CANADA'S POSTMARK ‘GOLDEN AGE’ ... 1896 — 1902

by JERRY H. MILLER

CANADA'S POSTMARK ‘GOLDEN AGE’ 1896-1902

eee es Why

28 JUNE 1897: Three-Color ‘Queen Victoria Jubilee” Issue on Montreal Hotel Cover to Albany, New York,

6-Cents Double-Weight Letier-Rate to U.S.A. Imperial Machine Jubilee Celebration Postmark.

BACKGROUND Soon after the introduction of adhesive postage in Canada in 1851,

the postal authorities recognized that their method of double-strike postmarking mail was time consuming and inefficient

resulting in their introduction of duplex postmarks.

With the increase in business and civilian mail volume by the mid- 1890s, still more expeditious mail handling was needed as recognized in the neighboring

United States of America with their wide introduction of postmarking machinery.

Such motivated the Canadian Post Office to decide to test

and introduce postmarking machinery in their domain.

EXHIBIT This exhibit shows the evolution of experimental, patriotic and early machine

postmarking during Canada’s so-called ‘Golden Age’ 1896-1902:

I. TITLE PAGE Il. FORERUNNER POSTMARKING ll. IMPERIAL MACHINE

(Montreal, Ottawa)

IV. BICKERDIKE MACHINE (Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto)

V. GEARY MACHINE

(Montreal)

Vi. INTERNATIONAL MACHINE (Toronto, Montreal)

Vil. EPILOGUE

TEXT COLOR-CODING

Black: General Information

Blue: Important Notes, Rarity Factors as well as Chapter-Start-Page Headings.

Maroon: Postal Rate Information

Il. FORERUNNER POSTMARKING Double-Strike Hand Cancels 1851- circa 1860

Upon introduction of adhesive postage stamps in Canada in 1851, THE POSTAL AUTHORITIES REQUIRED LETTER MAIL TO HAVE SUCH MAIL

DOUBLE-STRUCK POSTMARKED: Obliterator (concentric rings with/without city reference number) for the postage

and a separate strike with city & date.

. Postmark: 25mm Diameter City & Dater Dial with concentric-ring obliterator initially with subsequent number reference

dedicated to city of origin.

4 DECEMBER 1854

Folded

‘Money Letter’,

postmarked

at Hamilton, Ontario,

sent to

Mount Forrest Post Office,

Guelph, Ontario.

Arrival Marks:

(Reverse)

“Guelph, 5 December 1854”

“Mount Forrest,

6 December 1854”

Three Pence..

Single-Sheet

Money-Letter Rate.

22 AUGUST 1859

Cover, postmarked

at Montreal, sent to

Chambly, Quebec.

Five Cents ..

Domestic

Single-Weight

Letter-Rate.

FORERUNNER POSTMARKING Duplex Hand Cancels First Generation Design

1860 - 1890s

Double-strike postmarking was eventually recognized as time consuming and inefficient by the postal authorities.

WHILE VISITING ENGLAND IN 1859/1860, THE CANADIAN POSTMASTER GENERAL PLACED A PURCHASE ORDER FOR FIFTY-SIX HAND-HAMIMER STAMPERS

with the Berri Company of London for their ‘Duplex Postmarking Stampers’, which had already been used in England for five years.

Postmark: First Generation Duplex Style:

20 mm Diameter City & Dater Dial with concentric-ring

obliterator initially .. with subsequent number reference later inserted & dedicated to city of origin.

Cert. Greene

4 DECEMBER 1860

Folded-letter front,

postmarked

at Quebec, Lower Canada,

sent to

Drummondville (Quebec)

Lower Canada

Ten Cents..

Double-Sheet

Domestic Letier-Rate.

FORERUNNER POSTMARKING Duplex Hand Cancels Second Generation Design

1870s — 1890s

Eventually the heretofore ‘first generation small dater dial’ version of the duplex post markers were altered to have a larger dater dial with enlarged obliterator.

Postmark: Second Generation Duplex Style:

25 mm Diameter City & Dater Dial with oval 13-line

obliterator with subsequent heavy 9-line obliterator with city designation number

10 JULY (1877)

Up-rated Canadian Postal Stationery Cover,

commercial mail cover, postmarked | Lok at Montreal, Canada, ED W. A RD R A YW, Lt NV GS ; Esq.

SADE EY, MANAGING DIRECTOR - a ll Guarantee Company of North America,

MONTREA TI, CANADA,

10 APRIL 1882

Commercial

bank-mail cover,

postmarked at

Angee AJR Com | 7 oronto, Ontario Co Uf, onk 1 Mmtee eta” Chicago, Illinois,

U.S.A.

Three Cenis..

Single-weight letter-rate to U.S.A.

FORERUNNER POSTMARKING ‘Pearson Hill Parallel Motion Hand-Operated

Postmarking Machine

1898

A VERSION OF THE BRITISH MANUFACTURED & WIDELY USED IN BRITAIN

‘PEARSON HILL PARALLEL MOTION’ POSTMARKING MACHINE, possibly mounted with a swivel arm and

referred-to as a ‘Pivot Machine’, WAS TRIED or EVALUATED AT OTTAWAIN 1898.

Postmark: 20mm Diameter City & Dater Dial with round 19-line

obliterator with integrated Number ‘1’.

THE PEARSON HILL Mm PRESS Cha

py: DATE STAMPING MACHINE | SiG ELEWSe TION

hacia ' “

oN py

S S

a en eat maar a a ce

roe ee ee mee ”

\ r \ mee

ee |

a, ae

S- vi = a

a 2 owe

A- UTES Tee eee | Ti

EAST ST LOWSGH. ee. ww? oe

20 MAY 1898

Cover clip, postmarked at Ottawa, probably excised from a cover sent to the United States.

Three Cents..

Single-weight letter-rate to the United States

Only known example.

FORERUNNER POSTMARKING Provisional Flag Cancels

1870s - 1902

Occasionally a Canadian post office might not apply an origin or transit postmark on mail to cancel its postage or indicate transit function

RESULTING IN THE TORONTO POST OFFICE APPLYING A ROLLER-CANCEL OR ARRIVAL-TRANSIT-MARK IN RED-VIOLET COLOR.

Postmark: ‘Unionjack’ Flag Roller-Cancel in series

to cancel postage, or single flag in

hand-stamp indicating “Received” for transit mail.

(Ae eS SRE te ee

8 AUGUST 1878

Canadian Postal Stationery

Card, commercial mail, from Guelph, Ontario,

albeit postage uncancelled,

sent to Hamilton via Toronto

where roller cancel was

applied.

CANADA POST GARD |

THE ADDRESS ONLY TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE. 4 ,

CANADA POST CARD THE ADDRESS TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE

6 FEBRUARY 1901

Canadian Postal Stationery Card,

commercial mail, from Hamilton, Ontario, albeit

postage uncancelled,

sent to Amherstburg via Toronto, where roller cancel was applied.

20 JANUARY 1902 THE ADDRESS TOJBE N ON

Canadian Postal “RE, ar E / y

Stationery Card, 3 QD commercial mail,

postmarked at St. John, New

Brunswick, sent to Amherstburg

via Toronto where

‘Received’ mark was

applied.

One Cent:

Domestic

postcard rate

Ill. IMPERIAL MACHINE First Trial Montreal

10-20 March 1896

INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF MAINE IN 1896, THE ‘IMPERIAL MAIL MARKING COMPANY’,

ESTABLISHED OFFICES IN BOTH BOSTON, U.S.A., AND MONTREAL CANADA, HAVING MACHINES MANUFACTURED BY ‘PRATT & WHITNEY’

OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Because of need to expedite the handling of mail, the Canadian Post Office decided to commence testing the

Imperial Machine at Montreal.

Postmarks applied were patriotic in theme .. initially having line- obliterators followed with patriotic ‘flag’ types.

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with a 7-staggered-line obliterator with “Canada” as centered text.

aN >t '5'T) ——— CANADA ——— Vea

CANADA'S FIRST MACHINE POSTMARK

12 MARCH 1896

Commercial-use Canadian Postal Stationery Card, postmarked

at Montreal, Quebec, sent to Newmarket, Ontario

One Cent..

Domestic Postcard-Rate

Third Day of Postmark Use

IMPERIAL MACHINE Second Trial Montreal

Second Use Period:

23 March - 10 April 1896

THE HERETOFORE 7-STRAIGHT HEAVY LINE BARS OBLITERATOR APPARENTLY REQUIRED TOO MUCH INK ALONG WITH HAVING AN IMPRESSION NOT OFTEN

DRYING BY THE TIME THE MAIL REACHED THE SORTERS, THE MACHINE VENDOR ALTERED THE POSTMARK DIE TO A 6-WAVY THIN-LINE

OBLITERATOR. Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with six (61mm) wavy-line

SUaIRENs with “Canada” as centered text.

23 MARCH 1896

Commercial-use ara RET Y

Canadian Postal - Si "ih

Stationery Card, postmarked at

Montreal, Quebec,

THE ADDRESS TO BS WRIDTer

sent to Toronto, Ontario ei Oe ao eZ

(£2 FID “4

One Cent.. : | 2 y

Domestic Postcard-Rate saa as Ze rL- £ Ea e-

(ay ( —Comt LL Seton Coo 82 st aE ft

First Day of te, COLOR —

Postmark Use

24 MARCH 1896

LTR enn ne “4 > Commercial mail, SAAR 24, 2 ANA Oe Bs Canadian Postal

~ 99-0. | Se “i .$—_ ae Stationery cover, “f= | ~ ee

\ | ny ee oN —_ postmarked 489% a een a Oe rete at Montreal,

= A * sent to Milwaukee,

ee Soe Pa ee Le We om Wisconsin.

‘ (<< = Three Cents .. Domestic a -

PIF Lee _ Weight Letter-Rate

4 tee To U.S.A.

(Valid until 31 December 1898)

GH f= 6 a a. bidics Second Day of

Postmark Use

IMPERIAL MACHINE Adjunct To First Trial Montreal

11-22 April 1896

BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIODS OF TRIAL USE OF THE WAVY-LINE OBLITERATOR POSTMARK,

A PATRIOTIC ‘STRAIGHT JACK’ FLAG POSTMARK WAS APPLIED BY THE TRIAL MACHINE

In view of its being used only eleven days, it is assumed that the postmark was unsatisfactory or in the process of being re-designed.

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with a “straight jack" flag obliterator with “Canada” as centered text.

11 APRIL 1896 AUSTIN & ROBERTSON WHOLESALE STATIONERS,

MONTREAL,

Commercial

cover,

postmarked

at Montreal,

sent to

London, Ontario

Three Cents... Domestic

Single-Weight

Letter-Rate

First Day of

Postmark Use

20 APRIL 1896

Commercial-use Canadian

Postal-Stationery Card, postmarked

sa 5 at Montreal, LA “&) Vi sent to

/ ); UV ' ec Bethiesvile, Quebec.

2 fer (fui ate. | One Cent.. | Domestic

Postcard-Rate

THE ADDRESS TO a IT

IMPERIAL MACHINE Second Trial Montreal

Fourth Postmark Use Period:

22 April- 5 June 1896

UPON COMPLETION OF AN ADJUNCT TRIAL WITH A ‘STRAIGHT JACK’ FLAG

OBLITERATOR POSTMARK, THE SECOND PHASE OF THE HERETOFORE TRIAL (Fourth Postmark Variety)

APPLYING THE 7-WAVY LINE OBLITERATOR CONTINUED.

During the first phase of the trial, the dater-dial “L" of ‘Montreal’ became damaged, now resulting in a “short-footed L" in ‘Montreal’.

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial (SHORT-FOOTED ‘L’ in ‘MONTREAL’ with seven (58mm) wavy-line obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

20 MAY 1896

Commercial cover, postmarked at Montreal,

sent to Coteau Landing, Quebec.

Three Cents.. Domestic Single-Weight Letter-Rate.

Introduction of Machine Two

Montreal

Postmark Use Period:

29 May - 5 June 1896

IMPERIAL MACHINE

APPROXIMATELY 29 MAY 1896, A SECOND IMPERIAL MACHINE BECAME OPERATIONAL

WHERE THE DATER DIAL NOW AGAIN HAD A “LONG-FOOTED L” IN ‘MONTREAL’

22mm Diameter Dater Dial having a long-footed ‘L' In

‘Montreal’ with a seven (58mm) wavy-line obliterator having “Canada” as centered text.

Postmark:

3 JUNE 1896 (Backward “3”)

Commercial cover,

postmarked

at Montreal, sent to

St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.

Three Cents...

Domestic

single. >-Weight

Letier-Rate.

Grand Trunk Railway Company ee D2

(E 2.) of Canada.

ei

4 JUNE 1896

Lady’s cover, postmarked

at Montreal, sent locally.

A g i Mitte One Cent.. Local City/Town

5 4 ’ vet a etter’ Rate. iMeme Vrop ‘Let

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1 thru 6 Montreal ‘Flag A’ (= 1)

Postmark Use Period:

6 June 1896 — 19 June 1897

BY EARLY JUNE 1896, FOUR ADDITIONAL IMPERIAL MACHINES, NOW TOTALING SIX, COMMENCED OPERATION REPLACING ALL PREVIOUS

POSTMARKS, NOW HAVING A PATRIOTIC ‘UNION JACK’ FLAG POSTMARK, WITH EACH MACHINE HAVING A DEDICATED OBLITERATOR DIE

INDICATING A LETTER = ‘A, B, C, D, E, F

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-foofed ‘L’ in

‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag lettered-obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text. +

ai =AUG |

CH8.4

f

Nase” |

DATER DIAL 2.5mm . Sa a aT

LETTERING INITIALLY USED FROM THE FIRST

TRIAL MACHINE APPLYING A SEVEN- LINE OBLITERATOR

30 JULY 1896

inner-city mail

cover,

postmarked

at Montreal,

sent locally

ee ile WoO Cenis ..

If not delivered in Ten Days,

red in epee DATER DIAL 3mm Rae ‘ LETTERING USED

Royal Insurance Co. 1 tee WITH ALL SIX MONTREAL MA gue MACHINES’

A CANADA Nee POSTMARKS qe ij

on , 3 ee ia 8 APRIL 1897

Commercial Wy cover,

Montreal,

AGENT, ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY, ve Simcoe, Ontario.

Three Cents ..

S ! M C O E 3 O nt. Domestic

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1 thru 6 Montreal ‘Flag B’ (= 2)

Postmark Use Period:

9 June 1896-9 July 1897

22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-footed ‘L’ in ‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

Postmark:

DOMESTIC DESTINATION MAIL

TWO STRIKE COVER RESULT OF INCORRECT FACING & MACHINE INFEED BY POSTAL

CLERK

10 APRIL 1897

Cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Monte Bello,

Quebec

Three Cents .. | ‘

Single-weight |

domestic {at

letter- rate ADVERTISING COVER WITH JUBILEE ISSUE

CROWNEXTRALT © FLAVOUR

=

Commercial

ve CEE te oar . postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Yarmouth,

PER Fie delay A nec: paeaeene

Three Cents ..

Domestic

Singie-Weighi

Letter-Rate.

ROBERTGREIG ¢ C MONTREAL.

IMPERIAL MACHINE

DESTINATION: Importers of GERMANY CORKS, CAPSULES, ETC

QUEEN ST. E. Cor. SUMACH

1 SEPTEMBER 1896 TORONTO

Commercial cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent To Offenbach/Main.

Five Cents...

