Presentation by Art Bunce

Presentation by Art Bunce

British North America in 1867

Starting in 1851, the separate colonies of Canada, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia all issued their own stamps. Newfoundland New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia British Columbia

Canada s stamps in 1867 were known as the Cents Issue, valid only in Quebec and Ontario.

By Act of Parliament in 1867, the colonies of Canada, Nova, Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into the new Dominion of Canada. Other colonies joined later: British Columbia 1871 Prince Edward Island 1873 Newfoundland 1949

Effective March 1, 1868, the following new postal rates went into effect in the Dominion: ½ 1 2 3 6 12½ 15 periodicals under 1 oz. drop letters, printed matter, circulars, etc., per ½ oz.; periodicals per 4 oz. registration, transient newspapers letters, per ½ oz. to U.S., per ½ oz. to U.K. via Canada, to Newfoundland, per ½ oz.; parcel post, per 8 oz. to U.K. via U.S., per ½ oz.

To meet the new rates, new stamps were prepared by the British American Bank Note Company. Proofs in issued and unissued colors.

The issued stamps were issued to post offices for the following periods: ½ April 1868 to July 1882 1 March 1868 to March 1870 2 March 1868 to February 1872 3 March 1868 to January 1870 5 October 1875 to February 1876 6 April 1868 to January 1872 12½ March 1868 to 1888 15 March 1868 to 1899

Most, but not all, denominations of the Large Queens were replaced by the Small Queens, starting in 1870.

Quantities issued to postmasters were: ½ 6,700,000 1 brown yellow 4,610,000 1 yellow 4,990,000 2 10,300,000 3 22,000,000 5 1,000,000 6 9,400,000 12½ 1,940,000 15 2,370,000

Blocks of any size of any denomination are scarce.

y ½ black On newspaper wrapper No postmark

½ black Pair used to pay 1 printed matter rate. No postmark.

1 1 yellow brown Paying 1 drop letter rate, within Toronto.

1 yellow brown Paying 1 printed circular rate

1 yellow brown Strip of 3 to pay single first class rate of 3 per ½ oz.

e 1 yellow brown + 2 green Paying 3 single domestic first class rate.

1 yellow 1 per ½ oz. printed circular rate

1 yellow Pair and single paying 3 per ½ oz. single domestic rate

1 yellow Two singles used to pay double 1 per ½ oz. drop letter rate

1 yellow Used to pay single photographer s rate of 1 per ½ oz. for printed matter, manuscripts, etc. No postmark.

2 green The most common use for the 2 value was in combination with other values. 2 + 1 = 3 single first class domestic rate.

2 green One frequent use for the 2 green was in a strip of 3 to make the 6 per ½ oz. rate to the U.S.

2 green Less frequently, a strip of 3 of the 2 was used to pay the 6 rate to the U.K. Per Canadian Packet. (8 via New York) Here, Ireland is an unusual destination.

2 green Of all the Large Queens, the 2 is the hardest value to find used singly on cover. 2 used to pay double 1 printed matter rate.

2 green Paying double periodical rate of 1 per 4 oz. Pencil notation inside wrapper for Harper s Weekly. One of two examples know.

2 green Used to pay single 1 per ½ oz. drop letter rate, plus 1 private carrier delivery fee

Prior to Confederation in 1867, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick recognized a 2 per ½ oz. next county rate. This cover shows the double next county rate.

3 red Used to pay single ½ oz. domestic first class rate.

3 red - 1868 Used to pay single inter-colonial rate to Prince Edward Island, which was a separate colony, and did not join Canada until 1873.

5 green Not issued until 1875, the 5 green met the single ½ oz. rate to the U.K., reduced from 6 on October 1, 1875.

5 green Although not intended for this purpose, the 5 green also conveniently paid the rate for 3 domestic postage + 2 registration.

6 brown The most common use for the 6 brown was the double 3 per ½ oz. domestic rate.

6 brown Registration could be paid by use of either a registered letter stamp, or in cash, although the double postage rate had to be paid by stamp.

6 brown The 6 brown was often used to make up multiples of the 3 domestic rate, such as 12 of the 15 on this 5x-weight domestic letter.

6 brown 1868 2 singles, paying double 6 per ½ oz. rate to U.S. Transcontinental railroad was not completed until 1869, so carried overland to Oregon.

6 light brown After January 1, 1870, the single ½ oz. rate to the U.K. via Canada was reduced to 6 from 12½. This cover pays the double rate.

6 brown Even though the rate to England via Canada was 6 per ½ oz., many customers preferred the weekly sailings from New York even though the rate was 8 per ½ oz.

6 light brown Double weight cover to the U.K. per Cunard Steamer via New York, double weight, 8 per ½ oz.

