Canada: Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery

by Clifton A. Howes

DEPARTMENT ORDER [NO. 4.]

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
TORONTO, 21st April, 1851.

Stamps for the pre-payment of Postage on Letters.

Postage Stamps are about to be issued, one representing the Beaver, of the denomination of Three pence; the second representing the head of Prince Albert, of the denomination of Six pence; and the third, representing the head of Her Majesty, of the denomination of One shilling; which will shortly be transmitted to the Post Masters at important points, for sale.

Any Post Master receiving Stamps from this Department will, by the next mail, acknowledge the receipt of the amount. At the expiration of each Quarter, and with his Quarterly Postage Accounts, he will render an account of Stamps on a form which will be hereafter supplied, charging himself therein with any amount which remained on hand at the close of the preceding Quarter, and with the amounts received during the Quarter just ended, and crediting himself with the amount then remaining on hand. The balance of the account so stated, representing the amount of Stamps he has sold or disposed of, the Post Master will add to the balance due on his Return for the same Quarter of Postages.

Any Letter or Packet, with one or more Stamps affixed, equal in amount to the Postage properly chargeable thereon, may be mailed and forwarded from any office as a pre-paid Letter or Packet; but if the Stamps affixed be not adequate to the proper Postage, the Post Master receiving the Letter or Packet for transmission will rate it with the amount deficient in addition.—This Regulation concerning Letters short paid has reference only to Letters passing within the Province.

Stamps so affixed are to be immediately cancelled in the office in which the Letter or Packet may be deposited, with an instrument

to be furnished for that purpose. In Post Offices not so furnished, the stamps must be cancelled by making a cross [X] on each with a pen. If the cancelling has been omitted on the mailing of the Letter, the Post Master delivering it will cancel the stamp in the manner directed, and immediately report the Post Master who may have been delinquent, to the Department. Bear in mind that Stamps must invariably be cancelled before mailing the Letters to which they are affixed.

Letters and Packets pre-paid by Stamps must be entered in the Letter-Bill separately from other pre-paid Letters,—and in like manner in the Monthly Sheets.

J. MORRIS, Post Master General.