public favor as is evidenced by the increasing sales
every year since. Mr. Howes tells us that "the books are about two by
three inches in size, with stiff cardboard covers which are bound
together by red cloth. The coat-of-arms of Canada with the words CANADA
POSTAGE beneath are engraved in red on the front cover, while inside are
four pages of postal information and the two sheets of six stamps
each--three horizontal pairs--backed by leaves of paraffined tissue
paper."

_Reference List._

Aug. 20th, 1899. Engraved and printed by the American Bank
Note Co., Ottawa. No Wmk. Perf. 12.

75. 2c carmine, Scott's No. 86.

CHAPTER XX.--_The 20c Value of 1900._

On the 29th of December, 1900, a 20c value was added to the numeral
series, its advent being quite unannounced. The large 20c stamps of 1893
had been finally used up and the new label not only conformed to the
others of the series in design but also took on a new color--olive-green
in place of scarlet.

It was printed from the usual style of line-engraved plate with the
usual sheet arrangement of 100 stamps arranged in ten horizontal rows of
ten each, with the imprint and plate number in the centre of the top
margin. Only one plate--numbered "1"--seems to have been used and Mr.
Howes tells us that "an examination of the stamp accounts during its
term of life make it appear probable that approximately 500,000 were
issued."

_Reference List._

Dec. 29th, 1900. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note
Co., Ottawa. No Wmk. Perf. 12.

76. 20c olive-green, Scott's No. 87.

CHAPTER XXI.--_The Queen Victoria Seven Cents._

Although the reduction in the domestic rate of postage from 3c to 2c in
1899 made the 8c stamp--which was primarily intended for the combined
payment of postage and the registration fee--of little use it was not
until December, 1902, that this value was replaced by a seven cents
denomination. The new stamp was first announced as being in preparation
in a newspaper despatch dated Ottawa, Dec. 18th, 1902, viz.:--

The Post Office Department announces that on the 24th instant it
will be in a position to supply a seven cent postage stamp to
accounting post-offices throughout Canada. This stamp, which is of
yellow color, will be especially convenient for postage and
registration fee on single rate letters, while it may also be used