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Telegraph stamps of the World Click here for a site-map.

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These pages form a catalogue of existing stamps, continuing the work of Steve Hiscocks.   It attempts give an idea of values. It is not a pricelist of stamps for sale. I have made some additions and given them 'RH' (Revised Hiscocks) numbers to preserve the original Hiscocks numbers. I have also brought the prices up to date and added currency selection.   CheckList         Setup

Contributors: Paul - Aztec Collectables Anthony - anthonys1-800-451-9645 Mike Aldrich - Mike Aldrich Mike Bender - www.ibredguy.co.uk Eric Jackson - ericjackson.com RL - Rolf Lamprecht Schuyler Rumsey - rumseyauctions.com Deveney Stamps - Deveney-Stamps Siegel Auction Galleries - siegelauctions.com Triple S Postal History - Triple S Postal History Edward Zaluski - PDF Doc. Teresa - vgstamps2015 Les Bottomley - -

 

There is now a wide range of screen sizes available for computers. Most images on this site are 300dpi.
I wanted to show a reasonable degree of detail, but if the images are an unsuitable size for your screen, be aware that it is adjustable.

In most browsers now you can press Control-Plus to magnify your screen and Control-Minus to make it smaller.

Useful background information on telegraphy in Canada can be found at The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Canada

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The telegraph stamps of Canada were all, like those of the USA, issued by private companies. Background information is given, where available,
under the separate headings. Canada is also distinguished by its issues of long series of telephone stamps both by private companies and by
Provincial Governments. Background information has proved harder to find in the case of telephone stamps but is again given, such as it is under the
appropriate headings.

My notes:
I was undecided whether to place this web-page under British Commonwealth, alongside the USA, or with links from both.
Since the early private telegraph companies crossed borders with the USA and their stamp design reflect US influence, I decided to do it this way.
The telephone stamps are on a separate page.

It should be noted that some telegraph companies operated in both Canada and the U.S.A., largely because they followed railway lines that did not stop at National boundaries.
Such companies are listed under the country in which they originated. It is generally unclear how services were paid for when operating outside their home countries, but
there were probably some reciprocal relationships.

The Great North Western Telegraph Co., Grand Trunk Pacific Railways Telegraph Co., and Canadian Pacific Railways operated also in the U.S.A.
Western Union took over part of the Great North Western in 1880 and thus could operate extensively in Canada for a while.

I.   -   Telegraph Stamps

Directory:

1. Algoma Central Railway Telegraph

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The headquarters of this railway was at Sault Ste. Marie at the eastern end of Lake Superior and it presumably skirted the northern shores of the lakes
through Algoma (Ontario). Only one stamp of the company is known and a search of the company records in the 1920s failed to turn up any more.
Information on even this single stamp is sparse and it is variously dated in 1890, "the 1890s" and 1909.

My note:
The stamp below bears the signature of their President Francis H. Clergue, who was the original owner of the railway which he needed for haulage purposes.
The Algoma Central Railway was chartered on August 11, 1899. It ran nearly 300 miles.

1902 ?   Printed on blue paper. Perforated

Here is a black and white image of a 1902 Frank courtesy of Edward Zaluski(pdf).

1902

Hiscocks also metions dates of 1900 and 1909.
Anyone have one of these, or a better image ?

2. Canadian National Telegraphs

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
Originally the Great North Western Telegraph Co. of Canada operated over the Grand Trunk Railway System. When the Canadian and US sections split
in 1920 the Canadian part became part of Canadian National Railways, as did the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, and was covered by the Canadian
National Telegraphs system. The stamps thus superseded those of the G.N.W.T. Co. and the G.T.P. Co.

1921 Engraved on white wove paper. No watermark. Rouletted 8 in colour between stamps. Dated '1921' in both top corners.

Type 1 (1921) H1 courtesy of backm-ro. (click image for listing)	Type 1 (1922) H2 as Hiscocks Book, page 23.	Type 1 (1923) H3 courtesy of www.ibredguy.co.uk. (click image for listing)	Type 2 (1923) H4   courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries New design and signature.

