is; ■ 
 
CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THIS BOOK IS ONE OF 
 A COLLECTION MADE BY 
 
 BENNO LOEWY 
 
 1854-1919 
 
 AND BEQUEATHED TO 
 CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 
Cornell Universiiy uprary 
 HE6185.U5 L94 1902 
 + 
 The postage stamps of the United States, 
 
 3 1924 030 134 104 
 olin Overs 
 
IS 
 
 Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030134104 
 
The postage Stamps 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES 
 
 JOHN N. LUFF 
 
 New York: 
 THE SCOTT STAMP & COIN CO., Ltd. 
 
 1902. 
 
 3 
 
Copyright, 1897. 
 By The Scott Stamp & Coin Co., Ltd. 
 
Contents, 
 
 Page 
 
 Introductory, ... 3 
 
 Historical Notes, ... .5 
 
 The Postmasters' Stamps, . 9 
 
 Alexandria, Va., 12 
 
 Annapolis, Md„ • '3 
 
 Baltimore, Md., 15 
 
 Boscawen, N. H., 20 
 
 Brattleboro, Vt., 21 
 
 Lockport, N. Y., . • 26 
 
 Millbury, Mass., 27 
 
 New Haven, Conn., 29 
 
 New York, N. Y., . 32 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., 38 
 
 Pittsfield, Mass., . 39 
 
 Providence, R. \., . 40 
 
 St. Louis, Mo., 45 
 
 Washington, D. C, 52 
 
 Worcester, Mass., 54 
 
 Madison, Fla., . . -55 
 
 Government Issues, 57 
 
 Issue of 1847, 59 
 
 Issue of 1851-55, . . .65 
 
 Issue of 1857-60, -75 
 
 Issues of 1861-66, 81 
 
 Issue of i86r, . . 81 
 
 " " 1863, 90 
 
 " " 1866, . . 91 
 
 Issue of 1867, -97 
 
 Issue of 1869, • • . • '°^ 
 
 Issue of 1870, . . 119 
 
 Issues of 1873-75, . . 130 
 
 Issue of 1879, ■ • '44 
 
 Issues of 1881-88, . . 147 
 
 Issue of 1881-82, ... 147 
 
 " " April loth, 1882, ..... 149 
 
 " " October ist, 1883, 151 
 
 " " June 15th, 1887, ..... 153 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Issues of 1887-88, 
 
 Issue of 1890, 
 
 Issue of 1893, .... 
 
 Issue of 1894-95, 
 
 Issue of 1898 (Trans-Mississippi Series), 
 
 Issue of 1898, 
 
 Issue of 1901 (Pan-American Series), 
 
 Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 The Baltimore Carriers' Stamps, . 
 
 The Boston Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 The Charleston Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 The Louisvile Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 The New York Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 The Philadelphia Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Pony Express Stamps, 
 
 The Franklin Carriers' Stamp, 
 
 The Eagle Carriers' Stamp, 
 
 Special Delivery Stamps, 
 
 Official Stamps (Issue of 1873), 
 
 Official Stamps (Issue of 1879), 
 
 Newspaper and Periodical Stamps (Issue of 
 
 " (Issue of 
 " (Issue of 
 " (Issue of 
 " (Issue of 
 
 Postage Due Stamps, 
 -Issue of 1879, 
 Issues of 1894-95, 
 Provisional Issues, 
 
 Reprints, Re-Issues and Special Printings, 
 Issue of 1847, 
 
 " " 1857, 
 " " 1861, 
 " " 1869, 
 " " 1870, 
 " " 1882, 
 " " 1883, 
 Carriers' Stamps, 
 Official Stamps, 
 
 Newspaper and Periodical Stamps, 
 Postage Due Stamps, 
 Official Seals, 
 
 Appendix, .... 
 
 Addenda, .... 
 
 Errata, ..... 
 Index, .... 
 
 1865), 
 '87s), 
 1879), 
 1894), 
 189s), 
 
 Page. 
 
 ISS 
 160 
 170 
 179 
 191 
 196 
 200 
 202 
 207 
 211 
 
 222 
 
 225 
 
 238 
 
 24* 
 248 
 250 
 256 
 274 
 289 
 294 
 303 
 318 
 320 
 
 329 
 329 
 336 
 341 
 
 343 
 346 
 348 
 349 
 35° 
 351 
 354 
 354 
 355 
 356 
 359 
 364 
 365 
 
 375 
 401 
 
 403 
 405 
 
Introductory, 
 
 The first of the series of articles which constitute this •■.vorl<, and which 
 it is now ray pleasure topresent in a more permanent form, appeared in the 
 American Journal of Philately for June, 1897. 
 
 Philatelists had, for some time, felt the need of a new history of the 
 postage stamps of the United States, as the only work on this subject, which 
 was then extant, had been written many years before and, in spite of its 
 numerous excellent features, had become obsolete. The discoveries of 
 recent years had increased the interest in the stamps of this country, enlarged 
 the field of collecting and given us new literary material which it was desirable 
 to gather into some permanent form. 
 
 I had frequently been urged to undertake this task but had hesitated 
 on account of its magnitude, fully realizing the amount of research and labor 
 involved in properly placing such a work before the public. However, I, at 
 last, decided to undertake the work and have carried it out to. the best of my 
 ability. I must leave it to my readers to decide what measure of success has 
 attended my efforts. 
 
 The difficulties attending the study of the stamps of the United States 
 are great, especially in the case of the early issues. Of the postmasters' and 
 carriers' stamps there are practically no records,- either public cr private. 
 The men who issued or handled the stamps have most of them passed away. 
 Those who remain can recall but little and human memory is proverbially 
 fallible. To find the best and most reliable data we must turn to the earlier 
 philatelic publications and from these sources I have drawn freely. 
 
 Even in the case of the government issues we can obtain but little 
 information. Until 1894 the si amps were not printed by the government 
 but by contractors. The official records seldom hhow more than the quantities 
 of stamps received and distributed. Even these records are usually inacces- 
 sible, except in the shape of the annual reports of the Postmaster- General, 
 which are, as a rule, merely perfunctory lists of the number of stamps of each 
 value dibtribuled in each year and supply very h'ttle that we wish to know 
 of design paper, colors and the numerous details which are of interest to 
 philatelists. 
 
 In preparing this work I have spared neither time nor, pains and, thanks 
 to the liberality of my publishers, expenditure for material and investigation 
 has not been stinted. The various chapters have now been carefully corrected 
 
4 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 and amplified. I have tried to include every interesting detail and every 
 item which might be of value. I fear I have sometimes given extracts and 
 statistics that make dull reading, but it has seemed necessary to include them 
 for the sake of completeness. 
 
 Of regular issues by the government, the adhesive stamps only will be 
 considered. The envelope stamps occupy a field by themselves and there are 
 already extant several very, complete and elaborate works devoted to them. 
 But, among the provisional issues by postmasters and the carriers' stamps, 
 envelopes will be described. They are few in number and their inclusion is 
 desirable for the sake of historical completeness. 
 
 It is fitting that I should express here my obligation to many others, 
 both collectors and dealers, for their valued assistance. They have placed at 
 my disposal their collections and stocks and have aided me in other ways. 
 It was originally my intention to make individual mention of those who 
 assisted me, I now find that I have a long list of such friends, yet I fear that 
 I may have failed to note some names Rather than risk a seeming, though 
 unintentional neglect, I deem it best to say that I am indebted to many of 
 those best known in philately in this country and in Europe, and to many 
 others whose names are not so familiar but whose good will was the equal 
 of any. To all I offer my sincere thanks. 
 
Historical Notes, 
 
 The first efforts towards establishing a postal system in what is now the 
 United States were made by the colonies of Massachussetts and Pennsylvania; 
 by the former in 1676 and by the latter in 1683. The head offices were Early postal 
 located in Boston and Philadelphia. These systems were designed for the ArrangcmeHts. 
 convenience of the colonies establishing them, rather than for the benefit of 
 the North American colonies in general. 
 
 The mother country seems to have given no favorable attention to the 
 needs of the colonies in the direction of postal communication until 1692 and 
 the project remained unfruitful fur nearly twenty years after that date. In 
 the annual report of the Postmaster- General, dated November 29th, 1831, 
 we read : 
 
 " As early as 1677, upon the petition of several merchants of Boston (Massachnssetts), 
 Mr. John Hayward, scrivener, was appointed by the court, 'to take in and convey letters 
 according to their direction.' 
 
 This was probably the first post office and mail service authorized in America. Local 
 and imperfect arrangements for the conveyance of mails were afterwards made, at different 
 periods, in several of the colonies, until 1710, when the British Parliament passed an act 
 authorizing the British Postmaster-Genera! ' to keep one chief letter office in New York, and 
 other chief letter offices in each of her Majesty's provinces or colonies in America.' Deputy 
 Postmasters-General for North America were subsequently and fio.n time to time appointed 
 by the Postmaster-General in England, and Doctor Benjamin Franklin was so appointed in 
 1755. He was removed in 1774. 
 
 On the 26th of July, 1775, the Continents Congress determined 'th.it a Postmaster- 
 General be appointed for the United Colonies,' and to allow him ' a salary of one thousand 
 dollars per annum for himself and three hundred and forty dollars per annum for a secretary 
 and comptroller.' On proceeding to the election of Postmaster General, ' Benjamin Franklin, 
 Esq., was unanimously chosen.' 
 
 The Articles of Confederation of 1 77S gave to the United States in Congress assembled 
 ' the sole and exclusive right and power of establishing and regulating post offices, from one 
 State to another throughout all the United States, and exacting such postage on the papers 
 passing through the same as may be requisite to defray the expenses of an ofTice.' The little 
 progress made during the period of the Confederation shows that this power was too limited 
 to be useful, and when the increase of the mail service before the adoption of the constitution 
 of the United States is compared with its subsequent extension one cannot fail to perceive 
 that the prosperity, efficiency, and value of this department are chiefly to be ascribed to the 
 national government founded under the constitution of the Union. 
 
 The first Congress assembled under our present constitution passed ' An act for the 
 temporary establishment of a post office ' approved September 22, 1789. This act directed 
 the appointment of a Postmaster General, and was to continue in force until the end of the 
 next session of Congress. Under this provision Samuel Osgood, of Massachussetts, was 
 appointed by President Washington, Postmaster-General of the United States, and this was 
 the first appointment to that office. * * * 
 
 The earliest reliable statistics of the General Post Office are those for the year 1790, 
 when the number of post offices was seventy-five ; the extent of the post routes 1,875 miles; 
 and the revenues of the department $37.W5-" 
 
HISTORICAL NOTES. 
 
 To those who are interested in the early history and gradual develope- 
 ment of our postal system, I recommend the perusal of an article by Mr. 
 James Rees in the Avicrican Journal of Philately for April, 1876. 
 
 The rates of postage were at first excessively high. In 1816 they were 
 considerably reduced. From that date until the Act of March 3rd, 1845, 
 Hates of I'ostasc which established uniform postage throughout the United States, the rate for 
 a single letter- varied from 6 cents to 25 cents, according to distance, the latter 
 sum carrying a letter only 400 miles. Double and triple letters were charged 
 in proportion A single letter was not one of a certain weight, but a single 
 sheet of paper, folded and addressed on the back. Two sheets of paper or a 
 sheet and a cover constituted a'double letter. 
 
 The Act of March 3rd, 1845, established rates of postage as follows: 
 
 " For every single letter in manuscript or paper of any kind by or upon which infor- 
 mation shall be asked for or communicated in writing or by marks or signs, cofcveyed in the 
 mail, for any distance under three hundred miles, five cents ; and for anv distance over three 
 hundred miles, ten cents ; and for a double letter there shall be charged double^ these rates ; 
 and for a treble letter, treble these rates ; and for a quadruple letter, qu.idruple these rates ; 
 and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weiaht shall be deemed a single 
 letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or .additional weight of less than half 
 an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage And all drop letters or letters 
 placed in any post-office, not for transmission through the mail, but for delivery only, shall 
 lie charged with postage at the rate of two cents each." 
 
 Circulars were charged two cents eai;h. Newspapers were charged 
 according to size. A sheet under certain diinensions was charged one cent 
 for a distance less than one hundred miles and one and one half cents for a 
 greater distance. For a sheet larger than the regulation size the rate was 
 two cents. Pamphlets and magazines were charged two and one half cents 
 each. 
 
 Any one who studies the early issues of this country, the issues of post- 
 masters, carriers and the local posts, or any of the records of the time, soon 
 notices that in its early days the post office department was never a leader 
 I'ost Offlco not a ^^t always a follower. It allowed others to make all experiments, reforms 
 Leader. and improvements, and then copied or took up their work. It was only when 
 
 local posts had demonstrated that lower rates were profitable or had drawn 
 to themselves the patronage of the public, through rapid or more frequent 
 service, that the government granted similar improvements. 
 
 A very interesting account of the early postal laws and of the private 
 posts is given by Mr. James Leslie, U. S. Consul at Nice, in the Stamp 
 Collectors Magazine, lo\ Nov. i, 1863. In view of the fact that Mr Leslie 
 Karl) I'ostai Laws was evidently thoroughly conversant with his subject and that' he wrote at 
 anil Priviite Pouts. ^|^g ^^.,g ^j-jg^j jj-ig various chang s in the postal laws had finally brought the 
 government service into effecti\e working form and enabled it to supersede 
 the private posts, I think a liberal ([uotation from his article may be of 
 interest : 
 
 " The proper expl.-malion of the ninny local postage stainps issued in the United States 
 is only to be found in a thorough review of the postal laws pa.ssed by the United States' 
 Congress and in a careful study of the various changes wrought by these successive legisla- 
 tive acts in the mode of distribution ol letters and in the r.ites of postage. ■» * * 
 
 The agitation in fav/or of and fmal adoption in England of the penny-postage system, 
 excited a correspcidinj; interest and movement in the United Slates in favor of a reduction 
 of what were felt to be, in comparison with British rates, extortionate postal charges. As 
 happens with all poliiical reforms, it took time to develope public sentiment and to draw the 
 
HISTORICAL NOTES. 7 
 
 attention of Congress to this important subject. The government rates for carrying letters 
 were deemed so onerous that, in the fall of 1844,* private parties undertook to transport 
 letters on their own account between points where they felt sure that money could be earned 
 at lower rates. And, although such attcmps to defraud the post-office revenues were in 
 direct contravention of existing laws, popular sentiment, impressed with the idea of getting a 
 better service at a lower price, winked at the law's infractions ; and, although the violations 
 of the law were carried on with comparatively little secrecy, the perpetrators were never 
 reached or, at any rate, were never punished. * * * 
 
 The successful efforts of these private carriers soon commenced to tell upon the postal 
 revenues, and, as the natural consequence, the post-office department was compelled to 
 propose the remedy'so clamorously called for by public opinion. By the Act of Mjrch 3, 
 1845, Congress at one sweep abolished the previous dear rates, as well as the annoying scale 
 of varying distances ; and, whilst substituting the weight-standard, reduced at the same time 
 the rate for a single letter to 5 cents for any distance under three thousand miles, and 10 
 cents for all distances over three thousand miles. By the provisions of the same act, drop- 
 letters (by which was meant letters for delivery in the same town where posted, as distinguished 
 from letters intended for transportation to other towns) were made chargeable with a tax of 
 2 cents, prepayment being opLioiial. 
 
 It must be borne in mind that, in addition to all the rates just mentioned, the post- 
 office carriers were entitled to charge upon all letter's, without exception, delivered at one's 
 r'esidence, a fee of 2 cents for delivery. This last item of revenue formed the entire com- 
 pensation of ihe carriers, who, deeming themselves underpaid, were unwilling to make more 
 than two deliveries a day — one in the morning, and another in the afternoon. It will be- 
 seen that, under this arrangement, the entire tax levied upon a drop-letter, carrred a lew 
 squares' distance, and delivered at one's r-eiidence, was 4 cents, or only 1 cent les>than the 
 sum chai'ged for transporting a similar letter nearly thi-ee thousand miles ! 
 
 It is to this impor'tant fact, and to the waul of frequent deliveries in large cities and 
 towns, that we may legitrniately tr'ace the creation of the numerous private post companies. 
 In all the chief towns, these companies established a system of letter-boxes, fr-om which 
 letters were collected and deliver'ed five or six times a day, and at one-half or even one- 
 fourth the rates charged by the Government. The usual price was 1 cent or 2 cents. At 
 fri'st in the principal cities, wjien there was no competition, the price was two cents. Later, 
 as rivalry started up in the private postal service, some of the companies lowered the price 
 to one cent. In some of the smaller cities, wher'e the distances travelled over by the carriers 
 were compai'atively shor't, the price was never higher than one cent. Hence almost every 
 city had its one, or, as in Philadelphia or New York, its half-dozen local posts ; and hence 
 why, upon the stamps employed by these companies, the usual designations of value will be 
 found to be one and two cents. * * * 
 
 It was not in fact, till 1847, ^^^^ the American Congress decided upon the introduc- 
 tion of postage stamps. The eleventh section of the Act of March j, r847, provides as 
 follows : 
 
 ' Section XI. That to facilitate the transportation of letters in the mail the Post- 
 master-General be authorized to prepare postage stamps which, when attached to any letter 
 or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of the postage chargeable on such letter." 
 
 An important innovation upon the system of postal regulations was introduced into 
 the Act, passed IWarch 3, 1851. Whilst still leaving the prepayment of letters optional, this 
 new-law reduced the rate for letters under three thousand miles to 3 cents, if prepaid; whilst, 
 if not prepaid, the old r-ate of 5 cents was collected. * * * 
 
 The contirrued success of the private posts at this period caused the insertion of a 
 provision in this same Act of r85i, authoiizing the Postmaster-General to establish 'post 
 routes within the cities or towns'; to reduce the total charge, inclusive of delivery-fee, upon 
 dr'op-letters to two cents ; and to provide for collecting and conveying to the chief office of 
 the general post letter's intended for transportation to other cities, —the latter duty having 
 been previously monopolized by ihe private carriers. This explains a great many of the 
 local stamps hearing such inscriptions as the following : 'To the Mail, one ccnt^ ; Post- 
 Office Despatch'; Government City Despatch'; and also, the one issued by the Post-office 
 Depar'tmenf, viz , the blue oval stamp, with vignette of an eagle raising, and the inscription, 
 ' U. S. P. O- Despatch, prepaid one cent ' 
 
 But, notwrthstanding the provisions of ihe Act of 1851 referred to, the post office 
 officials were slow to exercise the autiiority granted. Though the price on drop-letters was 
 reduced to only 2 cents, still the rapid and frequerrt deliveries, whidi the public had become 
 accustomed to from the private companies, wer'e not yet supplied by the Post-office Depart- 
 ment ; the gover-nmcnt post office carriers refusing to make more than the traditional two 
 djiiy deliveries, unless they were assur'ed a remunerative salary, which should not be depen- 
 dent upon the number of letters, more or less, which they delivered. * * * 
 
 By the Act of June 15, i860, a still further r'eduction was made in the fee for the 
 
 *NnTH. — Mr. Leslie's date may be set back nearly three years, since we now know that Greig's City 
 Despatch Post was established in the city of New York on Jan. 1st, 181 -. It is claimed that Hale's post 
 was in operation at a still earlier date, but did not use stamps. 
 
8 HISTORICAL NOTES. 
 
 delivery of letters ; the rate collected by the carriers on all letters, whether received from 
 abroad or mailed in the city itself, being one cent. A special appropriation of money was 
 also made, to make up the loss to the carriers consequent upon this reduction, by substituting 
 a fixed salary for these officials. And yet nothing was said in the Act as to the compulsory 
 prepayment of this delivery-fee of i cent. In reality that question remained an open one 
 until the present year. By the Act of March 3, 1863, the question was definitely settled. It 
 provides for frequent deliveries (which can now be easily carried out, .since the carriers have 
 regular fixed salaries) ; it compels prepayment on all drop-letters, upon which the rate is 
 made two cents (a step backwards, it may be remarked, en passant); and abolishes all 
 delivery tax upon letters coming from other towns. The law took effect on the 1st of July, 
 and this accounts for the introduction of the new 2 cents adhesive label, and the 2 cents 
 envelope, both with the effigy of President Jackson. 
 
 The question of the right of private carriers to transport letters within the municipal 
 limits of the cities was settled authoritatively in 1861, by the United States Court for the 
 Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in a suit brought by the government against Messrs. 
 Kochersperger & Co., successors to D. O. Blood & Co., of Philadelphia. The Court decided 
 that, by the language of the Post-Office Act of March 3, 1851 (already previously quoted), 
 the ' streets' of cities and towns were made 'post-routes', and that the Government alone 
 had power to transport letters over them. This decision, happily commended to popular 
 approval by the tardy awakening of the post-office officials to increased energy and enter- 
 prise, was the death blow to the local companies Though the Government did not com- 
 mence suit against all the parties, the decision in the one case had served as a sufficient 
 warning ; and, at the present time, private-posts and local stamps in the United States may 
 be considered amongst the things ot the past." 
 
The Postmasters' Stamps. 
 
 This most interesting group of stamps, representing the earliest official 
 attempts to meet the requirements of the public and lead the way for proper 
 governmental supply and control of postage stamps, presents many difficulties 
 to the philatelic student and writer. 
 
 Previous to the introduction of adhesive stamps, letters were marked 
 " PAID " or " DUE," either with pen and ink or hand stamps of various designs. 
 Sometimes the words sufficed but usually the amount of the postage and the Dse of ;iiarks. 
 date were added. The three may be found separately applied and also com- 
 bined in one hand-stamp. The varieties of type are numerous. 
 
 As has been previously remarked, the introduction of adhesive postage 
 stamps in Europe was followed by a demand for similar conveniences in this 
 country. But the Government was slow to accede to popular wishes and did 
 not yield until the example had been set by the local posts and by issues of 
 a semi-private nature on the part of certain postmasters. 
 
 The first adhesive stamp used in this country was issued by the City 
 Despatch Post, otherwise known as Greig's Post, established in NewYork City, 
 January ist, 1842. This proved such an annoyance to the Government that First Local stnmp. 
 it was suppressed and in its place the United States City Despatch Post was First farriers' 
 established. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that this post was Stamp, 
 
 bought out, since its proprietor, Alex. M. Greig, was given the position of 
 letter carrier. 
 
 It is said that the Act of March 3rd, 1845, as originally prepared, con- 
 tained provisions for the prepayment of postage and the use of adhesive 
 stamps on letters to foreign countries. But neither provision was contained 
 in the Act, as passed. 
 
 Between the passage of the Act of March 3d, 1845, establishing the 
 uniform rates of 5 and 10 cents, and that of the Act of March 3rd, 1847, by 
 which the Postmaster General was at last authorized to issue postage stamps, 
 the postmasters in several cities had postage stamps prepared and sold them 
 to the public. It is probable that this action was prompted by a desire to ac- 
 commodate their customers and to increase the receipts of their offices, by 
 offering facilities in competition with those of the private posts. They usually 
 sold their stamps at a slight advance over the face value, in order to re-imburse 
 themselves for the expense of manufacture. It is possible that the limited 
 use of several of these stamps may be, to some extent, due to this premium. 
 
lO THE PnSTMASTERS STAMPS. 
 
 With one exception— that of a few of the stamps of the New York 
 Postmaster, which were sent experimentally to other cities— these stamps had 
 no currency outside of the city in which they were issued. They were 
 recognized by the postmaster who issued them, as marks of postage prepaid, 
 when placed on letters mailed at his office ; but no other postmaster would 
 Stamps aiuiiobir accept them as such, if placed on letters deposited in his office. The stamps, 
 oiiice. *° another office than that of issue, merely took the place of the word ''paid," 
 
 in fact that word was usually impressed on the letters or used as a cancella- 
 tion for the adhesive stamps. The stamps would carry letters from the office 
 of issue to any other office but they would not carry a reply, since each post- 
 master would only recognize the label or mark for which postage had been 
 paid to him. 
 
 It is interesting to note, on many of the postmaster's stamps, a 
 survival of the early custom of vouching for the prepayment of postage by 
 metns of the postmaster's signature. The New York Postmaster or his 
 Signatures oil deputies placed their initials on the stamps of that city. Mr. Mitchell of 
 stamps. New Haven wrote his name on each stamp. The Postmaster of Alexandria 
 
 numbered his stamps. The stamps of Brattleboro bear a facsimile of the Post- 
 master's initials, and on those from Baltimore the signature is reproduced in full. 
 While, previous to March, 1847, there was no law authorizing the Post- 
 master General to issue stamps or to sanction their issue by others, there 
 does not seem to have been any law forbidding such issue. If the stamps of 
 the various postmasters were brought to the attention of the Postmaster 
 General he appears to have paid no heed to them, probably regarding them as 
 private contracts between the postmasters and their customers and in no way 
 detrimental to the interest of the Government, since the accounts were made 
 up from the letters handled and the postage paid on them and not from the 
 sales of the stamps. 
 
 It is noteworthy that these stamps usually bear the words " Post 
 Office " and the name of the city in which they were issued. Only those in 
 authority would have dared to place these words upon the stamps. Their 
 face values, five and ten cents, were the established government rates for 
 service under and over 3,000 miles and were too high for local letters. They 
 were clearly intended for more extended use than the local service of the 
 cities in which they were issued The workmanship of many of them is 
 superior to that of the stamps of the local posts, indicating that their pro- 
 jectors felt warranted in incurring considerable expense in their production. 
 These unofficial issues have at least the implied sanction of the 
 authorities, since nothing was done, before March, 1847, to stop their use. 
 Not only was their passage through the mails observed and allowed but wide 
 publicity was given to them through the press. This unspoken consent, 
 added to the fact that they were issued by those holding authority from the 
 Govenment, gives them a seini-offiiial character. Their position in philately 
 is extremely interesting if not unique. 
 A r(i»t,iiiiiHtor'N ^^ ""'-' '"^t^'nce the stamps of a postmaster received official recognition, 
 
 stmiip uHiciuiiy In the J/r/ni/'i>//7<!/i f/i/'/u/c/is/ (or Minch, 1S94, Mr. F. W. Hunter says of 
 recognized. ^-^^ stamps issued by Robert H. Morris, the Postmaster of New York : 
 
THE POSTMASTERS STAMPS. II 
 
 " During the year 1846, Mr. Morris sold the scblacl< New York to the postmasters of 
 Boston, Washington, Albany and Philadelphia. My informant is not positive of the stamps 
 being used in Philadelphia, but at all events the stamps were sold to the postmaster for use 
 in that city. Cave Johnson, the Postmaster-General of the United States under President 
 James K. Polk, authorized and directed the sale of the stamps to the Postmasters of the above 
 mentioned cities. The stamps were only to be sold for letters directed to New York City.- 
 When affixed to letters they were to be treated as unpaid by their respective postmasters and 
 forwarded to New York and when there the letters were considered as " Paid " by the 
 postal authorities in that city. This was done for a short time, solely as an experiment to 
 test the practicability of use of postage stamps throughout the United States." 
 
 The first of the postmasters to issue stamps was Robert H. Morris, 
 Postmaster of New York. A number of other offices quickly followed his 
 example. It seems best to consider these stamps in the alphabetical order 
 of the ofifices issuing them. 
 
Alexandria, Va. 
 
 Date of Issue. 
 
 Historical. 
 
 Design and Paper. 
 
 
 This stamp was issued about 1846, the earliest known cancellation be- 
 ing Sept. gth, 1846. 
 
 Daniel Bryan was Postmaster at Alexandria from 1845 to 1847. 
 Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the United States gives the name 
 "Brien " but I am informed by Mr. W. F. Lambert, of Alexandria, that the 
 correct spelling is " Bryan." 
 
 The first known copy of this stamp was found by the late John K. 
 Tiffany in his family correspondence. It was described in Le Timbre Paste 
 for March, 1873. The stamp is on the original cover, to which it is attached 
 by a wafer. The letter is dated July loth, 1847. This stamp still remains 
 in Mr. Tiffany's collection. 
 
 A second copy is described in the Philatelic Monthly for August, 1879 
 The description agrees with that of the copy previously known. The letter 
 bears the date of Sept. 9th, 1 846. This specimen is now the property of a 
 Philadelphia collector. 
 
 Within a few years a third copy has been found and has passed into 
 the collection of Mr. Thos. J. Shryock. 
 
 These three are all that are known up to this date. The first and 
 third are cut round. I have been unable to learn what is the shape of the 
 second one. 
 
 The first two copies bear the regular dated cancellation of Alexandria, 
 the word " Paid " and a large figure "5 " in a rectangle, all hand-stamped in 
 red. The third copy is not on the cover; 
 
 The stamps are type-set and are impressed by hand on thin, colored, 
 wove paper. In addition Mr. Shryock's copy bears " No. 45 " written in 
 black ink in the space between "5" and "post office." Probably each 
 copy was similarly numbered. Diameter, 27mm. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMP. 
 
 Buff Wove Paper. 
 Imperforate. 
 1846. 5 cents black 
 
Annapolis. Md. 
 
 PAID 
 
 This envelope was issued by Martin F. Revell, Postmaster at An- 
 napolis from 1844 to 1849. The exact date of issue is not known but it is 
 probably 1846. 
 
 The device is suggestive of a seal and is i8)^mm, in diameter. The 
 " 5 '' and " PAID " apparently constitute part of the stamp. It is printed in 
 dull carmine-red in the upper right corner of a white envelope which measures 
 120x71mm. 
 
 The design is very deeply impressed, so much so that portions of it 
 show distinctly on the back flaps This would probably not have been the 
 case had the envelope contained a letter and been hand-stamped after being 
 deposited in the post office. The cancellation mark, on the contrary, does 
 not show on the back. These points are of some value, as tending to con- 
 firm the genuine provisional nature of the envelope. From the character of 
 the work and the deep impression I believe the device and "5 " "paid" to 
 have been printed on a press, rather than hand-stamped, and all at one im- 
 pression 
 
 The only known copy of the Annapolis envelope is in the collection of 
 Mr. W. A. Castle, to whose courtesy I owe the privilege of first describing it. 
 
 The following documents supply the history of the stamp, so far as it 
 
 is now known : 
 
 New York, Sept 3, 1895. 
 
 To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN : 
 
 Sometime in January, 1895, during our Mr. G. A. Burger's stay in the 
 city of Pliiladelphia, lie received permission to look througli tlie old correspon- 
 dence of the firm of Carstairs. 
 
 Among other rare envelopes and stamps he found a small white envelope 
 stamped " Post-Office, Annapolis, Md." with Eagle in center and " 5 " " Paid," 
 on the upper right hand of the envelope in red, and the regular Annapolis post 
 mark on the left side of the envelope in blue. 
 
 From information which we received in Annapolis from Jas. Revell, son 
 of the Postmaster there from 1844-49, we are convinced that this is a post- 
 master's provisional stamped envelope, like the New Haven. 
 
 We guarantee it to be a genuine original stamped envelope. 
 
 BUROER & Co. 
 
 Date of Issue. 
 
 Desigu. 
 
 Documents. 
 
14 
 
 ANNAPOLIS, MD. 
 
 Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, 
 
 Refereiire List. 
 
 Hand-stamps. 
 
 A tjuestiouable 
 AdIieslTe. 
 
 Annapolis, Md., April 25. 1895. 
 
 A pen and ink sketch 
 
 of the 
 
 Annapolis envelope 
 
 An envelope with the above address and stamp has been presented to rne 
 for identification. 1 have quite a distinct recollection of the stamp ' ' Annapolis, 
 Md., 20 Mar." as having been used by my father (now dec'd) in the Annapolis 
 P. O., of which he was Postmaster some time prior to 1849. The stamp with 
 eagle center has also a very familiar appearance and carries me back many 
 years, when 1 was quite a lad, going to college (St. John's, Annapolis), often 
 assisting my father, Martin F. Revell, in the office. 1 am decidedly of the 
 opinion and such is my strong impression that these stamped envelopes, with 
 eagle center in stamp and marked "paid", were sold by my father for the con- 
 venience of the public. 
 
 Jas. Revell, 
 
 Associate Judge of 5th Judicial Court of Maryland. 
 
 ENVELOPE. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 Size: larxyimm. 
 1846? 5 cents carmine-red 
 
 Since the foregoing was written, in June, 1897, I have not been able 
 to obtain any further information about this envelope or confirmation of the 
 claim that it is a postmaster's provisional. Collectors, as a whole, appear to 
 be skeptical and unwilling to accept it. 
 
 Mr. B. V. Jenkins has shown me a folded letter-sheet (not an envelope) 
 which has this seal stamped, in dark blue ink, in the upper left corner of the 
 address side. In the upper right corner is stamped a figure " 2 ", in the same 
 ink. There is no cancellation mark or date of use. The paper is a pale 
 gray-blue. Mr. Crawford Capen has shown me a similar letter sheet which 
 is dated March 24th, 1848. I am told that there are others in existence and 
 that all bear evidence that the seal was applied after mailing, thus making it 
 merely a postmark. 
 
 I have also been shown what pretends to be an Annapolis adhesive 
 stamp. This is stamped in dark blue on bluish paper, exactly like the letter 
 sheet just described. It is affixed to a cover which bears the word "paid" 
 and a postmark dated "May 21 ", but neither touches the would-be stamp. 
 There is nothing to grove that this bit of paper was used as a stamp, nor, on 
 the other hand, is there any positive evidence to the contrary. Yet I cannot 
 overcome the conviction that it is a fraud, and I must confess that, at this 
 writing, I look with great doubt upon all the so-called Annapolis provisionals. 
 
Baltimore, Md. 
 
 5 Cents. 
 
 These stamps were issued by James Madison Buchanan, who was post- 
 master at Baltimore from 1 845 to 1 849. The earliest cancellation which I 
 have seen is March 18th, 1846 and the latest March 27th, 1847, but I am told 
 the stamps were in use as late as 1849. It is said that there is a record in the 
 Baltimore post office which describes these stamps and states that they were 
 on bluish paper, and were first used early in 1846. This might be thought to 
 indicate the priority of issue of the stamps on bluish paper, but the dates of 
 letters bearing the stamps show that both colors of paper were in use con- 
 currently. 
 
 The attention of collectors was first called to the Baltimore stamps by 
 the following communication, published in The Philatelist for February, 1875: 
 
 " To the Editor of The Philatelist, 
 
 Dear Sir : — I have the honor to give you the following description of a stamp recently 
 discovered in this city, among the old papers in a vault of one of the oldest banking houses 
 in the city. It was on a letter from New Orleans in 1845 or 1846. The envelope was un- 
 fortunately destroyed. The stamp is narrow oblong; inscribed James M. Buchanan above; 
 5 CENTS, below. A penstroke is drawn through the name. It is impressed on thin laid white 
 paper, and attached to the envelope by two wafers. The cancellation is blue. 
 
 At the same time and place were found six St. Louis, four of the 5c and two of the 
 IOC. Also sixty ' New York Post Office,' and about a hundred 5 and 10c United States 1847. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 Washington, U. S. A." T. C. Bourne. 
 
 Two things attract our attention in this letter; first, the writer's mis- 
 take in attributing the stamp to New Orleans; and second, the statement that 
 it was on white laid paper. We do not know, to day, any copy of this stamp 
 on laid paper. 
 
 The stamps were printed from an engraved plate, probably of copper. 
 The surface of the plate was divided by thin vertical and horizontal lines into 
 rectangles, about 53 to 54mm. long by 16 to 17mm. high. The design is very 
 simple, being merely a facsimile of the postmaster's signature, with the value 
 below it. The signature is from 47 to soXmm. in length, the "5 Cents" 
 from 20 to 22^mm. and the " 10 Cents " from 24 to 25mm. 
 
 It has been surmised that both values were engraved on one plate but 
 this appears scarcely probable. The number of stamps on the plate or plates 
 
 Sate of Issue. 
 
 Historical. 
 
 Design. 
 
i6 
 
 BALTIMORE, MD. 
 
 Tarieties and 
 ArranKement. 
 
 Kefererence List. 
 
 Cancellfltfons. 
 
 Connterfelt. 
 
 is not known. As in the case of all hand-engraved plates, each stamp differs 
 from the others. I have found eleven varieties of the 5 cents and three of the 
 10 cents. These are shown in the accompanying photogravure (Plate A). 
 The differences consist in the lengths of the signature and value, their relative 
 positions, and the shape and shading of the numerals and periods. On 
 referring to the photogravure it will be seen that the first stamp in the left 
 hand vertical row is undoubtedly from the upper left corner of the sheet. 
 The margin of the second stamp in that row shows it to belong on that side 
 of the §heet. For the same reason it is evident that the first and second 
 stamps in the right hand vertical row came from that side of the sheet, while 
 the margins of the third stamp locate it in the lower right corner. Since this 
 illustration was made I have seen a copy of the third stamp in the first row 
 which has a broad margin at the right. In the middle row the two stamps 
 cancelled by crossed diagonal lines form an unsevered pair. It will also be 
 observed that the first of the ten cent stamps has a margin at the left. This 
 is as far as I have been able to attain toward the restoration of the arrange- 
 ment of the stamps on the plates. 
 
 It is reasonable to assume that plates like these, on which each stamp 
 was separately engraved, would be of limited size. The relatively large 
 number of copies with margins confirms this theory. I anticipate that the 
 plate of the five cents contained about fifteen to twenty-five stamps, and that 
 of the ten cents a still smaller number. 
 
 I have recently been told that an old gentleman, living in Baltimore, 
 has a photograph of an original sheet of the Buchanan stamps. Others say 
 it is a photograph of a sketch or tracing of such a sheet. My efforts to 
 obtain more definite information about this have, so far, proved unfruitful. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMPS. 
 
 Wove Paper. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 1 846. 5 cents black on white, 1 1 varieties 
 
 5 cents black on bluish, 1 1 varieties 
 10 cents black on white, 3 varieties 
 I o cents black on bluish, 3 varieties 
 
 The covers bearing the Baltimore stamps have usually the regular 
 dated cancellation mark of the city, the word "paid " and a large figure "5 
 or " lo" in an oval. An illustration of the latter marks will be found at the 
 head of the paragraphs describing the envelopes. They are usually hand- 
 stamped in blue and frequently one or more of them touches the stamp. The 
 stamps have often an additional cancellation of pen strokes. 
 
 A year or two ago several of the philatelic papers announced the 
 discovery of a 5 cent Baltimore stamp on violet paper. Examination showed 
 this to be merely a poor imitation, copied from an illustration in a stamp 
 catalogue, and only about one half the size of the genuine stamp. It ought 
 not to have deceived the most casual observer and is only mentioned here 
 because of the somewhat extended notice given to it by the philatelic press. 
 
BALTIMORE, MU. 
 
 17 
 
 This illustration represents an adhesive frank which Postmaster Bu- 
 chanan is said to have sold at five cents each and recognized, when affixed resign, 
 to letters, as indicating postage prepaid. The frank consists of his autograph, 
 written in black ink, on a small rectangle of white paper. The signature is 
 114mm. long and the paper measures i25X26mra. 
 
 I have seen only one copy. It was affixed to a letter sheet (apparently 
 before the sheet was folded), so that it passed diagonally across the lower left 
 corner of the address side and folded over upon the back flaps. The cover 
 was cancelled "Baltimore, May 17," and had the " paid " and "5" in an 
 oval which were in regular use at that office. All these marks were in blue. 
 The cover bore also the date " 1846," written in pencil. This, I was told, 
 was the date of the letter which was formerly within the cover. 
 
 This specimen has a well authenticated history. In 1846 the crew of 
 a shipwrecked French vessel was brought into Baltimore. At that date there 
 was no French consul in that city but the functions of the consul at Phila- Historical, 
 delphia extended to Baltimore. The consul. Monsieur d'Hauterive, was in- 
 formed that these sailors were destitute and wished to be sent home. He 
 despatched an agent to Baltimore to make proper investigations, take testi- 
 mony and report to him. This agent used the copy of the frank which I 
 have described. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMP. Reference List. 
 
 White Wove Paper 
 Imperforate. 
 May 17th, 1846. (5 cents) black 
 
 While the date of use is later than that known on some copies of the 
 Baltimore stamps which are described at the beginning of this chapter, I am 
 inclined to think that it was issued earlier than those stamps and was the 
 successor of the stamped envelopes. 
 
 Concerning this stamp we have but scant information. It is believed 
 to have been issued by the Baltimore postmaster about 1848. 
 
 The only known copy is on the original cover, addressed to Mr. Samuel 
 Lynch, Jeweller, Hillsboro, N. C. It was found by Mr. F. W. Hunter in 
 
i8 
 
 BALTIMORE, MD. 
 
 examining the correspondence of the addressee, and now adorns a celebrated 
 collection in Paris. The envelope bears the regular cancellation mark of the 
 Historical. city of Baltimore. The date is somewhat indistinct but appears to be April 
 12. The year, as usual, is not given on the cover. It is, however, supplied 
 by the letter and is 1848. There are also the cancellation " paid " and figure 
 "10" in an oval, hand-stamped in blue, as previously described for this city. 
 None of these, however, touch the stamp, which is cancelled by two pen 
 strokes. The word " paid " is also written on the envelope. The stamp 
 measures 23x25mm. The use of the postmaster's stamps after the appearance 
 of the Government issue of 1847 is not unknown ; both the Baltimore and 
 the St. Louis stamps have been reported as used after that date. 
 
 Keference List. ADHESIVE STAMP. 
 
 Yellowish White Wove Paper. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 April 12th, 1848. 10 (cents) black 
 
 The reader will kindly remember that this stamp is chronicled "for 
 what it is worth," and without guarantee or even an expression of personal 
 opinion. There is always the possibility that it is merely an ornamental 
 label which some one has affixed to the cover through a whim or to deceive. 
 
 PAID 
 
 Dexlgii. 
 
 Date or Use. 
 
 The postmaster of Baltimore also issued stamped envelopes. They 
 are simple affairs, being ordinary envelopes of the period, bearing the written 
 signature of the postmaster, or a hand-stamped fac-simile of it, in the upper 
 right corner ; below this are the word " paid " and large numeral in an oval, 
 which latter marks were in regular use in the post office to indicate prepay- 
 ment of postage. The impressions are in blue for the 5 cents and red for the 
 10 cents. The hand stamped signatures are usually in black though some- 
 times in blue. They appear to have been made with ordinary writing ink. 
 One copy is known on which the word '' paid " is placed above the signature. 
 
 The single envelopes each bear one accountant's check mark, while 
 those with the double impression of the " 5 " ha\e two checks. 
 
 I have seen only one copy of the envelope with written signature. It 
 is dated Sept. 22, 1845. The signature is in black ink. 
 
 Of the envelopes with hand-stamped signature the only date of use 
 which I have been able to secure is Nov. 24. The year is not given but is, 
 presumably, 1845. 
 
 All the Baltimore envelopes are of a high degree of rarity and I believe 
 only one specimen of each variety of the ten cents red has been discovered. 
 
BALTIMORE, MD. 
 
 19 
 
 From the dates of use it would appear that the envelopes were issued 
 in advance of the adhesive stamps. 
 
 ENVELOPES. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1845. 
 
 5 (cents) blue on manila, signature written 
 
 5 (cents) blue on white 
 5 (cents) blue on buff 
 5 (cents) blue on salmon 
 5x5 (cents) blue on white 
 5x5 (cents) blue on buff 
 10 (cents) red on white 
 10 (cents) red on buff 
 
 hand-stamped 
 
Design. 
 
 HiRtorical. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 BOSCAWEN, N, H, 
 PAID 
 
 CENTS 
 
 This stamp is believed to have been issued in 1846 by the Postmaster of 
 Boscawen, N. H. The postmaster from 1845 to 1851 was Worcester Webster, 
 a relative of the celebrated Daniel Webster. 
 
 The stamp is of the most primitive nature. It appears to have been 
 produced from a few carelessly set type and is hand-stamped in dull blue ink 
 on thin, yellowish white, hand-made paper, in quality like coarse tissue paper. 
 The word "paid" measures 13x3mm., "cents " is i7j^x3mm., and the 
 numeral is 6}4mm. high and 6mm. wide. The only copy known is in the 
 collection of Mr. H. E. Beats. It is on a small white envelope, addressed 
 to Concord, N. H. The stamp is uncancelled. In the upper left corner is 
 written — presumably by the postmaster, as was the custom of the period — 
 " Boscawen, N. H., Dec. 13," in two lines. 
 
 The following letter accompanies this cover: 
 
 Plainfield, N. J , Feb. 28, 1894. 
 Mr. H. E. Deats, 
 
 Dear Sir : — Permit me to enclose for your inspection a few philatelic gems. * * * 
 The old and very curious envelope 1 have owned for the past 29 years and came into 
 possession of it at the general post-office in Washington, D. C. through Mr. Wm. M. Ireland, 
 who was then chief cieik and the Third Asst. P. M General. As you will see, the mailing 
 office, Boscawen, was written on the corner, as was the custom of P. M 's in those days, 
 when no cancellation stamp was used. It performed its duty as a postal envelope and 1 
 do not doubt but it is as genuine as any of the provisional issues of the period before stamps 
 were issued. * * * Yours truly, 
 
 H. H. LowRiE, A. P. A. 
 
 Inquiries made in Boscawen have failed to supply any "further informa- 
 tion. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMP. 
 
 Yellowish White Wove Paper. 
 Imperforate. 
 18 — . 5 cents dull blue 
 
 It will perh;ips not be amiss to remind ourselves at this point that, at 
 the period which we are considering, the salaries of the postmasters depended 
 on the cash receipts of their offices. They were, therefore, anxious to have 
 as many letters as possible sent prepaid. This may explain, the issue of 
 stamps in comparatively small towns, as well as the quite expensive designs 
 provided by some of the postmasters. 
 
Brattleboro, Vt, 
 
 This stamp was issued by Frederick N. Palmer, who was postmaster 
 at Brattleboro from July, 1845, to November, 1848. The issue was probably 
 made in the summer of 1846. In the collection of Mr. C. F. Bishop there is 
 a copy of the stamp on the original cover. The enclosed letter is dated 
 August 27th, 1846, and the writer says : "I pay this just to show you the 
 stamp. It is against my principles, you know." From this we may infer 
 that the stamp was a novelty and probably had very recently appeared. 
 
 From the character of the engraving and impression we conclude that 
 the material of the plate was copper. The stamps measure 21x14mm. Each 
 was separately engraved and, consequently, differs slightly from the others. 
 Spaces about imm. wide divided the stamps from each other and, likewise, 
 the rows. Through the middle of these spaces were drawn thin lines of 
 color. There were not, however, any such lines on the outer sides of the 
 stamps. It has long been understood that the plate contained ten stamps, 
 arranged in two horizontal rows of five, with the imprint " Eng''. by Tho°. 
 Chubbuck, Bratt".." below the middle stamp of the bottom row. This arrange- 
 ment will be discussed in a later paragraph. The autographic initials in the 
 center of each stamp are, of course, those of the postmaster. The stamps 
 were printed in black on thick buff wove paper. 
 
 The history of the Brattleboro stamp is entertainingly set forth in the 
 
 philatelic magazines. In ihe American Journal of Philately, AaXtd ]a.n-aa.ry 
 
 20th, 1 869, appeared an article by Dr. J. A. Petrie, in which was included 
 
 the following letter : 
 
 Newton Corner, Mass., Dec. loth, 1868. 
 
 Dear Sir : — You are mistaken in saying that the stamps about which you inquire 
 have never been described. 
 
 I received about two years ago a little paper printed in Vermont (I now forget by 
 whom and in what exact locality), devoted to the subject of postage stamps. 
 
 It mentioned the private stamp issued by me as P. M. at Brattleboro. 
 
 This paper was sent me in a letter by a person who was very desirous to obtain the 
 original plate from which they were printed. 
 
 I was appointed sometime during the first year of Mr. Polk's administntion ; Hon. 
 Cave Johnson, P. M. General. 
 
 Mr. Polk was elected in 1845.* 
 
 Date of Issne. 
 
 Engrarlng and 
 Arrangement. 
 
 Hi»ttorical. 
 
 Letter of Post- 
 master Palmer. 
 
 ♦The writer means inaugurated. 
 
BRATTLEBORO, VT. 
 
 Cancellations. 
 
 Interriew with 
 DIr. ChDbbuck. 
 
 The stamps were issued, I think, during my first year as P. M., and I suppose them 
 to be the very first P. O. stamps issued in this country. 
 
 It was a strictly private thing, neither ordered or repudiated by the P. O. Department, 
 and in my account with the Department made no difference. 
 
 My object in issuing it was to accommodate the people and save myself labor in 
 making and collecting quarterly bills, almost everything at that time being either charged or 
 forwarded without prepayment. 
 
 I was disappointed in the effect, having still to charge the stamps and collect my bills. 
 
 I retained the office during the balance of Mr. Polk's term, and used the stamps more 
 or less during my connection with the office. 
 
 The canceling with red ink was uniform, though much a matter of choice. 
 
 As to the number issued, 1 should say only five or six hundred as an experiment. 
 
 They were engraved by Mr. Thomas Chubbuck, then of Brattleboro, now of Spring- 
 field, Mass., who wrote me about a year since inquiring about the original plate. 
 
 The plate was laid aside and 1 have never been able to find it, though it may yet 
 
 come to light. j u- i i 
 
 I have none of the stamps by me, have not seen one for a great while, and think 1 
 could scarcely describe it correctly. 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 
 To J. A. Petrie, M. D., F- N. Palmer, M. D. 
 
 Elizabeth, N. J. 
 
 This article also gives a description of the stamps and says they were 
 printed from a steel plate and that " they are, so far as I have been able to 
 find, cancelled with a stroke of red ink drawn in part across them." The 
 " cancelling with red ink,'' mentioned by Mr. Palmer, was probably the familiar 
 cancellation " paid " which, as far as is known, was stamped in red on all 
 postally used copies. The obliteration by a peii mark of red writing ink was 
 quite another affair, as will shortly be made evident. 
 
 In the Stamp Collector's Magazine for November, 1870, we find an 
 interesting article by Mr. L. H. Bragg. He begins by quoting a note which 
 appeared in No. 3 of the Stamp Collector's Record, published at Albany, N. Y., 
 February 15th, 1865. This was, doubtless, the paper to which Mr. Palmer 
 intended to refer, and the description of the stamps given by it was probably 
 the first to appear in print, at least in a philatelic publication. The writer 
 summarizes all references to the stamp, which had appeared to that date, and 
 gives a brief digest of the articles. None of this is sufficiently new or in- 
 teresting to repeat. He continues : 
 
 So much for the public history of the stamp to the present date. Now for the results 
 of my own investigations. On the 2nd of last September, 1 called upon Mr. Thomas Chub- 
 buck, at his office in Springfield, stated to him the gist of the facts 1 have here detailed at 
 length, and learned the full particulars of his own connection with the matter. He went to 
 Boston in 1845, and remained there until June 13, 1848, and being something of a musical 
 amateur, he formed the acquaintance of postmaster Palmer, who was then a music teacher ; 
 hence it came about that lie was one day persuaded to engrave "the Brattleboro stamp." 
 The chief object of the postmaster in issuing the stamp, as Mr Chubbuck recollects it, was 
 to turn an honest penny, in this wise : By Act of March 3, 1845, uniform rates of 5 cents 
 and 10 cents, for letter postage under and over 3,000 miles, respectively, were established, 
 but prepayment was left at the option of the senders. Now, as his own official salary was 
 proportionate to the cash receipts of his office, it was for each postmaster's interest to have 
 as many as possible of the letters deposited at his office pii'paid ; and Mr. Palmer's idea was 
 that the novelty of these stamps would induce many to prepay their letters with them who 
 otherwise would not attend to that then rather uncommon duty. Especially as he sold his 
 stamps on credit to those with whom he had private or official business accounts, did he 
 expect that this would be likely to be the case. 
 
 As the correspondent of the Jouriml shows, the use of the stamp did not (as the Record 
 claimed) abrogate the necessity of branding " Paid 5 cents" upon each letter prepaid with it, 
 the same as upon each one prepaid with coin; and it was to this old-established " paid " 
 mark, and not to the presence of the stamp itself, that the outside postmasters gave attention 
 when taking account of letters received from Brattleboro Regarding the length of time that 
 the stamps were in use, Mr. Chubbuck was quite confident that Dr. Palmer was in error in 
 
BRATTLEBORO, VT. 
 
 23 
 
 stating that he "employed them occasionally up to the end of his official term " (March 3, 
 1849), 35 he (Mr. C.) distinctly recollects that the postmaster burned all the unsold stamps in 
 his possession immediately on the appearance of the 5 and 10 cent " U. S. post-office" 
 stamps issued under authority of the Act of March 3, 1847. Thus on the one hand is shown 
 the error of the Record in supposing the stamp to have been prepared and used as a temporary 
 substitute for the current " Franklin 5," when the supply of the latter chanced to be ex- 
 hausted ; and on the other, the error of Dr. Petrie, in supposing it to have been used con- 
 tinuously until March, 1849. The latter writer, too, probably mal<es an erroneous inference 
 in placing 1845 as the date of issue. Mr. Chubbuck had no memoranda by which he could 
 recall the exact date of delivering the stamps to the postmaster, as his cash account showed 
 that he collected the bill for his services (" seven and a half dollars, for engraving the plate ; 
 one dollar and a half, for printing 500 stamps ; total, nine dollars") at the time of his leaving 
 town, June, 1848. He is inclined to believe, however, that as he did not go to Brattleboro 
 until May 30, 1845, and did not form the acquaintance of Dr. Palmer, until sometime after- 
 wards, he could not have engraved the stamps before the opening of 1846. Another indi- 
 cation in this direction is the fact, that as Dr. Palmer was not appointed until " sometime 
 during the year" which began March 4, 1845— perhaps not till toward the end of the calendar 
 year,— he would not be likely to think of doing so novel a thing as to issue a postage stamp 
 until he had become well settled in office. I think, then, that it is reasonable to conclude 
 that the life of the Brattleboro stamp was of less than twelve months' duration, divided pretty 
 equally between the years 1846 and 1847. 
 
 Dr. Palmer states that but few^ were used, as would naturally be the case in so modest 
 a village, in so short an interval ; and Mr. Chubbuck adds, that the balance in stock of the 
 original 500 impressions were burned in 1847. Hence, as the most persistent searching has Unsold stamps 
 failed to bring to light the original plate, it is no wonder that the very existence of the stamp bnrned In 1847. 
 has been called in question ; and it is undoubted that the few impressions in existence are, 
 and always will be, among the very rarest of authentic postal labels. The editor's hint may 
 be counted for certain — that there will never be "an invasion of Brattleboros," — for the 
 "large portion of the issue hidden in some surprisingly out-of-the-way nook," for some 
 "enterprising dealer to discover," does not exist. 
 
 A small portion of the issue, however, does exist, and that portion is now in my own 
 possession. The copperplate prepared by Mr Chubbuck contained eight stamps each in- 
 tended to be identical with the other, but showing under the microscope minute differences 
 in the lines and shadings. Besides the regular border of each stamp, a fine line was drawn 
 on the plate on each side of the stamps where they met, in order to separate each one, much 
 as the marks of perforation separate the stamps of a sheet now. Hence, by paying careful 
 attention to these lines on a single detached stamp, one could decide the exact part of the 
 plate of which it was the impression. The eight stamps of the plate were engraved quite 
 closely together, and the outer margins, though not broad, were so much broader than the 
 inner one as to be at once noticeable. Upon this narrow outer margin, at the bottom of the 
 stamp next the left corner one, on the lower row, was the imprint, in minute characters, 
 ENGt>- BY THOS. CHUBBUCK, BRATjo- The general appearance of each stamp was described with 
 tolerable correctness in the notice quoted from the Record, and the cut which heads this 
 article renders further notice of it unnecessary. It may be remarked, however, that the 
 paper of the stamp .was rather a deep shade of buff than an actual brown. 
 
 Now, on the day when the engraver delivered these 500 stamps, together with the 
 eight-faced plate, to the postmaster, he bethought himself that he should like to preserve a 
 specimen copy of his work, and so, with the postmaster's consent, he laid aside a sheet of Significance of the 
 eight, and afterwards stuck the same, with red wafers, into his general scrap book. Before red pen marks. 
 removing the stamps from the office, however, though his friend protested against the formal 
 security against fraud, he took the latter's pen and obliterated thefn, by drawing a red-ink 
 stroke through the left upper corner of each stamp on the sheet. Seven of these stamps, on 
 the afternoon of my visit to Mr. Chubbuck, were found lying loosely among his other scraps 
 and specimens, and were quickly transferred to me. The fate of the eighth is uncertain, the 
 engraver having the impression that he had laid it away by itself as a specimen. 
 
 The rank held by the stamp is fortunately not a matter of doubt. It is of exactly the 
 same nature as the better-known provisional "post-office" issues of New York, Providence 
 and St. Louis Like them, it was issued on the postmaster's private responsibility, to assist 
 in the public, official duties of his office ; and, like them, it was superseded by the 5 cent 
 and 10 cent " U. S. post-office" issues of 1847. Dr. Palmer's supposition, that his was the 
 first post-office stamp issued in America, is, very possibly, a mistaken one. as Mr. Chubbuck 
 well remembered the " big head " stamp of New York, and was under the impression that 
 the idea of issuing the Brattleboro stamp was derived from the success of this. 
 
 In conclusion, it is worth noticing that the inscription "post-office" instead of 
 " POSTAGE," on the first regular issue of government stamps, was probably derived from that 
 upon the provisional issues, — the idea being that the stamps of the " U. S.", or general 
 " post-office," would serve alike for the "New York," " Providence," "St. Louis," "Brat- 
 tleboro," and all other "post-offices" within the national domain. 
 
24 
 
 BRATTLEBORO, VT. 
 
 Here we have an explanation of the red pen marks. It may be well 
 to remark, at this point, that in the illustration of a restored plate which 
 accompanies this book, numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and the single copy below the 
 plate were all cancelled by a pen-stroke in red ink and, doubtless, came from 
 the sheet kept by Mr. Chubbuck. Traces of these marks may be seen on some 
 of the varieties, on others it was not retained in the photograph. 
 
 In the American Journal of Philately for November 20th, 1870, is 
 published a letter from Dr. J. A. Petrie in which he refers to the foregoing 
 Corrections. article. After indulging in some little journalistic amenities he says, referring 
 to Mr. Bragg: " He states that there were only 500 of the Brattleboro stamps 
 printed when the fact is 500 impressions of the plate were worked off, making 
 4,000 stamps. Mr. Chubbuck moved from Boston, his former home, to Brat- 
 tleboro, and not as L. H. B. has it, from Brattleboro to Boston." 
 
 Following this, there appeared in the same journal, under the date of 
 January 20th, 187 1, an article by Mr. J. W. Scott. At the head of this article 
 is a group of ten rectangles, intended to show the arrangement of the stamps 
 on the plate. The second space is occupied by a wood cut which is a very 
 tolerable reproduction of the variety of the stamp which filled that position on 
 the plate. The writer says: 
 
 " In the January number of Volume II of this paper, we gave the full history or all 
 that was then known concerning the Brattleboro' stamp, but since then an American writer- 
 in the Stamp Collector's Magazine has thrown new light on the subject, which has opened 
 the way for further discoveries, concerning this interesting stamp. The article in question 
 is also valuable for pointing out some errors in Dr. Palmer's statement, which the writer 
 erroneously attributes to Dr. Petrie, but unfortunately nearly all his own statements are 
 incorrect. 
 
 Upon seeing the paper on the Brattleboro' stamp, in the Stamp Collector's Magazine, 
 in which the writer stated he had a sheet of seven varieties, our publishers being determined 
 to secure the sheet at any cost, immediately wrote the possessor, offering to pay more than 
 any one else, whatever the price might be, but that gentleman having already given another 
 party the refusal of them, at what he considered a high figure, they were compelled to pur- 
 chase of the new owner, at four times the price the discoverer realized ; directly upon seeing 
 the sheet we were struck with the curious appearance of the engraver's imprint, which in- 
 stead of being at either end or in the middle, was under the second from the end ; upon 
 examining the back we clearly saw traces of the wafers mentioned in L. H. B's letter, — of 
 these there were one at each corner of the left hand and one above the stamp that the imprint 
 was under ; if the sheet had been stuck down in this way, the two right hand ones would 
 have been loose and liable to turn up, which to say the least was a strange manner of fixing 
 them in a book. These circumstances were sufificient evidence to us that the sheet had 
 originally consisted of ten varieties, but we certainly should not have stated it here unless we 
 could prove it beyond doubt. The Brattleboro' in our own collection, which was obtained 
 from one formed in New Brunswick, and was cancelled by a red pen-mark, was at once con- 
 Kccoustrnction suited, and was found to be different to any on the sheet, and to have a wide margin on the 
 of (he sheet. left end which corresponded to the margin on three sides of the sheet Letters despatched to 
 two collectors, who were known to have Brattleboro' cancelled by red, in a few days brought 
 the desired stamps and also the owners. The stamps were placed together and found to fit 
 exactly, each one being different. Photographs of the complete sheet were then taken (which 
 by the way will be presented to any one who gets up a club of ten subscribers to the Journal, 
 and to no one else under any consideration), and the .stamps distributed to their respective 
 owners, in all probability never to be replaced." 
 
 As nearly as can be determined from this article, the block of seven 
 stamps there described contained numbers 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the plate 
 and numbers i, 2 and 6 were added to complete it. 
 
 After reading this article I made search among collectors for a copy of 
 the photograph mentioned and succeeded in obtaining one. Unfortunately, 
 it was so badly faded as to be useless for reproduction. After the inevitable 
 
BRATTLEBORO, VT. 
 
 25 
 
 losses in that process, there would remain nothing legible. However, the 
 lettering and stronger lines were still sufficiently distinct to enable me, on com- 
 paring a stamp with the photograph, to readily determine its original position. 
 If the reader will refer to the illustration (Plate B), he will at once perceive 
 that an excellent guide is offered by the shape and position of the dash under- 
 neath the initials of the postmaster. I decided to restore the plate by means 
 of fresh photographs of the several varieties, taken from stamps kindly loaned 
 me by friends. In this, I succeeded all too well, since I have obtained photo- 
 graphs of eleven varieties, all undoubtedly genuine, when the plate is supposed 
 to have contained only ten. I had just secured the ten varieties shown in the 
 old photograph, when Mr. Francis C. Foster kindly sent me a specimen from 
 his collection, the celebrated copy on which he squandered the large sum of 
 sixty cents. Behold ! it was an eleventh variety. There appears to be no 
 question of its absolute genuineness. The character of the engraving, im- 
 pression and paper preclude any possibility of doubt on this point. In addition 
 it bears Mr. Chubbuck's red pen-mark. The ink of this mark is, by-the-bye, 
 of a peculiar dull rose or magenta shade, not easily mistaken when once seen. 
 Having this eleventh type, the question naturally arises, where does it 
 belong? Mr. Scott distinctly says that the stamps from which his original 
 photograph was made fitted together, that one had a broad margin at the left 
 and that the engraver's imprint was under the middle stamp of the lower row. 
 I have seen stamp number 5 in the plate with a broad margin at the right. 
 It, therefore, seems probable that these two rows were complete as shown in 
 the illustration. Were there then other rows on the plate ?. If so, they must 
 have been placed in another group or pane, since certain of the stamps in the 
 group of ten have margins at top or bottom wider than the space between the 
 two rows, thus proving there were no stamps immediately adjacent to them. 
 The eleventh variety also has a wide margin at the bottom. Assuming that 
 there were other rows of the stamps, I have sought to find further varieties that 
 differed from what we may call the original ten. But, though I have seen 
 duplicates of many of the ten, I have been unable to advance beyond this 
 puzzling eleventh variety. It has been suggested that a single stamp was first 
 engraved as a sample. This, proving satisfactory, was used as a guide for 
 the group of ten, which was subsequently engraved on the same plate. The 
 impressions for the postmaster were probably taken from the ten only, but 
 a few sheets, such as that saved by Mr. Chubbuck, may have shown the 
 eleventh stamp. I regret that- 1 must leave the subject in this unsettled 
 condition. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMP. 
 
 Aug. (?) 1846. 
 
 Thick Buff Wove Paper. 
 Imperforate. 
 5 cents'black. 11 varieties 
 
 Discoverf uf an 
 eleTenth Tariety. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
LOCKPORT, N, Y. 
 
 Historical. 
 
 Design. 
 
 Beferenco List. 
 
 This stamp is practically without a history. There are no records or 
 traditions of its issue. The only copy known to exist was found in Lockport 
 among the correspondence of an old firm. It was purchased by the Scott 
 Stamp and Co., Ltd., from the finder, a gentleman well and favorably known 
 to them. They have every reason to believe in the bona-fides of the finder 
 and the authenticity of the stamp. It was affixed to a double sheet of letter- 
 paper. The sheet having been folded, it was addressed on the first or outer 
 side to Robert Monell, Esq., Geneva, N. Y. On the second page was the 
 letter, dated March i8, 1846, and signed by Holmes & Moss. The reply was 
 written on the third page. The sheet was then refolded and addressed to 
 Messrs. Holmes & Moss, Lockport, N. Y. On this side it bears the postmark 
 " Geneva, N. Y., Mch. 24." Thus the stamp returned to its place of origin. 
 As a rule, we do not expect to find the postmasters stamps in the cities in 
 which they were issued but in other cities, to which they have franked letters. 
 This copy now adorns a celebrated European collection. Hezekiah W. 
 Scovell was postmaster at Lockport in 1846. 
 
 The double-lined oval with the name of the place measures 32x23mm. 
 and is hand-stamped in dull red on a small piece of coarse wove paper, buff 
 in color and 34x25mm. in dimensions. By a second operation the word 
 ■'paid", 16x4mm., is stamped in the upper ]iart of the inner oval, in ink of 
 the same shade. Below this is the numeral "5 ", in manuscript, in black ink. 
 The stamp is cancelled by crossed penstrokes of black. The postmark and 
 word "paid" are impressed on the ca\er in red. The latter mark is identical 
 with the same word on the stamps and might he supposed to be a cancellation 
 in both instances but, as one agrees in shade with the postmark and the other 
 with the stamp, it is probable that the latter constitutes part of the stamp. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMP. 
 
 1846. 
 
 Buff Wove Paper. 
 Imperforate. 
 5 cents red and black 
 
MiLLBURY, Mass, 
 
 Colonel Asa H. Waters was postmaster at Millbury, from January i8th, 
 1836, to November loth, 1848. During that period the stamp illustrated above 
 was issued. The earliest cancellation known is July i8th, 1846. The stamps 
 were made from a roughly cut wood block and printed one at a time on a 
 hand-press. They are 22mm. in diameter. The portrait was apparently in- 
 tended to represent Washington. It has been claimed that there are two 
 varieties of this stamp, but I have failed to discover more than one, though I 
 have examined either the original or a photograph of every known copy 
 but one. 
 
 The usual cancellation of the Millbury stamp is the word " paid " in 
 red. The letters bear in addition a large figure " 5 " in a circle and the dated 
 cancellation of the city. It is interesting to note that in the cancellation the 
 name is spelled " Milbury." 
 
 Col. Waters was, at the time of his postmastership, largely interested in 
 manufactures and left the work of the post-office in the hands of his deputies. 
 To one of them, Henry Waterman, we owe the stamp. 
 
 Seeing the stamps of the New York Post Office he perceived their utility 
 and, in order that his own town might enjoy a similar convenience, had the 
 block cut in Boston and a supply of stamps printed from it. 
 
 The first copy of this stamp was discovered in a bound volume of letters 
 in the library of the American Antiquarian Society at Worcester, Mass. For 
 a long time only three copies were known, but in recent years several more 
 have been found, including a perfect unused copy with full gum, which is now 
 in the collection of M. La Renotiere (Ferrary). 
 
 The following letter, which I reproduce by permission of Mr. H. E. 
 
 Deats, may interest philatelists: 
 
 Millbury, Jan. 24, 1885. 
 Mr. Paine 
 
 Dear Sir ;— On referring to my commission as P. M. at Millbury, I find it dated Jan. 
 18th, 1836, and signed by Amos Kendall, P. M. General. 
 
 Date of Issue. 
 Design. 
 
 Historical. 
 
28 MILLBURY, MASS. 
 
 It has this endorsement : " Resigned to Henry Waterman, Nov. lo, 1848, A. H. W.' 
 
 In all the years 1 held the office I never had much to do with the details but relied 
 mostly on my deputies. Waterman was the last and best and I got him appointed in my 
 place. He was a jeweller by trade, quite ingenious, and I have an impression he did get up 
 some kind of P. IVl. stamp, but too slight to state positively. He came from Providence, R. I., 
 whither he returned many years ago and I believe is living there still. If so, he could 
 probably give you more satisfactory information than I can. 
 
 Turning to my file of letters — some of which date back sixty odd years — I find postage 
 marked from by( to 25 cents according to distance, up to 1845. I find on the letters a " 5 " 
 in a circle and I find several in years following stamped in the same way " 5 " or " 10." The 
 first affixed stamp 1 have found is on a letter dated " Grafton, IWarch 21, 1849." Being P. iM. 
 most of my letters came " free." 
 
 1 wish to enquire why this eager pursuit of a 5 cent IVlillbury P. O. stamp of 1845 — 
 for which several advertisements have appeared in papers What's up? 
 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 
 Asa H. Waters. 
 
 Nothmg is now known of the block from which the stamps were printed 
 and we may assume that it has been destroyed. 
 
 Reference List. ADHESIVE STAMP. 
 
 Gray-blue Wove Paper. 
 Imperforate. 
 1846. 5 cents black 
 
New Haven, Ct, 
 
 
 ^' 
 
 II 
 
 \i 
 
 ^ 
 
 These envelopes were issued by E. A. Mitchell, who was postmaster 
 at New Haven from 1844 to 1852. 
 
 Nearly all the envelopes were supplied by the customers. Most of 
 them were white, though other colors are known. They were hand-stamped 
 in red or blue and signed in ink of a contrasting color, either blue, red or 
 black. The design is 31mm. high and 26mm. wide. 
 
 In the American Journal of Philately for May 20th, 1871, there ap- 
 peared an interesting account of these envelopes and the following letter from 
 
 Mr. Mitchell: 
 
 New Haven, Ct., May 15, 1871. 
 J. A. Petrie, M D., 
 
 Ur. Sir : — 
 
 Yours of the 6th and 15th are at hand. Being extensively engaged in business, I 
 have but little spare time to devote to the postage stamp matter. IVly object in getting up 
 this stamp was simply to accommodate the public, as I charged no profit. The postage 
 was uniform, 5c for all distances, and weight, I think, half ounce ; same as at present, but 
 prepaid. 
 
 As no letters could be paid after business hours or Sundays, these were convenient for 
 that purpose as well as others. 
 
 Many brought their own envelopes, and I only charged 5c, for the postage. 
 
 The business of the office was so limited, that, to prevent objection by the P. O. 
 Department, or forgery, I signed each one. 
 
 The stamp (or die) is a small hand-stamp, and was made by F. P. Gorham, then the 
 principal engraver of New Haven, but now deceased. I considered the whole matter at the 
 time, of so little importance, that many minor facts in the case are entirely gone from my 
 mind. 1 think all were printed on white envelopes, and stamped in red ink and signed in 
 blue ink Red ink (vermilion) was used as the office ink in stamping the letters, and think 
 that must have been the color. 
 
 It is possible that buff envelopes were used for a few, but probably not. 
 
 I have no way of knowing how many were printed, or when commenced and ended, 
 as all my papers and accounts of current business of the office are destroyed. The amount 
 sold were few.and probably not over 2,000 all together. They being done by hand and with 
 no motive of profit, they were not generally offered for sale. I was appointed Post-Master 
 Sept. 12th, 1844, and was succeeded by John B. Robertson in 1852. 
 
 1 cannot state the cost of the plate. 
 
 The plate or stamp is a single short hand-stamp. The stamp is of brass. There was 
 only one denomination that being 5c. The impression was always on envelopes. 1 had 
 
 Colors. 
 
 Historical. 
 
3° 
 
 NEW HAVEN, CT. 
 
 The first copy 
 found. 
 
 Other copieH. 
 
 UeprintH. 
 
 not thought of the stamp since leaving the Post office until I received a letter from Mr. 
 Brown-, and after hunting up the stamp, I printed a few myself and sent him, writing on 
 them, "canceled " Thinking possibly there might be some objection by the P. O. Depart- 
 ment to my striking off impressions, I enclosed a copy to the P. M. Gen'l, giving a short 
 history of it, and asking if there would be any objection to my furnishing some to friends 
 and stamp collectors. Unlike his predecessors, C. A. Wicklifife. Cave Johnson and Mr. 
 Collamer, under whom I served, who always required any respectful letter to be answered, 
 he has not given me any reply ; this is my reason for writing cancelled on those sent Mr. 
 Brown. 
 
 So far 1 have not had over 20 impressions issued. If I had any on hand when I left 
 the office they were destroyed, as stamps came in use the latter part of my term. 1 have had 
 three applications for the die, and am offered as high as $100 for it. Parties also want a 
 stereotype plate made, and others want 1.000 of the impressions 
 
 As the original purpose was not to make money, so 1 shall positively refuse to sell any 
 impressions, or sell the stamp. 
 
 . As the stamp seems to possess a centenial kind of value quite unanticipated by me, 1 
 have decided to place it in possession of the New Haven Colonial Historical Society. 
 
 1 shall in a few days have a pad ready so that 1 can print a few perfect impressions, 
 when 1 will send you a few more 
 
 1 have not as yet heard of any of the old envelopes coming to light. As all originals 
 had my own signature, of course I cannot furnish lots to dealers, even if I wished. 
 
 I am yours, 
 
 E. A. Mitchell. 
 
 The New Haven envelope was first described by Mr. Wm. Brown in 
 the Curiosity Cabinet for May, 1871. Mr. Brown had found a copy, cut 
 square, in a collection which he purchased and which afterwards proved to 
 have been stolen from a prominent lawyer of New Haven. The rightful 
 owner presented Mr. Brown with the stamp In describing these envelopes 
 and their history he wrote: " Some of the post-offices refused to recognize 
 them and reported the facts to the Department. As, however, the stamps 
 could only be used at the New Haven office and were sent as prepaid matter, 
 properly entered on the New Haven post bill, there could be no loss to 
 the Government, and the Department, taking a liberal view of the subject, 
 authorized their continuance." I very much doubt that these envelopes were 
 ever " authorized " and would suggest that " allowed " would probably be the 
 more correct word. 
 
 A second copy of the envelope was found in 1886 by Mr. R. C. Fagan, 
 of Middletown, Conn. This was entire but the stamp was badly faded. It 
 passed into the hands of Mr. C. H. Mekeel who, by the advice of a friend, 
 treated it with sulphate of iron, which effectually obliterated all of.it but the 
 signature. A third copy was purchased by Mr. E. B. Sterling in June, 1892, 
 at a sale of autographs. For this copy Mr. Sterling paid the very moderate 
 sum of ten cents. These are all the copies of which we have any published 
 accounts. But several other copies are known to exist in collections. 
 
 The reprints were made on several occasions The first lot, about 
 twenty impressions, was made in 187 1 for Mr. W. P. Brown. They were in 
 dull blue, on thick hard white paper, with the signature and word " copy " 
 written in lilac-rose ink One specimen is known without the word "copy." 
 Shortly after the first re])rinting a second lot was struck off for Dr. J. A. 
 Petrie. There were about thirty in this lot. The impressions were in carmine- 
 red, slightly paler than the originals. Most of them were signed in dark blue 
 ink, but a few copies are known with the signature in black. The paper is 
 the same as that of the first reprints. At a later period a third and larger lot 
 were printed for Mr. N. F. Seebeck. These are in dull red on soft yellowish 
 
NEW HAVEN, CT. 
 
 31 
 
 white paper. None of these last reprints were signed but copies are known 
 with a forged signature. The reprints were not made on envelopes but only 
 on pieces of paper. They may be distinguished from the originals by the 
 colors and by slight diffei-ences in the signature. ' 
 
 Accepting Mr. Mitchell's expressed intention, collectors have for many 
 years believed the original die to be in the possession of the New Haven 
 Colonial Historical Society. But Mr. H. E. Beats has proven this to be 
 incorrect and has definitely located the die. From correspondence, kindly 
 placed at my disposal by Mr. Beats, I reproduce the following letter: 
 
 April 13, 1897. 
 H. E. Deats, Esq^, 
 
 Flemington, N. J. 
 
 Dear Sir : — Referring further to the matter of the " New Haven Stamp" I find that 
 the original die, together with some signed reprints, are in the possession of Mr. Edward 
 Mitchell, the only grandson of the Mr. Mitchell, formerly postmaster here. 
 
 The die and reprints were handed down to the present Mr. Mitchell on the death of 
 his father, the only son of Postmaster Mitchell, and are regarded by the family as sort of an 
 heirloom which money would not tempt them to part with. 
 
 Mr. Peats, a friend of mine, who for many years prior to the death of Postmaster 
 Mitchell was his confidential man. having the care of his most important matters, tells me 
 that for a long time he himself had the care of this die, and did at the time the reprints were 
 printed and signed in 1872, and that he knows that the die in Mr. Mitchell's possession now 
 is the original. Respectfully yours, 
 
 J. English. 
 
 It is to be hoped, should this die ever pass from the possession of Mr. 
 Mitchell's family, it will be into the care of some Society which will guard it 
 from any further use for reprinting. 
 
 1845- 
 
 1871. 
 
 Present locatiou 
 of the die. 
 
 ENVELOPES. 
 
 5 (cents) deep carmine on white, signature in violet-red 
 5 (cents) deep carmine on white, signature in dull blue 
 5 (cents) deep carmine on pale blue, signature in black 
 5 (cents) gray-blue on orange-buff, signature in black 
 5 (cents) blue-black on buff, signature in blue 
 
 REPRINTS. 
 
 5 (cents) dull blue on white, signature in lilac-rose 
 
 S (cents) dull blue on white, signature and " copy " in 
 
 lilac-rose 
 5 (cents) carmine-red on brownish-buff, signature in dark 
 
 blue 
 5 (cents) carmine-red on white, signature in dark blue 
 5 (cents) carmine-red on white^ signature in black 
 5 (cents) carmine-red on white, without signature 
 5 (cents) red on white, without signature 
 5 (cents) red on yellowish-white, without signature 
 
 Reference List. 
 
New York, N, Y, 
 
 These stamps were issued during the postmastership of Robert H. 
 Morris, which extended from May 21st, 1845 until 1849. They rightly stand 
 at the head of the provisional issues by postmasters. 
 
 The stamps were printed from a steel plate made by Rawdon, \\'right 
 & Hatch. It has been stated that this plate contained one hundred im- 
 Size of the plate, pressions, arranged in ten rows of ten. I cannot find any foundation for this 
 claim, beyond a tradition that some one remembers having seen a quantity 
 of the stamps in strips of ten. We know from sheets of postmasters stamps, 
 carriers, locals, etc., that the custom of the period was to make much smaller 
 plates. 
 
 The following copies of accounts have been obtained from the records 
 of the manufacturers: 
 
 Postmaster R. H. Morris. 
 1845. 
 
 July 12. Engraving steel plate of Post Office stamps, $40.00 
 
 " Printing 1 ,000 impressions, 10.00 
 
 " 167 sheets paper and gumming do. @ 3c, 5.01 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 $5501 
 
 Del 
 
 vered July 
 
 Aug. 
 • ' Sept. 
 " Oct. 
 
 12. 
 '4. 
 '5. 
 '6, 
 
 28, 
 
 ■7. 
 3. 
 
 1845, 
 
 Total, 
 
 
 30 
 20 
 120 
 270 
 200 
 200 
 126 
 
 mpressions. 
 
 
 966 
 
 mpressions. 
 
 
 
 
 Postmaster R. H, 
 
 Morris. 
 
 
 
 Printing 2,590 sheets Post Office stamps from N 
 
 1845, to Jan. 7 1847, 
 43 1 sheets paper and gumming @ 3c, 
 
 ov. 2 
 
 $25 90 
 12.93 
 
 $38.83 
 
NEW YORK, N. Y. 33 
 
 Nov. 25, 1845, 400 impressions. 
 
 500 " 
 
 500 " 
 50 
 .87 
 150 
 
 100 " 
 
 100 " 
 
 400 " 
 
 lOJ 
 
 Jan. 7, 1847, ,00 
 
 Total, 2,590 impressions. 
 
 July 12 to Oct. 3, 1845, 966 
 
 Grand total, 3,556 impressions. 
 
 These records are apparently transferred from other books and the 
 dates between November 25th, 1845 and January 7th, 1847, are missing. 
 There are no further charges against Postmaster Morris. 
 
 The usual charge, at that date, was one hundred dollars for a plate 
 containing one hundred stamps. The rate for smaller plates was higher in 
 proportion, to cover the cost of the design and die. It would seem a reason- 
 able assumption that the charge of forty dollars would represent the price of 
 a plate containing twenty-five stamps. 
 
 Since Messrs. Rawdon, Wright & Hatch used 598 sheets for 3,556 im- 
 pressions, it becomes evident that each sheet was cut into six pieces. The 
 small difference of 5 J^ sheets may, doubtless, be attributed to spoiled im- 
 pressions. I am informed by Mr. H. G. Mandel, an expert of the first rank 
 upon all subjects of stamp manufacture, that, at the period we are considering, 
 a large sheet of paper measured 28x22 inches. Such a sheet would cut into 
 six pieces gjixii inches. And such a piece would take an impression from 
 a plate of twenty-five stamps, five rows of five stamps each, and leave a good 
 margin all around. It is also possible that the sheets of paper were smaller 
 than 28x22 inches. 
 
 Finally, 3,556 impressions from a plate containing twenty-five stamps 
 would give a total of 88,900 stamps. In view of the limited correspondence 
 of the day and the very general practice of sending letters marked " paid," 
 this quantity of stamps would appear to be ample for the length of time they 
 were in use. 
 
 There are a number of minor varieties, caused by touching up the 
 plate and by defective transfers. The most prominent variety is that known 
 as the "double line at bottom," the engraver having drawn an extra frame Minor Tarietie 
 line on that side. It is said that this variety occurs three times on the sheet. 
 In the collection of Mr. G. E. Jones there is a vertical pair with wide margins 
 at the left and bottom, showing it to be from the lower left corner of the sheet. 
 The upper stamp of the pair has the extra line. We can thus determine the 
 position of one copy of this variety. Another prominent variety is caused by 
 a misplaced transfer and shows the outlines of "five cents" repeated across 
 the face of the letters. An interesting account of the minor varieties will be 
 found in an article by Mr. F. W. Hunter, published in the Metropolitan 
 Philatelist for March, 1894. Mr. H. E. Deats has endeavored to reconstruct 
 the original sheet by means of pairs showing the different varieties but, so far, 
 he has not succeecjed, 
 
34 NEW YORK, N. Y. 
 
 The stamps are found on a variety of papers. The commonest is a 
 thin wove, of a pale bluish or grayish tint. The stamps on white paper are 
 Paper. much less frequently met with and those on deep gray-blue paper are decidedly 
 
 scarce. In addition to the several shades of wove paper, copies are known 
 on ribbed and pelure paper and also a few which show portions of a water- 
 mark of large Roman capitals. This is, doubtless, a papermaker's watermark. 
 I have seen part of the letter "j," the top of an " e '' or "f" and upright 
 strokes which might belong to a variety of letters. 
 
 ^ y^^ 
 
 III 
 
 The stamps are usually endorsed with the initials of the postmaster or 
 one of his assistants. It is said that at first the stamps were sold unsigned. I 
 
 Initials on tiie have seen such copies, on white and bluish papers, cancelled July rSth and 
 stamps. 2\^\., 1845. It will be observed that these dates are close to that on which the 
 
 stamps were issued. Fearing that they might be counterfeited, it was decided 
 to authenticate the stamps by the endorsement of the postmaster. Mr. Morris 
 undertook to do this but soon found that it required too much of his time a-nd 
 delegated the work to his assistants. It is believed that he signed only two 
 sheets, on two succeeding days. On one sheet the initials " r. h. m." (r) read 
 from top to bottom of the stamp in a slightly diagonal line. On the other 
 sheet the direction of the endorsement is reversed and reads from bottom to 
 top. The majority of the stamps are signed "a. c. m." (ii, hi, iv) horizontally 
 across the face. These are the initials of Alonzo Castle Monson, brother-in- 
 law of Robert H. Morris. A similar endorsement (v) was made by Marciana 
 Monson, brother of A. C. Monson. It is possible that W. C. R. Engrist, Mr. 
 Morris' private secretary, and other clerks may have endorsed some of the 
 stamps. The endorsements were always in red ink. 
 
 The stamps were cancelled in various ways: with pen strokes in blue 
 or red ink, the word " paid,'' the circular date marks of the office, a circle 
 crossed by parallel lines, and the letters "u. s.'' in an octagon. All the hand- 
 stamped cancellations were in red. 
 
 It is not known what became of the original plate. The records of 
 Rawdon, Wright & Hatch and their successors, the American Bank Note Co., 
 
 iHc and I'lates. are silent on this point. The original die is understood to be in the custody 
 of the latter company. About 1862 a new plate was made from this die for 
 George A. Hussey, of Hussey's Post. He was an obliging gentleman who 
 supplied large quantities of locals and other stamps to the trade. When 
 originals were not obtainable he made good the deficiency with reprints, or, 
 rather than disappoint his customers, had new plates and stones made, that 
 he might furnish the stamps required. These productions have been called 
 by harsh names in later years, but perhaps the critics failed to appreciate the 
 gentleman's intentions.] 
 
NEW YORK, N. Y. 
 
 35 
 
 Sheets from the new plate have nine stamps, arranged- in three rows 
 of three. Each differs very slightly from the others, the most prominent 
 variety being the middle stamp in the lower row, which has the white stock Boprlnti. 
 
 shaded by crossed diagonal lines. From this plate reprints were struck in 
 black on deep blue and white papers. Owing to irregular contraction of the 
 paper after printing the reprints differ in size from each other and also from 
 the originals. The originals measure 2oJ^x28mm. The reprints on blue 
 paper measure 2o}4x2S}4mm. and those on white paper 2ox28j4mm. The 
 stamps on the original plate are i^mm. apart, while those on the reprint 
 plate are separated by 2)^ mm. Other impressions were struck in blue, green, 
 red and brown on white paper. As there were no originals in these colors 
 these impressions are, at best, only proofs. 
 
 From the copy book of Mr. R. H. Morris — kindly loaned me by Mr. 
 Monson Morris — I quote the following interesting letter: 
 
 Post Office, New York, July 12, 1845. 
 My Dear Sir : — 1 have adopted a stamp which I sell at 5 cents each. The accom- 
 panying is one. I prefer losing the cost of making them to having it insinuated that I am Letter of Post- 
 speculating out of the public. Your office of course will not officially notice my stamp, but master Morris 
 will be governed only by the post office stamp of prepayment. Should there by any accident to other Post- 
 be deposited in your office a letter directed to the City of New York with one of my stamps masters, 
 upon it, you will mark the letter unpaid the same as though no stamp was upon it, though 
 when it reaches my office I shall deliver it as a paid lettei;. In this manner the accounts of 
 the offices will be.kept as now, there can be no confusion, and as each office is the judge of 
 Its own stamps there will be no danger from counterfeits. 
 
 * RoBT. H. Morris, P. M. 
 
 To P. M. Boston, Philadelphia, Albany, Washington. 
 
 This shows plainly the expectations and intentions of the New York 
 postmaster. I am told that, in the files of the Post Office Department at 
 Washington, there are letters from postmasters, asking if the New York stamp 
 was a postage stamp and that the reply to these inquiries was in the affirma- 
 tive. But on referring to a quotation on page 11, it will be seen that some- 
 time in the next year the New York stamps were sent, by order of the Post- 
 master-General, to the above cities, to be used as a test of the practicability 
 of postage stamps. I have seen copies on the original covers, mailed in 
 Boston on February ist and April nth, 1846. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMPS. Reference List. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 Wove Paper. 
 July i2th, 1845. S cents black on bluish 
 
 5 cents black on gray-blue 
 
 5 cents black on white 
 
 5 cents black on yellowish white 
 
 Varieties : 
 5 cents black on bluish. Without signature 
 
 5 cents black on gray-blue. " " 
 
 5 cents black on white " " 
 
 5 cents black on yellowish white " " 
 
 Watermarked Paper. 
 5 cents black on bluish 
 
36 
 
 NEW YORK, N. Y. 
 
 Envelopes. 
 
 Historical. 
 
 Letter of Post- 
 master MorrlH 
 to the Post- 
 iiiaiNter General. 
 
 1862 (?) 
 
 Ribbed Paper. 
 5 cents black on bluish 
 
 Pelure Paper. 
 5 cents black on bluish 
 
 Variety : 
 5 cents black on bluish. Without signature 
 Reprints. 
 
 Wove Paper. 
 5 cents black on deep blue 
 5 cents black on white 
 
 Mr. Morris also issued envelopes but their design is uncertain, since 
 no copy is known to have been preserved. The only description we have of 
 them is given in the J\/'ew York Express. On July 7th, 1845, i^^ Washington 
 correspondent, writing under date of the 2nd, says: 
 
 "It was suggested in New York to Mr. Morris, your postmaster, tliat he might 
 accommodate the public very much by selling stamped envelopes, as the law does not 
 authorize the sale of stamps on the English plan. When he was here he laid the subject 
 before the Postmaster-General, who has to-day decided that the postmaster can do this. The 
 envelopes are to be marked with the amount of postage thereon, say 5 or 10 or more cents, 
 as the case may be, and the initials of the postmaster are to be superadded, and then the 
 envelopes can be sold. The object is to facilitate the payment of prepaid letters. Post- 
 masters can intercharge envelopes whenever they can agree to d» so among themselves." 
 
 In the same journal for July 8th, 1845, we find the following editorial: 
 
 Free Stamped Envelopes. — When the bill for cheap postage was before Congress, it 
 contained a clause authorizing the sale of stamps on the plan of the English system. The 
 provision was. however, stricken out, leaving the public only the old method of prepaying 
 letters during the business hours of the post office. A suggestion was made to our new 
 postmaster. Mr. Morris, that the public convenience would be very much promoted if he 
 would sell envelopes which would pass free through his office. By this measure letters could 
 be sent at any hour of the night to the post-office, and the postage paid, where the writer 
 desired it, by enclosing it in a free envelope. The postmaster proposed to sell stamps at five 
 cents each, but this not having been sanctioned by Congress, we should think would not be 
 the best way ; and as the public convenience demands something of the kind, we are glad to 
 learn that he has prepared envelopes of the kind referred to, some of *hich we have seen. 
 They are marked five cents and under these words is the name r h. morris. For letters 
 over one ounce they will be marked according to the post-office rates, in the same way. 
 These envelopes will be sold by the postmaster at six and a quarter cents each, or sixteen for 
 a dollar of the common kind and the common size. This will be as cheap or cheaper than 
 they can be bought in small quantities at the stationers. A thin envelope will contain two 
 letters and be subject only to a single postage. Envelopes of various sizes will also be fur- 
 nished, and of fine quality when desired by the purchaser. The pl.in, we hear, has also been 
 adopted by the postmaster at Washington, D. C, and has met the approval of the Postmaster- 
 General. We think it is one not only of convenience to the public, but that it will .add to 
 the revenue of the department very considerably. 
 
 Again I quote from Mr. Morris' copy book: 
 
 Post Office, New York, July 30, 1845. 
 
 My Dear Sir : — Yours of the 28th, marked 'private," was duly received. 
 
 I at first contemplated issuing envelopes with my n.ame on them and selling them at 
 the usual cost of the envelope and the postage upon it. and indeed, at the earnest solicitation 
 of one or two friends, I prepared some, of which I sold in all about two dollars worth. I 
 afterwards, upon mature reflection, determined I would not continue to do so, for the reason, 
 among others, that I was unwilling to expose myself to the imputation that, while ostensibly 
 I was selling them for the accommodation of the public, I was in reality doing it for the 
 pecuniary profit of the difleience between what envelopes could be purchased for by the 
 quantity and what I should sell them for at retail. I therefore adopted instead of the en- 
 velope a stamp, one o( which is on the envelope herewith. These stamps 1 dispose of at 
 
NEW YORK, N. Y. 
 
 37 
 
 their face. I make nothing by them except such as may be lost or destroyed, but, on the 
 contrary, have to pay for the plate and the impressions. 
 
 I have adopted this plan first for the accommodation of the public and second to 
 enable me practically to judge of the benefits of it, that you might make a representation to 
 the next Congress, and procure, if desirable, a law authorizing government stamps and, 1 
 hope, a system of prepayment of letters 1 intended to have made this explanation to you 
 before this. I have, however, been so occupied that I have neglected to do so and your 
 letter reminded me of my duty. 
 
 Very sincerely and respectfully yours, 
 Hon. Cave Johnson, , Robt H. Morris, P. M. 
 
 P. M Genl., Washington. 
 
 In view of the foregoing statements it cannot be doubted that en- 
 velopes were issued by the postmaster at New York. The quantity was very 
 limited, not exceeding forty. They were marked " five cents " and possibly Design and colors. 
 " TEN CENTS " and " R. H. Morris." Beyond this we have no information. 
 The American Journal of Philately for January i888, lists them as "5 cents 
 black." I have been unable to find any authority for calling the color black 
 and should, on the contrary, expect them to be stamped in red, as that was 
 the color in use in the New York post-ofhce at that date for cancellations 
 and other hand-stamps. The signature of the postmaster may have been in 
 red or black ink, as both colors were in use in the office. The former was 
 the color used in signing the stamps. The Express speaks of the envelopes 
 as of "the common kind and the common size," from which we may infer 
 that they were the ordinary buff envelopes of the period. 
 
 ENVELOPES. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 July 7th, 1845. 
 
 5 cents- 
 
Philadelphia, Pa, 
 
 The claim that stamps were issued by George F. Lehman, postmaster 
 at Philadelphia from 1845 to 1849, is based on nothing more substantial than 
 tradition. No copy of anything which might have served as a postmaster's 
 stamp, or which was in use at the date of the provisional issues by the post- 
 masters of other cities, is known to-day. The carriers stamps are, of course, 
 excepted from these remarks. 
 
 The claim that something in the nature of stamps was used in Phila- 
 delphia was first made in the American Journal of Philately for November 
 20th, 1871. In an article by "Cosmopolitan," on page 125, we find the 
 following : 
 
 " Another discovery, no less important than the last, has been made lately, viz.: a 
 provisional stamp for the City of Philadelphia. For particulars of the emanation of this 
 stamp, 1 am indebted to a gentleman occupying a prominent position in the General Post 
 Historical. Office, who was engaged in the Philadelphia Post Office at the time the stamp was first 
 
 issued. The e)(act date of its issue cannot be definitely ascertained, but it was during the 
 administration of Dr. Geo. F. Lehman, postmaster of Philadelphia, between 1845 and 1849. 
 It can hardly be called a stamp proper, as Dr Lehman had simply an arrangement by which 
 parties, who might be compelled to mail letters after the close of the office, could have the 
 necessary stamps placed on them by the clerks and charged to their accounts or collected by 
 the carriers. In most cases this was a band in which the letters were enclosed and endorsed 
 by the parties. But in other cases there were small slips printed and pasted on one corner 
 of the letters. There were several varieties of them used, but, unfortunately, the most care- 
 ful search has revealed no specimens as yet. There is no possible doubt but that they were 
 actually used and in numbers, as my informant recollects them from 184s until 1849 ^"^^ 
 even afterwards." 
 
 So far as 1 am aware, subsequent research has not added to our 
 knowledge of or revealed the existence of a Philadelphia postmaster's stamp. 
 
PiTTSFiELD, Mass. 
 
 Again we have no positive proof in the shape of existing stamps, though 
 the postmaster is credited with having issued them. 
 
 Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the United States says on 
 this subject: 
 
 " A short notice published in one of the Springfield, Mass., papers, in the summer of 
 1874, asserts that in overhauling the vaults of the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Com- 
 pany of Pittsfield, a number of stamps were found that were issued by the Pittsfield post- Historical. 
 master, in 1846-47. Phineas Allen was postmaster of Pittsfield at the time. No further 
 information concerning these stamps has rewarded inquiry." 
 
 At my request Mr. W. C. Stone has very kindly searched the files of 
 the various Springfield papers for the summer of 1874, but has failed to find 
 the article referred to by Mr. Tiffany. It would appear either that there was a 
 mistake in the date given or that the article was in some Pittsfield or Berkshire 
 County paper. Mr. Stone, however, found mention of the Insurance Co. 
 having moved into new quarters in July 1874, and it is probable that the 
 stamps were found at the time of this removal. 
 
 Mr. Stone also sends me the following extract from the American 
 
 Philatelic Magazine for March 1888: 
 
 The Stamps of the Pittsfield Postmaster. 
 
 The first notice that 1 had of the above stamps was in reading Mr. Tiffany's history 
 and of course became very interested in them. My search through the back files of local 
 news in the Springfield (Mass ) Republican rewarded me with the following : 
 
 "While overhauling the vaults of the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a 
 number of stamps were found which were issued by the postmaster, Mr. Phineas Allen, in 
 1846." 
 
 The stamps spoken of excited no little curiosity, for the weekly papers of the time 
 (1874), reviewed them and the stamps passed through several hands and are still in town. 1 
 asked an old resident and a newspaper man regarding them and he said he thought the 
 design was that of a post rider. He has promised me more news later and 1 hope to be able 
 to present an illustration in an early number. 
 
 W. F. JiLLSON. 
 
 Unfortunately no further numbers of the magazine were ever issued 
 and a few years ago Mr. Jillson was drowned, thus depriving us of the benefit 
 of any additional information he may have acquired. 
 
 Further efforts to secure information about the Pittsfield stamps liave 
 been unrewarded. 
 
Providence, R, I, 
 
 EngraTiig and 
 Printing. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Welcome B. Sayles was appointed postmaster at Providence by Presi- 
 dent James K. Polk in 1844. He was reappointed by President Franklin 
 Pierce and served ten or twelve years in all. In various philatelic articles 
 the postmaster's name has been erroneously given as Welcome P. Sayles and 
 H. B. Sayles. 
 
 In 1846, Postmaster Sayles issued postage stamps of five and ten cents 
 face value. They were engraved on copper by George W. Babcock and 
 printed by Henry A. Hidden & Co. The engraving of the plate has hitherto 
 been credited to Henry A. Hidden, though the statement has occasionally 
 been questioned. Mr. J. Frank Read of Providence talked with Mr. Babcock 
 some years ago about the Providence stamps and learned the facts, as here 
 given. From about 1835 to 1865 Mr. Babcock did most of the fine plate 
 work and engraving in Providence. Neither Henry A. Hidden nor his 
 brother James did engraving of this quality,, but they had the largest printing 
 establishment in the city, and printed the majority of the bills for the state 
 banks and copper and steel plate work for corporations, manufacturers, etc. 
 
 The stamps are printed on hard, yellowish-white, hand-made paper. 
 The paper is usually quite thin, but Mr. H. E. Beats has a sheet on decidedly 
 thick paper, though of the same quality and making as the ordinary sheets. 
 Variation in thickness was not at all unusual in the hand-made papers of fifty 
 years ago, the stipulation usually being for a certain weight to the ream, any 
 excess or shortage being corrected by the use of sheets purposely made very 
 thin or very thick. 
 
 As will be seen from the illustration (Plate B), the plate contained 
 twelve stamps, arranged in four rows of three stamps each. The stamp in the 
 upper right corner had a face value of ten cents, all the others being of five 
 cents, As the stamps were engraved directly on the plate, each differs from 
 the others in minor details. From rulings on the plate it is evident that the 
 original intention was to make it larger, but this was abandoned and only the 
 twelve stamps were engraved. 
 
PROVIDENCE, R. 
 
 41 
 
 For many years the plate was believed to be in the custody of the State 
 Treasury or of the Rhode Island Historical Society and statements to this 
 effect were repeatedly made in philatelic publications. The incorrectness of 
 these statements was shown in September, 1893, by the sale of the plate to the 
 Bogert & Durbin Co. by Lycurgus Sayles of Providence. With the plate 
 were sold 32 complete sheets, and 61 single copies of the five cent and 18 of 
 the ten cent stamps. The price paid has been stated at $2,500 to $3,000. 
 
 Lycurgus Sayles was a nephew of the former postmaster, Welcome B. 
 Sayles. After the latter retired from the postmastership he practiced law. 
 One day in 1854 he was having a sort of house cleaning in his office, examin- 
 ing and destroying many packages of old letters and papers. One package 
 he handed to his nephew with the remark: " Here, you had better take this. 
 It is some of my old postmaster's stamps, and the plate they were made from." 
 Mr. Sayles placed the package in a pigeon hole in the top of an old-fashioned 
 desk he was then using, and there it remained until, in 1893, he was shown 
 one of the stamps by a Providence collector, and learned that they were of 
 value and the plate much desired. Whereupon he searched for and found 
 the plate and, as has been stated, subsequently sold it. 
 
 The original printing of the Providence stamps appears to have been 
 quite extensive, as, at various times,- large numbers of the sheet have been 
 held by stamp dealers. But the gradual destruction which is always going on 
 among philatelic treasures, has had its effect and to-day the number of sheets 
 is comparatively limited. Most of the unused stamps may be traced to one 
 source of supply. They came from John Plagen, one of the three letter 
 carriers of the city under Postmaster Sayles. 
 
 On this subject Mr. E. B Hanes writes me: "About 1850 the Provi- 
 dence post office was removed from Westminster Street to Market Square. At 
 that time it required only a very few carriers to serve the city. One of them, 
 named John Hagen, whom I afterwards well knew, told me that Mr. Sayles, 
 the postmaster, had a very large quantity of the stamps printed, as he had no 
 doubt of their general use. There were, at the time of the removal, several 
 square packages of full sheets, which the postmaster told Hagan he could 
 have. So Hagan carried them home as playthings for his children. I knew 
 these young Hagans and was their play-fellow and, before the days of stamp 
 collecting, these bundles of Providence stamps were used as foot balls and 
 other implements of play." 
 
 Mrs. Hagan afterwards used the majority of these sheets to paper a 
 small room in the attic of their house. Such sheets as remained were gradu- 
 ally dispersed and, when a demand arose for more, many were removed from 
 the attic walls and sold. 
 
 The sheets were orginally gummed with a very thin gum which was 
 almost white and quite smooth. It did not extend to the edges of the sheets 
 nor discolor the paper. Mr. Beats' sheet on thick paper has this gum. The 
 sheets without gum which are occasionally seen may probably be assigned to 
 those removed from the walls of the Hagan attic. It is said that Fred Hagan, 
 son of John Hagan, brought a quantity of these sheets to New York about 
 1890 and had them regummed. This gum is yellowish, crackly and full of 
 
 DiscOTery of tlie 
 Plate. 
 
 Historical 
 
42 
 
 PROVIDENCE, R. I. 
 
 spots of thicker gum. It usually does not extend to the edges of the sheet 
 and, as a rule, turns the paper quite yellowish. 
 
 Used copies of the five cent stamp are quite rare and, so far as I am 
 aware, the ten cents is not known in this condition. It has even been asserted 
 Cauceiied copiesi. that the Providence stamps were never in use. But cancelled copies on the 
 original covers are not unknown and it must be remembered that of the loose 
 stamps, which had remained in the postmaster's hands and were sold with 
 the plate, there were 6i five cents and i8 ten cents, which would indicate 
 that a number of sheets had been cut up, the majority of the five cent stamps 
 sold, and the ten cents left on hand. All the used copies which I have seen 
 were cancelled by a " v " shaped mark, made with a pen and black ink. The 
 covers also bear the dated postmark of the city, the word "paid" and a 
 figure "5." All these are hand-stamped in red. The only dates of use of 
 which I have a memorandum are August 25th and November 14th, 1846. 
 
 After the purchase of the plate it was carefully cleaned, and the cor- 
 rosion removed by Livermore & Knight, of Providence, and proofs on thick 
 card board struck from it, in blue, red, green, brown and black. 
 
 As soon as it was known that the plate of the Providence stamps had 
 passed into the hands of dealers the possibility of reprinting became a subject 
 Kepriuts, of discussion. In spite of the fact that the owners claimed that no re- 
 
 impressions had been made, beyond the proofs just mentioned, there were 
 persistent, though unconfirmed, rumors of reprints. Probably many of the 
 assertions were founded on the report that, about the time the plate was sold, 
 diligent search was made, in and near Providence, for old hand-made paper, 
 such as was used for state bank bills and similar securities. This paper was 
 identical with that on which, the Providence stamps were printed. Small 
 quantities of it were known to be held by individuals and old firms and sales 
 of it were said to have been made. 
 
 It was not until 1898 that the existence of the reprints was finally 
 admitted. We now know that there were two reprintings. The first was 
 probably made soon after the purchase of the plate and is on the old paper 
 just referred to. There are three varieties of this paper. The first is thick 
 hard and white. The second is also thick and hard but it is of a yellowish 
 tone and coarser quality. The third is thin and soft and has rose colored 
 fibres in its substance. A second and much larger lot of reprints was made in 
 1898. Before this reprinting took place the face of the plate was electro- 
 plated with steel. These last reprints were made on a thin hard white wove 
 paper, apparently hand-made, of close grain and decidedly modern character. 
 A single sheet was printed in green. .\11 the reprints are without gum. The 
 impression is ne\er as strong as that of the originals and the ink has a grayish 
 tint. On the reverse of each sheet is printed in large fancy capitals 
 
 1! 
 
 
 
 (; 
 
 E 
 
 R 
 
 T 
 
 D 
 
 U 
 
 R 
 
 B 
 
 I 
 
 N 
 
 These letters are in a gold-bronze ink which is said to be indelible and 
 they are so arranged that one letter falls on the back of each stamp. It is 
 
PROVIDENCE, R. I. 
 
 43 
 
 much to be regretted that there was not placed on the face of each stamp on 
 the plate some small dot or mark by which the true character of the reprints 
 would always be readily apparent. It is yet more regrettable that they were 
 ever made at all. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMPS. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Yellowish White Wove Paper, 
 
 1846. 5 cents black, gray-black. 11 varieties 
 
 10 cents black, gray-black 
 
 REPRINTS. 
 
 Thick Hard White Paper. 
 
 1893. 5 cents gray-black. 11 varieties 
 
 10 cents gray-black 
 
 Thick Hard Yellowish White Paper. 
 
 5 cents gray-black. 11 varieties 
 10 cents gray-black 
 
 Thin Soft White Paper with Colored Fibres. 
 
 5 cents gray-black. 11 varieties 
 10 cents gray-black 
 
 Thin Hard White Paper. 
 
 1898. 5 cents gray-black. 11 varieties 
 
 10 cents gray-black 
 S cents green. 1 1 varieties 
 10 cents green 
 
 There are a number of counterfeits of these stamps. Many of them 
 come to us from Europe but the most dangerous were made in this country. 
 Concerning these counterfeits Mr. C. W. Bowen, to whom I am indebted for 
 much valuable information about the Providence stamps, writes me: " About 
 forty years ago (the exact date cannot be given) Mr. C. A. Pabodie of this 
 city was asked by some one — he cannot now remember who — to make an 
 engraving similar to that from which two stamps, which the applicant gave 
 him, were printed. This he did. The party took the plate and the only 
 record remaining in the hands of Mr. P. is a proof which was made before 
 the plate was delivered." 
 
 Mr. Pabodie was a member of the firm of Pabodie & Thompson. The 
 proof shows that the counterfeit die — for such it was, rather than a plate — 
 was made in imitation of the first and second stamps in the right hand 
 vertical row of the original plate. This die was undoubtedly made for George 
 A. Hussey, who had at least two lithographic stones made by transfers from 
 it. One stone bore one hundred reproductions of the five cents, arranged in 
 ten rows of ten. The other bore ninety reproductions, in ten rows of nine. 
 The transfers on the second stone were equally divided between the five and 
 
 Keferenfie Lint. 
 
 CouiiterfeitB. 
 
44 PROVIDENCE, R. I. 
 
 ten cents, but they were arranged without any regularity and one of ten cents 
 was placed tSte beche. Some of these counterfeits were printed on a thin 
 yellowish white paper, quite like that of the originals. There were also im- 
 pressions on a variety of colored and fancy papers. These and much other 
 trash were printed for Hussey by Thomas Wood, 2j4 Murray Street, New 
 York. 
 
 The counterfeits are not such as need deceive any one at all careful or 
 who compares them with a reproduction of an original sheet. The originals 
 measure 28x20mm., the counterfeits are usually a trifle larger or smaller, 
 according to the paper on which they are printed. 
 
St, Louis, Mo, 
 
 PO ST OFFICE. 
 
 TYPE I, 
 
 {POST OFFIC E I 
 
 TYPE II. 
 
 The St. Louis stamps were issued in November, 1845 ^Y John M. 
 
 Wimer, who received his appointment as postmaster in that year. His name 
 
 has been given by various writers as Hymer and Wymer, but Wimer is correct. 
 
 The exact date of issue of the stamps is not known but it was probably about 
 
 November ist, as the Afissouri Republican of the sth published the following 
 
 notice: 
 
 Letter Stamps.— Mr. Wimer, the postmaster, has prepared a set of letter stamps, or 
 rather marks, to be put upon letters, indicating that the postage has been paid. In this he 
 has copied after the plan adopted by the postmaster of New York and other cities. These 
 stamps are engraved to represent the Missouri Coat of Arms, and are five and ten cents. 
 They are so prepared that they may be stuck upon a letter like a wafer and will prove a great 
 convenience to merchants and all those having many letters to send post paid, as it saves 
 all trouble of paying at the post-ofifice. They will be sold as they are sold in the East, viz : 
 sixteen five-cent stamps and eight ten-cent stamps for a dollar. We would recommend 
 merchants and others to give them a trial. 
 
 Date of ISNue. 
 
46 
 
 ST. LOUIS, MO. 
 
 Gnj^raTing and 
 Arrangement. 
 
 Yarieties. 
 
 On November 13th, 1845, the same paper published a second notice, as 
 follows: 
 
 Post-Office Stamps. —Mr. Wimer, the postmaster, requests us to say that he will 
 furnish nine ten-cent stamps and eighteen five cent stamps for one dollar, the difference 
 being required to pay for the printing of the stamps. 
 
 In the collection of Mr H. E. Beats is a copy of the ten cent stamp, 
 cancelled Nov. 20th, 1845. This is the earliest cancellation known on any 
 of these stamps. 
 
 The stamps were engraved on copper by J. M. Kershaw, at that date 
 the leading engraver in St. Louis and proprietor of the Western Card and 
 Seal Engraving Establishment. The designs, adapted from the arms of the 
 State of Missouri, were engraved on a small thin copper plate, such as was 
 used for visiting cards. The designs were arranged in two vertical rows, three 
 five cents in the left row and three ten cents in the right. They vary slightly 
 in size, measuring 17^ to 18^x22 to 22j^mm. Being separately engraved, 
 each differs in minor details from the others. The varieties of the five cents 
 may be readily distinguished by the ornaments in the upper corners or the 
 position of the bears relative to the vertical frame lines. In type I, the 
 haunches of both bears touch the frame lines. In type II, the bear at the 
 right touches the frame but that at the left is about ^mm. from it. And in 
 type III, neither bear touches the frame. The most readily noted marks on 
 the ten certs are the curved dashes below the words " post office." On 
 type I there are three dashes below the words, on type II three pairs of dashes 
 and on type III similar pairs of dashes with rows of dots between them. The 
 first arrangement of the types is usually called plate I, though more properly 
 it is the first state of the plate, as only one plate was ever used. 
 
 It may be well to remark here that until 1895 the correct arrangement 
 of the types on the plate was not known. With the limited material at com- 
 mand previous to that date, philatelists had attempted to restore the arrange- 
 ment and, under the circumstances, had succeeded very well, since only 
 types I and III of the five cents were transposed. In nearly all the articles 
 on the St. Louis stamps, written previous to 1895, the types of the five cents 
 which we now call I, II and III were called C. B. and A. The types of the 
 ten cents were correctly arranged. 
 
 The majority of the St. Louis stamps appear to have been used by two 
 large firms of that city or by people connected with them. These firms were 
 Crow & McCreery, wholesale dry goods merchants, and William Nisbet & Co., 
 bankers. When these stamps were in use the great trade and mail route 
 between the cities of the eastern coast and New Orleans was via the Ohio and 
 Mississippi rivers. Louisville, Ky., was an important point on this route and 
 was connected with St. Louis by a line of fast steamers. 
 
 The two firms above mentioned were in the habit of sending to their 
 correspondents in Louis\ ille bulky letters, containing drafts, other letters to 
 be forwarded, etc. On these heavy letters the postage was, of course, large. 
 In the celebrated find of St. Louis stamps, which was made in Louis- 
 ville in the summer of 1895, were many covers bearing stamps representing 
 postage from twenty-five to fifty cents. We may infer that the desirability 
 
ST. LOUIS, MO. 
 
 47 
 
 of stamps of higher face value than ten cents was early apparent. The sim- 
 plest and least expensive way of providing such stamps was by altering the 
 existing plate. Accordingly two of the five cent stamps, types I and II, 
 were changed to twenty cents. The stamps furnish evidence that this was 
 accomplished in the customary way, /. e., by placing the plate face down- 
 ward on a hard surface and hammering on the reverse of the parts to be 
 altered until the face was driven flush at those points. The new numerals 
 were then engraved and any damage to the surrounding parts repaired. 
 Evidence of damage in this driving up of the surface is seen in the broken 
 frame lines above the numerals on the twenty cent stamps and in the missing 
 paw of the right-hand bear on type II of that value. The latter stamp also 
 shows a good example of retouching in the dashes under " Saint " and 
 " Louis.'' Being altered from types I and II of the five cents, the character- 
 istic marks of those types will serve to distinguish the twenty cent stamps. 
 This altered or second state of the plate is usually referred to as plate II. 
 
 Apparently it was soon found that the demand for the twenty cent 
 stamps was not as great as had been anticipated, while, on the other hand, 
 the number of five cent stamps supplied by printings from the altered plate 
 was disproportionate and insufficient, in view of the number required for 
 ordinary letters. So the plate was again changed, the numerals on the twenty 
 cent stamps being erased and fives engraved in their place. These new 
 numerals differ somewhat from those which originally occupied the position. 
 In type I re-engraved the " 5 " is fully twice as far from the top frame line as 
 in the original state. It is correspondingly nearer the garter surrounding the 
 arms. In the first state several fine shading lines pass between the lower part 
 of the " 5 " and the garter but in the re-engraved stamp the heavy shading of 
 the numeral almost touches the garter. In the re-engraved stamp the four 
 dashes under " Saint " and " Louis " have disappeared, except about one-half 
 of the upper dash under each word. In type II re-engraved the ornament 
 in the flag of the " 5 " is a diamond instead of a triangle, the diamond in the 
 bow is much longer than in the first state, and the ball of the numeral, 
 originally blank, now contains a large dot. At the right of the shading of 
 the " 5 " is a short curved line, which is evidently a remnant of the " o " of 
 " 20 ". The paw of the bear on the right, which was obliterated in making 
 the first alteration, has now been restored. It is heavily outlined but only 
 lightly shaded. 
 
 There are many other points of difference between the re-engraved 
 types and the originals but those I have indicated are the most prominent 
 and wilPsufifice to distinguish them. 
 
 At the time of the second alteration of the plate type III of the five 
 cents was slightly retouched. Evidence of this retouching is most easily 
 found in the ball of the "5 ", which now contains a large dot in place of the 
 almost imperceptible one in the early state of the type. 
 
 The third and last state of the plate is commonly called plate III. 
 
 The first printing consisted of 500 impressions on greenish-gray wove 
 paper. This printing was, of course, from the plate in its original state. The 
 second printing took place early in 1846. Stamps from this printing are 
 
 Alterations of the 
 Stamps. 
 
 Ketoucli of fire 
 cents. 
 
 Printing anil 
 Paper. 
 
ST. LOUIS, MO. 
 
 Remainders and 
 Plate. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 HiBtorlcal. 
 
 known cancelled in March of that year. Again 500 impressions were printed, 
 this time from the plate in the second state and on paper of two colors, 
 greenish-gray and lilac-gray. Probably only a small quantity of paper of the 
 first color was used, as only two copies of the twenty cent stamps are known 
 on that paper. The third printing, made from the plate in the third state, is 
 believed to have taken place in January, 1847. The earliest cancellation 
 known on stamps of this printing is Feb. 5th, 1847. For this printing an 
 almost pelure paper, very hard and transparent, was used. The color is a 
 cold gray. The extreme scarcity of stamps on this paper would indicate that 
 but few of them were used, though it is believed that, as on previous occasions, 
 500 sheets were printed. 
 
 What became of the remainder of the last printing, of the probable 
 remainder of twenty cent stamps from the previous printing, and of the plate, 
 are unsettled questions. They may have been destroyed when the Govern- 
 ment issue of 1847 appeared or when the post-office building was demolished. 
 The household effects of Mr. Wimer were lost by the sinking of a steamboat 
 on the Mississippi river, during the war, and may have included the plate and 
 remainders. Lastly, they may have been among his private papers, which 
 were siezed by the Government, in 1865, at the time of his arrest as a suspected 
 Confederate. Whatever their fate, there seems to be little doubt that they no 
 longer exist. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMPS. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 Greenish Wove Paper. 
 
 Nov., 1845. 5 (cents) black, 3 varieties 
 
 10 (cents) black, 3 " 
 1846. 20 (cents) black, 2 " 
 
 Lilac-Gray Wove Paper. 
 
 1846. 5 (cents) black, 1 variety 
 10 (cents) black, 3 varieties 
 20 (cents) black, 2 " 
 
 Gray Pelure Paper. 
 
 1847. 5 (cents) black, 3 varieties 
 10 (cents) black, 3 " 
 
 Probably no stamps have provoked more discussion and articles in the 
 philatelic magazines than those of St. Louis. For many years philatelists 
 were of divided opinion regarding the twenty cent stamps — the majority hold- 
 ing that they were frauds — and their genuineness was not established to the 
 satisfaction of all until the Louisville find. 
 
 The first mention of a St. Louis stamp is found in the Stamp Collectors 
 Magazine for November, 1863. In "Addenda to Mount Brown's Catalogue 
 of Postage Stamps," under the head of " United States of America ' and the 
 subhead " Labels of Private Offices," we find this brief record : 
 
 "Saint Louis Post-Office (device supported by bears), black, imp., 
 rect., IOC." 
 
ST. LOUIS, MO. 
 
 49 
 
 This description, together with an equally brief description of the New 
 York and Providence stamps, is repeated in the number for the following 
 month, in an article on "United States Local Postage Stamps." 
 
 The author of the article expresses the opinion that the stamps of the 
 three cities are not private locals but issues by the Government postmasters 
 in anticipation of the regular issues of the Post Office Department. He calls 
 attention to their bearing the names of the cities and the words " Post Office " 
 (which private individuals would scarcely dare usurp), to their values, which 
 were too high for local letters but correct for the Government rates under and 
 over 3,000 miles, and to their superiority in workmanship to the local stamps. 
 
 The stamp referred to in these two articles was the 10c, type II. 
 
 The five cents was first known to collectors in Europe in June, 1864, 
 as may be seen by referring to the Stamp Collectors' Magazine for 1870, page 
 29. This was type III. This value was first mentioned in print in 1865, in 
 Kline's Manual. 
 
 A second variety of the ten cents (type I), was discovered by Mr. L. 
 W. Durbin and reported in the American Journal of Philately for April, 1869. 
 In September of the same year Mr. E. L. Pemberton described type II of the 
 five cents in The Philatelist. 
 
 In an article in the American Journal of Philately for January, 1870, 
 Mr. J. W. Scott described, for the first time, type I of the five cents, type III 
 of the ten cents and the two types of the twenty cents, noting the fact that 
 they were altered from types of the five cents. 
 
 During this time the leading philatelists of the day had been carrying on 
 in the magazines an animated discussion on the question of the genuineness 
 of the stamps. The announcement of the twenty cent value gave new vigor 
 to the contest. 
 
 In the Stamp Collectors' Magazine for January, 1871, Mr. E. L. Pem- 
 berton described an investigation he had made of the St. Louis stamps. He 
 began his study with a very unfavorable opinion of the twenty cents and of Bemarkabie study 
 certain of the papers. But — having gotten together thirteen five cents, twelve '•5' E- ^- P"'"- 
 ten cents and the three copies of the twenty cents then known — he, after care- 
 ful study, announced his unqualified belief in their genuineness. In view of 
 the comparatively limited number of specimens at his command, the accuracy 
 of Mr. Pemberton 's conclusions is remarkable. He placed the shades of the 
 paper in their correct order of issue, described accurately the three states of 
 the plate, the retouching of type III of the five cents, the re-engraving of type 
 II of that value and expressed his belief in the existence of a similar re- 
 engraving of type I, though he had not found a copy of the stamp. In fact, 
 fully twenty-four years before we were ready to accept the information, he 
 told us nearly all of the technical details which we know to-day. We have 
 only been able to add the description of type I re-engraved and to correct the 
 positions of types I and II, which he had transposed, a mistake most pardon- 
 able when we remember that at that time only one pair of these stamps was 
 known and he had not the advantage of seeing it. 
 
 In spite of the ability of this article and the high repute of its 
 author, the leading philatelists declined to accept the twenty cent stamps 
 
5° 
 
 ST. LOUIS, MO. 
 
 The great llud at 
 LoolsTille. 
 
 Approximate uuiii- 
 ber In exlsteDce. 
 
 CouiiterfeitR. 
 
 as genuine and paid no a:ttention to the retouched and re-engraved fives. 
 
 In the fall of 1894, Mr. John K. Tiffany made an exhaustive study of 
 the St. Louis stamps and published his conclusions in the Philatelic Journal 
 of America for December of that year. He, like Mr. Pemberton, began in 
 doubt and ended in belief. In this article the re-engraving of type I of the 
 five cents is described for the first time. 
 
 But the great find of St. Louis stamps, made in the summer of 1895, 
 was more convincing than any theories or arguments and served to put at 
 rest any lingering doubts as to their genuineness. In this find were included 
 a strip of two twenties and a five cents, strips of three of both the five and 
 ten cents, horizontal pairs of five and ten, twenty and ten, etc., etc.; thus 
 locating positively the varieties in the several states of the plate. 
 
 Previous to 1869 very few copies of the St. Louis stamps were known, 
 probably not more than twenty. In that year Mr. J. W. Scott purchased a 
 lot consisting of about 50 five cents, 100 ten cents and 3 twenty cents. A 
 few years later about 20 five and ten cents (including a pair of the former 
 value) came from the banking house of Messrs. Riggs at Washington. About 
 1889 Mr. G. B. Caiman purchased from the firm of J. & J. Stuart & Co., of 
 New York some 25 specimens of the five and ten cents, most of which were 
 on the pelure paper. A few odd copies had also been discovered in various 
 places including a fourth copy of the twenty cents. Last of all came the 
 Louisville find consisting of 75 five cents, 46 ten cents and 16 twenty cents. 
 This enumeration enables us to approximate the number of St. Louis stamps 
 in existence. 
 
 I have seen two counterfeits of the five cent St. Louis stamps which 
 might readily deceive anyone who did not take the trouble to compare them 
 with copies known to be genuine or with photographs. Both are in imitation 
 of type III and printed on a paper which reproduces fairly well the greenish- 
 gray of that used for the originals. 
 
 The more dangerous of the counterfeits may be distingushed by the 
 following points : There are three dots instead of four above the diamond 
 in the bow of the numeral "5." The curved line following the outline of 
 the numeral does not extend far enough to the left at the bottom. The let- 
 tering on the garter and the scroll below the bear is too well done, note 
 especially the "e" of "we". The first curved line below the lettered 
 scroll terminates on the right between the "i " and "c " of "office." On 
 the originals this line stops o\er the " 1." Also on the originals there is 
 a mark, caused by a slip of the engravers tool, at the left of the upper curve 
 of the " s " of " POST " and a similar mark crossing the inner frame line 
 above and to the left of the "s" of "saint." There are no such marks 
 on the counterfeit. 
 
 In March 1868 the Stamp Collectors' Moi^aziiie published illustrations 
 of the five cents (type III) and ten cents (type II). The second of the two 
 counterfeits is made either from a careful reproduction of the illustration 
 in that magazine or from the cut itself. The following marks will serve to 
 distinguish this counterfeit: There is a heavy shading at the right of the 
 numeral *' 5." The four dashes below " saint " and " I ouis " are much too 
 
ST. LOUIS, MO. 51 
 
 long, especially the lower three, which are little more than dots in the originals. 
 Immediately above " louis " in the originals is a long curved line, which is 
 missing in the counterfeit. On the latter also the first curved line below the 
 scroll on which the bears stand is much too long, beginning between the "o" 
 and "s" of "post" and ending between the "i" and " c " of "office," while 
 on the originals it begins between the "s" and "t" and ends over the " i." 
 
 I anticipate that the companion illustration in the Stamp Collectors 
 Magazine, has been used to produce counterfeits of the ten cents but I have 
 not seen them. 
 
 The pretended two-cent St. Louis stamp, which we occasionally find 
 in old collections, is of quite a different design from that of the regular values Two-cent stamp. 
 and is entirely fraudulent. 
 
Washington, D. C. 
 
 Bate of Issue. 
 
 Historical. 
 
 Col. Charles K. Gardiner, postmaster at Washington from March 31st, 
 1845 to June 30th, 1849, issued stamped envelopes of five and ten cents face 
 value, but unfortunately, no copies have been pieserved. 
 
 The New York Express for July 8th, 1845, in an article on the en- 
 velopes issued by the New York Postmaster, says: "The plan, we hear, has also 
 been adopted by the Postmaster at Washington, D. C, and has met the 
 approval of the Postmaster-General." 
 
 Mr. C. F. Rothfuchs found in the daily papers of Washington, pub- 
 lished on the 23rd and 25th of July, 1845, 'he following: 
 
 Interesting to Citizen and Sojourners in Washington — Upon inquiry at the city 
 post ofifice, we learn that Col. 'Gardiner has had franked (or rather prepaid) envelopes pre- 
 pared, which do away with the necessity of personal application at the delivery window 
 when one wishes to pay postage on sending off a letter. They are for sale at the post office 
 at the following rates; which bai'ely pay the cost, after deducting the sum chargeable on 
 each for postage, viz : 
 
 18 envelopes to enclose letters charged at 5 cents for 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 9 " " " " 10 cents 
 
 4 " " " " 10 " 
 
 I " -5 " 
 
 $1.00 
 .50 
 
 1.00 
 .50 
 
 This plan, it will be recollected, has been adopted in the northern cities, to the great 
 advantage of the public, and its introduction here will save our fellow citizens many a long 
 and hitherto indispensable trudge, in this metropolis of magnificent distances. 
 
 In reply to a request for further information Mr. Rothfuchs writes me: 
 "On the Washington, D. C, Postmaster's stamp I have spent con- 
 siderable time without success, not even locating one. I have interviewed 
 many of the old residents but could not find any one who remembered it. I 
 finally discovered the man who carried the mail between Washington and 
 Alexandria, Va., during the time the stamp was in use. He said that he 
 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
 
 53 
 
 remembered it ; that it was an envelope with printing at one corner. And he 
 
 made a draft like this " (see cut at head of this chapter) " which he said was DMigu. 
 
 the design. He did not remember if Col. Gardiner's signature was on it or 
 
 not. So far none have been located to my knowledge and the design above 
 
 is the only information I have received." 
 
 From the shape of the design it would appear a reasonable inference 
 that the name of the city and the value were placed between the curved lines 
 and the signature of the postmaster in the center. 
 
 ENVELOPES. Reference Ll»t. 
 
 July, 1845. 
 
 5 cents ■ 
 TO cents 
 
 on 
 on 
 
Worcester, Mass, 
 
 Again we are confronted by the fact that stamps were prepared and 
 sold by the postmaster of a city but that none, so far as we know, are now in 
 existence. 
 
 Maturin L. Fisher, was postmaster at Worcester from 1839 to 1849. 
 
 Our information concerning the stamps is largely supplied by the 
 Historical. following paragraph in the National Aegis, published in Worcester, September 
 2nd, 1846 : 
 
 Post Office Stamps. — The postmaster has issued postage stamps of the denomination 
 of five and ten cents. They are very convenient, and will save the trouble of making 
 change at the post office, and will enable people to send prepaid letters at times when the 
 office is closed. To cover the expense of engraving and printing, these stamps are sold at 
 five percent, advance upon the regular rates of postage. 
 
 Postmaster Fisher and the clerks connected with the post office at that 
 period, as well as most of the older inhabitants, are now dead. Though 
 friends have, at my request, made personal efforts and enlisted the public 
 press, they have been unable to obtain any further information. 
 
 Befereiiee List. 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMPS. 
 
 1846. 
 
 5 cents 
 10 cents 
 
Madison, Fla, 
 
 
 Wl 
 
 §3^ 
 m Cents 
 
 i 
 
 S fcTaMTffi'df*'^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 The so-called Madison stamp has been catalogued as a provisional 
 issue of the Confederate States. If it were a stamp at all, it would belong 
 among the United States postmaster's stamps, since it was issued by a post- 
 master holding office under the government of the United States and not 
 under the Confederacy. While I do not regard it as being anything more than 
 a label, I deem it appropriate to refer briefly to it here. 
 
 The stamp (for convenience we will call it by that name) was first 
 mentioned in the American Journal of Philately for March 1872. It is 
 there illustrated, from the copy in the Philbrick collection, and described as Historical. 
 type set, printed in gold bronze on blue wove foolscap paper, and having the 
 value spelled '' cnets " instead of "cents." The article embodies the fol- 
 lowing letter from the former postmaster of Madison : 
 
 "Sir: — Your letter of May 20th has been received. I regret not having any stamp 
 used by me while postmaster at Madison during the existence of the Confederacy. 1 can, 
 however, give you, I think, a pretty correct idea of their appearance, as represented in the 
 following figure, which is about the size and shape. Having a printing press at command, 
 stamped the foregoing figure, and before the ink became dry, sprinkle'd yellow bronze on it, 
 which gave the stars and border the appearance of gold. Ordinary foolscap paper was used. 
 All the fractional currency in circulation disappeared about that time, and it was difficult to 
 make change ; indeed almost impossible to conduct the post office, having no United States 
 postage stamps, as my supply was exhausted soon after the assemblage of the Confederate 
 Congress at Montgomery, Ala., and under whose authority 1 was instructed to conduct the 
 offices, under the rules of the United States government, and pay over all moneys due to 
 that Government, until I would be commissioned postmaster under the Confederate States, 
 if 1 saw proper to accept it, which would happen soon ; and believing my allegiance due to 
 the Confederacy, I was loth to apply for stamps to the United States, and determined to 
 mail letters paid in money only. Therefore the stamps were issued by me for the purpose 
 of making change, and sold in quantities to suit the business part of the community, so that 
 any letter found in the letter-box with my stamp on it had evidence of having been paid 
 for, and was accordingly stamped ' Paid in Money,' in accordance with the laws regulating 
 the United States post offices, and charged in the way-bills as paid in money forwarded to 
 the distributing offices, and every cent due to the United States was paid in money on ac- 
 count of the mails by me. The stamps were never credited beyond the reach of the post- 
 offices at Madison, and was never intended but for the convenience of the immediate com- 
 munity No postmaster was silly enough to mail a letter because it had my stamp upon it. 
 1, however, sometimes neglected to pull off the stamp before mailing them, and some of 
 them went through without being removed, although they had plainly stamped on them 
 ' Paid,' and so charged against me in the way-bills ; still considerable excitement was 
 
56 MADISON, FLA. 
 
 caused in the northern cities by their accidental appearance, although no word nor figure 
 was upon the stamp, and after the words ' Paid in Money.' had no more meaning than if I 
 had drawn the figure of a Jackass on one corner of the letter. Still the keen perceptions 
 of James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald found an immense and ingenious fraud 
 practiced upon the Government by the postmaster at Madison, and called hastily for justice 
 to be visited upon the moral deformity of the offending postmaster at Madison ; his ex- 
 quisite sense of purity could not conceive how a sense of duty on the part of the officers of 
 the distributing office could allow the offence of the postmaster at Madison to go unnoticed. 
 He devoted nearly a column of the Herald to the subject, and I found myself suddenly 
 famous through the Herald's cleverness in discovering villany. Shortly after the Herald's 
 attention, an agent of the Government was sent especially to investigate the fraud ; but he 
 was a sensible gentleman, and was immediately convinced that no wrong was intended, 
 and so reported to his Government. 
 
 " 1 had, moreover, many applications from persons in New York, Boston and Phila- 
 delphia to p'urchase stamps; one was collecting the various stamps of the world, and was 
 exceedingly desirous of adding my postal stamp to the list; others felt much curiosity in 
 seeing the postal stamp of which so much had been said; would 1 not sell a few ? 
 
 " You may imagine how much 1 was astonished at the sudden interest in my stamps, 
 when 1 never dreamed of their being known beyond the immediate neighborhood of my 
 post office. These last, though, were never gratified, and they had to be content with the 
 Herald's discoveries, I was continued, without further complaint, until commissioned by 
 the Confederate States, when 1 made the proper returns and paid up all dues in money. If 
 the foregoing is of service to you, I shall be pleased. 
 
 Very respectfully, &c., 
 
 "S. J. Perry.- 
 "Mr. J. W. Scott." 
 
 The article from the Herald is also reprinted, in conjunction with Mr. 
 Perry's letter, and is a very mild affair to have so aroused his wrath. That 
 article gave a sketch and description of the stamp and said it was " printed in 
 gold on a white ground." The only point of interest to philatelists is the 
 statement that the envelope which the writer had before him had been marked 
 " Due 3 " by the New York Post Office, showing that the stamp was not 
 recognized by the postal authorities of that city. 
 
 I think Mr. Perry's letter fully establishes the status of this label. It 
 was not issued as a stamp and no effort was ever made to have it do duty as 
 status of the such. It is on a par with the cards issued by Postmaster Riddell of New 
 Label. Orleans, inscribed with various values and " Receivable in payment of postage, 
 
 and redeemable at the New Orleans Post Office." In this connection we 
 must not forget the numerous "tokens" marked "Good for one cent" etc., 
 issued by business houses, at the time of the cival war, to supply the want of 
 fractional currency. 
 
Government Issues. 
 
 The development of the Post Oflfice Department has been retarded by 
 many causes, more especially in the early and middle parts of our compara- 
 tively brief national life. Among the causes may be mentioned : -Excessive 
 rates of postage, the competition of express and local delivery companies, 
 abuse of the franking privilege, the fact that prepayment of postage was not 
 compulsory, and the lack of adhesive stamps. 
 
 As was shown on page 6, the Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 
 1845, greatly reduced the rates of postage and made them uniform throughout 
 the country. Since that time, there have twice been advances in the rates, uates of postaiti!. 
 once for letters to be transported for distances greater than 3,000 miles, and 
 once for drop letters ; but, on the whole, there has been a steady and con- 
 sistent decrease in the postal charges. It should be remembered that the 
 extremely low rates granted to newspapers, magazines and similar publications 
 have, particularly in recent years, vastly increased both labor and expenditure 
 in the Post Office Department. It is probable that this, more than any other 
 cause, is responsible for this branch of the Government not being self- 
 supporting. But these forms of literature have always been regarded as such 
 great and valuable educators, that their encouragement has been held superior 
 to any considerations of economy. 
 
 The competition of private carriers was for many years the occasion 
 of great loss to the postal revenue. This competition decreased with the 
 introduction of lower rates of postage and, in 1861, its entire discontinuance 
 was enforced through the courts. 
 
 The franking privilege, which has at times been granted recklessly and 
 used to an excessive degree, is now much restricted, though it still imposes a 
 great burden on the postal service. 
 
 The lack of a law compelling the prepayment of postage caused heavy 
 losses to the department. A paragraph in the report of the Postmaster- 
 General, dated December 2nd, 1848, gives us some useful information on this 
 subject as follows : 
 
 " Whether the suggestions lor the modification of the Act of 1845 be adopted or not, 
 all matter sent in the mails should be prepaid. This might indenmify the department for 
 the great loss sustained for the transmission of letters not taken from the office. Nearly two 
 millions of dead letters are annually returned to the department, upon which it not only 
 loses the postage, but pays two cents each for advertising ; and this is in addition to the 
 expense incurred in opening and returning those of value to the writers, and destroying those 
 of no value. Newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, and essays of various kinds, probably not 
 
 PriT»te competi- 
 tion. 
 
 Franltiuj^. 
 
 Prepayment of 
 postage. 
 
58 GOVERNMENT ISSUES. 
 
 less in number than the dead letters, are sent to the offices and never called for, or if called 
 for refused, and remain as dead matter in them. From a careful examination it has been 
 ascertained that 52,000 annually are received and remain as dead matter in the office at New 
 York ; at Boston and Baltimore about 10,000 annually ; and at Philadelphia about 2,600." 
 
 A step in the right direction was made in the Act of Congress, approved 
 March 3rd, 1851, by which the ordinary rate of postage was made three cents 
 if prepaid and five cents if not prepaid, but it was not until 1855 that pre- 
 payment was made compulsory. 
 
 One of the great hindrances to the advancement of the postal service 
 was the want of adhesive stamps. It was well-known that postage stamps 
 Status of Postinas- had been successfully introduced by the postmasters of New York and other 
 ters' stamps. cities. These stamps were appreciated by the public, but, at the same time, 
 they were not regarded with the confidence which would have been evoked 
 by a Government issue. They represented only an implied contract between 
 the postmaster who issued them, and the public. There was a possibility of 
 great abuse in such a condition of affairs. There was nothing to prevent 
 every postmaster in the country making and selling his own stamps. Not 
 only might the stamps be used as a source of individual revenue on the part 
 of a postmaster but, in case of his death, default, or the succession of another 
 to the office, they would probably be repudiated and a heavy loss be sustained 
 by the holders. The necessity for governmental control of postage stamps 
 was as evident as was the imperative demand of the public for their issue. 
 
Issue of. 1847. 
 
 Although it would seem that the need of improvements in the postal 
 service, especially the introduction of postage stamps, must have long been 
 apparent to the most casual observer, it was not until 1847 that Congress took 
 action to provide.them. 
 
 The first issue of postage stamps by the Government was authorized 
 by the Act, approved March 3rd, 1847, which provided as follows : 
 
 And be it further enacted, that to facilitate the transportation of letters by mail, the 
 Postmaster-General be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which, when attached to any 
 letter or packet, shall be evidence of prepayment of the postage chargeable on such letter, 
 which said stamps the Postmaster-General may deliver to any deputy postmaster who may 
 apply for the same, the deputy postmaster paying or becoming accountable for the amount 
 of the stamps so received by him, and if any of said stamps shall not be used, but be return- 
 ed to the General Post Office, the amount so returned shall be credited to such deputy post- 
 master. ' And such deputy postmaster may sell or dispose of any stamps so received by him 
 to any person who may wish to use the same, but it shall not be lawful for any deputy post- 
 master to prepare, use, or dispose of any postage stamps not authorized by and received from 
 the Postmaster-General. And any person who shall falsely and fraudulently make, alter or 
 forge any postage stamp with intent to defraud the Post Office Department, shall be deemed 
 guilty of felony and, on conviction, shall be subject to the same punishment as provided in 
 the 2ist Section of the Act approved March 3rd, 1S25, etc. 
 
 This Act was to take effect July ist, 1847, from which date the use of 
 the postmasters' stamps or any which were not authorized by the Postmaster- 
 General became illegal. It will be observed that the Act made no provision 
 for the compulsory prepayment of postage. 
 
 As provided by law, a contract was made by the Postmaster-General 
 with Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson of New York, for engraving 
 and printing the stamps for a period of four years. 
 
 In order that certain varieties, which will be described in the succeed- 
 ing issues, may be better understood, it seems desirable to give here a brief 
 description of the manufacture of plates for stamps. 
 
 The first step is making the die. This is usually engraved on a piece 
 of soft steel a little larger than the design. As a rule, only one design is 
 engraved on such a block. But there are exceptions. The dies for the so- 
 called government counterfeits of the 1847 issue are placed side by side on 
 the same block. The die being engraved, it is hardened by heating it in a 
 bath of cyanide of potassium and then dipping it in cold oil. 
 
 The next step is making the transfer roll. Its name indicates its pur- 
 pose, to transfer the design from the die to the plate. This roll is of soft 
 steel, in shapejike a small grindstone. A stamp roll is usually about four 
 
 First stamps 
 authorized. 
 
 Contractors. 
 
 Manufacture of 
 stamp plates. 
 
 Die. 
 
 Transfer roll. 
 
6o 
 
 ISSUE OF 1847. 
 
 Doable transfers 
 or shifts. 
 
 Designs. 
 
 inches in diameter, with an edge broad enough to receive the design. The 
 roll is placed in the carrier of a transfer press and forced against the die — 
 which rests on the bed of the press — with a pressure of many tons, produced 
 by compound leverage. With this tremendojis pressure resting on it, the bed, 
 carrying with it the die, is moved back and forth under the roll until the soft 
 steel of the latter is forced into every line of the die, even the faintest scratch 
 made by a diamond point. The lines of the die are, of course, reversed on 
 the roll and those which were sunken in the former are in relief in the latter. 
 A number of transfers are often made on the same roll and occasionally 
 transfers of several different stamps. The roll is hardened in the same manner 
 as the die. 
 
 The plate, duly ruled into spaces for the stamps, then takes the place 
 of the die on the press and, by the same methods used to produce the roll, 
 the latter is forced into the plate, reproducing in the minutest details the 
 design on the die. This is repeated as many times as there are to be stamps 
 on the plate. Guide lines, scratches, etc., are burnished out, the plate is 
 hardened and is then ready for the printer. 
 
 In making the plate it sometimes happens that the transfer roll is set 
 down upon it, slightly out of the intended position. The pressure on the 
 roll forces into the soft plate those lines which are most in relief. When the 
 incorrect position of the roll is noticed it is moved to the proper place, and 
 the impression is then " rocked " into the plate. As a result of thus twice 
 placing the design, some of the lines are duplicated. These are called double 
 transfers, shifted transfers and shifts. I shall not attempt to list all the 
 varieties which are known, but shall mention a few of the more prominent. 
 
 The stamps of this issue were engraved on steel by Rawdon, Wright, 
 Hatch & Edson. This firm occupied the top floor of the building at the 
 corner of William and Wall streets. New York, now the United States Custom 
 House. The portraits were originally prepared for use on bank bills, stock 
 certificates and other securities and were afterwards adopted for the stamps. 
 The designs are thus officially described : 
 
 Five cents. Portrait of Franklin, after painting by John B. Long- 
 acre, three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk with dark ground, 
 white neckerchief and fur collar to coat, the whole surrounded with a faintly 
 engraved wreath of leaves, on which, in the two upper corners, are the letters 
 " u " and " s ", and in each of the two lower corners a large figure " 5 ". In 
 a curved line around the upper portion of the medallion are the words " post 
 OFFICE ", and around the lower part the words " five cents ". A border of 
 fine straight lines goes around the entire stamp. Color, light brown. 
 
 Ten cents. Portrait of Washington, from Stuart's painting, three- 
 quarters face, looking to the right, on an oval disk with dark ground, white 
 neckerchief and black coat, faint wreath of leaves around all, on which, in 
 the upper corners, are the letters " u ■ and " s ", and in each of the lower 
 corners a large Roman numeral " x ". In a curved line around the' upper 
 and lower parts of the medallion, as in the case of the 5 cent stamp, are the 
 words " POST OFFICE " and " ten cents ". Color, black, A border of fine 
 utraight lines goes aroqnd the whole stamp. 
 
ISSUE OF 1847. 
 
 61 
 
 The stamps measure i8J^X23^mm. 
 
 There were one hundred stamps on each plate, arranged in ten rows 
 of ten. Only one plate was made for each value and both were, so far as can piatei. 
 
 be learned, without imprint or plate number. 
 
 The paper varies much in color, the usual range is from gray to dull 
 blue, but it is sometimes quite white. The genuineness of the white paper 
 has been denied by some writers, but copies of the stamps exist with full Paper, 
 
 original gum and on paper which dbes not show the faintest trace of blue 
 color, but is a distinctly yellowish white. The paper also varies in quality 
 from thick and opaque to thin and transparent. Both values are known with 
 a species of watermark, a band of short parallel lines, giving the appearance 
 of closely laid paper. These lines are produced in the course of manufacturing 
 the paper. They are caused by the stitches which join the ends of the cloth 
 band on which the paper pulp is led from the vat. Copies also exist on laid 
 paper. They are of a high degree of rarity and have only been seen in 
 unused condition. 
 
 The gum is yellow or yellow white, usually thin and inclined to 
 crackle. This gum was applied by hand by two apprentices of the con- 
 tractors, an apprentice engraver and an apprentice printer. Besides their Bum. 
 regular duties these men were employed as watchmen. Three nights in each 
 week they gummed the sheets of stamps (being paid for work overtime), and 
 hung them up about the room to dry. 
 
 The following shades and varieties have been seen : 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Aug. sth, T847. 
 
 Grayish Blue Wove Paper. 
 
 5 cents pale brown, brown, dark brown, black-brown, 
 purple-brown, olive-brown, red-brown, orange- 
 brown, red-orange 
 10 cents full black, gray-black, greenish black 
 
 Yellowish White Wove Paper. 
 
 5 cents dark brown 
 10 cents full black 
 
 Grayish Pelure Paper. 
 
 5 cents dark brown 
 10 cents full black 
 
 Lilac-gray Laid Paper. 
 
 5 cents deep orange-brown 
 10 cents gray-black 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 5 cents brown. Horizontal half and another copy, used 
 as 7}^ cents 
 
62 
 
 ISSUE OF 1847. 
 
 Sethods of distribut- 
 ing stamps to Post- 
 masters. 
 
 First stamps 
 sold. 
 
 10 cents black. Vertical half used as 5 cents. Cancelled: 
 "Bradford, Me., Sept. 19, 1849", "New Haven, 
 Conn., June 13, 1851 ", etc. 
 
 10 cents black. Diagonal half used as 5 cents. Can- 
 celled: "Augusta, Ga., Aug. 18, 1847", "Boston, 
 Mass., Sept. 28, 1847", "New Haven, Conn., 
 June 14, 1 85 1 ", etc. 
 
 10 cents black. Double transfer, particularly noticeable 
 in the double outlines of "post office" and the 
 letters " u " and " s " in the upper corners. 
 
 The finished sheets were forwarded to the Post Office Department at 
 Washington, as was the custom until February, 1855. From February i8th, 
 1855, until May i8th, of that year, the experiment was tried of having the 
 stamps sent by the contractors direct to the deputy postmasters who applied 
 for them. The first Stamp Agent was Jessey Johnson. He was appointed 
 May i8th, 1855. The office of the Stamp Agent was located with the con- 
 tractors, at that date Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., in the Jayne Build- 
 ing, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Until 1869, the stamps were delivered to 
 the Stamp Agent at the place of manufacture and by him forwarded to 
 Washington for distribution. After February ist, 1869, they were forwarded 
 by the Stamp Agent, through the registry division of the New York Post 
 Office, to the various postmasters on their orders, duly approved by the Post 
 Office Department at Washington. Now that the stamps are manufactured 
 by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing the routine is the same but the 
 distributing point is, of course, Washington. 
 
