Chapter XV: The "king's Head" Issue of 1903-1908

The death of the beloved Queen Victoria on January 22, 1901, portended momentous changes in the multitude of stamps bearing her effigy throughout the Empire. Canada of course was expected to make the proper substitution of the portrait of the new ruler, King Edward the Seventh, but as time went on seemed in no hurry to do so. In fact it was nearly two years and a half after the Queen's death before the King Edward stamps appeared, and in the meantime but little could be learned concerning Canada's intentions in the matter.

* * * * *

About the first of January, 1903, it was reported in the newspapers that Postmaster-General Mulock had announced "that designs had been submitted, and it has been decided to select one bearing an excellent likeness of His Majesty." In its issue for 18th April, 1903, the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ again gave advance information concerning Canadian stamp matters in the following detailed account:--

The King's head series of Canadian stamps will probably shortly make
its appearance. The die has been received by the Post Office
Department and approved of. The stamp will be very similar to the
present stamp except that the maple leaf in each of the upper
corners will be replaced by a crown. The figures of value will
appear in the lower corner as at present and the value will be
spelled out as at present in the oval frame which surrounds the
portrait. This frame will be as in the present stamp. The portrait
of the King shows him three-quarters to the right--head and
shoulders, as the Queen is in the present stamp, but there is no
crown on his head. The portrait is an exceptionally nice one and it
is understood that Royalty has had something to do with its
selection. The die was made in England, although the American Bank
Note Co. are contractors for the government work.

The details given proved correct. The official announcement of the forthcoming issue was given in a circular to postmasters dated 10th June and signed by the Deputy Postmaster-General:[177]--

Postmasters are hereby informed that a new issue of postage stamps,
bearing the portrait of His Majesty King Edward VII., and comprising
five denominations (1c., 2c., 5c., 7c., and 10c.), is about to be
supplied to Postmasters for sale in the usual way, but none of these
stamps are to be sold until the first of July, 1903.

The colours of the forthcoming series will be the same respectively,
as those now used for the denominations specified, except that the
shade of the 7c. will be slightly deeper.

Postmasters will please bear in mind that, notwithstanding the new
issue, they are not to return to the Department any of the old
stamps on hand, but will sell them in the ordinary way. At first,
the public may prefer getting new stamps, and if so, there is no
objection to this wish being acceded to, but it is also desirable to
work off in due course all remnants of old stamps.

A change in the design of the stamp of the present series of
post-cards, post-bands and stamped envelopes, to correspond with
that above referred to, will be made as soon as the present stock of
these items shall have been exhausted.

[177] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVII: 254.

The new stamps were accordingly issued on "Dominion Day" (July 1st) of 1903. Their actual appearance brought forth the following interesting account of their preparation in the _London Philatelist_:[178]--

Although for a long time past we have been aware of the
circumstances attending the preparation of the new postage stamps
for Canada, and in a position to illustrate the approved design, we
have refrained from publishing the facts in compliance with the
desire of the authorities that no details should be made public
until the stamps had been completed and were ready to be put into
circulation.

We believe that the delay which has taken place in bringing out the
new issue has been due to questions arising out of the existing
contract under which the postage stamps of the Dominion are
produced, and that even after the approval of the design and the
receipt of the die some difficulties were experienced in connection
with the preparation of the plates by the contractors.

These have happily been surmounted, and now that the issue is an
accomplished fact it is with much gratification that we illustrate
the design of the new stamp, our illustration, prepared some time
back, being taken from a proof from the steel die engraved by
Messrs. Perkins, Bacon and Co., of London, and used in the
manufacture of the plates of the several values issued by the
Canadian postal authorities on the 1st. instant. By comparing our
illustration with the stamp as issued it will be seen that the
contractors or the postal authorities have made some alterations in
the design, which, in our judgement, are by no means improvements.
The leaves in the lower corners have been redrawn on a smaller
scale, and hardly impinge upon the frame; their drawing is vastly
inferior, and the graceful effect of the broken circle is lost. The
numerals of value are in colour on a white ground, reversing the
original design, the labels being larger and the figures taller and
thinner; this also detracting materially from the charming
homogeneity of the stamp as first proposed. The greatest alteration,
and the worst, is the substitution of heavy diagonal lines for
horizontal ones in the background. The latter were finely drawn and
delicately shaded, leaving the King's Head in clear outline, and
_framed_ by the dark oval band containing the inscriptions. The
background and frame no longer present this artistic effect, and the
whole design materially suffers thereby.

