For Friday, August 4,2000

DF 15

CANADA #36 perfin

Great Britain pioneered the practice of perforating initials into postage stamps to prevent theft. Official sanction was given for private perforation initials in Great Britain in 1869. Hence the term "perfin". Some catalogues list the official Canadian perfins - O.H.M.S. but only handbooks list the private perfins. The heyday of private perfins was during the George V period and these days one seldom sees them on mail. The first Canadian perfins appear in 1889 and in 1895 they received official sanction. Two of the pioneer companies to use perfins were the Intercolonial Railway (I.C.R.) and W.J.Gage (W.J.G.) We offer a W.J.G. on a two cent Small Queen. Note that the letters are inverted. In addition we have a small lot of private perfins, please enquire.

DF 15 CDN $10
U.S. $7