Look here for an explanation of the tables.

1922 As above but dated '1922'.

1923 As above but dated '1923'.

1923 As above but design changed (shading removed below new signature). Dates NOT changed).

Hiscocks added the following note:

Type 2 (1925-26) H5 courtesy of www.ibredguy.co.uk. (click image for listing)

1925-1926 As above but dates changed in top corners. Red controls.

Type 1 (1927-28) H6  -  from RL.	Type 2 (1929-30) H7 courtesy of www.ibredguy.co.uk. (click image for listing)	Type 2 (1931-32) H8 courtesy of Eric Jackson (click image for listing)	Type (2) (1933-34) H9 courtesy of www.ibredguy.co.uk. New signature. (click image for listing)

1927-1928 As above but dated 1927, 1928. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H6 2 No value, blue 40.00 20.00 1929-1930 As above but dated 1929, 1930. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H7 2 No value, ultramarine 25.00 12.50 1931-1932 As above but dated 1931, 1932. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H8 2 No value, black 160.00 80.00   (1931-2) H8 booklet pane of four shown on the right, Image courtesy of Eric Jackson   click on it for listing.   1933-1934 Altered design (shading under control removed) dated 1933, 1934. New signature. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H9 (2) No value, black 170.0 85.00

1935 As for No.4 but dated 1935. Roulette not coloured.

CARDS

Cards were also issued that allowed the use of Telegraph Lines.

 
Valid for 1935 for Mr. J. McMillan. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

Valid for 1941 for the business of Central Vermont Railway. - Image courtesy of ronneby040144 on eBay.

3. Canadian Northern Telegraph Company

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
Little information on this company has been forthcoming. It is said to have been absorbed by the Canadian National Telegraph Co. in 1921 but no
franks are known dated after 1914.

My Note: To stay competitive, a program of expansion was implemented, but combined with WWI financial problems, the company borrowed
heavily from the Government that eventually took it over. It was Nationalized in 1918. The cessation of Telegraph stamps was probably the result of the change in leadership.

1904 Lithographed on white wove paper. No watermark. Perf.12. Dated 1904. Signature of William MacKenzie.

Type 1 (1904)   H1 taken from Hiscocks Book, page 24.	Type 1 (1905)   H2 courtesy of Edward Zaluski(pdf)	Type 2 (1910)   H7 courtesy of Edward Zaluski(pdf)	Type 2   (1912) H9 courtesy of Eric Jackson   (click image for listing)

1905 As above but dated 1905.

1906 As above but dated 1906.

1907 As above but dated 1907.

1908 As above but dated 1908.

1909 New design lithographed on white wove paper. No watermark. Perf.12. Signature of Scott Griffin.

1910 As above but dated 1910.

1911 As above but dated 1911. Signature of W. C. Muir.

1912 As above but dated 1912.

1913 As above but dated 1913.

1914 As above but dated 1914.

4. Canadian Pacific Railways

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The company ran lines right across Canada and also through the USA in North Dakota and in Maine where the transcontinental line passed through
on its way to the Maritime Provinces. The service was available for both the public and for railway official business over the frank-issuing period of 1887
to 1936. The franks were presumably valid in those parts of the US where Canadian Pacific lines existed. There was also, at least over part of the period,
an exchange arrangement with the Postal Telegraph-Cable Co. in the US but it is not known whether the franks were usable on each other's forms.

Used copies appear to be less common than mint. One also comes across unused copies of panes of four cancelled by pencil or crayon: these are
probably those which were unused at the end of their year and were turned in.

1887 Line-engraved by the British-American Bank Note Co. of Montreal on thin hard wove paper.
No watermark. Perf.12½ between franks. Control has initial letter B.
Panes of 4 with imprint below bottom pair.

Type 1 (1887) H1  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1889) H2  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1890) H3 Image courtesy of Eric Jackson, click on it for listing	Type 1 (1891) H4  -  from RL.