UPU Single-Weight Letter- Rate

. ens” inl cps sa, cn“ tat ee in ae ee at wage

Machines 1 thru 6

Montreal ‘Flag B’ (= 2)

Postmark Use Period:

9 June 1896 - 9 July 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-footed '‘L' in ‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION MAIL

Union 26: shale: ‘hi a

CANA éPAst ean aa 4 :

P. FREYSENG & CO. Manufacturers and

ee

a a eae Ne aa [aaa

( = a ee Sea PTE? DESTINATION:

FRANCE

21 JANUARY 1897

Eg THE ADDRESS ONLY TO BE WRITTEN ONTHIS SIDE. A tier

ws?

Canadian UPU

Postal Stationery Card,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to §. Pol sur Vernoré.

Two Cents..

UPU Postcard

Rate.

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1 thru 6 Montreal ‘Flag C’ (= 3)

Postmark Use Period:

6 June 1896 - 9 July 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-foofed ‘L’ in ‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

21 ST ANTOINE STREET

MONTREAL

DOMESTIC MAIL

12 SEPTEMBER 1896

Commercial cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent To 1

Toronto, Ontario. oronto, Ont.

Messrs The Massey-Herris Co —

Three Cents ..

Domestic

single-weight

letter-rate

an SHORT-PAID/ POSTAGE DUE

mr MAILTO GERMANY

1 MAY 1897

Canadian Postal Stationery Card, postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to ae Pru. to. Ke duis Teta ay, cl a ee teen

Postcard Rate; card

short One Cent na ; resulting in 5 Cents =

10 Pfennig postage due

covering rate upcharge + penalty.

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1 thru 6 Montreal ‘Flag D’ (= 4)

Postmark Use Period:

6 June 1896 — 8 July 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a short-footed '‘L’ in ‘Montreal’ with Union- Jack Flag obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

25 MAY 1897

Commercial cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent To

Coteau Landing, Quebec.

Three Cents..

Domestic

singie-weighi lefter-rate

7 XTICTORIA SOR. 8 JULY 1897

MONTREAL. Commercial

cover, Jubilee-Series

franked,

postmarked at Montreal, sent to

Yarmouth,

Nova Scotia

Three Cents ..

Domestic etm wele casein SIMIC -wWwCmuint

letter-rate.

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1 thru 6 Montreal ‘Flag E’ (= 5)

Postmark Use Period:

6 June 1896 - 21 June 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-footed ‘L’ in ‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

NARROW YEAR DATE VARIETY

8 MARCH 1897

cover, postmarked at Montreal,

sent To

Monte Bello, Quebec.

Three Cents .. Domestic

singie-weighi letter-rate

WIDE &

YEAR DATE a ot & VARIETY c nL og i ol fo] O

pee 17 APRIL 1897 Pus : “on & dp 9 r : Commercial a s f : . wf cover,

0° Kp os f A ward A ft LC a) : ae a postinciried a : s (AA A LA, 7? eitiwy f ft) Montreal, 5 é !

sent to é 0 - m Amherstburg,

aX (Ls Nae A &_A-@Z. St Ah AA ef ae : { ; 8 | Three Cents... ae / Domestic e i single-weight

om

letler-rate.

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1 thru 6 Montreal ‘Flag E’ (= 5)

Postmark Use Period:

6 June 1896 — 21 June 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-footed ‘L’ in ‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION MAIL ENGLAND

29 JUNE 1896

Cover, postmarked at

Montreal, endorsed “via New York”

sent to

Duffield, Derby, England

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse with Offset on Front)

“Derby, 8 July 1896”

cCwea fant rive Cenfs bits

HIDE led st te ate cl UPU International Ct rel Ta) os a 8ngie-wergni

Letier-Kate

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1 thru 6

18 JUNE 1896

Cover, postmarked

at Montreal,

sent To

St, Hyacinthe Quebec.

Three Cents ..

Domestic

singie-weigni leHer-rate

Montreal ‘Flag F’ (= 6)

Postmark Use Period:

6 June 1896 - 18 June 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a short-foofed ‘L’ in

‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag obliterator having “Canada” as centered text.

DOMESTIC DESTINATION MAIL

2 ee ST ee eS SS

7-20)

oOo7 It Ed ED ee. See i

a \ | Eh ets 3

UW ifo oP Des Alig, #

E

24 JULY 1896

Commercial

cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

C. C. Bennet Esq., sent to Vancouver,

British Columbia.

Secretary

Domestic

single-weight

letter-rate.

Mii ]

Montreal & B.C. Prospecting Co.

Vancouver, B.C.

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1 thru 6 Montreal ‘Flag F’ (= 6)

Postmark Use Period:

6 June 1896 - 18 June 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-footed ‘L’ in ‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION MAIL BELGIUM

22 OCTOBER 1896

Canadian UPU Postal Stationery Card,

postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to Anvers (Antwerp), Belgium.

Arrival Postmark: (Front)

“Anvers (Arrival),

3 November, 1896”

Two Cents ..

UPU International

Posicard Rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE

MACHINE 3 = ‘C’

2 JANUARY (1897)

Commercial

cover, postmarked

at Montreal, sent To

Rock Island, Quebec.

Three Cents ..

Domestic

singie-weigni letter-rate

Machines 1 thru 6

Missing Year-Date Variety

Postmark Use Period:

6 June 1896 - 9 July 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-foofed ‘L' in ‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

DOMESTIC DESTINATION MAIL

LIVERPOOL AND | " | INSURAT CSF a zy

HEAD OFFICE, - i

thy AGENT

A, diy ff / iY. X

sl] ~Haed } a,

< sé ;

xX~ecfCanada.

MACHINE 7 = ‘F’

2 JANUARY (1897)

Mourning cover, postmarked at

Montreal,

sent locally.

Two Cenis ..

(inner-city) drop

letter-rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1 thru 6 Reserve Postmark ‘K’

Postmark Use Period:

3-9 September 1896 (7-Day Usage)

No records or reference materials have been found to explain the purpose of the ‘K' Union Jack Postmark!

It is thus assumed by postal historians that it was a reserve die for use when one of the six machine postmarking dies needed replacing.

EXCEPT DURING THE PERIOD OF 3-9 SEPTEMBER 1896, NO OTHER USE IS KNOWN OR HAS BEEN VERIFIED. FOUR EXAMPLES KNOWN

Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-footed ‘L’ in ‘Montreal’ with Union-Jack Flag obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

8 SEPTEMBER 1896

Cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Toronto, Ontario.

Three Cenis..

Domestic single-weight ietter-rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE maces

Union Jack Postmark ‘F’

Temporary Replacement

Usage Period:

30 January - 30 March 1897

FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, MACHINES 6 & 5, HERETOFORE FITTED WITH UNION JACK

DIE POSTMARKS ‘F’ & ‘E’, WERE RESPECTIVELY WITHDRAWN A SHORT PERIOD IN 1897

AND REFITTED WITH THE 1896-USED LINE OBLITERATORS. Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-foofed ‘L’ in

‘Montreal’ with a staggered seven line

obliterator having “Canada” as centered text.

MACHINE ‘6’ ... UNION JACK OBLITERATOR ‘F’

TEMPORARILY REPLACED WITH FORMER SEVEN-LINE OBLITERATOR

. SS —_—_—_——

16 FEBRUARY 1897 aes -

Cover, | S FEB IB CY ooo

Postmarked at I5- -Q C A N AUDA —— =

Montreal, Aes 91 ieee

sent to —

Alexandria,

Ontario. A

Three Cents.. / =

Domestic er 3 /} Yo Ho

od ale

7 4 . ¢

single-eight

letier -rate

18 FEBRUARY 1897

Canadian Postal Stationery

Card,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

jm Mount Bridges, 4 Ontario.

4 One Cant Vy Une Ten..

oo |

/ Vomesiic

ff , a al f Hos a vy ra- rd T e ——— YVolt al

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machine 5 Union Jack Postmark ‘E’ Temporary Replacement

Usage Period:

10 March ~ 6 April 1897

SIMILARLY, AS INITIALLY MACHINE’ 6’, MACHINE ‘5’ (WITH ITS ‘E’ POSTMARK) WAS WITHDRAWN FOR A SHORT PERIOD IN EARLY 1897 AND REFITTED WITH THE

PREVIOUSLY USED WAVY-LINE OBLITERATOR DIE. Postmark: 22mm Diameter dater dial having a long-footed ‘L' in

‘Montreal’ with a uniform straight-edge seven wavy-line obliterator having “Canada” as centered text.

MACHINE ‘5’ ... UNION JACK OBLITERATOR ‘E’ TEMPORARILY REPLACED WITH SEVEN WAVY-LINE OBLITERATOR

5O-11-12-35

If NOT DELIVERED IN 5 DAYS

RETUKN TO

The Canada Paint Co., Ltd. P. O. DRAWER 2293,

Montreal, - - Que.

30 MARCH 1897

Commercial mail cover, posimarked at

Montreal, sent to

Amherstburg, Ontario.

Three Cents... Domestic

single-weight letter-rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE Trial Machine at Ottawa

Union Jack Postmark

Dater Die ‘X’/Unlettered Obliterator

1 April 1896 - 19 June 1897

WHILST MACHINE TRIALS WERE BEING CONDUSTED AT MONTREAL, A TRIAL MACHINE WAS ALSO ALLOCATED TO OTTAWA,

WHERE IT WAS TRIAL- OPERATED UNTIL LATE 1897 APPLYING TWO DIFFERENT DATER DIALS OVER TIME WITH A SINGLE UNLETTERED

UNION-JACK FLAG OBLITERATOR. DATER DIAL ‘X’

* Year in lower arc

* No ‘Canada’

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial ‘X’ with unlettered

Union-Jack Flag Obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

Return to ae

Bank or Monrreat, Orrawa, aN A\ be

If not delivered in Five Days. Cc SEP a ¥

EASTERN TOWNSHIPS BANK,

SPO es EZ IFAM ITAA

ZA ey -

a A ger —UL_£. "

4 SEPTEMBER 1896

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Ottawa,

sent to Stanstead, Quebec.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Stanstead, Que., September 5, 1897”

Three Cents ..

Domestic single-weight

letter-rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE Trial Machine Operation Ottawa

Union Jack Postmark Usages Dater Die ‘X’/Unlettered Obliterator

1 April 1896 - 19 June 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial ‘X’ with unlettered

Union- Jack Flag Obliterator having “Canada” as centered text.

5 NOVEMBER 1896

Cover, postmarked at Ottawa, sent to

Toronto.

Three cents: ; Single-weight

domestic

letter-rate

< 10 OCTOBER 1894

Canadian Postal Stationery

Letter, business mail, postmarked at Ottawa,

sentto

Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Three cents:

Single-weight domestic letter-rate

18 MARCH 1897

Canadian Postal Stationery Card,

postmarked at Ottawa,

sent locally

One Cent..

Domestic

Postal Card Rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE Trial Machine Operation Ottawa

Union Jack Postmark Usages

Dater Die ‘Z’/Unlettered Obliterator 9 August - 28 October 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial ‘Z’ with unlettered

Union-Jack Flag Obliterator having “Canada” as centered text.

DATER DIAL ‘2’

* Year split

*'7’ of “1897” sanserif

* ‘Canada’ in lower arc

9 AUGUST 1897

Canadian Postal

Stationery Card, postmarked at

Ottawa,

sent to Toronto.

One Cent:

Domestic

Postcard Rate a Clove

FIRST DAY USAGE sie

2 OCTOBER 1897

Cover, postmarked

at Ottawa,

sent to Toronto.

Three cents:

Single-weight domestic

letter-rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE Trial Machine Operation Ottawa

Union Jack Postmark Usages

Dater Die ‘Z’/Unlettered Obliterator 9 August — 28 October 1897

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial ‘Z’ with unlettered Union-Jack Flag Obliterator

having “Canada” as centered text.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL-OFFICE MAIL TO SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL USAGE

Ex Bowen & George

23 SEPTEMBER 1897

Embossed ‘Governor General's Office’ Cover, signature validated “David Erstkind” (front), endorsed “via New York”,

postmarked at Ottawa, sent to Brouyhty Ferry, Scotland.

Arrival Postmark: (reverse)

“Dundee 51, October 4, 1897”

Ten Cents:

Double-Weight UPU International Letter-Rate

One of Eleven Ten-Cent-Franked Patriotic Flag Cancels Known

IMPERIAL MACHINE Machines 1, 5 & 6 Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Postmark

5 Strokes = Die 1/ Dater ‘X’

Montreal

Usage Period:

June — July 1897

IN JUNE 1897, IMPERIAL MACHINES 1, 5 & 6 HAVING ‘UNION JACK POSTMARKS’ ‘A’, ‘E’ & ‘F’ WERE WITHDRAWN AND FITTED WITH A NEW FLAG POSTMARK OBLITERATOR HONORING THE ‘JUBILEE OF QUEEN VICTORIA 1837-1897".

Each machine's postmark flag obliterator die (3) could be identified by @s number strokes in the flag furl as well as its dater dial referred here to

‘x’, ‘Y’ and ‘7’.

DATER DIAL ‘x’ DATER DIAL ‘Y’

* Year in lower arc

* No ‘Canada’

* Year split *'7’ of “1897” serifed * ‘Canada’ in lower arc

25 JUNE 1897

‘Jubilee Flag Postmark’ clip having

Dater Dial ‘X’ and Die ‘1’ ‘Five Stroke’ Flag Obliterator.

Use Period:

25-29 June 1897.

Seven examples known

IMPERIAL MACHINE 5 Strokes = Die 1/ Dater ‘Y’ Queen Victoria's Jubilee Postmark

Montreal

DATER DIAL “‘Y’ Usage Period:

* Year spit 21 June — 12 July 1897

*'T of “1897” serifed

* ‘Canada’ in lower arc

2 JULY 1897

Drop-Letter City-Mail Clip Jubilee Issue

IN E V C E N T

Bo

e t

Fe all

!

24 JUNE 1897

Commercial-mail

cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent locally.

2 Cents:

Drop-Letter

City Rate

4

aN MA a 8 JULY 1897 SAVIN es See &

ae Cover, postmarked at

Montreal,

/ ; sent locally.

ee Sh re fea a 2 Cents: Drop-Letter

bao thecterttige

IMPERIAL MACHINE 6 Strokes = Die 2/ Dater ‘xX’

Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Postmark

Montreal DATER DIAL ‘x’

Usage Date: * Year in lower arc 22 June 1897 * No ‘Canada (Tuesday)

NARROW YEAR VARIETY

22 JUNE 1897

Cover, postmarked at Montreal, addressed to

Bristol, England.

3 Cents..

2 Cents Empire Letter-Rate

+ 1 Cent Convenience Franking

One of two examples

known.

WIDE YEAR VARIETY

22 JUNE 1897

Philatelic-inspired cover,

BREAK IN FLAG = POSTMARKED LATER

THAN 22 JUNE

at Montreal.

2 Cents:

Drop-Letter

City Rate

Less than ten covers

known.

IMPERIAL MACHINE 6 Strokes = Die 2/ Dater ‘Z’ Queen Victoria's Jubilee Postmark

Montreal DATER DIAL ‘Z'

Usage Period: Year split 21 June — 10 July 1897 ‘7’ of ‘1897’ sans serif

*

Year in lower are

MAILTO ENGLAND

22 JUNE 1897 Sa 2 a i

Canadian Postal Stationery Card, THE ADDRESS TO BE

postmarked at Montreal, addressed to

Sydenham, Sussex, England. ( : Z > a GL, ra or

2 Cents .. ‘i

United Kingdom lt2121 +4 TOC wide

Postcard-Rate

Ti By

Ts nok

Se —— - —- — _

IF NOT DELIVERED IN 10 DAYS,

RETURN TO DOMESTIC ALEX. McARTHUR & CO., it 8S COMMERCIAL

6 LEMOINE STREET, = JUL 3 Y MAIL MONTREAL, ig 4-0 97 \ i By

Wes 3 JULY 1897 CAN ADS : MYA a ey

, Commercial mail ve ee 7 cover, ( Oten-s 2arel -~ VY Cz postmarked at

= Montreal sent to Charlottetown,

Ok, Prince Edward

Lat island : : 3 Cents:

on. 2 WY Domestic

single-weight

letter-rate.

