The Admiral Stamps of Canada

The Two Cents War Tax

Introduction

The two-cents value was not introduced for postage tax purposes. It was introduced for affixing to money orders and travellers' cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange and receipts for money. It found its way into postal use as well. The authorities changed their minds about postal use, and it became official after 16 April 1915.

Printed from a total of ten plates, 118.4 million stamps were received by the Post Office, and the majority were used for their intended purpose, but many did find their way into postal use as a two-cents stamp. As with the two-cents carmine postage stamp, there was some fluctuation in the colour rendering, and three shades are recognised by some authorities.