Part 17 (1/2)
It was stipulated that applications for these imperforate stamps should be made to the Postmaster at Ottawa. When the sheets of these stamps came into collectors' hands it was found they had been printed from plates 13 and 14--the same as those from which the originally chronicled ”errors” were printed. It is obvious that the Department issued these stamps simply to ”get back” at the holder of the sheet so unfortunately blown or thrown out of the printing-office window in 1906. That they were not intended for use in mailing machines seems amply proved from the fact that none of the 2c stamps of the present issue have been issued in imperforate sheets.
No 1/2c value was issued in the King Edward design although the Queen's head stamp of that denomination continued in use until 1909. This value was primarily intended for use in prepaying the postage on transient newspapers, but for many years the number sold to the public was out of all proportion to those which could have been required for its legitimate use. There is no doubt that large quant.i.ties were purchased by stamp dealers for wholesaling to packet makers and dealers in the cheap approval sheet business and, undoubtedly, stamp collectors in Canada usually preferred to use four 1/2c stamps on their letters rather than an ordinary 2c one. This excessive demand for the 1/2c resulted in the Post Office Department issuing the following circular to Postmasters in 1902:--
The attention of postmasters is drawn to the fact that the postal necessity for the 1/2c stamp, as such, is now confined to one purpose--prepayment of newspapers and periodicals posted singly, and weighing not more than one ounce each. As publications of the kind referred to must, in the nature of things, be few, and as in the case of their being mailed to subscribers by the office of publication, the bulk rate of postage would be far cheaper and more convenient for the publisher, the demand for the 1/2c stamp throughout the Dominion must be appreciably diminished as a result of this restriction of its use. While, of course, any number of 1/2c stamps on an article of correspondence will be recognized to the full extent of their aggregate face value, it is not the wish of the Department to supply them except for the sole specific purpose above mentioned, and an intimation to that effect should be given by postmasters to patrons of their office who are in the habit of buying 1/2-cent stamps for other postal purposes.
This circular had quite an effect on the use of 1/2c stamps, for only about one-third as many were used in the year following the publication of the circular. Finally, on May 19th, 1909, the Post Office Act was amended so that the special rate on newspapers was repealed and the minimum postage on any single piece of mail became 1c. This did away for the necessity of 1/2c stamps and, of course, discounted any further possibility of the value being included in the King's head series.
_Reference List._
1903-8. Die engraved by Perkins, Bacon & Co., London. Plates prepared and stamps printed by the American Bank Note Co., Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12.
78. 1c green, Scott's No. 89.
79. 2c carmine, Scott's No. 90.
80. 5c blue on blue, Scott's No. 91.
81. 7c olive-bistre, Scott's No. 92 82. 10c brown lilac. Scott's No. 93.
83. 20c olive-green. No. 94.
84. 50c purple. No. 95.
CHAPTER XXIII.--_The Quebec Tercentenary Issue._
The year 1908 marked the three hundredth anniversary of the first permanent settlement in Canada, made by Champlain at Quebec in 1608, and plans were formed to celebrate the event in a fitting manner by means of fetes, historical pageants, etc. In fact, the occasion was considered of such importance that the then Prince and Princess of Wales (now King George V of England and his Royal Consort) were invited to be present at the festivities, and they made a special journey in one of Britain's most formidable battles.h.i.+ps.
Quite early it was rumoured that the Post Office Department would mark the event, as in Diamond Jubilee year, by the issue of a series of special stamps, and though in March the Hon. Rudolphe Lemieux, who was then Postmaster-General, announced that such an issue would a.s.suredly be made, the Department exercised the greatest reticence as to what values would be included in the series, and what subjects would form the designs. Naturally the Department was inundated with all sorts of suggestions, more or less appropriate to the occasion, but, apparently, the ”powers that be” had their plans already made and it was not until a few days before the stamps were ready for use that any information was made public regarding the series. The _Toronto Globe_ for July 4th printed the following despatch from its Ottawa correspondent:--
Postmaster-General Lemieux has given instructions to issue a series of postage stamps commemorating the tercentenary. They are eight in number. Four of them bear portraits of persons dear to Canada, or whose names recall great events. The first represents the Prince and Princess of Wales; the second the King and Queen. Next come Cartier and Champlain, and then, in connection with the battlefields park scheme, Wolfe and Montcalm. The second part of the issue represents Cartier's arrival before Quebec. On the calm waters of the mighty St. Lawrence stand in bold relief three s.h.i.+ps of the discoverer of Canada, flying the fleur-de-lys.
As a sequel to the above is a very picturesque tableau. In Champlain's narrative of his third voyage to Canada is found the following pa.s.sage:--
”With our canoes laden with provisions, our arms and some merchandise to be given as presents to the Indians, I started on Monday, May 27, from the isle of Sainte Helaine, accompanied by four Frenchmen and one Indian. A salute was given in my honour from some small pieces of artillery.”
The artist, under the inspiration of these few lines, has depicted Champlain's departure for the west. There stand two canoes. In one Champlain's companions have already taken their places, paddle in hand, whilst the great explorer is still on sh.o.r.e, bidding good-bye to a few friends. The picture is full of life. The legend underneath reads as follows: ”Partement de Champlain pour L'ouest.”
The word ”partement”, now obsolete, is the one used by Champlain for the modern one ”depart”.
The same note of old France is used in connection with a view of the first house in Quebec, indeed in Canada, Champlain's habitation, which is called in his narrative ”l'abitation de Quebecq”. This stamp is a clear reproduction of a cut from Champlain's work. Quebec as it was in 1700 is the next view, copied from Bacqueville de la Potherie's ”Histoire de la Nouvelle France”.
It is a quaint picture of the old city, showing steeples here and there, the fort on the river front and in faint lines the Laurentide Mountains in the background.
All stamps bear with the words ”CANADA POSTAGE” the line ”IIIe centenaire de Quebec”.
The postmaster-general has given special attention to the selection of portraits and historical scenes to be represented. His choice has been an excellent one.
The carrying out of the engraving part of the plan has been entrusted to Mr. Machado, of the American Bank Note Co., who, with keen artistic sense, has performed his part of the work with great success.
In the same newspaper of the same date appears another despatch giving particulars of the designs alloted to each denomination and the chosen colors viz:--
The special postage stamps to be issued in commemoration of the tercentenary celebration at Quebec are now ready, and will be placed on sale next week. The stamps are of most artistic design, and are larger than the ordinary size, to allow of adequate representation of historic scenes, portraits, etc. The description of each denomination is as follows:--
Half-cent, grey, picture of the Prince and Princess of Wales.