IMPERIAL MACHINE 7 Strokes = Die 3/ Dater ‘Y’ Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Postmark

Montreal

Usage Period:

20 & 29 June 1897

The 7 STROKES = DIE 3 OBLITERATOR WITH DATER DIAL ‘Y’ type ‘Queen Victoria Jubilee Postmark’ is only known on philatelic-inspired mail.

DATER DIAL ‘Y"

* Year spiit 2 ‘7 of ‘1897' with serif

* Year in lower arc

20 JUNE 1897

Philatelic -inspired cover,

postmarked at Montreal

1 Cent: Domestic

Drop-letter (non-carrier office) letter-rate.

One of nine examples known either postmarked June 20 or 29.

IMPERIAL MACHINE 7 Strokes = Die 3/ Dater ‘X’ Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Postmark

Montreal ATER DIAL ‘X'

_ Usage Period:

* Year in lower arc 21 June — 10 July 1897 * No ‘Canada’

FIRST DAY USE

21 JUNE 1897

Registered

business mail cover,

postmarked at

Montreal, sent locally.

7 Cents..

Registered letter-

rate (2 Cents + 5 Cents

Registry)

Only registered drop-letter

business mail

example known.

XiRA eee SUILIO Tc

i0-—0 LAST DAY USE

10 JULY 1897

Cover, : LEE joes postmarked at

‘ : Montreal, VIS 5 Uy es Y, } ee sent locally.

2 Cents: Drop-Letter City Rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE 7 Strokes = Die 3/ Dater ‘xX’ Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Postmark

Montreal

Usage Period:

21 June - 10 July 1897

es a

\ "

S M A ?

SS

PRINTED MATTER Ze CIRCULAR LY Z

3 JULY 1897 Uy. (Double Strike) Se |

Unsealed cover (circular enclosure),

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Halifax, Nova Scotia.

1 Cent:

Domestic circular c ee © mail rate. o s

A

FREE-FRANK Sete eee ee | oe a TR DERE AWD NYA OFFICIAL CUSTOMS OFFICE et eee Ve ae . NOTIFICATION

|7-—0 A ke Ee WSR WLR Ae 5 JULY 1897

Notification of parcel arrival with duty applicable.

Postmarked at Montreal,

sent locally.

Arrival Postmark: (front)

‘“ MT,

5 July 1897”

Only known use example.

IMPERIAL MACHINE 7 Strokes = Die 3/ Dater ‘x’

Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Postmark Montreal

Usage Period:

21 June - 10 July 1897

DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL MAIL USAGE

30 JUNE 1897 Dominion Button Works, Frank E. MeKyes & Ca.,

puss ice 436-430-440 VISITATION STREET, cover, postmarked at pea aaah tae

Montreal,

sent to

St. Hyacinthe,

Quebec. a

Anival Postmark: We ee YL (Reverse)

“St Hyacinthe, 1 July 1897” ra HK ae

Rite RE Pees

SAA VA aX Wo . we SS YAS CAE) ER ASHES. Se rn SS SOR ew %) AN \ 6 JULY 1897

}

Ve

een ees Ein. komm Net Business mail

cover,

_ postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Truro,

Nova Scotia.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Truro,

J NAAM 7 July 1897”

3 Cents:

Domestic single-weight letter-rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE ARRIVAL POSTMARK ‘X’ Standard Postal Stationery Card

Montreal

Usage Period:

29 May 1896 - 7 August 1897

IN ADDITION TO POSTMARKING OUT-GOING MAIL AT MONTREAL, ONE TO THREE OF THE SIX OPERATIONAL MACHINES ALSO APPLIED THEIR

RESPECTIVE DATER DIAL (‘X’, ‘Y’ & ‘Z”) WITHOUT OBLITERATOR TO ARRIVING MAIL. AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THEIR OPERATIONAL FUNCTION

AT MONTREAL. Postmark:

22mm Dater Dial without ‘Canada’ text

TYPE ‘X’

ARRIVAL POSTMARK

12 JUNE 1896

Canadian Standard Postal Stationery Card commercial mail,

postmarked at Brockville, Ontario, sent to Montreal.

1 Cent.. Domestic Postcard-Rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE ARRIVAL POSTMARK Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Postal Card

Montreal

Usage Period:

21 June - 10 July 1897

TYPE ‘Y’ |

ARRIVAL POSTMARK

6 JULY 1897

Canadian Postal

Stationery Card

commercial mail, postmarked

at Leamington, sent to Montreal.

1 Cent..

Domestic

Postcard-Rate |

‘T in ‘1897' without serif

TYPE ‘Z’ ARRIVAL POSTMARK

9 JULY 1897

Canadian Postal Stationery Card commercial mail,

postmarked at Apple Hill,

sent to Montreal. + ot 1 Cent..

} aX pt fps Domestic WL GFP LOO — Postcard-Rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE Testing of the “Boston” Machine

Montreal

Postmark Use Period:

10 March 1899 - 28 June 1900

Concurrent with use of Bickerdike Machines at Montreal replacing the worn Imperial Machines,

THE MONTREAL POST OFFICE INDEPENDENTLY EXPERIMENTED MORE THAN YEAR

WITH A UPDATED VERSION OF THE IMPERIAL MACHINE, REFERENCED IN POSTAL FILES AS THE ‘BOSTON’ MACHINE

supplied by the American Postal Machines Company at Boston, Massachusetts, successor company to the Imperial Mail Marking Company of Montreal & Boston.

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial having a long-footed ‘L’ in

‘Montreal’ with a seven (58mm) wavy-line obliterator having “Canada” as centered text.

eS in 10 Days to

Tee MONTREAL er Cf

12 SEPTEMBER 1899

Commercial

advertising cover, postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Toronto, Ontario

Two Cents: | . Toronto Lithographing Co.

ouee where Cor. King and Bathurst Streets,

TORONTO, Ont.

14 JUNE 1900

PRIVATE PARK RRR: SS oe ary —. - “ale ommerciadil mai

Friedman Bros. a i ny) postmarked at “ES Montreal,

; sent to Amherstburg,

Ontario.

MONTRHAT.

Arrival Postmark: (Front)

“Amherstburg,

June 15, 1900”

One Cent: Domestic

posicard-rate.

IMPERIAL MACHINE 6 Strokes = Die 2/ Dater ‘Z’

EX Alp Queen Victoria's Jubilee Postmark Crcr 207) DATER DIAL ‘7 Ottawa

187-0 FF ia N pO a

Year split Usage Period:

* ‘Canada’ in lower arc

‘7’ of 1897 sanserif 21 June — 7 August 1897

MAILTO U.S.A.

AN 29 J U NE ] 897 Su we ~ . | ; SA :

wy WA

Wt \\ \\ \ NN AAI VAY

Commercial mail

cover,

postmarked i at Ottawa Yq

sent to St. Paul, Minnesota.

| 4 © Cens..

Single-weight letter-rate to U.S.A.

(valid until CANADA ATLANTIC RAILWAY CO. AY ~ 2 . if l

31. December 1898) OTTAWA, CANADA.

E. 1, !

ttt SS —.

e TRANSIT JUBILEE eZ POSTMARK USE

Zt 8 JUNE 1897 iz

Cover, postmarked at Moncton, New

Brunswick, 6 July 1897, sent to Ottawa,

re-directed with transit

postmark at Ottawa to Truro,

Nova Scotia

rt J 4

3 Cents:

sngie-weigni

Namneti Vomestic

letier-rate

IMPERIAL MACHINE 6 Strokes = Die 2/ Dater ‘2’

Queen Victoria's Jubilee Postmark Ottawa

Usage Period:

21 June - 7 August 1897

OFFICIAL MAIL ..

CANADIAN GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DEPARTMENT

13 JULY 1897

“On Her Majesty's Service” cover,

validated by

“G.M. Dawson”, postmarked

at Ottawa sent to

London, England.

~

A O S

lag

n s

i

i it y

¥ 1 }

Al

fi ;

Ae

Ip

ty

Uh

ir

i t y

Arrival Postmark: (reverse)

“London,

July 24, 1897”

10 Cents:

Double-Weight

UPU International

Letter-Rate

One of Eleven 10-Cent-Franked

Patriotic Flag Cancels Known.

IMPERIAL MACHINE 6 Strokes = Die 2/Dater ‘Z’ Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Postal Card

Ottawa

Usage Period:

21 June - 7 August 1897

5 JULY 1897

Canadian Postal Stationery Card

commercial mail, postmarked at Ottawa, sent locally.

Domestic

Postcard-Rate

3 AUGUST 1897

Canadian Postal

Stationery Card commercial mail,

postmarked

at Ottawa, sent to Montreal.

Bickerdike Trial

Machine Arrival

Postmark

1 Cent..

Domestic

Postcard-Rate

IV. BICKERDIKE MACHINE First & Second Trials Montreal

Trial |: 2-8 December 1896

Trial ll: 28 December 1896 -

3 January 1897

Martin Ethridge, designer of the Imperial Machine, developed a new postmarking machine, superior in function to the Imperial, the ‘8/CKERDIKE’ (named after his

financier ‘Robert Bickerdike’), which he, along with John Brooks Young, patented in

Canada, the United States and Great Britain in 1896. To manufacture the machine, a new company was formed, the Canadian Postal Supply Company.

THE ‘BICKERDIKE’ WAS OFFERED TO THE CANADIAN POST OFFICE IN 1896 WITH SUCCESSFUL TESTING CONDUCTED BY THEM IN DECEMBER 1896.

are 0 \

2 0EC 29° ig-— 0

eae?

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

FIRST TRIAL McChENNA THOMSON 6 SO. (JAMES O'BRIEN & CO.,)

2 DECEMBER 18946 WHOLESALE CLOTHING,

MONTREAL.

Commercial cover, postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to Amhurstburg,

Ontario.

First Day Trial Usage

One of Nine

Examples Known

SECONDTRIAL

wai FINE OVE pevane es pen y Fe 30 DECEMBER 1896 MONTREAL. VA Se

ns : ; a Commercial

cover,

postmarked at

Montreal, o. f/ Ofc iv sent to

=3 Rock Island, f Quebec

Third Day Trial

Cs ; 2 Usage

f One of Five

Examples

Three Cents... Known

Domestic Single-Weight Letter-Rate.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Decommissioning of ‘Imperial Machines’

Montreal

Jubilee Postmark Type II

Commercial Use Period:

10-15 July & 17 July

ON 10 JULY 1897, THE HERETOFORE OPERATIONAL ‘IMPERIAL MACHINES’ WERE DECOMMISSIONED AND REPLACED BY SIX NEW ‘BICKERDIKE MACHINES’, WTH ONE MACHINE AT MONTREAL APPLYING A ‘JUBILEE FLAG’ AND FIVE OTHERS

APPLYING AN INVOLUTE ‘STANDARD FLAG’ OBLITERATOR.

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’, Crown & ‘1837 — 1897 V.R’, in text.

Fiz a ee ee —

BARNARD & HOLLAND, 13 JULY 1897 COMMISSION MERCHANTS AND IMPORTERS

Commercial

cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Brampton, BOARD of TRADE BUILDING,

Ontario. MONTREAL

Arrival

Postmark: (Reverse) Messrs. Kirkwood Bros. ;

“Brampton,

July 14, 1897 Brampton,

15 JULY 1897

Commercial

cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Brockville,

Ontario.

Arrival

Postmark: (Reverse)

“Rockville, July

15, 1897” Three Cents ...

Domestic Single-Weight Letter-Rate. Two of eleven examples known

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Decommissioned ‘Imperial Machines’ Ottawa & Montreal

Jubilee Postmark Type II!

Use Period:

Montreal: 13 April 1897 - 18 April 1898

Ottawa: 30 October 1897 - 2 March 1898

TWO NEW BICKERDIKE MACHINES BECAME OPERATIONAL AT OTTAWA, ONE OF WHICH APPLIED A ‘JUBILEE’ OBLITERATOR. ONE MACHINE AT EACH MONTREAL &

OTTAWA APPLIED THE NEW THIRD-STYLE ‘JUBLILEE’ POSTMARK,

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag obliterator having ‘1837 V.R. 1897’ text.

OTTAWA

11 NOVEMBER 1897

Cover,

postmarked at Ottawa,

sent to

Montreal,

Quebec.

Arrival

Postmark: (Reverse)

“Montreal,

November 11,

1897”

Ex Bomar & Puls

=

. a ne

(uimereo) 385 & 388 St, James STREET,

MCNTREAL.

20 -O

(8Q2

FROM

THE MONTREAL NEWS COMPANY =

O & MONTREAL

15 APRIL 1898

Commercial

cover,

postmarked

at Montreal,

Messrs Ts. C. Allen & CO, sent to

Halifax,

Halifax ‘ Nova Scotia.

Arrival N. S. Postmark:

(Reverse)

“Halifax,

April 18, 1898”

Only known example.

Three Cents .. Domestic Single-Weight Letter-Rate.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Unfinished Flag Postmark

Ottawa & Montreal

Use Period:

Ottawa: 30 October 1897 - 19 March 1898 Montreal: 13-18 April 1898

THE ‘UNFINISHED FLAG’ POSTMARK WAS USED ALTERNATELY AT BOTH OTTAWA AND MONTREAL

in those new Bickerdike Machines

which were applying the Jubilee Postmark at each location, most probably as a reserve postmarking die

during cleaning or maintenance of the latter die.

OTTAWA

2 NOVEMBER 1897

‘Supreme Court

of Canada’

embossed

cover,

postmarked at Ottawa, sent to

Toronto,

Ontario.

Arrival

Postmark: (Reverse)

“Toronto,

November 3,

1897”

EE —K—Le - rie

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute unfinished-end flag obliterator

having ‘Canada’ text.

MONTREAL

14 APRIL 1898

Commercial

cover,

postmarked

at Montreal,

sent to

Amburstburg,

Ontario.

Arrival

Postmark: (Reverse)

“Ambhursiburg,

April 15,1898”

Only Known

Example

Three Cents ..

Domestic Single-Weight Letter-Rate.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute ‘Standard’ Flag Obliterators Montreal

Six Machine Operation

BY MID-1897, SIX BICKERDIKE MACHINES WERE OPERATIONAL AT MONTREAL WITH THREE DIE STYLES OF

FLAG OBLITERATORS IN USE BETWEEN 1897-1902

Flag Die-Style |: involute Flag

Without Indicia / Machine Number Distinguishable by Flag Characteristic

(© David Sessions)

(July 1897 — April 1898)

Height of ‘N’ of ‘CANADA’

Vertical line centered on “A’ or shifted to the right?

Two vertical lines centered on ‘A’ or shifted to the left? Does angular line coincide with vertical line below?

Does angular line bisect corner?

Does angular line coincide with vertical line below?

Relationship of line closing second furl to vertical line above,

i.e. central, shifted to the left or to the right?

8. Width of first segment of second furl.

e a

e y

Ss

Flag Die-Style II: Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia:

(April 1898 - March 1902)

Flag Die-Style Ill: Barred Involute Flag

With Indicia:

(January 1900 - March 1902) indicia ‘A’ thru “E’ located here

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style I, Machine |

Montreal

Usage Period:

10 July 1897 - 12 April 1898

Flag Die-Style |

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute

flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

sanenaind int q oe pets ls

TRE Ks ae “yu 13 ©

MAIL TO SCOTLAND

c a

Q © a o

13 JULY 1897

Cover,

Postmarked at ie Mg Montreal, e S Chen.

