Chapter IV: Part 4

The first of these two notices gives us the approximate date and cause of issue of the Three Pence sterling (4½d. currency), brown stamp. It is possible the stamp was not ready for issue on June 1st, as Mr. Tapling’s collection contains a copy of the Nine Pence cut in half and used as 4½d. This variety is said to have been taken off a letter sent to England in 1870, so it is possible the Nine Pence was bisected and used provisionally previous to the issue of the brown stamp. If this was so, and the new stamp was not ready at the alteration of the rate, the issue no doubt took place shortly afterwards. This Four Pence Halfpenny stamp was engraved by the British American Bank Note Co., of Montreal and Ottawa; the earlier stamps of the Colony being produced by Charles Whiting, printer, of Beaufort House, Strand, London. It was this Mr. Whiting who sent in so many essays and suggestions to the Government previous to the introduction of postage stamps in Great Britain. As collectors know, many of these designs are beautiful works of art compared with the mean engraving of the stamps of Prince Edward Island, but perhaps the price offered for the stamps at the time they were ordered had a good deal to do with their poor workmanship.

In 1871 an Act was passed to establish a decimal system of currency in the Island, which came into operation on January 4th, 1872. I have found no notice in _The Gazette_ of the issue of the set of stamps with the values in cents, but if they were not issued on the same day as the above Act became law, they came into use shortly afterwards. The stamps of this Colony were withdrawn from use on July 1st, 1873—the date the Island was admitted into the Dominion of Canada.

REFERENCE LIST OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

Issue I. January 1st, 1861.

_Five values._ Lithographed (?) and printed by Mr. Chas. Whiting, of London, upon medium white wove unwatermarked paper (that used for the stamps first issued being yellowish in tone); white gum. The entire sheet of each value contains thirty stamps arranged in six horizontal rows of five, excepting the Two Pence, which has sixty in six horizontal rows of ten. Designs: The same diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left does duty for all five stamps, and the inscriptions are all in white block letters. The ONE PENNY has the head upon a reticulated background, enclosed within a band of solid colour, which touches the four sides of the stamp, and is curved at the four corners. The band is inscribed at the left top and right side with the name of the Colony and the word “POSTAGE,” and at the bottom with the value in words. The four corners of the stamp contain small conventional ornaments, and an outer line of colour completes the design. TWO PENCE.—The head of Her Majesty rests upon a reticulated background of a different pattern to that of the One Penny, and is enclosed within a circular band of solid colour, inscribed with the name of the Colony above and “POSTAGE” below. Straight label of solid colour at the bottom of the stamp, with the value in full. The spandrels are filled in with reticulations of the same pattern as the One Penny, and the design is completed by a single outer coloured line. The THREE PENCE is precisely similar to the Two Pence, but the Queen’s head is contained within an upright oval band. The SIX PENCE is also similar to the Two Pence, excepting that the head is enclosed within an octagonal band. The NINE PENCE has Her Majesty’s head upon a similar background to the One Penny, but enclosed within a ribbon-like band of solid colour, inscribed with the name of the Colony and the word “POSTAGE.” The hand is impinged upon at the bottom by a broad straight label of solid colour, inscribed in three lines “NINE PENCE CURRENCY—EQUAL TO—SIXPENCE STG.,” the first line being curved. Conventional ornaments in the upper corners, and a plain outer line of colour completes the design. Shape, upright rectangular. The One Penny and Nine Pence were not issued with the other three values, and probably did not come into use until the year 1865. (_Illustrations 96, 97, 98, 99, 100._)

(A) _Perforated 9._ (January 1st, 1861).

2d., dark rose (shades).
3d., dark blue ( ” ).
6d., yellow-green ( ” ).

_Varieties._—Divided in two, diagonally, and used for half the
values.

1d. (half 2d.), dull rose.
1½d. (half 3d.), dark blue.

(B) _Rouletted._

2d., dull rose.

(C) _Perforated 11, 11½, 12, and compound._ (1865 ?)

