Of these have been issued to Postmasters for sale, to the same date:
| Value. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 217,300 | 3d. Stamps | £2716 | 5 | 0 |
| 63,400 | 6d. Stamps | 1585 | 0 | 0 |
| 820 | 1s. Stamps | 41 | 0 | 0 |
| 281,520 | £4342 | 5 | 0 | |
The succeeding annual reports of the Postmaster General, for the years
ending 31st March, 1853-6, give the following table of postage stamp statistics:—
Postage stamps issued for sale as follows:—
| REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1853. | |||
| 3d. Stamps | 6d. Stamps | 1s. Stamps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| On hand 5th April, 1852 | 32,900 | 37,000 | 50,180 |
| Since received from Manufacturers | 250,000 | ||
| 282,900 | 37,000 | 50,180 | |
| Issued for sale during year | 163,000 | 2,575 | 100 |
| On hand 31st March, 1853 | 119,900 | 34,425 | 50,080 |
| REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1854. | |||
| Received from Manufacturers | 250,000 | ... | ... |
| 369,900 | 34,425 | 50,080 | |
| Issued for sale during year | 240,700 | 10,825 | 325 |
| On hand 31st March, 1854 | 129,200 | 23,600 | 49,755 |
| REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1855. | |||
| Received from Manufacturers | 250,000 | 50,000 | ... |
| 379,200 | 73,600 | 49,755 | |
| Issued for sale during year | 355,000 | 25,800 | 265 |
| On hand 31st. March, 1855 | 24,200 | 47,800 | 49,490 |
| REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1856. | |||
| Received from Manufacturers | 600,300 | ... | ... |
| 624,500 | 47,800 | 49,490 | |
| Issued for sale during year | 368,700 | 38,419 | ... |
| On hand 31st. March, 1856 | 255,800 | 9,381 | 49,490 |
In this annual report of 31st March, 1856, is the last account of the 12d. stamp, from which it appears that none were issued to postmasters during the fiscal year. It does not mean that none were sold or used during that period, however, for with the increasing use of stamps this was quite probable. But it is evident from the tables given that the stamp was disbursed from headquarters in very limited quantities during the four years from 1851 to 1855 only; and we are quite fortunate in being able to give the exact details of this
distribution. An anonymous article was published in the Metropolitan Philatelist in 1902,[14] from which we have already quoted, that contained a "Valuable summary of the first issue of postage stamps used in this Colony." The statement is made that "it is taken from official records and is absolutely accurate." We quote here the information concerning the
CANADA ONE SHILLING POSTAGE STAMP.
| Total number rec'd. from Contractors | 51,000 |
| Total number issued to postmasters | 1,510 |
| Balance (destroyed) | 49,490 |