Sent to Ate @/)

Dumbarton, Scotland. 1

Five Cents: '

UPU International }

Single-Weight

Letter-Rate j

~ R ,

" _ i oe _

MONTREAL

EXHIBITION

ADVERTISING COVER

(Show Duration: 19-28 August

1897)

3 AUGUST 1897

Commercial

mail cover,

postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

St. Johns, Newfoundland

|QTH-28TH | sil | | Three Cents: Domestic AEA =

Single-Weight Letter-Rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style |, Machine 2

Montreal

Usage Period:

12 July 1897 -— 14 April 1898

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute

flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

MONTREAL CITY DROP-LETTER

22 SEPTEMBER 1897

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent locally.

Two Cents: Inner-City Drop

Letter-Rate INTERNATIONAL

MAIL GERMANY

21 DECEMBER 1897

Up-rated

Canadian Postal Stationery Card, postmarked at

Montreal, sent to

Berlin, Germany

Two Cents:

UPU International

Postcard-Rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style |, Machine 3

Montreal

Usage Period:

16 July 1897 - 7 April 1898

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute

flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

COMMERCIAL MAIL

DOMESTIC te RETURN IN 5 DAYS '

CANADA =f re

8 OCTOBER 1897

Commercial

mail cover,

postmarked

at Montreal, sent to

Owen

Sound,

Ontario

ssrse J. Mcbaucnlan & Son

Owen Sound, Ont.

Three Cents:

Domestic single- weight Ad RELA NS

letter-rate Weumeren e in Sts.

MONTREAL.

MAILTO U.S.A.

24 JANUARY 1898

Up-rated

registered Canadian Postal

Stationery Cover,

postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Boston,

Massachusetts

Ten Cents:

3 Cents ..

letter-rate

+ 5 Cents

registration fee

+ 2 Cents

Convenience

franking

BICKERDIKE MACHINE

2 AUGUST 1897

Commercial

mail cover,

postmarked

at Montreal,

sent to

St. Catherines,

Ontario 7

Three Cents:

Domestic

single-weight letter-rate

Involute Flag Without Indicia

Flag Die-Style |, Machine 3 Montreal

Usage Period:

16 July 1897 -7 April 1898

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute

flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL MAIL

THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, or canapa, tnnzep I 43 TO 49 COTE STREET, TR

fies

MONTREAIL> AUG 2 ie

Daeg CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO.

Quy

INNER-CITY MONTREAL

3 DECEMBER 1897

Canadian Postal Stationery Card, postmarked at

Montreal, sent locally

One Cent:

Domestic

postcard rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style 1, Machine 4

Montreal :

Usage Period:

10 July 1897 - 14 April 1898

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute

flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

COMMERCIAL MAIL

STANDARD FLAG POSTMARK

24 SEPTEMBER 1897

Commercial

mail cover, postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Three Cents:

USA-Bound

Single-Weight Letter-Rate

INVERTED FLAG OBLITERATOR

23 DECEMBER 1897

Canadian Postal

Stationery Card, postmarked at

Montreal, sent to

Vancouver,

British Columbia.

One Cent: Domestic postcard

rate

Ex Puls & Bomar

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style |, Machine 5

Montreal

Usage Period:

12 July 1897 - 12 April 1898 ©

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL MAIL

; oot ee

19 JULY 1897 DOMINION BAG Co..L?

Commercial

mail cover, a ht

postmarked at A

Montreal, sent to

Charlottetown,

Prince Edward Island i

Three Cents:

Domestic -

single-weight 2 letter-rate f

| t | re oes as Sia . |

Mitac adsense, Ae ee ec LS ee 1, a

MCNAUGHTON, — PRES A) Jay \ 1, —-274ULY 1897

" . | Commercial | postcard,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to Buckingham,

Quebec.

One Cent:

Domestic

postcard rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style |, Machine 5

Montreal

Usage:

25 September 1897

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with inverted involute

flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

INVERTED FLAG OBLITERATOR

Robert C men TPR

SHIRTS“ OVBERA 108 McGILL stTREET!Oo ~

- ™ tree

ee

| CHOW OWER ALL."

Ex Puls & Bomar

25 SEPTEMBER 1897

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Kemfstville, Ontario

Three Cents:

Domestic

single -weight letter-rate

Only Known Example.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style |, Machine 6

Montreal |

Usage Period:

12 July 1897 - 15 April 1898

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute

flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

GQ As)) (as. ay 1g Io

& —aRNINIO DAYS je ern VO a

a Pee eee re eer Le

a CG ISTIE,

COMMERCIAL MAIL ewe) mel eas in

‘MONTREALOFFICE, 31 JULY 1897 264 ST CHARLES BORROMEE ST

Commercial

mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

= Nite St, let Quebec. a /

Three Cents:

Domestic

single-weight letter-rate

HOTEL COVER TO U.S.A.

16 AUGUST 1897

Hotel advertising cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Hoosick Falls,

New York

Three Cents:

Single-weight letter-rate

to U.S.A.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style I, Machine 6

Montreal

Usage Period:

12 July 1897 - 15 April 1898

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute

flag obliterator having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

INTERNATIONAL MAIL

MAILTO GERMANY

23 NOVEMBER 1897

Commercial

mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Goethen,

Germany.

Five Cents:

UPU

Single-Weight international

Letter-Rate MAILTO ENGLAND

12 JANUARY 1898

Cover,

postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Liverpool,

England

Ten Cents:

UPU

International

Double-Weight

Letter-Rate.

One of Eleven

10-Cent-

Franked Patriotic

Flag Cancels

Known

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machine 1

Montreal

Usage Period:

15 April 1898 - 14 November 1899

COMMENCING MID-APRIL 1898, THE ‘MONTREAL BICKERDIKE MACHINES'POSTMARK CANCELLING DIES WERE MODIFIED |

TO NOW INCLUDE TWO HEAVY BARS SPANNING THE INVOLUTE FLAG OBLITERATORS, AS REQUESTED BY THE POSTAL AUTHORITIES TO IMPROVE

POSTAGE CANCELLATION.

MAILTO U.S.A.

18 JUNE 1898

‘Private Postcard’,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Grand Rapids,

Michigan.

Gne Cent:

Private postcard-

rate to U.S.A.

that Braved a,

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator without indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

PRIVATE

POST CARD

DOMESTIC = arr 1 aA <P COMMERCIAL

—-s =A 23 srteh a8 > ‘ Ub 28 § 24 AUGUST 1899

/g892 Cover, 7 ": postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Yarmouth,

Nova Scotia.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Yarmouth, N.S.,

26 August 1899”

Two Cents: Domestic

letter-rate,

effective 1

January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machine 3

Montreal

Usage Period: 15 April 1898 - 16 January 1900

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator without indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

MAIL TO FRANCE ) POST GARD iiss

| _ UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION Te OS 8 DECEMBER 1898 Dag tee

Canadian UPU THE ADDRESS ONLY Too

Postal Stationery COTE ENTE SO Card,

postmarked at

=. | AY fig tl Two Cents: | | J : Aen Je. es! he

UPU International

Postcard-Rate

DOMESTIC

COMMERCIAL MAIL

27 JUNE 1899

Privately-printed Canadian Postal Stationery Card

postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Coteau Landing, Quebec.

One Cent:

Domestic

postcard-rate.

THE LAING provision CO., MONTREAL,

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style li, Machine 3

Montreal

Usage Period:

15 April 1898-16 January 1900

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute flag obliterator without indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

DOMESTIC BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL MAIL

Jiupon, Mesert § fae,

MAILTO MONTREAL, NEW BRUNSWICK CANADA,

PROVINCE

15 JULY 1899

Cover, Le

postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Moncton, New

Brunswick.

VIVRE .

ee ) AUC \Os 4 MAILTO

13 =O } ONTARIO

10 AUGUST 1899

Mr, W. A. Andersen Canadian Postal Stationery

(Asst. Prev. Tax Cellector) Cover, postmarked at

Terente Montreal, sent to

Ontarie Toronto, Ontario.

Two Cents: Domestic single-weight letter-rate, effective 1 January 1899

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machine 4

Montreal

Usage Period:

16 April 1898 -20 February 1900

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator without indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

FOREIGN-BOUND MAIL

MAILTO SCOTLAND

22 MAY 1898

Up-rated Jubilee Postal Card,

postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Edinburgh, Scotland.

Two Cents:

UPU international

Postcard-Rate

MAILTO

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA EATR

> NOV 23 23 NOVEMBER

i9 -9 1898

f 899 Commercial

mail cover,

postmarked at

Messrs.R.G.Pun & Co., Montreal, sent to

: Albany, ALBANY TY. New York.

8 Az Three Cents: Single-weight letter-rate,

valid until

31 December

1898

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machine 5

Montreal

Usage Period: 14 April 1898 - 28 March 1900

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator without indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

DOMESTIC POSTCARD-RATED MAIL

INVERTED OBLITERATOR

PRIVATE POST CARD.

4 AUGUST 1898

Commercial postcard mail,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to Hales, Ontario

One Cent: | BELL TELEPHONE CO. Homesiic

posicard-rate

Local Manager,

Earliest Known

Use; Less than five known.

STANDARD FLAG | OBLITERATOR

VERE coos GAT c 3 NOVEMBER SVG K UVR ain Me work yah ie let \ \ \ ie ioe 1898 fre apeee! WM \ TRS sata

5. A Monta |) | eens Privately - with e; INi/22% x a foe ear 2 produced

nent you buy from us This. is the Salesma: advertising mail ; 3m card,

THE SPACE BELOW IS RESERVED FOR ADDRESS ONLY. postmarked at Montreal,

SALESMAN sent to Ae wl th ; Knowlton,

WHO Will Se your goods b c.

F.P. Williams Esq. aueke

Knowlton, Que ‘ One Cent:

Domestic

postal card

circular-rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machine 5

Montreal

Usage Period:

14 April 1898 - 28 March 1900

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator without indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

UNITED STATES-BOUND MAIL

25 OCTOBER 1898

Double-strike ) 12 aa cover, 2Oey

postmarked at

Montreal, 0 of ? pA sent to vo SQ. ) 4 J j Fabius, fe ral A de. ef ni ae ee r

New York. ? \ ] {) ‘

Three Cents: U.$.A.-Bound

single-weight letter-rate,

valid until

31 December

1898.

24 FEBRUARY 1899

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Southampton,

Connecticut.

Two Cents:

Single-weight

letter-rate to

U.S.A.,

effective

1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machine 6

Montreal

Usage Period:

19 April 1898 - 7 March 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator without indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

COMMERCIAL MAIL TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

L. H. HEBERT,

14 JUNE 1898 Nos 297 & 299, RUE ST-PAUL : MONTREAL,

Commercial

mail

cover, postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

New York City.

14 AUGUST 1899

Commercial

reply-mail

cover, postmarked at

Montreal, sent to

Brooklyn, New York

Reverse:

“Brooklyn, N.Y. RPO

15 April, 1899”

Tras iwo

Single-

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machine 6

Montreal

Usage Period:

19 April 1898 - 7 March 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute flag obliterator without indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

SPECIAL DELIVERY DROP-LETTER MAIL

RETURN TO

‘FirzqipBox, SCHAFHEITLIN & Co. a +h rs MONTREAL, CANADA,, fe

IF NOT DELIVERED WITHIN 5 DAYS, f= a. ee 2a

28 DECEMBER 1899

Commercial mail cover, postmarked at Montreal,

sent special delivery locally

2+ 10 Cents: Single-weight

drop letter (2 Cents)

+ special delivery (10 Cents), effective 1 July 1898.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag Without Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machines 3,5,46

Montreal

1898 Imperial Penny Postage Issue Color Varieties

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator without indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

WORLD'S FIRST CHRISTMAS STAMP

—"~

IF NOT DELIVERED IN THREE DAYS,

PLEASE RETURN TO

BLUE OCEAN aT Ren ‘ a¥,

THE MOLSONS BANK, @ 7 .

16 JANUARY MONTREAL. YAN 16 © 1899 A O

Commercial {89

mail

cover, postmarked at

Montreal, sent to THE NATIONAL SHAWMUT BANK,

Boston, U.S.A. =

BOSTON, MASS.

4. VINEBERC & 0, CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS

“ o& :

MONTREAL-

LAVENDER OCEAN

28 MARCH

yf OO RRGM s4.5

Clement & Clement STREET RAILWAY CHAMBERS AEE

_. " MONTREAL. ocr c= as is IS. =9 on ee

Robert, J, Carson, Esq.,

GRAY OCEAN

6 OCTOBER 1899 Kingston, Ont.

Commercial Mail

Cover,

postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Kingston, Ontario fag ala ri atc . A

Two Cents:

Singie-weight letter-rate for Canada and for mail fo U.S.A., effective 1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Flag Die-Style Ill, Machine 1 = ‘A’

Montreal |

Usage Period:

25 January 1900-7 March 1902

COMMENCING IN JANUARY 1900, THE ORIGINAL SIX ‘MONTREAL BICKERDIKE MACHINES’ HAVING HERETOFORE APPLIED ‘BARRED FLAG POSTMARK OBLITERATORS'

WERE MODIFIED TO INCLUDE INDICIA IN THOSE DIES, ALBEIT ONLY FOUR MACHINES WERE APPLICABLE ..

‘A’, ‘C’,‘D’ & ‘EB’.

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator with indicia

having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

DOMESTIC MAIL

3 AUGUST 1900

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Charlottetown,

Prince Edward

Island.

Two Cents: Domestic

single-weight

letter-rate, effective

1 January 1899.

S. DAVIS & SONS,

BEAVER HALL HILL,

P. O. DRAWER 2307. MONTREAL.

“gm PULL EITHER WIRE. ia~

ceumiiaaecnumeeseecn MAILTO

eS GERMANY

CANADA POSFACK SSEP 23r ‘

THE ADDRESS TO BE WRI TEN (PN HIS 4

23 SEPTEMBER 1900

Up-rated Canada Postal Stationery

Card,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Dresden, Blasewitz.

Arrival Postmark:

“Dresden-Blasewitz,

3 October 1900”

Two Cents:

UPU International

Postcard-Rate.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Flag Die-Style Ill, Machine 3 = ‘C’

Montreal

Usage Period:

8 March 1900 - 7 March 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA' mid-flag.

MAILTO ENGLAND

WITH REDIRECTION

21 MARCH 1901

Cover,

postmarked at Montreal, sent to

Egham with redirection to

London.

Two Cents: ae Empire single- oe —hecee—

weight letter-rate

INNER-CITY MONTREAL

MAIL

6 MARCH 1902

Commercial | mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

Sent locally.

| Two Cents: = Either inner-city

drop-letter rate

ROYAL PAPER MILLS CO. or national | o Single-weight Montreal, P,Q. i ienenle

ae

Barred Involute Flag With Indicia BICKERDIKE MACHINE Flag Die-Style Ill, Machines 3 & 4 = ‘D’ & ‘E’

Montreal .

Usage Periods:

‘D’= 24 April 1900 - 7 March 1902 4 April 1900 - 4 March 1902

‘E’

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

INDICIA‘D’

18 DECEMBER 1901

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal, sent to

Salem, Massachusetts,

U.S.A.

Two Cents: Single-weight

letter-rate for mail = to U.S.A., effective =

1 January 1899. i 4 RE area ES a

INDICIA‘E’

3 JULY 1900

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to Halifax,

Nova Scotia.

Two Cents:

National single-weight

letter-rate.

= ¥

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Flag Die-Style Ill, Machine 2 = ‘B’ ..