1d., brownish-yellow, orange-yellow (shades).
2d., dull rose, carmine ( ” ).
3d., dark blue ( ” ).
6d., yellow-green, bluish-green ( ” ).
9d., lilac ( ” ).

_Varieties._—(A) Divided in two, diagonally, and used for half
the value.

3d. (half 6d.), yellow-green.
4½d. (half 9d.), lilac.

(B) _Imperforate, horizontally._

3d., dark blue.

(C) _Imperforate, vertically._

9d., lilac.

(D) _Imperforate._

1d., orange-yellow.
2d., dark rose.
3d., dark blue.
6d., bluish-green.
9d., lilac.

_Remarks._—The Two Pence, rouletted, is unknown to the Society. The variety is described in _The Halifax Philatelist_ for November, 1888, page 129. The writer says the specimen seen was used, and on part of the original envelope “it has a fine wide margin, and shows the roulette cuts plainly.”

The imperforate stamps are believed to be proofs, and not to have been issued in this state. A paper on the minor varieties found in these stamps was published in _The Halifax Philatelist_ for September, 1888. The author is Mr. David Lang, and the article a very interesting one. The following is a reproduction of it:

“VARIETIES OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND STAMPS.

“This province has the reputation of issuing the worst-looking
series of stamps in design and execution of any of the British
North American provinces. On examining them closely there are a
number of varieties in the stamps of which I propose to give a
short list of the most conspicuous. In the

=“One Penny, printed in sheets of thirty; six rows of five
stamps each.=

“_Second row, fifth stamp_: White line above ‘N’ in ‘ISLAND’
broken, filled with solid colour for about one-eighth inch.

“_Second row, second stamp_: Full stop above ‘L’ in ‘ISLAND.’

“_Sixth row, fifth stamp_: No cross-bar to ‘A’ in ‘ISLAND.’

=“Three Pence, printed in sheets of thirty; six rows of five
stamps in each.=

“_First row, second stamp_: White circle and coloured dot in
centre before ‘P’ in ‘PRINCE.’

“_Second row, fifth stamp_: Full stop between ‘E’ and ‘D’ in
‘EDWARD.’

“_Third row, second stamp_: ‘I’ in ‘ISLAND’ with white dash
at top, making it look like inverted L.

“_Same stamp_: Full stop at the top bar of the last ‘E’ in
‘THREE PENCE.’

“_Fourth row, fourth stamp_: Full stop after ‘EDWARD,’ it
being in a line with top of ‘D.’

“_Fifth row, third stamp_: Full stop between ‘P’ and ‘O’ in
‘POSTAGE.’

=“Nine Pence, printed in sheets of thirty; six rows of five
stamps in each.=

“_Second row, fourth stamp_: Two full stops, one above the
other, after ‘STG.’

“_Second row, fifth stamp_: Full stop before ‘S’ in ‘STG.,’
apparently put there instead of after ‘STG.,’ which has none.

=“Two Pence, printed in sheets of one hundred; ten rows of
ten stamps in each.=

“_Third row, tenth stamp_: Part of ‘T’ in ‘TWO’ off, making
it look like inverted I. Full stop before ‘T’ in ‘TWO.’

“In the older printing of the One Penny a peculiarity exists
which some of our readers may have in a complete form; that
is, an outer line all around the stamp. I have four specimens
with this line in the golden yellow and yellow-brown shades,
perforated 12. Specimen No. 1 was the last stamp in the row,
and has the marginal part of the sheet attached to it. The line
is the full length of the right hand side of the stamp, the
perforation going directly through it. No. 2 has the line on
left hand side and bottom, the full length and width of stamp,
with traces of it showing on perforation at top and right hand
side. No. 3 has line showing in parts at left hand side and at
bottom. No. 4 shows only at bottom. The last two are of the
yellow-brown shade.

