CHATS ON
POSTAGE STAMPS
BOOKS FOR COLLECTORS
_With Frontispieces and many Illustrations
Large Crown 8vo, cloth._
CHATS ON ENGLISH CHINA.
By Arthur Hayden.
CHATS ON OLD FURNITURE.
By Arthur Hayden.
CHATS ON OLD PRINTS.
(How to collect and value Old Engravings.)
By Arthur Hayden.
CHATS ON COSTUME.
By G. Woolliscroft Rhead.
CHATS ON OLD LACE AND NEEDLEWORK.
By E. L. Lowes.
CHATS ON ORIENTAL CHINA.
By J. F. Blacker.
CHATS ON OLD MINIATURES.
By J. J. Foster, F.S.A.
CHATS ON ENGLISH EARTHENWARE.
By Arthur Hayden.
CHATS ON AUTOGRAPHS.
By A. M. Broadley.
CHATS ON PEWTER.
By H. J. L. J. Massé, M.A.
CHATS ON POSTAGE STAMPS.
By Fred. J. Melville.
CHATS ON OLD JEWELLERY AND TRINKETS.
By MacIver Percival.
CHATS ON COTTAGE AND FARMHOUSE FURNITURE.
By Arthur Hayden.
CHATS ON OLD COINS.
By Fred. W. Burgess.
CHATS ON OLD COPPER AND BRASS.
By Fred. W. Burgess.
CHATS ON HOUSEHOLD CURIOS.
By Fred. W. Burgess.
CHATS ON OLD SILVER.
By Arthur Hayden.
CHATS ON JAPANESE PRINTS.
By Arthur Davison Ficke.
CHATS ON MILITARY CURIOS.
By Stanley C. Johnson.
CHATS ON OLD CLOCKS AND WATCHES.
By Arthur Hayden.
CHATS ON ROYAL COPENHAGEN PORCELAIN.
By Arthur Hayden.
* * * * *
LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN, LTD.
NEW YORK: F. A. STOKES COMPANY
* * * * *
[Illustration: SIR ROWLAND HILL.
(_From the painting by J. A. Vinter, R.A., in the National Portrait
Gallery._)
Frontispiece.]
CHATS ON
POSTAGE STAMPS
BY
FRED J. MELVILLE
PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR PHILATELIC SOCIETY
WITH SEVENTY-FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS
NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
(_All rights reserved._)
PREFACE
Come and chat in my stamp-den, that I may encircle you with fine-spun
webs of curious and rare interest, and bind you for ever to Philately,
by which name we designate the love of stamps. The "den" presents
no features which would at first sight differentiate it from a snug
well-filled library, but a close inspection will reveal that many of
the books are not the products of Paternoster Row or of Grub Street.
Yet in these stamp-albums we shall read, if you will have the kindness
to be patient, many things which are writ upon the postage-stamps of
all nations, as in a world of books.
It is not given to all collectors to know their postage-stamps. There
is the collector who merely accumulates specimens without studying
them. He has eyes, but he does not see more than that this stamp is
red and that one is blue. He has ears, but they only hear that this
stamp cost £1,000, and that this other can be purchased wholesale at
sixpence the dozen. What shall it profit him if he collect many stamps,
but never discover their significance as factors in the rapid spread
of civilisation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries? The true
student of stamps will extract from them all that they have to teach;
he will read from them the development of arts and manufactures,
social, commercial and political progress, and the rise and fall of
nations.
To the young student our pleasant pastime of stamp-collecting has to
offer an encouragement to habits of method and order, for without these
collecting can be productive of but little pleasure or satisfaction.
It will train him to be ever observant of the _minutiæ_ that matter,
and it will broaden his outlook as he surveys his stamps "from China to
Peru."
The present volume is not intended as a complete guide to the
postage-stamps of the world; it is rather a companion volume to the
standard catalogues and numerous primers already available to the
collector. It has been my endeavour to indicate what counts in modern
collecting, and to emphasise those features of the higher Philately
of to-day which have not yet been fully comprehended by the average
collector. Some of my readers may consider that I have unduly appraised
the value in a stamp collection of pairs and blocks, proofs and essays,
of documental matter, and also that too much has been demanded in the
matter of condition. But all these things are of greater importance
than is realised by even the majority of members of the philatelic
societies. Condition in particular is a factor which, if disregarded,
will not only result in the formation of an unsatisfactory collection,
but will lessen, if not ruin, the collection as an investment. It
has been thought that as time passed on the exacting requirements of
condition would have to be relaxed through the gradual absorption
of fine copies of old stamps in great collections. The effect has,
however, been simply to raise the prices of old stamps in perfect
condition. It may be taken as a general precept that a stamp in fine
condition at a high price is a far better investment than a stamp in
poor condition at any price.
In preparing the illustrations for this volume I am indebted to several
collectors and dealers, chiefly to Mr. W. H. Peckitt, who has lent me
some of the fine items from the "Avery" collection, to Messrs. Stanley
Gibbons, Ltd., whose name is as a household word to stamp-collectors
all over the world, and to Messrs. Charles Nissen, D. Field, and
Herbert F. Johnson.
I should also be omitting a very important duty if I failed to
acknowledge the general readiness of collectors, and especially of my
colleagues the members of the Junior Philatelic Society both at home
and abroad, in keeping me constantly _au courant_ with new information
connected with the pursuit of Philately. Without such assistance in
the past, this work, and the score of others which have come from my
pen, could never have been undertaken; and perhaps the best token of
my appreciation of so many kindnesses will be to beg (as I now do) the
favour of their continuance in the future.
FRED J. MELVILLE.
CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFACE 7
PHILATELIC TERMS 21
CHAPTER I
THE GENESIS OF THE POST 55
The earliest letter-carriers--The Roman _posita_--Princely
Postmasters of Thurn and Taxis--Sir Brian Tuke--Hobson
of "Hobson's Choice"--The General Letter Office of
England--Dockwra's Penny Post of 1680--Povey's "Halfpenny
Carriage"--The Edinburgh and other Penny Posts--Postal rates
before 1840--Uniform Penny Postage--The Postage Stamp regarded
as the royal _diplomata_--The growth of the postal business.
CHAPTER II
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IDEA 77
Early instances of contrivances to denote prepayment
of postage--The "Two-_Sous_" Post--_Billets de port
payé_--A passage of wit between the French Sappho and M.
Pellisson--Dockwra's letter-marks--Some fabulous stamped
wrappers of the Dutch Indies--Letter-sheets used in
Sardinia--Lieut. Treffenberg's proposals for "Postage Charts"
in Sweden--The postage-stamp idea "in the air"--Early British
reformers and their proposals--The Lords of the Treasury start
a competition--Mr. Cheverton's prize plan--A find of papers
relating to the contest--A square inch of gummed paper--The
Sydney embossed envelopes--The Mulready envelope--The
Parliamentary envelopes--The adhesive stamp popularly preferred
to the Mulready envelope.
CHAPTER III
SOME EARLY PIONEERS OF PHILATELY 113
"Hobbyhorsical" collections--The application of the term
"Foreign Stamp Collecting"--The Stamp Exchange in Birchin
Lane--A celebrated lady stamp-dealer--The Saturday rendezvous
at the All Hallows Staining Rectory--Prominent collectors
of the first period--The first stamp catalogues--The words
_Philately_ and _Timbrologie_--Philatelic periodicals--Justin
Lallier's albums--The Philatelic Society, London.
CHAPTER IV
ON FORMING A COLLECTION 133
The cost of packet collections--The beginner's
album--Accessories--Preparation of stamps for mounting--The
requirements of "condition"--The use of the stamp-hinge--A
suggestion for the ideal mount--A handy gauge for use in
arranging stamps--"Writing-up."
CHAPTER V
THE SCOPE OF A MODERN COLLECTION 151
The historical collection: literary and philatelic--The quest
for _rariora_--The "grangerising" of philatelic monographs: its
advantages and possibilities--Historic documents--Proposals and
essays--Original drawings--Sources of stamp-engravings--Proofs
and trials--Comparative rarity of some stamps in pairs, &c., or
on original envelopes--Coloured postmarks--Portraits, maps, and
contemporary records--A lost opportunity.