Die Replaced with 7-Bar Obliterator Montreal

Usage Period:

3 April - 1 March 1902

Two of the six ‘Montreal Bickerdike Machines’ obliterator dies were not initially fitted with indicia .. Machines 2 & 6 (‘B’ & ‘F’)..

awaiting new obliterator dies to replace the wearing ‘flags’, albeit

‘MACHINE 2’ DID BECOME FITTED EARLY WITH A NEW 7-BAR OBLITERATOR, AS A FORERUNNER OF SIMILAR DIES TO BE INSERTED IN MARCH 1902.

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

—a a CANADA—— seven-bar obliterator with indicia ‘B’ having ‘CANADA’ midway.

19 JUNE 1900

Cover, postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to Newark,

New Jersey, U.S.A.

Two Cents:

Single-weight

letter-rate

for mail to U.S.A.

JAMES ROBINSON, “&40QuU4RTERS

184 &£186 MCGILL ST. Canadian Rubber Co's Shoes. . HUBLESS COR. ST. MAURICE ST,, Maplo Leaf and Toronto Brands of Rewnerowewe

MONTREAL. TR easy ~ POSTMARK BOOTS AND SHOES WHOLESALE, ©ROMPT sHPmeNTS BEpy DIseoUNy. eo

Soe: Ni eee re eter NO DATE

* Commercial advertising-

enclosure mail,

mailed at

Montreal,

17 . . sent to T.H.Ayer & Co. Moncton,

General Store. New Brunswick.

Moncton, NB. ; One Cent:

; National circular

(printed-matter)

rate.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator

Machines 1 & 2 = ‘A’ & ‘B’

Montreal

Usage Periods:

‘A’ = 15 March - 28 October 1902

‘B’ = 12 March - 25 October 1902

AS A RESULT OF WEAR, THE CANADIAN POST OFFICE DECIDED TO REPLACE THE

HERETOFORE FLAG POSTMARK DIES OF THE SIX ‘MONTREAL BICKERDIKE MACHINES’

WITH SEVEN-BAR OBLITERATORS HAVING INDICIA REFLECTING MACHINE NUMBER, including ‘Machine 3’ which had a similar forerunner postmark in use between

April 1900 - March 1902.

Postmark.

CANADA 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with seven-bar obliterator with indicia

b indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

indicia located here

INDICIA ‘A’

18 AUGUST 1902

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent fo

Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

veins —_— a ISOS fon

UG 14 sat | | Fa Fy a \

= =~,

oo aes

Stoo / B oe INDICIA ‘B’

14 AUGUST 1902

Commercial Prvwere LM ¢ MM hefoesan oe” {24 a

Montreal,

sent to

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

U.S.A.

Two Cents: Single-weight letter-rate for mail to U.S.A.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator Machine 3 = ‘C’

Montreal

Usage Period:

12 March - 24 October 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

seven-bar obliterator with indicia indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

COMMERCIAL MAIL

CANADA LINSEED OIL TES ED,

8/6 Notre Dame Stre ee 13 MARCH 1902

MONTREAL, - QUE. <

Commercial mail : cover, O2

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to Halifax, Messrs. A. M. Rell & Co.,

Nova Scotia. Halifax,

Second Day |

of Use He Ss

peor, y Ye,

aii LXV. LD ~ ¥% lS 4uG 2 cy Y 48-—G 4 Rosie Sue taes

‘Se Pye

( ' 2 AUGUST 1902

J f hag Commercial 4 Se Yo mail cover,

“ "A ty EZ sell postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

oe Bridgetown,

" 04 ql A Nova Scotia.

Ja Two Cents: Domestic single-weight letter-rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator Machine 4 = ‘D’

Montreal

Usage Period:

12 March - 29 October 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

seven-bar obliterator with indicia indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

COMMERCIAL MAIL

BARNARD & HOLLAND CO. ee

IR [Sauce 2 \ 19 -O

\ eon oe

MONTREAL,

Myr Wie We ghesley,

Bridgetown, NeSe

21 AUGUST 1902

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

Bridgetown,

Nova Scotia.

Two Cents:

Domestic single-weight letter-rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator Machine 5 = ‘E’

Montreal

Usage Period: 10 March - 25 October 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with seven-bar obliterator with indicia indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

COMMERCIAL MAIL

12 MARCH 1902

Commercial

mail cover, postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Halifax,

Nova Scotia.

Third Day

of Use Return in 10 Days to 3

S : Ww! IN

apt APL 174)

LG oe 17 APRIL 1902

Oe Commercial

= GAZETTE BUILDING. mail cover, (¥ hr postmarked at

SS” Messrs Ge A. Holland @ Son, Montreal, E sent

locally. Ste Catherine Ste,

Citye

Two Cents: Domestic single-weight letter-rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator Machine 5 = ‘E’

Montreal

Usage Period:

10 March — 25 October 1902

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

seven-bar obliterator with indicia indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

HUBLESS UNDATED POSTMARK PRINTED-MATTER COMMERCIAL MAIL

iF NOT CALLED FOR IN TEN DAYS

RETURN TO

E

Me ~ S) Ja UL

ae ne ry tf ; 7

DATE UNKNOWN

Commercial mail cover

with

circular or printed-matter enclosure,

sent from Montreal, to

Black Point, New Brunswick.

One Cent:

Domestic single-weight

cover with a

circular/printed-matter enclosure.

Less Than Five Examples Known

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator Machine 6 = ‘F’

Montreal

Usage Period:

11 March - 30 October 1902

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

seven-bar obliterator with indicia indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

30 MAY 1902

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to

London, Ontario.

~~ MONTREAL 15 AUGUST 1902

|

) Hotel cover, . Me . | postmarked at | Wnadal? Orn mand erry, } : Montreal,

- 9 ) sent to | . ; She Waco len" ! Campton, . Ay Con New Hampshire,

on. U.S.A. tb.

) ‘W, S.@,

| ~

Two Cents: Canada-Domestic & U.$.A.-Bound-Mail single-weight letter-rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Arrival Postmarks

Montreal

Usage Period:

1897 - 1902

During their operation at the Montreal Post Office,

ONE OR MORE BICKERDIKE MACHINES WERE CONVERTED FROM APPLYING ORIGIN POSTMARKS TO OUT-BOUND MAIL TO APPLYING

ONLY THE DATER DIAL AS AN ARRIVAL OR SERVICE POSTMARK TO INBOUND MAIL.

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial

COMMERCIAL POSTAL STATIONERY USE

19 JULY 1897

Canadian Postal ‘Jubilee’ card,

postmarked at Prescott, Ontario,

sent to Montreal.

Se al

ab

t i t a n s

lia n

i e

hi d e e d

31 JULY 1897

| , 4 Canadian postal

stationery card, big ¢ - _ postmarked at South

| 4 g DU 7 = Ye Sie | Lancaster, Ontario

“- o ee L A x | sent to Montreal.

11 JANUARY 1899

Canadian postal stationery card,

postmarked at

Whitby, Ontario

sent to Montreal.

One Cent:

Domestic

postcard-rate.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag with Indicia Machine 1 = ‘G’

Ottawa

Usage Period:

29 March 1898 -— 4 March 1902

Initially the Ottawa Post Office received one Bickerdike Machine alternately | applying ‘Jubilee Flag’ and ‘Unfinished Flag’ Postmarks between |

October 1897 — 19 March 1898.

IN APRIL 1898, THOSE POSTMARKING DIES WERE REPLACED BY A | BARRED INVOLUTE FLAG POSTMARK, SIMILAR TO THOSE USED

AT MONTREAL, TORONTO & HAMILTON.

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

barred involute flag obliterator with indicia

‘G' indicating ‘CANADA' mid-flag.

‘G’ Indicia Located Here

RETUAN IN 8 DAYS TO

KIDD & FORWARD

8 JUNE 1898 BARRISTERS * a Ww

SOLICITORS, NOTARIES, ETC. Commercial OTTAWA, CANADA gh 3

mail cover,

postmarked Ve 9 ef

at Ottawa, =

sent to

Toronto,

Ontario.

Assistant Commissioner of Crown Lands,

ier on 6.0,

On t a rio,

7 OCTOBER 1898

Lady’s cover,

postmarked at 4 Ottawa,

Miresote sent to Ya Fees Be . St. Paul, Minnesota,

U 5, Erase ; U.S.A.

Three Cents: Canada-Domestic & U.S.A.-Bound-Mail

single-weight letter-rate

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag with Indicia Machine 1 = ‘G’

Ottawa

Usage Period: 29 March 1898 — 4 March 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute flag obliterator with indicia ‘G’

indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

HUBLESS UNDATED POSTMARK PRINTED-MATTER COMMERCIAL MAIL

* IN TEN DAYS RETUAN TO

CHAS, N. ROBERTSON, P. O. BOX 464,

OTTAWA, . ONT

PROBABLE MAILING DATE: 17 MARCH 1900

Canadian Postal Stationery Cover with circular or printed-matter enclosure,

sent from Ottawa to

Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Yarmouth, March 20, 1900”

One Cent: Domestic single-weight cover

with a circular/printed-matter enclosure

Less Than Five Examples Known

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator Without Indicia Machine 2

Ottawa

Usage Period:

4 June 1898 — 26 February 1902

IN EARLY JUNE 1898, THE OTTAWA POST OFFICE RECEIVED A SECOND BICKERDIKE MACHINE, WHOSE OBLITERATOR DIE WAS ‘SEVEN-BARS WITHOUT INDICIA’.

Positmaric

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

ame CANADA — seven-bar obliterator without indicia indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

COMMERCIAL MAIL TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

EARLIEST KNOWN DATE _ cate D FOR iy,

9 6 2 RETURNTO % GOL Eee

4 JUNE 1898 BRONSONS& WESTON LUMBERCO,,

Commercial mail s, (LIMITED) 7

cover, OF rawa.O*" postmarked at

Ottawa, sent to

Painted Post,

New York, U.S.A.

Three Cents: i Single-weight Chas. Weston, Esq.,

rari | | Painted Post, N.Y. valid until

31 December

1898

18 MARCH 1899

Commercial mail, re-rated Canadian

Postal Stationery Cover,

postmarked at

Ottawa,

sent to Hoosick Falls, New

York,

U.S.A.

Two Cents:

; Single-weight letter- % rate for mail to

——Bt01ZF. U.S.A., effective ~ 1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator Without Indicia Machine 2 Ottawa

Usage Period:

4 June 1898 — 26 February 1902 Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with seven-bar obliterator without indicia

indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

DOMESTIC & INNER-CITY ‘OTTAWA’ MAIL

13 JUNE 1898

Cover,

postmarked at

Ottawa,

sent to Painted Post,

New York,

U.S.A.

Three Cents:

Single-weight

letter-rate

wad ee Orv‘ AL. ot, ferns Ze

31 December 1898

10 FEBRUARY 1899

Lady’s cover,

postmarked at Ottawa,

sent locally.

Two Cents:

Domestic single-weight .

letter-rate, effective

1 January 18979.

13 OCTOBER 1899

Commercial mail, re-rated Canadian

Postal Stationery Cover,

postmarked at

Ottawa,

sent locally.

Two Cents:

Domestic single-weight letter-rate,

effective

1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator With Indicia Machines ‘1’ & ‘2’

Ottawa

: , Usage Period: In replacement of the heretofore barred involute flag ‘A’= 16 March — 1 November 1902 and ‘seven-bar obliterators without indicia’ in Ottawa- ‘B’ = 6March-11 November 1902

operational ‘Bickerdike Machines 1 & 2’,

THE OTTAWA POST OFFICE COMMENCED USE OF Postmark: SEVEN-BAR OBLITERATORS WITH INDICIA ‘A’ & ‘B’ 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

FOR NINE MONTHS IN 1902. seven-bar obliterator with indicia indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

‘A’ INDICIA

11 AUGUST 1902

Cover,

postmarked at

Ottawa, sent to

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

U.S.A.

an : i aa 20 MARCH 1902

oS a! 7 Cover, validated a FA, (Lacttph.c official ‘House of

i ma, < 2 ' " . a: ‘ Commons’ Mail,

Pes : Leh ; So... postmarked at

ORES ne Bees Po ee ea é, | Pe sent to Philadelphia, ae . ZG. Sf _ Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

5 “s -

RETURN IN 5 Days To 1

The Ottawa Truss & Surgical Mfg, Go., Limitades ; ‘B’ INDICIA MANUFACTURERS OF Ooct ao

TRUSSES, ELA ae 19 <1 WOCTORES | , ELASTIC STOCKINGS, SUSPENSORIES &.

1902 OFFICE, 145 SPARKS ST,

* CANADA.

pe |

Oe 7 x}

W. W. Stephen, Esq. ,

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at

Ottawa,

sent to Meaford,

Ontario.

ieaford, Two Cents:

Domestic & U.S.A.-

bound single- weight letter-rate,

effective

1 January 1899, ELASTIC HOSIERY

A SPECIALTY, —

Ont.,

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag With Indicia Flag Die-Style |, Machines 1 & 2

Hamilton

Usage Periods:

‘A’ = 16 December 1897 - 11 March 1898

‘B’= 15 December 1897 - 11 March 1898

IN LATE DECEMBER 1897, THE HAMILTON POST OFFICE IN ONTARIO | RECEIVED TWO BICKERDIKE MACHINES, |

remaining operational over four years using three different postmarking dies.

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute

flag obliterator with indicia ‘A’ or ‘B’

having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

Indicia Located Here

‘A’ INDICIA

3 JANUARY 1898

Commercial mail,

Canadian Postal

Stationery Card, postmarked wa at Hamilton , An 2

sent to LLLA | OP oe 2 Glencanis, Ontario.

One Cent: Domestic

postal-card rate Bez

‘B’ INDICIA

29 DECEMBER 1897

Commercial mail

cover,

postmarked

at Hamilton,

sent to

Hull, Quebec.

Three Cents: Domestic

Single-Weight Letter-Rate

valid until

31 December

peas 1898.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machines 1 & 2

Hamilton

Usage Period:

‘A’ & ‘B’ = 13 March 1898 - 31 January 1902

Less than three months after commencement of applying Postmark ‘Fiag-Siyle I’, THE HAMILTON POST OFFICE, AS HAD BEEN DONE AT MONTREAL, OTTAWA & TORONTO, ALTERED THE INVOLUTE FLAG OBLITERATOR TO INCLUDE TWO HEAVY HORIZONTAL BARS

TO IMPROVE POSTMARKING EFFECTIVENESS. Postmark.

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute

flag obliterator with indicia ‘A’ or ‘B’

having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

‘A’INDICIA «=| FROM

10 JUNE 1899 THE CANADIAN

. ; Colored Cotton Mills Co. Commercial mail H AMILTON,

covel, GN

postmarked , at Hamilton ,

sent to

Worcester,

Massachusetts,

U.S.A. Messrs. Crompton & Ynowles Loom Works,

Two Cents:

Domestic & Worcester, Mass, U.S.A.-Bound

single-weight letter-rate, effective

1 January 1899.

IF NOT DELIVERED IN {0

DAYS RETURN TO ‘B’INDICIA

Cc. A. NEEDHAM, 654 MAIN STREET EAST, 17 MAY 1898

HAMILTON, - ONTARIO. /

Commercial mail

cover,

postmarked at Hamilton,

Shr sent to _ Lt Z Montreal,

A. oe Quebec.

o— Three Cents: Domestic

A plunt __ Single-Weight Letter-Rate

valid until

31 December

1898.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machine 2

Hamilton

Usage Period:

‘B’ = 13 March 1898 - 31 January 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute flag obliterator with indicia ‘B’ having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

ADVERTISING COVERS

‘B’ INDICIA

18 MARCH 1899

Commercial mail cover,

postmarked at

Hamilton , sent to

London, Ontario.