The circumstances connected with the inception of the issue are as
gratifying as they are novel, and will be hailed with acclamation by
the Philatelists of the British Empire.

The Postmaster of Canada, Sir William Mulock, being one of the many
distinguished visitors to this country during the Coronation
festivities, took the opportunity afforded by his visit of
approaching the Prince of Wales, and of meeting His Royal Highness's
suggestions and advice in the preparation of a new die for the
Canadian stamps. The Prince, with his characteristic energy and
courtesy, cheerfully undertook the task, and it will be seen from
our illustration with absolute and conspicuous success. H. R. H.
wisely decided, in the first instance, that it is advisable to have
some continuity of design in succeeding issues, and therefore
adopted the frame and groundwork of the then current stamps as a
basis. In selecting a portrait of His Majesty the Prince decided to
rely upon a photograph giving a true likeness of the King as we know
him, in lieu of an idealised representation by an artist. The
photograph eventually chosen, with the full approval of His Majesty,
was one taken shortly before the Coronation.

The likeness is undoubtedly what is termed a speaking one, and with
the addition of the Coronation robes represents as faithful and as
pleasing a picture of the King, at the time of his accession to the
throne, as it is possible to find. The introduction of the Tudor
crowns in the upper angles, which was another of the Prince's
innovations, obviates the difficulty that has so often made "the
head that wears a crown" lie "uneasy" on a postage stamp. These
emblems of sovereignty, taken in conjunction with the Canadian
maple leaves in the lower angles, complete a design that for
harmony, boldness, and simplicity has assuredly not been excelled by
any hitherto issued stamps of the British Empire. It is palpable, on
analyzing the stamp, (1) that the attractiveness of the design has
in no way been allowed to militate against its utility, for its
country of origin and denomination are clearly expressed; (2) that
the boldness of the design has not been detracted from (as is so
often the case) by superfluous ornamentation, and that the design
has been artistically balanced by the introduction of the
_right-sized portrait_ and the proper treatment of light and shade.

[178] =London Philatelist=, XII: 162.

We think it will be obvious, on comparing the illustration of the original design above with the issued stamps, that the modifications introduced into the lower corners by the American Bank Note Co. did not improve the appearance of the design.

As stated in the Post Office circular, the colors followed those of the Queen's head stamps, except that the 7 cent value was given a darker shade, more of an olive than before and an improvement on its predecessor. The stamps were of course line engraved and printed in the usual sheet arrangement of ten rows of ten. The imprint was the same as on the Queen's head plates, being placed only over stamps 5 and 6 of the top row. The plate numbers began as before at No. 1 for each stamp, and up to the present writing, (Dec. 1910) there have been recorded the following:--

1 cent--1-10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 24, 25, 34, 47, 48, 51, 52, 55, 58
2 cent--1-30, 35-40, 47, 53-59, 62, 63, 67-74, 78
5 cent--1, 2
7 cent--1
10 cent--1, 2

Over a year elapsed before any additions were made to the above set. Finally _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_[179] published in its chronicle the following note from a correspondent:--"On Tuesday, 27th September, [1904] the last sheets of the 20c numerals were issued to the distributing offices, and the first issue of the 20c King's Head was made on the same day." The stamp of course corresponds in all particulars with the others of the set and continues the fine olive green color of its predecessor. But one plate number, 1, has so far appeared. The amount delivered by the manufacturers since its appearance has averaged about 400,000 per year.

[179] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XVIII: 338.

The remaining value of the regular Canadian series, the 50 cent, because of its limited use and the stock of the 1893 issue still on hand, had escaped being included in either of the Queen's Head issues. But the old stock at last ran out in 1908 and on the 19th November, according to _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_,[180] this value appeared in the King's Head type, printed in a rich violet and making a very handsome addition to the series. It conforms in all respects to the other values, and bears the plate number 1. The supply of the stamp received up to 31st March, 1910, was 300,000 copies.

[180] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXII: 414.