CHAPTER VI
ON LIMITING A COLLECTION 197
The difficulties of a general collection--The unconscious
trend to specialism--Technical limitations: Modes of
production; Printers--Geographical groupings: Europe and
divisions--Suggested groupings of British Colonies--United
States, Protectorates and Spheres of Influence--Islands of the
Pacific--The financial side of the "great" philatelic countries.
CHAPTER VII
STAMP-COLLECTING AS AN INVESTMENT 209
The collector, the dealer, and the combination--The factor
of expense--Natural rise of cost--Past possibilities in
British "Collector's Consols," in Barbados, in British
Guiana, in Canada, in "Capes"--Modern speculations: Cayman
Islands--Further investments: Ceylon, Cyprus, _Fiji Times_
Express, Gambia, India, Labuan, West Indies--The "Post
Office" Mauritius--The early Nevis, British North America,
Sydney Views, New Zealand--Provisionals: _bonâ fide_ and
speculative--Some notable appreciations--"Booms."
CHAPTER VIII
FORGERIES, FAKES, AND FANCIES 237
Early counterfeits and their exposers--The "honest"
facsimile--"Album Weeds"--Forgeries classified--Frauds on
the British Post Office--Forgeries "paying" postage--The One
Rupee, India--Fraudulent alteration of values--The British 10s.
and £1 "Anchor"--A too-clever "fake"--Joined pairs--Drastic
tests--New South Wales "Views" and "Registered"--The Swiss
Cantonals--Government "imitations"--"Bogus" stamps.
CHAPTER IX
FAMOUS COLLECTIONS 261
The "mania" in the 'sixties--Some wonderful early
collections--The first auction sale--Judge Philbrick and his
collection--The Image collection--Lord Crawford's "United
States" and "Great Britain"--Other great modern collections--M.
la Rénotière's "legions of stamps"--Synopsis of sales of
collections.
CHAPTER X
ROYAL AND NATIONAL COLLECTIONS 303
The late Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as a collector--King
George's stamps: Great Britain, Mauritius, British Guiana,
Barbados, Nevis--The "King of Spain Reprints"--The late Grand
Duke Alexis Michaelovitch--Prince Doria Pamphilj--The "Tapling"
Collection--The Berlin Postal Museum--The late Duke of
Leinster's bequest to Ireland--Mr. Worthington's promised gift
to the United States.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 333
INDEX 351
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT
PAGE
Perforation Gauge 43
The Commemorative Letter Balance designed by Mr. S. King, of Bath
(1840). A monument "which may be possessed by every family in the
United Kingdom" 72
Mr. King's Letter Balance had a tripod base, as in the uppermost
figure, thus affording three tablets on which the associations of
J. Palmer, Rowland Hill, and Queen Victoria with postal reform
are recorded 73
A Facsimile of the Address Side of a Penny Post Letter in 1686,
showing the "Peny Post Payd" mark instituted by Dockwra and
continued by the Government authorities 83
Facsimile of the Contents of the Penny Post Letter of 1686 84
The Official Notification of December 3, 1818, relating to the use
of the Sardinian Letter Sheets. Described in the records of the
Schroeder collection as "the oldest official notification of any
country in the world relating to postage-stamps" 86
(_Continuation from previous page._) The models show the
devices for the three denominations: 15, 25, and 50 centesimi
respectively 87
Proof of the Mulready Envelope, signed by Rowland Hill. (From the
"Peacock" Papers) 111
Gauge for Arranging Stamps in a Blank Album 144
Autograph Letter from Rowland Hill to John Dickinson, the
paper-maker, asking for six or eight sheets of the silk-thread
paper for trial impressions of the adhesive stamps 164
Original Sketch for the "Canoe" Type of Fiji Stamps 169
A Postal Memento of New Zealand's "Universal Penny Postage,"
January 1, 1901 190
The First Postage Stamp of the present reign, together with the
Post Office notice concerning its issue on November 4, 1910 193
The Official Notice of the Issue of the New Stamps of Great Britain
for the reign of King George V. 195
LIST OF PLATES
Sir Rowland Hill. (From the painting by J. A. Vinter, R.A., in the
National Portrait Gallery) _Frontispiece_
Examples of some Philatelic Terms:--A _Pair_ of Great Britain
embossed Sixpence.--A _Pair_ of Cape of Good Hope Triangular
Shilling.--A _Block_ of four Great Britain Penny Red.--A _Strip_
of three Grenada "4d." on Two Shillings 25
Examples of some Philatelic Terms:--The figures "201" indicate
the _Plate Number_, and "238" the _Current Number_. The
_Plate Number_ is also on each of these stamps in microscopic
numerals.--Corner pair showing _Current Number_ "575" in
margin.--Corner pair showing _Plate Number_ "15" in margin. The
_Plate Number_ is also seen in small figures on each stamp.--The
above stamps are those of Great Britain _overprinted_ for use in
Cyprus 29
Examples of some Philatelic Terms:--A sheet of stamps of Gambia,
composed of two _Panes_ of sixty stamps each.--The single "Crown
and CA" watermark, as it appears looking from the back of the
Gambia sheet illustrated above. The watermark is arranged in
panes to coincide with the impressions from the plate 33
Examples of some Philatelic Terms:--A "Bisect," or "Bisected
Provisional." The One Penny stamp of Jamaica was in 1861
permitted to be cut in halves diagonally, and each half used as a
halfpenny stamp 37
Examples of some Philatelic Terms:--Photograph of a flat steel
_die_ engraved in _taille douce_ (_i.e._, with the lines of
the design cut into the plate). The stamp is the 50 lepta of
Greece, issue of 1901, showing Hermes adapted from the Mercury of
Giovanni da Bologna 51
Scarce Pamphlet (first page) in which William Dockwra announces the
Penny Post of 1680 65
A Post Office in 1790 69
Sardinian Letter Sheet of 1818: 15 centesimi.--The 25 centesimi
Letter Sheet of Sardinia. Issued in Sardinia, 1818; the earliest
use of Letter Sheets with embossed stamps 89
The highest denomination, 50 centesimi, of the Sardinian Letter
Sheets.--One of the temporary envelopes issued for the use of
members of the House of Lords, prior to the issue of stamps and
covers to the public, 1840 93
The "James Chalmers" Essay.--Rough sketches in water-colours
submitted by Rowland Hill to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for
the first postage stamps 99
Hitherto unpublished examples of the proposals submitted to the
Lords of the Treasury in 1839 in competition for prizes offered
in connection with the Penny Postage plan. (From the Author's
Collection) 103
The address side of the model letter which has the stamp (shown
below) affixed to the back as a seal.--Another of the unpublished
essays submitted in the competition of 1839 for the Penny Postage
plan. (From the Author's Collection) 107
A Postage Stamp "Chart"--one of the early forms of stamp-collecting 119
The small "experimental" plate from which impressions of the Two
Pence, Great Britain, were made on "Dickinson" paper. Only two
rows of four stamps were impressed on each piece of the paper.
(_Cf._ next plate) 157
The Two Pence, Great Britain, on "Dickinson" paper. The upper block
is in red (24 stamps printed in all, of which nine copies are
known), and the lower block in blue (16 stamps printed, of which
twelve copies are known). The above blocks of six each are in the
possession of Mr. Lewis Evans; the pairs cut from the left side
of each block were in the collection of the late Mrs. John Evans 161
One of the rough pencil sketches by W. Mulready, R.A., for the
envelope. The "flying" figures are not shown in this sketch 165
Engraver's proof of the Queen's head die for the first adhesive
postage stamps, with note in the handwriting of Edward Henry
Corbould attributing the engraving to Frederick Heath 173
An exceptional block of twenty unused One Penny black stamps,
lettered "V R" in the upper corners for official use. (From the
collection of the late Sir William Avery, Bart.) 177
An envelope bearing the rare stamp issued in 1846 by the Postmaster
of Millbury, Massachusetts.--One of the stamps issued by the
Postmaster of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during the Civil War, 1861 181
Another of the Confederate States rarities issued by the Postmaster
of Goliad, Texas.--The stamp issued by the Postmaster of
Livingston, Alabama. (From the "Avery" Collection) 183
The One Penny "Post Office" Mauritius on the original letter-cover.