‘B’ INDICIA

29 APRIL 1900

Commercial mail

cover, posimarked

at

Hamilton, sent to

Mr. Thos. Ward, Amherstburg,

Ontario.

in Ten Days to

Amherstburg, Arrival Postmark: ee THE |

. \ (Reverse)

FEDALLEY Co. __ 7 en Ont. “Amherstburg, HAMILTON, CANADA. ; nee ty 1 May 1899”

ee ; Sai

eer epee a | 2 aaa SS en P = Se SS esina nape a © hen E = 2 oe : canietinan a

Two Cents: Domestic single-weight letier-rate,

effective 1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Flag Die-Style Il, Machine 2

Hamilton

Usage Period: ‘B’ = 13 March 1898 - 31 January 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute

flag obliterator with indicia ‘B’ having ‘CANADA' mid-flag.

COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS MAIL

‘B’ INDICIA F

30 APRIL 1898 .

Commercial mail,

Canadian Postal

Stationery Card, |

postmarked t

at Hamilton , sent to |

Glencairn, Ontario. |

One Cent: .

Domestic ;

Postal Card Rate

———— ™ BOTT EER ‘B INDICIA

ee te 24 FEBRUARY LIVINGSTON & GARRETT, 1899

"4M roy _ ow Commercial mail cover,

, postmarked

ae at

. Hamilton, ee sent to

e 3 Chas. E. Burns Esq. 2 Toronto,

RP ; Ontario. wf ("Grown Lands Department,

“S : Two Cents: Patent Branch, Riawsesiic

¢ | single-weight eens b SOT OMT. letter-rate,

ral effective

1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator With Indicia Machine 1 = ‘A’

Hamilton

Usage Period: ‘A’ =3 February - 18 October 1902

In replacement of the heretofore ‘involute flag .. unbarred & barred’ .. obliterators in operational ‘Bickerdike Machines 1 & 2’,

THE HAMILTON POST OFFICE COMMENCED USE OF SEVEN-BAR OBLITERATORS WITH INDICIA ‘A’ & ‘B’ FOR NINE MONTHS IN 1902.

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

— CANAD seven-bar obliterator with ‘A’ or ‘B’ indicia Lm indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

N\ Indicia Located Here

‘A’ INDICIA

14 APRIL1902

Up-rated Canadian

Postal

Stationery E

Cover, >

postmarked at

Hamilton,

sent to

Walkerton,

Ontario.

al

If nat called for in \Odays return to

Lang Kewl oe Pebtancan Bf a hfewrdle ¥ (oy

Two Cents:

Domestic single-weight letter-rate, effective 1 January 1899.

‘A’ INDICIA

9 AUGUST 1902

Advertising

cover,

postmarked

at

Hamilton,

sent to

London,

Ontario.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator With Indicia Machine 2 = ‘B’

Hamilton

Usage Period:

B’ = 18 February -— 16 October 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

seven-bar obliterator with indicia

indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

ADVERTISING COVERS

oC OMPANY. ‘B’ INDICIA Mus oysy™

12 JUNE 1902

Commercial mail cover, Messrs

ostmarked

° at De Ee Howden és Co.,

Hamilton, =a

sent to London,

London,

Ontario. | a

; Rr Shas

tt oe mn, ones hy, d

Mudzoy oy) S235 = ‘B’ INDICIA

: : oe 23 JULY 1902

we ZL JZct7s | Commercial mail cover,

a) MK Marcin g postponed at

Hamilton,

a Wee Aton ee Z ‘ London, i ae Ontario.

Two Cents:

Domestic single-weight leHer-rate

effective 1 Jan vary 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag with Indicia Machine 1 = ‘A’

Toronto

Usage Period:

12 August 1897 — 23 February 1898

THE TORONTO POST OFFICE’S INTRODUCTION TO RAPID POSTMARKING

COMMENCED WITH THE DELIVERY OF SIX BICKERDIKE MACHINES IN AUGUST 1897.

Six indicia (‘A’ thru ‘F’) were applicable, albeit anticipating the need for two

additional machines, two dies ‘G’ and ‘H’ were supplied, the latter most probably held as back-up dies.

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag obliterator with indicia, indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-fiag.

n i e

a

e s

=

e y T h B o r

t e e e e

a

4

e e

a e e

oe ————————

HUBLESS POSTMARK INDICIA ‘A’ (Estimated Mailing Date)

“13 DECEMBER 1897”

Commercial cover

with circular or printed-matter enclosure, sent from Toronto

to

Stroud, Ontario.

Arrival Postmark (Reverse)

“Stroud,

December 14, 1897”

One Cent: Domestic circular or printed-matter rate

(unsealed cover)

Less Than Five Examples Known.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag with Indicia Machine 1 = ‘A’

Toronto

Usage Period: 12 August 1897 — 23 February 1898

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag obliterator with indicia,

indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL MAIL

15 OCTOBER 1897

Commercial mail

cover,

postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

Hamilton, Ontario.

Arrival Postmark (Reverse)

“Hamilton

October 146, 1897” ; ees

Use. Pe t

PLEASE RETURN TO

M. & L. SAMUEL, BENJAMIN & CO. Ae @ RS WHOLESALE HARDWARE Kpec 2| O\

TORONTO ema IF NOT DELIVERED IN FIVE DAYS we aa 21 gaa

oo

Advertising cover, postmarked at

Toronto, sent to

Amherstburg, : ia | Ap A) f Ay ; 3 Ontario.

: Arrival Postmark Baie (Reverse)

Ait ata “Amherstburg, : December 22,

ONTARIO, ea"

Three Cents: Domestic single-weight letter-rate,

valid until 31 December 1898.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE

17 AUGUST 1897”

Advertising cover, postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

London, Ontario.

Arrival Postmark (Reverse)

“London,

August 17, 1897”

Postman’s Mark: (Front)

"Ss AM August 18°”

Involute Flag with Indicia

Machine 2 = ‘B’ Toronto

Usage Period:

10 August 1897 - 23 February 1898

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag obliterator with indicia, indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL MAIL

BRANCHES -

348°347 James St

NOT OALLEO FOR IN 10 DAYS, HETUNN TO

THE

A. oink a co London,

TORONTO, ONT.

William Yates, Rsq.,

Ont.

15 OCTOBER 1897

Commercial mail

cover,

postmarked at Toronto,

sent to

Hamilton, Ontario.

Arrival Postmark

(Reverse)

OFZ “Hamilton aa —— aes October 16, 1897”

Three Cents:

Domestic single-weight letter-rate,

valid until 31 December 1898.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag with Indicia Machine 2 = ‘B’

Toronto

Usage Period:

10 August 1897 -— 23 February 1898

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag obliterator with indicia,

indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

POSTAL STATIONERY

COMMERCIAL MAIL TO THE UNITED

STATES

2 SEPTEMBER 1897

Canadian Postal

‘Jubilee’ card, postmarked at Toronto,

sent to

New York City.

Arrival Postmark (Front)

“New York,

September 6, 1897”

DOMESTIC

COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING

9 SEPTEMBER 1897

Canadian postal stationery card, postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to Miaford, Ontario.

One Cent: Domestic & USA-Bound postcard-rate.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag with Indicia Machine 2 = ‘B’

Toronto

Usage Period:

10 August 1897 - 23 February 1898

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag obliterator with indicia, indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

MAIL TO THE UNITED STATES

CIVILIAN MAIL

7 SEPTEMBER 1897

_ Cover,

postmarked at Toronto, : a,

Re NSIS : WEECELE . “y

Arrival Postmark wy:

sii F eel te OEe Jae “New York,

ae

September 8, 1897” % Bas pms

RETURNED

SHORT-PAID COMMERCIAL MAIL

17 SEPTEMBER 1897

Short-paid & returned for added /) Fyo3 “ : eh - : postage commercial mail cover,

Calf f., b7, = enn endorsed Soden ‘/ “Returned for Postage 1”

postmarked at Toronto, we ; sent to " J ee Rputh Pig New York City.

no NA Transit Postmarks Poe s (Reverse)

& : “Toronto Oe | ; etn R September 18, 1897”

: 3 “Satisfied * tg Be (Front & Reverse after 1 Cent postage a ‘ : ’ : | .

added) je « 20 September 1897”

Three Cents:

USA-bound single-weight letter-rate, valid until 31 December 1898.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag with Indicia Machine 3 = *C’

Toronto

Usage Period:

10 August 1897 - 22 February 1898

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag obliterator with indicia and indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

sep 10 0

& ONY ‘s A ef a t es

10 SEPTEMBER 1897

Lady’s cover, postmarked at Toronto,

rot Sia 13 Pos ee toes

Two Cents:

ae ie bes 4 wsdide #

4 OCTOBER 1897

if not called for in Ten Days

return to Commercial mail

STANDARD FASHION CO. cover, 46 ADELAIDE STREET WEST aia inlay at

TORONTO, ONT. Toronto,

sent to

Yarmouth,

Nova Scotia.

Arrival Postmark (Reverse)

“Yarmouth

Messrs Cook & stoneman, October 7, 1897”

Yarmouth, N.S. Three Cents:

Domestic single- weight letter-rate,

valid until

31 December 1898.

Involute Flag with Indicia BICKERDIKE MACHINE Machine 4 = ‘D’

Toronto

Usage Period: 10 August 1897 - 23 February 1898

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag obliterator with indicia

and indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

REESE OVA UBELIN 9018 SR Hana cy

27 AUGUST 1897

Commercial mail

Postcard,

postmarked at Toronto,

sent to

Harriston, Ontario.

én ot cea.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Harriston.

eee Van Ly —

6 SEPTEMBER 1897

Cover,

postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

Milwaukee,

Wisconsin, U.S.A.

Arrival Postmark (Reverse)

“Milwaukee, September 7,

™ 1 897”

J. E. Burton, Esq.

408 Milwaukee Street, PU Int io

on |

Milwaukee, Wis. non

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute flag obliterator with indicia and indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL & ADVERTISING COVERS

Involute Flag with Indicia

Machine 5 = ‘E’

Toronto

Usage Period:

11 August 1897 - 22 February 1898

THE GOODWIN

LAW BOOK AND PUBLISHING

COMPANY OF TORONTO

LAW BOOK PUBLISHERS, Bie vad: BINDERS, ETC. 2 SEPTEMBER 1897

PUBLISHERS OF

Arnoldi’s Guide to Practice, Advertising cover,

x manne ir

JUST PUBLISHED

[SEE RL ®. KIndsr A\t

\ — $2.00 ee 18 9 oft

Bicknell and Seager’s Division Courts Act.

Digest of Bigelow on Torts.

Kingsford’s Manual of Evidence, 2nd edition.

Lefroy’s Legislative Power in Canada, (in press)

MeMurrich and Roberts’ School Law,

O'Brien's New Conveyancer,

Ready Reference Guide to Ordinance of N.W.T,

Robert's Criminal Law.

Roberts’ Law of Wills.

Sinclair's Landlord and Tenant.

Smythe's Bills of Exchange.

sent to

Amherstburg,

Nova Scotia

THE CANADIAN AGENTS o

THE ENGLISH LAW REPORTS

= 120 VICTORIA STREET (Three doors south of Queen)

lf not called for in 10 Days return to

S.F. McKINNON & 00.3 ORs WHOLESALE MILLINERY Acep 6 O

61 BAY STREET, 2|—O

TORONTO...

| cae

6 SEPTEMBER 1897

Commercial mail

cover,

sent to

Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

FACTORY.

oo acento FAMERS

8 NOVEMBER 1897

Advertising

cover,

sent to

Goderich,

Ontario.

Fite =

Rm) awa MUSIC wareRooms, ;

cp LERBTTE ua

Three Cents: Domestic single-weight letter-rate valid until 31 December 1898

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag with Indicia Machine 5 = ‘E’

Toronto

Usage Period:

11 August 1897 - 22 February 1898

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag obliterator with indicia and indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

HUBLESS POSTMARK ADVERTISING-ENCLOSURE COVER

We. Walker, @s4.,

Barrister &.,

Hanilton, Can.

23 NOVEMBER 1897

Advertising-enclosure cover, hubless postmark at Toronto,

sent to

Hamilton, Ontario.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Hamilton,

24 November 1897”

One Cent: Circular or printed-matter enclosed in an unsealed cover.

One of less than five known.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag with Indicia

Machine 6 = ‘F’

Postmark: Toronto

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute flag obliterator with indicia

Usage Period: 10A t 1897-23 Feb 1

and indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag. 0 August 1897 — 23 February 1898

IF NOT CALLED FOR IN Five DAYS PLEASE RETURN TO

THE CANADIAN BANK OF COMME

24 AUGUST 1897 TORONTO, Ont.

Commercial bank cover,

sent to

Yarmouth,

Nova Scotia

Three cents: ee cor Bank of Nova Scotia, letter-rate

8 SEPTEMBER 1897

Commercial mail

Canadian Postal

Stationery Card, S = sent to

Hamilton, Ontario,

One Cent:

Domestic

postcard rate.

17 SEPTEMBER 1897

Cover, sent to

“Hebrew Orphan Asylum”,

Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.

Three cents:

Single-weight Letter-rate

to U.S.A.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Involute Flag with Indicia Reserve Postmark Die = ‘G’

Toronto

Usage Period:

10-11 August 1897 Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with involute flag obliterator with indicia and indicating ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

COMMERCIAL MAIL TWO-DAY USE OF RESERVE POSTMARK ‘G'

10 AUGUST 1897 (16 Hrs. = 4 PM)

Commercial mail

Canadian Postal

Stationery Card, postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

Clarks Harbor, Nova Scotia.

One Cent:

Domestic

postcard rate. 10 AUGUST 1897

(18 Hrs. = 6 PM)

Commercial mail

cover,

postmarked at Toronto,

sent to

St. John,

New Brunswick.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“St. John, N.B.,

12 August 1897”

Three cents:

Domestic

Single-weight letter-rate

Two Examples of Five Known.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Machine 1 = ‘A’

Toronto

Usage Period:

24 February 1898 -3 February 1902

COMMENCING IN FEBRUARY 1898, THE ORIGINAL SIX ‘TORONTO BICKERDIKE

MACHINES’ HAVING HERETOFORE APPLIED ‘NON-BARRED FLAG POSTMARK

OBLITERATORS WITH INDICIA’ WERE MODIFIED TO INCLUDE TWO BARS,

APPLICABLE FOR ALL SIX MACHINES .. ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘E’, “F

ALONG WITH RESERVE DIES ‘G’ & ‘H’. Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

INNER-CITY MAIL Ee Ny »

27 NOVEMBER 1898 : Nee

Cover, \K/2. 98 postmarked at Toronto,

sent locally.

Two Cents:

City Drop-Letter Rate os (eae a

MAILTO NOVA SCOTIA PROVINCE

15 FEBRUARY 1899

Commercial mail

covel,

postmarked at Toronto, sent to

Yarmouth,

Nova Scotia.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Yarmouth,

18 February 1899”

43-49 Bay St.

TORONTO |

Two Cents:

Domestic

single-weight letter-rate,

effective

1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Machine 1 = ‘A’

Toronto

Usage Period:

24 February 1898 - 3 February 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

CANADIAN POSTAL STATIONERY

MAILTO THE O UNITED STATES OF | cos : AMERICA CANADA AGS. o\CR

THE ADDRESS TO BE witeenee: THIS

28 MAY 1898 19 9

Postal Stationery Card,

postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

Pottsville,

Pennsylvania.