 The Act approved March 3rd, 1847, was to take effect on July ist of 
 that year and it was expected that the stamps would be ready for use on that 
 date. But owing to various delays on the part of contractors none of the 
 stamps were available for sale until August sth, 1847. In connection with 
 this date we find an interesting anecdote in Tiffany's History of the Postage 
 Stamps of the United States, reprinted from the Hartfvrd Times of August 
 Sth, 1885: 
 
 " Thirty-eight years ago to-day the first postage stamps were used in the United 
 States. » * * On the 25th of March, 1840, John M. Niles of Hartford, became Post- 
 master-General and signalized his administration by many reforms. * * » |t was 
 necessary to cap all by a genuine innovation, and he performed this by suggesting the 
 postage stamp. The suggestion was received with ridicule, and Mr. Niles soon after retired. 
 * * * When Cave Johnson assumed the post office, on the 5th of March, 1845, he found 
 it an Herculean task to re-instate the reform measures of Mr Niles. * * * Among the 
 measures of Mr. Niles that he adopted was the postage stamp idea. * * » The matter 
 took form as a bill. * * » Approved March 3rd, 1847. The date of the issue was 
 appointed as July ist, but there was a delay in the contractors' work and the time ran over 
 a month. 
 
 On the 5th of August, soon after the opening of the Postmaster-General's office for 
 the day, an old gentleman called to see Mr. Johnson on business. The gentleman was the 
 Hon. Henry Shaw, a New Yorker, * * * and the father of the well-known Henry 
 Shaw, Jr. (Josh Billings). * * » Mr. Johnson came into his office accompanied by the 
 printer of the new stamps, a few minutes after Mr. Shaw had arrived, on that August 
 morning. Sheets of the stamps were laid before the Postmaster-General, who, after receipt- 
 ing for them, handed them to his visitor to inspect. Mr. Shaw returned them after a hasty 
 glance, and then drawing out his wallet, he counted out fifteen cents, with which he pur- 
 chased two of the stamps — the first two ever issued. The five cent stamp he kept as a 
 curiosity, and the ten cent stamp he presented to Governor Briggs, as an appropriate gift." 
 
ISSUE OF 1847. 
 
 63 
 
 The following orders for stamps were sent to and executed by the 
 contractors : 
 
 
 
 
 5 Cents. 
 
 10 Cents. 
 
 June 
 
 3. 
 
 1847. 
 
 600,000 
 
 200,000 
 
 Mch. 
 
 IS, 
 
 1848. 
 
 800,000 
 
 250,000 
 
 Mch. 
 
 20, 
 
 1849. 
 
 1,000,000 
 
 300,000 
 
 Feb. 
 
 S> 
 
 1850. 
 
 1,000,000 
 
 300,000 
 
 Dec. 
 
 9, 
 
 1850. 
 Total, 
 
 1,000,000 
 
 
 
 4,400,000 
 
 1,050,000 
 
 Of these quantities 3,712,000 five cent and 891,000 ten cent stamps 
 were distributed to postmasters for sale. A small portion were returned to 
 the Department after the appearance of the next issue. 
 
 It appears to have been the intention of the Government to prohibit 
 any use of the stamps of the 1847 issue after July ist, 1851, the date fixed for 
 the issue of that year. In June, 1851, instructions were issued to deputy stamps declared in- 
 postmasters that the five and ten cent stamps then current must not be ™"<' '<"■ postage, 
 recognized as prepaying Igtters after the 30th of that month. The public 
 were requested to return any of the stamps which they held and exchange 
 them for the new issue. I have, however, seen a copy of the five cents used 
 as late as January 4th, 1858. * 
 
 The report of the Postmaster-General, dated November isth, 1851 (for 
 the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1851), says : "Directions for the destruc- 
 tion of the dies and plates employed in the manufacture of the postage Destruction of dies 
 stamps formerly used, have been given, and for counting and burning such plates and re- 
 of the stamps as have pot been issued to postmasters or have been returned." 
 
 It has been said that the first contract for the manufacture of stamps 
 did not provide, as was done in all subsequent contracts, that the dies and 
 plates should be the property of the Government. Consequently they were 
 claimed by the contractors. This may explain the anxiety of the Post Office 
 Department to secure the return and destruction of the remainders of the 
 1847 issue and the forbidding of their future use. That this anxiety was 
 groundless is proved by the following affidavit : 
 
 New York, Dec. 12, 1851. 
 Have this day destroyed dies of 5 and 10 cent stamps, also the plates of same. 
 I 5c stamp plate, 100 on, 1847 issue. 
 1 IOC " " 100 " " " 
 
 Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson. 
 Witness : 
 
 Wm. Brady, P. M., N. Y. 
 John Moor. 
 G. W. Johnson. 
 
 The care taken to destroy the remainders of the 1847 issue doubtless 
 accounts for the scarcity of the stamps in unused condition. 
 
 The report of the Postmaster-General, dated December 4th, 1852, says : 
 "Stamps in the hands of postmasters, June 30th, 1851, being such as re- stamps unsold, 
 mained of the old issue, and which were charged to them on that day 
 $8,849.61." 
 
64 ISSUE OF 1847. 
 
 In the same report under the head of " Expenditures " we find : 
 " For postage stamps redeemed, . $3,809.35." 
 
 " For postage stamps of old issue returned 
 
 to the Department, . . 8,229.20." 
 
 Mr. Tiffany, in his History of the Postage Stamps of the United States, 
 adds these two amounts together and claims a total of $12,038.55 of the 1847 
 issue were returned by the deputy postmasters. This is manifestly incorrect, 
 both from the wording of the report, and because more stamps could not be 
 returned than were outstanding. The stamps redeemed were probably of the 
 1851 issue. 
 
 In the report dated December ist, 1853, are also given as items of 
 expenditure : 
 
 " Stamps returned, old issue, . . $68.05." 
 
 " Stamps on hand, overcharged, old issue, 85.90." 
 
 Presumably the stamps represented by the last item should be deducted 
 from the number reported as delivered to postmasters. 
 
 It will be seen from these figures that only a comparatively small 
 number of stamps of the 1847 issue were not returned to the Department by 
 the deputy postmasters. Many of these were probably used because of 
 failure to receive promptly the stamps of the new issue, and some may have 
 been used in succeeding years. 
 
 The Act of March 3rd, 1 85 r , established postal rates of ten and twenty 
 cents to foreign countries, but no ten cent stamps were issued until May, 
 1855. In spite of instructions to the contrary, we may assume that, during 
 this period, the stamps of the 1 847 issue were, when obtainable, used to pay 
 the foreign rates. 
 
Issue of 1851-55, 
 
 The report of the Postmaster-General, dated November 29th, 185?, 
 says : 
 
 "A contract has been made for the supply of the postage stamps authorized by the act 
 of March last. These stamps are believed to be of superior quality, and are furnished at a 
 less price than was formerly paid. Some of those furnished soon after the execution of the 
 contract were found to be deficient in adhesive "qualities, but it is believed that there will be 
 no ground for future complaint. * * * 
 
 The streets, avenues, roads and public highways of the cities of New York, Boston, 
 Philadelphia, and New Orleans have been established as post routes under the loth section 
 of the postage act of March 3, 18151, and letter carriers appointed for the service thereon. 
 If it is the intention of Congress to transfer the whole despatch business of the cities to the 
 letter carriers of the department, further legislation for that purpose is desirable " 
 
 The Act referred to in the aforegoing was approved March 3rd, 1851. 
 
 It is entitled " An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the 
 
 United States " and provides as follows : 
 
 "Be it enacted, etc., that from and after the 30th day of June, 1851, in lieu of the 
 rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates, viz : 
 For every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind, upon which information shall be 
 asked for or communicated, in writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail for any 
 distance, between places in the United States, not exceeding 5,000 miles, when the postage 
 upon said letter shall have been prepaid, three cents, and five cents when the postage there- 
 on shall not have been prepaid, and for any distance exceeding 3,000 miles, double these 
 rates ; for every such single letter or paper when conveyed wholly or in part by sea, and to 
 or from a foreign country, for any distance over 2,500 miles, twenty cents, and foi any 
 distance under 2,500 miles, ten cents, excepting however, all cases where such postages have 
 been or shall be adjusted at different rates by postal treaty or convention already concluded 
 or hereafter to be made ; and for a double letter there shall be charged double the rates above 
 specified ; and for a treble letter, treble these rates ; and for a quadruple letter, quadruple 
 these rates ; and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight, shall be 
 deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or every additional 
 weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage. And 
 all drop letters or letters placed in any post office, not for transmission, but for delivery only, 
 shall be charged with postage at the rate of one cent each, and all letters which shall here- 
 after be advertised as remaining over or uncalled for in any post office shall be charged with 
 one cent In addition to the regular postage, to be accounted for as other postages now are." 
 
 The rates for circulars, handbills, pamphlets, engravings and news- 
 papers (excepting those coming from the publishers, on which postage was 
 not to be paid by stamps), were " one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof, 
 for distances under 500 iniles, and an additional rate for each additional 1,000 
 miles or fraction thereof." 
 
 The Act further specifies that the Postmaster-General shall provide 
 '■ suitable postage stamps of the denomination of three cents, and such other 
 denominations as he may think expedient to facilitate prepayment of postages 
 provided for in this Act." 
 
 streets of cities 
 made post routes. 
 
 Act reducing rates 
 of {lostage. 
 
 Special rate for 
 prepaid letters. 
 
66 
 
 ISSUE OF 1851-55. 
 
 Stamps annoanced. 
 
 Date of Issue. 
 
 Carriers' stamps. 
 
 itates increased. 
 
 An official circular, dated June loth, 1851, announced and described 
 the one, three and twelve cent stamps. 
 
 The stamps were issued July ist, 1851. 
 
 In September of that year the carriers' stamp with the head of Franklin 
 was issued. It was replaced in the following November by the Eagle carriers' 
 stamp. These stamps will be referred to more fully in a chapter devoted to 
 the carriers' stamps. 
 
 An Act, approved August 30th, 1852, provided as follows : 
 
 " From and after September 30th, 1852, postage on all printed matter passing by 
 Itednctioii of rates r"^''i instead of the rates now charged, shall be as follows : Each newspaper, periodical, 
 for printed matter, unsealed circular, or other article of printed matter, not exceeding three ounces in weight, 
 
 to any part of 'the United States, one cent ; and for every additional ounce or fraction 
 
 thereof one cent additional." 
 
 By the Act approved March 30th, 1855, the Act of March 3rd, 185 1, 
 was amended as follows : 
 
 Be it enacted, etc. That in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there 
 shall be charged the following rates to wit : For every single letter in manuscript, or paper 
 of any kind in which information shall be asked or communicated in writing, or by marks or 
 signs, conveyed in the mail, for any distance between places in the United States not exceed- 
 ing 3,000 miles, three cents ; and for any distance exceeding 3,000 miles, ten cents. And 
 for a double letter, there shall be charged double the rates above specified ; and for a treble 
 letter, treble these rates ; and for a quadruple letter, quadruple these rates ; and every' letter 
 or paper not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter ; and every 
 additional weight of half an ounce or every additional weight of less than half an ounce, 
 shall be charged with an additional single postage ; and upon all letters passing through or 
 ■in the mail of the United States, except such as are to or from a foreign country, the postage 
 as above specified, shall be prepaid, except upon letters and papers addressed to officers of 
 the Government on official business, which shall be so marked on the envelope. And from 
 and after the first day of January, 1856, the Postmaster-General may require postmasters to 
 place postage stamps upon all prepaid letters, upon which such stamps may not have been 
 placed by the writers. » * * 
 
 And be it further enacted : That for the greater security of valuable letters, posted 
 for transmission in the mails of the United States, the Postmaster-General be, and hereby is 
 authorized to establish a uniform plan for the registration of such letters on application of 
 parties posting the same, and to require the prepayment of the postage, as well as a registra- 
 tion fee of five cents, on every such letter or packet, to be accounted for by postmasters 
 receiving the same, in such manner as the Postmaster-General may direct ; Provided, how- 
 ever, that such registration shall not be compulsory, and shall not render the Post Office 
 Department or its revenues liable for the loss of such letter or package, or the contents 
 thereof. 
 
 By this Act compulsory prepayment of postage on letters and a system 
 of registration were for the first time provided. 
 
 An Act, approved January 2nd, 1857, extended the compulsory pre- 
 payment of postage to all transient printed matter, the postage to be "prepaid 
 by stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster-treneral may direct." 
 
 The official description of the designs and colors is as follows : 
 
 One ckn I. Profile bust of Franklin, looking to the right, on an oval 
 disk with dark ground, the words " u. s. pont.-\c;e " in outline capitals on a 
 curved panel above, and the words "one ckxt ' in sinnilar letters on a 
 curved panel below. On the corners, and parti)' surrounding the two panels, 
 are convolute scroll-work ornaments, nearly meeting in points on the sides. 
 Color, indigo blue. 
 
 Thref, cents. Profile bust of Washington, after Houdon, facing to 
 the left, on an oval disk with very dark ground and a white line border. 
 Around this oval is a beautifully tessellated frame, terminating in each of 
 
 Prepnyiiient 
 required. 
 
 lle^i station. 
 
 Designs and colors. 
 
ISSUE or 1851-57. 67 
 
 the four corners with a fine lathe-work rosette. At the top of the stamp is a 
 straight panel, with a piece at each end cut off, bearing the words " u. s. 
 POSTAGE ■' in white capitals ; at the bottom of the stamp, in a similar panel 
 and with similar letters, are inscribed the words "three cents." A fine line 
 encloses the stamp, forming a rectangle. Color, brick-red. 
 
 Five cents. Portrait of Jefferson, after a painting by Stuart, three- 
 quarters face, looking to the right, on an oval disk with dark ground and a 
 distinct white border, on the upper and lower portions of which are four 
 irregular, shaded segmental spaces. Around the whole is a four-sided oblong 
 frame, with rounded corners terminating in slight incissions, the whole filled 
 in with two rows of geometric lathe-work, and bearing in a waved line at the 
 top the words " u. s. postage " in white capitals, and at the bottom the words 
 "five cents", similarly displayed. Color, brown. 
 
 Ten cents. Portrait of Washington, after the painting by Stuart, 
 three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk with very dark ground, 
 and a border which is white below and slightly shaded above. Around the ' 
 upper portion of the medallion, on a dark ground, are thirteen white stars, 
 above which again in a white panel are the words, in small solid capitals, 
 " u. s. POSTAGE," connecting two circular spaces on the corners, each con- 
 taining the Roman numeral "X." Below the medallion, in a waved panel, are 
 the words " ten cents " in large white capitals. The whole is surrounded 
 with shaded scroll-work of a highly ornate character. Color, dark green. 
 
 Twelve cents. Portrait of Washington, after the painting by Stuart, 
 three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk with dark ground and 
 a fine shaded line border. Above the medallion and conforming to its curve, 
 on a light background, are the words " u. s. postage " in white shaded 
 capitals, and below the medallion, similarly inscribed and displayed, are the 
 words " twelve cents ". Around the whole, and enclosed in a fine double- 
 lined rectangle, is a beautifully tessellated frame, separated at each of the four 
 corners by a lathe-work rosette. Color, black." 
 
 The stamps of this issue vary slightly in size. The dimensions are : 
 1 cent, 20x26mm.; 3 cents, 20x25mm.; 5 cents, 1 9^^x25 ^mm.; 10 cents, sizes. 
 
 i9X24^mm.; 12 cents, 20x25mm. 
 
 There are several types of the one and ten cent stamps. The three 
 and five cents have each only one type in this issue, but in the perforated Tjpes. 
 
 issue of 1857 they present other varieties. It seems best to describe the 
 various types under the issue in which they make their initial appearance. 
 
 One cent. Type I. This is the full and complete form of the stamp 
 as it appears on the die. In this form there is a curved line outside and 
 
68 ISSUE OF 1851-57. 
 
 Types of the'one parallel to the labels containing the words "u. s. postage" and "one cent." 
 cent stamp. Between the upper label and the curved outer line is a row of minute colored 
 dots. These are not found between the lower label and the outer line. 
 Below the lower label and line is a scroll, turned to the right and left, having 
 the ends carried under and rolled up until they form little balls. In the 
 center the scroll is only a line, forming, with the outer line, a double curve. 
 There are graceful arabesques at each corner, spreading along the sides and, 
 to a less degree, along the top and bottom. The distinguishing marks of 
 this variety, the rolled up ends of the scroll, may be seen to better advantage 
 on the reprints and proofs than on the stamps themselves. 
 
 Type II. Is much the same as type I but the balls forming the ends 
 of the scrolls and frequently the extreme tips of the arabesques have been 
 cut away. 
 
 Type III. This is the so-called "broken circle." In this the center 
 of the curved lines is missing and the scrolls and corner ornaments are less 
 perfect. This variety may occur at the top or bottom of the stamp or in 
 both places. 
 
 Type IV. This is type III with the broken lines recut. This variety 
 also may be found at either the top or bottom of the stamp or both. It 
 closely resembles type II yet may easily be distinguished from it. The 
 curved lines outside the labels are deeper and harder than the other lines of 
 the stamp. The recutting often begins and ends abruptly, not joining smoothly 
 the original line. The central part of the row of minute dots between the 
 upper label and the curved line has disappeared. The recutting is usually 
 confined to the outer lines but it can occasionally be seen in other parts of the 
 stamp, especially the top of the upper label. 
 
 Of these four varieties only two are properly called types. The other 
 two are really sub-varieties, but their frequent occurrence, especially in the 
 perforated issue of these stamps, seems to demand for them recognition as 
 types. Types I and II come from two different transfer rolls (Nos. 46 and 
 47), though both are from the same original die. On the second roll the 
 ball-like ornaments were cut away. Type III is caused by not " rocking " 
 the transfer roll sufficiently far. Proof of this is found in a stamp which 
 combines types I and II, showing the broken circle at the top and full 
 ornaments at the bottom. Type l\ is an attempt to remedy the defects of 
 type III. The last two are, therefore, plate \arieties and sub-varieties of 
 type II. In the 1857 issue, however, the third variety must be accepted as a 
 type, as there is abundant evidence to show that, in that issue, it is not due to 
 defective workmanship but is made from a transfer roll from which the 
 ornaments and lines have been completely cut away. 
 
 In the 1 85 1 issue type IV is the commonest variety, type II is nearly 
 
 as frequently met, type III is quite scarce and type I decidedly so, especially 
 
 in unused condition. In the 1857 issue type III is the common variety, 
 
 while types II, IV and I are much scarcer, in the relative order here given. 
 
 Thrke cents. Type I. There is a thin, straight line of color on each 
 
 Types of the three °^ ''^*^ ^°"'' ^^^*^^ °^ '^^ Stamp. In preparing the earlier plates of this value 
 
 cent stamp. the Surface of each plate was laid off in little upright rectangles. These were 
 
ISSUE OF 1851-57. 69 
 
 not formed by continuous horizontal and vertical lines ruled across the plate 
 but each stamp was provided with its rectangular frame, separated by a space 
 of y^ to i^mm. from the adjacent frames. Into each of these rectangles the 
 design was transferred. There were similar frame lines on the die and it will 
 be readily understood that they would frequently fail to fall exactly on the 
 lines ruled on the plate, thus causing some portion of them to appear double. 
 Very exhaustive lists of these varieties have been published, but, when we 
 remember that there were twenty-eight plates of this value, each containing 
 two hundred stamps, the hopelessness of finding or correctly placing all the 
 varieties is at once apparent, to say nothing of the lack of interest or value in 
 such a restoration. 
 
 Five cents. Type I. On examining the stamps we observe that, sur- 
 rounding the central medallion, there is an irregularly shaped mat of colorless 
 lathe-work. The outer line of this lathe-work is formed of a series of loops. Types of the Ave 
 Outside these loops are two thin lines of color, separated by a thin colorless *=*"* stamp, 
 line, all following the outline of the lathe-work and forming slight projections 
 in the middle of each of the four sides. This is the form of the original die 
 and of the stamps on the first plate for this value. The complete projections 
 on the four sides are the distinguishing feature of type I. 
 
 Ten cents. There is a line of color above and following the outlines 
 of the label inscribed " u. s. postage" and a similar line below the label Types of the ten 
 with the words " ten cents ". The upper line is curved, like the label, and cent stamp. 
 is usually very faint. The lower one is wavy and follows the double curve 
 of the label. 
 
 Type I. Both the lines are complete. 
 
 Type II. One or both of the lines are broken in the center. As in 
 the case of the one cent stamp, this is due to insufficient rocking of the 
 transfer roll. 
 
 Type III. One or both of the lines have been recut. 
 
 Type IV. The outer lines are as in type I, but the arabesque ornaments 
 at the sides have been slightly cut away. 
 
 Type V. The same as type II, with the side ornaments cut away. 
 
 Type VI. The same as type III, with the side ornaments cut away. 
 
 Type II is the variety commonly found. Types I and III are much 
 scarcer. Types IV, V and VI are also quite scarce in the imperforate issue. 
 The plates from which the stamps of the last three types were printed were 
 doubtless prepared with a view to facilitating perforation but some sheets 
 were issued imperforate. 
 
 The paper used for this issue was of fine quality, hard and crisp. At 
 first it was quite thick and opaque but, previous to the appearance of the 
 perforated stamps, it became thinner and slightly transparent. It is often p^per. 
 
 stained yellow or brownish by the gum. The one and three cent stamps have 
 been seen on paper watermarked with a band of lines, as described in the 
 1847 issue. The three cent stamp has also been chronicled on ruled writing 
 paper, but careful examination proved that the ruled lines were merely an 
 offset from the paper to which the stamp had been affixed. 
 
70 
 
 ISSUE OF 1851-57. 
 
 July I St, 1 85 1. 
 
 The gum was thick and smooth, varying from almost white to a dark 
 brownish yellow. 
 
 Eeference List. Hard White Wove Paper. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 I cent (type I) pale blue, blue, dark blue 
 
 I cent (type II) pale blue, blue, dark blue, pale dull blue, 
 
 dark dull blue, slate-blue, sky blue, black-blue 
 I cent (type III) pale blue, blue, dark blue, bright blue, 
 
 dark dull blue 
 I cent (type IV) pale blue, blue, dark blue, pale dull 
 blue, dark dull blue, sky blue, greenish-blue, bright 
 blue, gray-blue, black-blue, very dark ultramarine 
 3 cents (type I) red, pale orange-red, dark orange-red, 
 brown-red, pale rose-red, rose-red, dark rose-red, 
 lilac-rose, lake, rosy lake, Indian red 
 5 cents (type I) brown, red-brown, dark red-brown, car- 
 mine brown 
 10 cents (type I) yellow-green, dark green 
 10 cents (type II) yellow-green, dark green, blue-green 
 10 cents (type III) yellow-green, dark green, blue-green 
 lo cents (type IV) yellow-green 
 10 cents (type V) yellow-green, dark green 
 12 cents gray-black, black, deep smudgy black 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 I cent blue. Numerous double transfers, the most not- 
 able of which shows the outlines of " one cent " 
 repeated across the face of the letters 
 3 cents rose. Double transfers, the most distinct being 
 that which shows a horizontal line through the 
 words " THREE cents " 
 3 cents. Diagonal half used as i cent. Cancelled : 
 "San Francisco, Cal.,.May 30, 1853", and "May 
 31st, 1853 ". Used on circulars 
 12 cents black. Diagonal half used as 6 cents. Cancelled: 
 
 "San Francisco, Cal., Sept. 9, ", " Sonora, 
 
 Cal., Feb. 13, 1852 ", etc. 
 12 cents black. One and diagonal half of another copy 
 used as 18 cents. Cancelled: "Sacramento, Cal., 
 
 Apl., 5. " 
 
 12 cents black. Impression on the back 
 
 It is interesting to note that the majority of thd bisected stamps of this 
 
 issue are on letters from California, indicating a shortage of the lower values 
 
 Bisected stmiips. i" 'hat, at that date, remote section of the country. Many of the covers 
 
 bearing these split stamps are hand-stamped " Via Nicaragua. Ahead of the 
 
 mails ". At that time the mails between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts were 
 
 July ist, 1851. 
 
 January 5th, 1856. 
 May 4th, 1855. 
 
 July ist, 1851. 
 
ISSUE OF 1851-57. 71 
 
 carried by a steamship company via the isthmus of Panama. A rival com- 
 pany, operating by the Nicaragua route, sought the contract for transporting 
 the mails, basing their claim, in part, upon their quicker service. The hand- 
 stamp was applied in furtherance of this claim. 
 
 Halves of the ten cent stamp, supposed to have done duty as five 
 cents, have long been known and accepted by collectors. At the time this 
 work appeared in serial form such a divided stamp was listed among the Bisected ten cent 
 varieties of this issue. After an extremely careful examination of that par- stamp, 
 
 ticular copy and a number of others, I have reached the conclusion that all 
 the bisected ten cent stamps of the 1851-55 issue which I have seen are 
 fraudulent. Reference to the postal laws of the period shows that the only 
 purpose of a five cent stamp was to pay the registration fee. It is, of course, 
 not impossible that a letter might have been mailed with that fee prepaid and 
 the regular postage unpaid, but it is, highly improbable. From and after 
 January ist, 1856, all postage was required to be prepaid in stamps. I have 
 never seen a bisected ten cent stamp that was not cancelled later than that 
 date. Until very strong evidence in its favor is forthcoming, I shall doubt 
 the genuineness of any split ten cent stamp of this issue. 
 
 The most dangerous examples of this would-be variety were made in 
 San Francisco, a number of years ago, by a man who had, in some way, secured 
 a discarded cancelling stamp of the post office of that city. I have seen a 
 number of the counterfeit provisionals made by him. All were on pieces of 
 buff laid paper, apparently portions of government envelopes of the 1864 
 issue, the higher values of which were extensively used by the express com- 
 panies of the Pacific coast, and all were cancelled "Dec. 22, 1858". 
 
 The design for a stamp of the value of twenty-four cents was approved 
 on April 24th, 1856. Following this approval the plate was made and the 
 stamps printed and gummed. We can, however, find no record that they imperforate twenty- 
 were issued until June, 1 860, when they appeared perforated. But imper- *'"'" """* stamp, 
 forate specimens in pairs and blocks are well-known and the existence of 
 nearly an entire sheet in this condition is reported on excellent authority. I 
 have seen two imperforate copies used on the original envelopes. 
 
 The imperforate thirty and ninety cent stamps of this series have been 
 much discussed. One thing, at least, cannot be denied, that is that they 
 exist genuinely imperforate, not trimmed, since they are in pairs and strips, imperforate thirty 
 They are on the same paper as the perforated copies and have the same gum. "ml ninety cent 
 A well-known philatelist makes this statement : " I, myself, bought a thirty * '"'' ' 
 
 cent orange, imperforate, at the New York post office in i860. And I dis- 
 tinctly remember having used one on a letter containing some photographs." 
 The most important evidence in favor of this stamp is furnished by a 
 copy which was purchased by Messrs. Morgenthau & Co. in the summer of 
 1899. This copy is on a letter sent from New York to Lyons, France. The 
 cancellation covers a large portion of the stamp and is dated October 2nd, 
 i860. The stamp has fine margins on three sides and shows a portion of the 
 adjoining stamp at the left. It is printed in the peculiar brown-orange shade 
 in which the imperforate copies are always found. It establishes, beyond 
 doubt, the use of the thirty cent stamp in imperforate condition. 
 
72 
 
 ISSUE OF 1851-57. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Imprints. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
 There was a cancelled copy of the imperforate ninety cents in the 
 Hunter collection. Beyond question or contradiction, these three values, 
 twenty-four, thirty and ninety cents, exist imperforate. It is, however, my 
 opinion, that they do not constitute a part of the 1851-55 series but are 
 varieties of the 1857-60 series which have escaped perforating. I shall place 
 them under that heading. 
 
 The plates for the 1851-55 issues each consisted of two panes of one 
 hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows of ten. The panes were placed side 
 by side and separated by a single vertical line. This line marked the place 
 at which the printed sheets were to be cut apart, to make the smaller sheets 
 sold in the post offices. This practice is still continued, the panes being cut 
 apart instead of perforated. This accounts for the imperforate edges found 
 on one or two sides of each sheet of stamps. 
 
 The imprint of the engravers appears at the middle of each side of the 
 plate, the tops of the letters being toward the stamps. On the earlier plates 
 of the one, three and twelve cents the inscription reads : " Toppan, Carpenter, 
 Casilear & Co., bank note engravers, Phil., New York, Boston & Cin- 
 cinnati.'' Below " Note " and " Engravers " the plate number appears thus : 
 " No. I P." On a few plates the " P " is omitted. 
 
 In 185s the name " Casilear " was dropped from the imprint. The 
 exact date cannot be given, but the name appears in order No. 95 of the Post 
 Office Department and is missing from No. 96, which is dated July 6th, 1855. 
 
 The later plates of the one, three and twelve cents and all plates of the 
 five and ten cents, with the possible exception of plate i of the latter value, 
 have the imprint " Toppan, Carpenter & Co.," etc., etc., in the same style and 
 arrangement as on the earlier plates. 
 
 From lack of records and the fact that the same plates were used for 
 both the imperforate and the perforated stamps only an incomplete list of the 
 plate numbers can be given. Those given in the following list are known to 
 exist imperforate. Beyond doubt there were other plates of the one cent 
 stamps in this condition and possibly also of the three, ten and twelve cent 
 values. The various types of the one and ten cent stamps appear to have 
 been used or produced on the various plates quite at the fancy of the work- 
 man and without any system. It is, therefore, impossible to assign to them 
 any special plate numbers. 
 
 ic blue No. I. 
 
 3c red (type I) No. i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 
 
 5c brown (type I) No. i. 
 
 IOC green No. i. 
 
 I2C black No. i. 
 
 The plates of the one cent stamps of this and the succeeding issue 
 were numbered consecutively from i to 12 and probably at least half of them 
 were used for the imperforate stamps. No. 8 is the lowest number known 
 perforated. Likewise the plates of the three cent stamps were numbered 
 from I to 28 and number 10 is the lowest perforated number so far found. 
 A plate of the twelve cents, which I suspect to be No. 2, exists both imper- 
 forate and perforated. 
 
ISSUE OF 1851-57. 73 
 
 The name " Casilear " appears on the plates of the two issues, as 
 follows : 
 
 I cent, on No. i, not on No. 9 to 12. 
 
 • 3 " " " h 2, 3, 4, " " " 10 to 28. 
 
 5 " " " " >,2. 
 
 10 " " " " 2, 3. 
 
 12 " " " ,, " " " 3. 
 
 24 " " " ■' 7. 
 
 30 " " " " I. 
 
 90 " " " " ,. 
 
 li has not been possible to obtain lists of the stamps supplied by 
 Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., and Toppan, Carpenter & Co. in each 
 fiscal year for which they held the contract, and the reports of the quantities 
 delivered by the Post Office Department to the deputy postmasters are quite 
 incomplete. The records of the contractors were destroyed on March 4th, 
 1872, at the burning of the Jayne building in Philadelphia. Such information 
 as is obtainable is here presented. 
 
 The first stamps of this issue were delivered by the contractors on 
 June 21st, 1851, and consisted of 100,000 one cent, 300,000 three cents, and 
 100,000 twelve cents. 
 
 Through the valued assistance of an influential friend the following 
 report has been obtained from the Post Office Department : 
 
 "Stamps received from Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., June 21, 
 
 1851 to July 6, 185s : 
 
 Fiscal year ending 12 cent. 10 cent. 3 cent. 1 cent. Value. 
 
 June 30, 1851 200,000 1,710,000 400,000 $ 79,300.00 
 
 June 30, 1852 480,000 49,410,000 6,860,000 1,608,500.00 
 
 June 30, 1853 51210,000 4,450,000 1,580,800.00 
 
 June 30, 1854 60,000 47,820,000 8,450,000 1,526,300.00 
 
 June 30, 1855 20,220,000 3,900,000 645,600.00 
 
 July 6, 1855 120,800 747,000 15,001,800 2,767,700 566,927.00 
 
 Total, 868,800 747,000 185,371,800 26,827,700 $6,007,427.00 
 
 Ten cent stamps appear to have been issued to postmasters on May 
 4th, 1855, though no invoice is noted from Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., 
 to include them, until July 6th, 1855. They should doubtless be considered 
 as having been received prior to June 30th, the end of the fiscal year." 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General, dated December ist, 1853, sup- 
 plies the following : 
 
 " Number of stamps issued to postmasters for sale in the fiscal years 
 ending June 30th, 1852 and June 30th, 1853 : 
 
 1 cent. 3 cent. 12 cent. Amount. 
 
 1852 5,489,242 48,410,035 237,042 $1,535,638-51 
 
 1853 4,736.3" 51,461,040 '46,655 1,608,792.91 
 
 Total, 10,225,553 99,871,075 383.697 $3.'44,43i-42 
 
 First delivery. 
 
 Stati^ticR of 
 manufactnre. 
 
 DeliTerics to 
 postin Asters. 
 
74 ISSUE OF 1851-57. 
 
 Stamps sold by postmasters, year ending June 30th, 1852, . $1,316,563.59 
 " " " " " June 30th, 1853, 1,629,262.12 
 
 Leaving in hands of postmasters, . . 198,605.71" 
 
 From 1853 to 1859 the reports of the Postmaster General do not 
 unfortunately, supply statistics of the quantities of stamps delivered to post- 
 masters or of those sold to the public. 
 
 The different values of this issue were intended, primarily, for the 
 payment of certain specific rates, though any value might be used in making 
 Purpose of the up a rate. The one cent stamps were to pay the postage on newspapers and 
 TBrioiiK values, drop-letters. The three cent stamp represented the rate on ordinary letters 
 and two of them made up the rate for distances over 3,000 miles. "The five 
 cent stamps were for the registration fee and two of them were frequently 
 used to pay the rate over 3,000 miles, after it was changed in March, 1855. 
 Ten cents was the rate to California and other points distant more than 3,000 
 miles. The twelve cent stamps were for quadruple the ordinary rate. The 
 twenty-four cent stamp represented the single rate on letters to Great Britain. 
 Thirty cents was the corresponding rate to Germany. The ninety cent stamp 
 was apparently intended merely to facilitate the payment of large amounts of 
 postage. 
 
Issue of 1857-60, 
 
 Letter concerning 
 
 perforating and 
 
 ne^ plates. 
 
 The stamps of this issue differ from those of the 1851-55 issue only in 
 that they are perforated. This change, being merely a detail of manufacture, 
 was effected without legislation. There are, therefore, no official documents 
 to reproduce. But the following bit of inside history may be somewhat 
 interesting. It is extracted from a letter addressed to the Commissioner of 
 Internal Revenue on the subject of plates for revenue stamps : 
 
 " Having been requested by Messrs. Butler & Carpenter to state such facts as might 
 be witliin my l<nowledge in reference to a fair price to be charged for engraving stamp 
 plates, I beg leave to say that, as the business partner of my firm (Toppan, Carpenter & Co.,) 
 I negotiated all the contracts in reference to Postage Stamps which were made with the 
 Government from 1851 to 1861 (10 years) and, therefore, 1 have personal knowledge of what 
 I shall state. 
 
 In 1857 the Postmaster General determined to introduce the perforation of Postage 
 Stamps. In order to do this it became necessary for us to make 3 new plates of i cent, 
 6 plates of 3c, 1 plate of 5c, i plate of loc, ' plate of 12c and i plate of 24c, in all, 15 plates, 
 besides a large outlay to procure the necessary machinery for perforating the stamps, and, in 
 view of the fact that our first contract with the Government would expire in about 4 months 
 from that time and might not be renewed, we felt it to be necessary to protect ourselves 
 against loss by asking that, in case the contract for furnishing Postage Stamps should not be 
 renewed with us at the end of our term, that in that case the Government should indemnify 
 us from loss by paying us $500 for the engraving of each of the 13 plates, or $6,soo for the 
 whole of the plates, and a further sum of $3,oco for the perforating machine with the 
 necessary machinery. This was promptly agreed to by the Postmaster General and a 
 contract to that effect was made and executed on the 6 Feb. 1857. The plates and perforat- 
 ing machinery were, of course, to become the property of the Government, in the contingency 
 of our losing the contract and the Government paying for the plates and machinery. 
 
 I have given the above facts not only from my own recollection of them but from 
 the contract with the P. O. Department, which is before me." 
 
 (Signed) S. H. Carpemter, 
 
 Philadelphia, April 2nd, 1863. of the late firm of Toppan, Carpenter & Co. 
 
 The first stamps were perforated and delivered to the Government on yh-st deiiTery. 
 February 24th, 1857. 
 
 The designs are the same as in the 1851-55 issue with the addition of 
 three new values which are thus officially described : 
 
 "Twenty-four cents. Portrait of Washington, after the painting by 
 Stuart, three-quarters face, looking to the right, on an oyal disk with very 
 dark ground, surrounded by a solid curved border, bearing above the words Designs and colors. 
 " u. s. POSTAGE " and below the words '' twenty four cents " in white 
 capitals, the two inscriptions being separated on each side by a small triple 
 rectangle. Around the whole of this is a mass of badly mixed lathe-work, 
 forming a frame of irregular oblong form, with rounded corners and curved 
 incisions, all enclosed by a fine outer line. Color, very dark lilac. 
 
76 ISSUE OF 1857-60. 
 
 Thirty cents. Profile bust of Franklin, looking to the left, on an 
 oval disk with a very dark ground, and with a slightly shaded border. In an 
 irregular panel at the top are the words " u. s. postage ", in two lines of 
 white capitals ; at the bottom in a panel, are the Arabic numerals "30"; on 
 the two sides are the words "ihirty" and "cents" respectively, in white 
 capitals ; at each of the four corners is a shield, placed obliquely, with fine 
 radiations, and connected with ornate shaded scrolls. The two sides and the 
 top of the stamp are enclosed by a fine double line, ending in six spear points. 
 Color, orange. 
 
 Ninety cents. Portrait of Washington, in generals' uniform, after 
 the painting by Trumbull, three-quarters face, on a very dark oblong ground 
 with arched top. In a solid panel, conforming to the curve of this arch, are 
 the words " u. s. postage " in white capitals, while at the bottom of the 
 portrait, in a straight panel, with rounded ends, are the words "ninety 
 CENTS " Connecting these two panels, and forming an oblong frame for the 
 portrait, are scroll-work ornaments, resting on a sort of pedestal. Color, 
 deep indigo blue." 
 g,^^g The sizes of these stamps were: Twenty-four cents, i9j^x25mm. ; 
 
 thirty cents, 20x25mm.; ninety cents, igx24}^mm. 
 
 The types are the same as in the preceding issue, with the addition 
 of a few caused by alterations to admit of perforating. These additional 
 varieties are : 
 
 Three cents. Type II. The horizontal frame lines at top and 
 Types of the three bottom have been removed from both the transfer roll and the plate. On 
 cent Btaiiip. many specimens the side lines appear to be closer to the body of the design 
 than on the imperforate stamps. 
 
 Type I is known as the variety " with outer lines " and type II as the 
 variety "without outer lines." This, of course, refers only to the lines at 
 the top and bottom of the stamps. 
 
 Five cents. Type II. The outer line of color on the projecting 
 Types of the Are ornaments at top and bottom has been cut away. This is usually spoken of 
 
 cent stamp. u ^ , , ,, 
 
 as ornaments partly removed. 
 
 Type III. The cutting has been carried still further and both the 
 outer and inner lines and part of the colorless loops have been cut away. 
 This variety is called "ornaments entirely removed." 
 
 These types are from two different transfer rolls, though both occur 
 on the same plate. They are arranged in horizontal rows, the first, third, 
 sixth and tenth rows being of type II and the balance of the plate of type III. 
 
 Ten cents. Type VI of this stamp has not been noted in the per- 
 Types of the ton foratcd State, though it may exist. Types IV and V are those commonly 
 cent stamp. f^^^^^ ^j^jj^ types I, II and III are much scarcer. 
 
 The paper used for this issue was thin, hard and brittle, much of it 
 semi-transparent, white but usually tinted by the gum and often colored on 
 Paper. the Surface from poorly wiped plates. I have recently seen copies of the 
 
 three cents (type II), on paper which showed faint laid lines. This appears 
 to be much the same paper as was used for some values of the i86i-66 
 issue, 
 
The gum 
 to almost brown 
 
 Feb. , 1857. 
 
 Feb. 24th, 1857. 
 
 Feb. , 1857. 
 
 Feb. , 1857. 
 
 Feb. 
 
 -, 1857. 
 
 June isth, i860. 
 
 Aug. 12th, i860. 
 Aug. 13th, i860. 
 
 ISSUE OF 1857-60. 77 
 
 was thin and smooth and varied in color from yellow-white 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 15, i5}4- 
 
 I cent (type I) pale blue, blue, dark blue, bright blue, 
 
 dull blue 
 1 cent (type II) pale blue, blue, dark blue, dull blue, 
 
 bright blue 
 1 cent (type III) pale blue, blue, dark blue, dull blue, 
 
 gray-blue, dark ultramarine 
 I cent (type IV) blue, dark blue, gray-blue 
 3 cents (type I) pale rose-red, rose-red, rosy-lake, lake, 
 
 dull red, Indian red 
 3 cents (type II) pale rose-red, rose-red, rosy lake, lake, 
 
 orange-red, red, brown-red 
 S cents (type I) brick red, rose-brown, pale red-brown, 
 red-brown, dark red-brown, carmine-brown, brown, 
 gray-brown 
 5 cents (type II) brown, dark brown, gray-brown, orange- 
 brown 
 5 cents (type III) brown, dark brown, gray-brown, bistre- 
 brown, orange-brown 
 10 cents (type I) dark green 
 
 10 cents (type II) yellow-green, dark green, bright blue- 
 green, blue-green, gray-green 
 10 cents (type III) yellow-green, dark green 
 10 cents (type IV) yellow-green, dark green, blue-green, 
 
 dark blue-green, gray-green 
 10 cents (type V) yellow-green, dark yellow-green, dark 
 
 green, bright blue-green, blue-green, gray-green 
 12 cents gray-black, greenish black, full black, deep 
 
 smudgy black 
 24 cents bright lilac, lilac, gray-lilac, gray, slate, blackish 
 
 violet, dull reddish lilac 
 30 cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 
 90 cents indigo, dark indigo 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 1 cent blue, dark blue. Double transfers. The most 
 pronounced shows the shadings of "one cent" 
 repeated like links below the panel 
 
 3 cents (type I) rose-red. Double transfers, notably that 
 with the horizontal line through " three cents " 
 
 3 cents (type I) rose. Vertical pair, imperforate hori- 
 zontally 
 
 3 cents (type I) rose. Horizontal pair, imperforate ver- 
 tically 
 
 Seftrence List. 
 
78 
 
 ISSUE OF 1857-60. 
 
 Imperforate and 
 
 part-perforate 
 
 stamps. 
 
 Shades and change- 
 lings. 
 
 The black thirty 
 cent stamp. 
 
 I'lates and im- 
 prints. 
 
 24 cents gray-lilac. Imperforate 
 
 30 cents brown-orange. Imperforate 
 90 cents indigo. Imperforate 
 
 White Laid Paper. 
 
 Perforated 15, 15)^. 
 
 3 cents (type II) dull rose-red 
 
 It may be well to say here that no imperforate or part-perforate varieties 
 of stamps which are normally perforate, will be listed in this work, except 
 such as are known in pairs or blocks. Owing to defects in manufacture, 
 stamps are frequently found which have such widely spaced perforations as 
 to allow trimming by those who enjoy producing such fraudulent novelties. 
 For this reason it seems best to refuse recognition to all varieties except such 
 as are entirely beyond suspicion. 
 
 The three cents of this and the preceding issue is frequently found in 
 shades of brown and almost black. The thirty cents is also known in brown. 
 These shades are merely the result of chemical changes, natural or artificial. 
 The same discolorations occur in similar shades in other issues. They are 
 largely due to what is commonly called "oxidization." " Sulphuretting " 
 would more correctly express the change. Stamps printed in mineral inks 
 are particularly subject to such darkening of their colors, especially those in 
 red and orange shades. 
 
 The greenish shades of the twenty-four cents in this and the succeeding 
 issue are due to the action of acids or strong sunlight. I am not certain that 
 the twenty-four cents in dull reddish-lilac was ever issued as a stamp. I 
 have seen copies, both imperforate and perforated, in old collections of proofs 
 arid essays and I am inclined to think it belongs in that category rather than 
 among stamps. I have, however, no positive evidence to confirm this belief. 
 
 In addition to the above stamps and varieties the thirty cents is known 
 printed in black. It is imperforate and on the regular paper. This has 
 usually been regarded as a proof. But Mr. Francis C. Foster states that, at 
 the time he obtained his copy, he was told that it was a stamp and had been 
 in use, and that shortly afterwards he made inquiry at the Washington post 
 office and was informed that it was actually on sale at that ofiice for a few 
 days but, because the cancellation did not show up well, the color was 
 changed. However, it must be remembered that the twenty-four cents also 
 exists in black, identical with this thirty cents in shade and paper. And 
 copies of the five, twenty-four and ninety cents are known in various colors, 
 imperforate and printed on the regular paper. It has never been claimed 
 that these latter varieties are anything but proofs in trial colors. 
 
 Many of the plates of the 1851-55 issue were also emplo) ed for printing 
 the stamps of the 1857-60 issue. The new plates are of the same dimensions as 
 those of the, preceding issue and have the imprint in the same position. The 
 imprint is, with a few exceptions, of the second variety. The known excep- 
 tions are plates of the one, twelve, thirty and ninety cents, on which the 
 imprint is "toppan, carpenter & co., Philadelphia", in small white-faced 
 capitals, on a tablet of solid color with square ends. There is a thin colored 
 
ISSUE OF 1857-60. 
 
 79 
 
 ic blue 
 
 
 3c red 
 
 (type I) 
 
 3 c red 
 
 (type II) 
 
 5c brown (type I) 
 
 Sc 
 
 it 
 
 (type II) 
 
 Sc 
 
 ti 
 
 (type III) 
 
 IOC 
 
 green 
 
 
 I2C 
 
 black 
 
 
 24c 
 
 lilac 
 
 
 30c orange 
 
 
 90c 
 
 indigo 
 
 
 line parallel to the top and sides of the tablet but none at the bottom. Below 
 this there is, on the one cent "No. 12. P.", on the three cents the numeral 
 " 3 " only, and on the thirty and ninety cents " No. i P." 
 
 The following plate numbers are known to have been used for the 
 perforated stamps : 
 
 No. 8, 9, 10, II, 12. 
 
 No. 
 
 No. 10, II, 12, 13, 14, IS, 16, 
 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 
 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 No. 2, 3. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 On comparing this list with that of the plates of the 1851 issue it will 
 be seen that plates 7, 8 and 9 of the three cents and plate 2- of the twelve 
 cents are not listed. They exist, but it has been impossible to secure infor- 
 mation which would correctly locate them. Neither has it been possible to 
 learn which plates of the three cents of type I were used for the perforated 
 issue. It is probable that the name " Casilear " did not appear on any plates 
 used for the perforated stamps, with the possible exception of the three cents 
 of type I. 
 
 The statistics of this issue are, unfortunately, very incomplete. The 
 following extracts, taken from the annual reports of the Postmaster General, 
 are all that can be supplied at present : 
 
 "Number of postage stamps issued to postmasters during the fiscal years ending as 
 follows : 
 
 Year ending June 30th, 1859 : 
 I cent. 3 cent. 5 cent. 10 cent. 
 
 44,432,300 142,087,800 486,560 3,765,560 
 
 Whole number 192,201,920. Value $5,279,405.00. 
 
 Year ending June 30th, i860 : 
 I cent. 3 cent. 5 cent. 10 cent. 12 cent. 
 
 50,723,400 159,463,600 579.360 3,898,450 1,653,500 
 
 Whole number 216,370,660. Value $5,920,939.00." 
 
 " Larger denominations of postage stamps have been adopted and introduced, 
 especially for the purpose of affording requisite facilities to prepay the postage on letters to 
 foreign countries, and of removing all excuses heretofore existing of paying such postages in 
 money. The new denominations are twenty-four cents, thirty cents and ninety cents. The 
 two latter have been introduced since July 1st last, and the sales up to November 1st have 
 been as follows : 
 
 Thirty .cent stamps, . 140,860 ; amounting to $42,358.00 
 Ninety cent stamps, . 15,840; " " 14,256.00 
 
 Previously to July 1st there were issued of the 
 
 Twenty-four cent stamps, . 52,350; amounting to $12,564,00 
 From July 1st to Nov. 1st, . 287,975; " " 69,11400 
 
 12 cent. 
 .,429,700 
 
 24 cent- 
 52.350 
 
 Plate nnmbers. 
 
 Delireries to 
 postmasters. 
 
 Total issues of new denominations, 497,025 ; amounting to $138, 192.00 
 
8o ISSUE OF 1857-60. 
 
 Year ending June 30th, 1861 : 
 
 Quarter ending 1 cent. 
 
 Sept. 30, i860 12,756,100 
 
 Dec. 31, i860 14,778,085 
 
 March 31, 1861 14,174,768 
 
 June 30, 1861 12,184,839 
 
 
 
 53,893,762 
 
 
 
 12 cent. 
 
 Sept. 30, 
 Dec. 31, 
 March 31, 
 June 30, 
 
 i860 
 i860 
 1861 
 1861 
 
 384,800 
 243,825 
 232,400 
 192,875 
 
 
 3 cent. 
 
 5 cent. 
 
 10 cent. 
 
 36,512,700 
 
 146,920 
 
 922,150 
 
 39 
 
 ,171,800 
 
 178,640 
 
 1,154,910 
 
 4' 
 
 ,922,956 
 
 223,000 
 
 852,900 
 
 33 
 
 ,615,600 
 
 128,640 
 
 677,200 
 
 995.730 
 
 15' 
 
 ,223,056 
 
 3,925,690 
 
 
 24 cent. 
 
 30 cent. 
 
 90 cent. 
 
 
 1 70,000 
 
 103,860 
 
 11,960 
 
 
 201,150 
 
 105,960 
 
 6,200 
 
 
 '47.325 
 
 65,040 
 
 4,110 
 
 
 132,125 
 
 65,140 
 
 2,010 
 
 1,053,900 650,600 340,000 24,280 
 
 Whole number 211,788,518. Value $5,908,522.60." 
 
 There are no available statistics covering the number of stamps issued 
 between June 30th, 1861 and the appearance of the new issue in August of 
 that year. In view of the impending change and the reasons which prompted 
 it, we may assume that the quantity was restricted as far as possible. 
 
Issues of 1861-66. 
 
 Issue of i86i. 
 
 The breaking out of the civil war, in April, 1861, and the natural desire 
 of the government that its stamps should not be used to the profit of the 
 seceding states were the causes of the issue of 1861. 
 
 An article in the Chicago Times-Herald in September 1 8g6, says : 
 
 At the post office department I was told that in May, 1861, Postmaster General 
 Montgomery Blair issued an order requiring all postmasters to return to the department all 
 postage stamps and stamped envelopes in their possession, but 1 was unable to see the order, 
 as no copy is preserved in the files of the department, and Its precise language is unknown. 
 
 I sought further information in the files of the National Intelligencer, preserved in the 
 library of Congress, which was the organ of the department in 1861. I found in the issue of 
 June 13th, 1861, the following " extract from the department files," introduced by appropriate 
 editorial comment, published for the information of the public : 
 
 " There are now no postmasters of the United States, in the seceded States, authorized 
 to sell stamps or collect postage, since the 1st of June, for this government. Postmasters, 
 therefore, must treat all matter since the 1st of June coming from the seceded States, and 
 mailed within these States, as unpaid matter to be held for postage. All such matter is 
 ordered to be sent to the dead letter office at Washington to be disposed of according 
 to law." 
 
 In the issue of the following day, June 14, 1861, the following appeared 
 
 as an editorial paragraph : 
 
 " In consequence of the retention and improper use of postage stamps by delinquent 
 postmasters in some of the seceded States, the Postmaster General has ordered a new stamped 
 envelope, which will be ready for use in a few days, and that by the 1st of August there 
 will be a new stamp with devices altogether different from the present." 
 
 In August, 1861, the following circular letter was sent to postmasters 
 throughout the country : 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 Postmaster. 
 
 FINANCE OFFICE. 
 
 .1861. 
 
 Sir : You will receive herewith a supply of postage stamps which you will observe 
 are of a new style, differing both in design and color from those hitherto used, and having 
 the letters U. S. in the lower corners of each stamp, and its respective denomination indicated 
 by figures as well as letters. You will immediately give public notice through the news- 
 papers and otherwise, that you are prepared to exchange stamps of the new style for an 
 equivalent amount of the old issue, during a period of six days from the date of the notice, 
 and that the latter will not thereafter be received in payment of postage on letters sent from 
 your office. 
 
 You will satisfy yourself by personal inspection that stamps offered in exchange have 
 not been used through the mails or otherwise ; and if in any case you have good grounds 
 for suspecting that stamps, presented to you for exchange, were sent from any of the disloyal 
 states, you will not receive them without due investigation. 
 
 Immediately after the expiration of the above period of six days, you will return to 
 the Third Assistant Postmaster General all stamps of the old style in your possession, includ- 
 ing such as you may obtain by exchange, placing them in a secure package, which must be 
 
 Historical. 
 
 iuiiouacemeDt of 
 tlie 1S61 issne. 
 
 Kedemption of 
 stamps of tlie 
 1S57-60 issue. 
 
82 
 
 ISSUE OF i86r. 
 
 Authority to declare 
 stamps invalid. 
 
 carefully registered in the manner prescribed by Chapter 39, of the Regulations of this 
 Department. 
 
 Be careful also to write legibly the name of your office as well as that of your county 
 and state. A strict compliance with the foregoing instructions is absolutely necessary, that 
 you may not fail to obtain credit for the amouut of stamps returned. 
 
 Instead of sending stamps to the Department you can, if convenient, exchange them 
 for new ones at some city post office, where large supplies are to be found. It being 
 impossible to supply all offices with new stamps at once, you will deliver letters received from 
 Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland and Pennsylvania, prepayed by stamps 
 of the old issue, until September loth, those from other loyal stales east of the Rocky 
 Mountains until the first of October, and those from the states of California and Oregon and . 
 from the Territories of New Mexico, Utah and Washington, until the first of November, 1861. 
 
 Your Obedient Servant, 
 
 A. N. Zevely, 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
 
 In a subsequent order the dates specified in the last paragraph of the 
 Extension of time foregoing circular were extended to November ist, i86r, December ist, 1861, 
 for redemption, g^jjjj January ist, 1862 for the respective sections. 
 
 The question of the authority of the Postmaster General to declare the 
 stamps of the 1857 issue obsolete and invalid for postal purposes has been 
 much discussed. The action met with public approval at the time and was, 
 presumably, within his province. The acts of Congress did not restrict him 
 to the employment of any particular designs for stamps or require their con- 
 tinuance in use after adoption, thus, constructively, leaving all such details to 
 his discretion. The dicta of the head of a department, on matters placed 
 within his control, have the authority of law, unless they are in conflct with a 
 provision of the Constitution or of the statutes of the United States. 
 
 It is curious that the order of the Postmaster General seems to have 
 
 applied only to the adhesive stamps and not to the stamped envelopes then 
 
 current. No mention of envelopes is made in the official circular quoted 
 
 above. A correspondent of the Stamp Collectors Magazine says, in the number 
 
 for August, 1867 : 
 
 "We do not think that the i860 envelopes were outlawed, though they of course 
 soon gave place to the new issue of 1861, but upon this point we are not certain. We know 
 that the one cent envelope and wrapper were never thus treated, however, but when the 
 lowest rate of postage (newspapers and drop letters) was raised from ic to 2c in 1863, the 
 stock on hand was sold to applicants for two cent wrappeis or envelopes, the value being 
 completed by the addition of a ic adhesive to each ic wrapper or envelope. When the stock 
 of the old series was thus got rid of, thgnew ic value was supplied. No more of the ic 
 envelopes were printed, but they have alwtys been, and to-d;iy are, recognized at their face 
 value whenever offered." 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General, dated December 2nd, i86r, 
 gives additional information concerning the changes in the postage stamps : 
 
 The contract for the manufacture of postage stamps having expired on the loth of 
 June, 1861, a new one was entered into with the National Bank Note Company of New York, 
 upon terms very advantageous to the Department, from which there will result an annual 
 sav'ng of more than thirty per cent, in the cost of the stamps. 
 
 In order to prevent the fraudulent use of the large quantity of stamps remaining 
 unaccounted for, in the hands of postnuTsters in the disloyal states, it was deemed advisable 
 to change the design and the color of those manufactured under the new contract, and also 
 to modify the design of the stamp upon the stamped envelope, and to substitute as soon as 
 possible the new for the old issues. It was the design of the Department that the distribution 
 of the new stamps and envelopes should commence on the fust of August, but, from un- 
 avoidable del.ays, that of the latter did not take place until the 1 5th of that month. 
 
 The number of postage stamps of the new style issued up to the 9th of November was 
 77,ii7,S20 and the number of new stamped envelopes, 8,0')Q,65O. All post offices in the 
 loyal states with the exception of certain offices in Kentucky and Missouri, have been 
 supplied therewith Those of the old issue have been exchanged and superseded. The old 
 stamps on hand, and such as were received by exchange, at the larger offices, have been to 
 
 EnTelopes not de- 
 clared invalid. 
 
 Report of Postmaster 
 General. 
 
ISSUE OF 1861. 83 
 
 a great extent counted and destroyed, and those of the smaller offices returned to the Depart- 
 ment. It is proper to state that, in anticipation of the substitution of the new stamps and 
 envelopes for the old issue, but limited supplies of the latter were sent to postmasters during 
 June and July, so that the amount thereof remaining in their hands was comparatively small. 
 The additional expense incurred by the change is very inconsiderable, in view of the 
 greatly dimished cost of the new stamps as compared with that of the old, while the 
 prevention thereby of the use of stamps unaccounted for in the hands of disloyal postmasters 
 saves the Department from severe loss. Although the enumeration and destruction of the 
 old stamps and envelopes is not yet completed, there is ample evidence that few received in 
 exchange were sent from disloyal States. 
 
 In this connection an extract from a proclamation of John H. Reagan, 
 
 ex-Postmaster General of the Confederate States, dated May 13th, 1861, is 
 
 also of interest : 
 
 " All postmasters are hereby required to render to the Post-office Department at 
 Washington, D. C, their final accounts and their vouchers for postal receipts and expendi- Confederate 
 
 tures, up to the 31st day of this month, taking care to forward with said accounts all postage Postmaster General 
 
 stamps and stamped envelopes remaining on hand, belonging to the Post Office Department orders TJ. S. stamps 
 of the United States, in order that they may receive the proper credits therefore, in the retnmed. 
 
 adjustment of their accounts." 
 
 It would be interesting to know the result of this order. It is doubtful 
 if, in the disturbed state of the country, it was obeyed to any extent. How- 
 ever, at a period long subsequent to 1861, there were in the Post Office Remainders. 
 Department a large quantity of the stamps of the 1857-60 issue. It is under- 
 stood that the majority of these had been found in Southern post offices, 
 after the war, and returned to Washington. We know that one prominent 
 dealer acquired 2,000 complete sets by indirect purchase. Another well- 
 known dealer was presented with 1,800 sets, in return for his assistance in 
 arranging the government collection of stamps. All these sets were in full 
 sheets. There is no available record of the number of stamps returned to the 
 Department by postmasters or of those destroyed. 
 
 By act of Congress, approved March 3rd, i86i, the Act of March 3rd, 
 1851, was amended to require the rate of ten cents, prepaid, on all letters from increase in rate to 
 points east of the Rocky Mountains to any state or territory on the Pacific *''* P*"*"*! Coast. 
 Coast and vice versa. Postage on all drop letters was required to be pre-paid 
 by means of stamps. 
 
 The same portraits and busts were used on the stamps of the 1861 
 issue as on the corresponding values of the 1857 issue. They were, howeveri 
 newly engraved and the surrounding devices were of entirely new designs. 
 
 The official description of the designs is as follows : 
 
 " One cent. Profile head of Franklin, looking to the right, in an ellipse 
 as large as could be placed upon the stamp, viz., i by ^ inch. The entire 
 ground within the enclosure is formed of lathe-work. The outer three- Designs, 
 
 sixteenths of an inch of this space is more open. The upper corner spaces 
 contain the Arabic figure ' i ', and the lower the white capital letters ' u ' 
 and 's' in the left and right, respectively — all four corners having ornate 
 surroundings. The words ' v. s. postage ' are placed above and ' one 
 CENT ' below the bust, following the curvature of the elliptic lathe-work upon 
 which they rest. The portrait is probably intended as a copy from Rubricht. 
 
 Three cents. . A profile of Washington, looking to the left, rests upon 
 an oblong tablet of lathe-work, which is scarcely separated from the rest of 
 the stamp by a border of lighter work of the same character, The entire 
 
84 ISSUE OF 1 86 1. 
 
 ground of the stamp, except touches at and near the outer corners, is of 
 this machine design. The large Arabic figure ' 3 ' appears in the upper 
 corners, and between them, in two lines, are 'u. s.' and 'postage', the latter 
 word taking the curve of the head close below. At the bottom, also in two 
 lines of white capitals, are the words ' three ' and ' cents ', the ends of the 
 lines tending upward. In the lower corners are the Gothic capitals ' u ' and 
 ' s ', of the same size as the figures ; all four are white, except slight tracery 
 near the middle of each. 
 
 Five cents. A portrait of Jefferson rests upon a cross-hatched 
 elliptical tablet 17-32 by 43-64 of an inch. This is surrounded by a border 
 of lathe-work, principally in a triple line design, reaching the limits of the 
 stamp and giving the general outline of a parallelogram, though the comers 
 are rounded, and midway of each side it swells outward. A large white 
 Arabic figure ' S ' is placed in each of the upper corners, and resting on each 
 end of the line ' u. s. postage ', which rises in the middle to surmount the 
 upper curve of the tablet. Similar white capitals form the words ' five 
 cents', below the tablet, and the Gothic capitals 'u' and ' s ', slightly 
 distorted, are placed in the lower corners. 
 
 Ten cents. The head of Washington is upon a hatched ground whose 
 cross lines are almost imperceptible, and is enclosed by four small white stars 
 on each side, with the words ' u. s. postage ' above and ' ten cents ' 
 below. There are five more stars at the top of the stamp. The number 
 '10', in Arabic figures, is placed in each upper corner, in an appropriate 
 inclosure of ornamental design, and the white capitals ' u ' and ' s ' are seen 
 in the left and right lower corners, respectively. 
 
 Twelve cents. The face of Washington is placed upon a cross- 
 hatched elliptical ground ]4hy Vs, inch, which is surrounded to the edge of 
 the stamp by a very fine geometrical design, with a serrated outer white line, 
 edged with a black hair line and the trace of an ornament in the middle of 
 each side, with a larger one at each corner, outside the lines mentioned. The 
 number ' 12 ' in Arabic figures, inclined as in the 2 cent stamp, is placed in 
 each upper corner, with ' u. s. postage ' between, bordering the medallion 
 line. Below, in the corners, are the white capitals ' u.' and ' s.' with the 
 words 'twelve cents' just below the medallion line and rising at each end 
 above the ' u.' and ' s.' The portrait is the same as that on the 10 cent stamp. 
 
 Twenty-four cents. The portrait is the smallest in the series, and 
 inclosed by very fine lathe-work ^ of an inch wide, the general outline of 
 which is irregularly hexagonal. On each outer side, above the middle line, 
 are four small five-pointed stars, enlarged in size from the lowest one up. At 
 the top are three more stars, the smallest one in the middle. To the right 
 and left of these, in the corners, and within an elliptical space, are the white 
 faced and shaded Arabic numerals ' 24 ' inclined slightly to the left and 
 right. In each lower corner is a large five-pointed star, completing the 
 thirteen ; upon the left of these is the letter ' u ', and upon the right ' s ', 
 tending inward at the top. Curled-leaf ornaments above and at the side of 
 these stars complete the principal features of the stamp. The portrait ground 
 is cross lined vertically and horizontally, 
 
ISSUE OF 1 86 1. 85 
 
 Thirty cents. The portrait is inclosed in a circle 21-32 of an inch 
 in diameter. The background of this space is obliquely cross lined at right 
 angles. The inscriptions ' u. s. postage ' above and ' thirty cents ' below 
 the circle, followed it closely ; the number ' 30 ' leans outward in the upper 
 corners, and the white capital letters ' u ' and ' s ' in the lower left and right 
 hand corners, respectively, incline inward. Around the sides are scroll-work 
 ornamentations. 
 
 Ninety cents. The portrait stands upon a background similar to 
 that of the 5, 12 and 15 cent stamps. The border, about 3-32 of an inch 
 wide, is crossed with rays. The outer line of this border rises at the top to a 
 Gothic apex. The denomination numerals ' 90 ' appear at each side of the 
 tablet, on its border, one-fourth of an inch from its highest point. Across 
 the top of the stamp, upon an independent pennant tablet, whose ends fall 
 about the border, are the words ' u. s. postage ', in white shaded capitals. 
 The words ' ninety ' and ' cents ' are upon the left and right lower quarters 
 of the border, which rests upon branches of oak and laurel tied with a small 
 ribbon. The extreme lower corners are filled with the letters ' u ' and ' s ' 
 in the left and right, respectively." 
 
 The dimensions of the stamps are: One cent, I9}^x25mm.; three 
 cents, 20x25mm.; five cents, 20^x25 ^mm.; ten cents, 2o^x24j^mm. ; sizes, 
 
 twelve cents, I9j4x24^mm.; twenty-four cents, I9^x24mm.; thirty cents, 
 20X24j^mm.; ninety cents, I9j^x24^mm. 
 
 The issue of 1861 may be divided into two sections. They are, how- 
 ever, so intimately related and, with two exceptions, vary so slightly in design 
 that it is difficult to consider them separately. The first section, usually premierei grarurei. 
 referred to as the premiires gravures, was issued in the early part of August, 
 1 86 1. The 14th of that month is usually given as the date of issue, though I 
 have not found the authority for the statement. It may, possibly, have been 
 deduced from a paragraph in the report of the Postmaster General just quoted, 
 which says : " It was the design of the Department that the distribution of 
 the new stamps and envelopes should commence on the first of August, but, 
 from unavoidable delays, that of the latter did not take place until the 15th 
 of that month." The most which can be asserted, on this authority, is that 
 the stamps were issued previous to the isth of the month but not on the 1st, 
 as originally intended. The three and twelve cents of this series present a 
 decidedly unfinished look, especially at the corners. Philatelists have long 
 been familiar with these two values but, used specimens not being known, 
 they were regarded as essays. The other values differ so slightly from the 
 ordinary types that they escaped notice for thirty-five years. The discovery 
 of the earlier variety of the ten cents lead to the study of the whole series and 
 the eventual discovery of the complete set of the first types. 
 
 The first designs did not give full satisfaction and improvements were 
 ordered. These were quite extensive on the three and twelve cents but very 
 slight on most of the other values. So far as known no changes, beyond Alterations, 
 those of color, were made in the twenty-four and thirty cents. Altering the 
 designs and making new plates involved a considerable delay. Meantime the 
 need of new stamps was urgent. To meet this demand, it was found necessary 
 
86 
 
 ISSUE OF 1861. 
 
 Date of iBsne of 
 second series. 
 
 Types of the first 
 aud second series. 
 
 to issue the stamps of the first types. The scarcity of these varieties proves 
 that this issue was restricted as much as possible. The first stamp to be 
 issued in the altered design was, naturally, the three cents, that being the 
 ordinary rate of postage and, consequently, the value most in demand. A 
 copy of this stamp is known cancelled August 18th, 1861, four days after the 
 date of issue assigned to the stamps of the first types. Several other values 
 are known cancelled in that month. So far, used copies of the one, thirty 
 and ninety cents have not been reported. When it was first discovered that 
 this issue was composed of two series, it was believed that the stamps of the 
 second types were not ready for use until September, 1861, and the two series 
 were designated as the August and September issues, respectively. But from 
 the information supplied by the cancellations we perceive that these titles are 
 incorrect and must be abandoned. 
 
 The differences between the first and second types may be described 
 as follows : 
 
 One cent. From the numerals in the upper corners arabesque orna- 
 ments extend downward and also across the top, resting upon the curved 
 frame-line of the stamp. The extreme tip of the upper left-hand ornament 
 is directly above the " p " of " postage ". In the first type this tip rests upon 
 the curved line but does not extend below it. In the second type there is a 
 strong dash under the tip and below the line. Other, though lighter, dashes 
 appear further down the curve, above the " s " and opposite the " v " of " u. s." 
 There are also shading lines under the upper ornament on the right. None 
 of these marks appear in the first type. The vertical shadings in the corner 
 spaces which enclose the numerals and the letters " u " and " s '' are increased 
 in the second type. 
 
 Three cents. The first type of this stamp is probably better known 
 to collectors than any other value in the set. Outside the irregular rectangle 
 of lathe-work there are only some trifling ornaments and the stamp looks bare 
 and unfinished. In the second type this has been remedied by the use of 
 more elaborate ornaments, especially at the corners, which have been built 
 out so that the outline of the design is now approximately rectangular. 
 
ISSUE OF 1861. 87 
 
 Five cents. The two types of this stamp differ but little. The 
 delicate, leaf-like ornaments at the corners lack, in the first type, the leaflet 
 (if we may so term it), which projects farthest. 
 
 Ten cents. In the upper part of the stamps are five white stars on a 
 background of ruled lines. The background is separated from the label con- 
 taining " u. s. POSTAGE ", by a curved white line. In the second type a heavy 
 line of color has been cut along the lower ends of the background lines, 
 above and following the curve of the white line. An outer line has also been 
 added to all the ornaments above the stars. 
 
 Twelve cents. The first type of this stamp differs so materially from 
 the second, that, at first glance, one scarcely recognizes it as a prototype. 
 There is nothing outside the mat of lathe-work except a thin wavy line follow- 
 ing the outline. In appearance it is even more unfinished than the three 
 cents of the first type. To make the second type, small ovals and arabesques 
 were added at each corner and little scrolls at the sides. These additions, as 
 in the case of the three cents, make the outline of the stamp about rectangular. 
 
 No variations have been found in the twenty-four and thirty cent 
 stamps. As there was but one plate for each value, it is not probable that 
 any changes were made in the designs. The colors of the first printing differ 
 very decidedly from those of the ordinary stamps. A few slight retouches 
 may be found on some of the twenty-four cent stamps, but they probably 
 indicate a late touching up of the plate, rather than alterations in the die. 
 
 Ninety cents. Above the ribbon with " u. s. postage " the lines of 
 the frame meet in an obtuse angle, made by parallel lines of color, separated 
 by a white space about one-half millimetre wide. To form the second type 
 a strong point of color was added at the apex of the lower lines of the angle 
 and a series of little dashes drawn through the center of the white space, 
 making a broken line of color, between and parallel to the other lines. On 
 many of the stamps this broken line is too faint to be seen, but the colored 
 point usually stands out clearly. The leaf beside the " u " in the lower left 
 
88 
 
 ISSUE OF 1861. 
 
 grararea. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 corner has been recut and now has vertical instead of horizontal lines of 
 shading. If, instead of these trifling marks, something more elaborate had 
 been added to fill out the very bare upper part of the stamp, the improvement 
 in its appearance would have been greater. 
 
 Beyond doubt the eye is best pleased by stamps whose outlines fill out 
 a rectangle. The designers of our earlier stamps either failed to appreciate 
 this idea or to carry it out. Thus we find in many of the stamps of the older 
 issues an unsatisfactory bareness and lack of completeness, notably at the 
 corners. On the other hand, many of our later issues appear painfully plain 
 and lacking in variety when compared with the graceful designs and elaborate 
 ornamentation of the earlier issues. 
 
 The paper of the premiires gravures is very thin, hard and extremely 
 
 brittle. The stamps are easily cracked, unless handled very carefully. The 
 
 Characteristics of paper is also quite transparent and much of the designs may be seen from 
 
 the premieres the backs of the Stamps. The gum is very dark brown, sometimes staining 
 
 the paper. The colors are very dark and rich and the ink heavily applied, 
 
 occasionally giving a blurred appearance, though, as a rule, the impressions 
 
 are very fine and clear. 
 
 First Types. 
 
 Very Thin Yellowish-white Wove Paper. 
 Perforated 12. 
 Aug. 14th, 1 86 1. I cent indigo 
 
 3 cents brownish lake, lake 
 5 cents orange-brown 
 10 cents dark yellow-green, dark green 
 12 cents gray-black 
 24 cents violet, deep violet 
 30 cents red-orange 
 go cents slate-blue 
 
 Varieties : 
 3 cents brownish lake. Imperforate 
 90 cents slate blue. Imperforate 
 
 The three cents has been seen printed in pink, scarlet and carmine- 
 lake, but it is not probable that it was ever issued in these colors. 
 
 It is probable that most of the stamps of the second types made their 
 appearance early in September, 186 r. The dates given in the following list 
 are those of the earliest cancellations which I have been able to discover. 
 The alterations in the types were accompanied by pronounced changes in the 
 colors of the stamps. 
 
 The paper is still thin but tougher than in the preceding group. The 
 gum is very dark brown as before. 
 
 Second Types. 
 Thin White Wove Paper. 
 Perforated 12. 
 I cent deep dull blue 
 3 cents pink, bright rose 
 
 Color varieties. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 June 4th, 1862. 
 Aug. 1 8th, 1861. 
 
ISSUE OF I 86 1. 
 
 89 
 
 Aug. 30th, 1 861. 
 
 Sept. 20th, 1861. 
 
 Oct. 8th, 1 86 1 
 Sept. 1 6th, 1 86 1. 
 
 S cents pale buff, deep buff, brownish yellow, deep brown- 
 ish yellow, mustard, olive-yellow 
 10 cents dark green 
 12 cents full black 
 24 cents slate 
 30 cents pale orange 
 90 cents marine blue 
 
 Variety : 
 
 3 cents bright rose. Imperforate 
 
 In the course of time many other changes in the colors took place, 
 some of them at a comparatively early period. A few dates of early can- 
 cellations are given. The paper varies from thin to quite thick and the gum 
 from brown to yellowish white. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 I cent pale dull blue, dull blue, gray-blue, slate-blue, pale 
 blue, blue, bright blue, Prussian blue, chalky blue, 
 ultramarine, deep ultramarine 
 3 cents pale rose, rose (Feb. 28th, 1862), rose-red, deep 
 rose-red, brownish rose, pale brown-red, brown- 
 red, dull red, carmine-lake, orange-red, scarlet 
 5 cents red-brown (June 23rd, 1862), dark red-brown, 
 brick red, orange-brown, yellow brown, brown 
 (April 10th, 1863), bistre-brown, gray-brown, dark 
 brown, black-brown (July 18th, 1863) 
 
 10 cents pale yellow-green, yellow-green (Sept. 4th, 1863), 
 dark yellow-green, blue-green (Dec. 21st, 1863) 
 
 12 cents gray black, gray 
 
 24 cents violet, black-violet, brown-violet, lilac, gray-lilac 
 (Aug. nth, 1863), gray, red-lilac, deep red-lilac 
 
 30 cents orange, deep orange 
 
 90 cents pale blue, blue, dark blue, bright blue, indigo 
 
 Varieties . 
 
 Imperforate 
 
 Imperforate 
 
 Imperforate 
 
 Impression on the reverse 
 
 Imperforate 
 
 3 cents carmine-lake. 
 3 cents scarlet. 
 3 cents rose. 
 30 cents orange 
 
 The Stamp Collectors Magazine for April, 1867, says the color of the 
 5 cents was changed from yellowish to brown in March, 1862. 
 
 I have seen two copies of the 90 cents in a pale ultramarine shade. I 
 am inclined to think that they are changelings. 
 
 Many philatelists have claimed that the three cents scarlet is only a 
 finished proof. But the fact remains that it was on sale in at least one post 
 
 Color Tarieties. 
 
 >iiiety cents 
 ultramariue. 
 
90 
 
 ISSUE OF I 86 1. — ISSUE OF 1 863. 
 
 office. Mr. J. W. Scott kindly supplies the following information concerning 
 this stamp. The first copy which he saw was on a letter coming from New 
 Three cents scarlet. Orleans. As the shade was unusual he desired some of the stamps for his 
 stock. Finding they were not on sale at the New York Post Office, he sent 
 a dollar to the Postmaster at New Orleans and received its equivalent in 
 stamps of the desired shade. These he sold to his customers at about twenty- 
 five cents each. Subsequently he sent three dollars to New Orleans and 
 received in return an entire sheet of one hundred of the stamps. On sending 
 the third time his order was filled with the three cents rose. This would 
 certainly appear to be conclusive evidence of the issue of this stamp in the 
 regular way. 
 
 Issue of 1863. 
 
 Design. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 The Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1863, abolished carriers' 
 fees and established a prepaid rate of two cents for drop letters. This made 
 necessary the issue of a stamp of corresponding value, which took place on 
 July ist of that year. 
 
 The official description of this stamp is as follows : 
 
 " Two CENTS. A full face of Andrew Jackson fills the entire tablet, 
 which is as wide as the stamp, three-fourths of an inch, and only one-sixteenth 
 less in its long diameter than the stamp, fifteen-sixteenths of an inch, space 
 being left at the top for the words ' u. s. postage ' above the elliptical 
 ground, which is cros-hatched. The word ' two ' and the distorted capital 
 ' u ' in black fill the left lower corner, the word ' cents ' and a distorted 
 capital ' s ' the right. An Arabic ' 2 ' in white is placed in each upper 
 corner, inclined outward towards the left and right, respectively, and resting 
 upon small black disks. Appropriate scroll decorations complete the upper 
 part. The face of Jackson on this stamp is probably after the portrait by 
 Dodge." 
 
 The stamp measures 20^x24j^mm. The paper varies from thin to 
 quite thick and the gum from brownish to almost white. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 July 1st, 1863. 2 cents gray-black, greenish black, full black 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 2 cents gray-black. Imperforate vertically 
 
 2 cents gray-black. Horizontal half, used as one cent 
 
 2 cents gray-black. Diagonal half and another copv, 
 
 used as three cents 
 2 cents gray-black. Vertical half and another copy, used 
 
 as three cents 
 
 Most of the bisected stamps bear the cancellations of small towns in 
 New York and Connecticut with dates from June to October, 1866. I have 
 also heard of a copy cancelled in Butler, Pa., in July, 1864. 
 
ISSUE OF 1863. — ISSUE OF 1866. 
 
 91 
 
 At some date between April, 1862, and August, 1867, several values of 
 the 1861-63 series were issued on thin laid paper, similar to that used for the 
 document revenues. The stamps are found on paper with the vergures close 
 together and wide apart and also placed both vertically and horizontally. 
 
 White Laid Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 stamps on laid 
 paper. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 stamps. 
 
 1 cent deep blue 
 
 2 cents gray-black 
 April 12th, 1862. 3 cents dull rose, rose 
 
 5 cents brown 
 
 The two and three cent stamps of this series are occasionally found on 
 brown paper and are known to collectors as the "Francis patent" stamps. A 
 lengthy account of this patent and the stamps made under it was given in the "Francis patent' 
 Metropolitan Philatelist for December, 1897. The patent was granted to Dr. 
 S. W. Francis, of New York city, and its principal features were soaking the 
 paper in an alkaline fluid, which turned it brown, and cancellation by means 
 of a small sponge, saturated with some acid and attached to the thumb. A 
 touch of this sponge, when handling the letters, would obliterate the stamp. 
 On all cancelled copies which I have seen the color of the paper has been 
 turned to a deep blue. 
 
 By order of the Third Assistant Postmaster General the National Bank 
 Note Co. prepared 10,000 of these stamps. As the Post Office Department 
 wished a report from a postmaster upon the practicability of the invention, 
 some of the stamps were sent to Newport, R. 1., for experiment. Under date 
 of March 30th, 1865, the postmaster at Newport wrote to Dr. Francis : 
 
 " I have this day personally tested your method of cancelling postage stamps. After 
 thorough and systematic experiments, 1 feel it due you to certify hereby to the valuableness 
 of your invention. I shall communicate- with the Hon. Third Assistant Postmaster General 
 of my experiments." 
 
 This letter is not at all conclusive as to the actual sale to the public or 
 the use of the stamps. Yet it would appear that ^a thorough test of the merits 
 of the invention could not otherwise have been attained. A mere demon- 
 stration of the efficacy of the cancellation could have been made by any 
 one and at any time. I am inclined to believe that the stamps were used for 
 a short time and to a limited extent. 
 
 Brown Wove Paper. 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 2 cents deep black 
 
 3 cents dull brown-red 
 
 Issue of 1866. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 The Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1863, also conferred on 
 the Postmaster General the power to fix the registration fee at such rate as 
 he should deem best, provided it did not, in any case, exceed twenty cents. 
 
 Reg:lstration, 
 
92 
 
 ISSUES or 1861-66. 
 
 In 1866 the rate was fixed at fifteen cents, which made necessary the 
 issue of a stamp of like value. It is officially described as follows : 
 
 " Fifteen cents. The portrait of Lincoln appears upon a cross- 
 hatched elliptical ground 9-16 by % of an inch. On each side of this are 
 Design. fasces, and above are the words ' u. s. postage ' in white capitals upon a 
 
 tablet curled at each end, and encircling the number ' 15 '; in Arabic figures, 
 in each upper corner ; the figures lean outward to the right and left and back- 
 ward. At the bottom, the words 'fifteen cents' in similar letters to those 
 above and on a like ground, except that the latter terminates abruptly at the 
 ends when reaching the fasces. The letters 'u. s.' in the lower corners 
 are in bold-faced white capitals, the letters leaning to correspond with the 
 numerals in the upper corners." 
 
 The stamp measures I9^x24^mm. 
 
 The paper is moderately thick and the gum ranges in color from 
 
 brownish to white. 
 Reference liist. White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 April 15th, 1866. 15 cents full black, gray-black 
 
 Plates and 
 imprints. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
 The Stamps of the issues of 1861-66 were engraved and printed by the 
 National Bank Note Co., New York. The plates each contained two hundred 
 stamps, arranged in two panes — ten rows of ten stamps each — placed side by 
 side and usually separated by a vertical line, which served as a guide when 
 the sheets were cut apart. Most of the plates bore the imprint of the engravers 
 at the center of the top, outside edge (before severing) and bottom of each 
 pane. So far as known \ht premieres gravures had the imprint at the bottom 
 only, which was also the case with a few of the later plates. The imprints at 
 the top and sides were "national bank note co., new vork " in small 
 white capitals, on a small colored panel with rounded ends, surrounded by 
 two thin colored lines. The imprint at the bottom was " national bank 
 note company " in very small white capitals, framed in a rectangle of pearls, 
 on a panel of solid color. At the left of the panel were the words "engraved 
 BY THE " and at the right "city of new-york.", all in large colored capitals. 
 
 Below the panel were " No. Plate " in outline letters, with the plate number 
 
 between the words. The number was separately engraved and appears in at 
 least two styles of type. 
 
 The numbers of the plates were as follows : 
 
 Issue of- 1861. — First Types. 
 
 I cent 
 
 No. 
 
 I. 
 
 3 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 2. 
 
 5 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 3- 
 
 10 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 4- 
 
 12 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 S- 
 
 24 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 6. 
 
 30 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 7- 
 
 90 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 8. 
 
ISSUES OF r86i-66. 93 
 
 Issue of 1861. — Second Types. 
 
 1 cent No. 9, 10, 22, 25, 27. 
 
 3 cents No. 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24,32,33, 
 
 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 
 49, 52, 54, 55- 
 5 cents No. 17. 
 
 10 cents No. 15, 26. 
 
 12 cents No. 16. 
 
 24 cents No. 6. 
 
 30 cents No. 7. 
 
 90 cents No. 18. 
 
 Issues of 1863 and 1866. 
 
 2 cents No. 28, 29, 30, 3r, 50, 51, 53. 
 15 cents No. 41. 
 
 The numbers 38, 39 and 40, which are missing from the sequence, are 
 those of the stamps for newspapers and periodicals, issued in 1865. Numbers 
 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60, quoted in previous lists of plate numbers, belong to 
 new plates made for the re-issue of 1875 ^^^ ^^^ to the original series. The 
 three cents pink was printed from plate 12, the three cents scarlet from plate 
 19, the three cents carmine-lake from plate 34, the imperforate stamps of the 
 last shade from plate 52, and the imperforate three cents rose from plate 11. 
 On January 23rd, 1867, one hundred sets of the ten denominations of 
 this issue were surcharged " Specimen " in " Old English " type. On February 
 28th, 1867, the same surcharge was applied to twenty thousand more sets. 
 This was done by order of the Third Assistant Postmaster General. A few 
 copies have been seen with the final letter of the surcharge inverted. 
 
 The records of the Stamp Agent show that the following quantities of 
 stamps were printed and delivered by the contractors. It will be noted that 
 the earliest date is August i6th, 1861, which is later than the accepted date 
 of issue. It is scarcely probable that any such amount of stamps were printed 
 on the date given, but rather that they were the product of several previous 
 days, placed on record on that date : 
 
 186 1 I cent. 2 cents, 3 cents. 5 cents 10 cents. 
 
 Aug. 16 7,623,000 3,281,000 32,600 87,800 
 
 " 17 620,500 1,726,000 18,100. 50,800 
 
 " 20 368,000 945,000 16,400 50,200 
 
 " 22 14,000 81,000 1,500 12,800 
 
 " 24 572,000 1,451,500 18,540 339,600 
 
 " 28 705,003 1,430,000 6,900 39,900 
 
 " 29 497,000 928,000 28,100 26,200 
 
 " 31 320,400 540,000 4,8co 15,500 
 
 Sept. I to Nov. 29- 12,577,900 40,752,500 196,340 1,136,590 
 
 Nov. 29 to Dec. 31 3,838,500 12,596,000 92,500 24r,ioo 
 
 1862 47,548,800 182,559,8201,858,220 4,347,040 
 
 1863 36,930,400 28,15 r, 500 243,977,700 992,400 3,226,250 
 
 1864 1,453,570 50.5 '4,900 314,942,400 963,840 3,672,500 
 
 " Specimen " 
 stamps. 
 
 Statistics of 
 manufacture. 
 
g. ISSUES OF 1861-66. 
 
 I cent. 2 cents. 3 cents. 5 cents. 10 cents. 
 
 1865 4,5'!S,700 50,098,500 304,914,550 1,204,820 4,025,200 
 
 1866 7,843,800 51,146,500 288,912,0001134,260 4,135,660 
 
 1867 10,330,000 58,046,700 294,818,700 949,760 4,478,890 
 Jan. to Mch. 1868 3,774,400 18,607,900 78,802,700 262,300 r, 573,810 
 
 Apl. tojune " 222,920 
 
 July to Sept. " 168,820 
 
 Total, 133,542,970 256,566,000 1,772,658,870 8,173,120 27,459,840 
 
 jgg[ 12 cents. 15 cents. 24 cents. 30 cents. 90 cents 
 
 Aug. 16 39,750 28,250 18,260 3,500 
 
 " 17 25,200 17,100 10,950 550 
 
 20 
 
 32,700 12,550 8,700 
 
 " 22 1,300 1,200 500 
 
 " 24 51,700 65,500 5,430 50 
 
 " 28 12,400 .... ... 81,000 35,000 100 
 
 " 29 900 12,050 '5,050 
 
 " 3 1 8,900 9,6'oo 4,600 700 
 
 Sept. I to Nov. 29 295,525 219,925 7 ',240 4, '40 
 
 Nov. 29 to Dec. 31 57,300 74,050 31,280 5S,6oo 
 
 1862 773,800 817,250 338,950 14,830 
 
 1863 723,570 1,090,925 320,800 29,970 
 
 1864 1,094,325 1,706,825 513,360 41,840 
 
 1865 960,27s 1,843,340 522,830 64,860 
 
 1866 938,850 578,460 1,969,875 579,580 69,320 
 
 1867 1,193,775 1,256,900 1,898,850 534,460 72,670 
 Jan. to Mch. 1868 955,800 303,94° 110,425 73,620 8,280 
 
 Apl. tojune " 43,425 83,910 7,630 
 
 July to Sept. " 54,850 55,890 10,880 
 
 Total, 7,166,070 2,139,300 10,056,990 3,224,410 384,920 
 
 Beyond doubt a part of the stamps printed in the year 1867 were 
 embossed with grills, since stamps so treated were issued in August of that 
 year. The records for the two succeeding years carefully specify the respec- 
 tive quantities of stamps of each value which were and were not embossed. 
 But the records for 1867 are silent on this subject. The statistics just quoted 
 are, therefore, misleading, inasmuch as they would lead us to infer that all 
 stamps printed in 1867 were without embossing, while we have knowledge to 
 the contrary. 
 
 The annual reports of the Postmaster General give the following 
 quantities of stamps as having been issued to deputy postmasters from July 
 ist, 1861, to June 30th, 1867. It must be remembered that a few stamps of 
 the 1857 series may have been issued in July and the early part of August, 
 1 86 1, and that stamps without embossing were issued later than June 30th, 
 1867. The figures of these reports are, therefore, only approximate and not 
 exact : 
 
ISSUES OF 1861-66. 95 
 
 Sta 
 
 imps issued d 
 
 uring the nsca 
 
 il year ending 
 
 June 30th, 18 
 
 ;62: 
 
 Deliveries to 
 postmasters. 
 
 
 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1861. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1861. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1862. 
 
 June 30, 1862. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 I cent 
 
 14,092,800 
 
 16,416,400 
 
 15.346,850 
 
 14,165,800 
 
 *6o,02I,250 
 
 
 3 cents 
 
 32,570,400 
 
 51,122,100 
 
 51,203,650 
 
 48,844,100 
 
 183,740,250 
 
 
 S cents 
 
 312,780 
 
 288,840 
 
 242,040 
 
 185,640 
 
 1,029,300 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 1,143,140 
 
 1,477,690 
 
 792,090 
 
 645.530 
 
 4,058,450 
 
 
 12 cents 
 
 374,925 
 
 352.825 
 
 181,875 
 
 137.125 
 
 1,046,750 
 
 
 24 cents 
 
 3 '4,325 
 
 293.97s 
 
 193.250 
 
 182,575 
 
 984,125 
 
 
 30 cents 
 
 >55.'6o 
 
 102,520 
 
 68,100 
 
 70,160 
 
 396,040 
 
 
 90 cents 
 
 13,810 
 
 9.740 
 
 2.370 
 
 5.020 
 
 30,940 
 
 
 Whole number of stamps 251,307,105. Value $7,078,188.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1863 : 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 ( 
 
 5ept. 30, 1862. 
 
 Dec, 31, 1862. 
 
 Mch. 3T, 1863. 
 
 June 30, 1863. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 ■ 9,810,000 
 
 13.563,700 
 
 18,986,300 
 
 16,494,000 
 
 68,854,000 
 
 3 cents 
 
 79,213,100 
 
 54,502,900 
 
 63,910,000 
 
 61,367,400 
 
 258,993,400 
 
 5 cents 
 
 1,255,120 
 
 417,460 
 
 283,860 
 
 262,580 
 
 2,219,020 
 
 10 cents 
 
 2.543.670 
 
 1,157,840 
 
 1,072,600 
 
 932,040 
 
 5.676,150 
 
 12 cents 
 
 436,200 
 
 200,475 
 
 197,050 
 
 160,950 
 
 994,67s 
 
 24 cents 
 
 424,375 
 
 210,300 
 
 242,550 
 
 267,125 
 
 1.144.350 
 
 30 cents 
 
 214,500 
 
 54,290 
 
 75,040 
 
 90,220 
 
 434,050 
 
 90 cents 
 
 6,560 
 
 3.250 
 
 I ',370 
 
 3,560 
 
 24.740 
 
 Whole number of stamps 338, 
 
 ,340,385. Value $9,683,394. 
 
 00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1864 : 
 
 
 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1863. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1863. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1864. 
 
 June 30, 1864. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 959.930 
 
 490.700 
 
 289,100 
 
 356,600 
 
 2,096,300 
 
 2 cents 
 
 16,562,600 
 
 11,588,900 
 
 13,469,700 
 
 12,153,900 
 
 53,775.100 
 
 3 cents 
 
 56,767,600 
 
 62,333,200 
 
 74,481,000 
 
 78,056,100 
 
 271,637,900 
 
 5 cents 
 
 266,660 
 
 179,300 
 
 263,440 
 
 195,600 
 
 905,000 
 
 10 cents 
 
 589,580 
 
 662,030 
 
 897,160 
 
 770,460 
 
 2,9'9.23o 
 
 12 Cents 
 
 170.325 
 
 T95.250 
 
 314,200 
 
 196,750 
 
 876.525 
 
 24 cents 
 
 257,025 
 
 324,225 
 
 413,150 
 
 4'9,S25 
 
 1.413,925 
 
 30 cents 
 
 69,570 
 
 85,970 
 
 133,860 
 
 106,500 
 
 395.900 
 
 90 cents 
 
 6,400 
 
 8,640 
 
 10,800 
 
 8,890 
 
 34,730 
 
 Whole number of stamps 334,054,610. Value $10,177,327.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1865 : 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 Sept. 30, 1864. Dec. 31, 1864. Mch. 31, 1865. June 30, 1865. Total. 
 
 1 cent 345,300 462,700 175,200 ,,137,600 2,120,800 
 
 2 cents 11,930,500 12,960,300 14,477,250 12,381,200 *49,749,25o 
 
 3 cents 83,151,200 79,388,600 85,933,850 78,039,300 326,512,950 
 S cents 303,120 247,180 275,340 381,440 *i, 207,180 
 
^6 ISSUES OF T 861-66. 
 
 Sept. 30, 1864. Dec. 31, 1864. Mch. 31, 1865. June 30, 1865. Total. 
 
 10 cents 1,049,040 955,34° 1,100,640 1,061,440 4,166,460 
 
 12 cents 307,425 275,450 32',9°o 3 '0,85° 1,216,625 
 
 24 cents 454,575 4i9,o7S 480,300 454,4oo 1,808,350 
 
 30 cents 140,540 131,960 14', 650 156,940 571,090 
 
 90 cents 22,800 9,570 19,490 14,890' 66,750 
 Whole number of stamps 387,419,455. Value $12,099,787.50. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1866: 
 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1865. 
 
 Dec 
 
 .31, 1865. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1866. 
 
 June 30, 1866. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 1,944,000 
 
 1 
 
 ,268,900 
 
 2,264,300 
 
 1,973,4°° 
 
 7,450,600 
 
 2 cents 
 
 11,648,600 
 
 11 
 
 ,291,000 
 
 13,831,600 
 
 10,783,400 
 
 47,554,600 
 
 3 cents 
 
 69,479,90° 
 
 71 
 
 ,461,300 
 
 73,911,100 
 
 68,910,000 
 
 283,762,300 
 
 5 cents 
 
 263,600 
 
 
 284,440 
 
 400,240 
 
 256,200 
 
 1,204,480 
 
 10 cents 
 
 902,000 
 
 
 962,120 
 
 1,280,750 
 
 911,070 
 
 4,055,940 
 
 12 cents 
 
 '96,525 
 
 
 230,000 
 
 365,000 
 
 202,47s 
 
 994,000 
 
 15 cents 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 66,000 
 
 166,000 
 
 24 cents 
 
 442,575 
 
 
 466,17s 
 
 490,800 
 
 5'2,275 
 
 1,911,825 
 
 30 cents 
 
 103,720 
 
 
 120,520 
 
 167,990 
 
 123,090 
 
 5'S,32o 
 
 90 cents 
 
 15,880 
 
 
 14,460 
 
 15,210 
 
 8,290 
 
 53,840 
 
 Whole number of stamps 347,668,905. Value $10,810,355.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1867 : 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 Sept. 30, 1866. Dec. 31, 1866. Mch. 31, 1867. June 30, 1867. Total. 
 
 1 cent 1,792,600 1,813,500 2,919,300 2,445,100 8,970,500 
 
 2 cents 13,101,500 13,430,000 15,807,800 >S, 333,100 57,672,400 
 
 3 cents 72,915,600 73,375,3°° 74,°88,20o 74,642,800 295,021,900 
 5 cents 240,620 237,200 288,940 198,360 965,120 
 
 10 cents 950,610 993,240 1,202,670 986,560 4,133,080 
 
 12 cents 197,125 '75,*5o 302,700 273,125 948,200 
 
 15 cents 213,240 199,220 318,380 318,260 1,049,100 
 
 24 cents 540,3°° 426,500 550,250 505,675 2,022,725 
 
 30 cents 152,51° 135,990 161,120 135.450 585,070 
 
 90 cents 26,210 19,610 26,270 14,420 86,510 
 Whole number of stamps 371,454,605. Value $11,565,357.00. 
 
 At the places marked * there are evidently accountant's or typo- 
 graphical errors in the amounts given for some of the quarters, since, in each 
 case, the sum of the several quarters does not agree with the total given in 
 the report, yet the latter is apparently correct, as it is essential to the grand 
 total and value of the stamps issued, as stated in the report. 
 
Issue of 1867, 
 
 the cleaning of 
 stamps. 
 
 A matter of anxiety to every government is the possible counterfeiting 
 or misuse of its securities. In the case of postage stamps there does not seem 
 to be so much fear of counterfeiting as that cancellations may be removed Precautious agaiust 
 and the stamps used again. For many years after stamps came into use in 
 this country it was customary, in many of the smaller offices, to cancel them 
 with pen and ink. It is said that, by aid of chemicals, cancellations of this 
 sort are not difficult to remove and it is possible that this was occasionally 
 done, though it is to be doubted that it was practiced to any extent. Yet 
 much study appears to have been devoted to preventatives of such a possi- 
 bility. Collectors of proofs and essays know how numerous were the efforts 
 in this direction. In the American Journal of Philately for 1889 (pages 239 
 and 485) is given a list of thirty-three patents, designed to prevent the clean- 
 ing and re-use of stamps. With one or two exceptions, these patents do not 
 appear to have been considered of sufficient merit or practicability to be 
 brought into use. Strange to say, the only one which received an extended 
 trial, the grill, is omitted from the list. 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General, dated November 26, 1867, says : 
 
 " Experiments are in progress with a postage stamp printed on embossed paper, wtiich 
 seems to afford good security against fraud. The fibres of the paper being broken, cancelling 
 mari<s almost necessarily penetrate, so that they cannot easily be removed without destroying 
 the stamp. ' The adhesive properties are also promoted and other advantages secured which 
 commend the invention to favorable notice." 
 
 This device is covered by patent No. 70,147, granted to Charles F. 
 Steel, Brooklyn, N. Y., October 22nd, 1867. 
 
 The recorded description is as follows : 
 
 Patent Postage Stamp. 
 No. 70,147. 
 
 Charles F. Steel, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 October 22d, 1867. 
 
 The paper is gummed, embossed so as to impair its texture in parts, smoothed, and 
 printed on portions of its face. In cancelling, the paper in its broken portions absorbs the 
 ink, rendering the latter irremovable and preventing the fraudulent second use of the stamp. 
 
 Claim — First, A postage stamp having the paper partly broken, opened, and weakened, 
 the use and for the purposes herein set forth. 
 
 Second, In the above, applying the gum or equivalent adhesive material before such 
 treatment of the paper, as and for the purposes herein specified. 
 
 Third, In combination with above steps, the flattening of the whole or a portion of 
 the surface of the paper prior to the printing operation, as and for the purposes herein 
 explained. 
 
 Fourth, Leaving a space which is embossed and partially broken, as indicated, and not 
 flattened, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified. 
 
 Patent for 
 grilliug stamps. 
 
98 
 
 ISSUE OF 18G7. 
 
 From thf language of the patent we may infer that at the time the 
 application was filed it was intended that the embossing should precede the 
 printing of the stamps. It is evident that experience soon showed this order 
 of manufacture to be impracticable and the following routine was adopted. 
 The sheets were printed, gummed, pressed, embossed, perforated and lastly 
 pressed under hydraulic pressure of about five hundred tons. This pressure 
 was so great as to reduce the embossed portion nearly to the level of the rest 
 of the stamp but the important part, the breaks in the paper, remained. 
 
 In this connection the following letter is of some interest : 
 
 New York, Aug. 11, 1868. 
 Sir : — 
 Transfer of At the instance of the National Bank Note Co. of this city, I beg to advise you that I 
 
 patentee's rights, have granted to that company the sole and exclusive right to manafacture embossed postage 
 stamps under my patent for embossed stamps. 
 
 I have the honor to be 
 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 Hon. Alex. W. Randall, Chas. F. Steel. 
 
 Postmaster General, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 The fact that the Government required its postage stamps to be em- 
 bossed and that the National Bank Note Co. held the exclusive rights to the 
 patent covering this process, had much to do in securing for that company 
 the contract of October 3rd, t868, for the manufacture of postage stamps for 
 the four succeeding years. 
 
 The grill is produced by a roller and not, as is generally supposed, by 
 a plate. To make this roller, a cylinder of soft steel is placed in a turning 
 lathe and a knurl pressed firmly against it. A knurl, it may be explained, is 
 a small steel wheel which is fitted in a clamp and has its rim covered with 
 small pyramidal bosses. As the cylinder slowly revolves in the lathe the 
 bosses of the knurl are forced into it and produce on its surface similar 
 protruberences and depressions. When finished the entire surface of the 
 roller is covered with tiny pyramids which form a continuous spiral around it. 
 If, while in this shape, it is applied to stamps the variety known as " grilled 
 all over " will result. If, however, it is desired to produce the small rectan- 
 gular grills it is only necessary to plane off a sufficient number of rows of 
 points, in vertical and horizontal bands. 
 
 When in use, the roller rests above a bed of sheet lead into which its 
 points press corresponding depressions. When a sheet of stamps is laid upon 
 this bed and passed beneath the roller the paper is forced into the depressions 
 and embossing is produced. 
 
 The intention of the grill was to break the fibre of the paper, so that 
 the cancelling ink would penetrate it instead of merely spreading over the 
 Effect of the grill, surface. This result was accomplished in the stamps with grill covering the 
 entire surface and those with the large grills, 18x15 ^"^ 13x16mm. But the 
 later and smaller forms seem to have been less effective. They rarely pro- 
 duced more than a roughening of the surface and, the paper not being 
 sufficiently broken, the cancelling ink failed to penetrate it. 
 
 In its first form the grill covered the entire stamp. This process so 
 weakened the perforated sheets that they were diflficult to handle and when 
 the stamps were torn apart their margins were ragged and unsightly. To 
 
 Process of making 
 the grill roller. 
 
 Maniior of use. 
 
 Sixes of grills. 
 
ISSUE OF 1867. 
 
 99 
 
 remedy this the embossing was reduced to rectangles which covered only a 
 part of the surface of each stamp. The size of these rectangles was gradually 
 reduced and the impressions, which were at first clear, sharp and deep, became 
 fainter and less distinct. The same gradual deterioration is to be noticed in 
 the grills of the i86g issue. In the 1870 issue the number of grills which are 
 clear and strong is comparatively small. The majority are faint, uncertain 
 in outline, and often show only a single row or a few points. These defects 
 are not to be attributed so much to wear of the roller as to insufficient support 
 by the leaden bed, to the harder paper used for this series and, possibly, to 
 excessive pressure in the hydraulic press. 
 
 The grills were embossed with the points both up and down, as viewed 
 from the face of the stamps. The normal position is points up, for the grill 
 which covers the entire stamp and for those grills which range from 18x15mm. 
 to I2xi4j^mm. These grills are frequently found reversed. The smaller 
 sizes (usually grouped as 11x13mm.' and 9x13mm.) have the grill with joints 
 down. These smaller grills are occasionally found with the points up. They 
 do not appear to have attracted much attention from philatelists and the only 
 one of which I have a memorandum is a three cents with grill 9x13mm. 
 
 There are numerous oddities in the shape of divided, double and 
 triple grills. These are liable to occur on any value and with any size of grill. 
 They do not seem to be of sufficient interest to warrant an attempt to list 
 them. 
 
 It sometimes happened that a part of a stamp was folded over at the 
 time it was being embossed. The result of such an accident is a stamp which 
 appears to have parts of two grills, one with points up and the other with 
 points down. I have in my collection a three cent stamp which has been so 
 folded that it appears to have parts of five or six grills. 
 
 There is also known an oddity in the stamps embossed all over This 
 is a strip of stamps from the top row of a sheet of the three cents, which ap- 
 pears to have the embossing, on the upper half of the stamps and on the mar- 
 gin with the points down while on the remainder of the stamps the points are 
 up. Examination with a strong magnifying glass shows that the embossing 
 with points up was first applied but failed to cover the upper half of the 
 stamps of this row. To remedy this the embossing process was repeated. 
 But in the second operation the sheet was reversed, bringing the points of the 
 grill down. Thus a part of each stamp is really embossed with points both 
 ways but, to the unaided eye, the effect is as at first stated. To a similar ac- 
 cident we owe a horizontal pair of three cent stamps on which the grill covers 
 the whole of one stamp but only half of the other. 
 
 There is one variety of grill which has attracted much attention. This 
 variety shows a strip of embossing extending from top to bottom of the stamp 
 and varying in width. This is an impression from a continuous band of 
 bosses which encircled the grill roller at each end. Probably these bands 
 were intended to maintain a firm hold on the sheet of stamps and prevent it 
 from slipping. It was only when a sheet was incorrectly placed, while being 
 embossed, that this variety occurred. So far, it has only been found on the 
 stamps of the 1870 issue, but impressions on the margins of sheets of the 
 
 PointH up and 
 points donn. 
 
 Oddities of 
 grilling. 
 
 Marginal grills. 
 
100 
 
 ISSUE OF 1867. 
 
 Date of issue. 
 
 FiTe and thirty 
 
 cents grilled 
 
 all OTer. 
 
 One cent grilled 
 all OTer. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 1867 and 1869 issues show it to have existed on the rollers in use at those 
 dates and its existence on the stamps is, therefore, a possibility. 
 
 The date at which the grilled stamps came into use is unsettled. The 
 American Journal of Philately for June, 1871 (page 67) gives the date as 
 August 8th, 1 867. Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the United States 
 says "adopted May 8th, 1867." The date of the patent is Oct. 22nd, 1867, 
 but that is presumably the date on which it was granted and the process may. 
 have been put into use earlier. The first mention of the grilled stamps in a 
 philatelic magazine is in the Stamp Mercury for Nov. 25th, 1867, which says : 
 " The three cent stamps, and we suppose the others also, are now embossed 
 in little squares over the face." It is scarcely probable that so important a 
 change could have been effected without attracting prompt attention and it 
 is possible that the date of issue is very near to that of the above notice. On 
 the other hand, if at first issued in small quantities and as an experiment 
 (sucl^a claim is made and has the support of some slight evidence) some time 
 may have elapsed before the stamps met the attention of philatelists, though 
 scarcely so long as from May to November. There is in the collection of Mr. 
 H. E. Deats a pair of the three cents grilled all over, on the original cover and 
 cancelled "Savannah, Ga. Aug. 23, 1867." All things considered, August 
 8th, 1867, seems a very probable date. 
 
 In April, 1868, the Stamp Mercury chronicled the two, three and 
 twelve cents with the grill. The American Journal of Philately for May, 
 I 868 (page 23), says : " All the values under twelve cents are now submitted 
 to this process as also will the higher denominations be when the present 
 stock on hand is consumed." The same journal, in December of that year 
 (page 82), says : "The 24 and 30 cents of the present issue have at length 
 been issued with the rectangular embossment on the backs and we learn from 
 official quarters that the 90 cents will be subjected to the same treatment this 
 month." But it was not until February, 1869 (page 23), that the editor was 
 able to report the appearance of the latter value. 
 
 In the Philatelic Journal of America for May, 1889, we find the 
 announcement of the discovery of a copy of the thirty cents with grill cover- 
 ing the entire stamp. The five cents with that variety of grill was first 
 chronicled in the American Journal of Philately for July, 1891. Several 
 copies of each of these stamps have since been found. 
 
 The one cent also exists with the grill covering the entire stamp. I 
 have seen an unused block of four in this condition. I have no doubt as to 
 the genuineness of the grill but I am not certain that the stamp was ever 
 issued for use. 
 
 The paper varies from moderately thick to very thin. Beginning with 
 the former quality, for the stamps embossed with large grills, it gradually 
 decreases in thickness as the grills are reduced in size, until those of the 
 smaller dimensions are, many of them, on an extremely thin and brittle paper. 
 The paper at first in use was slightly soft but it became harder as it lost in 
 thickness and the quality last in use was very hard and crisp. 
 
 The gum is white, yellowish and occasionally almost brown. 
 
 I have carefully examined and measured all the stamps of the following 
 
ISSUE OF 1867. 
 
 list. The list has been elaborated from one compiled by Mr. J. B. Leavy 
 and published in the American Journal of Philately for April, 1896, some 
 new discoveries and a number of varieties in my own collection being added. 
 
 Grill with Points Up. 
 Grill covering the entire stamp. 
 
 I cent blue 
 
 
 
 
 i2i^xi2 points 1 
 
 to the lomm. 
 
 3 cents rose, rose- 
 
 ■red 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 it It 
 
 5 cents dark brown 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 ii 
 
 It It 
 
 ;o cents orange 
 
 
 Variety 
 
 
 It 
 
 
 ii .. 
 
 
 
 3 cents rose-red. 
 
 Imperforate 
 
 
 
 
 
 Rectangular 
 
 Grill. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Rows of Points 
 
 . Size in mm. 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 
 
 
 
 22x18 
 
 18x15 
 
 3 cents rose-red 
 
 
 
 
 
 17x20 
 
 13x16 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 
 
 
 
 17x19 
 
 13x15^4 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 
 
 
 
 17x18 
 
 13x14^4 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 6X2 1 
 
 I2>^Xl6j^ 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 
 
 
 
 16x20 
 
 11^x16 
 
 3 cents rose, rose 
 
 -red 
 
 
 
 
 16x19 
 
 I2>^X15J^ 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 
 
 
 
 16x18 
 
 I2>^XI4^ 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 
 
 
 
 15x18 
 
 I2XI4>^ 
 
 16x19 t2}4'x-i5/4 
 
 Variety : 
 3 cents rose-red. Imperforate. 
 
 Grill with PBints Down. 
 Grill covering the entire stamp. 
 
 i2j^xi2 points to the 10 mm. 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 5 cents dark brown 
 
 Rectangular Grill. 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 2 cents black 
 
 3 cents rose 
 3 cents rose 
 2- cents black 
 3 cents rose 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 1 cent bright blue 
 
 2 cents gray-black 
 
 3 cents rose-red, lake 
 1 2 cents black 
 
 I cent light blue, dark blue 
 
 2 cents gray-black 
 3 cents rose, rose-red, brown-rose, lake 
 
 17x19 
 
 I3X1SJ4 
 
 15x19 
 
 12x15 
 
 ti 
 
 tt 
 
 15x18 
 
 12X14}4 
 
 11 
 
 I4j^xi4 
 
 (C 
 
 t( 
 
 15x17 
 
 ii}4xi3>^ 
 
 14x18 
 
 11x14 
 
 14x17 
 
 IIXI'?}^ 
 
 Beference List. 
 
ISSUE OF 1867. 
 
 14x16 
 
 14x15 
 
 13x17 
 tt 
 
 13x16 
 
 12x18 
 
 Rows of points. 
 5 cents brown 14x17 
 
 10 cents dark green, blue-green " 
 
 12 cents black, gray-black " 
 
 15 cents black " 
 
 1 cent pale blue 
 
 2 cents black 
 
 3 cents pale rose, rose, rose-red, lake 
 lo cents dark green 
 12 cents black 
 15 cents gray-black 
 
 I cent deep blue 
 3 cents rose 
 10 cents blue-green 
 
 1 cent dull blue 
 3 cents rose-red 
 3 cents rose 
 
 2 cents black 
 
 3 cents rose " 
 12 cents gray-black " 
 15 cents gray-black " 
 
 1 cent pale blue, deep blue, dark blue, pale ultramarine 12x17 
 
 2 cents greenish black, gray-black " 
 
 3 cents rose, rose-red, brown-red, lake " 
 5 cents yellow-brown, red-brown, brown, dark brown, 
 
 black-brown " 
 
 10 cents blue-green, yellow-green " 
 
 12 cents black, gray-black . ' 
 
 15 cents black, gray-black, greenish black " 
 
 24 cents gray-lilac " 
 
 30 cents pale orange, deep orange " 
 
 90 cents deep blue " 
 
 1 cent bright blue, pale blue, dark blue 
 
 2 cents gray-black 
 
 3 cents rose, rose-red, brown-red 
 5 cents yellow-brown, dark brown 
 
 10 cents blue-green 
 
 12 cents black 
 
 15 cents gray-black 
 
 24 cents gray-lilac, gray 
 
 30 cents orange 
 
 3 cents rose-red 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 2 cents gray-black 
 
 3 cents rose-red " " 
 
 Varieties : 
 3 cents rose-red. Imperforate 12x17 
 
 12x16 
 
 12x15 
 11x17 
 11x16 
 
 Size in mm. 
 iixi3>^ 
 
 11x13 
 
 10x13^ 
 
 10x13 
 9x14 
 
 9xi3>^ 
 
 9x13 
 
 9x12 
 8j2Xi3>^ 
 8>^xi3 
 
 9xi3>^ 
 
ISSUE OF 1867. 
 
 103 
 
 Rows of points. Size in mm. 
 
 3 cents rose-red. Imperforate horizontally 12x17 9'^i3/^ 
 
 2 cents black. Vertical half and another copy, used 
 
 as three cents 14x17 iixi3JS4 
 
 I have in my collection an interesting oddity in the shape of a fifteen 
 cents (with grill 12x17 rows of points, measuring 9x13^^ mm.) printed in 
 blackish purple. This can scarcely be called an error of color, as no value Fifteen cents 
 of the series was printed in that color. It was probably caused by the plate blackish purple, 
 being wiped with a cloth that had been used for the same purpose on a plate 
 inked with purple. 
 
 The records show the following quantities of stamps to have been 
 printed and delivered to the Stamp Agent : 
 
 statistics of 
 manufacture. 
 
 1868 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents 
 
 5 cents 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 Jan. to Mch. 
 
 1,489,800 
 
 14,400,200 
 
 42,864,700 
 
 
 671,770 
 
 Apl. to June 
 
 3,219,800 
 
 15,475,900 
 
 47,43',40o 
 
 
 1,281,720 
 
 July to Sept. 
 
 2,814,600 
 
 14,558,400 
 
 76,486,200 
 
 
 854,-50 
 
 Oct. to Dec. 
 
 3,004,200 
 
 16,405,700 
 
 80,855,700 
 
 174,960 
 
 940,200 
 
 1869 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jan. to Mch. 
 
 3,351,200 
 
 15,718,900 
 
 74,266,200 
 
 290,520 
 
 902,130 
 
 Apl. to June 
 July to Sept. 
 
 475-300 
 14,354,900 
 
 
 
 149,180 
 67,520 
 
 682,180 
 
 639,410 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 76,559,100 
 
 321,904,200 
 
 5,289,380 
 
 1868 
 
 • 12 cents 
 
 15 cents 
 
 24 cents 
 
 30 cents 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 Jan. to Mch. 
 
 639,100 
 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 Apl. to June 
 
 759,175 
 
 206,420 
 
 
 
 
 July to Sept. 
 
 624,800 
 
 333,340 
 
 
 
 
 Oct. to Dec. 
 
 703,600 
 
 428,420 
 
 68,775 
 
 74,210 
 
 8,360 
 
 1869 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jan. to Mch. 
 
 810,925 
 
 706,420 
 
 62,27s 
 
 69,940 
 
 11,310 
 
 Apl. to June 
 
 48,000 
 
 489,580 
 
 46,050 
 
 53,730 
 
 4,400 
 
 July to Sept. 
 
 
 372,180 
 
 S7,o7S 
 
 84,860 
 
 6,750 
 
 Total 3,585,600 2,536,360 234,175 282,740 
 
 30,820 
 
 At the foot of this record is a memorandum of the following quantities stamps destroyed, 
 of stamps "burned by Stamp Agent :" 
 
 3 cents, 400,000; 5 cents, 424,100; 15 cents, 3,040; 24 cents, 268,450; 
 30 cents, 73,100; 90 cents, 123,930. 
 
 No date is given for this destruction nor any information as to the 
 proportionate quantities of the stamps with and without embossing. 
 
 It will be observed that stamps of the 1867 series continued to be 
 printed long after the 1869 issue was in use. 
 
 The annual reports of the Postmaster General supply the following 
 statistics of stamps distributed to deputy postmasters: 
 
104 
 
 ISSUE OF 1867. 
 
 Dellreries to 
 
 
 St; 
 
 imps issued d 
 
 uring the fisci 
 
 il year ending 
 
 June 30th, It 
 
 168: 
 
 postmasters. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sept, 30, 1867. 
 
 Dec. 3', 1867. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1868. 
 
 June 30, 1868. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 I 
 
 cent 
 
 2,163,300 
 
 2,805,300 
 
 3,774,400 
 
 3,219,800 
 
 11,962,800 
 
 
 2 
 
 cents 
 
 12,594,000 
 
 '4,356,800 
 
 18,607,900 
 
 15,475,900 
 
 60,989,600 
 
 
 3 
 
 cents 
 
 71,696,900 
 
 74,390,800 
 
 78,802,700 
 
 74,431,400 
 
 299,321,800 
 
 
 5 
 
 cents 
 
 192,860 
 
 269,400 
 
 262,300 
 
 222,920 
 
 947,480 
 
 
 10 
 
 cents 
 
 ',093.730 
 
 ','95,93° 
 
 i.573,8'o 
 
 1,281,720 
 
 5, '45. '9° 
 
 
 12 
 
 cents 
 
 201,075 
 
 416,875 
 
 995,800 
 
 759.17s 
 
 2,372,925 
 
 
 IS 
 
 cents 
 
 295,900 
 
 324.360 
 
 303,940 
 
 206,420 
 
 1,130,620 
 
 
 24 
 
 cents 
 
 476,225 
 
 366,700 
 
 110,425 
 
 43,425 
 
 996,775 
 
 
 3° 
 
 cents 
 
 107,520 
 
 130,370 
 
 73,620 
 
 83,910 
 
 395,420 
 
 
 90 
 
 cents 
 
 18,430 
 
 13,550 
 
 8,280 
 
 7,630 
 
 47,890 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
 Whole number of stamps 383,310,500. Value $11,736,264.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1869: 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1868. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1868. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1869. 
 
 June 30, 1869. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 2,814,600 
 
 3,co4,20o 
 
 3,736,600 
 
 4.043.400 
 
 13,598,800 
 
 2 cents 
 
 14,558,400 
 
 16,405,700 
 
 18,1x1,900 
 
 18,115,450 
 
 67.' 91,450 
 
 3 cents 
 
 76,486,200 
 
 80,855,700 
 
 84.327.500 
 
 87,008,000 
 
 328,677,400 
 
 5 cents 
 
 168,820 
 
 174,960 
 
 290,520 
 
 149,180 
 
 783,480 
 
 6 cents 
 
 
 
 60,200 
 
 1,085,750 
 928,270 
 
 1,145.950 
 3.730.180 
 
 10 cents 
 
 854.150 
 
 940,200 
 
 1,007,560 
 
 12 cents 
 
 624,800 
 
 703,600 
 
 917.050 
 
 817,900 
 
 3.063,350 
 
 15 cents 
 
 233.340 
 
 428,420 
 
 784,160 
 
 606,700 
 
 2,052,620 
 
 24 cents 
 
 54.850 
 
 68,67s 
 
 93.225 
 
 77.650 
 
 294.400 
 
 30 cents 
 
 55,890 
 
 74,210 
 
 86,650 
 
 89,980 
 
 306,730 
 
 90 cents 
 
 10,880 
 
 8,360 
 
 16,330 
 
 16,610 
 
 52,180 
 
 Whole number of stamps 420,896,540. Value $12,706,220.00. 
 
 When we remember that there were no six cent stamps in the issue of 
 1867 nor five cent stamps in that of 1869, we at once perceive that the two 
 issues are hopelessly mixed in the foregoing table and that it is of little value 
 to philatelists. 
 
 The plates of the 1861-66 issues were used for the stamps of the 1867 
 issue. The following list is probably incomplete but it contains all the num- 
 bers that I have seen or that have been chronicled. It has not been found 
 possible to secure minute measurements of the grills on many of the stamps and 
 we will, therefore, have to be content with the grouping of sizes adopted in 
 the priced catalogues. 
 
 Grill covering the entire stamp. 
 
 1 cent blue No. 
 
 3 cents rose No. 11, 52 
 
 S cents brown No. 17 
 
 30 cents orange No. 7 
 

 ISSUE OF I 
 
 867. 
 
 
 loS 
 
 
 Variety . 
 
 
 
 
 3 cents rose. 
 
 Imperforate 
 Grill 18x15 
 
 mm. 
 
 No. 52 
 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 Grill 13x16 
 
 mm. 
 
 No. 
 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 Variety . 
 
 
 No. 14 
 
 
 3 cents rose. 
 
 Imperforate 
 
 
 No. 14 
 
 
 Grill II 1^X14 
 
 mm. 
 
 
 
 2 cents black 
 
 
 
 No. 
 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 Grill 11x13 
 
 mm. 
 
 No. 
 
 
 I cent blue 
 
 
 
 No. 
 
 
 2 cents black 
 
 
 
 No. 29 
 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 
 
 No. 36 
 
 
 5 cents brown 
 
 
 
 No. 17 
 
 
 lo cents green 
 
 
 
 No. 
 
 
 12 cents black 
 
 
 
 No. 16 
 
 
 15 cents black 
 
 
 
 No. 41 
 
 
 
 Grill 9x13 mm. 
 
 
 
 I cent blue 
 
 
 
 No. 10, 22, 
 
 27 
 
 2 cents black 
 
 
 
 No. 28, 30, 
 
 50.51.53 
 
 3 cents rose 
 
 
 
 No. II, 32, 
 
 34, 55 
 
 5 cents brown 
 
 
 
 No. 17 
 
 
 10 cents green 
 
 
 
 No. 15, 26 
 
 
 12 cents black 
 
 
 
 No. 16 
 
 
 15 cents black 
 
 
 
 No. 41 
 
 
 24 cents lilac 
 
 
 
 No. 6 
 
 
 30 cents orange 
 
 
 
 No. 7 
 
 
 90 cents blue 
 
 Varieties 
 
 
 No. 18 
 
 
 3 cents rose. Imperforate No. 55 
 
 3 cents rose. Imperforate horizontally No. 55 
 
 The fact that many of the grilled stamps are rarer than the same 
 values without the grill has tempted counterfeiters to imitate the embossment. 
 This has been done with more or less success. Except for imitations of the »o„„terfemnc"Tiii8 
 grill covering the entire stamp the 1867 issue has not suffered greatly from 
 the efforts of the counterfeiters. The stamps of the 1869 issue are rarer with- 
 out than with the embossing and, consequently, have been but little tampered 
 with. The 1870 issue has been the chosen field for most of the fraudulent 
 operationSj both because many of the grilled stamps of that issue are rare 
 while those ungrilled are plentiful and because the generally poor embossing 
 of that period renders the detection of the counterfeits very difficult. 
 
io6 
 
 ISSUE OF 1867. 
 
 SJze and pORitio: 
 not B test. 
 
 There is no absolute rule by which the genuine grills may be known 
 from the bad. The best guide is experience, gained by careful study of 
 specimens which are undoubtedly genuine. Size is not a guide, as may be 
 inferred from an examination of the list on a preceding page. Neither is 
 position a test. It has been asserted that genuine grills always have their 
 sides parallel with the sides of the stamps. But this is manifestly incorrect. 
 The sheets of stamps, when laid on the bed of the grill machine, might easily 
 be placed askew, as we know was done in the case of the stamps which show 
 a band of embossing. It may be remarked, en passant, that the lines of grill 
 points in this band are usually somewhat out of the perpendicular. As was 
 noted in describing the grill roller, the rows of points form a spiral around 
 the roller. While this spiral deviates but little from the perpendicular, it 
 still deviates and the claim of absolute perpendicularity for the grill becomes 
 untenable. 
 
 The general characteristics of all grills are the same. The bosses 
 Characteristics of which produced them are pyramidal in shape and their effect is to break tiny 
 Kcnnine grills, crosses (x) in the paper. On a few grills the breaks assume a slightly dif- 
 ferent shape, thus >~< . 
 
 The grills with the points up present, on the face of the stamps, the ap- 
 pearance of a series of small squares, defined by depressed vertical and hori- 
 zontal lines. Within the squares the paper has been pushed up by the bosses 
 and broken. Viewed from the reverse the appearance is the exact opposite, 
 the lines of the squares being raised and those within them depressed. On 
 the reverse also, the breaks produced by the bosses show more distinctly the 
 shape of crosses, which shape becomes more pronounced with the introduc- 
 tion of harder paper and smaller grills. The grills with points down have the 
 same general appearance but, of course, reversed. 
 
 The grills of the 1869 and 1870 issues were made by the same process 
 as those of the 1861 issue, but from differences in the paper, wearing of the 
 machinery, and ever lessening care in manufacture, the characteristic marks 
 are much less distinct and often quite invisible. Many of the grills on the 
 1870 issue are little more than pin pricks. 
 
 The counterfeit grills, as a rule, fail to reproduce the markings of the 
 originals, especially the crosses in the squares. Many of them are simply a 
 series of small square depressions in the paper, having the intervening spaces 
 quite out of proportion, as compared with originals. There is, however, 
 a genuine type of the grill coAering the entire stamp which presents the ap- 
 pearance of small squares with still smaller depressed squares in their centres, 
 but having otherwise the ordinary characteristics of the grills. This variety 
 is found only on the three cent stamp and is due to a few of the earliest 
 impressions having been made against a backing of cardboard. This was too 
 hard and did not permit the bosses to penetrate the paper. So a backing of 
 lead was adopted and the grills with cross-shaped breaks were obtained. 
 Except in this instance, a square grill, instead of a cross, may without hesita- 
 tion be pronounced a counterfeit. 
 
 Grills too strongly embossed should be regarded with suspicion. The 
 flattening effect of the hydraulic press must not be overlooked. 
 
 Grills which lack 
 tlie X breaks. 
 
ISSUE OF 1867. 
 
 107 
 
 Cancellations are also a test in many cases. When the ink was thin 
 it usually penetrated the breaks in the paper and may be distinctly seen on 
 the reverse of the stamp. When, on the contrary, it was thick it covered 
 only the raised parts of the grill and the depressed places were left untouched. 
 In this connection maybe mentioned a clever counterfeit, made from a three 
 cent stamp with a genuine grill measuring v^is mm., to which has been added 
 a fraudulent embossing covering the entire stamp. Because a portion of the 
 grill shows the genuine markings and the cancellation covering the raised 
 parts the balance is apt to be accepted as genuine. Examination shows the 
 grill in different parts of the stamp to be quite dissimilar in character. When 
 the stamp is viewed in a certain light the rectangle of genuine grilling stands 
 out distinctly from the fraudulent part. 
 
 In the case of uncancelled stamps the character of the grill, the gum, 
 and the shades of the printing ink must supply the tests. 
 
 The grills of the 1867 issue all measure i2j^xi2 rows of points to the 
 10 mm. 
 
 Cancellations 
 a test. 
 
 Orill fraud Dlentlf 
 enlarged. 
 
Issue of 1869, 
 
 Historical. 
 
 Date of issue. 
 
 The issue of 1869 was preceded by a contest, both in and out of Con- 
 gress, many details of which may be found in a file of the Congressional Globe- 
 Messrs. Butler & Carpenter, of Philadelphia, protested against the awarding 
 of the contract to th/5 National Bank Note Co., of New York, on the ground 
 that their firm had made the lowest bid. A commission was appointed to 
 investigate the claim and the relative merits of the bids of the two companies. 
 The commisssion reported in favor of the National Bank Note Co. and, on 
 October 3d, 1868, the contract was awarded in accordance with this finding. 
 As was mentioned on page 98, the control of the embossing patent had much 
 to do with securing this award. 
 
 By the terms of the contract the stamps were to be ready February ist,' 
 1869. They were not ready, however, until March of that year, and then 
 were only issued to postmasters as the stock of stamps of the 1861-66 types 
 was exhausted. They made their appearance in the latter part of April. 
 Mr. Tiffany gives the date of the issue as March 19th, 1869, but elsewhere 
 says : " About the end of April they began to appear." Possibly some were 
 issued to postmasters on March 19th, but with restrictions as to their use, as 
 set forth in the following circular : 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 Sir : 
 
 Finance Office, March ist, 1869. 
 
 Circular auuounc- 
 ing the Issue. 
 
 At an early day, in the regular course of business, tlie Department will issue to Post- 
 masters stamps of new designs. (See description annexed). In the proposed issue the six 
 cent stamp is substituted for the five cents. You are required to exhaust all of the present 
 style on hand, before supplying the public with the new ; and in no case will you be allowed 
 to make exchanges for individuals, or to return stamps to the Department to be exchanged. 
 The stamps now in use are not to be disregarded, but must be recognized in all cases equally 
 with the new ones. 
 
 Special attention is called to the fact that sheets of all denominations below 15 cents 
 contain iso stamps. The 15 cents and all higher denominations contain 100 stamps on each 
 sheet. This must be borne in mind to prevent mistakes in counting, as in the present issue 
 each denomination has but 100 stamps to the sheet. Special requests for the new style of 
 stamps will be disregarded until the stock of the present issue in possession of the Depart- 
 ment is exhausted. Due notice will be given of the date of issue of any new design of 
 stamped envelopes, therefore all inquiries respecting them will be disregarded. 
 
 A, N Zeverly, ^ 
 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General. ^ 
 
 Apparently all the values were on sale by about the middle of May, as 
 
 Ciiauges lu the '^^ American Journal of Philately for May 20th, 1869 (pages 57 and 58), 
 
 designs and colors, gives a brief description and criticism of each value and says : " The 
 
ISSUE OF 1869 
 
 109 
 
 unqualified praise we bestowed on the new issue in our lirst accounts was due 
 t&it having been given from an inspection of the proofs, and those are always 
 worked off with great care ; the colors also were much better selected than 
 those adopted by the authorities. Besides the tints being changed, all the 
 designs were more or less altered by enlarging the figures, and in the case of 
 the thirty cents a totally different design was adopted." 
 
 The designs, as originally prepared, differed from those finally accepted 
 and issued in having much smaller numerals of value, which were more in 
 harmony with their surroundings and not so obtrusive and disproportionate. Original deiigns. 
 There was a five cent stamp of the design that was afterwards used for the 
 six cents ; the ten cents bore a portrait of Lincoln and the ninety cents that 
 of Washington ; the thirty cents was of similar style to the fifteen and twenty- 
 four cents, with a copy of the picture of the surrender of Burgoyne. It was 
 not the intention to print any of these stamps in two colors. All the values 
 of this set except the fifteen and ninety cents exist in the shape of fully 
 finished, gummed and perforated stamps. 
 
 The official description of the adopted designs and colors is as follows: Designs and colors. 
 
 " One cent. Head of Franklin, after bust by Cerrachi, looking to 
 the left, surrounded by a circle of pearls; ' u. s. postage ' on a curved tablet 
 at the top; ' one cent ' on two similar tablets at bottom, with the numeral ' i 
 in a small panel between the words. Color, Roman ochre. 
 
 Two cents. Post horse and rider, facing to left, surrounded by 
 ornamental scroll-work ; ' united states postage ' on a fringed curtain at 
 top; ' two cents ' on a scroll at bottom, with large numeral ' 2 ' between the 
 words. Color, light brown. 
 
 Three cents. Locomotive heading to the right, surrounded by orna- 
 mental scroll-work ; 'united states postage' on a curved and a horizontal 
 tablet at top ; ' three cents ' on wide curved tablets at bottom, with large 
 numeral ' 3 ' between the words. Color, ultramarine blue. 
 
 Six cents. Head of Washington, after Stuart's painting, three-quarter 
 face, looking to right ; frame square, tessellated near the corners, with a 
 circular opening, lined with pearls; ' u. s.' in upper left and right corners of 
 frame, respectively; the word ' postage ' in upper bar of frame; ' six cents ' 
 in lower, with the large numeral ' 6 ' between the words, and ' united states ' 
 on each side. Color, ultramarine blue. 
 
 Ten cents. Shield, on which is resting an eagle with outspread 
 wings, eagle looking to left; 'united states postage' in upper section of 
 shield ; the number ' ro ' in lower; the words ' ten cents ' in a scroll at 
 bottom; the whole design surmounted by thirteen stars arranged in a semi- 
 circle. Color, orange. 
 
 Twelve cents. Ocean steamship, surrounded by ornamental scroll- 
 work ; 'united states postage' at top; ' twelve cents ' at bottom, with 
 large numeral '12' between the words. Color, milori green. 
 
 Fifteen cents. Landing of Columbus, after the painting by Van- 
 derlyn, in the Capitol at Washington ; ornamental scroll-work at top and 
 
110 
 
 ISSUE OF 1869. 
 
 Sizes. 
 
 Purport of the 
 desigus. 
 
 Types of the 
 fifteen cents. 
 
 bottom ; ' u. s. postage ' at top ; ' fifteen cents ' at bottom, with numeral 
 '15' underneath. Colors: Picture, Prussian blue; scroll and ornamental 
 work, light brown. 
 
 Twenty-four cents. Declaration of Independence, after the paint- 
 ing by Trumbull, in the Capitol at Washington ; ornamental and scroll work 
 at top and bottom; ' u. s.' surrounded by ovals at upper left and right 
 corners, respectively; the word 'postage' between the two; 'twenty-four 
 CENTS ' in scroll at bottom, with numeral '24' underneath. Colors: The 
 picture, purple lake ; scroll and ornamental work, light milori green. 
 
 Thirty cents. Eagle, facing to left with outspread wings, resting on 
 shield, with flags grouped on either side ; the words ' u. s. postage ' in upper 
 section of shield; the numeral '30' in lower; the words 'thirty cents' 
 across the bottom ; thirteen stars arranged in a semicircle at top of design. 
 Colors : Eagle and shield, carmine ; flags and other parts, blue. 
 
 Ninety cents. Head of Lincoln, from a photograph, in an oval, 
 three-quarters face, looking to right, surrounded by ornamental and scroll 
 work ; numeral ' 90 ' at each of the upper corners ; ' u. s. postage ' at top of 
 oval ; ' ninety ' and ' cents ' in scroll at lower left and right corners of oval, 
 respectively ; ' u. s.' at lower left and right corners of stamp, respectively. 
 Colors: Portrait in black; surrounding ornamental and scroll work, carmine." 
 
 The sizes of the stamps are: One cent, 2oi^x2o^mm.; two cents, 
 2oJ4x2omm. ; three cents, 2o^x2omm.; six cents, aoxig^mm.; ten cents, 
 2oxi95^mm.; twelve cents, 2o^x2omm. ; fifteen cents, 21 J^x2i?^mm. ; twenty- 
 four cents, 22x22mm.; thirty cents, 22x22^^ mm.; ninety cents, 2iJ^X22mm. 
 
 The lower values were intended to be emblematic of the postal progress 
 of the country. The one cent stamp fittingly bore the portrait of Franklin, 
 the first colonial Postmaster General, also the first under the federation of 
 states which became the United States. The two, three and twelve cent 
 stamps illustrated the advance from the post boy on horseback to the facilities 
 afforded by the railway and ocean steamship. 
 
 There are three types of the fifteen cents. In type I the central 
 picture is surrounded by a frame of three parallel lines. Across the top of 
 the picture the middle line of the three is thicker than the other two and at 
 the middle of the top the lines form a diamond-shaped ornament. This type 
 is usually spoken of as "with diamond" or "picture framed." In type I 
 there is also, within the space for the picture, a band about ^mm. wide, 
 formed of short diagonal lines. This band extends across the bottom and 
 the two ends of the tablet but not across the top. In type II the frame lines 
 and the diamond are omitted. There is a band of lines, as in type I, but it 
 is I mm. wide, the lines are horizontal and the band extends all around the 
 inside of the tablet. Type III differs from type II in the absence of the 
 band of shading lines, of which only a solitary line remains, crossing the top 
 of the tablet where the outline curves up to a point under the " t " of 
 "postage." The object of the bands of lines was to form a background for 
 the picture and make less noticeable any slight misplacing of it. Type I was 
 Type III is only known in the re-issue of 1875. 
 
 the first issued. 
 
ISSUK OF 1869. 
 
 Additional lines 
 
 drawn on the 
 
 l)late8. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 The medallions of the fifteen, twenty-four and ninety cents are each 
 surrounded by a thin line of color. These lines were not on the original dies, 
 but were added separately to each subject on the various plates. Also, on the 
 twenty-four cents,' the space for the medallion is framed by a border of pearls 
 inside of which are two thin colored lines. These lines were not on the die, 
 but were added in the same manner as those surrounding the medallions. I 
 have seen a proof having three lines inside the border of pearls but I have 
 not found a stamp showing more than two lines. 
 
 The paper is moderately thick and quite hard. 
 
 The gum varies from yellowish-white to brown. 
 
 The grill has the same characteristics as in the 1867 issue but it is 
 smaller and nearly square. Complete sets of all values may be found with 
 the grill measuring gxg^mm., 12x12 rows of points, and gxgmm., 12x11 Sizes of tiie griu 
 rows of points. The ten and twelve cents are also known with a grill measur- 
 ing S^^xgmm., iixf I rows of points. The normal position of the grill is with 
 the points down but a few copies have been noticed which have the points up. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 Embossed with a Grill. 
 
 April, 1869. I cent pale brown-orange, brown-orange,, dark brown- 
 
 orange 
 
 2 cents yellow-brown, red-brown, pale brown, brown, 
 
 dark brown 
 
 3 cents ultramarine, deep ultramarine, dull blue, gray- 
 
 blue 
 6 cents pale ultramarine, deep ultramarine, dull blue 
 10 cents yellow-orange, orange, deep orange 
 1 2 cents yellow-green, green, deep green, blue-green 
 15 cents (type I), dark blue and dark red-brown, dark 
 blue and red-brown, dark blue and pale red-brown 
 15 cents (type II), dark blue and dark red-brown, dark 
 blue and red-brown, dark blue and pale red-brown 
 ' 24 cents dark violet and yellow-green, dark violet and deep 
 
 yellow-green, dark violet and blue-green 
 30 cents pale rose and pale ultramarine, rose and ultra- 
 marine, rose and dark ultramarine, dark rose and 
 ultramarine, dark carmine and dull ultramarine 
 90 cents black and carmine, black and rose-carmine 
 
 Varieties : 
 2 cents yellow brown. Diagonal half and another copy, 
 used as three cents 
 
 2 cents yellow brown. Vertical half and another copy, 
 
 used as three cents. Cancelled, December 2Sth, 
 1869 
 
 3 cents ultramarine. Vertical two-thirds, used as two 
 
 cents. Cancelled, April 2nd, 1870 
 
ISSUE OF 1869. 
 
 Inrerted 
 medallions. 
 
 Said to be errors 
 In the plate. 
 
 15 cents (type I), dark blue and red-brown. Medallion 
 
 inverted 
 24 cents dark violet and blue-green. Medallion inverted 
 30 cents rose and ultramarine. Flags inverted 
 
 1 cent brown-orange. Without grill 
 
 2 cents yellow-brown. Without grill 
 
 3 cents pale ultramarine, dull blue. Without grill 
 15 cents (type 11), dark blue and red-brown. Without 
 
 grill 
 J4 cents dark violet and blue-green. Without grill 
 30 cents carmine-rose and dull ultramarine. Without grill 
 90 cents deep black and deep carrnine. Without grill 
 
 The stamps which have a part of the design inverted are both rare and 
 interesting. Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the United States says 
 in regard to this variety of the fifteen cents : 
 
 " The error is not, as is sometimes supposed, an error in printing, but 
 in the plate. Two plates, one for each color, had to be used. Originally 
 there were 150 stamps, as in the smaller values, but upon the plate for print- 
 ing the picture, it is said one picture was reversed, and the error once dis- 
 covered, the plate was cut down to print only 100 stamps, as stated in the 
 circular. It is probable that no copies with the error were ever circulated." 
 
 The same work says of the twenty-four cents : 
 
 " There is the same error of this stamp, ' reversed picture,' stated to be 
 from the same cause, a defect in the plate, as for the 15 cents, and the same 
 remarks apply." 
 
 Also of the thirty cents it is stated : 
 
 " There is also an error of this stamp in which the flags are reversed. 
 It is also stated to be an error on the plate, but may be only an error in 
 printing." 
 
 These statements appear to lack confirmation. The records of the con- 
 tractors show that the plates for the four values which were printed in two 
 colors, were originally made with only one hundred designs on each. This 
 smaller size was adopted because of the difficulty of securing good " register- 
 ing" when printing with large plates. The official circular of March ist, 1869, 
 quoted on a previous page, and which was sent out before the stamps were 
 ready for issue, distinctly states : "The 15 cents and all higher denomina- 
 tions, contain too stamps on each sheet." 
 
 The claim that none of the errors were circulated would seem to be 
 fully refuted by the fact that the majority of the existing copies are used. 
 
 Of course it is not impossible that, on one of the plates for each value, 
 one of the designs was reversed but it is far more probable that all of the errors 
 Proof that they are are due to misprinting. I have seen sheets of proofs from many of the plates 
 of the bicolored stamps and none of them contain such an error. It is well 
 known that David H. Anthony, of New York, an agent of the Government 
 for the sale of revenue stamps, and who also sold the then current postage 
 stamps, had an entire sheet of the fifteen cents with the medallion inverted. 
 One copy was purchased of him and went into the Rasmus collection. The 
 
 ETidence to the 
 contrary. 
 
 errors in printing. 
 
ISSUE OF 1869. 
 
 "3 
 
 rest of the sheet was returned to the post office and exchanged for perfect 
 copies. There is also the celebrated block of four of the twenty-four cents 
 in the collection of Mr. William Thome and the pair of the same stamp in 
 the collection of Mr. F. W. Hunter. Thus at least a part of the errors are 
 proved to be due to misprinting. 
 
 On the other hand, there is some testimony in support of the claim that 
 one or more of the designs, on the various plates, were inverted. In the 
 American Journal of Philately for December 1870 (page 141), we read : 
 
 " We are now enabled to inform our readers, and friends of tlie press, of a little cir- 
 cumstance that has been kept pretty well concealed ; but perhaps these few lines may open 
 the eyes of the people who pay the taxes. 
 
 After a few hundred sheets of the i^; and 24 cent stamps of the 1869 issue had been 
 delivered, it was discovered that a few of the stamps on each sheet had the picture inverted 
 in the frames. The government refused to receive them, and only half sheets of these values 
 were issued. This mistake would have compelled the company to prepare new plates for 
 these values, and of course they would not have been paid for them, so they adopted the 
 bright dodge of setting the papers to run down the new issue, so that they would be required 
 to get new plates by the'department, which they would be paid for. We all know how well 
 they succeeded ; however, to philatelists this makes two interesting varieties which are very 
 scarce." 
 
 In further confirmation of this Mr. J. W. Scott states that, at the time 
 attention was first called to the fifteen cents with inverted medallion, he 
 examined his stock and found half a dozen used copies. Believing it to be 
 an error in the plate, he tried to buy at the New York post office sheets con- 
 taining it, but could get only half sheets, which were without it. He then 
 sent money throughout the country, to all offices which he thought might have 
 this value, asking always for full sheets. In some instances his money was 
 returned because the office could only supply half sheets and on other 
 occasions the half sheets were sent. In no case did he secure an entire sheet, 
 and the half sheets supplied to him were always the same half and without 
 the error. Hence his conclusions, as published in the paragraph just quoted 
 from the American Journal of Philately. 
 
 With all due respect to such an authority and with full appreciation of 
 the value of this testimonyT cannot unhesitatingly accept these conclusions, 
 since there is much to be said on the other side. Primarily, every plate made 
 by the great bank note companies is subjected to the most searching and 
 microscopical scrutiny by several experts. Plates, which to ordinary eyes 
 would appear perfect, are marked in numerous places for fuller and deeper 
 impressions and other improvements. It is not to be conceived that such a 
 glaring defect as an inverted design would be overlooked or allowed to pass 
 uncorrected. As was explained on page 47, the design could readily be oblite- 
 rated and a fresh transfer entered in its place. With this simple expedient at 
 command, it is absurd to think that the contractors continued to produce 
 sheets of stamps of each of which, owing to defects, the government would 
 accept only one half. In further contradiction of the half sheet theory it 
 must be remembered that the contractors had for the iifteen cents four plates 
 for the frames and two for the centers, and for both the twenty-four and 
 thirty cents two plates for each part. Even should we grant an error in one 
 plate, the others were still available. 
 
 A ninety cents with inverted medallion was listed in the catalogues 
 for many years. But no copy is known to exist, and philatelists have long 
 
 Another olaim con- 
 cerning the errors. 
 
 Only half sheets 
 on sale. 
 
 Defective plates 
 improbable. 
 
114 
 
 ISSUE OF 1869. 
 
 Bisected tliree 
 cent stamp. 
 
 Kinety cent stamp ggg decided that the variety originated in the imagination of a western dealer- 
 "nic(ia°Uon! collector. Wishing to give eclat to an auction, he inserted in the catalogue 
 of the sale this and certain similar and equally mythical varieties of the higher 
 values of the State Department stamps. No collector in the United States 
 was able to get a view of them, unlimited bids did not secure them at the 
 sale, and it could never be learned to whom they were sold ; therefore, it has 
 been concluded that they were only a tour de fantasie. But I am informed, 
 by a gentleman whose sources of information are entirely reliable, that this 
 variety once existed, though no copy was ever allowed to be circulated. My 
 informant once saw, among a lot of misprints and similar oddities, sheets of the 
 four bi-colored values of this series all with inverted centeres. Of two values 
 there were two sheets each, and of the other two values four sheets each. But 
 he does not remember of which there were two and of which four. Though 
 he was not interested in stamps, he was attracted by the oddity of these 
 varieties and tried hard to obtain copies of them, but without success, and 
 the whole lot was burned. 
 
 The split three cents is an interesting variety. All the copies of this 
 provisional with which collectors are acquainted, were used by Frank J. 
 Bramhall (Assistant Assessor of the 6th Division of the 6th District of Virginia) 
 in mailing, to residents of that division, blank forms for statements of the 
 amount of their income and personal property, liable to taxation. These 
 forms were merely folded, endorsed with the name and address of the ta.x- 
 payer, the date, and the name and ofifice of the official mailing them. Such 
 documents would be carried in the mails as printed matter, at the rate of two 
 cents each. Apparently there was a scarcity of two cent stamps and, to over- 
 come the difficulty, three cents stamps were bisected. On some of the 
 documents two-thirds of one stamp were used and on others a third from two 
 different stamps. It is said that several hundred of these provisionals were 
 used, but the finder destroyed the philatelic value of the greater part of them 
 by removing the stamps from the documents. , The only copy available at 
 this writing is dated April 2nd, 1870'. 
 
 It is not known whether the varieties without grill are the result of 
 accident or design. Their scarcity makes it certain that but few were issued 
 in this condition, probably one or two small lots. The shades of the higher 
 values seem to be identical in all copies, suggesting only one printing. But 
 the three cents appears in two slight shades, and the two cents has frequently 
 a thicker and darker gum than the other ungrilled varieties ; which would ' 
 indicate a second printing of these two values. Ungrilled originals of the six, 
 ten and twelve cents are not believed to exist. Copies which have very faint 
 grills are frequently offered, with the claim that they are without grill but, 
 when the stamps are viewed at the proper angle and in a good light, a trained 
 eye will usually detect -the grill. The originals without grill may be distin- 
 guished from the re-issue of 1875 by the shades and by having brown gum, 
 while the re-issued stamps have a crackled white gum. 
 
 There is in the collection of Mr. H. G. Mandel a block of three cent 
 
 stamps on donbie Stamps of this issue on double paper. The upper paper, which received the 
 
 paper. impression, is quite thin and is embossed over the entire surface. The under 
 
 YarletieN witliout 
 Brill. 
 
ISSUE OF 1869. 
 
 I'S 
 
 paper is thicker and serves merely as a backing for the other. The thirty 
 cents is also known on double paper, without any grill. It is printed in colors 
 slightly darker than those of the ungrilled stamp on ordinary paper. These 
 varieties are fully finished, gummed and perforated. Whether they were ever 
 in use or are only essays has not been determined. 
 