(From the "Duveen" Collection) 187
A roughly printed card showing the designs and colours for the
Unified "Postage and Revenue" stamps of Great Britain, 1884 191
The King's copy of the Two Pence "Post Office" Mauritius
stamp.--The magnificent unused copies of the One Penny and Two
Pence "Post Office" Mauritius stamps acquired by Henry J. Duveen,
Esq., out of the collection formed by the late Sir William Avery,
Bart. 225
The famous "Stock Exchange" Forgery of the One Shilling green stamp
of Great Britain.--A Genuine "Plate 6."--One specimen was used on
October 31, 1872, and the other on June 13 of the next year. The
enlargements betray trifling differences in the details of the
design, as compared with the genuine stamp above 245
The unique envelope of Annapolis (Maryland, U.S.A.) in Lord
Crawford's collection of stamps of the United States 279
Part sheet (175 stamps) of the ordinary One Penny black stamp
of Great Britain, 1840. (From the collection of the Earl of
Crawford, K.T.) 283
Nearly a complete sheet (219 stamps out of 240) of the highly
valued One Penny black "V R" stamp, intended for official use.
(From the collection of the Earl of Crawford, K.T.) 285
Part sheet (lacking but six horizontal rows) of the scarce Two
Pence blue stamp "without white lines" issued in Great Britain,
1840. (From the collection of the Earl of Crawford, K.T.) 287
The unique block of the "double Geneva" stamp, the rarest of the
Swiss "Cantonals." (Formerly in the "Avery" Collection, now in
the possession of Henry J. Duveen, Esq.) 291
Part sheet of the scarce 5c. "Large Eagle" stamp of Geneva, showing
the marginal inscription at the top. (From the collection of
Henry J. Duveen, Esq.) 293
A Page of the 5 cents. and 13 cents. Hawaiian "Missionary" stamps.
(From the "Crocker" Collection) 297
Hawaiian Islands, 1851. The 5 cents "Missionary" stamp on original
envelope. (From the "Crocker" Collection) 299
A Page from the King's historic collection of the stamps of Great
Britain, showing the method of "writing up" 307
The three copies of the unissued 2d. "Tyrian-plum" stamp of Great
Britain, in the collection of H.M. the King. The one on the
envelope is the only specimen known to have passed through the
post 309
Design for the King Edward One Penny stamp, approved and initialled
by His late Majesty. (From the collection of H.M. King George V.) 313
The companion design to that on page 313, and showing the correct
pose of the head, but in a different frame which was not adopted.
(From the collection of H.M. the King) 315
A Page of the One Penny "Post Paid" stamps of Mauritius. (In the
collection of H.M. the King) 319
The Two Pence "Post Paid" stamp of Mauritius. Unique block showing
the error (the first stamp in the illustration), lettered "PENOE"
for "PENCE". (In the collection of H.M. the King) 323
A specimen page from the "Tapling" Collection at the British
Museum. Probably the most valuable page, showing the Hawaiian
"Missionaries." The two stamps at the top have been removed from
the cases and are now kept in a safe in the "Cracherode" Room 327
PHILATELIC
TERMS
PHILATELIC TERMS
ALBINO.--An impression made either from an uninked embossing die,
or from a similar inked die, under which two pieces of paper
have been simultaneously placed, only the upper one receiving
the colour.
ANILINE.--A term strictly applicable to coal-tar colours, but
commonly used for brilliant tones very soluble in water.
BÂTONNÉ.--_See_ PAPER.
BISECT.--A term applied to a moiety of a stamp, used as of half the
value of the entire label.
BLEUTÉ.--This word implies that the blueness of the paper has been
acquired since the stamp was printed, as the result of chemical
action.
BLOCK.--An unsevered group of stamps, consisting of at least two
horizontal rows of two each.
BOGUS.--An expression applied to any stamp not designed for use.
BURELÉ.--A fine network forming part of design of stamp, or
covering the front or back of entire sheet.
CANCELLED TO ORDER.--Stamps which, though postmarked or otherwise
obliterated, have not done postal or fiscal duty.
CENTIMETRE (CM.).--The one-hundredth part of a metre = .3937 inch.
CHALKY, OR CHALK-SURFACED.--Before being used for printing, paper
sometimes has its surface coated with a preparation largely
composed of chalk or similar substance: this renders the
print liable to rub off if wetted; and, in combination with a
doubly-fugitive ink, renders fraudulent cleaning practically
impossible.
CLICHÉ.--The ultimate production from the DIE, and of a number of
which the printing PLATE is composed.
COLOUR TRIALS.--Impressions taken in various colours from a plate,
so that a selection may be made.
COMB MACHINE.--A variety of perforating machine, which produces, at
each descent of the needles, a line of holes along a horizontal
(or vertical) row of stamps, and a short line of holes down the
two sides (or top and bottom) of each stamp in that horizontal
(or vertical) row. And _see_ PERFORATION.
COMMEMORATIVES.--A term applied to labels issued chiefly for sale
to collectors, and commemorating the contemporaneous happening,
or the anniversary, centenary, &c, of some often unimportant or
almost forgotten event.
COMPOUND.--_See_ PERFORATION.
CONTROL.--An arbitrary letter or number, or both, printed on the
margin of a sheet of stamps, for facilitating a check on the
supply. Also used to denote a design overprinted on a stamp
(_e.g._ Persia, 1899) as a protection against forgery.
[Illustration: EXAMPLES OF SOME PHILATELIC TERMS.
A _Pair_ of Great Britain embossed Six Pence.
A _Pair_ of Cape of Good Hope Triangular Shilling.
A _Block_ of four Great Britain Penny Red.
A _Strip_ of three Grenada "4d." on Two Shillings.]
CURRENT NUMBER.--The consecutive number of a PLATE, irrespective of
the denomination of the stamp.
CUT-OUTS.--A term used to denote the impressions, originally part
of envelopes, postcards, &c., but cut off for use as ordinary
stamps.
CUT-SQUARES.--Stamps cut from envelopes, &c., with a rectangular
margin of paper attached, are known as "CUT-SQUARES."
DICKINSON PAPER.--_See_ PAPER.
DIE.--The original engraving from which the printing plates are
produced; or, sometimes, from which the stamps are printed
direct. _See_ PLATE and EMBOSSED.
DOUBLY-FUGITIVE.--_See_ FUGITIVE.
DOUBLE-PRINT.--Strictly applicable to two similar impressions,
more or less coincident, on the same piece of paper; though
often, but erroneously, applied to instances where the paper,
not being firmly held, has touched the plate, so receiving a
partial impression, and then, resuming its correct position,
has been properly printed.
DUTY-PLATE.--Many modern stamps are printed from two plates, one
being the same (KEY-PLATE, which see) for all the values, but
the other differing for each denomination: this latter is the
DUTY-PLATE.
ELECTRO.--A reproduction of the original die, made by means of a
galvanic battery from a secondary die. _See_ MATRIX.
EMBOSSED.--Stamps produced from a die, or reproductions thereof, on
which the design is cut to varying depths, are necessarily in
relief, _i.e._, embossed. And _see_ PRINTING.
ENGRAVED.--The term is often used to denote stamps printed direct
from a plate, on which the lines of the design are cut _into_
the metal. And _see_ PRINTING.
ENTIRES.--This expression includes not only POSTAL STATIONERY
(which see), but when used in describing an adhesive stamp, as
being "on entire," implies that the stamp is on the envelope or
letter as when posted.
ENVELOPE STAMP.--A stamp belonging to, and printed on, an envelope.
ERROR.--An incorrect stamp--either in design, colour, paper,
&c.--which has been issued for use.
