The Stamps of Canada Part 6

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 s.p.a.ce 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 cla.s.ses:

I.--Ordinary, coa.r.s.e, 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 cla.s.sification 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 impa.s.se.

The federation of all the provinces under something like the American system was the only solution; and with, for the most part, the cordial cooperation 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 ill.u.s.trious 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 pa.s.sed 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 pa.s.sed 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 doc.u.ment _in extenso:_--

PRINc.i.p.aL RATES OF POSTAGE.

LETTERS.

5.--On letters pa.s.sing 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.