The Stamps of Canada Part 20

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 quant.i.ty 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 a.s.sist 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:--