It may have been noticed, however, that no 1/2 cent stamp has appeared in the King's head design. Trouble over this value seems to have begun to brew with the Jubilee stamps. We have already detailed the story as far as that issue is concerned, and also the manner in which the 1/2 cent "maple leaf" was forced to appear before the authorities reckoned. Primarily intended for prepaying the rate on transient newspapers, this value was supposed to be employed only in that way, though its use had never been so restricted. Its yearly issue to postmasters had gradually increased from some 300,000 in 1869 to 900,000 in 1895. In 1898 the latter number had doubled, and by 1902 had only fallen to about 1,200,000. The trouble seemed to be partly due, at least, to the fact that stamp collectors were buying them up, and using them largely on their letter mail. This came to the attention of the Post Office Department, and resulted in the following Department Circular, published in the _Montreal Star_ for the 6th December, 1902:[181]--

The attention of postmasters is drawn to the fact that the postal
necessity for the 1/2 cent stamp, as such, is now confined to one
purpose--prepayment of newspapers and periodicals posted singly, and
weighing not more than one ounce each (see Postal Guide, page xii,
section 47). 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 1/2 cent stamp throughout the Dominion must be
appreciably diminished as a result of this restriction of its use.
While, of course, any number of 1/2 cent 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.

[181] =ibid.=, XVI: 471.

This circular seems to have had the desired effect, at least in good measure, for the stamp accounts in the Reports for succeeding years showed an average issue to postmasters of approximately 400,000 1/2 cent stamps, being a reduction of two-thirds. Finally, on the 19th May, 1909, an amendment[182] to the Post Office Act was passed which repealed the provision granting the 1/2 cent rate to newspapers and periodicals weighing less than one ounce, when posted singly. This placed them in the one cent per ounce class and sounded the death knell of the 1/2 cent stamp. The stamp accounts in the 1910 Report show 1,700 1/2 cent stamps on hand April 1, 1909, and 600,000 more received from the manufacturers. These were all issued to postmasters and a foot-note finishes the story: "Discontinued June 10, 1909."

[182] 8-9 Edward VII, Chap. 30.

Just why the 1/2 cent stamp never was issued in the King's head type cannot be stated. All the other values then in use in Canada had made their appearance in this design, the 20 cent and 50 cent even having delayed their advent until the stock of previous types had been exhausted; but the 1/2 cent Queen's Head with numerals was regularly received from the printers and distributed to postmasters down to the middle of 1909, six years after the King's Heads first made their appearance. With the end of its usefulness at that time, of course, disappeared all hope of ever seeing it in the King's Head set.

In the issue for October 10, 1908, _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_ published the following editorial:--

We are enabled to report the existence of the two-cent Canada,
current issue, imperforate, a reader having-shown us a sheet of one
hundred of these varieties bearing the plate number 18. This is a
discovery of momentous interest which must attract much attention
not alone from specialists but from collectors, as we may say for
the sake of distinction, as well. The fact that the pane bears so
early a plate number removes it from any inclusion in the theory
that the Canadian authorities propose to issue stamps in imperforate
sheets in the manner that has been employed by the United States.
Without doubt, the sheet under notice was regularly prepared for
issue in the accepted way and it is the belief from information at
hand that a sheet of four hundred of the stamps was printed and
reached the public.

This announcement created some comment and was made the subject of enquiry of the Post Office Department at Ottawa. The officials repudiated the idea that any such irregularity could have happened, but finally took steps to authenticate the report. In the issue of February 20, 1909, of the paper already quoted, is the full story of the "find", which has a peculiar interest, as will be seen later.

The sheet as found was not of 400 stamps but of over 200 stamps, as
the right hand half of the sheet on which our report was based and
which was not before us when we wrote, contained a pane of 100
stamps, plate number 14 and an irregularly torn part of plate number
13, showing about fifteen whole stamps and parts of others. Assuming
that the lower pane in the left half was torn approximately in the
manner of the right lower pane, or plate number 13, the find
consisted originally of 230 stamps, more or less. This reckoning
agrees, we believe, with the recollection of the person who rescued
the imperforates from oblivion, in a philatelic sense. The plate
numbers on the sheet that gave authority for the chronicling of the
stamps by the _Weekly_ are 13 and 14, respectively, and not 18 as
first printed.

