express the Postmaster-General's regret that he is unable, having
regard to the limited character of the Jubilee issue, to comply
with any requests for the 1/2c or 6c denomination, apart from those
for full sets. These sets may be obtained as long as the series of
Jubilee stamps last, but as the demands upon it are unusually
heavy, it would be advisable to apply for full sets at the earliest
possible moment.

When Postmasters obtain such sets to fill orders actual or
prospective at their respective offices, they must not, in any
case, break the sets.

I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant,
E. P. STANTON, _Superintendent._

P. S.--Under no circumstances will there be any issue of Jubilee
stamps, beyond the limits mentioned in the accompanying extract
from Hansard, containing the Postmaster-General's statement on the
subject.

At the same time instructions were issued to postmasters that they were
not to sell the 1/2c, 6c, 8c and dollar denominations except in the
complete sets of sixteen values.

Later this ruling was modified and sets to 50c and $1 inclusive were
allowed to be sold resulting in the issue of another circular to
postmasters worded as follows:--

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
POSTAGE STAMP BRANCH, OTTAWA,
_August, 1897._

Sir,--I am directed to transmit to you the accompanying partial
sets of Jubilee stamps. These sets consist of two kinds: one from a
1/2c to $1 (value $2.20-1/2), the other from 1/2c to 50c (value
$1.20-1/2). You are instructed to sell these stamps as sets, and as
sets only, representations having been made to the department that
in various parts of the Dominion there is a desire to obtain such
sets for souvenir purposes. You must not, under any circumstances,
break a set; for, besides the disappointment that such a course
would cause, you would render yourself liable to loss, the
department having decided not to allow credit for any broken sets
returned to it by a postmaster who, notwithstanding the
instructions herein given, sells any denominations of the stamps
making up a set apart from the rest.

I am also to ask you to use your best judgment in the sale of these
sets, checking, as far as possible, any attempt on the part of
speculators to monopolise them, and thus securing as general
distribution of su