“This peculiarity may also be found in the Four Pence, but
parts of the line only showing. A peculiarity of the Four Pence
is that in the diamond, on each side of the stamp, there is a
small oval ornament, which has in the diamond on the right hand
side of the stamp a small line to it at top and bottom, but on
the oval at the left hand side none at all in any. The Cent
issue with one exception is free from those errors or secret
marks, or whatever they may be. The one is in the Three Cents,
which are printed in sheets of one hundred, ten rows of ten
stamps in each. The seventh stamp of the first, third, fifth,
seventh, and ninth rows has a full stop between ‘PRINCE’ and
‘EDWARD,’ thus ‘PRINCE. EDWARD.’ The varieties in the Pence
issue mentioned above are, I think, some kind of secret marks,
although they are not found in a regular rotation as in the
Three Cent, being arbitrarily scattered here and there over
each sheet, the varieties of each stamp when they occur being
precisely the same, so that it is hardly possible that such a
series of errors could be made unintentionally; but of this
some one with more knowledge of the stamps may be able to speak.

“DAVID LANG.”

Issue II. 1st November, 1868(?).

_One value._ Engraved and printed by Mr. Charles Whiting upon medium white wove unwatermarked paper; white gum. The entire sheet consists of thirty stamps arranged in six horizontal rows of five. Design: The same diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, as in the preceding issue, upon background of horizontal lines. Curved scrolls of solid colour at top and bottom of the stamp, the upper inscribed with the name of the Colony, and the lower with the value in words. Beneath the top scroll a small curved label of solid colour inscribed “POSTAGE.” All the inscriptions are in white block letters. Fancy ornaments at the sides of the stamp and a single outer line of colour complete the design. Shape: Upright rectangular, machine-perforated 11, 11½, 12, and compound. (_Illustration 101._)

4d., black

_Variety._ Imperforate. Probably proof.

4d., black.

Issue III. 1st June 1870(?).

_One value._ Engraved and printed by the British-American Bank Note Co., of Montreal and Ottawa, upon medium white wove unwatermarked paper; yellowish gum, machine perforated 12. Design: Diademed, nearly full face, portrait of Queen Victoria looking to left, upon background of horizontal lines, enclosed within an upright oval. Curved label of solid colour following the shape of the oval at the left, top, and right side, inscribed with the name of the Colony and the word “POSTAGE” in white Roman capitals. Arabesques in the lower corners, surrounding a background of cross-hatched lines. The left contains “3d. STG.,” and the right “CY. 4½d.” in white numerals and letters. The upper corners also contain arabesques. Shape, upright rectangular. (_Illustration 102._)

4½d., yellowish-brown (shades).

Issue IV. January 4th (?), 1872.