 Articles have been written about certain lines and dots found on the 
 stamps of this issue, especially on the values which are printed in two colors. 
 These lines are found parallel to the sides of the stamps and also crossing 
 them, either vertically or horizontally, at the center. The dots are usually at 
 or near the middle of some of the four sides. Some writers have published 
 elaborate lists of the various positions and combinations of these lines and 
 dots. As they were merely guide marks on the plates, intended to insure the 
 correct placing of the designs, and should have been erased after the plates 
 were finished, they have no apparent philatelic value or interest. 
 
 The plates of the lower values contained three hundred stamps each 
 and those of the four higher values one hundred stamps each. The impres- 
 sions from the plates of the lower values were divided vertically, making 
 sheets of one hundred and fifty stamps. There is some evidence that the 
 sheets of the higher values were divided in like manner into sheets of fifty 
 stamps, though, from the official circular of March 1st, 1869, it would appear 
 that the original intention was to issue them in full sheets of one hundred. 
 
 The imprint used for this issue is "national bank note co., new 
 YORK," in small white capitals, on a colored panel with rounded ends. Two 
 thin lines of color surround the panel. On the values from one to twelve 
 cents inclusive, the imprint appears four times on each sheet of three hundred 
 stamps, i. e., at the top and bottom of each half sheet of one hundred and 
 fifty. Each imprint is accompanied by "Mo." and numerals corresponding 
 to the recorded number of the plate. These plate numbers are placed at the 
 top and bottom of the second vertical row of stamps on each side of the 
 central dividing line. On the four higher values the imprints and plate 
 numbers are arranged as on the lower values, so far as is known. On each 
 value, those at the bottom are in the color of and belong to the plate of the 
 vignette or central part of the stamp, and those at the top belong to the plate 
 for the outer part of the stamp and correspond to it in color. Certain plates 
 of the twenty-four and thirty cents appear to have been left without numbers, 
 at least sheets of proofs show them in that condition, but numbers may have 
 subsequently been added to the plates. 
 
 In addition to the imprints and plate numbers there were certain other 
 marks on the margins of the plates. On the values from one to twelve cents 
 inclusive, these marks were placed at the middle of the top and bottom, and 
 indicated the line on which the sheets were to be cut in half. The half sheets 
 of one hundred and fifty stamps, fifteen horizontal rows of ten stamps each, 
 were marked for further division into fifties, if desired. These marks were 
 placed on the sides of the plates, between the fifth and sixth and the tenth 
 and eleventh rows. On the one and two cent values the marginal marks were 
 short straight lines. On the three to twelve cents they were composed of 
 three lines, forming an arrow head. The four higher values had, at the 
 
 Plate maker's 
 guide marks. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Imprints aud plate 
 numbers. 
 
 Marginal marks. 
 
ii6 
 
 ISSUE OF 1869. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
 Statistics of 
 manufacture. 
 
 middle of each of the four sides, a T shaped mark which, on the printed 
 sheets, shows the colors of both the frame and the vignette plates. 
 
 The numbers of the plates were as follows : 
 
 I cent 
 
 
 No. 
 
 I, 
 
 2. 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 cents 
 
 
 No. 
 
 3, 
 
 4, 5 
 
 6, 27, 28. 
 
 
 
 3 cents 
 
 
 No. 
 
 7> 
 
 8, 9> 
 
 10, 
 
 II, 12, 25, 
 
 26, 
 
 29, 30- 
 
 6 cents 
 
 
 No. 
 
 13 
 
 14. 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 
 No. 
 
 15 
 
 16. 
 
 
 
 
 
 12 cents 
 
 
 No. 
 
 17 
 
 ,18. 
 
 
 
 
 
 15 cents 
 
 (type I) 
 
 Frame No. 
 
 19. 
 
 Vignette 
 
 No. 
 
 19. 
 
 IS cents 
 
 (type II) 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 23- 
 
 
 
 23- 
 
 15- cents 
 
 (type I) 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 3'- 
 
 
 
 23- 
 
 15 cents 
 
 (type III) 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 32- 
 
 
 
 23- 
 
 24 cents 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 20: 
 
 
 
 20. 
 
 24 cents 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 20. 
 
 
 
 24. 
 
 24 cents 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 20. 
 
 30 cents 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 2 1. 
 
 
 
 21. 
 
 30 cents 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 90 cents 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 22. 
 
 
 
 22. 
 
 The dashes ( — ) in the above table indicate plates which have no 
 number. 
 
 Plate No. 33, given in previous lists, is a new plate of the one cent 
 value, which was made for the re-issue of 1875. It contains only 150 
 stamps. 
 
 The records show the following quantities of stamps to have been 
 prepared and delivered to the agent of the Government : 
 
 1869 I cent. 
 
 Mch. to Dec. 
 
 inclusive 11,077,050 
 1870 
 Jan. to Apl. 
 
 inclusive 5,528,100 
 
 Total, 16,605,150 
 1 2 cents. 
 
 1869 
 
 Mch. to Dec. 
 
 inclusive 
 
 1870 
 
 Jan. to Apl. 
 
 inclusive 
 
 2,595,400 
 
 4'7,55o 
 
 2 cents. 
 57,387,500 
 
 26,356,100 
 
 83,743,600 
 15 cents. 
 
 776,180 
 662,760 
 
 3 cents. 
 268,857,750 
 
 6 cents. 
 2,593,600 
 
 10 cents. 
 1,960,280 
 
 117,618,150 2,289,150 1,339,420 
 
 386,475,900 
 24 cents. 
 
 139,975 
 
 Total, 3,012,950 1,438,940 
 
 95,375 
 
 235,350 
 
 4,882,750 
 30 cents. 
 
 151,520 
 92,590 
 
 3,299,700 
 90 cents. 
 
 34,940 
 12,520 
 
 244,1 10 
 
 47,460 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General, dated November 15th, 1870, 
 gives the following quantities of stamps supplied to deputy postmasters : 
 
ISSUE OF 1869. 
 
 117 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1 870 : 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 DelirerieB to 
 postmasters. 
 
 cent 
 cents 
 cents 
 cents 
 cents 
 10 cents 
 12 cents 
 15 cents 
 24 cents 
 30 cents 
 90 cents 
 
 Sept. 30, 1869. 
 
 3,179,300 
 
 '7>493.6oo 
 
 87,559.900 
 67,520 
 706,500 
 821,500 
 909,500 
 470,620 
 66,675 
 108,340 
 
 I 2, 060 
 
 Dec. 31, 1869. 
 
 3,944,100 
 
 •9,285,300 
 
 84,567,400 
 
 741,050 
 744,340 
 809,625 
 482,780 
 
 67,725 
 84,980 
 12,300 
 
 Mch 31, 1870. 
 
 5,284,900 
 
 23,'5i,25o 
 
 97,434,900 
 
 June 30, 1870. 
 
 4,835,800 
 
 17,900,500 
 
 89,449,100 
 
 2,091,750 
 1,282,250 
 
 399,825 
 576,700 
 
 78,350 
 82,570 
 12,330 
 
 1,678,450 
 986,210 
 
 234,97s 
 
 439,780 
 
 30,700 
 
 60,660 
 
 8,330 
 
 Total , 
 17,208,100 
 77,830,650 
 
 359,01 1, 3°o 
 67,520 
 
 5,217,750 
 3,834,300 
 
 2,353,925 
 1,969,880 
 
 243,450 
 336,550 
 45,020 
 
 Counterfeits. 
 
 Whole number of stamps 468,118,445. Value $13,976,768.00. 
 
 We know from other sources of information that, during the period 
 covered by this table, stamps of the 1867, 1869 and 1870 issues were supplied 
 to the deputy postmasters. Thus its value as a guide to philatelists is, un- 
 fortunately, greatly reduced. 
 
 It is said that forged grills have_ been placed upon the stamps of the 
 re-issue of 1875. As the ungrilled stamps of the 1875 printing have been, of 
 late years at least, scarcer than those printed in 1869, it is not probable that 
 this fraud has been extensively practiced. In the Philatelic Journal of 
 America for March, 1895, is an account of a counterfeit of the ninety cents 
 which was made in Brussels. This was produced by some photo-gelatin 
 process and is said to have been very perfect. Fortunately, before any of 
 the imitations were circulated, the forger was arrested and the plate destroyed. 
 
 This beautiful series, so much admired by philatelists, did not please 
 the public. From its first appearance it met with adverse criticism in the 
 public press. Objections were made to the size, shape, colors, designs and Public dissatisfac- 
 gum. Interesting extracts from the newspapers of the period will be found 
 in the, American Journal of Philately for 1869 (pages 57, 58, 74, no, in, 
 and 146). In the same journal for August, 1869 (page 100), we find a note 
 that, a correspondent "wishes we would give engravings of the new U. S. 
 stamps, as the high values are only to be found in a few of the large cities 
 of the North." This indicates one of the reasons for the unpopularity of the 
 issue. The general public did not see the handsome high values of the 
 series. They used only the lower values, especially the three cents which, 
 it must be admitted, was neither an interesting nor a dignified production. 
 
 Whether, as was suggested in a paragraph quoted on a preceding page, 
 the National Bank Note Co. were interested in stirring up unfavorable com- 
 ment, in the hope of bringing about a change in the issue, we have no means 
 of knowing. Probably the stamps printed in two colors were difficult and 
 expensive to produce but, as the terms of their contract required them to 
 supply any new designs and plates without expense to the Government, it is 
 doubtful if they were anxious to make so costly a change. 
 
 tlon with the 
 stamps. 
 
ii8 
 
 ISSUE OF 1869. 
 
 Whether it was due to the press, the public or the contractors, it was 
 
 not long before the stamps of the 1861 type were reverted to. The American 
 
 Stamps of the pre- Journal of Philately for September, 1869 (page 107), says : "A new set of 
 
 ceding issue again adhesives are in preparation for our country, all of the 1869 set having been 
 
 brought luto use. .,, ^ . . . . . . ■' . . , , 
 
 Withdrawn from circulation in the city except the four lowest values, and 
 those of 1861 used in their stead." And in the number for the succeeding 
 month (page 114), we read : "At present the National Bank Note Company 
 are working upon 2 and 3 cents stamps only, as the post office authorities 
 propose to call in the rest of the new issue, owing to manifold objections 
 made by the community at large." 
 
 The stamps used instead of the different values of the 1869 series, 
 were of the 1867 issue, rather than that of 186 r, since they, had the grill. 
 
Issue of 1870, 
 
 The stamps of the 1869 series having failed to please either the public 
 or the press, it was decided to replace them by a new issue. The report of 
 the Postmaster General, dated November 15th, 1870, explains the reasons for 
 the change and gives a brief description of the new stamps : 
 
 "The adhesive stamps adopted by my predecessor in 1869, having failed to give 
 satisfaction to the public, on account of their small size, their unshapely form, the inapprop- 
 riateness of their designs, the difficulty of cancelling them effectually, and the inferior quality Historical. 
 
 of the gum used in their manufacture, I found it necessary, in April last, to issue new stamps, 
 of larger size, superior quality of gum, and improved designs. As the contract then in force 
 contained a provision that the stamps should be changed, and new designs and plates 
 furnished at the pleasure of the Postmaster General, without additional cost to the depart- 
 ment, I decided to substitute an entire new series, one-third larger in size, and to adopt for 
 designs the heads, in profile, of distinguished deceased Americans. This style was deemed 
 the most eligible because it not only afforded the best opportunity for the exercise of the 
 highest grade of artistic skill in composition and execution, but also appeared to be the most 
 difficult to counterfeit. The designs were selected from marble busts of acknowledged ex- 
 cellence, as follows : 
 
 One cent, Franklin, after Rubricht ; two cents, Jackson, after Powers ; three cents, 
 Washington, after Houdon ; six cents, Lincoln, after Volk ; ten cents, Jefferson, after Power's 
 statute ; twelve cents, Clay, after Hart ; fifteen cents, Webster after Clevenger ; ^twenty- 
 four cents, Scott, after Coffee ; thirty cents, Hamilton, after Cerrachi ; ninety cents, Com- 
 modore O. H. Perry, profile bust, after Wolcutt's statute. 
 
 The stamps were completed and issues of them began in April last. The superior 
 gum with which they are coated is not the least of the advantages derived from the change." 
 
 The proposed new issue was announced as early as September, 1869. 
 The American Journal of Philately for December of that year (page 143), 
 gave a list of the portrait busts selected for the series. The stamps were 
 not placed on sale, however, until about April 15th, 1870. The issue was 
 announced by the following official circular : 
 
 CIRCULAR TO POS TMASTERS. Circular announcing 
 
 v^ _ ^ the Issue. 
 
 ^ Post Office Department. 
 
 Office of Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
 
 April 9th, 1870. 
 
 New Series of Postage Stamps. 
 
 At an early date, in the regular course of business, the Department will issue to Post- 
 masters, postage stamps of a new design. (See description annexed). 
 
 You are required to exhaust all of the present style on hand before supplying the 
 public with the new ; and in no case will you be allowed to make exchanges for individuals 
 or to return the stamps to the Department to be exchanged. 
 
 The stamps now in use are not to be disregarded, but must be recognized in all cases, 
 equally with the new ones. The stamps known as the series of 1861, of which a few are 
 supposed to be yet outstanding, are also to be recognized. Those issued prior to the com- 
 mencement of the war of the Rebellion were long since declared to be valueless. 
 
ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 Date of issue. 
 
 The seven ceut 
 stamp. 
 
 Date of issae. 
 
 First printing of 
 
 tile seven cent 
 
 stamp. 
 
 Special attention is called to the fact that each sheet, of all denominations of the new 
 series, contains but 100 stamps. This must be borne in mind to prevent mistakes in count- 
 ing, as in the present issue some of the denominations have 150 stamps to the sheet. 
 
 Special requests for the new style of stamps will be disregarded until the stock of the 
 present issue, in possession of the Department, is exhausted. 
 
 Wm. H. Terrell, 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
 
 The date of issue is given by Mr. Tiffany as May, 1870, but this 
 appears to be slightly incorrect. The American Journal of Philately for 
 April 20th, 1870, gave a colored illustration of the three cents and announced 
 the series as issued. In describing the stamps it said : " For reference we 
 reprint from the extra of 25th March." A copy of this extra is not available 
 but it is understood to have been merely a single leaf, giving a list of the 
 new stamps, their designs and colors. In view of the date of the circular of 
 the Third Assistant Postmaster General it would seem doubtful if the stamps 
 were actually in issue on March 25th. Possibly they were described from 
 proofs or from a set shown by some official. Probably the actual date of 
 issue was not far from April 15th, 1870. 
 
 The seven cent stamps did not appear with the other values of the 
 series, that rate not being established until April 7th, 1870. Concerning this 
 value the report of the Postmaster General, dated November 15th, 1870, says: 
 
 " Upon the conclusion of the postal treaty with the North German Confederation, 
 fixing the single letter rate by direct steamers at seven cents, to take effect the ist of July last, 
 a stamp of that denomination was adopted, and the profile bust of the late Edwin M. Stanton 
 selected for the design. This has been completed in a satisfactory manner but, owing to the 
 temporary discontinuance of the direct mail steamship service to North Germany, it has not 
 been issued to postmasters." 
 
 The discontinuance referred to was caused by the Franco-Prussian 
 war. 
 
 Mr. Tiffany again seems to be in error when he gives the date of issue 
 of this stamp as July, 1870. He was probably misled by the fact that the 
 postal treaty above referred to was to go into effect on the 1st of that month. 
 But it is quite evident that the appearance of the stamp was delayed until a 
 much later date. The American Journal of Philately for July 20th, 1870 
 (page 84), says : 
 
 "The seven cent stamp that we described, but omitted to state its value, has been 
 printed off in a variety of colors and has a very beautiful appearance. They were intended 
 to have been issued last week ; but the war in Europe and consequent stopping of the 
 Bremen steamer, has made them useless for the present. It is very doubtful if they will be 
 issued till peace has been established in Europe." 
 
 In the August number of the same journal (page 95), we read : 
 
 " We understand that the new seven cent stamp will be adorned with the profile of 
 Stanton, but they will not be issued yet." 
 
 On November isth, 1870, the report of the Postmaster General, pre- 
 viously quoted, distinctly says : " It has not yet been issued to postmasters." 
 
 Finally, the records of the contractors show that no seven cent stamps 
 were printed until March, 1871. 
 
 It was not until April 20, 1871, that "C^t American Journal of Philately 
 reported : " The seven cent stamp * * has at length made its appear- 
 ance." 
 
ISSUE OF 1870. 12 1 
 
 At that late date it could have been of but little avail for correspon- 
 dence to Germany, as the letter rate to that country was reduced to six cents 
 by the postal treaty which was signed at Washington on March 3rd, and at 
 Berlin on May 14th, 1871, taking effect "on the date of the dispatch of the 
 first mail." On December ist, 1871, a treaty was made with Denmark which 
 established a rate of seven cents for letters to that country, beginning January 
 ist, 1872, and thus renewed the usefulness of the stamp of that value. 
 
 The ofificial description of the stamps of the 1870 series is as follows : Designs. 
 
 " One cent. A lined rectangular ground is left uncovered near the 
 edges of the stamp on all sides. Inside this a more distinctly outlined border 
 of scroll work and conventionally foliated ornaments fills the space to the 
 medallion, which contains a profile bust of Franklin. The sides of this border 
 are symmetrically curved inward, the corners being ornamentally rounded, 
 and on it, resting upon and following the upper curve of the medallion, is a 
 narrow panel bearing the words ' u. s. postage '. The words ' one ' and 
 ' CENT ', in white capitals, at the bottom, appear in two curves, drooping at the 
 ends and separated by an ornate, heavy-faced, white figure ' i ' 
 
 Two CENTS. An oval medallion, containing the profile bust of Jack- 
 son, after Powers' statue, rests upon a shield covering almost the entire 
 stamp and placed upon a faint-lined rectangular ground. On this shield, 
 above the medallion, is an ornamented tablet, curving with the ellipse, except 
 at the ends of the line, which tend outward, and bearing the words ' u. s. 
 postage '. Faint traces of leafy branches curving upward fill the space at 
 the bottom and sides of the shield not covered by the medallion. Across 
 this, upon a ribbon-like double-curved tablet flowing at the ends, are the 
 words, in white capitals, 'two' and 'cents', divided by the denomination 
 figure ' 2 '. 
 
 Three cents. Nearly the whole face of the stamp is taken up by a 
 shield resting upon a dimly lined ground, on which shield the bust of Wash- 
 ington, after Houdon's statue, in an oval frame, is placed, surmounted by a 
 curved ornamented tablet bearing the words ' u. s. postage '. Under the 
 portrait, on a flowing ribbon with forked ends, are the words ' three cents ', 
 separated by a large Arabic white-faced flgure ' 3 '. 
 
 Six cents. On a delicately lined ground appears a dark rectangular 
 mass of color, with heavy side projections nearly one-third of the length, on 
 which is the bust of Lincoln in an oval medallion, surmounted by a panel 
 bearing the words ' u. s. postage '. Below the medallion, on a waved ribbon 
 with forked ends, are the words ' six cents ', in white capitals, separated by 
 a large white Arabic figure ' 6 '. 
 
 Seven cents. A large rectangular tablet, ornamented at the four 
 corners with heavy balls, rests upon a background, the edges of which alone 
 appear. On this tablet is an oval medallion containing the profile bust of 
 Stanton, surmounted by a curved panel bearing the words ' u. s. postage ', 
 while below the medallion is a similar panel bearing the words 'seven cents' 
 in white capitals, separated by a white Arabic figure ' 7 ' 
 
 Ten cents. A large faint-lined shield rests upon a darker rectangular 
 
122 ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 ground. On this shield is a profile bust of Jefferson, in an oval medallion, 
 with the words ' u. s. postage ' above and ' ten cents ', separated by the 
 number " 10 ', below, displayed in the same way as the legends on the six 
 cent stamp. 
 
 Twelve cents. On a lined rectangular frame is a raised panel of the 
 same shape, with beveled edges. On this panel rests an oval medallion, bear- 
 ing the profile bust of Henry Clay. Above and below, in curved tablets, 
 connected on the sides by triangular joints, are respectively the words, in white 
 capitals, 'u. s. postage' and 'twelve cents', Ihe two latter words being 
 separated by the number ' 12 ' in Arabic figures. The words of denomina- 
 tion are of block letters. 
 
 Fifteen cents. On a lined rectangular frame, with triangular panels 
 set in near each corner, is an oval medallion bearing the profile bust of Daniel 
 Webster. Above, in a curved tablet, ending on either side in a circular knob, 
 are the words, in shaded white letters, ' u. s. postage '. Below, in a similar 
 tablet, but without knobs, in small white letters, are the words ' fifteen 
 CENTS ', separated by the number ' 15 ' in ornamented Arabic figures. 
 
 Twenty-four cents. The denomination numerals, ' 24 ' in Gothic 
 type, are in each of the upper corners, conforming in their position to the 
 curve of an ornamental tablet, placed immediately above an ellipitical medal- 
 lion bearing a profile bust of Gen. Winfield Scott. Thirteen five-pointed 
 stars are placed on this tablet; two at each end are blank white, while each 
 of the eleven remaining bears a small Gothic capital letter, constituting the 
 legend ' u. s. postage ', in the color of the stamp. The denomination is given 
 at the bottom in small white Gothic capitals ' twenty-four ', close up to and 
 following the ellipse line, and ' cents ' in a straight line, in the middle, below. 
 In the left lower corner appears a flag, loosely gathered around its staff, the 
 muzzle end and part of the wheels of a piece of field artillery, and a pile of 
 shells ; in the right are three muskets stacked. 
 
 Thirty cents. On a rectangular-lined ground is placed a heavy 
 beveled tablet, rounded in a half circle at the bottom, and with the upper 
 corners described by bastion-like projections. From this point down to the 
 half circle — a distance of half an inch — the tablet is straight lined on its sides 
 and narrower than the stamp by about one-sixteenth of an inch. On the 
 tablet is an elliptical medallion bearing the profile bust of Alexander Hamilton. 
 The legend, ' u. s. postage ', above the medallion, is curved as on the 6-cent 
 stamp, except that no panel encloses it, and the words 'thirty ' and 'cents' 
 appear in black capitals at the bottom, on a double-curved ribbon, dropping 
 inward, with forked ends. 
 
 Ninety cents. The upper half of an elliptical medallion bearing the 
 profile bust of Commodore Perry, is bounded by a rope, attached at each end 
 by eye-splices to a swinging panel describing the lower half of the ellipse, and 
 bearing the words ' ninety ' and ' cents ' in block letters, assigned to the left 
 and right of the number ' 90 '. A plain tablet is the basis of the stamp, and 
 is beveled except within one-eighth of an inch of the corners, where it exhibits 
 sharp edges. In each upper corner is a five-pointed star, raised in the center, 
 
ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 123 
 
 Stamps on donble 
 paper. 
 
 Grills. 
 
 and in each lower corner the flukes of an anchor and part of the shank 
 project from under the panel." 
 
 The stamps of this issue are of uniform size, measuring 2ox25ram. 
 
 The paper is white wove, varying from thin to moderately thick. On 
 many of the stamps the surface of the paper is slightly tinted by the ink. 
 This is particularly the case with the thirty cents, which has always a gray 
 surface from this cause. 
 
 The gum ranges from yellowish to brown. 
 
 I have recently seen the six and twenty-four cent stamps on double 
 paper. The former was on the original cover and cancelled " Providence, 
 R. I., Nov. ist, 1870." These stamps were doubtless made under patent 
 86,952, issued February i6th, 1869, to Charles F. Steel of New York. Further 
 reference to this patent will be made in the next chapter. This double 
 paper was composed of a very thin paper, backed by a thicker and firmer 
 one. The impressions were to be made on the thin paper which, it was 
 expected, would be destroyed by any attempt to remove a cancellation. 
 Strange to say, the two copies which I have seen were both printed on the 
 thicker paper, which, of course, completely nullified the intention of the 
 inventor. I think it is quite probable that other denominations of this issue 
 exist on double paper. 
 
 The stamps of this series were issued both with and without the grill 
 and both styles appear to have been in use at the same time. The Stamp 
 Collectors' Magazine for June ist, 1870 (page 89), announces the appearance 
 of the one, two, three, six and ten cents and says : " The i cent and 10 cents 
 are on paper impressed with the quadrilled square ; the others, if we may judge 
 simply from our specimens, are on plain paper.'' Other journals, when 
 describing the stamps, do not speak of the embossing, either because it was 
 lacking on the specimens in hand or because it was considered too familiar a 
 feature to require comment. The records of the contractors do not make any 
 mention of embossing on this series. 
 
 It had long been evident that the grill did not produce the results 
 claimed for it nor add anything to the usefulness of the stamps. A clause in 
 the contract required the stamps to be embossed and some pretense of apply- 
 ing the process was maintained at first. But it was not regularly used and 
 finally was abandoned altogether. At such times as it was used the result 
 was generally insignificant. On the majority of the stamps only a portion of 
 the grill can be seen, on some of them only a few points. There are also 
 strips in which some stamps show the grill while others have absolutely no 
 trace of it. These defects should not be attributed to the wearing of the grill 
 roller. They are due to the deterioration of the leaden bed on which the 
 sheets of stamps rested. This bed had so yielded to pressure that it did not 
 hold the sheets firmly against the roller and, as a consequence, the grill was 
 often imperfect and sometimes lacking entirely. The pressure of the hydraulic 
 press also helped to obliterate the grill. 
 
 Philatelists have had much cause to regret that this obsolete device 
 was ever impressed on the stamps of this issue. Many values are rare with 
 the grill and, as a consequence, have tempted the forgers. When a grill is Connterfeit griUs. 
 
 Defective grills. 
 
124 
 
 ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 grill rollers. 
 
 Strongly impressed it is usually possible to decide as to its merits or demerits. 
 When, however, it is indistinct, it becomes extremely difficult to pronounce 
 upon its character It is impossible to establish any fixed rules for distin- 
 guishing the gopd from the bad. A thorough understanding of the character- 
 istics of all genuine grills, as well as of the paper, gum and shades of the 
 stamps of this particular issue, are the most reliable guides. With study and 
 experience there comes an instinctive knowledge of the subject, to which one 
 cannot give adequate verbal expression. 
 
 It may be of passing interest to know what became of the grill rollers 
 — the only important part of the machinery — after their use was discontinued. 
 Destrnction of the In 1884, the American Bank Note Co., who held the contract for printing 
 the tickets for the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, were called upon to 
 provide a machine to destroy the tickets which Jiad been used. The grill 
 rollers were utilized to make this machine. Around them were cut alternate 
 grooves and knife-like edges and they were placed in such juxtaposition that, 
 when the tickets were passed between them, they were cut into shreds. The 
 machine was afterwards abandoned for some other process, but its interest 
 for philatelists ceased when there was no further possibility of it being used 
 to produce grills. 
 
 The grills of the 1870 issue vary somewhat in size, though they have 
 not such an extensive range as those of the 1867 issue. Several values have 
 been found with the grill extending from top to bottom of the stamp and 
 varying in width. As was explained on page 99, this variety is caused by a 
 continuous band of bosses on each end of the roller. 
 
 As many of the grills show only a few points, it would be impossible 
 to assign every specimen to a particular heading and, therefore, it seems best 
 to give separate lists of the sizes of the grills and shades of the stamps. 
 
 The following list has been arranged from one compiled by Mr. J. B. 
 Leavy, and published in the American Journal of Philately for April, 1896, 
 to which I have added a number of varieties from personal observation : 
 
 Tarieties of the 
 grill. 
 
 Reference List 
 of grills. 
 
 1 cent ultramarine 
 
 2 cents red-brown 
 
 1 cent ultramarine 
 
 2 cents red-brown 
 
 3 cents green 
 3 cents green 
 3 cents green 
 
 6 cents camiine-rose 
 
 1 cent ultramarine 
 
 2 cents red-brown 
 
 3 cents green 
 
 7 cents vermilion 
 
 1 2 cents pale dull violet 
 15 cents bright orange 
 24 cents dull purple 
 90 cents carmine-lake 
 
 Rows of points, 
 roxio 
 
 10x12 
 
 Size in mm. 
 8x8 
 
 Li 
 8X10 
 
 10x13 
 
 8xio>^ 
 
 IIXII 
 
 8>^X9 
 
 11X12 
 
 &H^9H 
 
 IIXI3 
 
 8>^xio>^ 
 

 ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 
 125 
 
 
 
 Rows of points. 
 
 Size in mm. 
 
 90 cents carmine-lake 
 
 
 1 1x15 
 
 8>^XI2}^ 
 
 3 cents green 
 
 
 12x14 
 
 9x11 
 
 24 cents dull purple 
 
 
 12x15 
 
 9x12 
 
 90 cents carmine-lake 
 
 
 (( 
 
 (f 
 
 1 cent, ultramarine 
 
 
 13x15 
 
 10x12 
 
 2 cents red-brown 
 
 
 tx 
 
 li 
 
 3 cents green 
 
 
 " 
 
 u 
 
 6 cents carmine-rose 
 
 
 '• 
 
 u 
 
 7 cents vermilion 
 
 
 •• 
 
 - 
 
 10 cents brown 
 
 
 " 
 
 " 
 
 15 cents bright orange 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 30 cents black 
 
 
 " 
 
 it 
 
 1 cent ultramarine 
 
 
 13x16 
 
 10XI2}4 
 
 3 cents green 
 
 
 tl 
 
 ii 
 
 7 cents vermilion 
 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 90 cents carmine-lake 
 
 
 u 
 
 ii 
 
 The stamps are found in the following colors and shades : Beference List 
 
 of colors. 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 With grill 8 to 8>^x8 to io>^mm. 
 
 April iSth, 1870. I cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, deep ultramarine 
 
 2 cents pale red-brown, red-brown, orange-brown 
 
 3 cents pale green, green 
 6 cents carmine-rose 
 
 April, 1871. 7 cents scarlet-vermilion 
 
 April iSth, 1870. 12 cents pale dull violet 
 
 15 cents bright orange 
 
 30 cents full black 
 
 90 cents carmine-lake 
 
 With grill 9 to 10x11 to i2J^mm. 
 
 1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, dark ultramarine, 
 
 bright ultramarine 
 
 2 cents pale red-brown, red-brown, orange-brown 
 
 3 cents pale green, green, pale yellow-green, yellow-green, 
 
 deep green 
 
 6 cents pale carmine-rose, carmine-rose, carmine 
 
 7 cents scarlet-vermilion, vermilion 
 
 10 cents yellow-brown, brown, dark brown 
 1 5 cents bright orange, orange, deep orange 
 24 cents pale dull purple 
 30 cents full black 
 90 cents carmine-lake 
 
126 ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 Varieties . 
 
 1 cent ultramarine. Grill extending from top to bottom 
 
 2 cents red-brown, pale red-brown " 
 
 3 cents yellow-green, light green " 
 
 6 cents carmine-rose, carmine " 
 
 7 cents scarlet-vermilion " 
 10 cents yellow -brown " 
 12 cents dull violet " 
 30 cents full black " 
 
 Without grill. 
 
 1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, dark ultramarine, 
 
 bright ultramarine, gray-blue, dull blue, chalky 
 blue 
 
 2 cents pale red-brown, red-brown, deep red-brown, 
 
 orange-brown, brown, dark brown 
 
 3 cents gray-green, pale green, green, yellow-green 
 
 6 cents pale rose, rose, brown-rose, rose-carmine, carmine, 
 
 brown-carmine, violet-carmine 
 
 7 cents scarlet-vermilion, orange-vermilion, vermilion 
 
 10 cents yellow-brown, brown, dark brown, gray-brown, 
 
 dark gray-brown 
 12 cents pale dull violet, dull violet, gray-violet 
 I s cents pale bright orange, bright orange 
 24 cents red-purple, purple, deep purple, gray-purple 
 30 cents full black, gray-black 
 90 cents carmine-lake, lake 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 2 cents red-brown. Diagonal half and another copy, 
 
 used as three cents. Cancelled at Hardy, Ala., 
 April 2nd, 1872 
 
 3 cents green. Imperforate 
 
 3 cents green. Impression on the reverse 
 
 Double paper. 
 6 cents carmine 
 24 cents purple 
 
 Each of the plates of the 1870 issue contained two hundred stamps, 
 arranged is two panes, side by side. The impressions from these plates were 
 Plates. divided into sheets of one hundred stamps each. The imprint appears at the 
 
 middle of the top and bottom of each half of the plate. Between each 
 imprint and the central dividing line is the number of the plate, in script 
 numerals, preceded by " JVo.'' Two styles of imprint were used. The first 
 was " NATIONAL BANK NOTE CO. NEW YORK ", in white Capitals, on a small 
 panel with rounded ends, surrounded by two thin colored lines. The second 
 imprint was " engraved and printed by the — national bank note co. 
 NEW YORK ", in two lines of white capitals, on a tablet with pearled edge and 
 
ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 127 
 
 surrounded by a single thin colored line. The first variety has been seen on 
 plates numbered as high as 27 and the second on 32 and higher numbers. 
 
 The plate numbers are : 
 
 I cent 
 
 No. 16, 17, 50, 51, 52, 53. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 No. 12, 13, 14, 15, 28, 30, 34, 35, 45, 46, 47. 
 
 3 cents 
 
 No. I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 25, 29, 31, 32, 
 
 
 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 54, SS- 
 
 6 cents 
 
 No. 26, 27. 
 
 7 cents 
 
 No. 33. 
 
 10 cents 
 
 No. 18, 19, 48, 49. 
 
 12 cents 
 
 No. 24. 
 
 15 cents 
 
 No. 20. 
 
 24 cents 
 
 No. 21. 
 
 30 cents 
 
 No. 22. 
 
 90 cents 
 
 No. 23. 
 
 The imperforate three cent stamps were printed from plate 11. 
 
 Only a very limited amount of information can be obtained in regard 
 to the plate numbers of the embossed stamps. The following numbers are 
 all that are known but, doubtless, many other plates were used, especially for 
 the one, two and three cent stamps. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 45- 
 
 3 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 II. 
 
 7 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 33- 
 
 12 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 24. 
 
 IS cents 
 
 No. 
 
 20. 
 
 24 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 21. 
 
 30 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 22. 
 
 90 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 23- 
 
 
 1870 
 
 1871 
 
 1872 
 
 1873 
 
 
 
 Apl. to Dec. 
 
 Jan. to Dec. 
 
 Jan. to Dec. 
 
 Jan. to Apl. 
 
 
 
 inclusive. 
 
 inclusive. 
 
 inclusive. 
 
 inclusive. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 13,404,400 
 
 21,573,400 
 
 64,705,900 
 
 38,408,000 
 
 138,091,700 
 
 2 cents 
 
 54,674,800 
 
 90,416,500 
 
 73,018,200 
 
 22,626,400 
 
 240,735,900 
 
 3 cents 
 
 252,804,450 
 
 369,632,700 
 
 417,952,400 
 
 164,570,100 ] 
 
 ,204,959,650 
 
 6 cents 
 
 4,666,450 
 
 8,270,250 
 
 10,193,050 
 
 4,269,100 
 
 27,398,850 
 
 7 cents 
 
 
 1,486,700 
 
 1,066,100 
 
 394,100 
 
 2,946,900 
 
 10 cents 
 
 2,619,180 
 
 3,395,870 
 
 3,443,27° 
 
 1,187,240 
 
 10,645,560 
 
 12 cents 
 
 665,99s 
 
 1,104,600 
 
 1,075,525 
 
 484,325 
 
 3,330,44s 
 
 15 cents 
 
 1,026,840 
 
 1,856,680 
 
 1,871,420 
 
 826,860 
 
 5,581,800 
 
 24 cents 
 
 122,000 
 
 229,450 
 
 299,625 
 
 135,975 
 
 787,050 
 
 30 cents 
 
 i3',S8° 
 
 258,620 
 
 366,573 
 
 106,770 
 
 863,543 
 
 90 cents 
 
 23,100 
 
 119,240 
 
 57,580 
 
 13,530 
 
 213,450 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
 Plate numbers of 
 the grilled stamps. 
 
 The records show the following quantities of stamps to have been 
 printed and delivered to the Stamp Agent : 
 
 statistics of 
 manufacture. 
 
T28 ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 
 
 Remainders. 
 
 
 
 1 cent. 2 cents. 3 cents. 6 cents. 
 
 7 cents. 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 12,227,300 5,826,900 56,092,900 1,155,250 
 
 422,600 
 
 925.440 
 
 12 cents. 15 cents. 24 cents. 30 cents. 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 
 363.05° 390.7°° 581,450 509.060 
 
 85.570 
 
 
 These remainders doubtless represent an undistributed balance of 
 stamps from several preceding issues and not from the 1870 issue alone. 
 
 BeiiTeries to The reports of the Postmaster General supply the following statistics 
 
 poBtmasters. q£ stamps distributed to deputy postmasters : 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1871 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1870. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1870. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1871. 
 
 June 30, 1 87 1. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 3,684,800 
 
 5,163,000 
 
 5,699,100 
 
 5,605,900 
 
 20,152,800 
 
 2 cents 
 
 17,222,300 
 
 22,756.850 
 
 24.571.100 
 
 21,174,300 
 
 85,724,550 
 
 3 cents 
 
 86,944,500 
 
 97,146,100 
 
 99,791,100 
 
 93,719,500 
 
 377,601,200 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1,414,100 
 
 1,723,500 
 
 2,109,900 
 
 2,038,150 
 
 7.285,650 
 
 7 cents 
 
 
 
 166,400 
 
 427,600 
 
 594,000 
 
 10 cents 
 
 803,880 
 
 886,260 
 
 963,030 
 
 926,430 
 
 3,579,600 
 
 12 cents 
 
 231,500 
 
 246,350 
 
 303,725 
 
 232,675 
 
 1,014,250 
 
 15 cents 
 
 326,480 
 
 346,640 
 
 503.320 
 
 463,620 
 
 1,640,060 
 
 24 cents 
 
 30,300 
 
 78,075 
 
 57,725 
 
 71,925 
 
 238,025 
 
 30 cents 
 
 28,920 
 
 67,320 
 
 69,110 
 
 70,150 
 
 235.500 
 
 90 cents 
 
 5,070 
 
 9,910 
 
 14,770 
 
 30,790 
 
 60,540 
 
 Whole number of stamps 498,126,175. Value $14,630,715.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1872 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1871. Dec. 31, 1871. Mch. 31, 1872. June 30, 1872. Total. 
 
 1 cent 4,846,000 5,422,400 6,531,800 10,862,900 27,663,100 
 
 2 cents 21,669,200 23,001,900 25,918,800 21,383,600 9«, 973,500 
 
 3 cents 94,873,100 102,041,000 105,623,600 101,963,800 404,501,500 
 
 6 cents 2,002,700 2,119,500 2,722,950 2,384,600 9,229,750 
 
 7 cents 449,600 361,100 257,300 247,900 1,315,900 
 10 cents 808,860 677,550 922,970 708,160 3,n7,S40 
 12 cents 268,775 299,425 338,675 318,47s 1,225,350 
 15 cents 378,180 411,560 580,900 431,460 1,802,100 
 24 cents 52.775 47,025 116,500 61,950 278,250 
 30 cents 58,350 Si.o'o 108,990 S7,S8o 27S,930 
 90 cents 24,380 12,680 13,650 21,440 72,150 
 
 Whole number of stamps 541,455,070. Value $15,840,649.00. 
 
ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 129 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1873 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1872. Dec. 31, 1872. Mch. 31, 1873. June 30, 1873. 
 2Si33S.200 21,976,000 26,206,100 24,335,400 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2 cents 11,398,900 14,316,900 17,518,700 13,158,800 
 
 3 cents 100,535,000 109,830,000 109,519,800 108,729,600 
 6 cents 2,323,250 2,762,250 3,026,250 2,589,600 
 
 394,600 270,300 281,100 
 
 1,098,930 93z>23° 673,100 
 
 347,600 324,250 322,925 
 
 457,060 536,440 502,900 
 
 85,200 84,400 75,425 
 
 129,780 73,320 71,990 
 
 24,330 7,500 12,750 
 
 7 
 
 cents 
 
 166,300 
 
 10 
 
 cents 
 
 713,210 
 
 12 
 
 cents 
 
 270,77s 
 
 IS 
 
 cents 
 
 399,000 
 
 24 
 
 cents 
 
 35,975 
 
 30 
 
 cents 
 
 70,220 
 
 90 
 
 cents 
 
 8,160 
 
 Total. 
 
 97,852,700 
 
 56,393,300 
 
 428,614,400 
 
 10,701,350 
 
 1,112,300 
 
 3,417,470 
 
 1,265,550 
 
 1,895,400 
 
 281,000 
 
 345,3'o 
 
 52,740 
 
 Whole number of stamps 601,931,520. Value $16,681,189.00. 
 
 As the stamps of the 1870 issue appeared in April of that year and the 
 contract of the National Bank Note Co. expired on April 30th, 1873, it is 
 evident that the preceding tables do not accurately report the total issue of 
 the stamps manufactured by that company. 
 
Issues of 1873-75, 
 
 Historical. 
 
 Secret marlis on 
 the stamps. 
 
 Purpose of the 
 secret marks. 
 
 In December, 1872, the Postmaster General, as required bylaw, adver- 
 tised for bids for supplying thq postage stamps that would be required by the 
 Post Office Department for a period of four years, beginning May ist, 1873. 
 This contract was awarded to the Continental Bank Note Co. of New York. 
 
 By order of the Department, the designs prepared by the National 
 Bank Note Co., in 1870, were continued in use. The new contractors com- 
 pleted their first plate on April 7th, 1873, and began printing stamps at once. 
 It is not possible to say how soon after May i st, the issue of the stamps to 
 the public was begun. The first notice of thefn appears in the American 
 Journal of Philately for August isth, 1873 (page 126), where we read : 
 
 " The difference is easily noticed without the aid of the Company's imprint, the colors 
 being paler than heretofore, and of a slightly washy appearance." 
 
 This, however, was not the only difference, for the manufacturers had 
 provided other means of identifying the stamps made by them. On most of 
 the values they placed secret marks. These marks were quite sufficient to 
 distinguish their stamps from those of the preceding contractors but, at the 
 same time, were of so unobtrusive a nature as to escape detection for many 
 years, even by the sharp eyes of philatelists. Much interest was excited by 
 the announcement in March, 1895, of the discovery of the secret mark on 
 the twelve cents. This was followed, in succeeding months, by the finding 
 of similar marks on all the other values of the series expect the thirty cents. 
 
 Undoubtedly the object of these marks was to provide a simple and 
 positive proof that the stamps bearing them were the product of the Con- 
 tinental Bank Note Co. For several years previous to 1873 there had been 
 much complaint, both by the public and the press, as to the quality of our 
 postage stamps, not only in regard to the designs and colors but also as to 
 poor printing and gumming. It is understood that the Continental Bank 
 Note Co. believed that large quantities of the stamps made by their pre- 
 decessors were of inferior quality. And they feared, because the designs 
 used by the two contractors were identical, that these inferior stamps might, 
 at some later date, be thrown on their hands by the Government, with the 
 claim that they were produced under their contract and must be replaced by 
 them. To forestall any such possibility the secret marks were added. 
 
 The new contractors also made haste to provide themselves with new 
 plates, made from the altered dies, that they might not be required to make 
 
ISSUES OF 1873-75. 
 
 131 
 
 any use of the plates of their predecessors. By the date of the commence- 
 ment of their contract they had an ample supply of plates for all values from 
 one to fifteen cents inclusive. In view of these facts, I have never believed 
 in printings by the Continental Bank Note Co. from plates of the National 
 Bank Note Co., except for the three higher values, though such printings 
 have been listed in various publications. The correctness of this conclusion 
 is confirmed by those whose position enables them to speak with authority. 
 
 The following enlarged illustrations will assist the reader in under- 
 standing the description of the secret marks : 
 
 National Bank Note Co. 
 
 I cent. 2 cents. 3 cents. 6 cents. 
 
 Continental Bank Note Co. 
 
 7 cents. 10 cents. 
 
 I cent. 
 
 2 cents. 3 cents. 6 cents. 
 
 National Bank Note Co. 
 
 7 cents, 10 cents. 
 
 12 cents. 15 cents. 24 cents. 
 
 Continental Bank Note Co. 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 12 cents. 
 
 15 cents. 
 
 24 cents. 90 cents. 
 
 Briefly described, the secret marks are as follows : 
 One cent. A small curved dash in the first pearl at the left of the 
 numeral " 1." 
 
 Two CENTS. A short diagonal line below the colorless ball at the 
 left of the " s " of " u. s." This line can only be seen on very clearly printed 
 copies. But if, at this point, the space between the ornamental outline of 
 the panel which is inscribed " u. s. postage " and the first vertical line of the 
 background (counting toward the left) is blurred or partly filled with color, 
 it may be accepted as an indication of the presence of the line. On all the 
 stamps printed by the National Bank Note Co. this space is quite clear and 
 white. 
 
 Kew platen. 
 
 Description of the 
 secret marie s. 
 
132 ISSUES OF 1873-75. 
 
 Three cents. A heavy shading below the upper fork of the ribbon 
 which bears the word "three." 
 
 Six cents. In the curve of the ribbon bearing the word " six " the 
 first four lines, counting from the left, are recut and deepened. 
 
 Seven cents. Two small semi-circles drawn around the ends of the 
 lines which outline the ball in the lower right corner. 
 
 Ten cents. A small colored semi-circle in the white ball which 
 terminates the right hand end of the panel inscribed " u. s. postage." 
 
 Twelve cents. The two white balls of the " 2 " of " 12 " have been 
 cut away until they are nearly crescent shape. 
 
 Fifteen cents. In the triangle in the upper left corner, two lines 
 at the lower angle have been deepened and form a sort of " v." 
 
 Twenty-four cents. In the star at the extreme right of the semi-circle 
 above the medallion five lines have been much deepened and two others 
 slightly so. 
 
 Thirty cents. No secret mark have been discovered on this value, 
 though the engraver who added the marks to the other stamps is positive that 
 the thirty cents was similarly treated. 
 
 Ninety cents. Five lines of the star in the upper right corner have 
 been deepened. 
 
 The Continental Bank Note Co. did not make new plates for the twenty- 
 four, thirty and ninety cent stamps. They did not print any stamps of these 
 No secret marks on values before the year 1874 and then felt themselves safe in using the plates 
 
 the three higher ^f ^j^g National Bank Note Co. For these reasons we do not find any secret 
 ralues. ■' 
 
 marks on the stamps of these three values which were printed by the first 
 
 named company. They may only be distinguished by differences in the 
 shades, paper and gum. Our knowledge of the secret marks which were in- 
 tended to appear on these stamps is obtained from proof impressions from the 
 altered dies. 
 
 Except for the addition of the secret marks the designs of the stamps 
 of the 1873 series are the same as those of the 1870 issue. The size is, of 
 course, unchanged. 
 
 A circular, issued by the Third Assistant Postmaster General, under 
 date of June 21st, 1875, announced the reduction of the rate of postage to 
 Pire cent stamp five cents, to those countries which had united in the Universal Postal Union, 
 announced. ^j^^j jj^g preparation of a stamp of that value. It may be interesting to know 
 which countries constituted the Postal Union at its inception. The treaty 
 was signed at Berne on Oct. 9th, 1874, by delegates from the following 
 countries : 
 
 Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark (including Iceland 
 
 and the Faroe islands), Egypt, Spain (including the Balaeric isles, the Canary 
 
 Countries lo the islands, the Spanish possessions on the northern coast of Africa, and the 
 
 ^"'"uniin^""'''' P°^'^' establishments of Spain on the western coast of Morocco), Great 
 
 Britain (including the island of Malta), Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, 
 
 Netherlands, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Roumania, Russia 
 
ISSUES OF 1873-75. 133 
 
 (including the Grand Duchy of Finland), Servia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey 
 and the United States. Subsequently this treaty was duly approved and 
 ratified by the governments of each of these countries and acts of ratification 
 were exchanged at Berne on May 3rd, 1875. At that date France also gave 
 its adhesion to the treaty, with certain reservations, the principal of which 
 was that the treaty should not enter into effect, so far as France was concerned, 
 until January ist, 1876. For the other countries the treaty took effect on 
 July ist, 1875. 
 
 The above mentioned circular further stated : 
 
 "The changes in foreign postages will render unnecessary the further use of the 7, 12 
 and 24 cent stamps and stamped envelopes, and they will accordingly be discontinued. Three denomlnatious 
 
 In order to avoid the liability to mistake caused by the near similarity in color between disoontinned. 
 the two and ten cent stamp, the former will in future be printed in vermilion, the color of 
 the discontinued seven cent stamp." 
 
 The stock of the discontinued values was ordered to be used up, so 
 far as possible. These changes were to take effect on July 1st, 1875. 
 
 Mr. Tiffany gives the date of issue of the five cent stamp as Oct. 5th, 
 1875, ^^^ 'his is evidently incorrect. As will be seen, on a subsequent page, 
 in the tables of stamps issued to deputy postmasters, 363,180 of this value Date of issue of the 
 were issued in the quarter ending June 30, 1875. And in the American Jour- "^* """t stamp. 
 nal of Philately ior June 20th, 1875 (page 90) we find the stamp illustrated 
 and described as "come to hand." The report of the Postmaster General, 
 dated Nov. 15th, 1875, says : " To meet the new letter rate of foreign postage 
 under the treaty of Berne, postage stamps of the denomination of five cents 
 began to be issued on the 21st of June last." This statement is apparently 
 based on the circular previously quoted, and may not be absolutely correct. 
 The stamp was probably issued between the isth and 30th of June, 1875. 
 
 The description of the stamp is as follows : Design. 
 
 "Five cents (Taylor). Tablet, legend, and denomination are of a 
 style very similar to the t o cent stamp. The portrait of Gen. Zachary Taylor is 
 the only full face in the series. The dress is an open double-breasted military 
 coat within which appear the neck stock and high white collar." 
 
 The stamp is of the same size as the other denominations of the series, 
 20x25mm. 
 
 The die for this stamp was supplied to the contractors by the Bureau 
 of Engraving and Printing, by whom the vignette had been used on the six 
 ounce tobacco stamp of the series of 1 87 1 . To conform with the rest of Origin of the die. 
 the series the vignette was placed in a medallion, surrounded by devices 
 identical with those on the ten cent stamp. The head was too large for the 
 medallion and the result was incongruous. 
 
 The years covered by the contracts of the Continental Bank Note Co. 
 were prolific in designs and patents intended to prevent the cleaning and 
 re-use of postage stamps. Some of these ideas were given a trial while others 
 apparently did not get beyond the preparatory stage. 
 
 The majority of collectors are probably not aware that this company 
 made use of the grill. In spite of the admitted failure of this device, when 
 used by their predecessors, they provided themselves with the necessary machin- Grills, 
 
 ery and applied the process to a few thousand stamps. The correctness 
 
"34 
 
 ISSUES OF 1873-75. 
 
 of this statement is vouched for by the Treasurer of the company, the 
 Superintendent of the stamp department, the patentee of the process and the 
 man who made the grill roller. In the collection of a New York amateur is 
 an impression from the roller, on a sheet of white paper the size of a sheet of 
 stamps. There are also in two New York collections, a very few copies of the 
 grilled stamps. The grill is small and very clearly impressed. It measures 
 7^x9j^mm., or 10x12 rows of points. The grills are placed 14mm. apart 
 horizontally and 18mm. vertically. The bosses, instead of being perfect 
 pyramids, as on previous grills, are not brought to a point but have the top 
 truncated. Thus the impressions have the appearance of a group of tiny 
 rectangles instead of crosses. 
 
 What is known as the Fletcher or cog-wheel grill — patent 91,108, 
 issued to C. A. Fletcher, June 8th, 1869— was applied to the one and three 
 
 Fletcher or cog- cent Stamps of this series. It was produced by eight punches, shaped like the 
 wheel punch. jgjjg^ ^ ^^^ placed in a circle with the openings inward. These punches cut 
 through the paper but did not remove anything. The result was suggestive 
 of a wheel with cogs. The expectation was that, the stamp having been 
 attached to an envelope, it would be impossible to remove it without destroy- 
 ing it. Ten thousand copies of these stamps were made and placed on sale 
 in the post office at Washington, D. C, in the year 1877. 
 
 The stamps of the 1873-75 series were also printed, by way of experi- 
 ment, on various papers which had been chemically treated. They are known 
 
 Chemical papers, on yellow-brown and violet paper, the latter both wove and laid. These 
 papers being sensitive to chemicals, any attempt to remove the cancellation 
 would at once become evident. Postmarked copies have been seen, but the 
 stamps are not known to have been issued for postal use, and the best informed 
 collectors regard them as being only essays. 
 
 In the preceding chapter reference was made to stamps printed on the 
 Donhie paper. double paper patented by Charles F. Steel. The following extract from the 
 Coin and Stamp Journal for January, 1877, indicates a somewhat extensive 
 printing of the stamps of this issue on that paper : 
 
 " It is not generally known, and will be news to our collectors, that about a year ago, 
 20,000,000 stamps were issued to the public, printed on double paper. The upper portion 
 receiving the impression was soft and porous and it was supposed that any attempt to clean 
 off the cancelling mark would render the impressed portion perfectly pulpy and thus effectually 
 destroy it. The stamps did not meet with much favor and the plan was abandoned." 
 
 These stamps seem to have been lost sight of until a few years ago 
 when search was made and a number of values discovered. The catalogues 
 present quite an extensive list but it is doubtful if all these values were really 
 printed on the double paper. Many stamps on the soft porous paper used 
 by the American Bank Note Co. are not difficult to split and might be mis- 
 taken for those on the double paper. But experienced collectors can usually 
 tell the difference. As a rule, when an attempt is made to split the stamps 
 of the American Bank Note Co., they do not separate smoothly for their 
 entire length but the paper divides unevenly and the attempt results in tear- 
 ing off a piece of the stamp. On the contrary, those which are really on the 
 double paper will separate easily and evenly throughout. Occasionally these 
 stamps may be separated by soaking them in water. There were apparently 
 
ISSUES OF 1873-75. 
 
 135 
 
 only one or two printings and the collector who becomes familiar with the 
 shades of the inks which were used can always tell the stamps by that means. 
 Another variety of the double paper had the surface paper weakened 
 by numerous short horizontal cuts, the object being, of course, to increase 
 the difficulty of removing a cancellation. I have seen the three cent stamp 
 printed on this paper, gummed and perforated like the regular issue. It is 
 stated that this stamp was sold to the public at the post office at Washington, 
 D. C. 
 
 A somewhat similar patent was issued to the same patentee. In the 
 application for the patent it is described as follows : 
 169,125. (Filed March 15, 1875). 
 Charles F. Steel, 
 
 New York, New York. 
 To all whom it may concern : 
 
 Be it known that I, Charles F. Steel, Superintendent of the manufacture of postage 
 stamps for the Continental Bank Note Company, in New York City, in the State of New 
 York, have invented certain improvements relating to postage stamps of which the following 
 is a specification : 
 
 Many efforts have been made by myself and others to produce a practically successful 
 postage stamp, from which the cancelling ink cannot be removed to allow of their fraudulent 
 re-use. My present invention is for that purpose. 
 
 1 take a soft unsized paper, analogous to blotting paper, quite soft and absorbent. 
 Having printed the face from the properly engraved plates, and allowed the ink thereon to 
 dry properly, I treat the back with a soluction of starch of just a proper consistency, having 
 the effect both to lay a thin coating or covering on the back surface, and also to fill the 
 interstices between the fibers in the paper, so as to give the back surface of the paper a firmer 
 character than the front. Then, after flattening in a press, I apply British gum or other 
 adhesive layer on the back of the starch layer, and having again pressed the sheet of stamps, 
 they are ready for shipment and used like ordinary stamps. My improved stamp is cheaper 
 to produce than the double thickness stamp described in my patent of 1869 (No. 86,952) while 
 it possesses in a great degree the same desirable qualities. The soft face will readily absorb 
 the cancelling ink, and will be soaked and washed away on any attempt to remove the latter. 
 This soft body paper should be of such a character, as to be removed and destroyed 
 by a moderate friction after being wetted, care being taken to avoid employing so exteremely 
 soft a paper as will become destroyed by ordinary unskillful manipulation in affixing the 
 stamp. What is called in the trade " water leaf" paper will suffice. 
 
 The layer of starch should be of such consistency as to strike a little, but only a little, 
 into the thickness of the paper. The qualities of the soft body induce less disposition in the 
 stamp to curl when moistened and applied on a letter, there is also less disposition to curl 
 after the gumming, in the process of manufacture. Less care is required in the subsequent 
 pressing and preparation, in the handling and shipment. A thinner and lighter paper may 
 be employed. I claim as my invention — A Postage or Revenue stamp formed wholly of water- 
 leaf or other soft and absorbent paper, provided on the back with a filling coating of starch 
 or analogous material, and a superposed coating of ordinary gum, substantially as and foi 
 the purpose set forth. 
 
 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, on this 13th day of March, 1875, in 
 the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 
 
 Chas. F. Steel. 
 
 Witnesses : Wm. C. Dey, 
 
 M. A. Van Namee. 
 
 Stamps made according to this patent are occasionally seen. Postally 
 cancelled copies have not been reported, but all, so far as we know, are can- 
 celled with pen marks. They are, presumably, only essays. 
 
 The paper used by the Continental Bank Note Co. varied greatly. The 
 majority of the stamps are on a stiff, hard paper, varying from quite thin to 
 moderately thick. A few copies have been seen which are on a semi-trans- 
 parent, almost pelure paper. At some time during the second contract of this 
 company, 1877 to 1881, a paper was introduced which somewhat resembles 
 that used by the American Bank Note Co. in that it is porous, but it is thinner 
 
 Variety of the 
 double paper. 
 
 Starched paper. 
 
 The papers in 
 regular use. 
 
136 ISSUES OF 1873-75, 
 
 and not quite as soft. A few months before the consolidation with the 
 American Bank Note Co., which took place February 4th, 1879, the Con- 
 tinental Bank Note Co. began to use a thick, soft, porous paper, very similar 
 to, if not the same as, that used after the consolidation, or from 1879 'o 1894. 
 It is practically impossible to distinguish the printings of the two companies 
 on this paper and it seems best to attribute all such to the American Bank 
 Note Co. I have seen authentic specimens of the one and three cents printed 
 by the Continental Co. on this paper. The colors are soft, pale and rather 
 blurred. The one cent is in pale blue and sky blue and the three cents in 
 gray-green and deep green. The former value was printed from plates 307 
 and 327 and the latter from plates 265 and 290. Beyond this I have no 
 information regarding the printings on this paper. 
 
 In addition to these papers and the double paper, previously men- 
 tioned, there was a thick hard paper with vertical or horizontal ribbing. It 
 nibbed paper. must be admitted that this is not an extremely interesting variety but, possibly 
 because some values are difficult to find on this paper, it has attracted the 
 attention of philatelists and attained a place in the catalogues. Many of 
 the departmental stamps are quite common on ribbed paper and, on the 
 contrary, some of the regular issue are scarce. Strange to say, most phila- 
 telists pay very little attention to the former but seem eager to secure the 
 latter. 
 
 Mr. Crawford Capen says in the Post Office for February, 1897 (page 
 151) : "The first use of paper of this kind was made in 1873, the largest use 
 in 1874 and the final use late in 1875 or possibly early in 1876." The number 
 of shades of the different values is comparatively limited and would seem to 
 warrant the conclusion that the stamps represent a few printings but an 
 extended period of distribution. 
 
 Stamps on this paper are not easy to distinguish, at least not until one 
 has acquired a certain degree of familiarity with their characteristics. A notable 
 point is a richness and fullness of color, combined with clearness of impression 
 and a high finish which often gives them a sort of sheen. By this quality and 
 their characteristic shades an expert is frequently able to select stamps on this 
 paper, without having to look for the ribs. By holding the stamps horizontally 
 between the eye and a good light the ribbing may usually be detected. As a 
 rule, it is vertical on the stamps of the regular issue and horizontal on the 
 departmental stamps, though there are, of course, exceptions. Mr. Capen 
 also recommends wetting the stamps thoroughly and watching them as they 
 dry. The appearance of the ribbing is usually that of fine corrugations, but 
 occasionally it is more like that of closely laid paper. Some of the stamps on 
 the soft porous paper also present an appearance of ribs, but they are too 
 close together and are only an effect of the wire-wove paper. Some of the 
 department stamps, especially those of the Department of Justice, show, in the 
 background of the medallion, distinct vertical lines, very like ribs. These are 
 not the real thing but were caused by the fibres of the cloths, which were used 
 in wiping the plates, and which drew the ink into slight ridges. 
 
 The gum is yellowish or brownish ; on a very few specimens it is 
 almost white. , 
 
ISSUES OF 1873-75. 137 
 
 The stamps are found in the following shades and varieties : Keference List. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 May 1st, 1873. I cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, deep ultramarine, 
 
 pale dull blue, dull blue, chalky blue, pale gray- 
 blue, gray-blue, sky blue, bright blue 
 
 2 cents red-brown, deep red-brown, orange-brown, dark 
 
 brown, black-brown, gray-brown, bistre-brown, 
 brown 
 
 3 cents bright yellow-green, pale yellow-green, yellow- 
 
 green, deep yellow-green, green, dark green, blue- 
 green, dark blue-green, olive-green, pale dull green, 
 dull green, dark dull green, gray-green 
 
 6 cents dull rose, brown-rose 
 
 7 cents vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 10 cents pale brown, brown, dark brown, chocolate, pale 
 yellow-brown, yellow-brown, orange-brown, red- 
 brown, pale gray-brown, gray-brown 
 
 12 cents dull violet, deep violet, black-violet 
 
 15 cents pale orange, orange, red-orange 
 
 24 cents bluish purple, deep bluish purple 
 
 30 cents gray-black, greenish black 
 
 90 cents pale rose- carmine, rose-carmine 
 June, 1875. 2 cents orange-vermilion, vermilion, scarlet vermilion, 
 
 deep scarlet-vermilion 
 
 5 cents blue, dark blue, greenish blue, deep greenish 
 
 blue 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 1 cent pale ultramarine. With grill 7j^x9>^mm. 
 
 2 cents dark brown " 
 
 3 cents green " 
 
 6 cents dull rose " 
 
 7 cents vermilion 
 
 12 cents dull violet " 
 
 15 cents pale orange 
 
 1 cent ultramarine. Paper cut with a cog-wheel punch. 
 3 cents blue-green 
 
 2 cents scarlet- vermilion. Imperforate. 
 
 3 cents dull green 
 
 3 cents gray-green. Horizontal pair, imperforate between. 
 10 cents brown " 
 
 Horizontally or Vertically Ribbed Paper. 
 
 1873-76. I cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, gray-blue, dull 
 
 blue, sky blue 
 
138 ISSUES OF 1873-75. 
 
 2 cents red-brown, orange-brown, dark orange brown, 
 
 pale brown, brown 
 
 3 cents yellow-green dark yellow-green, green, dark 
 
 green, pale blue-green 
 
 6 cents dull rose, brown-rose 
 
 7 cents vermilion 
 
 10 cents pale brown, brown 
 12 cents black- violet 
 15 cents deep orange, red-orange 
 24 cents bluish purple (?) 
 30 cents gray-black 
 90 cents rose-carmine (?) 
 2 cents vermilion 
 
 5 cents dark blue 
 
 Double Paper. 
 1876. I cent dark ultramarine 
 
 2 cents dark brown 
 
 3 cents green, dark green, pale blue-green 
 
 6 cents dull rose 
 10 cents brown 
 
 30 cents gray-black 
 
 2 cents scarlet-vermilion 
 5 cents dark blue 
 
 Variety : 
 
 3 cents dark blue-green. Surface paper weakened by 
 
 short horizontal cuts. 
 Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
 1878. I cent pale blue, sky blue 
 
 3 cents gray-green, deep gray-green 
 
 The twenty- four and ninety cents have been reported on ribbed paper 
 but, until the information is confirmed by acknowledged experts, it seems 
 best not to give full credit to the report. 
 
 The plates of the 1873-75 issue contained two hundred stamps each. 
 The impressions were divided vertically through the middle into sheets of 
 Plates. one hundred stamps. The imprint appears at the middle of the top and 
 
 bottom of each half of the plate. It is very much like the second style used 
 by the National Bank Note Co. and reads "printed by the — continental 
 BANK-NOTE CO. NEW YORK.", in two lines of white capitals, on a panel with 
 pearled edges and surrounded by a thin colored line. Between each imprint 
 and the central dividing line appear ^' No." and the plate number. Numbers 
 2 to 1 93 inclusive are ordinary numerals, inserted with punches. Numbers i 
 and 219 to 310 inclusive (excepting 233) are script numerals, from ^% to 
 7^mm. high, engraved on the plates. Of numbers 194 to 218 inclusive and 
 233 nothing definite is known. These numbers were assigned to the news- 
 paper and periodical stamps of the 1875 issue but there is no evidence that 
 they were ever placed on the plates. 
 
ISSUES OF 1873-75. 
 
 139 
 
 The plate numbers are : 
 
 1 cent No. 12, 13, 16, 26, 125, 126, 127, 128, 142, 
 
 143, '44, 146, T47> 156, 157, 158, 159, 
 
 160, 181, 182, 229, 230, 294, 295, 298, 
 299, 300, 301, 3°77 308. 
 
 2 cents brown No. 2, 3, 4, 6, i6r, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 
 
 167, 168, 169, 234, 241, 242. 
 
 2 cents vermilion No. 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 
 
 169, 234, 241, 242, 24s, 246, 296, 297. 
 
 3 cents No. i, 5, 7, 8, 9, ro, 11, 74, 15, 17, 19, 20, 
 
 129, 130, 131. '32. '33. 13s, 136, 138, 
 139, 148, 149, 150, 15/, 152, 153, 154, 
 
 '55, 170, '7', 172. i73> '74, 17s, i7'^6, 
 
 177, 178, 179, 180, 183, 184, 185, 186, 
 
 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 219, 
 
 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 
 
 228, 23r, 232, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 
 
 240, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 
 
 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 
 
 266,267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 
 
 274, 27s, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 
 
 282, 283, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 
 292, 293, 309, 310. 
 
 5 cents No. 243, 244, 247, 248, 284, 306. 
 
 6 cents No. 18, 21, 304, 305. 
 
 7 cents No. 22. 
 
 10 cents No. 23, 25, 302, 303. 
 
 12 cents No. 24, 137. 
 
 15 cents No. 31. 
 
 The only plate numbers which have been found for the stamps on 
 ribbed paper are : 
 
 7 cents No. 22. 
 
 15 cents No. 31. 
 
 Much has been written concerning the use of hand and steam presses 
 by the Continental Bank Note Co. It is certain that we find among the work 
 of this company many poorly printed stamps, which some have claimed to be 
 the product of steam presses. Among the stamps of this period we find many 
 copies of what are known as " plain frames," /. e. stamps on which the outer 
 part of the design is very faint and occasionally has almost disappeared. 
 This is the only issue in which they are so numerous as to attract attention. 
 It is more probable that they are. due to poor workmanship and worn plates 
 than to any fault of the presses, since many of these inferior stamps are of 
 denominations which have always been printed by hand. 
 
 The facts, however, are these. During the time of its contracts with 
 the Government, the Continental Bank Note Co. was located in the Ball and 
 Black building, at the corner of Broadway and Prince street, New York. At 
 
 Plate nuinbers. 
 
 Priutingg on 
 steam presses. 
 
140 
 
 ISSUES OF 1873-75. 
 
 Plates used on the 
 steam press. 
 
 Statistics of 
 manufactare. 
 
 this place they had nineteen hand presses and here most of the stamps were 
 produced. The company had also an office in Greenwich street, where they 
 had a steam press on which two plates could be used at one time. On this 
 press were printed one, two and three cent stamps of the regular issue and 
 two and three cent stamps of the Post Office Department. 
 
 These are the only values which the company printed by steam. The 
 press was used during the years 1873 to 876, though not constantly. At one 
 time it was stopped for a year. For the Post Office Department 578,500 two 
 cent and 480,000 three cent stamps were printed. Of the three values of the 
 regular issue many millions were printed. 
 
 The following plates were Used on the steam press : 
 
 1 cent No. 156, 157, 182. 
 
 2 cents No. 166, 169, 246. 
 
 3 cents No. 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 170, 171, 172, 
 
 173. 174, 175. 176, 180, 187, 193. 
 
 2 cents, P. O. Dept. No. 37, 38. 
 
 3 cents " " No. 36, 40. 
 
 Th€ contracts from 1877 to 1885 stipulated that only hand presses 
 should be used. It was not until the contract beginning July ist, 1885, that 
 printing by steam presses was required and then only for the lower values. 
 
 The records of the Stamp Agent show the following quantities of 
 stamps to have been printed and delivered to him : 
 
 Year Ending December 31ST: 
 
 1875. 1874. 1875. 1876. Total. 
 
 1 cent S9>35S>ooo 117,930,000 122,937,500 148,067,500 448,290,000 
 
 2 cents 39,013,000 58,206,550 87,372,500 68,505,000 253,097,050 
 
 3 cents 248,132,500 436,919,500 481,156,500 495,085,000 1,661,293,500 
 
 5 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 
 
 
 9,870,000 
 7,845,000 
 
 5,420,000 
 6,630,000 
 
 15,290,000 
 38,311,500 
 
 6,177,500 
 
 17,659,000 
 
 7 cents 
 
 588,500 
 
 1,370,000 
 
 1,120,000 
 
 
 
 3.078,500 
 
 10 cents 
 
 3,318,500 
 
 3.795,000 
 
 5,137,500 
 
 9,220,000 
 
 21,471,000 
 
 12 cents 
 
 r,oco,ooo 
 
 1,175,000 
 
 740,000 
 
 
 2,915,000 
 
 15 cents 
 
 1.344,500 
 
 
 755,000 
 
 952,500 
 
 3,052,000 
 
 24 cents 
 
 
 
 365,000 
 
 
 365,000 
 
 30 cents 
 
 
 590,000 
 
 
 192,500 
 
 782,500 
 
 90 cents 
 
 
 197,000 
 
 
 
 197,000 
 
 This table settles definitely the much discussed question of printings 
 of the twenty-four, thirty and ninety cent stamps by the Continental Bank 
 Note Co. 
 
 I regret that I am unable to supply any information regarding the 
 quantities of stamps manufactured after the year 1876. I had hoped to obtain 
 the figures but, thus far, my efforts have been unavailing. 
 
 The annual reports of the Postmaster General supply the following 
 statistics of stamps distributed to deputy postmasters : 
 
ISSUES OF 1873-75. 
 
 141 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1874 : 
 
 Quarter Ending: 
 Sept. 30, 1873. Dec. 51, 1873. Mch. 31, 1874. June 30, 1874. 
 
 Dellrerles to 
 postmasters. 
 
 1 cent 21,545,600 25,641,700 31,548,400 32,338,200 
 
 2 cents 11,365,050 17,247,600 14,689,500 16,790,100 
 
 3 cents 106,718,300 108,041,600 115,068,100 111,708,600 
 
 2>636,55° 3,394,05° 3,014,300 
 
 231,100 413,700 351,300 
 
 827,010 1,028,360 1,183,570 
 
 281,050 330,825 376,375 
 
 324,100 85,700 49, too 
 
 86,675 102,500 42,075 
 
 126,130 100,040 44,890 
 
 17,980 17,040 18,270 
 
 Whole number of stamps 632,733,420. Value $17,275,242.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1875 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 6 cents 
 
 2,953,950 
 
 7 cents 
 
 229,700 
 
 10 cents 
 
 832,490 
 
 12 cents 
 
 316,475 
 
 15 cents 
 
 495,140 
 
 24 cents 
 
 54,125 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 55,420 
 
 90 cents 
 
 10,680 
 
 Total. 
 
 111,073,900 
 
 60,092,250 
 
 441,536,600 
 
 11,998,850 
 
 1,225,800 
 
 3,871,430 
 
 1,304,725 
 954,040 
 
 285,375 
 326,480 
 
 63,970 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1874. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1874. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1875, 
 
 June 30, 1875. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 28,373,200 
 
 34,206,700 
 
 38,451,300 
 
 29,921,100 
 
 130,952,300 
 
 2 cents 
 
 13,728,800 
 
 15,808,500 
 
 17,883,100 
 
 21,982,800 
 
 69,413,200 
 
 3 cents 
 
 109,835,800 
 
 116,605,600 
 
 118,961,600 
 
 115,932,500 
 
 461,3*25,500 
 
 5 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 
 
 
 
 363,180 
 2,892,450 
 
 363,180 
 11,648,200 
 
 2,801,650 
 
 2,756,700 
 
 3,197,400 
 
 7 cents 
 
 349,800 
 
 425,700 
 
 415,000 
 
 381,400 
 
 1,571,900 
 
 10 cents 
 
 899,550 
 
 1,043,230 
 
 1,081,780 
 
 ",435,690 
 
 4,460,250 
 
 12 cents 
 
 257,550 
 
 310,000 
 
 334,500 
 
 418,175 
 
 1,320,225 
 
 15 cents 
 
 113,760 
 
 107,960 
 
 212,400 
 
 199,260 
 
 633,380 
 
 24 cents 
 
 86,525 
 
 35,175 
 
 44,525 
 
 105,550 
 
 271,775 
 
 30 cents 
 
 108,830 
 
 74,020 
 
 51,170 
 
 102,890 
 
 336,910 
 
 90 cents 
 
 20,090 
 
 8,710 
 
 9,200 
 
 7,650 
 
 45,650 
 
 Whole number of stamps 682,342,470. Value $18,271,479.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1876 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1875. Dec. 31, 1875. Mch. 31, 1876. 
 
 33,427,300 
 
 1 cent 25,036,600 30,909,700 
 
 2 cents 16,647,000 19,696,200 
 
 3 cents 112,466,600 120,030,400 
 
 5 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 10 cents 
 15 cents 
 30 cents 
 90 cents 
 
 3,241,620 
 
 1,394,550 
 
 1,243,620 
 
 131,320 
 
 40,460 
 
 4,100 
 
 2,033,420 
 
 1,950,200 
 
 1,188,910 
 
 263,840 
 
 119,260 
 
 6,980 
 
 19,934,400 
 
 120,640,200 
 
 2,510,860 
 
 1,830,900 
 
 1,970,530 
 
 331,860 
 
 100,040 
 
 9,380 
 
 June 30, 1876. Total. 
 
 35,853,200 125,226,800 
 18,280,000 74,557,600 
 
 121,529,000 
 
 2,123,400 
 
 1,949,850 
 
 1,595,670 
 
 215,140 
 
 89,680 
 
 2,900 
 
 474,666,200 
 9,909,300 
 7,125,500 
 
 5,998,730 
 
 942,160 
 
 349,440 
 
 23,360 
 
 Whole number of stamps 698,799,090. Value $18,773,454.00. 
 
142 ISSUES OF 1873-75. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1877 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1876. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1876. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1877. 
 
 June 30, 1877. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 25,520,800 
 
 34,380,800 
 
 41,494,000 
 
 40,070,000 
 
 141,465,600 
 
 2 cents 
 
 16,489,500 
 
 16,211,300 
 
 19,070,900 
 
 17,921,150 
 
 69,692,850 
 
 3 cents 
 
 111,583,700 
 
 112,827,900 
 
 116,530,000 
 
 115,192,300 
 
 456,133,900 
 
 S cents 
 
 1,931,480 
 
 1,968,440 
 
 2,499,240 
 
 2,313,600 
 
 8,712,760 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1,419,400 
 
 1,213,800 
 
 1,747,700 
 
 1,558,150 
 
 5,939,050 
 
 10 cents 
 
 1,351,580 
 
 1,397,560 
 
 1,912,260 
 
 1,793.040 
 
 6,454,440 
 
 15 cents 
 
 171,720 
 
 130,000 
 
 289,500 
 
 229,420 
 
 820,640 
 
 30 cents 
 
 64,620 
 
 58,520 
 
 "4,450 
 
 90,180 
 
 327,770 
 
 90 cents 
 
 3,680 
 
 19,000 
 
 7,320 
 
 3,660 
 
 33,660 
 
 Whole number of stamps 689,580,670. Value $18,181,676.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1878 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1877. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1877. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1878. 
 
 June 30, 1878. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 34,402,700 
 
 43,103,600 
 
 45,931,400 
 
 40,296,700 
 
 163,734,400 
 
 2 cents 
 
 15,542,400 
 
 16,756,500 
 
 20,093,000 
 
 '7,993,600 
 
 70,366,500 
 
 3 cents 
 
 115,943,700 
 
 118,525,600 
 
 130,316,300 
 
 118,542,900 
 
 483,328,500 
 
 5 cents 
 
 1,968,780 
 
 2,247,640 
 
 2,961,640 
 
 2,656,040 
 
 9,834,100 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1,523,350 
 
 1,266,200 
 
 1,727,500 
 
 1,419,500 
 
 5,936,550 
 
 10 cents 
 
 1,651,880 
 
 1,613,860 
 
 2,444,470 
 
 2,145,270 
 
 7,855,480 
 
 15 cents 
 
 183,240 
 
 233,020 
 
 360,640 
 
 193,700 
 
 970,600 
 
 30 cents 
 
 65,600 
 
 105,010 
 
 180,850 
 
 60,500 
 
 411,960 
 
 90 cents 
 
 12,040 
 
 2,960 
 
 4,150 
 
 4,700 
 
 «3,8so 
 
 Whole number of stamps 742,461,940. Value $19,468,61800. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1879 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1878. Dec. 31, 1878. Mch. 31, 1879. 
 
 48,958,600 
 
 21,576,300 
 
 "9,675,600 
 
 3,138,800 
 
 1,686,200 
 
 2,615,130 
 
 382,040 
 
 128,170 
 
 6,270 
 
 Whole number of stamps 774,358,780. Value $20,117,259.00. 
 After February 4th, 1879, when the Continental Bank Note Co. was 
 consolidated with the American Bank Note Co., the latter assumed and com- 
 pleted the contract held by the former company. Doubtless, many of the 
 stamps distributed in the last two quarters of the fiscal year ending June 
 30th, 1879, were the product of the American Bank Note Co., but it is not 
 
 I 
 
 cent 
 
 36,379,400 
 
 47,287,000 
 
 2 
 
 cents 
 
 15,820,600 
 
 18,654,800 
 
 3 
 
 cents 
 
 115,967,700 
 
 122,577,100 
 
 5 
 
 cents 
 
 2,143,860 
 
 2,375,320 
 
 6 
 
 cents 
 
 1,382,600 
 
 1,430,600 
 
 10 
 
 cents 
 
 1,767,690 
 
 2,065,890 
 
 15 
 
 cents 
 
 200,660 
 
 239,160 
 
 30 
 
 cents 
 
 71,180 
 
 97,240 
 
 90 
 
 cents 
 
 4,920 
 
 5,600 
 
 June 30, 1879. 
 
 Total. 
 
 47,405,400 
 
 180,030,400 
 
 18,309,900 
 
 74,383,600 
 
 '25,633,600 
 
 493,854,000 
 
 2,545,640 
 
 10,203,620 
 
 1,254,000 
 
 5,753,400 
 
 2,274,380 
 
 8,723,090 
 
 178,500 
 
 1,000,360 
 
 92,350 
 
 388,940 
 
 4,580 
 
 21,370 
 
ISSUES OF 1873-75. 143 
 
 possible to separate the stamps of the two companies in the official statistics 
 and the report of the Postmaster General must be taken as it stands. 
 
 By an order of Postmaster General Frank Hatton, dated January 14th, 
 1885, a committee was appointed to cancel various plates for printing stamps, 
 both ordinary and official. This committee was also to destroy certain stamps Remainders 
 which were no longer required, including 545,600 of the seven, 503,750 of the destroyed, 
 twelve, and 364,950 of the twenty-four cents. The committee reported, on 
 February 24th, 1885-, that they had carried out their instructions. The especial 
 object of this order was the destruction of the remainders of the official stamps, 
 and a more extended reference to this event will be made when considering 
 those stamps. 
 
Issue of 1879, 
 
 Plates of other 
 companies used. 
 
 Kefereuce List. 
 
 On February 4th, 1879, the Continental Bank Note Co. was consolidated 
 with the American Bank Note Co., under the name of the latter. The con- 
 tracts of the former company were assumed by the new organization. . Sub- 
 sequent contracts were also secured by the American Bank Note Co., who 
 continued to supply the stamps required by the Post Ofifice Department until 
 January ist, 1894. 
 
 As has been previously stated, the Continental Bank Note Co. began, 
 about the end of 1878 or the beginning of 1879, to use a soft porous paper for 
 their stamps. The American Bank Note Co. continued the use of paper of this 
 quality, as it was found to give the best results, especially when steam presses 
 were employed. The new company used many of the plates of its pre- 
 decessor, also the plates of the National Bank Note Co. for the thirty and 
 ninety cent and probably for some of the ten cent stamps. It is certain 
 that ten cent stamps without the secret mark, and which are undoubtedly 
 the work of the American Bank Note Co., exist. It is claimed by some 
 writers that these are from the Continental Bank Note Co's plates from which 
 the secret mark has worn away. In support of this statement pairs and blocks 
 are reported, on which the mark shows with varying degrees of indistinctness 
 and is sometimes almost invisible. It is scarcely possible that this claim is 
 correct, as the secret mark is deeply cut and ought to be about the last thing 
 to wear away. And there are certain other points about the stamps which 
 are peculiar to the plates of the National Bank Note Co. and which lead me 
 to believe they are from those plates. The question can only be settled by 
 finding the stamps with marginal imprint or plate number or by examination 
 of the records of the contractors. It is to be regretted that there is no pros- 
 pect that the privilege of making such an examination will be granted. 
 
 The gum used by the American Bank Note Co was generally yellowish 
 but occasionally it was quite brown and, in their later printings, was sometimes 
 almost white. 
 
 The stamps are found in the following shades : 
 Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
 Perforated 12. 
 1879. I cent pale bright blue, bright blue, deep bright blue, 
 
 sky blue, blue, dark blue, gray-blue, dull blue, 
 dark dull blue, dark ultramarine 
 
ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 '45 
 
 2 cents vermilion, scarlet-vermilion, orange-vermilion, 
 
 orange 
 
 3 cents pale bright green, yellow-green, dull green, deep 
 
 dull green, gray-green, dark green, myrtle green 
 
 5 cents blue, dark blue, indigo 
 
 6 cents pale dull rose, dull rose, brown-rose 
 10 cents (National p^te) yellow-brown 
 
 10 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, orange-brown, 
 red-brown, gray-brown, brown, dark brown, black- 
 brown 
 
 15 cents pale orange-yellow, orange-yellow, orange, red- 
 orange, orange-red, pale red 
 
 30 cents (National plate) gray-black, greenish black 
 
 30 cents full black, jet black 
 
 go cents (National plate) dull carmine-rose, carmine-rose, 
 rose-carmine 
 
 Variety : 
 
 90 cents carmine-rose. Imperforate. 
 
 Except when otherwise stated, these stamps were printed from the 
 plates of the Continental Bank Note Co. or from plates made from the dies 
 of that company. The following plates of the Continental Co. are known to 
 have been used by the American Co. : 
 
 1 cent No. 301. 
 
 2 cents No. 296, 297. 
 
 3 cents No. 292, 309, 310. 
 6 cents No. 305. 
 
 15 cents No. 31. 
 
 The following plates were probably used : 
 
 5 cents No. 306. 
 
 6 cents No. 304. 
 
 10 cents No. 302. 303. 
 
 It is reasonable to suppose that many other plates of the lower values 
 were used. 
 
 In the course of time, as they were required, new plates were made. 
 They bore the imprint " American bank note company ", in heavy faced, 
 shaded capitals, without frame or other surroundings. The imprints and plate 
 numbers occupied the same positions as on the plates of the previous contrac- 
 tors. The numbers were all in small italic numerals. The plates contained two 
 hundred stamps each, and the impressions were divided vertically into sheets 
 of one hundred stamps, as in the preceding issues. 
 
 The numbers of these plates were as follows : 
 
 1 cent No. 319, 320, 327, 328, 336, 337, 344, 353, 354, 355, 
 
 356. 
 
 2 cents No. 338, 339, 391, 392, 393, 394, 412, 413. 
 
 List of Continental 
 plates used. 
 
 Plates of the 
 
 American Bank 
 
 Note Co. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
146 ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 3 cents No. 311, 312, 321, 322, 323, 324, 329, 330, 334, 335, 
 340, 341, 341A, 342, 343, 345, 346, 347, 348, 
 349. 35°, 350A, 351, 352, 357, 358. 
 5 cents No. 325, 326, 379, 380. 
 10 cents No. '377, 378. 
 30 cents No. 405. 
 
 During the years 1881 to 1888 inclusive there were many changes in 
 the engraving, designs and colors of the stamps, also stamps of the 1870 types 
 and colors were in issue concurrently with the new varieties. As official statis- 
 tics only take notice of values, it is impossible to decide how many stamps of 
 each particular variety were issued and I can only reprint the tables as they 
 are given in the reports of the Postmaster General ; they will be found at the 
 end of the next chapter. 
 
Issues of 1881-88, 
 
 Issue of 1881-82. 
 
 About 1881 the contractors decided to deepen the lines of certain 
 of the designs, in order that the wiping of the plates might be made easier 
 and heavier impressions produced. Four values were so treated. Phila- 
 telists are accustomed to speak of these stamps with deepened lines as being 
 re-engraved but this is not altogether correct. The dies of the one and three 
 cents were retouched and those of the six and ten cents were re-engraved 
 {i. e. newly engraved) except the busts. The distinction is somewhat technical. 
 It cannot be claimed that either process improved the appearance of the 
 stamps. Their delicacy and clearness were destroyed and the impressions 
 from the altered designs are heavy, blurred and uneven. The stamps may 
 be distinguished by the following peculiarities : 
 
 One cent. The vertical lines of the background have been much 
 deepened in the upper part of the stamp, so that, in many impressions, the 
 background appears to be solid Lines of shading have been added inside 
 the arabesques in the upper corners. The fine shadings outside the arabesques 
 and at the ends of the upper label have been nearly obliterated by the recut- 
 ting. Mr. Tiffany describes three varieties of this stamp, distinguished 
 principally by the condition of the oval below the bust, as showing either a 
 light spot, a shadow, or a background of uniform solidity. These varieties 
 are not in any way due to differences in engraving but to the amount of ink 
 on the plate and perhaps, in some small degree, to the condition of the plate 
 as regards wear. 
 
 Three cents. Vertical lines have been added to the background of 
 the medallion, but they can only be seen on proofs or very clearly printed 
 copies. The vertical lines of the shield have been deepened, making the 
 shadows of the medallion appear, by contrast, only about one-half as wide as 
 before. At the bottom the horizontal lines of the background have been 
 deepened, thus obliterating the fine vertical shadings below the ends of the 
 ribbon bearing the value. A short horizontal dash has been cut, about a 
 millimetre below the '" ts " of " cents ". 
 
 Six cents. The horizontal lines of the panel have been re-engraved, 
 obscuring the shadings of the edges and of the oval and giving it a uniformly 
 solid appearance. The vertic9.l lines of the background have also been 
 
 Betonclied and 
 re-engrared dies. 
 
 Description of 
 tile alterations. 
 
148 ISSUE OF 1881-82. 
 
 re-engraved. There are now only three of these lines at each side of the 
 panel, where formerly there were four. 
 
 Ten cents. The lines of the medallion, the shield and the back- 
 ground have all been re-engraved. In the medallion the diagonal hatching 
 lines have disappeared. At the left side, where there were formerly five vertical 
 lines between the medallion and the edge of the shield, there are now but 
 four. The fine vertical shadings below the ribbon bearing the value are 
 nearly obliterated by the deepened horizonal lines of the background. The 
 re-engraved die was made from a transfer of the old National die and so has 
 not the secret mark. 
 
 Mr. Tiffany says the re-engraved stamps began to appear in November, 
 1882. This date is much too late for at least three values. The Philatelic 
 Dates of isine. Record reported the one cent in March, 1882, the ten cents in June and the 
 six cents in November of that year. The change in the three cents was made 
 earlier than in any of the other values but does not appear to have attracted 
 the attention of any of the philatelic journals. I have it on excellent authority 
 that the three cents was recut in June, 1881, the one cent in July, 1881, the 
 ten cents in March, 1882, and the six cents in May of that year, and that 
 stamps from the new plates were issued to the public about one month later 
 than the date named in each instance. 
 
 About 1882 or 1883 two stamps of this series, the one and three cents, 
 were printed on double paper, a very thin surface paper, backed by a thicker 
 " PongiBs patent " and harder paper. The surface paper was punctured by many small holes, 
 stsmpti. about i^mm. in diameter. These holes were arranged in circles — eight 
 
 holes to a circle — and the circles were placed at such intervals that one would 
 fall on each stamp. The printed stamps did not differ in appearance from 
 the ordinary varieties but, of course, the ink had passed through the holes 
 and portions of the design were printed on the backing paper. Any attempt 
 to erase a cancellation would be almost certain to tear the thin surface paper, 
 while the application of liquids would cause the stamp to separate into two 
 parts, one showing a circle of small holes and the other a white surface with a 
 circle of colored dots. These stamps are known to collectors as the " Douglas 
 patent." It is understood that 10,000 of them were printed. They were 
 placed on sale at the city post office in Washington. After a trial, it was 
 decided not to permanently adojit them and their issue was discontinued. 
 
 The paper, gum, size of plates and location of the inscriptions and 
 plate numbers are the same as in the issue of 1879. This remark will apply 
 to subsequent issues by the American Bank Note Co. unless especial mention 
 to the contrary is made. 
 
 Reference List. Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 Aug. »88i. I cent dull ultramarine, ultramarine, bright ultramarine, 
 
 gray-blue, slate-blue, dull blue, chalky blue 
 July 1 88 1. 3 cents yellow-green, gray-green, blue-green 
 
 June 1882. 6 cents brown-rose, dull rose, claret, deep claret, Indian 
 
 red 
 
ISSUE OF 1881-82. ISSUE OF APRIL lOTH, 1882. 
 
 149 
 
 April 1882. 10 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, orange-brown, 
 
 red-brown, olive-brown, brown, violet-brown, black- 
 brown 
 
 Double Paper. 
 
 Die cut with a circle of small holes. 
 
 I cent gray-blue 
 3 cents gray-green 
 
 The following plates were used for this issue : 
 
 I cent No. 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 387, 388, 389, 390, 
 
 40 r, 402, 406, 407, 422, 423, 424, 425, 475. 
 
 3 cents No. 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 
 375, 376, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 395, 396, 
 397> 398, 408, 409, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 417, 
 
 418, 419, 420, 421. 
 
 6 cents No. 426, 427. 
 10 cents No. 403, 403A, 404, 404A, 480, 481. 
 
 For the " Douglas patent " stamps the only plate numbers which we 
 know are : One cent. No. 362 and three cents. No. 367. 
 
 Beginning in 1885, the plates of the American Bank Note Co. bear a 
 serial letter as well as a number. There are usually five plates to each letter. 
 This change was occasioned by the use of a steam press which accommodated 
 five plates at a time. It is obvious that, in printing with this press, the five 
 plates must all be in the same stage of wear or the printing would be uneven. 
 By means' of the letters each group of plates could easily be kept together 
 and, being subjected to an equal amount of work, they would remain in the 
 same relative condition. A letter was usually assigned to the first plate of 
 each denomination, even when only one plate was made, since more might 
 be added later. 
 
 Under this system the following plates were provided for the issue of 
 1881-82 : 
 
 I cent No. C. 497, 498, 499, 500, 501. 
 
 D. 502, 503, 504, 505, 506. 
 
 I- 527, S«8, 529, 530, 531. 
 
 10 cents No. M. 547, 548, 549, 550, 551- 
 
 Plate nnmbers. 
 
 Serial letters. 
 
 Plate nombers. 
 
 Issue of April ioth, 1882. 
 
 The five cent stamp with the portrait of General Taylor had never 
 given satisfaction. The full-faced portrait was too large for its surroundings 
 and also not in accord with the profile busts on the other values. After the 
 death of President Garfield it was decided to place his portrait on the five 
 cent stamp. The original intention was to print the stamp in black, the color 
 of mourning — as was done with the fifteen cents of the 1866 issue, after the 
 ath of President Lincoln — but the color finally adopted was a dark brown. 
 
 Historical. 
 
ISO 
 
 ISSUE OF APRIL lOTH, 1882. 
 
 Design. The official description of the stamp is as follows : 
 
 " Five cents (Garfield). On a rectangular-lined tablet, the greater 
 portion of which is raised in the shape of a shield, is an elliptical medallion 
 bearing the portrait of President Garfield. The medallion is bordered by a 
 line of small white beads, the legend ' u. s. postage ', being at the bottom of 
 the stamp in small black block letters. The words ' five ' and ' cents ' are 
 above the legend and partly on the lower edge of the tablet, divided by a 
 large five-pointed star, upon which is the white-faced figure ' 5 ' upon a black 
 ground. The star is outlined with white, and the denomination words are 
 each on lines curved downward at the ends." 
 
 The stamp measure 20x25 J^mm. 
 
 For several years the catalogues have listed two varieties of this stamp, 
 the first having the background of the medallion composed of horizontal 
 Varieties. lines crossed by fine diagonal lines, and the second showing the horizontal lines 
 only. Although well aware that there was but one die for this value, I was, 
 at one time, led to accept the two varieties, on the theory that they represented 
 plates made from two transfers, one of which was not sufficiently deep to 
 bring out the finer lines. It is now understood that the plates are all alike 
 and all have the fine lines. The absence of the diagonal lines from a stamp 
 is caused by the ink having been removed from them by too much pressure in 
 wiping the plate and by the operation having been performed lengthwise of 
 the lines instead of across them. It is also probable that wearing of the plate 
 affects the appearance of the lines. 
 
 It was intended to issue this stamp to the public on March ist, 1882. 
 The first delivery to the Post Office Department was made on February 7th, 
 Date of issue. 1882. A few of the Stamps were obtained by favor and used on the 14th of 
 that month. They were also reported in the European philatelic journals in 
 March of that year but, according to the report of the Postmaster - General 
 and the daily newspapers, they were not put on sale until April 10th, 1882. 
 
 The stamps which were distributed in advance of their being placed 
 on sale at the post offices were very probably from the first sheet printed. This 
 The first sheet, sheet appears to have been sent to the Post Office Department at Washington 
 and treated somewhat as a curiosity. I am led to this conclusion by a copy 
 of the stamp which has been shown me by Mr. C. F. Rothfuchs. This copy 
 is attached to a printed form which was used by the Department when filling 
 orders from private individuals for stamps. This form was in use during the 
 time the reprints and re-issues were on sale, from 1875 to 1884, and possibly 
 for even a longer period. It is addressed to a gentleman in the Post Office 
 Department and reads as follows : 
 
 Sir : — 
 
 Washington, D. C, 
 
 Feb. 10th, I J 
 
 In response to your personal application of this day you will find herewith inclosed 
 the following specimens of postage stamps, viz : 
 
 Issue of 1882, 1 — 5c Garfield, $005. 
 
 This stamp is from the first sheet printed and one of the first sold by the Department. 
 
 The stamp which is attached to this document is printed in a very 
 dark brown having a tinge of red, instead of the grayish tone of the later 
 printings. 
 
ISSUE OF APRIL lOTH, 1882. ISSUE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 1883. 151 
 
 Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 April loth, 1882. 5 cents yellow-brown, bistre-brown, Van Dyke brown, 
 
 black-brown, gray-brown, gray 
 
 The plates for this issue were numbered as follows : 
 5 cents No. 399, 400, 488, 489 
 
 K. 537, 538, 539> 54°, S4i 
 
 Reference Lint. 
 
 Issue of October ist, 1883. 
 
 An Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1883, provided as follows : 
 
 " Upon all matter of the first class (as defined by chapter 180 of the Laws of Congress, 
 approved March 3rd, 1879, entitled : An Act, etc.) postage shall be charged, on and after Hlstorlcitl. 
 
 the first day of October, A. D., 1885, at the rate of two cents for each half ounce or fraction 
 thereof, and all acts, so far as they fix a different rate of postage than herein provided upon 
 said first class matter, are to that extent hereby repealed." 
 
 Concerning this change the report of the Postmaster General, dated 
 November 8th, 1883, says : 
 
 "Soon after the passage of the Act of IVlarch 3rd, 1883, preparations were begun to 
 carry the new law into effect. The change left the 3-cent denomination of postage stamps of 
 little utility, it no longer representing the single rate of postage on any class of matter, and it 
 was determined to discontinue its issue. As the public would undoubtly have regarded with 
 disfavor the dropping of Washington from portraits forming the distinguishing feature in 
 the series of postage stamps, it was decided to replace the old 2-cent stamp by a new one 
 bearing the profile of the first President, thus restoring it to its old place on the stamp in 
 most general use. It was also decided to issue a new stamp of the value of four cents, a 
 denomination not previously in use, and designed to cover two rates of letter postage. The 
 portrait of Jackson, formerly on the 2-cent stamp, was transferred to this new (4-cent) stamp." 
 
 The official description of these two stamps is as follows : Designi. 
 
 " Two cents, a plain tablet ; above the oval surrounding the head 
 are the words 'united states postage ' and underneath the tablet are the 
 words ' two cents.' It may be added that the tablet is shaped like the 
 shield on the 3 cent stamp of this series and that the figure ' 2 ' separates 
 the words ' two ' and ' cents,', which form a straight line, resting partly on 
 the point of the tablet and partly on the darkly shaded ground below. This 
 is the first stamp of the series with the legend unabbreviated. The medallion 
 is elliptical, and bears the profile bust of Washington. 
 
 Four cents. The tablet is rectangular and beveled, covering the 
 entire stamp, the lower half in solid color. The legend, like that on the 2 
 cent stamp of even date, is in the unabbreviated form, ' ttnited states post- 
 age,' following the upper line of an elliptical medallion, bearing the profile 
 bust of Andrew Jackson, and is in small white capitals. In each lower corner 
 is a large white figure ' 4.' Below these and in an unbroken straight line are 
 the words " four cents,' in small white capitals with a very small star at the 
 right and left and immediately under the figure '4'." 
 
 These stamps are both of the same size, 2ox25j4mm. 
 
 It has been claimed that there are two varieties of the two cent stamp, yurieties of the 
 distinguishable by the presence or absence of a shadow below the shield, but two cent stamp. 
 
IS2 
 
 ISSUE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 1883. 
 
 these differences are entirely due to the amount of ink applied and to the 
 condition of the plates. 
 
 According the report of the Postmaster General the stamps were issued 
 on October ist, 1883. 
 Reference List. Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 Oct. I St, 1883. 2 cents orange-brown, red-brown, copper-brown, metallic 
 red, Indian red 
 4 cents deep green, blue-green, dark blue-green 
 
 Plate numbers. The following plates were made for these stamps : 
 
 2 cents No. 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 
 
 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 
 
 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 458, 
 
 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 
 
 469, 470, 471 472, 473, 474, 476, 477, 478, 
 
 479- 
 
 A. 483, 484, 485, 486, 487. 
 
 B. 490, 491, 492, 493, 494. 
 
 E. S°7, 508, S°9, 510, 5"- 
 
 F. 512, 513, 5M, 5'S, 516. 
 
 G. 517, 518, 519, 520, 521. 
 H. 522, 523, 524, 525, 526. 
 J- 532, 533, 534, 535, 536- 
 N. 553, 554, 555, 55^, 557- 
 O- 558, 559, 560, 561, 562- 
 P- 563, 564, 565, 566, 567. 
 Q. 568, 569, 570, 571, 572. 
 U. 588, 589, 590, 591, 592. 
 
 V. 593, 594, 595, S96, 597- 
 4 cents No. 456, 457. 
 
 L- 542, 543, 544, 545, 546. 
 
 The Philatelic Record for December, i888, says : " Mr. F. De Coppet 
 has sent us a specimen of the 2 cents red brown (head of Washington) on 
 Laid paper. paper laid horizontally." A similar note subsequently appeared in various 
 other journals. When the De Coppet collection was offered at auction this 
 stamp was listed as lot 2002. I have not been able to trace the copy further 
 than this. I am inclined to doubt that the stamp was really on laid paper. 
 Among stamps of the current and recent issues we frequently find copies 
 which show what appear to be laid lines. Experts in printing, however, pro- 
 nounce these lines to be merely an effect produced by a worn blanket on the 
 printing press, the threads being pressed into the damp paper in printing. It 
 is possible that Mr. De Coppet's stamp belonged in this category. 
 
 The stamps of this and various earlier issues are found surcharged 
 'Specimen" atampB. " SPECIMEN ". This Overprint was applied to stamps intended for distribution 
 to foreign countries through the Universal Postal Union. The complete set 
 comprises the following varieties : 
 
ISSUE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 1883. ISSUE OF JUNE ISTH, 1887. 153 
 
 Ordinary postage stamps. Issue of 1879 : 15, 30, 90c 
 
 Issue of 1881-82 : i, 3, 6, loc 
 Issue of Apl. 1882 : 5c 
 Issue of Oct. 1883 : 2, 4c 
 Special Delivery stamps. Issue of 1885 : 10c 
 
 Newspapers and Periodical stamps. Issue of 1879-85 : ic to $60 
 Postage Due stamps. Issue of 1879 : i, 2, 3, 5, 10, 30, 500 
 
 The report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated Nov. sth, 
 1887, says : 
 
 " Upon the change in the rate of postage on first class matter, from 3 to 2 cents a 
 half ounce, on the 1st of October, 1883, large quantities of 3 and 6 cent stamps and .stamped 
 envelopes were left in the hands of the postmasters and of the public. As those in the hands Kedemptlon of the 
 of the public could not be used, except at a loss, under the new rate, it was thought to be ti,„e and six cent 
 just that the Department should redeem them by giving the 2 cent denomination of stamps stamps, 
 
 and envelopes for them. Orders to this effect were accordingly given to postmasters, Decem- 
 ber 12, 1883; but at the same time, they were forbidden to send to the Department the 
 stamps and envelopes thus redeemed. The result was a large and very gener.al accumulation 
 of unsalable stock in the post offices^ over one-third probably of all the post "offices in the 
 country having more or less of it. On January i, 1886, it was determined to relieve post- 
 masters of this accumulation of valueless material ; but as the volume of it was so great that 
 it could not be conviently handled if called in at once, circulars were sent monthly to a 
 limited number of postmasters, directing them to return to the Department whatever amount 
 they might have on hand. As fast as the stock was received under these notices it was 
 counted and destroyed, the proper credits for it being given postmasters in their accounts. 
 
 By February, 1887, this unsalable stock had become so greatly reduced that all post- 
 masters were instructed to return at once such of it as they might still have on hand." 
 
 Mr. Tiffany says the face value of the stamps and envelopes destroyed 
 "soon reached the comfortable little sum of $731,503.61." 
 
 The contract for the manufacture of postage stamps, for the four years 
 beginning July 1st, 1885, was awarded to the American Bank Note Co- 
 This contract provided that all ordinary postage stamps were to be printed 
 on steam presses. The custom of specifying that the paper should be equal 
 to the sample attached to the contract was also changed and a standard paper, 
 made according to a formula, was required. 
 
 By Act of Congress, approved March 30th, 1885, the rate of postage 
 
 on first-class matter was further modified. The Act provided as follows ; 
 
 "That upon all mattei- of the first class, as defined by Chapter 180 of the Laws of 
 Congress, approved March 3rd, 1879, entitled : An Act, etc., and by that Act declared sub- 
 ject to postage at the rate of three cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof, and reduced postal rates 
 by Act of March 3rd, 1883, to two cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof, postage modifled. 
 
 shall be charged, on and after the first day of July, 1885, at the rate of two cents for each 
 ounce or fraction thereof ; and drop letters shall be mailed at the rate of two cents per ounce 
 or fraction thereof, including delivery at letter carrier offices, and one cent for each ounce or 
 fraction thereof where free delivery by carriers is not established." 
 
 Contract requiring 
 
 printing by steam 
 
 and standard 
 
 paper. 
 
 Issue of June 15TH, 1887. 
 
 A one cent stamp of a new design was issued on June 15th, 1887. It is 
 officially described as follows : 
 
 "One cent. A profile bust of Benjamin Franklin upon a disk with 
 shaded background, the lower portion of the oval disk being bordered with 
 pearls, and the upper portion with a curved panel, containing, in small white 
 letters, the words ' united states postage.' The whole is engraved in line 
 
 Design. 
 
154 
 
 ISSUE OF JUNE ISTH, 1887. ISSUES OF 1887-88. 
 
 upon a shield-shaped tablet with a truncated pyramidal base, bearing on it 
 the words ' one cent ' on either side of the figure ' i '." 
 The stamp measures 20x25 ^mm. 
 Beferenoe List. Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 June 15th, 1887 r cent dull ultramarine, ultramarine, bright ultramarine 
 
 Variety . 
 I cent dull ultramarine. Imperforate. 
 Plate uambers. The plates used for this issue were numbered : 
 
 I cent No. R. 573, 574, 575, 576, 577. 
 S. 578, S79> 580, 581, 582. 
 T. 583, 584, 585, 586, 587- 
 F.r. 644, 64s, 646, 647, 648. 
 • ■ G.G. 649, 650, 651, 652, 653. 
 
 J.J. 664, 665, 666, 667, 668. 
 P.P. 694, 69s, 696, 697, 698. 
 U.U. 719, 720, 721, 722, 723. 
 
 Changes In colors. 
 
 Other changes in 
 colors. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Issues of 1887-88. 
 
 By an official circular, dated August isth, 1887, the following changes 
 were announced : 
 
 "On or about the 12th of September, 1887, the following changes in the series of 
 postage stamps will be made : 
 
 The color of the 2-cent stamp will be green, instead of the present color, metallic red. 
 
 The color of the 3-cent stamp (issues of which are still made to some of the larger post 
 offices) will be vermilion instead of green." 
 
 In addition to the above, the circular announced changes in the designs 
 and colors of certain of the stamped envelopes ; the four cents was to be 
 printed in carmine, the five cents in blue, the thirty cents in brown and the 
 ninety cents in purple. The two stamps and the envelopes were duly issued 
 in the new colors and, during the next year, the four, five, thirty and ninety 
 cent adhesives appeared in colors corresponding to those newly adopted for 
 the envelopes of the same values. The philatelic journals chronicled the 
 thirty cents in February, 1 888, the five and ninety cents in March and the 
 four cents in December, of that year. On the subject of the'se last changes 
 the report of the Postmaster General for 1888 and the Postal Guide are both 
 silent. The customary official circular, announcing the contemplated changes, 
 appears also to have been omitted. 
 
 Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 Sept. 1 2th, 1887. 2 cents pale bright green, bright green, deep green, yellow- 
 green 
 3 cents pale red, scarlet 
 Dec. 1888. 4 cents rose-carmine, carmine 
 
ISSUES OF 1887-88. 
 
 ISS 
 
 March 1888. 5 cents dark blue, indigo 
 
 Feb. 1888. 30 cents brown-orange, orange-brown, deep orange-brown 
 
 March 1888. 90 cents purple, bright purple 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 2 cents deep green. Imperforate 
 5 cents dark blue " 
 
 30 cents orange-brown " 
 
 5 cents indigo. Pale pink paper 
 
 The imperforate thirty cent stamps are from plate No. 405. 
 
 The only copy of the five cent stamp on colored paper which I have 
 seen was shown me by Mr. F. O. Conant. It had full original gum and 
 presented a generally satisfactory appearance. Concerning it, Mr. Conant 
 wrote : 
 
 " The five cents blue, Garfield, on pink paper, is one of a lot of ten or 
 fifteen, purchased at the Portland, Me., post office in 1889, by one of the local 
 collectors. The paper appears to be too evenly colored to be the result of 
 accident. Among the lot was a pair with the top margin. The color showed 
 evenly on the margin, as on the stamps." 
 
 In printing these stamps the following plates were used : 
 
 2 cents No. N. 553, 554, 555, 556, 557. 
 
 0. 558, 559. 560, 56r, 562. 
 P- 563. 564, 565, 566, 567- 
 Q. 568, 569, 570, 571, 572. 
 U. 588, 589, 590, 591, 592. 
 
 V. 593, 594, 595, 596, 597- 
 W. 598, 599, 600, 6or, 602. 
 'X- 603, 604, 60s, 606, 607. 
 Y. 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613. 
 Z. 614, 615, 616, 617, 618. 
 
 A. A. 6r9, 620, 62T, 622, 623 
 
 B. B. 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 
 
 C. C. 629, 630, 631, 632, 633 
 
 D. D. 634, 635, 636, 637, 638 
 
 E. E. 639, 640, 641, 642, 643 
 H. H. 654, 655, 656, 657, 658 
 
 1. I. 659, 660, 661, 662, 663 
 K. K. 669, 670, 671, 672, 673 
 L. L. 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 
 M. M. 679, 680, 68r, 682, 683 
 N. N. 684, 685, 686, 687, 688 
 O. O. 689, 690, 691, 692, 693 
 Q- Q- 699, 700, 701, 702, 703 
 R. R. 704, 70s, 706, 707, 708 
 S. S. 709, 710, 71T, 712, 713 
 T. T. 714, 715, 716, 717! 718 
 
 Fire cent stamp 
 on pink paper. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
156 ISSUES OF 1887-88. ISSUES OF 1881-88. 
 
 3 cents No. 421. 
 
 4 cents No. L. 542, 543, 544, 54S> 546- 
 
 5 cents No. K. 537, 538, 539, 540, 541. 
 30 cents No. 405. 
 
 90 cents No. 23 (National Bank Note Co.) 
 
 It is possible that a few other and earlier plates may have been used 
 for the two, four and five cent stamps. 
 
 Plate 6 1 3 of the two cents was added to serial letter Y to replace plate 
 611 which was broken. 
 
 As has been said before, the reports of the Postmaster General make 
 no distinction between stamps of the same value but of different issues. The 
 following statistics of stamps delivered to deputy postmasters between July 
 ist, 1879, and June 30th, 1890, are, therefore, presented with the regret that 
 they are not in more satisfactory shape for the purposes of philatelists. 
 
 DeliTeries to 
 
 
 St 
 
 amps issued c 
 
 luring the hsc 
 
 al year ending 
 
 June 30th, 1! 
 
 J8o: 
 
 postmasters. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1879. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1879. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1880. 
 
 June 30, 1880. 
 
 Total. 
 
 
 I 
 
 cent 
 
 42,968,000 
 
 54,511,200 
 
 66,025,900 
 
 62,944,700 
 
 226,449,800 
 
 
 2 
 
 cents 
 
 16,289,750 
 
 18,865,550 
 
 23,080,900 
 
 '8,349,500 
 
 76,585,700 
 
 
 3 
 
 cents 
 
 128,951,300 
 
 129,452,900 
 
 148,615,700 
 
 134,583,700 
 
 541,603,600 
 
 
 5 
 
 cents 
 
 2,606,180 
 
 3,021,100 
 
 3,847,340 
 
 3,297,160 
 
 12,771,780 
 
 
 6 
 
 cents 
 
 1,496,150 
 
 1,329,200 
 
 1,850,000 
 
 1,689,350 
 
 6,364,700 
 
 
 10 
 
 cents 
 
 2,209,580 
 
 2,266,220 
 
 3,194,350 
 
 2,679,780 
 
 10,349,930 
 
 
 '5 
 
 cents 
 
 266,120 
 
 243,140 
 
 307,440 
 
 298,420 
 
 1,115,120 
 
 
 3° 
 
 cents 
 
 84,640 
 
 95,280 
 
 134,010 
 
 101,620 
 
 415,550 
 
 
 90 
 
 cents 
 
 7,700 
 
 7,080 
 
 5,620 
 
 5,390 
 
 25,790 
 
 Whole number of stamps 875,681,970. Value $22,414,928.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1881 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1880. Dec. 31, 1880. Mch. 31, 1881. June 30, 1881. Total., 
 
 1 cent 57,783,200 68,475,600 77,951,000 61,097,300 265,307,100 
 
 2 cents 17,166,450 20,455,250 25,918,400 23,111,950 86,652,050 
 
 3 cents 132,174,800 142,142,100 151,953,500 141,143,400 567,413,800 
 
 5 cents 3,182,800 3,799,220 3,944,540 3,923,120 14,849,680 
 
 6 cents 1,226,200 1,768,950 1,698,250 1,711,600 6,405,000 
 10 cents 2,514,310 2,932,810 3,553,620 2,988,740 11,989,480 
 15 cents 213,140 235,240 424,020 214,180 1,086,580 
 30 cents 62,090 118,440 121,840 95,800 398,170 
 90 cents 3,900 6,050 6,050 "0,590 26,590 
 
 Whole number of stamps 954,i28,45<j. Value 124,040,627.00. 
 
ISSUES OF 1881-88. 157 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1882 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1881. Dec. 31, 1881. Mch. 31, 1882. June 30, 1882. Total. 
 
 1 cent 58,349,000 69,592,200 78,612,900 77,380,600 283,934,700 
 
 2 cents 23,499,400 26,407,400 28,861,200 27,578,800 106,346,800 
 
 3 cents i6t, 825,800 166,676,000 183,352,000 168,609,900 680,463,700 
 
 5 cents 4,030,440 4,522,120 S.>93iS2o 5,531,200 19,277,280 
 
 6 cents 1,923,700 1,922,750 2,108,300 2,013,700 7,968,450 
 10 cents 2,955,210 3,554,290 4,362,110 3,670,080 14,541,690 
 15 cents 324,600 326,560 536,720 299,460 1,487,340 
 30 cents ' 90,280 142,290 153,910 123,920 510,400 
 90 cents 7,790 10,050 6,170 5,960 29,970 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,114,560,330. Value $28,679,528.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1883 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1882. Dec. 31, 1882. Mch. 31, 1883. June 30, 1883. Total. 
 
 1 cent 69,662,500 84,371,300 94,134,200 86,031,000 334,199,000 
 
 2 cents 24,177,300 32,501,100 32,435,000 30,777,650 119,891,050 
 
 3 cents 167,930,400 174,138,800 182,868,500 174,862,100 699,799,800 
 
 5 cents 5,226,760 5,733,460 6,233,340 5,838,560 23,032,120 
 
 6 cents 1,941,300 2,519,050 2,404,700 
 10 cents 3,276,840 3,668,370 4,538,500 
 15 cents 401,280 329,160 479,400 
 30 cents 112,770 116,340 138,280 
 90 cents 9,180 8,130 6,260 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,202,743,800. Value $30,307,179.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1884 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1883. Dec. 31, 1883. Mch. 31, 1884. June 30, 1884. Total. 
 
 1 cent 84,582,100 96,221,900 102,338,100 93,814,700 376,956,800 
 
 2 cents 157,598,100 238,918,900 278,928,200 251,623,900 927,069,100 
 
 3 cents 95,461,000- 5,000 25,200 34,900 95,526,100 
 
 4 cents 1,541,200 5,244,200 4,800,500 4,558,050 16,143,950 
 
 1,885,450 
 
 8,750,500 
 
 3,596,450 
 
 15,080,160 
 
 289,260 
 
 1,449,100 
 
 97,620 
 
 465,010 
 
 3,490 
 
 27,060 
 
 5 cents 
 
 5,197,080 
 
 6,1 11,000 
 
 7,570,580 
 
 6,635,740 
 
 25,514,400 
 
 6 cents 
 
 898,050 
 
 
 40,000 
 
 53,750 
 
 991,800 
 
 10 cents 
 
 3,498,540 
 
 3,712,420 
 
 4,885,750 
 
 3,916,370 
 
 16,013,080 
 
 15 cents 
 
 282,340 
 
 265,260 
 
 377,860 
 
 166,740 
 
 1,092,200 
 
 30 cents 
 
 75,600 
 
 1 10,910 
 
 150,930 
 
 96,460 
 
 433,900 
 
 90 cents 
 
 7,250 
 
 6,220 
 
 7,740 
 
 5,920 
 
 27,130 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,459,768,460. Value $29,077,444.00. 
 
158 ISSUES OF 1881-88. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1885 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1884. Dec. 31, 1884 Mch. 31, 1883. June 30, 1885. Total. 
 
 1 cent 80,576,800 90,425,900 97,158,000 96,403,200 364,563,900 
 
 2 cents 244,084,350 247,443,400 279,510,900 266,120,800 1,037,159,450 
 
 3 cents 
 
 
 200,000 
 
 66,000 
 
 153,000 
 
 419,000 
 
 4 cents 
 
 3,9 1 3.' 00 
 
 4,282,750 
 
 4,718,525 
 
 4,289,900 
 
 17,204,275 
 
 S cents 
 
 6,39 ',360 
 
 6,716,700 
 
 7,756,340 
 
 6,958,940 
 
 27,823,340 
 
 6 cents 
 
 
 
 
 40,000 
 
 14,000 
 
 54,000 
 
 10 cents 
 
 3,388,460 
 
 4,090,170 
 
 4,761,940 
 
 4,057,520 
 
 16,297,790 
 
 15 cents 
 
 255,540 
 
 344,480 
 
 302,900 
 
 273,940 
 
 . 1,176,860 
 
 30 cents 
 
 89,160 
 
 71,860 
 
 150,010 
 
 93,210 
 
 404,240 
 
 90 cents 
 
 5,870 
 
 3,860 
 
 4,910 
 
 5,440 
 
 20,080 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,465,122,935. Value $28,429,628.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending'June 30th, 1886 : 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 Sept, 30, 1885. Dec. 31, 1885. Mch. 31, 1886. June 30, 1886. Total. 
 
 1 cent 78,335,600 100,412,900 117,394,800 114,386,800 410,530,100 
 
 2 cents 247,262,600 285,245,400 303,255,800 312,142,600 1,147,906,400 
 
 3 cents 200,000 '55,500 319,600 201,200 876,300 
 
 4 cents 2,257,300 3,563,850 3,008,150 3,248,550 12,077,850 
 
 5 cents 5,999,860 7,259,800 8,652,680 7,875,080 29,787,420 
 
 6 cents 55,ooo 50,700 2,100 50,5°° 158,300 
 10 cents 3,594,110 4,662,610 5,012,440 4,558,010 17,827,170 
 15 cents 258,600 348,500 323,940 267,520 1,198,560 
 30 cents 64,950 135,450 126,400 75,930 402,730 
 90 cents 3,410 7,770 3,500 4,590 19,270 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,620,784,100. Value $31,172,364.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1 887 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1886. Dec. 31, i886. Mch. 31, 1887. June 30, 1887. Total. 
 
 1 cent 80,669,900 117,101,800 124,744,900 109,769,700 432,286,300 
 
 2 cents 249,142,600 351,213,400 326,290,200 319,516,150 1,246,162,350 
 
 3 cents 61,100 312,000 791,500 100,000 1,264,600 
 
 4 cents 2,141,500 4,158,700 3,795,350 3,343,300 13,438,950 
 
 5 cents 
 
 6,258,400 
 
 9,073,660 
 
 9,553,400 
 
 7,614,280 
 
 32,499,740 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1,700 
 
 1,000 
 
 54,000 
 
 1,000 
 
 57,70° 
 
 10 cents 
 
 3,582,310 
 
 5.243,850 
 
 5,933,240 
 
 4,417,120 
 
 19,176,520 
 
 15 cents 
 
 256,040 
 
 540,780 
 
 414,520 
 
 419,520 
 
 1,630,860 
 
 30 cents 
 
 89,710 
 
 115,030 
 
 130,900 
 
 97,410 
 
 433,050 
 
 90 cents 
 
 5,710 
 
 12,480 
 
 8,450 
 
 8,810 
 
 35,450 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,746,985,520. Value $33,774,156.00. 
 
ISSUES OF 1881-88. 
 
 '59 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1888 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1887. Dec. 31, 1887. Mch. 31, 1888. June 30, 1888. Total. 
 
 1 cent 89,936,700 113,0x5,900 125,318,700 121,718,200 443,989,500 
 
 2 cents 296,217,000 348,012,100 368,931,300 334,520,200 i,347,68o,6co 
 
 3 cents 101,500 604,100 1,884,700 1,441,100 4,031,400 
 
 4 cents 2,976,250 3,750,700 3,924,67s 3,592,125 14,243,750 
 
 5 cents 
 
 7,704,880 
 
 8,7i8;i6o 
 
 10,740,620 
 
 9,045,560 
 
 36,209,220 
 
 6 cents 
 
 61,000 
 
 
 
 100,000 
 
 5,600 
 
 166,600 
 
 10 cents 
 
 4,320,780 
 
 S>239.78o 
 
 5.699.870 
 
 4,671,230 
 
 19,931,660 
 
 15 cents 
 
 277,020 
 
 451.560 
 
 357,640 
 
 336,940 
 
 1,423,160 
 
 30 cents 
 
 67,370 
 
 181, t20 
 
 98,480 
 
 95.760 
 
 442,730 
 
 90 cents 
 
 S.920 
 
 11,490 
 
 18,990 
 
 18,120 
 
 54,520 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,868,173,140. Value $36,293,183.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1889 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1888. Dec. 31, 1888. Mch. 31, 1889. June 30, 1889. Total. 
 
 1 cent 97,022,600 127,794,600 130,074,600 118,141,500 473,033.300 
 
 2 cents 325,272,100 356,527,900 387,213,000 339,427,900 1,408,440,900 
 
 3 cents 825,300 1,715,400 2,005,200 1,545,700 6,091,600 
 
 4 cents 3,055,700 3,553.650 4,018,900 3,744,100 14,372,350 
 
 5 cents 
 
 8,492,220 
 
 9,224,540 
 
 10,202,080 
 
 9,116,680 
 
 37,035,520 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1 10,000 
 
 9,2CO 
 
 50,500 
 
 i6,6co 
 
 186,300 
 
 10 cents 
 
 4,558,150 
 
 5,359,320 
 
 5,711,450 
 
 5,355,020 
 
 20,983,940 
 
 15 cents 
 
 278,700 
 
 519,900 
 
 262,560 
 
 291,500 
 
 1,352,660 
 
 30 cents 
 
 75,290 
 
 116,840 
 
 158,300 
 
 84,330 
 
 434,760 
 
 90 cents 
 
 6,400 
 
 8,410 
 
 11,800 
 
 22,900 
 
 49,510 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,961,980,840. Value $37,996,027.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1890 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1889. Dec. 31, 1889. Mch. 31, 1890. June 30, 1890. Total. 
 
 1 cent 164,097,000 88,688,400 154,806,500 143,659,400 551,251,300 
 
 2 cents 455,168,500 305,910,500 424,057,300 390,981,500 1,576,117,800 
 
 3 cents 
 
 4 cents 
 
 5 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 10 cents 
 15 cents 
 30 cents 
 90 cents 
 
 3,588,900 
 
 5,872,150 
 
 12,815,920 
 
 228,500 
 
 6,439,050 
 
 603,560 
 
 156,090 
 
 15,470 
 
 1,085,500 
 
 2,184,050 
 
 6,501,240 
 
 17,100 
 
 4,427,610 
 
 218,680 
 
 66,860 
 
 2,150 
 
 2,805,400 
 
 5,050,800 
 
 10,411,180 
 
 612,650 
 
 6,671,150 
 
 334,860 
 
 154,3°° 
 34,960 
 
 2,666,500 
 
 3,782,200 
 
 9,851,580 
 
 465,950 
 
 4,961,210 
 
 235,700 
 
 90,840 
 
 15-850 
 
 10,146,300 
 
 16,889,200 
 
 39,579,920 
 
 1,324,200 
 
 22,499,020 
 
 1,392,800 
 
 468,090 
 
 68,430 
 
 Whole number of stamps 2,219,737,060. Value $42,734,108.00. 
 
Issue of 1890. 
 
 From the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated Oct. 
 30th, 1890, we obtain the following information: 
 
 "The old contract for adhesive postage stamps exphed on the 50th of June, 1889. To 
 afford time in which to make needful preparations for the new contract, the old contract 
 Historical. was extended for a period of three months, until the 30th of September, under a right re- 
 
 served to the Department by the terms of the contract. 
 
 After a full examination of the subject an advertisement was issued, under date of June 
 17, 1889, calling for sealed proposals, to be received until the 17th day of July, for furnishing 
 all the stamps which should be called for during thefour years commencing October i, 1889. 
 The specifications furnished to bidders set forth the requirements of the contract with the 
 utmost minuteness. They will be found in full in a copy of the contract in the appendix to 
 this report. 
 
 The call was made for bids for ordinary stamps of two different sizes, to wit, those 
 then in use, measuring 1 by 25-32 inch, and a smaller size, measuririg 5^ by ^ inch. The 
 sizes and styles of newspaper and periodical, postage-due, and special-delivery stamps were 
 left unchanged. 
 
 An important change was that the color of each of the several denominations of stamps 
 was prescribed by the specifications, with the purpose of preventing arbitrary and un- 
 necessary changes during the existence of the contract. Samples of the stamps in the 
 selected colors, appropriately cancelled, were attached to the specifications and blank forms 
 of proposal furnished to bidders. Proposals were called for separately for stamps to be 
 printed, first by hand-presses; second, by steam-power presses in which a portion of the 
 work is to be done by steam and a portion by hand ; and third by steam power presses on 
 which all the work is done by steam ; with the right reserved to the Department to make the 
 award upon any one of the three classes of bids. The classification of the bids will appear 
 fully in the copy of the specifications referred to. * * * 
 
 In response to the advertisement two bids were submitted, one by Mr. Charles F. 
 Steel, of Philadelphia, and the other by the American Bank Note Company, of New York, 
 the old contractors for furnishing stamps. The bid of Mr. Steel amounted, upon the basis 
 referred to, to $155,017.39 for stamps of the larger size, and to $151,489.06 for stamps of 
 the smaller size printed on hand-roller presses; to $124,642.36 for stamps of the larger size, 
 and to $122,094 77 for stamps of the smaller size printed on steam-power presses on which 
 a part of the work is done by steam and a part by hand; and to $120,723 for stamps of the 
 larger size, and to $1 17,587.51 for stamps of the smaller size printed on all steam-power 
 presses. The bid of the American Bank Note Company was for printing the ordinary 
 stamps on steam-power presses only, and for the remaining kinds of stamps on hand-roller 
 presses only, and the totals were $158,033.87, comprehending ordinary stamps of the larger 
 size, and $148, 235.47 embracing ordinary stamps of the smaller size. The difference be- 
 tween the amount of this bid and that of Mr. Steel for stamps printed on all steam-power 
 presses was $37,310.87 for stamps of the larger size, and $30,647.96 for stamps of the smaller 
 size. 
 
 At the opening in public of the bids, a protest was made by the American Bank Note 
 Company against the award to Mr. Steel, on the ground that he was not eligible as a 
 bidder under the terms of the advertisement restricting the bids to steel-plate engravers and 
 plate-printers. This protest was shortly afterwards withdrawn, and, preliminary to an 
 award, Mr. Steel was, upon the 1st of August, called upon to demonstrate his facilities for 
 carrying out the contract. Though not engaged in the business, and being unprovided with 
 a plant for printing and engraving, he promised to procure all the necessary equipment and 
 material in time to manufacture and begin the delivery of the stamps on the ist of 
 October, or shortly thereafter. The specifications called for a fire-proof building in which 
 
ISSUE OF 1890. 
 
 161 
 
 to manufacture and store the stamps, but though called upon repeatedly to do so, Mr. Steel 
 failed to submit for inspection suitable premises for the purpose. He offered only one build- 
 ing, though promising a choice of several different ones, and that building utterly failed to 
 meet the requirement. The award was consequently witheld, and it becoming evident that 
 Mr. Steel was either unwilling or unable to comply with his proposal, the Postmaster- 
 General, under date of September 1 1 , 1889, issued an advertisement calling for new proposals 
 for a contract for the four years commencing December i, 1889. At the same time provis 
 ion was made for a temporary supply of stamps for the interval between October i and 
 December i by calling on the American Bank Note Company to furnish a specified number 
 of stamps, under the provisions of the contract giving the right to order an extra quanity not 
 exceeding a three months' supply. 
 
 At the time appointed for closing the receipt of the new proposals, on the 26th of Sept- 
 ember, two bids were submitted. One was from the Franklin Bank Note Company and the 
 other was from the American Bank Note Company, both of New York. The bid of the 
 Franklin Bank Note Company amounted, on the basis of the quantities specified in the 
 previous advertisement, to $163,904.82 for stamps of the larger size, and to $163,904 82 
 for stamps of the smaller size, printed on all steam-power presses, and the bid of the Amer- 
 ican Bank Note Company amounted, on the same basis and for the same class of work, to 
 $i57,64r.93 for stamps of the larger size and to $149,215.31 for stamps of the smaller size. 
 The bid of the American Bank Note Company was $391.94 less than its bid under the former 
 advertisement for the larger stamps and $979.84 more for the smaller stamps. 
 
 Subsequent to the receipt of these proposals another call was made by letter of the 
 Postmaster-General, dated October 8. upon Mr. Steel to comply with the requirements of 
 his bid submitted in July, and he responded on the 12th of October by declining to proceed 
 further in the matter. There appeared to be no alternative but to make a selection from 
 the other bids already received, especially in view of the fact that, through the time lost in the 
 endeavor to induce Mr. Steel to comply with his proposal, the Department had exhausted 
 its resources for obtaining temporary supplies of stamps. The contract was therefore, on 
 the 23d of October, awarded to the American Bank Note Company under its bid received on 
 the 17th of July (it being the lowest of all the bids, except that of Mr. Steel, received under 
 both advertisements) the award being made for ordinary stamps of the smaller size. No 
 hesitation was felt in awarding the contract for stamps printed on all steam-power presses, 
 the work having been satisfactorily done by that process during the preceding four years. 
 As already shown, the successful bid amounted, upon the basis of the number of stamps 
 issued during the year ending March 31, 1889, to $148,235.47. This amount was $9,406. 46 
 more than the cost of corresponding kinds and numbers of stamps under the previous 
 contract. It is to be observed, however, that under the. terms of the new contract, the 
 cost of preparing dies, rolls, and plates for new designs of stamps, or for additional denom- 
 inations, is to be borne by the Department, while under the previous contract, the contrac- 
 tor was required to make these changes at the discretion of the Department and at his own 
 expense; and, moreover, that by the new contract the two-cent stamps, constituting by far 
 the greater portion of all the issues, are printed in much more expensive color than 
 formerly. 
 
 The contract was duly executed, and it being found impracticable to prepare stamps of 
 the new designs prior to December i, arrangements were made with the American Bank 
 Note Company by which stamps of the old style were to be furnished at the old contract 
 rates until such time as the new stamps should be ready for issue. The issue of the 
 new stamps was begun in time to place them on sale at the leading post-offices on February 
 22, last." 
 
 When the contract was signed, on Nov. 7th, 1889, the date at which it 
 was to become operative was advanced to Jan. ist, i8go. 
 
 The specifications furnished to intending bidders on this stamp con- 
 tract provided in regard to colors as follows : 
 
 " The colors selected for the several denominations of the two sizes of ordinary stamps > 
 for which proposals are invited are respectively as follows : 
 The ordinary stamps of the larger size (A): 
 T cent, ultramarine blue 
 
 2 cent, metallic red 
 
 3 cent, vermilion 
 
 4 cent, milori green 
 
 5 cent, chocolate 
 The colors adopted for this size of stamps are show on the specimens herewith, each 
 
 being surcharged with the word ' Sample.' 
 For ordinary stamps of the smaller size (B): 
 
 I cent, ultramarine blue 6 cent, vermilion 
 
 ; cent, carmine 10 cent, milori green 
 
 6 cent, dark red 
 10 cent, light brown 
 15 cent, orange 
 30 cent, black 
 90 cent, carmine 
 
 'Sample" stamps 
 
 iu the proposed 
 
 colors. 
 
l62 
 
 ISSUE OF 1890. 
 
 3 cent, royal purple 
 
 4 cent, chocolate 
 
 5 cent, light brown 
 
 15 cent, steel blue 
 50 cent, black 
 90 cent, orange 
 
 Additional 
 varieties. 
 
 Dates of issue. 
 
 The colors adopted for this s'ze are shown on the specimens herewith, each designated 
 as ' Sample A.' 
 
 The inks to be used in printing the stamps must be of the colors shown on the samples 
 for the corresponding kinds and denominations, and be fully equal in quality thereto. The 
 use of aniline inks will not be allowed " 
 
 These sample stamps were prepared and overprinted by the American 
 Bank Note Co., on a special order from the Post Office Department. In 
 addition to the varieties enumerated in the specifications, several others are 
 known to collectors. They are: the two cents printed in dull lake, car- 
 mine-lake and scarlet- vermilion, and surcharged "sample"; the four cents 
 green, ten cents brown and ninety cents carmine, overprinted "sample" 
 and having the letter "a " added in manuscript, in black ink; and the five 
 cents blue (Garfield) surcharged " sample a " in manuscript, in red ink. 
 
 The one, two, three, six, ten, fifteen, thirty and ninety cent stamps were 
 placed on sale at one hundred and ten of the larger post-offices on February 
 22nd, 1890. The four and five cent stamps were not issued until June 2nd 
 of that year. The eight cent stamp did not form a part of the series as 
 originally prepared and was not issued until about three years later, March 
 .2ist, 1893. Its introduction was due to the reduction of the registration fee 
 from ten to eight cents, on January rst, 1893. 
 
 The official description of the designs and colors is as follows: 
 
 " One cent. Profile bust, after Rubricht, of Benjamin Franklin look- 
 ing to the left, on an oval disk, with dark background and narrow white 
 Designs and colors, border, immediately above which, set in a panel conforming to the curve of 
 the disk, are the words ' united states postage ' in white capitals, and 
 below which, in slightly larger and shaded letters, arranged in a waved line 
 running nearly the whole width of the stamp, are the words ' one cent '. Just 
 above these latter words, on either sides, is a white numeral of denomination 
 —the arable figure ' i ' — in a small oval space, surrounded by an ornate scroll, 
 the upper portion of which is connected with and serves as a support to the 
 panel around the medallion. The whole is placed upon a distinctly lined 
 oblong tablet, seven-eighths of an inch high by three-fourths of an inch wide, 
 with beveled sides and bottom. The color is ultramarine blue. 
 
 Two cents. Profile bust, after Houdon, of George Washington, look- 
 ing to the left, on an oval disk. The surroundings of the medallion are the 
 same as in the i-cent stamp, with the necessary change of figures and letters 
 representing the denomination. Color, carmine. An improved quality of 
 color for the 2-cent stamp was adopted May 12, 1890. 
 
 Three cents. Profile bust, after Powers, of Andrew Jackson, look- 
 ing to the left, on an oval disk. The surroundings of the medallion are the 
 same as in the i-cent stamp, with the necessary change of figures and letters 
 representing the denomination. Color, purple. 
 
 Four cents. Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, after a photograph from 
 life, three-quarters face, looking to the right, on an oval disk. The surround- 
 ings of the medallion are the same as in the i-cent stamp, with the necessary 
 
ISSUE OF i8go. 163 
 
 change of figures and letters representing the denomination. Color, velvet 
 brown. 
 
 Five cents. Portrait of U. S. Grant, after a photograph from life, 
 three-quarters face, looking to the right, on an oval disk. The surroundings 
 of the medallion are the same as in the i-cent stamp, with the necessary 
 change of figures and letters representing the denomination. Color, light 
 brown. 
 
 Six cents. Portrait of James A. Garfield, after a photograph from 
 life, three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk. The surround- 
 ings of the medallion are the same as on the i-cent stamp, with the necessary 
 change of figures and letters representing the denomination. Color, light 
 maroon. 
 
 Eight cents. Portrait of Gen. William T. Sherman, after a photo- 
 graph from life, full face. The surroundings of the picture are the same as 
 those on the stamps below the lo-cent denomination with the necessary 
 change of figures and letters representing the value. Color, lilac. 
 
 Ten cents. Portrait of Daniel Webster, after a daguerreotype from 
 life, three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk, with dark back- 
 ground and narrow white border, around the upper half of which, set in a 
 panel conforming to its curve, are the words 'united states postage', in 
 small white capitals, the words 'ten cents' in somewhat similar letters being 
 placed in a like panel below the medallion. Below this again, in the two 
 lower corners of the stamp, are plain Arabic numerals of denomination, ' 10 ', 
 set in circular spaces surrounded with ornate scrolls not unlike those in the 
 I-cent stamp. The whole is placed upon an oblong tablet, seven-eighths of 
 an inch high by three-fourths of an inch wide, with beveled sides and bottom. 
 The color is milori green. 
 
 Fifteen cents. Portrait of Henry Clay, after a daguerreotype from 
 life, three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk. The surround- 
 ings of the medallion are substantially the same as in the lo-cent stamp, 
 with appropriate changes of figures and letters representing the denomination. 
 Color, deep blue. 
 
 Thirty cents. Profile bust of Thomas Jefferson, after Ceracchi, 
 looking to the left, on an oval disk. The surroundings of the medallion are 
 the same as in the lo-cent stamp, with necessary change of the letters and 
 figures of denomination, the latter, however, being of block form. Color, 
 black. 
 
 Ninety cents. Profile bust of Commodore O. H. Perry, after Wolcott's 
 statue, looking to the left, on an oval disk. The surroundings of the medallion 
 are substantially the same as in the 30-cent stamp, with the necessary changes 
 of the letters and figures of denomination. Color, orange." 
 
 The stamps are of uniform size, 19x22mm. 
 
 The paper, gum and perforation are the same as in previous issues 
 made by the American Bank Note Co. 
 
 There are some minor varieties of the two cent stamps which are of 
 trifling interest. These are colorless marks, commonly called "caps ", above 
 
 Paper, etc. 
 
164 
 
 ISSUE OF 1890. 
 
 Capped nnmerais. one or both of the numerals of value. They are caused by damaged transfer 
 rolls. By some means, probably over hardening, a bit of the roll was chipped 
 off. In one instance the break occurred above the right-hand numeral, in 
 another above the left, and in the third above both numerals. These three 
 transfers and others which were not damaged were used in conjunction and 
 the resulting combinations are interesting to specialists. There is in the collec- 
 tion of Mr. H. E. Beats a strip of ten stamps, from the upper right quarter of 
 plate VV246, of which the first three stamps (counting from the left) have 
 caps on the left-hand numeral, and the other stamps of the row have caps 
 on both numerals. In the same collection are similar strips from plates 
 TT235, VV247 and VV248, all the stamps of which have caps on the numeral 
 at the left, and a strip from plate VV24S ^i'^h ^^P^ °^ ^o'^'^ numerals. Mr. 
 Beats' strips from plates SS232, TT236, 238 and 239 do not show any caps. 
 Nos. UU240, 241, 242, 243 and 244 are on plates of the one cent stamp. The 
 other adjacent numbers I have not seen. It is possible that some of them 
 are of the capped varieties. 
 
 In view of the rigid and almost microscopical examination to which 
 stamp plates are understood to be subjected it is surprising that these defec- 
 tive plates were not discovered, or, if discovered, were allowed to be used. 
 
 The following shades and varieties are found in this issue : 
 
 Reference List. Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, dark ultramarine, 
 gray-blue, dull blue 
 
 2 cents lake, violet-lake, lilac-rose, carmine-lake, pale car- 
 mine, carmine, deep carmine, carmine-rose, bright 
 aniline rose, deep aniline rose, rose, crimson 
 
 3 cents bright purple, deep purple 
 
 4 cents dark yellow-brown, black-brown 
 
 5 cents orange-brown, deep orange-brown, bistre-brown, 
 dark brown 
 
 6 cents claret, claret-brown, rose-brown 
 8 cents gray-lilac, gray-violet 
 
 10 cents deep blue-green, dark gray-green 
 15 cents indigo, deep indigo 
 30 cents gray-black, full black 
 90 cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 
 J''arieties: 
 2 cents carmine. Cap on right numeral 
 2 cents carmine-lake, carmine, carmine-rose, rose. Cap 
 
 on left numeral 
 2 cents carmine-lake, carmine-rose. Caps on both num- 
 erals 
 8 cents magenta. Error. Color of the eight cents of 
 
 the Columbian issue 
 t cent deep ultramarine, Imperforate 
 
 Feb. 22nd, 1890. 
 
 June 2nd, 1890. 
 
 Feb. 22nd, 1890. 
 March 21st, 1893. 
 Feb. 22nd, 1890. 
 
ISSUE OF 1890. 
 
 165 
 
 2 cents carmine-rose, carmine Imperforate 
 
 3 cents purple " 
 
 4 cents dark yellow-brown " 
 
 5 cents orange-brown " 
 
 6 cents claret " 
 8 cents gray-lilac " 
 
 ro cents deep blue-green 
 
 15 cents indigo " 
 
 30 cents black " 
 
 90 cents orange " 
 
 Bisected stamps of this and subsequent issues are not at all uncommon. 
 By the present rules of the Post Office Department such varieties are not 
 receivable for postage and, even should one be accepted at the office where a Bisected stamps, 
 letter is mailed, the postmaster at the office of delivery is instructed to treat 
 the letter as unpaid. On occasions, the exhaustion of the lower values in a 
 post office has appeared to warrant the use of bisected stamps and such 
 varieties have even been endorsed by the postmaster, despite the rule of the 
 department. But, on the other hand, many such oddities have been passed 
 through the post by favor or carelessness and collectors will probably do 
 well to entirely eschew such varieties in the later issues. 
 
 While this issue was being prepared, proofs were made, from plates of 
 the two, four and five cents, in a variety of shades which closely approach 
 those of the issued stamps. There were five shades of the two cents, eleven Proofs. 
 
 of the four cents and thirteen of the five cents. These proofs are on the 
 regular paper gummed and finished except that they are not perforated. 
 There would be no occasion for mentioning them, were it not that they are 
 occasionally offered for sale as imperforate varieties of the issued stamps and 
 collectors should be informed of their true character. 
 
 In this issue many plates of the one and two cent values contained four 
 hundred stamps each. All the other plates contained two hundred stamps 
 each. The impressions were , as usual, cut into sheets of one hundred stamps. piates. 
 
 The imprints and plate numbers were in the same style and occupied the same 
 positions as on previous plates of the same contractors. In addition some, if 
 not all, of the plates had the inscription "American bank note company " 
 at the outer side of each pane of one hundred stamps. 
 
 In the following list the figures enclosed in parenthesis indicate the 
 number of the stamps on each plate. 
 
 The numbers of the plates were as follows: P'»t« mimbers. 
 
 I cent (400) C. II, 12, 13, 14, 15 
 
 (400) G. 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 
 
 (400) Q. 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 
 
 (400) BB. 145, 146, 147, 148, 149 
 
 (400) FF. 165, 166, 167. 168, 169 
 
 (400) UU. 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 
 
 (400) Cr. 280, 281, 282, 283. 2i 
 
 (400) Dr. 285,286,287,288,289, 
 
 (400) Fi. 29s, 296, 297, 298, 299 
 
1 66 
 
 ISSUE OF 1890. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 (400 
 
 ) A. 
 
 I, 
 
 2 
 
 , 3, 
 
 4, 
 
 5- 
 
 (400 
 
 ) B. 
 
 6, 
 
 7 
 
 8, 
 
 9, 
 
 10, 71 
 
 (400 
 
 ) D. 
 
 16, 
 
 17 
 
 18, 
 
 19, 
 
 20. 
 
 (400 
 
 I F. 
 
 3'. 
 
 32 
 
 33, 
 
 34, 
 
 35- 
 
 (400, 
 
 » H. 
 
 41, 
 
 42 
 
 43, 
 
 44, 
 
 45- 
 
 (200' 
 
 ) K. 
 
 56, 
 
 57 
 
 58, 
 
 59, 
 
 60. 
 
 (200' 
 
 1 L. 
 
 61, 
 
 62 
 
 63, 
 
 64. 
 
 65- 
 
 (200 
 
 ) M. 
 
 66, 
 
 67 
 
 68, 
 
 69, 
 
 70, 99 
 
 (200' 
 
 N. 
 
 74, 
 
 75 
 
 76, 
 
 77, 
 
 78. 
 
 (200 
 
 0. 
 
 79. 
 
 80 
 
 81, 
 
 82, 
 
 83- 
 
 (400; 
 
 > P. 
 
 84, 
 
 85 
 
 86, 
 
 87, 
 
 88. 
 
 (400' 
 
 R. 
 
 94, 
 
 95 
 
 96, 
 
 97, 
 
 98. 
 
 (200] 
 
 S. 
 
 100, 
 
 lOI, 
 
 102, 
 
 ■03, 
 
 104. 
 
 (200 
 
 T. 
 
 los, 
 
 106, 
 
 107, 
 
 108, 
 
 109. 
 
 (zoo' 
 
 U. 
 
 no, 
 
 III 
 
 IIZ, 
 
 i'3, 
 
 114. 
 
 (200] 
 
 V. 
 
 I'S, 
 
 116 
 
 i'7, 
 
 118, 
 
 119. 
 
 (400^ 
 
 w. 
 
 120, 
 
 121, 
 
 I2Z, 
 
 '23, 
 
 124. 
 
 (zoo' 
 
 X. 
 
 "5, 
 
 126 
 
 '27, 
 
 128, 
 
 129. 
 
 (400; 
 
 Y. 
 
 130, 
 
 131 
 
 132, 
 
 133, 
 
 134- 
 
 (400; 
 
 1 z. 
 
 13s, 
 
 136 
 
 137, 
 
 138, 
 
 •39- 
 
 (200] 
 
 AA. 
 
 140, 
 
 141 
 
 142, 
 
 143, 
 
 144. 
 
 (400; 
 
 CC. 
 
 '5°- 
 
 T5' 
 
 152, 
 
 '53, 
 
 154- 
 
 (400; 
 
 DD. 
 
 '55, 
 
 156 
 
 '57, 
 
 158, 
 
 I59- 
 
 (400 
 
 EE. 
 
 160, 
 
 161, 
 
 162, 
 
 163, 
 
 164. 
 
 (400' 
 
 GG. 
 
 170, 
 
 171, 
 
 172, 
 
 '73, 
 
 174. 
 
 (400; 
 
 HH. 
 
 175, 
 
 176, 
 
 177, 
 
 .78, 
 
 .79. 
 
 (200' 
 
 II. 
 
 180, 
 
 18. 
 
 182, 
 
 '83, 
 
 184. 
 
 (200] 
 
 JJ- 
 
 18s, 
 
 186 
 
 187, 
 
 188, 
 
 189. 
 
 (200' 
 
 KK. 
 
 190, 
 
 '9' 
 
 192, 
 
 '93, 
 
 194. 
 
 (200' 
 
 LL. 
 
 '95, 
 
 196 
 
 '97, 
 
 198, 
 
 199. 
 
 (400; 
 
 NN. 
 
 205, 
 
 206 
 
 207, 
 
 208, 
 
 209. 
 
 (200' 
 
 00. 
 
 210, 
 
 211 
 
 2IZ, 
 
 213, 
 
 214. 
 
 (200 
 
 PP. 
 
 2'S, 
 
 Z16 
 
 ZI7, 
 
 2 18, 
 
 219. 
 
 (400] 
 
 QQ. 
 
 220, 
 
 2ZI 
 
 222, 
 
 223, 
 
 224. 
 
 (200; 
 
 RR. 
 
 225, 
 
 226 
 
 227, 
 
 228, 
 
 229. 
 
 (400] 
 
 SS. 
 
 230, 
 
 231 
 
 232, 
 
 233, 
 
 234- 
 
 (400; 
 
 TT. 
 
 235, 
 
 236 
 
 237, 
 
 238, 
 
 239- 
 
 (200 
 
 VV. 
 
 245, 
 
 246 
 
 247, 
 
 248, 
 
 249. 
 
 (200 
 
 )■ WW. 
 
 250, 
 
 251 
 
 252, 
 
 253, 
 
 254- 
 
 (200 
 
 XX. 
 