ESSAY.--A rejected design for a stamp; in the French sense also
applied to proofs of accepted designs.
FACSIMILE.--A euphemism for a forgery.
FAKE.--A genuine stamp, which has been manipulated in order to
increase its philatelic or postal value.
FISCAL.--A stamp intended for payment of a duty or tax, as
distinguished from postage.
FLAP ORNAMENT.--This refers to the ornament (usually) embossed on
the tip of the upper flap of envelopes, and variously termed
ROSACE or TRESSE, or (incorrectly) PATTE, which see.
FUGITIVE.--Colours printed in "singly-fugitive" ink suffer on an
attempt to remove an ordinary ink cancellation; but if in
"doubly-fugitive" ink it _was_ thought that the removal of
_writing_-ink would injure the appearance of the stamp. And
_see_ CHALKY.
[Illustration: EXAMPLES OF SOME PHILATELIC TERMS.
The figures "201" indicate the _Plate Number_, and "238" the _Current
Number_. The _Plate Number_ is also on each of these stamps in
microscopic numerals.
Corner pair showing _Current Number_ "575" in margin.
Corner pair showing _Plate Number_ "15" in margin. The _Plate Number_
is also seen in small figures on each stamp.
The above stamps are those of Great Britain _overprinted_ for use in
Cyprus.]
GENERALISING.--The collecting of all the postage-stamps of the
world.
GOVERNMENT IMITATION.--Sometimes, when it is desired to reprint
an obsolete issue, the original dies or plates are not
forthcoming. New dies have, in these circumstances, been
officially made, and the resulting labels are euphemistically
called "Government imitations." "Forgeries" would be more
candid.
GRANITE.--_See_ PAPER.
GRILLE.--Small plain dots, generally arranged in a small rectangle,
but sometimes covering the entire stamp, embossed on certain
issues of Peru and the United States. The idea of this was to
so break up the fibre of the paper, as to allow the ink of the
postmark to penetrate it and render cleaning impossible.
GUILLOTINE.--The term used to define a perforating-machine which
punches a single straight line of holes at each descent of the
needles.
GUMPAP.--A fancy term of opprobrium applied to a stamp issued
purely for sale to collectors and not to meet a postal
requirement.
HAIR-LINE.--Originally used to indicate the fine line crossing
the outer angles of the corner blocks of some British stamps,
inserted to distinguish impressions from certain plates, this
term is now often employed to denote any fine line, in white or
in colour, and whether intentional or accidental, which may be
found on a stamp.
HAND-MADE.--_See_ PAPER.
HARROW.--The form of perforating-machine which is capable of
operating on an entire sheet of stamps at each descent of the
needles. And _see_ PERFORATION.
HEAD-PLATE.--_See_ KEY-PLATE.
IMPERFORATE.--Stamps which have not been PERFORATED or ROULETTED
(both of which see) are thus described.
IMPRIMATUR.--A word usually found in conjunction with "sheet," when
it indicates the first impression from a plate endorsed with an
official certificate to that effect, and a direction that the
plate be used for printing stamps.
IMPRINT.--The name of the printer, whether below each stamp, or
only on the margin of the sheet, is called the "imprint."
INVERTED.--Simply upside-down. And _see_ REVERSED.
IRREGULAR.--_See_ PERFORATION.
"JUBILEE" LINE.--Since 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's first
Jubilee--whence the name--a line of "printer's rule" has been
added round each pane, or plate, of most surface-printed
British and British Colonial stamps, in order to protect the
edges of the outer rows of CLICHÉS from undue wear and tear.
The "rule" shows as a coloured line on the sheets of stamps.
KEY-PLATE.--Stamps of the same design, when printed in two
colours, require two plates for each value; that which prints
the design (apart from the value, and sometimes the name of the
country), and is common to and used for two or more stamps, is
termed the HEAD-PLATE or KEY-PLATE. And _see_ DUTY-PLATE.
[Illustration: EXAMPLES OF SOME PHILATELIC TERMS.
A sheet of stamps of Gambia, composed of two _Panes_ of sixty stamps
each.
The single "Crown and CA" watermark as it appears looking from the
back of the Gambia sheet illustrated above. The watermark is arranged
in panes to coincide with the impressions from the plate.]
KNIFE.--This is a technical term for the cutter of the machine
which cuts out the (unfolded) envelope blank, and is
principally used in connection with the numerous varieties of
_shape_ in the United States envelopes, amongst which the same
size may show several variations in the flap.
LAID.--_See_ PAPER.
LAID BÂTONNÉ.--_See_ PAPER.
LINE-ENGRAVED.--Is properly applied to a print from a plate
engraved in TAILLE DOUCE (which see) but is often applied to
the plate itself.
LITHOGRAPHED.--Stamps printed from a design laid down on a stone
and neither raised nor depressed in the printing lines are
denoted by this term. And _see_ PRINTING.
LOCALS.--Stamps having a franking power within a definitely
restricted area.
MANILA.--_See_ PAPER.
MATRIX.--A counterpart impression in metal or other material from
an original die, and which in its turn is used to produce
copies exactly similar to the original die.
MILLIMETRE (MM.).--The one-thousandth part of a metre = .03937 inch.
MILL-SHEET.--_See_ SHEET.
MINT.--A term used to denote that a stamp or envelope, &c.,
is in exactly the same condition as when issued by the
post-office--unused, clean, unmutilated in the slightest degree
and with all the original gum undisturbed.
MIXED (PERFORATIONS).--In some of the 1901-7 stamps of New Zealand,
the original perforation was to some extent defective: such
portions of the sheet were patched with strips of paper on the
back and re-perforated, usually in a different gauge.
MOUNTED.--Usually applied to indicate that a stamp, which has been
trimmed close to the design, has had new margins added. And
_see_ FAKE.
NATIVE-MADE PAPER.--_See_ PAPER.
OBLITERATION.--A general term used for any mark employed to cancel
a stamp and so render it incapable of further use.
OBSOLETE.--Strictly, an obsolete stamp is one which has been
withdrawn from circulation and is no longer available for
postal use; but the term is often applied simply to old issues,
no longer on sale at the post-office.
ORIGINAL DIE.--The first engraved piece of metal, from which the
printing plates are directly or indirectly produced.
ORIGINAL GUM.--Practically all stamps were, before issue, gummed on
the back, and the actual gum so applied is known as "original":
the usual abbreviation is "o.g.": it is also implied in the
expression "MINT", which see.
OVERPRINT.--An inscription or device printed upon a stamp
additional to its original design. _Cf._ SURCHARGE.
PAIR.--Two stamps joined together as when originally printed.
Without qualification, a PAIR is generally accepted as being of
two stamps side by side: if a pair of two stamps joined top to
bottom is intended, it is spoken of as a _vertical_ pair.
[Illustration: EXAMPLES OF SOME PHILATELIC TERMS.
A "Bisect," or "Bisected Provisional." The One Penny stamp of Jamaica
was in 1861 permitted to be cut in halves diagonally, and each half
used as a halfpenny stamp.]
PANE.--Entire sheets of stamps are frequently divided into sections
by means of one or more spaces running horizontally or (and)
vertically between similarly sized groups of stamps: each of
these sections or groups is termed a PANE.
PAPER.--The two main divisions of PAPER are HAND-MADE and
MACHINE-MADE: the former is manufactured, as its name
indicates, by hand, sheet by sheet, by means of a special
apparatus; the latter is made entirely by the aid of machinery
and generally in long continuous rolls, which are afterwards
cut up as required.
Each of these, apart from its substance, which may vary from the
thinnest of tissue papers to almost thin card, is divisible
according to its texture, distinguishable on being held up to
the light, into--
WOVE, of perfectly plain even texture, such as is generally
used for books.
LAID: this shows lines close together, usually with other
lines, an inch or so apart, crossing them--"cream laid"
notepaper is an example.
BÂTONNÉ is wove paper, with very distinct lines as wide apart
as those on ordinary ruled paper.
LAID BÂTONNÉ: similar to BÂTONNÉ, but the spaces between the
distinct lines are filled in with laid lines close together.
