Post Office Department,
Ottawa, 8th May, 1889.
Reference List.
1870-82. Engraved and Printed by the British American Bank Note Co. of Montreal and Ottawa. Wove paper. Perf. 12.
- 26. ½c black, Scott's No. 40.
- 27. 1c orange, Scott's No. 32.
- 28. 2c green. Scott's No. 33 or 41.
- 29. 3c red. Scott's No. 34 or 42.
- 30. 5c grey, Scott's No. 38 or 43.
- 31. 6c brown, Scott's No. 35 or 44.
- 32. 10c magenta or brown red, Scott's No. 36 or 45.
Chapter XI.—The 20c and 50c Stamps of 1893.
The Postmaster-General's Report for 1892 states that “Postage stamps of the value of 20 cents and 50 cents are about to be issued. These will be useful in prepayment of parcel post.” These high values were, of course, intended to be used in making up relatively large amounts of postage. They were not issued to be used in prepayment of any specific rates though a study of the postal rates of the period show that the postage on a parcel weighing up to one pound sent to the United Kingdom would require a 20c stamp, while a 2 lb. parcel sent to Japan would take the 50c denomination. The same rates show that the postage on 1 lb. parcels sent to Newfoundland was 15c, though no stamp of this value had been issued subsequent to the series of 1868 nor has one ever since been included in the regular series.
These new 20c and 50c labels were issued on February 17th, 1893, and while alike in design, except as regards the denotation of value, they are quite dissimilar from any of the previously issued postage stamps of the Dominion both as regards size and design. The portrait shows Queen Victoria in her widow's weeds and is similar to that shown on the Bill stamps which were first issued in 1868. Above the portrait CANADA POSTAGE is curved, and on straight labels at the foot is the value in words, while between this inscription and the lower part of the medallion are figures of value.