Signature of Chas. R. Hosmer.

1889 As above but dated 1889. Perf.12.

1890 As above but dated 1890. Control has initial letter C.

1891 As above but dated 1891. No control letter.

1892 As above but dated 1892.

Type 1 (1892) H5  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1893) H6  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1894) H7  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1895) H8  -  from RL.

1893 As above but dated 1893.

1894 As above but dated 1894.

1895 As above but dated 1895.

1896 As above but dated 1896.

Type 1 (1896) H9  -  Image Needed	Type 1 (1897) H10  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1898) H11  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1899) H12  -  from RL.

1897 As above but dated 1897.

1898 As above but dated 1898.

1899 As above but dated 1899.

1900 As above but dated 1900.

Type 1 (1900) H13  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1901) H14   (new signature)  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1902) H15	Type 1 (1903) H16  -  from RL.

1901 As above but dated 1901. Change of signature.

1902 As above but dated 1902.

1903 As above but dated 1903.

Hiscocks added the following note:

1904 As above but dated 1904.

Type 1 (1904) H17  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1905) H18  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1906) H19  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1907) H20  -  from RL.

1905 As above but dated 1905.

1906 As above but dated 1906.

Hiscocks added the following note:

1907 As above but dated 1907.

1908 As above but dated 1908.

Type 1 (1908) H21  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1909) H22  -  from RL.	Type 1 (1910) H23  -  from RL.

1909 As above but dated 1909.

1910 As above but dated 1910.

Hiscocks added the following note:

1911 As above but dated 1911.

Hiscocks added the following note:

1912 As above but dated 1912.

1913 As above but dated 1913. (Thin paper)

Hiscocks added the following note:

1914 As above but dated 1914.

1915 As above but dated 1915.

1916 As above but dated 1916.

1917 As above but dated 1917.

1918 As above but dated 1918.

1919 As above but dated 1919.

1920 As above but dated 1920.

1921 As above but dated 1921. Perf.11.

1922 As above but dated 1922.

1923 As above but dated 1923.

1924 As above but dated 1924.

1925 As above but dated 1925.

Type 1 (1925) H38   (new signature - when?)

Image courtesy of Eric Jackson, click on it for listing.

1926 As above but dated 1926.

1927 As above but dated 1927.

1928 As above but dated 1928.

1929 As above but dated 1929.

1930 New design. Paper and printing as before. Perf.11. Dated 1930.

As shown on Hiscocks Book, page 28.
Type 2 inscribed 'TELEGRAPH' and Type 3 inscribed 'TELEGRAPHS'.

Hisc. Type 1930 Description Mint Used H43 2 No value, black (red controls) 35.00 17.50 1931 As above but dated 1931. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H44 2 No value, black (red controls) 64.00 32.00 1932 As above but dated 1932. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H45 2 No value, black (red controls) 70.00 35.00 1933 As above but dated 1933. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H46 2 No value, black (red controls) 48.00 24.00 1934 As above but dated 1934. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H47 2 No value, black (red controls) 44.00 22.00 1935 As above but dated 1935. Perf.12. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H48 3 No value, black (red controls) 50.00 25.00 1936 As above but dated 1936 and no shading behind control. Glazed paper. Perf.11. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H49 3 No value, black (red controls) 65.00 32.50

1935 - H48,   courtesy of Eric Jackson, click on image for listing.

Hiscocks added the following note and general note:

CARDS

Cards were also issued that allowed the use of Telegraph Lines. 1922 numbered 276.
 
Valid for 1922 for Mr. J. McMillan, Manager of Telegraphs, whose name appears at bottom-right ! - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

Cards were also issued that allowed the use of Telegraph Lines. 1922 numbered 280. The reason for showing both will become apparent below.
 
Valid for 1922 for the wife of Mr. J. McMillan, Manager of Telegraphs, whose name appears at bottom-right ! - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

These were to acknowledge receipt of such passes.
 