QUADRILLÉ paper is marked with small squares or oblongs.
REP is the term applied to WOVE paper which has been passed
between ridged rollers, so that it becomes, to use a
somewhat exaggerated description, corrugated: the small
elevation or ridge on one side of the paper coincides with
a depression or furrow on the other side--the thickness of
the paper is the same throughout.
RIBBED paper, on the other hand, is different from REP, in that
one side is smooth and the other is in alternate furrows
and ridges--the paper is thinner in the furrows than it is
on the ridges.
NATIVE paper, so called, is yellowish or greyish, often with
the feel and appearance of parchment; generally laid
somewhat irregularly, but often wove. The early issues of
Cashmere and some of the stamps and cards of Nepal are
printed on native paper: it is always hand-made.
PELURE is a very thin, hard, tough paper, usually greyish in
colour.
MANILA is a strong, light, but coarse paper, and is used for
wrappers, large envelopes, &c.; usually it is smooth on one
side and rough on the other.
SAFETY paper contains ingredients which would make it very
difficult, if not impossible, to remove an obliteration
in writing-ink without at the same time destroying the
impression of the stamp: usually this paper is more or less
blued, owing to the use of prussiate of potash, and its
combination with impurities arising in the manufacture.
GRANITE paper is almost white, with short coloured fibres in
it, sometimes very visible, but at others necessitating the
use of a magnifying glass.
DICKINSON paper, so called from its inventor, has a continuous
thread, or parallel threads, of silk in the centre of its
substance, embedded there in the pulp at an early stage of
the manufacture.
PARAPHE is the flourish which is sometimes added at the end of a
signature: examples on stamps are found in the 1873-6 issues of
Porto Rico.
PATTE.--French for the loose flap of an envelope; it is sometimes
(but incorrectly) used for ROSACE or TRESSE, the ornament on
the flap.
PELURE.--_See_ PAPER.
PEN-CANCELLED denotes cancellation by pen-and-ink, as opposed to
the more customary postmark; it usually implies fiscal use.
PERCÉ is a French term denoting slits or pricks, no part of the
paper being removed, in contradistinction to PERFORATED, in
which small discs of paper are punched out. There are several
kinds of PERÇAGE, or, in English, ROULETTING:--
PERCÉ EN ARC, the cuts being curved, so that, on severing a
pair of stamps, the edge of one shows small arches, whilst
the other has a series of small scallops, something like,
but more curved than, the perforations on the edges of an
ordinary perforated stamp.
PERCÉ EN LIGNE: the cuts or slits are straight, as if a
continuous line had been broken up into small sections.
This variety usually goes by the English term ROULETTED.
PERCÉ EN POINTE denotes that the slits are comparatively large
and cut evenly in zigzag, so that the edges of a stamp show
a series of equal-sided triangular projections.
PERCÉ EN POINTS, usually expressed as PIN-PERFORATED, implies a
pricking of holes with a sharp point, but without removal
of paper, which is merely pushed aside.
PERCÉ EN SCIE is somewhat similar to PERCÉ EN POINTE, except
that the slits are smaller and are cut in uneven zigzag
(alternately long and short), so that the edge of a severed
stamp is like that of a fine saw.
PERCÉ EN SERPENTIN occurs when the paper is cut in
comparatively large wavy curves of varying depth, with
little breaks in the cutting which serve to hold the stamps
together.
And _see_ PERFORATED and PERFORATION.
PERFORATED--in French PIQUÉ. This word implies removal of small
discs of paper, not simply slits or cuts. And _see_ PERCÉ.
PERFORATION is either "regular," where the number of holes within
a similar space is constant along the entire row; or, where
the number varies more or less, "irregular." The gauge of
the perforations (or roulettes) of a stamp is measured by a
PERFORATION-GAUGE, a piece of metal, card, or celluloid, on
which is engraved or printed a long series of rows of dots,
each row being two centimetres in length and containing a
varying number of dots from, say, 6 to 17 or 18.
A stamp, the edge of which shows holes (perforated)
corresponding in spacing and number to the row on the gauge
marked, say "12," is said to be "perforated 12." If the stamp
gauges the same on all four sides, it is simply "perforated
..."; if the top and bottom are of one gauge, say 12, and
the sides, say, 14, the stamp would be perforated "12 × 14."
If the gauge varies on each of the four sides--an unlikely
combination--then the order of noting same is, top (say 12),
right (say 11), bottom (say 13), and left (say 15)--"perforated
12 × 11 × 13 × 15." In the above the gauges are supposed to be
regular.
[Illustration: PERFORATION GAUGE.]
Should, however, the gauge be irregular, the extremes are noted
even if not showing on the stamp: for instance, a stamp may
be perforated with a machine, which, in its entire length,
gradually varies from 12 to 16 holes in the two centimetres,
though the stamp itself does not show all those gauges. Such a
stamp would be "perforated 12 to 16."
On the other hand, a row of perforations, instead of gradually
altering in gauge, may do so abruptly; for instance, along a
row of holes, part may gauge 14, the next part 16, and then
16½, all quite distinct over a particular space. This would
be termed "perforated 14, 16, 16½," implying that the
intermediate gauges did not exist.
The use of a regular machine, in conjunction with one
of irregular gauge, might produce, say, "perforated 14"
(horizontally) "× 12 to 15" (vertically); and so on.
Stamps perforated, horizontally and vertically, by differently
gauged machines are sometimes said to be "perforated, compound
of ... and ...". There are many difficulties in the way of
obtaining a full knowledge of the combinations and vagaries of
perforating-machines.
PERFORATION-GAUGE.--A means of measuring PERFORATION or ROULETTE,
which see.
PHILATELIC.--The adjective of PHILATELY.
PHILATELIST.--One who studies stamps.
PHILATELY--from two Greek words, "φίλος" (= fond of) and "ἀτέλεια"
(= exemption from tax)--signifies a fondness for things (_viz._,
stamps) which denote an exemption from tax, _i.e._, that the tax,
or postage, has been paid. The word is a little far-fetched to
imply the _study_ of stamps, but as "Philately" has been the
accepted term for over forty years, "Philately" it will doubtless
remain, even if some one succeeds in finding a word which more
accurately expresses the popular and scientific hobby.
PIN-PERFORATED.--_See_ PERCÉ.
PLATE is the term used, not always quite correctly, to describe
the ultimate reproductions from the die which constitute the
printing surface in the manufacture of stamps: the word covers
not only a sheet of metal with stamps engraved on it, but also
a group of CLICHÉS or a _forme_ of _printer's type_ and even a
_lithographic_ stone.
PLATE NUMBER is the consecutive number of each plate of a
particular value, appearing on the margin of the plates and (in
some of the British series) on the stamps themselves.
POSTAL-FISCAL is a fiscal stamp the use of which for postal
purposes has been duly authorised, in contradistinction to a
"fiscal postally used," a use which has been tacitly permitted
in many countries.
POSTAL STATIONERY, _i.e._, envelopes, postcards, letter-cards,
wrappers, telegram forms, &c.: frequently termed ENTIRES.
POSTMARK.--The official obliteration applied to a stamp to prevent
its further postal use.
PRE-CANCELLED.--Two or three countries have adopted the system, to
save time in the post-office, of supplying sheets of stamps
cancelled prior to use. This may be a convenience, but the
practice undoubtedly opens the door to possible fraud.
PRINT is an impression taken from any die, plate, forme, or stone.
PRINTING, in its fullest sense, is reproducing from a DIE, PLATE,
STEREOTYPE, &c. (all of which see). There are, on this
definition, four kinds of production: "Embossing," where
the paper is impressed with a raised design, by pressure
from a cut-out die (_see_ EMBOSSED); "Surface-printing" or
"typography," where the portions of the plate which receive
the ink and print the design are raised: this process causes
a slight indentation on the surface of the paper and a
corresponding elevation at the back; "Printing direct from
plate" (so-called LINE-ENGRAVED, which see), in which the
portions to be inked are recessed: in this process, the printed
design on the stamps is in very slight relief, due to the ink
being taken from the recessed engraving. "Lithography" is
printing from a stone, on which the design has been drawn or
otherwise laid down: impressions from a stone are flat.
