of ten, and the other denominations in sheets
of 50 in ten horizontal rows of five stamps each. The only marginal
inscription consists of the name OTTAWA followed by the number of the
plate. This inscription appears at the top of the sheets only--above the
centre of the fifth and sixth stamps in the case of the 1/2, 1, 2, 3 and
5c values and above the third stamp on the values from 6c to $5. The
name is in thin Roman capitals, 2-1/2 mm. high, the total length of the
inscriptions being about 40 mm. The following are the numbers of the
plates used:--

1/2 cent, plate 9.
1 cent, plates 5, 6, 15, 16.
2 cents, plate 7, 8.
3 cents, plates 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 28, 29, 30, 31.
5 cents, plate 10.
6 cents, plate 17.
8 cents, plate 20.
10 cents, plate 19.
15 cents, plate 18.
20 cents, plate 21.
50 cents, plate 23.
$1, plate 27.
$2, plate 26.
$3, plate 24.
$4, plate 22.
$5, plate 25.

The paper was the usual wove variety and the perforation gauged 12--the
production of single-line or guillotine machines. Even in the case of
values of which large quantities were printed, like the 3c, variations
in shade are remarkably slight. The 1c is known split diagonally and the
halves used as 1/2c and while this practice was disproved of by the Post
Office Department the half stamps undoubtedly filled a local need as
shown by an extract from a Canadian newspaper printed in the _Weekly
Philatelic Era_, viz.:--

The _Railway News_ last week on account of not receiving permission
from the Post-Master General to allow papers to go through the
mails free, was compelled to pay postage. No half cent stamps being
available, the post office department allowed one cent stamps to be
cut in halves for postage. This is the first time on record we
believe where such was allowed and the stamps have been eagerly
sought after, one dollar being paid for a single stamp with the
post office stamp on it. The _News_ will pay twenty-five cents each
for the one cent Jubilee stamps cut in halves bearing the
post-office stamp of November 5th, 6th, or 8th, which was allowed
to pass through the mails on that date owing to there being no
regular half cent stamps available.

One set of Jubilee stamps--said to be the first one printed, though of
course this statement cannot be taken literally as meaning the stamp