The Stamps of Canada

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22190

Title

The Stamps of Canada

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A definitive philatelic guide to Canadian postage history, this volume chronicles the Dominion's postal evolution from French colonial roots to federal confederation. Bertram W. H. Poole details the intricate designs, color variations, and printing methods of every issue, offering essential insights for collectors and historians alike.

Summary up to 500 words

Bertram W. H. Poole's *The Stamps of Canada* serves as a definitive handbook documenting the nation's postal evolution from its colonial origins to the early 20th century. The text begins by establishing Canada's geographical and constitutional context, tracing its trajectory from the French colony of New France to a self-governing Dominion. Poole meticulously catalogs the inaugural issues, starting with the 1852 provisional labels and the 1868 engraved series featuring Queen Victoria. He provides a detailed analysis of design elements, including the introduction of numeral and map stamps in the late 1890s and the specific portraits used on various issues. The narrative delves deeply into technical philatelic details, examining paper types such as wove and laid, perforation gauges, and significant color changes, particularly those occurring in the 1888-90 series after the printing establishment moved from Montreal to Ottawa. Poole addresses specialized categories with precision, covering the 1893 high-value parcel post stamps, the unique 1893 8-cent registration stamp designed to cover combined postage and registry fees, and the rare 'Officially Sealed' labels utilized by the Dead Letter Office to indicate that a letter was opened by proper authority. Furthermore, the book explains the administrative logic behind rate changes and the discontinuation of specific denominations, such as the 12½-cent stamp which became obsolete due to parcel post reforms. Poole clarifies the restricted use of 'Officially Sealed' labels, noting they were applied only when letters with sender addresses were erroneously sent to the Dead Letter Office and opened. The text also covers the introduction of Postage Due stamps in 1906 to account for short-paid mail. Through this factual record, Poole provides a comprehensive overview of Canada's postal development, capturing the administrative, technical, and historical nuances of the Dominion's philatelic history.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Local file path

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Categories

• Canada
• Postage Stamps