PHILATELISTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 64, 18 December 1946, Page 4 (Supplement)

PHILATELISTS

A CHRISTMAS ISSUE

Members of the Whakatane Philatelic Society will be interested to read • that the" 1 Canadian 2 cent (World Map) stamp is the only one known to make reference to Christmas.

This reference was not connected with the events associated with the Christmas season, but came into circulation as told in this article.

On June 13, 1898, the Canadian PaiTiament enacted legislation reducing the internal letter rate to 2 cents—one penny—the new rate to operate from a date to be decided by the Governor-General. A month later—July 13—“ The Standard” (London) announced an agreement whereby the trans-ocean postage rate would be reduced to 2 cents for a half-ounce letter between Canada and Great Britain and certain British Colonies. In November it was officially declared that the new' rate to England would operate from Christmas Day, 1898, and the new inland rate from January 1, 1899. While' in England arranging this new postage rate, the PostmasterGeneral, Mr. William Mulock—later Sir William—was impressed that few people had any real knowledge of the vast extent of the British Empire. So he decided that the stamp to be issued by Canada to mark the inauguration of the lower rates of postage must be designed to dispel the ignorance about the Empire.

On returning to Canada, he called for designs, ,but none of those submitted gained his approval. He then drew up his own design, which was the stamp mentioned. The shadings indicated the British Empire.

When the new stamp was. issued people could buy a map of the world ' for one penny? The many parts of the British Empire are shown in red, other countries in white. The seas are pale green, though the first issues had the seas in a pale mauve shade. The oak and maple leaves under the crown symbolise the unity of Great Britain and Canada. Inscribed on the stamp are the words “Xmas, 1898,” and a line from a Jubilee ode by Sir Lewis Morris, “We hold a vaster Empire than has been.” Because of these words, some critics of the stamp called it the “has been” stamp. The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria had been celebrated the previous year, and Sir Lewis Morris had written this ode, entitled “A Song' of' Empire” for that historic occasion.

The Postmaster-General, on December 2, presided over the first printing at Ottawa. Previous arrangements were revised, and the stamp was issued for use in Canada on December 7, December 25 being retained as the day for the operation of the new rate to Great Britain.

It is recorded that at one second past midnight—just as Christmas Day commenced—the first letter for Britain bearing this' stamp was dropped into the letter-box. It was immediately signed by the assistant Postmaster on duty, and at five seconds past the hour was handed to the chief of the night staff. It was electrically postmarked, and at fifteen seconds past midnight was dropped into the mail-bag for London.