brown violet, deep brown violet. 1899, July, 3. 5 " dark blue on _bluish (pale_ and _strong)._ Aug. 20. 2 " rose carmine, carmine. 1900, Dec. 29. 20 " olive green. 1902, Dec. 23. 7 " olive yellow. 9th SERIES. IMPERIAL PENNY POSTAGE ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1898, Dec. 7 {black, red and lavender. { " " " bluish. 2 cents, { " " " greenish blue. { " " " green. _imperforate._ {black, red and bluish. 2 cents, { " " " greenish blue. { " " " green. _Unofficial Provisional._ Used at Port Hood only. 1899, Jan. 5. 1 cent, greenish surcharge on vertical third of 3c. 1898. 2 cents, purple surcharge on vertical two-thirds of 3c. 1898. (These two occur as both "lefts" and "rights") 10th SERIES. PROVISIONALS. Surcharge typographed in black. 1899, July 28. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1898, _carmine_. _inverted surcharge_, carmine. Aug. 8. 2 cents on 3 cents, 1897, carmine. _inverted surcharge_, carmine. 11th SERIES. KING'S HEAD ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. (Portrait engraved by Perkins, Bacon & Co., London). Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1903, July 1. 1 cent, blue green, deep blue green. _toned paper_, deep yellow green. 2 cents, rose carmine, carmine. _imperforate_, rose carmine. 5 cents deep blue on _bluish_ (_pale_ and _strong_). indigo on _bluish_ (_pale_ and _strong_). 7 cents, deep olive yellow. 10 cents, brown lilac, brown violet, deep brown violet. 1904, Sept. 27. 20 cents, deep olive green. 1908, Nov. 19. 50 cents, violet. 12th SERIES. QUEBEC TERCENTENARY ISSUE. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1908, July 16. 1/2 cent, black brown, brown. 1 " deep blue green. 2 cents, carmine. 5 " deep blue. 7 " olive green. 10 " deep violet. 15 " red orange. 20 " deep brown. =STAMP BOOKS.= Manufactured by American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. 12-2 cent stamps. 1900, June 11. 2 cents, issue of 1898. 1904, (?) 2 " " " 1904. =REGISTRATION STAMPS=. 1875, Nov. 15. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Montreal and Ottawa. Perforated 12. Thin to thick wove paper. 2 cents, orange, orange red, vermilion; (1888) brick red. _imperforate_, orange. 5 cents, yellow green, green, dark green; (1888) deep blue green. _imperforate_, dark green. 8 cents, bright blue, dull blue. =POSTAGE DUE STAMPS=. 1906, July 1. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1 cent, deep violet. 2 cents, deep violet. 5 " deep violet, red violet. =SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP=. 1898, July 1. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 10 cents, deep green, deep blue green. _toned paper_, deep green. =OFFICIALLY SEALED LABELS=. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Montreal. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1879 (?) (_no value_), dark brown. _imperforate_ (?) Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 1905 (?) (_no value_), black on _light green._ 1907 (?) (_no value_), black. =Stamped Envelopes.= PROVINCE OF CANADA. Ca Laid paper, watermarked POD Size 5-1/2 � 3-1/4 inches (138 � 83 mm.) 1860, Feb. 1.(?) _Cream toned paper_, flap rounded. 5 cents, bright red. 10 cents, black brown. _error_(?) 10 cents, bright red. 1864 (?) _Very white paper_, flap more pointed. 5 cents, bright red. =UNOFFICIAL REPRINTS, 1868.= _On pieces of white wove or vertically laid buff paper._ _5 cents, bright red._ _10 cents, dark red brown_. _On diagonally laid white or buff envelopes, watermarked_ POD US _Size 5-1/2 � 3 inches (138 � 77 mm)._ _5 cents, bright red._ _10 cents, dark red brown_. * * * * * DOMINION OF CANADA. Sizes: A--5-1/2 � 3-1/8 inches (138 � 79 mm.) B--6 � 3-3/8 inches (150 � 85 mm.) C--9-5/8 � 4-1/2 inches (265 � 113 mm.) D--5-7/8 � 3-1/2 inches (148 � 87 mm.) E--6 � 3-5/8 inches (152 � 90 mm.) Laid paper, cross vergures 18 mm. apart. Pointed flap. 1877, Oct. 6. White paper. Size A: 1 cent, pale blue, deep blue. 3 cents, red, rose. Size B: 3 cents, " " Same paper, tongued flap. Size A: 1 cent, blue. 3 cents, red. Laid paper, cross vergures 24 mm. apart. Pointed flap. 1888 (?) Cream toned paper. Size A: 1 cent, blue, deep blue. 3 cents, red, carmine. Size B: 3 cents, " " Same paper, cross vergures 27 mm. apart. Size A: 1 cent, deep blue. White wove paper. 