They are from the same source and valid for 1922. The number 276 matches that for Mr. J. McMillan above and 280 matches that for the wife of Mr. J. McMillan above. Nothing on the backs.
Neither were returned. acknowledgment may well have been verbal. Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

Though looking very similar, this is to acknowledge receipt of a book of 1926 Telegraph Franks.

The year is printed much smaller on this. Image courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

 
Valid for 1935 for Mr. J. McMillan, General Manager, whose name appears on telegrams shown below. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

This is for the wife of the above who is now deceased.
 
Valid for 1936 for the widow of Mr. J. McMillan. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

This is for the wife of the above who is now deceased. It is now for "Personal Social Messages" and the conditions have changed from "THIS PASS" to "THIS FRANK".
 
Valid for 1937 for the widow of Mr. J. McMillan. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

 
Valid for 1938 for the widow of Mr. J. McMillan. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

 
Valid for 1940 for the widow of Mr. J. McMillan. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

 
Valid for 1941 for the widow of Mr. J. McMillan. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

 
Valid for 1942 for the widow of Mr. J. McMillan. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

 
Valid for 1943 for the widow of Mr. J. McMillan. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

 
Valid for 1944 for the widow of Mr. J. McMillan. - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

5. Dominion de Forest Wireless Telegraph Company Ltd.

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
This company existed for less than one year. It was sued by the Marconi Company for infringement of patent rights and forced out of business.

1906 Lithographed on white wove paper. No watermark. Perf.12.

H1 courtesy of Edward Zaluski(pdf) (only 8 are reported).
In addition to this, Hiscocks illustrated one numbered 128 and others
numbered 008, 127(x2), 251, 268 and 299 are known.
All have imperf. edges, either side only or bottom and side.

6. Grand Trunk Pacific Railways Telegraph Company.

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
Like the Canadian Northern this company was absorbed into the Canadian National Telegraphs (q.v.) in 1921.

1911 Lithographed on white wove paper. No watermark. Perf.12. Signature of A. B. Smith.

Type 1 (1911) H1   (A. B. Smith)	Type 1 (1912) H2   (A. B. Smith)
Image courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries.	Courtesy of Eric Jackson, click on them for listing.

1912 As above but dated 1912.

1913 As above but dated 1913.

Type 1 (1913) H3   (A. B. Smith)	Type 1 (1918) H8   (new signature H. Hulatt)
Images courtesy of Eric Jackson, click on them for listing.

1914 As above but dated 1914.

1915 As above but dated 1915.

1916 As above but dated 1916. Signature of H. Hulatt.

1917 As above but dated 1917.

1918 As above but dated 1918.

1919 As above but dated 1919.

1920 As above but dated 1920.

CARDS

Cards were also issued that allowed the use of Telegraph Lines.

 
Valid for 1916 for Mr. J. McMillan (later Manager of Telegraphs for Canadian Pacific) - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

7. Great North Western Telegraph Company of Canada.

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The company operated throughout the Grand Trunk Railway system which extended beyond Canada across Michigan and Indiana into Chicago and
across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to Portland, Maine in the USA. In 1920 the Grand Trunk Railway became the Canadian National Railway
and the lines in the USA were taken over by Western Union while those in Canada became part of the Canadian National Telegraph system. (q.v.)

Franks were in panes of four in booklets. Control numbers have no preceding letters.

1890 Lithographed on white wove paper. No watermark. Perf.11½ to 12 between franks. Signature of H. P. Dwight. Red controls.

Type 1 (1890) H1   H. P. Dwight (V.P. & General Manager)	Type 1 (1891)   H2	Type 1 (1892) H3   H. P. Dwight (V.P. & General Manager)
Images courtesy of Eric Jackson, click for listing.	Image courtesy of backm-ro, click image for listing)	Image courtesy of Mike Aldrich, click for listing.

1891 As above but dated 1891.

1892 As above but dated 1892. Black controls.

1893 As above but dated 1893.

1894 As above but dated 1894. Red controls.

Type 1 (1894) H5   H. P. Dwight (P. & General Manager)	1894, top-left of pane - a damaged "T" example and a suggested repair. However the dates are also written differently. There are several different panes on the printing plate, each updated annually individually. This is a different top-left. Worth looking out for, and may even be on other years too. I'd like to hear of further examples.
One of mine.	Courtesy of Les Bottomley..

