lector's Magazine_ noted a
change in the shade of the 3c viz.:--

By the courtesy of a Montreal correspondent we are in possession of
specimens of the current three cents, printed in bright
orange-vermilion. A supply in this color has just been issued.

The _Philatelic Record_ for March, 1888, says "The 10c is now in
carmine-red", and again in May that "the 5 cents has changed its color
from bronze-green to greenish grey." More than a year later (July, 1889)
the same journal says "the 2 cents stamp is now blue-green;" in
December, 1890, the 6c is recorded in "chestnut-brown"; while in April,
1892, the 5c is chronicled as having been issued in "grey-black."

Similar color changes in most values were recorded in other journals but
as there is an almost total lack of agreement as regards the names
chosen to designate the different shades these chronicles are of little
value in determining the chronological order of issue of even the most
striking of the tints. It is also more than probable that after a change
had been made the original or earlier tints were reverted to later on.
The catalogues are equally at variance in their choice of color names
and while Gibbons' gives four shades for each of the 1c and 3c values,
Scott gives but two for the 1c and of the four given for the 3c not one
agrees with any of the names given by Gibbons'. The only point on which
both catalogues agree is that a general change of colors took place
during the period of 1888-90, _i.e._, after the printers had moved
their establishment from Montreal to Ottawa. But though the later
printings of the 6c and 10c do, undoubtedly, differ very materially from
the earlier colors--almost enough so, in fact, to be classed as distinct
colors--such varieties seem to have been purely accidental and to
classify them as separate issues hardly seems correct. In this
connection it is interesting to quote Mr. Howes' remarks:--

That the above changes were hardly of a character to warrant
dignifying them as a "new issue," which is frequently done, is
shown by a moment's consideration. The 1/2c and 1c stamps showed no
appreciable difference in coloring and therefore caused no comment.
The 2 cent did not retain its blue green shade unaltered, and the 3
cent soon reverted to its former brilliant red hue, as the
_Philatelic Journal of America_ for May, 1889, says that "the
carmine color recently adopted has been d