We now come to an actual official issue in the shape of a newspaper wrapper. It seems to have been first noted in Le Timbre-Poste for February, 1883, but is stated to have been issued in 1879. The stamp is of the 1875 issue (type 1) and at its left is printed in blue the following:—
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Above the English inscription is its counterpart in French. The wrapper itself is of a cream tone and measures 280 × 132 mm.
The history of this wrapper does not seem to be known, save that it is accredited to be what it purports to be. It is quite rare, and as far as we have been able to find out is not known used. No mention is made of it in the Department reports, but it happens that the stamp accounts for 1879, the year of its supposed issue, give only 8,000 wrappers as received from the manufacturers. None had been received the two years previously, as there were plenty on hand, and 192,000 were received the next year. It would thus appear, on the face of it, that this small lot of 8,000 was quite probably the order of the Inland Revenue wrappers. If so, it was probably the only lot ever received and though they may have been used, the chances seem somewhat against any such number having actually been issued.
One other official issue comes in the form of a Customs' post card notice. It was first chronicled in the American Philatelist for 10th May, 1888, as having been issued in connection with the parcel post system just then inaugurated with the United States. Postmasters received instructions to forward these cards free through the mails, although there was no stamp or notice on the address side. It is of manila card, 130 × 88 mm., blank on one side and having printed on the other:—
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In its September, 1888, number the Halifax Philatelist notes that the blank address side has been supplied with three dotted lines for the address, and