PROOF.--An impression, properly in black, from the die, plate,
or stone, taken in order to see if the design, &c., has been
properly engraved or reproduced.
PROVISIONAL.--A make-shift intended to supply a temporary want of
the proper stamp, which may have been unexpectedly sold out, or
may not have been supplied owing to lack of time.
QUADRILLÉ.--_See_ PAPER.
RE-ISSUE denotes the bringing again into use of a stamp which has
become obsolete, or at any rate has been long out of use at the
post-office; it sometimes implies a new printing.
REMAINDERS.--Stamps printed during the period of issue and left on
hand when that issue has gone out of use.
REPRINT.--Strictly a REPRINT is an impression taken from the
identical original die, plate, stone, or block, after the
stamps printed therefrom have gone out of use. The term is used
to include printings from new plates or stones, made from the
original die. And _see_ GOVERNMENT IMITATIONS.
REP.--_See_ PAPER.
RETOUCH, RE-SET, RE-ENGRAVED, RE-DRAWN, RE-CUT.--All these terms
have a somewhat similar meaning, and imply repairs to, or
alterations of, the die, plates, stones, or blocks: instances
of most drastic re-engraving are known, _e.g._, that of the
1848 Two Pence ("Post Paid") of Mauritius, the plate of which
was so altered as to produce a practically new stamp, the Two
Pence, "large fillet," of 1859; and the Half Tornese "Arms"
of Naples, which had the entire centre removed from each of
the two hundred impressions on the plate and replaced by the
Cross of Savoy. To differentiate--_retouching_ is generally
undertaken to remedy minor defects caused by wear and tear:
_re-setting_ suggests slight re-arrangement of stamps made
up, wholly or partly, of printer's type; _re-engraving_, the
replacing of parts of a design worn away by use or intention:
_re-drawing_ rather leads one to infer that the original design
has been reproduced in an improved form; and _re-cutting_
implies going over the original die, &c., and strengthening the
engraving, with, perhaps, slight accidental variations of the
design.
REVENUE.--This word indicates availability for fiscal use, as
distinguished from postal use. A stamp may be available for
either purpose, or for one only; the use is almost invariably
indicated by the inscription.
REVERSED.--Backwards-way; "as in a looking-glass." The term
is often, but quite erroneously, used for INVERTED--which
see--implying upside-down.
RIBBED.--_See_ PAPER.
ROSACE.--The small ornament frequently found on the upper flap of
old envelopes; known also as TRESSE.
ROUGH PERFORATION.--When the holes in the lower plate of the
perforating-machine get damaged or partly clogged up, or the
punches are very worn, the perforation becomes very defective,
the little discs of paper not being punched out, but (though
generally distinct) left only partly cut through: this state is
termed "rough," but must not be confused with PERCÉ EN POINTS
(pin-perforated), which see.
ROULETTED.--_See_ PERCÉ.
ROULETTED IN COLOURED LINES is a variety of rouletting, and always
so termed, in which the slits or cuts are made by means of type
("printer's rule") a little higher than the CLICHÉS or STEREOS
composing the plate, and which cut into the paper under the
pressure of the printing-press.
SAFETY PAPER.--_See_ PAPER.
"SEEBECKS."--The late Mr. N. F. Seebeck, the contractor to various
South American Republics had an arrangement under which there
was a new issue of stamps every year, he to retain for his
own benefit any demonetised remainders of the previous set:
stamps provided under such conditions are called after their
originator.
SE TENANT.--A French expression signifying that the stamps
referred to have not been separated: usually employed in
reference to an error, or variety, when still forming a pair
with a normal stamp.
SERPENTINE ROULETTE.--_See_ PERCÉ EN SERPENTIN.
SHEET (OF PAPER).--There are three "sheets": a mill-sheet, as
manufactured; a sheet as printed, which may be, and often is,
less than a mill-sheet; and a "post-office" sheet, either the
whole or an arbitrary part of a printed sheet, so divided for
convenience of reckoning.
SILK-THREAD PAPER.--_See_ PAPER (DICKINSON).
SINGLE-LINE PERFORATION.--_See_ GUILLOTINE.
SPANDREL is the term for the triangular space between a circle,
oval, or curve, and the rectangular frame enclosing it.
SPECIALISING.--To develop in a collection a complete record of
the inception, history, and use of the stamps of a particular
country, or group of countries, in the fullest and most
detailed manner. In contradistinction to GENERALISING (which
see).
STATIONERY.--_See_ ENTIRES.
STEREOTYPE OR STEREO.--A reproduction of the original design, made
by means of a _papier-maché_ or other mould, in type-metal. And
see MATRIX.
STRIP is the philatelic term for three or more stamps unsevered and
in the same row, horizontal or vertical.
SURCHARGE.--An overprint (which see) which alters the face value
of a stamp, or confirms it in the same or a new currency. The
term is loosely used to mean any overprint, but it is desirable
that its application be confined to inscriptions affecting the
denomination of face-value.
SURFACE-PRINTED, that is, printed by a process in which the parts
of the plate, &c., which produce the coloured portions of the
stamp are raised up. _See_ PRINTING.
TAILLE DOUCE.--When a design is cut into the substance of the plate
it is said to be engraved in TAILLE DOUCE. A familiar example
is a visiting-card plate.
TÊTE-BÊCHE is a French expression signifying the inversion of one
stamp of a pair (or more) in relation to the other stamp (or
stamps): naturally, the peculiarity disappears on severance,
and such varieties must necessarily be in a pair or more.
TONED, as applied to paper, implies a very slight buff tint.
TRESSE.--_See_ ROSACE.
TRIALS.--These are impressions from die, plate, stone, &c., taken
to ascertain if the design be correct, or to assist in the
selection of a suitable colour.
[Illustration: EXAMPLES OF SOME PHILATELIC TERMS.
Photograph of a flat steel _die_ engraved in _taille douce_ (_i.e._,
with the lines of the design cut into the plate). The stamp is the 50
lepta of Greece, issue of 1901, showing Hermes adapted from the Mercury
of Giovanni da Bologna.]
TYPE.--A representative common design, as distinguished from
"VARIETY," which indicates slight deviations therefrom.
TYPE-SET.--Stamps--_e.g._, the 1862 issue of British Guiana--have
sometimes been set up with ordinary _printer's type_, as used
for books, and the ornamental type-metal designs to be found in
a printing establishment.
TYPOGRAPHED.--_See_ SURFACE-PRINTED.
USED ABROAD.--Prior to certain countries and colonies having their
own stamps, British post-offices were established in them,
at which British stamps were to be purchased; such stamps,
identified by their postmarks as having been so used, are
termed "British _used abroad_." The stamps of other countries
have been similarly "used abroad."
VARIETY.--A slight variation from the normal design, or TYPE, which
see.
WATERMARKS.--A thinning of the substance of the paper, in the form
of letters, words, or designs, &c., during the manufacture.
On the paper being held up to the light, or placed on a dark
surface, the designs become more or less visible.
So-called "watermarks" are sometimes produced by impressing a
design on the paper _after_ manufacture; this has a somewhat
similar effect, though the paper is only pressed, not thinned.
WOVE.--_See_ PAPER.
WOVE BÂTONNÉ.--_See_ PAPER.
I
THE
GENESIS
OF THE
POST
CHAPTER I
THE GENESIS OF THE POST
The earliest letter carriers--The Roman _posita_--Princely
Postmasters of Thurn and Taxis--Sir Brian Tuke--Hobson
of "Hobson's Choice"--The General Letter Office of
England--Dockwra's Penny Post of 1680--Povey's "Halfpenny
Carriage"--The Edinburgh and other Penny Posts--Postal Rates
before 1840--Uniform Penny Postage--The Postage Stamp regarded
as the royal _diplomata_--The growth of the postal business.