 255, 
 
 256 
 
 257, 
 
 258, 
 
 259- 
 
 (200] 
 
 YY 
 
 a6o. 
 
 261 
 
 262, 
 
 263, 
 
 264. 
 
 (400; 
 
 1 Ai. 
 
 270, 
 
 271 
 
 272, 
 
 273, 
 
 274. 
 
 (400 
 
 ) Br. 
 
 27s, 
 
 276 
 
 277, 
 
 278, 
 
 279. 
 
 (400 
 
 ) Ei. 
 
 290, 
 
 291 
 
 292, 
 
 293, 
 
 294. 
 
 (400; 
 
 1 Gi. 
 
 300, 
 
 301 
 
 302, 
 
 303, 
 
 304- 
 
 (400 
 
 ) Hi. 
 
 305, 
 
 306 
 
 , 3°7, 
 
 308, 
 
 309- 
 
 (400 
 
 ) I'- 
 
 310, 
 
 3" 
 
 , 3'2, 
 
 3 '3, 
 
 314- 
 
ISSUE OF 1890. 
 
 167 
 
 3 cents 
 
 4 cents 
 
 5 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 8 cents 
 
 10 cents 
 15 cents 
 30 cents 
 90 cents 
 
 Plates 71 and 99 we: 
 damaged plates. 
 
 Stamps from the io, 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents 
 
 5 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 15 cents 
 30 cents 
 90 cents 
 
 400) Ji. 315, 316, 317, 318, 319 
 
 ) Ki. 320, 321, 322, 323, 324 
 
 ) Li- 32S> 326, 327, 328, 329 
 
 ) Mi. 330, 331, 332, 333, 334 
 
 ) Nr. 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 
 
 ) Oi. 340, 341, 342, 343, 344 
 
 ) Pi- 345. 346, 347, 348, 349 
 
 200) 21, 72. 
 
 200) J. 51, 52, S3, 54, 55 
 
 200) MM. 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 
 
 47, 48, 49, S° 
 
 200) I. 46, 
 
 200) 23. 
 
 200) ZZ. 265, 266, 267, 268, 269 
 
 200) E. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 
 
 200) 22. 
 
 200) 24. 
 
 200) 25. 
 
 e added to the groups lettered B and M to replace 
 
 lowing plates are known in imperforate condition : 
 
 D. 18, F. 34. 
 
 21. 
 I. 46. 
 
 23- 
 22. 
 24. 
 
 25- 
 
 The annual reports of the Postmaster General and of the Bureau of 
 Engraving and Printing supply the following statistics of stamps issued to 
 deputy postmasters : 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1891 : 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1890. Dec. 31,1890. Mch. 31, 1891. June 30, 1891. Total. 
 
 1 cent 121,144,100 146,001,900 160,068,400 151,494,100 578,708,500 
 
 2 cents 394,563,400 435,499,000 464,456,200 425,781,700 1,720,300,300 
 
 3 cents 2,053,700 2,596,300 3,334,400 2,900,700 10,885,100 
 
 4 cents 3,471,350 5,248,100 4,878,250 3,764,100 17,361,800 
 
 5 cents 9,227,460 11,054,240 12,197,780 10,433,200 42,912,680 
 
 6 cents 
 
 531,550 
 
 720,050 
 
 39 ',65° 
 
 348,550 
 
 1,991,800 
 
 10 cents 
 
 4,915,680 
 
 5,783,260 
 
 6,939,180 
 
 5,447,650 
 
 23,085,770 
 
 15 cents 
 
 362,560 
 
 475,000 
 
 580,960 
 
 267,080 
 
 1,685,600 
 
 30 cents- 
 
 91,790 
 
 186,330 
 
 J 60,530 
 
 88,410 
 
 527,060 
 
 90 cents 
 
 13,430 
 
 11,230 
 
 7,790 
 
 12,280 
 
 44,730 
 
 DellTerles to 
 postmasters. 
 
 Whole number of stamps :^,397, 503,340. Value $46,239,050.00. 
 
i68 
 
 ISSUE OK 1890. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1892 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1891. Dec. 31, 1891. Mch. 31, 1892. June 30, 1892 Total. 
 
 1 cent 123,667,200 172,387,600 170,077,700 159,108,400 625,240,900 
 
 2 cents 402,173,600 474,486,800 489,161,800 447,493,500 1,813,315,700 
 
 3 cents 2,085,800 3,619,000 4,228,200 2,749,600 12,682,600 
 
 4 cents 
 
 3,8ro,ooo 
 
 S,28r,9oo 
 
 5,164,200 
 
 4,559.100 
 
 18,815,200 
 
 5 cents 
 
 9,329,180 
 
 12,404,380 
 
 12,515,540 
 
 10,705,520 
 
 44,954,620 
 
 6 cents 
 
 570,750 
 
 780,900 
 
 626,650 
 
 295,650 
 
 2,273,950 
 
 10 cents 
 
 4,808,690 
 
 6,448,900 
 
 6,770,290 
 
 5,758,880 
 
 23,786,760 
 
 15 cents 
 
 404,720 
 
 543,840 
 
 443,420 
 
 258,360 
 
 1,650,340 
 
 30 cents 
 
 129,290 
 
 135,410 
 
 129,910 
 
 116,670 
 
 511,280 
 
 90 cents 
 
 12,990 
 
 8,000 
 
 7,480 
 
 10,390 
 
 38,860 
 
 Whole number of stamps 2,543,270,210. Value $48,850,562.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1893 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1892. Dec. 31, 1892. 
 
 1 cent 133,659,850 160,812,800 
 
 2 cents 439,410,000 470,560,800 
 
 Mch. 31, 1893. June 30, 1893. Total. 
 
 51,128,400 90,341,300 435,942,350 
 72,173,600 217,612,200 1,199,756,600 
 
 3 cents 
 
 2,357,550 
 
 3,834,000 
 
 1,117,100 
 
 1,671,300 
 
 8,979,950 
 
 4 cents 
 
 4,270,600 
 
 5,639,875 
 
 1,031,300 
 
 2,559,300 
 
 13,501,075 
 
 5 cents 
 
 10,487,330 
 
 11,838,540 
 
 1,197,460 
 
 4,997,260 
 
 28,520,590 
 
 6 cents 
 
 632,950 
 
 1,074,550 
 
 164,450 
 
 365,800 
 
 2,237,750 
 
 8 cents 
 
 
 
 139,250 
 
 1,403,250 
 
 1,542,500 
 
 10 cents 
 
 5,241,000 
 
 6,151,400 
 
 735,350 
 
 1,697,130 
 
 13,824,880 
 
 15 cents 
 
 310,470 
 
 679,600 
 
 46,640 
 
 113,720 
 
 1,150,430 
 
 30 cents 
 
 123,650 
 
 119,180 
 
 12,910 
 
 34,870 
 
 290,610 
 
 90 cents 
 
 15,820 
 
 23,380 
 
 170 
 
 1,990 
 
 41,360 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,705,788,095. Value $32,527,151.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1 894 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1893. Dec 31, 1893. Mch. 31, 1894. June 30, 1894. Total. 
 
 1 cent 78,059,300 71,907,600 116,841,900 138,586,300 405,395,100 
 
 2 cents 275,632,700 200,240,200 275,930,000 403,934,600 1,155,737,500 
 
 3 cents 
 
 1,221,900 
 
 2,096,500 
 
 4,719,900 
 
 3,774,200 
 
 11,812,500 
 
 4 cents 
 
 2,161,900 
 
 1,871,450 
 
 5,598,000 
 
 4,574,650 
 
 i4,2o6,oco 
 
 5 cents 
 
 3,948,140 
 
 3,434,380 
 
 9,857,560 
 
 9,582,440 
 
 26,822,520 
 
 6 cents 
 
 402,400 
 
 303,400 
 
 959,800 
 
 1,043,800 
 
 2,709,400 
 
 8 cents 
 
 1,013,750 
 
 781,200 
 
 1,609,000 
 
 1,727,450 
 
 5,131,400 
 
 10 cents 
 
 1,722,600 
 
 1,719,670 
 
 3,137,300 
 
 3,050,150 
 
 9,629,720 
 
 15 cents 
 
 118,740 
 
 79,380 
 
 231,200 
 
 368,440 
 
 797,760 
 
 30 cents 
 
 81,190 
 
 13,830 
 
 49,450 
 
 148,610 
 
 293,080 
 
 90 cents 
 
 530 
 
 660 
 
 5,050 
 
 9,030 
 
 15,270 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,632,550,250. Value $31,189,821.00. 
 
ISSUE OF 1890. 
 
 169 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895 : 
 
 Quarter. Ending : 
 
 Dec. 31, 1894. Mch. 31, 1895. June 30, 1895. 
 29,186,600 
 
 Sept. 30, 1894. 
 I cent 131,620,000 
 
 2 cents 
 
 432,205,100 
 
 23,404,300 
 
 3 cents 
 
 2,517,100 
 
 
 
 4 cents 
 
 2,875,400 
 
 
 5 cents 
 
 9,026,120 
 
 
 6 cents 
 
 40,500 
 
 
 8 cents 
 
 1,228,550 
 
 2,138,450 
 
 10 cents 
 
 2,419,030 
 
 
 15 cents 
 
 2 1 7,020 
 
 47,560 
 
 30 cents 
 
 75.55° 
 
 37,438 
 
 90 cents 
 
 9,120 
 
 70,381 
 
 2,046,900 
 
 Total. 
 
 160,806,600 
 
 455,609,400 
 
 2,517,100 
 
 2,875,400 
 
 9,026,120 
 
 40,500 
 
 5,413,900 
 
 2,419,030 
 
 264,580 
 
 112,988 
 
 79,Sor 
 
 Whole number of stamps 639,165,119. Value $12,184,668.30. 
 
Issue of 1893, 
 
 Columbian Series. 
 
 The reasons for the issue and other particulars concerning it are given 
 in the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated November 
 2oth, 1892, as follows : 
 
 " During the past summer the determination was reached by the Department to issue, 
 during the progress ofthe Columbian Exposition at Chicago, a special series of adhesive 
 Historical. postage stamps of such a character as would help to signalize the four hundredth anniversary 
 
 of the discovery of America by Columbus. This course was in accordance with the practice 
 of other great postal administrations on occasions of national rejoicing, and.it was consistent 
 with the idea of a display at the Exposition of such articles as would illustrate the history, - 
 progress and administrative functions of the Post-Office Department, which Congress, by 
 statute, has directed to be made part of a general governmental exhibit. The same idea had 
 been carried out in a limited way during the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876, 
 by the issue, concurrently with that event, of a specal design of stamped envelopes appro- 
 priate to the celebration. The measure was not only calculated to prove a popular one, but 
 to be the means, through the sale of the stamps to the collectors, and by specially stimulating 
 the use of the stamps by the public, of adding largely to the revenue of the Department. 
 
 The collecting of stamps is deserving of encouragement, for it tends to the cultivation 
 of artistic tastes and the study of history and geography, especially on the part of the young, 
 by the examination and comparison of stamps of different nations of the world, and to a 
 more accurate knowledge of their postal systems. The new stamps will be purchased in 
 large quantities simply for the use of collections, without ever being presented in payment 
 of postage; and the stamps sold in this way will of course, prove a clear gain to the Depart- 
 ment. 
 
 The benefits to accrue to the Exposition from the issue of such a series of stamps, by 
 constantly drawing to it public attention, both at home and abroad, are too patent to need 
 elaboration. 
 
 The necessary arrangements for manufacturing the new stamps were made with the 
 present contractors for furnishing all the other stamps in use. The work was begun late in 
 September last, and it has progressed with such rapidity that a supply of upwards oT 100,- 
 000,000 of the leading denominations has already been accumulated. It is expected that the 
 full series will be completed in time to place the stamps on sale on Monday the 2d of January, 
 the period fixed for their issue being the whole of the calendar year 1893, and the estimated 
 quantity to be required during that time being 5,000,000,000. The new stamps are, how- 
 ever, not intended to displace the current series of stamps, but will be in addition thereto; 
 so that anyone needing postage stamps will be able to procure either or both kinds, as he 
 may prefer. 
 
 The principal feature of the Columbian stamps, with two exceptions, is the delineation 
 of some scene in the life of Columbus associated with the discovery of America, one of the 
 exceptions being a stamp bearing a profile portrait of Columbus, similar to that on the souvenir 
 50 cent coin issued by the Treasury Department, and the other a stamp bearing portraits of 
 Queen Isabella and Columbus in three-quarters face. There is a general resemblance in 
 the two portraits of Columbus, both being taken from the same original pictuie. To pro- 
 perly illustrate the subjects selected it was found necessary to adopt a larger size than that in 
 present use, the new stamps being of the same height and of nearly double the length of the 
 regular stamps, the engraved space measuring seven-eights of an inch by 1 1 1-32 inches. 
 
 The denominations are the same as those in the present series, except that the 50-cent 
 stamp is substituted for the 90-cent, and additions are made of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 dollars, such 
 high denominations having been heretofore called for by some of the principal post-offices. 
 
ISSUE OF 1893. 
 
 171 
 
 The subjects on some of the stamps — i-cent, 2-cent, 5-cent, 6-cent, 50-cent and 2-dollar 
 stamps — are copied from the works of American artists." 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General for 1892 covers much the same 
 ground and says, among other things: 
 
 " In addition, the 'mania,' as it is called, for collecting postage stamps, as specimens, 
 is universal throughout the world. It affects every class and condition of people, and is not 
 confined by age or sex. It is shared, perhaps, by millions of people, from the school boy 
 and girl to the monarch and the millionaire, and the value of stamps in private collections 
 which will never be drawn upon to pay postage may safely be placed at many millions of 
 dollars. The beauty and unique character of the new Columbian stamps will cause their 
 sale in large quantities, simply for use in collections; and not only will they be purchased in 
 single or partial sets by collectors, but in view of the limited time in which they will be 
 issued, they will be accumulated in great quantities by dealers and others to meet future 
 demands. * * * 
 
 The introduction of the new stamps, though not designed primarily for that object, 
 will prove to be a revenue measure of the highest importance to the public service. The net 
 profit to be derived from their issue, that is the extra amount beyond the ordinary revenue 
 that would have resulted from the sale and use only of ordinary stamps, may be fairly 
 placed at $2,500,000." 
 
 Appendix L. of the report of the Postmaster General for 1892, sup- 
 plies some interesting information about the contract for this issue: 
 
 " The following statement, reference to which has been made in the foregoing report 
 of the Postmaster-General, is presented to show the particulars of the arrangement entered 
 into by the Department for the issue of the new series of postage stamps intended to com- 
 memorate the discovery of America by Columbus. 
 
 The contract now in force for furnishing the current series of adhesive postage stamps 
 is with the American Bank Note Company of New York, and was entered into nearly three 
 years ago; and as this contract does not expire until the 31st of December, 1893, and 
 specifically calls for ordinary stamps of entirely different sizes and designs from those con- 
 templated as propel for the new series, its provisions could not be availed of by the Depart- 
 ment to carry out its intentions. 
 
 The Department, moreover, had no right to call for proposals for procuring the pro- 
 posed stamps under a new contract, since to have the work done by other parties would 
 interfere with the rights of the contractors which obligated the Department to procure from 
 them all the stamps that should be needed during the contract term. Besides, as work of 
 this character involves much machinery not in general use, it was hardly to be expected that 
 other parties would go to the expense of a special equipment in view of the limited quantity 
 of stamps to be issued, and of the duration of time in which they were to be furnished. 
 
 The number of new stamps to be required, as stated in the report, was estimated at 
 3,000,000,000, and negotiations were entered into with the contractors for supplying the 
 stamps under a special arrangement. It was at first thought by the Department that, inas- 
 much as the new stamps were to be about double the size of the present stamps, a fair com- 
 pensation would be about double the present contract price, or, say i? cents a thousand. 
 Upon a full consideration of the subject, however, this price was objected toby the contrac- 
 tors as not affording a remuneration proportioned to the increased labor and cost of the work. 
 It was contended by them that the making of the new stamps involved a large increase of 
 their machinery for printing, gumming, and pressing the stamps, as well as a great enlarge- 
 ment of their floor space, power, appliances, and force of operatives; and that, when the 
 work was at an end, they would be left in possession of a great deal of special material and 
 equipment which, from a business point of view, would be worthless. They urged for ex- 
 ample, that it would double the number of machines used in printing the stamps, they be 
 ing now printed in sheets of 400, while the new stamps would contain only 200 impressions 
 to the sheet. 
 
 A special point was made that the requirement to double their capacity came during 
 the last year of the contract, and that the extra facilities to be provided would be unnecessary 
 to meet the demands for the ordinary stamps, in the event they should be successful in the 
 competition for the next contract. The result of the deliberations was the submission of a 
 proposition to furnish the desired Columbian stamps, 3,000,000,000 in number, at 18^ 
 cents per thousand, upon the condition that the present contract should be extended for a 
 period of six months beyond the time fixed for its expiration. The price named was adjudged 
 to be somewhat extravagant; and upon carefully considering the subject in all its aspects, 
 it was decided to offer 17 cents per thousand for the stamps with, the desired extension of 
 the contract. After much hesitation on the part of the contractors, and as the result of 
 several personal conferences with them during the past summer, they accepted this offer. 
 
 The necessary orders were accordingly made to carry the arrangement into effect, the 
 
 An official riew 
 of Btamp collecting. 
 
 Negotiations with 
 the contractors. 
 
172 ISSUE OF 1893. 
 
 six months' extension being covered by one clause of the contract giving the right of exten- 
 sion direct for three months, and under another clause giving the Department the right to 
 call at any time during the contract term for an extra quantity of stamps, not to exceed a 
 supply for three months. It may be stated that the price paid, under the regular contract, for 
 the special-delivery, and newspaper and periodical stamps, which correspond closely in size 
 with the proposed Columbian stamps, is 18 cents per thousand, or i cent per thousand more 
 than the price agreed upon for the new stamps. 
 
 The course followed by the Department in this matter is the same that has been pur- 
 sued in all cases heretofore where it has been found necessary to introduce new kinds or 
 sizes of postage stamps or stamped envelopes differing from those covered specifically by 
 contracts in force, a course, indeed, which seems to be the only one practicable in such a 
 contingency." 
 
 As was noted in the preceding chapter, the fee for registered letters 
 The eight cent was reduced from ten to eight cents, on January ist, 1893. In conformity 
 stamp. .^^jjj^ (.j^jg change, eight-cent stamps were added to both the regular and the 
 
 Columbian series. 
 
 A circular of the Post Office Department, dated February 28th, 1893, 
 says : 
 
 "On the 1st of March, 1893, the Department will begin the issue of the following 
 articles of stamped paper: 
 
 I. An 8-cent postage stamp of the Columbian series, intended for use in the pay- 
 ment of the reduced fee on registered matter. This stamp is of the same general style as the 
 other denominations of Columbian stamps, and bears a reproduction of the picture painted 
 by Francisco Jover, the original of which is now in Spain, entitled " Columbus Restored to 
 Favor.' The color of the stamp is magenta-red." 
 
 The other sections of the circular refer to the eight-cent stamp of the 
 regular issue, the Columbian envelopes and the foreign reply postal card. 
 
 The designs are officially described as follows : 
 
 " The stamps are executed from line engravings on steel, the general 
 design of the upper portion of all of them being substantially the same. The 
 Designs and colors, details of this design are, first, a white-faced imprint of the years ' 1492 ' and 
 ' 1892 ', in the upper left and right hand corners, respectively ; then, in white 
 shaded capitals beneath, in a waved line, the words ' united states of 
 AMERICA ', below which, in a narrow tablet conforming to the curved frame 
 of the picture under it, are the words of denomination : for example, 'postage 
 TWO CENTS ', ' POSTAGE TWO DOLLARS ', etc. These words end on either side 
 of the stamp in a space of circular form with ornamental surroundings, within 
 which are Arabic numerals of value — standing alone in the case of denomina- 
 tions under f r, but accompanied by the dollar mark in denominations of $1 
 and upwards, as ' 2 ' (meaning cents), ' $2 ', etc. Underneath all this is the 
 scene represented inclosed in a plain white frame with arched top, extending 
 nearly the entire length of the stamp, and taking up, in every case, probably 
 three-fourths of its whole face, the appropriate designation of the picture 
 being given in small white capitals at the bottom. The scenes represented 
 are these : 
 
 One CENT. ' Columbus in Sight of Land ', after the painting by 
 William H. Powell. This reproduction is enclosed in a circle. On the left 
 of it is represented an Indian woman with her child, and on the right an 
 Indian chief with headdress of feathers — each figure in a sitting posture. 
 Color, Antwerp blue. 
 
 Two CENTS. ' Landing of Columbus ', after the painting by Vanderlyn, 
 in the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington, Color, purple maroon. 
 
ISSUE OF 1893. 173 
 
 Three cents. ' Flagship of Columbus ', the Santa Maria in mid- 
 ocean, from a Spanish engraving. Color, medium shade of green. 
 
 Four cents. ' Fleet of Columbus ', the three caravels, Santa Maria, 
 Nina and Pinta, from a Spanish engraving. Color, ultramarine blue. 
 
 Five cents. ' Columbus Soliciting Aid of Isabella ', after the painting 
 by Brozik, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Color, 
 chocolate brown. 
 
 Six cents. ' Columbus Welcomed at Barcelona ', scene from one of 
 the panels of the bronze doors by Randolph Rogers in the Capitol at Wash- 
 ington. On each side of the scene represented is a niche, in one of which is 
 a statue of Ferdinand and in the other a statue of Balboa. Color, royal 
 purple. 
 
 Eight cents. ' Columbus Restored to Favor ', after a painting by 
 Jover. Color, magenta red. Issued March i, 1893. 
 
 Ten cents. ' Columbus Presenting Natives ', after the painting by 
 Luigi Gregori, at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Color, 
 Vandyke brown. 
 
 Fifteen cents. ' Columbus Announcing His Discovery ', after the 
 painting by R. Baloca, now in Madrid. Color, dark green. 
 
 Thirty cents. ' Columbus at La Rabida ', after the painting by R. 
 Maso. Color, sienna brown. 
 
 Fifty cents. ' Recall of Columbus ', after the painting by A. G. 
 Heaton, now in the Capitol at Washington. Color, carbon blue. 
 
 One dollar. ' Isabella Pledging Her Jewels ', after the painting by 
 Munoz Degrain, now in Madrid. Color, rose salmon. 
 
 Two dollars. ' Columbus in Chains ', after the painting by Leutze, 
 now in Providence, R. I. Color, toned mineral red. 
 
 Three dollars. ' Columbus Describing Third Voyage ', after a 
 painting by Francisco Jover. Color, light yellow green. 
 
 Four dollars. Portraits in circles, separated by an ornate device, 
 of Isabella and Columbus, the portrait of Isabella after the well known paint- 
 ing in Madrid and that of Columbus after the Lotto painting. Color, car- 
 mine. 
 
 Five dollars. Profile of head of Columbus, after a cast provided by 
 the Treasury Department for the souvenir so-cent silver piece authorized by 
 act of Congress. The profile is in a circle, on the right of which is' the figure 
 of America, represented by an Indian woman with a crown of feathers, and 
 on the left a figure of Liberty, both figures being in a sitting posture. Color, 
 black." 
 
 The stamps measure 34x22mm. 
 
 The paper, gum and perforation are the same as in other issues by the 
 American Bank Note Company. 
 
 Soft Porous White Wove Paper. Reference List. 
 
 Perforated iz. 
 Jan. ist. 1893. I cent pale blue, deep blue 
 
174 
 
 ISSUE OF 1893. 
 
 Varieties. 
 
 Error of color. 
 
 Pistes. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
 2 cents red-lilac, red-violet, gray-violet 
 
 3 cents green, deep green 
 
 4 cents ultramarine, deep ultramarine 
 
 5 cents chocolate, red-brown, yellow-brown, brown 
 
 6 cents purple, red-purple 
 
 Mch. ist, 1893. 8 cents pale magenta, magenta, lilac-rose 
 
 Jan. 1st, 1893. I o cents deep yellow-brown, black-brown, gray-black, gray 
 
 30 cents orange, pale brown-orange, deep brown-orange 
 
 50 cents slate 
 
 1 dollar scarlet, salmon-red 
 
 2 dollars rose-brown, deep rose-brown 
 
 3 dollars pale yellow-green, gray-green, olive-green 
 
 4 dollars pale aniline rose, carmine-rose, carmine-lake 
 
 5 dollars gray-black, full black 
 
 Varieties: 
 
 2 cents red-lilac. Imperforate. 
 
 4 cents deep blue. Error. Color of the one cent. 
 
 It has been said that several values of this series exist in imperforate 
 condition but, with the exception of the two cents, I have not been able to 
 see them nor even to learn of an actual holder of any such varieties. We 
 occasionally see the six cents in a dull blue, this is is not an error of color but 
 the results from exposure to light. 
 
 In September, 1893, Mr. J. V. Painter obtained from the post office 
 at Cleveland, Ohio, a sheet of four cent stamps printed in blue instead of 
 ultramarine. So far as I am aware, no other copies of this error have ever 
 been found. 
 
 The plates of this issue contained two hundred stamps each, arranged 
 in twenty rows of ten stamps. The impressions were divided horizontally 
 into sheets of one hundred stamps. On each plate the imprint, plate num- 
 ber and serial letter appear twice at both top and bottom and the imprint 
 also appears twice at each side. 
 
 The plate numbers are as follows: 
 
 I cent 
 
 No. J. 
 
 46, 
 
 47, 
 
 48, 
 
 49, 
 
 SO. 
 
 
 K. 
 
 SI, 
 
 52, 
 
 S3, 
 
 54, 
 
 55- 
 
 
 P. 
 
 65, 
 
 66, 
 
 67, 
 
 68, 
 
 69. 
 
 
 MM. 
 
 149, 
 
 150, 
 
 151. 
 
 152, 
 
 "S3- 
 
 
 00. 
 
 ■59. 
 
 160, 
 
 161, 
 
 162, 
 
 163 
 
 
 vv. 
 
 194, 
 
 19s, 
 
 196, 
 
 '97, 
 
 198. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 No. A. 
 
 I, 
 
 2, 
 
 3. 
 
 4, 
 
 S- 
 
 
 C. 
 
 ", 
 
 12, 
 
 13, 
 
 14, 
 
 IS- 
 
 
 E. 
 
 21. 
 
 22, 
 
 23, 
 
 24, 
 
 2S- 
 
 
 F. 
 
 26, 
 
 27, 
 
 28, 
 
 29, 
 
 30- 
 
 
 G. 
 
 31. 
 
 32, 
 
 33, 
 
 34, 
 
 3S- 
 
 
 H. 
 
 36, 
 
 37, 
 
 38, 
 
 39, 
 
 40. 
 
 
 I. 
 
 41, 
 
 42, 
 
 43, 
 
 44, 
 
 4S- 
 
 
 0. 
 
 60, 
 
 61, 
 
 62, 
 
 63, 
 
 64. 
 
ISSUE OF 1893. 
 
 17s 
 
 3 cents 
 
 Q- 70. 71, 72, 73, U 
 T. 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 
 U. 83, 84, 8s, 86, 87 
 v. 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 
 
 X- 94, 9S> 96, 97, 98 
 
 EE. 109, no. III, 112, 113 
 
 FF. 114, 115, 116, 117, II 
 
 GG. 119, 120, 121, 122, 123 
 
 HH. 124, 125, 126, 127, 128 
 
 JJ- 134, 135, 136, 137, 138 
 
 KK 139, 140, 141, 142, 143 
 
 LL. 144, 145, 146, 147, 148 
 
 NN. 154, 15s, 156, 157, 158 
 
 PP. 164, 165, 166, 167, 168 
 
 QQ. 169, 170, 171, 172, 173 
 
 RR. 174, 17s, 176, 177, 178 
 
 SS. 179, 180, 181, 182, 183 
 
 TT. 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 
 
 UU. 189, 190, 191, 192, 193 
 
 No. L. 56, 57. 
 
 
 R. 
 
 75, 
 
 76. 
 
 
 
 
 4 cents 
 
 No. D. 
 
 16, 
 
 17. 
 
 18, 
 
 19, 
 
 20. 
 
 S cents 
 
 No. B. 
 
 6, 
 
 7, 
 
 8, 
 
 9, 
 
 10. 
 
 6 cents 
 
 No. Z. 
 
 104. 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 cents 
 
 No. II. 
 
 129, 
 
 i3o> 
 
 131, 
 
 132, 
 
 133- 
 
 10 cents 
 
 No. Y. 
 
 99, 
 
 100, 
 
 lOI, 
 
 102, 
 
 103. 
 
 15 cents 
 
 No. M. 
 
 58. 
 
 
 
 
 
 30 cents 
 
 No. N. 
 
 59- 
 
 
 
 
 
 50 cents 
 
 No. S. 
 
 77- 
 
 
 
 
 
 I dollar 
 
 No. W. 
 
 93- 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 No. AA. 
 
 los- 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 No. BB. 
 
 106. 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 dollars 
 
 No CC. 
 
 107. 
 
 
 
 
 
 S dollars 
 
 No. DD. 
 
 108. 
 
 
 
 
 
 The four cents in the wrong color was printed from plate D. 17. 
 
 From the annual reports of the Postmaster General we learn that the 
 following quantities of Columbian stamps were delivered to deputy post- 
 masters: 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1893 : 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1892. Dec. 31, 1892. Mch. 31, 1893. June 30, 1893. Total, 
 
 r cent 43,296,000 130,941,550 72,410,800 246,648,350 
 
 2 cents 116,290,000 361,904,350 259,207,700 737,402,050 
 
 3 cents 1,011,400 4,360,150 2,188,600 7,560,150 
 
 4 cents 1,976,300 9,258,600 3,442,350 14,677,250 
 
 5 cents 3,289,500 9,917,750 6,801,160 20,008,410 
 
 Delireries to 
 postmasters. 
 
176 
 
 ISSUE OF 1893. 
 
 Sept. 30, 1892. Dec. 31, 1892. Mch. 31, 1893. June 30, 1895. 
 
 I' roofs. 
 
 6 cents 
 
 8 cents 
 
 10 cents 
 
 15 cents 
 
 30 cents 
 
 50 cents 
 
 1 dollar 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 4 dollars 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 289,700 
 
 1,318,900 
 170,600 
 
 85.50° 
 
 46,400 
 
 5,800 
 
 5.800 
 5.800 
 5,800 
 5,800 
 
 1.556,550 
 
 877,950 
 
 5,169,710 
 
 580,630 
 
 197,420 
 
 83.748 
 
 18,161 
 
 8,488 
 
 6,425 
 5,222 
 5,228 
 
 878,650 
 3,905, f 50 
 2,450,590 
 
 323,820 
 
 156,950 
 
 22,608 
 
 9,866 
 
 3,238 
 
 2,763 
 2,764 
 
 2,754 
 
 Total. 
 
 2,724,900 
 
 4,783,100 
 
 8,939.200 
 
 1,075,050 
 
 439,870 
 
 152,756 
 
 33,827 
 
 17,526 
 
 14,988 
 
 13,786 
 
 13,782 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,044,504,995. Value $21,076,395.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1894 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1893. Dec. 31, 1893. Mch. 31, 1894. June 30, 1894. Total. 
 
 9.943,250 202,548,250 
 
 3.299,050 727.187,750 
 
 273,450 3,942,150 
 
 155,000 4,505.350 
 
 1,250 15,240,890 
 
 378,350 1.983,700 
 
 6,950 5,874,500 
 
 32,740 7,578,800 
 
 30,210 502,950 
 
 18,000 178,430 
 
 44.084 92,044 
 
 580 22,273 
 
 22,421 29,074 
 
 9,369 13.712 
 
 8,931 13,614 
 
 9.465 14,618 
 
 Whole number of stamps 969,728,105. Value $19,399,719.00. 
 
 From the foregoing table we may infer that the delivery of Columbian 
 stamps by the Post Office Department was stopped on December 31st, 1893, 
 when exactly two billion stamps had been issued, and was resumed at some 
 date subsequent to March 31st, 1894, presumably to relieve the department of 
 a surplus. Many, if not all, of the stamps distributed in the quarter ending 
 June 30th, 1894, were delivered to the post office of the city of Washington. 
 
 From the report of the Postmaster General for 1894, we learn that the 
 table of distributions in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, includes 16,800 
 "proof specimens" (1,050 sets of sixteen denominations), which were supplied 
 to the Post Office Department. These 1,050 -sets are understood to have 
 consisted of 50 sets of die proofs on India paper and 1,000 sets of plate 
 proofs on cardboard. 
 
 It will also be noticed that the grand total of this issue is only slightly 
 
 I cent 
 
 35.540,300 
 
 157,064,7°° 
 
 2 cents 
 
 151,971,500 
 
 571,917,200 
 
 3 cents 
 
 1,746,100 
 
 1,922,600 
 
 4 cents 
 
 1,581,700 
 
 2,768,650 
 
 5 cents 
 
 4,538,380 
 
 10,701,260 
 
 6 cents 
 
 504,300 
 
 1,101,050 
 
 8 cents 
 
 765,75° 
 
 5,101,800 
 
 10 cents 
 
 1,862,690 
 
 5.683.37° 
 
 15 cents 
 
 169,800 
 
 302,940 
 
 30 cents 
 
 43,990 
 
 116,440 
 
 50 cents 
 
 10,916 
 
 37,044 
 
 I dollar 
 
 9,238 
 
 12,455 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 1,258 
 
 5,395 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 538 
 
 3,805 
 
 4 dollars 
 
 608 
 
 4,075 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 2,613 
 
 2,54° 
 
ISSUE OF 1893. 177 
 
 more than two billion stamps instead of three billion, as called for by the 
 contract. Concerning this reduction the report of the Postmaster General, 
 dated November 25th, 1893, says : 
 
 "In 1889, the usual contract for the manufacture of adhesive postage stamps was made 
 with the American Banl< Note Company at the price of 7.47 cents per thousand. In 1893 
 Postmaster General Wanamaker entered into an arrangement with tlie same company for an Modification of 
 issue of stamps commemorative of the discovery of America by Columbus, l<nown as ' Colum- the contract. 
 bian stamps,' for use during the year 1893 It was agreed that the issue of these stamps to 
 be taken and paid for by the Government should not be less than three thousand millions 
 (5,000,000,000) in number ; that the price should be 17 cents per thousand, and further, that 
 the existing contract for the ordinary stamps should be extended three months and that an 
 additional three months' supply should be taken and paid for by the Government. 
 
 It was supposed that these stamps would be in great demand by the stamp collectors 
 of the world, and that the contract would result in a large profit to the government ; indeed, 
 a profit in all of $2,500,000 was estimated. 
 
 Experience did not establish the correctness of this estimate. In fact as early as June 
 last 1 became satisfied that the extra sales of stamps induced by this issue would not be likely 
 to yield enough profit to make good the extra cost of their manufacture. 
 
 As this arrangement was made without advertisement or competition, and was no part 
 of the original contract of November 7, 1889, I had serious doubts as to its validity and 
 binding force upon the Government, and the question arose : What ought to be done in the 
 interest of the Government ? 
 
 First, I called the attention of the contracting company to this subject. They met 
 this with an opinion from eminent counsel that the contract was a valid obligation, that it 
 was duly executed and was within the power of the Postmaster General to make emergency 
 contracts without advertising or competition. 
 
 Negotiations ensued, with the result that the contracting company waived its claim of 
 right and agreed to the proposition of the Department that the issue of these stamps should 
 be limited to 2,000,000,000, also waiving claim for profits on the other r, 000, 000,000 of 
 these stamps. The other parts of the agreement to remain in force. 
 
 The result is a saving, in cost of manufacture of 1,000,000,000 stamps, of the difference 
 between the existing contract price for ordinary stamps, 7.47 cents per thousand, and the 
 contract price for the Columbian issue, 17 cents per thousand, being 9.53 cents per thousand, 
 or $95,300 in all. 
 
 The present indications are that the amount of these stamps as limited by this last 
 arrangement will be sufficient to meet all demands during the year. 
 
 The action of the American Bank Note Company in this matter is highly commended, 
 since it must result in a considerable loss of profits." 
 
 The report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1893 also 
 voices the disappointment of the Department at the comparatively small sales 
 of the Columbian stamps to dealers and collectors and estimates the probable purchases by stamp 
 sales to them during 1893 at not more than f 100,000. It is, of course, not '''"''°,"j*"^ ™'' 
 possible to say how large were the investments of collectors and dealers. It 
 has been reported that one speculator invested $125,000 and it is well known 
 that another bought to the amount of $30,000 and one firm to the amount of 
 $20,000. It is believed that the bulk of these purchases were subsequently 
 sold to business houses and used for postal purposes. The extent of smaller 
 purchases and the ultimate disposition of the stamps cannot be ascertained. 
 But there is little doubt that, as a speculation, the issue was a failure, both 
 for the Government and for individuals. 
 
 In June, 1899, such of the Columbian stamps as were still in the city 
 post office at Washington were withdrawn and destroyed. The denominations Unsold stamps ivith. 
 
 '^ . , ° drawn and destroyed. 
 
 and quantities were : 
 
 6 cents 48,400 4 dollars 3,357 
 
 3 dollars 2,937 5 dollars 5,506 
 
178 ISSUE OF 1893. 
 
 In March, igoo, the Department learned that a few stamps of this 
 issue were still in the post office at Philadelphia and they were at once recalled 
 and destroyed. There is no available record of the denominations and 
 quantities included in this lot. 
 
Issue of 1894-95. 
 
 Though the government had long manufactured its own fiscal stamps 
 at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, the postal issues had 
 prior to July ist, 1894, always, been supplied by private firms, under contracts 
 with the Post Office Department. But, at the date mentioned, a departure 
 was made from this long-established method. On this subject I quote from 
 the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated October 31st, 
 1894: 
 
 " I think it proper to give here a detailed account of the matters connected with the 
 termination of the old contract with the American Bank Note Company for furnishing post- 
 age stamps, and the making of a new arrangement therefor with the Bureau of Engraving 
 and Printing of the Treasury Department. 
 
 By advertisement, dated the i6th of October, 1893, published in number of promi- 
 nent newspapers for four weeks, the Department invited proposals up to the 15th of Novem- 
 ber, 1893, ' from parties carrying on the business of steel-plate engraving and plate print- History of the 
 ing,' or from those who had ' had experience in conducting that business,' for furnishing contract. 
 
 adhesive postage stamps of the several classes in use during the period of four years, be- 
 ginning on the 1st of July, 1894, it having been formally arranged by the late Postmaster- 
 General that the existing stamp contract with the American Bank Note Company should, 
 by an extention of three months from the date fixed in it for its termination, and by the 
 purchase of an extra supply of stamps sufficient for the wants of post-offices for'three months 
 thereafter, be carried up to June 30, 1894, the end of the fiscal year. 
 
 Under the call thus made three proposals weie received, the amount of each, based 
 upon the process of printing them in vogue and upon the number of stamps issued during 
 the fiscal year 1893, being as follows: 
 
 Hamilton Bank Note Company, of New York $179,294 40 
 
 American Bank Note Company, of New York 162,401.61 
 
 Charles F. Steel, of Philadelplnia 146,454.93 
 
 As soon as these bids were made known, the American Bank Note Company, for 
 various reasons, strenuously protested against an award of the contract to iVlr. Steel, the 
 lowest bidder, and he, in a similar way, entered a protest against the giving of the contract to 
 the American Bank Note Company. Subsequently these protests were formally presented in 
 writing, and oral and written arguments were thereafter made, from time to time, up to the 
 2 1 St of February, 1894. 
 
 In the meantime, on the 29th of November, 1895, the Chief of the Bureau of Engrav- 
 ing and Printing of the Treasury Department, with the approval of the Secretary of the 
 Treasury, claiming the right to compete for the work under a clause in the official specifi- 
 cations issued to bidders, submitted a formal estimate, amounting, upon the basis above 
 stated, to $139,487.74, and thereupon urged— his estimate being lower than any of the bids 
 submitted — that the Bureau be awarded the contract. 
 
 For various reasons — the two prominent being the convenience of having the work 
 done at Washington, where nearly all the other securities of the Government are printed 
 and the saving to be secured in the cost of manufacture — the claim of the Bureau of Engrav- 
 ing and Printing was recognized on the 21st of February, 1894, by Departmental Order No. 
 18 of that date, awarding it the work, and by a formal agreement, entered into June 9, 
 1894, between the Post-Office and Treasury Departments, prescribing rules for the tran- 
 saction of all business relating to the matter, Cop'f s pf these papers wil) be found appended 
 to this report, marked No. 18. 
 
i8o 
 
 ISSUE OF 1894-95. 
 
 Early dlfflcnltles. 
 
 Transfer of stamps 
 from New ¥ork. 
 
 Transfer of dies, 
 rolls and plates. 
 
 Dates of issue of 
 the new series. 
 
 Additions to the 
 designs. 
 
 Varieties of the 
 triangle. 
 
 Under the agreement thus entered into, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is now 
 regularly engaged in manufacturing all the postage stamps needed by the Post-Office De- 
 partment, and is daily issuing them for the use of postmasters throughout the country, the 
 same as was formerly done when the contract with the American Bank Note Company was 
 in force. 
 
 In entering upon the work under this new arrangement, a great many ditficulties were 
 necessarily encountered. A large number of printing machines had to be fitted up by the 
 Bureau, perforating and gumming machines had to be secured, a considerable force of em- 
 ployes had to be trained to do the work promptly, large numbers of new plates for printing 
 were needed, arrangements for storing and shipping the enormous number of stamps con- 
 stantly required had to be made, to say nothing of many details entering into the inter- 
 course between the two Departments in the transaction of their respective shares of this 
 business. But 1 am happy to say that everything has been satisfactorily arranged, and the 
 work is now proceeding without serious interruptions. 
 
 Some weeks prior to the Tstof July, 1894, when the arrangement above described 
 went into effect, it became necessary to transfer from the custody of the American Bank 
 Note Company in New York to that of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in this city 
 the entire stock of stamps not required for issue up to the date mentioned, the object being 
 to avoid any break in the continuity of supplies to postmasters, and to that end to furnish 
 the Bureau with a working stock while its own preparations for manufacture were still in a 
 more or less incomplete state. 
 
 Accordingly, under detailed directions given by this office, enough stamps to fill all 
 orders up to the ist of July were segregated from the general stock, and the remainder were 
 shipped here by registered mail and placed in the vault of the Buieau. 
 
 The transfer was afifected expeditiously, without loss and without expense (the stamps 
 being transported as free mail matter), except the cost of cartage from the railroad station 
 in this city to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, amounting to not over $50; so that on 
 the 30th of June everything at New York was cleared up and the business of making and 
 issuing stamps ended, and on the following day the work was going on here, with but little 
 change of methods and with no material impediments. 
 
 The number of stamps of all kinds thus transferred amounted to nearly six hundred 
 and forty-five million, of the face valueof over $17,000,000. 
 
 All the dies, rolls, and working plates of postage stamps, of present and past series, 
 were transferred at the same time, and are now in the custody of the Bureau of Engraving 
 and Printing. 
 
 The stock of ordinary stamps of the manufacture of the American Bank Note Company 
 thus transferred have been issued by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, according to 
 denominations, up to the following dates, since which issues have been made from the 
 Bureau's own manufacture: 
 
 I cent 
 
 
 Oct 
 
 10, 
 
 1894 
 
 2 cents 
 
 
 Oct. 
 
 5. 
 
 1894 
 
 3 cents 
 
 
 Sept. 
 
 24, 
 
 1894 
 
 4 cents 
 
 
 Sept. 
 
 ■ 1, 
 
 1894 
 
 5 cents 
 
 
 Sept 
 
 28, 
 
 1894 
 
 6 cents 
 
 
 • Juy 
 
 IS, 
 
 1894 
 
 10 cents 
 
 
 Sept. 
 
 17. 
 
 1894 
 
 15 cents 
 
 . 
 
 . Oct. 
 
 i5i 
 
 1894 
 
 30 cents 
 
 (discontinued) 
 
 Oct. 
 
 51. 
 
 1894 
 
 90 cents 
 
 (discontinued) . 
 
 Oct. 
 
 3'. 
 
 1894 
 
 A large quantity of 8 cent stamps of the manufacture of the American Bank Note 
 Company is still on hand. 
 
 After the awarding of the contract to the Bureau of Engraving and 
 Printing it was decided not to alter the general designs of the stamps then in 
 use but to add to them a mark by which they might be distinguished from 
 those made by the previous contractors. The mark adopted was a small 
 double-lined triangle, placed in each upper corner. Each triangle has the 
 top and outer side parallel to the adjacent top and side of the stamp, and the 
 inner side slightly curved to correspond to the curve of the medallion. Within 
 the inner triangle there is a small colored dot at the middle of each of the 
 three sides. 
 
 There are three varieties of the triangle : 
 
 Type I. The horizontal lines of the background are of equal thickness 
 within and without the triangle, 
 
ISSUE OF 1894-95. 181 
 
 Type II. The lines are thinner within the triangle than without. 
 
 Type III. The space between the double lines of the triangle is blank 
 and the lines in the inner triangle are thin. 
 
 At first all values had the triangle of type I, afterwards types II and III 
 were used on the two cent stamps. A die of the three cents with triangle III 
 was also made but it has not yet been put into use. The other values remain 
 as at first. Plate 170 of the two cents presents an interesting variety. In the 
 upper left quarter, the first three vertical rows at the left side are of type II, 
 the balance of the plate is of type III. 
 
 Concurrently with the placing of the new contract it was decided to 
 abandon the denominations of thirty and ninety cents, substituting for them 
 stamps of fifty cents and one dollar, and to add stamps of two and five dollars New denominationB. 
 to the series, for which denominations there was some demand at the larger 
 post offices. These four new values are officially described as follows : 
 
 " Fifty cents. Head of Thomas Jefferson, same as the head on the Designs and colors, 
 old 30-cent stamp. Color, orange. 
 
 One dollar. Head of Commodore O. H. Perry, same as the head on 
 the old 90-cent stamp. Color, black. 
 
 Two DOLLARS. Head of James Madison, after the portrait by Gilbert 
 Stuart. Color, sapphire blue. 
 
 Five dollars. Head of John Marshall, after the portrait by Inman. 
 Color, gray green." 
 
 The stamps are of the same size as those of the issue of 1890, i. e., 
 19x22mm. 
 
 At first a soft, porous, wove paper was used, similar in quality to that 
 employed by the American Bank Note Co., though not showing as coarse a Paper, 
 
 "weave." Afterwards other varieties appeared. In 1895 an attempt was 
 made to counterfeit the two cent stamp and, as a check upon such frauds, a 
 watermark was introduced into the paper. When the watermark was first Watermark. 
 used it was so faint that it was often difficult to discover any trace of it and, 
 as a preventive of forgeries, it was of little or no value. But, in the course of 
 time, it was improved and is now more distinct, though it is still inferior to 
 most of the watermarks used in the other countries. A smaller device and 
 harder paper would probably give a much better result. 
 
 The watermark consists of the letters " u s p s " (United States Postal 
 Service), in double-lined Roman capitals, 16mm. high. 
 
 U2 q 
 
 On each quarter sheet of one hundred stamps there are ten horizontal 
 rows of nine letters each, so arranged as to read in regular order either upward, 
 downward, to right or to left, from any starting point ; thus : 
 
l82 
 
 ISSUE OF 1894-95. 
 
 u 
 
 Laid, double and 
 ribbed paper. 
 
 Paper watermarked 
 "C 8 I B" 
 
 Chemical paper. 
 
 Reference lilst. 
 
 s u 
 u s 
 
 s u 
 u s 
 
 u s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 s 
 
 u 
 
 s u 
 u s 
 
 u 
 
 u 
 
 Many of the stamps of this issue and also those of the corresponding 
 series of postage-due stamps appear to have laid lines in the paper, in addition 
 to the watermark. The probable cause of this variation was explained on 
 page 152. The one and two cent stamps are also known on double paper, 
 similar to that used by the Continental Bank Note Co. This paper is water- 
 marked and the variety is probably due to some accident or variation in 
 manufacture rather than to any intentional change in the paper. A copy of 
 the five cents without watermark has been seen on paper ribbed with fine 
 horizontal and vertical lines (the latter being slightly more pronounced) and 
 having the effect of coarsely woven linen cloth. These lines are sufficiently 
 raised to produce distinct vertical ridges in the printing ink on the face and 
 to have taken up, on the back, some ink from the sheet which lay below it 
 after printing. It has been suggested that in the course of manufacture the 
 paper pulp was left standing on the cloth carrier until the impression of the 
 fibres was transferred to it. 
 
 The eight cent stamp has been found on paper watermarked with 
 a large double-lined capital " R ", apparently a portion of the watermark 
 " u s I R " (United States Internal Revenue). This would indicate that a 
 sheet of the paper designed for revenue stamps had been used for printing 
 postage stamps. 
 
 Several values of this series have also been reported on bluish chemical 
 paper but, on all copies which I have seen, it was very evident that the 
 discoloration was due either to accident or an attempt to deceive. 
 
 The gum varies from white to yellow. The perforation is the regula- 
 tion 12. 
 
 The following shades and varieties exist : 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 Porous White Wove Paper. 
 
 Without Watermark. 
 
 Oct. loth, 1894. 1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, deep ultramarine, 
 
 gray-blue, pale dull blue, dull blue, deep dull blue, 
 dark blue 
 
 Oct. sth, 1894. 2 cents (type I) pale pink, pink, aniline rose, rose, deep 
 
 rose, carmine-rose, dull lilac-rose, lilac-rose, salmon- 
 red, red, scarlet, brown-red, rose-carmine, carmine 
 violet -carmine, carmine-lake, lake, crimson 
 
ISSUE OF 1894-95. 183 
 
 2 cents (type II) rose-red, rose, aniline rose, rose-ver- 
 milion 
 
 2 cents (type III) rose, rose-vermilion 
 Sept. 24th, 1894. 3 cents dull purple, purple, deep purple 
 Sept. nth, 1894. 4 cents dark yellow-brown, gray-brown, black-brown 
 Sept. 28th, 1894. 5 cents yellow-brown, orange-brown, dark orange-brown, 
 
 red-brown 
 July 1 8th, 1894. 6 cents claret, claret-brown 
 Mch. 25th, 1895. 8 cents violet-brown, plum 
 Sept. 17th, 1894. 10 cents dark green, blue-green, dark blue-green 
 Oct. 15th, 1894. 15 cents indigo, dark indigo 
 Nov. ist, 1894. 50 cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 
 Nov. 15th, 1894. I dollar black 
 
 Dec. loth, 1894. 2 dollars sapphire blue, deep sapphire blue 
 Dec. loth, 1894. 5 dollars deep yellow-green 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 2 cents (type III) bright rose. Imperforate vertically 
 
 2 cents (type I) bright rose. Imperforate horizontally 
 
 5 cents yellow-brown " " 
 
 6 cents claret-brown " " 
 50 cents orange " " 
 
 3 cents purple Imperforate 
 
 4 cents dark yellow-brown " 
 
 5 cents orange-brown " 
 10 cents dark blue-green " 
 
 Watermarked U. S. P. S. 
 
 April 29th, 1895. I cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, pale blue, blue, dark 
 
 blue, navy blue, deep dull blue 
 May 2nd, 1895. 2 cents (type I) rose, carmine-rose, carmine, pale aniline 
 
 rose 
 2 cents (type II) bright aniline rose, rose, rose-carmine 
 2 cents (type III) bright aniline rose, rose, rose-carmine, 
 
 carmine, lilac-rose, scarlet, rose-vermilion, pink, 
 
 crimson, carmine-lake 
 Oct. 31st, 1895. 3 cents purple, deep purple 
 
 June 5th, 1895. 4 cents dark yellow-brown, gray-brown, black-brown 
 
 June nth, 1895. 5 cents orange-brown, dark orange-brown, deep brown 
 Aug. 31st, 1895. 6 cents claret, deep claret, claret-brown 
 July 22nd, 1895. 8 cents brown-violet, plum 
 June 7th, 1895. 10 cents bright blue-green, blue-green 
 Sept. loth, 1895. 15 cents indigo, dark indigo 
 Nov. 9th, 1895. 5° cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 
 Aug. 12th, 1895. I dollar black 
 
 Aug. 13th, 1895. 2 dollars sapphire blue, deep sapphire blue 
 Aug. i6th, 1895. 5 dollars dark yellow-green, dark green 
 
i84 
 
 ISSUE OF 1894-95. 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 1 cent deep dull blue. Imperforate 
 
 2 cents (type III) carmine-rose " 
 
 3 cents purple 
 
 4 cents dark yellow-brown " 
 
 5 cents deep orange-brown " 
 
 6 cents claret-brown " 
 8 cents plum 
 
 10 cents blue-green " 
 
 15 cents indigo " 
 
 50 cents red-orange " 
 
 1 dollar black " 
 
 2 dollars sapphire blue " 
 5 dollars dark yellow-green " 
 
 Watermarked U. S. I. R. 
 8 cents brown-violet 
 All the plates of the one, two and ten cents and a few of the three, four 
 and five cents values contain four hundred stamps each. All the other plates 
 Plates. contain two hundred stamps each. The impressions are, as usual, divided 
 
 into sheets of one hundred stamps. The lines of division are indicated by 
 arrow heads in the margins and on some of the plates by ruled lines. On the 
 plates with two hundred stamps the imprint appears at the middle of the top 
 and bottom of each half of the plate, on those having four hundred stamps, it 
 is placed at the top — or bottom — and outer side of each quarter of the plate. 
 The plate number is always placed at the- right of the imprint. 
 
 Three varieties of imprint and three styles of numerals have been used 
 
 for this issue. For numbers i to 154 inclusive shaded numerals 3^mm. high 
 
 Imprints and were used. From number 155 to 327 inclusive the numerals were more 
 
 nambers. ornate and only 2^mm. high. Above number 327 a third style was introduced 
 
 and still remains in use. In this the numerals are thin and without shading 
 
 and 2^4^ mm. in height. 
 
 The first style of imprint used was a plain rectangle with a thin frame 
 line. This was applied to the postage and postage due stamps from plate i 
 to 75 inclusive and also to number 159. The second style of imprint was 
 made by cutting the frame line more firmly and clearly and adding at each 
 end a rosette and an arrow-head ornament. This imprint has been used on 
 all postage and postage due stamps above plate 75 with the exception of 
 number 159. In the third type the letters are all capitals, the panel is much 
 longer, the ends are octagonal and finished by a three branched ornament. 
 This imprint appears only on the Special Delivery and the Newspapers and 
 Periodicals stamps. 
 Plate numbers. The list of plate numbers, up to March ist, 1901, is as follows : 
 
 1894. Without Watermark. 
 I cent (400) No. 2, 6, 15, 17, 18, 21, 24, 27, 
 
 29. 31. 33> 35. 98, 99. 101. 102. 
 
 119, 120, 121, 122. 
 
ISSUE OF 1894-95. 
 
 18S 
 
 2 cents (type I) 
 
 (400) No. I 
 II 
 
 2 
 
 cents (type II) 
 
 2 
 
 cents (type III) 
 
 3 
 
 cents 
 
 4 
 
 cents 
 
 5 
 
 cents 
 
 6 
 
 cents 
 
 8 
 
 cents 
 
 10 
 
 cents 
 
 IS 
 
 cents 
 
 5° 
 
 cents 
 
 I 
 
 dollar 
 
 2 
 
 dollars 
 
 5 
 
 dollars 
 
 400 
 400 
 
 400 
 200 
 400 
 200 
 400 
 200 
 200 
 200 
 400 
 200 
 200 
 
 200 
 200 
 200 
 
 3. 4, S. 
 
 12, 13, 16, 
 
 25. 26, 30, 32, 
 
 88, 89, 96, 97, 
 
 114, IIS, 116, ii7> 
 No. 126, 131, 132, 133. 
 No. 141, 142, 143, 14s, 
 
 iSi, 152. 153, IS4, 
 No. 44, 46, 47, 48. 
 No. 91, 95, 103, 107. 
 No. 45, 50, 51, 59. 
 No. 92, 94, 104, 106. 
 No. 49, S3, 54, 56. 
 No. 128, 129, 130, 134, 
 No. 28. 
 
 7, 
 
 8, 9, 
 
 10, 
 
 '9. 
 
 20, 22, 
 
 23, 
 
 78, 
 
 79. 80, 
 
 82, 
 
 no. 
 
 III, 112, 
 
 "3' 
 
 124, 
 
 125, 144. 
 
 
 146, 
 
 148, 149, 
 
 ISO, 
 
 iSS, 
 
 iS6> IS7, 
 
 158. 
 
 161, 162, 163, 164. 
 
 No. 
 No. 
 No. 
 No. 
 No. 
 No. 
 No. 
 
 58. 
 55, 
 52- 
 7S- 
 76. 
 84. 
 8S- 
 Varieties : 
 
 62, 63, 64. 
 
 2 cents Imperforate vertically No. 153. 
 " horizontally No. 
 
 No. 130, 
 
 2 cents 
 
 5 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 50 cents 
 
 3 cents 
 
 4 cents 
 
 5 cents 
 10 cents 
 
 I cent 
 
 No. 
 No. 
 No. 
 No. 
 No. 
 No. 
 
 28 
 
 75 
 47 
 5° 
 53 
 63 
 
 1895. 
 
 2 cents (type I) 
 
 Watermarked U. S. P. S. 
 
 (400) No. 24, 29, 33, 35, 
 119, 120, 121, 122, 
 177, 178, 179, 180, 
 276, 277, 278, 280, 
 298, 299, 300, 301, 
 3«4, 333, 334, 335, 
 347, 348, 35°, 352, 
 366, 367, 369, 370, 
 
 442, 443, 444, 445, 
 455, 493, 494, 495, 
 (400) No. 78, 79, 80, 82, 
 112, 113, 114, IIS, 
 144. 
 
 98, 99, 
 165, 166, 
 
 234, 237, 
 294, 29s, 
 304, 308, 
 336, 344, 
 355, 360, 
 371, 439, 
 446, 452, 
 496. 
 
 88, 96, 
 116, 117, 
 
 101, 102, 
 167, 168, 
 240, 245, 
 296, 297, 
 310, 313, 
 345, 346, 
 362, 365, 
 440, 441, 
 453, 454, 
 
 97, III, 
 124, 125, 
 
i86 ISSUE OF 1894-95. 
 
 3 cents (type II) (400) No. 126, 131, 132, 133, 169, 170. 
 
 2 cents (type III) (400) No. 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 148, 149, 150, 
 
 151, 152. IS3; 154, 155, 156, 157. 158, 
 160, vjo, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 
 iSr, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 188, 191, 
 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 
 207, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 
 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 22r, 222, 223, 
 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 
 232. 233. «3S. 236, 238, 239, 241, 242, 
 243, 244, 274, 27s, 279, 281, 282, 283, 
 290, 291, 292, 293, 307, 311, 312, 315, 
 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 
 324, 325, 326, 327. 328, 329, 330, 33". 
 332, 337, 338, 339. 340, 341, 342, 343. 
 349> 354, 356, 358, 361, 363, 364, 368, 
 372, 374, 376, 379, 382, 383, 384, 385, 
 387, 388, 393, 394, 395, 39^, 397, 398, 
 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 
 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 
 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 
 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 
 435, 436, 437, 438, 464, 465, 466, 467, 
 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 
 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 
 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 
 
 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503. 505, 
 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 
 514, 515, 516, 517, 522, 523, 524, 525, 
 550, 551, 552, 553, 556, 557, 558, 559, 
 560, 561, 562, 563, 593, 594, 595, 596, 
 
 745, 746, 747, 748, 753, 754, 7SS> 756, 
 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 
 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 
 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 
 798, 799, 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 80s, 
 806, 807, 808, 809, 814, 815, 816, 817, 
 838, 839, 840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 
 850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 
 858, 859, 860, 861, 866, 867, 869, 870, 
 87s, 876, 877, 878, 885, 886, 887, 888, 
 89s, 896, 897, 898, 904, 90s, 906, 907, 
 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 
 918, 919, 920, 921, 926, 927, 1008, 1009, 
 1010, loii, 1024, 1025, 1026,1027,1032, 
 1033, 1034, 1035, 1038, 1039, 1040, 1041, 
 1046, 1047, 1048, 1049, 1054, 1055, 1056, 
 
ISSUE OF 1894-95. 187 
 
 1057, 1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 
 1072, 1073, 1074, 1075, 1076, 1077, 1080. 
 
 2 cents (type III) (360) No. 988, 989, 990, 991. 
 
 3 cents (200) No. 91, 95, 103, 107, 447, 448, 449, 450. 
 
 4 cents (200) No. 92, 94, 104, 106, 194, 195, 196, 197, 
 
 456, 4S7, 458, 4S9» 460, 461, 462, 463. 
 
 5 cents (200) No. 128, 129, 130, 134, 161, 162, 163, 164, 
 
 189, 190, 192, 193, 250, 251, 252, 253, 
 
 35 f, 353. 357. 359. 389. 39°. 39'. 392- 
 
 6 cents (200) No. 28, 184, 248, 373, 386, 451- 
 
 8 cents (200) No. 58, 249, 555, 928, 929, 930, 931. 
 
 10 cents (400) No. 55, 62, 63, 64, 302, 303, 305, 306. 
 
 15 cents (200) No. 52, 264. 
 
 50 cents (200) No. 75, *286. 
 
 1 dollar (200) No. 76, *287. 
 
 2 dollars (200) No. 84, *289. 
 S dollars (200) No. 85, *288. 
 
 The plates marked with an asterisk (*) have hot yet been put in use. 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 1 cent Imperforate No, 314, 334, 336. 
 
 2 cents " No. 319, 340. 
 
 3 cents " No. 103, 107. 
 
 4 cents " No. 94, 106. 
 
 5 cents " No. 251, 351. 
 
 6 cents " No. 373. 
 8 cents " No. 249. 
 
 10 cents '' No. 305. 
 
 15 cents " No. 52. 
 
 50 cents " No. 75. 
 
 1 dollar " No. 76. 
 
 2 dollars " No. 84. 
 S dollars " No. 85. 
 
 The following plates were prepared but, because of defects, were never 
 put to press : 
 
 1 cent No. 14, 309. 
 
 2 cents No. 86, 87, 200, 208, 268, 504, 868, 909. 
 S cents No. 375, 377, 378, 380. 
 
 10 cents No. 61. 
 
 On the 1 6th of April, 1900, small books of two-cent stamps were placed 
 on sale at the post offices. In these books the stamps are arranged in blocks 
 of six, separated by paraffined paper (to prevent adhesion), and protected Books of stamps, 
 by covers of thin cardboard. On the covers is printed brief information 
 concerning the rates of domestic and foreign postage, money orders and 
 registration. The purpose of these books is to enable one to carry stamps in 
 his pocket without risk of damaging them. The books are of three sizes, 
 containing either twelve, twenty-four or forty-eight stamps. They are sold at 
 twenty-five, forty-nine and ninety-seven cents, respectively ; an advance, in 
 
i88 ISSUE OF 1894-95. 
 
 each instance, of one cent over the face value of the stamps. Each block of 
 six stamps is composed of two vertical rows of three and has a stub at the top. 
 There are perforations between the stamps and above the top pair, but none 
 at the sides or bottom of the block. Hence, each stamp has one or more 
 blank edges. It was not possible to produce these blocks with plates of the 
 ordinary form and, therefore, special plates were made for the purpose. These 
 plates contain 360 stamps each. Thus far, only four of them have been made, 
 as will be observed on referring to the list of plate numbers. The report of 
 the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1900, states that, between April 
 16th and June 30th of that year, there were sent to post offices 2,263,040 
 books, of which 945,281 were sold to the public. 
 
 The annual reports of the Postmaster General supply the following 
 statistics of stamps issued to deputy postmasters : 
 BeiiTeries to Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895 : 
 
 postmasters. „ _, 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1894. Dec. 31, 1894. Mch. 31, 1895. June 30, 1895. Total. 
 
 1 cent 152,440,100 i77,6r3,7oo 182,294,850 512,348,650 
 
 2 cents 499,920,600 535,462,800 522,322,8501,557,706,250 
 
 3 cents 94,800 4,871,200 5,737,3°o 4,030,350 14,733,65° 
 
 4 cents 816,150 5,934,300 6,121,600 4,940,400 17,812,450 
 
 5 cents 25,660 9,487,880 12,170,760 10,782,430 32,466,730 
 
 6 cents 796,3°° 1,351,95° i,i79>6so 
 8 cents 7°,45° 
 
 10 cents 460,350 4,042,680 5,044,470 
 
 15 cents 436,480 450,880 
 
 5° cents 99,54° 36,44° 
 
 1 dollar 11,620 10,751 
 
 2 dollars . ... 3,355 4,967 
 5 dollars 1,570 2,737 
 
 Whole number of stamps 2,156,259,689. Value $4r,i67,i2i.oo. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1896 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Mch. 31, 1896. June 30, 1896. Total. 
 
 191,537,200 192,496,600 729,828,200 
 
 574,552,5°° 544,997,5°° 2,174,673,800 
 
 5,988,400 4,218,800 19,511,200 
 
 6,381,300 4,850,600 23,231,150 
 
 12,739,680 10,905,720 43,994,040 
 
 1,513,45° 
 
 2,757,75° 
 
 4,898,550 
 
 603,740 
 
 28,270 
 
 9,64s 
 
 2,07s 
 
 2,465 
 
 Whole number of stamps 3,025,481,467. Value $57,774,638.00. 
 
 i,u3,65° 
 
 4,441,55° 
 
 1,897,800 
 
 1,968,250 
 
 3,644,29° 
 
 13,191,79° 
 
 500,830 
 
 1,388,190 
 
 15,880 
 
 151,860 
 
 11,850 
 
 34,221 
 
 1,790 
 
 10,112 
 
 1,679 
 
 5,986 
 
 Sept. 30, 1895. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1895. 
 
 1 cent II 
 
 50,408,800 
 
 •95,385,600 
 
 2 cents 5 
 
 07,871,400 
 
 547,252,400 
 
 3 cents 
 
 3,839,50° 
 
 5,464,500 
 
 4 cents 
 
 4,355,850 
 
 7,643,400 
 
 5 cents 
 
 9,550,200 
 
 11,398,440 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1,067,100 
 
 1,651,850 
 
 8 cents 
 
 1,997,400 
 
 2,345,85° 
 
 10 cents 
 
 3,725,360 
 
 4,612,550 
 
 15 cents 
 
 331,820 
 
 652,380 
 
 50 cents 
 
 15,620 
 
 27,820 
 
 I dollar 
 
 12,470 
 
 13,852 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 8,345 
 
 5,415 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 3,175 
 
 3,180 
 
 1,404,850 
 
 5: 
 
 ,637,25° 
 
 2,084,000 
 
 9 
 
 ,185,000 
 
 4,027,560 
 
 17 
 
 ,264,020 
 
 4 '0,940 
 
 I 
 
 ,998,880 
 
 17,510 
 
 
 89,220 
 
 6,610 
 
 
 42,577 
 
 335 
 
 
 16,170 
 
 1,140 
 
 
 9,960 
 
4 cents 
 
 4,473,900 
 
 6,139,600 
 
 5 cents 
 
 9,612,140 
 
 12,200,960 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1,125,250 
 
 i,S'2,4S0 
 
 8 cents 
 
 ',771,550 
 
 2,587,000 
 
 lo cents 
 
 3,712,880 
 
 4,621,050 
 
 15 cents 
 
 360,280 
 
 596,740 
 
 50 cents 
 
 20,480 
 
 37,180 
 
 I dollar 
 
 2,040 
 
 10,600 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 190 
 
 880 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 60 
 
 50 
 
 5,232,90° 
 
 21,755,650 
 
 10,310,040 
 
 44,374,020 
 
 1,429,450 
 
 5,583,900 
 
 2,472,900 
 
 9,305,350 
 
 4,120,410 
 
 17,(19,390 
 
 443,940 
 
 1,892,820 
 
 37,970 
 
 109,800 
 
 6,815 
 
 23,335 
 
 20 
 
 2,150 
 
 1,000 
 
 2,670 
 
 ISSUE OF 1894-95. 189 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1897 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1896. Dec. 31, 1896. Mch. 31, 1897. June 30, 1897. Total. 
 
 1 cent 145,068,800 189,247,500 194,221,800 196,113,400 724,651,500 
 
 2 cents 507,131,600 553,723,400 582,508,700 575,663,300 2,219,027,000 
 
 3 cents 3,883,400 5,486,500 5,956,700 4,459,700 19,786,300 
 
 5,909,250 
 
 12,250,880 
 1,516,750 
 2,473,900 
 4,665,050 
 491,860 
 14,170 
 3,880 
 1,060 
 1,560 
 Whole number of stamps 3,063,633,885. Value $58,480,780.00. 
 
 In the Postal Guide for 1898 the number of stamps of the several (juantities of stamps 
 denominations which were issued without watermark is reported as follows : "■"''<»>* watermark. 
 
 1 cent 404,168,300 
 
 2 cents 1,271,048,700 
 
 3 cents 20,214,300 
 
 4 cents 16,718,150 
 
 5 cents 30,688,840 
 
 6 cents 5,120,800 
 8 cents 2,426,100 
 
 10 cents 12,263,180 
 
 15 cents 1,583,920 
 
 50 cents 175,330 
 
 1 dollar 35,046 
 
 2 dollars 10,027 
 5 dollars 6,251 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,764,458,944. Value $34,411,516.00. 
 
 The table of deliveries during the year ending June 30th, 1895, includes 
 750 copies of each value which were sent to the Universal Postal Union. 
 
 In 1897 the current series, as well as the special delivery, postage due 
 and newspaper stamps were surcharged "universal — postal — congress," 
 in three lines, and' presented to the delegates to the Congress of the Universal stamps with Tarious 
 Postal Union, then in session at Washington. One hundred and twenty-five imprmts. 
 
 sets were surcharged. In 1898, 300 each of the one and five cents and 200 
 of each of the other values were "delivered for the Post Office album." 
 Most, if not all, of these stamps were surcharged " Specimen ", in small type, 
 in either black or magenta. 
 
 Concerning the counterfeit of the two cent stamp, which was mentioned 
 on a preceding page, the annual report of the Fourth Assistant Postmaster Counterfeit two 
 General for 1895, furnishes the following information : 
 
190 ISSUE OF 1894-95. 
 
 " Counterfeiters have plied their vocation for ages and in many forms, but never until 
 the last year have they directed their attention to the manufacture of spurious postage stamps. 
 A bold scheme to defraud the Government by means of counterfeit stamps was developed 
 through our inspectors last spring. This scheme was operated from Chicago and the adjacent 
 Canadian territory. The counterfeiters having produced a supply of bogus stamps, established 
 their headquarters in Hamilton, Ontario, under the title of ' The Canadian Novelty and 
 Supply Company.' Advertisements were then inserted in various newspapers, alleging that 
 this company had received large quantities of stamps in payment for their novelties, which 
 they desired to dispose of at a great discount, in order to convert the stamps into money. 
 The stamps were declared to be in good condition and were offered at the rate of $115 worth 
 for $100 Under the direction of an inspector, a party in Chicago ordered $100 worth of 
 these stamps, which upon examination were found to be cleverly executed counterfeits. 
 Several packages of them, then in a Chicago express office, were seized, and the inspectors at 
 once undertook the work of discovering the criminals. Developments proved that this scheme 
 had been nipped in its incipiency, and it is believed that less than 100,000 of these counter- 
 feit stamps were produced, the greater portion of which have been confiscated. The investi- 
 gation resulted in the discovery of the perforating machine apd other paraphernalia used by 
 the counterfeiters and the arrest of Charles O. Jones, Tinsa IVlcMillan, alias Mrs. Mack, and 
 Warren T. Thompson." 
 
 At the time this counterfeit was first reported it was generally under- 
 stood that the credit of the discovery was due to a stamp collector who, 
 having been sent to examine a package of the stamps which his employers had 
 ordered by C. O. D. express, at once detected the fraud and notified the 
 authorities. It is also certain that the counterfeits were promptly detected 
 by the watchful eyes of philatelists in many parts of the country. The 
 postmarks on the envelopes to which they were afifixed showed an extensive 
 distribution throughout the middle west. 
 
 In official eyes the counterfeits were probably dangerous and many of 
 them might have escaped detection in large post offices where the clerks are 
 very busy and cancelling machines are largely employed. But their poor 
 appearance ought to have attracted the attention of anyone at all observing 
 and they certainly would have been at once detected by the average stamp 
 collector. 
 
 They were made by some process of photo-lithography and apparently 
 were copied from a block of stamps of type I. The general appearance 
 Description of the is much blurred, especially around the triangles, while the shading at the 
 counterfeit. sides and bottom, indicating the beveled edge of the panel, is almost solid, 
 instead of showing fine ruled lines. The original stamps measure 19x22mm. 
 while the counterfeits vary from 19 to 19^^x22)^ to 23mm. The perforating 
 was done with a machine of the correct gauge, 12, which perforated only 
 one row at a time, thus often producing irregular spacing between the rows. 
 The color is a very good reproduction of the rose-carmine shade of the 
 genuine stamps and the coarse wove paper is sufficiently like that of the 
 originals not to attract attention. It is said that there were three printings of 
 the counterfeits. The first was in blocks of twenty-five, five rows of five 
 stamps each ; the second was in blocks of fifteen, three rows of five stamps 
 each ; and the third in strips of five. Some of the last printing were yet 
 imperforate when the malefactors were arrested. 
 
Issue of 1898. 
 
 Trans-Mississippi Series. 
 
 In the latter part of the year 1897, the daily papers announced the 
 intention of the Postmaster General to issue a series of celebration stamps in 
 commemoration of the Trans-Mississippi exposition, to be held at Omaha in 
 the summer of 1898. This exposition was, doubtless, an event of considerable 
 local interest and worth, but scarcely of that degree of national or historical 
 importance which we except in events that are honored by commemorative 
 issues of stamps. 
 
 Collectors, dealers and philatelic societies protested against this issue, 
 as being unnecessary and undignified. But their protests were unheeded and 
 the stamps duly made their appearance, to be greeted with little praise and 
 much unfavorable criticism. When the issue was first announced it was 
 promised that the vignettes would be printed in black and the borders in 
 colors. But this idea was subsequently abandoned, on the plea that the 
 Bureau of 'Engraving and Printing had "found it impossible to furnish satis- 
 factorily or in the time desired supplies of the several denominations in two 
 colors." The promise that the issue would surpass the beautiful Columbian 
 issue was also honored in the breach. The stamps are poorly conceived 
 and executed, overloaded with ornaments, heavy in color and blurred in 
 printing. 
 
 The stamps are officially described as follows : 
 
 " The Trans-Mississippi stamps differ materially in size from the 
 ordinary series, the engraved space being about seven-eighths of an inch wide 
 by about one and three-eighths long. The designs are also radically unlike Designs and colors, 
 those of the ordinary stamps — consisting of a border (substantially the same 
 in all the denominations, except that the figures and letters representing 
 values are different), and a central scene indicative in some way of the 
 development of the great region beyond the Mississippi River. The scenes 
 and the borders are all printed from line engravings on steel, executed by the 
 Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the Treasury Department. 
 
 The border, which forms in its inner line an irregular oval framework 
 to each of the scenes represented, consists of a fluted figure on either side, 
 with interior cross-bars, beginning in a single line near the bottom of the 
 stamp, and enlarging until it reaches a shield in each of the upper corners, 
 wherein is engraved in white the Arabic numeral of denomination — the dollar 
 
192 ISSUE OF 1898. TRANS-MISSISSIPPI SERIES. 
 
 mark being also included in the case of the one and two dollar stamps. At 
 the top, connecting the two shields, and united to the fluted framework on 
 the two sides, is a curved tablet, on which are engraved in small white capitals 
 the words ' united states of America '. Above this, on either side, are 
 heads of wheat, and between these a small scroll. Immediately below the 
 central scene is the title of the picture in diminutive white Gothic letters on a 
 curved tablet, and below this on either side, in scrolls, are the words of value, 
 ' ONE ', ' two ', and so on, in white capitals, except in the case of the two 
 highest denominations, when 'fi.oo' and '$2.00' are substituted for letters. 
 Above each of these is a projecting ear o£ corn, and at the bottom of all, on 
 a straight black tablet, are the words ' postage one cent ', ' postage two 
 CENTS ', and so on. 
 
 The scenes represented on the stamps, together with the colors of the 
 several denominations, are these : 
 
 One cent. 'Marquette on the Mississippi', from a painting by Lamp- 
 recht, now in possession of the Marquette College of Milwaukee, Wis., repre- 
 senting Father Marquette in a boat on the Upper Mississippi, preaching to 
 the Indians. Color, dark green. 
 
 Two cents. ' Farming in the West ', from a photograph, representing 
 a western grainfield with a long row of plows at work. Color, copper red. 
 
 Four cents. ' Indian Hunting Buffalo ,' reproduction of an engraving 
 in Schoolcraft's History of the Indian Tribes. Color, orange. 
 
 Five cents. ' Fremont on Rocky Mountains ', modified from a wood 
 engraving, representing the Pathfinder planting the U. S. flag on the highest 
 peak of the Rocky Mountains. Color, dark blue. 
 
 Eight cents. ' Troops Guarding Train ', representing a detachment 
 of U. S. soldiers convoying an emigrant train across the prairies ; from a 
 drawing by Frederic Remington, permission to use which was kindly given by 
 the publisher, R. H. Russell of New York. Color, dark lilac. 
 
 Ten cents. ' Hardships of Emigration ', from a painting kindly loaned 
 by the artist A. G. Heaton, representing an emigrant and his family on the 
 plains in a 'prairie schooner', one of the horses having fallen from exhaustion. 
 Color, slate. 
 
 Fifty cents. 'Western Mining Prospector', from a drawing by 
 Frederic Remington (permission to use which has been kindly given by the 
 publisher, R. H. Russell of New York), representing a prospector with his 
 pack-mules in the mountains, searching for gold. Color, olive. 
 
 One dollar. ' Western Cattle in Storm ', representing a herd of cattle 
 preceded by the leader, seeking safety from a gathering storm ; reproduced 
 from a large steel engraving after a picture by J. MacWhirter — the engraving 
 having been kindly loaned by Mrs. C. B. Johnson. Color, li^lil biu ii ix Jttijb-^X^, 
 
 Two DOLLARS. ' Mississippi River Bridge ', from an engraving — a 
 representation of the great bridge over the Mississippi, at St. Louis. Color, 
 sapphire blue." 
 
 It will be noticed that the colors officially assigned to the highest two 
 denominations are not those in which the stamps were actually issued. 
 
ISSUE OF 1898. TRANS-MISSISSIPPI SERIES. 
 
 193 
 
 The stamps are of uniform size and measure 34x22mm. 
 
 The paper, gum, perforation and watermark remain the same as in the 
 previous issue by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but the watermark 
 is placed sideways. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 Porous White Wove Paper. 
 Watermarked U. S. P. S. 
 
 June 17th, 1898. 
 
 1 cent gray-green, yellow-green, dark yellow-green, dark 
 
 green 
 
 2 cents bright, rose-red, rose-red, copper-red, brown-red, 
 
 dark brown-red 
 
 4 cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 
 
 5 cents deep blue, dark blue 
 
 8 cents lilac-brown, violet -brown 
 10 cents gray- violet, slate-violet, lilac-gray 
 50 cents sage green, deep sage green 
 
 1 dollar black 
 
 2 dollars orange-brown, deep orange-brown 
 
 Variety : 
 8 cents violet-brown. Imperforate horizontally 
 
 The plates of this series each contained one hundred stamps. The 
 impressions were divided vertically into sheets of fifty stamps, ten rows of 
 five stamps each. The imprint was " bureau, engraving & printing ", in 
 white capitals on a small rectangular panel, surrounded by a thin colored line 
 and having a trident shaped ornament at each end. The plate number and 
 imprint appeared at the top and bottom of each sheet of fifty stamps, above 
 or -below the third and fourth stamps, counting from the central line of the 
 plate. The plate number was always placed at the right of the imprint. 
 
 The plates used for this issue were numbered : 
 
 1 cent No. 590, 59T, 592, 598, 600, 601, 605, 607, 612, 635, 709, 
 
 710, 711, 712. 
 
 2 cents No. 597, 608, 610, 61 r, 616, 619, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 
 
 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 638, 639, 640, 
 641, 642, 644, 645, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 
 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 66r, 662, 663, 664, 
 66s, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 
 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 68r, 683, 684, 68s, 686, 687, 
 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 69s, 696, 697, 698, 
 699, 700, 7or, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 713, 
 714, 715, 7'6,'7'7. 718, 719, 720, 721, 722, 724, 725, 
 726, 727, 728, 729, 732, 733, 734, 73S, 737, 738, 739> 
 740, 741, 742, 743, 744, 749, 75°, 75', 752- 
 
 4 cents No. 599, 634, 636. 
 
 5 cents No. 602, 614, 618. 
 8 cents No. 609, 643. 
 
 Befereuce List. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
194 ISSUE OF 1898. — TRANS-MISSISSIPPI SERIES. 
 
 10 cents No. 604, 617, 620. 
 
 50 cents No. 603. 
 
 1 dollar No. 606. 
 
 2 dollars No. 613. 
 
 The eight cent stamps, imperforate horizontally, are from plate 609. 
 Plates 589, 723, 730, 731 and 736 for two cent stamps, plate 637 for 
 Plates prepared five cent Stamps and plate 757 for eight cent stamps were prepared but, being 
 but not nsed. defective, were never put to press. 
 
 The following plates were prepared with a view to printing the stamps 
 in two colors but they were never used : 
 
 No. 576 I cent, border (defective). 
 
 No. 577 1 cent, border. 
 
 No. 578 I cent, vignette. 
 
 No. 579 I cent, border. 
 
 No. 580 I cent, vignette. 
 
 No. 581 4 cents, border. 
 
 No. 582 2 cents, border. 
 
 No. 583 2 cents, vignette. 
 
 No. 584 4 cents, vignette. 
 
 No. 585 8 cents, border. 
 
 No. 586 s cents, border. 
 
 No. 587 5 cents, vignette. 
 
 No. 588 10 cents, border. 
 
 About a year after the discontinuance of this issue, two plates of the 
 four cent denomination were made. These plates were numbered 1036 and 
 Plates for 1037. The former bore only the border of the stamp, the latter, only the 
 
 expenmenta work, yigjjgtj-g These plates were prepared solely for experimental work in con- 
 nection with the bicolored series to be issued in commemoration of the Pan- 
 American exposition at Buffalo, in 1901. 
 
 The following tabulation of the number of stamps that was issued of 
 each denomination, is compiled from the annual reports of the Postmaster 
 General : 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Mch. 31, 1898. June 30, 1898. Sept. 30, 1898. Dec. 31, 1898. Total. 
 
 1 cent 17.635.5°° 28,796,900 24,561,000 70,993,400 
 
 2 cents 26,268,000 76,163,900 57,288,900 159,720,800 
 
 4 cents 1,271,750 1,591,650 2,061,100 4,924,500 
 
 5 cents 1,622,900 2,339,680 3,731,600 7,694,180 
 
 8 cents 897,800 896,100 1,133,300 2,927,200 
 
 10 cents 998,230 1,236,530 2,395,000 4,629,760 
 
 50 cents S°.4io 33.79° 446,200 530,40° 
 
 1 dollar 2°,69S 15,860 20,345 56,900 
 
 2 dollars 14,120 ",555 30.S25 56,2°° 
 
 Whole number of stamps 251,553,340. Value $5,617,691.00. 
 
 There are included in this table 900 stamps (100 of each denomination) 
 which were delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General to be used for 
 
ISSUE OF 1898. TRANS-MISSISSIPPI SERIES. 195 
 
 exchanging and similar purposes. These stamps were surcharged " Specimen " " Specimen ' 
 in very small type. The surcharge is hand-stamped in black or magenta. I stamps, 
 
 have not found any record of the customary deliveries to the Universal Postal 
 Union. 
 
 The stamps of this series were not issued after December 31st, 1898 
 but they will continue to be available for postage at any future time. 
 
Issue of 1898. 
 
 In January, 1898, the color of the one cent stamp was changed to green 
 and in March of the same year that of the five cents to dark blue. These are 
 Changes in colors, the colors assigned to these two values by the Universal Postal Union. The 
 change was made in accordance with the agreement of the Post Office Depart- 
 ment of the United States to adopt the colors recognized by the Union, on or 
 before January ist, 1899. At subsequent dates the colors of the four, six, ten 
 and fifteen cents were changed. This was done to avoid possible confusion, 
 which might arise from stamps of different denominations being printed in 
 nearly the same colors. 
 
 The size, paper, watermark, gum and perforation remain the same as 
 in the series of 1894-95. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
 Porous White Wove Paper. 
 
 Watermarked U. S. P. S. 
 
 I cent pale yellow-green, yellow-green, dark yellow-green, 
 dark gray-green, green, dark green 
 
 4 cents rose-brown, claret -brown, dark claret-brown, lilac- 
 brown, red-brown 
 
 5 cents blue, deep blue, dark blue 
 
 6 cents magenta, lake, brownish lake, brown-carmine 
 10 cents yellow-brown, dark yellow-brown, orange-brown, 
 
 brown, gray-brown 
 15 cents olive-green, deep olive-green 
 The number of stamps on the plates and the arrangement of the 
 imprints and plate numbers are the same as for the corresponding values of 
 the issues of 1894-95. Up to March ist, 1901, the following plates are reported 
 to have been used for the stamps in the new colors : 
 
 (400) No. 439, 440, 441, 442, 446, 452, 493, 494, 495, 496, 
 526, 527, 528, 529, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 
 540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 
 564, 565, 566, 567, 572, 573, 574, 575, 766, 767, 
 768, 769, 770, 77T, 772, 773, 794, 795, 796, 797, 
 810, 811, 8t2, 813, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 
 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 
 
 Jan. 17th, 1898. 
 
 Oct. 7th, 1898. 
 
 Mch. 8th, 1898. 
 Dec. 31st, 1898. 
 Nov. nth, 1898. 
 
 Nov. 30th, 1898. 
 
 I cent 
 
ISSUE OF 1898. 
 
 •97 
 
 4 cents 
 
 5 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 10 cents 
 
 15 cents 
 
 846, 847, 848, 849, 862, 863, 864, 865, 936, 937, 
 
 938, 939> 940, 941, 94a, 943> 944, 945, 946, 947, 
 
 952, 953, 954, 955, 95^, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 
 
 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970, 971, 
 
 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979, 984, 985, 
 
 986, 987, 992, 993, 994, 99S, 1000 looi, 1002, 
 
 1003, 1C04, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1012, 1013, 1014 
 
 1015, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1022, 
 
 1023, 1028, 1029, 1030, 1031, 1042, 1043, 1044, 
 
 1045,1050,1051, 1052, 1053, 1058, 1059, 1060, 
 
 1061, 1062, 1063, 1064, 1065. 
 
 (200) No. 460, 461, 462, 463, 530, 531, 532, 533, 790, 791, 
 
 792, 793- 
 (200) No. 389, 390, 391, 392, 407, 408, 409, 410, 834, 835, 
 
 836, 837, 948, 949, 950, 951, 980, 981, 982, 983. 
 (200) No. 451, 922, 923, 924, 925. 
 (400) No. 302, 303, 305, 306, 518, 519, 520, 521, 932, 933, 
 
 934, 935, 996, 997, 998, 999. 
 (200) No. 264. 
 
 Plate 442 of the one cent stamp is said to have been used for one 
 printing in green, but philatelists have been unable to verify the statement. 
 
 In the summer of 1898, 63,3c 0,000 one cent and 62,000,000 two cent 
 stamps were surcharged "i. R.", to be used as revenue stamps. As these stamps surcharged 
 stamps were taken from the reserve stock of the Bureau of Engraving and "'• b." 
 
 Printing and not from the Post Office Department, the accounts of that 
 department were not in any way affected. 
 
 In the fiscal years 1899 and 1900 large quantities of stamps were over- 
 printed for Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands. As in the stamps surcharged 
 preceding instance, the stamps had not been transferred to the Post Ofiice *'*'■ f"**, «*"• 
 Department and, therefore, the statistics of the regular postal issues remain 
 unchanged. 
 
 From the annual reports of the Postmaster General we obtain the 
 following tables of stamps issued to deputy postmasters : 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1898 : 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept 30, 1897. Dec. 31, 1897. Mch. 31, 1898. June 30, 1898. Total. 
 
 1 cent 157,455,100 232,761,200 240,260,800 196,354,700 826,831,800 
 
 2 cents 537,752,000 626,453,400 687,151,300 556,126,500 2,407,483,200 
 
 Deliveries to 
 postmasters. 
 
 3 cents 
 
 3,843,500 
 
 6,969,000 
 
 7,972,500 
 
 4,872,000 
 
 23,657,000 
 
 4 cents 
 
 4,850,100 
 
 7,061,200 
 
 7,237,000 
 
 5,634,850 
 
 24,783,15° 
 
 5 cents 
 
 10,185,920 
 
 12,760,360 
 
 13,890,700 
 
 10,396,880 
 
 47,233,860 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1,279,200 
 
 7,506,100 
 
 1,608,650 
 
 1,694,500 
 
 7,088,450 
 
 8 cents 
 
 2,'98,3So 
 
 3,363,15° 
 
 3,391,100 
 
 2,479,95° 
 
 11,432,55° 
 
 10 cents 
 
 3,860,740 
 
 5,446,540 
 
 5,508,160 
 
 3,782,880 
 
 18,598,320 
 
 15 cents 
 
 364,640 
 
 818,020 
 
 846,260 
 
 355,240 
 
 2,384,160 
 
 50 cents 
 
 12,35° 
 
 48,040 
 
 84,840 
 
 7,720 
 
 152,950 
 
3 cents 
 
 4,43S,8oo 
 
 8,080,100 
 
 4 cents 
 
 3,55 '>75o 
 
 7,664,500 
 
 S cents 
 
 8,221,560 
 
 11,900,260 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1,098,350 
 
 1,982,450 
 
 8 cents 
 
 1,850.5°° 
 
 3,552,900 
 
 lo cents 
 
 3,749,460 
 
 S,°37,590 
 
 15 cents 
 
 311,760 
 
 900,680 
 
 50 cents 
 
 16,680 
 
 26,730 
 
 I dollar 
 
 755 
 
 2,975 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 20 
 
 950 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 15 
 
 245 
 
 6,806,800 
 
 27,355,900 
 
 6,495,55° 
 
 24,890,000 
 
 ii,93',95° 
 
 44,169,570 
 
 1,645,050 
 
 6,928,150 
 
 2,778,800 
 
 1 1,520,300 
 
 4,887,050 
 
 18,646,200 
 
 438, ISO 
 
 2,282,810 
 
 16,850 
 
 77,880 
 
 4,615 
 
 14,540 
 
 75 
 
 1,200 
 
 1,005 
 
 2,280 
 
 198 ISSUE OF 1898. 
 
 Sept. 30, 1897. Dec. 31, 1897. Mch. ji, 1898. June 30, 1898. Total. 
 
 1 dollar 6,775 ",'77 7,4^3 4,i3S 29,550 
 
 2 dollars 75 65 800 165 1,105 
 5 dollars 70 620 2,055 115 2,860 
 
 Whole number of stamps 3,369,678,955. Value $64,160,613.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1899 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept, JO, 1898. Dec. 31, 1898. Mch. 31, 1899. June 30, 1899. Total. 
 
 1 cent 146,382,500 228,217,500 239,954,600 236,461,150 851,015,750 
 
 2 cents 511,569,400 645,124,600 676,813,20b 669,610,100 2,503,117,300 
 
 8,033,200 
 7,178,200 
 
 12,115,800 
 2,202,300 
 
 3,338,1°° 
 4,972,100 
 632,220 
 17,620 
 6,19s 
 155 
 i,o'5 
 Whole number of stamps 3,490,021,880. Value $66,208,893.50. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1900: 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1899. Dec. 31, 1899 Mch. 31, 1900. June 30, 1900. Total. 
 
 1 cent 207,987,600 237,771,250 274,354,100 245,519,650 965,632,600 
 
 2 cents 662,801,300 702,439,500 755,100,600 705,386,600 2,825,728,000 
 
 2 cents, in stamp books 40,400,904 40,400,904 
 
 3 cents 5,73°,5c° 7,999,7°° 10,149,000 5,745,450 29,624,650 
 
 4 cents 6,66 r, 200 8,374,750 9,037,700 7,589,550 3',663,200 
 
 5 cents 13,138,400 13,248,050 15,893,300 13,860,300 56,140,050 
 
 6 cents 2,368,700 2,742,550 2,275,400 1,839,850 9,226,500 
 8 cents 3,364,650 4,036,950 4,043,400 2.848,700 14,293,700 
 
 10 cents 4,978,320 6,088,780 6,718,700 5,032,850 22,818,650 
 
 15 cents 788,800 856,700 701,020 565,560 2,912,080 
 
 50 cents 8,710 17,420 20,780 26,360 73,270 
 
 1 dollar 8,020 7,685 8,505 1,860 26,070 
 
 2 dollars no 175 1,495 665 2,445 
 5 dollars 1,220 75 1,075 75 2,445 
 
 Whole number of stamps 3,998,544,564. Value $76,436,757.08. 
 
 The table for 1899 includes 750 copies each of the one, four, six, ten 
 
 and fifteen cents and 850 copies of the five cents, which are reported as being 
 
 DeiiToriea to the delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General. As it is customary 
 
 UniTersai Postal jq send 750 copies of each new issue to the Universal Postal Union, it is 
 
 Union. I J f > 
 
 probably safe to assume that such was the destination of this lot. 
 
ISSUE OF 1898. 199 
 
 In the table for 1900 are included 1,300 stamps (100 copies of each 
 denomination of the series), which were also delivered to the Third Assistant "Specimen" 
 Postmaster General. These were intended for the Government display at the stamps. 
 
 Paris exposition, for exchanging, etc. The majority of the stamps were 
 surcharged " Specimen " in small type, in black. 
 
 Finally, the Post Office Department received, as specimens, 240 copies 
 of the new stamp books, valued at $101.28. These are also included in the 
 table for 1900. 
 
Issue of 1901. 
 
 Pan-American Series. 
 
 In the annual report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 
 1900, we find the following announcement : 
 
 PROPOSED ISSUE OF PAN-AMERICAN POSTAGE STAMPS. 
 
 " At the instance of the authorities of the Pan-American Exposition, to be held at 
 Buffalo, N. Y., from May i to October 31, 1901, the Postmaster General has authorized the 
 Official description issue of a special series of postage stamps to commemorate the exposition, which, owing to 
 of the stamps. its magnitude and international character, is fairly entitled to this mark of recognition by the 
 Post Office Department. The new stamps will be furnished to all postmasters upon their 
 requisitions, and the first issue will be made at the time the exposition is inaugurated, May 
 I, 1 901, the stamps being withdrawn from sale at the close of the exposition, October 31. 
 
 It has been decided to issue these stamps in six denominations, x, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 10 
 cents, and to make them the most artistic series ever issued by the Department. The Bureau 
 of Engraving and Printing has co-operated to this end and has consented to print the issue in 
 two colors, an undertaking which involves considerable difficulty, particularly in view of the 
 enormous amount of other work required of it. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing took 
 control of the manufacture of postage stamps in July, 1894, and has steadily improved the 
 character of this work up to date. In executing the wishes of the Department as to the 
 Pan-American series, it has thus far equaled all expectations. The result is a stamp that will, 
 I believe, at once delight the eye and otherwise gratify the Department and the public. The 
 designs selected represent the latest and most improved modes of transportation and auxil- 
 iaries thereto, as appears from the following descriptions : 
 
 Denomination. 
 
 Subject. 
 
 Color. 
 
 Legend. 
 
 I cent 
 
 Lake steamer 
 
 Green 
 
 Fast lake navigation. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 Railway train 
 
 Red 
 
 Fast express. 
 
 4 cents 
 
 Automobile 
 
 Red-brown 
 
 Automobile. 
 
 5 cents 
 
 Steel-arch bridge 
 
 Blue 
 
 Bridge at Niagara Falls. 
 
 8 cents 
 
 Ship-canal locks 
 
 Lilac 
 
 Canal locks at Sault Sainte Marie. 
 
 10 cents 
 
 Ocean steamship 
 
 Light brown 
 
 Fast ocean navigation. 
 
 One Cent, — The lake steamer presents the port bow, the pilot house is well forward, 
 and it is propelled by side wheels. 
 
 Two Cents. — The train of four cars is drawn by a locomotive with four drivers ; four 
 parallel tracks are shown. 
 
 Four Cents — The automobile is of the closed-coach order, with two men on the box 
 and a part of the United States Capitol at Washington as a background. 
 
 Five Cents. — This presents the largest single span steel bridge in the world ; two 
 trolley cars are seen upon it, and a full view of Niagara Falls is shown under, beyond, and 
 up the river, with the graceful springing arch as a frame. 
 
 Eight Cents. — The great ship-canal locks at Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., are given in a 
 view from a higher point, including the immediate surroundings. 
 
 Ten Cents — An ocean steamship of the American line, with two smokestacks and 
 masts, presents its starboard bow, lapped by a rising wave. 
 
ISSUE OF igor. 20I 
 
 These stamps are of uniform dimensions — 0.76 by 1.06 of an inch — the longer side 
 being horizontal. The borders take the colors of the regular series on the same denomi- 
 nations at this date The words " Commemorative series, 1901 " and " United States of 
 America " next below, appear above the vignette; and the legend, in a line next below the 
 central opening, with the denomination in a line at the bottom, appears in the same order on 
 all stamps of the series All the lettering is in white Roman capitals. The numerals are all 
 white-faced Arabic in the Roman type, except the 10 cents, which is the block-letter type of 
 figure, condensed to secure space for the two figures The openings for the central illustra- 
 tions are so varied as to prevent a minute description here ; but their borders are well 
 separated from the central pictures. All the central illustrations are from photographs, as the 
 objects represented appear to-day, and are to be printed in black." 
 
 The Post Office Department began forwarding the stamps to post- 
 masters on April 25th, and they were placed on sale throughout the country 
 on May ist. Although the issue will be discontinued on October 31st, the 
 stamps will remain valid for postage. 
 
 The engraving is carefully executed but there is nothing especially 
 interesting in either the pictures or their borders. The colors are similar to, 
 though not the same as, those of the corresponding values of the regular 
 series. 
 
 The stamps measure 26J^xi9j^mm. The paper is the same as is used 
 for the regular issue of postage stamps and has the watermark " u s p s ". 
 The perforation has the regular gauge and the gum is yellowish white. 
 
 Perforated 12. Keference List. 
 
 Porous White Wove Paper. 
 
 Watermarked U. S. P. S. 
 
 May 1st, 1901. I cent deep blue-green and black 
 
 2 cents carmine and black, rose-carmine and black 
 
 4 cents chocolate and black, dark red-brown and black 
 
 5 cents ultramarine and black 
 8 cents brown-violet and black 
 
 10 cents yellow-brown and black, orange-brown and black 
 
 As the stamps are printed in two colors it is necessary to use two plates 
 for each value, one for the border and one for the vignette. The plates each 
 contain two hundred stamps, arranged in twenty horizontal rows of ten Plates and imprints. 
 stamps each. The impressions are divided horizontally into sheets of one 
 hundred stamps. The imprint is the same as that used on the plates of the 
 regular issue. It appears only on the plates for the borders and is placed 
 above the third and eighth stamps of the top row and below the correspond- 
 ing stamps of the bottom row. The number of the border plate is placed at 
 the right of each imprint. The number of the vignette plate appears only 
 once. It is placed below the fifth stamp of the bottom row. There appear 
 also, in the borders, registry marks, platemen's initials, figures indicating the 
 face value of the stamps, etc. 
 
 As this chapter is written on the day on which the stamps appear, it 
 is, of course, impossible to give a list of the plate numbers. 
 
Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 The subject of the stamps used in payment of the fees for delivering 
 and collecting letters presents many difficulties and complications. The 
 period at which they were used is now remote and, with a few exceptions, 
 records concerning the stamps are entirely lacking. So far as we can learn, 
 they were issued under a variety of circumstances and with varying degrees 
 of authority, from the highest in the land to that of individuals who possessed 
 but the shadow of authority, due to their being employees of the Government. 
 
 The power to issue stamps is vested in Congress alone. For reasons to 
 be given later, it seems best to separate the special delivery stamps from the 
 Origin of tiie general classification of carriers' stamps and to give them a chapter by them- 
 varions stamps, ggj^gg After this segregation there remain but two stamps which were issued 
 as carriers' stamps under an Act of Congress. These are the " Franklin " and 
 " eagle " carriers The stamps of the United States City Despatch Post 
 were issued by the authority of the Postmaster General. Others, such as the 
 " horseman " and " eye " stamps of Baltimore, appear to have been issued by 
 postmasters. And still others were created by letter carriers, on their own 
 responsibility. Some of the letter carriers were, at the time they issued their 
 stamps, in receipt of a fixed salary from the Government, while others were 
 paid only the fees received for the delivery and collection of the letters carried 
 by them. It will readily be understood that the latter class were anxious to 
 increase their receipts as much as possible. Stamps would appear to be a 
 likely means to this end. Their use would obviate the trouble of collecting 
 the carriers' fee upon the delivery of letters and insure its prepayment on. 
 drop letters. They could also be used on letters sent from other places, to 
 hasten their delivery in the city in which the stamps were current. 
 
 The history of the carriers' stamps is so involved with that of the local 
 posts that it is difficult to consider them separately. Indeed, one was often 
 Local Posts and tiie the outcome of the other or was established because of the success or failure 
 carrier service, gf (-jjg other. In some cases the Government was the successor of the local 
 post and retained in its service the employees of the latter. It cannot be 
 denied that the private posts were usually the more enterprising, the first in 
 the field and the first to adopt improvements. In years gone by, the majority 
 of the stamps which are now recognized as carriers' stamps and of semi- 
 official origin, were believed to be issues of the local posts. Within a few 
 years a considerable number have been transferred from the latter to the 
 
CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 203 
 
 former class, through the researches of philatelists. While the local posts 
 were competitors of the Government, the carriers were its employees and 
 assistants. Their stamps, therefore, had the consent, either actual or implied, 
 of those in authority. These stamps are commonly found in company with 
 stamps of the regular Government issues and cancelled by official cancella- 
 tions. It is largely by means of these cancellations that the status of the 
 carriers' stamps has been established. The local stamps, on the contrary, 
 bear the cancellations of the local posts, thus indicating their private nature. 
 The carriers' stamps undoubtedly performed an auxiliary service of the Post 
 Office Department and for this reason, if for no other, their right to a place in 
 a collection of United States postage stamps would appear to be established. 
 
 The rates charged for delivering letters varied at different times and 
 even in different localities at the same time. At one period, also, there was 
 no charge for letters carried to the post office but only for those delivered Rates, 
 
 from it. The report of the Postmaster General for 1855 gives a table showing 
 the deliveries by carriers in several cities and the amounts received for the 
 service. A foot note to this table says : " The rates charged for carrying 
 letters, papers, etc., in the several cities vary ; which accounts for the apparent 
 discrepancies in the amounts received." On the subjects of changes in rates 
 and competition of the local posts we find many interesting things in the older 
 philatelic magazines and in Government publications. The reader will find 
 it interesting, at this point, to turn to the historical notes at the beginning of 
 this work, and read the quofation from the Stamp Collector's Magazine on 
 pages 6 to 8. 
 
 Before the year 1845, New York was the only city in which carriers' 
 stamps were used. The stamps in use there were those of the United States 
 City Despatch Post and a few of Greig's City Despatch Post which were 
 issued provisionally. Each had a face value of three cents. Whether the 
 same rate prevailed in other cities I am unable to say. By Act of Congress, 
 approved March 3rd, 1845, the rate for drop letters was fixed at two cents and 
 carriers were allowed an additional charge of a like amount for delivery. At 
 that date carriers did not receive a fixed salary. Their remuneration was 
 derived entirely from the fees for delivering letters. The Act of March 3rd, 
 1 85 1, reduced the rate for the delivery of letters to one cent each and, for the 
 first time, provided for collecting letters and conveying them to the post office. 
 This latter work had previously been performed by the private posts. In this 
 change in methods we find an explanation of the large number of one cent 
 carriers' stamps which came into use about that date. Though the Govern- 
 ment provided a one cent stamp in the issue of 1851, the carriers preferred to 
 sell their own stamps, whenever they were permitted to do so. 
 
 In the report of the Postmaster General, dated December 3rd, 1859, 
 we find the following remarks concerning the local posts and delivery by 
 carriers : 
 
 Penny Post. 
 
 "The system of delivering letters by carriers at the domicil of the citizen was first 
 recognized by the Act of 3rd IVlarch, 1825, and has within a few years been successfully in- 
 troduced into several of our principal cities. Though constant endeavors have been made to Review of the 
 improve it, it is still imperfect in its details, and unsatisfactory, alike to the public and to the carrier service, 
 department, in its operations, The system cannot be regarded as having accomplished the 
 
204 
 
 CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Suggested 
 legislntion. 
 
 Legislation too 
 sweeping. 
 
 Charge for conTcy- 
 
 Ing letters to the 
 
 post oflice. 
 
 Suppression of tlie 
 local posts. 
 
 object of its establishment, so long as it does not command and deliver the local correspon- 
 dence of the different cities in which it exists, which, thus far, it has wholly failed to do. 
 This correspondence is now almost entirely in the hands of private expresses, whose rates are 
 so low as to make a successful competition with them, on the part of the government, 
 impossible Their charge for the delivery of a letter is generally one cent, while this amount 
 is necessarily exacted by the department for the carriers, and one cent in addition is collected 
 on the local correspondence, as the postage fixed by the Act of 1825, on 'drop letters.' 
 Hence the aggregate postage on the city correspondence, under existing laws, which require 
 that the system shall be self-sustaining, is at least two cents, which precludes the possibility 
 of any successful competition with the private expresses. 1 therefore recommend the repeal 
 of this provision of the Act of 1825, so far as it can be construed as applying to ' drop letters ' 
 delivered by carriers. This would not result in any perceptible diminution of the postal 
 revenues, inasmuch as the correspondence which would be thus secured by the department, 
 does not now pass through its offices. It is true that the Postmaster General might, in his 
 discretion, arrest the operation of these private expresses by declaring the streets and avenues 
 of the cities to which they belong to be post roads ; but until the department is prepared to 
 deliver city letters as cheaply and promptly as such companies can possibly do, I should 
 regard the exercise of this power as unwise, if not harsh and oppressive." 
 
 In i860, Congress acted on these recommendations, and rather more 
 fully than was desired, if we may judge from the report of the Postmaster 
 General for that year. In it he says : 
 
 " In the last annual report it was recommended that the provision of the Act of 1825^ 
 levying a postage of one cent on ' diop letters,' should be repealed, in order that the de- 
 partment by a reduction of its rates might be enabled more successfully to compete with 
 private expresses in the delivery of the local correspondence of the cities. This repeal was 
 made, but Congress went further and declared that thereafter the charge on each letter de- 
 livered by a carrier should be not exceeding one cent. The effect of this was to take from 
 the department the discretion in regulating the charge which had been conferred upon it by 
 the acts of July 2, 1836, and iWarch 3, 1851 It has been satisfactorily ascertained that, in the 
 smaller and sparsely populated cities and towns, the comj^nsation fixed by the recent act is 
 wholly insufficient to support the carrier system. Yet in this class of cities and towns the 
 public derrand the delivery of their letters by carriers, and are entirely willing to pay for the 
 service a rate of compensation which would render it remunerative As the discretion 
 previously existing upon the subject has never been abused, and as there is no probability 
 that the rate would ever be raised beyond what would be cheerfully submitted to by the 
 public, I recommend that the provision of the Act of last session be repealed, and that the 
 department shall have authority to collect such postage on all letters delivered by carriers, 
 as shall be deemed necessary to compensate them for the service, provided that it shall not 
 exceed two cents per letter. 
 
 The Acts of July 2, 1836, and March 3, 185 1, contemplated that the same charge should 
 be made for the delivery of letters into the post office as for their delivery at the domicil of 
 the citizen. From some unexplained cause, this provision of the law was not executed, and 
 the service of delivering letters into the post office for transmission has been gratuitously 
 performed, No reason could be urged in support of this usage, since this service, thus 
 rendered without any return, has always, to the extent of its performance, cost the depart- 
 ment as much as that for which compensation has been exacted. Orders have accordingly 
 been given for the enforcement of this view of the law, and the revenue derived from this 
 source, added to the other receipts of the carrier system, will give it adequate support in the 
 large cities at the low rate of one cent established by the existing law, provided it can 
 command the entire local correspondence for delivery. This can be accomplished only by 
 placing the postal system on the same footing in the cities that it occupies in the rural dis- 
 tricts. That such a necessity would n rise was clearly foreseen by Congress, and in the tenth 
 section of tlie Act of March 3, 1851, the Postmaster General was authorized to establish post 
 routes within all cities and towns, where the postmasters are appointed by the President of 
 the United States. By virtue of this Act I have by a formal ord?r declared all the streets, 
 
 avenues, etc., within the corporate limits of the cities of Boston, New York and 
 
 lanes, 
 
 K.\l)osltion of the 
 
 laws relating to 
 
 post roads. 
 
 Philadelphia, to be post roads, and have notified all engaged in the transportation and 
 delivery of letters, for compensation, in said cities, that they would thereby expose themselves 
 to the penalties imposed by the third section of the Act of March 2, 1827. The private ex- 
 presses in the cities named have acquiesced in the legality of this step, with the exception of 
 one in Philadelphia, known as ' Blood's Express,' which has continued the regular delivery 
 of letters in defiance of the order of the department. 
 
 A bill in equity was filed with a view of restraining the company from this habitual 
 and persistent violation of the postal laws, but upon full argument and consideration had on 
 the questions involved, the injunction was denied. The ground assumed by the learned 
 judges in their decision— a copy of which accompanies this report -is that the statute of 
 March 3, 185 1 , did not intend to confer upon the government the same monopoly as carriers 
 
CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 205 
 
 of letters, packets, etc., over the post routes thereby authorized to be established, as was 
 conferred upon it by the Act of March 2, 1827, in reference to the general post roads of the 
 country. While entertaining the most profound respect for the tribunal pronouncing this 
 opinion, it is but proper to say that its reasoning has not impressed me, nor have I been able 
 to adopt the conclusions at which it has arrived. The streets, alleys, etc., of Philadelphia are 
 now, by virtue of the Act of March3, 1851, ' post routes '; this is not denied. The statute of 
 March 2, 1827, declares that ' no person other than the Postmaster General, or his authorized 
 agents, shall set up any foot or horse post for the conveyance of letters and packets upon any 
 post road, which is or may be established as such by law ; and that every person who shall 
 offend, shall incur a penalty,' etc. If the words -any post road which is or may be estab- 
 blished," do not embrace those declared to be such by law in the city of Philadelphia, it is not 
 easy to conceive what terms could be employed sufficiently comprehensive for the purpose. 
 The quo animo imputed to Congress in the enactment of the Act of March 3, 1851, is by no 
 means made apparent in the course of the argument The monopoly created by the Act of 
 March 2, 1827, would seem to extend alike to every post road then existing or thereafter to 
 exist, whether pervading the country or the city, or connecting different post offices with 
 each other or with the domicil of the citizen. There is no restriction in the language, and to 
 impose one by construction is to impair, if not to defeat, the carrier system which Congress 
 has recognized as a necessary integral part of the postal service. It seems that every con- 
 sideration which can be urged in support of the monopoly, conceded to exist on the general 
 post roads of the country, will equally apply to that claimed for those of the city. As the 
 constitutional power for the purpose is not seriously controverted, with a view of relieving 
 the department from future litigation -upon the question, 1 recommend that, in terms so 
 precise and emphatic as not to be mistaken by the courts, Congress shall apply the provisions 
 of the Act of March 2, 1827, to all post routes established in the cities under the authority of 
 the statute of March 3, 1851. 
 
 No objection, on the score either of policy or principle, can be successfully urged 
 against the suppression of the private expresses occupied in the conveyance of letters and 
 packets in our cities. The growth of these cities, and the wants of our civilization, render 
 the ministrations of the postal service, in the delivery of letters and packets at the residence 
 of the citizen, as indispensable as they are in the transportation and delivery of the mails at 
 the various post offices in the country districts. But the service can only be maintained as a 
 unit by clothing it with the rights and privileges of a complete government monopoly in all 
 the fields of its operation. Some of its branches are well known to be heavy burdens upon 
 the department ; and they would be insupportably oppressive, were it not for the relief 
 afforded by other branches which are remunerative, but which will continue to be so only so 
 long as the competition of private enterprise is effectually excluded. 
 
 There are now four daily deliveries of letters and packets by carriers in the city of New 
 York, four in Philadelphia, and three in Boston ; and the number will be increased from 
 time to time, as the increase of population and correspondence will justify it. The high 
 price of labor, however, and the lovi^ rates of our postages, forbid the hope that, without some 
 change in the existing laws, the system can ever attain the perfection which distinguishes it 
 in some of the European capitals. While this is admitted, it should also be stated that its 
 operations thus far have been more successful than could have been anticipated, in view of 
 the obstacles it has had to encounter." 
 
 This report includes a copy of a letter from Hon. John A. Dix, Post- 
 master at New York, from which the following is quoted : 
 
 " The carriers and collectors are paid from the carriers' fund, which is composed of 
 the postage on city letters, one cent each, one-quarter of the fees on letters received by the 
 mails and delivered by the carriers. Also one cent each, and the fees (one cent each), on 
 letters collected from the lamp-post boxes and carried to the post office to be transmitted by 
 the mails Three quarters of the fees on letters received by the mails and delivered by the 
 carriers are paid to the respective carriers by whom the deliveries are made, and constitute a 
 part of their compensation. They have also an equal share each of the carriers' fund, the 
 collectors being first paid from it. 
 
 1 deem it proper to say that the reduction of the fee for delivering letters received 
 by the mails from two cents to one, would have rendered it impossible to keep up the carrier 
 system with proper efficiency, had not the Postmaster General carried into effect the provisions 
 of law authorizing a fee to be charged for letters collected from the street boxe- and carried 
 to the post office to be transmitted by the mails. This order, though the fee was limited to 
 one cent while the law authorized two, produced some dissatisfaction at the time it was 
 issued, but it was so manifestly necessary, and the charge for carrying ■^ letter to the post 
 office for the mail was so reasonable that there was a general acquiescence in the propriety 
 as soon as the matter was fully understood. In the discussions to which it gave rise, no 
 satisfactory reason was shown why the same fee should not be charged for delivering a 
 letter received by the mails, and for carrying a letter to the post office to be transmitted by 
 mail. It is presumed that Congress, by which the charge for both was authorized, saw no 
 
 GoTernment 
 
 nionoply essential 
 
 to success. 
 
 Letter from the 
 
 postmaster at 
 
 New York. 
 
206 
 
 CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Prepayment of 
 caniers' fees. 
 
 Cities ivliich had 
 carriers' service. 
 
 Ofiicial and semi- 
 offlcial stamps. 
 
 Arrangement. 
 
 Dates of use. 
 
 propriety in making compensation to the carrier in one case and requiring him to perform the 
 service gratuitously in the other." 
 
 By the Act above referred to, that of June 15th, 1 860, carriers were 
 for the first time, given a fixed salary. 
 
 Prepayment of carriers' fees, as such, was never made compulsory. 
 By the Act of March 3rd, 1863, the rate on drop letters was increased to two 
 cents (which may be understood to include the carriers' fee), and prepayment 
 compelled. At the same time the delivery tax on letters not of local origin 
 was abolished. 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General for 1 854, gives statistics of letters, 
 circulars, newspapers, etc. delivered by carriers and the amounts received for 
 carriage in the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and New 
 Orleans. The report for 1856 adds to the list Harrisburg, Pa., Lowell, Mass., 
 Syracuse, N. Y. and Manchester, N. H. In the three succeeding years the 
 following additions were made : 1857: Rochester, N. Y. ; 1858: Troy, N. Y., 
 Providence, R. I. and Roxbury, Mass.; 1859 : Washington, St. Louis and San 
 Francisco. After 1859 these statistics ceased, probably for the reason that, 
 after that year, the carriers were paid a fixed salary and there was no further 
 occasion for keeping the accounts from which the statistics were collected. 
 It is not clear whether the cities mentioned in the reports of the Postmaster 
 General were the only ones in which deliveries by carriers were made, at the 
 several dates given, or if they were merely selected for statistical purposes. 
 
 The carriers' stamps must be divided into two classes, official and semi- 
 official. To the first class belong only the Franklin and eagle carriers. The 
 second class is more extensive and covers all stamps issued by officials or 
 employees of the government for the purpose of securing or indicating pay- 
 ment of the carriers' fees. It seems best to describe the semi-official stamps 
 first, because many of them were issued prior to the official carriers' stamps 
 and because they were of a somewhat experimental nature. 
 
 We know that the first of the semi-official carriers' stamps, and in fact 
 the first postage stamp used in the United States, was issued in the city of 
 New York in 1842. But records concerning most of the stamps of this class 
 are absolutely lacking and, for the majority of them, even the dates of issue 
 are not well established. It is not possible, therefore, to arrange them in 
 chronological order and it seems most suitable to consider them under an 
 alphabetical arrangement of the cities in which they were issued. 
 
 A variety of dates are given for the different carriers' stamps in phila- 
 telic magazines, handbooks and catalogues. As some of them are manifestly 
 incorrect and nearly all are given without any statement of the authority or 
 reason for so fixing the date, I have decided to give only dates which are 
 confirmed by records or which have been obtained from cancelled specimens, 
 either by personal examination or by reports from reliable philatelists. When 
 two dates are given for a stamp they are the earliest and latest known dates 
 of use. When no other dates can be obtained, those which are assigned to 
 the stamps in the older philatelic publications will be given, but such dates 
 will be enclosed in parentheses, as an indication that they lack confirmation. 
 
The Baltimore Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 Of the history of the carriers' stamps used in Baltimore we know 
 very little. The several varieties, known as the " Horseman ", " Post Office 
 Despatch" and " Carrier's Dispatch " (or "eye type") have long been classed 
 among the carriers' stamps. But nothing appears to be known of the dates 
 at which they were issued or by whom and upon what authority the issues 
 were made. 
 
 A few years ago, at my request, Mr. F. G. Sweet of Baltimore, kindly 
 tried to secure some information about the various carriers' stamps used there. 
 In an interview with one of the old residents, who had been in a position to 
 acquire information on the subject, he was told as follows : 
 
 "The fees derived from the collection and distribution of mail by carriers were, in 
 Baltimore at least, a'perquisite of the postmaster. For the central portion of the city, where 
 the mail was naturally the heaviest, the postmaster employed full salaried carriers and Stamps said to have 
 supplied them with regular stamps' of his own, such as the ' horseman ', ' eye stamps', etc. been supplied by 
 Grafflin, it seems, was employed by the postmaster on a kind of commission basis, to collect the postmaster, 
 and distribute mail in the less populous sections of the city and, for this purpose, had his own 
 stamps whose Iranking powers were, of course, recognized by the Baltimore postmaster." 
 
 These statements would be very interesting if we could be positive 
 of their correctness. Unfortunately, the gentleman went far astray in his 
 assertions concerning the Grafflin post, and this makes us doubtful of the 
 accuracy of his other statements. 
 
 As it has been suggested on several occasions that the Grafflin was a 
 carriers' stamp, it may be well to say here that it was a local, pure and simple. 
 The post was originally a branch of Blood's post of Philadelphia. In 1853 
 or '54 Joseph Grafflin bought it from Blood and ran it for a few years under 
 his own name. He issued -his stamps about the beginning of 1856, but had 
 no connection with the post office beyond that, as many local posts did, he 
 collected letters and deposited them in the post office, to be forwarded to 
 other places. These statements are made upon the authority of the widow 
 and brother of Mr. Grafflin. 
 
 From carefully noting the dates on a large number of original covers 
 bearing the stamps of the Baltimore carriers, it becomes evident that the 
 three varieties were in use coincidently, probably by carriers in different parts Sererai desigus in 
 of the city. The earliest dates are found on the "Post Office Despatch" 
 stamps, the next earliest on the " Eye " stamps, and the " Horseman " stamps 
 occupy the third place. 
 
 Grainin's local 
 post. 
 
 concurrent use. 
 
208 
 
 THE BALTIMORE CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Post Office Despatch. 
 
 .DESPATCH. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Dates of use. 
 
 Couutcrfi'lts. 
 
 Typographed in blocks of ten, two vertical rows of five, each stamp 
 differing from the others. Probably these blocks were repeated to make up 
 a plate, but this is not certain. A reproduction of a reconstructed block of 
 the ten types will be found amdng the illustrations and will make further 
 description unnecessary. The stamps measure 20x1 i^mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Thin Bluish Wove Paper. 
 
 Jan. I, 1853. — Oct. II, 1855. 1 cent scarlet, dull vermilion. 10 varieties 
 Feb. 16, 1854. I cent blue. 10 varieties 
 
 Bluish Laid Paper. 
 
 I cent blue. 10 varieties 
 
 Sept. 18, 1852. 
 
 Sept. 2, 1854.— April, 1855. 
 
 Jan. 29, 1859. — June, 1861. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 I cent red. 10 varieties 
 
 1 cent blue, light blue, bright blue, dark blue, 
 
 dull blue, dull dark blue. 10 varieties 
 1 cent gray-green. 10 varieties 
 
 White Laid Paper. 
 
 Jan. 9, 1858. — Mch. 23, 1858. i cent dark blue, deep dull blue. 10 varieties 
 
 Mr. C. H. Coster, says in his monograph on the " Private Posts of the 
 United States": "These stamps were in use in 1852. Although we have 
 been unable to obtain the proof, we believe that they have a semi-official 
 character, like the U. S. P O. of Philadelphia, and that they were issued by 
 the government for use in Baltimore, or by the postmaster of that city for the 
 same purpose." 
 
 In the American Journal of Philately for February, 1 889, Mr. J. W. 
 Scott gives the dates : "Oct. 4, 1852, 1 cent red on bluish paper ; Nov. 24, 
 1852, I cent blue on bluish paper." But he says nothing regarding the source 
 from which these dates were derived. 
 
 These stamps, like most of the carriers' and locals, have been exten- 
 sively counterfeited. The counterfeits, however, may be readily detected by 
 comparison with the illustration of the genuine types. The easiest test is 
 found in the relative positions of the "x" of "cent" and the "h" of 
 " DESPATCH ". The commonest counterfeit has a small oval " o " in " one ", 
 while all the genuine stamps have a large round "o". There is a counter- 
 feit which closely resembles type VI of the originals, but comparison will show 
 many small differences. 
 
THE BALTIMORE CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Z09 
 
 These are also known as the " Eye " stamps. Typographed on ordinary 
 white paper. There are no varieties, all the stamps being reproductions of 
 one original type. Size : 2 2xi6j4mm. The number of stamps in a sheet is 
 not known. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Jan. I, 1856. — Feb. 19, 1859. 1 cent blue, dull blue, dark blue 
 Oct. 21, 1858. — May 10, 1861. i cent pale rose, rose, deep rose, rose-red, red, 
 
 brown-red, pale vermilion, vermilion 
 
 The American Journal of Philately for December 20th, 1874, suggests 
 that these stamps were issued by the postmaster of Baltimore. There is 
 nothing to be learned from references in other philatelic publications. 
 
 There are numerous counterfeits of these stamps, both in the proper 
 and in fancy colors. They are usually less blurred in appearance than the 
 genuine stamps. The counterfeit most frequently met has the "n"s in "one" 
 and "cent" too narrow. Another counterfeit is readily distinguished by 
 the narrow " r "s in "carrier's", and a third by having all the letters of 
 "carrier's DISPATCH ", as well as the pigeons in the corners, too large. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Reference liist. 
 
 Government City Dispatch (Horseman). 
 
 Typographed in a pane of ten varieties, two vertical rows of five stamps, 
 each differing slightly from the others. Two of the varieties are quite promi- 
 nent; the second stamp in the pane has the three rays below the letters, " ver " 
 of "government" only about half the usual length; on the seventh stamp 
 the inscription on the streamer is " one sent ". The pane is repeated several 
 times on each sheet. Mr. F. W. Hunter had at one time an irregular block 
 which showed portions of three panes in one row and a part of a pane 
 in the row below. Furthermore, one of the three panes was placed tete beche 
 to the other two. From this it was thought probable that the plate contained 
 one hundred stamps, in ten panes, arranged in two rows of five. But there 
 is evidence which contradicts this theory. I have recently seen several of 
 these stamps, each of which showed, at one end, an overlapping impression 
 of a small portion of another stamp. From these double impressions I con- 
 clude that the plate contained only one group of ten stamps, that several 
 
 Description, 
 
 Tarieties and 
 
 plate. 
 
THE BALTIMORE CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Dates of use. 
 
 Counterfeits. 
 
 impressions were taken on one sheet of paper, and that, through fcarelessness, 
 one impression slightly overlapped another. Size: 2^^xt'jmm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Aug. 19, 1857. — Sept. 20, i860. I cent rose, lilac-rose, rose-red, red, vermilion, 
 
 brown-red, deep brown-red. 10 varieties 
 Sept. 19, 1857. — Mch. 18, 1861. I cent black, gray-black. 10 varieties 
 
 Principal varieties . 
 
 I cent rose, red, etc. Short rays 
 
 I cent 
 
 (( (( 
 
 SENT 
 
 I cent black, gray-black. Short rays 
 I cent " " "sent" 
 
 The American Journal of Philately for 1888, says: " 185 1, i cent 
 rose, I cent red ; i860, Sept. i, i cent black." The first date is probably 
 copied from the same journal for 1877, and is doubtless as incorrect as is the 
 last. In the number dated December 20th, 1 874, we read concerning this 
 stamp : " This was used in Baltimore in 1861, but was, I am inclined to think, 
 issued by the U. S. P. O. in that city for carriers use." 
 
 Coster says ( 1 882) : " All efforts to obtain information about this post 
 have been unavailing. However, I have learned from private sources that 
 the stamps of the Government City Dispatch were issued by the postmaster of 
 Baltimore." 
 
 While August 19th, 1857, is the earliest cancellation that I have seen, 
 it is my opinion that the red stamps were in use for some time previous to 
 that date.. The red stamps are usually more clearly printed than those in 
 black, and indicate an earlier and unworn state of the plate. 
 
 There are a number of counterfeits of the " Horseman " stamps but 
 none of them are very good and all may be distinguished by the fact that 
 they lack the small white ornaments which are found in the upper corners of 
 the originals. 
 
The Boston Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 Records of the Boston carriers' stamps are yet to be discovered ; con- 
 sequently, there is little to be said concerning them, beyond what may be 
 learned from examination of the stamps and the covers to which they are 
 affixed. 
 
 U. S. Penny Post. 
 
 The stamps are engraved in taille douce and printed on yellowish white 
 wove paper. Owing to their rarity. and the limited number of copies available 
 for examination, it has not been possible to form any conclusion as to the 
 number of stamps on the plate. As each was separately engraved it is 
 probable that the plate was not large. A specimen, formerly in the collection 
 of Mr. F. W. Hunter, shows portions of several adjacent stamps, sufficient to 
 prove there were at least three rows of three stamps each. Probably the plate 
 contained twelve or fifteen stamps, possibly as many as twenty-five. The 
 ornaments in the corners appear to have been inserted by means of punches, 
 the remainder of the design is hand-engraved. Size : 18x22mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Yellowish White Wove Paper. 
 
 1849. 2 cents black 
 
 I have never seen a cancelled copy of this stamp. The American 
 Journal of Philately for December, 1874, mentions the stamp but says nothing 
 
 concerning any date of issue or use. Coster says : " Issue of ?" The 
 
 Philatelic Journal of America for January, 1889, says : "The earliest dates 
 of letters bearing the stamps"of this post that are now recorded are 1849." 
 
 The counterfeits are too poor to require description. They are roughly 
 made by lithography or typography, while the originals are finely engraved. 
 
 Description. 
 Plate. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Date of use. 
 
 Counterfeits. 
 
THE BOSTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Penny Post. 
 
 X POST. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Date of issue. 
 
 Counterfeits. 
 
 Typographed on pelure paper. Size: 2i}4xg}4mm. All the stamps 
 appear to be reproductions of a type-set original and there are no varieties. 
 Occasionally some of the rays of the corner ornaments are broken or missing 
 but this is probably due to poor printing or defective electrotypes. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Pelure Paper. 
 
 Nov. 8, 1849. — Apl. 26, 1851. (i cent) dull blue, deep dull blue 
 
 The American Journal of Philately for February, 1889, gives the date 
 of issue of this stamp as April 3rd, 1845. This is possibly founded on a 
 remark in Coster's book : " We possess, on a letter dated 1845, a hand-stamp 
 of this post, which gives us reason to suppose it commenced business about 
 that period." Perhaps this hand-stamp was confused with the adhesive 
 stamps. 
 
 Counterfeits are numerous but not dangerous. The lines of the 
 diamonds which form the frame are continuous, while in the originals they 
 are broken, each diamond being a separate piece of type. The stars in the 
 corners are two small and usually have five points instead of eight rays. 
 There is no period after "post". Finally, most of the counterfeits have a 
 single-lined outer frame which does not appear on the originals. 
 
 Penny Post Paid. 
 
 PENNY I 
 
 1. POST. f 
 
 Typographed on ordinary wove paper, varying from grayish to blue- 
 Description, gray in color. Size: 2o^xi2j^mm. Like the preceding issue, these stamps 
 appear to have been reproduced from a type-set original and show no varieties. 
 
 Ueference List. Imperforate. 
 
 Grayish Wove Paper. 
 
 July 20, 1850. — July 26, 1854. ([ cent) blue, dull blue 
 
 Bluish Gray Wove Paper. 
 
 (i cent) deep blue, dull blue 
 
 Counterfeits of this stamp are plentiful but are not difficult to detect. 
 
 The frame is extremely well imitated as is also the word " penny ", though the 
 
 Counterfeits. letters of the latter are a little too much spaced. In " post " the letters are 
 
THE BOSTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 213 
 
 not enough shaded and are too narrow, especially the "o" which, in the 
 originals, is nearly round. The greatest difference is in the word '' paid " 
 In the original stamps this word is in Roman capitals, set close together. In 
 the counterfeits the letters are in block type and widely spaced. In some of 
 the counterfeits, in the bottom row of the type-set border, the block nearest 
 the right corner is turned sideways. This is not known to occur in the 
 genuine stamps. The American Journal of Philately for June, 1 872, mentions 
 a counterfeit of this stamp which has only twenty-six pieces of type in the 
 frame, instead of twenty-eight. 
 
 Hand-stamped in color on colored wove paper. Diameter : 14mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Bluish Wove Paper. 
 
 (1853). (i cent) red 
 
 Outside of catalogues I have been unable to find any reference to this 
 stamp. I have, however, seen it in black, used as a cancellation for the stamp 
 last described. It is possible, of course, that the hand-stamp was used both 
 as a cancellation mark and for the production of adhesive stamps, as is 
 known to have been done on other occasions. But, pending confirmation by 
 specimens on the original cover, the stamp is listed with much reserve. 
 
 Description. 
 Reference list. 
 
 Cancellation or 
 hand-stamp. 
 
 Hill's Post, 
 
 Before leaving the subject of the Boston carriers' stamps a few words 
 must be said about another stamp which may possibly belong to this category. 
 This is Hill's post, now classed among the locals (Standard catalogue, 60th 
 edition, L147). Very little is known about this post. Oliver B. Hill was 
 probably its proprietor. From the Boston city directory we obtain the follow- 
 ing extracts : 
 
 1843 Hill, Oliver B., grocer; 172 Hanover St.; House, etc. 
 
 1844 " 
 
 184s 
 1846 
 1846-47 
 1847-48 
 1848-49 
 1849-50 
 1850-51 
 
 Clerk 
 
 Post Office 
 Penny Post 
 
 Oysters, 52 Kneeland St. 
 
214 THE BOSTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 When two' years are given together the period covered is from July ist 
 to July ist. In the two years left blank there is no record of his occupation, 
 merely his name and residence. We do not know whether the words " Post 
 office " imply a connection with the Government post office or merely the 
 office of a private post But it is well known that the term "penny post " was 
 applied both to local posts and to letter carriers. The name Oliver B Hill 
 does not appear in the official register which contains the names of all post- 
 masters, clerks, contractors, etc. Copies of the stamps are known with can- 
 cellations dated in 1849 and early in 1850. The limited information which 
 we now possess does not appear to warrant the inclusion of this stamp among 
 the carriers. 
 
The Charleston Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 After the un.certainty which surrounds most of the carriers' stamps, 
 it is a pleasure to turn to those used in this city. We have very full and 
 complete information concerning them, the circumstances under which they 
 were issued, by whom and at what dates. Much of this information was 
 obtained by the efforts of Mr. W. H. Faber, a resident of the city and 
 personally acquainted with the carriers by whom the stamps were issued. 
 Their history may be briefly summarized as follows : 
 
 ^ In 1849, John H. Honour received from Washington an appointment 
 as letter carrier for the city of Charleston. He engaged his brother-in-law, 
 E. J. Kingman, to assist him, the service being conducted in the name of Historical. 
 Mr. Honour. About two years later they separated and divided the carrier 
 business of the city between them, one taking the eastern half and the other 
 the western. At the same time Mr. Kingman was appointed a carrier by the 
 Postmaster of Charleston. Each carrier was under bonds to the Government 
 in the sum of $2,000. 
 
 In March, 1858, Mr. Kingman retired and his place was taken by 
 Joseph G. Martin. In the summer of the same year, John F. Steinmeyer, Jr. 
 was added to the carrier force. In 1 860, Mr. Honour retired and John C. 
 Beckman was appointed in his place. Mr. Martin retired early in 1861, but 
 the service was continued by the other two carriers until about 1865. 
 
 Each of these carriers issued stamps. At first the stamps were made 
 from engraved dies, but there is nothing to show whether they were printed 
 from plates or from groups of electrotypes. It has been suggested that they 
 were hand-stamped but the few copies which I have been able to examine 
 have every appearance of having been printed on a press. Afterwards the 
 stamps were set up from type and some of those issued by Mr. Steinmeyer 
 appear to have been printed from electrotypes. The stamps were the product 
 of local printing offices. Most of them were gummed with gum arabic which 
 was applied, not by the printer, but by the owner himself. A few of the 
 stamps were printed on rose or yellow paper but the majority of them were 
 on. the ordinary bluish writing paper of that period. For many years the 
 catalogues listed several of the stamps on white paper. Prominent philatelists 
 claim to have seen them and others, equally prominent, deny their existence 
 on this paper. I have not been able to locate any copies in the hands of 
 philatelists and, as there is a possibility that this paper may be merely the 
 
2l6 
 
 THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 ordinary bluish or grayish paper from which the color has been discharged, 
 I have decided not to list them. 
 
 Stamps of John H. Honour. 
 
 Descriptiou. 
 
 Typographed from an engraved die. Printed in black on thin, colored 
 
 wove paper. Size: i^^xigj4mm. 
 
 Keference List. Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 July 14, 1849. 2 cents black on rose, brown-rose 
 
 2 cents black on yellow 
 
 Only a very few copies of this stamp are known. 
 
 Description. 
 Keference List. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Typographed from an engraved die on thin, colored wove paper. Size : 
 22x26mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 Aug. 1 6, 1 849. 2 cents black on rose 
 
 The American Journal of Philately for December, 1888, describes this 
 stamp as on yellow surfaced paper and not on rose paper, colored through, 
 as we now know it. Probably the writer was misinformed. Coster calls the 
 color "bistre-rouge." 
 
 Description. 
 
 Printed from a type-set plate, in black, on glazed paper, colored on the 
 surface. I have only seen three varieties but, doubtless, more exist. The 
 plate probably contained from ten to twenty-five stamps. Size: 15x11mm. 
 
THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 217 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 
 
 Oct. 20, 1849. — Mch. 5, 1850. 2 cents black on yellow, lemon-yellow, orange- 
 yellow 
 
 Principal variety : 
 
 2 cents black on yellow. Error, " ccnts " in- 
 stead of "cents " 
 
 The American Journal of Philately for December, 1888, lists this stamp 
 on yellow surfaced paper, blue writing paper and white paper. As the second 
 paper has been dropped from the catalogues for some years, it was probably 
 found to have been listed by error. The reason for omitting the third paper 
 has already been explained. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Similar to the preceding but with six pearls at each side, instead of 
 five. Type-set and printed on colored wove paper. The number of varieties 
 is not known. Size: 15x13mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 May 8, j 850. 2 cents black on gray-blue 
 
 Some philatelists claim that this stamp is merely a variety in the plate 
 of the preceding issue. When we consider the similarity of the two stamps, 
 the conclusion does not appear unreasonable. 
 
 Similar to the two preceding stamps but with the word " Paid" added 
 at the top of the inscription. Type-set and printed, in black, on colored wove 
 paper, varying in thickness. Mr. C. T. Harbeck has in his collection sixteen 
 varieties of this stamp. It is probable that the plate contained twenty-five 
 varieties arranged in five rows of five stamps each. It is also possible that, 
 as this stamp was in use for several years, there was more than one setting 
 and printing of it. It is supposed that there were the same number of varieties 
 of the stamps on pink pelure paper as on the other papers but, owing to the 
 rarity of the pink stamps, it has not been possible to confirm this theory. 
 Size : i4^xi2j^mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 Apl. 25, 185 r. — July 7, 1853. 2 cents black on gray-blue, blue-gray, gray, 
 
 greenish gray 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Beference List. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
2l8 
 
 THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Apl. 12, 1852. 
 
 Principal variety : 
 
 2 cents black on gray-blue. Error, " gens ' 
 instead of ' cents " 
 
 Pelure Paper. 
 
 2 cents black on pink 
 
 Type-set and printed, in black, on colored wove paper. There are 
 probably varieties of this stamp, as always occurs when stamps are type-set, 
 Description. but, Owing to the uniform shape and size of the ornaments which compose 
 the border, the differences are so minute that they have not attracted the 
 attention of philatelists. The American Journal of Philately for Decem- 
 ber, 1888, says: " Typographed in sheet showing minor varieties." Size :■ 
 i6J^xi7mm. 
 Reference List. Imperforate. 
 
 Colored. Wove Paper. 
 
 Dec. 4, 1854. — July 6, 1855. 2 (cents) black on gray-blue 
 
 Strange to say, Mr. J. G. Martin, one of the Charleston carriers, says : 
 " There was never a Honour issued of the description of the above," (see 
 Stamp repudiated American Journal of Philately for March, 1898). None the less, I have seen 
 four copies, all on the original covers, and all cancelled in Charleston at or 
 between the dates here given. As the carrier service was at that time practic- 
 ally a monopoly of Messrs. Honour and Kingman it is not probable that they 
 would tolerate an attempt to establish a similar service and it is also doubtful 
 whether the field was sufficiently large to attract the enterprise of others. As 
 Mr. Martin was not connected with the carrier service until some four years 
 after this stamp was in use, it is possible that he was not familiar with it or 
 that his memory was at fault. Prominent philatelists have long considered 
 this stamp to be one of the Honour issues and, apparently, with good reason. 
 
 by J. 0. Martin. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Type-set and printed on colored wove paper. Minor varieties doubt- 
 less exist, as in the preceding stamp, but the differences are so trifling that 
 they have escaped notice. Size: I7}2xi3mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove* Paper. 
 
 (1856). (2 cents) black on gray-blue, gray 
 
THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS* STAMPS. 
 
 219 
 
 The date is taken from Coster's book. In the American Journal of 
 Philately for December, 1888, we find the date given as February 24th, 1852, 
 but the correctness of this has been doubted. 
 
 Bate of use. 
 
 Printed from a type-set plate on colored wove paper. Several varieties 
 have been seen but the differences are minute. Size: 17x1 2 ^mm. DescriptioD. 
 
 Imperforate. Reference List. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 Feb. 21, 1858. (2 cents) black on gray-blue 
 
 This date is taken from the only copy on the original cover which I 
 have seen. The year is not very legible but I believe it to be as here given. Date of use. 
 Coster gives the date " 1859 or '60." The American Journal of Philately for 
 December, 1888, says " May 9th, 1852." This also appears to be questioned. 
 
 Stamps or E. J. Kingman. 
 
 jKINGMAN'ei 
 
 J City Post. 
 gPaid— 2 cta.fl 
 
 Printed on colored wove paper from a type-set plate. The number of 
 varieties is not known. I have seen only three. Mr. Kingman thinks the 
 sheets contained two rows of five stamps each. Size: I7xi2j^mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 Jan. 19, 1851. — Jan. 20, 1858. 2 cents black on gray-blue 
 
 2 cents black on green 
 
 Coster and the American Journal of Philately both give 1850 as the 
 date of this stamp. It is quite possible that they are correct. 
 
 ^ i£ ceais. Q^ 
 
 Type-set and printed on colored wove paper. Several varieties, pro- 
 bably not less than ten. Size: r4j^xi2j^mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 1851 (?) 2 cents black on gray-blue 
 
 DescriptioD. 
 
 Keference List. 
 
 Date of use. 
 
 Description. 
 Keference List, 
 
220 
 
 THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 I have copied the date from a memorandum but cannot recall my 
 authority for it The Honour stamp of similar design was issued in the 
 same year. 
 
 Stamp of Joseph G. Martin. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Date of use. 
 
 Type-set and printed on colored wove paper. Several varieties have 
 been seen. Mr. Martin says, in the American Journal of Philately for March, 
 1898 : " I think there were twenty-five on a sheet, square, face value fifty 
 cents.'' From the word " square " we may infer that the stamps were arranged 
 in five rows of five stamps each. Size : 17x13mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 1858. 2 cents black on gray-blue 
 
 Cancelled copies have not been seen but the date, 1858, is probably 
 correct. Much earlier dates have been assigned to the stamp but they must 
 be wrong, as Mr. Martin did not become a carrier until 1858. 
 
 Stamps of John F. Steinmeyer. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Date of use. 
 
 Description. 
 
 ) Steinmeyer^s C 
 
 ] City Post. ' 
 
 /jPaia— 2cM. ] 
 
 Impression from a type-set plate on colored wove paper. There are, 
 doubtless, varieties of this stamp but they have not been chronicled. Size : 
 17x13mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 1858 or 1859. 2 cents black on gray-blue 
 
 The American Journal of Philately for February, 1 889, gives the date 
 of this stamp as 1 850, but that is as manifestly incorrect as the locating of the 
 post in Philadelphia, which is done by the same journal and by Coster. 
 
 Typographed on various papers. The sheets contain ten stamps, ar- 
 ranged in two vertical rows of five. There do not appear to be any varieties 
 other than trifling differences in the impression, Size : 17x1 i^mm. 
 
THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Thin Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 1858 or 1859. 2 cents black on gray-blue, gray 
 
 Thick Coloied Wove Paper. 
 
 2 cents black on yellow 
 
 2 cents black on rose, dull rose 
 
 Stamp of John C. Beckman. 
 
 Type-set and printed in black on colored wove paper. The stamp is 
 of the same design as that issued by Mr. Martin and those issued in 1850-58 
 by Messrs. Honour and Kingman. Only one copy is known but, doubtless, 
 there were originally several varieties. Size: j 7x1 3mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 i860. 2 cents black on gray-blue 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Beferenoe List. 
 
 Counterfeits of the stamps of the Charleston carriers are plentiful. 
 Apparently they all emanate from one source, probably that which supplied 
 many of the reprints and counterfeits of the United States local stamps. The 
 distinguishing marks of the counterfeits are not easy to describe, though they 
 are unmistakable when compared with genuine stamps or good photographs. 
 There is a clearness and carefulness in the printing which is not found in the 
 originals. The letters of the inscriptions have a general resemblance, but 
 comparison at once shows them to be from different fonts. The ornaments 
 which form the borders are very sharp and are carefully set, while those of 
 the original stamps are worn and carelessly arranged. In the second type of 
 the Steinmeyer stamps, the ornaments which form the border at top and 
 bottom have a shading on the inner side, while those at the sides have it on 
 the outer side. In the commonest of the counterfeits the ornaments and, 
 consequently, the shadings are reversed. There is another counterfeit which 
 has all the ornaments correctly placed except the one on the right side, but a 
 small oval has been added at the centre of the top and bottom borders, which 
 is not found on the genuine stamps. Finally, the colors are not correct. The 
 rose, yellow and green are too bright and the gray-blue, which varies a great 
 deal in the originals, is nearly always a light " French gray " in the counter- 
 feits. In the last color the paper is hard and highly finished and a little too 
 thick. Comparison with the accompanying photogravure reproductions will 
 enable the collector to readily detect the counterfeits. 
 
 Counterfeits. 
 
The Louisville Carriers' Stamps. 
 
 Thanks to the researches of Mr. F. W. H. Hahn of Louisville, we 
 have quite full and satisfactory information concerning the carriers' stamps 
 Hifttoricni. of that city. The carrier service was first established by the Louisville post 
 office about 1854, one carrier being employed for the purpose. Charles P. 
 Smith was first appointed. He delivered letters to houses and offices for a fee 
 of two cents each but did not collect them for delivery to the post office. On 
 January ist, 1856, David B. Wharton succeeded Smith as carrier. Late in 
 the year 1857 he decided to use stamps for collecting his fees and had them 
 prepared. But before many of the stamps were used — certainly not over fifty, 
 and some claim none at all — he. was succeeded by Wilson Gough. This took 
 place about the end of 1857 or possibly on January ist, 1858. Soon after 
 this Joseph G. Brown was appointed to assist Gough. Gough did not issue 
 stamps and only retained the office a few months. On April ist, 1858, S. B. 
 McGill was appointed carrier, and he and Brown continued to act in this 
 capacity until September 30th, i860. Brown and McGill decided to improve 
 the service by issuing stamps. They bought from D. B. Wharton the outfit 
 of letter boxes which he had had prepared and also the remainder of his 
 stamps. There is a possibility that a few of the Wharton stamps were used 
 while the Brown & McGill stamps were being prepared. These stamps were 
 used only on letters bearing the regular United States postage stamps, not on 
 circulars or private mail which did not pass through the post office. They 
 paid the fee for delivering letters from or to the post office. The stamps were 
 on sale in the post office, though not usually at the window at which the 
 Government's stamps were sold. These carriers were under bonds of $2,000 
 each to the Government. 
 
 Stamps of David B. Wharton. 
 
 Lithographed by Robyn & Co. in sheets of fifty stamps, arranged in 
 two panes of twenty-five, five rows of five stamps each. The panes were 
 
THE LOUISVILLE CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 223 
 
 separated by a space of 4mm. Each stamp was surrounded by a thin frame Description, 
 line, forming a rectangle about 24j^xi8^mm. The rectangles were separated 
 by a space of imm. vertically and ^mm. horizontally. The words " robyn 
 & CO. LiTH." appear at the bottom of each stamp, extending from the left 
 corner to about the middle of the stamp. 
 
 Imperforate. Itefcrence List. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 1857. (2 cents) blue-green 
 
 I have not seen any good counterfeits of this stamp. 
 
 Stamps of Brown & McGill. 
 
 Lithographed by Hart & Maypother, successors to Robyn & Co. The 
 stamps are made in imitation of the -Wharton stamp, from which they differ 
 only in the lettering of the upper label and the omission of the name of Description, 
 the makers. They are enclosed in a single-lined frame, measuring about 
 24j^xi9J4!mm. Having seen only single copies, I am unable to give the 
 distance between the stamps and their arrangement. The size of the sheets 
 is not known but it was probably the same as for the Wharton stamp. 
 