Inside, unfolded 6 light brown Used with 2 green to make up 8 to pay the circular rate of ½ per oz. for bulk mailing of 16 oz. of land sale flyers, top item stamped.

12½ blue This value met the single ½ oz. rate to the U.K. via Canada from 1868 to 1870, when the rate via Canada was reduced to 6 per ½ oz.

12½ blue Although the primary rate for which the 12½ was issued ended in 1870, it was distributed until 1878 for the parcel post rate of 12½ per 8 oz., and until 1888 for other odd uses.

The 15 Large Queen was never replaced by another 15, and remained in production and issued to postmasters from March 1868 to late 1899. This was so even though 20 and 50 stamps were issued in 1893 and in common use for the same period.

The 15 A pre-first day cover Although supposedly not issued until April 1, 1868, 4 covers are known used in March. This cover is postmarked March 23, 1868.

The 15 Large die proof Plate proofs Perforated trial color proof 1893 specimen

The 15 Pawnbroker variety position 10 only

The 15 Blocks of the earlier shades, Ottawa

The 15 Blocks of 1880 s printings, Montreal.

The 15 Blocks with typical parcel post cancels.

The 15 Blocks of later printings, 1890 s, Ottawa.

The 15 Precancels

15-1877 Although issued to pay the ½ oz. rate to the U.K. via New York, the 15 was frequently used to pay 5 or more times the domestic rate of 3 per ½ oz. Here, the 15 pays 5 times the single domestic rate.

15 Paying 5 times the single domestic rate on an official wrapper, 1877.

15 Used with 2 Small Queen in 1873 to pay 5 x domestic rate, plus 2 registration.

15 Used with 2 and 3 Small Queens in 1872 to pay 6 x 3 domestic rate, plus 2 registration.

15 Used on 1879 cover with 5 and 1 Small Queens and 2 Registered Letter Stamp to pay 7 x domestic rate, plus 2 registration. The 2 RLS was issued December 1,1875.

15 Used with 6 and 3 Small Queens to pay 8 x domestic rate of 24.

15 Pair used with 2 Large Queen on 1869 cover to pay 10 x domestic rate, plus 2 registration.

15 Pair, 3 Small Queen, and 2 Registered Letter Stamp used on 1884 cover to pay 11 x domestic rate, plus 2 registration.

Reverse 15 Used with 1 Numeral to pay 16 times the 1 per oz. printed matter rate on 1899 cover. The 15 still in regular use in 1899 even though 20 and 50 stamps issued in 1893 and 1897.

15 Single on October 1868 cover to UK, paying the new ½ oz. rate via New York for which the stamp was issued. The rate lasted until December 31, 1869, when it was reduced to 8 per ½ oz. via New York. Illustrated on p. 372 of Duckworth handbook.

15 Two singles, both Type 3 on watermarked paper, paying double 15 per ½ oz. rate to U.K. via New York. Illustrated on p. 29 of Firth Handbook.

15 After the rate to the U.K. was reduced to 5 per ½ oz. in 1875, the 15 paid the 3 times rate, as on this 1891 cover.

15 After the rate to the U.K. was reduced to 5 per ½ oz., the 15 also met the double rate, plus 5 registration, as in this 1898 cover.

15 Paying 3 x single rate to Ireland on 1876 cover.

15 Single, plus 5 Registered Letter Stamp, paying 3 x ½ oz. rate to U.K., plus registration. Tender for the Island of Anticosti. On May 8, 1889 the registration fee was increased to 5.

15 Pair and 2 singles and pair of 5 Small Queens, plus 5 Registered Letter Stamp, paying 14 x single rate (up to 7 oz.), plus 5 registration, on 1882 cover to U.K.

15 Used on 1872 cover to Bavaria with 1 Small Queen. One of 4 covers known with this 16 pre-upu rate to the German States.

15 Single on 1899 cover paying 2 x 5 per ½ oz. postage, plus 5 registration, to Austria. 15 still in common use 31 years after issue.

15 Single paying 3 times 5 per ½ oz. rate to Switzerland, 1895.

15 On 1895 cover, paying 3 x 5 per ½ oz. rate (up to 1½ oz.) to Sweden.

15 IMPERFORATE PAIR (Type 14) on 1905 registered cover to U.S. One of 2-3 known.

15 Used on 1882 cover to Australia paying 15 per ½ oz. pre-upu rate.

15 Strip of 4 paying 4 x 15 per ½ oz. pre- UPU rate on 1887 cover to New Zealand.

15 Block of 5 on 1888 cover to New Zealand, paying 5 x pre-upu rate. One of 3 covers known with a block of 4 or larger of the 15.