Canada: Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery Part 46

[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 cla.s.s 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 quant.i.ties required for a given mailing and the limitation of the use of precancelled stamps to the particular kind or cla.s.s of mail matter for which they have been issued. The minimum quant.i.ty 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 quant.i.ties of not less than 25,000 stamps, but postage stamps cancelled with the small roller canceller have been observed on letters and other matter pa.s.sing in the mails, and Postmasters are accordingly instructed that UNDER NO CIRc.u.mSTANCES are they permitted to precancel postage stamps. The roller canceller is reserved for the cancellation of postage stamps on Second, Third and Fourth Cla.s.s 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-CLa.s.s-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-CLa.s.s (PRINTED) MATTER IN CASH.

The Postmaster General in order to facilitate the posting of printed matter mailed in considerable quant.i.ties 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

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 cla.s.s 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 Cla.s.s (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".