d from the Seybold collection, which was dated at
Brantford, December 29, 1857, turned out to be bad. Of course,
perforated stamps are hard to find on original covers, but it is
curious that so far not one has upset the theory we have laid down.

These three perforated stamps do not provide much variation in the
quality of the paper. Most of the stamps are found on a hard wove paper,
varying slightly in thickness, and though the 1/2d and 3d are listed on
ribbed paper, we venture to doubt that this is a true ribbed paper for
the reasons set forth in our last chapter.

Mr. King records the 6d bi-sected diagonally and the halves used as 3d
stamps, but, as in the case of the similar variety in the imperforate
issues, there could have been no real need for such bi-section.

_Reference List._

1858-9. Stamps of preceding issues perforated 12.

7. 1/2d pink, Scott's No. 11.
8. 3d red, Scott's No. 12.
9. 6d violet, Scott's No. 13.

CHAPTER VI.--_The First "Cents" Issue._

While the somewhat cumbrous English currency of pounds, shillings and
pence has presented little or no difficulty in those parts of the Empire
where it has always been on the same basis as in the Mother country, the
fact that in Canada it had two valuations--"currency" and
"sterling"--made it an inevitable conclusion that a change would have to
be made sooner or later. The close proximity of Canada to the United
States gave it a very practical illustration of the advantages of a
decimal system of money; the American currency of dollars and cents was
legalised in the Province of Canada in 1853; and it is, therefore, small
matter for wonder that ultimately a decimal system of currency similar
to that in vogue in the United States was adopted. This change took
place in 1859 and the Postmaster-General's Report for that year alluded
to the necessary changes in the postage stamps as follows:

The Law of last Session directing the conversion of all postage
rates into decimals, and the collection of postage in the new
decimal currency, was put in operation on the 1st July. Decimal
stamps of the value of 1 cent, 5 cents, and 10 cents for ordinary
correspondence, and of 12-1/2 cents for Canadian, and of 17 cents
for British Packet Postage Rates were obtained in readiness for the
commencement of the Decimal Postage Law in July, 1859, and have
from that date been issued in