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

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.