1895 As above but dated 1895.

Type 1 (1895) H6	Type 1 (1896) H7
Courtesy ibredguy.co.uk	One of mine.

1896 As above but dated 1896. Blue controls.

1897 As above but dated 1897. (both '7's large). Red controls.

Type 1 (1897) *H8c   (Red Control)	Type 1 (1898)  H9	Type 1 (1900) *H11a   (Red)	Type 1 (1901) H12
Image courtesy of Eric Jackson, click image for listing.	Image courtesy of backm-ro, click image for listing.	Image courtesy of Eric Jackson, click image for listing.	One of mine.

RH # Hisc. Type 1897 Description Mint Used RH8 H8 1 No value, light blue (red controls) 30.00 - RH8a H8a           both '7's small 25.00 - RH8b H8b           left hand '7' small, right hand '7' large 30.00 - *RH8c -           blue controls - - Examples suggest that this is a simplification.

*Hiscocks listed this as with a blue control
All 4 examples I have seen have red controls, the 'blue' may have been an error but I include it as RH8c.

Hiscocks added the following note:

1898 As above but dated 1898. Perf.12. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H9 1 No value, green (red controls) 30.00 -   1899 As above but dated 1899. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H10 1 No value, grey-brown (red controls) 28.00 100.00   1900 As above but dated 1900. The booklet pane on the right has been stitched into the booklet. examples below of 1902 and 1903 have been stapled. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H11 1 No value, red (red controls) 26.00 95.00 *RH11a           mauve - - *Hiscocks listed H11 as mauve. I have seen 4 red ones, but no mauve. I added RH11a in case there are any.   1901 As above but dated 1901. Hisc. Type Description Mint Used H12 1 No value, blue-green (red controls) 23.00 90.00

1900 booklet pane courtesy of Deveney-Stamps. Click images for listing.

1902 As above but dated 1902.

Type 1 (1902) H13   H. P. Dwight (P. & General Manager) booklet pane.	Type 1 (1903) H14   The digits of 1903 booklet pane.
Image courtesy of Deveney-Stamps. Click images for listing.	Images courtesy of Deveney-Stamps. Click images for listing.

Another example of the bottom pair of 1903, the same type of booklet pane as the one shown above.   The same variations can be seen in the year digits. Not all panes are the same though. 4015 shown below has different stamps. Images courtesy of Mike Aldrich. Click them for listing.

1903 As above but dated 1903.

H14a is a questionable listing and needs re-interpreting, or at least rewording, see below.
I would take it as both '3' being badly distorted.

Hiscocks added the following note:

My note: Steve Hiscocks appears to have assumed that the 1903 stamps were created from the 1902, simply by altering the '2' digits into '3' digits.
Close examination does not bear that out. There is also more than one type of booklet pane for 1903 at least.

GNW 1902 pane Top pair. from the block shown above. (2063)
GNW 1903 pane Top pair 1. from the block 2049 shown above.
GNW 1903 pair Top pair 2. from the pair 4015 shown below-right.
GNW 1902 pane Bottom pair. from the block shown above. (2063)
GNW 1903 pane Bottom pair 1. from the block 2049 shown above.
GNW 1903 Bottom-left 4015 stamp On the right is the 4015 with detail shown above.	If it was done as Hiscocks supposed, why not simply alter only the '2' digits? Clearly the other digits were also altered, the '9' particularly. To me it looks like for each corner of each stamp a rectangular 'slug' was made with the year on it, and that was added, at various angles, approximately to where it needed to go. I would have thought that a single slug would be produced and copies added to all corners making them the same, but, for whatever reason, clearly that was not done. Also clear is that the plate/stone had more than one booklet pane impression, Not all with the same variations of dates. two out of the three variations seen though are the same suggesting that there were not a lot of different panes. It is probable that the same was done from the beginning. 1897 and 1903 though are particularly noticeable.
GNW 1903 Bottom-left. stamp of the pair above.			This single is from the same source as the pair above. It has the same control number and the vertical perforations also align well with the pair. It seems likely that it comes from the same booklet pane. Images courtesy of Deveney-Stamps. Click images for listing.

