Chapter XXVIII: The Special Delivery Stamp

In March, 1884, the _Philatelic Record_ contained the following paragraph:--

We are informed that there is likely to be issued shortly "a new
ten cent stamp of special design, which, when attached to a letter,
will ensure its immediate delivery to its address at any free
delivery office, between the hours of 7 a. m. and 12 midnight." A
similar system has, we believe, been in use for some years in
Belgium, where the extra charge is paid in telegraph stamps.

This was certainly a case of intelligent anticipation for it was not until fourteen years later that a stamp of this character was issued by the Dominion of Canada. The Postmaster-General's Report for 1898 referred to the introduction of the new stamp as follows:--

The calendar year has witnessed the introduction of the special
delivery stamp, whereby on the payment of a delivery fee of 10
cents in addition to the ordinary postage, a letter immediately
upon its arrival at the office of destination is sent by special
messenger for delivery to the addressee.

A special-delivery stamp of the face-value of 10 cents was
prepared, and the first supplies thereof were sent out sufficiently
early to Postmasters to permit of the inauguration of the special
delivery service on the 1st July, 1898. The object of the service
is to secure special and prompt delivery of a letter on which a
special-delivery stamp, in addition to the ordinary postage, has
been affixed.

The new system was dealt with at some length in a circular issued to postmasters under date June 7th, 1898, and as this is of considerable interest we reproduce it below:--

The Postmaster-General has approved of arrangements whereby, on and
from the first of July proximo, the senders of letters posted at
any Post Office in Canada and addressed to a City Post Office now
having Free Delivery by Letter Carriers shall, on prepayment by
Special Delivery stamps of the face-value of ten cents, affixed one
to each letter, in addition to the ordinary postage to which the
same are liable, secure their special delivery to the persons to
whom they are addressed within the limits of Letter Carrier
Delivery at any one of the following Post Offices in Cities,
viz.:--Halifax, St. John, N. B., Fredericton, Quebec, Montreal,
Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Brantford, Hamilton, London, Winnipeg,
Victoria, and Vancouver. The hours of delivery to be within 7 a. m.
and 11 p. m. daily, except Sunday. These hours are subject to
change as dictated by local circumstances. Drop-letters posted for
local delivery, and bearing Special Delivery stamps, in addition to
the postage, will also be entitled to special delivery in the same
manner as letters received at the Post Office by mail.

Registered letters may likewise come under the operations of this
scheme of Special Delivery, in the same way as ordinary letters,
provided they bear Special Delivery stamps, in addition to the full
postage and the registration fee fixed by law, and the regulations
respecting the record and receipting of registered matter are
observed. In despatching registered letters that bear Special
Delivery stamps, the Postmaster should write prominently across the
registered-package envelope the words "For Special Delivery." When
Special Delivery letters (unregistered) number five or more for any
one office the Postmaster should make a separate package of them,
marking it "For Special Delivery"; if such letters are fewer than
five, he should place them immediately under the "facing-slip" of
the letter-package which he makes up, either directly or
indirectly, for the Special Delivery office for which they are
intended, so that the most prompt attention may be secured
therefor.

Special Delivery stamps will be sold at all Money Order Post
Offices in Canada, (which may secure a supply of such stamps in the
same way as ordinary stamps are obtained), for which the
Postmasters will have to account as they do for ordinary stamps and
on the sales of which a total commission of ten per cent. shall be
allowed to Postmasters, except to Postmasters having fixed
salaries. For the present Postmasters will use the existing forms
of requisition in applying for Special Delivery stamps. (The usual
discount may be allowed to a licensed stamp vendor at the time that
he purchases Special Delivery stamps from the Postmaster). Special
Delivery stamps are to be cancelled as postage stamps are
cancelled. Stamps intended for Special Delivery are not available
for any other purpose, and the article upon which one is affixed
must have, besides, the ordinary postage prepaid by postage stamps.
Under no circumstances will Special Delivery stamps be recognised
in payment of postage or of registration fee, nor can any other
stamp be used to secure Special Delivery, except the Special
Delivery stamp. Special Delivery stamps are not redeemable.

Letters intended for Special Delivery at any one of the City Post
Offices above mentioned, and prepaid as directed, may be mailed at
any Post Office in Canada.

The regulations relating to First Class Matter (Inland Post) apply
also and equally to Special Delivery letters, the only difference
being the special treatment which the latter receive with a view to
accelerating their delivery.

The object sought by the establishment of Special
Delivery,--namely, the special delivery of letters transmitted
thereunder,--will be much promoted if the senders of all such
letters are careful to address them plainly and fully, giving, if
possible, the street and number in each case. Such care will serve
not only to prevent mistakes, but also to facilitate delivery. All
employees of the Post Office are enjoined to expedite, in every way
in their power, the posting, transmission and delivery of letters
intended for Special Delivery.

These special delivery stamps are distinctly different in design from the ordinary postage stamps, the reason for this being, of course, that letters intended for special delivery may be at once identified and their handling facilitated. The stamps are oblong in shape, measuring about 31 mm. by 23 mm. high. The centre consists of an engine turned oval, in the middle of which is the word TEN in uncolored block letters on a solid disc of color. Around this is an oval filled with lathe-work and then comes an oval band inscribed "SPECIAL DELIVERY WITHIN CITY LIMITS" in similar lettering to that of the word of value. This, in turn, is enclosed within another oval of lathe-work. The frame shows "CANADA POST OFFICE" in a straight label across the top, while the lower and side borders are filled with lathe-work intercepted at the bottom by a straight label containing "TEN CENTS", and at each side by a small circle containing the numerals "10." The spandrels are filled with conventional foliate ornaments. The value and special use of the stamp is thus plainly depicted and letters bearing them are easily sorted from the ordinary mail.

The stamps were, like all other Canadian stamps, printed from line-engraved plates. They were printed in sheets of fifty arranged in ten horizontal rows of five each. The imprint and plate number "OTTAWA----No.----1" are shown in the upper margin above the central stamp. Apparently this original plate is still in use, for no other plate number has yet been recorded.

At first the stamps were printed in deep green, but in January, 1906, the _Philatelic Record_ mentioned a new shade, described as blue-green, and recent printings have been in a very deep shade of blue-green.

The use of these special delivery stamps, though somewhat restricted at first, soon grew steadily in volume, showing that the public appreciated the special service. The Postmaster-General in referring to this matter in his Report for 1899 says:--"The 10 cent Special Delivery stamps, to which reference was made in the last report, came into use at the beginning of the current fiscal year, simultaneously with the commencement of the Special Delivery Service, and of this stamp 52,940 were issued to meet the demands, which would go to show that the service is being availed of to a considerable extent throughout the country."

Later Reports simply indicate the extension of the service to other offices, though the one for 1908 also concedes that the use of a Special Delivery stamp is not compulsory to secure this service so long as the extra fee of ten cents is prepaid. We read that:--

The regulations respecting special delivery have been so modified
that it is no longer necessary for a person despatching a letter
which he desires to have delivered immediately, to provide himself
with the "special delivery" stamp issued by the department. He may
now place upon his letter ordinary postage stamps to the value of
ten cents in addition to the stamps required for the prepayment of
postage and write across the corner of the envelope the words
"special delivery". This will ensure the special delivery of the
letter as provided for in the regulations.

_Reference List._

1898. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa. No wmk. Perf. 12.

103. 10c deep green, Scott's No. 160.