A. N. Lemieux of Chicago is the man who found the stamps. While in
Ottawa five years ago or so[183], when he was in business in that
city, he saw the stamps just within the iron fence that has been
described as surrounding the establishment of the bank note company
that prints the Canadian stamps. The day was a rainy one and the
sheet had evidently been blown out of the window. Mr. Lemieux
apparently attached no value to the sheet of over two hundred stamps
which was in a wet, crumpled condition and without gum. Mr. Lemieux
was under the impression, no doubt, that, gum had been on the sheet
but had been washed off by the rain.... Before he showed the stamps
to the _Weekly_, Mr. Lemieux had disposed of the left half of the
sheet or about 115 whole stamps to a collector ... on an exchange
basis.... Mr. Lemieux was informed that the stamps still in his
possession had no little philatelic interest as curiosities and he
sold the specimens to Mr. Severn.

[183] This was later corrected to June, 1906.

Mr. Severn subsequently submitted the stamps to the officials at Ottawa, who pronounced them "printer's waste" and stated that "they seemingly had been trampled upon and subjected to the usage that would be given such cast off material. Further, it was said that they had been blown or thrown out of a window, no doubt. It was suggested that the stamps be returned to Ottawa and that there were moral grounds for such a course on the part of the holders. The description of 'printer's waste' seems to be correct and the inference is that the stamps never had been gummed. They belong to that class of curiosities that appeals strongly to the specialist but which the ordinary collector regards as something apart from his collecting policy."[184]

[184] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXIII: 66.

But now mark the result. The stamps very naturally did not go back to Ottawa, so Ottawa took pains to "get back" at the stamps! In the _Weekly_ of May 22, 1909, a correspondent writes:--

It may be of interest to know that the last supplement to the
Canadian Post Office Guide contains the following: "In view of
representations which have been made to the Department, it has been
decided to permit the sale of the 2-cent denomination of Canadian
postage stamps of the current issue, in sheets of 100, _without the
usual perforation_." I at once asked for a sheet of 2-cent and
incidentally said I would take a sheet of the other denominations if
available. A reply came today informing me that only the 2-cent
would be available, and then, not for some time, as the department
intends to make a separate printing of these stamps, to supply
whatever demand may occur.

The quotation from the _Guide_ appeared in the supplement for April, 1909, and concluded with the sentence:--"Applications for the same should be made to the Postmaster at Ottawa."

It might be inferred, perhaps, from the announcement in the _Guide_, that the activities of the mailing machine companies had induced the Canadian Post Office Department to cater to their convenience, as had been done in the United States, by issuing sheets of stamps, only purchaseable as such, in imperforate form. But no! The Department gave itself away! Note the following points:--Mr. Severn sent the original imperforates to Ottawa for examination. They had the plate numbers 13 and 14 on them. They were returned with the intimation that "it would be safer not to dispose of the sheet in view of the circumstances under which it reached the public. It was suggested that Mr. Severn might be 'recouped' the amount that he paid for the stamps if he relinquished them."[185] Naturally the stamps did not again see Ottawa. Six months later the Department placed on sale the 2 cent stamp in imperforate sheets of 100, BUT--it was announced that they could only be procured from the Postmaster at Ottawa; that only the 2 cent would be available; that the Department intended to make a _separate printing_ of the stamps; and when collectors obtained them they were found to be from the identical plates 13 and 14 of the "irregular" imperforates that Mr. Severn held, although the regular issues of 2 cent stamps at that time were being printed from plates numbered at least up to 62. We said "identical plates," but in view of the early plate numbers and the delay in issuing the imperforates, the suspicion is strong that new plates may have been made and given the old numbers.

[185] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, XXIII: 190.

As no other values have since been issued imperforate, and as no other plate numbers have appeared in the 2 cent imperforate except the original 13 and 14, there is but one explanation for this "special printing" on these early plates, and that is an attempt to checkmate the holder of the originals and "to destroy what may be called an accidental monopoly of a stamp, the issue of which was not intended previously." As a clincher we make one more quotation:--"Now that Mr. Lemieux, the finder of the imperforates, has received the Quarterly Supplement alluded to, containing the order creating the imperforates neatly blue-pencilled, it is assumed that the issue of the stamps in this form has been made with the idea of rendering the sheet that escaped the department of no value. Thus philately plainly has its influence in this new emission ... and an interesting variety has been added to the philatelic supply by reason of the refusal to return the sheet that accidentally escaped some years ago."

* * * * *

The Postmaster General's Reports for the several years of the King's Head issue (1903 to date) have but little of special interest. The Report of 30th June, 1903, says:--"Towards the end of the fiscal year a new series of postage stamps, bearing the portrait of His Majesty King Edward VII, and comprising five denominations was supplied to Post Masters so as to be on sale throughout the Dominion on the 1st July, 1903."

