Part 10 (1/2)

The perforation used for the stamps of this series was the usual 12--the work of single-line or guillotine machines. All values are reported to exist perforated 11-1/2 by 12, as mentioned in connection with the issues of 1868, but this statement requires verification before it can be accepted as authoritative. All values are known entirely imperforate, the 3c in this condition being first recorded in the _Philatelic Record_ for December, 1882. Writing in the _London Philatelist_ in 1907 Mr. M.

H. Horsley says with regard to these varieties:--”Imperforated copies of various values were sold over the Post-office counter in Montreal about the years 1891-3 at their face value, and have been good for postage whenever people cared to use them.” Writing a little later on the same subject Mr. C. L. Pack also vouches for them, viz.:--”I quite agree with Mr. Horsley in regard to the various imperforate copies of the issues of 1882 to 1895. There are a good many specimens of these stamps imperforate, and they were on sale at a Canadian Post Office.” Curiously enough Gibbons' catalogue entirely ignores these imperforate stamps though Mr. Howes is able to adduce doc.u.mentary evidence in support of the statements made by philatelists of such undoubted authority as Messrs. Horsley and Pack.

Scott's catalogue records the 1/2c as existing in a horizontal pair imperforate between.

The same work records the 2c bi-sected diagonally or vertically and the halves used for 1c stamps, while Mr. Howes adds the 6c, cut vertically and used for 3c. But as the ”Canadian Postal Guide” declares that ”a mutilated stamp, or a stamp cut in half, is not recognised in payment of postage” such freaks can only have pa.s.sed through the mails by carelessness or favor and their philatelic interest is negligible.

In 1875 an Act of Parliament was pa.s.sed making the prepayment of letters by postage stamp obligatory and imposing a fine of double the deficiency on all insufficiently prepaid letters. At the same time local or drop letters (accepted for 1c) were restricted to 1/2 oz. in weight.

The Postmaster-General's Report for 1879 says:--

A reduction has been made, from the 1st September last, in the postage rate on closed parcels sent by post within the Dominion, from 12-1/2 cents per 8 oz. of weight to 6 cents per 4 oz. Under this change small parcels not exceeding 4 ounces in weight are admitted to pa.s.s for 6 cents instead of 12-1/2 cents as before.

It will thus be seen that this change did away with the chief use of the 12-1/2c value and made it practically useless. Hence the reason it was never included among the series of small ”cents” stamps.

In 1889 another Post Office Act increased the limit of weight of single letters from 1/2 oz. to 1 oz., and at the same time increased the postal rate on local or drop letters from 1c to 2c, though a weight of 1 oz.

was allowed under the new schedule. An official notice recording these changes was published as follows:--

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

CHANGES IN POSTAGE RATES UNDER AUTHORITY OF POST OFFICE ACT 1889.

The rate of postage upon Letters posted in Canada, addressed to places within the Dominion or in the United States, will be 3 cents per ounce instead of 3 cents per half ounce as heretofore. Upon Drop Letters posted at an Office from which letters are delivered by Letter Carrier, the postage rate will be 2 cents per ounce, instead of 1 cent per half ounce. The rate of postage upon Drop Letters, except in the Cities where free delivery by Letter Carrier has been established, will be 1 cent per ounce.

The fee for the Registration of a letter or other article of mail matter, will be five cents upon all cla.s.ses of correspondence pa.s.sing within the Dominion. For the present and until further instructed, the registration fee may be prepaid by using the 2 cent Registration Stamps and Postage Stamps to make up the amount.

Letters insufficiently prepaid will be charged double the deficiency as heretofore, provided at least a partial payment has been made. Letters posted wholly unpaid will be sent to the Dead Letter Office for return to the writer.

JOHN G. HAGGART, _Postmaster-General._

Post Office Department, OTTAWA, 8th May, 1889.

_Reference List._

1870-82. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note Co. of Montreal and Ottawa. Wove paper. Perf. 12.

26. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 40.

27. 1c orange, Scott's No. 32.

28. 2c green. Scott's No. 33 or 41.

29. 3c red. Scott's No. 34 or 42.

30. 5c grey, Scott's No. 38 or 43.

31. 6c brown, Scott's No. 35 or 44.

32. 10c magenta or brown red, Scott's No. 36 or 45.