1904 As above but design redrawn, strengthened and dated 1904.

Type 2 (1904) H15   H. P. Dwight (President)	Type 2 (1905) H16   H. P. Dwight (President)	Type 2 (1906) H17   H. P. Dwight (President)
From RL.	Images courtesy of Eric Jackson, click for listing.	Images courtesy of www.ibredguy.co.uk, click for listing.

My note: Hiscocks makes no mention of the difference between the two types of '4', but they are priced the same anyway.
The rectangles containing the year appear to be skewed in this image.

1905 As above but dated 1905.

1906 As above but dated 1906.

1907 As above but dated 1907.

Type 2 (1907) H18   (H. P. Dwight)	Type 2 (1908) *H19   (J. McMichael)	Type 2 (1909) H20   (J. McMichael)	Type 2 (1910) H21   (J. McMichael)
Image courtesy of anthonys1-800-451-9645 (eBay), click for listing.	Image courtesy of anthonys1-800-451-9645 (eBay), click for listing.	Images courtesy of Eric Jackson, click on them for listing.	Image courtesy of anthonys1-800-451-9645 (eBay), click for listing.

1908 As above but dated 1908. Signature of J. McMichael.

* The 3 examples of 1908 I have seen do not look violet to me they look the same colour as 1909
I think this is an error.

1909 As above but dated 1909.

1910 As above but dated 1910.

1911 As above but dated 1911.

Type 2 (1911) H22   (J. McMichael)	Type 2 (1912) H23   (Geo. D. Renouf)
Image courtesy of www.ibredguy.co.uk, click for listing.	Image courtesy of Eric Jackson, click it for listing.

1912 As above but dated 1912. Signature of George D. Renouf.

1913 As above but dated 1913.

Type 2 (1913) H24   (Geo. D. Renouf)	H24   - another example, still having problems with 3's
Image courtesy of www.ibredguy.co.uk, click for listing.	Image courtesy of Deveney-Stamps, click for listing.

1914 As above but dated 1914.

Type 2 (1914) H25   (Geo. D. Renouf)	1914 H25   pair courtesy of Deveney-Stamps, click for listing.

1915 As above but dated 1915.

Type 2 (1915) H26   (Geo. D. Renouf)	Type 2 (1916) H27   (Geo. D. Renouf)

1916 As above but dated 1916.

1917 As above but dated 1917.

Type 2 (1917) H28   (Geo. D. Renouf)	Type 2 (1918) H29   (Geo. D. Renouf)	Type 2 (1918) H29. The colour of these seems to be variable. courtesy of Mike Aldrich (click image for listing).

1918 As above but dated 1918 and the font of the controls has changed (note the '2's).

1919 As above but dated 1919.

Type 2 (1919) H30   (Geo. D. Renouf)	Type 2 (1920) booklet pane showing red 'T' and violet controls. courtesy of Mike Aldrich (click image for listing).

The ones I have seen for 1919 have a red 'T' following 'No.'
This also applies to the following ones dated 1920.

1920 As above but dated 1920.

1921 As above but dated 1921.

I have not seen any dated 1921.
Possibly the violet controls 1920 type (H31a) was used for a while in 1921 causing confusion.
John Barefoot does not any dated 1921.
Has anyone seen one ?

Hiscocks added the following note:

CARDS

Cards were also issued that allowed the use of Telegraph Lines.

 
Valid for 1916 for Mr. J. McMillan (later Manager of Telegraphs for Canadian Pacific) - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

Stationery.

Canadian Pacific Railway

An unused sending form (T. D. FORM 2, plain back) with pre-printed yer "190_", giving Jas. Kent as Manager of Telegraphs in Montreal.

