Postal Orders of Canada

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In Canada, postal orders were known by the name 'postal notes', which means the same thing. As Canada is a federation (originally a confederation), postal notes are usually collected by the province of issue. Canada's postal notes were first issued during the reign of King Edward VII and were discontinued during the reign of King George VI. Postal notes were issued in most, if not all, Canadian provinces. Canadian postal notes were not issued in Newfoundland, as Newfoundland was a British colony before it became a Canadian province, although Canadian postal notes were allowed to be paid in Newfoundland.

1 Range of Denominations
2 Postal Note Stamps
3 British Field Post Office-issued British Postal Orders
4 British overprinted postal orders
5 See also
6 Reference

[edit] Range of Denominations

Here is a list of denominations of the Canadian postal notes as noted on P.N.107-12,000, which was issued by the Post Office Department, Ottawa with effect from 13 December, 1934. They are listed as pairs of values and commissions, including revenue tax:

10c. (1c.), 20c. (2c.), 25c. (2c.), 30c. (2c.), 40c. (2c.), 50c. (3c.), 60c. (3c.), 70c. (3c.), 75c. (3c.), 80c. (3c.), 90c. (3c.), $1 (3c.), $1.50 (5c.), $2 (6c.), $2.50 (6c.), $3 (6c.), $4 (6c.), $5 (6c.), $10 (8c.).

The $10 postal notes were issued at non-accounting offices.

[edit] Postal Note Stamps

Canada was the only British Commonwealth country to issue special postal note stamps. These were used for the purpose of extending the value of a postal note up to a value of 99c. above the denomination of the postal note itself. The United States had issued postal note stamps as well.

[edit] British Field Post Office-issued British Postal Orders

These have been issued only in Alberta and Newfoundland. There is also a British Field Post Office in Ottawa - B.F.P.O. 487.

[edit] British overprinted postal orders

A series of British postal orders were overprinted in about 1905 as examples of what Canadian-issued British postal orders might look like. However, plans to issue British postal orders throughout Canada never materialised. In July 2006, a set of 3 British postal orders overprinted "Canada" and the word "Specimen" turned up and were sold on eBay for £7,123. These are believed to be unique.

The denominations with their details are as follows;

2/6 (61 Cents). Serial number 21/C J29313.

4/- (97 Cents). Serial number E/14 537597.

12/6 ($3.04). Serial number 2/N 900005.

These postal orders can be found illustrated on http://www.gbos.org.uk/index.php/Overprint_Postal_Orders