 Imperforate. Keference List. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 June 12, 1858. — June 29, i860. (2 cents) dull blue, dark blue 
 April 13, (2 cents) black 
 
 Mr. Hahn claims that none of the Brown & McGill stamps were printed 
 in black and that, if such exist, they must be either discolored stamps or 
 proofs. There is in the collection of Mr. C. T. Harbeck a fine copy, printed Tiie Wacii stamp, 
 in black, which has every appearance of being genuine and in its original 
 condition. It is on a letter, postmarked "April 13th" but with the year 
 omitted. Apparently it is an early impression. It is my opinion that this 
 is the color in which the stamp was first printed. 
 
 In a communication which was printed in the American Journal of 
 Philately for April, 1898, Mr. Hahn says : 
 
 "About the year 1865 or 1866, Hussey, of New York, asked Mr. McGill for some 
 remainders of the Brown & McGill stamps. He may have had some on hand but certainly 
 wanted more and ordered Hart & Maypother to print 200 from the original stone. But, the Connterfeits. 
 original not existing, a poor imitation or forgery was made and the stamps sent to Hussey as 
 originals or reprints. The fact is, McGill, at the time, believed the forged stamps to be 
 reprints." 
 
 These so-called reprints are not very successful imitations of the 
 originals. The eagle is quite incorrect in size and pose, the foliage is too 
 
224 THE LOUISVILLE CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 abundant, the letters are too large, and there is an eight-pointed ornament at 
 each side, instead of a small oval of crossed lines. There must have been 
 more than one printing of these imitations, for I possess copies which differ 
 widely in shade and paper. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing — which may be called the official counter- 
 feit — there are a number of others. The poorest of them should not deceive 
 any one but it may be said that, instead of the small ovals which should 
 separate the upper and lower labels, they show only two or three faint 
 scratches. There is one counterfeit which quite closely resembles the original, 
 but the work is too well done, the letters are slightly too large and the wings 
 of the eagle do not touch the oval. 
 
 Coster says that these stamps were issued in New York and the 
 American Journal of Philately for 1888 assigns them to Baltimore. All of 
 which proves nothing, except that it is easy to be mistaken. 
 
The New York Carriers' Stamps, 
 
 To the city of New York belongs the distinction of placing in use the 
 first stamp in the United States and the second in the world. This was a 
 stamp of the City Despatch Post, issued in 1842. This post was a private Historical, 
 enterprise and belongs to the large and interesting group of local posts. At 
 the same time, its history is so involved with that of the government carrier 
 service in this city — which was modelled upon and succeeded the private post 
 — that one cannot thoroughly consider the one without the other. In addition 
 to this, a few stamps of the City Despatch Post v ere used provisionally by its 
 official successor, the United States City Despatch Post. 
 
 Greig's City Despatch Post. 
 
 In the American J ournal of Philately iox June, 1894 (page 284), we 
 find an article on the subject of this post, written by Charles Windsor, the 
 son of its originator. At the commencement he says: "The founder, sole 
 proprietor, manager and director was Henry Thomas Windsor, a London 
 merchant, then on a visit to the United States, and residing temporarily in 
 the suburb of Hoboken." In traveling through the country Mr. Windsor, who 
 was familiar with the English postal system, was struck with the inefficiency 
 of our postal arrangements and the excessive charges. He decided, as a 
 business venture, to establish a private post in New York city. He associated 
 with him his friend Alexander M. Greig, in whose name the post was estab- 
 lished, with the idea that it would be more successful under the name of a 
 well-known resident than under that of a stranger and alien. 
 
 The American Journal of Fhilately for May, 1872, reproduces the 
 following circular : 
 
 NEW YORK CITY DESPATCH POST. 
 Principal Office, 46 William Street. 
 
 The necessity of a medium of communication by letter from one part of the City to 
 another, being universally admitted, and the Penny Post, lately existing, having been relin- 
 quished, the opportunity has been embraced to re- organize it under an entirely new propria- circular aniiounciiii! 
 tary and management, and upon a much more comprehensive basis, by which Despatch, (j,^ (.j^y Despatch 
 Punctuality and Security, — those essential elements of success, — may at once be attained, VoA. 
 
 and the inconvenience now experienced be entirely removed. 
 
 The Proprietors of the " City Despatch Post" enter upon the undertaking with an 
 earnest impression of its responsibilities, and with a full determination so to perform the 
 required duties as to merit the confidence and support of their fellow-citizens. They have 
 engaged the most efficient and trustworthy Assistants and Letter Carriers, and no expense 
 will be spared to bring the whole advantage of a well-considered system into active operation. 
 
226 
 
 THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Success of the 
 post. 
 
 Disconlinuiuwe of 
 the post. 
 
 The following is a brief outline of the plan : 
 
 Branch Offices. — Letter Boxes are placed throughout every part of the City in con- 
 spicuous places ; and all letters deposited therein, not exceeding two ounces in weight, will 
 be punctually delivered three limes a day, at 9, i, and 4 o'clock, at three cents each ; option 
 being given, either to free the letter, in the manner shown in the following regulations, 01 
 leave the postage to be collected of the party to whom the letter is addressed 
 
 Post-Paid Letters — Letters which the writers desire to send free, must have a free 
 stamp affixed to them. An ornamental stamp has been prepared for this purpose, and may 
 be procured at the Principal Office as above, or at those stores which will be advertised in 
 the daily papers as having authority to sell them. The charge will be 36 cents per dozen, 
 or 2 dols. 50 cents per hundred ; the reduction of price for the larger quantity being made 
 with a view to the accommodation of those parties sending a considerable number of circulars, 
 accounts, &c. Parcels not exceeding 1 lb. in weight will be charged a proportionate rate. 
 
 NO MONEY MUST BE PUT INTO THE BOXES. 
 
 All letters intended to be sent forward to the General Post-Office for the inland mails 
 must have a free stamp affixed to them. 
 
 Letters and Newspapers addressed to the Editors of the Public Press, will be delivered 
 free. 
 
 Unpaid Letters — Letters not having a free stamp will be charged three cents, payable 
 by the party to whom they are addressed, on delivery. 
 
 Registry and Despatch. — A Registry will be kept for Letters which it may be wished 
 to place under special charge. Free stamps must be affixed to such letters for the ordinary 
 postage, and three cents additional be paid, for an additional free stamp be affixed,) for the 
 Registration ; but all such Letters must be specially deposited at the Principal Office. 
 
 A spec'al ".Despatch " will be expedited with any Letter or Packet, not exceeding one 
 pound in weight, (to an address within the limits,) at 12>^ cents a mile, upon application at 
 the Principal Office. 
 
 The advantages offered by this undertaking are : — 
 
 First. — The secure and prompt transmission of all Registered Letters containing any 
 special notice or matter, by which means legal evidence may be obtained of the due delivery 
 ot the same ; and the immediate despatch of any letter or small package requiring instant 
 delivery. 
 
 Secondly.— The- certain and expeditious delivery of Mercantile Letters and Circulars, 
 of Invitations and Replies (either under free stamp or unpaid), and every descriptior> of Com- 
 mercial, Professional, and Social Correspondence ; thus bringing the most distant parts of 
 the City in effect near to each other, and providing the means of constant intercourse at a 
 very moderate charge. 
 
 Alexander M. Greig, Agent. 
 
 The Limits of the Despatch Post will extend to Twenty-First Street. 
 
 It is interesting to note, in connection with this enterprise, the features 
 of registration and special delivery, which are evidently not as modern ideas 
 as we are accustomed to think. 
 
 The post began its operations on January ist, 1842. It appears to 
 have been very successful and to have provided an efficient and satisfactory 
 service. It soon attracted the notice of the Post Office Department as, owing 
 to its superior service, it secured the handling of much of the local mail and 
 thus reduced the revenue of the post office. The removal of such a rival was 
 felt to be imperative. We do not know exactly what means were employed 
 to accomplish this end. In the article previously referred to, Mr. Windsor 
 says : " The Government soon proscribed the continuance of the Post, assert- 
 ing it to be an infringement of governmental rights." And in another place : 
 " The Government compelled him to discontinue it." But it is possible that 
 other means than force were employed to bring about the result. In the 
 American Journal of Philately for April, 1877, we find the following letter : 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 Contract Office. 
 
 August I, 1842. 
 Sir : — By an order made on Saturday, but journalized to-day, the Postmaster General 
 arrangement for the City of New York, to be called the 
 
 has established a letter carrier 
 
THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 227 
 
 " United States City Despatcli Post," for the conveyance of letters from one part of the city 
 to another, subject to a charge on each letter of three cents, under the 20th section of the Act 
 of 1836, and authorizes you to employ Alex. M. Greig, nominated by you, as letter carrier. 
 Other carriers are to be appointed from time to time, as may be required, and you are 
 requested to nominate for that purpose. And you are also authorized to obtain the necessary 
 fixtures, pouches, boxes, labels, stamps, etc., at not exceeding $[,200 for the whole, and to 
 appoint a clerk to superintend said establishment at not exceeding $t,oco per annum. You 
 will be pleased to report the date of the commencement of this arrangement. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 S. R. HoBBIE, 
 
 John Lorimer Graham, Escl, First Asst. P. M. General. 
 
 Postmaster, New York. 
 
 From this letter we may conclude that the Post Office Department, 
 having seen the success of a local delivery service, had determined to establish 
 such for itself, as authorized by the Act of July 2nd, 1836. By taking Mr. 
 Greig into its service it removed a rival and, at the same time, secured an 
 efficient and experienced employee. The City Despatch Post was probably 
 abandoned temporarily, although this is not positive. We know that it was in 
 business in 1848 and continued until 1859. But our interest in it is only as 
 the predecessor of the Government post. 
 
 The stamps of the City Despatch Post were engraved on steel by 
 Rawdon, Wright & Hatch, 48 Merchants Exchange. They were printed on 
 grayish white paper, in sheets of forty-two stamps, seven rows of six stamps 
 each. 
 
 It is well-known that these stamps were used provisionally for the 
 service of the United States City Despatch Post, presumably during the 
 preparation of stamps for the latter. The stamps thus used bear the cancel- 
 lations employed in the New York post office, usually the letters "us" in 
 an octagon, occasionally a circle with date and the words " new york " or 
 "u. s. CITY DESPATCH POST.'' The Only dated copy of which I have a 
 memorandum is not on the original cover. It is cancelled "Feb. 15," pre- 
 sumably 1843, but, as usual, the year is not given. This, of course, does not 
 prove that the stamp was not in use at an earlier date. 
 
 The stamps measure i8^x22mm. 
 
 Letter concerning 
 
 carrier service for 
 
 New Torli City. 
 
 Engraying. 
 Size of slieets. 
 
 Stamps used 
 provisionally. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Grayish White Wove Paper. 
 
 Feb. 15 (1843?) 3 cents black 
 
 In the collection of Mr. H. E. Deats there is a copy of this stamp 
 which has the words " United States " written across the top in red-violet ink. 
 Nothing is known of the history of this surcharge but its intention is apparent. 
 The letter to which this is attached is dated August 14th, 1842. The can- 
 cellation is apparently " Aug. 19th," but examination shows the " 9 " to be an 
 inverted "6." 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Manuscript 
 surcltarge. 
 
228 
 
 THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Aug. 16, 1842. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 Grayish White Wove Paper. 
 3 cents black. Surcharge in red-violet 
 
 in advance of 
 formal orders. 
 
 United States City Despatch Post. 
 
 Turning to the letter quoted on the preceding page, we cannot fail to 
 observe that the Postmaster General exceeded his authority when he ordered 
 Anthority exceeded, the preparation of stamps, since that is the exclusive prerogative of Congress. 
 It is possible that the " stamps " to which he referred were the hand stamps 
 used to cancel letters and indicate postage paid ; in which case it was the 
 Postmaster of New York who overstepped the limits of authority. A careful 
 examinatiTjn of certain facts leads me to the conclusion that the matter had 
 been thoroughly considered and discussed previous to the writing of this 
 Preparations made letter, that the accessories therein ordered had already been purchased, and 
 that, so far as they were concerned, the letter was a mere formality. The 
 principal confirmation of this statement is found in dated cancellations. It is 
 generally understood that the service was put in operation on August ist, 1842, 
 and I have seen a copy of the stamp cancelled "August 5th, 1842." It will 
 be evident, at a glance, that this order, made in Washington on the ist, could 
 not have been carried into effect in New York by the 5th, unless the stamps 
 had been previously prepared. 
 
 The following circular was first reproduced in the American Journal 
 of Philately for February, 1872 : 
 
 United States City Despatch Post. 
 
 Hours of delivery every day (Sunday excepted) at the principal office, upper P. O., 
 Park, and lower P.O., Merchant's Exchange. 
 
 Letters deposited before 8, 12, 3, and at the stations befoie 7, 1 1 and 2, will be sent 
 out for delivery at 9,'! and 4. 
 
 Letters to be sent free must have a free stamp attached to them, which can be pur- 
 chased at the upper and lower post offices and at all the stations. The charge will be 36 
 cents per dozen. 2 dols 50 cents per hundred. All letters intended to be sent forward to 
 the General Post-office for the inland mails must have a free stamp attached to them. Letters 
 not having a free stamp will be chajged 3 cents on delivery. 
 
 John Lorimer Graham, P, M. 
 New York, June, 1843. 
 
 This circular is again printed in an article in the American Journal of 
 Philately for April, 1877. The writer calls attention to its previous publica- 
 tion and the date and adds : "We afterwards obtained a very large card bear- 
 ing precisely the same matter, but dated sometime in 1842, this was evidently 
 issued simultaneously with the stamps." 
 
 The circular was also printed in the Manual of the Common Council 
 of the City of New York for 1842-43, with the addition of an almost verbatim 
 reproduction of the paragraphs in Greig's circular which related to registra- 
 tion and the advantages claimed for the undertaking (see Philatelic Journal 
 of America, Vol. V, page 127), and with this further addition : 
 
 " Limits, U. S. City Despatch Post will extend to Twenty-second Street. 
 An additional number of sworn carriers have been employed to carry city letters 
 wholly independent of letters received by the ni?il,s," 
 
 Ofiicial circular. 
 
 Additions to the 
 circular. 
 
THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 EngraTing. 
 
 Size of sheets. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 The stamps were engraved on steel by Rawdon, Wright & Hatch, and 
 are said to have been in sheets of one hundred. The paper varies in color 
 and quality. At first it was of moderate thickness and colored through. 
 This was soon changed for a thick paper, slightly glazed on the surface and 
 usually not colored through or only lightly tinted. This paper sometimes 
 appears to be ribbed. The paper longest in use was highly glazed and colored 
 on the surface only. The shades are numerous, especially on the paper last 
 described. Size: i8J^x22mm. 
 
 Wove Paper, Colored Through. ueference List. 
 
 3 cents black on rosy-buff 
 
 Aug. 5, 1842. — Sept. I, 1842. 3 cents black on gray-blue, dull gray-blue 
 
 3 cents black on pale green 
 
 Thick Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 
 
 Feb. 22, 1842. — Oct. 24, 1846. 3 cents black on light blue, blue, bright blue, 
 
 deep blue, dark blue, pale greenish blue, 
 greenish blue 
 
 July 4, 1843. — July 23, 1845. 3 cents black on bluish green, green, dark 
 
 green, olive-green 
 
 Variety : 
 
 3 cents black on greenish blue, green. Double 
 impression 
 
 Several of the older writers mention copies of this stamp printed in 
 violet. As the color was dropped from the catalogues many years ago, it was 
 probably found not to exist. 
 
 On at least two occasions the stamps of the United States City Des- 
 patch Post were used to pay regular postage to other cities. This is proved by stamps used to pay 
 original covers bearing the stamps. The first of these is addressed to Phila- regular postage, 
 delphia and bears five of the stamps. On holding the cover to a strong light 
 there can be seen, written on the paper underneath the stamps : 
 
 " Paid 3 cents for City Despatch 
 
 12^ for Philadelphia. Paid" 
 
 The stamps are cancelled " U. S.',' in an octagon, as usual. On the 
 cover are the circular date stamp " New York, May 30 " and the word "paid ", 
 both in red. There are also the figures " 12 " in dark blue ink, apparently 
 written by the mailing clerk. The second cover is similar to the first. It is 
 addressed to Ridgefield, Conn., and bears three stamps, underneath which is 
 written " Paid loc." The cancellations are like those just described, the date 
 
23° 
 
 THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Chauge in rates. 
 
 being June 13th, and the written figures " 10." It is unfortunate that neither 
 cover bears anything to show the year in which it was used. 
 
 It will be noticed that the written figures and the amount of the postage 
 stamps do not exactly agree but such discrepancies appear to have been 
 lightly regarded at that period Even the ofificial circular offers 3 cent stamps 
 at 2j^ cents each, when purchased by the hundred. 
 
 By Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1845, the rate for drop 
 letters was reduced to two cents. Carriers were allowed to charge a like 
 amount. We do not know what steps, if any, were taken in the city of New 
 York to meet this reduction. Indeed, to judge by the numerous three cent 
 stamps of the United States City Despatch Post to be found on letters dated 
 in 1 845 and 1 846, it would appear that the old rates were maintained. Possibly 
 an effort in the direction of a reduction may be indicated by a stamp, formerly 
 in the collection of Mr. F. W. Hunter, which is here illustrated. 
 
 A prOTiBional 
 surcharge. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Counterfeits, 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 K 
 
 
 ^^^Mm' 
 
 
 ^^M 
 
 
 The stamp is on the original letter, which is dated February 14th, 
 1846. The surcharged numeral and the bar over the word " three " are in 
 red, of the same shade as the cancellations. There are two cancellations : 
 first, the usual circle with the name of the post, date and hour; second, 
 another circle with the words "new york — fee. 14 — 2 cts.," the numeral 
 " 2 " being identical with that used for the surcharge. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 Thick Glazed Paper, Surface-Colored. 
 Feb. 14, 1846. 2 cents on 3 cents green. Surcharge in red 
 
 It is to be regretted that we have been unable to learn anything of the 
 history of this surcharge. 
 
 There are counterfeits of the stamps of this post but they are not 
 dangerous. They are poorly made by lithography, while the originals are 
 finely engraved on steel. None of the portraits on the counterfeits at all 
 resemble that on the original stamp. 
 
 City Despatch. 
 
 Nothing is known of the history of this stamp. The older philatelic 
 
THE NEW YORK CARRIERS' STAMPS. 
 
 231 
 
 publications assign it to Boston and give 1845 as the year of issue. We now 
 know it to belong among the New York carriers' stamps and to have been 
 the successor of the United States City Despatch Post. The stamps are 
 roughly typographed, probably from metal cliches reproduced from a wood 
 cut. Size: igx24}^mm. There are no varieties. The number of stamps in 
 a sheet is not known. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 March 13, 1846. 2 cents brown-red 
 
 The above date is taken from a cancelled copy of the stamp. Another 
 copy has been seen bearing the date " Dec. 9," but not that of the year. 
 
 The counterfeits are lithographed and differ from the originals in many 
 points. They measure 20x26mm., the letters of the inscriptions are too tall, 
 and the outer line of the oval is equally distant from the frame line at each 
 side, while in the originals it approaches nearer to the line at the left than to 
 that at the right. 
 
 U. S. Mail. 
 
 Historical. 
 
 Drscriptioii. 
 
 Keference List. 
 
 Counterfeits. 
 
 Coster, in 1882, and the American Journal of Philately, in 1888, say 
 that the stamps of this type were issued by the Postmaster of New York. By 
 the Act of March 3rd, 1851, the rate for delivery of letters from or to the 
 post office was reduced to one cent each. As we find copies of these stamps 
 cancelled early in 1849, we must conclude that, in this city, the reduction was 
 made fully two years earlier than the date of the Act referred to. Probably 
 this was brought about by the competition of the local posts. 
 
 The stamps are typographed on thick wove paper, colored through, 
 and on thick glazed paper, colored on the surface only Diameter : i6mm. 
 The stamps are all of one type. The number in a sheet is not known but a 
 block of twenty (four rows of five) has been seen. There exists also a pair 
 of the stamps, one of which is placed semi tete-beche to the other, i. e. side- 
 ways. This pair is on buff glazed paper. The same variety may occur on 
 the other papers but it has not been reported. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Thick Wove Paper, Colored Through. 
 
 Feb. 13, 1849.^ — Sept. 12, 1849. i cent black on pale dull rose, dull rose, rose 
 
 Thick Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 
 
 Dec. 8, 1849. — June i, 1853. 1 cent black on buff, brownish buff 
 Sept. 16, 1850 — Aug. 13, 1851. I cent black on yellow, bright yellow 
 
 JReduction of tlie 
 carriers' fee. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
232 
 
 THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Stamps used to pay 
 regular postage. 
 
 Counterfeits. 
 
 Variety : 
 I cent black on buff. Semi tete-b^che 
 
 I have seen a cover bearing three of the yellow stamps, which appar- 
 ently paid the regular postage. The letter was mailed in New York city on 
 July 24th, 1851, and was addressed to Newburgh, N. Y. 
 
 There are two counterfeits of these stamps which are quite well made. 
 The first is hand-stamped, is 17mm. in diameter and many of the letters are 
 too broad, especially those in " one cent". The second counterfeit is typo- 
 graphed. The circles and the letters are too thick, the diameter is 17mm., 
 there is no period after the "u" and the letters are too broad, especially those 
 of the word " one ". The yellow glazed paper is very like that of the original 
 stamps. The other two colors are not well imitated. 
 
The Philadelphia Carriers' Stamps. 
 
 Of the history of the carriers' stamps used in the city of Philadelphia 
 we know nothing. For many years the stamps have been accepted by philate- 
 lists as belonging among the semi-official carriers' stamps and the manner in 
 which they were used appears to confirm this conclusion. But, beyond what 
 may be learned from examination of the stamps, we have little information. 
 All the stamps bear the letters " u. s. p. o." and were at one time believed to 
 be issues of the Union Square Post Office, a local post of New York city. 
 After it was discovered that the stamps emanated from Philadelphia and 
 belonged among the carriers' stamps, it was decided that the letters were the 
 initials of the words "united states post office", which is probably 
 correct. 
 
 U. S.P.Q. 
 PAID. 
 LI CenlP 
 
 Type-set stamps with the value and certain letters in the lower part. 
 The letters are : " h ", " s ", " l p " and " l s ". In the American Journal 
 of Philately for February, 1889 (page 57), there is listed a variety with the 
 letters " l h " but this was probably intended for the variety with the letter 
 " H " only. There are a number of varieties of setting for each letter or pair 
 of letters. I have seen five varieties with the letter " h ", one with " s ", two 
 with " L p ", and five with "' L s ". It is believed that all these varieties, and 
 probably others, occurred in one setting. But we have not seen any fragments 
 of sheets, or even a pair, to assist in confirming this theory. The number of 
 stamps in a sheet and the manner in which the varieties were arranged are, 
 therefore, yet to be ascertained. 
 
 The purpose of these letters has never been satisfactorily explained. I 
 venture to suggest that they are the initials of the carriers on whose routes 
 they were employed. It is evident from the dates of the cancellations that 
 the different varieties were in use at the same time. As the carriers were 
 not paid a fixed salary but only for the letters they handled, it would be 
 necesssry that the stamps used by them should be marked in some way, in 
 order that each might receive proper credit and compensation. Hence the 
 initials. In subsequent issues the same end was attained by using stamps 
 printed on paper of different colors or in inks of various colors. Reference 
 to the preceding chapters will show that, in other cities, carriers' stamps of 
 
 Letters on the 
 stamps. 
 
 Meauiu^ of the 
 letters. 
 
234 
 
 THE PHILADELPHIA CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 Earliest 
 cancellatioa. 
 
 Ueference List. 
 
 Couuterfeits. 
 
 Description 
 
 Koferoiice List. 
 
 different designs or printed on different papers were used concurrently. In 
 all these instances the object was, doubtless, to secure a division of the 
 carriers' fees, in accordance with the work performed by each. 
 
 In the collection of a New York philatelist there is a copy of this 
 stamp, bearing the letters " l s " and cancelled " m — 18, 1849 ". Beyond the 
 initial letter, the month is illegible. It must be March or May. Accepting 
 the latter, this is the earliest known cancellation on any of the lettered stamps. 
 
 These stamps are printed on thick, soft, rose-colored paper and meas- 
 ure about i5^xiij/^mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 
 I cent black on rose. 
 
 I cent black on rose. 
 
 I cent black on rose. 
 
 I cent black on rose. 
 
 May 18, 1849 — May 25 
 
 June 16, 1849. 
 
 July 16, 1850 — Aug. 10 
 
 ■ L S " 
 ' L P " 
 'S" 
 
 ■h" 
 
 There are two counterfeits of these stamps. The first is in imitation 
 of the variety with the letters " l p ". It measures 143^x1 i^mm The frame 
 lines are much too thin and there is no period after "cent ''. The letters of 
 " paid" are only i^mm. high, instead of 2^mm. They are also narrower 
 and set a little closer together than on the genuine stamps. The color of the 
 paper is usually too pale. The second counterfeit is not nearly so dangerous. 
 It is in imitation of the varieties lettered "l p" and " l s " and is printed on 
 thin lilac-rose paper. It is i6}^mm. long and varies in height from g}i to 
 lomm. The letters of the inscriptions are all too short and too heavy 
 faced. 
 
 US. P.O. 
 PAID. 
 1 Cent. 
 
 Type-set stamps, of similar design to those just described but without 
 the letters in the lower corners. It is not known whether or not these 
 stamps formed part of the setting of those with the letters but, from the fact 
 that the stamps on blue, vermilion and yellow paper are only known with- 
 out the letters, it is inferred that they are from another setting. From the 
 postmarks we conclude that the stamps from the two settings were in use 
 coincidently. The stamps measure 15^^x1 ij^mm. and are printed on a 
 variety of papers. The rose-colored paper is thick and soft and is colored 
 through. The other papers are glazed and colored on the suiface only. 
 Seven varieties of this setting are known. The sheets probably contain from 
 ten to twenty-five stamps. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Thick Wove Paper, Colored Through. 
 May 14, 1849. 1 cent black on rose, dull rose 
 
 Thick Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 
 May II, 185c — Dec. 19, 1850. 1 cent black on blue, dark blue 
 
 I cent black on vermilion 
 I cent black on yellow 
 
THE PHILADELPHIA CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 23s 
 
 The American Journal of Philately for 1889 (pages 56 and 57), gives 
 a reference list of the Philadelphia carriers' stamps, which includes this stamp 
 in black on white paper. As no such variety appears in subsequent lists we 
 may infer that it was found not to exist. It was probably confounded with 
 one of the varieties of the stamp next to be described. 
 
 So far as I am aware, there are no counterfeits which sufficiently 
 resemble the genuine stamps to merit description. 
 
 Lithographed in color on a variety of papers. Apparently each stamp 
 in the sheet differs from the others. I have recognized sixteen varieties. It 
 is possible that some of them may be due to defective printing but, on the 
 other hand, I have seen a number of copies of most of them, which would 
 indicate that the varieties are constant. It has been said that the sheet con- 
 tained twenty or twenty-five stamps but I have not been able to confirm the 
 statement. A vertical strip of three and a horizontal pair — the latter with 
 margin from the right of the sheet^ — are all that I have seen, otherwise than 
 singly. 
 
 The American Journal of Philately for 1889, says the stamps were 
 engraved on wood and others have called them type-set and typographed. It 
 is probable that the writers were led to these conclusions by the variations in 
 the relative positions of the inscriptions and ornaments to each other and to 
 the surrounding frame. But a careful examination of the stamps shows them 
 to be lithographed. The differences in position of the component parts were 
 caused by transferring each part separately, instead of the design as a whole. 
 None of these stamps are common, but those most often seen are printed in 
 gold bronze on black, surface-colored paper. This paper is highly glazed and 
 has a purple sheen when held to the light. Size : 19^x1 5 J^mm. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Mch. 18, 1850. — Oct. 8, 1852. 1 cent dull blue, dark dull blue 
 Aug. 5, 1852. — Dec. 15, 1852. I cent black 
 
 Thick Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1851. — Dec. 13, 1851. I cent gold on black 
 
 The older philatelic publications list this stamp in black on blue paper. 
 I have not been able to locate a copy and have reached the conclusion that 
 the stamp which they intended to describe was that printed in blue on white 
 paper, which latter they do not mention. 
 
 There are at least four counterfeits of these stamps. One may be 
 easily recognized by having a period after the " o " in the upper label and the 
 serif of the " 1 " pointing to the left. In all the genuine stamps the serif is 
 turned toward the right On each of the other counterfeits there are two 
 
 Counterfeits. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Method of 
 production. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Connterfeils, 
 
236 
 
 THE PHILADEtPHIA CARRIERS STAMPS. 
 
 short and nearly vertical dashes below the "o" of " U. s. p. o." As some of 
 the genuine stamps have two dots in nearly the same position, this cannot be 
 regarded as a positive test and any doubtful specimens should be compared 
 with photographic reproductions of the original varieties. 
 
 Various uses of 
 the designs. 
 
 Adliesive stamps 
 of type II. 
 
 Colors. 
 
 TYPE I. 
 
 TYPE II. 
 
 We have now to consider two hand-stamps which are certainly very 
 puzzling. In addition to the fact that they are of some considerable degree of 
 rarity, they appear to have been used, at different times, as adhesive stamps, 
 envelope stamps and postmarks. It is not always possible to decide for 
 which of the last two purposes they were used. This confusion is largely 
 due to the irregular manner in which they were hand-stamped on the envel- 
 opes. Type I is usually applied at the left side, sometimes in the upper cor- 
 ner but more often in a position about equally distant from the upper and 
 lower edges. Type II is commonly placed near the middle of the upper 
 side and occasionally in the upper right corner. Collectors in Philadelphia 
 have advanced the theory that people, when intending to use these envelopes, 
 took them to the post office and had them stamped, paying one cent each 
 for the impressions. The work was probably done hastily, which would ac- 
 count for the irregular positions of the hand-stamps. 
 
 There is in the Tapling collection an unused, unaddressed envelope, 
 stamped with type I, which may be accepted as corroborative evidence that 
 stamped envelopes were prepared from this design. 
 
 It is said that when type II was used to make adhesive stamps, it was 
 always impressed on the margins of the one cent stamps of the regular issue 
 011851. I have never seen the adhesives of this type on any other paper 
 but am not prepared to assert that they were never made otherwise. I have 
 also seen a letter, dated July 18th, 1856, bearing a one cent stamp of the 
 1851 issue, which was cancelled with type II, the cancellation being partly 
 on the stamp and partly on the envelope. 
 
 The stamps of type I measure 2 1x17mm., those of type II, 27x18^^ 
 mm. They are hand-stamped on various papers, in blue, red and black ink. 
 Blue was commonly used for type I, black for the adhesive stamps of type 
 II, and red for the envelopes. Coster says the red color was used for 
 letters on which the fee was paid at the time they were deposited in the post 
 office. The limited number of copies, especially those with dated cancella- 
 tions, and the absence of information concerning these stamps, does not 
 permit us even to venture a theory regarding the colors. They may have 
 been employed for different carriers, they may mark different periods of use, 
 or they may have been used at convenience and indicate nothing. 
 
 The paper is usually wove. Most of the buff envelopes have a strong 
 tinge of orange and some might call them by the latter name. A copy of 
 
THE PHILADELPHIA CARRIERS* STAMPS. 
 
 237 
 
 Bates of use. 
 
 Ueference List. 
 
 type II has been seen on gray paper, so thick as to be almost cardboard. Paper. 
 
 The catalogues have long listed an envelope of this type, stanaped in blue on 
 buff paper. I have not been able to confirm the existence of this envelope 
 but, as I am equally unable to disprove it, I do not feel warranted in refus- 
 ing to list it. 
 
 Information about the dates of use of these stamps is sadly lacking. 
 The cancellations usually have only the month and day. The American 
 Journal of Philately for March, 1891 (page 132) gives the date of type I as 
 1851. The Philatelic Monthly and World for March, 1892 (page 23) places 
 type II at 1852-53, which date is also given by Coster. The only two dates 
 which I have been able to secure are included in the following list: 
 
 ADHESIVE STAMPS. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 Various Papers. 
 
 I cent blue on buff. Type I 
 
 1 cent blue on blue " 
 
 I cent red on white " 
 
 I cent black on white. Type II 
 
 I cent black on gray " 
 
 ENVELOPES. 
 
 Various Papers. 
 
 I cent blue on buff. Type I 
 
 I cent blue on blue " 
 
 I cent red on buff " 
 
 I cent blue on buff Type II 
 
 Mch. 31, 1856. I cent black on buff " 
 
 I cent black on blue " 
 
 I cent black on white " 
 
 I cent red on buff " 
 
 I cent red on blue " 
 
 July 5, 1852. 1 cent red on white " 
 
 Type I is often cancelled with the small red star which was extensively 
 used as a cancellation for the Philadelphia carriers' stamps and also for the 
 Government carrier (Eagle) issued November 17th, 1851, and to be described cancellations. 
 in a subsequent chapter. Another cancellation closely resembles the stamps 
 of type II. It may be known by the inscription " u. s. p. o. despatch" 
 which is in Roman capitals, while on the stamps it is in sans-serif capitals. 
 Envelopes bearing this cancellation mark are sometimes offered for sale as 
 carriers' envelopes and unscrupulous people have even gone so far as to cut 
 these marks from envelopes and affix them to others, that they might appear 
 to have been used as adhesives. 
 
 The Philatelic Monthly and World for September, 1 898, chronicles an 
 envelope which has, at the left side, a stamp of type I printed in blue and 
 cancelled with the red star, and, in the upper right corner, a stamp of type II 
 impressed in red. The description does not specify whether the latter is the 
 cancellation mark or the device used to indicate postage prepaid. 
 
express. 
 
 Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Pony Express Stamps, 
 
 The pony express has always been a subject of interest, both to the 
 student of history and the ordinary reader. Its conception and management 
 were bold, daring, spectacular — thoroughly in keeping with the men, the life 
 and the phenomenal development of the great west. It existed in a history- 
 making epoch and itself helped to make history. As an exhibition of American 
 pluck and nerve, it appeals to all admirers of large ideas and bold deeds. 
 
 In Filatelic Facts and Fallacies, volumes II and III, we find a number 
 of interesting articles on the origin and management of the pony express. 
 These articles are from the pen of Mr. H. B. Phillips — widely known as a 
 writer and authority on western franks — and from them the following extracts 
 have been selected : 
 
 " It is popularly supposed that Wells, Fargo & Co. started the original Pony Express, 
 but such is not the case. Wells, Fargo & Co. operated the Pony express in 1861, but with 
 The original pony that of i860 they had nothing to do. 
 
 John S. Jones, a government freighter, and William H. Russell (of the firm of Russell, 
 Majors & Waddell, also government freighters to Salt Lake in i8s7-s8), started a stage and 
 express line between Leavenworth and Denver, via the Smoky Hill route, in the spring of 
 1859, which they operated during that summer. The following winter the firm was re- 
 organized, absorbing the John Hockaday line, operating between St. Joseph and Salt Lake 
 City, and was styled ' The Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company," 
 with William H. Russell as President. This is the company that organized and operated the 
 original Pony Express of i860. * * * 
 
 After months of preparation in establishing stations, procuring riders and relays of 
 horses, at last, on April 3rd, i860, at four o'clock p. m., the first express was simultaneously 
 dispatched from both ends of the run — San Francisco and St. Joseph, Mo. 
 
 The following advertisement, from the Evening Bulletin of April ist, is an official 
 record of the established rates of postage, it being understood that they carried nothing 
 whatever but letters : 
 
 ' The Central Overland Pony Express Com- 
 pany will start their letter express f om San 
 Francisco to New York and iitermediate points 
 on Tuesday, April 3rd. 
 
 Letters will be charged, between San 
 Fiancisco and Salt Lake City, $3. 00 for each 
 half ounce and under, and at that rate according 
 to weight. To all points beyond Salt Lake City, 
 $5.00 for each half ounce and under, and at that 
 rate according to weight. All letters must be 
 enclosed in stamped envelopes. 
 
 Wm. W. Finney, Agent, San Francisco. 
 
 In this connection the term 'stamped envelopes' does not mean, as at the present 
 time, the envelopes made by the Government, but that all letters offered for transmission 
 should be prepaid with the Government rate of postage, an adhesive stamp on the envelope 
 being included in the term ' stamped envelopes.' 
 
 No adhesive stamps were prepared or used by this company, either for sale to the 
 public or for the purpose of collecting postage. Hand stamps were placed in use at both 
 
WELLS, FARGO & CO. S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 
 
 239 
 
 ends of the line, following the usual custom of Western expresses at that time. * * » 
 
 The Pony made the time promised for it and carried the letters and news, but the 
 projectors were never compensated in money for their outlay. As an undertaking it was a 
 success, but financially it was a failure. 
 
 The cost of establishing and maintaining the Pony Express was enormous. Relays of 
 horses were kept at each station and riders employed at every third station and, as the 
 country produced nothing at that time, all supplies had to be hauled by wagon from the 
 Missouri river, Utah or California. 
 
 The newspapers were its principal patrons. The California press depended entirely 
 upon the Pony Express for news, until the completion of the overland telegraph line in the 
 fall of 1861. * * • 
 
 The letters were wrapped in oil silk for protection against wet, but that did not avail 
 when swimming swollen streams. Occasionally hostile Indians chased the pony. On one 
 occasion the rider was shot and scalped, the horse escaping with the ' machillas,' and months 
 afterwards they were found and the inclosed letters forwarded to their destinations. 
 
 The express carrying the news of Abraham Lincoln's election went through from St. 
 Joseph to Denver, 665 miles, in two days and twenty-one hours. The riders usually rode 
 about seventy-five miles, but an instance is remembered where one rode nearly 300 miles, 
 those who should have relieved him being, for some reason or another, disabled. He made it 
 in schedule time, too, but at the end had to be lifted from the saddle, almost dead. The 
 distance from St. Joseph to Sacramento was about 1 ,900 miles and was covered in eight days. 
 Think of that, for horse and human flesh and blood to do ! 
 
 The pony rider was usually a little bit of a man, brim full of spirit and endurance. 
 * * * Both horse and rider went flying light, the rider carried no arms but a revolver, and 
 nothing that was not absolutely necessary. He rode a splendid horse that was born for a 
 racer, with a skeleton saddle, lightly shod or not at all. There were about eighty riders in 
 the saddle all the time, night and day, stretching in a long, scattering, fleeting procession 
 from Missouri to California- — forty flying eastward and forty to the west — using some four 
 hundred horses continuously." 
 
 The breaking out of the war of the rebellion necessitated some changes 
 in transporting the mails between the eastern states and the Pacific coast. 
 These changes are briefly described in the report of the Postmaster General, 
 dated December 2nd, 1861 : 
 
 Overland California Mail. 
 
 " By the 9th section of an Act of Congress approved March 2, 1861, entitled ' An Act 
 making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department during the fiscal year 
 ending June 30, i86j', authority is given to the Postmaster General to discontinue the mail 
 service on the southern overland route (known as the Butterfield route) between St. Louis 
 and Memphis and San Francisco, and to provide for the conveyance, by the same parties, 
 of a six-times-a-week mail by the 'central route '; that is, ' from some point on the Missouri 
 River, connecting with thi east, to Placerville, California." 
 
 In pursuance of this Act, and the acceptance of its terms by the mail company, an 
 order was made on the 12th of March, 1861, to modify the present contract, so as to discon- 
 tinue service on the southern route, and to provide for the transportation of the entire letter 
 mail six times a week on the central route, to be carried through in twenty days eight months 
 in the year, and in twenty-three days four months in the year, from St. Joseph, Missouri (or 
 Atchison, Kansas) to Placerville, and also to convey the entire mail three times a week to 
 Denver City and Salt Lake ; the entire letter mail to California to be carried, whatever may 
 be its weight, and in case it should not amount to 600 pounds, then sufficient of other mail 
 to be carried each trip to make up that weight, the residue of all mail matter to be conveyed 
 in thirty-five days, with the privilege of sending it from New York to San Francisco in 
 twenty-five days by sea, and the public documents in thirty-five days ; a pony express to be 
 run twice a week until the completion of the overland telegraph, through in ten days eight 
 months and twelve days four months, in the year, conveying for the Government, free of 
 charge, five pounds of mail matter; the compensation for the whole service to be one million 
 of dollars per annum, payable from the general treasury, as provided by the act ; the service 
 to commence July 1, 1861, and terminate July 1, 1864. 
 
 The transfer of stock from the southern to the central route was commenced about the 
 1st of April, and was completed so that the first mail was started from St. Joseph on the day 
 prescribed by the order, July 1, 1861." 
 
 The portion of the above mentioned act which refers to the pony 
 express is especially interesting to philatelists. It reads : 
 
 " They shall also be required, during the continuance of their contract, or until the 
 
 Chauges in mail 
 routes and con- 
 tracts. 
 
 Pony express. 
 
2 40 
 
 WELLS, FARGO & CO. S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 
 
 Tariir on private 
 coi-respondeuce. 
 
 Stamps. 
 
 Advertisement. 
 
 Description, 
 
 completion of the Overland Telegraph, to run a Pony Express ; semi-weekly, at a schedula- 
 tion often days eight months, and twelve days four months, carrying for the Government, 
 free of charge, five pounds of mail matter, with the liberty of charging the public for trans- 
 portation of letters by said Express not exceeding one dollar per half ounce. ' 
 
 Our interest lies in the last clause, since, by reason of it, the pony 
 express stamps were issued and through it they claim a place among the semi- 
 official carriers. Though the act does not, in so many words, authorize the 
 contractors to issue stamps, it most distinctly authorizes the carrying of letters 
 and fixes the rate of postage that may be charged. The manner in which 
 payment of this charge should be indicated was a matter of detail to be left to 
 the managers of the express. It may also be remarked that no objection was 
 ever made to the employment of the stamps. 
 
 The following advertisement appeared in the San Francisco daily 
 
 papers of July ist, 1861 : 
 
 " Wells, Fargo's Pony Express service will 
 commence July ist, 1S61, between Placerville 
 and San Francisco, connecting at Placerville 
 with the Overland Mail Go's Pony Express. 
 
 Letters must be enclosed in our 20c Govt. 
 Franked Envelopes and charges beyond Placer- 
 ville prepaid at the rate of $1 00 per J^oz. or 
 fraction. All letters not enclosed in Govt. 
 Franked -Envelopes will be charged 25c each. 
 
 Wells, Fargo & Co.'' 
 
 The Overland Mail Co. held the contract for the " central route," I 
 have not been able to learn the exact relations, at that date, between that 
 company and Wells, Fargo & Co., but I believe that the latter were sub-con- 
 tractors to the former. 
 
 Whether the pony express stamps were used from both ends of the 
 route or only from the California end, is another point on which definite 
 information is lacking. 
 
 The stamps were lithographed by Britton & Rey, of San Francisco. 
 There were two designs, the so-called garter type and the well-known pony 
 express stamps. The former are T5^mm. in diameter and the latter measure 
 2ix24X™iri- I cannot say which variety was first in use but I believe the 
 garter type to have been. 
 
 ileference List. 
 
 July I, 1861. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 Thin White Wove Paper. 
 1 dollar deep blue, dark dull blue 
 
WELLS, FARGO & CO.'S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 241 
 
 Imperforate. 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 1 dollar deep rose, carmine-rose 
 
 2 dollars deep gray-green 
 4 dollars black, gray-black 
 
 The first printing of the pony stamps was on quite thick paper. The 
 paper of the later printings varies from ordinary to thin. It is said that only Paper and sum. 
 the stamps of the first printing were gummed and that subsequent printings 
 were issued ungummed. 
 
 On the completion of the overland telegraph line, in October, 1861, 
 the contract for pony express service terminated. By a circular, dated 
 October 26th, r86r, the company announced to its agents the discontinuance stamps witiidrawn 
 of the service and called in all the stamps remaining unsold. At a subsequent ""* ouMe^ueMy 
 
 j„. ,1, ., ^ ° ^ re-is8ued. 
 
 date the stamps were re-issued and used for the business of the express com- 
 pany but they were, of course, no longer government carriers' stamps. The 
 ten and twenty-five cent stamps were then added to the series, but with them 
 we have no concern. 
 
 The leading collectors of the United States locals and franks have 
 been consulted but they are unable to say whether or not the two dollars rose 
 and four dollars green stamps were issued between July ist and October 26th, Chanse in colors. 
 1861. As such a change of colors would appear to be unnecessary and con- 
 fusing, the consensus of opinion is that they probably were not issued until a 
 subsequent date. Pending more definite information they are not listed here. 
 
 The garter stamps were printed in sheets (or panes) of sixteen, four 
 rows of four stamps each. Copies are frequently found with a pen mark in 
 red ink. This is not believed to be a cancellation but to have been applied Counterfeits of the 
 to some unused remainders to destroy their franking power. So far as known, ^'""*"' ^*'^»'vs- 
 these stamps have not been reprinted but they have been quite extensively 
 counterfeited. The counterfeits differ from the genuine stamps in a number 
 of minor details, such as a period instead of a comma between " wells " and 
 ' FARGO ". The mark by which they may be readily distinguished is a hori- 
 zontal dash between " >^ oz." and "$t.oo" This dash is not found on the 
 original stamps. We occasionally see genuine copies on which such a dash 
 has been drawn with pen and ink. Probably this was done to make them 
 conform to the illustrations in the catalogues, which, for many years, were 
 modeled after the counterfeits. 
 
 The pony stamps were printed in panes of twenty, five rows of four 
 stamps each. Two panes constituted a sheet. 
 
 There was a considerable quantity of remainders of most of the values, 
 but, rumors to the contrary notwithstanding, there is no evidence that any 
 reprints were made until about the first of April, 1897. A son of Mr. Joseph iteprints of the pony 
 Britton (a member of the firm of Britton & Rey, makers of the pony express '"press stamps, 
 stamps and many California locals), became interested in stamp collecting. 
 His father wished to aid him with his collection and made search for samples 
 of the firm's work in that line, but found none. He then sought for the 
 stones from which the.different stamps had been printed and eventually found 
 
242 WELLS, FARGO & CO. S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 
 
 the original dies of the pony express stamps. These dies consisted of the 
 complete design for the one dollar stamp, the frame for the ten cents and the 
 numerals for the other values, including a "3 " which was never used. The 
 design for the one dollar stamp had the value in the plural. In making up 
 the stone for the originals of this value the final " s " was removed, with the 
 exception of a small piece which makes a sort of period after the word. On 
 many copies of the stamp traces of the outlines of the letter may be seen. 
 
 These die designs were on a stone with a number of other small designs, 
 some of which had been in frequent use. As a consequence, the designs for 
 the pony express stamps had become much worn and some of the finer lines 
 were nearly obliterated. In an effort to remedy this, the dies were retouched 
 Because of to this Wearing and retouchings the reprints may be easily distin- 
 guished from the originals. Some of the principal points by which the former 
 may be recognized are : The crown of the hat is almost white, instead of 
 being shaded. There is no shading at the left of the nose of the horse. The 
 hoof is separated from the right forefoot. The mouth of the horse is open 
 nearly half way up to the eye, while in the originals the lips are only slightly 
 apart. Diagonal lines have been added to the shading between the forelegs 
 and under the body of the horse. At the right of the scroll containing the 
 word "dollars" there are fourteen lines of shading instead of eleven. On 
 the ten and twenty-five cent stamps the faint white arabesques in the upper 
 corners are missing. On the two and four dollars the word of value is followed 
 by a period, which does not occur on the originals. 
 
 By transfers from the retouched dies a new stone was made up, con- 
 taining twenty stamps, in five vertical rows of four. All the stamps in each 
 vertical row were the same. Beginning at the right they were : 10, 25 cents, 
 I, 2 and 4 dollars. From this stone impressions were taken in colors approxi- 
 mating those of the original stamps. As a result, we have not only reprints 
 but various combinations of colors and values of which there were no originals 
 and which, therefore, are merely fancy articles. 
 
 The paper of the reprints is moderately thin, soft and very white. 
 They are clearly printed and look very fresh and new. The inks are ap- 
 parently aniline. It is said that when Mr. Britton applied to Wells, Fargo 
 & Co. for the loan of a set of the pony express stamps, to be used as a guide 
 to colors, he was given a set of counterfeits, as they were in a more available 
 shape and in approximately, the same colors as the originals. Whatever may 
 have been the cause, the colors are not very well imitated. While we are 
 only interested in the reprints of the three varieties which were used as car- 
 riers' stamps, it may be well, for the sake of completeness, to describe all of 
 them. The numbers in parenthesis indicate the number of reprints made of 
 each stamp. 
 Keforonrc List. Imperforate. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 April 1897. 10 cents brownish bistre (92) 
 
 25 cents pale vermilion (112), brown-carmine (132) 
 25 cents dull blue (it 6) 
 I dollar pale vermilion (112), brown-carmine (132) 
 
WELLS, FARGO & CO. S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 243 
 
 2 dollars gray-green (io8) 
 
 2 dollars pale vermilion (112,) brown-carmine (132) 
 
 4 dollars full black (116) 
 
 4 dollars gray-green (108) 
 
 In the prints in blue and black we find that the one dollar stamp 
 has the word of value in the plural. Presumably, these printings were made 
 before the error in the die was noticed but, it being observed, the stone was 
 corrected before the impressions in the other colors were made. 
 
 On the whole the reprints are not very deceptive. A curious point is 
 that they are very evidently lithographs, while the originals have more the 
 appearance of steel engravings. 
 
 It is satisfactory to know that the stone from which the reprints were 
 made has been cleaned off and the original die has been deposited in the 
 historical museum of Wells, Fargo & Co. So we need have no apprehension 
 of further reprintings. 
 
 There are a number of counterfeits of these stamps. The majority of 
 them are too poor to need description. The better counterfeits differ in 
 many points from the genuine stamps. The letters of " Wells, Fargo & Counterfeits of the 
 Co." are too thin ; the tail of the horse is too straight and stiff ; the foot of '""ta^ps""* 
 the rider is too small and stands out from instead of touching the body of 
 the horse. Perhaps the most notable difference is found in the edges of the 
 escutcheon which contains the vignette. These edges are turned over and 
 form points at the corners ; in the counterfeits the points meet at the upper 
 left corner, and at the upper right corner they nearly touch, whereas, in the 
 genuine stamps there is quite a space between the points at both corners. 
 
The Franklin Carriers' Stamp. 
 
 By referring to page 65 it will be seen that, by Act of Congress, ap- 
 proved March 3rd, 1851, the Postmaster General was authorized to prepare 
 Legislation airccting postage Stamps of such denominations as he considered expedient; the car- 
 tiie earner service, j-jg^'g fgg ^^g fixed at one cent per letter; and the streets, avenues, roads and 
 public highways of the cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and New 
 Orleans were established as post routes and letter carriers appointed for ser- 
 vice thereon. 
 
 This would appear to constitute the first determined effort on the part 
 of the Post Office Department to take the carrier service into its own hands. 
 In pursuance of this intention, and by the authority conveyed in the act men- 
 tioned above, a carriers' stamp was issued on September 29th, 185 1. This 
 stamp is officially described as follows: 
 
 " One Cent Carrier Stamp. — Profile bust of Franklin, looking to 
 the left, on an oval disk, with very dark ground and a distinct white border. 
 Design and color. Around this disk is a tesselated frame, separated at the four corners by lathe- 
 work rosettes, similar to those in the 12-cent stamp. In straight panels, at 
 the top and bottom of this frame, are the words ' carriers ' and ' stamp ', 
 respectively, a white star on a dark circle being at the beginning and end of 
 each word. The whole is enclosed in a fine single-line rectangle. Color, 
 indigo-blue, on rose-colored paper. The denomination is not shown." 
 
 The stamps were printed on a soft paper, of moderate thickness and 
 colored a dull rose. 
 
 I have never seen an unused copy with original gum but I presume 
 the stamps had the thick, smooth, brown gum which was used on the other 
 stamps of the issues of 1851 and 1857. 
 
 The stamps are imperforate and measure I9j^x24^mm. 
 Imperforate. 
 Rose Wove Paper. 
 Sept. 29th, 1851. (i cent) bright blue, dull blue, dark dull blue 
 
 The date of issue is taken from official records. From the same 
 source we learn that the Franklin stamp was replaced by the " Eagle " car- 
 riers' stamp on November 17th, 185 r. It does not appear, however, to have 
 been declared obsolete, but remained available for postage. Copies on the 
 original cover are scarce and the postmarks seldom have the year, but only 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Gum. 
 
 Period of use. 
 
THE FRANKLIN CARRIERS STAMP. 
 
 H5 
 
 Plate damaged. 
 
 the month and day. The only complete date which I have seen is April 
 ist, 1854. 
 
 It is said that in the records of the Post Office department it is stated: 
 " First carriers' stamps received from contractors Oct. 21, 1851, 300,000 " 
 Here is, obviously, a mistake. Probably the date should be Sept. zi, 185 1. 
 
 The reports of the Postmaster General do not supply any statistics of 
 the quantities of this stamp distributed to postmasters but there appears to 
 have been only the one delivery of 300,000 copies to the Post Office depart- Nnii'ber of stamps 
 ment. If this entire quantity was distributed to postmasters it is to be 
 doubted that all of the stamps were issued to the public. The scarcity of 
 copies would lead us to conclude that only a limited number were used. 
 Probably, on the appearance of the " Eagle " stamp, the remainders were re- 
 turned to Washington and destroyed. 
 
 There was only one plate for this stamp. It contained two panes of 
 one hundred stamps (ten rows of ten stamps each), placed side by side and 
 separated by a single vertical line. The imprint of the contractors appeared Pi»te and imprint. 
 at each side, about 3mm from the stamps. It read: " Toppan, Carpenter, 
 Casilear & Co. bank note engravers. Phila. New York. Boston & Cin- 
 cinnati ". The plate was not numbered. 
 
 The sheets of reprints show the plate to have been damaged at some 
 time. In the second horizontal row there is a large crack extending across 
 eight stamps, four on each side of the line which divides the two panes. This 
 crack was probably made in heating the plate for printing. Had it occurred 
 in the course of manufacture it is safe to conclude that the plate would have 
 been abandoned and another made to replace it. 
 
 It is understood that this stamp was used only in the cities of Boston, 
 New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia. 
 
 A strip of three cancelled copies has been seen. This is supposed to 
 have been used instead of a three cent stamp to pay the regular postage. 
 
 We occasionally see copies of the Franklin and " Eagle " carriers' 
 stamps which are printed in brown-orange on a hard white paper, known as 
 "bond" paper. In the case of the latter design these have always been con- 
 sidered to be proofs. But for the former a much more pretentious position 
 has been claimed. I am certainly at a loss to understand why one should be 
 held in any more esteem than the other, or than proofs of the two stamps 
 in this same color on India paper. Nor do I see any reason for regarding 
 it with more favor than proofs of other stamps of the same date on bond 
 paper, for instance the five cents of the 1851 issue, in various trial colors. 
 
 The favor in which the brown-orange Franklin stamp has been held 
 can probably be ascribed to the following circumstance. In 1869, Dr. H. C. 
 Yarrow, a well-known philatelist of that period, addressed some inquiries to 
 the Post Office Department at Washington. In reply he received the follow- 
 ing letter from W. M. Ireland, chief-clerk to the Third Assistant Postmaster 
 General, (See American Journal of Philately, August 20th, 1869, page 93) : 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 Washington, August 10, 1869. 
 My Dear Sir: — Yours referring to " carriers' stamp " has come to hand. The fol- 
 lowing is as near a description of it as can be made : Head of Franklin, looking to left ; 
 
 Impressions in 
 bron'n-orange. 
 
246 
 
 THE FRANKLIN CARRIERS STAMP. 
 
 Ufltcial letter in frame oval geometrical lathe work ; ornamental multirayed stars at corners. The word 
 
 reference to the " Carriers" in straight line at top of stamp ; the word " Stamp " in straight line at lower 
 
 bronn-orsuge margin. A five-pointed star at each end of the words, in brackets. Color " Orange "Brown." 
 
 stamp. Typographed in color on white paper. Shape upright rectangular. Proofs were issued 
 
 printed in blue on pink paper ; also in green and yellow. It was issued about Sept. 29, 
 
 1851, but was suppressed almost immediately, owing to its great similarity to the then three 
 
 cent stamp. .Only about 300,000 were ever issued There is but one specimen, a cancelled 
 
 one, now in possession of the Department. I regret there are none, else you should be 
 
 supplied. The plate was, according to our best information, destroyed after the stamps 
 
 were suppressed. 
 
 Truly yours, 
 
 W. M. Ireland. 
 
 Upon this mass of misstatements has been based the claim that the 
 original color of this stamp was brown-orange and that the copies in blue on 
 rose-colored paper represent a second printing. 
 
 Who has ever seen a proof of this stamp in blue on pink paper ? 
 
 The statement as to the number that were issued is doubtless derived 
 from the record of 300,000 copies delivered by the contractors. The impro- 
 bability of so many stamps having been issued has already been mentioned. 
 
 There may have been a cancelled copy of the brown-orange stamp in 
 the possession of the Post Office Department at the time this letter was 
 written but to-day the official collection contains nothing better than a reprint 
 in blue on rose paper. 
 
 As the plate was in existence until August, 1897, the value of the 
 writer's " best information " on that point is small. 
 
 The statement that the stamp was withdrawn on account of its resem- 
 blance to the three cent stamp then in current use has been, for many years, 
 accepted and repeated without question. There is certainly very little resem- 
 blance between the two stamps. Had Mr. Ireland said the one cent stamp, 
 the resemblance in color and design would have been more apparent. 
 
 All of which is merely additional proof of the too frequent carelessness 
 and inaccuracy of official statements. 
 
 From the comments of the editor of the American /ourtial of Philately 
 on the foregoing letter it is evident that he considered the impressions in 
 brown-orange to be proofs in a trial color. He says : 
 
 " We have only been able to see four of these stamps, two of which were blue on pink 
 
 paper, and both were cancelled, we think by a number of square dots similar to the stamps of 
 
 Kditorlal comment the French Republic. We took both of these from letters ourselves. Another was printed 
 
 on the Franklin in Orange on India paper, and was obtained by the owner direct from the P. O. Department 
 
 stamp. at Washington, The remaining one now lies before us, and is printed in brown of the shade 
 
 described in the letter, on similar paper to the 1851 issue U. S. stamps ; it is uncancelled. 
 
 The plate from which this one is printed appears to be cracked, the imperfection extending 
 
 accross the stamp on a line with the chin of Franklin." 
 
 The copy on India paper was, of course, a proof. In a previous para- 
 graph I have called attention to the crack in the plate and expressed the 
 opinion that it marked a late, rather than an early, state of the plate. If my 
 conclusion is correct it would prove that the impressions in brown-orange were 
 not the first taken from the plate. 
 
 In the Stamp Collector's Magazine for May, 1870, the well-known 
 English collector, Mr. E. L. Pemberton, writes : 
 
 " Recently some half dozen of the rare carrier's stamp, head of Franklin, unused, have 
 appeared ; they are in dark, rather brown yellow, are ungummed, on tough thinnish paper; 
 whether these are stamps as issued I do not know, but I have received them some time back 
 
THE FRANKLIN CARRIERS* STAMP. 247 
 
 as proofs. * ♦ • Did the issue consist of orange-brown (or more properly brown-yellow) Opinion of DIr. 
 
 on plain paper, and of blue on pink paper, or of the latter only, all others being proofs or e. t. pemberton. 
 
 specimen.s? 1 think the latter, because the unused brown- yellow has been known tor years, 
 
 as existing in the Ph. collection, and by hearsay as described by Levrault (p. 1 1 1), heading 
 
 Baltimore, hr-un rouge sur blanc. As American proof-stamps, or, more correctly speaking, 
 
 the great majority, have been obtainable at various times, and as the blue on pink, which 
 
 undoubtedly exists as a bona-fide emission, has remained unknown until lately, it is more 
 
 than probable that the only one issued for postage was the blue on pink, others being proofs 
 
 or specimens." 
 
 In addition to all the foregoing we might ask why, if brown-orange was 
 the original color, were not the reprints made in that color ? 
 
 The only evidence in f^or of the brown-orange specimens to which 
 any apparent value attaches is found in the Illustriertes Briefmarken Jour- 
 nal for February 2nd, 1895, (page 44) in which a cancelled copy in this color a cancelled copy of 
 is described. On communicating with the author of the article, Mr. Theo- "'* "sump"*"^' 
 dore Haas, he very kindly forwarded the stamp for examination. By a care- 
 ful scrutiny of the postmark it is possible to discern the letters " ew-ork ", 
 following a circular line, and below them " fee 12". The cancellation is 
 in red and is evidently part of the familiar postmark which was in use in the 
 city of New York in 1851 and proximate years. 
 
 Beyond doubt, the cancellation is genuine. More than this I am 
 not willing to admit. One swallow does not make a summer and one can- 
 celled copy does not prove a postal issue. I have seen too many cancelled 
 proofs, envelope stamps used as adhesives, fiscals used postally, unauthorized 
 bi-sected stamps, and similar novelties which have passed through the mails 
 by accident or favor, to place much faith in a single example of anything out 
 of the usual. 
 
 It may also be remarked that the date of the cancellation, February 
 i2th — it must be 1852 or later — is not sufficiently near to the date of issue to 
 serve as an argument in favor of priority of the brown-orange color. 
 
 I am not unwilling to be convinced that the brown-orange stamp is 
 a postage stamp, but the arguments to that effect must be stronger than those 
 which have, thus far, been advanced. Until they are forthcoming, my con- 
 clusion must be that the stamp in this color is merely a proof. 
 
 The reprints of the Franklin carriers' stamp have been described else- 
 where. It does not appear to have tempted the counterfeiters. 
 
The Eagle Carriers' Stamp, 
 
 As has been previously stated, the Franklin carriers' stamp was re- 
 placed by one of a new design, after it had been in issue only a few weeks. 
 This change was probably due to the resemblance between the carriers' stamp, 
 and the one cent of the then current series. In the American Journal of 
 Philately for August 20th, 1869, we find the following letter concerning the 
 
 new stamp: 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 Finance Office. 
 
 July 30th, 1869. 
 Sir : — Your communication of the 20th instant is received. The blue stamp, " Eagle," 
 was used for prepaying city lettters delivered by carriers. It was issued about Nov. 17, 1851, 
 and was withdrawn January 27th, 1852. It was very little used except in Philadelphia, Pa., 
 and Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 W. H. H. Terrell* 
 H. C. Yarrow, Third Asst. P. M. General. 
 
 New York. 
 
 It is possible that by the date mentioned in this letter (January 27th, 
 1852), it had been discovered that the one cent stamp of the regular issue 
 could be used for the carriers' fee as well as a special stamp, and that the 
 latter was superfluous. But from the evidence of postmarks we know that 
 the " Eagle " stamps continued in use for many years. Perhaps, however, 
 none were issued to postmasters after the date given. 
 
 Mr. Tiffany, in his History of the Postage Stamps of the United States, 
 
 says: 
 
 " As a matter of fact, however, the published reports of the Postmaster General, 
 show that there were issued : 
 
 4,777,552 from Nov., 1851 up to June, 1852 
 4,370,383 " June, 1852 " " " 1853 
 7,103,416 " " 1853 " " " 1854" 
 
 I must confess that I cannot find these figures in my file of reports of 
 
 the Postmaster General. I do find, however, in the report dated December 
 
 I St, 1853, a note of the number of one cent stamps issued in two of these 
 
 years as follows: 
 
 " Fiscal year ending June 30th, 1852, 5,489,242 
 " 1852,4,736,311" 
 
 There is nothing to assist us to explain the disagreement in these fig- 
 ures. We might reasonably expect the use of one cent stamps of the regular 
 
 *By a typographical error the American Journal r/ Philately gives the name of the Third Assist- 
 ant Postmaster General as " W. H. H. Correll." 
 
THE EAGLE CARRIERS' STAMP. 249 
 
 issue to greatly exceed that of the carriers' stamps; in which case it is not 
 impossible that Mr. Tiffany's figures are those for the current one cent 
 stamps and that the second table covers both those stamps and the carriers '. 
 
 The stamp is thus officially described: 
 
 " One Cent Carrier Stamp. — Picture of an eagle on the branch of a 
 tree, poised for flight, looking to the left, on an oval disk, partly filled with 
 clouds and sunrays. Around this disk is a solid band, separated on the Design and color. 
 right and left sides by a lined panel, and bearing above the words "u. s. p. o. 
 despatch ", and below the words " pre-paid one cent ", all in white capi- 
 tals. Above and below the band, and forming corners to the stamp, are 
 laurel and oak leaves, oak to the left and laurel to the right. Color, indigo 
 blue. This stamp, unlike all other stamps in the series, is of less height than 
 width." 
 
 The stamps were printed on hard white wove paper. The gum varied 
 from yellowish to brown. The sheets were divided by vertical and hori- 
 zontal lines into rectangles about 2 3^x1 9mm. 
 
 The stamps were issued imperforate. In the Hunter collection there 
 was a copy, on the original cover, which had a sort of rough pin perforation, 
 probably made with a sewing machine. This perforation is interesting 
 though, of course, unofficial. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 April 13, i852^0ct. 21, 1859. i cent greenish blue, blue, dull blue, dark 
 
 dull blue, indigo 
 
 Variety: 
 
 Nov. 9, 1 85 1. I cent dark dull blue. Pin perforated 
 
 The plate contained two panes of one hundred stamps (ten rows of 
 ten stamps each), placed one above the other and separated by a space of x i 
 mm. Through the middle of this space was drawn a thin horizontal line. Plate and imprint. 
 The imprint was the same as that on the Franklin carriers' stamp and was 
 placed at the bottom of each pane, about 3mm from the stamps. Most of 
 the impressions do not show any plate number but a few are known which 
 have " No. 1 " below the letters " en " of "engravers ", in the imprint of 
 the upper pane. Until very recently it was believed that this number ap- 
 peared only on the reprints but we now know that it exists on some of the 
 original stamps. 
 
 The reprints are described in the chapter devoted to that subject. 
 
 There is only one counterfeit that is at all dangerous. It is lithograph- 
 ed, while the originals are finely engraved. It differs from the genuine in Connterfeits. 
 many minor details, especially the foliage around the oval. There is also a 
 period instead of a hyphen, between " pre " and " paid ". This counterfeit 
 is found both imperforate and perforated. 
 
Special Delivery Stamps. 
 
 While the special delivery stamps are, in a sense, carriers' stamps, it 
 seems best to consider them under a separate heading, for the reason that the 
 ordinary rates of postage now include delivery by carrier, in all places where 
 such a service is in operation, and for the additional reason that the special 
 delivery stamps are intended to prepay an extra and specific service, for 
 which a relatively high fee is charged. 
 
 An Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1885, provided in part as 
 follows: 
 
 " Sec. 3. That a special stamp of the face valuation often cents may be provided and 
 issued, whenever deemed advisable or expedient, in such form and bearing such device as 
 Act anthorizing the may meet the approval of the Postmaster General, which, when attached to a letter, in 
 special dellrery addition to the lawful postage thereon, the delivery of which is to be at any free-delivery 
 stamps. office, or at any city, town, or village containing a population of four thousand and over, 
 
 according to the Federal census, shall be regarded as entitling such letter to immediate 
 delivery within the carrier limit of any free-delivery office which may be designated by the 
 Postmaster General as a special-delivery office, or within one mile of the post-office at any 
 other office coming within the provisions of this section which may in like manner be de- 
 signated as a special-delivery office. 
 
 "Sec. 4. That such specially stamped letters shall be delivered from seven o'clock 
 ante meridian up to twelve o'clock midnight at offices designated by the Postmaster General 
 under section three of this Act. 
 
 Under the authority of this Act a stamp of a special design was 
 prepared and supplied to 555 post offices. It was issued to the public on 
 October ist, 1885. The design is thus officially described : 
 
 "Ten Cent Special Delivery. A line engraving on steel, oblong 
 inform; dimensions, 13-16 by i 7-16 inches; color, dark blue. Design: On 
 Design. the left an arched panel, bearing the figure of a mail messenger boy on a run, 
 
 and surmounted by the words 'united states'; on the right an oblong 
 tablet, ornamented with a wreath of oak and laurel surrounding the words 
 'secures immediate delivery at a special delivery office'. Across 
 the top of the tablet is the legend 'special postal delivery ', and at the 
 bottom the words ' ten cents ', separated by a small shield bearing the 
 numeral ' 10 '." 
 
 A circular of the Post Office Department, dated August nth, 1885, 
 
 included the following instructions to postmasters concerning the special 
 
 delivery stamps : 
 
 "They are to be sold by postmasters in any required amount, and to any person who 
 may apply for them, but they can be used only for the purpose of securing the immediate 
 delivery of letters addressed to and received in the mails at any of the offices designated as 
 
SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS. 
 
 251 
 
 special-delivery offices. Under no circumstances are tliey to be used in tlie payment of pos- instrnctions to 
 tages of any description or of the registry fee, nor can any ottier stamps be employed to postmasters, 
 secure special delivery except the special-delivery stamp. The special-delivery stamp must 
 be in addition to the lawful postage, and letters not prepaid with at least one full rate of 
 postage, in accordance with the law and regulations, must be treated as held (or postage, 
 even though bearing a special-delivery stamp. 
 
 Registered letters will be entitled to immediate delivery, the same as ordinary letters, 
 when bearing a special-delivery stamp in addition to the full postage and registry fee 
 required by the law and the regulations." 
 
 If, for any reason, the addressee of a special delivery letter cannot be 
 found, the messenger returns the letter to the post office, endorses on the back Procednre ta case 
 the reason for non-delivery, and attaches a label bearing the following : 
 
 N OTICE. 
 
 of non-deliTery. 
 
 A Special Delivery Stamp affixed to any 
 article of mail matter is intended only to 
 secure an immediate deliiiery — or one offer 
 of immediate delivery. If the article cannot 
 for any cause be delivered when FIRST 
 offered, it then becomes ordinary mail mat- 
 ter and is thereafter treated and delivered 
 accordingly. 
 
 The special delivery service was popular and successful from the first. 
 But a demand soon arose for its extension to all post offices. If it was desired 
 to send a letter to a place other than one of the large cities, the sender found 
 it necessary to consult a list of the special delivery offices. Such a list was 
 not always at hand. Hence arose uncertainty and inconvenience, which 
 tended to curtail the use of the stamp. It was felt that the service would 
 only become thoroughly efficient when the privilege was extended to all post 
 offices. 
 
 There was also found to be some uncertainty as to the meaning of the 
 word "letter," as used in the Act, and also as to whether it was the intention 
 of Congress that " immediate delivery " should include delivery on Sunday. 
 The first question was temporarily settled by holding the word to mean only 
 first-class matter chargeable at letter rates of postage. The second was left 
 to the further action of Congress. 
 
 Finally, the requirement of delivery until midnight was found to be a 
 hardship, since it compelled the post offices in many small towns to remain 
 open long after all mails had arrived and all collections for the day had been 
 made. 
 
 The action that was taken on these various points is set forth in the 
 following extract from an official circular : 
 
 SPECIAL DELIVERY SYSTEJVl. 
 
 Circular of information and instruction. 
 
 Post Office Department, 
 
 Office of the Postmaster General, 
 
 Washington, D. C, August 10, 1886. 
 to aU postmasters except at free delivery offices ; 
 
 By the act of August 4, 1886, the Congress has authorized the extension of this system Official circular and 
 to all post offices and to all mailable matter. That act is as follows, viz : regnlations. 
 
 "That every article of mailable matter upon which the special stamp provided for by 
 
252 SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS. 
 
 section-three of the act of Congress approved March third, eighteen hundred and eighty-five 
 entitled ' An act making appropriations for the service of the Post-Office Department for the 
 fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, and for other purposes, 
 shall be duly affixed, shall he entitled to immediate delivery, according to said act, within the 
 carrier-delivery limit of any free-delivery office, and within one mile of any other post office 
 which the Postmaster-General shall at any time designate as a special-delivery post office. 
 The postmaster shall he responsible for such immediate delivery of every such article, and 
 shall cause delivery to be made of all such articles received at his office bearing such stamp 
 and entitled to delivery thereat, and may employ any persons, including clerks and assistants 
 at third and fourth class offices, as messengers, on such terms as he shall fix as compensation 
 for such delivery ; and to defray the expense thereof, such postmaster shall he entitled, upon 
 the adjustment of his quarterly account, to eighty per centum of the face value of all such 
 special-delivery stamps received at his office and recorded, according to said act and the regula- 
 tions of the Post-Office Department, during the quarter ; and such allowance shall he in full 
 of all the expenses of such delivery : Trovided, That the Postmaster General may; in his dis- 
 cretion, direct any free-delivery office to be excepted from the foregoing provision, and re- 
 quire the delivery to be made entirely by special messengers, according to the provisions of 
 the act to which this is amendatory : ^ylnd provided further. That he may contract for the 
 immediate delivery of all articles from any post office, at any price less than eight cents per 
 piece, when he shall deem it expedient. * * * 
 The following orders and regulations are prescribed under the foregoing acts : 
 
 I Every post office in the United States and Territories and the District of Columbia 
 now established, and which shall be established while the foregoing acts remain, is hereby 
 designated as a special-delivery office, and will be governed by-said acts and the orders and 
 regulations thereunder. 
 
 2. These regulations shall take effect and be in force on and after October 1, 1886. 
 
 5 On and after said last-named date every postmaster will be held responsible for the 
 immediate delivery, according to said acts and these regulations, of every article of mailable 
 matter which may be received addressed to his office, properly stamped with a special- 
 delivery stamp. 
 
 4. Such immediate delivery must be made when the article is directed to an addressee 
 residing or having a place of business within one mile of the post office. The obligation to so 
 deliver does not extend to an addressee beyond that distance, but the postmaster will be at 
 liberty to make such delivery beyond such limits, and to receive the compensation therefor as 
 in any other case. It is commended to him as a proper and considerate thing to be done, in 
 accomodation of the sender, whenever it is reasonably convenient. 
 
 5. The hours within which immediate delivery shall be made shall be at least from 
 7 a. m. to 7 p. m., and further until the arrival of the last mail, provided that such arrival 
 be not later than 9 p. m. This requirement as to the hours of delivery does not necessarily 
 extend to the transaction of any other postal business after the usual office hours. Special 
 orders for later delivery may be made for first-class offices. 
 
 Postmasters are not required to make delivery of special-delivery matter on Sunday, 
 nor to keep their offices open in any different manner on that day from what is now provided 
 by regulation. Postmasters will be at liberty, however, to deliver special-delivery letters and 
 parcels arriving on Sundays. * * 
 
 No change will be made in the general style of the special delivery stamp now in use. 
 
 The words " Secures immediate delivery at a special-delivery office " will, however, be 
 changed to read, '■ Secures immediate delivery at any post-office " But, as stamps with the 
 former words are now in the hands of postmasters and the public, their use will be continued 
 until the present supply shall be exhausted. 
 
 Similar instructions to postmasters at free-delivery offices fixed the 
 hours for the delivery of letters bearing the special delivery stamps at from 
 7 A. M. to 1 1 p. M., unless otherwise ordered by the Postmaster General. 
 
 The stock of stamps of the first design was sufficient to last until Sep- 
 tember 6th, 1888, when those with the new wording were issued to post- 
 masters. In philatelic publications their appearance is first noted in the 
 Philatelic Record iox December, 1888. 
 
 In 1893 the Columbian stamps were issued. These stamps were of 
 about the same dimensions as the special delivery stamp, and one denomina- 
 ciiaiigc of color, tion, the one cent, was of the same color. This caused some confusion and 
 gave rise to mistakes in the payment of postage and the treatment of letters 
 bearing the stamps. It was accordingly decided to change the color of the 
 special delivery stamp. 
 
SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS. 253 
 
 The report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1894, says : 
 
 " Its color was changed from blue to orange, January 24, 1893, and so continued to 
 January 5, 1894, when printing in blue was resumed. The ustie of the orange-colored 
 stamp was not discontinued until the igth of May, 1894, when the stock on hand at the 
 manufactory was exhausted. 
 
 In all there were 5,099,500 stamps of the orange color sent to postmasters." 
 
 The stamp of the new color was reported in use as early as January 
 28th, 1893. 
 
 In 1894 the contract for the manufacture of postage stamps passed 
 from the American Bank Note Company to the Bureau of Engraving and 
 Printing at Washington. The new contractors placed marks on all' the or- Changes in the 
 dinary postage stamps, in order that their work might be distinguished from design, 
 
 that of their predecessors. The changes made in the special delivery stamp 
 were the addition of small ornamental dashes under the words " ten " and 
 " CENTS ", the drawing of lines of shading across the face of the numeral 
 " 10 ", and a deepening of the lines defining the edge of the bevel of the 
 background panel. 
 
 The stamps of this type were issued on ordinary paper on October loth, 
 1894. On August 1 6th, 1895, they appeared on paper watermarked with the 
 letters " u s p s " 
 
 On the sheets of special delivery stamps printed by the Bureau of 
 Engraving and Printing we find groups of letters in the margin at the upper piatemen's initials, 
 left corner. An explanation of these letters is given in the following extract 
 from the American Philatelist for 1 886, (page i o) : 
 
 "A rule of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing requires that, each time a plate of 
 stamps is printed from, the plateman must cut his initials on the margin of the plate, so that, 
 should any irregularity occur, the responsibility may be more easily traced." 
 
 This note refers to revenue stamps. Why the rule has been applied 
 to special delivery stamps and not to other varieties of postage stamps I am 
 unable to explain. 
 
 The stamps measure 36^x21 mm. 
 
 The papers used for the various issues were : first, the thick, soft, 
 porous paper employed by the American Bank Note Company ; next, a Paper, 
 
 similar paper used by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing ; and lastly, the 
 watermarked paper mentioned Just above. 
 
 The gum used by the first contractors varied from pure white to brown. Gnm. 
 
 That employed by the present manufacturers is either white or yellowish. 
 
 The following shades and varieties are to be found : 
 
 Printed by the American Bank Note Co. 
 
 Perforated 12. Reference List. 
 
 Thick Soft Porous Wove Paper. 
 Oct. ist 1885. 10 cents (" Special Delivery Office") light blue, blue, deep 
 
 blue 
 Sept. 6th, 1888. 10 cents (" Any Post Office ") light blue, blue, deep blue 
 Jan. 24th, 1893. 10 cents ("Any Post Office") yellow-orange, orange, deep 
 
 orange 
 
254 SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS. 
 
 Printed by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. 
 
 Perforated 1 2. 
 
 Thick Soft Porous Wove Paper. 
 
 Oct. loth, 1894. 10 cents ("Any Post Office") blue, dark blue, marine blue 
 
 Watermarked "U. S. P. S." 
 
 Aug. i6th, 1895. 10 cents ("Any Post Office") blue, dark blue, marine blue 
 
 Variety : 
 
 I o cents dark blue. Imperforate 
 
 The plates each contain one hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows of 
 ten. Usually the sheets are divided vertically into half sheets of fifty stamps 
 Plates. This seems to have been the rule with all of the blue stamps but those printed 
 
 in orange were often, if not always, issued in full sheets of one hundred 
 The imprint is placed at the middle of the top and bottom of each half sheet 
 The plate number appears between each imprint and the central dividing 
 line. The imprint of the American Bank Note Co. is as usual, merely the 
 name of the company in small, heavy-faced, shaded capitals. The imprint 
 of the other contractors is " bureau, engraving & printing ", in white 
 Roman capitals, on a colored panel having truncated corners and surrounded 
 by a thin colored line. At each end of the panel is a large three branched 
 ornament. 
 
 The following numbers are found on the plates of the special delivery 
 stamps : 
 
 American Bank Note Co. 
 
 Plates of 1885-88. 
 
 to cents blue ("Special Delivery Office") (100) No. 495, 496. 
 lo'cents blue (" Any Post Office ") (100) No. 552. 
 10 cents orange ("Any Post Office ") (100) No. 552. 
 
 Plates of 1890-93. 
 
 10 cents blue ("Any Post Office ") (100) No 73. 
 10 cents orange (" Any Post Office ") (100) No. 73. 
 
 Bureau, Engraving & Printing. 
 
 Plate nnmberi. Plates of 1894-95. 
 
 Unwatermarked 
 10 cents blue ("Any Post Office") (100) No. 77. 
 
 Watermarked " U. S. P. S." 
 10 cents blue (" Any Post Office ") (loo) No. 77, 257, 381, 492, 
 
 880, 881, 882, 883 
 A plate, numbered 682, was made but, being defective, it has never 
 been put to press. The imperforate stamps are from plate No. 257. 
 
 The annual reports of the Postmaster General supply the following 
 statistics of the quantities of stamps delivered to deputy postmasters : 
 
SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS. 
 
 255 
 
 
 
 Quarter 
 
 Ending : 
 
 
 SellTeries to 
 postmasters. 
 
 Fiscal year 
 
 Sept. 50. 
 
 Dec. 31. 
 
 Mch. 31. 
 
 June 30. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1885-86 
 
 2,074,320 
 
 1,265,750 
 
 241,990 
 
 117,500 
 
 3,699,560 
 
 1886-87 
 
 215,880 
 
 492,050 
 
 254,980 
 
 283,030 
 
 1,245,940 
 
 1887-88 
 
 329.970 
 
 393,810 
 
 311,670 
 
 296,340 
 
 1,331,790 
 
 1888-89 
 
 347,360 
 
 *5 2 1,940 
 
 302,440 
 
 t403,9io 
 
 1,575,650 
 
 1889-go 
 
 719,130 
 
 3S9,6io 
 
 526,810 
 
 515,340 
 
 2,120,890 
 
 1890-91 
 
 596,510 
 
 680,750 
 
 641,550 
 
 650,540 
 
 2,569,350 
 
 1891-92 
 
 660,100 
 
 764,530 
 
 783,790 
 
 908,800 
 
 3,117,220 
 
 1892-93 
 
 720,670 
 
 886,090 
 
 1,032,090 
 
 889,220 
 
 3,528,070 
 
 1893-94 
 
 1,020,610 
 
 862,990 
 
 806,560 
 
 983,860 
 
 3,674,020 
 
 1894-95 
 
 905,300 
 
 1,053,380 
 
 954,820 
 
 995,280 
 
 3,908,780 
 
 1895-96 
 
 1,059,630 
 
 1,187,490 
 
 1,104,420 
 
 1,114,730 
 
 4,466,270 
 
 1896-97 
 
 1,025,720 
 
 1,095,630 
 
 1,046,610 
 
 1,178,370 
 
 4,346,330 
 
 1897-98 
 
 1,277,880 
 
 1,349,660 
 
 1,354,910 
 
 1,182,280 
 
 5,164,730 
 
 1898-99 
 
 1,425,710 
 
 1,570,100 
 
 1,447,810 
 
 1,491,350 
 
 5,934,970 
 
 1899-1900 
 
 1,828,070 
 
 1,646,880 
 
 1,846,440 
 
 1,619,260 
 
 6,940,650 
 
 Whole number of stamps 53,624,220. Value $5,362,422.00. 
 *6oo of these are "specimens." 
 fi 11,900 of these are "specimens." 
 
 It is understood that the 600 stamps were surcharged with the word 
 " SPECIMEN " in red and sent to the Universal Postal Union. The second 
 and larger lot of " specimens " were probably proofs. 
 
 The deliveries in the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895, are made up 
 of 1,004,980 stamps printed by the American Bank Note Co. and 2,903,800 
 stamps printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. In the latter 
 number are included 750 copies which were sent to the Universal Postal 
 Union. 
 
 In 189S the tri-ennial congress' of the Universal Postal Union con- 
 vened in Washington and, at that time, 125 sets of all the stamps in current 
 use, including the special delivery stamp, were surcharged " universal — 
 POSTAL — congress " and presented to the attending delegates. In the same 
 year 150 copies of the special delivery stamp were supplied "for the Post- 
 oiBce album." 
 
 The deliveries for 1900 include 50 copies which were furnished to the 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General for exchanging and similar purposes. 
 These and the 150 copies mentioned in the preceding paragraph were hand- 
 stamped " Specimen " in black or magenta. 
 
 During the last three years 126,850 special delivery stamps have been 
 overprinted for use in Guam and the Philippine Islands but, as they were 
 taken from the reserve stock of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and 
 not from the supplies of the Post Office Department, the statistics are not 
 affected. 
 
 The Postal Guide for 1898 says that 3,596,500 of the stamps supplied 
 by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were on unwatermarked paper. 
 
 ''Specimen" 
 stamps and proofs. 
 
 Stamps snrcharged 
 
 " Universal Postal 
 
 Congress ". 
 
 Stamps surcharged 
 for Ouam and the 
 Philippine Islands. 
 
Official Stamps, 
 
 Issue of 1873. 
 
 The use of stamps by the different departments of the Government 
 was decreed by Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1 873. The stamps 
 Historical. were prepared by order of the Postmaster General, and their issue, on requisi- 
 tions of the various departments, was commenced on May 24th, 1873. The 
 stamps went into use on July ist of that year. Their purpose was to abolish 
 the much-abused franking privilege, to show exactly the amount of work 
 performed for the other branches of the Government by the Post Office de- 
 partment and reduce the large annual deficit of that department. 
 
 The following extract, on the subject of the franking privilege, is taken 
 from the American Journal of Philately for 1873 (page 109): 
 
 " The second Congress of the United States met in Philadelphia on the 24th of October, 
 1791. George Washington was President, John Adams was Vice-President and Jonathan 
 Franliing. Trumbull was Speaker of the House of Representatives. The first act passed by this body 
 
 related to ' certain fisheries of the United States,' and the second was an act to establish the 
 post office and post roads within the United States This act contained thirty sections and 
 was approved February 20th, 1 792. Among other things it provided : 
 
 'That the following letters and packets, and no other, shall be received and conveyed 
 by post free of postage, under such restrictions as are hereinafter provided ; that is to say : 
 All letters and packets to or from the President or Vice-President of the United States, and all 
 letters and packets, not exceeding two ounces in weight, to or from any member of the 
 Senate or House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate, or Clerk of the House of 
 Representatives, during their actual attendance in any session of Congress, and twenty days 
 after such session. All letters to and from the Secretary of the Treasury and his assistant. 
 Comptroller, Register, and Auditor of the Treasury, the Treasurer, the Secretary of State, 
 the Secretary of War, the commissioners for settling the accounts between the United 
 States and individual states, the Postmaster General and his assistant ; Provided, That no 
 person shall frank or enclose any letter or packet, other than his own ; but any public letter 
 from the department of the Treasury may be franked by the Secretary of the Treasury, or 
 the Assistant Secretary, or by the Comptroller, Register, Auditor, or Treasurer ; and that 
 each person before named shall deliver to the post office every letter or packet enclosed to 
 him, which may be directed to any other person, noting the place from whence it came by 
 post, and the usual postage shall be charged thereon.' 
 
 This law was altered every few years, and each time large numbers of public officials 
 were added to the free list, till at last the loads of unpaid mail matter so embarrassed the 
 post office revenue that strenuous exertions were made to do away with the whole system, 
 which were happily crowned with success last winter." 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General for 1869 stated that no less than 
 3'i933 persons were authorized to employ the franking privilege and estimated 
 the annual expense to the Post Office Department for transporting free mail 
 matter to be $5,000,000 
 
 There appeared to be but one remedy for this abuse, to abolish the 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 
 
 257 
 
 franking privilege and to provide, by means of appropriations, for the pay- 
 ment of postage on all matter sent through the mails by the various depart- 
 ments. 
 
 An Act of Congress, intended to effect this reform, was approved 
 January 27th, 1873, and provided : 
 
 " That the franking privilege be hereby abolished from and after the first day of July, 
 Ano Domini 1873, and that henceforth all official correspondence of whatever nature, and 
 other mailable matter sent from or addressed to any officer of the Government or person now 
 authorized to frank such matter, shall be chargeable with the same rates of postage as may 
 be lawfully imposed upon like matter sent by or addressed to other persons Provided, that 
 no compensation or allowance shall be now or hereafter made to Senators or Members and 
 Delegates of the House. of Representatives on account of postages." 
 
 An Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1873, appropriated a sum of 
 
 money, which was estimated to be sufficient for the purchase of postage 
 
 stamps for the use of the various departments. Section 4 of this Act also 
 
 provided : 
 
 " That the Postmaster General shall cause to be prepared a special stamp or stamped 
 envelope, to be used only for official mail matter for each of the executive departments, and 
 said stamps and stamped envelopes shall be supplied by a proper officer of said departments 
 to all persons under its direction requiring the same for official use, and all appropriations 
 for postage heretofore made shall no longer be available for said purpose, and all said stamps 
 and stamped envelopes shall be sold or furnished to said several departments or clerks only 
 at the price for which stamps and stamped envelopes of like value are sold at the several 
 post offices." 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General, dated November 14th, 1873, 
 
 expresses satisfaction with the results of the new law, as far as they were then 
 
 apparent, i.e., for the first quarter of the fiscal year beginning July ist, 1873 
 
 The report supplies a memorandum of the quantities of stamps issued in that 
 
 quarter, saying : 
 
 " Section 4 of the Act of March 3, 1873, making it the duty of the Postmaster General 
 to provide official stamps and stamped envelopes for the several Executive Departments, has 
 been strictly complied with. The stamps and envelopes furnished have been executed in 
 the highest style of art, and will compare favorably with those of any other country. From 
 July ist to September 30th of the current year, the following varieties, numbers, and values 
 were issued : 
 
 Number of 
 
 Number of 
 
 
 To whom issued. Denominations. 
 
 stamps. 
 
 Value. 
 
 The Executive 
 
 5 
 
 5.150 
 
 $200.00 
 
 The State Department 
 
 ■4 
 
 60,495 
 
 20,749.70 
 
 The Treasury Department 
 
 1 1 
 
 7,842,500 
 
 407.000.00 
 
 The War Department 
 
 1 1 
 
 446 500 
 
 17,689 CO 
 
 The Navy Department 
 
 1 1 
 
 247,230 
 
 12,239 00 
 
 The Post Office Department 
 
 10 
 
 10,054,660 
 
 354,535.00 
 
 The Interior Departnjent 
 
 10 
 
 ■.058,475 
 
 59,171.00 
 
 The Department of Justice 
 
 10 
 
 65,400 
 
 3,900 00 
 
 The Department of Agriculture 
 
 9 
 
 275,000 
 
 20, 730 00 
 
 The franking 
 privilege abolished. 
 
 Oflicial stamps 
 
 and envelopes 
 
 authorized. 
 
 Deliveries during 
 
 the Urst quarter 
 
 year. 
 
 Making a total 91 20,055,410 896,213,70 
 
 It cannot be expected that the sales of official stamps will average throughout the year 
 the extraordinary sums above given for the first quarter. A general supply having been 
 obtained, .subsequent orders will be made only for the actual consumption " 
 
 From the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated 
 November 1st, 1878, we learn that a large portion of the stamps mentioned 
 in the foregoing table were issued in advance of the date on which the law stamps issued before 
 .became operative, though they were not debited to the various departments 
 until the first quarter of the fiscal year beginning July ist, 1873, since, pre- 
 vious to that date, the appropriations for the purchase of the stamps were not 
 
 July 1st, 1873. 
 
258 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS.— ISSUE OF 1 873. 
 
 available. The 
 
 following quantities were issued betwee 
 
 July 1st, 1873: 
 
 
 
 
 The Executive 
 
 4,650 
 
 
 State Department 
 
 60,495 
 
 
 Treasury Department 
 
 6,317.500 
 
 
 War Department 
 
 440,500 
 
 
 Navy Department 
 
 160,830 
 
 
 Post Office Department 
 
 S>5'°,6'o 
 
 
 Interior Department 
 
 970,47s 
 
 
 Department of Justice 
 
 65,400 
 
 
 Department of Agriculture 
 
 135,000 
 
 
 Total stamps 
 
 13,665,460 
 
 
 Total value 
 
 $494,974-70 
 
 May 24th and 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General for 1873 also gives the following 
 brief description of the designs and colors of the official stamps : 
 
 " The stamps for the Departments, other than the Post Office, do not differ materially 
 
 from those for sale to the public, except that each Department has its own distinctive color 
 
 Official deBcriptioD. and legend. The colors are : For the Executive, carmine ; State Department, green ; 
 
 Treasury, velvet brown ; War, cochineal-red ; Navy, blue ; Post Office, black ; Interior, 
 
 vermilion ; Department of Justice, purple ; and Department of Agriculture, straw color. 
 
 In the stamps for the Post Office Department the medallion head gives place to a 
 numeral representing the value, with the words 'post office department' above and the 
 denomination expressed in words below. All the official stamps correspond in denominations 
 with those issued for the public, except in the case of the State Department, for which four 
 of higher value were made for dispatch bags. These four are of the denominations of $2 
 $5, $10 and $20, respectively, are of larger size and printed in two colors, and bear a pro- 
 file bust of the late Secretary Seward," 
 
 A circular of the Post Office Department, dated May 15th, 1873, calls 
 
 the attention of postmasters to the repeal of the franking privilege and to the 
 
 Official circular, fact that special stamps and envelopes have been provided for the use of 
 
 the several departments. The designs and colors are described in language 
 
 similar to that just quoted from the report of the Postmaster General. The 
 
 circular concludes ; 
 
 " Postmasters at all offices will be furnished with the official stamps of this Department, 
 in suitable denominations and amounts, as far as they can be supplied. The Department 
 will exercise its own discretion in filling requisitions, and will send only in such denomina- 
 tions and amounts as the needs of an office may seem to require. The less important offices, 
 say those at which the money order system has not been established, will need only three 
 cent stamps, but comparatively few offices will require stamps above the denomination of 
 six cents. The higher denominations will be supplied to a few of the larger offices only. 
 Postmasters will combine stamps of the most convenient denominations at hand to meet 
 emergencies for which they may have no single stamp exactly filling the rate required." 
 
 As was said in a previous paragraph, the stamps for the various depart- 
 ments were, with the exception of those for the Post Office Department, not 
 Uesigiis. unlike the same values of the general issue which was then current. The 
 
 series of finely engraved profile busts, which distinguishes the issues of 1870- 
 73, was retained. The numerals and words of value in the lower part of the 
 stamps were arranged in much the same way as on the corresponding stamps 
 of the regular issue. The features which, aside from the color, distinguish 
 the set for each particular department are most prominent in the upper part 
 of the stamps, replacing the words " u. s. postage ". The additions to the 
 lower part are usually of less importance. The devices used may be briefly 
 described as follows ; 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 259 
 
 Department of Agriculture. A panel, curved above the central 
 oval, bears the word " agriculture ". In the upper left corner are " dept. 
 of" and in the upper right corner the letters " u. s." entwined. 
 
 The Executive. A panel, curved above the oval, bears the word 
 " executive " In the upper corners are respectively " u '' and " s ", in small 
 circles, surrounded by arabesques. The background is filled with vertical 
 stripes, alternately light and dark, representing the bars on the national shield. 
 
 Department of the Interior. A broad ribbon, arched above the 
 portrait, is inscribed " dept. of the interior ". In the upper corners are 
 six-pointed stars and, at right and left in the lower part of the stamps, small 
 shields bearing the letters "u" and " s ". On the i, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 30 cent 
 stamps these shields are placed above the ends of the ribbons bearing the 
 value, and on the other four denominations they are in the lower corners. 
 
 Department of Justice. The word "justice "is curved above the 
 central oval, with " dept." in the upper left and " of " in the upper right 
 corner. Six-pointed stars, bearing the letters "u " and " s ", occupy the same 
 positions as the small shields on the stamps of the Department of the Interior 
 
 Navy Department. The words "navy " and "dept." are inscribed 
 diagonally across the upper corners. There is a large star in each upper 
 corner and a smaller one at the middle of each side. The top and sides of 
 the stamps are bordered by a cable. The letters " u " and " s ", in small 
 hexagons, are placed as were the same letters on the stamps of the Departments 
 of the Interior and Justice. 
 
 Department of State. Above the medallion is arched, " dept. of 
 state " with foliated ornaments below each end. Large letters " u " and 
 "s ", somewhat distorted, occupy the same positions as on the stamps of the 
 three departments just described. To this set are added four new values, 2, 
 5, 10 and 20 dollars. These stamps are about twice the size of the lower 
 values and are alike in design. A large portrait of Wm. H. Seward, printed 
 in black, occupies the central oval, at each side of which are fasces. Above 
 the oval appears, in two lines of large shaded captials, " department of 
 STATE." Small arabesques fill the upper corners. The value, in large white 
 captials, occupies a straight tablet across the bottom, above each end of which 
 are the letters " u. s. of a." In the case of the 20 dollars the word " dollars " 
 is abbreviated to " dolls." 
 
 Treasury Department. The word "treasury", in a wavy line, 
 crosses the top of the stamps Below it, at left and right respectively, are 
 " u. s." and " dept." Drapery with fringes and cords ornaments the sides. 
 
 War Department. The letters "u" and "s" occupy the upper 
 corners and the words "war" and "dept." are curved beneath them. 
 Elongated national shields appear in the lower part of the stamps and 
 shadings to represent the folds of the flag at the sides. 
 
 Post Office Department. For this department a special design 
 was adopted. Large numerals, with " official " above and " stamp " below, 
 occupy a colorless central oval, above which is curved " post office dept." 
 
26o 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF J 873. 
 
 Varieties of the 
 higher values of the 
 Departmeut of State. 
 
 Paper, 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 The upper spandrels are blank except for a small round boss. The words 
 and numerals of value are arranged as on the sets for the other departments. 
 The letters "u" and " s ", in small circles, appear above the ends of the 
 ribbons bearing the value on the i, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 30 cents, at each side of the 
 value on the 24 cents, and in the lower corners on the 12, 15 and 90 cents. 
 
 The stamps are of two sizes, viz : 1 to go cents, 20x25 mm.; 2 to 20 
 dollars, 25^^x39^ mm. 
 
 Mr. E. D. Bacon has called my attention to an interesting feature of 
 the four higher denominations of the Department of State, which has, hitherto, 
 been overlooked by philatelists. On comparing several copies of any of these 
 stamps, it will be found that they differ slightly one from another. This 
 difference lies in the spacing between the tablet bearing the value and the 
 ornaments adjacent to its upper corners. The variations in position are 
 slight but distinct. The explanation of these variations is simple. There 
 was only one die for the borders of the four stamps and it did not include 
 the tablet at the bottom. In making a plate for any of these four denomina- 
 tions, the border was transferred first and then the label of value was added 
 to each transfer. Slight differences would naturally result from this pro- 
 cess. Some of the ornaments also show traces of retouching. By means of 
 these variations it would be possible to " plate " these stamps, should one be 
 inclined to attempt it. 
 
 At the time the official stamps came into use the contract for the 
 manufacture of postage stamps was held by the Continental Bank Note Co. 
 Subsequently, through consolidation and new contracts, the work passed into 
 the hands of the American Bank Note Co. We may, therefore, expect to 
 find the official stamps on the characteristic papers of the two companies, i.e. 
 thin hard, ribbed and double papers for the former and soft porous paper 
 for the latter. When we examine the stamps we find these anticipations are 
 confirmed. The gum is the same as that used for the regular issues at cor- 
 responding dates. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 Hard White Wove Paper. 
 
 Department of Agriculture. 
 
 May 24th, 1873. I cent golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yellow, 
 
 pale orange-yellow 
 
 2 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yellow 
 
 3 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
 
 low, pale orange-yellow 
 6 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
 low, pale orange-yellow 
 
 10 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
 low 
 
 I 2 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
 low, pale orange-yellow 
 
 15 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
 low, pale bright yellow 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1873. 26r 
 
 24 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
 low, pale orange-yellow 
 
 30 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
 low 
 
 Variety: 
 
 3 cents golden yellow. Imperforate. 
 
 The Executive. 
 
 May 24th, 1873. I cent carmine, deep carmine 
 
 2 cents carmine, deep carmine 
 
 3 cents carmine, deep carmine, violet-rose 
 
 6 cents pale carmine, carmine, deep carmine 
 10 cents pale carmine, carmine, deep carmine 
 
 DepartSient of the Interior. 
 
 May 24th, 1873. I cent rose-vermilion, scarlet vermilion 
 
 2 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 3 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 6 cents rose vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 10 cents rose vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 12 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 15 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 24 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 30 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 90 cents rose vermilion, scarlet vermilion 
 
 Department of Justice. 
 
 May 24th, 1873. 1 cent purple, red-purple 
 
 2 cents purple, light purple 
 - 3 cents purple, red-purple, bluish purple 
 6 cents purple, red purple, bluish purple, light purple 
 10 cents purple, bluish purple 
 12 cents purple 
 15 cents purple 
 24 cents purple 
 30 cents purple 
 90 cents purple 
 
 Navy Department. 
 
 May 24th, 1873. I cent dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, ultramarine, 
 
 dark ultramarine, bright ultramarine 
 
 2 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, ultramarine, 
 
 bright ultramarine 
 
 3 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, pale ultra- 
 
 marine, ultramarine, bright ultramarine 
 6 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, pale ultrama- 
 line, ultramarine, bright ultramarine 
 
262 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 
 
 7 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, ultramarine, 
 bright ultramarine 
 
 10 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, dark ultra- 
 marine, bright ultramarine 
 
 I 2 cents dull blue, dark blue, ultramarine, bright ultra- 
 marine 
 
 15 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, pale ultrama- 
 rine, ultramarine, bright ultramarine 
 
 24 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, ultramarine, 
 bright ultramarine 
 
 30 cents dull blue, dark blue, dark ultramarine, bright 
 ultramarine 
 
 90 cents dull blue, dark blue, ultramarine, dark ultra- 
 marine, bright ultramarine 
 
 Variety: 
 
 2 cents deep green, deep yellow-green. Error of 
 color 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 May 24th, 1873. I cent black, gray black 
 
 2 cents black, gray-black 
 
 3 cents black, gray-black 
 6 cents black, gray-black 
 
 10 cents black, gray -black 
 12 cents black, gray-black 
 15 cents black, gray-black 
 24 cents black, gray-black 
 30 cents black, gray-black 
 90 cents black, gray-black 
 
 Varieties: 
 
 1 cent gray-black. Paper with gray surface 
 
 2 cents gray-black " " " " 
 
 3 cents gray-black " 
 6 cents gray-black " 
 
 10 cents gray-black 
 
 12 cents gray-black " 
 
 15 cents gray-black " 
 
 24 cents gray-black " 
 
 30 cents gray-black " 
 
 90 cents gray-black " 
 
 6 cents gray-black. Diagonal half used as three 
 cents 
 
 Department of State. 
 
 May 24th, 1873. I cent dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, dark gray- 
 
 green 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1873. 263 
 
 2 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, dark gray- 
 
 green 
 
 3 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 
 
 green, deep grass green 
 
 6 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 
 
 green 
 
 7 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 
 
 green 
 10 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 
 green 
 12 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 
 green 
 15 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 
 green 
 24 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 
 30 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 
 90 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 
 2 dollars green and black, bluish green and black 
 
 5 dollars gjeen and black, bluish green and black 
 10 dollars green and black, bluish green and black 
 20 dollars green and black, bluish green and black 
 
 Treasury Department. 
 
 May 24th, 1873. I cent pale yellow -brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown 
 
 2 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown 
 
 3 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown, red-brown 
 
 6 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown, gray-brown 
 
 7 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown 
 10 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown 
 12 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown, red-brown 
 15 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow -brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown 
 24 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown 
 30 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown, red-brown 
 90 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 
 
 brown 
 
264 official stamps. — issue of 1873. 
 
 War Department. 
 
 May 24th, 1873. I cent pale rose red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 
 
 brown-rose, brown-rose, dull lake 
 
 2 cents pale rose red, dull rose-red, pale brown-rose, 
 
 brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
 
 3 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 
 
 brown-rose, brown-rose, lilac-rose 
 
 6 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 
 
 brown-rose, brown-rose 
 
 7 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 
 
 brown-rose, brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
 10 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 
 
 brown-rose, brown-rose 
 12 cents pale rose-red, dull rose-red, pale brown-rose, 
 
 brown-rose 
 15 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 
 
 brown-rose, brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
 24 cents pale rose-red, dull rose-red, pale brown-rose, 
 
 brown-rose 
 30 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 
 
 brown-rose, brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
 90 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 
 
 brown-rose, brown-rose 
 
 Horizontally or Vertically Ribbed Paper. 
 
 Department of Agriculture. 
 
 1873-76. I cent deep golden yellow 
 
 2 cents deep golden yellow 
 
 3 cents deep golden yellow 
 6 cents deep golden yellow 
 
 10 cents deep golden yellow, olive-yellow 
 
 12 cents deep golden yellow 
 
 15 cents deep golden yellow 
 
 24 cents deep golden yellow, olive-yellow 
 
 30 cents deep golden yellow, olive-yellow 
 
 The Executive. 
 
 1873-76. I cent carmine 
 
 2 cents carmine 
 
 3 cents carmine 
 6 cents carmine 
 
 10 cents carmine 
 
 Department of the Interior. 
 1873-76. r cent scarlet- vermilion 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 
 
 265 
 
 1873-76. 
 1873-76. 
 
 1873-76. 
 
 1873-76. 
 
 Department of Justice. 
 I cent purple 
 
 Navy Department. 
 
 1 cent dull blue, dark blue 
 
 2 cents dull blue 
 
 3 cents dull blue 
 
 6 cents dull blue 
 
 7 cents dull blue 
 10 cents dull blue 
 1 2 cents dull blue 
 15 cents dull blue, dart blue 
 24 cents ultramarine 
 30 cents dull blue 
 90 cents dull blue, ultramarine 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 1 cent gray-black 
 
 2 cents gray-black 
 
 3 cents gray-black 
 6 cents gray-black 
 
 10 cents gray-black 
 12 cents gray-black 
 15 cents gray-black 
 24 cents gray-black 
 30 cents gray-black 
 90 cents gray-black 
 
 Varieties: 
 
 3 cents gray-black. Paper with gray surface 
 
 6 cents gray-black " " 
 10 cents gray-black " " 
 12 cents gray-black 
 24 cents gray-black 
 30 cents gray-black 
 90 cents gray-black 
 
 Department of State. 
 
 1 cent dark yellow-green 
 
 2 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, dark gray- 
 
 green 
 
 3 cents dark yellow-green 
 
 6 cents dark yellow-green 
 
 7 cents dark yellow-green 
 10 cents dark yellow-green 
 12 cents dark yellow-green 
 15 cents dark yellow-green 
 
266 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 
 
 24 cents dark yellow-green 
 
 30 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 
 
 90 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 
 
 Treasury Department. 
 
 1873-76. 1 cent dark brown 
 
 2 cents dark brown, yellow-brown 
 
 3 cents dark brown 
 
 6 cents dark brown, brown 
 
 7 cents dark brown 
 10 cents dark brown 
 12 cents dark brown 
 15 cents dark brown 
 30 cents dark brown 
 90 cents dark brown 
 
 War Department. 
 
 1873-76. I cent pale rose-red, pale brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
 
 2 cents pale rose-red, dark rose-red 
 
 3 cents brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
 
 6 cents pale rose-red 
 
 7 cents pale brown-rose 
 
 10 cents bright rose-red, brown-rose 
 1 2 cents dark rose-red, brown-rose 
 15 cents pale rose-red, dark rose-red 
 24 cents pale rose-red 
 30 cents bright rose-red 
 90 cents dark rose-red 
 
 Double Paper. 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 1876. 3 cents gray-black 
 
 24 cents gray-black 
 go cents gray-black 
 
 Department of State. 
 
 1876. 3 cents blue-green 
 
 Treasury Department. 
 
 1876. 3 cents dark yellow-brown 
 
 10 cents dark yellow-brown 
 90 cents dark yellow-brown 
 
 The two cent stamp of the Navy Department printed in green, the 
 
 color of the stamps of the Department of State, has been the subject of much 
 
 NaTy Department, discussion among philatelists. Opinions have differed as to it being a genu- 
 
 two centB green, jjjg error or only a proof for color. The firm who first discovered it and 
 
 placed it on the market purchased their copies, together with a quantity of 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1873. 267 
 
 Other United States stamps, from a man who was evidently not a philatelist, 
 and was therefore free from any suspicion of wishing to bring forward new 
 varieties, and who stated that he found the stamps in an old trunk. The 
 purchasers of this lot have always believed the stamp to be a genuine error. 
 I copy the following from a letter of Mr. C. F. Rothfuchs: 
 
 " I would now like to say a few words about the two cents Navy in green. Some years 
 ago 1 received five copies, a strip of tliree and a pair. They had the original gum on the back 
 They were kept by gentleman (not a collector) who was a clerk in the State Department 
 when they were received at that department. This gentleman has a nephew, a bright boy 
 about [4 years of age, who is a stamp collector and who received the stamps from his'uncle 
 and traded them with me for a lot of foreign stamps which he wanted to fill up vacant spaces 
 in his album. 
 
 In view of this information, it is my opinion that, by mistake, the plate of the two cents 
 Navy was used instead of the two cents State. 1 have never heard of a two cents Navy in 
 green being found in the Navy Department." 
 
 Finally, under date of April 7th, 1899, Mr. R. A. Tarr writes me that 
 he has recently seen a copy of the Navy department error, cancelled and on 
 the original cover. 
 
 The bi-sected six cents of the Post Office Department, which is men- 
 tioned in the reference list, was shown me by Mr. S. M. Castle. It is used, Post Office Dept., 
 in connection with a three cent stamp, on a six cent envelope of the 1874 '•■''«<'*«<'"= "ents- 
 issue for the Post Office Department. The cancellation is " Niagara Falls, 
 June 1 8th," the year not being given. 
 
 In the collection of Mr. F. O. Conant is an interesting oddity, in the 
 shape of a three cent stamp of the Post Office Department used as a postage 
 due stamp. On the envelope is a duly cancelled copy of the three cents Post Office Dept. 
 green of the 1879 issue. But the letter was evidently overweight, since it ^""aie "'stamp." 
 bears the handstamp " due 3 ". In payment of this shortage a three cent 
 Post Office Department stamp has been affixed, partly over the original can- 
 cellation, and cancelled in turn. This was done at Berlin Falls, N. H., 
 April 30th, 1880. It may be added that this does not represent an attempt 
 to create a curiosity, since neither writer, receiver nor postmaster were in 
 the least interested in philately. 
 
 The catalogues, following the lead of collectors, have listed the stamps 
 of the Post Office Department on white and gray-surfaced paper. This dis- 
 tinction is scarcely warranted by any actual merit in the two varieties. The Post Office Dept., 
 paper is the same, the difference being merely a matter of appeal ance. When s'-»!-s<"-f»«f'i ?»!•"• 
 the plates were thoroughly wiped the paper came from the press clear and 
 white. When the wiping was imperfectly done the ink which remained on 
 the surface of the plate discolored the paper and made it appear of a gray 
 tint. The contrast between the two varieties is often very marked and 
 leading philatelists have seen fit to place the two sets in their collections, 
 thus giving them a standing. 
 
 Some of the bi-colored values of the Department of State were at one state Department, 
 
 . , , , , 1 • J inrerted medallions. 
 
 time reported with the medallion inverted but, as was explained on page 114, 
 they were purely imaginary articles. 
 
 In the Philatelical Journal for February 20th, 1875, we find the follow- 
 ing letter concerning the use of the higher values of the State Department 
 stamps. 
 
268 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1873. 
 
 " Sir : — The following explanation of the use of the 10 and 20 dollars stamps may be 
 
 useful. These two values are no longer used on packages ; the heavy mails of the State 
 
 State nepartment, Department are now sent to the City Post-office, and charged against the Department. The 
 
 alleged nse of the account is settled monthly by payments in the high value stamps. These are turned over 
 
 higher values. by the city postmaster to the General Post-office as vouchers for the account, and are 
 
 destroyed. Thus you will see that neither used nor unused copies are to be had. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 C. E. D. 
 Wa.shington, January 1st, 1875." 
 
 This communication is given for what it is worth and in the hope that 
 quoting it may possibly elicit further information on the subject. Unless it 
 can be confirmed I am not inclined to accept the statement, in view of the 
 fact that the law required that postage on all letters and packages should 
 be prepaid by means of stamps. 
 
 The plates for the official stamps varied in size. The majority con-- 
 tained one hundred stamps each, a few had two hundred, while those for the 
 Plates. four higher values of the Department of State had only ten, arranged in two 
 
 rows of five stamps each. The latter stamps being printed in two colors, two 
 plates were required for each value. However, the same vignette plate (No. 
 123) was used in connection with the frame plates of all four values. The 
 impressions from the plates of two hundred stamps were divided vertically 
 into sheets of one hundred stamps each. 
 
 The imprint was the same as that on the plates of the ordinary stamps 
 at the same date, i. e., "printed by the — continental bank notk co. new 
 YORK ", in two lines of white capitals, on a panel with pearled edges and sur- 
 rounded by a thin colored line. On the plates having one hundred stamps the 
 imprint was placed at the top and bottom, over or under the second, third and 
 fourth stamps from the left. The plate number, preceded by "No." was placed 
 over or under the sixth stamp from the left. On the plates having two hundred 
 stamps the imprint appeared at the middle of the top and bottom of each half 
 of the plate. The plate number was placed between each imprint and the 
 vertical dividing line. On the impressions from the plates of the four higher 
 values of the Department of State we find the imprint, in green, below the 
 second, third and fourth stamps of the lower row, while at the top it is printed 
 in black and, beginning at the left of the first stamp, extends over that and 
 the second stamp. "No." and the plate number, in green, are placed over 
 the third stamp and "No." and a number, in black, over the fourth and fifth 
 stamps. The imprint and number in green belong to the frame plate and 
 those in black to the vignette plate. 
 
 In the following list of numbers of the plates for the official stamps, 
 the figures enclosed in parenthesis indicate the number of stamps on the 
 plate. 
 
 Plato iiuinbors. DfPARTMINT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 Iinpriuts aud plate 
 unnibers. 
 
 I cent 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 65- 
 
 2 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 6^. 
 
 3 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 57- 
 
 6 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 72. 
 
 10 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 114. 
 
 X2 cents 
 
 (.00) 
 
 No. 
 
 73- 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 269 
 
 15 cents (100) No. 105. 
 24 cents (100) No. 145. 
 30 cents (100) No. 100. 
 
 The Executive. 
 
 1 cent (100) No. 82. 
 
 2 cents (100) No. 75. 
 
 3 cents (100) No. 63. 
 6 cents (100) No. 76. 
 
 10 cents (100) No. 111. 
 
 Department of the Interior. 
 
 1 cent (100) No. 52. 
 
 2 cents (100) No. 45. 
 
 3 cents (100) No. 27. 
 
 6 cents (100) ' No. 56. e 
 
 10 cents (100) No. 109. 
 
 12 cents (100) No. 49. 
 
 15 cents (100) No. 93. 
 
 24 cents (100) No. 104. 
 
 30 cents (100) No. 95. 
 
 90 cents (100) No. 108. 
 
 Department of Justice. 
 
 r cent 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 85- 
 
 2 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 90. 
 
 3 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 28. 
 
 6 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 77- 
 
 10 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 97- 
 
 12 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 9r- 
 
 15 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 99. 
 
 24 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 IIS- 
 
 30 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 no. 
 
 90 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 ■I3- 
 
 Na 
 
 VY Dei 
 
 ARTl 
 
 JENT 
 
 I cent 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 80. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 5°- 
 
 3 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 34- 
 
 6 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 S3- 
 
 7 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 119. 
 
 10 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 lOI. 
 
 12 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 92. 
 
 15 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 94- 
 
 24 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 107. 
 
 30 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 96. 
 
 90 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 
 
 106. 
 
270 official stamps. issue of 1873. 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 I cent (200) No. 43. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 37, 38, 285. 
 
 
 3 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 36, 40. 
 
 
 
 (200) 
 
 No. 30, 41, 140, 141 
 
 
 6 cents 
 
 (200) 
 
 No. 39, 47, 249. 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 (too) 
 
 No. 62. 
 
 
 12 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 71. 
 
 
 15 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 66. 
 
 
 24 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 74. 
 
 
 30 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 68. 
 
 
 90 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 88. 
 
 
 Department of State. 
 
 
 1 cent 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 55. 
 
 
 2 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 59. 
 
 
 3 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 70. 
 
 
 6 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 83. 
 
 
 7 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 112. 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 98. 
 
 
 12 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 78. 
 
 
 15 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 118. 
 
 
 24 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 117. 
 
 
 30 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 11 6. 
 
 
 90 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 67. 
 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 (.0) 
 
 No. frame 121, vignette 123 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 (.0) 
 
 No. " 120, 
 
 ' 123 
 
 lo dollars 
 
 (.0) 
 
 No. " 122, 
 
 123 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 (10) 
 
 No. " 124, 
 
 ' 123 
 
 Treasury Department. 
 
 
 I cent 
 
 (200) 
 
 No. 44. 
 
 
 2 cents 
 
 (200) 
 
 No. 42. 
 
 
 3 cents 
 
 (200) 
 
 No. 29, 33. 
 
 
 6 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 51. 
 
 
 7 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 103. 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 58. 
 
 
 12 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 46. 
 
 
 15 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 84. 
 
 
 24 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 134. 
 
 
 30 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 69. 
 
 
 90 cents 
 
 (loo) 
 
 No. 61. 
 
 
 War Department. 
 
 
 I cent 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 48. 
 
 
 2 cents 
 
 (200) 
 
 No. 35. 
 
 
 3 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 32. 
 
 
 6 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 60. 
 
 
 7 cents 
 
 (100) 
 
 No. 102. 
 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS.— ISSUE OF I 873. 27 I 
 
 10 cents (too) No. 79. 
 12 cents (100) No. 54. 
 15 cents (100) No. 87. 
 24 cents (100) No. 86. 
 30 cents (100) No. 81. 
 90 cents (100) No. 89. 
 
 The number 8r, which had been assigned to the thirty cents of the 
 
 War Department, was, by mistake, engraved on the plate of the one cent 
 
 Executive. As soon as the error was noticed the number was defaced by 
 
 chisel marks and the correct number, 82, inserted beside it. The two cents 
 of the Navy Department printed in green is, of course, from plate 50, the 
 only plate for that value. 
 
 The following quantities of official stamps were printed and delivered 
 
 to the Stamp Agent during the first four years they were in use : 
 Year ending December 31st, 1873 : 
 
 Department : 
 
 Agriculture. Executive. Interior. Justice. Navy. 
 
 1 cent 93j5oo 10,800 144,500 30,800 58,500 
 
 2 cents 131,300 11,500 .427>Soo 30.400 i3S;Soo 
 
 3 cents 321,000 12,100 1,214,500 85,500 206,000 
 
 6 cents 126,500 10,700 894,800 66,000 125,600 
 
 7 cents i3>4oo 
 
 10 cents 46,500 10,600 ,66,300 21,400 38,000 
 
 12 cents 48,500 1.69,500 44,800 28,000 
 
 15 cents 46,900 97,300 33-500 26,500 
 
 24 cents 39,500 49,400 20,500 13,800 
 
 30 cents 43,300 53,500 22,200 12,400 
 
 90 cents , 37,900 10,000 10,600 
 
 Total 897,000 55,700 3,155,200 365,100 668,300 
 
 Post Office. State. Treasury. War. Total. 
 
 1 cent 1,336,000 45,800 3,223,400 487,500 5,430,800 
 
 2 cents 714,500 46,300 3,446,500 285,500 5,229,000 
 
 3 cents 15,434,000 45,600 7,027,000 552,500 24,898,200 
 
 6 cents 1,587,000 42,700 1,437,000 156,000 4,446,300 
 
 7 cents 45,800 329,200 38,000 426,400 
 
 10 cents 242,200 45,200 520,300 28,700 1,019,200 
 
 12 cents 528,000 45,600 1,142,500 37,200 2,044,100 
 
 15 cents 171,500 45,600 1,178,900 25,0*00 1,625,200 
 
 24 cents 65,500 45,800 290,000 27,600 552,100 
 
 30 cents 67,800 45,300 184,100 23,300 451,900 
 
 90 cents 37,800 42,400 137,500 23,900 300,100 
 
 2 dollars 700 700 
 
 5 dollars 700 700 
 
 10 dollars 700 700 
 
 20 dollars 700 700 
 
 Total 20,184,300 498,900 18,916,400 1,685,200 46,426,100 
 
 statistics of 
 manufacture. 
 
272 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 873. 
 
 Year 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 
 7 cents 
 10 cents 
 12 cents 
 15 cents 
 24 cents 
 30 cents 
 90 cents 
 
 Total 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 
 7 cents 
 10 cents 
 12 cents 
 15 cents 
 24 cents 
 30 cents 
 90 cents 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 Total 
 Year 
 
 ending December 31st, 1874 : 
 
 Department : 
 
 Executive. Interior. 
 1 90,000 
 
 Agriculture. 
 152,000 
 
 154,50° 
 95, 000 
 95,000 
 
 134,200 
 95,000 
 95,000 
 
 I33-900 
 130,000 
 
 1,084,600 
 
 Post Office. 
 2,667500 
 
 13,567,500 
 
 State. 
 
 38,500 
 
 97,500 
 
 39,500 
 39,000 
 
 366,000 
 Treasury. 
 
 684,000 
 
 192,500 
 192,500 
 195,000 
 
 1,800 
 
 16,815,000 40,300 684,000 
 
 ending December 31st, 1875 : 
 
 Agriculture, 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 
 7 cents 
 10 cents 
 12 cents 
 15 cents 
 24 cents 
 30 cents 
 90 cents 
 
 Total 
 
 Department : 
 Executive. Interior. 
 
 • •• 97,5°o 
 
 95,000 
 
 9,500 1,010,000 
 372,500 
 
 9,500 
 
 141,500 
 47,000 
 46,500 
 95,000 
 
 1,905,000 
 
 Justice. 
 
 War. 
 
 92,500 
 
 92,500 
 
 92,500 
 
 95,000 
 
 92,500 
 92,500 
 92,500 
 95,000 
 95,000 
 
 Navy. 
 95,000 
 95,000 
 9S,ooo 
 95,000 
 95,000 
 9S,ooo 
 95,000 
 47,500 
 47,500 
 47,500 
 47,500 
 855,000 
 
 Total. 
 
 3,297,000 
 
 442,000 
 
 13,988,500 
 
 1,069,000 
 
 95,000 
 
 519,200 
 
 382,500 
 
 335,000 
 
 508,400 
 
 504,000 
 
 242,500 
 
 1,800 
 
 1,540,000 21,384,900 
 
 Justice. 
 
 37,500 
 
 Navy. 
 375,000 
 352,500 
 735,000 
 370,000 
 185,000 
 190,000 
 175,000 
 180,000 
 185,000 
 187,500 
 187,500 
 
 37,500 3,122,500 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 
 
 273 
 
 
 Post Office. 
 
 I cent 
 
 
 2 cents 
 
 
 3 cents 
 
 9.997,5°° 
 
 6 cents 
 
 1,280,000 
 
 7 cents 
 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 85,000 
 
 12 cents 
 
 92,500 
 
 15 cents 
 
 85,000 
 
 24 cents 
 
 90,000 
 
 30 cents 
 
 82,500 
 
 90 cents 
 
 87,500 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 
 10 dollars 
 
 .... . . • 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 
 State. 
 
 37.S°o 
 32,5°° 
 
 Treasury. 
 
 970,000 
 
 960,000 
 1,935,000 
 
 895,000 
 92,500 
 80,000 
 85,000 
 95,000 
 90,000 
 
 116,000 
 8c,ooo 
 
 War. Total. 
 
 190,000 1,632,500 
 
 195,000 7,602,500 
 
 485,000 14,247,000 
 
 185,000 3,135,000 
 
 180,000 
 185,000 
 175,000 
 177,500 
 182,500 
 180,000 
 192,500 
 
 1,980 
 1,870 
 
 1.93° 
 1,940 
 
 457,S°°- 
 540,000 
 669,000 
 
 584,5°° 
 594.000 
 661,000 
 
 547.5°° 
 1,980 
 1,870 
 
 1.93° 
 1,940 
 
 Total 1 1,800,000 
 
 77,72° 5,398,500 2,327,500 24,678,220 
 
 Year ending December 31st, 1876 : 
 
 Department : 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents 
 
 6 cents 
 
 7 cents 
 10 cents 
 12 cents 
 15 cents 
 24 cents 
 30 cents 
 90 cents 
 
 Total 
 
 Interior. 
 
 220,000 
 190,000 
 
 90,000 
 
 Post Office. 
 
 185,000 
 6,175,000 
 
 Total. 
 
 405,000 
 6,365,000 
 
 90,000 
 
 47.500 
 
 47,5°° 
 
 547,500 6,360,000 6,907,500 
 
 I greatly regret that I have not been able to obtain further statistics 
 of deliveries to the Stamp Agent. The foregoing tables are not sufficiently 
 extensive to enable us to make comparisons and deductions of much value- 
 It is particularly to be regretted that we have no statistics of the quantities 
 delivered in 1879 and subsequent years, as there are a number of questions 
 connected with the official stamps printed by the American Bank Note Co. 
 which might be settled if we had at command the records of the quantities 
 supplied under the contracts of that company. 
 
 From the fact that, in 1876, stamps were prepared for only two depart- 
 ments, and for a limited number of values at that, we must infer either a 
 great decrease in their use or considerable overproduction in previous years. 
 
 It may be well to remark that these tables do not include the special 
 printing of official stamps made in 1875, which stamps were surcharged 
 " SPECIMEN " and sold as companion sets to the reprints and re-issues of the 
 several series of ordinary postage stamps. 
 
Official Stamps. 
 
 Issue of 1879. 
 
 After the consolidation of the Continental Bank Note Co. with the 
 American Bank Note Co., in February, 1879, the latter company printed such 
 official stamps as were required, using the soft porous paper which distin- 
 guishes all stamps produced by them. As it has not been possible to obtain 
 access to the records of the printings, the list of official stamps on this paper 
 is compiled from discoveries reported by philatelists. Some of the stamps 
 are very common on this paper — for example many values of the Interior and 
 War departments — while others are quite scarce. 
 
 Reference List. Perforated 12. 
 
 Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
 
 Department of Agriculture. 
 
 1879. I cent bright orange-yellow 
 
 2 cents bright orange-yellow 
 
 3 cents bright orange-yellow 
 6 cents bright orange-yellow 
 
 Department of the Interior. 
 
 1879. I cent pale vermilion, vermilion 
 
 2 cents scarlet-vermilion 
 
 3 cents pale vermilion, vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 6 cents pale vermilion, vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
 
 rose-vermilion 
 10 cents pale vermilion, vermilion 
 12 cents vermilion 
 15 cents vermilion 
 24 cents vermilion 
 
 Department of Justice. 
 
 1879. 3 cents bluish purple, deep bluish purple 
 
 6 cents bluish purple 
 
official stamps. issue of 1879. 275 
 
 Navy Department. 
 
 1879. I cent dull blue 
 
 2 cents dull blue 
 
 3 cents dull blue 
 6 cents dull blue 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 1879. I cent gray-black 
 
 2 cents gray-black 
 
 3 cents gray-black 
 6 cents gray-black 
 
 12 cents gray-black 
 15 cents gray-black 
 
 Department of State. 
 
 1879. 15 cents green 
 
 30 cents green 
 
 Treasury Department. 
 
 1879. I cent dark brown 
 
 3 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 
 6 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 
 
 10 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 
 
 12 cents dark brown 
 
 15 cents dark brown 
 
 30 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 
 
 90 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 
 
 War Department. 
 
 1879. I cent pale dull rose, pale brown-rose, brown-rose, 
 
 dull lake 
 
 2 cents pale dull rose, deep brown-rose, pale dull ver- 
 
 milion, dull vermilion 
 
 3 cents pale dull rose, brown-rose 
 
 6 cents pale dull rose, dull rose, pale brown rose, 
 
 brown rose 
 10 cents pale dull rose, deep rose, dull brown- rose 
 1 2 cents pale dull rose, dull brown-lake 
 24 cents pale dull rose 
 30 cents pale dull rose 
 
 Variety: 
 3 cents deep rose. Imperforate 
 
276 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 * Specimen" 
 stauipH. 
 
 A possible 
 provisional issue. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 In addition to these varieties, the one cent Executive and the one and 
 seven cents Department of State, all surcharged " specimen ", are found on 
 soft porous paper, but copies of these values without the surcharge have not 
 been discovered. 
 
 I have in my collection a three cents green, of the regular issue of 
 1882, which is overprinted, in black, in two lines, " p. o. dept. — 24c." with 
 a bar across the original value. This stamp was presented to me by Mr. C. 
 A. Townsend, who writes me that he knows nothing, about the stamp except 
 that he found five or six copies (including one pair) in a large quantity of 
 stamps which he purchased some years ago. The stamps had been accumu- 
 lated by a young lady who was not a philatelist but had made the oft repeated 
 attempt to collect a million stamps. My copy is uncancelled. 
 
 The American Bank Note Co. made only one plate for official stamps. 
 This was for the one cent stamp of the Post Office Department. This plate 
 was numbered 428 and contained two hundred stamps. For printing any 
 other official stamps the plates of the Continental Bank Note Co. were used. 
 On consulting the list given in the preceding chapter, it will be seen that there 
 was only one plate for each of the official stamps, except for the two, three 
 and six cents Post Office Department and the three cents Treasury Depart- 
 ment. For printing the latter stamp plate 29 was used by the American 
 Bank Note Co. and probably the plates with the highest numbers were em- 
 ployed for the three stamps of the Post Office Department. To give a list of 
 the numbers of the other plates which were used would be an unnecessary 
 repetition. 
 
 It was scarcely to be expected that the official stamps would be received 
 with favor, either by individuals who were deprived of the franking privilege 
 coincidently with the advent of the stamps, or by the various branches of the 
 government, which were required to expend large sums for the purchase of 
 these stamps from the Post Office Department. As early as February, 1874, 
 we read in the American Jouriial of Philately 
 
 "The sales of postage stamps at the post office of the House of Representatives fre- 
 quently exceed $50 a day The members begin to feel the inconvenience and loss to 
 Abolitieu of themselves fioni the abolition of the franking privilege, now that they are daily called upon 
 franking ciiuscs to send public documents to their constituents at their own expense. They say they do not 
 dissatisfaction. mind putting stamps on their letters, but when it comes to paying postage on heavy books, 
 the burden is too heavy to be long endured. There is a good deal ot talk of a revival of 
 franking as applied to public documents only. Another plan is to authorize, by law, the 
 Public Printer to mail the documents, free of postage, to such persons as the members shall 
 diiect ; and still another is to have a stamping machine with an engraved steel die kept in 
 the Clerk's office to stamp documents for free transmission through the malls." 
 
 However, no immediate legislative action was taken in the direction of 
 repeal or modification of the law, and Congress continued to make annual 
 appropriations of such sums as it was estimated would be required, by the 
 various departments, for the purchase of stamps. 
 
 By an Act which was approved August 15th, 1876, a slight change 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 277 
 
 was effected in the law, with respect to the manner of crediting the Post 
 Office Department for the work of carrying the correspondence of the other 
 departments. This Act provided : 
 
 "That the Secretaries respectively of the Departments of State, Treasury, War, Navy 
 and Interior and the Attorney General, are authorized to make requisitions upon the 
 Postmaster General for the necessary amount of postage stamps for the use of their Depart- Chiinge in method 
 ments, not exceeding the amount stated in the estimates submitted to Congress, and upon of obtaining stamps, 
 presentation of proper vouchers therefore at the Treasury, the amount thereof shall 'be 
 credited to the appropriation for the Post Office Department for the same fiscal year." 
 
 The first important change in the law was contained in the Act, 
 approved March 3rd, 1877, which provided in part as follows : 
 
 "That it shall be lawful to transmit through the mail, free of postage, any letters, 
 packages or other matter relating exclusively to the business of the Government of the 
 United States : Provided, that every such letter or package to entitle it to pass free shall "Penalty" 
 -bear over the words 'Official Business' an endorsement, showing also the name of the envelopes 
 
 Department, and if from a bureau or office, the names of the Department and bureau or authorized, 
 
 office, as the case may be, whence transmitted And if any person shall make use of any 
 such official envelope to avoid the payment of postage on his private letter, package or other 
 matter in the mail, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and 
 subject to a fine of three hundred dollars, to be prosecuted in any court of competent 
 jurisdiction. 
 
 That, for the purpose of carrying this Act into effect, it shall be the duty of each of the 
 Executive Departments of the United States, to provide for itself and its subordinate officers 
 the necessary envelopes, and in addition to the endorsement designating the Department in 
 which they are to be used, the penalty lor the unlawful use shall be stated thereon. 
 
 That Senators, Representatives and Delegates in Congress, the Secretary of the 
 .Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, may send and receive through the 
 mail all public documents printed by order of Congress, and the name of each Senator, 
 Representative, Delegate, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, shall be written 
 thereon, with the proper designation of the office he holds, and the provisions of this section 
 shall apply to each of the persons mentioned therein until the first day of December following 
 the expiration of their terms of office.'' 
 
 It will be observed that by this Act the franking privilege was to a 
 certain extent, restored. The so-called " penalty " envelopes were created 
 and, by their use, the official stamps were almost entirely superseded for 
 franking correspondence from the departments. But subordinate officers, 
 especially postmasters, continued to use the stamps on correspondence to the 
 departments and elsewhere, as required. 
 
 The effect of these changes appears to have been felt very soon by the 
 Post Office Department. The Third Assistant Postmaster General, in his 
 report for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1877, says : "The total receipts "fffsed receipts 
 for the year were $r, 1 12,612.24 less than those of the preceding '.jiear. The 
 decrease is due largely to the reduction in receipts for official postage stamps, 
 the amount derived from that source during the last fiscal year being only 
 $370,730.47 against $1,281,389.43 for the previous year." It should be 
 remembered that these figures do not include the stamps used by the Post 
 Office Department but only those purchased from it by the other departments. 
 
 The Postmaster General, in his annual report for 1878, complains of 
 the added burden without compensation, saying that, in addition to the 
 official correspondence of the various departments which must be transmitted 
 free, members of Congress might now send almost anything except letters 
 through the mails and were availing themselves of the privilege and sending 
 vast quantities of books, documents, seeds, shrubs, etc., etc. 
 
 Use of official 
 
 stamps much 
 
 reduced. 
 
 of the Post Otlice 
 Department. 
 
278 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 By a subsequent amendment of the law the use of official stamps was 
 almost entirely done away with. On this subject the report of the Postmaster 
 General for 1885, says : 
 
 " The use of official stamps and stamped envelopes was wholly discontinued by this 
 Use of oBlcial stamps Department, and substantially so by the other Departments on the ^oth of June, 1879, under 
 further deoreftsed. the Act authorizing the use of official penalty envelopes." 
 
 The Act here referred to was approved March 3rd, 1879, and provided 
 as follows : 
 
 , " That the provisions of the fifth and sixth sections of the Act entitled • An Act estab- 
 lishing post routes and for other purposes ', approved March 3d, 1877, for the transmission 
 Franking prlrilrge of official mail matter be, and they are hereby, extended to all officers of the United States 
 extended. Government, and made applicable to all official mail matter transmitted between any of 
 
 the officers of the United States, or between any such officer and either of the Executive 
 Departments or officers of the Government * * . And the provisions of said fifth 
 and sixth sections are hereby likewise extended and made applicable to all official mail 
 matter sent from the Smithsonian Institution." 
 
 In conformity with this Act the Third Assistant Postmaster General 
 issued the following : 
 
 Circular to Postmasters. 
 
 POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, 
 Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, 
 Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped 
 
 Envelopes, and Postal Cards, 
 IVashington, D. C, ^pril 22, /S7P. 
 
 Use of Free Envelopes — Discontinuance of Official Postage Stamps. 
 
 Under the provisions of Sections 5 and 6 of the Act of Congress " establishing post- 
 routes, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1877, and Section 29 of the " Act 
 Circular of the making appropriations for the Post Office Department," &c., approved March 5, 1879, the 
 Post Oilice Department will begin the issue, on May ist next, of envelopes for official business, which 
 
 Department. will secure the free transmission through the mails of all official matter, and which are 
 intended to supersede the post office envelopes now in use, as well as official postage stamps 
 and official stamped envelopes. Accordingly, the issue of official stamps and official stamped 
 envelopes will be discontinued on and after the date named. 
 
 These free envelopes will be of the same sizes as the present post office envelopes, will 
 be of the same color, (canary,) and will contain the same general forms of printing. Each 
 envelope, however, will bear, in addition, the words "Post Office Department, Post Officeat 
 
 , Official Business," and the penalty imposed by law for its misuse, as follows : " y4 
 
 penalty of $^60 is fixed hji law for using this envelope for other than official husiness.' 
 When 500 of these free envelopes are ordered at one time, of either the Nos. 1, 2, or 3 sizes, 
 the name of the post office will be printed in; also when 250 of the No. 4 size. In all other 
 cases, a blank will be left for the name of the post office, which must be written in by the 
 postmaster before using the envelope. 
 
 ^^'The name of the office, it must be understood, is required by law to appear on the 
 envelopes, and, when not in print, must he in writing. 
 
 Post Office Envelopes, and Official Stamps and Stamped Envelopes 
 NOW on Hand. 
 
 The stock of post office envelopes now in the hands of postmasters will, until exhausted, 
 continue to be used, as heretofore, by the attachment of official postage stamps ; so, also, 
 official stamped envelopes now in the hands of postmasteis at Presidential offices will be 
 used, as heretofore, until exhausted. 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 279 
 
 As soon, however, as such envelopes or the official stamps on hand are about to 
 become exhausted, requisition must be made for a supply of the free envelopes, and the 
 official postage stamps remaining on hand must he returned, registered, to the Department. 
 If the official postage stamps now on hand should become exhausted before the post office 
 envelopes, then the remaining envelopes should be returned to the Department and a supply 
 of free envelopes ordered. 
 
 It is expected that postmasters will use these envelopes without waste, and never 
 permit them to be used on other than strictly official business. Any violation of this instruc- 
 tion will be regarded as good ground for dismissal from office, besides subjecting the offender 
 to the penalty of the law. 
 
 A. D, HAZEN, 
 
 Third i/Jss't Tostmaster Gen'l. 
 
 It must be remembered that this circular applied only to the stamps 
 and envelopes of the Post Office Department. With the exception of the 
 Executive, which had discontinued the use of stamps in 1877, the other 
 departments continued to use them to some extent. 
 
 The complete and final abolishment of the official stamps was effected 
 by an Act of the Forty-eighth Congress, Session i. Chapter 234, from which 
 the following is quoted : 
 
 "Section 5. That section twenty-nine of the Act of March 3d, 1879, tie, and it is 
 hereby amended so as to read as follows : 
 
 The provisions of the fifth and sixth sections of the Act entitled ' An act establishing Official stamps 
 post-routes and for other purposes," approved March 3d, 1877 for the transmission of official entirely abolished. 
 mail matter be, and they are hereby, extended to all officers of the United States Government 
 not including members of Congress, the envelopes of such matter in all cases to bear appro- 
 priate endorsements containing the proper designation of the office from which or officer 
 from whom the same is transmitted, with a statement of the penalty for their misuse. And 
 the provisions of said fifth and sixth sections are hereby likewise extended and made applic- 
 able to all official mail matter of the Smithsonian Institution : 
 
 Provided, That any department or officer authorized to use the penalty envelopes may 
 enclose them with return address to any person or persons from or through whom official 
 information is desired, the same to be used only to cover such official information and en- 
 dorsements relating thereto : 
 
 Provided further, That any letter or packet to be registered by either of the Executive 
 Departments or Bureaus thereof, or by the Agricultural Depaitment, or by the Public Printer, 
 may be registered without the payment of any registry fee ; and any postpaid letter or packet 
 addressed to either of said Departments or Bureaus may be delivered free ; but where there 
 is good reason to believe the omission to prepay the full postage thereon was intentional, 
 such letter or packet shall be returned to the sender : 
 
 Provided further. That this act shall not extend or apply to pension agents or other 
 officers who receive a fixed allowance as compensation for their services, including expenses 
 of postage. 
 
 And Section 3915 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, so far as the same relates 
 to stamps and stamped envelopes for official purposes, is hereby repealad. 
 
 Approved July 5th, 1884." 
 
 Thus the use of the official stamps was brought to an end. 
 
 From the annual reports of the Postmaster General we obtain the fol- 
 lowing statistics of official stamps delivered to the different departments during 
 the years they were in use. The reader will kindly bear in mind that the 
 year is always the fiscal year ending June 30th: 
 
2 8o 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
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OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 28s 
 
 The official stamps having become obsolete, it is said that the various 
 departments were requested to return to the Post Office department any 
 unused stamps which they had on hand, and that some of the departments 
 complied with this request while others declined, on the ground that they 
 had paid for the stamps and should not be expected to give them up unless 
 properly compensated. Concerning such official stamps as had been manu- 
 factured but not distributed to the departments, the Third Assistant Post- 
 master General made the following recommendations : 
 
 Post Office Department, 
 office of the third assistant postmaster general, 
 Washington, D C, January 14, 1885. 
 
 Sir : — The issue and use of official stamps was discontinued under the 
 third section of the Act of July 5, 1884 (General Statutes, ist Session, 48th 
 Congress), extending the use of penalty envelopes to all classes of official 
 correspondence. At that time the contractors for furnishing stamps, the 
 American Bank Note Co., of New York, had and now have in their vaults at 
 the manufactory, as shown by the weekly reports made to this office, the 
 following numbers and denominations of official stamps, viz : 
 
 Denomination. 
 
 Executive 
 
 State. 
 
 Treasury. 
 
 War. 
 
 Navy. Schedule of unissued 
 
 1 cent 
 
 3>5°° 
 
 13,500 
 
 1,292,950 
 
 37,170 
 
 421,200 official stamps. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 1,900 
 
 4,000 
 
 1,921,500 
 
 75,340 
 
 381,150 
 
 3 cents 
 
 1,100 
 
 11,900 
 
 534,000 
 
 104,463 
 
 454,800 
 
 6 cents 
 
 4,700 
 
 10,600 
 
 169,000 
 
 2,787 
 
 355,300 
 
 7 cents 
 
 
 7,500 
 
 201,200 
 
 161,772 
 
 276,900 
 
 10 cents 
 
 4,950 
 
 8,000 
 
 •3,300 
 
 231.947 
 
 267,290 
 
 12 cents 
 
 
 24,300 
 
 444,000 
 
 25.130 
 
 236,199 
 
 15 cents 
 
 
 22,300 
 
 610,400 
 
 108,540 
 
 216,000 
 
 24 cents 
 
 
 31,500 
 
 279,500 
 
 103,675 
 
 219,800 
 
 30 cents 
 
 
 24,700 
 
 20,600 
 
 6.159 
 
 217,300 
 
 90 cents 
 
 
 35,257 
 
 37,000 
 
 167,728 
 
 233.830 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 
 472 
 
 
 
 
 S dollars 
 
 
 1,707 
 
 
 
 
 10 dollars 
 
 
 1,767 
 
 
 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 
 1,777 
 199,280 
 
 
 
 
 
 16,150 
 
 5,523.450 
 
 1,024,711 
 
 3,279,769 
 
 Denomination. 
 
 Interior. 
 
 
 Post Office. 
 
 Justice. 
 
 Agriculture. 
 
 I cent 
 
 56,000 
 
 
 2,888,750 
 
 24,300 
 
 149,585 
 
 2 cents 
 
 13,700 
 
 
 449,400 
 
 21,000 
 
 SS.'So 
 
 3 cents 
 
 40,500 
 
 
 263,100 
 
 79,700 
 
 37,950 
 
 6 cents 
 
 37,800 
 
 
 559,700 
 
 47.500 
 
 101,000 
 
 7 cents 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 32,050 
 
 
 144,250 
 
 19,400 
 
 84,935 
 
 12 cents 
 
 99,450 
 
 
 321,220 
 
 17.500 
 
 9».73S 
 
 15 cents 
 
 52,200 
 
 
 146,715 
 
 20,200 
 
 87.350 
 
 24 cents 
 
 10,17s 
 
 
 259.875 
 
 13,600 
 
 112,635 
 
 30 cents 
 
 48,700 
 
 
 209,045 
 
 13,100 
 
 90.535 
 
 90 cents 
 
 20,523 
 
 
 254,600 
 
 6,300 
 
 
 411,098 
 
 5,496,65s 
 
 262,600 
 
 810,875 
 
 Grand Total, 17,024,588. 
 
recoiiimended. 
 
 286 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 As it is not likely that these stamps will be needed for use by the gov- 
 
 Destruction ernment, to avoid any risks that may attend their custody, I would respectfully 
 
 recommend that they be counted and destroyed under the supervision of a 
 
 committee to be appointed by the Postmaster General, and the facts certified 
 
 under affidavit by the committee. 
 
 There are also in the vaults of the contractors certain other stamps of 
 the regular series that have been rendered unserviceable by reason of changes 
 Other unissued at various times in the rates of postage, and as it is improbable that these 
 stamps will ever be required for issue, I would recommend that they also be 
 counted and destroyed in like manner, and by the same committee suggested 
 with regard to the official stamps. 
 
 These stamps are in number and denomination as follows : 
 
 stftnips. 
 
 Denomination. 
 
 Ordinary. 
 
 Newspaper and Periodical. 
 
 Total. 
 
 3 cents 
 
 . 
 
 223,750 
 
 223,750 
 
 7 cents 
 
 545.600 
 
 
 545.600 
 
 9 cents 
 
 
 101,240 
 
 101,240 
 
 1 2 cents 
 
 503-750 
 
 
 
 503,750 
 
 24 cents ■ 
 
 364.950 
 1,414,300 
 
 
 364,950 
 
 Total 
 
 324,99° 
 
 1.739.290 
 
 I have excepted from this recommendation the three-cent stamps of 
 the ordinary series, of which there are 135,800 in the vault, for the reason 
 Three-cent stamps that, though their general issue has been discontinued, occasional calls are 
 excepted. rnade for them by some of the larger offices. 
 
 The total number of stamps in the foregoing lists, recommended to be 
 destroyed, is 18,763,878, which at the contract price of 9.19c per thousand, 
 would amount to $204.52. 
 
 In the event that this recommendation should meet with your approval, 
 permit me to suggest that the work of counting and destruction be performed 
 by the committee selected to supervise the cancellation of the dies, etc., at 
 the several places of manufacture. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 A. D. Hazen, 
 Hon. Frank Hatton, Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
 
 Postmaster General. 
 
 These suggestions appear to have met with the approval of the Post- 
 master General and they were accordingly embodied in the following order : 
 Post Office Department, 
 
 office of the postmaster general, 
 
 Washington, D. C., January 14, 1885. 
 Ordered (No. 75), that A. G. Sharp, Chief Post Office Inspector, Geo. W. 
 Wells, Chief of the Finance Division of the Office of the Third Assistant 
 Postmaster General, and C. M. Walker, Chief Clerk of the Post Office De- 
 partment, be designated as a committee to visit the postage stamp manufactory 
 at New York, the stamped envelope manufactory at Hartford, Conn., and 
 the postal card manufactory at Castleton, N. Y., and in connection with the 
 Government agent at each of these places, to dispose of, as hereinafter 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 287 
 
 indicated, the dies, rolls and plates of the several series of postage stamps, 
 stamped envelopes and postal cards heretofore and now in use. 
 
 Postage Stamps. 
 
 At New York, the Committee will effectually cancel all plates of the 
 following series and denominations of postage stamps, except one working putes ordered to 
 plate of each : *« cancelled. 
 
 Issue of 1847 : Denominations, S and lo cents. 
 
 Issue of 1851 : Denominations, r, 3, 5, 10, 12, 24, 30 and 90 cents, 
 also two separate designs of i-cent carrier stamps. 
 
 Issue of 1861 : Denominations, r, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 
 cents. 
 
 Issue of 1865 (newspaper and periodical) : Denominations, 5, 10 and 
 25 cents. 
 
 Issue of 1869: Denominations, r, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 
 cents. 
 
 Issue of 1870 (current series) : Denominations, 3, 5 (Taylor), 7, 12 
 and 24 cents. 
 
 Issue of 1874 (newspaper and periodical): Denominations, 3 and 9 
 cents. 
 