_Six values._ Lithographed(?) and printed by Mr. Charles Whiting, of London, upon medium white wove unwatermarked paper; yellowish or brown gum, machine-perforated 12, 12½. The entire sheet of each value consists of one hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows of ten. Designs: The same diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left is found upon all the stamps. ONE CENT.—The head rests upon a background of horizontal lines, surrounded by a circular band of solid colour, inscribed with the name of the Colony above and the word “POSTAGE,” below. Straight label of solid colour at the bottom of the stamp, with value in full. Small upright rectangular blocks of solid colour in the four corners, containing numeral of value. Spandrels filled in with reticulations, and a plain outer line of colour completes the design. TWO CENTS.—The head is upon a background of solid colour, enclosed within a narrow upright oval band of reticulations. Plain label of solid colour surrounding the upper part of the oval, inscribed with the name of the Colony and “POSTAGE.” Straight label of solid colour at the bottom of the stamp, with value in full. Square blocks of solid colour in the four corners, containing Arabic numeral of value. The remainder of the design is filled in with reticulations, with a border formed of a plain coloured line. THREE CENTS.—The head of Her Majesty is upon a background of horizontal lines, enclosed within a fancy trilobed band of reticulations, having over it a curved label of solid colour inscribed with the name of the Colony. Straight labels of solid colour at the top and bottom of the stamp, the lower one extending quite across. The upper bears “POSTAGE” and the bottom one the value in full. Small upright rectangular blocks in the upper corners, containing Arabic numeral of value. The rest of the design consists of reticulations and a border of a plain coloured line. FOUR CENTS.—The head rests upon a background of solid colour, enclosed within a fancy-shaped octagonal band of reticulations. Straight labels of solid colour at top and bottom of the stamp, the upper inscribed in two lines “POSTAGE—PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND,” and the lower with the value in words. Square blocks of solid colour in the four corners, containing Arabic numeral of value. The sides of the stamp are filled in with reticulations, and a plain outer coloured line completes the design. SIX CENTS.—The Queen’s head is on a background of horizontal lines, enclosed within a fancy-shaped hexagonal band of reticulations. Two straight labels of solid colour at the top, and a similar one at the bottom of the stamp. The upper are inscribed “POSTAGE—PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND,” and the bottom bears the value in words. Square blocks of solid colour in the upper corners, and similar upright rectangular ones in the lower, contain the Arabic numeral of value. Straight bands of reticulations at the sides of the stamp and a border of a plain coloured line complete the design. TWELVE CENTS.—Head of Queen on background of solid colour, enclosed within a band of reticulations forming a twelve-sided figure. Curved plain label of solid colour above, and a similar straight label extending the whole width of the stamp below. The upper is inscribed with the name of the Colony and “POSTAGE,” and the lower with the value in words. Square blocks of solid colour in the upper corners, with Arabic numerals of value. The rest of the design is composed of reticulations and a border of a plain coloured line. The inscriptions on all the stamps are in white block letters, excepting the values in the bottom labels of the Two, Four, Six, and Twelve Cents, which are in Roman capitals. Shape, upright rectangular. (_Illustrations 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108._)

1 c., orange-yellow (shades).
2 c., ultramarine ( ” ).
3 c., rose ( ” ).
4 c., yellow-green ( ” ).
6 c., black ( ” ).
12 c., bright mauve ( ” ).

_Varieties._—(A) All the values may be found with dark brown gum, which has stained the paper and given it a brownish hue. (B) All the values exist imperforate but they are probably only proofs. (C) The Six Cents is known divided in two, each half serving as Three Cents.

_Remarks._—A large stock of the stamps of each issue remained in the hands of the postal authorities at the time the Island became incorporated in the Dominion of Canada. The stock was disposed of in 1874 to a speculator, who has since supplied the principal stamp dealers throughout the world.

NOTE BY MR. T. K. TAPLING, M.P.—In _The Stamp Collector’s Magazine_, vol. x. p. 105, will be found an amended notice relating to the values constituting the above issue. Among them is catalogued a Ten Cents on the authority of _The American Journal of Philately_. Some discussion arose subsequently as to the authenticity of this value, but the mystery attaching to it seems never to have been wholly cleared up. Very few specimens were seen, and these appear to have been obtained by M. Moens from what he considered a thoroughly satisfactory source. Much doubt has been thrown upon the stamp by English writers; but a few weeks since I was shown a specimen in Mr. Pearson Hill’s collection, which he told me had been there over seventeen years. Mr. Hill’s connection with our General Post Office enabled him to get nearly all his stamps direct from Foreign and Colonial Governments, and his impression is that this stamp reached him in the same way. It is similar in design to the Three Pence of the first issue, of which it is apparently a copy, though the details are rather larger and the general appearance rougher. It is a companion in style and execution to the issue of which it is supposed to form a part, and the perforation (machine 12) is identical. The colour is dull mauve. It is possible that the stamp was prepared and never issued, though even in this case Mr. Hill might quite well have had a specimen sent him with the others by the Prince Edward Island Government; but if it was merely a fraudulent speculation it seems strange that copies are, and always have been, exceedingly uncommon. I venture no definite opinion either one way or the other, and hope this short note may draw an answer from some one qualified to speak with certainty.

ADDENDA.

Since the Catalogue was printed, the members of the Committee entrusted with its publication have had the opportunity of consulting _The Halifax Philatelist_ for the current year (1889), the numbers of which had not previously been seen by them.