Postage is so cheap and so easy to-day that we are apt to forget
how, not very many years ago, it was a privilege of the rich. To-day
the Post Office is no respecter of persons, and the "all swallowing
orifice of the pillar-box" receives without favour or distinction the
correspondence of the humble with the messages of the mighty. The Post
Office treats everything confided to its charge with the same organised
routine. In the palatial new edifice, King Edward the Seventh Building,
a few days before Christmas, a letter was handed to me for inspection
in the "Blind Division," where they deal with insufficiently addressed
letters. The missive bore in the handwriting of a little child, "To
Santa Claus, No. 1, Aerial Building, London." That letter, I was
informed, had to be passed through the Blind Division, thence to the
Returned Letter Office, where it would be opened to discover if the
enclosure contained any indication of the identity and whereabouts of
the writer. If not returnable, the letter would be preserved for a
period lest it should be claimed. The Department is as careful of the
precocious petitions of a child as it is of the papers of State which
it carries throughout the length and breadth of the land.
By all who would know the true love of stamps it must needs be
understood how postal matters were before the birth of the Penny Black.
Else we shall not fitly appreciate all the benefices that the "label
with the glutinous wash" has brought to our present civilisation.
Without this comparison of the old order with the new, we should be in
peril of passing over the true significance of the postage-stamp in the
surfeit of blessings it confers upon the world to-day. Postage to-day
is as fecund of bounties as a fruitful garden, yet do we accept all as
our rightful heritage, without giving much consideration to the little
postage-stamp which was the seed which, planted in every civilised
country of the earth, has yielded blessings in abundance.
So in our first chat, we would open up the book in which is told
the history of things that are written from one to another. The
first letter of which we have any particular knowledge was that by
which David achieved his evil purpose of sending Uriah the Hittite
to the forefront of the battle, that he might be smitten and die.
The unfortunate Uriah was himself the messenger, bearing the fatal
letter to Joab with his own hand. The brazen-faced Jezebel forged her
royal husband's name to letters, so our first meeting with letters in
scriptural history shows that they could be used to evil as well as to
good purpose.
As the Scythians made contracts one with another by mingling the warm
blood of their bodies in a cup and drinking thereof, so the Persians
used living letters in their early correspondence. Herodotus tells us
how they shaved the heads of their messengers and impressed or branded
the "writing" upon their scalps. Then they were shut up until the hair
had grown again and concealed the message, when the runners were sent
off upon their divers journeys. A messenger on reaching his destination
was again shaved and the epistle was made plain to the eyes of the
beholder.
This was a primitive method, one of many which had vogue amongst the
ancients. Under Darius I. the Persians had a service of Government
couriers, for whom were provided horses ready saddled at specified
distances on their route, so that the Government could send and receive
communications with the provinces. "Nothing in the world is borne so
swiftly as messages by the Persian couriers," says Herodotus.
The word "post" descends to us from the Roman _posita_ (_positus_ =
placed), and is a link between our posts of to-day and the _cursus
publicus_ of the time of Augustus. In those days of arms the
roads were laid for armies to traverse, not for traffic, and the
organisation of the _posita_ was military. Stations were established
at intervals on the chief routes, where couriers and magistrates could
be furnished with changes of horses (_mutationes_.) For the benefit of
the travellers _mansiones_ or night quarters were erected. These State
posts were only for the use of the Government, and they were ridden by
couriers who had, besides their own mount, a spare horse for carrying
the letters. Individuals were at times permitted to use the posts, for
which privilege they had to have the permits or _diplomata_ of the
Emperor. The Romans also had what may be compared with sea-posts, from
Ostia and other ports.
Foot-runners and messengers on horseback have been organised for
Government communications in most lands where civilisation has dawned,
even in remote times. In the West the Incas and the Aztecs had runners
from earliest times, and in the Orient carrier-pigeons provided an
additional means of communication.
It is not until the fifteenth century that we find posts in operation
on a more public scale, the first being a horse-post plying between
the Tyrol and Italy, set up by Roger of Thurn and Taxis in 1460.
From that modest beginning sprang the vast monopoly of the Counts of
Thurn and Taxis, which dominated the posts of the Continent during
five centuries, remaining into the early period of the postage-stamp
system. By 1500, Franz von Taxis was Postmaster-General of Austria,
the Low Countries, Spain, Burgundy, and Italy. In 1516 he connected
up Brussels and Vienna, and his successor Leonard provided a link
between Vienna and Nuremberg. In 1595, Leonard von Taxis was the
Grand Postmaster of the Holy Roman Empire, and he established a post
from the Netherlands to Italy by way of Trèves, Spire, Wurtemburg,
Augsburg, and Tyrol. In the next century, Eugenius Alexander subscribes
himself in a postal document as "Count of Thurn, Valsassina, Tassis
and the Holy Empire, Chamberlain of His Majesty the Roman Emperor,
_Hereditary Postmaster-General of the Realm_." The postal dominion
of this princely house flourished until the wars of the French
Revolution, from which period the power of the Counts began to
dwindle. Some of the German States withdrew from their arrangements
with the house of Thurn and Taxis, and others purchased their freedom
and set up postal establishments of their own. By the middle of
the nineteenth century Austria, Prussia, Bavaria, Hanover, Baden,
Brunswick, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Holstein, Oldenburg, Lauenburg,
Luxemburg and Saxony had independent posts, but the Thurn and Taxis
administration still controlled an area of 25,000 square miles (with
3,750,000 inhabitants), under the direction of a head office at
Frankfort-on-the-Maine. In 1851, however, Wurtemburg, at a cost of
over £100,000, bought its freedom from the monopolists; and sixteen
years later (1867) Prussia paved the way for the completion of the
consolidation of the German Empire by purchasing for three million
thalers (approximately £450,000) the last remaining rights of the
house of Thurn and Taxis in the postal affairs of Germany.
In England the royal _Nuncii et Cursores_ were the forerunners of the
King's Messengers of to-day, and were exclusively employed upon State
affairs and for the correspondence of the Sovereign and of the Court.
At what period the people were admitted to the privilege of the posts
is obscure. The first Master of the Posts of whom we know was one
Brian Tuke, Esq., afterwards Sir Brian Tuke, who is best remembered in
Holbein's several portraits of him, and as the author of the preface to
Thynne's "Chaucer." He was at one period secretary to Cardinal Wolsey,
and it is in a letter (1533) to his successor in that office, Thomas
Cromwell, that we find the one clue to the state of the posts at that
time:
"By your letters of the twelfth of this moneth, I perceyve that
there is grete defaulte in conveyance of letters, and of special men
ordeyned to be sent in post; and that the Kinges pleasure is, that
postes be better appointed, and laide in al places most expedient; with
commaundement to al townshippes in al places, on payn of lyfe, to be in
suche redynes, and to make suche provision of horses, at al tymes, as
no tract or losse of tyme be had in that behalf."
In the sixteenth century, there were regular carriers licensed to
take passengers, goods, and letters, and of these the most remarkable
was Tobias Hobson, who was an innkeeper at Cambridge. His memory
is perpetuated in the common expression of "Hobson's choice." The
innkeeper kept a stable of forty good cattle, but made it a rule that
any who came to hire a horse was obliged to take the one nearest the
stable door, "so that every customer was alike well served, according
to his chance, and every horse ridden with the same justice." Milton,
in one of his two punning epitaphs on Hobson, refers to his position as
letter-carrier:--
"His letters are deliver'd all and gone;
Only remains this superscription."
From 1609, the Posts of Great Britain have been under the monopoly
of the Crown, and at that time they were carried on at a loss. As
the posts did not carry the correspondence of the public, there
was no likelihood of their being made self-supporting until the
facilities they offered were of utility to the people. The general
admission of the public to these facilities dates from 1635, under the
Postmastership of Thomas Witherings, and two years later was set up
the "Letter Office of England." The cheapest rate under Withering's
management was 2d. for a "single letter" (that is, one sheet of paper)
conveyed a distance not exceeding 80 miles. If the letter weighed an
ounce, the charge was 6d. A single letter to Scotland cost 8d. and to
Ireland 9d.