One Cent:

Postcard rate for mail

to U.S.A.

DOMESTIC LETTER MAIL

19 JUNE 1899

Postal stationery

commercial mail

cover,

postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

Messrse Montreal. Roliand, Lyman & Burnett

Arrival Postmark:

Temple Building eee ;

ontreal,

Montreal, Que, June 20, 1899”

Two Cents:

Domestic

single-weight letter-rate, effective

1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia

Machine 2 = ‘B’

Toronto

Usage Period: 24 February 1898 - 1 February 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute flag obliterater with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

COMMERCIAL MAIL

HORSESHOE BRAND — TRADE MARK REGISTERED.

7 APRIL 1899

Commercial mail >

ne gee: O : | postmarked at Th i) Ke

eHarveyVanNormanGo, ©. >, 0 » Tae _ Jf). BK ELE

BOOTS, SHOES, RUBBERS,

ar ogy TORONTO, Ont. ntario.

R. Laidlaw Lumber Co. WHOLESALE LUMBER {ON >

700 King Street West may 12 O Toronto S Oo

18.92%

12 MAY 1899

Commercial maii cover,

posimarked ai

Toronto, seni to

Brantford, Ontario. Golld, Shapley & Muir Co.,

Brantford, Arrival Postmark:

On t, 2 (Reverse)

“Brantford,

May 12, 1899”

Two Cents:

Domestic single-weight letter-rate, effective 1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Machine 2 = ‘B’

Toronto

Usage Period: 24 February 1898 -—1 February 1902

Postmark: Missing 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

HUBLESS POSTMARKED MAIL

A parish © = NS, Ont

Che Globe. Toronto, Can. “28 OCTOBER 1898”

Unsealed commercial mail cover with circular or printed-matter enclosure,

hubless-postmarked at Toronto, sent to

Athens, Ontario.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Athens, Ont.,

October 29, 1898”

One Cent: Domestic single-weight unsealed mail cover with

circular or printed-matier enclosure.

Only Known Example.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

Barred Involute Flag With Indicia

Machine 3 = ‘C’ Toronto

Usage Period:

24 February 1898 - 29 January 1902

involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

19 AUGUST 1899 = tii= AMERICAN WATCH CASE CO., OF TORONTO, LIMITED,

511 KING STREET WEST,

TORONTO,

Commercial

mail cover,

sent to

Montreal,

Quebec.

Two Cents:

Domestic

ietter-rate,

effective

1 January 1899

IF NOT CALLED FOR IN IO DAYS

RETURN TO

THE EMPIRE CLOAK CO.

20 FRONT ST. EAST TORONTO

-

li not Called for in Five Days Return t

BUNTIN, REID & COMPANY

12 MAY 1898

Local Toronto

commercial mail

cover.

Two Cents:

City drop-letter

rate.

ee

+4

Messrs Cook & Stoneman, 23 MAY 1898

Commercial mail

cover, sent to

Yarmouth,

N.S. Nova Scotia.

Three Cents:

Domestic

letter-rate

valid until 31

December 1878.

“™~ Cc tit oe

o) J of ph f <Y¥ , / a) rf 4 )

4 fA & LL. : {Sf La @ <. = F\)

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Machine 3 = ‘C’

Toronto

Usage Period:

24 February 1898 — 29 January 1902

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

CANADIAN-AMERICAN “REMEMBER THE MAINE’ PRIVATE POSTCARD

a e

= | =

©

L

rr ea a ie ae . at =

28 MAY 1899

Unfranked/Short paid

Canadian-American ‘Remember the Maine Memorial Private Postcard,

commercial message on reverse,

postmarked at Toronto, sent locally.

Four Cents:

Postage Due (Indicated on Reverse)

Only Known Example

BICKERDIKE MACHINE

POSTMARK WITH HUB

10 JUNE 1899

Canadian Postal Stationery Cover,

commercial mail, postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

Montreal, Quebec.

Two Cents:

Domestic

single-weight letter-rate,

effective

1 January 1899

Barred Involute Flag With Indicia

Machine 4 = ‘D’ Toronto

Usage Period: 23 February 1898 - 3 February 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

ie. ee)

An N |

Messrs.

Rolland, Lyman & Burnett

Temple Building

Montreal, Que,

HUBLESS POSTMARK

24 SEPTEMBER 1899

Commercial mail

cover, sent from Toronto

to

Athens, Ontario.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Athens, Ontario,

September 25, 1899”

One Cent:

Circular or printed-

matter enclosure in

unsealed cover.

Less than five

known.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Machine 5 = ‘E’

Toronto

Usage Period:

23 February 1898 -31 January 1902 Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

ge ee

After ten days return ta

KILGOUR BROS.

3 MAY 1898 TORONTO

Commercial

mail cover,

sent to

locally Mist tors” Gr Two Cents:

City drop-letter

rate.

=~, My

THE BANK OF TORONTO, QU

TORONTO Canava : E 7N

I~ Al iS 13 A

io =O te 18 AUGUST 1899

Commercial mail EN os h: rae cover, sentto ACAD LLL’

Rochester,

TR TYR Co NT A TT > / - New York. TRADERS NATIONAL BANK,

eained ienpaees Two Cents:

ROCHESTHR, N.Y. : Domestic & z a , U.S.A.-Bound

& letter-rate

U. S 7 Effective 1 January 1899

DATELESS HUB

4 FEBRUARY 1899

Commercial ’

mail cover, sent Messrs. Carscellen & Caht LS to Hamilton,

Ontario . Barristers &e.,

One Cent:

Circular or sa gies leer . ;

printed matter Hamilton;, Ont... .

enclosed in

unsealed cover,

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Machine 6 = ‘F’

Toronto

Usage Period: 23 February 1898 -3 February 1902

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred

involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

COMMERCIAL MAIL

12 JULY 1899

Commercial mail cover, postmarked at Toronto,

sent to

Montreal,

Quebec.

Two Cents: Domestic

single-

weight letter-rate,

effective 1 January

1899. 18 AUGUST 1899

Commercial bank-mail

cover, postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to Rochester,

Michigan, U.S.A. Two Cents:

U.S.A.

Bound-Mail,

iF NOT ADELIMERED IN THREE DAVS, . * single-weight

: letter-rate, LORCNTO : VY rs effective

Form 49, 1 January 1899

-

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia

Usage Period: 23 February 1898 -3 February 1902

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

‘INVOLUTE FLAG’.. ARRIVAL-POSTMARK

USAGE

24 DECEMBER 1899

Mourning cover, postmarked

at Toronto (23 Dec), sent locally.

Two Cents:

Domestic

single-weight

letter-rate,

effective

1 January 1899. HUBLESS

POSTMARK

Wm. B. HAMILTON, SON & Co. RELIABLE E

Boots, SHOES AND RUBBERS WHOLESALE

_ TORONTO, ONT.

22 JANUARY 1900 |

Commercial

mail cover,

postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

Amherstburg,

Ontario.

Mr .#, Berube

Amherstourg One Cent:

Ont. Unsealed cover

with circular or

printed-matter enclosure.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Barred Involute Flag With Indicia Reserve Postmark Die = ‘H’

Toronto

Usage: 20 June 1899

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with barred involute flag obliterator with indicia having ‘CANADA’ mid-flag.

fe a a

CE 39

E. T. PARKER, BETHLEHEM,

PENNSYLVANIA. RESERVE POSTMARK ‘H’

20 JUNE 1899

Commercial mail cover with circular or printed-matter enclosure, postmarked at Toronto,

sent to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

One Cent:

Unsealed cover with circular or printed-matter enclosure.

Only Known Example.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE 1901 Exhibition Postmark With Indicia Machine 1 = ‘A’

Toronto

Usage Period:

3 May — 7 September 1901

APPLICATION OF THE HERETOFORE ‘INVOLUTE FLAG POSTMARKS’ AT TORONTO WAS SUSPENDED FOR FOUR MONTHS WITH TEMPORARLY REPLACEMENT BY A SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL EXHIBITION POSTMARK ON ALL SIX BICKERDIKE MACHINES..

‘A, BO, DO”. e, FP The three postmarking were involved and are regarded as the first Canadian

advertising slogan postmarks.

= Postmark:

expos TION 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with TORONTO involute flag having integrated exhibition shield AUG. : 610 indicating show dates and including indicia.

Shield does not overlap Union Jack with vertical bars flanking indicia ‘A’.

i la aaa , ae ‘“ SS — = — _ — — =——_—— a

AFTER 10 DAYS RETURN To

nee

PUBLISHING — WHOLESALE & M'F’

STATIONERY ESTABLISHMENT=

> IN THE

ao z

54.56 &58 FRONT St. West z

3&5 PIPER St. Toro NTO,Can,,

ADVERTISING COVER SENT TO U.S.A.

8 JULY 1901

Commercial mail cover, postmarked at Toronto, sent to

Westfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Westfield, 10 July 1901”

Two Cents: Single-weight letter-rate for mail to the United States,

effective 1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE 1901 Exhibition Postmark With Indicia Machine 2 = ‘B’

Toronto

Usage Period: 1 May — 7 September 1901

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag having integrated exhibition

shield indicating show dates and

including indicia.

Shield overlaps Union Jack with no vertical bars flanking indicia on Dies “B’ & “C" only.

AUG.26 To

Indicia Located Here

SSS —— = = = ee

: ¥ f —_—— ‘ 7 Fo paete. Oe oy ‘ CANADA'S

FEXPOSITIO® TORONTO; AUG.26 Tig

COMMERCIAL COVER SENT TO U.S.A.

25 AUGUST 1901

Commercial mail cover, postmarked at Toronto,

sent to New York, New York,

U.S.A.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“New York, 26 August 1901”

Two Cents: Single-weight letter-rate for mail to the United States,

effective 1 January 1899.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE

SS = CANADA'S

TORONTO

AUG.26 To

EXPOSITION

1901 Exhibition Postmark With Indicia

Machine 3 = ‘C’

Toronto

Usage Period:

8 May - 7 September 1901

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag having integrated exhibition

shield indicating show dates and

including indicia. Shield overlaps Union Jack with no vertical

bars flanking indicia on Dies “B" & ‘C* only.

MAILTO AUSTRIA REDIRECTED TO GERMANY m4 ,

8 JULY 1901 Co?

Cover, postmarked at Toronto,

endorsed

“via New York” sent to

Innsbruck, Austria

with redirection to Munich, Germany. in

Arrival Postmark: By SPUIZ Ub Vib hb (Reverse) ‘

“Munich, Sastre 25 July 1907" 47 Yip. DF EPO fiipee ,

Five Cents: < ln rhes x a 3 |

UPU Single-Weight ESA

International WZ Ey

Letter-Rate. , \ \Z inns ,

TURN-OF-THE-

CENTURY COMMEMORATIVE POSTCARD TO U.S.A.

27 AUGUST 1901

So-called ‘Souvenir Card’,

postmarked at Toronto,

sent to

Richland Station, Pennsylvania.

Arrival Postmark:

(Reverse)

“Richland Station,

27 August 1901” nl ts

:

a |

REY | One Cent: Postcard-rate to

U.S.A.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE 1901 Exhibition Postmark With Indicia Machine 3 = ‘C’

Toronto

Usage Period:

8 May -— 7 September 1901

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag having integrated exhibition shield indicating show dates and including indicia. Shield overlaps Union Jack with no vertical bars flanking indicia on Dies ‘B’ & ‘C’ only.

FRANKING-POSTAGE COLOR-VARIETIES

If not called for in ten days return to

A.H.DEWDNEY & BRO.

ae Ee PRECIOUS STONES. ,EWELRY OF

NUMERIAL’ ISSUE ea reas. ZG 25 MAY 1901 ya

a

Commercial over, postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to Phepston, Ontario.

Ex Puls & Bomar

oe —_ |

Gy we CARMINE

(> "x FE MPOSITION QUEEN VISTORIA SUL eon ff) TORONTO 4 ‘NUMERAL ISSUE’

ae ‘ C \ aua.26 70 (Die 1) ne L “SEP. 7

29 JULY 1901

. Cover, Sp a 4 postmarked at

; - r ‘ 7) . “S- Jo 4 Toronto, i My Be J 44 | A_owe Ce. oD sent to

South Corners,

Zz Ontario.

A Be CoV C Sf ) Sen ere a te ee Arrival Postmark: . _ (Reverse)

wes & pe ) i “Kingston,

Aree Al ho. A 2A Lt 30 JULY 1901”

Two Cents: Domestic single-weight letter rate, effective 1 January 1899

BICKERDIKE MACHINE 1901 Exhibition Postmark With Indicia Machine 4 = ‘D’

Toronto

Usage Period:

14 May — 7 September 1901

Postmark: 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

involute flag having integrated exhibition oval shield indicating show dates and including indicia.

Indicia Located Here Shield Soto td cemegeapead Peron _

STANDARD POSTMARK ®

17 JULY 1901 CANADA POST SA

Canadian THE ADDRESS TO BE WAITTSALO ie iS sit BS

Postal-Stationery Card, Asi , te commercial mail,

postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to Sudbury with re-direction to

North Bend, Ontario.

Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Sudbury,

19 July 1901”

One Cent: ie Ee Domestic fay’ Sa

postcard-rate.

POSTMARK WITH

INVERTED OBLITERATOR

11 AUGUST 1901

Canadian Postal

Stationery Card, Sent to

Daketon, Indiana,

U.S.A -]

the dd Cy LVL... ble bite 2 ‘ One Cent:

OY As x a | Postcard-rate to

Oat. ONL U.S.A.

Only Known

Example.

Ex Puls & Bomar

BICKERDIKE MACHINE 1901 Exhibition Postmark With Indicia Machines 5 & 6 = ‘E’ & ‘F’

Postmark: Toronto 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with Usage Period:

involute flag having integrated exhibition oval shield _

indicating show dates and including indicia. 14 May — 6 September 1901 Shield overlaps Union Jack with no vertical bars flanking

indicia on Dies ‘D’, ‘E’ & ‘F’ only.

MACHINES... in elie att aioe , INDICIA ‘E’

1 SEPTEMBER 1901 forr vn E-SEP I

Lady’s cover, ee postmarked at

Toronto, Phe Se sent to Gy’ IB

Muskoka (MineHt), z eq Ontario.

Arrival Postmark:

(Reverse)

“Minett,

2 September 1901” |

Pee,

The D. H. HOGG CO. . MACHINE ‘6’ ..

Photographic | at VS INDICIA ‘F’

Goods ——sssy- KUNIS 9

“Cor. BAY AND RICHMOND STs. \ Met > } 15 JUNE 1901

TORONTO . 4 . ‘4 Commercial

aeeto cover,

¥ postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

at Owen Sound, ee nite Ceo. Holmes, Msaqre, Ontario.

Owen Sound, Ontario. Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)

“Owen Sound,

15 June 1901”

Two Cents:

Domestic single-weight letter-rate, effective 1 January 1899

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator With Indicia Machine 1 = ‘A’

Toronto

Usage:

‘A’ = 4 February 1902

After four years operation at Toronto, the

‘Bickerdike Machines’ were replaced with newer machines of a different vendor commencing on 4 February 1902.

DURING SETUP & CONVERSION, THE BICKERDIKE MACHINES WERE FITTED WITH EXISTING/RESERVE

SEVEN-BAR OBLITERATOR POSTMARKING DIES WITH USE ONLY 1-2 DAYS DEPENDING UPON MACHINE.