The May number contains a copy of a recently-published Canadian postal notice, referring to certain alterations in the rates, &c.; and in the numbers for January and February Mr. Donald A. King has two further papers upon the stamps of Nova Scotia; while the April number contains a letter from a correspondent upon the bisected stamp of New Brunswick. The Committee consider it advisable to reproduce here all the four articles mentioned, feeling sure their contents will be of interest to philatelists, and help to add further to the completeness of the postal history of each of the provinces.

CANADA.

“The Canada Two Cent Registration Stamp will soon be a thing
of the past. The following is the official order in connection
with it:

“‘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 three cents per ounce instead of three 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 two
cents per ounce instead of one 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
one cent per ounce.

“‘The fee for the registration of a Letter or other article
of mail matter will be five cents upon all classes of
correspondence passing within the Dominion. For the present,
and until further instructed, the registration fee may be
prepaid by using the two 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
prepayment 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_.’”

NEW BRUNSWICK.

“COMMENTS ON THE SPLIT STAMPS OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

“(_To the Editor of ‘The Halifax Philatelist.’_)

“Having examined your plate of Nova Scotia split stamps and
oddities, I would like to mention a few notes on the split or
provincial stamps of New Brunswick. In the catalogue list of
the Nova Scotia Philatelic Association I find that there are
but two of these split or provisional stamps offered, both Nova
Scotia Six Pence, cut diagonally and used as Three Pence, and
not one split New Brunswick.

“To all appearances, and from what I can learn, I think there
were very few of these provisional stamps of New Brunswick
used, and therefore they are very rare. I have never seen but
three or four on the original envelopes, and have but two in
my collection—a Ten Cent, vermilion, New Brunswick, cut in
half vertically, and used as a Five Cent stamp. It is on the
original envelope, and is postmarked ‘St. John, Nov. 5, 1860,’
and ‘Kingston, Nov. 6, 1860.’ I have also heard of the Ten
Cent, vermilion, being cut _diagonally_ instead of vertically,
but have not seen any so used.

“As the second issue of New Brunswick first came into use in
1860, I presume the supply of Five Cent stamps ran short, and
thus suggested the splitting of the Ten Cent, vermilion, stamps.

“I have also heard of the Six Penny stamps being cut both
diagonally and horizontally, and used as Three Penny, but have
not seen but one so used.

“Can any of my brother collectors tell what rate was charged
for single or double letters to Australia in 1860? On the 9th
of this month I received from New Brunswick an envelope which
had been sent out to Melbourne, Australia, in 1860. It was
mailed at Kingston, N.B., in May, 1860, and went _viâ_ London.
On the envelope, which is yellow, are a One Shilling, violet,
and one half of a Six Pence, yellow, cut in half diagonally,
and presumably used as Three Pence, making a total of fifteen
pence, quite a high rate for a single letter, as such I presume
it to be. The Six Penny stamp is very bright, but the One
Shilling is somewhat faded.

“I would like to know if any of the readers of _The Halifax
Philatelist_ have ever seen any of the high values thus
combined, as I think they are very rare, and should occupy a
prominent place in the representation of New Brunswick stamps
in all collections.

FRED. NORTHRUP, _Port Jervis, N. Y._

“[The split stamps of New Brunswick are no doubt scarce, but they are not more so than any of the other B. N. A. Provinces. Canada seems to be the only one which did not do this, as split stamps from there are very scarce. The rate on a half-ounce Letter from Nova Scotia to Victoria was one shilling and threepence, and we presume it was the same from New Brunswick.—EDITOR of _The Halifax Philatelist_.]”

From the above letter, we can therefore add the following at the bottom of the issue of May 13th, 1860, on page 30 of the Catalogue:

_Variety._—The Ten Cents is known cut in two diagonally, and
also vertically.

5 c. (half 10 c.), scarlet-vermilion.

NOVA SCOTIA.

“SOME OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE FIRST ISSUE OF NOVA
SCOTIA STAMPS.