For a number of years prior to 1667, the posts were farmed to various
individuals, and during the Commonwealth, Parliament passed an Act
settling the postage of the three kingdoms, which "pretended Act" was
practically re-enacted at the Restoration. The profits on the Post
Office were settled by Charles II. upon his son, the Duke of York,
afterwards James II., and the latter took care upon his accession to
the throne to secure the continuance of his enjoyment of its revenues.
Private enterprise was responsible for putting a good deal of pressure
on the Post Office in the early days. In 1659, a penny post was first
proposed by one John Hill and certain other "Undertakers," but the most
notable instance was the success that attended the efforts of William
Dockwra in establishing the London Penny Post in 1680. By this penny
post, Londoners had for three years an excellent and frequent service
of postal collections and deliveries of their letters and parcels
within the City and suburbs. The Government post had one office in
London--the General Letter Office--up to 1680. Consequently, persons
who had letters to send by post had either to take them, or procure
messengers to take them, to the office in Lombard Street. Dockwra
established between four and five hundred receiving offices for
letters, and a good part of the business he did was in transmitting
letters to and from the General Letter Office in Lombard Street.
The penny post made many friends, but also a few enemies. Of the few
there was one of powerful influence, the Duke of York, who envied
the prospective income to be derived from a popular post; there were
others who were unscrupulous in their attacks, led by the notorious
Titus Oates, who pretended to expose the whole of Dockwra's plan as "a
farther branch of the Popish plot," and the porters of London, who,
fearing to lose many of their chances of employment, vented their
spleen in the manner of vulgar rioters.
[Illustration: SCARCE PAMPHLET (FIRST PAGE) IN WHICH WILLIAM DOCKWRA
ANNOUNCES THE PENNY POST OF 1680.]
Proceedings were taken against Dockwra for infringement of the Crown's
monopoly, and the case being carried, the London Penny Post was shortly
afterwards re-established and carried on under authority for nearly a
hundred and twenty years, until 1801, when the penny rate was doubled
and the Penny Post became the Twopenny Post.
Charles Povey's "halfpenny carriage" (1708) was a poor copy of
Dockwra's post, covering a smaller area at the lower fee of one
halfpenny. Its originator was fined £100 in 1760, and the incident
of this post is only remarkable in postal history for its having
originated the use of the "bellman" for collecting letters in the
streets.
The Edinburgh Penny Post, set up by the keeper of a coffee-shop in the
hall of Parliament House, Peter Williamson, in 1768, was also stopped
by the authorities as a private enterprise; but its promoter was given
a pension of £25 a year and the post was carried on by the General
Post Office. Just three years previously, local Penny Posts had been
legalised by the Act of 5 George III., c. 25, provided they were set up
where adjudged to be necessary by the Postmaster-General. Such penny
posts increased rapidly towards the end of the eighteenth century, and
just before Uniform Penny Postage was introduced there were more than
two thousand of them in operation in different parts of the country.
In spite of the increase in these local posts, however, the general
postage was high, the tendency of the later changes in the rates being
to increase rather than to lessen them.
In the early part of the nineteenth century, the rates were such that
few but the rich could make frequent use of the luxury of postage, and
these rates, coming close up to the period of the new _régime_ of 1840,
form an extraordinary series of contrasts. Here is an old post-office
rate-book kept by the postmaster (or mistress) at Southampton in the
'thirties, which I like to show my friends when they sigh for the good
old times. It is a printed list of the chief places to which letters
could be sent, with columns to be filled in by the postal official
after calculating distances and exercising simple arithmetic. In Great
Britain the rates were for single letters:--
From any post office in England or Wales to any place
not exceeding 15 miles from such office 4d.
Between 15 and 20 miles 5d.
" 20 " 30 " 6d.
" 30 " 50 " 7d.
" 50 " 80 " 8d.
" 80 " 120 " 9d.
" 120 " 170 " 10d.
" 170 " 230 " 11d.
" 230 " 300 " 12d.
and one penny in addition on each single letter for every 100 miles
beyond 300. These rates did not include "1d. in addition to be taken
for penny postage" and in certain cases toll-fees.
[Illustration: A POST-OFFICE IN 1790.
By permission of the Proprietors of the _City Press_.]
Under these rates, a single letter to Kirkwall from Southampton cost
1s. 7d.; to London 9d., plus the penny postage; Cork 1s. 3d., &c.
These rates were for a single-sheet letter, the charge being multiplied
by two for a double letter, by four for an ounce, which is one-quarter
of the weight at present allowed on a letter which costs us a modest
penny.
Letters for overseas were correspondingly high as the following
comparisons will show:--
Single-sheet Letter. 1 oz. Letter.
1830. 1911.
Austria 2s. 3d. 2½d.
Brazil }
Buenos Aires } 3s. 5d. 2½d.
Chili, Peru, &c.}
Canary Islands 2s. 6d. 2½d.
Germany 1s. 9d. 2½d.
Hayti 2s. 11d. 2½d.
Honduras 2s. 11d. 2½d.
Portugal 2s. 2d. 2½d.
Russia 2s. 3d. 2½d.
Spain 2s. 2d. 2½d.
Sweden 1s. 8d. 2½d.
Turkey 2s. 2d. 2½d.
United States 2s. 1d. 1d.
British West Indies and}
British North America } 2s. 1d. 1d.
Malta, Gibraltar 2s. 2d. 1d.
St. Helena 1s. 8½d. 1d.
The registration fee on foreign letters was, in the early nineteenth
century, one guinea per letter; to-day it is twopence.
[Illustration: THE COMMEMORATIVE LETTER BALANCE DESIGNED BY MR. S.
KING, OF BATH (1840).
A monument "which may be possessed by every family in the United
Kingdom."]
These are but a few examples showing what a mighty change was wrought
with the introduction of the Uniform Penny Postage plan of Rowland
Hill. The circumstances under which the new plan was introduced
included several factors to which may be attributed a share in the
success of Hill's plan. First, the uniform and low minimum rate of
one penny on inland letters, dispensing with tedious calculations of
distance. By some it was feared that the necessity for calculating the
weight would be more troublesome than examining the letter against a
lighted candle to see if it were "single" or "double," and scores of
"penny post letter balances" were placed upon the market at the outset.
Next was the increased facility of transit provided by the then growing
system of railways, and the subsequent development of steam-power at
sea.
[Illustration: MR. KING'S LETTER BALANCE HAD A TRIPOD BASE, AS IN
THE UPPERMOST FIGURE, THUS AFFORDING THREE TABLETS, ON WHICH THE
ASSOCIATIONS OF J. PALMER, ROWLAND HILL, AND QUEEN VICTORIA WITH POSTAL
REFORM ARE RECORDED.]
But the one factor which to us is the most notable contribution to the
success of the Penny Postage plan, was the square inch of paper with
its backing of glutinous wash. This enabled the authorities to effect
the introduction of prepayment, and save the long delays formerly
occasioned by the postman having to await payment for each letter on
delivery. It saved the complicated system by which the Post Office had
to ensure that the postman did get paid, and in his turn accounted for
the money to his office. It was to this simple contrivance of a small
label, issued by authority, to indicate the prepayment of postage that
the practical success of Hill's plan was greatly due. The little stamps
are the royal _diplomata_ which enable us all, at a modest fee, to use
His Majesty's mails, a privilege enjoyed by great and small, by rich
and poor. So stamp-collectors deem the objects of their interest to
have achieved a vast reform in internal and universal communications,
giving a powerful impetus to social progress, international commerce,
and the world's peace.
The year before the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage there were
75,907,572 letters dealt with by the Post Office. The number was more
than doubled in the first year of the new system, and the subsequent
growth of correspondence is outlined in the figures (letters only) for
the following years:--
1840 168,768,344
1850 347,069,071
1860 564,002,000
1870 862,722,000
1880 1,176,423,600
1890 1,705,800,000
1900 2,323,600,000
1910 2,947,100,000
II
THE
DEVELOPMENT
OF AN
IDEA