f
affixed to letters would be treated as ordinary mutilated stamps of
no value. It appears that the Postmaster of Port Hood, N. S., at
the time of the change of rate found himself short of 2 cents
stamps, and, acting on the advice of some stamp fiend apparently,
cut up a sheet or so of stamps to make twos and ones. He nearly
lost his job over it, but the Department never got hold of any of
the mutilated stamps. Anybody could make similar stamps by cutting
up and marking old threes. Hoping this may be satisfactory to you,

Yours, etc.,
W. H. HARRINGTON.

_Reference List._

The 3c stamp of 1898 divided vertically and each portion
surcharged with a new value.

73. 1(c) in blue on one-third of 3c carmine, Scott's No. 85A.
74. 2(c) in violet on two-thirds of 3c carmine. Scott's No. 85B.

CHAPTER XIX.--_The 2c Carmine._

According to the Post Office circular quoted in our last chapter the
issue of the 2c stamp in carmine--or red, as the color was officially
termed--was to begin when the supply of surcharged 3c stamps was
exhausted. The new 2c stamp was eventually placed on sale on August
20th, 1899, and it is, of course, exactly like the same value previously
issued in purple in all respects except that of color. The same plates
were used and later many new ones were put to press. No accurate record
of the different plates used for this denomination has been kept but, in
addition to plates 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 listed by Mr. Howes, there were
probably many others.

In 1900 Canada followed the lead of many other countries by issuing the
2c value in convenient booklet form. The Postmaster-General's Report
for 1900 refers to these booklets as follows:--

In the month of June, 1900, the department commenced the issue to
Postmasters, of a small book of 2 cent postage stamps, containing
12 stamps, disposed on two sheets of 6 stamps each, and interleaved
with wax paper to prevent adhesion of the sheets. The size of the
book is such as to make it convenient to be carried in the pocket
or pocket-book. Printed on the cover is postal information
calculated to be of interest to the public. The price at which the
book is issued is 25 cents, one cent over the face value of the
stamps being charged to cover the cost of binding, etc.

These stamp books were first placed on sale on June 11th and they
rapidly came into