1895 (?) Size B: 3 cents, carmine. Laid paper, cream toned. 1895, June 14. Size B: 2 cents, blue green. 1896 (?) Size A: 1 cent, ultramarine. Manila amber paper. 1896 (?) Size C: 1 cent, ultramarine. 3 cents, red. Wove paper, cream toned. 1898, Apr. 1 (?) Size D: 3 cents, bright red. 1898, July 22. Size D: 1 cent, dark green. 1899, Jan. 2. Size D: 2 cents, deep violet. 1899, Jan. 8 (?) Size D: 2 cents, bright red, vermilion. 1899, Feb. 6. (?) Surcharged 2c in blue-black. Type 1. Size D: 2 c. on 3 cents, red, of 1898. Type 2. Size A: 2c. on 3 cents, red, of 1877; white paper, pointed flap. 2c. on 3 " " " 1888 (?) cream toned paper. Size B: 2c. on 3 " " " " " " " Size D: 2c. on 3 " " " 1898. 1901 (?) Size D: 1 cent, dark green. 2 cents, bright red. Very white wove paper. 1905, Jan. 12. Size E: 2 cents, bright red. Mar. 1 (?) Size E: 1 cent, deep blue green. =WRAPPERS.= TYPE 1. Size 9-1/2 � 5 inches (235 � 127 mm.). 1875, May 1 cent, dark blue, _light buff paper_. " _variety_, stamp at left. [Size 11-1/2 � 6-1/2 inches (290 � 165 mm.)] Size 11-1/8 � 4-7/8 inches (285 � 124 mm.). 1881, Nov. (?) 1 cent, dark blue, blue, _cream paper_. TYPE 2. Size as last. 1882, May (?) 1 cent, pale blue, _light buff paper_. Aug.(?) 1 " blue, _straw paper_. 1885, 1 " ultramarine, _cream paper_. TYPE 3. Size as last. 1887, May (?) 1 cent, ultramarine, _thin white paper_. 1888, 1 " " _cream paper_. 1 " " _light manila paper_. TYPE 4. Size 10-3/8 � 4-7/8 inches (264 � 124 mm.). 1892, Feb. (?) 1 cent, dark blue, _thin straw paper_. " _variety_, stamp half way across wrapper. 1 " blue, _cream paper_. Size 10-3/4 � 4-7/8 inches (272 � 125 mm.). 1 cent, dark blue, _straw paper_. 1894, Feb. (?) 1 " black, _light buff paper_. 1 " " _light brown paper_. 1898, June (?) 1 " dark green, _manila paper_. 1903, Oct. (?) 1 " " " " " Size 15 � 6-1/2 inches (378 � 165 mm.). Inscription. 1907, July 11. 1 cent, dark green, _manila paper_. 2 " carmine, _manila paper_. Size 13 � 8 inches (308 � 223 mm.). Inscription. 3 cents, slate violet, _manila paper_. 1908, June 18 (?) Last two wrappers, surcharged. 1 c. on 2 cents, carmine. 1 c. " 3 " slate violet. =POST CARDS.= Size 4-5/8 � 3 inches (116 � 75 mm.). Imprint "Montreal & Ottawa." 1871. June 1 cent, dull blue, deep blue, _light buff and pale buff card_. Size 4-3/4 � 3 inches (120 � 75 mm.). Imprint "Montreal" only. 1876. (end) 1 cent, dull blue, deep blue, _pale buff card_. Inscribed "To United Kingdom." 1877. Jan. 1. 2 cents, deep yellow green, _pale buff card_. Inscribed "Union Postale Universelle." 1879, 2 cents, yellow green, _pale yellowish card_. Size 5 � 3 inches (127 � 76 mm.). No frame. TYPE 2 of wrapper stamp. 1882, Apr. (?) 1 cent, light blue, _pale buff card_. Dec. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, slate, _pale buff card_. _Error_, stamps at left. 1884, Sept. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, slate, _pale buff card_. TYPE 3 of wrapper stamp. 1887, Feb. (?) 1 cent, dull blue, _pale buff card_. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, slate, _pale buff card_. 1888, (?) 1 plus 1 " slate green, _pale buff card_. TYPE 4 of wrapper stamp. 1891, Dec. (?) 1 cent, dull ultramarine, pale ultramarine, _pale buff card_. 1892, Dec. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, slate green, (Type 3 on reply card), _pale buff card_. 1894, Oct. (?) 1 plus 1 " gray black, (Type 4 on each card), _pale buff card_. Size 6 � 3-5/8 inches (152 � 92 mm.). 1893, Feb. 17. 1 cent, black, _pale buff card_. Size 5-1/2 � 3-3/8 inches (140 � 85 mm.). 1894, Feb. (?) 1 cent, black, _pale yellowish card_. 