“The postal service of the British-American provinces, until
the year 1851, was directly under the control of the English
Post Office Department. This, with the high rate of postage,
the insufficient mail accommodation, and the stringent laws
against a private person carrying or delivering a Letter on the
post road, was the cause of innumerable complaints on the part
of the Colonies, and gave the English Post Office officials the
trouble of sending out long despatches.

“The Colonies complained that the English Post Office took
a large amount of revenue, derived from the postal service,
which the Colonies were not able to lose out of the country.
The English officials said that there was an annual deficit
in Nova Scotia alone of £2,000 per annum. This state of
things existed for years, and every annual report of the
Post Office Commissioners which was laid on the table of the
local Legislature was full of complaints under this head. To
give a specimen from one of the reports of these Post Office
Commissions, the following is extracted from their annual
report for the year 1844 in Nova Scotia. After speaking in
favour of a large reduction in postal rates, they say: ‘This,
with the use of post stamps from dies authorized by the proper
authorities, would render the transit of Letters and Papers
less complicated, and give the relief required by the people.’

“To this no answer was returned till some time in 1845, when a
long despatch was received from the Postmaster-General of Great
Britain, Lord Lonsdale, who thus gives his Department’s views
of the issue of postage stamps for Nova Scotia as follows: ‘The
suggestion that postage stamps for Letters should be introduced
into Nova Scotia is one which I cannot recommend your lordship
(Viscount Falkland, then Governor of Nova Scotia) to entertain,
as I cannot but consider that considerable objections exist
to such a measure, and particularly from the facility which
it would afford to the circulation of forged stamps, with but
little chance of detection; while it is believed that the
offence, if committed in the United Kingdom, could not be
punished in the Colony, while on the other hand if committed
in the Colony it could be visited with no penalty on parties
in the United Kingdom.’ This will give some idea of the
narrow-mindedness of the English postal administration of that
time.

“As a specimen of the postal accommodation of the province, see
this: From Halifax to Truro, by the coach road, was a distance
of eighty-three miles, and between those two points there were
only two post-offices for all the people between these places.
The mail couriers were not allowed to deliver mail on the way.

“At last by a united effort of all the Colonies (Canada, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and P. E. Island), the
English Government turned over the postal administration to the
different provincial governments. From this date (July 1st,
1851), the interesting part of the postal history of these
provinces commences.

“In the Post Office Department’s Letter Book the first
reference to postage stamps is in the following letter:

“‘HALIFAX, _April 21st, 1851_.

“‘SIR,—As the period is fast drawing near when the reduced
rate of postage is to take effect in Nova Scotia, and as I
perceive, by the Provincial Act that provincial stamps are to
be provided for the convenience of the public, and not being
aware that any steps have been taken by the Government to
obtain them, I request to be informed whether His Excellency
would authorize me to make application for a supply from the
authorities of the General Post Office.

“‘I would beg to suggest that a requisition for 5,000 sheets
or more be made, each sheet containing 240 heads, which, at
threepence, would be equal to £15,000, or £3 for each sheet.

“‘Also, £5,000 of Six Penny stamps for double Letters, or
Letters exceeding the half ounce; and also sixty “_defacing
stamps_,” for the use of the several postmasters throughout
the province.

“‘I would further suggest that the _head_ should be something
similar to that represented in the margin; the field to be
_blue_ instead of red, or any other colour His Excellency
would prefer.

“‘This supply would, I imagine, be sufficient for the
first introduction of this reduced rate, when, should His
Excellency think proper, other arrangements could be made for
keeping up the supply.

“‘Should the Lieutenant-Governor approve of this proposition,
I will apply to the Post Office in London by the next packet.

“‘I have, etc.,

“‘(Signed) A. WOODGATE.

“‘_The Honourable Joseph Howe._’”

“A copy of the design mentioned in this letter is on the margin
of the Letter Book. It is a large rectangular shape, in centre
the head of the Queen, of a type somewhat like the early
Mauritius, excepting that there is not any crown or wreath
on head. This is drawn on a square of red—at top, ‘POSTAGE;’
bottom, ‘Three Pence’ in small script writing; left side,
‘NOVA’ reading up, and at right side ‘SCOTIA’ reading down; in
each corner a small square, with figure ‘3’ in it. The whole
look of the design is much like the early Mauritius.

