CAN BANK NOTE CO.
OTTAWA in Roman capitals 1/2 mm. high, the whole inscription being 29
mm. long. These are placed above the third and eighth stamps of the top
row and below the corresponding stamps of the bottom row. In addition a
plate number, in hair-line figures about 4 mm. high, is shown above the
division between the two central stamps of the top row, these figures
being placed higher on the margin than the imprints. Mr. Howes tells us
that plates 1, 2, 3, and 5 are known but that plate 4 does not seem to
have been recorded though, presumably, it exists. All four plates are
known with the lavender sea and this is known to indicate the first
printings, it would appear that all the plates were at press together.

The late Mr. H. L. Ewen wrote an exhaustive article on the numerous
varieties of this stamp but as most of these were simply due to errors
of register their philatelic importance is slight. One variety, however,
which is constant is worthy of note. In this two small dots representing
two islands in mid-pacific are shown side by side instead of one above
the other as on the normal stamps. Mr. Ewen also referred to a slight
retouching of one of the plates, viz.:--

Readers will have noted that the stamps are each surrounded by what
appears to be a rope. On the sheet of plate 3 before us, the outer
edge of this rope on the stamps at the end of each row (right hand
side of each sheet) has worn away and has been replaced by a
straight line engraved on the plate, except on stamp No. 80, which
still shows the very defective nature of the rope.

Mr. Howes states that the stamp, with all three colors for the sea, is
known imperforate.

How many were issued is not known for certain as these Imperial stamps
were reckoned together with the ordinary 2c in the postal accounts but
according to the _London Philatelist_ the total issue was about sixteen
millions. In concluding this chapter we have only to add that the cost
of manufacturing the stamps, on account of the three processes
necessary, was the relatively high one of 45 cents per thousand.

_Reference List._

Xmas, 1898. Engraved and Printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa. Unwatermarked. Perf. 12.

68. 2c black, lavender and red, Scott's No. 82
69. 2c black, green and red.
70. 2c black, blue and red, Scott's No. 83.

CHAPTER XVII.--_The "2 Cents" Provisionals._

O