Also 6 superintendent names for different areas. Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

A later unused sending form (FORM T. D. 2, referencing 1916 on the back), now giving J. McMillan as Manager of Telegraphs in Montreal.

The details, including 10 superintendent names for different areas, have been moved to the back. Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

Undated telegram.

This gives Mr. J. McMillan as Manager of Telegraphs, Montreal. A card of his can be seen above for 1935 when he had been pensioned. - Image courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

Telegram similar to last, but dated 14 September 1929, and with J. McMillan now as "General Manager". Still Form T.D. 1
Below that is now "STANDARD TIME". Nothing printed on the back.

Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

Unused sheet for a Copy of a Telegram. Nothing printed on the back.

Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

Canadian Pacific, Oct 6, 1897, with 3 x 1870, Small Queen, 1¢ yellow.
Courtesy of Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions. (click on image for listing).

A later delivery envelope used 24 March 1917 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Note the CP perfin on the stamps.



There is a backstamp of St. Boniface. Photos courtesy of Aztec Collectables, on eBay (click image for listing).

A later delivery envelope, used 1951 in Calgary, Alberta. Again, note the CP perfin on the stamp.
"Printed in Canada" on the back at left, and "C.D. 1334" on the right.

"SPANS THE WORLD". Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

An envelope dated 25 September 1941. (no image of back)

Charge paid.   Image courtesy of CanadaPostalHistoryandStamps on eBay (click image for listing).

An envelope of 1959?, with "L-shaped" window.

On the back, the "Printed in Canada" is now followed by "5", with "C.D. 1334" on the right.

"The World's Most Complete Transportation System"
  Image courtesy of CanadaPostalHistoryandStamps on eBay (click image for listing).

An envelope dated 11 February 1964? - The dark background makes it hard to read the date on these.

On the back, the "Printed in Canada" is now followed by "12", with "C.D. 1334-M" at top-right.

  Image courtesy of CanadaPostalHistoryandStamps on eBay (click image for listing).

Great North Western Telegraph Co.

A delivery form T. W. No. 1. used in 1893 giving H. P. Dwight as President and General Manager of the company.

The illustrated envelope dated 10 August 1893, shows with "Operated by The Great North Western", that the Montreal Telegraph Co., and Dominion Telegraph Co.,
had a relationship with the company, relying on the G.N.W to transmit the messages.
Image courtesy of Les Bottomley.

A later delivery form used in 1910 (plain back), giving H. P. Dwight still as President, but now I. McMichael as Vice President and General Manager of the company.

Head Office in Toronto. Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

An envelope used in 1904 (another has been seen dated 1896).
 
With a magnified detail. Images courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

Canadian National Telegraphs.

An unused "Night Letter" ("Form 6106 Replacing Form N.L. 2"), referencing 1916.

"Form 6106 Replacing Form N.L. 2" detail. Images courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

A telegram, Form 6122, of 27 July 1948.

This was sent in the CNT6135-B envelope shown below - Image courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

A delivery envelope(Form CNT 6133, plain back) used 25 May 1935 in Hamilton.

Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

A later and very different Form CNT 6133, the back now advertising money transfers. Unused, but seen dated in 1947.

Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

A similar envelope marked CNT 6135 used at Waterloo, Ontario. Date illegible, but the stamp dates from 1954.
 
Images courtesy of AsianStamp - (click for listing).

An envelope, Form CNT6135-B, used 27 July 1948.
 
This contained the 6122 telegram shown above - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).

An envelope (Form CNT 6137) used 23 December 1951 in Calgary, Alberta.

Advertising money transfer by telegraph. Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

A CNT-6137 envelope dated 21 March 1959.

The back offers money transfers

  Image courtesy of CanadaPostalHistoryandStamps on eBay (click image for listing).

A Greetings telegram envelope used in 1945. Note the CNT perfin on the stamp.

A very different style, with no visible form number. Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

This looks like it was probably enclosed in an envelope like the one above. It is dated 9 May 1966.