“The ‘defacing’ or cancelling stamp’s design was very much
like the one adopted, being the same oval shape; but the lines
on the face were perpendicular instead of horizontal, and the
space for inserting the office a diamond instead of circular
shape.

“This design for stamps did not likely go further than the
office of the Provincial Secretary, to whom it was written,
and it appears that stamps must have been ordered before
this, as there does not appear to be time enough between
this date and that when stamps were issued (September 1st,
1851) to have designs approved of and plates prepared. It is
more than probable that the Hon. Joseph Howe, the Provincial
Secretary, who, I am informed, was in London the winter
previous, had designs then submitted to him and approved of,
and ordered the necessary stamps without the knowledge of the
Postmaster-General. At the same time he apparently had the
power to decide on the design of the New Brunswick stamps, as
may be inferred from the following memorandum; or perhaps the
stamps of both Colonies were bought together for the sake of
economy. The memorandum is dated July 8th, 1851, and is copied
from the same letter-book:

“‘MEMO.

“‘When Mr. Howe made the application for stamps, it was
proposed that, after the first supply had arrived, the
plates could have been sent out, and impressions taken off
by engravers in Halifax. As Mr. Saunders, however, seems
to report against the proposition, I would beg to suggest,
for the consideration of the Government, that £10,000 worth
of stamps for Nova Scotia, and a similar amount for New
Brunswick; viz.—

3d. £5,000
6d. £2,500
1s. £2,500

be furnished for immediate use; or, should this amount be
considered too small, to double the above numbers.

“‘I would also recommend that 200 half-pound canisters of
obliterating ink be also provided—100 for the use of this
province, and 100 for New Brunswick—and directions for its
use.

“‘(Signed) A. W.

“‘W. H. KEATING, Esq., _July 8th, 1851_.’

“What amount of stamps was ordered could not be found out, nor
can any trace of further orders be found until 1857, when an
application letter was sent to the Provincial Secretary, and
which will be copied later on.

“It was mentioned in above letter that a proposal was made
that the plates should be sent out, and stamps wanted could be
printed from here. This seems to be the opinion among English
philatelists, as Mr. W. A. S. Westoby says in a letter to me of
February 6th, 1888, that he was informed by the makers of the
plates—Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co.—that the plates of the
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick stamps were sent out here on the
same day—August 6th, 1851.

“On receipt of this, I wrote Mr. F. M. Passow, who was chief
clerk of the Nova Scotian Post Office Department, to enquire
whether the plates ever came here. He said, ‘I doubt if the
plates were ever sent out to Halifax; I never saw them.’ To
make this positive, we find, in the letter to the Provincial
Secretary above referred, indisputable evidence that the plates
were in England in 1857. The letter is as follows:

“‘GENERAL POST OFFICE, HALIFAX, _July 2nd, 1857_.

“‘SIR,—The stock of postage stamps procured from England
some time ago being nearly exhausted, I have the honour to
request that you will be good enough to issue the necessary
directions to Mr. Stanford, No. 6, Charing Cross, London, for
a further demand; viz.—

10,000 sheets of 3d. postage stamps, value £20,000
2,500 ” 6d. ” ” £10,000
1,250 ” 1s. ” ” £10,000

Each sheet to contain 160 labels of Three Penny, Six Penny,
and One Shilling stamps, making each sheet of the value of
£2, £4, and £8 respectively, and to be the colour of those
affixed on the margin.

“‘The last supply of stamps was furnished by Mr. Trelawney
Saunders, who has transferred his business to Mr. Stanford.
In applying for these postage labels, therefore, it will be
necessary you should furnish Mr. Stanford with your authority
to produce the key for opening the box containing the dies,
which are now in the possession of the engravers, Messrs.
Perkins, Bacon, and Petch, who also are in possession of a
key for the safe custody of the dies.

