The Postmaster-General (Mr. Mulock): It is the intention of the Government to issue a set of Jubilee postage stamps. Such stamps will be put into public use by being delivered to postmasters throughout Canada for sale to the public in the same manner as ordinary postage stamps are sold. There will be a limit to the quantity to be issued. The denominations of Jubilee stamps, and the total number of such Jubilee stamps to be issued, are set forth in the following schedule:—
Schedule showing the Denominations and Total Number of Jubilee Stamps to be issued:
| Number to be issued. | Denomination. | |
| 150,000 | ½ c. | stamps |
| 8,000,000 | 1 c. | " |
| 2,500,000 | 2 c. | " |
| 20,000,000 | 3 c. | " |
| 750,000 | 5 c. | " |
| 75,000 | 6 c. | " |
| 200,000 | 8 c. | " |
| 150,000 | 10 c. | " |
| 100,000 | 15 c. | " |
| 100,000 | 20 c. | " |
| 100,000 | 50 c. | " |
| 25,000 | $ 1 00 | " |
| 25,000 | $ 2 00 | " |
| 25,000 | $ 3 00 | " |
| 25,000 | $ 4 00 | " |
| 25,000 | $ 5 00 | " |
| 7,000,000 | 1 c. | post cards. |
Total value of one stamp of each kind, $ 16.21½.
As soon as the total number of stamps mentioned in said schedule is issued the plates from which they will have been engraved will be destroyed in the presence of the head and two officers of the department. On the 10th June the Post Office Department will proceed to supply Jubilee postage stamps to the principal post offices in Canada, and through them the minor post offices will obtain their supply until the issue is exhausted. If this Jubilee issue were to wholly displace the ordinary postage stamps it would supply the ordinary wants of the country for between two and three months, but as the use of the ordinary postage stamps will proceed concurrently with that of the Jubilee stamps, it is expected that the Jubilee stamp will last beyond the three months. Inasmuch as the department is already receiving applications for the purchase of Jubilee stamps, it may be stated that the department will adhere to the established practice of supplying them only to postmasters, and through them to the public, who may purchase them on and after the 19th June, 1897.
Promptly, "as advertised", the stamps were placed on sale throughout the Dominion on the morning of Saturday, the 19th of June. The natural result followed: an expectant populace, for various reasons but with one main object, literally besieged the post offices for the coveted treasures. The advance publication of the quantities of the various denominations to be issued gave speculators the hint as to the most desirable values to "corner", and as a result the ½ cent and 6 cent stamps were a special mark in all quarters. This action seems to have been more or less anticipated, for these values were doled out in very small quantities, if at all, in spite of the large orders that were everywhere given for them. This was doubtless largely due to the following circular, sent out with the initial supply of the stamps to all postmasters:[122]—
N. B.—Requisitions for full sets of the Jubilee stamps will be filled until the issue is exhausted.—E. P. S.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH,
OTTAWA, June,1897.
Sir,—I am directed by the Postmaster-General to send you herewith a supply of the Jubilee stamps and 1 c. post card, equal to one month's ordinary requirements of your office. Should this quantity prove insufficient it will, on your requisition addressed to this branch, be supplemented; but as the Jubilee issue is limited, it would be necessary for you to apply early in order to secure further supplies of the same.