| REPORT OF 30TH SEPT., 1857, [including 1 year 6 months, by statute.][29] | ||
| 3d. stamps | 6d. stamps | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance on hand 31st March, 1856 | 255,800 | 9,381 |
| Received from Mfrs. in half-year to 30th. Sept. | 50,000 | |
| Total | 255,800 | 59,381 |
| Issued for sale during half-year | 186,200 | 24,781 |
| Balance 1st October, 1856 | 69,600 | 34,600 |
| Received from Mfrs. year ending 30th Sept., 1857 | 600,000 | 50,078 |
| Total | 669,600 | 84,678 |
| Issued for sale during yr. ending 30th Sept., 1857 | 587,900 | 60,600 |
| Balance on hand | 81,700 | 24,078 |
| REPORT OF 30TH. SEPT., 1858. | ||
| Received from Mfrs. year ending 30th Sept., 1858 | 900,000 | 100,000 |
| Total | 981,700 | 124,078 |
| Issued for sale during year | 717,200 | 82,500 |
| Balance on hand 30th Sept., 1858 | 264,500 | 41,578 |
| REPORT OF 30TH. SEPT., 1859. | ||
| Rec'd from Mfrs. during 9 mos. to 30th June, 1859 | 449,900 | 70,000 |
| Total | 714,400 | 111,578 |
| Issued for sale during above 9 months | 692,700 | 94,000 |
| Balance on hand 30th June, 1859 | 21,700 | 17,578 |
On July 1, 1859 the stamps in decimal currency were issued, so the above remainders represent the last of the 3d. and 6d. stamps. Adding the receipts from the manufacturers in the above tables, therefore, to the totals already given for the years 1851-6, and then deducting the remainders (which were later destroyed), we have for the total issue of the 3d. stamp 3,528,700, and of the 6d. stamp 402,900. In these figures are of course included the perforated stamps, which we will consider later.
It will be seen from the tables that there were at least eight deliveries of the 3d. stamps and at least six deliveries of the 6d. stamps, but inasmuch as these are totalled by years, and as some of the amounts are quite large (e. g. 900,000 of the 3d. in 1858), it seems certain that there were even more deliveries and consequently more printings of the stamps than is indicated. In no other way can we account for the variety in the paper used, and also
the variety in the color of the 6d. stamp. The 3d. does not vary so much, probably because its shade of red did not require much mixing of inks and the ingredients were such that slight variations in the proportions did not greatly affect the tone. The normal color being a bright red, we find it running to a deeper, almost brick red in one direction, and to a vermilion in the other. As to the normal color of the 6d. it would be almost impossible to hazard a guess, if we had simply a series of one stamp of each distinct variation in color or shade in which it is found. The common run of shades is from a slate violet to a slate or "near black" with a "cast" of violet, of brown, or even green. What can one do in trying to describe the "color" of such a chameleon stamp with such an uncertain basis to work upon? The check list gives the nearest approximation to the various shades that we have been able to translate into color names, but it is almost impossible to so describe some of them as to convey the proper idea of the exact shade to the reader.
For papers used, Mr. King describes no less than fourteen.[30] Four of these are the two grades of the laid and wove "bank-note" paper already mentioned. A third variety of laid paper is described by him as entirely different, being a stout white paper in which "the laid lines are most distinct, while the paper is of a different texture and color from the regular grey shade." Mr. Pack states: "This paper is very rare, and I have never seen but very few copies."[31] Mr. King's sixth variety is described as "hard, stout, grayish wove," but we have included it with the ordinary wove paper in the check list, of which it is but a little heavier manifestation. The same may be said of his varieties XII and XIII, described as "medium" and "thick, hard, white wove paper, very slightly ribbed," respectively, which we have classed under "stout, hard, white wove paper." There is an extreme case in the 6d. stamp, which comes on a very thick hard paper, concerning which Mr. Pack says:—"The unused 6d. on very thick, hard paper is one of the greatest rarities of Canada. It is as rare as the 12d. unused. Curiously enough, this stamp in used condition is very rare in a pair or strip. So far as I know there are only two or three strips or pairs in existence. It is my understanding that the very thick hard paper stamps were printed previous to those on the soft paper." The last remark refers to the very thick, soft paper, almost a card board (Mr. King's variety XIV) which is now well known as an exceedingly rare variety. It is distinct, both in paper and
color, from any other variety of the 6d. stamp, the shade being a dull purple. The same may be said of the thick hard paper stamp, which appears to be in a very even shade of slate violet.
Mr. King's varieties X and XI are both peculiar, the former being a "very soft, thin, cream wove which is quite fragile and will not bear much handling," and the latter a "soft, thick, coarse white wove paper; the surface presents a sort of hairy appearance, and the quality is better than series X." The 3d. is the only value occurring in these two varieties, which we have placed under "soft white wove paper" in the check list.
Lastly comes the ribbed paper. The first variety is a very soft, thin paper on which the 3d. appears. This is Mr. King's variety VII, and he makes a variety VIII of the same paper in a "cream" tone. The same value comes on a thicker, hard paper, Mr. King's variety IX, and he lists a 6d. in violet black as well.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the first issue of Canadian stamps furnishes plenty of material for study, and is an extremely difficult series to work out and put into proper form for a reference list. Mr. King truly says:—"If the papers and shades of this series of stamps are thoroughly studied, there are more varieties than in all the other British North American stamps put together; in many cases they are minute, in others more decided, but in every case distinct." Some criticism may be made of our not using in extenso, the excellent "Reference List"[32] prepared by Messrs. King and Corwin, but it has seemed wise, in working with the specialized collections already alluded to, to condense this list to some extent; nor do we think its correctness and usefulness have been impaired thereby.
We have spoken of the three values of stamps already treated as the "first issue" of Canada. Some may cavil at this, for there are three more values belonging to the pence series which may be regarded as part of the "first issue," inasmuch as they were complementary as well as supplementary to the original three. But they did not appear until nearly four or more years later, and therefore escaped the laid paper varieties. For this reason, and because there appears another important question to solve in connection with two of them, we have reserved a separate chapter for these three. We may also say that as one of them appears in the perforated series of pence values we have left the consideration of these latter stamps until the next following chapter.