1895, Apr. (?) 1 " " _rough straw card_. Size 5-1/8 � 3-1/8 inches (130 � 80 mm.). 1896, Oct. (?) 2 cents, orange red, carmine, _pale buff card_. Size 5-1/2 � 3-3/8 inches (140 � 85 mm.). 1897, June 19. 1 cent, black, _pale buff card_. " _variety_, inscriptions lacking. Size 5-1/8 � 3-1/8 inches (130 � 80 mm.). 1897, Dec. 1 (?) 2 cents, deep orange red, _pale buff card_. Size 5-1/2 � 3-3/8 inches (140 � 85 mm.). 1898, Jan. (?) 1 cent, green, dark green, _pale buff card_. 1 " carmine, _pale buff card_. Size 5 � 3 inches (127 � 76 mm.). 1898, June (?) 1 plus 1 cent, black, _pale buff card_. " " _variety_, reply printed on back of message card. Size 5-1/8 � 3-1/8 inches (130 � 80 mm.). 1898, June (?) 2 cents, deep blue, _cream card_. Size 5-1/2 � 3-3/8 inches (140 � 85 mm.). 1903, Aug. (?) 1 cent, green, _pale buff card_. Dec. (?) 1 " rose, " " " Size 5 � 3 inches (127 � 76 mm.). 1904, Feb. (?) 1 plus 1 cent, black, _pale buff card_. Size 5-1/8 � 3-1/8 inches (130 � 80 mm.). 1904, Feb. (?) 2 cents, deep blue, _pale buff card_. =LETTER CARDS.= 1893. Feb. 17. 3 cents, carmine, _blue-green card_. Perf. A. and C. 1895, Oct. (?) 1 " black, " " " Perf. A and C. 2 " green, " " " Perf. A. 1897, Dec. (?) 2 " " " " " Perf. A. 1898, Jan. (?) 1 " black, " " " Perf. A. 3 " carmine, " " " Perf. A. Surcharged "2c." in blue-black. 1899, Feb. (?) 2 cents on 3 c. card of 1893, type 1. 2 " " 3 c. " " " " 2. 2 " " 3 c. " " 1898, " 2. Surcharged in violet. 2 cents on 3 c. card of 1893, type 2. 1900, Jan. (?) 1 cent, green, _blue-green card_. Perf. A. 2 " carmine, " " " Perf. A. =LETTER SHEET.= 1894 (?) 1 cent, black, _gray blue laid paper_. 1 " " _white laid paper_. =OFFICIAL STATIONERY.= Inland Revenue Wrapper, Size 11 � 5-1/8 inches (280 � 132 mm.). 1879 (?) 1 cent, dark blue, _cream paper_. Customs Post Card, Size 5-1/8 � 3-1/8 inches (130 � 88 mm.). 1888 (?) [plain front], _manila card_. [inscriptions on front], _manila card._ Returned Dead Letter Envelopes. Size 6-7/8 � 4-3/4 inches (175 � 120 mm.). 1889 (?) 3 cents, black, _manila paper_. ? ? ? [Illustration: PLATE I] [Illustration: PLATE II] [Illustration: PLATE III] [Illustration: PLATE IV] [Illustration: PLATE V] [Illustration: PLATE VI] [Illustration: PLATE VII] [Illustration: PLATE VIII] [Illustration: PLATE IX] [Illustration: PLATE X] [Illustration: PLATE XI] [Illustration: PLATE XII] [Illustration: PLATE XIII] [Illustration: PLATE XIV] * * * * * Transcriber's note: Page 21: changed "or" to "of" ( ... from the sender of such letter or packet ...) Page 23: missing or unreadable value in the original ( ... the rate on Letters by those mails, viâ Halifax, of 1s. [missing value] sterling, if _un-paid_, ...) Page 90: changed "setttled" to "settled" ( ... newly settled portions of the country ...) Page 99: changed "fradulent" to "fraudulent" (To remove with fraudulent intent from any letter, newspaper or other mailable matter ...) Page 141: changed "(C)" to "(D)" ((D) Limits of weight to Austria-Hungary, ...) Page 149: changed "beseiged" to "besieged" ( ... literally besieged the post offices for the coveted treasures.) Page 149: changed "neceessary" to "necessary" ( ... it would be necessary for you to apply early ...) Page 154: duplicate word "in" deleted (The principal variation is only one of tone in a few values.) Page 196: changed "monoply" to "monopoly" ( ... an accidental monopoly of a stamp, ...) Page 202: changed "promotory" to "promontory" ( ... he disembarked on the 3d July at the foot of the promontory of Stadaconé, ...) Page 228: changed "Qneen" (with inverted "u") to "Queen" (The embossed head of Queen Victoria was evidently copied ...) Page 238: changed "suppy" to "supply" ( ... when the supply thereof in the department became exhausted, ...) Page 256: changed "uncertainity" to "uncertainty" (The reply card in the new type is again an uncertainty.) Page 286: corrected "130 � 80" to "140 � 85" (Size 5-1/2 � 3-3/8 inches (140 � 85 mm.).)