The Report of 1905 states that a Postal Convention between Canada and Mexico came into operation on 1st July, 1905 by which first, second and third class matter can be sent from either country to the other at the domestic rates of the country of origin.

The fiscal year was once more changed from the 1st July to the 1st April of each year, so that the Reports of the Postmaster General have been made up to the 31st March since 1907. The Report of 1908 states that "for some time past the provisions of the Postal Convention between Canada and the United States relative to the postage on newspapers and periodicals passing between the two countries were felt to be unsatisfactory, and an amendment was made to the Convention (taking effect on 8th May, 1907) by which the rate was fixed at 1 cent for each 4 ounces, calculated on the weight of each package of newspapers or periodicals, and prepaid by means of postage stamps affixed. The amendment was subsequently modified: and copies of legitimate daily newspapers posted from the office of publication addressed to regular subscribers and newsdealers, can now be sent from Canada to the United States and from the United States to Canada at the rate of 1 cent per pound. Newspapers and periodicals published less frequently than daily are still subject to the rate of 1 cent per 4 ounces."

The issue of the "6c. International Reply Coupon" is recorded as having taken place on the 5th October, 1907. A supply of 500,000 was received from Berne, and of these 62,625 were distributed. The Report for 1909 gives but 2,475 issued from headquarters, and the 1910 Report 14,050.

The 1908 Report also notes the extension of free delivery of letters by carrier to the following places: in Ontario:--Peterboro, Guelph, Berlin, Stratford, Windsor, St. Catherines; in Quebec:--Sherbrooke, St. Hyacinthe, Trois Rivi[e']res; in Prince Edward Island:--Charlottetown; in Manitoba:--Brandon; in Alberta:--Calgary, Edmonton.

The Report for 1909 states that "a greatly desired reduction was made in August 1908, in the rate of postage on letters posted for local delivery in cities and other places having free letter carrier delivery service. The former rate was two cents per ounce; the present rate is one cent per ounce."

Further changes in newspaper regulations are noted as follows:--

Some changes have been made in the regulations respecting newspapers
and periodicals posted from the office of publication addressed to
regular subscribers and newsdealers. (1) The former rate of 1/2 cent
per pound applicable to newspapers and periodicals which required to
be transmitted a distance in Canada exceeding three hundred miles,
or which were addressed for delivery in a place having Free Letter
Carrier Delivery service has been abolished; and now all newspapers
and periodicals published not less frequently than once a month can
be posted from the place of publication to any place in Canada at
the bulk rate of a quarter of a cent per pound. (2) The extent of
the circular area in Canada within which newspapers and periodicals
published no more frequently than weekly and no less frequently than
monthly can be sent free of postage to regular subscribers has been
increased from an area having a radius of 20 miles to an area having
a radius of 40 miles, the center of which may either be the place of
publication or some place not more than 40 miles distant therefrom,
according to the wish of the publisher.

The following places are given as having had the system of free delivery of letters by carrier extended to them: in Ontario:--Chatham, Fort William, Port Arthur, Sarnia, St. Thomas; in New Brunswick:--Moncton; in Saskatchewan:--Regina; in British Columbia:--New Westminster.

The Report for 1910 contains nothing special. New Parcels Post regulations are noted with the United Kingdom, British West Indies, British Guiana and Mexico, by which the rate is made 12 cents per pound or fraction, with a limit of 11 pounds.

In closing the chapter on the King Edward stamps, doubtless ere long to be superseded by "King George" stamps, it may be well to record the following statistics in order to note the progress made in the Post Office Department for the period we have been considering.

_31st. Mar. '03._ _31st. Mar. '10._
Number of Post Offices, 10,150 12,887
" " letters and post cards annually, 262,437,000 501,189,000
" " registered letters annually, 5,470,000 10,465,000
" " pieces of 3rd class matter annually, 46,794,000 87,237,000
" " packets and parcels annually, 3,790,740 7,112,660
Mileage travelled on mail routes annually, 35,752,087 46,773,727
Net revenue, $4,366,127.75 $7,958,547.72

A very important fact is also to be found on examining the financial reports of the Department--that from a deficit (as usual for many years) of $416,183.99 in 1901, and a wee surplus of $5,109.14 in 1902, there has grown to be a surplus of $743,210.25 in 1910. Evidently Canada's Post Office Department is at least run efficiently and economically!