your favor
addressed to the late Mr. Stanton, and in which you ask information
with reference to the proposed issue of stamps to commemorate the
centenary of Sir George Etienne Cartier. The information which you
have received from outside sources is not only premature, but
inaccurate in several details, and I can only say that although it
is possible that these stamps may be issued during the course of
the next few months the whole question is still under the
consideration of the Department.

Yours very sincerely,
E. J. LEMAIRE, _Superintendent_.

Finally, owing very probably to the war, it was decided not to issue
this special series of stamps.

CHAPTER XXVII.

_Official Stamps._

Canada has never issued special postage stamps for use on departmental
correspondence but in November, 1884, a German paper,--_Der
Philatelist_--on the advice of a correspondent, chronicled a series for
official use. These were said to consist of the ordinary adhesives, two
envelopes and a post card surcharged with the word OFFICIAL in black. To
quote from the _Philatelic Record:_--"It is alleged that they were
prepared and issued in 1877, but after a short time were called in
again. The surcharges are in some cases oblique, and in others
perpendicular. It is at least strange that, considering our intercourse
with Canada, our first knowledge of the issue of official stamps so far
back as 1877 should reach us from Temesvar, wherever that may be".

Doubts were, naturally, expressed on all sides with regard to the
authenticity of these labels and a letter addressed to Ottawa on the
subject resulted in the following reply:--

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA,
OTTAWA, _18th May, 1885_.

Sir:--I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of the 29th ult., enquiring whether postage
stamps bearing the word "_Official_" on their face are in
circulation in the Dominion of Canada, and beg, in reply, to say
that no such stamp, card, newspaper wrapper, or envelope has _ever_
been issued by this Department. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

(Signed) WM. WHITE, _Secretary_.

Two years later, in April, 1887, after this canard had been
satisfactorily disposed of another set of alleged official stamps was
referred to in the _Philatelic Record_ as follows:--

Mr. Hechler sent to the Transvaal correspondent o