 Executive (official) : Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6 and 10 cents 
 
 Department of State (official) : Denominations, r, 2, 3, 6, 7, lo, 12) 
 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents, and $2, $5, f 10 and $20. 
 
 Treasury Department (official) : Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 
 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. 
 
 War Department (official) : Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 
 24, 30 and 90 cents. 
 
 Navy Department (official) : Denominations, r, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 
 24, 30 and 90 cents. 
 
 Post Office Department (official) ; Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, 10 12, 
 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. 
 
 Department of the Interior (official) : Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, 10, 
 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. 
 
 Department of Justice (official): Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, 10, 72, 
 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. 
 
 Department of Agriculture (official) : Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, 10, 
 12, 15, 24 and 30 cents. 
 
 The one plate of each kind and denomination of postage stamp reserved 
 as above, and the dies and rolls from which they have been produced, together 
 with all the cancelled plates, to be inventoried, waxed, and carefully boxed 
 and sealed, and placed in the vault of the stamp manufactory in the custody 
 and under the control of the agent, one copy of such inventory to be given to 
 the agent, and one to be sent by the committee to the Department. 
 
 The committee will also superintend the cancellation of any worn out 
 and unserviceable plates of the current series of postage stamps that may be 
 in the possession of the contractors. ******* 
 
 The committee will also supervise the counting and destruction of 
 
OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 Stamps ordered to certain discontinued issues of postage stamps, at the postage stamp manufac- 
 be jestroye . ^^^^ ^^ i^ew York, in accordance with the accompanying recommendation of 
 the Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
 
 Upon completing the work for which they are appointed, the committee 
 will make a written report. 
 
 Frank Hatton, 
 
 Postmaster General. 
 
 On February 24th, r885, the committee reported : "We have counted 
 and destroyed by burning, in accordance with instructions, the official arid 
 uncurrent stamps, numbering 18,438,888. The schedule of denominations is 
 herewith transmitted." (House Executive Documents, 1884-85, 48M Congress, 
 Session II, No. 264.) 
 
 The schedule was the same as that given in the letter of the Third 
 Assistant Postmaster General, except that it did not include the newspaper 
 and periodical stamps. The decision to destroy .was evidently reconsidered 
 in the case of those stamps, and it is understood that at least a part of them 
 were subsequently used. 
 
 As has been previously remarked, the tables of quantities of stamps 
 delivered to the Stamp Agent are not sufficiently extensive or complete to be 
 High raiucs of the of much value for comparison, yet we can make some limited deductions 
 Dept. of state. {xq^ them. Let us consider the four higher values of the Department of 
 State. Comparing the number received by the Stamp Agent with the 
 deliveries to the Department and the quantity burned, we find a difference of 
 exactly five hundred of each value. We cannot, with present information, 
 explain this discrepancy. It is possible that the stamps not accounted for 
 were proofs, though I am advised, by those who are well informed about such 
 matters, that this is not probable. For the present we will have to leave the 
 question for the consideration of those who are interested in such matters. 
 
 Committee report 
 tlie destrnetion. 
 
 ]!few8paper stamps 
 not destroyed. 
 
Newspaper and Periodical Stamps. 
 
 Issue of 1865. 
 
 It has been remarked in previous chapters that, in its earlier years, the 
 postal service suffered much annoyance and loss through the competition 
 of local delivery and express companies. Through legislation the Govern- 
 ment finally secured exclusive control of the business of transporting letters 
 but in the matter of handling newspapers the express companies continued 
 to be active and successful rivals of the Post Office Department. They 
 carried papers quickly and cheaply from publishers to distributing agents. 
 On the other hand, the routine of the postal service, which required the 
 papers to be carried to the post office, assorted, forwarded and again assorted 
 before delivery, caused vexatious delays. An attempt to overcome this 
 difficulty was made in an Act of Congress,- approved March 3rd, 1863, which 
 provided as follows : 
 
 "The Postmaster General may, from time to time, provide by order the rates and 
 terms upon which route agents may receive and deliver, at the mail car or steamer, packages 
 of newspapers and periodicals, delivered to them for that purpose by the publishers or any 
 news agent in charge thereof, and not received from nor designed for delivery at any post 
 office." 
 
 As the Post Office Department was anxious to secure the carrying of 
 newspapers it is probable that the privileges granted by this Act were promptly 
 made available. It is to be presumed that the postage was paid to the route 
 agents to whom the packages of papers were delivered. Such a return to the 
 old-fashioned method of collecting postage in money, without the use of 
 stamps or other vouchers for the Government, could not fail to be unsatis- 
 factory. As a remedy, postage stamps were brought into use, at some time 
 during the summer of 1865. Concerning them the report of the Postmaster 
 Genera], dated November isth, 1865, says briefly : 
 
 "New stamps have been adopted of the denominations of 5, 10 and 25 cents for 
 prepaying postage on packages of newspapers forwarded by publishers or newsdealers under 
 the authority of law, whereby a revenue will be secured hitherto lost to the Department." 
 
 The stamps are thus officially described : 
 
 "The 5, 10 and 25 cent newspaper and periodical stamps are alike in 
 general style, 2 by 3^ inches in dimensions, the denominations being repeated 
 in Arabic and Roman numerals, in the upper corners Arabic and midway of 
 the sides Roman. The numbers ' 10 ' and ' 5 ', five-eighths of an inch high, 
 are white-faced, while those at the sides are the color of the stamp. On the 
 
 Act concerning 
 
 transporation of 
 
 newspapers. 
 
 Announcement of 
 
 first newspaper 
 
 stamps. 
 
 Designs. 
 
290 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 865. 
 
 25-cent Stamp the side figures are also Arabic. The numerals in the upper 
 corners of the lo and 25 cent stamps are inclined outward; those on the 
 S-cent are perpendicular. 
 
 The letters ' u ' and ' s ' appear near the top in a horizontal line and, 
 immediately beneath, the word ' postage ', in a line curved downward at 
 each end. Next below this, in the middle of the stamp and surrounded by a 
 border of lathe-work, are the several profile medallion portraits in a misty 
 style of engraving. The Washington medallion is circular, i 1-8 inches in 
 diameter. The Franklin is an ellipse, i 1-16 by i 5-16 inches; while the 
 Lincoln is a parallelogram with clipped corners, 7-8 by 1 3-8 inches. Below 
 the tablets are the words representing the denominations, and ' newspapers 
 AND periodicals ', in three lines. After this, reference is made as follows: 
 'sec. 38. ACT OF congress APPROVED MARCH 3D 1 863.' Below the border 
 line proper -the heavy white line— at the bottom, in very small type, are 
 the words ' national bank note company, new york '." 
 
 The profile busts are intended to suggest coins or medals. The stamps 
 measure 51x94^^ to gsJ^mm. 
 
 The stamps differ from other issues of United States postage stamps in 
 that they are typographed instead of being engraved in taille douce. On the 
 Manufacture. plates, as Originally made, the surface of the plate between the stamps was not 
 cut away, consequently it received the ink like those parts of the design which 
 were not incised. The result was that the stamps had a border of color. 
 Subsequently the plate of the five cents was altered by removing the sur- 
 face between the stamps, thus producing what is known as the " white bor- 
 der ". Mr. Tiffany says that 20,140 of the five cents with colored border 
 were issued, and "In 1868-69 there were issued 33,420 more of the five cent 
 value, but these were improved by having the broad colored border remov- 
 ed." I do not know upon what authority he bases these statements, but I 
 am not inclined to accept them without question. By referring to the tables 
 of statistics which accompany this chapter it will be seen that he quotes the 
 quantities of the first and last years of issue but ignores the 80,000 copies 
 issued in the two intervening years. The relative quantities to be found of 
 the two varieties of the stamp suggest that those with the colored border 
 were in use for only a limited period and were replaced by the second type 
 at an early date. 
 
 The stamps were perforated 1 2 and were issued ungummed. 
 
 At first they were printed on a paper which was moderately thick, hard. 
 Paper. opaque and very white, unless discolored by age. Afterwards a very thin, 
 
 tough, almost pelure paper was used. The latest printings were on a thin, 
 crisp, semi-transparent paper. 
 
 They are found in the following shades : 
 
 Kefcrence List. Perforated 12. 
 
 COLORED BORDER. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 5 cents pale dull blue, dull blue, dark dull blue, deep 
 bright blue 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 865. 
 
 29r 
 
 10 cents pale gray-green, gray-green, deep gray-green, 
 green, deep green, bluish green 
 
 25 cents pale orange-red, orange-red, vermilion, scarlet, 
 carmine-red, brown-carmine; brown-red 
 Pelure Paper. 
 
 10 cents pale gray-green, gray-green, deep gray-green 
 
 25 cents orange-red, scarlet 
 
 WHITE BORDER. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 S cents pale blue, blue, pale bright blue, bright blue, deep 
 bright blue, gray-blue, deep gray-blue 
 Pelure Paper. 
 5 cents blue, bright blue, deep bright blue 
 The plates each contained twenty stamps, arranged in four rows of five 
 stamps. The impressions were divided horizontally into sheets of ten stamps 
 each. The imprint was "national bank note co. new york,'' in colored 
 Rom'an capitals, on a small white panel having rounded ends and surrounded 
 by two fine white lines. The imprint was placed above the middle stamp of 
 the upper row and below the corresponding stamp of the lower row. On the 
 sheets of stamps with the colored borders the plate numbers were in large 
 ornamental figures and were placed about iimm. to the right of the imprint, 
 thus coming above or below the corner of the adjacent stamp. In removing 
 the colored border from the five cent stamp both plate numbers were erased. 
 To replace them the same number was engraved close to the end of the imprint 
 — at the right of the upper and at the left of the lower imprint — in small white 
 figures, i}^mm. high. The plate numbers were : 
 
 5 cents No. 38. 
 
 10 cents No. 39. 
 
 25 cents No. 40. 
 
 The Stamp Collector's Magazine for May, 1867, says : 
 
 " For some reason these labels are only regularly sold at the post office 
 in Chicago, Illinois, where they have always been procurable since the time 
 of issue, but other offices have occasionally kept them in stock " Other 
 writers say, "only at Chicago, 111. and Milwaukee, Wis." It is difficult to 
 understand this restricted use, but probably, in other cities, the publisheis 
 continued to favor the express companies. 
 
 The stamps were usually cancelled with a brush dipped in black or 
 blue ink. Specimens with postmarks are nearly always bogus. Genuinely 
 used copies are scarce, as the wrappers to which they were attached were 
 usually thrown away as waste paper. Furthermore, the cancelled stamps are 
 seldom in good condition. This is probably due to the large size of the 
 stamps and to their having been hurriedly and carelessly affixed to the 
 packages. 
 
 On January 21st, 1867, there was made, by order of A. N. Zevely, 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General, a special printing of r,ooo copies of each 
 
 Plateh. 
 
 Impriut. 
 
 Plate DUiiibcrs. 
 
 Itestricted use. 
 
 Caucellatiuit. 
 
 *^ Specimens,' 
 
Z92 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1865. 
 
 Use of stampN 
 discoutinned. 
 
 Statistics of 
 manufacture. 
 
 DelWeries to 
 postmasters. 
 
 denomination of this issue. These stamps were overprinted " specimen " in 
 large gothic type. 
 
 A few years ago there were in the hands of collectors and dealers in 
 Boston, a number of. the ten cent stamps which differed in perforation from 
 the regular issue. The gauge ranged from it to 14^ and there were often 
 three different perforations on a stamp. The copies were all on pelure paper 
 and all had the perforations much closer to the design than usual, often 
 cutting the outer white line. They were said to have been purchased from 
 " a reliable person who stated that he bought them from the Post Office 
 Department." Personally, I believe these perforations to be of a private 
 nature, but I give the information of their existence for what it is worth. 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General, dated November 15th, 1869, 
 says : 
 
 " The issue of periodical stamps was discontinued by my predecessor 
 about 1869.'' 
 
 No reason is given for this action nor any further information on the 
 subject. We do not know whether such of the stamps as were in the hands 
 of postmasters were used up or returned to Washington. 
 
 During the time the stamps were in use the following quantities' were 
 received by the Post OfBce Department from the contractors : 
 
 25 cents. 
 
 S.°40 
 10,230 
 
 
 5 cents 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 1865 
 
 10,040 
 
 20,040 
 
 1866 
 
 38,230 
 
 120,230 
 
 1867 
 
 30,000 
 
 95 ,000 
 
 1868 
 
 55.22° 
 
 140,020 
 
 1869 
 
 10,200 
 
 25,200 
 
 Total 
 
 14.^,600 
 
 400,4Q0 
 
 31,080 
 
 100 
 
 46,450 
 
 The annual reports of the Postmaster General furnish the following 
 statistics of deliveries to deputy postmasters : 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1866 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1865. Dec. 31, 1865. Mch. 31, 1866. June 30, 1866. 
 
 10,130 
 
 20,130 
 
 130 
 
 Whole number of stamps 65,420. Value $6,306.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1867 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 5 cents 
 
 10,000 
 
 10 
 
 10 cents 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,010 
 
 25 cents 
 
 5,000 
 
 10 
 
 Total. 
 
 20,140 
 
 40,140 
 
 5 cents 
 
 Sept. 30, 1866. 
 
 10,000 
 
 30,000 
 
 5,000 
 
 lole number of 
 
 Dec. 31, 1866. Mch. 31, 1867. June 30, 
 10,000 20,000 . . . . 
 
 1867. 
 
 Total. 
 40,000 
 
 10 cents 
 
 20,000 50,000 . . . . 
 
 
 25 cents 
 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 Wl 
 
 Stamps 145,000. Value $13,250.00. 
 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1865. 293 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1868 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1867. Dec. 31, 1867. Mch. 31, 1868. June 30, 1868. Total. 
 
 scents 10,000 10,000 20,000 40,000 
 
 10 cents 20,000 25,000 20,000 ' 50,000 115,000 
 
 25 cents 5, 000 SjOoo 
 
 Whole number of stamps 160,000. Value $14,750.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1869 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1868. Dec. 31, 1868. Mch. 31, 1869. June 30, 1869. Total. 
 
 5 cents 15,200 10,020 io,2oo' 35,420 
 
 10 cents 45,100- 25,020 25,200 95,320 
 
 25 cents 15,060 S)02o 100 20,180 
 
 Whole number of stamps 150,920. Value $16,348.00. 
 
 The reprints of this and succeeding issues of newspaper stamps will 
 be described in a chapter devoted to that subject. 
 
 Counterfeits of these stamps are occasionally seen and some of them 
 are rather dangerous. They are made by photo-lithography. They usually 
 appear blurred, especially in the white lathe-work surrounding the medallions. 
 They are too small, measuring 48^ to 5o^mm. by 92^ to 94j^mm. The 
 perforation is nearly always incorrect, ii, iij^ or i2j^. 
 
 Iteprints. 
 
 Counterfeits. 
 
Newspaper and Periodical Stamps, 
 
 Issue of 1875. 
 
 From 1.^69 to v&T4 inclusive the postage on newspapers and periodicals 
 was again collected in money. From the report of the Postmaster General, 
 dated November 14th, 1873, it is apparent that this system was both unsatis- 
 factory and unprofitable. He says : 
 
 " In my report for i86g ! had the honor to suggest a plan for the prepayment of 
 
 postage on newspapers and other matter of the second class by we ght of packages, rather 
 
 System sngtrfstcil than by the present system, which requires the manipulation of each particular paper and 
 
 Iiy the I'ostniastiT allows the payment of postage at either the mailing office or the office of delivery. A careful 
 
 Oeiieriil. revision of the subject confirms me in the opinion that the postage on all such matters should 
 
 be collected in advance at the mailing office. Collections are now made with great difficulty, 
 
 and there is no provision whatever by which dishonesty or negligence can be detected. No 
 
 i=tamps are used for the payment of such postage, and the Department is compelled to accept 
 
 in full satisfaction whatever sums of money postmasters choose to charge against themselves. 
 
 So execrably bad is this system that postal officers of high standing have estimated that not 
 
 more than one-third of the postage properly chargeable on newspapers is accounted for and 
 
 paid over." 
 
 The suggestions of the Postmaster General were duly considered by 
 
 Congress and resulted in an Act, approved June 23rd, 1874, which provided : 
 
 "Section 5. That on and after the first day of January, 187^, all newspapers and 
 periodical publications, mailed from a known office of publication or news agency and 
 rian authorizeil addressed to regular subscribers or news agents, shall be charged the following rates : 
 by Congress. On newspapers and periodical publications issued weekly and more frequently than 
 
 once a week, two cents for each pound or fraction thereof, and on those issued less frequently 
 than once a week three cents for each pound or fraction thereof ; Provided that nothing in 
 this Act shall be held to change or amend Section 90 of the Act entitled : ' An Act to revise, 
 consolidate and amend the statutes relating to the Post Office Department,' approved June 
 8th, 1872. 
 
 Section 6. That on and after the first day of January, 1875, upon the receipt of such 
 newspapers and periodical publications at the office of mailing, they shall be weighed in 
 bulk, and the postage paid thereon by a special adhesive stamp, to be devised and furnished 
 by the Postmaster General ; which shall be affixed to such matter or to the sack containing 
 the same, or upon a memorandum of such mailing, or otheiwi>e as the Postmaster General 
 may from lime to time provide by regulation." 
 
 The stamps were first sent out to postmasters on December nth, 1874 
 and went into use on January ist, 1875. 
 
 In the re[)ort of the Third .Assistant Postmaster General, dated Novem- 
 ber 15th, 1875, we find further interesting details concerning the stamps, the 
 manner of using them and the success of the system : 
 
 " On the first day of January, 1S7S, the new law requiring prepayment of postage by 
 
 stamps on all newspapers ;ind periodicals, sent from a known office of publication to regular 
 
 Syntcni round subscribers through the mails, went into operation. The system inaugurated to carry the law 
 
 Niitlsfivolory. into eflect was approved by you in October, 1874, and has been found by experience to he 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1875. 
 
 ^95 
 
 admirably adapted to the purpose for which it was devised. No complaints of abuses on the 
 part of publishers or postmasters have been received at this office during the nine months 
 that have elapsed since the law went into effect. Indeed, it has worked so well in all its 
 details, and has given such general satisfaction, that the idea of returning to the old system, 
 or materially modifying the new one, ought not to be entertained. 
 
 Previous to the time when this law began to operate, no stamps were required for the 
 payment of postage on newspapers sent to regular subscribers, as the postage was collected 
 in money quaiterly at the office of delivery. Last year there were 35,000 post offices at 
 which newspaper postage was collected, while under the present tiue system of the absolute 
 prepayment of all postages, the whole amount is collected at about 3,400 offices, the latter 
 representing the number of places in the United States at which newspapers and periodicals 
 are mailed. 
 
 The papers for subscribers living outside of the county in which they are published 
 are made up in bulk at the publication office, carried to the post office, and there weighed. 
 The postage is computed on the whole issue, the proper amount in stamps handed to the 
 postmaster, who gives the publisher a receipt as evidence of payment, and on the stubs of 
 the receipt book he affixes and cancels the stamps, which correspond in value with the sum 
 mentioned in the receipt. Thus, one transaction is all that is required in paying the post- 
 age upon a single is.'iue of any regular publication The stubs with their cancelled stamps 
 are kept in the post office, as vouchers for the postage paid. In no case are the stamps 
 affixed to the papers or packages that pass through the mails. 
 
 These stamps are twenty-four in number, and were prepared by the Continental Bank 
 Note Company, of New York, from designs selected in October, 1R74. The denominations 
 are as follows, viz.: 2 cents, 3 cents, 4 cents, 6 cents, 8 cents, 9 cents, 10 cents, 12 cents, 
 24 cents, 36 cents, 48 cents, 60 cents, 72 cents, 84 cents, q6 cents, $1.92, $3, $6, $9, $12, 
 $24, I36, $48 and $60. These denominations were "found to be necessary, in order that 
 payment might be made on any given quantity from one pound to one ton, at both the two 
 and three cent rate, with the use of not to exceed five stamps in any transaction." 
 
 At first it was required to cancel the stamps witli a punch but after- 
 wards various forms of post office "killers " and even pen cancellations were 
 allowed to be used. The stubs with the cancelled stamps attached were sent, 
 at regular intervals, to the Post Office Department at Washington and, after 
 comparison with the accounts, were destroyed. 
 
 The following is the official description of the designs: 
 r, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10 Cents. Emblematical figure of America, 
 looking to the right and modeled after Crawford's statue upon the dome of 
 the Capitol. The left hand rests on a shield and holds a wreath; the right 
 grasps a sword. The head is adorned with a coronet of stars, surmounted by 
 an eagle's head. The vignette stands in an arched frame, and at the sides 
 and top are slabs containing the inscriptions: " newspapers " on the left, 
 "periodicals" on the right, and " u. s. postage " at the top. At the 
 bottom are shaded capitals representing the value, which is also indicated by 
 large figures in the upper corners. The lower corners are ornamented by 
 shields. The color of these stamps is black. 
 
 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96 Cents. Vignette of Astraea, or 
 Justice, in niche, curved at. the top, holding in her right hand the balance, 
 and resting with her left on a shield bearing the United States coat of arms. 
 The figure is full-robed, mailed and girdled as to the upper part, and helmet- 
 ed. Surmounting the helmet is an eagle with outstretched wings. Figures 
 representing values on shields in upper corners, values also in sunken letters 
 below, richly ornamented. Inscriptions on sides and at top in shaded capitals 
 on lined ground. Color, pink. 
 
 One Dollar and Ninety-two Cents. Vignette of Ceres, Goddess 
 of Agriculture, in curved niche. She holds in her left hand an ear of corn; 
 her right, holding a wreath, rests against the hip. The figure faces to the 
 
 Manner of nsing 
 tlie stamps. 
 
 Iteason for tiie 
 various denomi- 
 nations. 
 
 Cancellation. 
 
 Designs and colors. 
 
296 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS.^ — ISSUE OF 1875. 
 
 front, and is clad in full, flowing robes, ''u. s. postage " at the top; other 
 inscriptions in italic letters on obelisks at either side, resting on the lower 
 slab, containing value in white capitals. Value also in figures in upper 
 corners. Color, deep brown. 
 
 Three Dollars Goddess of Victory, in curved niche, full robed, 
 girded, with sword to the left, and mantel thrown over shoulders. The right 
 hand is stretched forward, holding a wreath; the left rests on a shield. 
 Figures of value in upper corners; value below in letters, on either side of a 
 large figure " 3 ". Inscriptions in solid labels, on either side, and on lined 
 ground above. Color, vermilion. 
 
 Six Dollars. Clio, the Muse of History, in curved niche, full-robed, 
 the toga thrown over the left shoulder. In her right hand she holds a stylus; 
 in the left, a tablet. Figures of value in upper corners, surrounded by curved 
 ornaments. Inscriptions in white shaded letters on sides, and above in dark 
 letters, on lined ground. Color, light blue. 
 
 Nine Dollars. Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, full-robed, in 
 curved niche. The left hand is placed across her breast, holding a portion 
 of her toga ; the right is grasping a spear. Figures of value in upper corners. 
 Inscriptions on sides in shaded italics, and above in small letters on lined 
 ground. Value also in letters below on scroll. Beneath is a large " 9 ", in 
 curved ornaments. Color, orange. 
 
 Twelve Dollars. Vesta, the Goddess of the Fireside, full-robed, in 
 curved niche. The left hand lifts her drapery ; the right holds a burning 
 lamp. Figures of value in upper corners on tablets ; value also in letters on 
 beaded frame beneath. Inscriptions in solid italic letters on sides, and in 
 small white letters above. Color, rich green. 
 
 Twenty-four Dollars. Goddess of Peace, in curved niche — a half- 
 naked figure, leaning against a broken column. She holds in her left hand 
 an olive branch, while the right grasps three arrows. The value is in words 
 beneath, on a solid tablet ; also in figures, in ornamented curves, in upper 
 corners. Inscriptions in white shaded letters above and -on sides, between 
 which latter and each upper corner is a large, six-pointed star. Color, pur- 
 plish slate. 
 
 Thirty-six Dollars. Figure representing Commerce, in full gar- 
 ments, in curved niche. She holds in her left hand the caduceus, the winged 
 rod of Mercury ; in her right, a miniature ship. Figures of value in upper 
 corners and in ornamented capitals below. Inscriptions, also in ornamented 
 capitals, on sides and above. Color, dull red 
 
 Forty-eight Dollars. Hebe, the Goddess of Youth, partly draped, 
 in curved niche. The right hand holds a cup, which she is offering to the 
 eagle, around whose neck is thrown her left hand. Figures of value on shields 
 in upper corners, the word " postage " between ; value also in letters below, 
 in curved ornaments. The letters " u. s.", in circles, between upper corners 
 and side inscriptions, the latter being in curved labels. Color, light brown. 
 
 Sixty Dollars. Vignette of an Indian maiden, standing in a rec- 
 tangular frame. She is robed from her waist downward. Her right arm is 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1875. 297 
 
 extended while her left hangs by her side. The background is a landscape, 
 trees and vines to the left, and wigwams to the right in the distance. Figures 
 of value on shields in upper corners ; value also in white letters on solid tablet 
 below. Inscriptions in white, on solid labels, above and on sides. Color, 
 rich purple. 
 
 The stamps measure 24j^x35mm. 
 
 The paper is thin, hard and slightly transparent. A few values are 
 occasionally seen on a paper which is thicker and more opaque. The two Paper. 
 
 and three cents are also found on ribbed paper. The gum is thin and smooth, 
 usually yellowish but sometimes almost white. The perforation has the 
 normal guage, 12. 
 
 The stamps are found in the following shades and varieties : 
 
 Perforated 12. Iteference List. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 2 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 
 
 3 cents black, gray-black 
 
 4 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 
 6 cents black, gray-black 
 
 8 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 
 
 9 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 
 10 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 
 
 12 cents pale rose, rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose, violet- 
 rose 
 24 cents pale rose, rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose, violet- 
 rose 
 36 cents pale rose, rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
 48 cents rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
 60 cents rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
 72 cents rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
 84 cents rose, lilac-rose 
 96 cents rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
 1.92 cents bistre-brown, dark brown 
 
 3 dollars vermilion, orange- vermilion 
 
 6 dollars ultramarine, dull ultramarine 
 
 9 dollars yellow 
 1 2 dollars blue-green 
 24 dollars dark gray-violet 
 36 dollars rose-brown 
 48 dollars vermilion-brown 
 60 dollars red-violet 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 2 cents black. Imperforate 
 
 3 cents black 
 
 4 cents black " 
 6 cents black " 
 8 cents black " 
 
298 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 875. 
 
 Plate iiiiiiiborM. 
 
 9 cents black Imperforate 
 
 10 cents black 
 12 cents bright rose 
 24 cents bright rose 
 36 cents bright rose 
 48 cents bright rose 
 60 cents bright rose 
 72 cents bright rose 
 84 cents bright rose 
 96 cents bright rose 
 192 cents dark brown 
 
 3 dollars vermilion 
 
 6 dollars ultramarine 
 
 9 dollars yellow 
 12 dollars blue-green 
 24 dollars dark gray-violet 
 36 dollars rose-brown 
 48 dollars vermilion-brown 
 60 dollars red-violet 
 
 Horizontally Ribbed Paper. 
 
 2 cents black 
 
 3 cents black 
 
 The plates each contained one hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows 
 of ten. Before delivery the sheets were divided horizontally into half sheets 
 of fifty stamps. The imprint was "Engraved and printed by the — Con- 
 tinental Bank Note Co., New York ", in two lines of white Roman 
 capitals, on a panel with beaded edge and surrounded by a thin colored line. 
 The imprint was placed above the two stamps in the middle of the top row 
 and below the corresponding stamps of the bottom row. There were no 
 imprints at the sides, merely three lines forming an arrow head and marking 
 the line at which the sheet should be divided. Numbers were assigned to all 
 the plates but they do not appear on sheets of the lower values (I have not 
 been able to see sheets of the higher values) and probably were not engraved 
 on any of the plates, at least not on the face. Sheets from one of the plates 
 of the two cents show a script figure " 2 " above the eighth stamp of the top 
 row ; and certain sheets of the three cents bear, above the seventh stamp of 
 the same row, a large Roman capital " B ", white faced and heavily shaded. 
 The numbers assigned to the plates were : 
 
 2 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 200, 
 
 218B. 
 
 3 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 206, 
 
 23-^, 233B 
 
 4 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 2'5- 
 
 
 6 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 216. 
 
 
 8 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 213. 
 
 
 9 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 211. 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 217. 
 
 
 12 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 195- 
 
 
 24 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 198. 
 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1875. 
 
 299 
 
 36 cents No. 196. 
 
 48 cents No. 203. 
 
 60 cents No. 202. 
 
 72 cents No. 201. 
 
 84 cents No. 205. 
 
 96 cents No. 204. 
 
 192 cents No. 207. 
 
 3 dollars No. 199. 
 
 6 dollars No. 197. 
 
 9 dollars No. 194. 
 
 12 dollars No. 214. 
 
 24 dollars No. 209. 
 
 36 dollars No. 212. 
 
 48 dollars No. 210. 
 
 60 dollars No. 208. 
 
 These stamps are found surcharged with the word " Specimen " in 
 
 gothic type. This surcharge is of two sizes ; one is similar to the well-known 
 
 surcharge on the stamps of the 1861 issue, while the other is smaller. 
 
 I have only been able to secure incomplete statistics of the quantities 
 of these stamps received by the Stamp Agent from the contractors. During 
 the first three years of manufacture the quantities were : 
 Year Ending December 31ST : 
 1875. 
 
 ' SpeeinieDS.' 
 
 Statistics of 
 manufucturo. 
 
 
 1874. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 97S,ooo 
 
 3 cents 
 
 975,000 
 
 4 cents 
 
 792,000 
 
 6 cents 
 
 775,000 
 
 8 cents 
 
 198,000 
 
 9 cents 
 
 200,000 
 
 10 cents 
 
 188,000 
 
 12 cents 
 
 200,000 
 
 24 cents 
 
 197,000 
 
 36 cents 
 
 100,000 
 
 48 cents 
 
 100,000 
 
 60 cents 
 
 100,000 
 
 72 cents 
 
 100,000 
 
 84 cents 
 
 100,000 
 
 96 cents 
 
 100,000 
 
 192 cents 
 
 20,000 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 40,000 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 20,000 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 20,000 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 20,0C0 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 5,000 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 S,ooo 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 S,ooo 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 5,000 
 
 Total, 
 
 5,240,000 
 
 90,000 
 
 19,500 
 
 5,000 
 
 114,500 
 
 1876. 
 
 Total. 
 
 175,000 
 
 1,150,000 
 
 
 975,000 
 
 
 
 792,000 
 
 
 775,000 
 
 180,000 
 
 378,000 
 
 35,000 
 
 235,000 
 
 125,000 
 
 403,000 
 
 175,000 
 
 375,°°° 
 
 175,000 
 
 372,000 
 
 45,000 
 
 145,000 
 
 40,000 
 
 140,000 
 
 40,000 
 
 140,000 
 
 40,000 
 
 140,000 
 
 40,000 
 
 140,000 
 
 40,000 
 
 140,000 
 
 90,000 
 
 129,500 
 
 88,000 
 
 128,000 
 
 62,500 
 
 82,500 
 
 9.5°° 
 
 29,500 
 
 8,500 
 
 28,500 
 
 9>5°° 
 
 19,5°° 
 
 18,500 
 
 23,50° 
 
 9-5°° 
 
 14,500 
 
 i3>So° 
 
 18,500 
 
 1,419,500 
 
 6,774,000 
 
300 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1875. 
 
 The annual reports of the Postmaster General furnish the following 
 statistics of quantities supplied to deputy postmasters: 
 Deiireries to Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875: 
 
 '"'^'°"'*"'"- Quarter Ending: 
 
 Sept. 30, 1874. Dec. 31, 1874. Mch. 31,1875. June 30, 1875. Total. 
 
 2 cents 470,700 69,795 49,060 589,555 
 
 scents 260,800 33,930 23,365 318,095 
 
 4 cents 272,900 26,600 25,665 325,165 
 
 6 cents 173,250 27,345 25,380 225,975 
 
 8 cents 51,250 14,000 14,405 79,655 
 
 9 cents 29,000 7,520 5,210 41,730 
 
 10 cents ; . . 89,150 28,610 32,410 150,170 
 
 12 cents 84,400 22,340 19,785 126,525 
 
 24 cents 53,750 20,845 17,820 92,415 
 
 36 cents 18,300 12,280 8,585 39,165 
 
 48 cents 17,700 10,940 8,190 36,830 
 
 60 cents 21,750 10,675 11,381 43,806 
 
 72 cents 5,700 7,025 6,725 19,450 
 
 84 cents 4,950 6,850 5,957 17,757 
 
 96 cents 12,750 10,505 9,910 33,165 
 
 192 cents 4,225 9,500 6,337 20,062 
 
 3 dollars 6,969 6,768 7,222 20,959 
 
 6 dollars 2,585 3,544 3,173 9,302 
 
 9 dollars 1,151 2,611 1,606 5,368 
 
 12 dollars 1,350 2,548 2,184 6,082 
 
 24 dollars 554 i,59o 1,046 3,190 
 
 36 dollars 319 1,009 343 1,671 
 
 48 dollars 191 831 305 ',327 
 
 60 dollars 376 640 780 ',796 
 
 Whole number of stamps 2,209,215. Value $815,902.47. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1876 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1875. Dec. 31, 1875. Mch. 31, 1876, June 30, 1876. Total. 
 
 2 cents 6o,9SS 59,675 78,265 64,770 263,665 
 
 3 cents 23,085 21,470 27,600 23,780 95,935 
 
 4 cents 30,495 28,030 35,750 31,850 126,125 
 6 cents 32,325 25,905 34,57o 32,785 125,585 
 
 8 cents 14,920 '2,515 20,940 16,440 64,815 
 
 9 cents 5,920 3,630 6,680 6,420 22,650 
 10 cents 3', 520 32,500 44,3*o 38,070 146,410 
 12 cents 20,770 22,555 25,99s 24,580 93,900 
 24 cents 16,830 i8,33S 22,925 22,960 81,050 
 36 cents 8,025 9,250 •1,875 «i,io5 40,255 
 48 cents 6,975 8,065 10,260 9,565 34,86s 
 60 cents 6,025 6,475 10,530 9,280 3',3'o 
 72 cents 2,430 2,550 5,825 4,915 15,720 
 84 cents 2,790 3,185 5,045 4,570 15,595 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1875. 30I 
 
 9,940 
 5,215 
 6,319 
 1,673 
 1,424 
 1,672 
 404 
 
 S'S 
 
 96 
 
 648 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,290,347. Value $945,254.75. 
 Stamps issued duringthe fiscal year ending June 30th, 1877 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 96 cents 
 
 1 1,460 
 
 192 cents 
 
 6,290 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 6,719 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 3,799 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 2,57' 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 2,219 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 1,636 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 529 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 333 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 691 
 
 h. 31, 1876. 
 
 June 30, 1876 
 
 Total. 
 
 11,300 
 
 10,695 
 
 43,390 
 
 7,050 
 
 6,41s 
 
 24,970 
 
 7,204 
 
 5,874 
 
 26,116 
 
 3,682 
 
 2,921 
 
 12,075 
 
 1,781 
 
 1,576 
 
 7,352 
 
 2,078 
 
 1,884 
 
 7,853 
 
 588 
 
 762 
 
 3,390 
 
 439 
 
 618 
 
 2,TOI 
 
 232 
 
 513 
 
 i,'74 
 
 807 
 
 900 
 
 3,049 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1876. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1876. Mch. 31, 1877. 
 
 June 30, 1877. 
 
 Total. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 73,655 
 
 66,510 
 
 72,180 
 
 7',57o 
 
 283,9'S 
 
 3 cents 
 
 26,980 
 
 23,600 
 
 27,360 
 
 27,170 
 
 I05,TIO 
 
 4 cents 
 
 35,480 
 
 32,680 
 
 33,095 
 
 38,040 
 
 139,29s 
 
 6 cents 
 
 3f,345 
 
 28,210 
 
 29,560 
 
 32.265 
 
 121,380 
 
 8 cents 
 
 19,210 
 
 16,095 
 
 16,865 
 
 20,675 
 
 72,845 
 
 9 cents 
 
 6,210 
 
 4,330 
 
 5,530 
 
 6,240 
 
 22,310 
 
 10 cents 
 
 42,f45 
 
 37,955 
 
 42,170 
 
 46,410 
 
 168,680 
 
 12 cents 
 
 26,640 
 
 2 2,495 
 
 25,630 
 
 24,165 
 
 98,930 
 
 24 cents 
 
 23,005 
 
 19,780 
 
 23,160 
 
 20,815 
 
 86,760 
 
 36 cents 
 
 11,385 
 
 10,516 
 
 11,080 
 
 12,470 
 
 45,445 
 
 48 cents 
 
 9,695 
 
 9,435 
 
 10,365 
 
 '0,315 
 
 39,810 
 
 60 cents 
 
 9,119 
 
 8,950 
 
 11,446 
 
 9,705 
 
 39,220 
 
 72 cents 
 
 4,5>o 
 
 4,460 
 
 5,205 
 
 5,250 
 
 19,452 
 
 84 cents 
 
 3,64s 
 
 4,285 
 
 5,555 
 
 4,19s 
 
 1.7,680 
 
 96 cents 
 
 9,190 
 
 9,740 
 
 10,570 
 
 9,605 
 
 39,105 
 
 192 cents 
 
 7,005 
 
 5-275 
 
 7,575 
 
 5,715 
 
 25,570 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 6,746 
 
 6,059 
 
 6,333 
 
 6,2 r5 
 
 25,353 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 3,207 
 
 2,926 
 
 2,867 
 
 3,432 
 
 12,432 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 1,544 
 
 ",923 
 
 1,384 
 
 2,234 
 
 7,085 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 1,978 
 
 2,160 
 
 1,55^ 
 
 2,260 
 
 7,949 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 926 
 
 986 
 
 735 
 
 738 
 
 3,38s 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 409 
 
 557 
 
 668 
 
 499 
 
 2,133 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 289 
 
 289 
 
 423 
 
 191 
 
 1,192 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 853 
 
 949 
 
 998 
 
 900 
 
 3,700 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,388,709. 
 
 Value $t. 
 
 000,605.10. 
 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year 
 
 ending June 30th, 1878 : 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 
 
 Sept 30, 1877 
 
 Dec 31, 1877. Mch. 31, 1878. 
 
 June 30, 1878. 
 
 Total. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 84,57s 
 
 63,740 
 
 104,210 
 
 75,265 
 
 327,790 
 
 3 cents 
 
 32,100 
 
 24,260 
 
 43,510 
 
 29,050 
 
 128,920 
 
 4 cents- 
 
 45,335 
 
 31,600 
 
 52,810 
 
 35,990 
 
 165,735 
 
 6 cents 
 
 40,475 
 
 27,120 
 
 44,230 
 
 33,055 
 
 144,880 
 
 8 cents 
 
 25,090 
 
 18,565 
 
 25,650 
 
 20,115 
 
 89,420 
 
302 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1875. 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1877. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1877. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1878. 
 
 June 30, 1878. 
 
 Total 
 
 9 cents 
 
 7,730 
 
 5, '90 
 
 7,450 
 
 4,620 
 
 24,990 
 
 10 cents 
 
 54,285 
 
 42,005 
 
 64,775 
 
 47.705 
 
 208,770 
 
 12 cents 
 
 32,580 
 
 20,720 
 
 35,03s 
 
 23,220 
 
 i",5S5 
 
 24 cents 
 
 26,855 
 
 17,490 
 
 30,330 
 
 20,455 
 
 95,130 
 
 36 cents 
 
 i?,350 
 
 9,995 
 
 15,450 
 
 10,690 
 
 48,485 
 
 48 cents 
 
 9,985 
 
 7,295 
 
 14,045 
 
 7,640 
 
 38,965 
 
 60 cents 
 
 11,490 
 
 9,335 
 
 12,820 
 
 8,615 
 
 42,260 
 
 72 cents 
 
 4,945 
 
 4,955 
 
 8,070 
 
 3,945 
 
 2T,9IS 
 
 84 cents 
 
 6,210 
 
 4,910 
 
 6,345 
 
 4,520 
 
 21,985 
 
 96 cents 
 
 12,210 
 
 7,870 
 
 14,040 
 
 8,8is 
 
 42,935 
 
 192 cents 
 
 8,250 
 
 5,980 
 
 9,575 
 
 5.475 
 
 29,280 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 7,220 
 
 6,219 
 
 8,317 
 
 5.499 
 
 27,255 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 3,686 
 
 2,741 
 
 3,165 
 
 3.763 
 
 ",355 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 2,336 
 
 1,269 
 
 1,449 
 
 1,530 
 
 6.584 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 2,783 
 
 1,802 
 
 1,882 
 
 2.033 
 
 8,500 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 973 
 
 1,232 
 
 648 
 
 1.177 
 
 4.029 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 825 
 
 599 
 
 377 
 
 470 
 
 2,271 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 660 
 
 325 
 
 253 
 
 540 
 
 1,778 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 ■ 961 
 
 960 
 
 872 
 
 998 
 
 3,79« 
 
 Whole number of stamps, 1,609,57 
 
 '8. Value, $1 
 
 ,093,845.30. 
 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1879: 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1878. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1878. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1879, 
 
 June 30, 1879. 
 
 Total. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 75,335 
 
 75,450 
 
 84,980 
 
 87,600 
 
 323,365 
 
 3 cents 
 
 29,190 
 
 30,240 
 
 29,530 
 
 13,730 
 
 102,690 
 
 4 cents 
 
 40,380 
 
 39,««5 
 
 43.385 
 
 46,900 
 
 169,780 
 
 6 cents 
 
 36,185 
 
 30,905 
 
 34,455 
 
 33,810 
 
 135.355 
 
 8 cents 
 
 21,545 
 
 23,295 
 
 22,990 
 
 24,020 
 
 91,850 
 
 9 cents 
 
 6,750 
 
 6,260 
 
 6,230 
 
 2,340 
 
 21,580 
 
 10 cents 
 
 50,615 
 
 49,565 
 
 52,390 
 
 52,135 
 
 204,705 
 
 12 cents 
 
 25,310 
 
 25,095 
 
 26,190 
 
 26,240 
 
 102,83s 
 
 24 cents 
 
 22,210 
 
 22,T95 
 
 23,8'5 
 
 24,600 
 
 92,820 
 
 36 cents 
 
 11,710 
 
 12,180 
 
 12,730 
 
 11,985 
 
 48,605 
 
 48 cents 
 
 9,165 
 
 9,660 
 
 9,770 
 
 9,89s 
 
 38,490 
 
 60 cents 
 
 10,065 
 
 Jo,95o 
 
 11,015 
 
 10,180 
 
 42,210 
 
 72 cents 
 
 5,105 
 
 5,655 
 
 6,36s 
 
 4,995 
 
 22,120 
 
 84 cents 
 
 4,545 
 
 3,825 
 
 5,to5 
 
 5,465 
 
 18,490 
 
 96 cents 
 
 12,820 
 
 8,835 
 
 ' 1,350 
 
 11,240 
 
 44.245 
 
 192 cents 
 
 6,775 
 
 6,055 
 
 7,>i5 
 
 6,408 
 
 26,353 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 6,566 
 
 5,931 
 
 7-583 
 
 6,662 
 
 26,742 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 3,142 
 
 2,558 
 
 3.634 
 
 2.583 
 
 11.917 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 1,962 
 
 2,756 
 
 2,416 
 
 1,680 
 
 7,814 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 2,13 • 
 
 1,570 
 
 2,819 
 
 1.752 
 
 8.272 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 836 
 
 665 
 
 1,231 
 
 849 
 
 3.581 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 663 
 
 320 
 
 781 
 
 346 
 
 2,113 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 455 
 
 274 
 
 528 
 
 198 
 
 1,450 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 1,148 
 
 927 
 
 1,167 
 
 1,098 
 
 4,340 
 
 Whole nurhber of stamps, 1,552,172. Value, $1,088,412.16. 
 
Newspaper and Periodical Stamps, 
 
 Issue of 1879. 
 
 In February, 1879, when the leading banknote companies of New 
 York City were consolidated under the name of the American Bank Note 
 Co., the new corporation assumed the contract of the Continental Bank Note 
 Co. for the manufacture of postage stamps. In printing the stamps for news- 
 papers and periodicals the American Bank Note Co. used the plates of its 
 predecessor and did not make any new plates, with the exception of a plate 
 for the one cent value which will be described hereafter. For the two and 
 three cent stamps plates 218B and 233B, respectively, were employed, the 
 other plates of those values having been previously retired from use. 
 
 By an Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1879, the postage on 
 newspapers and periodicals was fixed at the uniform rate of two cents per 
 pound. 
 
 In connection with this change the following official circular was sent 
 
 to postmasters: 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
 
 Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Envelopes & Post Cards. 
 
 Washington, D. C, April 25, 1879. 
 The attention of Postmasters is hereby called to the fact that, on and after the fust of 
 May proximo, under the act of March jd, 1879, "natter of the second class, commonly 
 known as newspaper and periodical matter, will be entitled to pass through the mail at a 
 uniform rate of 2 cents per pound. Care will be taken not to collect payment on such matter 
 at more than that rate. The same general regulations concerning the collection of news- 
 paper postage, as have been heretofore promulgated, will remain in force and the same books 
 and blanks, together with the newspaper and periodical' stamps that are now outstanding, 
 will continue to be used. In future, however, the issue of the three and nine cents denomina- 
 tions of newspaper and periodical stamps will be discontinued. 
 
 A. D. Hazen, 
 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
 
 The rate of postage on printed matter of the second class, when sent 
 
 through the mails by publishers and news agents, was reduced to one cent 
 
 per pound by Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1885. This rate went 
 
 into effect on July ist, 1885, and necessitated the issue of a one cent stamp. 
 
 On this subject the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated 
 
 November 18th, 1885, says: 
 
 " To provide for wants that were certain to arise from the change in the rate of post- 
 age on newspapers and periodicals sent by publishers and news agents to actual subscribers, 
 authorized by the act of Congress of March 3, 1885, the Department began issuing, on the 
 
 Change of 
 contractors. 
 
 Kate of postage 
 reduced. 
 
 Circular to 
 postmasters. 
 
 Rate of postage 
 again reduced. 
 
 One cent stamp. 
 
304 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 879. 
 
 5d of June, 1885, newspaper and periodical postage stamps of the denomination of 1 cent, 
 (or use after July i, 1885. This new denomination is of the same design and color as the 
 stamps of the denominations from 2 to 10 cents in the same series ; the only difference is in 
 the numeral and the word indicating the value." 
 
 For this new value only one plate was made. Like the plates of the 
 series made by the Continental Bank Note Co., it contained one hundred 
 Plate. stamps, arranged in ten rows of ten stamps each. At the time of perforating, 
 
 the printed sheets were divided horizontally into half sheets of fifty stamps. 
 The imprint appears four times on each sheet, that is to say, at the middle of 
 the top, bottom and each side. It is "American bank note company, new 
 YORK." in very small colored Roman capitals, ^mm high. The inscription 
 is but 33 ^mm. long, thus extending only partly over two stamps. It is not 
 on a panel, as is customary, and is entirely without ornamental surroundings. 
 Plate nniiiber. Above the imprint at the top of the plate is " No. 482 ", in slanting letters and 
 numerals, 2mm high. 
 
 The paper is the thick, soft, porous paper that was used for all issues 
 made by this company. The gum varies from brownish yellow to white. 
 The perforation is, as usual, 12. 
 
 In the course of time the shades of the lower values changed to a con- 
 siderable extent. The colors and shades are: 
 
 Reference List. Perforated 12. 
 
 Thick Soft Porous Wove Paper. 
 
 1 cent black, deep black, gray-black 
 
 2 cents black, deep black, gray black, greenish black 
 
 3 cents black, deep black, gray-black 
 
 4 cents black, deep black, gray-black, greenish black 
 6 cents black, deep black, gray-black 
 
 8 cents black, deep black, gray-black 
 10 cents black, deep black, gray-black, greenish black 
 12 cents pale brown-red, brown-red, pale carmine, rose- 
 carmine, carmine, dark carmine, brown-carmine, 
 lake 
 24 cents pale brown-red, brown-red, pale carmine, rose- 
 carmine, carmine dark carmine, brown-carmine, 
 lake, violet-rose 
 36 cents brown-red, rose-carmine, dark carmine, violet- 
 rose 
 48 cents pale brown-red, brown-red, dark carmine, lake, 
 
 violet-rose 
 60 cents pale brown red, brown-red, rose-carmine, dark 
 
 carmine, violet-rose 
 72 cents brown-red, dark carmine, lake 
 84 cents brown-red, rose-carmine, dark carmine, violet- 
 rose 
 96 cents brown-red, rose-carmine, dark carmine 
 192 cents yellow-brown, brown, dark brown 
 
 3 dollars carmine-vermilion, deep carmine-vermilion 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 3°S 
 
 6 dollars blue, dark blue, chalky blue 
 
 9 dollars yellow-orange, orange 
 
 12 dollars deep green, deep yellow-green, blue-green 
 24 dollars dark violet 
 
 36 dollars dull rose, brown-rose, Indian red 
 48 dollars orange-brown, deep orange-brown 
 60 dollars pale purple, purple, deep purple 
 
 Variety: 
 
 60 cents dull brown-red. Imperforate. 
 On page 285 will be found a letter of the Third Assistant Postmaster 
 General, recommending the destruction of certain obsolete postage stamps, 
 of which a tabular statement is given. This table includes some newspaper 
 and periodical stamps, viz. : 
 
 3 cents 223,750 
 
 9 cents 101,240 
 
 A committee was appointed to carry out the suggested destruction 
 On referring to page 288 it will be seen that, in due course, the committee 
 reported the destruction of the ofificial stamps and the uncurrent stamps of 
 the regular issue but made no mention of any others. We may, therefore, 
 conclude that, at that time, the newspaper and periodical stamps escaped, 
 though it is probable that, at a later date, those of the nine cent denomina- 
 tion were destroyed. 
 
 The three cent stamp was again brought into use in the last quarter 
 of the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1885, but the nine cents was not again 
 revived, as will be seen by referring to the accompanying tables. 
 
 On pages 152 and 153 reference was made to a series of stamps over- 
 printed " SPECIMEN " in block capitals, which were intended for distribution 
 to foreign countries through the Universal Postal Union. The stamps thus 
 surcharged included the newspaper and periodical stamps, from one cent to 
 sixty dollars. The nine cent stamp was of the Continental printing. The 
 other values were the product of the American Bank Note Co. The de 
 nominations from twelve to ninety-six cents inclusive were printed in brown- 
 red. 
 
 The following statistics of issues of the newspaper and periodical 
 stamps have been compiled from the annual reports of the Postmaster General 
 and certain other sources of information. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1880: 
 
 Quarter Ending: ^ 
 
 Dec. 31, 1879. Mch. 31, 1880. 
 
 2 cents 
 4 cents 
 6 cents 
 8 cents 
 10 cents 
 12 cents 
 
 Sept. 30, 1879, 
 100,620 
 57.325 
 38.335 
 27.750 
 62,965 
 
 28,035 
 
 99.705 
 58.555 
 37.320 
 26,930 
 
 61,83s 
 26,965 
 
 97,640 
 
 55,655 
 37,470 
 28,410 
 61,707 
 27,090 
 
 June 30, iS 
 
 124,220 
 
 68,260 
 
 44.025 
 
 34.240 
 
 73.019 
 31,290 
 
 Total. 
 422,185 
 
 240,795 
 157.150 
 J 17.330 
 259.526 
 "13,38'^ 
 
 Suggested destruc- 
 tion of unissued 
 stamps. 
 
 Three cent stamp 
 again in use. 
 
 " Specimen ' 
 stamps. 
 
 Deliveries to 
 postmasters. 
 
3o6 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1879, 
 
 Dec. 31, 1879. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1880. 
 
 June 30, 1880. 
 
 Total. 
 
 24 cents 
 
 26,900 
 
 22,475 
 
 26,170 
 
 30,405 
 
 •05,950 
 
 36 cents 
 
 15,890 
 
 12,135 
 
 '3.580 
 
 15,670 
 
 57,275 
 
 48 cents 
 
 11,040 
 
 9,620 
 
 9.965 
 
 10,995 
 
 41,620 
 
 60 cents 
 
 14,250 
 
 10,820 
 
 13,040 
 
 13,435 
 
 5',54S 
 
 72 cents 
 
 7,640 
 
 4,370 
 
 6,630 . 
 
 7,00s 
 
 25,645 
 
 84 cents 
 
 6,40s 
 
 3,805 
 
 6,485 
 
 6,515 
 
 23,210 
 
 96 cents 
 
 "-7»S 
 
 11,910 
 
 11,745 
 
 14,010 
 
 50,390 
 
 192 cents 
 
 7,940 
 
 6,810 
 
 7,29s 
 
 7,675 
 
 29,720 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 8,075 
 
 5,964 
 
 7,498 
 
 7,582 
 
 29,119 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 3,441 
 
 3,679 
 
 3,606 
 
 3,270 
 
 13,996 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 2,138 
 
 2,205 
 
 1,595 
 
 2, 206 
 
 8,144 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 2,161 
 
 2,657 
 
 1,851 
 
 2,935 
 
 9,604 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 1,03s 
 
 939 
 
 ',043 
 
 1,291 
 
 4,308 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 540 
 
 452 
 
 779 
 
 550 
 
 2,321 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 350 
 
 421 
 
 381 
 
 753 
 
 1,905 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 ',093 
 
 I, "S3 
 
 ','53 
 
 1,565 
 
 4,964 
 
 Whole number of 
 
 stamps, 1,770,1 
 
 082. Value $1 
 
 ,252,903.30. 
 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1881: 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 s 
 
 ept. 30, 1880. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1880. 
 
 . Mch. 31, 1881. 
 
 June 30, i88r. 
 
 Total. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 '03,675 
 
 114,295 
 
 108,715 
 
 111,615 
 
 438,300 
 
 4 cents 
 
 63,980 
 
 69,185 
 
 72,430 
 
 70,330 
 
 275,925 
 
 6 cents 
 
 39,790 
 
 44,410 
 
 48,480 
 
 44,865 
 
 177,545 
 
 8 cents 
 
 30,845- 
 
 34,270 
 
 36,300 
 
 33,780 
 
 135,195 
 
 10 cents 
 
 69,945 
 
 80,297 
 
 81,411 
 
 80,190 
 
 311,843 
 
 12 cents 
 
 28,715 
 
 34,230 
 
 39,630 
 
 34,550 
 
 '37,125 
 
 24 cents 
 
 27,050 
 
 3',83S 
 
 35,390 
 
 33,370 
 
 127,645 
 
 36 cents 
 
 14,840 
 
 17,540 
 
 17,225 
 
 15,670 
 
 65,275 
 
 48 cents 
 
 12,070 
 
 12,050 
 
 12,840 
 
 12,350 
 
 49,3'o 
 
 60 cents 
 
 12,585 
 
 '3,8S5 
 
 16,250 
 
 15,780 
 
 58,470 
 
 72 cents 
 
 6, no 
 
 7,635 
 
 6,285 
 
 8,410 
 
 28,440 
 
 84 cents 
 
 4,975 
 
 6,890 
 
 7,090 
 
 6,300 
 
 25,255 
 
 96 cents 
 
 ",385 
 
 14,285 
 
 14,610 
 
 13,570 
 
 53,850 
 
 192 cents 
 
 6,85s 
 
 9,055 
 
 8,725 
 
 7,880 
 
 32,5'S 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 6,472 
 
 7,949 
 
 8,626 
 
 7,813 
 
 30,860 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 2,989 
 
 4,454 
 
 4,009 
 
 3,642 
 
 15,094 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 2,043 
 
 1,622 
 
 2,87s 
 
 1,783 
 
 8,323 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 2,428 
 
 2,385 
 
 2,894 
 
 2,504 
 
 10,211 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 932 
 
 885 
 
 938 
 
 960 
 
 3,7'S 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 340 
 
 752 
 
 755 
 
 653 
 
 2,500 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 275 
 
 601 
 
 5-8 
 
 456 
 
 1,850 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 ',339 
 
 2,082 
 
 1,723 
 
 1,398 
 
 6,542 
 
 Whole 
 
 number of 
 
 stamps T,99S, 
 
 788. Value $1 
 
 ,398,674.00. 
 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 307 
 
 Stamps 
 
 issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1882 : 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter 
 
 Ending : 
 
 
 
 Sept. 30, i88[. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1881. 
 
 Mch, 31, 1882. 
 
 June 30, 1882, 
 
 Total. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 128,300 
 
 131,770 
 
 111,145 
 
 120,19s 
 
 491,410 
 
 4 cents 
 
 79,495 
 
 80,320 
 
 73,505 
 
 79,745 
 
 313,065 
 
 6 cents 
 
 47, '7° 
 
 52,330 
 
 48,160 
 
 47,580 
 
 195,240 
 
 8 cents 
 
 36,540 
 
 37,595 
 
 34,940 
 
 37,955 
 
 147,030 
 
 10 cents 
 
 89,620 
 
 94,675 
 
 84,665 
 
 84,835 
 
 353,795 
 
 12 cents 
 
 34,595 
 
 37,470 
 
 39,145 
 
 37,430 
 
 148,640 
 
 24 cents 
 
 34,T35 
 
 37,425 
 
 37,680 
 
 37,270 
 
 146,510 
 
 36 cents 
 
 18,790 
 
 18,580 
 
 18,535 
 
 19,220 
 
 75,125 
 
 48 cents 
 
 12,795 
 
 12,340 
 
 '4,755 
 
 J 2,445 
 
 52,33s 
 
 60 cents 
 
 16,070 
 
 16,320 
 
 17,765 
 
 I5,'4S 
 
 65,300 
 
 72 cents 
 
 6,t8o 
 
 5,735 
 
 7,430 
 
 7,'35 
 
 26,480 
 
 84 cents 
 
 5,925 
 
 4,840 
 
 7,610 
 
 6,445 
 
 24,820 
 
 96 cents 
 
 11,930 
 
 14,485 
 
 13,905 
 
 13,070 
 
 53,390 
 
 192 cents 
 
 8,73° 
 
 8,640 
 
 8,200 
 
 10,245 
 
 35,815 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 7,9'7 
 
 6,938 
 
 9,292 
 
 8,152 
 
 32,299 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 4,186 
 
 2,932 
 
 4,387 
 
 4,425 
 
 15,930 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 1,858 
 
 1,484 
 
 3,517 
 
 1,716 
 
 8,575 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 2,700 
 
 2,2o6 
 
 3,555 
 
 2,9 '5 
 
 11,376 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 1,100 
 
 787 
 
 1,461 
 
 1,297 
 
 4,645 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 754 
 
 483 
 
 819 
 
 627 
 
 2,683 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 631 
 
 370 
 
 395 
 
 558 
 
 ',954 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 1,824 
 
 2,306 
 
 2,340 
 
 2,006 
 
 8,476 
 
 Whole 
 
 number of 
 
 Stamps 2,214, 
 
 893. Value! I 
 
 ,602,069.70. 
 
 -'>- 
 
 Stamps 
 
 issued during the fiscal 
 
 year ending June 30th, 1883 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter 
 
 Ending : 
 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1882, 
 
 Dec 31, 1882, 
 
 . Mch. 31, 1883. 
 
 June 30, 1883. 
 
 Total. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 106,220 
 
 103,940 
 
 102,475 
 
 101,025 
 
 413,660 
 
 4 cents 
 
 74,245 
 
 77,495 
 
 77,210 
 
 78,925 
 
 307,875 
 
 6 cents 
 
 49,755 
 
 50,700 
 
 52,345 
 
 5',5io 
 
 204,310 
 
 8 cents 
 
 36,99s 
 
 35,700 
 
 37,350 
 
 36,385 
 
 146,430 
 
 1 cents 
 
 84,820 
 
 81,725 
 
 85,410 
 
 80,020 
 
 331,975 
 
 12 cents 
 
 39,550 
 
 41,605 
 
 37,995 
 
 38,320 
 
 157,470 
 
 24 cents 
 
 41,765 
 
 41,695 
 
 43,630 
 
 40,750 
 
 167,840 
 
 36 cents 
 
 21,335 
 
 20,945 
 
 22,245 
 
 2',5i5 
 
 86,040 
 
 48 cents 
 
 14,035 
 
 16,700 
 
 15,975 
 
 15,885 
 
 62,595 
 
 60 cents 
 
 '6,570 
 
 17,725 
 
 18,465 
 
 19,^38 
 
 71,898 
 
 72 cents 
 
 8,070 
 
 9,2IO 
 
 8,650 
 
 9,525 
 
 35,455 
 
 84 cents 
 
 7,140 
 
 7,145 
 
 7,385 , 
 
 7,290 
 
 28,960 
 
 96 cents 
 
 12,630 
 
 17,405 
 
 '5,525 
 
 16,405 
 
 61,965 
 
 192 cents 
 
 7,645 
 
 11,890 
 
 8,990 
 
 9,405 
 
 37,930 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 7,418 
 
 8,882 
 
 9,701 
 
 9,142 
 
 35,143 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 3,740 
 
 4,755 
 
 4,087 
 
 4,560 
 
 17,142 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 1,901 
 
 3,039 
 
 Z,423 
 
 2,632 
 
 9,994 
 
3o8 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 Dec. 31,1882. Mch. 31, 1883. June 30, 1883. Total. 
 
 2,963 2.958 2,855 11.307 
 
 1.079 1.306 r.803 5,605 
 
 666 666 946 3.085 
 
 435 503 648 2,149 
 
 3,072 2,266 2,456 9,11' 
 Whole number of stamps 2,207,939. Value $f ,752,564.50. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1884 : 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 
 
 30, 1882, 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 
 2,531 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 
 I.417 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 
 807 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 
 563 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 
 2,317 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1883. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1883. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1884. 
 
 June 30, 1884. 
 
 Total. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 112,480 
 
 118,620 
 
 119,420 
 
 118,660 
 
 469,180 
 
 4 cents 
 
 85,595 
 
 86,830 
 
 94.825 
 
 88,525 
 
 355.775 
 
 6 cents 
 
 59,795 
 
 49,885 
 
 64,420 
 
 53,035 
 
 227.13s 
 
 8 cents 
 
 45,810 
 
 39,225 
 
 48,865 
 
 39,620 
 
 173,520 
 
 10 cents 
 
 90,290 
 
 78,795 
 
 95.365 
 
 94,685 
 
 359.13s 
 
 12 cents 
 
 43.3'o 
 
 41,110 
 
 41,845 
 
 39,585 
 
 165,850 
 
 24 cents 
 
 42,700 
 
 40,165 
 
 47,545 
 
 4*,325 
 
 i7?.73S 
 
 36 cents 
 
 24,885 
 
 20,605 
 
 26,130 
 
 22,515 
 
 94,135 
 
 48 cents 
 
 15,55s 
 
 16,105 
 
 17,685 
 
 15,625 
 
 65,970 
 
 60 cents 
 
 18,250 
 
 18,235 
 
 22,195 
 
 19,880 
 
 78.560 
 
 72 cents 
 
 7,795 
 
 8,855 
 
 ",965 
 
 8,815 
 
 37.430 
 
 84 cents 
 
 5,800 
 
 9,430 
 
 7,95° 
 
 8,330 
 
 31.510 
 
 96 cents 
 
 15,980 
 
 17,37° 
 
 17.295 
 
 15,965 
 
 66,610 
 
 192 cents 
 
 8,370 
 
 11,245 
 
 11,070 
 
 9,380 
 
 40,065 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 7,696 
 
 10,978 
 
 8,708 
 
 8,559 
 
 35,941 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 3,958 
 
 S.514 
 
 4,706 
 
 5.227 
 
 19.405 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 2,425 
 
 3.459 
 
 2,979 
 
 3,'" 
 
 ",974 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 2,520 
 
 3.797 
 
 3.374 
 
 3,507 
 
 i3.'98 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 1,260 
 
 '.775 
 
 1,730 
 
 ',025 
 
 5,790 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 614 
 
 1,081 
 
 1-053 
 
 857 
 
 3,605 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 475 
 
 965 
 
 826 
 
 55° 
 
 2,816 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 1,711 
 
 2,926 
 
 2,687 
 
 2,23s 
 
 9,559 
 
 Whole number of stamps 2,439,898. Value $1,923,217.80. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1885 • 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1884. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1884. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1885. 
 
 June 30, 1885. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 
 
 
 178,180 
 
 178,180 
 
 2 cents 
 
 118,240 
 
 "4,135 
 
 119,010 
 
 134,490 
 
 485,875 
 
 3 cents 
 
 
 
 
 22,730 
 
 22,730 
 
 4 cents 
 
 86,335 
 
 86,555 
 
 91,200 
 
 104,480 
 
 368,570 
 
 6 cents 
 
 56,015 
 
 53,560 
 
 57,080 
 
 64,29s 
 
 230,950 
 
 8 cents 
 
 41,010 
 
 38,975 
 
 44.760 
 98,860 
 
 47,680 
 
 172,425 
 
 10 cents 
 
 9',675 
 
 92,690 
 
 104,320 
 
 387,545 
 
 12 cents 
 
 40,425 
 
 4',63S 
 
 42,530 
 
 SS,9'S 
 
 108,505 
 
 24 cents 
 
 44,850 
 
 45,905 
 
 44,190 
 
 44,445 
 
 '79,390 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 309 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1884. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1884. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1885. 
 
 June 30, 1885. 
 
 Total. 
 
 36 cents 
 
 22,705 
 
 22,315 
 
 2S,'95 
 
 18,040 
 
 88,25s 
 
 48 cents 
 
 17,870 
 
 16,620 
 
 18,760 
 
 13,545 
 
 66,795 
 
 60 cents 
 
 18,670 
 
 20,080 
 
 21,405 
 
 15,260 
 
 75,415 
 
 72 cents 
 
 9-745 
 
 9>i65 
 
 9,305 
 
 7,330 
 
 35,545 
 
 84 cents 
 
 7,190 
 
 6,830 
 
 9,5'5 
 
 6,570 
 
 30,105 
 
 96 cents 
 
 17,800 
 
 16,770 
 
 19,795 
 
 14,370 
 
 68,735 
 
 192 cents 
 
 1 1,010 
 
 8,570 
 
 13,45s 
 
 8,250 
 
 41,285 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 10,871 
 
 7,967 
 
 9,829 
 
 9,612 
 
 38,279 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 4,492 
 
 4,094 
 
 4,983 
 
 4,479 
 
 18,048 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 2,852 
 
 2,658 
 
 2,782 
 
 3,084 
 
 ",376 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 3,147 
 
 3,3°7 
 
 3.441 
 
 3,409 
 
 13,304 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 I-73S 
 
 ',528 
 
 1,539 
 
 1,747 
 
 6,549 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 668 
 
 79° 
 
 8rS 
 
 820 
 
 3,093 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 432 
 
 820 
 
 724 
 
 630 
 
 2,606 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 3,106 
 
 2,919 
 
 3,200 
 
 2,529 
 
 11,754 
 
 Whole number of stamps 2,717,314. Value $2,047,268.50. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1886 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1885. Dec. 31, 1885. Mch. 31, 1886. June 30, 1886. Total. 
 
 1 cent 225,320 146,160 138,740 144,790 655,010 
 
 2 cents 90,930 94,950 113,465 120,180 419,525 
 
 3 cents 62,590 36,520 46,040 49,490 194,640 
 
 4 cents ■ 49,955 63,205 76,160 82,895 272,215 
 6 cents 45,655 41,385 53,42o 5^,095 191, 555 
 Scents 29,125 29,410 38,890 37,535 134,960 
 
 10 cents 67,280 64,705 86,525 87,355 305,865 
 
 12 cents 29,045 29,870 37,795 36,345 '33,055 
 
 24 cents 24,670 23,560 33,905 32,820 114,955 
 
 36 cents 13,260 10,935 14,820 16,355 55,37° 
 
 48 cents 8,445 7,830 11,905 11,210 39,390 
 
 60 cents io,S45 10,285 11,860 11,190 43,88o 
 
 72 cents 5,815 6,840 5,320 7,475 24,450 
 
 84 cents 6,225 5,850 5,520 7,245 24,840 
 
 96 cents 12,520 10,635 12,480 13,065 48,700 
 
 192 cents 10,105 7,025 7,155 7,850. 32,135 
 
 3 dollars 6,487 5,875 5,066 6,292 23,720 
 
 6 dollars 3,255 3,465 3,473 4,2oo i4,393 
 
 9 dollars 2,694 2,515 1,343 2,138 8,690 
 
 12 dollars 2,625 2,142 1,662 2,198 8,627 
 
 24 dollars 1,185 732 315 746 2,978 
 
 36 dollars 506 400 145 310 1,361 
 
 48 dollars 390 310 160 85 945 
 
 60 dollars 1,356 595 860 1,391 4,202 
 
 Whole number of stamps 2,755,461. Value $1,097,390,00. 
 
310 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1887 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1886. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1886. 
 
 Mch 31, 1887. 
 
 June 30, 1887. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 134,625 
 
 155,290 
 
 164,870 
 
 149,760 
 
 604,545 
 
 2 cents 
 
 116,380 
 
 126,945 
 
 129,440 
 
 117,640 
 
 490,405 
 
 3 cents 
 
 40,845 
 
 47,740 
 
 S7,UO 
 
 56,570 
 
 202,295 
 
 4 cents 
 
 74,165 
 
 84,315 
 
 92,095 
 
 77,700 
 
 328,275 
 
 6 cents 
 
 48,685 
 
 50,585 
 
 57,495 
 
 50,035 
 
 206,800 
 
 8 cents 
 
 35,160 
 
 37,565 
 
 40,910 
 
 42,33s 
 
 155,970 
 
 10 cents 
 
 85,795 
 
 95,145 
 
 96,250 
 
 92,738 
 
 369,928 
 
 12 cents 
 
 34,490 
 
 35,355 
 
 37,590 
 
 39,110 
 
 146,54s 
 
 24 cents 
 
 3',oSo 
 
 34,845 
 
 36,095 
 
 32,45s 
 
 134,445 
 
 36 cents 
 
 13,625 
 
 15,485 
 
 18,390 
 
 17,465 
 
 64,965 
 
 48 cents 
 
 11,795 
 
 8,695 
 
 13,460 
 
 ",525 
 
 45,475 
 
 60 cents 
 
 12,090 
 
 ii,c5o 
 
 13,940 
 
 13,135 
 
 50,215 
 
 72 cents 
 
 6,835 
 
 S,i6o 
 
 8,590 
 
 8,755 
 
 29,340 
 
 84 cents 
 
 5,355 
 
 5,165 
 
 8,835 
 
 6,870 
 
 26,225 
 
 96 cents 
 
 13,340 
 
 16,295 
 
 14,775 
 
 14,43s 
 
 58,845 
 
 192 cents 
 
 8,620 
 
 10,225 
 
 9,575 
 
 9,07s 
 
 37,495 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 6,139 
 
 7,794 
 
 7,434 
 
 8,389 
 
 29,756 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 3,23s 
 
 4,502 
 
 4,747 
 
 4,068 
 
 16,552 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 2,103 
 
 2,449 
 
 3,092 
 
 2,842 
 
 10,486 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 2,043 
 
 2,258 
 
 2,63s 
 
 3,13s 
 
 10,071 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 772 
 
 889 
 
 975 
 
 1,582 
 
 4,218 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 285 
 
 342 
 
 580 
 
 526 
 
 1,733 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 310 
 
 253 
 
 370 
 
 520 
 
 1,453 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 i,°35 
 
 1,268 
 
 1,640 
 
 1,615 
 
 S,SS8 
 
 Whole number of stamps 3,031,595. Value $1,364,413.80. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1888 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1887. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1887. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1888. 
 
 June 30, 1888. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 261,580 
 
 162,960 
 
 169,090 
 
 180,840 
 
 674,470 
 
 2 cents 
 
 137,130 
 
 136,645 
 
 132,365 
 
 134,430 
 
 540,570 
 
 3 cents 
 
 68,780 
 
 64,910 
 
 59,570 
 
 60,650 
 
 253,910 
 
 4 cents 
 
 98,960 
 
 94,615 
 
 99,610 
 
 97,025 
 
 390,210 
 
 6 cents 
 
 57,815 
 
 56,830 
 
 59,825 
 
 60,240 
 
 234,710 
 
 8 cents 
 
 44,140 
 
 41,260 
 
 41,690 
 
 49,780 
 
 176,870 
 
 10 cents 
 
 107,735 
 
 102,470 
 
 101,920 
 
 109,325 
 
 421,450 
 
 12 cents 
 
 37,115 
 
 41,640 
 
 37,670 
 
 48,125 
 
 164,550 
 
 24 cents 
 
 39,120 
 
 37,155 
 
 34,530 
 
 40,655 
 
 151,460 
 
 36 cents 
 
 17,275 
 
 17,935 
 
 18,650 
 
 19,93s 
 
 73,795 
 
 48 cents 
 
 13,785 
 
 13,880 
 
 12,440 
 
 17,050 
 
 S7,>S5 
 
 60 cents 
 
 12,855 
 
 12,170 
 
 14,530 
 
 15,800 
 
 55,355 
 
 72 cents 
 
 7,385 
 
 7,630 
 
 8,890 
 
 11,225 
 
 35,130 
 
 84 cents 
 
 7,830 
 
 7,880 
 
 8,250 
 
 8,350 
 
 32,310 
 
 96 cents 
 
 14,565 
 
 16,610 
 
 16,875 
 
 20,845 
 
 68,89s 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 31 1 
 
 
 Sept. 
 
 30, 1887. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1887. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1888. 
 
 June 30, 1888. 
 
 Total. 
 
 192 cents 
 
 
 'c,i5o 
 
 11,005 
 
 '0,775 
 
 12,810 
 
 44,740 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 
 7,436 
 
 7,460 
 
 8,756 
 
 8,488 
 
 32,140 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 
 4,572 
 
 3,477 
 
 4,715 
 
 4,698 
 
 17,462 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 
 3,010 
 
 2,217 
 
 3,113 
 
 3,486 
 
 11,826 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 
 *,777 
 
 2,466 
 
 3,742 
 
 3,573 
 
 12,558 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 
 752 
 
 446 
 
 1,313 
 
 1,712 
 
 4,223 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 
 616 
 
 173 
 
 481 
 
 735 
 
 2,005 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 
 420 
 
 100 
 
 50s 
 
 626 
 
 1,651 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 
 790 
 
 1,720 
 
 2,103 
 
 2,360 
 
 6,973 
 
 Whole number of stamps 3,464,418. Value $1,588,425.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1889 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1888. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1888. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1889. 
 
 June 30, 1889. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 136,560 
 
 146,360 
 
 176,990 
 
 236,050 
 
 695,960 
 
 2 cents 
 
 118,300 
 
 113,080 
 
 130,790 
 
 ■87,155 
 
 549,329 
 
 3 cents 
 
 49,630 
 
 49,59° 
 
 63,660 
 
 66,210 
 
 229,090 
 
 4 cents 
 
 88,075 
 
 82,290 
 
 96,195 
 
 103,110 
 
 369,670 
 
 6 cents 
 
 56,695 
 
 53,200 
 
 64,605 
 
 66,940 
 
 241,440 
 
 8 cents 
 
 48,275 
 
 42,300 
 
 52,440 
 
 57,060 
 
 200,075 
 
 10 cents 
 
 96,790 
 
 97,455 
 
 "5,330 
 
 112,725 
 
 422,300 
 
 12 cents 
 
 44,405 
 
 35,515 
 
 40,620 
 
 54,880 
 
 181,420 
 
 24 cents 
 
 43,060 
 
 31,780 
 
 4T,75o 
 
 40,490 
 
 157,080 
 
 36 cents 
 
 27,755 
 
 15,560 
 
 22,115 
 
 20,525 
 
 85,955 
 
 48 cents 
 
 18,055 
 
 11,485 
 
 '5,455 
 
 iS,9'S 
 
 60,910 
 
 60 cents 
 
 15,395 
 
 12,300 
 
 '5,605 
 
 15,525 
 
 58,825 
 
 72 cents 
 
 9,530 
 
 6,710 
 
 ■0,525 
 
 8,500 
 
 35,265 
 
 84 cents 
 
 10,560 
 
 7,100 
 
 8,885 
 
 9,595 
 
 36,140 
 
 96 cents 
 
 16,785 
 
 16,650 
 
 16,055 
 
 '8,365 
 
 67,855 
 
 192 cents 
 
 11,100 
 
 11,345 
 
 10,865 
 
 10,820 
 
 44,130 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 9,255 
 
 6,814 
 
 9,656 
 
 9,370 
 
 35,095 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 4,902 
 
 3,813 
 
 5,092 
 
 4,476 
 
 18,283 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 2,301 
 
 2,135 
 
 3,210 
 
 3,130 
 
 10,776 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 3,111 
 
 2,607 
 
 3,506 
 
 2,534 
 
 11,758 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 1,252 
 
 938 
 
 1,176 
 
 ',133 
 
 4,499 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 931 
 
 598 
 
 616 
 
 620 
 
 2,765 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 sss 
 
 360 
 
 750 
 
 370 
 
 2,035 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 1,830 
 
 1,750 
 
 2,060 
 
 ',570 
 
 7,210 
 
 Whole number of s 
 
 stamps 3,527, 
 
 861. Value $1 
 
 ,663,751.00. 
 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal 
 
 year ending June 30th, 1890 : 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter 
 
 Ending : 
 
 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1889. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1889. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1890. 
 
 June 30, 1890. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 202,610 
 
 168,330 
 
 188,200 
 
 196,750 
 
 755,890 
 
 2 cents 
 
 153,340 
 
 141,730 
 
 150,150 
 
 160,600 
 
 605,820 
 
 3 cents 
 
 67,070 
 
 63,980 
 
 56,600 
 
 62,300 
 
 249,950 
 
 4 cents 
 
 102,55s 
 
 86,615 
 
 88,000 
 
 91,700 
 
 368,870 
 
312 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1889. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1889, 
 
 , Mch. 31, 1890. 
 
 June 30, 1890. 
 
 Total. 
 
 6 cents 
 
 61,445 
 
 59,020 
 
 64,300 
 
 67,975 
 
 252,740 
 
 8 cents 
 
 48,395 
 
 45.275 
 
 48,125 
 
 SS.625 
 
 197.420 
 
 10 cents 
 
 118,245 
 
 101,975 
 
 105,180 
 
 109,770 
 
 435.170 
 
 12 cents 
 
 50,620 
 
 49.935 
 
 57,850 
 
 S9,i20 
 
 217,525 
 
 24 cents 
 
 40,660 
 
 38,225 
 
 43.525 
 
 41,125 
 
 163.535 
 
 36 cents 
 
 20,490 
 
 17,865 
 
 21,710 
 
 2o,57S 
 
 80,600 
 
 48 cents 
 
 14,620 
 
 12.415 
 
 16,450 
 
 16,350 
 
 59.835 
 
 60 cents 
 
 15.750 
 
 13.235 
 
 16,645 
 
 18,020 
 
 63,650 
 
 72 cents 
 
 10,165 
 
 8,470 
 
 11,250 
 
 11,100 
 
 40,985 
 
 84 cents 
 
 8,665 
 
 6.585 
 
 ",435 
 
 9,100 
 
 35,785 
 
 96 cents 
 
 22,050 
 
 18,130 
 
 18,300 
 
 22,135 
 
 80,615 
 
 192 cents 
 
 14.215 
 
 12,150 
 
 12,950 
 
 11,375 
 
 50,690 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 10,902 
 
 8,128 
 
 10,375 
 
 12,368 
 
 41,773 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 5.'79 
 
 5,075 
 
 5.025 
 
 5.325 
 
 20,604 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 3.354 
 
 2,544 
 
 3.695 
 
 2,656 
 
 12 249 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 3.978 
 
 2,347 
 
 3.565 
 
 3,010 
 
 12,900 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 1.327 
 
 1,056 
 
 1,530 
 
 1,140 
 
 S.OS3 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 635 
 
 442 
 
 665 
 
 695 
 
 2,437 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 310 
 
 480 
 
 456 
 
 356 
 
 1,602 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 1,065 
 
 1,09s 
 
 1,985 
 
 2,515 
 
 6,660 
 
 Whole number of 
 
 stamps 3,762, 
 
 398. Value $1 
 
 ,711,464.00. 
 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal ; 
 
 year ending June 30th, 1891 : 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter 
 
 Ending : 
 
 
 
 
 Sept. jb, 1890. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1890. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1891. 
 
 June 30, 1891. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 216,900 
 
 204,100 
 
 180,200 
 
 215,920 
 
 817,120 
 
 2 cents 
 
 178,300 
 
 160,050 
 
 147,150 
 
 170,660 
 
 656,160 
 
 3 cents 
 
 57,400 
 
 56,100 
 
 41,600 
 
 52,050 
 
 207,150 
 
 4 cents 
 
 106,550 
 
 97,875 
 
 89.375 
 
 102,755 
 
 396,555 
 
 6 cents 
 
 73.850 
 
 72,450 
 
 63.525 
 
 71,005 
 
 280,830 
 
 8 cents 
 
 59,375 
 
 57.375 
 
 51,325 
 
 61,990 
 
 230,065 
 
 10 cents 
 
 129,050 
 
 121,400 
 
 105,765 
 
 121,700 
 
 477,9'5 
 
 12 cents 
 
 64.375 
 
 61,725 
 
 61,850 
 
 64,33s 
 
 252,285 
 
 24 cents 
 
 47.500 
 
 44,900 
 
 40,275 
 
 44,425 
 
 177,100 
 
 36 cents 
 
 25.425 
 
 23,325 
 
 19950 
 
 22,645 
 
 91,345 
 
 48 cents 
 
 21,200 
 
 18,735 
 
 14,375 
 
 18,355 
 
 72,665 
 
 60 cents 
 
 22,605 
 
 18,410 
 
 16,540 
 
 19.065 
 
 76,620 
 
 72 cents 
 
 12,325 
 
 12,450 
 
 10,450 
 
 11,740 
 
 46,965 
 
 84 cents 
 
 10,975 
 
 10,600 
 
 9,675 
 
 11,435 
 
 42,685 
 
 96 cents 
 
 24.500 
 
 23,400 
 
 21,500 
 
 23,685 
 
 93,085 
 
 192 cents 
 
 15,650 
 
 15,585 
 
 13.650 
 
 12,040 
 
 56,925 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 13,090 
 
 11,975 
 
 12,23s 
 
 12,223 
 
 49,523 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 6,729 
 
 5.565 
 
 5,870 
 
 5.930 
 
 24,094 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 3,766 
 
 3,990 
 
 3,395 
 
 3.227 
 
 14,378 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 3,940 
 
 3,960 
 
 3.900 
 
 3,659 
 
 14,459 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS.- — ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 313 
 
 
 Sept. 
 
 30, 1890. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 31, 1890. 
 
 Mch, 
 
 . 31, 1891. 
 
 June 30, 1891. 
 
 Total. 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 
 i,S7o 
 
 
 1,520 
 
 
 1,485 
 
 1.935 
 
 6,510 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 
 83s 
 
 
 9'S 
 
 
 655 
 
 1,025 
 
 3.440 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 
 602 
 
 
 525 
 
 
 515 
 
 435 
 
 2,077 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 
 1,792 
 
 
 2,290 
 
 
 1,920 
 
 2,310 
 
 8,312 
 
 Whole number of stamps 4,098,263. Value $2,055,798.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1892 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1891. 
 
 Dec. 31, [891. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1892. 
 
 June 30, 1892. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 194,940 
 
 207,250 
 
 186,100 
 
 219,300 
 
 807,590 
 
 2 cents 
 
 158,325 
 
 160,800 
 
 159,850 
 
 168,775 . 
 
 647,750 
 
 3 cents 
 
 53,830 
 
 44,650 
 
 50,250 
 
 57,400 
 
 206,130 
 
 4 cents 
 
 91,505 
 
 97,025 
 
 94,400 
 
 107,175 
 
 390,105 
 
 6 cents 
 
 67,73s 
 
 67,425 
 
 69,47s 
 
 74,075 
 
 278,710 
 
 8 cents 
 
 52,945 
 
 62,175 
 
 55. 250 
 
 58,950 
 
 229,320 
 
 10 cents 
 
 118,119 
 
 122,215 
 
 118,640 
 
 134,920 
 
 493,894 
 
 12 cents 
 
 64,265 
 
 61,900 
 
 63.275 
 
 66,800 
 
 256,240 
 
 24 cents 
 
 47,000 
 
 44,900 
 
 45,600 
 
 51,575 
 
 189,075 
 
 36 cents 
 
 22,545 
 
 21,975 
 
 23,400 
 
 25,950 
 
 93870 
 
 48 cents 
 
 20,620 
 
 16,450 
 
 17,975 
 
 19,425 
 
 74,470 
 
 60 cents 
 
 20,890 
 
 16,460 
 
 17,700 
 
 20,830 
 
 7S,88o 
 
 72 cents 
 
 12.03s 
 
 12,025 
 
 10,825 
 
 11,675 
 
 46,560 
 
 84 cents 
 
 10,560 
 
 10,150 
 
 10,400 
 
 10,850 
 
 41,960 
 
 96 cents 
 
 23-945 
 
 23,875 
 
 21,775 
 
 25.500 
 
 95.09s 
 
 192 cents 
 
 14.925 
 
 15,700 
 
 14,375 
 
 17,600 
 
 62,600 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 10,104 
 
 12,09s 
 
 11,050 
 
 14,240 
 
 47,489 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 6,024 
 
 5,705 
 
 5,790 
 
 6,263 
 
 23,782 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 3.4'7 
 
 4,057 
 
 3,370 
 
 3,926 
 
 14,770 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 4,338 
 
 3,977 
 
 3,550 
 
 4,544 
 
 16,409 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 1,400 
 
 1,333 
 
 1,550 
 
 1,649 
 
 5.932 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 465 
 
 690 
 
 735 
 
 772 
 
 2,662 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 185 
 
 345 
 
 595 
 
 737 
 
 1,862 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 2,359 
 
 2,375 
 
 2,7'3 
 
 3,690 
 
 11,137 
 
 Whole number of stamps 4,113,292. Value $2,209,516.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1893 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1892. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1892. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1893. 
 
 June 30, 1893. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 ce^t 
 
 200,650 
 
 203,030 
 
 199,850 
 
 201,050 
 
 804,580 
 
 2 cents 
 
 148,900 
 
 168,220 
 
 169,800 
 
 166,500 
 
 653,420 
 
 3 cents 
 
 47,150 
 
 50,620 
 
 5 5, 000 
 
 50,100 
 
 202,870 
 
 4 cents 
 
 101,325 
 
 99,340 
 
 107,650 
 
 97,000 
 
 405,31s 
 
 6 cents 
 
 63,875 
 
 66,380 
 
 75,275 
 
 63.500 
 
 269,030 
 
 8 cents 
 
 55.150 
 
 57,j8o 
 
 64,575 
 
 58,825 
 
 235,930 
 
 10 cents 
 
 123,435 
 
 128,195 
 
 132,840 
 
 124,035 
 
 508,505 
 
 12 cents 
 
 64,350 
 
 70,380 
 
 72,900 
 
 64,650 
 
 272,280 
 
314 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 879. 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1892. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1892. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1893. 
 
 June 30, 1893. 
 
 Total. 
 
 24 cents 
 
 46,875 
 
 48,920 
 
 49.250 
 
 44.325 
 
 189,370 
 
 36 cents 
 
 24,900 
 
 26,085 
 
 23.475 
 
 21,575 
 
 96,035 
 
 48 cents 
 
 20,175 
 
 19,080 
 
 20,400 
 
 18,500 
 
 78,155 
 
 60 cents 
 
 19,690 
 
 22,410 
 
 21,375 
 
 18,045 
 
 81,520 
 
 72 cents 
 
 12,125 
 
 12,225 
 
 12,675 
 
 13.025 
 
 50,050 
 
 84 cents 
 
 11,800 
 
 11.15° 
 
 »o,47S 
 
 ",57S 
 
 45,000 
 
 96 cents 
 
 24,500 
 
 23,200 
 
 23,200 
 
 20,600 
 
 91.500 
 
 192 cents 
 
 14,200 
 
 12,050 
 
 13.17s 
 
 12,150 
 
 5',S75 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 13.777 
 
 10,667 
 
 12,912 
 
 9,980 
 
 47,336 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 7.165 
 
 5.455 
 
 6,65s 
 
 5.605 
 
 24.880 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 4,395 
 
 3.105 
 
 3.33° 
 
 3.585 
 
 14,415 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 4,670 
 
 4,625 
 
 3.520 
 
 3,360 
 
 >6,i75 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 1,980 
 
 i,3'S 
 
 1,395 
 
 1,400 
 
 6,090 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 1,575 
 
 605 
 
 540 
 
 810 
 
 3,530 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 1,560 
 
 555 
 
 520 
 
 610 
 
 3.245 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 4,618 
 
 5,297 
 
 S-68S 
 
 4.685 
 
 20,285 
 
 Whole number of stamps 4,171,091. Value $2,850,324.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1894 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1893. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1893. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1894. 
 
 June 30, 1894. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 214,850 
 
 195,200 
 
 201,100 
 
 224,200 
 
 835.350 
 
 2 cents 
 
 171,200 
 
 151,425 
 
 154,650 
 
 175,700 
 
 652.975 
 
 3 cents 
 
 60,550 
 
 52,400 
 
 52,300 
 
 59.600 
 
 224,850 
 
 4 cents 
 
 104.525 
 
 92,100 
 
 94.350 
 
 111,050 
 
 402,025 
 
 6 cents 
 
 72,000 
 
 64.775 
 
 65,675 
 
 73,600 
 
 276,050 
 
 8 cents 
 
 66,450 
 
 56.550 
 
 S9,'75 
 
 64,725 
 
 246,900 
 
 10 cents 
 
 128,710 
 
 "4,450 
 
 118,885 
 
 132,240 
 
 494.285 
 
 12 cents 
 
 66,975 
 
 63,500 
 
 63.650 
 
 70,300 
 
 264,425 
 
 24 cents 
 
 47.875 
 
 44.500 
 
 44,'25 
 
 49,625 
 
 186,125 
 
 36 cents 
 
 26,625 
 
 23.175 
 
 25.300 
 
 27.375 
 
 102,475 
 
 48 cents 
 
 18,925 
 
 17,400 
 
 18,925 
 
 19,000 
 
 74.250 
 
 60 cents 
 
 '9.485 
 
 i8,S45 
 
 20,155 
 
 19.595 
 
 77.780 
 
 72 cents 
 
 1 1.500 
 
 12,800 
 
 '2-475 
 
 13.250 
 
 50,025 
 
 84 cents 
 
 '0,675 
 
 11,725 
 
 10,550 
 
 12,350 
 
 45,300 
 
 96 cents 
 
 26,27s 
 
 19.450 
 
 24,900 
 
 22,575 
 
 93,200 
 
 92 cents 
 
 14,800 
 
 12,650 
 
 15,000 
 
 14975 
 
 57425 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 12,691 
 
 10,04s 
 
 11,845 
 
 11,285 
 
 45,866 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 6,020 
 
 4,86s 
 
 6,050 
 
 6,230 
 
 23165 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 3-747 
 
 3175 
 
 4,282 
 
 3,975 
 
 15,179 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 4,225 
 
 3.030 
 
 4.435 
 
 3.905 
 
 '5.595 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 1.775 
 
 1,270 
 
 I.47S 
 
 ',655 
 
 6,175 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 775 
 
 665 
 
 605. 
 
 670 
 
 2,7'S 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 550 
 
 580 
 
 435 
 
 540 
 
 2.105 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 3.630 
 
 3,7'S 
 
 5.482 
 
 4,960 
 
 '7,787 
 
 Whole number of stamps 4,212,027. Value $2,613,920.00. 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 187Q. 
 
 3'5 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1894 
 
 Dec 
 
 ■ 3'. 1894- 
 
 Mch 31, 1895. June 30, 1895. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 45,936 
 
 
 
 
 45,936 
 
 2 cents 
 
 III, 618 
 
 
 
 
 irr,6i8 
 
 3 cents 
 
 48,150 
 
 
 
 
 48,150 
 
 4 cents 
 
 63,829 
 
 
 
 
 63,829 
 
 6 cents 
 
 40,545 
 
 
 
 
 40,545 
 
 8 cents 
 
 70,400 
 
 
 
 
 70,400 
 
 10 cents 
 
 90,888 
 
 
 
 
 90,888 
 
 12 cents 
 
 44.521 
 
 
 
 
 44,521 
 
 24 cents 
 
 29,486 
 
 
 
 
 29,486 
 
 36 cents 
 
 4,390 
 
 
 
 
 4,390 
 
 48 cents 
 
 19,625 
 
 
 
 
 19,625 
 
 60 cents 
 
 25,835 
 
 
 2,663 
 
 
 28,498 
 
 72 cents 
 
 •0,350 
 
 
 
 
 '0,350 
 
 84 cents 
 
 39,700 
 
 
 
 
 39,700 
 
 96 cents 
 
 27.300 
 
 
 32,325 
 
 4,898 
 
 64,523 
 
 192 cents 
 
 13,650 
 
 
 
 
 '3.650 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 '2,33' 
 
 
 11,425 
 
 
 23,756 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 5,69s 
 
 
 7,050 
 
 
 '2,745 
 
 9 dollars 
 
 3,640 
 
 
 
 
 3,640 
 
 12 dollars 
 
 10,215 
 
 
 
 
 10,215 
 
 24 dollars 
 
 2,077 
 
 
 1,698 
 
 i,3'o 
 
 5,085 
 
 36 dollars 
 
 595 
 
 
 
 
 595 
 
 48 dollars 
 
 352 
 
 
 435 
 
 300 
 
 1,087 
 
 60 dollars 
 
 ',795 
 
 
 4,985 
 
 '-335 
 
 8,115 
 
 Whol 
 
 e number of 
 
 stamps 79'>347- 
 
 Value $1,178,923.32. 
 
 
 On March 7th, 1894, the Third Assistant Postmaster General sent to 
 the contractors an order, in the customary form, to deliver to the Post Office Order to tLc 
 Department at Washington the following supplies : 
 
 " 25 sheets of blank paper of each three sizes in use, 75 sheets. 
 
 And a sample sheet of each denomination and kind of stamps now used, thus: 
 
 1st. Printed only 
 
 2nd. Printed and gummed 
 
 3rd. Printed, gummed and perforated. 
 Newspaper and Periodical stamps: 25 plates, 3 sheets of each 
 
 as above, 75 sheets, 100 stamps per sheet 7,500 stamps 
 
 Postage Due stamps: 7 plates, 3 sheets of each as above, 21 
 
 sheets, 200 stamps per sheet 4,200 stamps 
 
 Regular postage stamps: 11 plates, 3 sheets of each as above, 
 
 33 sheets : 
 
 I and 2 cents: 3 sheets each, 6 sheets, 400 stamps per 
 
 sheet 2,400 stamps 
 
 5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, t5, 30 and 90 cents: 3 sheets each, 27 
 
 sheets, zoo stamps per sheet 5i4oo stamps 
 
 Making a total of regular issue of 1890 of 7,?oo stamps 
 
 Special delivery stamp: 1 plate, 3 sheets as above, 100 stamps 
 
 per sheet 3°° stamps 
 
 Total number of stamps 19,800 stamps 
 
 And I sheet from plate (full size) on card board from each of 
 
 the 44 plates as above." 
 
 It will be remembered that, on February 21st, 1894, the Postmaster 
 
 contractors for a 
 special printing. 
 
3i6 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 Purpose of this 
 special printing. 
 
 Ultimate disposition 
 of tlio slieets. 
 
 Trouble about tlie 
 
 newspaper and 
 periodical stamps. 
 
 Nine cent stamp 
 
 printed by the 
 
 American Bank 
 
 Note Co. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Perforation. 
 
 Colors. 
 
 General had awarded the contract for the manufacture of postage stamps, for 
 the term of. four years, beginning July ist, i8'94, to the Bureau of Engraving 
 and Printing at Washington. The sheets which were printed by the American 
 Bank Note Co., on the above order, were turned over to the new contractors, to 
 serve as guides for color, paper, etc. The blank sheets were subsequently used 
 for printing stamps. It is probable that these stamps could not be distinguished 
 from other early printings of the same stamps by the Bureau of Engraving 
 and Printing. The three varieties of printed sheets were, in due time, 
 returned to the Post Office Department. The fully finished sheets were 
 eventually turned into stock and issued to postmasters. The sheets that were 
 merely printed, without being gummed or perforated, were destroyed. What 
 became of the sheets of the second class — /. e. those which were left imper- 
 forate — I am unable to say, except in the case of a half sheet, fifty stamps, of 
 each value of the newspaper and periodical stamps. These latter passed from 
 official into private hands. The new owner retained five sets in imperforate 
 condition and had the others perforated — a very unwise act, in my opinion — 
 and offered them for sale. 
 
 Following the appearance of these privately perforated stamps in the 
 market there was trouble in official circles. By whom it was started and just 
 what form it took are only known to those behind the curtain. It led to 
 seizure of the stamps, arrest of the holder, action at law, scandal, loss of official 
 position and other disagreeable details, much of which was set forth at length 
 in the philatelic journals at the time. But the true inwardness of the affair 
 was never made public. Eventually the stamps were restored to their owner, 
 as being rightfully his property, and are once more in the market. Knowing 
 the circumstances connected with them, the reader must determine for himself 
 their status and collectability. At the least, they are extremely interesting. 
 
 While these stamps are not exactly like any others of the same series, 
 they very closely resemble some of the latest printings by the American Bank 
 Note Co. It will be observed that the set comprises all values from one cent 
 to sixty dollars, including the nine cents, which thus appears for the first and 
 only time in a printing of the American Bank Note Co. 
 
 The paper is very white, fine, close, without sign of weave or grain. 
 The gum is yellowish white and usually crackled. The perforation gauges 
 1 2 and is very clear cut. It was apparently made by a guillotine machine, one 
 row at a time. Evidence of this is found in the fact that the rows of perfor- 
 ations are not always parallel nor the holes in line on opposite sides of a stamp. 
 The inks are glossy and apparently aniline. The impressions are very clear 
 and fine, carefully made and suggestive of proofs. They have not the soft- 
 ness of the ordinary prints of either the American Bank Note Co. or the 
 Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The denominations one to ten cents are 
 printed in a pure black, not a greenish, grayish or bluish black. The color of 
 the twelve to ninety six cents has a suggestion of lilac. The color is rich but 
 hard and lacks warmth. The ink of the nine dollars contains more red than 
 usual, that of the twelve dollars more blue, while the thirty-six dollars has 
 more brown. The other values are lighter and colder in tone. As nearly 
 ^s they can be described the colors are as follows: 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF I 879. 317 
 
 Imperforate and Perforated 12. Ueferencc List. 
 
 AVhite Wove Paper. 
 
 1 cent clear deep black 
 
 2 cents clear deep black 
 
 3 cents clear deep black 
 
 4 cents clear deep black 
 6 cents clear deep black 
 
 8 cents clear deep black 
 
 9 cents clear deep black 
 10 cents clear deep black 
 12 cents rose-carmine 
 
 24 cents rose-carmine 
 36 cents rose-carmine 
 48 cents rose-carmine 
 60 cents rose-carmine 
 72 cents rose-carmine 
 84 cents rose-carmine 
 96 cents rose-carmine 
 1 92 cents light yellow-brown 
 
 3 dollars scarlet-vermilion 
 
 6 dollars light ultramarine 
 
 9 dollars deep orange 
 12 dollars blue-green 
 24 dollars deep dull violet 
 36 dollars rose-brown 
 48 dollars pale orange-brown 
 60 dollars bright purple 
 
Newspaper and Periodical Stamps, 
 
 Issue of 1894. 
 
 When, in 1 894, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing entered upon the 
 contract to supply the stamps required by the Post Office Department, many 
 PrintiiiRs from the difficulties were encounted at the beginning of the undertaking, as was to be 
 plates of preTious expected. It was necessary to provide an increased force of skilled employees, 
 additional machinery, new plates and, in the case of the newspaper and 
 periodical stamps, new designs. The plates for these latter stamps were not 
 ready until the beginning of the year 1895. In the mean time the necessary 
 supplies were obtained by printings from the old plates of the Continental 
 and American Bank Note Companies. These printings have marked pe- 
 culiarities by which they may, without difficulty, be distinguished from the 
 work of the former contractors. The plates were re-entered before they 
 were put to press and consequently, the impressions appear sharp and un- 
 worn. The shades of the inks, even that of the black, differ from any pre- 
 viously used. Many of the impressions have the surface of the paper tinted 
 from imperfect wiping of the plates. The paper is white, semi-transparent 
 and with very little grain. The gum is white or yellowish white. At first it 
 was quite rough and crackled but afterwards it became thin and smooth. 
 The perforation of the early printings was blind and the disks of paper, 
 which should have been punched out, usually remained in the holes. Im- 
 proved machines were used for the sheets of the later printings and the per- 
 foration was then clear cut and fine. 
 The colors are: 
 iieference List. Perforated I 2. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 1 cent clear full black 
 
 2 cents clear full black 
 4 cents clear full black 
 6 cents clear full black 
 
 10 cents clear full black 
 T2 cents dull pink 
 24 cents dull pink 
 36 cents dull pink 
 60 cents dull pink 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1894. 
 
 319 
 
 96 cents dull pink 
 3 dollars pale scarlet-vermilion 
 6 dollars very pale ultramarine 
 
 New numbers were assigned to the plates but were not engraved on 
 them, at least they do not appear on the printed sheets. Among the old 
 plates used by the Bureau the 72 cents and $1.92 have been reported. Mr. 
 J. M. Bartels, to whom I am indebted for valued information, assures me 
 that neither plate was ever used, though a new number, 65, was assigned to 
 the plate of the 72 cent stamp. The following table may be of interest: 
 
 Old Number. New Number. 
 
 I cent 
 
 482 
 
 37 
 
 3 
 
 printings. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 218 
 
 38 
 
 3 
 
 
 4 cents 
 
 «i5 
 
 39 
 
 5 
 
 
 6 cents 
 
 216 
 
 40 
 
 I 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 217 
 
 41 
 
 5 
 
 
 12 cents 
 
 19s 
 
 42 
 
 5 
 
 
 24 cents 
 
 198 
 
 81 
 
 4 
 
 
 36 cents 
 
 196 
 
 43 
 
 2 
 
 
 60 cents 
 
 202 
 
 83 
 
 4 
 
 
 96 cents 
 
 204 
 
 127 
 
 I 
 
 
 3 dollars 
 
 199 
 
 108 
 
 2 
 
 
 6 dollars 
 
 197 
 
 118 
 
 I 
 
 
 Of these stamps the following quantities were issued: 
 Fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895: 
 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2 cents 
 4 cents 
 6 cents 
 
 10 cents 
 12 cents 
 24 cents 
 36 cents 
 60 cents 
 96 cents 
 
 3 dollars 
 6 dollars 
 
 Sept. 30, 1894. 
 
 198,164 
 
 88,682 
 
 73.321 
 
 9>705 
 
 52.257 
 
 31.004 
 
 29,339 
 
 9-935 
 
 Dec. 31, 189. 
 266,100 
 215,100 
 "93.875 
 
 157,360 
 93,625 
 78,475 
 
 31,272 
 
 3,190 
 1,075 
 
 Mch. 31, 1895. June 30, 1895. 
 105,650 
 
 89,400 
 77. '75 
 
 6S,8'5 
 32,77s 
 34.950 
 
 Whole number of stamps 1,970,731. 
 
 14.460 
 
 7,827 
 
 6.025 
 
 4,'75 
 
 Value $206,289,680.00. 
 
 Total. 
 
 569.9'4 
 393.182 
 
 344.371 
 9,705 
 275,432 
 157,404 
 142,764 
 
 9,935 
 
 45,732 
 
 7,827 
 
 9,215 
 5.250 
 
 Plate uu]nberSi> 
 
 Deliveries to 
 postmasterB. 
 
Newspaper and Periodical Stamps. 
 
 Issue of 1895. 
 
 In the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1894 we 
 
 read : 
 
 " A new series of newspaper and periodical stamps has also been decided on, differing 
 
 in size materially from tlie old series, but maintaining their general characteristics. Several 
 
 OOicial °^ '^"^ ^'^^ °f stamps of this new series have been engraved, but none of the working plates. 
 
 ftiinouncenient. f^e colors are as yet undetermined, but the denominations will be as follows: 1, 2, 3, 5, 
 
 10, 25 and 50 cents, and $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. 
 
 Further description of the stamps cannot now be given " 
 
 The reader will observe that the series, as announced, contained a 
 denomination, the three cents, which was not included among the issued 
 stamps. 
 
 The stamps of this new series were issued on February ist, 1895. 
 They are thus officially described : 
 
 " The denominations of these stamps from i to 10 cents, inclusive, are of 
 the same design. The numerals in the upper corners are of equal size in the 
 Designs. I, 2 and 5 Cent stamps, while those in the 10 cent stamp are condensed so as to 
 
 fill the same space that is given to the others, besides being slightly different 
 in style. Those in the i and 5 cent denominations are shaded dark on the 
 lower half ; those of the 2 and ro cent stamps are white faced. All these 
 stamps bear an engraving of the statue of America, by Crawford, which sur- 
 mounts the dome of the Capitol at Washington, the same subject as that on 
 the lower denominations of the old series, except that the presentation is in 
 full face instead of three-quarters. The words ' u. s. postage ' at the top 
 of the stamps are in white block letters upon an arched line, and the words 
 ' NEWSPAPERS ' on the left and ' periodicals ' on the right are in vertical 
 lines. The denominations at the bottom are in white Roman letters, and 
 there is a foliate ornamentation in the lower corners. 
 
 The upper border line of the 25 and 50 cent stamps is broken by two 
 indentations, separating that border into three equal parts, and the side 
 inscriptions follow a curved line upon a scroll. The dimensions of the stamps 
 below the $2 denomination are 27-32 by i 3-8 inch. 
 
 The remaining denominations from $2 to $100, are of the same size as 
 the stamps of the retired series, that is to say, 15-16 by i 3-8 inch." 
 
 The foregoing description may be supplemented by saying: The 
 central figure on the 25 and 50 cent stamps is the same as that on the denomi- 
 nations 12 to 96 cents of the preceding issues. Besides slight alterations in 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1895. 
 
 321 
 
 the arrangement of the inscriptions, foliage and other ornaments are added 
 in the lower part of the stamps. The numerals in the upper corners are in 
 small squares instead of shields. The designs of the $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 
 and $100 denominations are adapted, respectively, from those of the $3, $6, 
 $12, $24, $36 and $60 stamps of the previous series. In each case the arrange- 
 ment of the surrounding inscriptions is slightly modified. 
 
 The sizes in millimetres are : One to fifty cents, 2i%x34}^ mm ; two 
 to one hundred dollars, 24^^x35^ mm. 
 
 These stamps were at first printed on a thick soft paper, much like 
 that used by the American Bank Note Co, but closer grained and less porous. 
 Subsequently they were issued on paper watermarked with the letters "us 
 p s ". This paper was fully described in the chapter upon the regular post- 
 age stamps of the same period. 
 
 The gum is thin, smooth and yellowish or yellowish white in color. 
 The perforation is the standard 1 2. 
 
 The stamps have been seen in the following colors and shades: 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 Thick Soft White Wove Paper. 
 
 Feb. I St, 1895 I cent deep black 
 
 2 cents deep black, black 
 
 5 cents deep black 
 10 cents deep black 
 
 25 cents, rose, rose-carmine, carmine, lake 
 50 cents rose rose-carmine, carmine, lake 
 
 2 dollars scarlet-vermilion, scarlet 
 
 5 dollars dull ultramarine 
 
 10 dollars deep green 
 
 20 dollars black-violet 
 
 50 dollars brown-rose 
 
 100 dollars bluish purple 
 
 Watermarked USPS 
 
 Jan. nth, 1896. I cent black, deep black 
 
 Nov. 2ist, 1895. 2 cents black, deep black 
 
 Feb. 1 2th, 1896. 5 cents black, deep black 
 
 Sept. 13th, 1895. 10 cents black, deep black 
 
 Oct. nth, 1895. 25 cents deep rose, lilac-rose, violet-rose, lake 
 
 Sept. 19th, 1895. 50 cents deep rose, lilac-rose, violet-rose, lake 
 
 Jan. 23rd, 1897. 2 dollars vermilion, scarlet vermilion, scarlet 
 
 Jan. 1 6th, 1896. 5 dollars dark blue 
 
 Mch. sth, 1896. lo dollars dark yellow-green, dark green 
 
 Jan. 27th, 1896. 20 dollars black-violet, violet black 
 
 July 31st, 1897. 50 dollars brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
 
 Jan. 23rd, 1896. 100 dollars purple, deep purple 
 
 The plates each contained one hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows of 
 ten. At the time of perforation the impressions were divided horizontally into 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Ucference List. 
 
322 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1895. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Plate numbers. 
 
 half sheets of fifty stamps. The line of division is, as usual, marked by an 
 imperforate edge. The imprint is " bureau, engraving and printing." 
 in white, Roman capitals, on a tablet with octagonal ends. A thin line of 
 color surrounds the tablet and at each end are pointed ornaments. The 
 imprint is placed at the middle of the top, bottom and sides. Three colored 
 lines, meeting in a point above the " v " of " engraving ", mark the middle 
 point of each side. The plate number is placed at the right of each imprint. 
 The plate numbers are : 
 
 Without Watermark. 
 
 Plates not used. 
 
 I cent 
 
 No. 
 
 90. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 too. 
 
 S cents 
 
 No. 
 
 93- 
 
 10 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 105. 
 
 25 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 123. 
 
 50 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 109. 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 136. 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 137- 
 
 10 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 138- 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 '39- 
 
 50 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 I3S- 
 
 100 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 140. 
 
 Watermarked USPS 
 
 I cent 
 
 No. 
 
 90, 262. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 100, 265. 
 
 5 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 93, 266. 
 
 10 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 105, 269. 
 
 25 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 123. 
 
 50 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 109, 259. 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 136. 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 137- 
 
 10 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 138. 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 139- 
 
 50 dollars 
 
 No. 
 
 •35- 
 
 100 dollars 
 
 No 
 
 140. 
 
 Certain other plates were 
 
 prepared for these stamps but they were not 
 
 to press. The numbers ass 
 
 igned to them were: 
 
 I cent 
 
 No 
 
 36. 
 
 25 cents 
 
 No. 
 
 258. 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 No 
 
 270. 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 No 
 
 273- 
 
 10 dollars 
 
 No 
 
 271. 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 No 
 
 272. 
 
 50 dollars 
 
 No 
 
 284. 
 
 100 dollars 
 
 No 
 
 285. 
 
 From the annual reports 
 
 of the Postmaster General and other sources 
 
 obtain the following statistics of stamps issued to deputy postmasters : 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 895. 323 
 
 oictuips issut 
 
 Sept. 30, 
 I cent 
 
 ;u uui 
 1894. 
 
 ing ine nscai year enamg Ju 
 Quarter Ending: 
 Dec. 31, 1894. Mch. 31, 1895. 
 
 157,880 
 
 '47,410 
 
 '58,750 
 
 124,940 
 
 70,630 
 
 50,575 
 
 '6,973 
 
 6,140 
 
 2,528 
 
 885 
 
 'S 
 
 1,515 
 
 ne 3otn, 1895: 
 
 June 30, 1895. 
 
 3'2,3So 
 
 329,500 
 
 294,990 
 
 270,240 
 
 133,030 
 
 99,430 
 
 37,756 
 
 17,77s 
 
 9,545 
 
 6,250 
 
 1,949 
 3,745 
 
 Total. 
 470,230 
 
 476,910 
 
 453,740 
 
 395,'8o 
 
 203,660 
 
 150,005 
 
 54,729 
 
 23,915 
 
 12,073 
 
 7,'35 
 1,964 
 5,260 
 
 DeliTcries to 
 postmaMtcrs. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 
 S cents 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 
 25 cents .... 
 
 
 50 cents 
 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 
 10 dollars . . ., 
 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 
 50 dollars 
 
 
 00 dollars 
 
 
 Whole number of stamps 2,254,801. Value $r, 319, 026.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1896: 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 
 5ept. 30, 1895. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1895. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1896, 
 
 June 30, 1896. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 270,650 
 
 273,100 
 
 293,15° 
 
 248,650 
 
 ',085,550 
 
 2 cents 
 
 303,650 
 
 314,600 
 
 349,750 
 
 312,100 
 
 1,280,100 
 
 5 cents 
 
 252,070 
 
 236,720 
 
 250,160 
 
 228,600 
 
 967,550 
 
 10 cents 
 
 257,880 
 
 269,290 
 
 273,840 
 
 270,585 
 
 1,071,395 
 
 25 cents 
 
 99,540 
 
 106,820 
 
 106,400 
 
 121,680 
 
 434,430 
 
 50 cents 
 
 99,010 
 
 116,900 
 
 110,965 
 
 113,700 
 
 440,575 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 23,630 
 
 32,485 
 
 34,610 
 
 32,570 
 
 123,295 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 8,9!o 
 
 11,782 
 
 12,380 
 
 11,525 
 
 44,597 
 
 10 dollars 
 
 5,583 
 
 7,082 
 
 8,705 
 
 6,510 
 
 27,882 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 2,583 
 
 4,430 
 
 4,585 
 
 4,255 
 
 15.853 
 
 50 dollars 
 
 908 
 
 1,355 
 
 1,035 
 
 9'5 
 
 4,213 
 
 TOO dollars 
 
 932 
 
 3,250 
 
 3,090 
 
 2,950 
 
 10,222 
 
 Whole number of stamps 5.505 672. Value $2,819,177.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1897: 
 Quarter Ending: 
 
 S( 
 
 spt. 30, 1896. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1896. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1897. 
 
 June 50, 1897. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 275,200 
 
 287,000 
 
 249,900 
 
 233.050 
 
 1,045,150 
 
 2 cents 
 
 340,925 
 
 347,050 
 
 320,650 
 
 312,400 
 
 ',321,02s 
 
 5 cents 
 
 235,640 
 
 259,150 
 
 242,000 
 
 212,570 
 
 949,360 
 
 10 cents 
 
 259-025 
 
 285,245 
 
 282,825 
 
 248,850 
 
 1,075,935 
 
 25 cents 
 
 1 14,610 
 
 118,060 
 
 109,594 
 
 1 1 1,800 
 
 454,064 
 
 50 cents 
 
 '17,85' 
 
 117,020 
 
 112,346 
 
 118,710 
 
 465,927 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 29,158 
 
 3',875 
 
 33.692 
 
 29, '85 
 
 123,910 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 11,259 
 
 13,120 
 
 10 440 
 
 10,780 
 
 45599 
 
 10 dollars 
 
 6,964 
 
 8,130 
 
 6565 
 
 5-855 
 
 27,514 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 5,000 
 
 4,990 
 
 4,280 
 
 4,190 
 
 18,460 
 
 50 dollars 
 
 1,255 
 
 1,115 
 
 930 
 
 1,120 
 
 4,420 
 
 CO dollars 
 
 3,265 
 
 3,495 
 
 3-065 
 
 3,090 
 
 12.915 
 
 Whole nuniber of stamps 5,544,279. Value 13,171,068.00. 
 
324 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 895. 
 
 Other deliTerics. 
 
 Stamps i 
 
 issued duri 
 
 ng the fiscal 
 
 year ending June 30th, 1898 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter 
 
 Ending : 
 
 
 
 Sept 
 
 ■ 30, '897- 
 
 Dec. 31, 1897. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1898. 
 
 June 30, 1898. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 279.75° 
 
 264,700 
 
 256,100 
 
 176,950 
 
 977-500 
 
 2 cents 
 
 360,950 
 
 338-400 
 
 335,'5o 
 
 223,650 
 
 i,2S8,'So 
 
 5 cents 
 
 257,420 
 
 244,400 
 
 242,130 
 
 144,300 
 
 888,250 
 
 10 cents 
 
 278,69s 
 
 280,800 
 
 281,905 
 
 168,935 
 
 i,oio,33S 
 
 25 cents 
 
 1 1 1 ,040 
 
 ic6,ooo 
 
 115,860 
 
 70,420 
 
 403,320 
 
 50 cents 
 
 117,500 
 
 115,580 
 
 124,290 
 
 76,940 
 
 434,310 
 
 2 dollars 
 
 35,460 
 
 30,940 
 
 34,880 
 
 21,980 
 
 123,260 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 •3,085 
 
 i',75S 
 
 13,090 
 
 9,635 
 
 47,565 
 
 10 dollars 
 
 7, '75 
 
 7,505 
 
 8,450 
 
 5,325 
 
 28.455 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 4,695 
 
 4,430 
 
 5,680 
 
 3,925 
 
 18,730 
 
 50 dollars 
 
 r,coo 
 
 I, '65 
 
 1,240 
 
 1,525 
 
 4,930 
 
 100 dollars 
 
 3,040 
 
 3,380 
 
 3,285 
 
 2,610 
 
 i2,3'5 
 
 SetN sold to tilt' 
 i?oueral public. 
 
 Whole number of stamps 5,207,120. Value $3,119,864.00. 
 
 In the foregoing tables no distinction is made between the stamps on 
 unwatermarked and those on watermarked paper and, so far as I am aware, 
 statistics covering the exact quantities of the two varieties have not been 
 published. 
 
 In addition to the issues to postmasters certain other deliveries of these 
 stamps have been made at various times : 
 
 In 1895 there were sent to the headquarters of the Universal Postal 
 Union at Berne 750 copies of each value from i cent to $100. 
 
 In 1898, 125 sets were surcharged "universal— postal — congress" 
 and distributed to the delegates attending the meeting of that congress at 
 Washington. 
 
 In the report of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for the same 
 year we find a table headed : " Statement showing the Specimens of Post- 
 age Stamps for Post-Oflfice Album, Delivered in the Fiscal Year 1898 " This 
 table includes 50 sets of the newspaper and periodical stamps In the same 
 report is another table headed : " Statement showing the Specimen Postage 
 Stamps Delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General during the 
 Fiscal Year 1898." This delivery consisted of 500 sets of the newspaper and 
 periodical stamps. 
 
 I am unable to say whether or not any of the stamps comprising the 
 last two items were overprinted with the word "specimen." 
 
 The report of the Postmaster General for 1898 says that 18,000 of the 
 five dollar stamps were overprinted for use as internal revenue stamps. The 
 report of the Bureau for the same year does not quite agree with these figures, 
 the quantity being given as " 355 sheets, 17,750 stamps." 
 
 Finally, in the report of the Bureau for 1899, we find that in that year 
 55, coo sets of these stamps were placed on sale to the public and 1,250 " speci- 
 men " sets delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General. These sets 
 contained a quanity of reprints as will be seen on referring to the chapter 
 devoted to that subject. It has been stated that the sets delivered to the 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1 895. 
 
 325 
 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General were all originals except the five dollar 
 stamps. At least a part of them were handstamped " specimen ' in small 
 type. As I have seen original five dollar stamps and reprints of some of the 
 other values with this surcharge. I conclude that the statement regarding the 
 stamps delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General is not absolutely 
 correct. It will be shown, on a subsequent page, that all of the 55,000 sets 
 were not sold. 
 
 ing tlie newspnpor 
 
 and periodical 
 
 stanipB. 
 
 Regulations not 
 heeded. 
 
 The use of the newspaper and periodical stamps was discontinued on 
 July I St, 1898. The causes leading up to this are especially interesting to 
 philatelists. The original purpose and manner of use of these stamps are set Keguintions concern- 
 forth in the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated November 
 15th, 1875, as quoted on page 294. A part of this report is clearly a trans- 
 cription of the postal regulations, which were, in turn, founded on the laws of 
 Congress. Here we read : " The proper amount in stamps handed to the 
 postmaster, etc." From this wording it is evident that, at first, the stamps 
 were sold to publishers and news agents, otherwise they could not have them 
 to hand in. It is quite probable that they were sold to any one who applied 
 for them. At a later date regulations were promulgated by the Post Office 
 Department which forbade the sale of the stamps and required the postage 
 on second-class matter, when mailed in bulk, to be paid in money, and an 
 equivalent amount of stamps to be taken from stock, by the clerk having them 
 in charge, and affixed to the receipt. 
 
 In various official publications we find evidence that the regulations 
 concerning the sale of these stamps were not always observed. For instance, 
 in the Postal Guide for 1898, we read : 
 
 " Postmasters throughout the country are being solicited to sell postage-due stamps 
 and newspaper and periodical stamps and are in some cases complying with such requests, 
 in spite of the law and the rules of the Department Newspaper and periodical stamps are 
 never to be sold to any person nor loaned to other postmasters. Their only proper use is to 
 be affixed to and immediately cancelled on the stub of every receipt given for second-class 
 matter accepted for mailing." 
 
 Officials even went so far as to assert that collectors and dealers who 
 held these stamps did so in defiance of the law ; that the stamps must have 
 been stolen and were liable to seizure and their holders to punishment. This official opinions, 
 in spite of the fact that the stamps had been, at one time, freely sold to pub- 
 lishers and news agents, had been given in quantities to the Universal Postal 
 Union and had been sold with the sets of reprints and re-issues from 1875 to 
 1884. The question appears to have been revived by the trouble over the 
 privately perforated stamps, which were referred to in a preceding chapter, 
 and the Department decided to test the merits of its claims. In May, 1897, 
 certain lots of these stamps, advertised for sale at public auction by a New 
 York dealer, were seized and an action at law instituted to recover the stamps sei/,ure of stamps, 
 and nominal damages, on the ground that "said stamps were stolen, embezzled i-es"* »»*'<"> *»*«■>■ 
 and purloined from the Government, that they were prepared and printed 
 for the Government and were and have ever since the time they were printed 
 continued to be the property of the Government, and it has never lawfully 
 
326 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS, ISSUE OF I 895. 
 
 and voluntarily parted with the possession thereof, nor have any of its ofificers, 
 employees or agents had lawful authority to part with title and possession 
 thereto." 
 
 Collectors and dealers joined together and subscribed liberally to 
 defend this action. Even before the case came to trial the postal officials 
 must have recognized the weakness of their position and — which should have 
 been apparent long before — that the stamps were not necessary for the proper 
 transaction of business between the Post Office Department and publishers. 
 Corroboration of this is found in the following extract from the report of the 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated October 7th, 1897 : 
 DISCONTINUANCE OF THE USE OF NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 
 
 " Under the present law and the Postal Regulations postage on newspapers and 
 periodicals mailed in bulk by publishers and news agents, commonly called second-class 
 niscoiitiiiniince of matter, is collected by postmasters in monev. for which they are required to give receipts to 
 tlie stamps rerom- the senders of the matter, and to attach to the stubs of such receipts, retained in books kept 
 iiirudrd. in the post office, the equivalent of the money received in newapaper and periodical stamps, 
 
 or stamps provided solely for that purpose, which are not good for postage on any other class 
 of mail matter, and which are not to be sold, loaned or given away. Every postmaster at 
 whose office this class of matter is mailed is further required to cancel the stamps used there- 
 for, and to transmit them eveiy quarter to the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster 
 General, with the stubs to which they are attached, and with an itemized report showing 
 the names of the mailing parties and of their publications, and the amount of the postage 
 paid thereon ; and these canceled stamps, after being carefully counted and the amounts 
 found to agree with the accompanying reports, are destroyed. 
 
 Upon a very slight consideration of this system it will be seen that, as the stamps used 
 are never bought by the senders of second-class matter, are never in their hands, but are 
 always, both before and after use, in the custody of postmasters or their subordinates, who 
 can apply them or not to the stubs of their receipt-books, as they may elect, and in any 
 amounts the use of them in the manner described is unnecessary. A receipt to be given in 
 every case to the sender of such matter, with a manifolded copy of it to be sent by the post- 
 master to the Department, would present precisely the same evidence of the collection of the 
 postage as is now sought to be secured by the use of the stamps. The only difference would 
 be in the manner of showing the postmaster's collections : under the present plan he simply 
 reports to this office the amount of postage received and sends to the Department the stamps 
 used, while to the Auditor he reports these stamps as sold ; under the other, he would still 
 report the amount of postage received, accompanied by manifolded copies of the receipts 
 given therefor, which could be examined and verified, if necessary, both by the Third 
 Assistant Postmaster Geneial and by the Auditor. 
 
 These newspaper and periodical stamps are not only unnecessary, but they involve 
 labor and expense, which could be saved by their abandonment. The cost of their manu- 
 facture is not very great, it is true — not over a thousand dollars a year ; but the transmission 
 of them in the mails, the custody of them in post offices, the application of them to the receipt 
 books of postmasters, the canceling and forwarding of them to the Department, and their 
 examination and destruction here, amount to very much more, all of which could be saved. 
 
 Not being willing, however, to rely entirely on my own judgment as to the matter, 1 
 have had special inquiry made of the postmasters at three very large cities as to whether the 
 present system is a proper one and they have all agreed that so far as concerns the use of 
 newspaper and periodical stamps the system should be modified, and could be without any 
 inconvenient derangement of their office methods. 
 
 On the whole, I am thoroughly convinced that the use of the stamps in question 
 affords no protection whatever to the Government or to postmasters, but is expensive and un - 
 necessary, and I accordingly recommend that Congress be asked to authorize their discon- 
 tinuance, and the substitution of such a system of accountability on the part of postmasters 
 and their subordinates as may be deemed best by the Postmaster Geneial." 
 
 The case was tried in April, 1898 and a decision was rendered in favor 
 of the defendant, in which decision the Government ultimately acquiesced. 
 In the meant me, Congress, in compliance with the recommendation of the 
 Postmaster General, ordered the use of the newspaper and periodical stamps 
 to be discontinued on and after July 1st, 1898. This act was approved on 
 June 13th, 1898, and on the next day the following official order was issued : 
 
NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 895. 327 
 
 ORDER OF THE POST MASTER. GENERAL 
 
 Post Office Department, 
 Order No. 232. Washingtom, D. C, June 14th, 1898. 
 
 Under authority of the act of Congress approved on the 13th iii.^tant, making ap- 
 propriations for the postal service for the next fiscal year, it is hereby ordered that the use 
 of newspaper and periodical postage stamps shall cease on and after the ist of July, 1808. Order aiscoutiuufiig 
 From that date postmasters will collect in money the postage on second-class matter mailed Hie use of flie 
 in bulk by publishers and news agents, and will give receipts therefor, as they have hereto- stampR. 
 
 fore done; but instead of including this money in the amount covered by the sale of stamps, 
 as is now the practice, they must charge themselves with it in their quarterly returns to the 
 Auditor, by a special entry to be inserted between items 1 and 2 of the official form. 
 
 Carrying out this change, Sections 103 and 130 of the Postal Regulations are hereby 
 modified so as to read as follows; 
 
 Sec 103. Postage. Stamps: Kinds and Denominations — Of postage stamps two 
 kinds, each consisting of various denominations, are provided, viz: Ordinary stamps which 
 are used to prepay postage on ordinary mail matter of the first, third and fourth classes, as 
 well as on second-class matter mailed by others than publishers and news agents, and the 
 fees on registeied matter; and postage due stamps, which are used for the collection of 
 postage due on mail matter that has not been fully prepaid at mailing offices.'' 
 
 •'Sec. 130. Second class matter, elsewhere defined, must be brought to the post 
 office and there weighed in bulk, and the postage collected in money, for which receipts, 
 made out on forms taken from books furnished by the Department, are to be given. No 
 credit is ever to be allowed for newspaper and periodical postage; but, for convenience, the 
 postmaster may receive from a publisher or news agent the deposit of sufficient money in 
 advance to pay for more than a single mailing. In every case where advance deposits of 
 postage are thus made, the postmaster must charge against it every mailing, and must see to 
 it that the amount on hand shall never fall below what is necessary to cover any matter that 
 is offered for dispatch. Postmasters must transmit punctually at the end of each quarter, 
 to the Third Assistant Postmaster General, by ordinary mail, in special envelopes provided 
 for the purpose, the stubs of all receipts given for newspaper and periodical postage collected 
 during the quarter, together with the statement required by Section 20S." 
 
 " Before returning the stubs, the calculations and footings should be reviewed and 
 made correct. The stubs should then be detached from the book, arranged in numerical 
 order, fastened together at the upper left-hand corner, and the name of the post office, 
 county and state written thereon. The postmaster will continue to use what is left of the 
 stub book." 
 
 Section 194 will be also modified so as to require postmasters lo report specially on 
 their quarteriy returns to the Auditor the amount of money collected during the quarter as 
 postage on newspapers and periodicals; and Section 208 will be changed so as to require the 
 quarterly statement of postage sent to the Third Assistant Postmaster General to be made in 
 duplicate. 
 
 Ch. Emory Smith, Postmaster General. 
 
 The use of the newspaper and periodical stamps having been discon- 
 tinued, postmasters were instructed to return to the Post Office Department, 
 for redemption, any stocks of them remaining in their hands. An official stamps returned to 
 circular, dated February 2d, 1899, limited the period of this redemption to 
 the T5th of that month, at which latter date the ss,oco sets of reprints and 
 remainders were offered for sale to the public In compliance with these 
 orders a quantity of the stamps were returned to Washington. The stocks 
 returned consisted of stamps of the various printings of the Bureau of En- 
 graving and Printing and a number printed by the American Bank Note Co. 
 It is even possible that a very few of the Continental Bank Note Co's pro- 
 duct may have been included among them. I am not aware that any report 
 of the amount of stamps redeemed has been made public. If published, it 
 would doubtless be confined to a statement of the total value, without giving 
 quantities of the several denominations or separating the issues 
 
 The stamps returned by postmasters were usually in broken sheets and 
 often stuck together. None of them were used toward making up the SS,coo 
 sets for collectors. Such stamps of those sets as were originals were obtained 
 
 the Post Oflice 
 Department. 
 
328 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1895. 
 
 from undistributed stock in the vaults of the Stamp Agent at the Bureau of 
 Engraving and Printing. The balance of this stock was subsequently 
 destroyed, as were also the stamps returned by postmasters 
 
 Only about one half of the 55,000 sets were sold, as is shown in the 
 following extract from the annual report of the Third Assistant Postmaster 
 General for 1900 : 
 
 In my report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, it was stated that the Depart- 
 ment had realized $117,175 from the sale of obsolete newspaper and periodical stamps at $5 
 Number of sets sold per set. This sum represented the value of the sets reported sold by first-class postmasters 
 to the public. to whom they were furnished, but upon final settlement it developed that many postmasters 
 had reported as " sold ", in addition to their actual sales, a number of sets which had simply 
 been placed in the hands of their stamp clerks for sale. Many of these stamps were after- 
 ward returned to the Department, and this reduced the value of the sets sold by postmasters 
 from the time they were issued in February, iSgq, until their withdrawal from sale Decem- 
 ber 31, 1899, to $109,945. To this amount should be added the value of 5,000 sets sold by 
 the Department direct, $25,000, making the total income derived from this source $134,945. 
 The newspaper and periodical stamps remaining in the hands of postmasters December 31, 
 1899, were returned to the Department for destruction. The following statement shows in 
 detail the disposition made of the entire isiue : 
 
 Number Value at $5 
 
 of sets. per set. 
 
 Placed on sale — At first-class post offices, 50,000 $250,000 
 
 At Post Office Department, 5,000 25,000 
 
 Total, 55,000 $275,000 
 
 Returned to Department unsold, 28,011 '40,055 
 
 Sold, 26,989 §134,945 
 
 The sale of these stamps was discontinued after December 31st, 1899, 
 at all post offices except that of the city of Washington, where the stamps 
 remained on sale until February loth, 1900. 
 
Postage Due Stamps, 
 
 Issue of 1879. 
 
 Previous to July, 1879, whenever a letter was sent unpaid or insuffi- 
 ciently prepaid, the amount of postage due was written or stamped on the 
 envelope and collected from the addressee. No vouchers were given for 
 money thus collected and there was nothing, beyond the honesty of the post- 
 master, to insure its delivery to the Government. 
 
 As a remedy for this unsatisfactory system an Act of Congress, approved 
 March 3rd, 1879, provided : 
 
 " Sec 26. All mail matter of the first-class, upon which one full rate of postage has 
 been prepaid, shall be forwarded to its destination, charged with the unpaid rate, to be col- 
 lected on delivery ; but postmasters, before delivering the same, or any article of mail matter Act authormng 
 upon which prepayment in full has not been made, shall affix, or caused to be affixed, and postage due stamps, 
 canceled, as ordinary stamps are canceled, one or more stamps, equivalent in value to the 
 amount of postage due on such article of mail matter, which stamps shall be of such special 
 design and denomination as the Postmaster General may prescribe, and which shall in no 
 case be sold by any postmaster nor received by him m prepayment of postage. That, in lieu 
 of the commission now allowed to postmasters at offices of the fourth class upon the amount 
 of unpaid letter postage collected, such postmasters shall receive a commission upon the 
 amount of such special stamps so canceled, the same as now allowed upon postage stamps, 
 stamped envelopes, postal cards, and newspaper and periodical stamps canceled as postages 
 on matter actually mailed at their offices : Provided, The Postmaster General may, in his 
 discretion, prescribe in'-tead such regulations therefor at the offices where free delivery is 
 established as, in his judgment, the good of the service may require. 
 
 Sec. 27. Any postmaster or other person engaged in the postal service who shall collect, 
 and fail to account for, the postage due upon any article of mail matter which he may deliver, 
 without having previously affixed and canceled such special stamps as hereinbefore provided, 
 or who shall fail to affix such stamps, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on 
 conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars." 
 
 In accordance with this Act the following official circular was issued : 
 
 SPECIAL STAMPS FOR POSTAGE DUE. 
 
 Post Office Department, 
 
 Office of the Third Assistant Post.master General, 
 
 Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Envelopes, and Postal Cards. 
 
 Washington, D. C, May 5, 1879. 
 
 By Sections 26 and 27 of the act of Congress " making appropriations for the service of 
 the Post Office Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, and for other purposes," 
 approved March 5, 1879, it is made the duty of postm.asters to affix to all mail matter that Circular anuouncing 
 has arrived at destination without full payment of postage, and before delivery of the tiie issue of postage 
 same, an amount of stamps equal to the postage due— the stamps to be of such special design due stamps. 
 
 as the Postmaster General may direct. 
 
 To avoid any confusion in theaccountsof postmasters with the Aduitor, and on account 
 pf the length of time necessary to prepare for the change contemplated by the above section 
 
33° 
 
 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 879. 
 
 Dates of issue. 
 
 Design and color. 
 
 in the mode of collecting and accounting for short paid postage, it has been decided to have 
 the same go into practical operation on the ist of July next. The Department, however, will 
 begin issuing, some time during the present month, in anticipation of the wants of postmasters 
 special stamps for the collection of postage due, of the denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 5 cents. 
 * * * * The color of all is the same — a reddish hrown 
 
 These stamps are intended exclusively for the collection of postage due on matter 
 arriving at destination through the mails, and are to be used in combination wherever 
 required to cover unusual amounts of postage. They are to be canceled in the customary 
 way, after being attached to mail matter, and are never to be sold or received by postmasters 
 for prepayment of postage. 
 
 Postmasters must distinctly understand that these stamps are not to be used until the 
 ist of July, r879 
 
 A supply of them will be sent at first to a'l post offices, in advance of requisitions from 
 postmasters, and charged to their account ; but afterwards they must be ordered on blank 
 forms (No. 3285) to be furnished by the First Assistant Postmaster General. With the first 
 supply of stamps, however, blank requisitions for future use will be inclosed. 
 
 The stamps will be accounted for to the Auditor the same as other stamps, and will 
 enter into the monthly report of stamps &c., received, sold, and on hand, required by the 
 Regulations to be made by postmasters at Presidential offices to the Third Assistant 
 Postmaster General. 
 
 On the next page of this circular will be found the sections of the new Postal law and 
 Regulations relating to the above described stamps, which are published in advance for the 
 information and guidance of postmasters. The distinguishing numbers of the sections can- 
 not now be given ; but the instructions are here printed in the same order in which they will 
 appear in the forthcoming volume of the new Postal Regulations. 
 
 A. D. Hazen, 
 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
 
 Among other provisions of the regulations were the following: 
 
 " At all post offices where the free delivery service has not been established, postmasters 
 will not affix the postage due stamps until the delivery of the matter has been requested. At 
 all free delivery post offices, matters which has not been sufficiently prepaid will be rated up, 
 and postage due stamps of the necessary denominations will be affixed as soon as the matter 
 is received at the post office, unless an order is on file for a letter to be forwarded, in which 
 case it will be forwarded without affixing the postage due stamp." 
 
 The Stamps of the denominations i, 2, 3 and 5 cents were first issued 
 to postmasters on May 9th, r879; those of the other three values, ro, 30 and 
 50 cents, were issued on September igth of the same year. 
 
 The stamps are thus officially described: 
 
 " These stamps are alike, except as to the denominations, which are 
 expressed by Arabic numerals, in the middle, upon an elliptic ground of 
 delicate lathe work. Upon the upper line of this ground are the words 
 ' POSTAGE DUE ' in white capitals; on the lower border is the denomination, 
 in letters of the same kind. On the left and right side, respectively, and 
 separating these inscriptions, are the letters ' u ' and ' s ' upon white shields. 
 There is a complex angular ornamentation of light line work surrounding 
 this, and the whole rests upon a darker colored beveled tablet, of which but 
 little can be seen, though it covers the entire stamp, which is a parallelogram 
 I by 25-32 of an inch in dimensions. The color of all the stamps is a dull 
 red or reddish brown." 
 
 The paper is the thick, soft, porous, white wove paper, which was 
 always used by the American Bank Note Company. 
 
 The gum varies from pure white to brownish. 
 
 The perforation is 12 and the stamps measure 2ox25^mm. 
 
 The stamps were at first printed in a brown ink having a yellow tone. 
 This was followed by various shades of red-brown and eventually by lake or, 
 a.s it is usually termed, claret. 
 
POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 331 
 
 The following colors and varieties have been noted: 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 Thick Soft Porous Wove Paper. 
 
 May 9th, 1879. I cent yellow-brown, pale brown, brown, deep brown, 
 
 light red-brown, red-brown, lake-brown, carmine- 
 brown, rose-brown, dull-rose, claret, light claret 
 
 2 cents yellow-brown, deep yellow-brownf pale brown, 
 
 brown, deep brown, light red-brown, red-brown, 
 lake-brown, carmine-brown, rose-brown, dull rose, 
 claret, dark claret 
 
 3 cents yellow-brown, pale brown, brown, deep brown, 
 
 red-brown, lake-brown, carmine-brown, claret, 
 light claret, dark claret 
 S cents yellow-brown, deep yellow-brown, pale brown, 
 brown, deep brown, red-brown, carmine-brown, 
 rose-brown, claret, light claret, dark claret 
 Sept. 19th, 1879. '° cents yellow-brown, deep yellow-brown, pale brown 
 
 brown, deep brown, red-brown, lake-brown, car- 
 mine brown, rose-brown, dull rose, claret, light 
 claret 
 
 30 cents bistre-brown, pale brown, brown, deep brown, 
 red-brown, lake-brown, claret, dark claret 
 
 50 cents bistre-brown, pale brown, brown, deep brown, 
 red-brown, claret, dark claret. 
 
 Variety: 
 10 cents yellow-brown Imperforate 
 
 The plates each contained two hundred stamps, arranged in two panes 
 of one hundred (ten rows of ten) placed side by side. Each impression was 
 divided between the panes, making half sheets of one hundred stamps. As 
 usual, this division left one side of each sheet imperforate. The line of 
 separation was marked by arrow heads in the upper and lower margins. The 
 imprint was " American bank note company," in colored capitals. It was 
 placed above the two stamps in the middle of the top row of each pane and 
 below the corresponding stamps in the bottom row. Between each imprint 
 and the central line of the plate was " No.", followed by the plate number in 
 slanting Arabic numerals: 
 
 The plate numbers were: 
 
 1 cent No. 3x3, 314. 
 
 2 cents No. 315, 464. 
 
 3 cents No. 316, 317. 
 5 cents No. 318. 
 
 10 cents No. 331. 
 30 cents No. 332. 
 50 cents No. 333, 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Plate uumbers. 
 
332 
 
 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 used to pay regular 
 postage. 
 
 Although the law expressly forbade postmasters to receive postage due 
 stamps in prepayment of postage, instances are known in which this was done, 
 Postage due stamps and in at least one of them the postmaster himself was responsible for the 
 infraction. In the America-n Philatelist, volume III, page loo, is an article 
 on this subject, a portion of which (the extract here quoted) is reprinted 
 from the Independent Philatelist for March, 1885: 
 
 " On the afternoon of February 14, 1885, the post office at Bergen Point, N. J., ran 
 short of the one cent stamps on account of the increased local mail of drop letters, and in 
 order to meet the demand the postmaster was obliged to utilize the one cent unpaid. 
 
 This we learned late on Monday afternoon, and on arrival at the post office found a 
 new supply of one cent stamps ready for customers. The postmaster informs us that about 
 fifty were in use on the afternoon of February 14, and the morning of the 16th, 1885." 
 
 The reader is reminded that February 14th is St. Valentine's day 
 which, in the year 1885, fell on Saturday. This will explain the sudden in- 
 crease in the number of drop letters and the reason that no stamps were 
 used on the 15th. 
 
 I have seen an envelope, mailed at Lesley, Va., on August loth, 1893, 
 on which the regular postage was paid by means of a two cent due stamp of 
 the 1879 type, printed in deep claret. The letter was delivered to the ad- 
 dressee in Richmond, Va., without any claim for unpaid postage. 
 
 A special printing of the postage due stamps was made in 1879 to 
 supply the wants of collectors and dealers. This will be further described 
 in the chapter on reprints and re-issues. All values of these stamps, printed 
 in red brown, exist with the surcharge " specimen " in red. These were 
 probably prepared for exchanging through the Universal Postal Union. 
 
 From the annual reports of the Postmaster General and other sources 
 we obtain the following statistics of stamps issued to deputy postmasters: 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1879: 
 Quarter Ending: 
 Sept. 30, 1878. Dec. 31, 1878. Mch. 31, 1879. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents , 
 
 S cents 
 
 10 cents ...... 
 
 30 cents 
 
 50 cents 
 
 Whole number of stamps 15,667,600. Value $365,957.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1880 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Special printing. 
 
 ** Specimen ' 
 stamps. 
 
 Deliveries to 
 postmasters. 
 
 June 30, 1879. Total. 
 S.7SS.400 5,755,400 
 642,900 
 
 8,396,000 
 873.3°° 
 
 642,900 
 8,396,000 
 873.30° 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1879. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1879. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1880. 
 
 June 30, 1880. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 196,900 
 
 258,000 
 
 349,900 
 
 394,200 
 
 1,199,000 
 
 2 cents 
 
 200,800 
 
 146,200 
 
 167,700 
 
 180,300 
 
 695,000 
 
 3 cents 
 
 390,700 
 
 640,400 
 
 1,013,000 
 
 955,800 
 
 2.999.900 
 
 5 cents 
 
 377.70° 
 
 78,000 
 
 152,400 
 
 159,400 
 
 767,500 
 
 10 cents 
 
 194,200 
 
 65,800 
 
 123,400 
 
 119,400 
 
 1502,800 
 
 30 cents 
 
 47.480 
 
 S,ooo 
 
 700 
 
 11,100 
 
 64,280 
 
 50 cents 
 
 35.87° 
 
 10,000 
 
 100 
 
 10,050 
 
 56,020 
 
 Whole number of stamps 6,284,500. Value $251,836.00. 
 
POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 33^ 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1881 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 isept. 30, 1880. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1880 
 
 . Mch. 31, 188 
 
 I. June 30, 1881 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 279,100 
 
 465,600 
 
 400,500 
 
 450,500 
 
 1,595,700 
 
 2 cents 
 
 129,700 
 
 227,900 
 
 142,500 
 
 231,950 
 
 732,050 
 
 3 cents 
 
 967,600 
 
 1,231,200 
 
 1,147,900 
 
 1,287,500 
 
 4,634,200 
 
 S cents 
 
 91,060 
 
 124,980 
 
 170,900 
 
 J33>84o 
 
 520,780 
 
 10 cents 
 
 130,740 
 
 113,510 
 
 i37,5°o 
 
 170,500 
 
 552,250 
 
 30 cents 
 
 5° 
 
 1,400 
 
 200 
 
 7,650 
 
 9,300 
 
 50 cents 
 
 
 200 
 
 400 
 
 830 
 
 1,430 
 
 Whole number of stamps 8,045,710. Value $254,393.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1882 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1881. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1881. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1882. 
 
 June 30, 1 
 
 1882. Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 440, 1 00 
 
 525, >oo 
 
 55', 200 
 
 811,950 
 
 2,328,350 
 
 2 cents 
 
 137,250 
 
 203,750 
 
 228,950 
 
 388,350 
 
 958,300 
 
 3 cents 
 
 1,389,900 
 
 1,763,200 
 
 1,784,000 
 
 1,864,550 
 
 6,801,650 
 
 5 cents 
 
 86,560 
 
 127,460 
 
 137,940 
 
 180,600 
 
 532,560 
 
 10 cents 
 
 128,550 
 
 137,270 
 
 197,230 
 
 276,880 
 
 739,930 
 
 30 cents 
 
 620 
 
 1,620 
 
 760 
 
 8,050 
 
 11,050 
 
 50 cents 
 
 300 
 
 400 
 
 570 
 
 2,200 
 
 3,470 
 
 
 Sept. 30, i8f 
 
 I cent 
 
 580,850 
 
 2 cents 
 
 190,600 
 
 3 cents 
 
 1,718,250 
 
 5 cents 
 
 117,540 
 
 10 cents 
 
 205,070 
 
 30 cents 
 
 >o,730 
 
 50 cents 
 
 10,300 
 
 Mch. 31, 1883. 
 
 June 30, 1883. 
 
 Total. 
 
 769,550 
 
 578,450 
 
 2,475,375 
 
 366,500 
 
 436,650 
 
 1,244,475 
 
 2,123,750 
 
 1,681,950 
 
 7,383,530 
 
 198,760 
 
 114,600 
 
 525,145 
 
 280,310 
 
 230,220 
 
 948,965 
 
 1,310 
 
 2,810 
 
 17,960 
 
 3,100 
 
 400 
 
 •4,450 
 
 Whole number of stamps 11,375,310. Value $352,170.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1883 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Dec. 31, i8i 
 546,525 
 250,725 
 2,859,580 
 
 94,245 
 233,365 
 3,no 
 650 
 Whole number of stamps 12,609,900. Value $404,915.90. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1884 : 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1883. Dec. 31, 1883. Mch 31, iS 
 863,900 
 2,032,100 
 50,500 
 76,500 
 147,370 
 
 2,2tO 
 1,848 
 
 Whole number of stamps 13,612,198. Value $353,611.00. 
 
 I cent 
 
 853,300 
 
 2 cents 
 
 1,679,100 
 
 3 cents 
 
 662,050 
 
 5 cents 
 
 100,190 
 
 10 cents 
 
 220,300 
 
 30 cents 
 
 6,930 
 
 50 cents 
 
 5,810 
 
 Ich 31, 1884. 
 
 June 30, 1884. 
 
 Total. 
 
 912,600 
 
 837,700 
 
 3,467,500 
 
 ,204,000 
 
 1,990,400 
 
 7,905,600 
 
 11,700 
 
 
 724,250 
 
 158,060 
 
 119,800 
 
 454,550 
 
 402,380 
 
 251,220 
 
 1,021,270 
 
 16,050 
 
 1,170 
 
 26,360 
 
 5,010 
 
 
 12,668 
 
334 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1885 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1884. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1884. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1885. 
 
