OTTAWA. This strip is framed by a very thin parallel
line, its entire width being but one millimeter, while its length
is about 51 mm. It occurs but once on a side, being placed against
the middle two stamps (numbers 5 and 6) of each row at a distance
of about 3 mm. The inscription reads up on the left and down on the
right, as before, but the bottom one is now upright, instead of
being reversed.

In the case of the half cent stamp at least, we find an additional
marginal imprint over the second and third stamps of the top row.
This consists of the words HALF CENT, in shaded Roman capitals 4
mm. high, the whole being about 40 mm. long. Presumably the same
thing, varied for each denomination, occurs on other values of the
series, as we find it does on the succeeding issue; but a strip
from the top of a sheet of the 15 cent stamps proves that it was
lacking on that value at least.

The new stamps came into use on April 1st, 1868, and are all much alike
in design. All values show a profile portrait of Queen Victoria, with
head to right, on a background of horizontal lines within a circle, but
the ornamentation and disposition of the inscriptions and numerals of
value in the surrounding frame is different on each. The _Stamp
Collector's Magazine_ for May, 1868, in announcing the issue, gives a
good description which we cannot forbear quoting, viz:--

We are now in possession of, as we presume, the entire series of
stamps for the Dominion of Canada, consisting of seven values--1/2
cent, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12-1/2, and 15 cents. It would be indeed odious
to compare them with the issues for another confederation lately
formed. They are the work of a newly-formed colonial company, and
are worthy to take rank beside any which have been manufactured by
the rival companies of New York. The design, as we stated last
month in noticing the 15c--the first of the set to appear--bears a
resemblance to that of the lower values of Nova Scotia, but shows
the Queen's head turned to the right. The new "British American
Bank Note Company, of Montreal and Ottawa", has done well to copy
so good a device, and certainly has not spoilt it, as the English
engravers did in the four penny South Australian. Moreover, whilst
retaining the central figure, by enclosing it in a
differently-patterned frame for each val