It has a small "6126" at bottom-left.   Image courtesy of CanadaPostalHistoryandStamps on eBay (click image for listing).

The Canadian National Railways still continued to provide a telegraph service.
Note the form number at top-left, C.N.R. 275 / 2-38. I have seen a used one dated in 1954.
I have also seen a reference to a Traingram used in 1946 (no image) and also a good image of one almost the same, used in U.S.A., 1937, printed in black with C.N.R. 275 / 10-26
I suspect the 10-26 is a printing or revision date. On used ones, postage stamps go over the R.R.B.

Image courtesy of Les Bottomley. Further information and/or images, would be appreciated.

Radiotelegraph Service.
by Royal Canadian Signals.

A Radiotelegraph envelope used 18 November 1941

This has a boxed, dated, return address at top-left and form identification at bottom-left.   I take the 11-40 to indicate a printing date of November 1940. Images courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

A Radiotelegraph envelope, like the last, used 29 May 1942.
This still has "N.D.—G.F. 8 / 75M—11-40(8028) / H.Q. 82-20-5" at front bottom-left, but the return address information is stamped on the back.
 
This has "CONFIRMATION" stamped on the front, so probably was to confirm the sending of a message.
Images courtesy of Samwells Ltd., click image for eBay listing.

Canadian Government Radio Service.
by Radio Division - Department of Transport.

A later, undated Radiotelegram envelope

This has a return address stamped on the back and form identification at front, bottom-left.   I take the 4-48 to indicate a printing date of April 1948. The stamp has a "G" overprinted indicating Official use. There is also a Coat of Arms at front, top-left : Images courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

Other Companies.

Dominion Telegraph Co.

1876 Dominion Telegraph Co. cover to Collingwood, Ont., illustrated corner card in blue shows Telegraph Messenger.
Delivery envelope, ex-Kramer. Courtesy of Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions. (click on image for listing).

Montreal Telegraph Co.

Used at Montreal, March, 1873
courtesy of Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions. (click on image for listing).

As far as I know they did not issue stamps but this envelope and telegram may be of interest.

Envelope image courtesy of Triple S Postal History.



Telegram of 15 December 1876, image courtesy of Triple S Postal History.
Click image to see listing.

Montreal Telegraph Company, embossed illustrated Zeus cameo corner card. 1860 use in red.
Courtesy of Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions. (click on image for listing).

Addressed to Norway! No stamp. Is there a place called "Norway" in Montreal ?
(gone are the days you could simply put a name and country on an evelope and expect it to get there)
courtesy of Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions. (click on image for listing).

Canadian Marconi Company

Front Back

Inside

This Complimentary Frank is valid for 1932 - Images courtesy of Candipro on eBay (click image for listing).
It covers messages sent by radio from Canadian Marconi Stations, without charge.
In 1932, J. McMillan was Manager of Telegraphs in Montreal for Canadian Pacific.

This is an Urgent Post-Letter Telegram envelope used 18 October 1941 in Montreal with "Via Marconi" and a back-flap with the address of Marconi.
It also has the form number of 326.

Image courtesy of Les Bottomley.

Anglo-American Company.
"The All British Cable Route"

Though this was used in Canada in 1942, there is nothing marked on it to indicate where it was printed or intended to be used.
Since Anglo-American operated in at least Britain, Canada, North, Central and South America and the West Indies,
the same envelopes may well have been used in all of those places.

Image courtesy of vgstamps2015 on eBay (click image for listing).

T.—No. 91.  /  S B or X B
"Government Telegram / to be given / PRIORITY"
Anyone know anything about these?



It was with some US Postal Official Seals, so It is likely from the USA, but it may not be.
It is perforated with guage 10 - Any information would be welcome.

Here is a new link to Canadian Telephone Stamps.

If anyone can provide scans to help with this, I am happy to give appropriate credit.

Comments, criticisms, information or suggestions are always welcome.

Please include the word 'Telegraphs' in the subject.

Last updated 2nd. April 2024

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