 June 30, 1885. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 604,600 
 
 758,300 
 
 81 r, 200 
 
 880,250 
 
 3,054,350 
 
 2 cents 
 
 ',843,550 
 
 2,281,800 
 
 2,246,250 
 
 1,880,900 
 
 8,252,500 
 
 3 cents 
 
 
 10,500 
 
 55,500 
 
 6,700 
 
 72,700 
 
 5 cents 
 
 71,220 
 
 86,920 
 
 194,540 
 
 130,480 
 
 483,160 
 
 10 cents 
 
 195,240 
 
 175.300 
 
 211,570 
 
 202,315 
 
 784,425 
 
 30 cents 
 
 5,350 
 
 1,400 
 
 6,540 
 
 5, '40 
 
 18,430 
 
 50 cents 
 
 5,000 
 
 
 70 
 
 106 
 
 5,176 
 
 Whole number of stamps 12,670,741. Value $308,492.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1886 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1885. Dec. 31, 188; 
 614,100 
 411,400 
 50,000 
 73,780 
 261,200 
 310 
 1 00 
 Whole number of stamps 5,469,650. Value $159,989.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1887 : 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 I cent 
 
 473,800 
 
 2 cents 
 
 534,250 
 
 3 cents 
 
 700 
 
 5 cents 
 
 54,t20 
 
 10 cents 
 
 124,900 
 
 30 cents 
 
 300 
 
 50 cents 
 
 
 ch. 31, 1886. 
 
 June 30, 1886. 
 
 Total. 
 
 712,800 
 
 591,800 
 
 2.392,500 
 
 400,100 
 
 545,350 
 
 1,881,100 
 
 5,600 
 
 5,000 
 
 61,300 
 
 134,780 
 
 96,600 
 
 359,280 
 
 234,340 
 
 150,670 
 
 771,110 
 
 2,130 
 
 520 
 
 3,260 
 
 J, 000 
 
 
 1,100 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1886. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1886. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1887. 
 
 June 30, 1887, 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 817,200 
 
 952,800 
 
 843,000 
 
 823,200 
 
 3,436,200 
 
 2 cents 
 
 652,300 
 
 907,350 
 
 909,250 
 
 725,700 
 
 3,194,600 
 
 3 cents 
 
 50,000 
 
 5,000 
 
 12,700 
 
 200 
 
 67,900 
 
 5 cents 
 
 182,160 
 
 101,460 
 
 135,000 
 
 97,580 
 
 516,200 
 
 10 cents 
 
 188,850 
 
 273,440 
 
 328,210 
 
 219,840 
 
 1,010,340 
 
 30 cents 
 
 1,020 
 
 5,000 
 
 5,150 
 
 2,060 
 
 13,230 
 
 50 cents 
 
 1,000 
 
 5,020 
 
 1,000 
 
 1,044 
 
 8,064 
 
 Whole number of stamps 8,246,534. Value $235,136.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1888 : 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1887. Dec. 31, 1887. Mch. 31, 1888. June 30, 1888. Total. 
 
 1 cent 936,600 1,403,900 1,868,600 1,312,500 5,521,600 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents 
 5 cents 
 
 10 cents 
 30 cents 
 50 cents 
 
 Whole number of stamps 10,805,572. Value $283,954.00. 
 
 705,950 
 
 992,500 
 
 970,800 
 
 661,650 
 
 3,330,900 
 
 60,000 
 
 12,500 
 
 60,200 
 
 4,400 
 
 137,100 
 
 83,800 
 
 160,440 
 
 215,440 
 
 120,780 
 
 580,460 
 
 212,300 
 
 320,740 
 
 43S,i6o 
 
 246,340 
 
 1,214,540 
 
 
 3,300 
 
 10,900 
 
 580 
 
 14,780 
 
 
 24 
 
 5,350 
 
 818 
 
 6,192 
 
POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 335 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1889 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1888. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1888. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1889. 
 
 June 30, 1889. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 i,S'3.So° 
 
 1,774,700 
 
 1,515,200 
 
 1,517,200 
 
 6,320,600 
 
 2 cents 
 
 i,03S>8so 
 
 851.350 
 
 880,850 
 
 792,150 
 
 3,560,200 
 
 3 cents 
 
 SS.200 
 
 ir,ioo 
 
 70,200 
 
 12,400 
 
 148,900 
 
 5 cents 
 
 183,360 
 
 102,260 
 
 130,260 
 
 103,340 
 
 519,220 
 
 10 cents 
 
 297,020 
 
 380,120 
 
 328,960 
 
 334,100 
 
 1,340,200 
 
 30 cents 
 
 SO 
 
 220 
 
 640 
 
 
 910 
 
 50 cents 
 
 30 
 
 100 
 
 10 
 
 
 140 
 
 Whole number of stamps 11,890,170. Value $299,201.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1890 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1889. 
 
 Dec. 31, 18S9. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1890. 
 
 June 30, 1890. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 1,980,200 
 
 1,540,900 
 
 1,71 r, 800 
 
 1,839,300 
 
 7,072,200 
 
 2 cents 
 
 1,261,200 
 
 1,059,100 
 
 1,051,100 
 
 1,253,000 
 
 4,624,400 
 
 3 cents 
 
 23,200 
 
 77,500 
 
 25,250 
 
 13,000 
 
 138,950 
 
 5 cents 
 
 133,160 
 
 100,060 
 
 140,370 
 
 131,300 
 
 504,890 
 
 10 cents 
 
 300,390 
 
 282,260 
 
 383,020 
 
 320,840 
 
 1,286,510 
 
 30 cents 
 
 5,450 
 
 1,050 
 
 1,310 
 
 3,100 
 
 10,910 
 
 50 cents 
 
 100 
 
 
 130 
 
 100 
 
 330 
 
 Whole number of stamps 13,638,190. Value $324,712.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1891 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1890. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1890. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1891. 
 
 , June 30, 1891 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 1,915,600 
 
 1,887,700 
 
 ',99',5°o 
 
 1,877,500 
 
 7,673,300 
 
 2 cents 
 
 1,286,700 
 
 1,146,600 
 
 1,263,900 
 
 1,359,650 
 
 5,056,850 
 
 3 cents 
 
 73,300 
 
 24,700 
 
 25,600 
 
 70,200 
 
 193,800 
 
 5 cents 
 
 116,060 
 
 137,640 
 
 157,800 
 
 143,860 
 
 555,400 
 
 10 cents 
 
 340,060 
 
 340,820 
 
 420,940 
 
 391,340 
 
 1,493,160 
 
 30 cents 
 
 320 
 
 40 
 
 310 
 
 1,000 
 
 1,670 
 
 50 cents 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 300 
 
 100 
 
 600 
 
 Whole number of stamps 14,974,820. Value $361,573.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1892 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1891 
 
 . Dec. 31, 189 
 
 1. Mch. 31, 1892. 
 
 June 30, 1892 
 
 1. Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 2,012,000 
 
 2,048,100 
 
 2,458,900 2 
 
 1,270,800 
 
 8,789,800 
 
 2 cents 
 
 1,293,300 
 
 1,482,600 
 
 1,748,400 I 
 
 ,613,100 
 
 6,137,400 
 
 3 cents 
 
 26,500 
 
 38,700 
 
 80,300 
 
 31,800 
 
 177,300 
 
 5 cents 
 
 189,100 
 
 132,500 
 
 251,800 
 
 167,600 
 
 741,000 
 
 10 cents 
 
 301,990 
 
 456,600 
 
 507,400 
 
 431,200 
 
 1,697,190 
 
 30 cents 
 
 2,420 
 
 .1,700 
 
 1,200 
 
 300 
 
 5,620 
 
 50 cents 
 
 200 
 
 1,300 
 
 J.Soo 
 
 100 
 
 3,100 
 
 Whole number of st. 
 
 amps 17,551, 
 
 410. Value $4; 
 
 25,970.00. 
 
 
336 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. — ISSUES OF 1894-95. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1893: 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1892. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1892. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1893. 
 
 June 30, 1893. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 2,048,950 
 
 2,050,000 
 
 2,211,500 
 
 2,657,000 
 
 8,967,450 
 
 2 cents 
 
 i,6i9>SS° 
 
 1,435,600 
 
 1,698,000 
 
 1,845,350 
 
 6,598,500 
 
 3 cents 
 
 74,35° 
 
 26,900 
 
 50,400 
 
 41,300 
 
 192,950 
 
 5 cents 
 
 173,75° 
 
 168,700 
 
 213,200 
 
 252,860 
 
 808,510 
 
 10 cents 
 
 364,550 
 
 418,500 
 
 352,700 
 
 389,800 
 
 1,525,550 
 
 30 cents 
 
 1,050 
 
 2,200 
 
 1,400 
 
 2,000 
 
 6,650 
 
 50 cents 
 
 850 
 
 1,200 
 
 200 
 
 100 
 
 2,350 
 
 I cent 
 
 1,866,200 
 
 2 cents 
 
 ',391,750 
 
 3 cents 
 
 69,000 
 
 5 cents 
 
 167,840 
 
 10 cents 
 
 366,330 
 
 30 cents 
 
 1,180 
 
 50 cents 
 
 300 
 
 1,646,750 
 
 2,203,300 
 
 7,131,700 
 
 125,500 
 
 29,600 
 
 242,900 
 
 180,460 
 
 134,100 
 
 603,780 
 
 485,920 
 
 361,280 
 
 1,608,470 
 
 1,160 
 
 1,070 
 
 6,290 
 
 574 
 
 1,100 
 
 3,106 
 
 Whole number of stamps 18,101,960. Value $423,583.50. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1894 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1893. Dec. 31, 1893. Mch. 31, 1894. June 30, 1894. Total. 
 
 2,286,300 3,068,000 2,221,400 8,441,900 
 1,889,900 
 18,800 
 121,380 
 
 394,940 
 2,880 
 
 1,132 
 
 Whole number of stamps 18,038,146. Value $428,816.00. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 Sept. 30, 1894. Dec. 31, 1894. Mch. 31, 1895. June 30, 1895. Total. 
 
 1 cent i>35°,369 1,350,369 
 
 2 cents 50,164 50,164 
 
 3 cents 29,500 92,600 54,200 14,000 190,300 
 5 cents 147,160 197,980 211,240 47,940 604,320 
 
 10 cents 277,780 277,780 
 
 30 cents 2,370 14,470 6,100 490 23,430 
 
 50 cents 1,156 10,800 2,604 470 15,030 
 
 Whole number of stamps 2,511,393. Value $92,753.97. 
 
 Issues of 1894-95. 
 
 On July ist, 1894 the contract of the American Bank Note Company 
 for the manufacture of postage stamps expired. Such reserve stock of stamps 
 as was in the vaults of the Company was transferred to Washington and issued 
 as required. Conc-erning this stock the annual report of the Third Assistant 
 Postmaster General, dated October 31st, 1894, says : "Of the postage-due 
 stamps, the transferred stock of the i cent denomination was exhausted August 
 14th, 1894; the 2-cent, July 20th, 1894 ; and the lo-cent, September 24th, 
 1894." The other values were not exhausted until April, 1895." 
 
POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. ISSUES OF 1 894-95. 
 
 337 
 
 It has been reported, on supposedly good authority, that the Bureau of 
 Engraving and Printing made printings of the postage-due stamps from the 
 plates of the American Bank Note Co. This statement has, until recently, 
 been generally accepted. But it is now officially denied that any such print- 
 ings were made and the records of the Bureau confirm this denial. The 
 stamps which have, heretofore, been assigned to these supposed printings were 
 distinguished by the transparency of the paper and the whiteness of the gum. 
 We must now conclude that they were merely a late product of the American 
 Bank Note Co. 
 
 In the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1894 (page 
 476), we read : 
 
 Change of Postage-Due Stamps. 
 
 It was also decided, upon the suggestion of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, to 
 make a change in the designs of the postage-due stamps — the change consisting of a reduction 
 in the size of the stamps and some immaterial changes in the general design. The denomi- 
 nations of the stamps are those of the old series, and the color was intended to be the same 
 but, owing to some difference in the character of the engraved plates, the former color has 
 not been exactly preserved. The new color is somewhat deeper than the old, and some of 
 the earlier issues of the stamps have even been printed a bright red. 
 
 The following is a description of the new stamps : 
 
 The shape of the whole engraving is oblong, the size being seven-eighths by very 
 nearly three fourths of an inch. In the center is the indication of denomination — large white 
 Arabic numerals being used — surrounded by fine lathework, forming an equilateral device 
 with thin white edges, rounded corners, and curving side.s — the four corners of the outline 
 pointing to the top and bottom and two sides of the stamp Above this is a semi-circular 
 panel bearing in white capitals the words " postage due", with a small cross at each end, 
 and above this still, in the two upper corners, are the letters "u " and "s ", over which, 
 and descending some distance on the two sides, is a line of ribbed ruling. At the bottom 
 of the stamp, in a curved panel, are the words of the denomination in white capitals, above 
 which, coming from each of the lower corners, is a large original scroll ornament somewhat 
 resembling a cornucopia. 
 
 The stamps measure i8J^x2 2 mm. 
 
 They were at first printed on a thin white wove paper, usually semi- 
 transparent. Afterwards, in common with other issues of the same period^ 
 they appeared on paper watermarked with the letters " U. S. P. S." They 
 have been reported, as have the stamps of the regular issue, on paper which> 
 in addition to the watermark, showed laid lines, and also on paper which 
 was apparently double. It is claimed, by those who should speak with 
 authority on the subject, that neither of these varieties of paper was inten- 
 tionally made or used and that they must be due to some accident of 
 manufacture. Such varieties appear to be of only trifling interest. 
 
 The gum varies from smooth to rough and from white to brownish. 
 The perforation is as usual. 
 
 The colors are : 
 
 Aug. 14, 1894. 
 July 20th, 1894. 
 Apl. 27th, 1895. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 1 cent pale vermilion, vermilion, violet-rose, pale claret, 
 
 claret, deep claret, lake 
 
 2 cents vermilion, dark vermilion, claret, bright claret, 
 
 deep claret, lake 
 
 3 cents deep claret, lake 
 
 5 cents claret, bright claret, deep claret, lake 
 
 Supposed printings 
 
 from plates of tlic 
 
 American Bank 
 
 Note Co. 
 
 Auuounceraeut of 
 the issue. 
 
 Color. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
338 
 
 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUES OF 1894-95. 
 
 Sept. 24th, 1894. 10 cents lake, brownish lake 
 
 Apl. 27th, 1895. 30 cents lilac-rose, violet-rose, rose, claret, lake 
 
 50 cents lilac -rose, violet-rose, brownish claret, lake 
 
 Watermarked USPS 
 
 Aug. ist, 1895. 
 
 Sept. 14th, 1895. 
 
 Oct. 30th, 1895. 
 Oct. 15th, 1895. 
 
 Sept. 14th, 1895. 
 Aug. 2ist, 1897. 
 Mch. 17th, 1896. 
 
 1 cent dark carmine, violet-rose, claret, bright claret, deep 
 claret, brownish claret, lake 
 
 2 cents violet-rose, claret, bright claret, brownish claret, 
 deep claret, lake 
 
 3 cents crimson, deep claret, lake 
 S cents claret, bright claret, deep claret, brownish claret, 
 
 lake 
 10 cents claret, deep claret, lake 
 30 cents lake 
 50 cents brownish claret, lake 
 
 The plates for these stamps are made up of two panes, placed side by 
 Plates. side Each pane contains one hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows of ten. 
 
 The impressions are divided vertically, between the panes, at the time of per- 
 forating, thus leaving one edge of each sheet blank. 
 
 A line is drawn across the plate between the fifth and sixth horizontal 
 rows. This line terminates in arrow heads in each side margin. There are 
 Imprints. two varieties of the imprint. The first is " Bureau, Engraving & Printing," 
 in small lower-case letters and initial capitals, on a small rectangular panel, 
 surrounded by a thin colored line. The second variety is made by adding a 
 rosette and a three-pointed ornament at each end of the panel. The imprint 
 is placed above the two stamps in the middle of the top row of each pane 
 and below the corresponding stamps of the bottom row. The plate number 
 is placed at the inner side of each imprint. The plate numbers are : 
 
 Plato numbers. Without Watermark. 
 
 No. 57, 
 No. 34, 
 No. 70. 
 No. 71. 
 No. 72. 
 No. 73. 
 No. 74. 
 
 With Watermark. 
 
 No. 57, 147, 246, 267. 
 No. 60, 159, 247, 268. 
 No. 70, 254. 
 No. 71, 255. 
 No. 72, 256. 
 No. 73, 260. 
 No. 74, 261. 
 Four plates for one cent stamps, numbered 66, 67, 68 and 69, were 
 also prepared, but they were never put to press. 
 
 I 
 
 cent 
 
 2 
 
 cents 
 
 3 
 
 cents 
 
 S 
 
 cents 
 
 10 
 
 cents 
 
 30 
 
 cents 
 
 5° 
 
 cents 
 
 I 
 
 cent 
 
 2 
 
 cents 
 
 3 
 
 cents 
 
 S 
 
 cents 
 
 10 
 
 cents 
 
 30 
 
 cents 
 
 50 
 
 cents 
 
 147. 
 60. 159. 
 
POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUES OF 1894-95. 339 
 
 From the annual reports of the Postmaster General and other sources 
 
 we obtain the following statistics of quantities of these stamps issued to 
 
 deputy postmasters : 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895 : DeiiTeries to 
 
 postmnsteis. 
 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Sept. 30, 1894. Dec. 31, 1894. Mch. 31, 1895. June 30, 1895. Total. 
 
 1 cent 883,531 2,233,600 2,391,100 1,939,850 7,448,081 
 
 2 cents 1,825,036 2,016,250 2,436,400 1,864,450 8,142,136 
 
 3 cents 39iioo 39jIoo 
 
 5 cents 88,200 88,200 
 
 10 cents 62,600 337.79° 3S1.870 339.iio 1.091.370 
 
 30 cents 700 700 
 
 50 cents 890 890 
 
 Whole number of stamps 16,810,477. Value $352,698.53. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1896 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Mch. 31, T896. June 30, 1896. Total. 
 
 2,439,400 1,953,700 8,582,800 
 
 2,236,450 2,029,450 8,249,850 
 
 92,500 96,900 383,050 
 
 180,860 175,540 612,910 
 
 419,150 359,190 1,504,610 
 
 4,040 1,760 10,060 
 
 3,350 1,060 8,434 
 Whole number of stamps 19,351,714- Value $450,658.00. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1897 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 I cent 
 
 Sept. 30, 1895. 
 1,822,900 
 
 Dec. 31, 1895 
 2,366,800 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents 
 5 cents 
 
 1,578,400 
 
 95,550 
 128,550 
 
 2,405,550 
 
 98,100 
 
 127,960 
 
 10 cents 
 
 325,950 
 
 400,320 
 
 30 cents 
 
 2,220 
 
 2,040 
 
 50 cents 
 
 1,390 
 
 2,634 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1896. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1896. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1897. 
 
 June 30, 1897. 
 
 Total. 
 
 I cent 
 
 2,259,600 
 
 2,106,000 
 
 2,062,900 
 
 2,285,000 
 
 8,713,500 
 
 2 cents 
 
 1,937,900 
 
 2,130,650 
 
 2,072,800 
 
 2,315,400 
 
 8,456,750 
 
 3 cents 
 
 39,400 
 
 108,500 
 
 49,600 
 
 103,100 
 
 300,600 
 
 5 cents 
 
 133,880 
 
 237,440 
 
 181,600 
 
 153,740 
 
 706,660 
 
 10 cents 
 
 277,590 
 
 344,790 
 
 394,410 
 
 366,450 
 
 1,383,240 
 
 30 cents 
 
 2,790 
 
 2,060 
 
 1,180 
 
 1,120 
 
 7,150 
 
 50 cents 
 
 2,160 
 
 1,520 
 
 i,oio 
 
 570 
 
 5,260 
 
 Whole number of 
 
 ' stamps 19,573,160. Value $443,720.00. 
 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal 
 
 year ending Ji 
 
 ane 30th, 1898 
 
 : 
 
 
 
 Quarter 
 
 Ending : 
 
 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1897. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1897. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1898. 
 
 June 30, 1898. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2,186,800 
 
 2,506,400 
 
 2,637,600 
 
 2,487,600 
 
 9,818,400 
 
 2 cents 
 
 2,339,350 
 
 2,511,800 
 
 2,666,250 
 
 2,771,500 
 
 10,288,900 
 
 3 cents 
 
 58,000 
 
 119,200 
 
 114,100 
 
 186,000 
 
 477,300 
 
 5 cents 
 
 123,820 
 
 149,400 
 
 262,360 
 
 246,740 
 
 782,320 
 
 10 cents 
 
 245,650 
 
 338,730 
 
 408,060 
 
 492,990 
 
 1,485,430 
 
 30 cents 
 
 740 
 
 1,420 
 
 1,650 
 
 1.310 
 
 5,120 
 
 50 cents 
 
 1,610 
 
 1,650 
 
 6,470 
 
 1,030 
 
 10,760 
 
 Whole number of stamps 22,868,230. Value $512,856.00. 
 
34° 
 
 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUES OF 1894-95. 
 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1899 ; 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 Deliveries to tlie 
 
 Universal Postal 
 
 Union. 
 
 Universal Postal 
 
 Congress. 
 
 "Specimen' 
 stamps. 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1898. 
 
 Dec. }i, 1898. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1899. 
 
 June 30, 1899. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 2,020,300 
 
 1,113,400 
 
 949,000 
 
 918,700 
 
 5,001,400 
 
 2 cents 
 
 2,405,500 
 
 2,147,400 
 
 2,450,400 
 
 2,'5f.35o 
 
 9,154.650 
 
 3 cents 
 
 96,300 
 
 SS.Soo 
 
 97,600 
 
 39.55° 
 
 318.950 
 
 5 cents 
 
 119,500 
 
 184,200 
 
 232,600 
 
 135.750 
 
 672,050 
 
 10 cents 
 
 243,120 
 
 374,600 
 
 4'4,9So 
 
 276,500 
 
 1.309.170 
 
 30 cents 
 
 2,310 
 
 55° 
 
 330 
 
 7,210 
 
 10,400 
 
 50 cents 
 
 160 
 
 200 
 
 20 
 
 1,070 
 
 1.470 
 
 Whole number of stamps *i6, 468,090. Value *$4i 1,050.00. 
 *4,5oo " specimens ", value $750, included. 
 Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1900 : 
 Quarter Ending : 
 
 
 Sept. 30, 1899. 
 
 Dec. 31, 1899. 
 
 Mch. 31, 1900. 
 
 June 30, 1900. 
 
 Total. 
 
 1 cent 
 
 1,172,300 
 
 1,500,000 
 
 1,722,200 
 
 1,084,000 
 
 5,478,500 
 
 2 cents 
 
 2,888,900 
 
 3.137,200 
 
 3,561,600 
 
 2,949,500 
 
 12,537,200 
 
 3 cents 
 
 111,600 
 
 73,100 
 
 121,500 
 
 104,200 
 
 410,400 
 
 5 cents 
 
 159.500 
 
 261,800 
 
 270,600 
 
 161,800 
 
 853.700 
 
 10 cents 
 
 396,950 
 
 371,100 
 
 561,850 
 
 352,550 
 
 1,682,450 
 
 30 cents 
 
 460 
 
 S40 
 
 1,690 
 
 2,740 
 
 5,430 
 
 50 cents 
 
 390 
 
 570 
 
 60 
 
 710 
 
 ',730 
 
 Whole number of stamps 20,969,410. Value $531,265.00. 
 
 In the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895, there were delivered to the 
 Universal Postal Union at Berne 750 copies each of the i, 2 and 10 cent 
 stamps. In the succeeding year a like quantity of the other values of the 
 series were supplied to the Union. In the reports of the Postmaster General 
 for those years, these stamps are included in the tables of deliveries to post- 
 masters. 
 
 In the year 1898, 200 stamps of each denomination of this series were 
 delivered "for the Post Office album ", and 125 sets were overprinted in blue 
 " UNIVERSAL — postal — CONGRESS " and presented to the delegates attending 
 that congress. These two lots are not included in the statistics quoted from 
 the reports of the Postmaster General. 
 
 The 4,500 " specimens " referred to at the foot of the table of deliveries 
 to postmasters in the fiscal year 1899, consisted of 750 copies of each value 
 of the series except the one cent. It is understood that these were all sur- 
 charged " Specimen " in small Gothic type, in black or magenta ink, by means 
 of a hand-stamp. 
 
 The table of deliveries for the fiscal year 1900 includes 700 copies 
 (100 of each denomination), valued at f 101.00, which were delivered to the 
 Third Assistant Postmaster General as "specimens". 
 
 During the last three years large quantities of postage due stamps have 
 been overprinted for Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines. As they were 
 taken from stock in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing which had not 
 been transferred to the Post Office department, the statistics of deliveries are 
 not affected, 
 
POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — PROVISIONAL ISSUES. 
 
 341 
 
 Provisional Issues. 
 
 From time to time, and in different parts of the country, postmasters 
 have resorted to a variety of makeshifts to supply temporary shortages of 
 certain values of the postage due stamps. Such provisional issues have 
 usually emenated from small post offices and the majority of them seem to be 
 of entirely honest intent and free from any suspicion of having been made 
 for philatelic purposes. While these issues were not authorized by the Post 
 Office Department, the fact that they were made by postmasters gives them 
 some standing. They are certainly interesting to a specialist. 
 
 The following varieties have come under my notice : 
 
 In the collection of Mr. F. O. Conant is a cover which was received 
 in Berlin Falls, N. H., on April 30th, 1880. The cover is stamped " Due 3 " 
 and a three cent stamp of the Post Office Department has been affixed, to 
 represent the short postage, and has been duly cancelled. A more detailed 
 description of this cover was given on page 267. 
 
 In the American Journal of Philately for August, 1 895, I find a com- 
 munication wherein it is stated that provisional postage due stamps were in 
 use in Detroit, Michigan, from June 21st to 27th of that year. I have not 
 seen these stamps but infer from the description that they were made by sur- 
 charging (probably with a hand-stamp), the one and two cent stamps of the 
 regular issue " Due i " and " Due 2 " and also by a similar surcharge in 
 manuscript. 
 
 In the same year in Winside, Nebraska, one cent stamps of the 1890 
 issue were surcharged " due \" in a circle and used as postage due stamps. 
 The circle is 19mm. in diameter. The word "due" is in large capitals, 
 6mm. high, and is placed above the " i ". The surcharge is in magenta ink 
 and appears to have been made with a rubber hand-stamp. I have seen 
 copies used on parts of the wrappers of newspapers and cancelled July 20th 
 and August 6th, 1895. 
 
 In North Branch, N. J., two cent postage due stamps were bisected 
 diagonally and used as one cent stamps. The only copy at hand is on a piece 
 of the cover of a magazine which is dated June, 1895. 
 
 Mr. W. F. Goerner has shown me a similar provisional which was 
 used in Warwick, R. I., in 1897. In this case two cents stamps were divided 
 vertically. Mr. Goerner writes me: 
 
 " In September, 1897, while in Bayside one evening I called upon Mr. O., who 
 stopped there during the summer. Looking over some of the periodicals of the day I was 
 quite surprised to find one or two of them bearing the enclosed provisionals Further search, 
 then and some days later, revealed eight copies. Bayside at that time, had no post office — 
 the mail coming through Warwick. Not knowing whether the stamp was affixed at 
 Providence (whence the mail was originally sent) or Warwick, 1 went to the latter office to 
 inquire. I found a young woman, the assistant, in charge and asked her if the split stamps 
 had been used at that office. She said : Yes, that they were out of one cent ones and that 
 the postmaster had cut them before and so she supposed it all right to do so and she hoped 
 they had done nothing wrong and that no harm would come from it. 
 
 1 did not understand what she meant but she soon told me that she thought I might 
 be a post office inspector and that she meant to tell the truth. 
 
 If I asked her how long they had been using the stamps in this way, I have forgotten 
 what she told me. But it is my impression that she said it was not very long and that not 
 many were so used. The earliest copy that 1 saw was on the Literary TJigest of August 7th, 
 and the latest on the same paper of September 1 ith." 
 
 Post Office Dept. 
 
 stamp used to pay 
 
 postage (Ine. 
 
 Ordinary postage 
 
 stamps surcharged 
 
 as postage dne 
 
 stamps. 
 
 Bisected stamps. 
 
342 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — PROVISIONAL ISSUES. 
 
 A more ambitious provisional was issued in Jefferson, Iowa, in October 
 
 1895. On this occasion two cent postage due stamps were overprinted on 
 
 stamps biaected each side " Due I cent " and subsequently divided vertically and each half 
 
 and surcharged, ^^g^j ^^ ^ ^^^ ^^^^ stamp. The surcharge is in black and on my copy reads 
 
 upward. The following brief history of this provisional is taken from the 
 
 Philatelic Era for May 7th, 1898 : 
 
 United States Post Office. 
 
 Jefferson, Iowa, February 12, 1898. 
 To Whom it may Concern : 
 
 This is to certify that about the 6th day of October, 1895, my supply of one cent post- 
 age due stamps was exhausted. I had made requisition for a new supply and expected them 
 daily, and pending their arrival had a local printer print " Postage Due i Cent" on a few 
 half two cent due stamps and these half stamps 1 used on matter requiring one cent stamps, 
 until arrival of one cent due stamps Not more than twenty of these one half stamps were 
 used, as 1 only had thirty printed and had about a dozen left when the new supply arrived, 
 after which the half stamps were not used. I am not a stamp dealer or collector ; know 
 nothing about it and am not in any way interested in it. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 (Signed) F. R. McCarthy, 
 
 Postmaster, Jefferson, la. 
 
 I have two covers, used in Jersey City, N. J., in 1897. One is a large 
 envelope, cancelled November 20th, and marked " Due 6 ". In payment of 
 Postage due paid fcy this shortage three 2 cent stamps of the regular issue were affixed and hand- 
 ordinary postage stamped in purple " Due 2 cts." The surcharge was applied after the stamps 
 were placed on the cover. The other envelope bears a one cent stamp, 
 similarly surcharged in magenta ink. The' date of use of the latter is not 
 legible. 
 
 I have seen several envelopes which were received in Richmond, Va., 
 between September 20th and 23rd, 1897. Each was marked as being in- 
 sufficiently prepaid, and the deficient postage was supplied by two cent 
 stamps of the regular issue instead of due stamps. 
 
 I have also seen a cover, received in Beaver Dam, Wis., on October 
 10th, 1894, on which a shortage of one cent was paid by a stamp of the 
 Columbian series. 
 
Reprints, Re-Issues and Special Printings. 
 
 In this chapter will be considered not only those printings of obsolete 
 issues which may rightly be called reprints (happily a limited number) but 
 also all re-issues and special printings which, while available for postal pur- 
 poses, were issued with a view to their sale to stamp collectors rather than 
 for the franking of letters. It is probably superfluous to specify that I am 
 referring only to Government issues, any reprintings of Postmasters' stamps 
 or the semi-official carriers' stamps having been described in the chapters 
 devoted to those subjects. 
 
 The first issue of this nature took place early in 1875. The intention 
 of the Government was known in advance, though possibly its full extent 
 was not realized. Strange to say, the proposition to make reprints does not ifo protest against 
 appear to have evoked any protest from philatelists or comment in the stamp *''* rinur'' '^''' 
 journals. A careful search of the leading journals for 1874 and the early 
 months of 1875 is not rewarded by finding any announcement of the im- 
 pending reprinting or remarks on the subject. Even the appearance of the 
 reprints in the market occasioned only slight comment, at least compared 
 with the storm of protest that such a reprinting would evoke to day. 
 
 In the Philatelical Journal for April 20th, 1875, we find an article en- 
 titled " Official Jobbery and Sanctioned Forgery " which appears to be from 
 the pen of the editor, Mr. E. L. Pemberton, and in which the action of the Post 
 Office department is roundly condemned. Speaking of the official stamps — 
 which the authorities had, hitherto, refused to sell to philatelists — he says: 
 
 "Such specimens will be obliterated by the surcharge of the word 'specimen'; and 
 such specimens likewise will be ungummed ! Not very bad, is it ? Very neat to offer 5, 10 
 and 20 dollar stamps of the most puissant department of State, obliterated and ungummed, Journalistic 
 at their facial values ! The G. P. O. evidently thinks that if philatelists are really timbro- criticism. 
 
 maniacs, they may as well be humored as have to remain without copies of the things they 
 will not sell in an unobliterated state ; i. e., for your 5, 10 or 20 dollars you may purchase 
 a thing which has no facial value, and which the Department would never discount again at 
 any percentage, supposing you ever got tired of the lovely features and god-like nose of Mr. 
 Secretary Seward atfour shillings and two pence to the dollar." 
 
 After reading this, it is rather amusing to turn to the official record of 
 the sales of the reprints and re-issues and note that there were only two pur- 
 chasers of complete sets of the four higher values of the Department of State, 
 one of whom was Mr. E. L. Pemberton. 
 
 " A Protest by the National Philatelical Society, New York " was 
 published in T^e Philatelist for July, 1875. 
 
344 
 
 REPRINTS, RE-ISSUES AND SPECIAL PRINTINGS. 
 
 ReANOus for making 
 tliu reprints. 
 
 Offlcial circular. 
 
 The American Journal of Philately was the only journal that took the 
 trouble to describe the stamps. 
 
 I have not been able to find any official statement of the reason for 
 making the reprints and re-issues of 1875, but it is generally understood that 
 the prime cause was the desire of the Post Office Department to display a full 
 set of our postal issues, as part of its exhibit at the International Exposition 
 of 1876. The collection of the Department being incomplete and the miss- 
 ing stamps not being obtainable, except by purchase at a considerable advance 
 over their face value, the simplest way to secure them appeared to be by 
 making impressions from the old plates. In addition to this, the Department 
 had received frequent applications from stamp collectors for specimens of its 
 obsolete issues and this seemed a favorable opportunity to provide material 
 to satisfy such requests. 
 
 This action of the Post Office Department — as well as similar acts of 
 other governments — gives rise to the thought that, in official eyes, one print- 
 ing of a stamp is as good as another. The possibility that it may be less 
 satisfactory to others does not appear to be considered, any more than the 
 difficulty of making a successful reproduction, after a lapse of years. 
 
 When the stamps were ready for distribution the following circular 
 
 was issued : 
 
 SPECIMEN POSTAGE STAMPS. 
 
 POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, 
 Office of Third Assistant Postmaster General, 
 Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Envelopes, and Postal Cards, 
 
 Washington, D. C, March S7, 1875. 
 The Department is prepared to furnish, upon application, at face value, specimens of 
 adhesive postage stamps issued under its auspices, as follows : 
 
 ORDINARY STAMPS FOR USE OF THE PUBLIC. 
 
 1. Issue of 18^7. — Denominations, 5 and 10 cents. Value of set, 15 cents. 
 
 2. Issue of 1861. — Denominotions, i, 3, 5, 10, 12, 24, 30, and 90 cents; also two 
 separate designs of i-cent carrier stamps. Value of set, $1.77. 
 
 3. Issue of 1861. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. Value 
 of set, $1.92. 
 
 4. Issue of 1869. — Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. Value 
 of set, $1.93. 
 
 5. Issue of 1870, (current series). — Denominations, i, 2 (brown), 2 (vermilion), 3, 5, 
 6, 7, ID, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. Value of set, $2.07. 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS. 
 
 1. Executive. — Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, and 10 cents. 
 
 2. Department of State. — Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, 7, 
 cents, and $2, $5, $10, $20. Value of set, $39. 
 
 3. Treasury Department. — Denominations, i, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 
 cents. Value of set, $2. 
 
 4. War Department.— Y>enomm3.i\ox\%, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. 
 Value of set, $2. 
 
 5. Navy Department. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. 
 Value of set, $2. 
 
 6. Post Office Department. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, is, 24, 30, and 90 
 cents. Value of set, $1.93. 
 
 7. Department of the Interior. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 
 cents. Value of set, $1.93, 
 
 8. Department of Justice. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 
 cents. Value of set, $1.93. 
 
 9. Department of Apiculture. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, u, 15, 24, and 30 
 cents. Value of set, $1.03. 
 
 Value of set, 22 cents. 
 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 
 
REPRINTS, RE-ISSUES AND SPECIAL PRINTINGS. 
 
 345 
 
 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 
 
 1. Issue «/ 7565.— Denominations, 5, 10, and 25 cents. Value of set, 40 cents. 
 
 2. Issue of 1874- — Denominations, 2, 3, 4, f, 8, 9, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 8/ 
 cents, $1.92, $3, $6, $9, $12, $24, $36, $48, and $60. Value of set, $204.66. 
 
 The 1847 and '851 stamps are obsolete and no longer receivable for postage. The 
 subsequent issues of ordinary stamps are still valid. The newspaper and periodical stamps 
 of 1865 are also uncurrent ; those of the issue of 1874 can be used only by publishers and 
 news agents for matter mailed in bulk, under the Act of June 23, 1874. The official stamps 
 cannot be used except for the official business of the particular Department for which 
 provided. 
 
 All the specimens furnished will be ungvmmed ; and the official stamps will have 
 printed across the face the word " Specimen ", in small type. It will be useless to apply for 
 ^OT»«^(/ stamps, or for official stamps with the word " Specimen" omitted. 
 
 The stamps will be sold by sets, and application must not be made for less than one 
 full set of any issue, except the State Department official stamps and the newspaper and 
 periodical stamps of the issue of 1874. The regular set of the former will embrace all the 
 denominations from 1 cent to 90 cents, inclusive, valued at $2 ; and any or all of the other 
 denominations ($2, $5, %\o, and $20) will be added or sold separately from the regular set, 
 as desired. 
 
 The newspaper and periodical stamps of 1874 will be sold in quantities of not less 
 than two dollars' worth in each case, of any denomination or denominations that may be 
 ordered. , 
 
 Stamps of any one denomination of any issue will be sold in quantities of two dollars' 
 worth and upward. 
 
 Under no circumstances will stamps be sold for less than their face value. 
 
 Payment must invariably be made in advance, in current funds of the United States. 
 IVlutilated currency,! internal revenue and postage stamps, bank checks and drafts, will not 
 be accepted, but will in all cases be returned to the sender. 
 
 To insure greater certainty of transmission, it is strongly urged that remittances be 
 made either by money order or registered letter. Applicants mill also include a sufficient 
 amount for return postage and registry fee, it being desirable to send the stamps by registered 
 letter. Losses in the mails or by any mode of transmission must be at the risk of the pur- 
 chaser. 
 
 iS" Applications should be addressed to " The Third Assistant Postmaster General, 
 Washington, D. C." 
 
 No other stamps will be sold than are included in the above list ; and specimens of 
 stamped envelopes, (either official or ordinary), or of envelope stamps, postal cards, or used 
 stamps, will not be furnished in any case. 
 
 A. D HAZEN, 
 
 Third Ass't Postmaster Gen'l. 
 
 It is probable that there was an issue of this circular bearing an earlier 
 date than that here given. 
 
 The circular was re-issued at various subsequent dates. In a copy, 
 dated October i6th, 1882, we find the following changes in the section headed 
 "Ordinary Stamps for Use of the Public." 
 
 5. Issue of 1870, {current series): — Denominations,!, 2 (brown), 2 (v_ermilion), 3, 
 5 (Taylor), 5 (Garfield), 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $2.12. 
 
 6. Issue of 1879, {postage due jteOT/j).— Denominations, i, 2, 3, 5, 10, 30 and 50 
 cents. Value of set, |i.oi. 
 
 In December, 1883, the 2 cents red-brown (Washington) and 4 cents 
 green (Jackson), issued on October ist of that year, were added to the so- 
 called 1870 issue. It has not been learned whether or not a circular was 
 ever issued in which these two stamps were mentioned. 
 
 Before proceeding to describe the various stamps listed in the circular, 
 it may be well to say a few words regarding their status and also to briefly 
 define the words " reprint " and '" re-issue." Reprints are printings of stamps 
 which are not available for postage, either because the original stamps have 
 been declared obsolete or because the reprints themselves are not allowed to 
 
 Additions to the 
 circular. 
 
 Reprints and re- 
 issues diferentiated. 
 
346 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1847. 
 
 do postal duty. Re-issues are printings of stamps which are available for 
 postage, though the originals may have been replaced by a later issue. In 
 1851, at the breaking out of the Civil War, the stamps of the issues of 1847, 
 1 85 1 (including the stamps for delivery by carriers) and 1857 were declared 
 obsolete and invalid for postage. At a later period the stamps for newspapers 
 and periodicals, of the 1 865 issue, suffered a similar fate. As a consequence, 
 subsequent printings of any of these stamps must be called reprints. The 
 stamps of the issues of 1861 and 1869 have never been deprived of their 
 franking power and the same privilege extends to any printing of them, 
 without regard to the date at which it was made. The stamps made and sold 
 in 1875 are, therefore re-issues. The other series enumerated in the circular, 
 i.e , the 1870 issue, the department stamps and the newspapers and period- 
 icals stamps of 1874, were then in use and the specimens prepared for sale 
 under the terms of the circular were neither reprints nor re-issues but special 
 printings. 
 
 These stamps were not in any way a part of the regular issues of the 
 Post Office Department and were always kept carefully and entirely separate 
 Special treatment from the regular stock. They were manufactured upon special orders and, 
 when possible, by the makers of the original issues. They were not sold at 
 post offices but from the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
 A special set of accounts was kept for them, in which every purchase was 
 carefully detailed and the name of the purchaser recorded. From these ac- 
 counts we learn that the first of the stamps was sold on February 23rd, 1875, 
 and the last on July 15th, 1884. The sale was discontinued and the stock 
 on hand counted on July i6th, 1884, and on the 23rd of the same month the 
 remainders were destroyed, by order of the Postmaster General. 
 
 It was originally intended to make ic.ooo of each denomination of 
 each series, except the four higher values of the State Department and the 
 newspapers and periodicals stamps. But this quantity was supplemented in 
 a few instances, as dealers took advantage of the privilege of buying two 
 dollars worth of any value and bought largely of the lower values of some 
 
 for the reprints. 
 
 Dates of flret and 
 last sales. 
 
 Quantities. 
 
 The records do not give the dates at which the first consignments 
 were received from the various contractors, but it is probable that the deliv- 
 eries were made late in 1874 and early in 1875. We must content ourselves 
 with saying 1875. 
 
 Issue of 1847. 
 
 The originals of this issue were made by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & 
 Edson of New York. The reprints were made by the Bureau of Engraving 
 Dies and plates, and Printing at Washington. The dies and plates were not the property of 
 the government, but of the contractors, and were destroyed after the termina- 
 tion of the contract. Consequently they were not available when it was 
 decided to reprint. To supply the deficiency new dies were engraved, in 
 imitation of the originals, and new plates made from them. These plates 
 were without imprint or plate number and each contained fifty stamps. 
 
REPRINTS, ETC. ISSUE OF I 847. 
 
 347 
 
 arranged in five rows of ten. The original plates contained one hundred 
 stamps each. 
 
 The report of G. B. McCartee, Chief of the Bureau of Engraving and 
 Printing, for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1875, says : 
 
 " Engraved two dies for the Post Office Department, Special Agent Commission, die 
 No. 2,088 with one 5 cent and one 10 cent stamp on the same die. Engraved two plates. Official record. 
 5 and 10 cents, postage, 1847. 
 
 Printed 11,450 — 5 cent stamps. 
 
 Printed 10,000—10 cent stamps." 
 
 These stamps are, strictly speaking, not even reprints but official 
 counterfeits. They differ from the originals in many points, the following 
 being the most notable. 
 
 The reprints are slightly shorter and wider than the originals. The 
 initials "r. w. h. & e." at the bottom of each stamp are quite indistinct in the 
 reprints and it is usually difficult to tell what some of the letters are intended Differences between 
 to be. They may be further distinguished by the following points : Five *''*ori^^ai9. *"* 
 cents : In the originals the background of the medallion is formed of vertical 
 and horizontal lines. In the reprints the vertical lines are either very in- 
 distinct or entirely wanting. In the originals the left side of the white shirt 
 frill touches the frame of the oval on a level with the top of the " f " of 
 " FIVE ", while in the reprints it touches the oval opposite the top of the 
 figure " 5 ''. Ten cents : In the reprints the line of the mouth is two straight 
 and there is a sleepy look about the eyes. The white collar is so heavily 
 shaded as to be barely distinguishable from the collar of the coat. In the 
 hair, near the left cheek, there is a lock which appears like a very small white 
 circle with a black dot in the centre ; this is not found on the originals. On 
 the originals there are four horizontal lines between the " ce " of " cents " 
 and the lower line of the central oval. On the reprints there are five lines in 
 the same space, the upper line touching the oval and the lower line the tops 
 of the letters " ce ". 
 
 The stamps of the 1847 issue are usually on a thin crisp bluish wove 
 paper of fine quality. They exist also on laid paper and on thin yellowish- 
 white wove paper. The reprints are on a thicker wove paper, of coarser Paper. 
 quality and deeper color (gray or gray-blue) than that of the originals. The 
 five cents is also known on horizontally laid paper. The reprints are usually 
 without gum but a few copies have hetn seen which have a white gum, very 
 much crackled ; this is apparently simple gum arable. 
 
 The reprints are found in the following colors : 
 
 Imperforate. Reference List. 
 
 Gray-blue Wove Paper. 
 5 cents bistre-brown, yellow-brown, red-brown, brown, 
 
 dark brown, lilac-brown 
 10 cents black, gray-black 
 
 Deep Blue Wove Paper. 
 5 cents yellow-brown 
 
 Gray-blue Laid Paper. 
 5 cents bistre-brown 
 
348 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1857. 
 
 From the records we are enabled to compile the following table: 
 
 Quantities sold. •> cents, 10 cents. 
 
 1875, Received ",450 10,000 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 6,671 6,117 
 
 Sold 
 
 4,779 
 
 3,883 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Types. 
 
 Paper and 
 perforation. 
 
 Iteference List. 
 
 Issue of 1857. 
 
 The only difference between the issues of 185 1 and 1857 is that the 
 stamps of the former are imperforate and those of the latter are perforated. 
 As the reprints of this series were all perforated they can only be considered 
 as reprints of the 1857 issue. 
 
 The original stamps of this issue were made by Toppan, Carpenter, 
 Casilear & Co. of Philadelphia. The reprints were the work of the Con- 
 tinental Bank Note Co. of New York. In 1874, probably about August, 
 there were sent to the latter Company the original plates of the 5 , 24, 30 and 
 90 cent stamps and the transfer rolls of the 1, 3, 10 and 12 cents. By means 
 of the latter, new plates were made for those four values. These plates had 
 neither imprint nor plate number and contained one hundred stamps each. 
 The original plates contained two hundred stamps each. On the new plates 
 the stamps were set far apart, so that the sheets might be perforated by the 
 machines then in use without damage to the designs, as would have happen- 
 ed had the original plates of these values been used. 
 
 The 1 cent stamps are all of type I, with full ornamental scrolls at the 
 bottom. The 3 cent stamps are also of type I, having the outer lines at top 
 and bottom. The 5 cent stamps are from plate No. 2 and, consequently, 
 show the same varieties as the original stamps from that plate, i.e., alternate 
 rows of types II and III. The 10 cent stamps are all of type I, showing full 
 side ornaments and complete lines outside the top and bottom labels. Of 
 each of the other values there was never more than one type, therefore, in 
 the matter of design, the originals and reprints agree. The plates of the 
 24, 30 and 90 cents each bore the number " i." 
 
 The paper is very white, crisp and hard; the stamps are without gum; 
 the perforation gauges 12 instead of 15, which, of course, affords a very 
 simple test by which to distinguish the reprints. 
 The colors are as follows: 
 
 1 cent (type I) bright blue 
 3 cents (type I) scarlet 
 S cents (type II and III) orange-brown 
 10 cents (type I) blue-green 
 12 cents greenish black 
 24 cents dull violet 
 30 cents yellow-orange 
 90 cents indigo 
 The color of the three cents does not at all resemble any of the shades 
 
REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1861. 
 
 349 
 
 of the original and no attempt was made to imitate the scarcer shades of the 
 five cents. 
 
 The records supply the following statistics : 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 1 cent. 
 
 10,000 
 
 6,154 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,521 
 
 5 cents 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,122 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,484 
 
 Qnantltics sold. 
 
 Sold 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 3,846 
 
 12 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,511 
 
 479 
 
 24 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,521 
 
 878 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,520 
 
 516 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,546 
 
 
 Sold 
 
 489 
 
 479 
 
 480 
 
 454 
 
 
 On August 26th, 1874, the Post Office Department sent an order to 
 the National Bank Note Co. directing the printing of 10,000 stamps of each 
 denomination of the issues of 1861 and 1869. This order was filled in due 
 time and the stamps forwarded to Washington. 
 
 Issue of i86i. 
 
 The re-issued stamps are of the types known as the "September issue." 
 The rarer " August issue " was either unknown or unheeded by the postal 
 officials. For some reason new plates were made for the i, 2, 5, 10 and 12 
 cents. These plates were numbered respectively 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60. 
 They contained one hundred stamps each while the original plates had two 
 hundred stamps each. The 3 cent stamps were probably printed from plates 
 54 or 55. The 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents were from the only plates made for 
 those values, which were numbered 41, 6, 7 and 18, respectively. 
 
 The paper is very white and hard and is almost identical with that 
 used by the Continental Bank Note Co. for the same purpose. 
 
 The stamps are perforated 12 and have a yellowish-white gum, very 
 much crackled. They are frequently found without gum but there are usually 
 indications of its presence at some former time. The very positive assertion 
 of the official circular that "all specimens furnished will be ungummed" is 
 set at naught by the re-issues of this and the 1 869 issue. 
 
 The stamps were very carefully printed and have a highly finished 
 appearance, suggestive of proofs. The colors are : 
 
 1 cent ultramarine 
 
 2 cents deep black 
 
 3 cents brown-red 
 5 cents pale brown 
 
 10 cents blue-green 
 1 2 cents deep black 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Perforation and 
 gum. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
35° 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1 869. 
 
 Qnantities sold. 
 
 15 cents deep black 
 24 cents dark brown-violet 
 30 cents brown-orange 
 90 cents dark blue 
 
 No attempt was made to reproduce the pink and scarlet three cents or 
 the yellow and red-brown five cents. The grill was not applied to the re- 
 issues of the 1861, 1869 or 1870 series. Re-issued stamps with forged grills 
 are mentioned by Mr. Tiffany but, though I have made extensive search 
 for them, I have never succeeded in finding any copies. The stamps are 
 sufficiently scarce to make it improbable that this sort of fraud would often 
 be attempted. 
 
 The following quantities were prepared, sold or destroyed : 
 
 I cent. 2 cents. 3 cents. 5 cents. 10 cents. 
 
 1875, Received 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 6,805 9,021 9,535 9,328 9,549 
 
 Sold 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 3>'9S 
 
 12 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,611 
 
 979 
 
 15 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9>6o3 
 
 465 
 
 24 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9.654 
 
 672 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9.654 
 
 451 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,683 
 
 389 
 
 397 
 
 346 
 
 346 
 
 317 
 
 Characteristics. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Plate nnmbers. 
 
 Issue of 1869. 
 
 The re-impressions of this issue, being made at the same time and by 
 the same firm as those of the 1861 issue, naturally show the same character- 
 istics of paper, gum, perforation, bright colors and careful printing. The 
 re-issues are without the grill. Most of the original stamps were grilled and 
 the very rare ungrilled varieties may be easily distinguished by their smooth 
 brown gum and duller colors. 
 
 For the one cent stamps a new plate, numbered 33, was made. This 
 plate had only one hundred and fifty stamps. All the original plates of this 
 denomination had three hundred stamps each. A new plate was also made 
 for the frame of the fifteen cents. This is of a type which was not used for 
 the originals. It is called type III. In types I and II a band of ruled lines, 
 about I mm. wide, extends around the inner edge of the space for the picture. 
 In type III this band is omitted, with the exception of a solitary line which 
 crosses the top of the tablet below the letters " sta " of " postage ". This 
 new plate bore the number 32. 
 
 The following plates are believed to have been used for printing the 
 re-issues, though a few of them la'ck confirmation : 
 
 I cent 
 
 No. 33. 
 
 t cents 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 3 cents 
 
 No. 30. 
 
REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 351 
 
 6 cents 
 
 No. 13. 
 
 
 10 cents 
 
 No. 15. 
 
 
 12 cents 
 
 No. 17. 
 
 
 15 cents 
 
 Frame No. 32. 
 
 Vignette No. 23. 
 
 24 cents 
 
 20. 
 
 24. 
 
 30 cents 
 
 21. 
 
 21. 
 
 90 cents 
 
 22. 
 
 22. 
 
 The colors do not differ greatly from those of the originals but appear 
 brighter and fresher. They are : 
 
 1 cent dark brown-orange 
 
 2 cents brown 
 
 3 cents ultramarine 
 6 cents ultramarine 
 
 10 cents pale orange 
 
 1 2 cents dark blue-green 
 
 15 cents dark blue and dark brown 
 
 24 cents dark violet and blue-green 
 
 30 cents rose-carmine and dark ultramarine 
 
 90 cents deep black and deep carmine 
 
 The one cent stamp is more frequently found on the soft porous paper 
 used by the American Bank Note Co. than on the stiff hard paper of the 
 National Bank Note Co. This would indicate a reprinting by the former 
 company. But the records are silent concerning it and we must content 
 ourselves with the knowledge that the stamp exists. 
 
 The statistics of this re-issue are as follows: 
 
 Beference List. 
 
 One cent stamp on 
 soft paper. 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 I cent. 
 
 10,000 
 
 1,748 
 
 8,252 
 
 12 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 8,416 
 
 2 cents, 
 
 10,000 
 
 5,245 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 8,594 
 
 1,406 
 
 24 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 7,909 
 
 2,091 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 7,774 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 8,053 
 
 Qnantities sold. 
 
 Sold 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 4,755 
 15 cents. 
 10,000 
 8,019 
 
 2,226 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 8,465 
 
 1.535 
 
 1,947 
 
 90 cents' 
 
 10,000 
 
 8,644 
 
 
 Sold 
 
 1,584 
 
 1,981 
 
 1,356 
 
 
 
 Issue 
 
 OF 1870. 
 
 
 
 To speak correctly, this was not a re-issue of the stamps of the 1870 
 series but a special printing of the 1873 and 1875 issues, which were then 
 current. The work was not done by the National Bank Note Co., makers Dates of deUyery. 
 of the 1870 issue, but by the Continental Bank Note Co. and from the plates 
 they were then using. The 1873 set, from one to ninety cents, was pro- 
 bably delivered in Washington not far from May ist, 1875. The first sale of 
 the stamps was made on May 5th, 1875. The two cents vermilion and five 
 cents (Taylor) were added to the set early in 1876. 
 
352 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 Possible reasons for 
 this printing. 
 
 Cliaracteristics. 
 
 Beference List. 
 
 Flatcs. 
 
 Printing by tlie 
 
 Americftn Banic 
 
 Note Co. 
 
 It is not easy to understand why a special printing should be made of 
 stamps that were in use at the time. As it was announced that the stamps 
 would be without gum — and, therefore, unfinished — collectors could scarcely 
 be expected to be eager purchasers, when perfect specimens might be obtain- 
 ed at post ofifices. Perhaps they were designed to meet orders from abroad. 
 But, in all probability, the intention was to make complete the series of 
 postal issues placed on sale. As has been said in an earlier paragraph, the 
 transactions in these stamps were kept entirely apart from the regular busi- 
 ness of the Department and this may account for this series being printed 
 upon a special order instead of being taken from the regular stock. 
 
 It is extremely difficult to distinguish the stamps of this printing from 
 those of the regular issue. It requires a keen eye for color and great fami- 
 liarity with the stamps of the period. The stamps of the special printing have 
 the freshness and appearance of careful workmanship which have been noticed 
 in companion sets. Many of them, however, were printed from worn plates. 
 They are on the peculiarly white, crisp paper which was used for the reprints 
 and reissues. Occasionally one has the crackled white gum, but most of them 
 have none A notable feature of this set is that the perforations are seldom 
 perfect. The stamps were not separated in the usual way, by tearing them 
 apart, but were cut apart with scissors and very carelessly. As a result the 
 perforations were usually much mutilated and the design is frequently dam- 
 aged. 
 
 The colors, as nearly as they can be described, are : 
 
 1 cent bright ultramarine 
 
 2 cents dark brown 
 
 3 cents carmine-vermilion 
 3 cents blue-green 
 
 5 cents bright blue 
 
 6 cents dull rose 
 
 7 cents scarlet-vermilion 
 10 cents brown 
 
 12 cents dull black-violet 
 15 cents bright orange 
 24 cents dull purple 
 30 cents greenish black 
 90 cents violet-carmine 
 
 The highest three values were printed from the plates of the National 
 Bank Note Co., Nos. 21, 22 and 23. The 7 and 15 cent stamps were printed 
 from the only plates made for those values, viz., Nos. 22 and 31. The 2 
 cents vermilion were from plates 241 and 242 and the 5 cents (Taylor) was 
 from plate 248. It has not been possible to learn what plates were used for 
 the other values. 
 
 The records of the Third Assistant Postmaster General shows that, on 
 July i6th, 1880, there were received from the Stamp Agent 500 copies of 
 each value of this series. These are, of course, the work of the American 
 Bank Note Co. We have yet to learn the reason for thus adding to a stock 
 which was already too abundant. 
 
REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1870. 
 
 353 
 
 A careful examination of a set of these stamps shows them to be a 
 special printing also. So far as we are aware, nothing was ever done to bring 
 this set to the attention of the public. They were unknown to philatelists 
 until discovered and reported by the author (i,t^ American Journal of Philately 
 for May, 1896). 
 
 The paper and the perforation are the same as were then in regular 
 use. The stamps were not gummed. The 2 cents (brown), 7, 12 and 24 
 cents were obsolete and are, therefore, re-issues. These four values may be 
 readily distinguished by the soft porous paper. All the originals were on the 
 hard paper used by the National and Continental companies. It is very 
 difficult to tell the other values of this set from the stamps of the regular 
 issue. The colors are slightly deeper and richer than usual but the differences 
 are not easily expressed. Very careful comparison with a set known to have 
 been purchased at the period is the only certain way to identify specimens. 
 The stamps are of extreme rarity. Only five complete sets and a few odd 
 copies are known to exist. The colors are : 
 
 1 cent dark ultramarine 
 
 2 cents black-brown 
 
 2 cents scarlet-vermilion 
 
 3 cents blue-green 
 
 5 cents deep blue 
 
 6 cents dull rose 
 
 7 cents scarlet-vermilion 
 10 cents deep brown 
 
 12 cents black-violet 
 15 cents deep orange 
 24 cents dull purple 
 30 cents greenish black 
 90 cents dull carmine 
 
 It has not been possible to learn the numbers of the plates used for 
 this printing. The 7, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents must, of course, be from the 
 only plates that were made for those values. 
 
 The two special printings of the 1873 series are treated in the re- 
 cords as being one issue and we are, therefore, unable to say how many of 
 each were sold. The total of the two is small and it is probable that the 
 sale of the later printing was extremely limited. The figures are as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 
 1 cent. 
 
 2 cents 
 
 2 cents 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 5 cents 
 
 
 
 (brown). 
 
 (vermilion). 
 
 
 (Taylor). 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 1 0,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 16, 1880, Received 
 
 500 
 
 500 
 
 500 
 
 500 
 
 500 
 
 Total 
 
 10,500 
 
 10,500 
 
 10,500 
 
 10,500 
 
 10,500 
 
 July 16. 1884, On hand 
 
 10,112 
 
 10,084 
 
 9.583 
 
 10,233 
 
 10,183 
 
 Characteristics. 
 
 Beference List. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Quantities sold. 
 
 Sold 
 
 388 
 
 416 
 
 917 
 
 267 
 
 3'7 
 
354 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1 882. — ISSUE OF 1 883. 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1880, Received 
 
 6 cents. 7 cents. 
 
 10,000 10,000 
 
 500 500 
 
 10 cents. 
 10,000 
 500 
 
 12 cents. 15 cents. 
 
 10,000 10,000 
 
 500 500 
 
 Total 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 10,500 10,500 
 10,315 10,027 
 
 10,500 
 10,320 
 
 10,500 10,500 
 io,2i8 10,331 
 
 Sold 185. 473 
 
 24 cents. 
 1875, Received 10,000 
 July 16, 1880, Received 500 
 
 180 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 500 
 
 282 169 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 500 
 
 Total 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 10,500 
 10,214 
 
 10,500 
 10,321 
 
 10,500 
 10,330 
 
 Sold 
 
 286 
 
 179 
 
 170 
 
 
 Issue of 1882. 
 
 
 
 From the records we learn that there were on hand, at the time of the 
 Incomplete recoids. final counting of the stock before its destruction, 7,537 copies of the 5 cent 
 stamp with the portrait of James A. Garfield, but we do not find any memor- 
 andum of the quantity originally received. We are probably correct in 
 Quantity sold, placing the number at the customary 10,000. This would give a total of 
 2,463 sold to the public. 
 
 The stamp was issued on April loth, 1882, and the special printing 
 was doubtless made soon after that date. The soft porous paper, on which 
 the ordinary stamps of the period were printed, was also used for the special 
 printing. The color is a light brownish gray and the impression is very clear 
 and sharp, while that of the regular stamps is usually soft and slightly blur- 
 red. The special stamps were not gummed. Plates 399 and 400 were pro- 
 bably used for this printing. 
 
 Characteristics. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Issue of 1883. 
 
 Still another printing was received from the Stamp Agency, on Decem- 
 i)atf of deiiTcry. ber 5th, 1 883. This consisted of 2,000 copies each of the 2 cents red-brown 
 (Washington), and 4 cents blue-green (Jackson), which were originally issued 
 October 1st, 1883. 
 
 It is scarcely possible to describe the shades so accurately that the 
 stamps may be distinguished, without fail, from originals. The two cents is 
 Characteristics, printed in a light red-brown, while the majority of the originals are in shades 
 of orange-brown and dark red-brown bordering on chocolate. The four 
 cents is in a dark blue-green, not unlike the shade known as Prussian green. 
 The impressions are fire and clear, especially that of the two cents, on which 
 the shadow below the shield is sharp and distinct. 
 
 The four cent stamp is without gum but the two cents is an exception 
 among special piintings in that it is gummed. We do not know the numbers 
 
REPRINTS, ETC. — CARRIERS* STAMPS. 
 
 355 
 
 of the plates which were used for the two cent stamps. For the four cents, 
 plates 4s6 or 457 must have been used. 
 
 The records show an extremely limited number of these two stamps 
 to have been sold : 
 
 Dec. 5, 1883, Received 
 July i6, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 2 cents. 
 2,000 
 1,945 
 
 55 
 
 4 cents. 
 2,000 
 .i>974 
 
 26 
 
 Qaantities sold. 
 
 Carriers' Stamps. 
 
 At the same time that the plates and rolls of the 1851-57 issue were 
 delivered to the Continental Bank Note Co. the plates of the Franklin and 
 " Eagle " carriers' stamps were also placed in their charge, with instructions 
 to make reprintings from them. This was done on two occasions, April 
 22nd, 1875 and December 17th, 1875, on both of which dates 10,000 copies 
 of each stamp were printed. 
 
 The first printing of the Franklin stamps was made on remainders of 
 the original rose-colored paper. The second printing was on a slightly thicker 
 and softer paper of a paler tint. It is very difficult to distinguish the reprints 
 on the first paper from the originals. The latter are found in bright blue, 
 dull blue and dark dull blue. The reprints shade from a marine blue to 
 indigo. But the best test is to be found in the printing. The impression of 
 the originals is clear and fine while the reprints are too heavily inked and 
 often blurred. In the original stamps the background of the medallion shows 
 a hatching of diagonal lines. Traces of these lines can occasionally be seen 
 in the reprints but, as a rule, the background appears to be solid. Around 
 the medallion extends a tessellated band with rosettes at each corner. This 
 band is composed of alternate light and dark diamonds, crossed by groups of 
 colorless lines. On the original stamps these lines are clear and sharp, while 
 on the reprints they are indistinct and often filled with color, especially 
 where they cross the dark diamonds. 
 
 The reprints of the Franklin stamp are imperforate and without gum. 
 
 The reprints of the " Eagle " carriers' stamps are on the hard white 
 paper which was used for other reprints and special printings. They are also 
 found on a coarsely woven paper which some have thought might be the 
 paper of the American Bank Note Co., but it lacks the thickness and softness 
 which characterize that paper. It is probable that this is the paper which 
 was used for the second printing. The paper of the original stamps has 
 usually a yellowish tinge and the gum is smooth, varying in color from brown 
 to yellow-white. The reprints are not gummed. 
 
 The reprints of the " Eagle " stamp were at first perforated 1 2 but 
 they were afterwards issued imperforate. There is nothing in the records to 
 show the number prepared and distributed of each variety. 
 
 The originals are found in greenish blue, dark dull blue and indigo. 
 The reprints are in bright deep blue and dark blue, 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Color. 
 
 Impression. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Perforation. 
 
 Color, 
 
3S<5 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. — OFFICIAL STAMPS. 
 
 As was said on page 249, the majority of the original stamps appear 
 to have been printed from the plate before it was numbered. I have never 
 Plate number, seen or heard of an original sheet which bore a number. I have, however, 
 recently obtained a used stamp which has attached a portion of the marginal 
 imprint and the number " i." All the sheets of the reprints have this number 
 below the imprint of the upper pane. 
 
 The records supply the following figures for the two carriers' stamps: 
 Qnantlties sold. Franklin. Eagle. 
 
 1875, Received 10,000 10,000 
 
 Jan 3, 1876, Received 1 0,000 10,000 
 
 Total 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 20,000 
 2,890 
 
 17,110 
 
 20,000 
 10,320 
 
 9,680 
 
 Official Stamps. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Colsrs. 
 
 Krror iu the 
 surcharge. 
 
 The special printings of the stamps for the various Departments were 
 made by the Continental Bank Note Co. from the plates then in use. With 
 the exception of the two, three and six cents of the Post Office Department, 
 there was only one plate for each denomination of each series. The spec- 
 ial printings of these three stamps were made from plates 37, 36 and 47, re- 
 spectively. An enumeration of the numbers of the other plates would be 
 superfluous. 
 
 The paper and perforation are the same as were employed for similar 
 printings by the Continental Bank Note Co. Many of the stamps show the 
 mutilation by scissors that was noticed in the special printing of the regular 
 issue of 1873. 
 
 The colors do not differ materially from those of the stamps issued 
 to the several departments. They usually appear to be a trifle paler and 
 brighter but this may be due to the absence of gum and the whiteness of the 
 paper. The two, three, six and twelve cents of the War Department have a 
 brownish tint, which is not found in the other values of this set. 
 
 The stamps are ungummed and each is surcharged " specimen " in 
 small block letters. The surcharge is in carmine on the stamps of the Agri- 
 culture, Navy, Post Office and State Departments. On the stamps of the 
 other Departments it is in blue. On a few of the stamps the word is spelled 
 " SEPCIMEN " in error. This variety occurs on the first stamp of the third 
 horizontal row. It does not, so far as we know, exist on all the denomina- 
 tions that were surcharged. Furthermore it is known on certain stamps and 
 yet is not found in entire sheets of the same stamps, thus proving that it did 
 not exist at all times in the surcharging form. Either there was a mistake in 
 setting up the form, which was afterwards corrected, or, while it was in 
 use, some of the letters were dropped and replaced in wrong order, The 
 error has been found on the following stamps : 
 
REPRINTS, ETC. — OFFICTAL STAMPS. 
 
 3S7 
 
 Department of Agriculture 2, 15c 
 
 Department of the Interior 2c 
 
 Department of Justice i, 2c 
 
 Navy Department 2, 7, 12c 
 
 Post Office Department i, 2c 
 
 Department of State i, 2, 3, 7, 24c 
 
 War Department r, 2, 3, 7, 24, 30, 90c 
 The records say: Aug 21, i88r. Received from Agency, New York, 
 5,000 — I cent State Department.'' These stamps are, of course, on the Printings by the 
 paper of the American Bank Note Co. We also find copies of the i cent 
 Executive, 1 cent Navy and 7 cents State Department on this paper, though 
 they are not mentioned in the records, We await further information about 
 them. 
 
 The following tables are arranged from the records: 
 
 Department of Agriculture. 
 
 American Bank 
 Note Co. 
 
 
 1 cent. 
 
 2 cents. 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 Qnantities sold. 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 1 0,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 Jan. 3, 1876, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 20,000 
 
 1 0,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 4,766 
 15.234 
 
 S,8o8 
 
 9,611 
 
 9,627 
 
 9,610 
 
 
 Sold 
 
 4,192 
 
 389 
 
 373 
 
 390 
 
 
 
 12 cents. 
 
 15 cents. 
 
 24 cents. 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 
 
 187s, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 9,621 
 
 9.630 
 
 9,648 
 
 9,646 
 
 
 
 Sold 
 
 379 
 
 370 
 
 352 
 
 354 
 
 The Executive. 
 
 
 1 cent. 
 
 2 cents. 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 Jan. 3, 1876, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 20,000 
 5,348 
 
 14652 
 
 10,000 
 2.570 
 
 7.430 
 
 10,000 
 6,265 
 
 3.735 
 
 10,000 
 6.515 
 
 3,485 
 
 10,000 
 6.539 
 
 3.461 
 
 Department of the Interior. 
 
 
 I cent. 
 
 2 cents. 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 187s, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 2,806 
 
 8,737 
 
 9,912 
 
 9,917 
 
 9,918 
 
 Sold 
 
 7,194 
 
 1,263 
 
 88 
 
 83 
 
 82 
 
 
 12 cents. 
 
 15 cents. 
 
 24 cents. 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 io,coo 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 9,925 
 
 9,922 
 
 9,923 
 
 9,925 
 
 9,923 
 
 Sold 
 
 75 
 
 78 
 
 77 
 
 75 
 
 77 
 
358 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. OFFICIAL STAMPS. 
 
 Department of Justice. 
 
 
 I cent. 
 
 2 cents. 
 
 5 cents. 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 Jan. 3, 1876, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 Total 
 
 20,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 271 
 
 6,60s 
 
 9,822 
 
 9,837 
 
 9.837 
 
 Sold 
 
 19,729 
 
 3>395 
 
 178 
 
 163 
 
 163 
 
 
 12 cents. 
 
 15 cents. 
 
 J4 cents. 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 9,846 
 
 9,843 
 
 9.850 
 
 9>8so 
 
 9,848 
 
 Sold 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 '54 
 
 157 
 
 15° 
 
 Navy Department. 
 
 I cent. 
 
 10,000 
 
 818 
 
 2 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 8,252 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,874 
 
 ISO 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,884 
 
 116 
 
 9,182 1,748 126 
 
 I o cents. 1 2 cents. 1 5 cents. 24 cents. 30 cents, 
 
 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 
 
 9,888 9,893 9,893 9,894 9,896 
 
 152 
 
 7 cents _ 
 
 10,000 
 
 9.499 
 
 501 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,898 
 
 112 107 107 106 
 
 Post Office Department. 
 
 104 
 
 187s, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 187s, Received 
 
 Jan. 3, 1876, Received 
 
 Aug. 12, 188 r 
 
 Total 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 I cent. 
 
 2 cents. 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 3.985 
 
 9,410 
 
 9,909 
 
 9,913 
 
 87 
 
 9.823 
 
 6,015 
 
 590 
 
 91 
 
 177 
 
 12 cents. 
 
 15 cents. 
 
 24 cents. 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 9,907 
 
 9,918 
 
 9,916 
 84 
 
 9,919 
 
 9,918 
 
 93 
 
 82 
 
 81 
 
 82 
 
 Department of State. 
 
 
 
 1 cent. 
 
 2 cents. 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 7 cents. 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 5,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 25,000 
 
 lC,QOO 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 3,328 
 
 4,85s 
 
 9,207 
 
 9,533 
 
 9,209 
 
 21,672 
 
 5,145 
 
 793 
 
 467 
 
 791 
 
REPRINTS, ETC. — NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 
 
 359 
 
 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 12 cents. 
 
 15 cents. 
 
 24 cents. 
 
 }o cents. 
 
 187s. 
 
 Received 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 
 
 16, 1884, On hand 
 Sold 
 
 9,654 
 
 9,720 
 
 9,743 
 
 9,747 
 
 9,751 
 
 
 346 
 
 280 
 
 257 
 
 253 
 
 249 
 
 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 2 dollars. 
 
 5 dollars. 
 
 10 dollars. 
 
 20 dollars. 
 
 187s, 
 
 Received 
 
 r 0,000 
 
 1,000 
 
 1,000 
 
 1,000 
 
 1,000 
 
 July 
 
 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 9-7SS 
 
 968 
 
 988 
 
 992 
 
 993 
 
 Sold 245 32 12 
 
 Treasury Department. 
 
 
 
 
 I cent. 
 
 2 cents. 3 cents. 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 7 cents. 
 
 1875, 
 
 Received 
 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 
 
 16, 1884, On 
 
 hand 
 
 7,815 
 
 9,691 9,916 
 
 9,91s 
 
 9,802 
 
 
 Sold 
 
 
 2,18s 
 
 309 84 
 
 8S 
 
 198 
 
 
 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 12 cents. 15 cents. 24 cents. 30 cents. 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 1875, 
 
 Received 
 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 10,000 10, 
 
 ,000 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 
 
 16, 1884, On : 
 Sold 
 
 hand 
 
 9,918 
 
 9,925 9,92s 9,901 9,926 
 
 9,928 
 
 
 82 
 
 75 75 
 
 99 74 
 
 72 
 
 
 
 
 AVAR : 
 
 Department. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I cent. 
 
 2 cents. 3 cents. 
 
 6 cents. 
 
 7 cents. 
 
 '875, 
 
 Received 
 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 
 
 16, 1884, On 
 
 hand 
 
 5,39° 
 
 8,382 9,882 
 
 9,889 
 
 9,461 
 
 
 Sold 
 
 
 4,6 fO 
 
 1,618 118 
 
 III 
 
 539 
 
 
 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 12 cents. 15 cents. 24 cents. 30 cents. 
 
 90 cents. 
 
 1875, 
 
 , Received 
 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 10,000 lOj 
 
 ,000 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 
 
 16, 1884, On 
 Sold 
 
 hand 
 
 9,881 
 
 9,89s 9,89s 9, 
 
 ,894 9,896 
 
 9,894 
 
 
 119 
 
 los 105 
 
 106 104 
 
 106 
 
 Newspaper and Periodical Stamps. 
 
 Issue of 1865. 
 
 The original stamps of this issue were made by the National Bank 
 Note Co., who doubtless printed the reprints also. We do not learn of any 
 special order covering the reprinting of this series but it is possible that the 
 order to make re-impressions of the stamps of the issues of 1861 and 1869 was 
 intended to cover any intermediate issues. 
 
 The reprints are from the original plates, numbered 38, 39 and 40. 
 
 The paper is the same as was used for the re-issues of the 1861 and 
 1869 series. Some of the original stamps were printed on pelure paper but 
 the majority of them were on a crisp white paper, very like that used for the 
 reprints. The perforation is identical and neither originals nor reprints were 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Paper. 
 
360 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. — NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 
 
 Colors. 
 
 Printing by the 
 
 American Bank 
 
 Note Co. 
 
 Bemainders of the 
 original issue used. 
 
 Quantities sold. 
 
 gummed. There remains, therefore, only color by which to distinguish the 
 stamps. The shades of the reprints are darker and heavier than those of 
 the originals. They also have the appearance of having been printed with 
 thicker inks. The colors are : 
 
 5 cents deep dull blue, dark blue, purplish blue 
 10 cents deep green, dark blue-green 
 25 cents dark carmine-red 
 
 The five cents with colored border was not reprinted. 
 
 We do not find in the records any mention of reprintings of these 
 stamps by the American Bank Note Co., but we occasionally see copies of 
 the five cents on the soft porous paper peculiar to the issues of that Company. 
 These are undoubtedly reprints, made at some date subsequent to February, 
 1879, but we have no information beyond the bare fact of their existence. 
 The shades of these stamps are dull blue, deep dull blue and purplish blue. 
 There was some delay in delivering the reprints of this issue. To meet 
 orders for them, 750 copies of each value were obtained from remainders of 
 the original issue, which were in the possession of the Post Office Department. 
 The early orders were, therefore, filled with original stamps. We have no 
 means of knowing whether or not all these originals were distributed. 
 
 The first sale of these stamps was made on April ist, 1875. 
 
 The statistics are : 
 
 1875, Received (originals) 
 
 July 21, 1875, Received (reprints) 
 
 5 cents. 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 25 cents. 
 
 75° 
 
 75° 
 
 75° 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 10,000 
 
 Total 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 '0,730 
 4,355 
 
 6,395 
 
 10,750 
 2,23s 
 
 8,51s 
 
 >o,7So 
 3,316 
 
 7,434 
 
 Continental Banli 
 
 Note Co, 
 
 Characteristics. 
 
 About the time the reprints and re-issues were being prepared, the 
 Continental Bank Note Co. made new plates for the three values of this series. 
 Plates made by the Why these plates were made and put to press, while the original plates were in 
 existence and in good order, has never been explained. These new plates 
 were without imprint or plate number and contained ten stamps each, arranged 
 in two horizontal rows of five. The stamps printed from these plates are 
 known in both imperforate and perforated condition. All three values are 
 without the colored border. By this change we may readily distinguish the 
 two higher values. The five cents, when perforated, may be known by the 
 outer colored line, which has a uniform width of about ^mm., while on the 
 originals it is of irregular thickness, in places not more than a hair's breadth. 
 These stamps are printed on a paper which is thin, hard and very white, such 
 as was used for the reprints and re-issues. The impression is entirely flat, 
 lacking the embossing usually seen in the numerals and larger letters of both 
 the originals and reprints. The colors do not agree with those of any other 
 printing. The inks were evidently thin and did not cover the paper with the 
 customary strong body of color. The colors are : 
 
 Colors. 
 
REPRINTS, ETC. — NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 
 
 361 
 
 5 cents soft dull blue 
 10 cents dark gray-green 
 25 cents rose-red 
 These stamps were, doubtless, intended to form part of the 1875 series 
 of reprints and re-issues, but it is not certain that any of them were ever sold 
 as such. Only a very limited number were acquired by collectors before the 
 destruction of the remainders of obsolete issues. 
 
 Issue of 1875. 
 
 The special printing of this issue was made by the Continental Bank 
 Note Co. The only values for which there was more than one plate were the 
 two and three cents. There can be very little doubt that the first plates made, 
 which were numbered respectively 200 and 206, were used for the first special 
 printing. It is reasonable to assume that the two cent stamps which were 
 received in 1883 and 1884 were printed from plate 218B. 
 
 The paper is the crisp white paper that was employed for this work, 
 but in these stamps it seems to be more transparent than usual and has a 
 waxen tone. The stamps are perforated 12 and ungummed. 
 
 The impressions were very carefully made. The values two to ten cents, 
 inclusive, are printed in a clear gray-black and the twelve to ninety-six centsi 
 inclusive, in a soft pale rose. The other values I have not seen, nor are they 
 known to the leading specialists in United States stamps, but there is no 
 reason to expect the colors to differ from those of the same values of the 
 regular issue. 
 
 On referring to the table compiled from the records, it will be seen 
 that there were deliveries of certain of the lower values in 1883 and 1884. 
 As the last of these deliveries was made about six weeks before the stamps 
 were withdrawn from sale, and as the quantity of the remainders exceeds the 
 number in this delivery, it is quite possible that none of the stamps of that 
 printing were sold. I have a copy of the two cents which is known to have 
 been purchased from the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 It probably belongs to the lot delivered in 1883. The stamp is printed in a 
 rich deep black, on very white, soft paper, like thin blotting paper. 
 
 The official figures for this series are : 
 
 2 cents. 3 cents. 4 cents. 6 cents 8 cents' 
 
 187s, Received S.ooo S,ooo S.ooo S>°°° 5>°^° 
 
 Jan. 3, 1876, Received ro.ooo 10,000 
 
 Apl. 30, 1883 " S,ooo 
 
 May 31, 1884 " ?,ooo ■; 000 
 
 Total 25,000 15,000 10,000 Si°°° 5>° ° 
 
 June 16, 1884, On hand 5,486 8.048 S.^'iQ 2,652 3.°7o 
 
 Sold 19.514 6,952 4.45> 2'348 1.93° 
 
 9 cents. 10 cents. 12 cents. 24 cents. 56 cents. 
 
 1875, Received 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 3,205 .•?,5oi 3 687 4,580 4,670 
 
 Sold 1,795 ^499 1.313 411 33° 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Paper. 
 
 Quantities hold. 
 
362 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. — NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 187s, Received 
 
 July 1 6, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 1875, Received 
 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 48 cents. 60 cents. 72 cents. 84 cents. g6 cents. 
 
 5,000 
 
 4732 
 
 268 
 
 [92 cents. 
 500 
 459 
 
 41 
 
 24 dollars. 
 100 
 98 
 
 5,000 
 
 4,778 
 
 222 
 
 5 dollars, 
 500 
 480 
 
 5,000 
 4,826 
 
 '74 
 
 6 dollars. 
 
 500 
 
 486 
 
 S.ooo 
 4,836 
 
 S.ooo 
 4.859 
 
 164 141 
 
 9 dollars. 12 dollars, 
 
 500 500 
 
 496 495 
 
 20 
 
 36 dollars. 
 100 
 98 
 
 14 
 
 48 dollars. 
 
 100 
 
 99 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 60 dollars. 
 100 
 
 99 
 I 
 
 5 
 
 Circular announcing 
 
 tlio sale of the 
 newspaper stamps. 
 
 Issue of 1895. 
 
 In February, 1899, the series of newspaper and periodical stamps which 
 had became obsolete on the first of the preceding July, were placed on sale to 
 the public at the nominal price of five dollars per set. In many of these sets 
 the five higher values were reprints. There was at least a poor excuse for 
 the reprints of 1875, but for those of 1899 there is, in the opinion of good 
 philatelists, absolutely none. For this reprinting we must, to a large extent, 
 blame one or two short-sighted dealers who, valuing a present small profit 
 more than the future good of philately, persuaded our postal authorities to 
 undertake this sale as a source of revenue. We cannot regard stamp peddling 
 as commendable in any government, least of all in a great and wealthy one, 
 and we are glad to know that, in this instance, the resulting sales were so 
 unsatisfactory as to make it improbable that a similar expedient will soon be 
 attempted. It is also quite apparent that this issue was an injury to philately 
 and lessened the interest of collectors in the newspaper and periodical stamps, 
 instead of increasing it. 
 
 After the Post Office Department had decided to confer this un- 
 appreciated boon on philatelists, the following circular was issued : 
 
 SALE OF NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 
 Post Office Department, 
 Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, 
 
 Washington, D. C, Feb. 4, 1899. 
 Announcement is hereby made that, in compliance with numerous requests made to 
 the Postmaster General by collectors and others, enough of the newspaper and periodical 
 stamps lately in use by postmasters to mal<e up 50,000 complete sets have been reserved by 
 the IDepartment for sale, and that on and after the 15th instant, they maybe had of post- 
 masters at first-class post offices, or upon application to the Third Assistant Postmaster 
 General, at the rate of five dollars a set — the set consisting of one each of the following 
 twelve denominations : One, two, five, ten, twenty-five, and fifty cents, and two, five, ten, 
 twenty, fifty, and one hundred dollars. When applications are made by mail, the money to 
 pay for the stamps must accompany the order, with ten cents additional to pay for postage 
 and registry fee on the returned packet. 
 
 Not less than a full set will in any case be sold ; but as many more whole sets as may 
 be wanted can be bought, When two sets or more are desired, any or all of the several 
 
REPRINTS, ETC. NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 
 
 363 
 
 denominations may be had in an unsevered condition, that is to say, in strips not exceeding 
 ten stamps each, or in blocks of four or more. The Department, however, cannot require 
 postmasters to segregate, for the accommodation of purchasers, marginal strips of stamps 
 bearing plate numbers ; nor can any guarantee be given that the stamps shall be perfectly 
 " centered". It must also be understood that the stamps are not good for postage, and that 
 after their purchase they cannot be redeemed or exchanged for others by the Government. 
 
 The sale of these stamps will continue up to the 31st of December next, unless the 
 stock is sooner disposed of ; but no more than the 50,000 sets will be sold, and no more will 
 hereafter be printed. In fact, the working plates from which the stamps were printed will 
 shortly be destroyed. 
 
 The newspaper and periodical stamps of a former issue— of which fragramentary lots 
 have been returned to the Department by postmasters — will not be sold, but together with 
 the stock of the last issue returned in excess of the 50,000 reserved sets, will all be des- 
 troyed, 
 
 JoHM A. Merritt, 
 
 Third Ass't P. M. Gen'l, 
 
 Although this circular contained the promise that only 50,000 sets 
 would be sold, we now know that that number were distributed to post offices, 
 and, in addition, 5,000 sets were placed on sale at the Post Office Department 
 in Washington, and 1,250 sets supplied to the Third Assistant Postmaster 
 General. It will be observed that nothing was said about some of the stamps 
 having been especially printed to make up these sets. On the contrary, the 
 circular was so worded as to convey the impression that all the stamps were 
 remainders. 
 
 On attempting to make up the 50,000 sets it was found that there 
 was not on hand a sufficient quantity of five of the values, so reprints were 
 made to supply the deficiency. The five values -were the 5, 10, 20, 50 and 
 100 dollars. The reprinting was done in February, 1899, from plates 137, 
 '3^! '39> '35 3^iid 140. The quantities were: 
 
 
 Remainders. 
 
 Reprints. 
 
 5 dollars 
 
 iSS 
 
 49.845 
 
 10 dollars 
 
 11,640 
 
 38,360 
 
 20 dollars 
 
 8,780 
 
 41,220 
 
 50 dollars 
 
 16,245 
 
 33,755 
 
 100 dollars 
 
 7,685 
 
 42,315 
 
 It is said that eventually 5,000 originals of each of the four higher 
 values were used and 45,000 reprints. It has not been ascertained whether 
 or not any originals of the stamps above 2 dollars were included in the 5000 
 and 1250 sets mentioned in a preceding paragraph. 
 
 The reprints are on the regular paper, watermarked U. S. P. S. They 
 have a smooth white gum while the gum of the originals is yellowish. The 
 colors lack depth and richness and look cold and thin. They are: 
 
 5 dollars slate-blue 
 ] o dollars gray-green 
 20 dollars lilac-gray 
 50 dollars brownish rose 
 1 00 dollars bluish purple 
 
 On referring to page 328 it will be seen that 26,989 of the sets were 
 sold; we do not know how many reprints were included in them. 
 
 Additional sets 
 placed on sale. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Qnantlties 
 reprinted. 
 
 Characteristics. 
 
 Quantities sold. 
 
3^4 
 
 REPRINTS, ETC. — POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. 
 
 Postage Due Stamps. 
 
 Characteristics. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Quantities sold. 
 
 In 1879 there was added to the reproductions of our postal issues a 
 special printing of the stamps for postage due. The stamps of this printing 
 are on the paper of the American Bank Note Co., perforated 12 and without 
 gum. They are printed in dark red brown. 
 
 For each of the four higher values there was only one plate, probably 
 the two cent stamps were printed from plate 315, but, in the absence of 
 copies with plate numbers attached, we have no means of knowing which 
 plates were used for the one and three cents. 
 
 There were prepared, sold and destroyed as follows : 
 
 Oct. 25, 1879, Received 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 Oct. 25, 1879, Received 
 July 16, 1884, On hand 
 
 Sold 
 
 1 cent. 
 
 2 cents. 
 
 3 cents. 
 
 5 cents. 
 
 5>Soo 
 
 5,500 
 
 s,s°° 
 
 3,500 
 
 1,080 
 
 4,139 
 
 5,064 
 
 3,251 
 
 4,420 
 
 1,361 
 
 436 
 
 249 
 
 10 cents. 
 
 30 cents. 
 
 50 cents. 
 
 
 3,500 
 
 1,500 
 
 1,500 
 
 
 3.326 
 
 1,321 
 
 1,321 
 
 
 174 
 
 179 
 
 179 
 
 From the report of the Postmaster General, dated October asth, 1897, 
 Plates destroyed, we learn that, in the preceding summer, the plates of all obsolete issues of 
 stamps were destroyed. The unpleasant possibility of future reprintings of 
 these issues is thus removed. 
 
Official Seals, 
 
 Beginning in the year 1872, there have been used in the postal service 
 various adhesive labels, commonly termed official seals. They do not bear 
 any expression of value, have no franking power, and are in no sense postage 
 stamps. Consequently they have no claim to a place in a work devoted to 
 that subject. But — probably because they are in the form of stamps and are 
 affixed to letters — many collectors have thought them to be of interest and 
 have admitted them to their albums. In deference to these collectors I shall 
 briefly describe the several varieties of the seals. 
 
 Seals for Registered Letters and Packages. 
 
 The first seal issued was designed to secure registered letters from 
 being tampered with while in transit. It was intended to be affixed over the 
 juncture of the flaps of the large envelopes in which registered letters are Dnte of issue, 
 enclosed. Its issue was announced in a circular of the Third Assistant Post- 
 master General, dated February 14th, 1872, but it does not appear to have 
 attracted the attention of philatelists until some months latter. It was first 
 described in the American Journal of Philately for June, 1872. 
 
 A communication to the American Philatelist for December 1 oth, 1 889, 
 
 claims that these seals were intended to be used for a variety of purposes. 
 
 But Mr. Duncan S. Walker refutes this, in the number dated January 10th, 
 
 1890. He says : 
 
 " Now a word as to the green registered seals. They were never ' issued ', as stated 
 by your correspondent in the article mentioned, ' to postmasters, (0 seal letters opened by 
 mistake, to be returned to the Dead-letter Office and to prevent their contents from falling purpose of the seal, 
 out.' They were never used for any other purpose than to seal the registered packages in 
 which were carried registered letters. The Post Office Department especially prohibited 
 their use for any other purpose. When the registered package envelope of the design of 
 February, 1872, was adopted for use, these green seals were adopted currently with it. They 
 were issued to postmasters in like quantities with the registered packages, i. e. where 1,000 
 registered packages were sent to a postmaster, he was supplied at the same time with 1 ,000 
 registered seals. Although these registered packages were gummed and fastened securely at 
 the top and flap, it was thought the seal, heavily gummed and intended \.o be made, accord- 
 ing to the intention of the designer, of brittle paper, would be an additional security. Their 
 use was discontinued when a later style of registered package was adopted." 
 
 This seal is engraved on steel and printed typographically In the 
 middle is a circle, 3i>^mm. in diameter, filled with ruled lines which diverge 
 like rays from a central point. Around the circle is a broad white band, Design. 
 
366 
 
 OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 Onm and 
 perforation. 
 
 Reference LUt. 
 
 Plates. 
 
 Reprint. 
 
 inscribed in colored sans-serif capitals, " stamp here — date and place of 
 MAILING." The two parts of the inscription are separated by small Maltese 
 crosses. At the left, in three curved lines of large white Roman capitals, is 
 "post — OFFICE — department", and at the right, similarly arranged, "united 
 — states — OF America". The background is filled with horizontally ruled 
 lines. The word "registered", in very large shaded capitals, extends entirely 
 across the circle and inscriptions. In the corners are small tablets, surrounded 
 by a triangular device of involved lines. The tablets in the upper corners 
 bear the letters " u. s." in monogram. Those in the lower corners have the 
 letters " p. o. d." interlaced. The entire design is surrounded by a single 
 thin colored line and forms a rectangle 72x40mm. 
 
 This seal is found on a variety of papers. The gum is yellowish or 
 brownish and the perforation is of the same guage as that of the postage 
 stamps of that date. Copies which are imperforate at either top or bottom 
 are very common. From these and from fragments of sheets which I have 
 seen, I conclude that many of the sheets were not perforated along those two 
 edges. I have never seen any evidence that they were imperforate at the 
 sides. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 Feb. 14th, 1872. No value, pale yellow-green, yellow-green, pale gray- 
 green, gray-green, light green, green, dark green 
 
 Varieties : 
 No value, deep green. Imperforate 
 No value, gray-green. Impression on the reverse 
 
 Pelure Paper. 
 No value, light yellow-green 
 
 Horizontally Laid Paper. 
 No value, green, deep green 
 
 The plates for this issue were made by the National Bank Note Co. 
 At least two are known to have existed. The first had thirty seals, arranged 
 in six rows of five; the second had only nine seals, in three rows of three. 
 The smaller plate had neither imprint nor plate number. I have never seen 
 a full sheet from the larger plate and so cannot say whether it had an imprint 
 or not, but the records show that it had no number. The stamps with 
 imperforate margins, mentioned in a previous paragraph, came from the 
 larger plate. 
 
 The use of this seal was abandoned at some time in the year 1875. It 
 was reprinted about 1880. The reprint was probably sent to the Post Office 
 Department in company with the special printing of the postage stamps of the 
 1870-79 issue which was placed on sale July i6th, 1880. It was made by the 
 American Bank Note Co. and is on the soft porous paper which they always 
 used for postage stamps. The gum is yellowish-white and rather streaked. 
 The reprint has a very fresh and new appearance and may be readily dis- 
 tinguished by the whiteness of the paper and the bluish tint of the ink. 
 
OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 Soft Porous Wove Paper. 
 Perforated i2. 
 July 1 6th, 1880 (?) No value, bluish green, deep bluish green 
 
 367 
 
 Seals for Packages of Stamps sent to Postmasters. 
 
 Two forms of seal have been employed upon packages of stamps sent 
 to postmasters from the United States Postage Stamp Agency or the Post 
 Office Department. Mr. Tiffany says they were first used about the end of 
 the year 1875. I have not found any other mention of them. 
 
 The first design forms a large rectangle, io2xS2mm. In the centre is 
 the monogram " u. s.", in large white ornamental capitals. The letters are 
 displayed on a mat of geometric lathework of irregular outline. A broad 
 band of ruled lines frames the design. This band is broken at the bottom 
 by a tablet of lathework, at each side by an ornamental device, and at the 
 top by a tablet of solid color, inscribed " u. s. postage stamp agency ", in 
 white block capitals, 5mm. high. At each corner is a trefoil of geometric 
 lathework and the background is filled with a network of interlaced loops. 
 
 This seal is lithographed on white wove paper, of poor quality and 
 varying slightly in thickness. The design is nearly covered by a large type- 
 set inscription reading : 
 
 postmasters receiving this package 
 
 will please 
 
 NOTE ITS CONDITION. 
 
 If showing signs of having been tam- 
 pered with, report the same and return 
 this package to 3rd Asst. P. M. General, at 
 Washington, D. C. This package 
 should be opened at the end. -^- ^- Barber, 
 
 3rd Asst. P. M, G. 
 
 The first line is in a double curve. The signature reproduces the 
 autograph of the Third Assistant Postmaster General. The name of E. W. 
 Barber was subsequently replaced by that of A. D. Hazen. In the years 
 1887 and 1 888 H. R. Harris filled the position of Third Assistant Postmaster 
 General. It is reasonable to suppose that there was a seal bearing his name, 
 though I have never seen a copy. 
 
 At first the seals were printed in brown and the overprint in black. 
 At a later date the colors were changed to rose (often very pale and indistinct) 
 for the lithographed portion, and red for the overprint. 
 
 These seals are imperforate and usually have a margin of about 4mm. 
 aU around. There is nothing to indicate by whom they were made and we 
 have no printed information on this subject or in regard to the number in a 
 sheet. I list such varieties as I have seen. 
 
 Date of iHsae. 
 
 First design. 
 
 Overprint. 
 
 Ciianges in tlie 
 signature. 
 
 Colors. 
 
368 
 
 OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Second design. 
 
 Varieties. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1875- 
 1877? 
 
 1889? 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Black surcharge. Signature of E. W. Barber. 
 No value, yellow-brown 
 
 Black surcharge. Signature of A. D. Hazen. 
 
 No value, yellow-brown, pale yellow-brown, bistre-brown 
 
 Red surcharge. Signature of A. D. Hazen. 
 
 No value, rose, pink, pale pink, salmon-pink 
 
 The second design is slightly larger than the first and forms a rectangle 
 i2oJ^x66^mm. The rectangle is almost filled by a mat of geometrical lathe- 
 work. The outline is broken by semi-circular ornaments at each corner. 
 
 The design is printed by lithography, on coarse white wove paper. It 
 is nearly covered by a type-set overprint, in black, which reads : 
 
 OPEN AT END. 
 
 THE POSTMASTER TO WHOM THIS PACKAGE IS SENT MUST NOTE 
 ITS CONDITION AND CAREFULLY COUNT ITS CONTENTS. 
 
 If it shows signs of having been tampered 
 with, the fact should be reported to the third 
 
 ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 
 
 If the count shows a deficiency in ihe contents of the package, or an excess, 
 the case must be treated as indicated in Sec. 120 P L. & R. The Postmaster 
 should not correspond with the Stamp Agent, but with the Third Assistant 
 Postmaster-General. See also Sec. 1088 as to misdirected packages. 
 
 EBRR CRAIGG, 
 
 Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 A second variety has the name of Kerr Craige obliterated by two 
 horizontal bars and that of John A. Merritt printed at the left, in sans-serif 
 capitals. It is probable that this seal was made either to meet an urgent 
 demand or to use up a large quantity which had been prepared with Mr. 
 Ciaige's name. We may expect that there was a later printing on which only 
 Mr. Merritt's name appeared. 
 
 In 1899, Edwin C. Madden became Third Assistant Postmaster Gen- 
 eral and still retains the office. The current seal bears his name. The design 
 and color are the same as those of the seal just described but the overprint 
 has been reset, different fonts of type being used, and the arrangement of the 
 last three lines slightly changed. 
 
 These seals are imperforate and have a margin of about 4mm. on each 
 side. I am unable to say by whom they are made or how many there are in 
 a sheet. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 Imperforate. 
 
 Black surcharge. Signature of Kerr Craige. 
 1893 ? No value, dull rose 
 
OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 369 
 
 1897? 
 1899? 
 
 Black surcharge. Signature of John A. Merritt. 
 No value, dull rose 
 
 Black surcharge. Signature of Edwin C. Madden. 
 No value, dull rose 
 
 Seals for Letters Opened in the Dead Letter Office, or Through 
 Mistake, or Damaged in Transit. 
 
 In the early part of 1 87 7 — the American Journal of Philately for 1 888, 
 gives the date as January, 1877 — a seal was issued which was designed to be 
 used in re-sealing letters opened in the Dead Letter Office. It is said to have 
 also been used to seal letters opened by mistake and those damaged in transit. 
 I have not been able to confirm these statements in regard to this particular 
 seal. 
 
 It is engraved in faille douce on steel. In a small oval medallion in 
 the center is a head of Liberty, full-faced. On solid tablets, at left and right 
 respectively, are " officially " arid " sealed ", in white sans-serif capitals. 
 Above these is curved " post office department ", in shaded block letters, 
 and in a double curve below is " united states of America ", in " Old 
 English" type. In each corner are the letters " u. s." in monogram. The 
 background is filled with the words "post obitum" in minute Roman capitals, 
 many times repeated. The entire design is surrounded by a broad rectangular 
 frame with rounded corners. This frame is composed of closely ruled vertical 
 lines and is so shaded as to appear to be raised above the rest of the design. 
 The lower side of the frame bears the inscription, "national bank note 
 
 company, new YORK." 
 
 There were one hundred stamps on the plate, arranged in ten rows of 
 ten. There was no plate number. I do not know whether there was an 
 imprint or not. The work was done by the National Bank Note Co., though 
 the contract for the manufacture of postage stamps was, at that time, held by 
 the Continental Bank Note Co. 
 
 This seal measures 44x2 7 J^ mm. It is printed on thin hard paper, 
 perforated and has brownish gum. 
 
 White Wove Paper, 
 Perforated 12. 
 Jan. 1877. No value, dark brown, dark red-brown. 
 
 It is said that the words " post obitum " were placed on the foregoing 
 seal as a joke. Either the joke ceased to be amusing or it was decided to be 
 in poor taste. Consequently a new design was prepared, differing from that 
 of the first seal only in the background, the small letters being replaced by a 
 pattern of loops in cycloidal ruling. At the same time the vertical lines on 
 the face of the frame and many of its outlines were recut and strengthened. 
 The size remained the same as before. 
 
 The American Journal of Philately for July, 1888, gives the date of 
 issue of this second seal as May, 1879. 
 
 Design. 
 
 I'latp. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Cliangcs ill Hic 
 dcsigu. 
 
 Date of issne. 
 
37° 
 
 OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 There were at least two plates made for this seal. The first contained 
 one hundred impressions, arranged in ten rows of ten. It had no plate number, 
 Plates and imprints, at least none was assigned to it at the time it was made. I do not know if it 
 had an imprint or not but I suspect that it bore that of the American Bank 
 Note Co. The second plate contained fifty seals, arranged in ten rows of 
 five. At the middle of each of the four sides was placed the imprint 
 " AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, NEW YORK," in very Small Roman capitals, 
 %mm. high and 33j^mm. long. This is an exact duplicate of the imprint 
 placed on the plate of the one cent newspaper stamp, issued June 3rd, 1885. 
 This style of imprint is not known to have been used on any other plates, 
 which would tend to confirm the theory that they were both prepared at 
 about the same date. On this second plate, at the right of the imprint in 
 the upper margin, is a figure " 2 ", reversed and apparently inserted with a 
 punch. 
 
 These seals are usually printed on a thin hard semi-transparent paper, 
 not at all like that generally used by the American Bank Note Co. Copies 
 Paper. on goft porous paper are scarce. The gum varies from yellowish to pure 
 
 white. 
 
 Beference List. 
 
 May, 1879. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 
 No value, brown, dark brown, yellow-brown, red-brown, 
 dark red-brown 
 
 Anotlier ciian^e in 
 the seal. 
 
 Jletliod of 
 production. 
 
 DIstluKuishiiig 
 
 marks of the 
 
 lithographed seal. 
 
 Mr. M. C. Berlepsch has a sheet of these seals from plate 2 which he 
 claims was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. I think he is 
 mistaken in this conclusion, which is largely based upon the date at which 
 he obtained the sheet. As will be shown shortly, this work is done by the 
 Government Printing Office and not by the Bureau of Engraving and Print- 
 ing. The character of the work and the paper are not those of the former 
 establishment. My opinion is that the sheet belongs to one of the older 
 printings by the American Bank Note Co. 
 
 In 1888 a further change took place in the official seal. This was 
 first announced in the American Philatelist, dated July loth, i888. But 
 copies had been obtained by dealers in the early part of June of that year. 
 This new seal differed from its predecessor in the absence of the inscription 
 on the lower side of the frame and in its generally rough and blurred ap- 
 pearance. It was at first announced as being lithographed. Subsequently it 
 was said to be " printed from relief plates taken from a wood cut." 
 
 A lithographed seal certainly exists, though it is quite scarce. I have 
 not been able to find anything in support of the wood cut theory. An expert 
 in engraving and printing informs me that the rough looking seals which are 
 so common are phot-engraved and typographically printed. 
 
 The lithographed seal is evidently the result of an attempt to get rid 
 of the imprint of the National Bank Note Co., which appeared in the lower 
 border of the engraved seals. On a careful examination of the seal, it be- 
 comes apparent that the change was effected by first making a lithographic 
 transfer of the entire design and then covering the inscription with a piece of 
 
OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 371 
 
 the upper border, taken from another transfer. This piece frequently ex- 
 tends a trifle below the bottom line of the lower border and the vertical shad- 
 ing lines usually fail to join. There is another point by which this seal may 
 be distinguished from the photo-engraved seals. In the left border there 
 are eight vertical lines of shading, not counting the line which marks the 
 edge of the outer bevel. T he ninth line is interrupted by the edge of the 
 inner bevel. However, this line is unbroken from about the level of the 
 bottom of the " u " of " united " to the edge of the lower bevel. On the 
 photo-engraved stamps this line is broken about imm. below the level of 
 the "u". 
 
 This seal is printed on very porous white wove paper and perforated 
 I 2. The gum is white. The size remains unchanged. 
 
 Porous White Wove Paper. 
 Perforated 12. 
 June, 1888. No value, yellow-brown 
 
 The stone bore one hundred and forty-three transfers, arranged in 
 thirteen rows of eleven stamps each. It had neither imprint nor number. 
 
 Concerning the photo-engraved seals, we find in the American Philate- 
 list for January icth, 1890, the following : 
 
 " The two previous issues were finely engraved and comparatively costly. Being 
 without an appropriation sufficient for their manufacture, the department had the present 
 wretched transfers made and printed at the Government printmg office. They were first- 
 issued imperforate and were sent in that condition to the Dead-Letter Office and to a few 
 postmasters, but the bulk of them were sent to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to be 
 perforated." 
 
 The first lot of these seals could not have been a source of pride to 
 their makers. They were coarsely engraved, over inked and illegibly printed. 
 The central medallion was often little better than a blot. The first printings 
 were in a chocolate colored ink and the perforation was rough and blind, 
 as much of the paper that should have been punched out remained in the holes. 
 The color will serve to distinguish the stamps of the first printing which were 
 issued imperforate from those of later printings which were left in the same 
 condition, either by accident or favor. Subsequently, much clearer impres- 
 sions were produced in lighter shades of brown. The perforation was also 
 improved. Many, if not all, of the sheets were not perforated around the 
 outside rows, thus leaving certain of the seals imperforate on one or two sides. 
 About 1 891, the seals were rouletted, for a time, but perforating was soon 
 resumed. The paper is always thick, usually soft and porous, but sometimes 
 hard and with little or no grain. The gum ranges from brown to pure white. 
 These seals do not differ in size from those previously issued. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 Imperforate. 
 1888. No value, chocolate, dark chocolate. 
 
 Perforated 12. 
 No value, chocolate, dark chocolate, brown, dark brown, 
 pale brown, rose-browh, bistre-brown, gray-brown. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Stone. 
 
 Historical. 
 
 Characteristics. 
 
 Reference list. 
 
372 
 
 OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 Sheets. 
 
 Origin. 
 
 Design. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Varieties : 
 
 No value, bistre-brown. Imperforate vertically. 
 
 No value, pale brown, gray-brown. Imperforate. 
 
 No value, dark chocolate. Double impression. 
 Rouletted 5>^. 
 1 89 1. No value, gray-brown. 
 
 From 1888 until the present time the Government Printing Office has 
 made all the official seals, with the exception of certain type-set varieties. I 
 have not been able to learn much about the plates that have been used. Such 
 sheets and parts of sheets as I have seen did not bear any imprint or plate 
 number. Of the first printing I have seen a sheet of nine rows of eight 
 stamps each, with margins at the sides and bottom but cut close at the top, 
 apparently indicating that part of the sheet had been cut off. In the later 
 gray-brown shade I have seen a sheet with full margins all around, but having 
 only six rows of seven stamps each. 
 
 Type-set Seals. 
 
 The type-set seals have always been something of a puzzle to phila- 
 telists. Nothing very definite appears to be known about them. So far as 
 can be learned, they are the result of an attempt at governmental economy. 
 The Post Office Department appears, at one time, to have compelled post- 
 masters to provide stationery and many office fixtures at their own expense- 
 This was probably due to insufficient appropriations by Congress. In many 
 volumes of the Postal Guide will be found '.the advertisements of firms who 
 dealt in cancelling stamps, pads, inks, blank-books, etc , etc. I am told that, 
 in at least one number of this publication, official seals, such as I am about 
 to describe, were offered for sale. Most of them are said to have been 
 made by a firm of printers " up in New York State," and the advertisement 
 referred to was probably theirs. This should have appeared about 1889 or 
 1890, for which years I have not been able to obtain the Postal Guide. 
 
 The first of the type-set seals was announced in the America?i Phila- 
 telist, dated February nth, i88g. It was described as being on flesh-colored 
 paper; this was probably the color which has since been termed pink or rose. 
 
 This seal may be briefly described as follows: A rectangle, 47x29 
 mm., formed of border type, in a pattern of small scallops. Across the seal, 
 slightly above the middle, are two heavy rules, between which is " officially 
 SEALED ", in large sans-serif capitals, followed by a square period. Above 
 this is " u. s. POST office department ", in block type; and htlo-vr " Opened 
 through mistake by.'' At the bottom is a dotted line for the signature. 
 
 The seal is imperforate, but I have not been able to learn whether it 
 was printed singly or in sheets. The few copies which I have examined did 
 not show any varieties The paper is soft and of medium thickness. 
 
 Colored Wove Paper. 
 Imperforate. 
 Feb., 1889. No value, black on rose 
 
OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 373 
 
 A second variety of this seal differs only in the border, which is of the 
 style known as Greek or "key pattern," and in having a round period after 
 "sealed". I have seen only four or five copies of this seal, all of which 
 were alike in every detail. I think it is possible that there was only one 
 variety and that the seals were printed one at a time, but the limited amount 
 of material at command does not permit a positive conclusion. This variety 
 is also imperforate. The size is soJ^X29mm. The paper is white and the 
 gum yellowish. I do not know at what date it appeared. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 Imperforate. 
 No value, black 
 
 The variety which, I believe, was next issued has also a Greek border 
 but it is less open than that on the preceding seal. Across the center is 
 " OFFICIALLY sealed ", in fancy capitals, followed by a period and placed 
 between two heavy rules. Above this is " u. s. post office department " 
 in " Old English " letters, set in a curve, with an ornamental dash below 
 " OFFICE ". In the lower part are " Opened through mistake by " and a dotted 
 line, as on the preceding seal. Size : so^xagmm. 
 
 The only copy of this seal which I have seen was rouletted, in color, 
 across the bottom, from which I infer that it was printed in pairs, like the 
 seals next to be described. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 Rouletted i6^ on one side. 
 No value, black 
 
 The foregoing seal appears to have been the predecessor ofa group, 
 the members of which differ only slightly from it and from each other. The 
 setting is the same as that just described except that there are dotted lines, 
 instead of solid rules, above and below " officially sealed '', and a large 
 round period between these words but none after the latter one. The size 
 remains unchanged. 
 
 The earliest mention of these seals is in the American Journal of 
 Philately for August isth, 1890, and the color is there given as blue. I was 
 at first inclined to regard this as a misprint but I have since learned that the 
 seal exists in blue, though it is much more common in black. 
 
 These seals are printed in vertical pairs, separated by a line of roulet- 
 ting, gauging iij4 ot i6}i. This rouletting, like all the rouletting of the 
 type-set seals, was made by setting, between the seals, printer's rule which had 
 a serrated edge. The rule received ink at the same time as the designs and, 
 consequently, appears in color. The seals are imperforate except for the 
 rouletting between them. 
 
 The paper varies from thin to medium and the gum is yellowish. 
 
 White Wove Paper. 
 Rouletted iij^ on one side. 
 Aug. 1890. No value, dark dull blue 
 
 No value, black 
 
 Changes in the 
 design and paper. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Ueference List. 
 
 Design. 
 
 Colors. 
 
 Rouletting. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
374 OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 Rouletted i6j4 on one side. 
 
 No value, black 
 
 The type-set seals were subsequently printed in blocks of four, pro- 
 bably with a view to increased rapidity of production. In these blocks two 
 of the seals are placed tete beche to the other two. There are two of these 
 groups : in the first, one of the seals has a period between " officially " 
 and "sealed "; in the second, all the seals are without the period. Except 
 for the removal of the period the setting remains the same as for the seals 
 which were printed in pairs. These blocks are rouletted horizontally and 
 vertically between the seals but are otherwise imperforate. The rouletting 
 gauges 11^ or 12^. 
 
 Rouletted 12^ on two sides. 
 
 No value, black. With period 
 No value, black. Without period 
 
 Varieties, tSte biche : 
 
 No value, black. Without period 
 
 No value, black. With and without period 
 
 Rouletted 11^ on two sides. 
 
 No value, black. Without period 
 
 Variety, tHe Mche : 
 
 No value, black. Without period 
 
 Rouletted 12 }4 on two sides. 
 
 No value, black. Without period 
 
 Variety, tSie Mche: 
 
 No value, black. Without period 
 
Appendix, 
 
 Abstract OF Laws Relating to the Postal Service in the United 
 States from the Year 1639 to the Year 1888. 
 
 From the Report of the Postmaster General for 1888. 
 
 colonial period. 
 
 Massachusetts. — Order of the general court, 1639. — " It is ordered that notice be given 
 that Richard Fairbanlis his house in Boston is the place appointed for all letters which are 
 brought from beyond the seas, or are to be sent thither, to be left with him, and he is to 
 take care that they are to be delivered or sent according to the direction. And he is allowed 
 for every letter a penny, and must answer all miscarriages through his own neglect in this 
 kind." 
 
 ' Massachusetts, — Maji, 1677. — Mr. John Hayward appointed by the court "to take in 
 and convey letters according to their direction." 
 
 Virginia. — Act of assemhly, March 13, 1657. — " That all letters superscribed for the 
 public service shall be immediately conveyed from plantation to plantation to the place and 
 person directed, under a penalty of 1 hogshead of tobacco for each default ; and if any 
 extraordinary charge arise thereby, the commissioners of each country are hereby authorized 
 to judge thereof , and levy payment of the same. These superscriptions are to tie signed by 
 the governor, council, or secretary, or any commission of the quorum, or any of the com- 
 mittee appointed for the militia." 
 
 Virginia. — Act of assembly, March 23, 1661. — Provides that all letters superscribed 
 for the service of his majesty or the public service shall be immediately conveyed from 
 planation to planation to the place and person directed, under a penalty of 350 pounds of 
 tobacco for each default. " If there is any person in the family where the said letters come 
 as can write, such person is required to indorse the day and hour he received them, that the 
 neglect or contempt of any person stopping them may be better known and punished 
 accordingly." 
 
 Virginia. — Act of assembly, March 16, 1692. — For encouraging the erection of a post- 
 office under letters patent granted to Thomas Neale, dated February 17, 1692. (This act 
 was conditional, and was never carried into effect.) 
 
 New York. — 1672 — Establishment of a " post to go monthly from New York to Bos- 
 ton ;" postage to be prepaid. 
 
 New York. — December 6, 1702. — The Postmaster General ordered that the post be- 
 tween Boston and New York should set out once a fortnight during the months of Decem- 
 ber, January, and February. 
 
 Pennsylvania.— Act of provincial assembly, March, 1683. — "Every justice of the 
 peace, sheriff, or constable within the respective countries of this province and territories 
 thereof, to whose hands or knowledge any letter or letters shall come directed to or from the 
 governor, shall dispatch them within three hours at the furthest after the receipt or knowledge 
 thereof, to the next sheriff or constable, and so forwards as the letters direct, upon 
 the penalty of 20 shillings for every hour's delay. And in such cases, all justices of the 
 peace, sheriffs, or constables are herewith empowered to press either man or horse for that 
 purpose, allowing for a horse or man 2 pence a mile, to be paid out of the public stock." 
 
 Pennsylvania. — Act of general assembly, May, 1693. — " To the end that mutual cor- 
 respondences may be maintained, and that letters may speedily and safely be dispatched 
 from place to place : Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that a general post office 
 may be erected by Andrew Hamilton, at Philadelphia, from whence all letters and packets 
 may be with all expedition sent into any of the parts of New England and other the adjacent 
 colonies in these parts of America, at which said office all return . and answers may be received. 
 
 First colonial post- 
 master appointed. 
 
 Conveyance of 
 
 official letters in 
 
 yirginia. 
 
 Post betireen Neir 
 York and Boston. 
 
 First general post 
 office in Penn- 
 sylvania. 
 
376 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 " And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that it shall be lawful for the 
 said Andrew Hamilton, or some other as shall be appointed by the King, to be Postmaster 
 General in these parts, and his deputy or deputies in that office, to demand, receive, and 
 take for the postage of all such letters so by him conveyed or sent by post, as follows : 
 
 " All foreign letters from Europe, the West Indies, or any part beyond the seas, 2 
 pence each single letter which is to be accounted such, although it contain bills of lading, 
 invoices, gazettes, etc., and for each packet of letters, 4 pence. And if packets of letters lie 
 at the office unclaimed for the space of forty-eight hours, the postmasters then sending; them 
 forthwith to the respective houses of the persons to whom they are directed, 1 penny more 
 for every such letter or packet. And for all foreign letters outward bound f^ere shall be 
 delivered into the post-office 2 pence each letter or packet The port or inland letters to or 
 from New York to Philadelphia, 4 pence halfpenny ; to or from Philadelphia to Connecticut, 
 9 pence ; to or from Philadelphia to Rhode Island, 12 pence; to or from Philadelphia to 
 Boston, 15 pence; to or from Philadelphia to the eastern parts of New England beyond 
 Boston, 19 pence ; to or from Philadelphia to Lewis, Maryland, and Virginia, 9 pence; to 
 and from every place within 80 miles of Philadelphia, 4)4 pence. All letters belonging to 
 the public to be received and dispatched free of all charges, and the post to pass ferriage 
 free at all ferries within this province, town of New Castle, and country depending. Pro- 
 vided always, that the said Andrew Hamilton shall within tliree months next ensuing prefix 
 certain days of his setting forth and return, and shall continue constant posts to pass from 
 Philadelphia to New York, and from Philadelphia to New Castle." 
 
 Pennsylvania — Act of assembly. May, 1697. — Increasing the rates of postage, and 
 paying the postmaster ;£'2o a year for three years. 
 
 South Carolina. — Ordinance ratified September 10, 1702. — Whereas several foreign 
 letters are imported into this part of the province, therefore, for the maintainance of 
 mutual correspondence and prevention of many inconveniences that may happen from 
 miscarriages of the same, and that an office may be managed so that safe dispatch may be 
 had, which is most likely to be effected by erecting one general post office for that purpose : 
 
 Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency John Granvill, esq , palatine, etc., that every 
 master of a ship shall deliver all letters in his custody to IWr. Edward Bourne, and to no 
 First postmaBter in other person, and he is required to make an exact list of such letters which shall be fixed in 
 South Carolina, some public place in the house of the said Bourne, there to remain thirty days ; and on 
 delivery of each letter he shall write opposite the name of the person addressed the name of 
 person- to whom the letter is delivered ; and the said Bourne shall receive for each and every 
 packet or letter received and delivered one-half royal and no more. If he refuses to perform 
 all or every of these particulars, he shall forfeit for each offense the sum of 40 shillings. And 
 the said Bourne is hereby appointed postmaster to receive all such letters as aforesaid, and no 
 other person whatsoever, anything in the act for raising a public store of powder for the 
 defense of this province, ratified October 8, 1698, contained to the contrary notwithstanding. 
 (Repealed by act of September 17, 1703.) 
 
 South. Carolina. — Ordinance ratified March 28, 177(5. — An act for the erecting of a 
 post-office within the State of South Carolina. 
 
 Regulations for the post-offices within the State, in addition to such as are already 
 made by the honorable Continental Congress : 
 
 As soon as public offices are established within this State commanders of vessels must 
 deposit all letters addressed to persons within this State, or to any of the United States of 
 America, in the nearest post-office. The master of a vessel delivering such letters shall be 
 entitled to receive from the deputy postmaster of such office 1 shilling and 3 pence currency 
 for every letter so delivered, and the person addressed shall pay to the deputy postmaster 
 2 shillings and 6 pence for each letter. If letters are not called for within twenty-four hours, 
 the postmaster of the town shall send ihe letter to the person addressed, and may demand 
 I shilling and 3 pence for his trouble more than if the letter were delivered at the post-office. 
 If the addressee cannot be found, the postmaster shall advertise it if not called for within 
 twenty days, and shall be allowed the expense of advertising. The postmaster shall keep 
 his office open from 9 until i, and from 5 to 7, excepting Sundays in the morning. Post- 
 masters are exempt from militia duty. Post riders shall have preference in crossing ferries. 
 As soon as post-offices are established in this State by the Continental Congress, or the laws 
 of the State, it shall not be lawful for any person to ride post on any public post-road for the 
 carriage of more than ten letters on any private occount, under a penalty of ;^20. 
 
 Act of Parliament, gth, Queen Anne (1710), chapter x. - Provides that a postmaster- 
 Act of Parliament, general shall be appointed for North America from and after June 11, 1711 ; that a chief 
 1710. letter office be erected at New York ; and establishes rates of postage as follows : 
 
 All letters and packets from London to New York, in North America, and thence to London: 
 
 Single, I shilling ; double, 2 shillings ; treble, 3 shillings ; ounce, 4 shillings. 
 All letters, etc., from any part of the West Indies to New York : Single, 4 pence ; double, 
 
 8 pence ; treble, 1 shilling ; ounce, i shilling and 4 pence. 
 All letters from New York to Charleston, the chief office in North and South Carolina, and 
 
 from Charleston to New York ; Single, 1 shilling 6 pence ; double, 3 shillings ; treble, 
 
 4 shillings 6 pence ; ounce, 6 shillings. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 377 
 
 All letters, etc., from Charleston aforesaid, to any place not exceeding 60 English miles : 
 
 Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; treble, 1 shilling ; ounce, 1 shilling 4 pence. 
 All letters, etc., from Charleston aforesaid, to any place not exceeding 100 English miles: 
 
 Single, 6 pence ; double, 1 shilling ; treble, 1 shilling 6 pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
 
 Places where posts are not yet settled to pay according to these rates. 
 
 The charge for every person riding post to be 3 pence for every horse-hire or postage 
 for every English mile, and 4 pence for the person riding as guide for every stage ; each 
 person being entitled to carry a bundle of goods weighing less than 80 pounds free, the same 
 •' to be laid on the horse rid by the guide." 
 
 Only the postmaster-general and his deputies to provide horses or furniture for persons 
 riding post. 
 
 If the postmaster fail to'furnish horses, etc., to any person riding post within half an 
 hour after demand, conveyance may be obtained elsewhere, and the postmaster shall forfeit 
 the sum of ;f 5. 
 
 Debts for postage not exceeding £', are to be recovered as small tithes are. 
 
 Act of Parliament, 4th George III (i-]6i) chapter xxiv. — Allows letters on the public 
 service sent to and from the public officials of the higher ranks to pass through the mails free 
 of postage ; and empowers the postmaster- general to authorize certain persons to indorse up- 
 on such letters and packets the fact that they are on public business ; printed votes, pro- 
 ceedings in Parliament, and newspapers sent without covers, or in covers open at the side, 
 to go free. 
 
 Act of Parliament, ^th George III (fj6j,) chapter xxv.— Repeals the act of 1710, fix- 
 ing the rates of postage of letters between London and the British dominions in America let of Parliament, 
 and places within the said dominions, and establishes the following rates to take effect 1766. 
 
 October 10, 1765 : 
 For all letters and packets passing from London to any port within the British dominions in 
 
 America, and from any'such port unto London : For every single letter, 1 shilling ; 
 
 double, 2 shillings ; treble, 3 shillings ; ounce, 4 shillings. 
 For all letters and packets conveyed by sea from any port in the British dominions in America, 
 
 to any other port within the said dominions ; Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; 
 
 treble, i shilling ; ounce, i shilling 4 pence ; and so in proportion for every package of 
 
 deeds, writs, and other things. 
 For the inland conveyance of all letters and packets to or from any chief post-office within 
 
 the British dominions in America from or to any other part of the said dominions, not 
 
 exceeding 60 British miles : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; treble, i shilling ; 
 
 ounce, 1 shilling" and 4 pence. 
 And being upwards of 60 such miles, and not exceeding 100 miles : single, 6 pence ; double, 
 
 1 shilling ; treble, i shilling 6 pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
 All letters, etc., from New York to any place within 60 English miles thereof, thence back to 
 
 New York: Single, 4pence; double, Spence; treble, i shilling; ounce, i shilling4 pence. 
 All letters, etc., from New York to Perth Amboy, the chief town in West New Jersey, and 
 
 from each of those places back to New York, to any place not exceeding 100 English 
 
 miles, and from each of those places toNew York ; Single, 6pence ; double i shilling; 
 
 treble, i shilling 6 pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
 All letters and packets from Perth Amboy and Bridlington to any place not exceeding 60 
 
 English miles, and thence back again : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; treble, 
 
 I shilling ; ounce, i shilling 4 pence. 
 All letters and packets from Perth Amboy and Bridlington to any place not exceeding 100 
 
 English miles, and thence back again : Single, 6 pence ; double, i shilling ; treble, 
 
 I shilling 6 pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
 All letters, etc., from New York to New London, the chief town in Connecticut, in New 
 
 England, and to Philadelphia, the chief town in Pennsylvania, and from those places 
 
 back to New York : Single, 9 pence ; double, 1 shilling 6 pence ; treble, 2 shillings 
 
 3 pence ; ounce, 3 shillings. 
 All letters and packets from New London and Philadelphia to any place not exceeding 60 
 
 English miles, and thence back again : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; treble, 
 
 I shilling ; ounce, i shilling 4 pence. 
 All letters, etc., from New London and Philadelphia to any place not exceeding 100 English 
 
 miles, and so back again : Single, 6 pence ; double, i shilling ; treble, i shilling 6 
 
 pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
 All letters and packets from New York to Newport, the chief town in Rhode Island and 
 
 Providence Plantation in New England and to Boston, the chief town in Massachusetts 
 
 Bay in New England, and to Portsmouth, the chief town in New Hamsphire, New 
 
 England, and to Annapolis, the chief town in Maryland, and from every of those 
 
 places to New York : Single, i shilling ; double, 2 shillings ; treble, 3 shillings ; 
 
 ounce, 4 shillings. 
 All letters and packets from Newport, Boston, Portsmouth, and Annapolis, to any place not 
 
 exceeding 60 English miles, and thence back again : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence; 
 
 treble, i shilling ; ounce, i shilling 4 pence. 
 
378 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Penny post 
 anthorlzed. 
 
 All letters, etc., from Newport, Boston, Portsmouth and Annapolis, to any place not exceed- 
 ing 100 English miles : Single, 6 pence ; double, i shilling ; treble, i shilling 6 pence ; 
 ounce, 2 shillings. 
 
 All letters and packets from New York to the chief offices in Salem and Ipswich, and to the 
 chief ofifice in Piscataway, and to Williamsburgh, the chief office in Virginia, and 
 from every of those offices to New York : Single, i shilling 3 pence ; double, 2 shil- 
 lings 6 pence ; treble, 3 shillings 9 pence ; ounce, 5 shillings. 
 
 All letters, etc., from the chief offices in Salem, Ipswich, Piscataway, and Williamsburgh, 
 to any place not exceeding 60 English miles : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; 
 treble, i shilling ; ounce, i shilling 4 pence. 
 
 All letters, etc., from the chief offices in Salem, Ipswich, Piscataway, and Williamsburgh, 
 to any place not exceeding 100 English miles : Single, 6 pence ; double, 8 pence ; 
 treble, i shilling ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
 
 And being upwards of 100 miles and not over 200 miles : Single, 8 pence ; double, i shiUing 
 4 pence ; treble, 2 shillings ; ounce, 2 shillings 8 pence. 
 
 And for every distance not exceeding 100 miles beyond such 200 miles, and for every such 
 further distance : Single, 2 pence ; double, 6 pence ; treble, 8 pence ; and so in pro- 
 portion for every packet of deeds, writs, etc. 
 Authorizes the appointment of surveyors in the chief post-offices in America. 
 Empowers the Postmaster-General to establish penny-post offices in America. 
 Limits the weight of packets sent by penny-post to 4 ounces. 
 Authorizes the Postmaster-General to demand prepayment of postage on all letters sent out 
 
 of Great Britian. 
 
 Fixes penalties for embezzling any letter, etc. ; for robbing the mails ; for misappling 
 
 postage money ; and for advancing rates and not accounting for same. 
 
 Brnjamin Franklin 
 ap|)ointcd Post- 
 master General. 
 
 PERIOD OF THE CONFEDERATION. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, May '29, 1775. — Naming a committee to consider the best 
 means of establishing posts throughout the continent. 
 
 Act of July 26, 1775. — Provides for the appointment of a Postmaster-General for the 
 United Colonies, whose office shall be at Philadelphia, his salary to be $r,ooo per annum, 
 and that of secretary and comptroller $340 ; that a line of posts be established from Falmouth, 
 New England, to Savannah, Ga. ; that deputies shall receive as compensation 20 per cent, on 
 amount collected when said amount does not exceed Si, 000, and 10 per cent, for all sums 
 above $1 ,000 a year ; that deputy postmasters account quarterly with the General Post-Office, 
 and the Postmaster-General annually with the continental treasurers, paying to said treasurers 
 the profits of the post-office ; if the expense should exceed the profits, the deficiency to be 
 made good by the United Colonies and paid to the Postmaster-General by the continental 
 treasurers. 
 
 Resolution of July 26, 1775. — Recommending that the Postmaster-General establish a 
 weekly post to South Carolina ; that it be left to the Postmaster-General to appoint a sec- 
 retary and comptroller. 
 
 July 26. 1775. — Benjamin Franklin unanimously chosen Postmaster-General for one 
 year, and until another is appointed. 
 
 Resolution iif Congress, November 8, 1775. — That all letters to and from delegates of 
 the United Colonies, during the sessions of Congress, be carried free of postage. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, January 9, 1776. — That letters to and from private soldiers in 
 actual service be carried free of postage. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, Aprils, 1776 — That letters directed to any general in the 
 Continental service be carried free of postage. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, April 16, 1776. — That only the committee of safety in each 
 colony shall stop the post, open the mail, or detain letters therefrom. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, July 8, 1776. — That postmasters be excused from military duty. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, August 8, 1776 — That post-riders be exempt from military 
 duty. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, August 30, 1776. — That there be employed on the public 
 posts-roads a rider for every 25 or 30 miles, who shall set out three times a week, on receipt 
 of mail, and travel night and day, until it is delivered to the next rider. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, September 1, 1776. — That lettters to and from the Board of 
 War and Ordnance, or secretary of the same, be carried free of postage. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, November 5, 1776. — That the Postmaster-General be authorized 
 to employ additional riders between Philadelphia and headquarters of armies ; that ferry- 
 keepers shall expedite travel of such riders ; and that the deputy postmaster at the head- 
 quarters of the army be allowed four rations per day for subsistence of himself, his riders, 
 and servant. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, November "J, 'i']']6. — That Richard Bache be appointed Post- 
 master-General in place of Dr. Franklin, who is absent. 
 
 Act of Congress, January 11, 1777.— That the Postmaster- General be directed to 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 379 
 
 furnish a list of names of disaffected deputy postmasters, and that he assign reasons why 
 the late resolves of Congress for regulating the post-office are not carried into execution. 
 
 Act of Congress, February 17, 1777. — Committee appointed to revise regulations of 
 post-office. 
 
 A ct of Congress, April 12, 1777.— That the Postmaster-General be authorized to in- 
 crease compensation of postmasters to any sum not exceeding $200, when necessary ; that 
 |2,ooo be advanced to the Postmaster-General, he to be accountable. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, May 12, 1777.— That postmasters, post- riders, and persons 
 connected with the post-office ought to be exempted from military duty 
 
 Resolution of Congress, August 1, 1777.— That the commanding officer in the State 
 of Georgia be directed to establish a post in the southern part of said State. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, August 6, 1777. —That $2,000 be advanced to Richard Bache, 
 Postmaster General, he to be accountable. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, October i-j, 1777.— That the Postmaster-General be authorized 
 to appoint two additional surveyors of the post-office ; and that all surveyors be allowed $6 
 a day each for all expenses, and in place of all other allowance. That the tour be as follows: 
 One from Casco Bay to Philadelphia, or while that city is in possession of the enemy, to 
 Lancaster; one from Philadelphia or Lancaster to Edentown, N. C; and the third from 
 Edentown to Savannah, Ga. 
 
 That an inspector of dead letters be appointed, with a salary of $100 a year, to ex- 
 amine dead letters, to communicate to Congress such as contain inimical schemes or intelli- 
 gence, to preserve letters containing valuable articles, and not to divulge the contents of 
 letters to any but Congress. 
 
 That the rate of postage be increased 50 per cent. 
 
 That an allowance be made to the present surveyor of the post-office for past extra- 
 ordinary service. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, November 4, 1777. — That $3,000 be advanced to Richard 
 Bache, Postmaster-General. 
 
 Articles of Confederation, Article IX. — Ratified July 9, 1778. — Gives to Congress the 
 sole and exclusive right and power of establishing and regulating post-offices in the United 
 States, and exacting " such postage as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the said 
 office." 
 
 Resolution of Congress, April 16, 1779. — That $11,9671^ be advanced to the Post- 
 master-General to pay debts 
 
 That the present rate of postage shall be doubled. 
 
 That the annual salary of the Postmaster-General for the future shall be $2,000. 
 
 That the pay of surveyors and comptroller shall be doubled. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, December \, 1779. — That accounts of the Postmaster General 
 be referred to board of the treasury for adjustment and liquidation. 
 
 That the salary of the Postmaster-General be increased to $3,500 per annum, from 
 September i, 1778. 
 
 That the comptroller's salary be increased to S^, 500 per annum, from September i 
 1778. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, December 27, 1779. — That the post shall set out and arrive at 
 the places where Congress shall be sitting twice each week, to go as far as Boston, State of 
 Massachusetts Bay, and to Charleston, S. C. 
 
 That no express riders shall be maintained at public expense. 
 
 That the three surveyors of the post-office shall be allowed the sum of S40 a day. 
 
 That the pay of the Postmaster-General be increased to 85,000, and that of the comp- 
 troller to $4,000. 
 
 Resolution of Congress, December 28, 1779 — That the rate of postage, until further 
 order of Congress, be 20 prices upon the sums paid in the year 1775. 
 
 That single letters directed to any officer of the line, and all letters directed to general 
 officers, or to officers commanding in a separate department, and all letters to and from the 
 ministers, commissioners, and secretaries of the United States at foreign courts, be free. 
 
 Resolution of May 5, 1780. — That the present rates of postage be doubled. 
 
 That masters of vessels be required to put in the post-office all letters brought by 
 them from abroad 
 
 Resolution of fune 30, 1780.— Ordering the committee on the post-office to direct the 
 Postmaster-General to make arrangements by which the southern post-riders shall arrive at 
 the place where Congress is sitting only once a week, while the express line established by 
 Governor Jefferson between the southern and northern armies is kept up. 
 
 Resolution of September 13, 1780. — Allows the Postmaster-General $1,000 a year 
 salary, to be paid quarterly. 
 
 Resolution of December 12, 1780. — Fixes the rate of postage on letters at half the 
 rates paid at the commencement of the present war. 
 
 Resolution of August X, I78r. — Appoints a committee to report the state of the present 
 expenses of the post-office, and a system for regulating the same in future. 
 
 Resolution of October 19, 1781. — Changes postage to what it was at the commencement 
 
 Control of post 
 
 offices Tested m 
 
 Congress. 
 
38o 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Act of CoDgress, 
 Oct. 18, 1782. 
 
 State moooy refused 
 for postage. 
 
 Only specie reeeiv- 
 «l»le for postage. 
 
 of the war ; authorizes the Postmaster-General to allow such commissions as he shall think 
 proper, not exceeding 20 per cent, (to take effect December i, 1781). Salary of the Post- 
 master-General to be $1,250; that of Assistant Postmaster-General, $850. 
 
 Resolution of January 28, 1782 — Ebenezer Hazard, inspector of dead letters, elected 
 Postmaster-General ; James Bryson, Assistant Postmaster-General 
 
 Act of Congress, October 18, 1782. — 1. Continued communication by post shall exist 
 from New Hampshire to Georgia. 
 
 2. The Postmaster-General shall superintend the appointment of assistants, etc. 
 
 3. The Postmaster-General and his assistants shall not open, detain, delay, secrete, 
 embezzle, or destroy, any letter, packet, or dispatch, except by consent of the person to whom 
 the same may be addressed, or by an express warrant under the hand of the President of 
 Congress of the United States, or, in time of war, of the commanding officer of a separate 
 army, or of the chief executive officer of one of the said States. No franked letter shall be 
 opened by any military officer. 
 
 4. The Postmaster-General shall take the oath of office, and forfeit $1,000 for violat- 
 ing it. 
 
 5 and 6. Only the Postmaster-General and his deputies shall carry mail-matter. 
 
 7. Mail shall be carried at least once a week. 
 
 8. List of undelivered letters to be published quarterly by postmasters, and at the 
 expiration of the succeeding quarter to be sent to the Dead-Letter Oflfice. 
 
 9. Extra post-riders may be employed when necessary. 
 
 xo. Postage rates shall be as follows, in pennyweights and giains of silver, estimating 
 each pennyweight as five-ninetieths of a dollar : Any distance not exceeding (so miles, i 
 pennyweight, 8 grains; upwards of 60 miles and not exceeding 100, 2 pennyweights; upwards 
 of 100 miles and not exceeding 200, 2 pennyweights 16 grains; and so on, 16 grains advance 
 for every 100 miles; and for single letters to or from Europe, 4 pennyweights; double, treble, 
 etc., for increased sizes. And all letters except dead letters shall remain in the office until 
 postage is paid. 
 
 11. Post-riders may be licensed to carry newspapers at such rates as the Postmaster- 
 General may establish. 
 
 12. Surplus of income over expenditures to be applied to payment of advances here- 
 tofore made to the Postmaster-General; after payment of which, surplus to be devoted to 
 establishment of new offices and routes; if expenses exceed income, the deficiency to be 
 supplied by the superintendent of finance on warrants of the Postmaster-General. 
 
 13. Salary of the Postmaster-General to be $1,500; salary of Assistant Postmaster- 
 General to be $1,000. 
 
 14. The franking privilege granted to members of Congress and chief officers of the 
 government. 
 
 Act of December ^i„ 1782. — iVlodification of post-office law; no important changes. 
 
 Act of February 28, 1783 — Official letters to be sent free. 
 
 Act of November \, 1783. — The Postmaster-General directed to cause an extra post 
 to be furnished whenever required by the President. 
 
 Resolution of April 6, 1784. — Directing the Postmaster-General to discharge account 
 of Jonathan Deare and Joseph Olden, amounting to f,^ i6s , for disbursements and services 
 in case of robbery of mail at Princeton. 
 
 Resolution of April 2%, 1784. — That letters and packets to and from the Commander- 
 in Chief of the United States armies shall be carried postage free, and the Postmaster- 
 General is directed to refund to the late commander-in-chief all money paid by him for 
 postage since the time of his resignation. 
 
 Resolution of May 11. 1784. — The postmaster at Princeton exonerated from blame in 
 case of the robbery at his office. 
 
 Resolution of February 7, 17S5. — The Postmaster-General to remove the department 
 to New York on or before the ist of March next. 
 
 Resolution of June 50, 1785 — The Postmaster-General to inquire and report as to best 
 terms for carrying the mails. 
 
 Resolution of September 7, 1785. — The Postmaster-General authorized to make con- 
 tracts for carrying mail. 
 
 Resolution of October 5, 1785. — The Postmaster-General authorized to establish cross- 
 posts. 
 
 Resolution of June 2\, 1786. — That the Postmaster-General be informed that Con- 
 gress approves his conduct in directing deputy postmasters not to receive the paper money 
 of any State for postage on letters. 
 
 Resolution of September 4, 1786 — The Postmaster-General authorized to contract for 
 transportation of the mail, and for establishing cross-posts. 
 
 Resolution of September —, 1786. — Directing the Postmaster- General to instruct post- 
 masters to receive no other money tlian specie in payment of postage. 
 
 Authorizing the Postmaster-General to demand postage at the time letters are put 
 into the office. 
 
 Efsolution of October 2}, 1786.— Authorizing the Secretary of the United States of 
 
APPENDIX. 381 
 
 America for the Department of Foreign Affairs to inspect any letters in any of the post-offices 
 when, in his judgment, the safety or interest of the government requires it, except letters 
 franked by or addressed to members of Congress. 
 
 Resolution of February 17, 1787. — Authorizing the Postmaster-General to grant, for 
 a term not exceeding seven years, the privilege of carrying letters and packages upon the 
 cross-roads in Virginia, from Richmond to Staunton, and from Winchester to Staunton 
 
 Resolution of October 1Q. 1787. — Postage rates reduced 25 per cent. The Postmaster- 
 General authorized to fix rates of postage for carriage of large packets in the mails. 
 
 Resolution of January 2, 178S.— Post-office continued on old establishment until 
 February next. 
 
 Resolution of May 20, 1788.— That mail be regularly transported once a fortnight 
 between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pa , via Lancaster, York, Carlisle, Jamestown, and 
 Bedford. 
 
 Resolution of June 11, 1788.— Instructing the Postmaster-General to deliver any 
 letters or packets that may be found in examining dead letters, directed to any officer of the 
 United States on public business, to such officer free of postage charge. 
 
 Resolution of August 29, 1788. — Authorizing the Postmaster-General to establish a 
 weekly post from Wilmington to Dover, Del. 
 
 PERIOD OF THE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Act September 22, 1789. — For the temporary establishment of the post-office, to con- 
 tinue in force until the end of the next session of Congress, and no longer. 
 
 Act August i„ I1<)a. — Continues in force the act of September 22, 1789, until the end 
 of the next Congress, and no longer. 
 
 Act March 3, 1791.— Continues in force the act of September 22, 1789, until the end 
 of the next Congress, and no longer. 
 
 This act (March 3, 179 1) provides that all letters to and from the Treasurer, Comp- 
 troller, and Auditor of the Treasury, and the Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury, on 
 public service, shall be received and conveyed by the post free of postage. 
 
 Act February 20, 1792. — Continues in force the act of iVlarch 3, 1791, until the ist of 
 June, 1792, and no longer, and provides that this act (February 20, 1792) shall continue in 
 force for the term of two years from June i, 1792, and no longer. 
 
 By this act the Postmaster-General authorized to appoint one Assistant Postmaster- 
 General. 
 
 This act (February 20, 1792) was the first act, subsequent to the adoption of the Con- First postal rates 
 stitution, fixing rates of postage on domestic letters. It established the following rates, to nnder the Con- 
 take effect June 1, 1792 : stitntion. 
 
 For every single letter not exceeding 30 miles, 6 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 30 miles, and not exceeding 60 miles, 8 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 60 miles, and not exceeding 100 miles, 10 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 100 miles, and not exceeding 150 miles, 12}^ cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 150 miles, and not exceeding 200 miles, 15 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 200 miles, and not exceeding 250 miles, 17 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 250 miles, and not exceeding 350 miles, 20 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 350 miles, and not exceeding 450 miles, 22 cents. 
 
 For every single letter over 450 miles, 25 cents. 
 
 For every double letter, double the said rates. 
 
 For every triple letter, triple the said rates. 
 
 For every packet weighing i ounce avoirdupois, to pay at the rate of four single letters 
 for each ounce, and in that proportion for any greater weight. 
 
 Act February 20, 1792, section 10. — Letters and packets passing by sea to and from 
 the United States, or from one port to another therein, in packet-boats or vessels, the 
 property of or provided by the United States, shall be rated and charged as follows : 
 
 For every single letter, 8 cents. 
 
 For every double letter, 16 cents. 
 
 For every triple letter or packet, 24 cents. 
 
 For every letter or packet brought into the United States, or carried from one port 
 therein to another by sea, in any private ship or vessel, 4 cents, if delivered at the place 
 where the same shall arrive ; and if directed to be delivered at any other place, with the 
 addition of the like postage as on domestic letters. 
 
 Act February io, 1792, section 13. — The postmasters to whom such letters may be 
 delivered shall pay to the master, commander, or other person delivering the same, except 
 the commanders of foreign packets, 2 cents for every such letter or packet. 
 
 Act February 20, 1792, section 19.— Letters and packets to be received and conveyed 
 by post, free of postage, under certain restrictions : ■ , r 
 
 All letters or packets to or from the President of the United States and the Vice-President of 
 
 the United States. 
 All letters or packets, not exceeding 2 ounces in weight, to or from Senators, Representatives, 
 
382 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives, during their actual 
 
 attendance in any session of Congress and twenty days after such session. 
 All letters to or from the Secretary of the Treasury, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, 
 
 Comptroller, Register, Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, 
 
 commissioners for settling accounts between the United States and individual States, 
 
 Postmaster-General, and Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 Provided, No person siiall. frank or enclose any letter or packet not his own ; but 
 public letters or packets, from the Treasury Department, may be franked by the Secretary, 
 Assistant Secretary, Comptroller, Register, Auditor, or Treasurer. 
 
 Each person shall delivei to post-office every letter or packet inclosed to him for other 
 persons, that postage may be charged. 
 
 Act February 20, 1792, section 21. — Printers of newspapers authorized to send one 
 paper to every other printer of newspaper in the United States, free of postage, under 
 regulatiuns of the Postmaster-General. 
 
 All newspapers conveyed by mail for any distanne not more than 100 miles, i cent ; 
 and over 100 miles, 1% cents ; if any other matter or thing be inclosed, it is subject to letter 
 rates of postage. 
 
 Act February 20, 1792, section 26. — Postmaster-General to make provision for receipt 
 of letters and packets, to be conveyed beyond the sea, or from one port to another in the 
 United States ; and for every letter so received, a postage of i cent shall be paid. 
 
 Act May 8, 1794. — To take effect June i, 1794, without limit as to time. Establishes 
 General post offlce a General Post Office. Sections 9, 10, and 13 of this act re-enact sections 9, 10, and 13 of 
 established. act of February 20, 1792. 
 
 Section 19 of this act re-enacts section 19 of act of February 20, 1792, except that it 
 omits the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and commissioners for settling accounts between 
 the United States and individual States, and adds the Commissioner of the Revenue and post- 
 masters ; the letters and packets of post masters not to exceed one half ounce in weight. 
 
 Section 26 of this act re-enacts section 26 of act of February 20, 1792. 
 
 Act December 3, 1794. — Confers franking privilege on James White, delegate to Con- 
 gress from the territory of the United States south of the river Ohio. 
 
 Act February 25, 1795. — Confers franking privilege on purveyor of public supplies, as 
 to letters to or from. 
 
 Act March. 3, 1797. — That all letters or packets to George Washington, now Presi- 
 Franking privilege dent of the United States, after the expiration of his term of office, and during his life, shall 
 
 conferred on be received and conveyed by post free of postage, 
 fleorge Washington. Act June 22, 1798. — Extends the privilege of franking letters and packets to the 
 
 Secretary of the Navy, under like restrictions and limitation as are provided in the act May 8, 
 1794, section 19. 
 
 Act March 2 1799, section 7. — Establishes a General Post-Ofifice at the seat of gov- 
 ernment of the United States. 
 
 For every letter composed of a single sheet of paper conveyed not exceeding 40 miles, 
 8 cents ; over 40 miles and not exceeding 90 miles, 10 cents ; over 90 miles and not exceed- 
 ing 150 miles, 12}^ cents ; over 150 miles and not exceeding 300 miles, 17 cents ; over 300 
 miles and not exceeding 500 miles, 20 cents ; over 500 miles, 25 cents. 
 
 Double letters or two pieces of paper, double rates. 
 
 Triple letter or three pieces of paper, triple rates ; and for every packet composed of 
 four or more pieces of paper, or other thing, and weighing i ounce avoirdupois, quadruple 
 rate, and in same proportion for greater weights : Provided, No packet of letters conveyed 
 by the water-mails shall be charged more than quadruple postage, unless containing more 
 than four distinct letters ; no package to be received weighing more than 3 pounds. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 8. — Eveiy packet or letter brought in the United States, or 
 carried from one part to another in private ship or vessel, 6 cents, if delivered in office where 
 received ; if to be conveyed by post, 2 cents added to ordinary postage. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 11. — Authorizes postmasters to whom letters maybe deliv- 
 ered by masters or commanders of any ship or vessel arriving at any port within the United 
 States, where a post-office is established, except foreign packets, to pay a cents for each letter 
 or packet. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 13. — Postmasters authorized to pay mail-carriers i cent for 
 Carriers' fees. each way-letter delivered to them, also mail-carriers authorized to demand and receive 2 
 cents in addition to the o rdinary postage, for every letter delivered by them to persons living 
 between post-offices on their route. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 17. — Letters and packets to be conveyed free to and from 
 the following ; 
 
 Postmasters— not exceeding one-half ounce in weight. 
 
