away. Arriving, we were conducted to the top floor
by the manager. The plates, dies, etc., were brought out by those
in charge, and the seventeen original dies after inspection by
those present were placed one by one under a press and an
obliterating roller passed over them several times; proofs were
then pulled which faintly showed the outlines of the ovals, etc.,
but the words showing the values could not even be made out. Next,
the rolls for transferring the impression from the dies to the
plates came in for their share of attention. There were nineteen of
them, and a few burns from an emery wheel quickly put each one "out
of sight." The plates, 31 in number, were subjected to the same
treatment as the dies, and the total time occupied in the
destruction of the various parts occupied almost two hours.

_Reference List._

1897. Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co.,
Ottawa, on wove paper. Perf. 12.

36. 1/2c black, Scott's No. 50.
37. 1c orange, Scott's No. 51.
38. 2c green, Scott's No. 52.
39. 3c rose, Scott's No. 53.
40. 5c deep blue, Scott's No. 54.
41. 6c yellow brown, Scott's No. 55.
42. 8c dark violet, Scott's No. 56.
43. 10c brown violet, Scott's No. 57.
44. 15c steel blue, Scott's No. 58.
45. 20c vermilion, Scott's No. 59.
46. 50c ultramarine, Scott's No. 60.
47. $1 lake, Scott's No. 61.
48. $2 dark purple, Scott's No. 62.
49. $3 yellow bistre, Scott's No. 63.
50. $4 purple, Scott's No. 64.
51. $5 olive green, Scott's No. 65.

CHAPTER XIV.--_The "Maple Leaf" Issue of 1897._

Soon after the printing contract was awarded to the American Bank Note
Company it was rumoured that a new series of stamps would be issued, but
for a time public expectations of the new stamps were overshadowed by
the appearance of the Diamond Jubilee issue. A cutting from an Ottawa
paper dated September 28th, 1897, shows, however, that preparations for
a new set were well in hand, viz.:--

The design for a new postage stamp has been approved by the
Postmaster-General. There is a portrait of Her Majesty as she
appeared at the coronation, except that a coronet is substituted
for a crown. The portrait has been engraved from a photo procured
during the Jubilee ceremonies, and upon which was the Queen's own
autograph, so th