“‘It is particularly requested that the stamps may be
forwarded at as early a period as possible, those remaining
on hand being not only nearly expended, but much injured.
When making the requisition, it would be as well to caution
the engravers not to pack the parcels too close; for when
they are strictly confined they adhere, and become useless,
as was the case with some of the packages in the last supply
furnished.

“‘I have, &c. &c.

“‘(Signed) A. WOODGATE.

“‘The HON. C. H. TUPPER, M.D., M.P.T., _Halifax_.’

“Only two requisitions for stamps (those of July 8th, 1851 and
July 2nd, 1857) for Nova Scotia can be found, although no doubt
more than two supplies were sent.

“Of those the Three Pence, dark blue, Six Pence, yellow-green,
and the light shade of the One Shilling, are the earlier issue.
After examination of a large number of specimens of the two
lower values on the original cover, a dark blue Three Pence or
yellow-green Six Pence is seldom found after November, 1857.
From that date the light blue Three Pence and dark green Six
Pence is the rule. At the time the last supplies were sent
out, in 1857, some sheets of the Three Pence and Six Pence
were printed on an intensely blue paper, as I have in my
collection a Six Pence on this blue paper split and used as
Three Pence on original cover, postmarked ‘Lunenburg, Dec, 7,
1859,’ and an entire one, on envelope from same place, ‘Feb.
(date indistinct), 1860.’ The Three Pence is on a much bluer
paper than the ordinary dark shades of same on blue paper of
the earlier issue. Of the Six Pence on blue paper I have only
seen four specimens, and I have examined a large number of that
value.

“The later printing of the Three Pence was on a white
paper, which was tinted blue on face by the ink, or
insufficiently-cleaned plates. The Six Pence is on a paper
which shows a somewhat bluish shade in it.

“D. A. KING.”

“DATE OF ISSUE OF THE ONE PENNY NOVA SCOTIA.

“While the exact date of issue of the Three Pence, Six Pence,
and One Shilling Nova Scotia stamps has been discovered, that
of the One Penny has only been guessed at. Having lately been
fortunate enough to procure access to the letter-books of the
Nova Scotia Post Office Department, I have been enabled to make
the date almost exact, as will be seen by the following letter
of the Postmaster-General of Nova Scotia, and copied from the
letter book of that Department:

“‘HALIFAX, _May 12th, 1853_.

“‘SIR,—I have the honour to request that I may be furnished
with a supply of [A]200 sheets of One Penny stamps (amounting
to £100), for the use of the Post Office in this Province.

“‘(Signed) A. WOODGATE, _Postmaster-General_.

“‘_Receiver-General of Nova Scotia._’

[A] The sheet of the One Penny therefore contained 120
stamps, while those of the Three Pence, Six Pence, and One
Shilling, as we see from Mr. A. Woodgate’s letter of July
2nd, 1857, were each composed of 160 stamps.

“This is the first mention of the One Penny stamps in the
letter-book, and the date of issue should, I think, be taken
from that application. In the letter-book containing copies of
letters to deputies, the first requisition for One Penny stamps
is from the Postmaster of Amherst, the answer to which, here
given, is:

“‘HALIFAX, _June 30th, 1853_.

“‘SIR,—I beg to enclose herewith, agreeably to your request,
postage stamps to the amount of £2 5s.; viz., one sheet of
Three Pence and sixty labels of One Penny stamps. Also a
supply of the proper printed applications, one of which I
will thank you to fill up and return to this office with the
acknowledgment.

“‘I am, &c. &c.,

“‘(Signed) C. H. H.

“‘_Postmaster, Amherst._’

“Amherst was then one of the largest towns of this Province,
outside of the capital, and the amount of the One Penny
required shows the small use of this value outside Halifax. The
requisitions show that this was the usual number of One Penny
stamps asked for, sometimes a little more, and very often less,
and, being used as they were for a merely town or drop postage,
accounts for their scarcity.

“D. A. KING.”

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