 Senators, Representatives, Secretary of the Senate, Clerk of the House — not exceeding 2 
 
 ounces in weight, during actual attendance in any session of Congress, and twenty 
 
 days after such session. 
 
 All letters and packets to and from the President of the United States, Vice-President of the 
 
 United States, Secretary of the Treasury, Comptroller of the Treasury, Auditor of the 
 
APPENDIX. 383 
 
 Treasury, Register of the Treasury, Treasurer of the United States, Commissioner of 
 
 the Revenue, supervisors of the revenue, inspectors of the revenue. Commissioners, 
 
 Purveyor, Secretary of War, accountant of War Office, Secretary of State, Secretary 
 
 of Navy, accountant of Navy, Postmaster-General, and Assistant Postmaster-General. 
 
 All may receive their newspapers free of postage. Provided, Senators, Representatives, 
 Secretary of Senate, and Clerk of the House shall receive newspapers free during session of 
 Congress and twenty days after. 
 
 Letters or pacl<ets from any public officer to be franked by person sending. 
 
 All letters and packets to and from George Washington, late President, to be received 
 and conveyed free. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 19. — Re-enacts section 21 of act February 20, 1792. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 20. — Fixes postage on newspapers at i cent each for not 
 more than 100 m les, and 1% cents for any greater distance Single newspapers from one 
 place to another in the same State shall not exceed i cent. 
 
 Concealing a letter, or other thing, or any memorandum in writmg in a newspaper, 
 subjects each article in packet to a single-letter postage. 
 
 Magazines and pamphlets, i cent a sheet, for not exceeding 50 miles; i^ cents for 
 over 50 miles, and not exceeding 100 miles; and 2 cents for any greater distance. 
 
 Act March 2, 1799, section 25. — Postmaster-General authorized to provide for receipt 
 of letters or packets, to be conveyed by sea to any foreign port or home port. Every letter 
 or packet so received, subject to a postage of i cent 
 
 Act January 2, 1800, section 1. — Confers franking privilege on William Henry Harrison, 
 delegate to Congress from-territory northwest of the Ohio River, to send and receive letters 
 free of postage. 
 
 Act April ■^^ 1800.— Confers franking privilege upon Martha Washington, to send and 
 receive letters and packages free of postage during her life. 
 
 Act December 15, 1800, section i.— Confers franking privilege on delegate from terri- 
 tory northwest of the Ohio River, to send and receive letters free of postage. 
 
 Act February 25, 1801.— Confers franking privilege on John Adams, President of the 
 United States, after the expiration of his term of office, and during his life, on all letters and 
 packets to him. 
 
 Act February 18, i8o2. — Confers privilege of franking and receiving letters free of 
 postage to any person admitted, or to be admitted, to take a seat in Congress as a delegate. 
 
 Act May 3, 1802, section 4, 7101. 2, page 191. — None but free white persons shall be 
 employed in carrying the mails. 
 
 Act May 3, 1802,, section 5. — Franking privilege extended to the Attorney-General, 
 to .send and receive all letters, packets, and newspapers free of postage. 
 
 Act March 26, 1804, section 3. — Letters, returns, and other papers on public service, 
 sent by mail to or from offices of inspector and paymaster of the army, to be received and 
 conveyed free of postage. 
 
 Act June 28, 1809. — Letters and packets from Thomas Jefferson, late President of the 
 United States, to be received and conveyed by post free of postage during his life. 
 
 Act April 'io, 1810, section r, vol. 2 page ^^2. — Establishes a General Post-Office at 
 the seat of Government. Postmaster-General shall appoint two Assistant Postmasters- 
 General. 
 
 Act April ^o, 1810, section 11. — Rates of postage on letters and packets : 
 
 Single sheet of paper — Cents. 
 
 Less than 40 miles 8 
 
 40 to 90 miles 10 
 
 90 to 150 miles ^i'A 
 
 150 to 300 miles 17 
 
 300 to 500 miles 20 
 
 Over 500 miles 25 
 
 Double letters or two pieces of paper, double rates; triple letters or three pieces of 
 paper, triple rates; every packet composed of four or more pieces of paper or other thing, 
 and weighing i ounce avoirdupois, quadruple rate; and in same proportion for greater weight: 
 Provided, No packet of letters 'conveyed by the water-mails shall be charged more than 
 quadruple postage, unless containing more than four distinct letters. Weight of packet 
 limited to 3 pounds. 
 
 Act April yi, 1810, section 12. — Letters or packets brought into the United States, or 
 carried from one port therein to another, shall be charged 6 cents, if delivered at the post- 
 office where the same shall arrive; and if to be conveyed by post to any other place, with 
 2 cents added to the ordinary rates of p stage. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 15. — Postmasters authorized, on the receipt of letters from 
 any ship or vessel arriving at any port within the United States where a post-office is estab- 
 lished, to pay to the master, commander, or other person delivering the same, except the 
 commanders of foreign packets, 2 cents for every letter or packet. 
 
 Act April }o, 1810, section 17. — Postmasters authorized to pay mail-carrier i cent for 
 
384 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 every letter brought into their offices; also mail-carrier authorized to demand and receive 2 
 cents in addition to the ordinary postage, for every letter delivered by him to persons living 
 between post-oifices on his route. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 19. — Provides that any person convicted of robbing the 
 neath penalty for mail shall be sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, and upon conviction a second time for 
 robbing the mull, such offense, shall be punished with death. 
 
 Act April ^o, 1810, section 24. — Letters and packets to and from the following officers 
 of the United States to be received and conveyed through the mails free of postage : 
 
 Postmasters, not exceeding one-half ounce in weight. 
 Senators, Members, Delegates, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, limited 
 to 2 ounces in weight, and during their actual attendance in any session of Congress 
 and twenty days thereafter; excess of weight to be paid for 
 All letters and packets to ai.d from the President of the United States, Vice-President of 
 the United States, Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of War, 
 Secretary of the Navy, Attorney-General, Comptroller, Treasurer, Auditor, Register, 
 supervisor of direct tax of district of South Carolina, superintendent of Indian trade, 
 purveyor, inspector and paymaster of the army, accountants of War and Navy 
 Departments, Postmaster-General, Assistant Postmasters-General, Joha Adams, and 
 Thomas Jefferson. 
 All may receive their newspapers free of postage 
 
 Senators, Representatives, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Repre- 
 sentatives shall receive their newspapers free of postage only during any session of Congress 
 and twenty days thereafter. 
 
 Act April ^o, 1810, section 25. — Secretaries of the Treasury, State, War, Navy, and 
 Postmaster-General authorized to frank letters or packets on official business, prepared in any 
 other public office, in the absence of the principal therof. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 26. — Printers of newspapers authorized to exchange one 
 copy free of newspapers, under regulations of the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act April '^o, 1810, section 27. — Newspapers by mail, i cent each for not more than 
 100 miles; \yi, cents for any greater distance. Single newspapers, from one place to another 
 in the same State, not to exceed i cent. 
 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 32. — Postmaster-General authorized to provide for the 
 receipt and transmission of leters and packets beyond sea, or from any port in the United 
 States to any other port therein; every letter or packet so received subject to a postage of 
 I cent. 
 
 Act April 30, iSto, secHan 34. — Drop or local letters, i cent each. 
 Act April 30, 1810, section 39. — Adjutant-general of the militia of each State and 
 Territory has the right to receive by mail, free of postage, from any major or brigadier, 
 general thereof, and to transmit to said generals, any letter or packet relatmg solely to the 
 militia of such State or Territory, under certain restrictions. 
 
 Act April 18, 1814, section 4. — Secretary of State authorized to transmit by mail, free of 
 postage, one copy of documents ordered to be printed by either House of Congress — namely. 
 Public documents of communications, with accompanying documents, made by the President to Congress or 
 to be carried free, either House thereof ; of reports made by the Secretary of State, Treasury, War, Navy, 
 Postmaster-General, or commissioners of the sinking-fund, to Congress, or either House 
 thereof, in pursuance of any law or resolution of either House; affirmative reports on subjects 
 of a general nature made to Congress, or either House thereof, by any committee, respectively 
 — for each of the judges of the Supreme Court, of the district courts, and of the Territories 
 of the United States, to any post-office within the United States they may respectively 
 designate 
 
 Act December 23, 1814, section 2 — From and after February i, 1815, there shall be 
 added to the rates of postage established by law 50 per centum on the amount of such rates 
 respectively. 
 
 Act February I, 1816. — Repeals so much of act of December 23, 1814, as imposes 50 
 per centum additional postage. 
 
 Act April 9, 1816, section I. — Rates of postage after May i, 1816 : 
 
 Every letter c. mposed of a single sheet of paper — Cents. 
 
 Less than 30 miles 6 
 
 Over 30 miles and not exceeding 80 miles 10 
 
 Over 80 miles and not exceeding 150 miles izyi 
 
 Over 150 miles and not exceeding 400 miles i8j| 
 
 Over 400 miles 25 
 
 Every double letter or two pieces of paper, double rates. 
 
 Every triple letter or three pieces of paper, triple rates. 
 
 Every packet containing four or more pieces of paper or one or move other articles, 
 and weighing one ounce avoirdupois, quadruple these rates, and in that proportion for all 
 greater rates. No packet of letters conveyed by water-mails to be charged with more than 
 quadruple postage, unless the same shall contain more than four distinct letters. 
 
APPENDIX. 385 
 
 Any memorandum written on a newspaper or other printed paper, and transmitted Ly 
 mail, to be charged with letter postage. 
 
 Act April 9, 1816, section 3. — Letters and packets to and from Senators, Members, and 
 Delegates of the House, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, to be conveyed 
 free of postage for thirty days previous to each session of Congress and for thirty days after 
 the termination thereof; limited to 2 ounces in weight; excess to be paid for. 
 
 Act March I, 1817. — Letters and packets to and from James Madison, Piesident of the 
 United States, after the expiration of his term of office and during his life, to be carried by 
 mail free of postage. 
 
 Act March I}, 1820. — Letters and packets to and from the President of the Senate 
 pro tempore, and Speaker of the House for the time being, to be received and conveyed by 
 mail, free of postage, during the session of Congress, under certain restrictions. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825. — An act to reduce into one the several acts establishing and reg- 
 ulating the Post-Office Department. 
 
 Section i establishes at the seat of government a general post-office, under the direction Various Acts of 
 of the Postmaster-General. Congress reduced 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, sections. — Authorizes the Postmaster General to have mail carried Into one. 
 
 by any steamboat or other vessel which shall be used as a packet in any waters of the United 
 States, on such terms and conditions as shall be considered expedient : Provided, That he 
 does not pay more than 3 cents for each letter, nor more than one-half a cent for each news- 
 paper. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 6 — Master or manager of any steamboat passing frorn one 
 port or place to another port or place in the United States, where a post-office is established, 
 to deliver all letters or packets addressed to such port or place to the postmaster there, for 
 which he shall receive of such postmaster 2 cents for every letter or packet so delivered, un- 
 less the same shall be conveyed under contract with the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 7. — No other than a free white person shall be employed 
 in conveying the mail ; and any contractor who shall employ or permit any other than a 
 free white person to convey the mail shall for every such offense incur a penalty of $20. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 13. — Rates of postage on letters and packets conyed in the 
 mail of the United States : 
 
 For every letter of a single sheet of paper conveyed — Cents 
 
 Not exceeding 30 miles 6 
 
 Over 30 miles and not exceeding 80 miles 10 
 
 Over 80 miles and not exceeding 150 miles 12K 
 
 Over 150 miles and not exceeding 400 miles 185^ 
 
 Over 400 miles 25 
 
 Every double letter or two pieces of paper, double these rates ; every triple letter or 
 three pieces of paper, triple these rates ; every packet of four or more pieces of paper, or one 
 or more other articles, and weighing i ounce avoirdupois, quadruple these rates ; and in that 
 proportion for all greater weights : Provided, That no packet of letters conveyed by the 
 water-mails sha'l be charged more than quadruple postage, unless the same shall contain 
 more than four distinct letters ; weight of packet limited to 3 pounds. 
 
 Unbound journals of legislatures of the several States liable to same postage as 
 pamphlets. 
 
 Memorandum written on a newspaper or other printed paper, pamphlet, or magazine, 
 and transmitted by mail, to be charged with letter postage. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 15.— Every letter or package brought into the United 
 States, or carried from one point therein to another, in any private ship or vessel, to be 
 charged 6 cents, if delivered at the post-office where the same shall arrive ; and if destined to 
 be conveyed by post to any other place, with 2 cents added to the ordinary rates of postage. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 18. — Postmasters authorized to pay to the master or com- 
 mander of any vessel, except the commanders of foreign packets, arriving at any port in the 
 United States where a post-office is established, 2 cents for every letter or packet delivered 
 by him to the postmaster. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 27.— Letters and packets to be conveyed by post free of 
 postage to and from the following : 
 
 Postmasters — limited to one-half ounce in weight. . . 
 
 Members, Senators, Delegates, Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House— limited to 
 
 2 ounces in weight (except documents printed by order of either House of Congress), 
 
 and during their actual attendance in any session of Congress and sixty days before 
 
 and after ; excess of weight to be paid for. 
 All letters and packets to and from the President of the United States, Vice-President of the 
 
 United States, Secretary of State. Secretary of War, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary 
 
 of Navy, Attorney-General, Postmaster-General, Assistant Postmasters-General, 
 
 Comptrollers of Treasury, Auditors of Treasury, Register, Treasurer, Commissioner 
 
 General Land Offics, ex-Presidents and President of the United States 
 
 All of the above to receive newspapers free of postage : Provided, That postmasters 
 
386 APPENDIX. 
 
 shall not receive free of postage more than one daily newspaper each, or what is equivalent 
 thereto ; nor shall members of the Senate or House, Clerk of the House, or Secretary of the 
 Senate receive newspapers free of postage after their franking privilege shall cease. 
 
 Act March -i, 182^ , secliim 28. — Secretaries of Treasury, State, War, Navy, and the 
 Postmaster-General may frank letters and packets on otificial business prepared in any other 
 public office in the absence of the principal thereof. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 29. — Printers of newspapers authorized to exchange one 
 paper free of postage, under regulations by Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 30. — Newspapers conveyed by mail, i cent for any dis- 
 tance not more than 100 miles ; 1% cents for any greater distance. Single newspapers from 
 one place to another in the same State, i cent. 
 
 Inclosing or concealing a letter or other thing, or any memorandum in writing, in a 
 newspaper, pamphlet, or magazine, subjects it to single letter postage for each article of 
 which the package is composed. 
 
 When mode of conveyance and size, of mail will admit, magazines and pamphlets 
 published periodically may be transported in the mail to subscribers, at iK cents a sheet for 
 Size of a sheet any distance not exceeding 100 miles, and 2^ cents for any greater distance And such 
 defined. magazines and pamphlets as are not published periodically, if sent in the mail, shall be 
 
 charged 4 cents on each sheet for any distance not exceeding loo miles, and 6 cents for any 
 greater distance. (Section 13 of this act defines a sheet to be four folio pages, 8 quarto pages, 
 16 octavo pages, or 24 duodecimo pages, or pages less than that of a pamphlet size or 
 magazine, whatever be the size of the paper of which it is formed. The surplus pages of 
 any pamphlet or magazine shall also be considered a sheet.) 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 34. — Postmaster-General authorized to make provision for 
 the receipt of letters and packets to be conveyed by any vessel beyond sea, or from one port 
 to another in the United States ; and the postmaster receiving the same at the port to which 
 such vessel shall be bound shall be entitled to a postage of i cent on each letter or packet 
 received. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 36 — Drop or local letters delivered at the post-oflice, 
 I cent each. 
 
 Act March 3, 182;, section ^6. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to employ letter- 
 carriers at such post-offices as he may designate, for the delivery of letters ; and the carrier 
 may receive from the person to whom the letter is delivered 2 cents. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 40. — The adjutant-general of the militia of each State and 
 Territory authorized to receive by mail, free of postage, from any major-general or brigadier- 
 general thereof, and to transmit to said generals, any letter or packet relating solely to the 
 militia of such State or Territory, under certain conditions. 
 
 Act March 3, 1825, section 46. — Repeals all acts and parts of acts which have been 
 passed for the establishment and regulation of the general post-office. 
 
 Act March 2, 1827. — Increases the salary of the Postmaster-General $2,000 over the 
 present amount. 
 
 Act March 2, 1827, section 2. — One cent to be allowed each postmaster for every let- 
 ter received from any ship or vessel and mailed by him. 
 
 Act March 2, 1827, section 4. — Authority to frank and receive letters and packets free 
 of postage extended to the commissioners of the navy-board, Adjutant-General, Commissary- 
 General, Inspector- General, Quartermaster-General, Paymaster-General, Secretary of the 
 Senate, Clerk of the House, Superintendent of the Patent- Ofifice. 
 
 No other person or officer except those enumerated herein and in the act of March 3, 
 1825, shall be authorized to frank or receive letters by mail free of postage. 
 
 Act March 2, 1827, section 5. — One or more pieces of paper mailed as a letter and 
 weighing r ounce avoirdupois, shall be charged with quadruple postage, and at the same 
 rate should the weight be greater. Packages containing four pieces of paper, quadruple rates. 
 
 Every printed pamphlet or magazine containing more than twenty-four pages on a 
 royal sheet, or any sheet of less dimensions, shall be charged by the sheet ; and small 
 pamphlets printed on a half or quarter sheet of royal, or less size, shall be charged with one- 
 half the amount of postage on a full sheet. Double postage shall be chaiged, unless there 
 shall be printed or written on one of the outer pages of all pamphlets and magazines the 
 number of sheets they contain. 
 
 Act June 30, 183d.— Governors of the several States authorized to transmit by mail, 
 free of postage, all laws and reports, bound or unbound, and all records and documents of 
 their respective States, which may be directed by the several legislatures of the States to be 
 transmitted to the executives of other States. 
 
 Act July 2, 1836. section 8. — President authorized to appoint an Auditor of the Treas- 
 ury for the Post-Ofifice Department, who is authorized to frank and receive, free of postage, 
 letters and packets, under regulations provided by law for other officers of the government. 
 
 Act Juh 2, 1836, section 8. — All letters or packets to or from the Chief Engineer, 
 which may relate to the business of his office, free of postage. 
 
 Act July 2, 1836, section 20. — Postmaster-General authorized to employ a Third Assis- 
 tant Postmaster-General, who may receive and send letters free of postage. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 387 
 
 Act July 2, 1836, section )6. — No postmaster shall receive free of postage or frank any 
 letter or packet composed of or containing anything other than money or paper. 
 
 All letters and packets to a"d from Dolly P. Madison, relict of the late James Madison, 
 shall be received and conveyed by post free of postage for and during her life 
 
 Act July ^, 1836, jcf/z'ow I.— Paient-Office established and the Commissioner entitled 
 to receive and send letters and packages by mail relating to the business of his office free of 
 postage. 
 
 Act July 7, 1838. — Every railroad built or to be built declared a post-road, over which liailrosds declared 
 the Postmaster-General shall cause the mails to be transported, if the cost thereof be not to be post-roadt. 
 more than 25 per cent, over the cost of similar service in post-coaches. 
 
 Act January 2S, 1839 — Postmaster General not to allow 10 any railroad company for 
 carrying the mails more than $300 per mile per annum. 
 
 Act September 9, 1841. — All letters and packets carried by post to Mrs. Harrison, 
 relict of the late'William Henry Harrison, to be conveyed free of postage during her life. 
 
 Act January 20, 1843, section 3. — Commissioner of Pensions authorized to send and 
 receive letters and packets by mail free of postage. 
 
 Act February 15, 1843, section i. ^Authorizes the chief clerk of the office of Secretary 
 of State to frank all public and official documents sent from that office. 
 
 Act March.'}, 1843. — Appropriation for testing the capacity and usefulness of the mag- 
 netic telegraph by constructing a line of telegraphs between such points as will determine its Magnetic telegraph. 
 practicability. [Under this act a line of telegraphs was constructed by the Government 
 between Washington and Baltimore.] 
 
 Act March }, 1845, section i, vol. i^, page 732 — After July I, 1841;, Members of Con- 
 gress and Delegates from Territories may receive letters not exceeding 2 ounces in weight 
 free of postage during the recess of Congress, anything to the contrary in this act notwith- 
 standing; and the same franking privilege which is granted by this act to the members of 
 the two houses of Congress is hereby extended to the Vice-President of the United States. 
 
 Postage on letters. — For every single letter in manuscript, or marks and signs by mail, 
 under 300 miles, 5 cents, over 300 miles, JO cents; double letter, double rates; treble letter, 
 treble rates; quadruple letter, quadruple rates; and every letter or parcel not exceeding one- 
 half ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of one- 
 half ounce or less shall be charged with an additional single postage. Drop or local letters 
 shall be charged a postage rate of 2 cents each. 
 
 Act March 3, 184s, section 2. — Postage on newspapers. — Newspapers of not more than 
 1,900 square inches in size may be transmitted through the mails by the editors or publishers 
 thereof to subscribers or other persons, within 30 miles of the city, town, or place in which 
 the paper is printed, free of postage. Newspapers of less size, conveyed by mail beyond 30 
 miles from the place at which they are printed, shall be subject to the rates of postage 
 chargeable under the thirtieth section, act March 3, 1825 Newspapers of greater size than 
 1,900 square inches subject to same rates of postage as are prescribed by this act on maga- 
 zines and pamphlets. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 3. — Printed or lithograph circulars, hand-bills, or adver- 
 tisements, printed or lithographed on quarto-post or single-cap paper, or paper not larger 
 than single-cap paper, unsealed, shall be charged with postage at the rate of 2 cents for each 
 sheet, without regard to distance. Pamphlets, magazines, periodicals, and all other printed 
 or other matter (except newspapers) unconnected with any writing, shall be charged with 
 postage at the rate of 2% cents for each copy sent, not exceeding 1 ounce in weight, and r 
 cent additional for each additional ounce, without regard to distance; and any fractional 
 excess of not less than one-half ounce above i or more ounces shall be charged for as if said 
 excess amounted to a full ounce 
 
 Bound bjoks not to be admitted under foregoing provisions. 
 
 Act March 3, 1841;, section 5. — Repeals all acts and parts of acts conferring upon any 
 person the right or privilege to receive and transmit through the mail free of postage letters, 
 packets, newspapers, periodicals, or other matter. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 6. — All officers of the government of the United States, New regulations con- 
 heretofore having the franking privilege, shall be allowed and paid quarterly all postage on cernlng franking. 
 official letters, packages, or other matter received by mail. 
 
 Postage upon official letters, packages, or other matter received by the three Assistant 
 Postmasters-General shall be remitted, and they shall be authorized to transmit by mail free 
 of postage official letters, packages, or other matter under certain regulations. 
 
 Deputy postmasters allowed all postage which they may have paid or have had 
 charged to them for official letters, packages, or other matters, and they are authorized to 
 send by mail free of postage official letters and packets, under certain regulations. 
 
 Act Match 3, 1845, section 7.— Continues in force act of June 3", 1834, authorizing 
 the p-overnors of the several States to transmit by mail certain books and documents, and 
 authorizes Members and Delegates, Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House to trans- 
 mit by mail free of postage any documents printed by order of either house of Congress. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 8.— Senators, Members, Delegates, Secretary of Senate, and 
 Clerk of the House, authorized, during each session of Congress and for thirty days before 
 
388 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 and after every session of Congress, to send and receive through the mail free of postage any 
 letter, newspaper, or packet, not exceeding 2 ounces in weight. Postage charged for excess 
 of weight on official letters, packages, etc., received during any session of Congress, to be 
 paid out of the contingent fund of the house of which the person may be a member. 
 Authorized to frank written letters from themselves during the whole year, etc. 
 
 Ace March 3, 1845. section 13. — Transmission of letters by steamboats, under act of 
 March 5. 1825, section 6, not piobibited : Provided. That the requirements of said sixth 
 section shall be strictly complied with by the delivery of all letters so conveyed, not relating 
 to the cargo or some part thereof, to the postmaster or agent of the Post-Office Department 
 at the port to which said letters may be delivered ; and the postmaster or agent shall collect 
 upon all letters or other mailable matter so delivered to him, except newspapers, pamphlets, 
 magazines, and periodicals, the same rates of postage as would have been charged upon said 
 letters had they been transmitted by mail from the port at which they were placed on board 
 the steamboat from which they were received ; weight of packet limited to 3 pounds. 
 
 Act Match 3, 184I), section 15. — Mailable matter defined. — Letters, newspapers, maga- 
 zines and pamphlets periodically published or published in regular series, or in successive 
 Mailable matter numbers, under the same title, though at irregular intervals, and all other written or printed 
 defined. matter, whereof each copy or number shall not exceed eight ounces in weight, except bank- 
 
 notes sent in packages or bundles, without written letters accompanying them. Bound books 
 not to be included within the meaning of these terms. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 16.— Newspapers defined. — Any printed publication issued 
 in numbers, consisting of not more than two sheets and published at short stated intervals of 
 Ifewspapers defined, not more than one month, conveying intelligence of passing events, and bona-fide extras and 
 supplements of any such publication. 
 
 Free exchange of newspapers between publishers, as provided for by act of March 3, 
 1825, section 29. not prohibited. 
 
 Act March 3, 1845, section 23. — Franking privilege conferred by former acts on the 
 President of the United States when in office, and to all ex- Presidents, and to the widows of 
 the former Presidents, Madison and Harrison, continued in force. 
 
 Act March 3. 1845, section 19, volume 5, page 738. — Railroad transporation of the 
 mails divided into three classes, with varying rates of compensation therefor. 
 
 Joint resolution of February 20, 184s. — Postmaster-General authorized to contract 
 with railroads for carrying the mails without advertising for bids. 
 
 Joint resolution of March 3, 1845. — Provides that act of March 3, 1845, shall go into 
 effect on and after July i, 1845. 
 
 Act May 29, 1846, section 3. — Same rates of postage to be charged in Texas as in other 
 States of the United Stale . 
 
 Act June 19, 1846 — Appropriation made for defraying expenses of magnetic telegraph 
 from Washington to Baltimore: "Provided, That the Postmaster- General be, and he is 
 hereby, authorized to let, for a limited time, the aforesaid telegraph to any person who will 
 keep it in operation for its earnings ; or he may, under the direction of the President of the 
 United States, sell the same." 
 
 Act August 10, 1846. —"That the proceids of the telegraph between Washington 
 Telegraph receipts City and Baltimore be, and the same are hereby, dirt cted to be placed in the Treasury of the 
 credited to the United States, for the benefit of the Post-Office Department, in the same manner as other 
 P. 0. Department, revenues from postages." 
 
 Act August 6, 1846, section 18 — On and after January r, 1847, postage shall be paid 
 in geld and silver only, or in Treasury notes of the United States. 
 
 Act March i, 1847, j<'<:</o» 3.— Members and Delegates in Congress, Vice President of 
 the United States. Secretary of the Sinafe, and Clerk of the House, to have power to send 
 and receive public documents during their term of office and up to the first Monday of 
 December following the expiration of their term of office. 
 
 Alt March i, 1847, section 4. — Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House to 
 receive and send all letters and packages fiee of postage during their term of office ; limited 
 10 two ounces. 
 
 Act March I, 1847, section 5.— Members of Congress to receive and send all letters 
 and packages free of postage, up to the first Monday in December following the expiration 
 of their term of office. 
 
 Act Match 2, 1847, "c'i'n i.— Every postmaster whose compensation for the last pre- 
 ceding year did not exceed $200 to send all letters written by himself and receive all addressed 
 to himself, on his private business, free of postage ; limited to one-half ounce in weight. 
 
 Act March 3, 1847, «<rftV>« 4 —Letters, newspapers, and packets, not exceeding one 
 ounce In weight, directed to any officer, musician, or private of the army of the United 
 States In Mexico, or at any place on the frontier of the United States bordering on Mexico, 
 shall be conveyed in the mail free of postage 
 
 Act March 3, 1847, section 5.— Continues in force section 4 of this act during the 
 present war and three months thereafter. 
 
 Act March 3, 1847, section 7 —Postmaster-General authorized to establish a post- 
 pffice at Astoria, and other places on the Pacific. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 389 
 
 All letters conveyed to or from Chagres 20 
 
 All letters conveyed to or from Havana 121^ 
 
 AH letters conveyed to or from Panama ,0 
 
 All letters conveyed to or from Astoria 40 
 
 All letters conveyed to or from any other place on the Pacific 40 
 
 ■ Act March 3, \%^-j, section 11 —Authorizes the Postmasfer-Oeneral to prepare postage- Postage stamps 
 stamps, which, when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of postage first authorized. 
 chargeable therefor. 
 
 Act March 3, 1847, section 12. — Repeals so much of section 6 of act March 3, 1845, 
 as requires postage to be paid on fiee matter from the contingent fund of the two Houses of 
 Congress and the other departments of the government, and In lieu thereof provides for an 
 annual appropriation of $200,000, to be paid to the Post-Office Department. 
 
 Act March 3, 1847, section i?. — Newspapers by mail (except exchanges between 
 publisheis), except such as are franked by those enjoying the franking privilege, and newspapers 
 not sent from the office of publication, and handbills or circulars printed or lithographed, not 
 exceeding one sheet, shall be subject to 3 cents prepaid postage each. Postmaster-General 
 authorized to pay not exceeding 2 cents each for all letters or packets conveyed in any vessel 
 not employed in carrying the mail from one place to another in the United States, under 
 such regulations as he may provide. 
 
 Publications or books published, procured, or purchased by either House of Congress 
 shall be considered public documents and entitled to be franked as such. 
 
 Act March 3, 1847, section 14 — Repeals so much of act of IVlarch 3, 1845, and of all 
 other acts relating to the Post Office Department, as is inconsistent with thfs act. 
 
 Act Match 9, 1848.— Letters and packets by mail to and from Louisa Catherine Adams, 
 widow of the late John Quincy Adams, to be free of postage during her life. 
 
 Act May 2-], 1848, section 4. — Commissioner of Patents authorized to send by mail 
 free of postage the annual reports of the Patent Office 
 
 Act June IT, 1848, section 1. — Postmaster-General authorized to charge and collect 
 upon all letters and other mailable matter carried in foreign packets the same rate of postage 
 which the governments to which such foreign packets belong impose upon letters, etc., 
 carried in American packets. 
 
 Act June 27, 1848, section 2 — All letters and other mailable matter conveyed by any 
 foreign ship to or from any port of the United States, to be subject to postage charged 'as in 
 above section, except letters relating to the vessel or cargo. 
 
 Act August 14, 1848, section 3. — Postmaster General authorized to establish a post- 
 office at San Diego, Monterey, San Francisco, and other places on the Pacific, in California, 
 and all letters conveyed to or from any of the above places on the Pacific, from or to any 
 place on the Atlantic, to be charged 40 cents postage ; all letters conveyed from one to any 
 other of said places on the Pacific, 12^ cents. 
 
 Act March 3, 1849, section 1. — Rates on letters transported under the postal treaty 
 with G-reat Britain : 
 
 Letters not exceeding one-half ounce, one rate of postage. 
 
 Letters exceeding one-half ounce avoirdupois, and not exceeding 1 ounce, two rates 
 of postage. 
 
 Letters exceeding i ounce avoirdupois, and not exceeding 2 ounces, four rates of 
 postage. 
 
 Letters exceeding 2 ounces avoirdupois, and not exceeding 3 ounces, six rates of 
 postage. 
 
 Letters exceeding 3 ounces avoirdupois, and not exceeding 4 ounces, eight rates of 
 postage. 
 
 And in like progression for each additional ounce or fraction of an ounce. News- 
 papers not sent from the office of publication to be charged with the same rates of postage 
 as other papers ; to be prepaid. 
 
 Act January 10, 1850.— Franking privilege granted to Sarah Polk, relict of the late 
 James K. Polk, during her life ; to cover all letters and packages to and from. 
 
 Act May 2-^, iS^o, section 17.— Marshals and their assistants authorized to transmit 
 papers and documents relating to the census through the post-office free. 
 
 Act March 23, i8to, section 19 —Secretary of the Interior required to appoint a clerk 
 to supei intend the census, who shall have the privilege of franking and receiving free of 
 charge all official documents and letters connected therewith. 
 
 Act July 18, 1850.— Franking privilege granted to Margaret Smith Taylor, relict of 
 Zachary Taylor, same as granted to widows of deceased Presidents. 
 
 Act September 27, 1850.— Third section act of August 14, 1848, extended to Territories 
 of Utah and New Mexico, and Postmaster-General authorized to establish such rates of post- 
 age in said Territories as may to him seem proper, not to exceed those authorized In said act. 
 Act March 3, 1851, section i.— Rates of postage on letters.— From and after June 30, 
 1851, in lieu of rates of postage now fixed by law, there shall be charged the following ratesj Bednced rates on 
 Every single letter, in writing, marks, or signs, by mails, not exceeding 3,000 miles, prepaid prepaid letters, 
 postage, 3 cents ; not prepaid, 5 cents ; for any greater distance, double these rates. 
 
390 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Every single letter or paper conveyed wholly or in part by sea, and to or from a 
 foreign country over 2,?oo miles, 20 cents ; under 2,500 miles, 10 cents (excepting rates 
 fixed by postal treaty); double letter, double rates ; triple letter, triple rates ; and every 
 letter or parcel not exceeding one-half ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and 
 every additional weight of one-half ounce or less shall be charged with an additional rate. 
 Drop or local letters, 1 cent each. Letters uncalled for and advertised, to be charged 1 cent 
 in addition to the regular postage. 
 
 Act March 3, 1851, section 2. — Newspaper not exceeding 3 ounces in weight sent from 
 the office of publication to bona fide subscribers shall be charged with postage as follows : 
 
 Weekly newspapers free, within the county where published ; and for not exceeding 
 50 miles out of the county where published, 5 cents per quarter ; exceeding 50 miles, and not 
 exceeding 300 miles, 10 cents per quarter; exceeding 300 miles, and not exceeding 1,000 
 miles, 15 cents per quarter ; exceeding 1,000 miles, and not exceeding 2,000 miles, 20 cents 
 per quarter ; exceeding 2,000 miles, and not exceeding 4,000 miles, 25 cents per quarter ; 
 exceeding 4,000 miles, 30 cents per quarter. 
 
 Newspaper published monthly, sent to bona fide subscribers, one-quarter of the fore- 
 going rates ; published semi-monthly, one-half of the foregoing rates ; published semi- 
 weekly, double the foregoing rates ; published tri-weekly, treble ihe foregoing rates ; and 
 oftener than tri-weekly, five times the foregoing rates. On other papers, unsealed circulars, 
 handbills, engravings, pamphlets, periodicals, magazines, books, and all other printed 
 matter, unconnected with written matter, of not more than one ounce in weight, and not 
 exceeding 500 miles, one cent ; and for each additional ounce or fraction thereof, one cent ; 
 exceeding 500 miles, and not exceeding 1,500 miles, double these rates; exceeding 1,500 
 miles, and not exceeding 2,500 miles, treble these rates ; exceeding 2,500 miles, and not 
 exceeding 3,500 miles, four times these rates ; exceeding 3,500 miles, five times these rates. 
 
 Subscribers to periodicals required to pay one quarter's postage in advance ; postage 
 one half the foregoing rates. 
 
 Bound books and parcels of printed matter, not over thirty ounces, made mailable 
 matter. 
 
 Postage on printed matter, other than newspapers, and periodicals published at 
 intervals not exceeding three months and sent from office of publication to bona fide 
 subscribers, to be prepaid. 
 
 When printed matter on which postage is required by this section to be prepaid, shall 
 be sent without prepayment, the same shall be charged with double the prepaid rate. 
 
 Nothing in this act shall subject to postage any matter exempted from postage by 
 existing law. 
 
 Publishers of pamphlets, periodicals, magazines, and newspapers which shall not 
 exceed 16 ounces in weight, allowed to interchange their publications free, confined to a 
 single copy of each publication. Publishers allowed to inclose in their publications bills for 
 subscription without additional postage. Newspapers not containing more than 300 square 
 inches may be transmitted to bona fide subscribers at one-fourth the rates fixed by this 
 act. 
 
 Act March 3, 1851, section 8. — Provides for the annual appropriation of $soo,ooo to 
 the Post-Office Department for mail service for the two houses of Congress, and other depart- 
 ments and officers of the government, in the transportation of free matter. 
 
 Act August ^o, 1852, section i. vol. 10, page '^8. — Rates of postage on printed matter. — 
 From and after September 30, 1852, postage on all printed matter passing by mail, instead 
 of the rates now charged, shall be as follows : Each newspaper, periodical, unsealed circular, 
 or other article of printed matter, not exceeding 3 ounces in weight, to any part of the 
 United States, 1 cent ; and for every additional ounce or fraction thereof i cent additional. 
 
 Postage on any newspapers or periodicals paid quarterly or yearly in advance at the 
 office of delivery, or at the office of mailing, one-half of said rates only shall be charged. 
 
 Newspapers and periodicals not weighing over i }4 ounces, when circulated in the 
 State where published, one-half of the rates before mentioned. 
 
 Small newspapers and periodicals, published monthly or oftener, and pamphlets of 
 not more than sixteen octavo pages, sent in single packages weighing at least eight ounces to 
 one address, and prepaid by postage-stamps affixed, only one-half cent for eaih ounce or 
 fraction of an ounce 
 
 Postage on all transient matter shall be prepaid or charged double the rates first above 
 mentioned. 
 
 Act August 30, 1852, section 2. — Postage on i.oks. — Books, bound or unbound, not 
 weighing more than four pounds, will be deemed mailable matter and subject to postage at 
 I cent an ounce for all distances under 3,000 miles ; 2 cents for all distances over 3,000 
 miles ; to which 50 per cent, shall be added unless prepaid. 
 
 Publishers of newspapers and periodicals may exchange free of postage one copy of 
 each publication, and may send to actual subscribers, in their publications, bills and receipts 
 for the same free. Publishers of weekly newspapers may send to each actual subscriber 
 within the county where their papers are printed and published one copy free of postage, 
 under certain conditions. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 391 
 
 Act August }o, 1852, section 3. — Prescribes certain conditions which if not complied 
 with subject printed matter to letter-postage. 
 
 Matter sent by mail from one part of the United States to another, the postage of 
 which is not fixed by this act, shall, unless entitled to be sent free, be charged with letter- 
 postage. 
 
 Aa August 30, 1852, section 5. — Repeals so much of the second section of act of 
 March 5, 1851, as relates to the postage or free circulation of newspapers, periodicals, and 
 other printed matter, and all other provisions of law inconsistent with this act. 
 
 Act August 31, 1852, section 8, vol. 10, page 141. — Postmaster-General authorized to 
 provide stamped letter envelopes. Letters when inclosed in such envelopes (with stamps 
 thereon equal in amount to the postage to which such letters would be liable if sent by 
 mail) may be sent and delivered otherwise than by mail under certain conditions. 
 
 Act March 3, 1853, section 5. — Assistant Postmasters-General to be in future appointed 
 by President and confirmed by Senate. 
 
 Act March 3, 1853. — Increases the salary of the Postmaster-General to $8,000 per 
 annum. 
 
 Act February 2, 1854. — The Superintendent of the Coast Survey and the assistant in 
 charge of the Office of the Coast Survey authorized to transmit free of postage, by the mails, 
 all letters and documents in relation to their public duties. 
 
 Aa March 3, 1855, section 1. — In-lieu of the rates of postage now fixed by law, there 
 shall be charged the following rates : 
 
 For every single letter, in manuscript or paper of any kind, in writing, marks, or 
 signs, conveyed in the mail between places in the United States not exceeding 3,000 miles, 
 3 cents ; and for any greater distance, 10 cents ; for a double letter, double rates ; treble 
 letter, treble rates ; quadruple letter, quadruple rates ; every letter or parcel not exceeding 
 one-half ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of one- 
 half ounce or less shall be charged an additional rate ; the foregoing rates to be prepaid on 
 domestic letters, except on letters and packages to officers of the Government on official 
 business, and except on letters to or from a foreign country 
 Postage on drop or local letters, 1 cent each. 
 
 Nothing in this act to alter the laws in relation to the franking privilege. 
 The foregoing section was the first provision of law making the prepayment of postage 
 on domestic letters compulsory. 
 
 Act March-), 18^^, section 3. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to establish a system 
 for registration of valuable letters, and to require prepayment of postage on such letters, as well 
 as of a registration fee of 5 cents ; the Post- Office Department not to be liable for the loss of 
 such letters ur packets. 
 
 Act March 3, 1855, section 4. — Franking privilege of Vice-Presidents continued to 
 those who have held or shall hold that office, during life. 
 
 Act March 3, 1855, section 5.— Books, maps, charts, or other publications, entered by 
 copyright, and which, under act of August 10 1846, are required to be deposited m the 
 Library of Congress and in the Smithsonian Institution, may be sent by mail free of postage, 
 under regulations to be prescribed by the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act January 2, 1857.— Repeals the provision in the act of August 30, 1852, permit- 
 ting transient printed matter to be sent through the mail without prepayment of postage ; 
 the postage on all such matter shall be paid by stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster- 
 General may direct. 
 
 Act April 3, i860, section i.— Modifies second clause, section 3, of act August 30, 
 1852, establishing the rates of postage on printed matter, so as to allow only the name, the 
 date when the subscription expires, and the address of the person to whom sent. 
 
 Act April y i860, .f«<:/zo» 2.— Postage on drop or local letters delivered by carriers, 
 I cent each. , 
 
 Act February 27, 1861, secticn 2, vol. 12, page \6-].— Stamped letter-sheets and news- 
 paper wrappers authorized. , , lu j j 1 ** 
 
 Act February 27, 1861, section 8.- That upon all letters returned from the dead-letter 
 office there shall be paid the usual rate of postage ; to be paid on delivery. . ^ . ^ ,. 
 
 Act February 27, 1861, section 9 —That upon every letter or packet brought into the 
 United States, or carried from one port therein to another in any private ship or vessel, 
 5 cents if delivered at the post-office where the same shall arrive, and if destined to be con- 
 veyed by post, 2 cents shall be added to the ordinary postage : Provided, 1 hat "Pon ^11 
 letters or packets conveyed in whole or in part by steamers over any route upon which the 
 mail is regularly conveyed in vessels under contract with the Post-Office Departnient, the 
 same charge shall be levied, with the addition of 2 cents a letter or packet on the domestic 
 
 Act February 27, \8(>\ , section lo.-Repeals all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with 
 
 section o of this act. . ,.^. , . .„ 
 
 Act February 27, 1861, section I2.-That maps, engravings, lithographs, or photo- 
 graphic prints, on rollers or in paper covers, books, bound or unbound photographic paper, 
 and letter envelopes, shall be deemed mailable matter, and charged with postage by weight, 
 
 Stamped envelopes 
 authorized. 
 
 Compnlsory pre- 
 payraeut of postage. 
 
 First prOTlslon for 
 registration. 
 
 Stamped letter- 
 sheets and wrappers. 
 
 Transportation of 
 
 merchandise in 
 
 the mails. 
 
39* 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Pony Express. 
 
 Postage stamps as 
 currency. 
 
 Letter carriers. 
 
 not to exceed 4 pounds, at the rate of 1 cent an ounce, or fraction of an ounce, to any place 
 in the United States under 1,500 miles ; 2 cents an ounce or fraction of an ounce over 1,500 
 miles, to be prepaid by postage-stamps. 
 
 Act February 27, 1861, section 13. — That cards, blank or printed, blanks in packages 
 weighing at least 8 ounces, and seeds or cuttings in packages not exceeding 8 ounces, shall 
 also be deemed mailable matter and charged with postage at the rate of 1 cent an ounce, 
 or fraction thereof, to any place in the United States under 1,500 miles, and 2 cents an ounce, 
 or fraction thereof, over 1,500 miles, to be prepaid by postage-stamps. 
 
 The foregoing sections were the first provisions of law that authorized the introduction 
 of merchandise into the mails. 
 
 Act February 27, i86i, section 14. — Modifies the act of March 3, 1855, so as to 
 require the 10-cent rate of postage to be prepaid on letters conveyed in the mail from any 
 point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains to any State ot Territory on the 
 Pacific, and vice versa. 
 
 Drop-letters shall be prepaid by postage-stamps. 
 
 Act February 27, 1861, section 16.— The postage over the overland route, between 
 any State or Territory east of the Rocky Mountains to any State or Territory on the Pacific, 
 on each newspaper, periodical, unsealed circular, or other article of printed matter not 
 exceeding 3 ounces in weight, shall be 1 cent, and every additional ounce, or fraction thereof, 
 I cent additional. 
 
 Act February 27, 1861, section 17.— Rate of letter-postage between any State or Ter- 
 ritory east of the Rocky Mountains and any State or Territory on the Pacific, 10 cents for 
 every half ounce. 
 
 Act March 2, 1861, section 9. — Contractors on overland routes to San Francisco 
 required to run a pony-express during the continuance of their contract or until the com- 
 pletion of the overland telegraph, at certain times, carrying for the government free of charge 
 5 pounds of mail matter, with the liberty of charging the public for transportation of letters 
 by said express, not exceeding $1 for one-half ounce ; to commence before the 25th day of 
 March, 1862, and expire July 1, 1864. 
 
 Act July 22, 1861, section 1 1. — Letters written by soldiers in the service of the United 
 States may be transmitted by mail without prepayment of postage, under regulations of the 
 Post-Office Department ; postage to be paid by the party receiving. 
 
 Act July 24, 1861. — Prepaid letters to soldiers in the service of the United States, and 
 directed to a point where they have been stationed, may be forwarded without further charge. 
 
 Act January 21, 1862, j-,<rft'o» 1. — Po'tmaster-General authorized to return all dead 
 letters to writers, except those containing circulars and other worthless matter. Valuable 
 letters to be charged treble, and all others double the ordinary rates of postage, to be collected 
 from the writers. 
 
 Provisions of act of July 22, 1861, section 1 1, extended to sailors and marines in the 
 service of the United States. 
 
 Act April 16, 1862, section 1. — Postmaster-General authorized to establish branch 
 post-offices in cities, and to charge 1 cent in addition to the regular postage for every letter 
 deposited in them to be foiwarded by mail, to be prepaid by stamps ; and i cent for every 
 letter delivered at such branch office, to be paid on delivery. 
 
 Act May 15, 1862, section I. — Establishes the Department of Agriculture. 
 
 Act May 15, 1862, section 2.— Provides for the appointment of a Commissioner of 
 Agriculture, and confers franking privilege on said Commissioner to send and receive by 
 mail free of postage all communications and other matter pertaining to the business of his 
 Department ; weight limited to 32 ounces. 
 
 Act July I, 1862, section I, — Creates the office of Commissioner of Internal Revenue 
 and confers on the Commissioner the privilege of franking all letters and documents pertain- 
 ing to the duties of his office, and of receiving free all such letters and documents. 
 
 Act July 5, 1862, section 6.- Chiefs of the bureaus of theNavy Department authorized 
 to frank all communications from their respective bureaus, and all communications to their 
 bureaus on the business thereof shall be free of postage. 
 
 Act July 1 7, 1862. — Postage stamps to be used as currency in sums less than $5. 
 
 Act March ^, 1863, section 11, vol. 12, page 703. — That letter-carriers shall be 
 employed at such post-offices as the Postmaster-General shall direct for the delivery of letters 
 in the places respectively where such post-offices are established ; and for their services they 
 shall severely recive a salary, to be perscribed by the Postmaster-General, not exceeding $800 
 per annum. 
 
 Act March 'i, 1863, section 16 — Postmasters of any office where letter-carriers are 
 employed authorized to contract with publishers of newspapers, periodicals, and circulars 
 for delivery by carriers of any such publications not received by mail, at rates and terms to 
 be agreed upon Contracts have no force until approved by the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Postmaster-General authorized to provide for delivery by carriers of small packets, 
 other than letters or papers, and not exceeding the maximum weight of mailable packages ; 
 such packages to be prepaid by postage-stamps at the rate of 2 cents for each 4 ounces or 
 fraction thereof. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 393 
 
 Act March ^, 1863, section 16.— Limits weight to 4 pounds, except books published 
 or circulated by order of Congress. 
 
 Act March ■}, 1863, section 19.— Divides mailable matter into three classes. First 
 tiass letters ; second class, regular printed matter ; third class, miscellaneous matter. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 20. — First class embraces all correspondence wholly or 
 partly in writing, except that mentioned in the third class. 
 
 Second class embraces all mailable matter exclusively in print and regularly issued at 
 stated periods, without addition by writing, mark, or sign. 
 
 Third class embraces all other matter which is or may hereafter be by law declared 
 mailable. 
 
 Act March ^, \86}, section 21. — Fixes the maximum standard weight for the single 
 rate of letter-postage at one-half ounce avoirdupois. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 22. — Fixes the rate of postage on domestic letters, not 
 exceeding one-half ounce in weight, at 3 cents, and 3 cents additional for each addiiional half- 
 ounce or fraction thereof, to be prepaid by postage-stamps affixed. 
 
 TAis was the Jint law which established a uniform rate of postage on letters regardless 
 of distance to which matter was to be transmitted. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 23.— Fixes the rate of postage on drop-letters not exceed- 
 ing one-half ounce in weight at 2 cents, and 2 cents added for each additional half-ounce or 
 fraction thereof, to be prepaid by postage-stamps affixed ; " but no extra postage or carriers' 
 fee shall hereafter be charged or collected upon letters delivered by carriers, nor upon letters 
 collected by them for mailing or delivery." 
 
 Act March 3, 1863. section 24. — Mailable matter wholly or partly in writing, or so 
 marked as to convey further information than is conveyed by the original print in case of 
 printed matter, or sent in violation of law or regulations touching the inclosure of matter 
 which may be sent at less than letter rates, and all matter on which no different rate is 
 provided by law, subject to letter postage : Provided, That book-manuscript and corrected 
 proof, passing between author and publisher, may pass at the rate of printed matter : 
 Andprovidfd, That the publishers of newspapers and periodicals may print or write upon 
 their publications sent to subscribers the address and the date when the subscription expires, 
 and may inclose receipt for payment and bills for subscription. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 25. — All matter not enumerated as mailable, and to which 
 no specific rates of postage are assigned, subject to letter postage 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 26. — Double rates of postage to be collected on delivery 
 on any matter on which postage is required to be prepaid at the mailing office : Provided, 
 Such matter reaches its destination without such prepayment. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 27. — Postmaster-General authorized to provide for trans- 
 mitting unpaid and duly-certified letters of soldiers, sailors, and marines, and all other letters 
 which, from accident, appear to have been deposited without prepayment of postage ; but 
 in all cases of letters not prepaid, except certified soldiers' and naval letters, the same shall 
 be charged with double rates of postage, to be collected on delivery. 
 
 Act March 3, 1 863, section 28. — That when any writir of a letter on which the postage 
 is prepaid shall indorse in writing or in print thereon upon the outside thereof his name and 
 address with the request that the same be returned to him if not called for or delivered within 
 any number of days (not to exceed 30 days), any such letter shall not he advertised nor treatid 
 as a dead letter, but shall be returned direct, etc. 
 
 By virtue of this law special-request envelopes were subsequently introduced. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 11). — Postage on return dead letters, not registered as valu- 
 able, 3 cents for the single rate ; registered as valuable, double rates. 
 
 Act March 3, 1^63, se<tion 30. — Letters may be forwarded from office of destination 
 to any other office, with additional charge of postage therefor. 
 
 Act March 'i, \86-}, section 31. — Postmaster-General authorized to pay 2 cents each 
 for all letters conveyed in any vessel not employed in carrying the mail from one place to 
 another in the United States, or from any foreign port to any port within the United States 
 and deposited in the post-office at the port of arrival. If for delivery within the United 
 States, double rates of postage. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 32.— Provides that fee on registered letters shall not 
 exceed 20 cents. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 33.— Fixes the maximum standard rate for the sirigle rate 
 of postage on printed matter, and also on miscellaneous matter, at 4 ounces avoirdupois, 
 subject to the exception in the next section. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 34.— The rate of postage on transient matter of the second 
 class, and on miscellaneous matter of the third class (except circular.? and books), shall be 2 
 cents for each 4 ounces or fraction thereof on one package to one address, to be prepaid by 
 stamps affixed ; double these rates for books. Unsealed circulars, not exceeding three in 
 number, 2 cents, adding one rate for three additional circulars 01 less number to one address. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 35.— Postage on matter of the second class, issued once a 
 week or more frequently, from a known office of publication, and sent to regular subscribers, 
 shall be a? follows ; For newspapers and other periodical publications, not exceeding 4 
 
 Uniform rate of 
 postage established. 
 
 Carriers' fees 
 abolished. 
 
394 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ounces, and passing through the mails or post offices of the United States, the rate for each 
 quarter shall be, for publications issued once a week, 5 cents ; twice a week, 10 cents ; three 
 times a week, 15 cents ; six times a week, 30 cents ; seven times a week, 35 cents ; and in 
 that proportion, adding one rate for each issue more frequent than one a week. For weight 
 exceeding 4 ounces and not exceeding 8 ounces, an additional rate, and an additional rate for 
 each additional 4 ounces or fraction thereof ; postage to be prepaid for not less than one 
 quarter nor more than one year, at either the office of mailing or delivery, at the option of 
 the subscriber. 
 
 Weekly newspapers, to each subscriber within the county where the same are printed 
 and published, one copy free of postage. 
 
 Act March }, 1 063, section 36 — Postage on mailable matter of the second class, issued 
 less freqjently than once a week, from a known office of publication, and sent to subscribers, 
 shall be as follows : Upon newspapers, magazines, and other periodical publications, not 
 exceeding 4 ounces, passing through the mails or post-offices of the United States, the rate 
 for each such paper or periodical shall be i cent, and an additional rate of i cent for each 
 additional 4 ounces or fraction thereof : Provided, That the Postmaster-General may 
 provide for the transportation of j)«fl// newspapers in packages at the same rate by weight 
 when sent to one address ; postage must be prepaid at office of mailing or delivery, at option 
 of subscriber, for not less than one quarter nor more than one year. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 37. — Publishers may inclose in their publications to sub- 
 scribers bills for subscription, and may write or print on their publications or their wrappers 
 name and address of subscribers and the date when subscription expires ; but any other 
 inclosure or addition in writing or in print shall subject the same to letter postage. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 39. — Postmaster-General authorized to prescribe the 
 manner of wrapping all matter not charged with letter postage nor lawfully franked ; if not 
 so wrapped and secured, the same shall be subject to letter postage. 
 
 Act March ^, 1863, section ^2. — Confers the franking privilege upon and limits it to 
 the following persons : President of the United States ; Vice-President of the United States ; 
 Franking priTllege the chiefs of the several executive departments ; the heads of bureaus or chief clerks of 
 modified. executive departments, to be used only for official communications ; Senators, Representatives, 
 
 and Delegates in Congress, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House ; to cover cor- 
 respondence to and from them, and all printed matter issued by authority of Congress, and 
 all speeches, proceedings, and debates in Congress, and all printed matter sent to them ; to 
 commence with the term for which they are elected, and to expire on the first Monday in 
 December following the expiration of such term ; all official communications to any of the 
 executive departments, by an officer responsible to that department, the envelope to be 
 marked " ofificial," with the signature of the officer thereon ; postmasters, for their official 
 communications to other postmasters, the envelope to be marked '' official,' with the 
 signature of the postmaster thereon. 
 
 Petitions to either house of Congress, free. 
 
 The franking privilege granted by this act limited to four ounces, except petitions to 
 Congress, congressional or executive documents, and publications or books published, pro- 
 cured, or purchased by order of either house of Congress, or joint resolution of both Houses, 
 which shall be considered as public documents, and entitled to be franked as such ; and 
 except, also, seeds, cuttings, roots, and scions, the weight of packages to be fixed by regula- 
 tion of the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 43.— Publishers of periodicals, magazines, and newspapers 
 allowed to exchange their publications free of postage ; confined to a single copy, and not 
 to exceed sixteen ounces in weight. 
 
 This act to take effect June 30, 186 1. 
 
 Act March 3, 1863, section 45. — Repeals all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with 
 the provisions of this act. 
 
 Act January 22, 1864. — Clothing of wool, cotton, or linen, in packages not exceeding 
 two pounds each, addressed to any non-commissioned officer or private in the Army, may 
 be transmitted by mail at the rate of 8 cents for every four ounces or fraction thereof under 
 regulations of the Postmaster-General ; postage to be prepaid. 
 
 Act March 16, 1864 — The franking privilege of the President and Vice-President 
 shall extend to and cover all mail-matter sent from or directed to either of them 
 
 Act March 25, 1864, section 4. — Mailable matter conveyed by mail westward of the 
 western boundary of Kansas, and eastward of the eastern boundary of California, subject to 
 prepaid letter rates, except newspapers sent from a known office of publication to subscribers, 
 not exceeding one copy to each, and franked matter to and from the intermediate points be- 
 tween the boundaries named, which shall be at the usual rate. 
 
 Act June I, 1864. — Official communications to heads of departments or heads of 
 bureaus or chief clerks or one duly authorized by the Postmaster-General to frank official 
 matter, shall be received and conveyed by mail free of postage, without being indorsed, 
 "official business," or with the name of the writer-. 
 
 Act May 17, 1864, section \,—Au(horifes the fosttnasitr-Gencral to est(ib!ish a uniform 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 395 
 
 money-ordtr sysitm at such post-offices as he may deem suitable therefor, and which shall he Money order ay item. 
 designated as money-order offices. 
 
 Act May 17, 1864, section 3. — Provides that no money order shall be issued for less 
 than $1 or more than $30, and that the fees shall be as follows : Upon an order for $1 and 
 not more than $10, lo cents; upon an order exceeding $10 and not exceeding $20, 15 
 cents ; upon an order exceeding $20, 20 cents. 
 
 Act May 17, 1864, section 13. — Provides for the appointment of a Superintendent of 
 the Money-Ordf r System. 
 
 Act June 30, 1864, section I. — The franking privilege to the Commissioner of Internal 
 Revenue extended to letters and documents pertaining to the duties of his office and to 
 receiving free of postage all such letters and documents. 
 
 Act June 50, 1864 section 3 — Confers on the Deputy Commissioner of Internal 
 Revenue the privilege of franking all letters and documents pertaining to the office of internal 
 revenue. 
 
 Act July I, 1864, section 8. — The rates of postage on letters and other mailable matter 
 addressed to or received from foreign countries and carried by vessels regularly employed in 
 transportation of the mails shall be as follovi's : Ten cents for one-half ounce or under, on 
 letters ; two cents on each newspaper, and the established domestic rates on pamphlets, 
 periodicals, and other articles of printed matter ; to be prepaid on matter sent, and collected 
 on matter received ; subject to rates established or to be established by international postal 
 convention. 
 
 Act January 20, 1865. — Amends section 4 of act IVlarch 25, 1864. so as to insert in 
 the proviso in said section after the word " newspapers," the words'" periodicals, magazines, 
 and exchanges." 
 
 Act March ^, 1865, section i, vol. 13, page 515. — Chief clerk authorized for each of 
 the Assistant Postmasters-General, at a salary of $2,000 a year. 
 
 Act March -^j 1865, section i, vol 13, page 504. — All domestic letters, except those 
 franked and letters of soldiers and sailors, deposited for mailing wholly unpaid, shall be 
 sent to the Dead-Letter Office ; those paid only in part to be forwarded to destination and 
 unpaid rate collected on delivery. 
 
 Act March 3, 1865, section 20, vol. 13, page 487.— Privilege of franking letters and 
 documents pertaining to the duties of the office of internal revenue, and of receiving free of 
 postage all such letters and documents, is extended to the Commissioner of that office. 
 
 Act March -i, i86ij, section 15, vol 13, /of? 507.— Fixes the prepaid postage on drop 
 letters, at all offices except free delivery, at i cent 
 
 Act March }, 1865, section 15, vol 13, page 507. — System of free delivery shall be 
 established at every place having a population of 50,000. 
 
 Act February \o, 1866. — Confers franking privilege on Mary Lincoln, widow of the 
 late Abraham Lincoln, to cover all letters and packets by mail to and from 
 
 Act June 12, 1866, section I —Provides for the forwarding of prepaid and free letters 
 at the reque.st of the party addressed, from one post-office to another, without additional 
 postage and the return of dead letters to the writers free of postage. 
 
 Act June 12, 1866, section 2.— Request letters to be returned to the writers without 
 additional postage. 
 
 Act June 12, 1866, section 3. — Forbids the issue of money-orders for any sum over $50 
 and fixes the following fees : Upon an order for any sum not exceeding $20, 10 cents ; upon 
 an order exceeding $20, 20 cents. 
 
 Act July 13, 1866, section 65.— That all officical communications made by assessors to 
 collectors, assessors to assessors, collectors to collectors, collectors to assessors, assessors to 
 assistant assessors, assistant assessors to assessors, collectors to their deputies, or aep"ty 
 collectors to collectors, may be officially franked by the writers thereof and transmitted by 
 mail free of postage. , , _. ^ ■ » 
 
 Act July 13, 1866, section 66.— Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to appoint a 
 special commissioner of the revenue ; and all letters and documents to and from said com- 
 missioner relating to the duties and business of his office shall be transmitted by mail free ot 
 
 ^°^ ^^^Act TutyiS 1866, section 13 —Establishes the Bureau of Statistics, authorizes the 
 Secretary of the Treasury to appoint a director to superintend the business of said bureau, 
 and provides for the transmission by mail free of postage of all letters and documents to and 
 from him relating to the business of his office. ^ _ ., . .u ■ a 
 
 Act March 2, i868.— The adjutants-general of the States and Territories authorized 
 to transmit by mail free of postage any medals, certificates of thanks, or other testimonials 
 awarded or that may be awarded by the legislatures of .said States and Territories, to the 
 soldiers thereof, under regulations to be prescribed by the Postmaster-General. 
 
 Act March 9, 1868, section 3.-Lelters and documents to and from the Congressional 
 Printer relating to the business of his office shall be transmittted by mail free of postage, 
 under regulations to be prescribed by the Postmaster- General. . ,, 
 
 Act June 25, 1868.— That the operations of section 4, act pf March 35, 1864, shall 
 pease on and after September 30, i868. 
 
 FOBtSKc on drop 
 letters reduced. 
 
396 APPENDIX. 
 
 Act July 2-], 1868, sction I.— Prepaid letters having the name and address of the 
 writer in writing or in print on the outside, after remaining uncalled for at the post-office 
 to which directed 30 days, or the time the writer may direct, shall be returned to the writer 
 without additional postage. 
 
 Act July 27, 1868, section 2. — Changes the fee on money-orders as follows : For any 
 sum not exceeding $20, 10 cents ; for any sum exceeding $20 and rot exceeding $30, 15 cents ; 
 for any sum exceeding $30 and not exceeding $40, 20 cents ; for any sum exceeding $40 and 
 not exceeding $50, 25 cents. 
 
 Act July 27, 1868, section 8. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to appoint a super- 
 intendent of foreign mails. 
 
 Act July 27, i868, section 3. — Weekly newspapers sent to subscribers in the county 
 where printed and published, to be delivered free of postage when deposited in the office 
 nearest the office of publication ; but they shall not be distributed by letter-carriers unless 
 postage is prepaid thereon at the rate of 5 cents per quarter for not less than one quarter r.or 
 more than one year, at the office of mailing or delivery, at the option of the subscriber. 
 
 Act March i, 1869. — Requires the franking privilege to be exercised by persons entitled 
 to it by the written autograph signature upon the matter franked ; letters or other mail- 
 matter not thus franked to be charged with postage. 
 
 Act July %, 1870, section 8 — Provides that the Commissioner of Patents may send 
 and receive by mail free of postage letters, printed matter, and packages relating to the busi- 
 ness of his office, including Patent-Office Reports. 
 
 Act July 8, 1870, section 95. — Any copyright book or other article may be sent to the 
 Librarian of Congress by mail free of postage : Provided, The words ' ' copyright matter " 
 are plainly written or printed on the outside of the package. 
 
 Act June X, i8-]2, section 4. — Repeals section 12, act March 3, 1847, and section 8, 
 act March 3, 1851, so far as said sections provide for specific permanent appropriations for 
 carrying free matter in the mails for the several departments and members of Congress ; 
 hereafter payment for carrying such matter shall be made out of the annual appropriations 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 30. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to establish a blank 
 agency for the Post-Office Department, to be located at Washington, D. C. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 99. — The rate of postage on newspapers (excepting weeklies), 
 periodicals not exceeding 2 ounces in weight, and circulars, when deposited in a letter-carrier 
 office for delivery by the office or its carriers, shall be uniform at i cent each ; but periodicals 
 weighing more than 2 ounces shall be subject to a postage of 2 cents each ; these rates to be 
 prepaid by stamps. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 107. — Provides that no money-order shall be issued for more 
 than $50. and establishes the following fees : For any amount not exceeding Sio, 5 cents ; 
 for any amount exceeding $10 and not exceeding $20, 10 cents ; for any amount exceeding 
 $20 and not exceeding $30, 15 cents ; for any amount exceeding $30 and not exceeding S40, 
 20 cents ; for any amount exceeding $40, 25 cents. 
 
 Actjune8, 1872, section 127. — Letters upon the official business of the Post-Office 
 Department may be registered free of charge and pass by mail free of charge. 
 
 Act June 8, 1873, section 127 — Provides that the fee for registering valuable letters 
 
 shall not exceed 20 cents in addition to the regular postage, and must be prepaid. Letters 
 
 upon official business of the Post-Office Department may be registered free of charge and 
 
 pass through the mails free of charge. 
 
 Three classes of Act June 8, 1872, section 130. — Divides mailable matter into three classes : First class, 
 
 mailable matter. letters ; second class, regular printed matter ; third class, miscellaneous matter. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 131. — Mailable matter of the first class shall embrace all 
 correspondence wholly or partly in writing, except book manuscript and corrected proofs 
 passing between authors and publishers 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 132. — Second class, to embrace all matter exclusively in 
 print and regularly issued at stated periods from a known office of publication, without 
 addition by writing, mark, or sign. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 133. — Third class, to embrace all other mailable matter. 
 Matter of this class except books and other printed matter, book-manuscripts, proof- 
 sheets and corrected proof-sheets, shall not exceed 12 ounces in weight. Samples of metals, 
 ores, and mineralogical specimens, limited to 12 ounces. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 134.— Limits weight of packages to 4 pounds, except books 
 published or circulated by order of Congress. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section i}6. — Matter not charged with letter postage, nor lawfully 
 franked, subject to letter postage, unless wrapped in accordance with regulations of the 
 Postmaster-General. 
 
 A(t June &, 1872, settion 141. — Publishers of newspapers or periodicals may print or 
 write upon their publications to regular subscribers the address, the date when the subscription 
 expires, and may inclose therein bills and receipts for subscription, without extra postage. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 142. — To inclose or conceal any letter, memorandum, or 
 other thing in any mail matter not charged with letter-postage, or to write thereon, sub- 
 jects such matter to letter postage, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 397 
 
 Act June 6, 1872, section 150. — Requires that the postage on all mail-matter, except 
 as hereinafter provided, must be prepaid at the time of mailing. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, sedion 151. — Permits mail-matter on which one full rate has been 
 prepaid to be forwarded to destination, and the unpaid rate collected on delivery. 
 
 Ait June i, 1872, section 152. — Mail-matter on which postage is required to be pre- 
 paid, reaching its destination, by inadvertence, without such prepayment, shall be subject to 
 double the prepaid rates. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 156. — That on all matter wholly or partly in writing, except 
 book-manuscripts and corrected proofs passing between author and publisher, and local 
 drop letters ; on all printed matter, so marked as to convey any other information than is 
 conveyed by the original print, except the correction of a mere typographical error ; on all 
 matter sent in violation of law or regulations respecting inclosures ; and on all matter to 
 which no specific rate of postage is assigned, postage shall be 3 cents the half ounce or 
 fraction thereof. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 157. — Fixes the postage on drop or local letters at letter- 
 carrier offices at 2 cents the half ounce or fraction thereof, and 1 cent the half ounce or 
 fraction thereof at all other offices. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 158. — Qiiarterly postage on newspapers and other periodical 
 publications, not exceeding 4 ounces in weight, sent to subscribers, shall be at the following 
 rates : On publications issued less frequently than once a week, i cent for each issue ; issued 
 once a week, 5 cents ; and 5 cents additional for each issue more frequent than once a week; 
 an additional rate shall be charged for each additional 4 ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 Act June ^, 1872, section 160. — Small newspapers issued less frequently than once a 
 week, in packages to one address, to subscribers, i cent for each 4 ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 161. — Regular dealers in newspapers and periodicals may 
 receive and transmit by mail such qyantities of either as they may require, and pay the post- 
 age as received, at the same rates as subscribers who pay quarterly in advance. 
 
 Act jane 8, 1872, section 16). — Postage on mailable matter of the third class shall be 
 at the rate of i cent for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, except that double these rates 
 shall be charged for books, samples of metals, ores, minerals, and merchandise. 
 
 Act June fi, 1864, section 164. — Packages of woolen, cotton, or linen clothing, in pack- 
 ages not exceeding 2 pounds, may be sent by mail to any non-commissioned officer or private 
 in the army, if prepaid, i cent each ounce or fraction thereof. 
 
 Act June 8, T872, section 166. —Letters conveyed in vessels not regularly employed in 
 carrying the mail shall, if for delivery in the United States, be rated with double postage. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 170 — Provides Jor the issue and transmission by mail of Postal cards 
 postal-cards at I cent each. authorized. 
 
 Act June?), 1872, section 180. — Confers the franking privilege upon and limits it to 
 the following named persons : 
 
 First. The President, by himself or private secretary, to cover all mail-matter. 
 
 Second. Vice-President, to covei- all mail-matter. 
 
 Third. The chiefs of the several executive departments. 
 
 Fourth. Senators, Representatives, Delegates, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of 
 
 the House to cover their correspondence, all printed matter issued by authority of Congress, 
 
 and all speeches, proceedings, and debates in Congress. 
 
 Fifth. Such heads of bureaus or chief clerks as the Postmaster-General may designate, 
 to cover official communications only. 
 
 Sixth. Postmasters, to cover official communications to other postmasters only. 
 
 Written autograph signatures, of all persons entitled to frank, required; mail-matter 
 not thus franked to be charged with postage. 
 
 Act June S, 1872, section 181. — The franking privilege of Senators, Representatives, 
 Delegates, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, to commence with the term for 
 which they are elected and to expire the first Monday in December following such term. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 182. — Books or publications procured or published by order 
 of Congress, to be public documents, and may be franked as such. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 183.— Maximum weight for franked and free matter shall be 
 4 pounds except petitions to Congress, congressional and excecutive public documents, 
 periodical' publications interchanged between publishers, and packages of seeds, cuttings, 
 roots and scions, the weight of which latter may be fixed by the Postmaster-General. 
 
 ' ActJuneZ, 1872, section 184.— Free mail-matter.— The following mail-matter shall be 
 allowed to pass free in the mail : „ ., ,,• o -j . 
 
 First All mail-matter sent to the President or Vice-President. 
 
 Second. Official communications to chiefs, heads of bureaus, chief clerks, or frankmg- 
 officer of any of the executive departments. r. 1 * 
 
 Third. Letters and printed matter sent to Senators, Representatives, Delegates, 
 Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House. 
 
 Fourth. Petitions to Congress. • ,,* ^ 
 
 Fifth. Copyright matter to the Librarian of Congress, if marked copyright mat- 
 ter." 
 
398 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Official stamps 
 authorized. 
 
 Seyrspaper and 
 periodical rates. 
 
 Sixth. Publications sent and received by the Smithsonian Institution, if marked 
 " Smithsonian exchange." 
 
 Seventh Newspapers, periodicals, and magazines exchanged between publishers, not 
 exceeding i6 ounces in weight. 
 
 Eighth. Weekly newspapers, one copy to each subscriber within the county where 
 the same is printed and published. 
 
 Ninth. Notice to the publishers of the refusal or neglect of subscribers to take news- 
 papers, magazines, or other periodicals from the post-office. 
 Tenth. Dead-letters returned to the writers. 
 
 Eleventh. Medals, certificates of thanks, or other testimonials awarded by the 
 legislatures of States and Territories to the soldiers thereof. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section 185. — All mail-matter to or from Mary Lincoln, widow of 
 late President Lincoln. 
 
 Act June 8, 1872, section rgg. — Prepaid and free letters shall be forwarded from one 
 post-office to another at request of the person addressed, without additional charge for postage. 
 Act January c), 1873. — Amends section 133 of act of June 8, 1873, so as to authorize 
 the transmission by mail of packages of seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and scions, of any 
 weight. For each package not exceeding 4 pounds, the postage shall be i cent for each 2 
 ounces or fraction of an ounce ; to be prepaid in full. 
 
 Act January 31, 1873.— Abolishes the franking privilege from and after July i, 1873. 
 Act March 3, 1873.— Repeals, from and after June 30, 1873, all laws and parts of laws 
 permitting the transmission by mail of any free matter whatever. 
 
 Act March 3, 1873. — Authorizes the use of official postage stamps and stamped envelopes 
 for payment of postage on official matter of executive departments. 
 
 Act March 3, 1873, section i, volume x-] , page /{86. — Salary of the Postmaster-General 
 increa.sed to $10,000 per annum. 
 
 Act January 20, 1874. — Reduces the salary of the Postmaster-General to $8,000. 
 Act June 23, 1874, section 5. — On and after January i, 1875, on all newspapers and 
 periodical publications mailed from a known office of publication or news agency, and ad- 
 dressed to regular subscribeis or news agents, postage shall be charged at the following rates : 
 On newspapers and periodical publications issued weekly and more frequently, 2 cents a 
 pound or fraction thereof ; and on those issued less frequently than once a week, 3 cents a 
 pound or fraction thereof : Provided, That nothing in this act shall be held to change 
 section 99 of the act of June 8, 1872. 
 
 Newspaper and periodical stamps were introduced under thisact. 
 
 Act June 23, 1874, section 7. — Newspapers, one copy to each subscriber residing in 
 the county where same are printed in whole or in part, and published, shall go free in the 
 mails ; but they shall not be delivered at letter-carrier offices or be distributed by carriers 
 unless postage is paid thereon. 
 
 Act June 23, 1874, section 8. — Mailable matter of the third class referred to in section 
 133 of act of June 8, 1872, may weigh not exceeding 4 pounds to each package, and postage 
 shall be charged thereon at the rate of i cent for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 Act June 23, 1874, section 13 — Fixes the postage on public documents mailed by any 
 member of Congress, the President or head of any executive department, at 10 cents for each 
 bound volume, and unbound documents the same rate as that on newspapers mailed from a 
 known office of publication to subscribers ; and the postage on the daily Congressional 
 Record, mailed from the city of Washington as transient matter, at 1 cent. 
 
 Act March 3, 1875, section 3. — Extends the provisions of section 13 of act of June 23, 
 1874, to ex-Members of Congressand ex-Delegates, for nine months after the expiration oftheir 
 terms; and postage on public documents mailed by them shall be as provided in such section. 
 Act March 3, 1875, section 5. — The Congressional Record, or any part thereof, or 
 speeches or reports therein, shall, under the frank of a Member or Delegate, written by him- 
 self, be carried in the mail free of postage ; and public documents printed or ordered to be 
 printed for the use of either house of Congress may pass free by mail upon the frank of any 
 Member or Delegate cf the present Congress, written by himself, until the first day of 
 December, 1875. 
 
 Act March 3, 1875, section 7. — Seeds transmitted by the Commissioner of Agriculture, 
 or by any Member or Delegate receiving them for distribution from said department, together 
 with the Agricultural Reports, shall pass free in the mails under regulations of the Postmaster- 
 General ; and the provisions of this section shall apply to ex-Members and ex-Delegates for 
 the period of nine months after the expiration of their term. 
 
 Act March 3, 1875, volume i&.page 377.— Amends section 8 of act of June 23, 1874, 
 by insetting the word " ounce " in lieu of the words " two ounces." 
 
 Act July 12, section 15, volume i^, page 82. — Rates on all printed matter of the third 
 class, except unsealed circulars, fixed at i cent for 2 ounces. Permits limited inscriptions 
 and addresses on third-class matter. 
 
 Act March 3, 1877, sections 5 and 6, volume 1 9, page 335. — Provides for official penalty 
 Ponaltj enrelopei. envelopes and free transmission of same in mails when sent by executive departments and 
 containing inclosures relating to government business. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 399 
 
 Two cent rate on 
 first-class matter. 
 
 Postal notes. 
 
 Act March 3, 1879, section 29, volume 20, page 362. — The provisions of the preceding 
 act extended to the Smithsonian Institution and to all government officers. 
 
 Act March ^, 1879, sections -j-z-], votume 20, pages 358-362. -General act repealing 
 all former laws relating to classification of mail-matter and rates of postages. Makes four 
 classes of mail-matter, to wit : First-class, written matter, at 3 cents each half ounce ; second 
 class, periodical publications regularly issued for general information, at 2 cents per pound, 
 including sample copies ; third class, miscellaneous printed matter, at i cent for each 2 
 ounces ; and fourth class, merchandise, all matter not included in the other three classes, at 
 I cent each ounce. Liberalizes the provisions of former laws respecting written inscriptions 
 on printed matter, and defines printed matter generally. 
 
 Act March 3, 1879, section 32, volume 20, page 362. — Authorizes the Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral to introduce letter-sheet envelopes and double postal-cards. 
 
 Act March 3, 1883, section i, volume 22, page 455. — Reduces the postage on first-class 
 matter to 2 cents a half ounce on and after October i, 1883. 
 
 Act March 3, 1883, section i, volume 22, page 526.— The Postmaster-General may 
 authorize postmasters at money order otfices to issue money-orders for small sums under $s, 
 without corresponding advices, to be designated as '• postal notes." the fee therefor to be 
 3 cents, and the note to be payable to bearer. 
 
 Act March 3, 1883, section 3, volume 22, page 527. — Forbids the issue of a money- 
 order for more than $100, and fixes the fees as follows : For any sum not exceeding $10, 8 
 cents ; for any sum exceeding $15, 10 cents ; for any sum exceeding $15 and not exceeding 
 I30, 15 cents ; for any sum exceeding $50 and not exceeding $40, 20 cents ; for any sum 
 exceeding $40 and not exceeding $50, 2? cents ; for any sum exceeding $50 and not exceeding 
 $60, 30 cents ; for any sum exceeding $60 and not exceeding $70, 35 cents ; for any sum 
 exceeding $70 and not exceeding $80, 40 cents ; for any sum exceeding $80 and not exceed- 
 ing $100, 45 cents. 
 
 Act June 9. 1884, volume 23, page 40 — Rate of postage on newspapers and periodicals 
 sent by other than the publishers fixed at i cent for every 4 ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 Act March ^, 1885 section i, volume 23, page 3S7. — Reduces postage on first-class 
 matter to 2 cents an ounce or fraction thereof ; the postage on drop letters to be 2 cents an 
 ounce or fraction thereof, including delivery at letter-carrier offices, and i cent at non-carrier 
 offices. Reduces the postage on second-class matter sent by publishers to i cent a pound or 
 fraction thereof. 
 
 Act March 5, 1885, section 3, volume 23, page 387. — Special-delivery system authorized 
 at all places having a population of ^fioc) or more. Special stamps authorized to secure im- 
 mediate delivery, which, on arrival of letters at such place, is to be performed by special system authori/.ed 
 messengers at a fee of 8 cents for each letter. 
 
 Act June 29, 1886, section i, volutne 24, page 86. — Reduces the fee on domestic 
 money-orders for less than $5, from 8 cents to 5 cents. 
 
 Act August 4, 1886, section i, volume 24, page 220 — Special-delivery system extended 
 to all post-offices. 
 
 Act January 3, 1887, section I, volume 24, page 355.— Extends the free-delivery 
 service to all cities having not less than 10,000 inhabitants, or at any post-office the gross 
 annual revenue of which is $10,000. 
 
 Act March 3, 1887, section i, volume 24, page 354. — Authorizes the Postmaster-Gen- 
 eral to designate other than money-order offices to issue postal notes for sums under $5, 
 fee 3 cents. 
 
 Act July 24, 1888. — Rate of postage on seeds, scions, bulbs, cuttings, roots, and plants 
 reduced to i cent for every 2 ounces or fraction thereof. 
 
 Bates reduced. 
 
 Special delivery 
 
Addenda, 
 
 To the bisected stamps of the 1851-55 issue, which are described on 
 pages 70 and 71, another variety must be added. Mr. H. B. Phillips has 
 found a cover bearing three copies of the 3 cent stamp and one-third of 
 another copy, used as 10 cents. The cover is postmarked " Wrentham, Mass., 
 June 4," but the year is missing, as is usual in postmarks of that period. The 
 letter is addressed to a gentleman in San Francisco, from whose correspon- 
 dence Mr. Phillips obtained it. 
 
 On pages 130 and 134, will be found a paragraph referring to the 
 stamps of the Continental Bank Note Co. with the grill. Having obtained 
 some additional information about these stamps, I published a short article 
 in the American Journal of Philately, for July, 1901, from which I quote : 
 
 "A small number of these grilled stamps has recently been found in 
 the possession of a gentleman who obtained them from the Post Office 
 Department at Washington At the same time a few additional facts about 
 the stamps have been learned 
 
 In June, 1876, a stamp cleaning case was tried in the courts. It was 
 attended by the usual flurry among officials and a revival of the discussion 
 of preventatives of such frauds. The Continental Bank Note Co., who then 
 held the contract for the manufacture of postage stamps, suggested putting 
 the grill into use once more. They were ordered to prepare 1,000 copies of 
 each value then current. As they had not the requisite machinery for making 
 the grill roller, they entrusted the work to Campbell & Watt, a firm of 
 machinists of New York City. To this we may attribute the small differences 
 between this grill and those of the National Bank Note Co. The order was 
 duly executed and perhaps slightly exceeded, since it included the 2, 7, 12 
 and 24 cents of the 1873 series, which had ceased to be issued to the public. 
 The grilled stamps were forwarded to Washington and put into circulation ; 
 but the Continental Bank Note Co. did not receive any further orders to 
 apply the patent." 
 
 Jhe complete series of these stamps has not yet been found by 
 
 1851-55. 
 
 Bisected three cent 
 stamps. 
 
 1873. 
 
 Stamps with the 
 
 grill. 
 
402 
 
 ADDENDA. — CONTINUED. 
 
 1901. 
 luTerted medallions. 
 
 Beprints, etc. 
 
 Erroriig the snr- 
 
 charge. 
 
 collectors, but, in addition to the varieties listed on page 137, we now know 
 
 the following : 
 
 May ist, 1873 IOC brown 
 June, 187s zc scarlet vermilion 
 
 SC dark blue 
 
 Of the bicolored series, issued in igot (described on pages 200 and 
 201), the one, two and four cents have been found with the central medallion 
 inverted. The five and ten cents are also said to exist in this condition but 
 the report lacks confirmation. 
 
 On page 357 is given a list of official stamps surcharged, in error, 
 " SEPCiMEN " instead of " specimen." To this list should be added the 10 
 cents of the Post Office Department. 
 
Errata, 
 
 Page 66, line 14. For "March 30th, 1855," read : " March 3rd, 1855." 
 
 " 67-74, inclusive. The headline should read: "Issues of 1851-55," 
 instead of "Issues of 1851-57." 
 
 " 106, line 29. For " 1861," read : " 1867." 
 
 " 194, opposite line 32. Insert the marginal note : " Deliveries to Post- 
 masters." 
 
 361, line 40. For " June 16th, 1884," read : " July i6th, 1884." 
 
Index, 
 
 Addenda 
 
 
 PAGE. 
 401 
 
 Buchanan, lames M. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 15 
 
 192 
 
 Agriculture, Goddess 0^ 
 
 
 295 
 
 Buffalo' 
 
 ', " Indian Hunting 
 
 " The department of 
 
 =57 
 
 , 259 
 
 Bureau • 
 
 of Engraving and Printing 
 
 179 
 
 " reprints 
 
 
 357 
 
 
 Contract with 
 
 '79 
 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 Allen, Phineas 
 
 
 39 
 
 Canal Locks at Saulte Sainte Marie 
 
 200 
 
 America, Figure of 173, 
 
 295 
 
 , 320 
 
 Capped 
 
 numerals 
 
 164 
 
 American Bank Note Co. 
 
 
 '44 
 
 Carrier service. Local posts and the 
 
 202 
 
 Plates of the 
 
 
 '45 
 
 " 
 
 rates 
 
 203 
 203 
 206 
 
 Contract awarded to 
 
 
 '53 
 
 " 
 
 " Review of the 
 
 Contract for Columbian 
 
 1 
 
 
 It 
 
 " Cities which had 
 
 series modified 
 
 
 '77 
 
 " Carriers' Dispatch " stamps 207 
 
 , 2og 
 
 Special printing of Official 
 
 
 Carriers 
 
 ' stamp, First 
 
 9 
 
 stamps by 
 
 
 557 
 
 
 The Franklin 
 
 245 
 
 Annapolis, Va. 
 
 
 '3 
 
 
 reprints 
 
 355 
 
 handstamps 
 
 
 '4 
 
 
 The Eagle 
 
 248 
 
 Appendix 
 
 
 375 
 
 
 reprints 
 
 355 
 
 Astiaea, Vignette of 
 
 
 295 
 
 Carriers' 
 
 ' stamps, issue of 1851 
 
 66 
 
 Automobile 
 
 
 200 
 
 
 origin of the various 
 official and semi-officiai 
 
 202 
 1 206 
 
 Balboa 
 
 
 '73 
 
 
 date of use 
 
 206 
 
 Baloca, R. — " Columbus Announcir 
 
 ig 
 
 
 
 counterfeits 
 
 221 
 
 his Discovery " 
 
 
 '73 
 
 
 Baltimore 
 
 207 
 
 Baltimore, Md. 
 
 
 15 
 
 
 Boston 
 
 21 1 
 
 Counterfeit 
 
 
 16 
 
 
 Charleston 
 
 215 
 222 
 
 Carriers' Stamps 
 
 
 207 
 
 
 Louisville 
 
 Beckman, John C. 
 
 
 215 
 
 
 New York 
 
 225 
 
 Stamps of 
 
 
 221 
 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 233 
 
 Bisected Stamps : 
 
 
 
 
 Wells, Fargo & Co.'s 
 
 
 1851-57 issue 70, 
 
 . 71, 
 
 401 
 
 
 Pony Express 
 
 238 
 
 1869 issue 
 
 
 114 
 
 
 Reprints : 
 
 355 
 
 1890 issue 
 
 
 165 
 
 
 paper 
 
 355 
 
 Post Office department 
 
 
 267 
 
 
 color 
 
 355 
 
 Postage due 
 
 34', 
 
 i342 
 
 
 impression 
 
 355 
 
 Books of stamps 
 
 
 187 
 
 
 quantities sold 
 
 356 
 
 Boscawen, N. H. 
 
 
 20 
 
 Cattle in 
 
 Storm", " Western 
 
 192 
 
 Boston Carriers' stamps 
 
 
 21 1 
 
 Ceres, V 
 
 ignette of 
 
 295 
 
 U. S. Penny Post 
 
 
 21 1 
 
 Cerrachi 
 
 .—Head of Franklin, after 
 
 
 Penny Post 
 
 
 212 
 
 
 bust by 
 
 109 
 
 Penny Post Paid 
 
 
 212 
 
 
 Profile bust of Thomas 
 
 
 Hill's Post 
 
 
 212 
 
 
 Jefferson 
 
 163 
 
 Brattleboro, Vt. 
 
 
 21 
 
 Charieston Carriers' stamps : 
 
 215 
 
 An eleventh variety of 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 John H. Honour stamps 
 
 216 
 
 Bridge at Niagara Falls 
 
 
 200 
 
 
 E. J. Kingman " 
 
 219 
 
 Bridge, Mississippi River 
 
 
 192 
 
 
 Joseph G. Martin " 
 
 220 
 
 Brown & McGill, Stamps of 
 
 
 223 
 
 
 John F. Steinmeyer " 
 
 220 
 
 Brozik,— " Columbus Soliciting Aid' 
 
 " 
 
 '73 
 
 
 John C. Beckman " 
 
 221 
 
 Bryan, Daniel 
 
 
 12 
 
 
 Counterfeits 
 
 221 
 
4o6 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PACE. 
 22 
 
 Chubbuck, Thomas 
 
 City Despatch 
 
 City Despatch Post, Greig's 
 
 New York 
 United States 
 Clay, Henry 122, 
 
 Clio 
 
 Cog wheel (Fletcher) punch 
 Collecting, An official view of stamp 
 Collectors, Purchases by stamp dealers 
 
 and 
 Columbian series, (see also " Issue of 
 1893") 
 
 purchases of, by stamp 
 dealers and collectors 
 Columbus 
 " Columbus in Sight of Land " 
 
 " Landing of 109, 
 
 " Flagship of 
 " Fleet of 
 
 Soliciting Aid of Isabella " 
 Welcomed at Barcelona " 
 Restored to Favor" 
 Presenting Natives" 
 Announcing his Discovery " 
 at 1-a Rabida " 
 " Recall of 
 in Chains " 
 
 Describing Third Voyage " 
 Commerce 
 Continental Bank Note Co. : 
 
 consolidated with American 
 
 Bank Note Co. 
 plates of the, used for the 
 1879 issue 
 Contract awarded to American Bank 
 Note Co. 
 requiring printing by steam 
 with Bureau of Engraving and 
 Printing 
 Counterfeiting grills. Temptations to 
 Counterfeits : 
 
 Baltimore, Md. 
 
 Providence, R. 1. 
 
 St, Louis, IVlo. 
 
 grills, 1869 issue 
 
 " 1870 issue 
 
 two cent stamp, 1894-95 issue 
 
 Carrier's stamps, Charleston 
 
 " " Louisville 
 
 " New York 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 Newspaper stamps, 1865 
 
 Crawford, — Figure of " America " 295, 320 
 
 Criticism on reprinting. Journalistic 343 
 
 Cuba, Stamps surcharged for 197 
 
 Date of issue ; — see under each issue 
 Dead letter office, Seal for letters opened 
 
 230 
 225 
 225 
 228 
 16? 
 296 
 
 '34 
 171 
 
 '77 
 170 
 
 '77 
 '73 
 172 
 172 
 "73 
 '73 
 '73 
 '73 
 '73 
 '73 
 "73 
 "73 
 '73 
 '73 
 
 296 
 '44 
 
 '44 
 
 '45 
 
 "53 
 "53 
 
 '79 
 105 
 
 16 
 43 
 50 
 "7 
 123 
 189 
 221 
 223 
 230 
 234 
 293 
 
 In the 
 
 " Declaration of Independence" 
 Defective grills, (1870) 
 Degrain, Munoz — " Isabella Pledging 
 
 her Jewels" 
 Deliveries to postmasters ; — see under 
 
 each issue 
 Delivery stamps, special 
 
 Department, State 
 
 369 
 1 10 
 123 
 
 '73 
 
 250 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Department, Executive 256-288 
 
 " Treasury 256-288 
 
 " War 256-288 
 
 " Navy 256-288 
 
 Post Office 256-288 
 
 " Interior 256-288 
 
 " Justice 256-288 
 
 " Agriculture 256-288 
 
 Department stamps 256 
 
 reprints 356 
 
 Departments, Deliveries of stamps to 279 
 
 Designs ; — see under each issue 
 
 Despatch, City 230 
 
 Post Office 207, 208 
 
 Despatch Post, Greig's City 225 
 
 New York City 225 
 
 United States City 228 
 
 Destroyed, Plates of all obsolete issues 364 
 
 " remainders, 1873-75 issue 143 
 
 " stamps, 1867 issue 103 
 
 " unsold stamps, 1893 issue 177 
 
 Destruction of the grill rollers 1 24 
 
 " of unissued Official stamps 286 
 
 Die, Making of 59 
 
 Dies, Retouched and re-engraved, 
 
 1 88 1 -2 issue 147 
 
 Dispatch, Carriers' 207, 209 
 
 " Government City 209 
 
 Distributing stamps to postmasters, 
 
 methods of, (1847) 62 
 
 Dodge, — Portrait of Andrew Jackson by 90 
 Double paper. Stamps on : 
 
 1869 issue 1 14 
 
 1870 issue 123 
 1873-75 issue 134, 135 
 1894-95 issue 182 
 
 " Douglas patent " stamps 148 
 
 Due stamp. Post Office stamp used as a 267 
 Due stamps. Postage ; — see Postage 
 Due stamps 
 
 256-288 
 
 Eagle : 
 
 Eagle Carriers' stamp, The 
 
 reprints of 
 Eagle on shield 
 Eaily postal arrangements 
 " postal laws 
 " rates of postage 
 Eight cents : 
 1890 
 1893 
 1898 
 1901 
 
 Newspaper 
 Newspaper reprint 
 Eighty-four cents : 
 Newspaper 
 Newspaper reprint 
 Eleventh variety of Brattleboro, 
 
 Discovery of an 
 Emigration", " Hardships of 
 Envelopes, Baltimore 
 " New Haven 
 " New York 
 " Washington 
 
 of 1857 "ot invalid 
 " Official, authorized 
 " Penalty, authorized 
 
 223, 249 
 248 
 
 355 
 10 
 
 5 
 6 
 6 
 
 109, 
 
 Vt., 
 
 163 
 172, 173 
 192 
 200 
 295 
 361 
 
 295 
 362 
 
 35 
 
 192 
 
 18 
 
 29 
 
 36 
 
 5a 
 
 82 
 
 257 
 
 277 
 
INDEX. 
 
 407 
 
 404 
 
 Errata ^„, 
 
 Error of surcharge, Official stamps 356, 402 
 
 Executive, The 257, 259 
 
 special printing of 357 
 
 Express, Fast, (train) 200 
 " stamps. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s 
 
 Pony 238 
 
 " Eye Type " stamps 207 
 
 " Farming in the West" 
 
 " Fast Express" 
 
 " Fast Lake Navigation" 
 
 " Fast Ocean Navigation " 
 
 Ferdinand 
 
 Find, The Louisville 
 
 Fifteen cents : 
 
 1861-66, reprint 
 1866 
 1867 
 
 1867, blackish purple 
 1869 
 
 i86y, types of the 
 1869, inverted medallion 
 1869, reprint 
 1870 
 
 '873-75, secret mark 
 1873-75, reprint 
 1873-75, reprint of 1880 
 1890 
 1893 
 Fifty cents : 
 1893 
 1894-95 
 1898 
 
 Newspaper, 1895 
 Postage due, 1879 
 Postage due, 1879, special 
 
 printing 
 Postage due, 1894-95 
 Fifty dollars : 
 
 Newspaper 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 Fireside, Goddess of the 
 First carriers' stamp 
 " local stamp 
 " stamps authorized 
 " sold 
 Fisher, Maturin L. 
 Five cents : 
 1847 
 
 1847, reprints 
 1851-55 
 
 1851-57, types of 
 1857, reprints 
 1857-60 types of 
 1861 
 
 1 86 1, reprint 
 1867, grilled all over 
 1867 
 
 1873-75 '32 
 
 1873-75, reprint 
 1873-75, reprint of 1880 
 1882 
 
 reprint 
 
 1882, 
 
 1888 
 
 1888 on pink paper 
 
 1890 
 
 1893 
 
 192 
 200 
 200 
 200 
 '73 
 50 
 
 350 
 92 
 ro2 
 103 
 109 
 1 10 
 1 12 
 
 35' 
 122 
 132 
 352 
 353 
 163 
 
 '73 
 
 '73 
 181 
 192 
 320 
 330 
 
 364 
 337 
 
 320 
 
 296 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 59 
 
 62 
 
 54 
 
 60 
 
 346 
 
 67 
 
 69 
 
 348 
 
 o 76 
 
 84,89 
 
 349 
 100 
 101 
 '49 
 352 
 353 
 '50 
 
 354 
 154 
 '55 
 163 
 
 '73 
 
 Five cents : 
 1898 
 1901 
 
 Newspaper, 1865 
 Newspaper, 1865, reprints 
 Newspaper, 1895 
 Postage due, 1879 
 Postage due, 1879, reprints 
 Postage due, 1 894-95 
 Five dollars : 
 .893 
 1894-95 
 
 State department 
 Newspaper, 1895 
 Newspaper, 1895, reprint 
 " Flagship of Columbus" 
 " Fleet of Columbus " 
 Fletcher punch (" cog wheel ') 
 Foity-eight cents : 
 
 Newspaper 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 Forty-eight dollars : 
 
 Newspaper 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 Four cents : 
 
 1883 
 
 1883, 
 
 1888 
 
 1890 
 
 1893 
 
 1893, 
 
 1898 
 
 1901 
 
 1901, 
 
 reprint 
 
 error of color 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 192 
 200 
 289 
 360 
 320 
 
 364 
 337 
 
 '73 
 181 
 259 
 320 
 363 
 '73 
 '73 
 '34 
 
 295 
 362 
 
 296 
 362 
 
 '5' 
 354 
 '54 
 162 
 
 '73 
 '74 
 192 
 200 
 402 
 295 
 361 
 
 inverted medallion 
 Newspaper 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 Four dollars : 
 
 1893 
 " Francis" patent 
 Franking 
 
 " privilege (1845) 
 " " abolished 
 
 " Abolition of, causes 
 dissatisfaction 
 " " extended 
 
 Franklin, Benjamin 60, 66, 76, 83, 109, 121 
 
 153, 166, 244, 290 
 
 Franklin Carriers' stamp. The 244 
 
 reprints 355 
 
 " Fremont on the Rocky Mountains " 192 
 
 '73 
 
 9' 
 
 256 
 
 57 
 257 
 
 276 
 
 278 
 
 Gardner, Col. Chas. K. 
 Garfield, James A. 
 " Garter" stamp 
 
 " " Counterfeits of the 
 
 Goddess of Agriculture 
 
 ' ' of Peace 
 
 " of the Fireside 
 
 " of Victory 
 
 " of Wisdom 
 
 " of Youth 
 Government Issues 
 Grafflin's local post 
 Grant, U. S. 
 
 Gravures, Premieres, 1861 issue 
 Gray surfaced paper. Post Office 
 department 
 
 52 
 150, 163 
 240 
 241 
 295 
 296 
 296 
 296 
 296 
 296 
 
 57 
 207 
 163 
 
 85 
 
 267 
 
4o8 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Gregori, Luigi ; — ' ' Columbus presenting 
 
 Reprints of ttie : 
 
 Natives " 
 
 '7? 
 
 dies and plates 
 
 Greig's City Despatch Post 
 
 225 
 
 paper 
 
 Greig's Post 
 
 9 
 
 reference list 
 
 Grill roller, Process of making the 
 
 98 
 
 quantities sold 
 
 " rollers, Destruction of the 
 
 124 
 
 Issue of 1851-57 • 
 
 " Sizes of the, 1869 issue 
 
 1 1 1 
 
 date of issue 
 
 Grilling stamps, Patent for 
 
 97 
 
 carriers' s'amps 
 
 " Oddities of 
 
 99 
 
 designs and colors 
 
 Grills, Counterfeit 1870 
 
 123 
 
 sizes 
 
 " counterfeiting, Temptations to 
 
 105 
 
 types 
 
 " Defective 1870 
 
 123 
 
 paper 
 
 " genuine, Characteristics of 
 
 106 
 
 reference list 
 
 " Issue of 1870 
 
 123 
 
 bisected stamps 70, 
 
 " Issue of 1873 133, 
 
 401 
 
 plates 
 
 " Marginal 
 
 99 
 
 imprints 
 
 " Oddities of 
 
 99 
 
 plate numbers 
 
 " Points up and points down 
 
 99 
 
 statistics 
 
 " Sizes of 
 
 98 
 
 remainders 
 
 Guam, Stamps surcharged for 197, 
 
 255 
 
 Issue of 1857-60 : 
 
 Guide marks, Platemaker's 
 
 "5 
 
 first delivery 
 
 Gum ; — see "Gum " under each issue 
 
 
 designs and colors 
 
 Handstamps, Annapolis, Va. 
 
 '4 
 
 sizes 
 paper 
 
 Hamilton, Alexander 
 
 122 
 
 reference list 
 
 " Hardships of Emigration " 
 
 192 
 
 imperforate and part perforati 
 
 Heaton, A. G , — " Recall of Columbus" 
 
 '73 
 
 shades 
 
 " Hardships of Emigra- 
 
 
 changelings 
 
 tion " 
 
 192 
 
 plates and imprints 
 
 Hebe 
 
 296 
 
 plate numbers 
 
 Hill's Post 
 
 213 
 
 statistics 
 
 Historical Notes 
 
 5 
 
 redemption of the stamps of 
 
 Honour, John H. 
 
 215 
 
 the 
 
 Stamps of 
 
 216 
 
 invalid. Authority to declare 
 
 " Horseman " stamps 
 
 207 
 
 Reprints of the : 
 
 Houdon, Portrait of Washington after 
 
 
 plates 
 
 66, 121, 
 
 162 
 
 types 
 
 paper and perforation 
 
 Imperforate and part perforate stamps 71 
 
 ■ ,78 
 
 reference list 
 
 Imprints ; — see " Plates and Imprints" 
 
 
 quantities sold 
 
 under each issue 
 
 
 Issues of 1861-66 
 
 " Indian Hunting Buffalo" 
 
 192 
 
 Issue of 1861 : 
 
 Indian maiden 
 
 296 
 
 historical 
 
 Initials on stamps, (New York) 
 
 34 
 
 Announcement of 
 
 " Platemen's 
 
 253 
 
 report of Postmaster General 
 
 Inman, Portrait of John Marshall by 
 
 181 
 
 designs 
 
 Interior department. The 257, 
 
 259 
 
 sizes 
 
 Special printing 
 
 357 
 
 premiires gravures 
 
 Introductory 
 
 3 
 
 alterations in 
 
 Invalid, Authority to declare stamps 
 
 82 
 
 second series 
 
 Envelopes of 1857 not declared 
 
 82 
 
 types of the one cent 
 
 Inverted medallions, issue of 1869 
 
 1 12 
 
 three cents 
 
 " " issue of 1901 
 
 402 
 
 " " " five cents 
 
 " " St-'te department 
 
 267 
 
 ten cents 
 
 "1. R.", Stamps surcharged 
 
 ■97 
 
 " " " twelve cents 
 
 Isabella", " Columbus soliciting aid of 
 
 '73 
 
 " " " ninety cents 
 
 " Isabella Pledging her Jewels" 
 
 '73 
 
 reference list 
 
 Isabella, Portrait of 
 
 '73 
 
 color varieties 
 
 Issue, date of; — see under each issue 
 
 
 plates and imprints 
 
 Issue of 1847 : 
 
 59 
 
 plate numbers 
 
 contractors 
 
 59 
 
 statistics 
 
 plates 
 
 61 
 
 specimen stamps 
 
 designs 
 
 60 
 
 Reprints of the : 
 
 paper 
 
 61 
 
 plates 
 
 gum 
 
 61 
 
 paper 
 
 reference list 
 
 61 
 
 perforation and gum 
 
 orders sent to contractors 
 
 63 
 
 reference list 
 
 stamps unsold 
 
 63 
 
 quantities sold 
 
 7' 
 
 73: 
 
 PAGE. 
 346 
 
 347 
 347 
 347 
 347 
 05 
 66 
 66 
 66 
 67 
 <7 
 (>9 
 70 
 , 401 
 72 
 72 
 72 
 74 
 83 
 75 
 75 
 75 
 76 
 76 
 77 
 78 
 78 
 78 
 78 
 79 
 79 
 
 82 
 348 
 348 
 348 
 348 
 348 
 
 349 
 
 81 
 
 81 
 
 81 
 
 81 
 
 82 
 
 83 
 
 85 
 
 85 
 
 85 
 
 86 
 
 86 
 
 66 
 
 87 
 
 87 
 
 87 
 
 87 
 
 88 
 
 i, 89 
 
 92 
 
 92 
 
 93 
 
 93 
 
 349 
 
 349 
 
 349 
 
 349 
 
 349 
 
 350 
 
INDEX 
 
 409 
 
 Issue of 1863 : 
 
 90 
 
 design 
 
 90 
 
 reference list 
 
 90, 91 
 
 on laid paper 
 
 9' 
 
 " Francis" patent 
 
 9' 
 
 reference list 
 
 03 
 
 statistics 
 
 03. 95 
 90 
 
 91 
 91 
 
 two cents. 
 
 Issue of 1866 : 
 
 registration 
 
 fifteen cents 
 
 92 
 92 
 
 design 
 
 reference list 
 
 94. 90 
 
 statistics 
 
 Issue of 1867 : 
 
 97, 118 
 
 patent for grilling stamps 
 
 91 
 
 sizes of grills 
 
 98 
 
 marginal grills 
 
 99 
 
 date of issue 
 
 100 
 
 grilled all over 
 
 100 
 
 paper 
 
 100 
 
 reference list 
 
 101 
 
 statistics 
 
 103 
 
 stamps destroyed 
 
 103 
 
 plates 
 
 104 
 
 plate numbers 
 
 104 
 
 again brought into use 
 
 118 
 
 Issue of 1869 : 
 
 108 
 
 historical 
 
 108 
 
 date of issue 
 
 108 
 
 original designs 
 
 T09 
 
 designs and colors 
 
 109 
 
 sizes 
 
 1 10 
 
 types of the fifteen cents 
 
 no 
 
 sizes of the grill 
 
 1 1 1 
 
 reference list 
 
 1 1 1 
 
 inverted medallions 
 
 1 12 
 
 varieties without grill 
 
 114 
 
 on double paper 
 
 H5 
 
 plate maker's guide marks 
 
 115 
 
 plates 
 
 115 
 
 imprints and plate numbers 
 
 115 
 
 marginal marks 
 
 '■5 
 
 plate numbers 
 
 116 
 
 statistics of manufacture 
 
 116 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 
 
 117 
 
 counterfeits 
 
 1 17 
 
 Reprints of the : 
 
 35° 
 
 characteristics 
 
 35° 
 
 plates 
 
 35° 
 
 plate numbers 
 
 350 
 
 reference list 
 
 351 
 
 one cent stamp on soft 
 
 
 paper 
 
 351 
 
 quantities sold 
 
 351 
 
 Issue of 1870 : 
 
 IIP 
 
 historical 
 
 119 
 
 announcement of issue 
 
 119 
 
 date of issue 
 
 120 
 
 the seven cent stamp 
 
 120 
 
 designs 
 
 121 
 
 on double paper 
 
 123 
 
 gum 
 
 123 
 
 paper 
 
 125 
 
 grills 
 
 123 
 
 counterfeit grills 
 
 123 
 
 reference list of grills 
 
 124 
 
 reference list of folgrs 
 
 i?4 
 
 PACE. 
 
 plates 126 
 
 plate numbers 127 
 
 statistics of manufacture 127 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 128 
 
 Reprints of the : 351 
 
 dates of delivery 351 
 
 characteristics 352 
 
 reference list 352 
 
 plates 352 
 
 printing by American 
 
 Bank Note Co. (i88o) 35 
 
 characteristics 
 reference list 
 plates 
 
 quantities sold 
 Issue of 1873-7S : 
 
 historical 
 secret marks 
 plates, new 
 
 secret marks, description of 
 five cent stamp announced 
 three denominations 
 discontinued 
 five cent stamp, design of 
 grills 133 
 
 Fletcher, or cog wheel, 
 
 punch 
 chemical paper 
 double paper 
 starched paper 
 regular papers 
 ribbed paper 
 gum 
 
 reference list 
 plates 
 
 plate numbers 
 printings on steam press 
 plates used on steam press 
 statistics of manufacture 
 deliveries to postmasters 
 remainders destroyed 
 Issue of 1879 : 
 
 reference list 
 
 Continental B. N. Go's plates 
 
 used 
 American B. N. Co.'s plates 
 plate numbers 
 deliveries to postmasters 
 Issues of 1881-82 
 
 retouched and re-engraved dies 
 description of altered dies 
 dates of issue 
 " Douglas patent" stamps 
 reference list 
 plate numbers 
 serial letters 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 
 Issue of April loth, 1882 
 historical 
 design 
 
 varieties of the five cents 
 date of issue 
 reference list 
 deliveries to postmasters 
 Reprints of the : 
 
 quantity sold 
 characteristics 
 pl?te§ 
 
 353 
 353 
 353 
 130 
 130 
 130 
 131 
 131 
 132 
 
 133 
 133 
 401 
 
 134 
 134 
 134 
 135 
 135 
 136 
 136 
 
 137 
 138 
 
 ^}9 
 130 
 r40 
 140 
 141 
 143 
 144 
 144 
 
 145 
 145 
 145 
 156 
 147 
 147 
 147 
 148 
 148 
 148 
 149 
 149 
 156 
 149 
 149 
 150 
 150 
 150 
 151 
 157 
 354 
 354 
 354 
 
 m 
 
410 
 
 INDEX, 
 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Issue of October i, 1883 : 
 
 151 
 
 historical 
 
 151 
 
 designs 
 
 151 
 
 date of issue 
 
 152 
 
 reference list 
 
 152 
 
 jlate numbers 
 
 I=i2 
 
 aid paper 
 
 152 
 
 specimen stamps 
 
 152 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 
 
 157 
 
 Reprints of tine : 
 
 354 
 
 d^te of delivery 
 
 354 
 
 characteristics 
 
 354 'ss 
 
 quantities sold 
 
 355 
 
 Issue of June 15, 1887 : 
 
 153 
 
 design 
 
 153 
 
 reference list 
 
 154 
 
 plate numbers 
 
 154 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 
 
 158 
 
 Issue of 1887-88 : 
 
 154 
 
 changes in colors 
 
 154 
 
 reference list 
 
 154 Iss 
 
 plate numbers 
 
 155 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 
 
 157 
 
 Issue of 1890 : 
 
 160 
 
 historical 
 
 160 
 
 sample stamps in the proposed 
 
 colors 161 
 
 dates of issue 162 
 
 designs and colors 162 
 
 paper, etc 163 
 
 capped numerals 164 
 
 reference list 164 
 
 bisected stamps 165 
 
 proofs 165 
 
 plates 165 
 
 plate numbers 165 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 167 
 
 Issue of 1893 : 170 
 historical 170 
 negotiations with the con- 
 tractors I7r, 177 
 the eight cent stamp 172 
 designs and colors 172 
 paper, gum, etc 175 
 reference list 173 
 varieties 174 
 error of color 174 
 plates 174 
 plate numbers 174 
 deliveries to postmasters 175 
 proofs 176 
 purchases by stamp dealers and 
 
 collectors 177 
 unsold stamps withdrawn and 
 
 destroyed 177 
 
 Issue of 1894-95 : 179 
 
 history of the contract 179 
 
 transfer of stamps 180 
 transfer of dies, rolls and plates 180 
 
 date of issue 180 
 
 additions to the designs 180 
 
 varieties of the triangle 180 
 
 new denominations 181 
 
 designs and colors 181 
 
 paper 181 
 
 watermark 181 
 laid, double and ribbed paper 181 
 
 paper watermarked "U.S. 1. R." iSi 
 
 PAGE 
 
 chemical paper 181 
 
 reference list 182 
 
 plates 184 
 
 imprints and numbers 184 
 
 plate numbers 184 
 
 books of stamps 187 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 188 
 
 counterfeit two cent stamp 189 
 quantities of stamps without 
 
 watermark 189 
 
 stamps with various imprints 189 
 
 Issue of 1898, — (Trans-Mississippil : 191 
 
 designs and colors 191 
 
 reference list 193 
 
 plates 193 
 
 plate numbers 193 
 
 plates not used 194 
 
 plates for experimental work 194 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 194 
 
 specimen stamps 191 
 
 Issue of 1898 : 196 
 
 changes in colors 196 
 
 reference list 19^' 
 
 plate numbers 196 
 
 stamps surcharged " 1. R." 197 
 
 stamps surcharged for Cuba, etc. 197 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 197 
 deliveries to Universal Postal 
 
 Union 198 
 
 specimen stamps 199 
 
 Issue of 1901, — (Pan American Series) : 200 
 
 official description 200 
 
 reference list 201 
 
 plates and imprints 201 
 
 inverted medallions 402 
 
 Issues, Government 57 
 
 Jackson, Andrew 90, 121, 151, 162 
 
 Jefferson, Thomas 67, 84 122, 163, 181 
 Jover, Francisco, — "Columbus Restored 
 
 to Favor" 173 
 "Columbu"; Describ- 
 ing Third Voyage" 173 
 Justice, — The department of 257, 259 
 special printing 357 
 Justice, Vignette of 295 
 
 Kingman, t. J. 
 
 215 
 
 " " stamps of 
 
 219 
 
 Laid paper, 1863 issue 
 
 91 
 
 1883 issue 
 
 152 
 
 1894-95 issue 
 
 182 
 
 Lamprecht, — " Marquette on the 
 
 
 Mississippi " 
 
 192 
 
 La Rabida", "Columbus at 
 
 173 
 
 Laws, Early postal 
 
 6 
 
 Lehman, George T. 
 
 58 
 
 Leslie James, Article by 
 
 6 
 
 Letter of Frederick N. Palmer 
 
 21 
 
 " " Postmaster Morris' 
 
 35, 36 
 
 Letters, Serial 
 
 149 
 
 Letters opened in the Dead Letter Office, 
 
 Seal for 369 
 
 Leutze, — "Columbus in Chains" 173 
 
 Liberty, Figure of 173 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham 92, no, 121, 162, 290 
 Local Post, Grafflin's 207 
 
Local stamps, First 
 
 Lockport, N. Y. 
 
 Locomotive i 
 
 Longacre, John B., — Portrait of Franklin 
 after 
 
 Lotto painting, Portrait of Columbus 
 after the 
 
 Louisville carriers' stamps : 
 
 David B. Wharton stamps 222 
 
 Brown & McGill " 223 
 
 counterfeits 223 
 
 Louisville find. The 50 
 
 MacWhirter,— "Western Cattle in 
 
 Storm" 192 
 
 Madison, Fla. 55 
 
 Madison, James 181 
 
 Maiden, Indian 296 
 
 Mail, U. S., stamps 231 
 Manufacture, Statistics of ; — see 
 
 " Statistics of manufacture " 
 under each issue 
 
 Marginal grills 99 
 
 " marks 115 
 
 Marks, Marginal 115 
 
 " Plate maker's guide 115 
 
 " Secret, 1873-75 130 
 
 " " " description of 131 
 
 " " " purpose of 130 
 
 " Marquette on the Mississippi " 192 
 
 Marshall, John 181 
 
 Martin, Joseph G. 215 
 
 " " " stamps of 220 
 Maso, R.—'- Columbus at La Rabida" 173 
 
 Medallions, Inverted, 1869 issue 112 
 
 " " 1901 issue 402 
 " " State department 267 
 
 Messenger boy 250 
 
 Millbury, Mass. 27 
 
 Minerva 296 
 
 Mining Prospector", " Western 192 
 
 Mississippi River bridge 192 
 
 Mitchell, E. A. 10, 29 
 
 Monson, A. C 34 
 
 " Marciana 34 
 
 Morris, Robert H. 10, 11 29 
 
 Natives", " Columbus Presenting 173 
 
 Navigation "," Fast Lake 200 
 
 " "Fast Ocean 200 
 
 Navy department 257, 259 
 
 special printing 3';6, 357 
 
 two cents green 266 
 
 New Haven, Conn. 29 
 
 reprints 30 
 
 New Orleans postage cards 56 
 
 Newspaper and periodical stamps 
 
 289, 294, 303, 318, 320, 359 
 
 Issue of 1865 : 289 
 Act concerning transportation 
 
 of newspapers 289 
 announcement of first newspaper 
 
 stamps 289 
 
 designs 289 
 
 manufacture 290 
 
 paper 290 
 
 reference list 290 
 .plates, imprints, plate numbers 291 
 
 INDEX. 
 3E. 
 
 
 411 
 
 PAGE, 
 
 9 
 
 restricted use 
 
 291 
 
 26 
 
 cancellations 
 
 291 
 
 09 
 
 specimen stamps 
 use discontinued 
 
 291 
 292 
 
 60 
 
 statistics of manufacture 
 
 292 
 
 ^75 
 
 reprints 
 counterfeits 
 
 ^9}, 359 
 293 
 
 S22 
 
 Issue of 1875 : 
 
 294 
 
 system suggested by Postmaster 
 
 General 294 
 plan authorized by Congress 294 
 manner of using the stamps 295 
 reason for the various denomina- 
 tions 295 
 cancellation 295 
 designs and colors 295 
 paper 297 
 reference list 297 
 plates, plate numbers 298 
 specimen stamps 299 
 statistics of manufacture 299 
 deliveries to postmasters 300 
 reprints 361 
 Issue of 1879 : 303 
 change of contractors 503 
 rates reduced 303 
 one cent stamp J03 
 plate, plate numbers 304 
 reference list 304 
 suggested destruction of unissued 
 
 stamps 305 
 
 three cent stamp again in use 305 
 
 specimen stamps 305 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 305 
 
 order for special printing 315 
 
 purpose of special printing 316 
 
 disposition of sheets 316 
 
 trouble about stamps 316 
 nine cents printed by American 
 
 B N. Co. 3'6 
 
 paper, perforation, colors 316 
 
 reference list 3 1 7 
 
 Issue of 1894 : 318 
 
 printings from plates of previous 
 
 contractors 318 
 
 reference list 3 '8 
 
 plate numbers 319 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 3 1 9 
 
 Issue of 1895 : 32° 
 
 official announcement 320 
 
 designs 320 
 
 paper 321 
 
 reference list 321 
 
 plates 322 
 
 plate numbers 322 
 
 plates not used 322 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 323 
 
 other deliveries 324 
 
 sets sold to the general public 324 
 regulations concerning newspaper 
 
 and periodical stamps 325 
 seizure of stamps 325 
 discontinuance of stamps recom- 
 mended 326 
 order discontinuing use 327 
 stamps returned to the P. O. 
 
 department 327 
 number of sets sold to the public 328 
 
412 
 
 2 
 
 INDEX, 
 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 reprints 
 Reprints : 
 
 Issue of 1865 
 Issue of 1875 
 Issue of 1895 
 
 562 
 
 359 
 362 
 
 Newspapers, Act concerning transporta- 
 tion of 289 
 New York, N. Y. 32 
 " " " envelopes 36 
 " " " Initials on the stamps of 34 
 " " " used in other cities 10,11 
 New York carriers' stamps : 225 
 Chy Despatch 230 
 Greig's City Despatch Post 225 
 New York City Despatch Post 225 
 U. S. iWail 231 
 United States City Despatch 
 
 Post 228 
 
 Niagara Falls, Bridge at 200 
 Nine cents : 
 
 Newspaper 295 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 361 
 Nine dollars : 
 
 Newspaper 296 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 362 
 Ninety cents : 
 
 1856, imperforate 71 
 
 1857-60 76 
 
 1857-60, reprint 348 
 
 1861 85 
 
 1861, ultramarine 89 
 
 1861, reprint 350 
 
 1867 102 
 
 1869 no 
 1869, inverted medallion 114 
 1869, reprint 351 
 
 1870 122 
 1873-75, secret mark 132 
 1873-75, reprint ^52 
 1873-75, " of 1880 353 
 1888 154 
 1890 163 
 
 Ninety-six cents : 
 
 Newspaper 295 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 362 
 
 Notes, Historical 5 
 
 Numerals, Capped 164 
 
 Official circulars : 
 
 
 Issue of 186 r 
 
 81 
 
 '■ " 1869 
 
 108 
 
 " " 1870 
 
 H9 
 
 Special delivery stamps 
 
 251 
 
 Official stamps 258, 278 
 
 Newspaper and periodical stamps 327 
 Postage due stamps 329 
 
 reprints 344, 345 
 
 Sale of newspaper and periodical 
 
 stamps 362 
 
 Official seals (see "Seals", Official) 365 
 
 Official stamps : 256 
 
 Issue of 1873 : 256 
 
 historical 256 
 
 franking 256 
 
 stamps and envelopes 
 
 authorized 257 
 
 early deliveries 257 
 
 official description 358 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 designs 258 
 varieties of the higher 
 
 values 260 
 
 paper 260 
 
 reference list 260 
 Navy department 2 cents 
 
 green 266 
 P. O. department bi-sected 
 
 6 cents 267 
 P. O. department gray 
 
 surfaced paper 267 
 State department inverted 
 
 medallions 267 
 
 plates 268 
 
 imprints and plate numbers 268 
 
 statistics of manufacture 271 
 
 Issue of 1879 : 274 
 
 reference list 274 
 
 specimen stamps 276 
 
 a possible provisional issue 276 
 
 plates 276 
 
 " Penalty" envelopes authorized 277 
 
 Franking privilege extended 278 
 
 the stamps entirely abolished 279 
 
 Deliveries to departments 279 
 
 Unissued official stamps 285 
 
 destruction recommended 286 
 
 Reprints : 35^ 
 
 plates 356 
 
 colors 35^ 
 
 error in surcharge 357, 402 
 
 printing by American 
 
 B. N. Co. (1881) 357 
 
 quantities sold 357 
 One cent : 
 
 1851-55 66 
 1851-57, types of 67, 68 
 
 1857, reprint 348 
 
 1861 83 
 
 1861, reprint 349 
 
 1867, grilled all over 100 
 
 1867 lOI 
 
 1869 109 
 1869, reprint 352 
 1869, reprint on soft paper 352 
 
 1870 121 
 1873-75, secret mark 131 
 iB73-7'i, reprint 352 
 1873-75, reprint of 1880 353 
 i88i-2 147 
 1887 153 
 1890 162 
 1893 172 
 1898 192 
 1901 200 
 1901, inverted medallion 402 
 Newspaper, 1875 295 
 Newspaper, 1879 303 
 Newspaper, 1895 320 
 Postage due, 1879 330 
 Postage due, 1879, special print- 
 ing 364 
 
 Postage due, 1S94-95 337 
 
 One dollar ; 
 1893 
 1894-95 
 
 Newspaper, 1895 
 
 173 
 181 
 192 
 320 
 
INDEX. 
 
 413 
 
 One dollar and ninety two cents : 
 Newspaper, 1875 
 Newspaper, 1879 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 One hundred dollars : 
 
 Newspaper, 1895 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 295 
 
 304 
 362 
 
 320 
 
 563 
 
 Packages of stamps sent to postmasters, 
 
 , Seal for 367 
 
 Palmer, Frederick N. 21 
 
 " " Letter of 2t 
 
 Pan American series 200 
 Paper ; — see " Paper'' under each issue 
 
 Paper, Double, 1869 ir^ 
 
 1870 123 
 
 1873-75 134 
 
 1894-95 182 
 
 Gray surfaced, Post office 
 
 department 267 
 
 Laid, 1863 Q£ 
 
 1883 152 
 
 1894-05 182 
 
 Ribbed, 1873-75 136 
 
 1894-95 182 
 
 Standard 153 
 
 Starched, 1873-75 ^3'i 
 
 Patent, " Douglas " 148 
 
 " for grilling stamps 97 
 
 " " Francis" ^i 
 
 Peace, Goddess of 296 
 
 Pemberton, E. L., Remarkable study of 49 
 
 " Penalty " envelopes authorized 277 
 
 Penny Post 2r2 
 
 Penny Post Paid 212 
 
 Perforating, Letter concerning 75 
 
 Perforation ; — see various issues 
 
 Periodical stamps ; — see "Newspaper and 
 
 periodical stamps" 
 Perry, Commodore O. H. 122, 163, 181 
 
 Perry, S J. 55, 56 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa. 38 
 
 Philadelphia carriers' stamps. The 233 
 
 Philippine Islands, Stamps surcharged 
 
 for 197, 255 
 
 Pittsfield, Mass. 39 
 
 Plate, Making of 60 
 
 Plate numbers ; — see "plate numbers" 
 
 under each issue 
 Platemen's initials 253 
 
 Plates ; — see "plates" under each issue 
 " experimental 194 
 
 " ordered to be cancelled 287 
 
 Points up and points down (grills) 99 
 
 Pony Express stamps. Wells, Fargo 
 
 & Co.'s 238 
 
 " " " counterfeits of 243 
 
 Post, Grafflin's Local 207 
 
 Greig's City Despatch 225 
 
 Hill's 213 
 
 New York City Despatch 225 
 
 Paid, Penny 212 
 
 Penny 212 
 
 United States City Despatch 228 
 
 Post horse and rider 109, 240 
 
 Post Office department. The 257, 259 
 
 stamp used as a 
 
 " due" stamp 267, 341 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 gray surfaced 
 
 paper 267 
 
 special printings 
 
 " Post Office Despatch " stamp! ^^' 207' 208 
 
 Postage, Prepayment of ,, 
 
 " Rates of, 1845 .i. 
 
 Postage due stamps : A^ 
 
 Issue of 1879 : 329 
 
 Act authorizing postage due 
 
 stamps 32Q 
 
 circular announcing issue 320 
 
 date of issue ,3^ 
 
 designs and colors 330 
 
 reference list 331 
 
 plates and plate numbers 331 
 
 used to pay regular postage 332 
 
 special printing 332 
 
 specimen stamps 332 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 332 
 
 Issue of 1894-95 : 3^5 
 supposed printings from plates 
 
 of A B. Note Co. 337 
 
 announcement of the issue 337 
 
 color y,' 
 
 design , ' 
 
 paper y' 
 
 reference list ,^g 
 
 plates ,,g 
 
 imprints ,,3 
 
 plate numbers 333 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 330 
 deliveries to Universal 
 
 Postal Union 340 
 
 Universal Postal Congress 340 
 
 specimen stamps 3^0 
 
 Provisional issues : Jl^ 
 
 Post Office department 
 
 stamp used 3-1 
 ordinary postage stamp 
 
 surcharged 341 
 bisected stamps ,ai 
 stamps bisected and sur- 
 charged 342 
 postage due paid by ordinary 
 
 postage stamps 342 
 
 Special printing : 35 . 
 
 characteristics 36 . 
 
 P'ates 36. 
 
 quantities sold 364 
 
 Postal rates modified ,5? 
 
 Postal Union, Countries in the Universal 132 
 
 Postmasters, Deliveries to ;-see under 
 
 each issue 
 Postmaster's stamp officially recognized, 
 
 A JQ 
 
 stamps, Status of eg 
 
 " The % 
 
 " Post Obitum " stamp 369 
 
 Post routes, Streets of cities made 65 
 
 Posts, Private 5 
 Powell, Wm. H.,— " Columbus in Sight 
 
 of Land " j^j 
 Powers, Portrait of Andrew Jackson 
 
 by 121, 162 
 
 Premieres gravures, 1861 issue gj 
 
 Prepaid letters. Special rate for 65 
 
 Prepayment of postage 57 
 
4M 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 FACE. 
 
 Presses, steam, Printing on, required by 
 
 contract 153 
 
 " " Printings on 139 
 
 Printed matter. Reduction of rates for 66 
 Printing on steam presses required by 
 
 contract 15 j 
 
 Printing on steam presses 139 
 
 Private posts 6 
 
 Proofs, 1890 issue 165 
 
 Prospector", "Western Mining 192 
 
 Protest against reprinting. No 34} 
 
 Providence, R. I, 40 
 
 counterfeits 45 
 
 reprints 42 
 
 Providence plate, Discovery of the 41 
 
 Provisional postage due stamps 341 
 
 Punch, Cog wheel 134 
 
 " Fletcher or cog wheel 134 
 
 Puerto Rico, Stamps surcharged for 197 
 
 Purchases by stamp dealers and 
 
 collectors (1893 issue) 177 
 
 Rates of postage, Early 
 " of postage in 1845 
 " of the carrier service 
 ". Postal, modified 
 ■ Recall of Columbus ' 
 
 6 
 
 57 
 203 
 
 153 
 173 
 
 Redemption of three and six cent stamps 153 
 
 Re-engraved and retouched dies, i8'<i-2 147 
 Reference list ; — see under each issue 
 
 Registered letters and packages. Seal for 365 
 
 Re-Issues ; — see also " Reprints" 343 
 
 " differentiated. Reprints and 345 
 
 Remainders, 1857-60 issue 83 
 
 " destroyed, 1873-75 issue 143 
 Remington, Frederick ; — ' ' Troops 
 
 Guarding Train " 192 
 
 "Western Mining 
 
 Prospector " 192 
 
 Reprinting, Journalistic criticism 343 
 
 " No protest against 343 
 
 " Official circular relating to 344 
 
 Reprints 51. 35. 4^. Z9?. 544-565 
 
 " and re-issues differentiated 345 
 
 carriers' stamps 355 
 
 dates of first and last sales of 346 
 
 " issue of 1847 346 
 
 " issue of 1857 348 
 
 " issue of 1 861 349 
 
 ' issue of 1869 350 
 
 " issue of 1870 351 
 
 issue of 1882 354 
 
 " issue of 1883 354 
 
 " New Haven, Conn. 3I 
 
 " newspaper and periodical 
 
 stamps 3S9 
 
 " newspaper stamps, 1865 293 
 
 New York, N. Y. 35 
 
 " official stamps 356, 402 
 
 " postage due stamps 364 
 
 " quantities of 346 
 
 " Reasons for making 344 
 
 " seals for registered letters 365 
 
 " Special treatment for the 346 
 
 Retouched and re-engraved dies, 188 1-2 147 
 
 Revell, Martin F. 13 
 
 Ribbed paper, 1873-75 136 
 
 1894-95 182 
 
 PAGE- 
 
 Rocky Mountains", " Fremont on the 192 
 Rogers, Randolph ;— " Columbus Wel- 
 comed at Barcelona" 173 
 
 Roller, grill. Process of making 98 
 
 Rollers, grill. Destruction of the 124 
 
 Rubricht, Portrait of Franklin after 83, 162 
 
 St. Louis, Mo. 45 
 
 counterfeits 50 
 
 stamps, Louisville find of 50 
 
 Sample stamps 161 
 
 Sayles, Welcome B. 4° 
 
 Scarlet three cents of 1861 9} 
 
 Scott, Gen. Winfield 122 
 
 Scovell, Hezekiah W. 26 
 
 Seals, official 365 
 
 for registered letters and packages 365 
 
 date of issue 365 
 
 purpose of the seal 365 
 
 design 3^5 
 
 gum and perforation 366 
 
 reference list 366 
 
 plates 366 
 
 reprint 366 
 
 for packages of stamps sent to 
 
 postmasters 367 
 
 date of issue 367 
 
 first design 367 
 
 overprint 367 
 
 colors 367 
 
 reference list 368 
 
 second design 368 
 
 varieties 368 
 
 reference list 368 
 for letters opened in Dead Letter 
 
 Office, etc. 369 
 
 "PostObitum" 369 
 
 design 369 
 
 plate 369 
 
 reference list 369 
 
 changes in design 369 
 
 date of issue 369 
 
 plates and imprints 370 
 
 paper 370 
 
 reference list 370 
 another change in the seal 370 
 
 method of production 370 
 
 distinguishing marks 370 
 
 reference list 371 
 
 stone 371 
 
 historical 371 
 
 sheets 372 
 
 type-set 372 
 
 origin 372 
 
 design 372, 373 
 changes m design and 
 
 paper 373 
 
 colors 373 
 
 rouletting 373 
 
 reference list 373 
 
 Secret marks, 1873-75 130 
 
 " " " description of 131 
 
 " " " purpose of 130 
 
 Seizure of newspaper and periodical 
 
 stamps 325 
 
 Serial letters 145 
 Seven cents : 
 
 1870 120, 121 
 
INDEX. 
 
 4IS 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Seven cents : 
 
 1873-75, secret mark 132 
 
 1873-75, reprint 352 
 
 1873-75, reprint of 1880 353 
 Seventy-two cents : 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 295 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 304 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 362 
 
 Seward, William H. 259 
 
 Sherman, Gen. Wm. T. 163 
 Shield and eagle 109, no 
 
 Signatures on stamps 10 
 Six cents : 
 
 1869 1C9 
 1869, reprint 351 
 
 1870 HI 
 
 1873-75, secret mark 132 
 
 1873-75. reprint 352 
 
 1881-82 147 
 
 1890 163 
 
 1893 173 
 Post Office department, 
 
 bi-sected 267 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 295 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 304 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 361 
 
 Six dollars : 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 296 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 305 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 362 
 Sixty cents : 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 295 
 
 New.-paper, 1879 3°4 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 362 
 Sixty dollars : 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 296 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 305 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 362 
 
 Sizes ;— see under each issue 
 
 Special delivery stamps : 250 
 
 design 250 
 
 official circular 251 
 
 change of color 252 
 
 changes in design 253 
 
 platemen's initials 253 
 
 paper and gum 253 
 
 reference list 253 
 
 plates 254 
 
 plate nnmbers 254 
 
 deliveries to postmasters 255 
 
 specimen stamps 255 
 
 surcharged stamps 255 
 
 Special printing of Newspaper stamps, 
 
 Order for 315 
 " " Postage due stamps of 
 
 1879 332 
 Special printings (see also " Reprints") 343 
 Specimen stamps : 
 
 1861-66 93 
 
 1883 152 
 
 1894-95 189 
 1898 195, 199 
 
 Special delivery 255 
 
 Newspaper, 1865 291 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 299 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 305 
 
 Postage due, 1879 332 
 
 Postage due, 1894-95 342 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Specimen stamps : 
 
 Official 356, 402 
 
 Stamp collecting. An official view of 171 
 
 " collectors. Purchases by i-jn 
 
 Stamps authorized, First en 
 
 " Bisected, 1851-57 issue 70, 401 
 
 " 1863 issue 90 
 
 1869 issue, three cents 114 
 
 " 1890 issue 165 
 
 " Books of igy 
 
 " Carriers', — see "Carriers' stamps" 
 
 " destroyed, 1867 issue 103 
 
 " " Douglas patent " j^g 
 
 " grilling. Patent for g-j 
 
 " invalid. Authority to declare 82 
 
 " on double paper 114, 123, [34, 182 
 
 " Postage due, — see " Postage 
 
 due stamps" 
 " Postmasters', The q 
 
 " "Sample" 16, 
 
 " "Specimen", — see "Specimen 
 
 stamps " 
 " Unpaid letter, — see " Unpaid 
 letter stamps" 
 Standard paper 153 
 
 Stanton, Edward M. 121 
 
 Starched paper, 1873-75 135 
 
 State department. The 257, 259 
 
 inverted medallions 267 
 special printing 356, 357 
 Statistics ; — see under each issue 
 Steam presses. Printings on 139 
 
 Printing on, required by 
 
 contract 153 
 
 Steamship 109 
 
 Steinmeyer, lohn F. 215 
 
 Stamps of 220 
 
 Streets of cities made post routes 65 
 
 Stuart, Gilbert, Portrait of Washington 
 
 after 60, 67, 75, 109 
 
 Portrait of iVladison after i8r 
 Surcharged as Postage due stamps. 
 
 Ordinary stamps 341 
 
 " for Cuba, Stamps 197 
 
 " " Guam " 197, 255 
 
 " " Philippine Islands, 
 
 Stamps 197, 255 
 
 " " Puerto Rico, Stamps 197, 255 
 
 " " I. R.", Stamps 197 
 
 " official stamps. Error of 356, 402 
 " Postage due stamps, 
 
 bisected and 342 
 
 Surfaced paper. Gray, Post Office 
 
 department 267 
 
 Taylor, Gen. Zachary 
 Ten cents : 
 
 1847 
 
 1847, reprint 
 
 1851-57 
 
 1851-571 reprint 
 
 1851-57, tjfpes of 
 
 1851-57, bisected 
 
 1857-60, types of 
 
 1861 
 
 i86r, reprint 
 
 1867 
 
 1S69 
 
 133 
 
 60 
 346 
 
 67 
 348 
 
 69 
 
 71 
 76 
 
 84 
 
 349 
 102 
 109 
 
4i6 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 
 
 
 I'AGE. 
 
 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Ten cents : 
 
 
 Three cents : 
 
 
 1869, reprint 
 
 351 
 
 
 1869, bisected 
 
 114 
 
 1870 
 
 121 
 
 
 1869, reprint 
 
 351 
 
 1873-75, secret mark 
 
 132 
 
 
 1870 
 
 121 
 
 1873-75. repimt 
 
 352 
 
 
 1873-75, secret mark 
 
 132 
 
 1873-75, reprint of 1880 
 
 353 
 
 
 1873-75, reprint 
 
 352 
 
 1881-82 
 
 J47 
 
 
 1873-75, reprint of 1880 
 
 353 
 
 1890 
 
 163 
 
 
 1881-82 
 
 147 
 
 1893 
 
 173 
 
 
 1887 
 
 154 
 
 1898 
 
 192 
 
 
 1890 
 
 162 
 
 1901 
 
 20O 
 
 
 1893 
 
 173 
 
 Special delivery 
 
 250 
 
 
 Newspaper 295 
 
 . 305 
 
 Newspaper, 1865 
 
 289 
 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 361 
 
 Newspaper, 1865, reprint 
 
 360 I 
 
 
 Postage due, 1879 
 
 330 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 
 
 295 
 
 
 Postage due, 1879, special 
 
 
 Newspaper, 1875, reprint 
 
 361 
 
 
 printing 
 
 364 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 
 
 304 
 
 
 Postage due, 1894-95 
 
 337 
 
 Newspaper, 1895 
 
 320 
 
 Three dollars : 
 
 
 Postage due, 1879 
 
 330 
 
 
 1893 
 
 173 
 
 Postage due, 1879, special 
 
 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 
 
 296 
 
 printing 
 
 364 
 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 
 
 304 
 
 Postage due, 1894-05 
 
 337 
 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 36 z 
 
 Ten dollars : 
 
 
 Train ", 
 
 "Troops Guarding 
 
 192 
 
 State deparment 
 
 259 
 
 Trans-M 
 
 ississippi series 
 
 191 
 
 Newspaper, 1895 
 
 320 
 
 Treasury department. The 257 
 
 . 259 
 
 Newspaper, 1895, reprint 
 
 363 
 
 
 special prmting 
 
 356 
 
 Thirty cents : 
 
 
 Triangle, 
 
 , Varieties of 
 
 180 
 
 1856, imperforate 
 
 71 
 
 "Troops Guarding Train " 
 
 192 
 
 1857-60 
 
 76 
 
 Trumbull, — Portrait of Washington by 
 
 .. 7^ 
 
 1857-60, reprint 
 
 348 
 
 
 " Declaration of Independence 
 
 
 1857-60, the black 
 
 78 
 
 
 by 
 
 no 
 
 1861 
 
 85 
 
 Twelve cents : 
 
 
 1861, reprint 
 
 350 
 
 
 1851-57 
 
 67 
 
 1867, grilled all over 
 
 100 
 
 
 1851-57. reprint 
 
 348 
 
 1867 
 
 lOI 
 
 
 1851-57, bisected 
 
 70 
 
 1869 
 
 no 
 
 
 1861 : 
 
 84 
 
 1869, inverted medallion 
 
 112 
 
 
 1861, reprint 
 
 349 
 
 1869, reprint 
 
 351 
 
 
 1867 
 
 102 
 
 1870 
 
 122 
 
 
 1869 
 
 109 
 
 1870-73, secret mark 
 
 132 
 
 
 1869, reprint 
 
 349 
 
 1870-73, reprint 
 
 352 
 
 
 1870 
 
 122 
 
 1870-73, reprint of 1880 
 
 353 
 
 
 1873-75, secret mark 
 
 132 
 
 1888 
 
 154 
 
 
 1873-75. reprint 
 
 352 
 
 1890 
 
 163 
 
 
 1873-75, reprint of 1880 
 
 353 
 
 J.®93 ^ 
 
 173 
 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 
 
 295 
 
 Postage due, 1879 
 
 330 
 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 
 
 304 
 
 Postage due, 1879, special 
 
 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 361 
 
 printing 
 
 364 
 
 Twelve dollars : ' ' 
 
 
 Postage due, 1894-95 
 
 337 
 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 
 
 296 
 
 Thirty-six cents : 
 
 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 
 
 305 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 
 
 295 
 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 3^2 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 
 
 304 
 
 Twenty dollars :' ' ' 
 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 361 
 
 
 State department 
 
 259 
 
 Thirty-six dollars : 
 
 
 
 Newspaper 
 
 320 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 
 
 296 
 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 363 
 
 Newspaper, 1879 
 
 305 
 
 Twenty-four cents : 
 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 362 
 
 
 1856, imperforate 
 
 -7t 
 
 Three cents : 
 
 
 
 1857-60 
 
 75 
 
 1851-55 
 
 66 
 
 
 1857-60, reprint 
 
 348 
 
 1851-57, types of 
 
 68,69 
 
 
 1 861 
 
 84 
 
 1851-57, bisected 
 
 70, 401 
 
 
 1 861, reprint 
 
 350 
 
 1857-60, types of 
 
 76 
 
 
 1869 
 
 no 
 
 1857, reprint 
 
 348 
 
 
 1869, inverted medallion 
 
 112 
 
 1861 
 
 83 
 
 
 1869, reprint 
 
 351 
 
 1861, scarlet 
 
 90 
 
 
 1870 
 
 122 
 
 i86r, reprint 
 
 349 
 
 
 1873-75, secret mark 
 
 132 
 
 1867 
 
 lOI 
 
 
 1873 75, reprint 
 
 352 
 
 1869 
 
 109 
 
 
 1873-75. reprint of 1880 
 
 353 
 
INDEX. 
 
 417 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 304 
 361 
 
 296 
 305 
 362 
 
 289 
 320 
 360 
 
 90 
 90 
 
 349 
 loi 
 109 
 
 351 
 121 
 
 131 
 352 
 353 
 151 
 151 
 354 
 154 
 162 
 164 
 172 
 
 174 
 189 
 192 
 200 
 402 
 266 
 Newspaper 295, 305 
 
 Newspaper, reprint 360 
 
 Newspaper, 1895 320 
 
 Postage due, 1879 33° 
 
 Postage due, 1879, special 
 
 printing 364 
 
 Postage due, 1894-95 337 
 
 Two dollars : 
 
 1893 173 
 
 1894-95 181 
 
 1898 192 
 
 State department 259 
 
 Twenty-four cents : 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 
 Newspaper, 1879 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 Twenty-four dollars : 
 
 Newspaper, 1875 
 Newspaper, 1879 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 Twenty-five cents : 
 
 Newspaper, 1865 
 Newspaper, 1895 
 Newspaper, reprint 
 
 Two cents : 
 
 1863 
 
 1863, bisected 
 
 1861, reprint 
 
 1867 
 
 1869 
 
 1869, reprint 
 
 1870 
 
 1873-75, secret mark 
 
 1873-75. reprint 
 
 1873-75, reprint of 1880 
 
 1883 
 
 1883, varieties 
 
 1883, reprint 
 
 1887 
 
 1890 
 
 1890, capped numerals 
 
 1893 
 
 1893, imperforate 
 
 1894-95, counterfeit 
 
 1898 
 
 1901 
 
 1901, inverted medallion 
 
 Navy department, green 
 
 Newspaper, 1895 
 Type-set seals 
 
 320 
 372 
 
 Union, Universal Postal, Countries in 
 
 the 132 
 
 United States City Despatch Post 228 
 
 Universal Postal Congress, Stamps 
 
 overprinted for 189 Youth, Goddess of 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Newspaper stamps 
 
 overprinted for 324 
 Postage due stamps 
 
 overprinted for 340 
 Special delivery stamps 
 
 overprinted for 255 
 Universal Postal Union, Countries in the 132 
 Postage due stamps 
 
 delivered to 340 
 Stamps of 1898 
 
 delivered to 198 
 "U. S. I. R." watermark 182 
 
 U. S. Mail (New York Carriers' stamp) 231 
 "U. S. P. S." watermark 181 
 
 Unissued Official stamps. Schedule of 285 
 Unpaid letter stamps, — see " Postage 
 due stamps " 
 
 Vanderlyn, — " Landing of Columbus" 
 
 by 109, 172 
 
 Vesta 296 
 
 Victory, Goddess of 296 
 
 War department, The 257, 259 
 
 special printing 357 
 
 Washington, D. C. 52 
 Washington, George (Portrait oO 
 
 27, 32, 60, 66, 67, 75, 76, 83, 84, 
 
 109, 121, 151, 162, 227, 229, 230, 
 
 290. 
 
 Washington, General 76 
 
 Watermark U. S. I. R. i8t 
 
 U. S. P. S. 182 
 
 Waters, Asa H. 27 
 
 Webster, Daniel 122, 163 
 
 Webster, Worcester 20 
 
 Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Pony Express 
 
 Stamps : 238 
 Overland California Mail 239 
 Pony Express 239 
 tariiT on private corres- 
 pondence 240 
 " Garter " stamp 240 
 counterfeits 241, 243 
 reprints 241 
 West", " Farming in the 192 
 " Western Mining Prospector " 19Z 
 Wharton, David B , Stamps of 222 
 Wheel punch. Cog (Fletcher) 134 
 Wimer, John M. 45 
 Wisdom, Goddess of (Minerva) 296 
 Withdrawn, Unsold stamps (1893 or 
 
 Columbian series) I77 
 
 Wolcott, Statue of O. H. Perry 163 
 
 Worcester, Mass 54 
 
 296 
 
U.'S.P. 0. 
 
 PAID. 
 
 i 1 Cent 11 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, Pa. 
 
 U.S. P.O. 
 PAID. 
 1 Cinl II 
 
 iS 
 
 ^'> 
 
 u.s.p.o^ 
 
 PAIDj I 
 1 Cent. II I 
 
 I . S. P. 0. |i 
 PAID, il 
 1 CenMI 
 
 U.S.P.O. 
 PAID- 
 11 Cents 
 
 tf.S.P.O. 
 . P'AID. 
 [ L 1 Cents 
 
 fflflent 
 
 »•(!■. :r.s.p.o. U.S.F.O. I 
 
 Q4 PAID. J PAID- I 
 iT^I lICeiit.sJ llCtnU f 
 
 U. S. P. 0. 
 PAID. 
 1 1 CentP 
 
 U.S.P.0. 
 
 PAID. 
 
 1 Cent. S 
 
 f,PAID]j , , „ . 
 
 P.O. 
 PAID. 
 
 it^^ 
 
 1849-50. 
 
 PAID 
 
CHARLESTON, S. C. 
 
 John If, H.inoiir, 
 
 Q 2C»*ils. It 
 
 (J lytl, :C, 
 
 til TbIiI, U 
 
 ^BONOrR^i O 
 ^CITV POIT.Q 
 
 ■^ 2Ceota. (} 
 
 Li l>ipa,_^ & 
 
 Paid, ra. 
 BonouR*8da/ 
 
 §CITV FOflT.^ 
 
 ]•:. J. kin(jMax. 
 
 l|city?o»t.©| 
 
 §P.id-2cte.§, 
 
 3) Fuld, (£ 
 9 'i Cuuta. <£ 
 
 JKlWJKAK'lj 
 
 a "Cems. o 
 
OFFICIAL SEALS. 
 
 Feb. 14, I.Syi. 
 
 I8,S.S 
 
 U. 8. PoBtOffIco Departmeril 
 
 OFFICIALLY SEALED. 
 
 Optntdjmvitl^ptttikt bv 
 
 
 U. S. Post Office DepaPtmant 
 
 OFFICIALLY SEALED. 
 
 Opened through mistake by 
 
 It. m 
 
 Tl*- -iJi- ■«, 
 
 OFFICIALLY. SEALED 
 
 Opened through mistake by 
 
ii--c,^s:^i;~L - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■', ■ it^iiti 
 
 ;U|: 
 
 
 ayyniiiH; 
 
 ::;=Biiii!Hi^