It has been the custom to assume that the first deliveries of the stamps were probably all upon _laid_ paper, which was borne out by dates on covers or postmarked specimens of the stamps used during the first year of issue. But by June of 1852, at least, according to Messrs. Corwin and King,[13] the stamps were beginning to appear on paper which was simply _wove_, without any trace of the laid lines, though in all other respects similar to the first supplies. Of course a minor detail of manufacture like this would have no official cognizance, so there is nothing for us to go by in determining the quantities printed on one or the other kind of paper, or the dates of issue, save for what can be gleaned from dated covers and deductions to be drawn from them. The two varieties of paper, however, have been as productive of controversy in the case of the 12 pence stamp as the peculiar expression of its value proved. [13] =Metropolitan Philatelist, I=: 149. But before discussing this question, let us see what we have to work on. The first annual report of the Postmaster General, for the year ending 5th April, 1852, contains the following information concerning the new stamps:-- Postage Stamps for the pre-payment of letters of the respective values of 3d., 6d. and 1s. were procured and issued immediately after the transfer, and have been kept for sale to the public at all the principal Post Offices in the Province; the demand, however, has not been great, as will be seen by the following statement, and the sales of the last quarter of the year would seem to demonstrate that the use of these Stamps in pre-payment of letters, is rather diminishing than gaining ground in the community. There were procured from the manufacturers, Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Co., of New York, during the year ended 5th April 1852: Value. 250,200 3d. Stamps £3127 10 0 100,400 6d. Stamps 2510 0 0 51,000 1s. Stamps 2550 0 0 _______ __________ 401,600 £8187 10 0 Of these have been issued to Postmasters for sale, to the same date: Value. 217,300 3d. Stamps £2716 5 0 63,400 6d. Stamps 1585 0 0 820 1s. Stamps 41 0 0 _______ ________ 281,520 £4342 5 0 The succeeding annual reports of the Postmaster General, for the years ending 31st March, 1853-6, give the following table of postage stamp statistics:-- Postage stamps issued for sale as follows:-- REPORT OF 31ST. MARCH, 1853. 3d. Stamps 6d. Stamps 1s. Stamps