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CANADA ITS POSTAGE STAMPS AND POSTAL STATIONERY
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 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....
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Plate IX.
Plate IX.
The above blocks were selected from the Pack and Worthington collections and some in the possession of the New England Stamp Co....
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Plate X.
Plate X.
The above blocks of imperforates were from the same sources as noted for Plate IX....
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Plate XI.
Plate XI.
The above are all from the Worthington collection....
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Plate XII.
Plate XII.
Nos. 123 and 127 are from the Worthington collection and the other three from the Pack collection....
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Plate XIV.
Plate XIV.
Both the above were in the Seybold collection....
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Plate XV. (Frontispiece).
Plate XV. (Frontispiece).
A page of six pennies from the collection of Charles Lathrop Pack....
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FOREWORD
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 volum
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INTRODUCTION
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 cons
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13o & 14o Victoriae., Cap. XVII.
13o & 14o Victoriae., Cap. XVII.
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 t
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14o & 15o Vict. Cap. LXXI.
14o & 15o Vict. Cap. LXXI.
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. [5] Metropolitan Philatelist, I: 253. [6] sic. 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 for
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CANADA ONE SHILLING POSTAGE STAMP.
CANADA ONE SHILLING POSTAGE STAMP.
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, whi
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DETAILS OF ISSUE.
DETAILS OF ISSUE.
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
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16o Vict. Cap. CLVIII.
16o 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
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20o Vict. Cap. XXV. An Act to Amend the Post-Office Laws of this Province. [Assented to 10th June 1857.]
20o 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
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CHAPTER IV THE PERFORATED PENCE ISSUES
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 i
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CHAPTER V THE CANCELLATIONS OF THE EARLY ISSUES
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 plac
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CHAPTER VI THE ISSUE OF 1859
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 resulti
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Preliminary.
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 th
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CHAPTER VIII THE ISSUE OF 1868
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 th
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CHAPTER IX THE SMALL "CENTS" ISSUE, 1870-82
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 th
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CHAPTER X THE SUPPLEMENTARY VALUES OF 1893
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,
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CHAPTER XI THE JUBILEE ISSUE OF 1897
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
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CHAPTER XII THE "MAPLE LEAF" ISSUE OF 1897
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
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CHAPTER XIII THE "NUMERALS" ISSUE, 1898-1902
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 nu
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CHAPTER XIV THE "CHRISTMAS" STAMP OF 1898
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
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CHAPTER XV THE "KING'S HEAD" ISSUE OF 1903-1908
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
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CHAPTER XVI THE "TERCENTENARY" ISSUE OF 1908
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,
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CHAPTER XVII THE REGISTRATION STAMPS
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 Un
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CHAPTER XVIII THE POSTAGE DUE STAMPS
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
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CHAPTER XIX THE SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP
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
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CHAPTER XX THE "OFFICIALLY SEALED" LABELS
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, an
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CHAPTER XXI THE STAMPED ENVELOPES
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
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CHAPTER XXII THE NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS
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." The issue took place in May, 1875, and consisted of a wrapper of light buff wove paper measuring 9½ inches in height by 5 inches in width (235 ×
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CHAPTER XXIII THE POST CARDS
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 manu
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CHAPTER XXIV THE LETTER CARDS
CHAPTER XXIV THE LETTER CARDS
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
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Customs Postal Package Office.
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. E. 14. ................ Collector ....
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CHAPTER XXVI PRECANCELLATIONS AND PERMITS
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 Philat
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PROVINCE OF CANADA
PROVINCE OF CANADA
1st. SERIES. Engraved and printed by Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York. Unperforated. Same as before, but perforated 12 by the American Bank Note Co. (?) 2nd. SERIES. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., New York. Perforated 12. Wove paper....
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DOMINION OF CANADA
DOMINION OF CANADA
3rd. SERIES. Large Stamps . Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Montreal & Ottawa. Perforated 12, Wove paper. 4th SERIES. Small Stamps. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Company, Montreal & Ottawa. Perforated 12. Thin to thick wove paper. 5th SERIES. Engraved and printed by the British American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perforated 12. Wove paper. 6th SERIES. Jubilee Issue . Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. Perfo
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