e belated appearance of this label as follows:--"The die of this large
5 cent stamp had been engraved in 1867 with the other values of the
first Dominion series, but as there were no rates requiring such a
denomination in the set, it was not issued. When in 1875 the need for a
5 cent value arose, the unused die was employed to make a plate for
temporary use, until a new die conforming in size and design with the
small stamps could be prepared." This large 5 cent stamp had a short
life of about four months when it was superseded by the 5c value in the
same size as the other denominations of 1869-73.
In 1882, the 1/2c value was reduced in size so that this stamp, as in
the case of its predecessor of 1868, was smaller than the other
denominations. From that date until 1892 no further changes were made so
far as new designs or values were concerned though some striking
alterations in shade took place, notably in the case of the 6c and 10c
values.
In 1892, 20c and 50c stamps were issued for use on heavy packages. These
not only differed in design from the other stamps of the series then
current but were also very much larger. In 1893 an 8c stamp was issued
which was used for prepayment of postage and the registration fee and
upon its advent the special registration stamps ceased to be printed
though existing stocks were, presumably, used up. In 1897, the Diamond
Jubilee of Queen Victoria was celebrated by the issue of a special
series of stamps comprising no less than sixteen values ranging all the
way from 1/2c to $5. As to the utility, to say nothing of the necessity,
of some of the higher denominations perhaps the less said the better for
before and since Canada has managed to get along very well with a
highest regular denomination of 50c.
In the latter months of the same year, and early in 1898 a new set was
issued in a uniform design showing the jubilee portrait of the Queen.
This is known as the maple leaf issue from the fact that the lower
angles are ornamented with maple leaves and in contradistinction to a
modified design which almost immediately replaced it which had numerals
in the lower corners.
The Christmas of 1898 was marked by the issuance of the celebrated 2c
map stamp with its proud motto "We hold a vaster Empire than has been".
This stamp was issued to mark the introduction of Imperial Penny
Postage, and one consequence of the reduction in the postal rate was so
to reduce the demand for the 3c valu
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