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

CANADA seven-bar obliterator with indicia and

he indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

\ Indicia Located Here

CANADA BOSy THE ADDRESS TO BE QV SEN N THIS SID —

O 2 Cece a a ail oe a

~ ain rat

o~ , oy | ' \ — f 1

—_, = ! j) 1 Y ate ~~ Z j A / ¥

des ee acl Sat Meet wert a a C5,

£ I a

ALLL Circle No). 42 2

Order Canadian Home Circles, |

NEM AINA MACHINE 1.. ‘A’ INDICIA

3 FEBRUARY 1902

Canadian Postal Stationery Card, commercial mail,

sent to

Schomberg, Ontario.

One Cent:

Domestic Postcard-Rate

Less Than Five Examples Known.

BICKERDIKE MACHINE Seven-Bar Obliterator With Indicia Machines 5 & 6

Toronto

Usage:

Machine 5= ’E’ 3 - 4 February 1902 Machine 6= ‘F 4 February 1902

Postmark:

ne ated 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

CANADA seven-bar obliferator with indicia and

indicating ‘CANADA’ midway.

indicia Located Here

MACHINES.. ‘E’ INDICIA

3 FEBRUARY 1902

Commercial cover,

sent to Athens,

Ontario.

Two Cents:

Domestic

single-weight

letter-rate

GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY SYSTEM (Fi. 2)

CANADA PO: ST. CARD— a

THE ADDRESS TO gE WRITTEN Oy THIS eSIVE Xs CAN A : wr MACHINE 6.. _ —-_ — es

\ ‘om ‘F INDICIA

\ —

4 FEBRUARY 1902

Canadian Postal Stationery Card,

commercial

mail, sent to

Moncton,

New Brunswick.

One Cent:

Domestic

postcard-rate. Less Than Five Examples Known For Each Machine

V. GEARY MACHINE Trials Montreal

Trial |: 6 January — 24 February 1902

JAMES GEARY OF BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, MACHINIST BY TRADE, DESIGNED AND PATENTED A MANUALLY-OPERATED PNEUMATIC-FEED POSTMARKING MACHINE IN 1895

WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION SUBMITTED TO THE MONTREAL POST OFFICE FOR EVALUATION AND TESTING IN EARLY 1902,

as authorized by the Canadian Postal Administration at no cost to them.

Known was that the operational Bickerdike Machines were to be replaced

in each of the four cities where those machines operated.

Sk thy odes ee OSE LSP EI om Posie:

> FFA: S fd Rimless 22mm Diameter Dater Dial with Ss 19-0 & seven horizontal bars

/g gt (erederereererepieere, efeenrre &

wr ORIGIN POSTMARK IF NOT CALLED FOR IN 5 DAYS ON OUT-GOING eee MAIL THE IMPERIAL OIL Co. Limited

C.P.R. TELEGRAPH CHAMBERS = \L 7 MONTREAL. JAY:

is

27 JANUARY 1902. N y

ee "

Commercial a AO v . a i me: cover, ; i

postmarked at Montreal,

sent to Mr. Stephen Carr¢ere, Coteau Landing,

Quebec. Coteau Landing,

Two Cents: PeGs Domestic

single-weight

letter-rate. i

Less Than Five Examples Known.

ARRIVAL POSTMARK a ON

IN-BOUND MAIL

14 JANUARY 1902

Canadian Postal Stationery Card, postmarked at Mascouche,

Quebec, sent to

Montreal.

One Cent:

Domestic

Postcard-rate. Less Than Five

Examples Known Cl mn gf orgr—aeek Vyr 92 HO gp

GEARY MACHINE Trial Il Montreal

Trial Il: 18 February - 25 April 1902

Upon request of the Post Office, subsequent

Geary Machine trials applied a postmark having a smaller diameter dater dial with an obliterator having

six or seven horizontal bars.

Postmark:

Circular 20mm Diameter Dater Dial with Se six evenly-spaced horizontal bars

DORKEN BROS. & CO. Buccessorns To E, HEUSER & CO. eu SS

P. O: Box 366, o MONTREAL. 19-0.

/9Q% HALIFAX, N, &

2 APRIL 1902

Commercial cover, postmarked at Montreal,

sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Two Cents:

Domestic

single-weight letter-rate.

Less Than Five Examples Known.

GEARY MACHINE Trials Ill & IV Montreal

Trial Ill: 3 May - 29 July 1902

Trail IV: 9 June - 16 August 1902

Subsequent trials utilized different horizontal bar styles

and numbers.

TRIAL Ii] POSTMARK: TRIAL IV POSTMARK:

Circular 20mm Diameter Dater Dial with

six unevenly-spaced (heavy) horizontal bars

Circular 20mm Diameter Dater Dial with seven evenly-spaced (thin) horizontal bars

TRIAL Ill

30 MAY 1902

Commercial

cover,

postmarked at

Montreal,

sent to

Coteau Landing,

Quebec.

Less Than Five

Examples Known.

CONSUMERS CORDAGE Go, LTD.

MONTREAL, Can,

TRIAL IV

3 JULY 1902

Commercial

MessrseA.M. Bell & CoO» cover, postmarked

Halifax ,N.S- at Montreal, sent to

Halifax,

Nova Scotia.

Less Than Five

Examples Known.

Two Cents: Domestic single-weight letter-rate.

VI. INTERNATIONAL MACHINE First Die (I) Use

2-12 February 1902

Based on experience and wide-spread use of the ‘Flier Model’

of the International Postal Supply Company of New York in the United States, THE CANADIAN POSTAL OFFICE DECIDED TO LEASE AND TRY

ONE ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED ‘FLIER’ MACHINE,

CAPABLE OF POSTMARKING 600 UNITS OF MAIL/MINUTE,

AT TORONTO COMMENCING IN FEBRUARY 1902.

Within several years, five machines were operational at Toronto with many others

becoming operational in other Canadian cities with successful performance.

i ig gael Postmark: “e* 8) ——— 20mm Diameter Dater Dial with “Torante”

ee el (by city name only) and a a/ Sone et re ee seven wavy-lime bar obliterator

having “I!” & “C” integrated.

EARLY USE DATE

5 FEBRUARY 1902

Cover,

postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to Ottawa, Ontario.

Two Cents:

Domestic

single-weight

letter-rate.

Only Known

Example SESS SS —_

eats bourne

LATE USE DATE

10 FEBRUARY 1902

Cover,

postmarked at

Toronto,

sent to

lowa City, lowa,

U.S.A.

Two Cents:

Single-weight letter-

rate for mail to U.S.A.

Less Than Five

Examples Known

INTERNATIONAL MACHINE Dater Dial Type II (Machine ‘I’)

Toronto

Usage: 13 February 1902 -— 27 February 1907

Less than two weeks of use of the initial ‘Die | / ‘Machine I’ on the

‘International Flier Machine’ operational at Toronto,

THE DATER DIAL HUB WAS REPLACED WITH ONE NOW

INDICATING THE CITY AND COUNTRY.

Postmark: _ 20mm Diameter Dater Dial with

OAD — “Toronto, Canada” Text

eo ae © sevenwavy-lime bar obliterator SIOZ OC _ having “I” along with either indicia

“Cc”, “D", “R” or “T” integrated.

26 FEBRUARY 1902

ere rnen Se a a

~—_ ee —

Cover, SR SUE: oe 2 i vi % 2 jim 3

ee | A eg, — a QPS

postmarked at oe a =e teed penne ts

Toronto, messes a

Sie dw j2 a2 Worcester, 3 4

Massachusetts, U.S.A. 7 Sf, yy — eo

Two Cents: We Single-weight ae

letter-rate "7 for mail to U.S.A. Vd io Via

er : TIME & DAY DATE | OMITTED

EBEN JAMES . 1902 since Canadian Agent for ..... ccd A ment ee

WOODALL & Co., LIVERPOOL, ~ BOYD, BARROW & Co., GLASGOW. Unsealed

M.ISAACS&SONS,LTD., - LONDON. commercial cover and Firmstn BRISTOL, HAMBURG and

other Pords. with circular or

APPLE RECEIVERS Yan <s4 printed-matter Board of Trade Building, enclose, TORONTO. postmarked at

BRANCHES DURING EXPORT SEASON Toronto, MONTREAL, HALIFAX,N.S., AND PORTLAND. ME, sent to AL Paris Station,

srt Ontario. C

One Cent:

' ate Domestic CLFLI : aA commercial

led cover with near unse

INTERNATIONAL MACHINE Dater Dial Type III (Machine ‘l’)

Toronto

Usage:

31 December 1902-31 December 1907

As an alternate dater dial to the ‘Type II Dial’,

THE TORONTO POST OFFICE UTILIZED AN ALTERED TEXT INDICATING MAIL WAS DEDICATED-POSTMARKED AT “STATION B”.

Such dater hub was used concurrently with the heretofore Type Il.

Postmark:

20mm Diameter Dater Dial with a ————_ “Toronto, Can. Stat. B” Text

iy ee and a ee seven wavy-lime bar obliterator

— 6 a having “I” along with either indicia Se "oO “Rp” or a a integrated.

27 JANUARY WihGae” une 1904

Advertising cover,

postmarked

at ‘Toronto

Station B’, sentto |

Sombra,

Ontario.

z LAROEST PUBLISHING

" Sombra, Unte 54.56 &54 FRONT St West

3&5 Piper ST.

iF NOT CALLED FOR IN TEN DAYS = RETURN TO : y sae

THe COPP, CLARK CO., Limite Is ree TORONTO IS sep yo Si\

\S7-PM 2 / 12 SEPTEMBER Second Edition Ready X 7ank A 1902

Mr. Winston Churchill's = NEW NOVEL Advertising cover,

reo 3 postmarked at

The Crossing C Se es ‘Toronto Station B’

G1 Vairmount sent to

Montreal, Quebec. 598 Pages. oT oe a 7 ar ontreal Anngx

aol rontreal, ~— es Machine

CLOTH ONLY, - $1.50 Pues iia ie

“Montreal, Canada,

Se : Received sa ~ 13 September 1904”

Two Cents:

Domestic single-weight letter-rate.

INTERNATIONAL MACHINE Machine Evolution (Machines 1 thru 5)

Toronto

Usage:

1902 - 1919

Satisfaction with operation and efficiency of the ‘International Machine’, the Toronto Post Office ultimately obtained five machines,

more than any other Canadian city: one machine each year ..

1902, 1903, 1906, 1912 & 1915.

EACH HAD A POSTMARKING DIE CONSISTING OF A DATER DIAL AND OBLITERATOR HAVING

SEVEN WAVY-LINES INDICATING THE MACHINE NUMBER (‘1’ THRU ‘5’) ALONG WITH MAIL-ORIGIN CODING INDICIA.

Beginning in 1912, postmarks also included slogan inserts.

slag sles Postmark: —— 20mm Diameter Dater Dial with

ee seven wavy-lime bar obliterator

cigar indicating machine number along with integrated indicia

“Cc”, “Dp”. “R” or “T".

MACHINE ‘1’

MACHINE ‘4’ MACHINE ‘5’

INTERNATIONAL MACHINE Mail Origin Indicia Coding (Machines 1 thru 5)

Toronto

Usage:

1902 - 1919

MAIL ORIGIN CODING INDICIA INTEGRATED INTO THE STANDARD, NON-SLOGAN, POSTMARK OBLITERATORS WAS THE FOLLOWING:

‘C’=COLLECT (Mail collected from public mail boxes) ‘D’ = DROP (Mail dropped off at a post office) ‘R’= RECEIVED (Miscellaneous collected mail) ‘T = TRANSIT (Mail from another origin post office

to be forwarded to another destination)

gn Postmark:

a eerste 20mm Diameter Dater Dial with , seven wavy-lime bar obliterator

——eeeeeeEeE—EEEOOO — ——S—=sT_ indicating machine number along with ai integrated indicia “C”, “D”, “R” or “T”.

{i MAR23 44

‘T = TRANSIT

INTERNATIONAL MACHINE Dater Dial Type II (Machine ‘l’)

Montreal

Usage:

31 October 1902 -— October 1906

WHILE TORONTO ALREADY COMMENCED USING AN

INTERNATIONAL-BRAND MACHINE IN FEBRUARY 1902, THE MONTREAL POST OFFICE INDEPENDENTLY EXPERIMENTED BETWEEN

FEBRUARY-AUGUST 1902 WITH ONE OR TWO GEARY MACHINES before deciding upon use of International Machines to replace the

worn Bickerdikes commencing in late October 1902. Postmark:

20mm Diameter Dater Dial with EQ “Montreal, Canada” Text 6 3st and 2 i ay ee seven wavy-lime bar obliterator “20 — 6 SO having “I” along with either indicia

“Cc”, “D”, “R” or “T” integrated.

10 NOVEMBER 1902

Cover,

postmarked at Montreal, sent to

Toronto, Ontario.

Two Cents: en een ce len. atin sailie armirelat Domestic single-weighi =

LawKHar_rrete lIeTrer-Taie.

Vil. EPILOGUE Krag Machine Trial Toronto

Proof Date:

25 July 1907

Although the Canadian Post Office basically standardized on use of ‘International Postmarking Machines’ between 1902-1919,

it did continue to evaluate or experimentally-trialed other machines during that period.

THE KRAG MACHINE, MANUFACTURED IN NORWAY, APPLIED A CONTINUOUS-POSTMARK, SUITABLE FOR LETTER MAIL, BUT WAS NOT ADVANTAGEOUS FOR POSTCARDS, SINCE THE POSTMARK WOULD PARTIALLY COVER THE TEXT OF SUCH

CARDS; THE KRAG MACHINE WAS NOT ACCEPTED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION.

Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dual Dater Dials with

“Toronto, Ont.” as text flanking a (58mm) staggered seven wavy-lime bar obliterator

INTENDED AS AN ORIGIN POSTMARK ON OUT-GOING MAIL

25 JULY 1907

Only Known Proof Example.

EPILOGUE Universal Machine Trial Toronto

Usage: 4 August 1910 — 28 May 1912

The Toronto Post Office independently evaluated and experimentally-trialed a

“Universal Machine”, manufactured by the Universal Stamping Machine Company

of New Jersey, U.S.A., between 1910-1912.

Postmark.

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with

“Toronto, Ont.” as text

along witha

seven-horizontal-line obliterator

ILLIAMS &So%3°°-

AAUGUST1910 143 YONGE ST TORONTO.

Commercial ore

cover,

Postmarked at

Toronto,

‘te Mir. M, B. Cosby,

Arrival Date: Ne Smithville,

(Reverse) : |

“Smithville, Onterio.

August 5, 1910”

First Day of Use

Example.

: we

1F NOT CALLED FOR IN FIVE DAYS RETURN TO ay

METALLIC —— 5 AUGUST 1910

ha | T_T eee- Advertising | £940 ao — | [2S Sarees cover,

Toronto, CANADA. oe sane a

at Toronto,

MANUFACTURERS OF sent to Prescott,

2 paced ont nos: Coates 5 Th Say Onianto.

Arrival Date:

sl jceeeeeeth. wk ee ee (Reverse) ae seeNO ONE HAD PRODUCED aoe EQUAL OF “Prescott

August 6, 1910”

Ont. c ‘GasTlame” weraitic suwaies, ~~ ~~—~S*«<C«S CON Dy OP

Use Example.

Two Cents:

Domestic single-weight letter-rate

EPILOGUE Universal Machine Trial Ottawa

Usage:

April 1912 - September 1913

Similar to an earlier trial at Toronto, the Ottawa Post Office

evaluated and trialed

a ‘Universal Machine’ between 1912-1913. Postmark:

22mm Diameter Dater Dial with “Ottawa, Canada.” as text

along with a seven-horizontal-bar obliterator

1 NOVEMBER 1912

Mourning cover, postmarked at Ottawa, sent to Weston, Ontario.

Arrival Date: (Reverse)

“Weston,

November 2, 1912”

Two Cents: Domestic single-weight letter-rate.