The stamps were of very large dimensions, and the figures conspicuous. A

package adorned with the requisite number was mailed on the train and it

could easily be seen that it was duly stamped. The stamps were

ordinarily if not always, cancelled by smearing them with ink, with a

brush, and not with hand stamps, and the packages were thrown out of the

cars to the agents waiting at each station to receive them, and were

often torn open by the agent at the depot and distributed to his

customers there. Thus the delay that sending them to the post office for

distribution would have caused, was avoided.

ISSUE OF APRIL 1ST, 1865.

FIVE CENTS. Large bust of Washington in profile, faced to the right,

indicated by colorless curved lines, on a round medallion of straight

horizontal lines, 28 mm. in diameter, surrounded by a circular band of

curved interlaced colorless lines, all on a colored ground, a smaller

circular disk, 11 mm. in diameter, interrupting this band on each side

displays a large "V," in color on a horizontally lined ground. Above on

a solid ground of color, but ornamented by interlaced colorless lines in

colorless letters, "_U. S._" and "_Postage_," in a second curved line;

below the head on a solid curved label covering a portion of the

circular band in large colorless capitals, "_Five Cents_"; below this

again, the ground is ornamented by several colorless lines upon which

appear in colored capitals, "_Newspapers_," a colored label with

"_and_"; in colorless capitals "_Periodicals_"; below this again, in two

lines of colorless capitals on the colored ground, "_Sec. 18, Act of

Congress approved--March 3d, 1863_." In each upper corner is a large

colorless numeral "5." About all is a frame of 3 colorless lines,

ornamented at the corners. The words "_National Bank Note Company, New

York_," in small colorless capitals appear between the lower colorless

lines. The colored ground extends between the stamps which were

perforated.

Plate impression, 55 by 98 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

5 cents, dark blue.

Note. 20,140 of this value were issued.

TEN CENTS. Similar design, but with the profile of Franklin in an oval,

the side letters "X," the label "_Ten Cents_," the upper numerals "10,"

set at an angle.

Plate impression, 55 by 98 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated

12.

10 cents, green.

Note. 215,600 of this value were issued.

TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. Similar design, but with the profile of Lincoln,

faced to the left, in a rectangle with corners cut off, "25" in figures

instead of numerals at the side, on the label "_Twenty Five Cents_," the

upper numerals "25" set at an angle.

Plate impression, 55 by 98 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

25 cents, vermilion.

Note. 31,488 of this value were issued.

In 1868-9 there were issued 35,420 more of the five cent value, but

these were improved by having the broad colored border removed till only

a fine colored line remained outside the colorless frame.

Plate impression, 511/2 by 95 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated

12.

5 cents, dark blue, white border.

The Postmaster General's Report for 1869 states that the use of these

stamps ceased about the 1st of February, 1869. They were used

principally at Chicago, Ill., and Milwaukee, Wis. Reprints were made of

all of them except the 5 cents with white border, with the other early

issues in 1874.

There was a very wide margin of some 65 mm. at the top and bottom of the

sheet, the manufacturers imprint appearing at the top and bottom in

colored letters on a small white label let into the colored ground. It

is not known how many stamps formed a sheet.

NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS.

ISSUE OF 1874.

Notwithstanding the very liberal provisions of all the laws regarding

postage on printed matter, and particularly those of this Act of March

3rd, 1863, we find the Postmaster General in his report of November

15th, 1869, complaining that the Department was largely defrauded of its

revenues by abuses rendered possible by the provisions of that Act, and

suggesting that:

"For this mischief there is but one adequate remedy, and that is

to require prepayment on all printed matter. A due regard to the

convenience of the publishers of newspapers would require that

postage on newspapers should be charged according to the weight

of packages, and that such packages should when suspected, be

liable to be opened and searched, and penalties provided if they

were found to contain improper matter."

Nothing seems to have resulted from his recommendations, however. The

inconveniences of the system led to calling the attention of Congress to

the matter again in the Report of the Postmaster General, in 1873. He

says:

"In my report for 1869, I had the honor to suggest a plan for

the prepayment of postage on newspapers and other matter of the

second class by weight of packages rather than by the present

system, which requires the manipulation of each particular

paper, and allows the payment of postage at either the mailing

office, or the office of delivery. A careful revision of the

subject confirms me in the opinion, that the postage on all

such matter should be collected in advance at the mailing

office. * * * No stamps 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. Furthermore, disputes are

continually arising, as to whether the sheets they transmit,

come within the meaning of the term newspapers. * * * I

respectfully submit the following plan for the prepayment of

postage on newspapers of the second class, and urge its

adoption. Let all publishers, their business managers or agents,

be required at the beginning of every quarter, to state under

oath the number of papers of a certain name, they will send by

mail during the quarter, and pay the postage thereon in advance.

On the other hand, postmasters to make return of all newspapers,

with particulars, mailed to regular subscribers. No stamps would

be required. Every paper answering to the description would be

forwarded. No manipulation of each paper would be required, and

the saving to publishers in time and labor, would, it is

thought, be greater than the amount paid for postage, while the

saving to the Department, would justify a reduction of 40 per

cent in the rates, on this class of matter. Periodicals to come

under the same law."

The result of the deliberations upon this suggestion, was the passage by

Congress of the following law:

XLIII Congress, Statute 1, Chapter 456, approved June 23rd,

1874, "Section 5. That on and after the first day of January,

1875, all newspapers and periodical publications mailed from a

known office of publication or news agency and addressed to

regular subscribers or news agents shall be charged the

following rates:

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 99 of the Act entitled: An Act to revise, consolidate

and amend the statutes relating to the Post Office Department,

approved June 8th, 1872.

SEC. 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

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 otherwise as the Postmaster

General may from time to time provide by regulation," etc., etc.

The report of the Postmaster General also states Nov. 14th 1874, that

being confined to these three modes of collecting this postage;

"It was deemed best to recommend the adoption of the system

of prepayment by postage stamps 'affixed to a memorandum of

mailing' or in other words, to a stub in a book retained by

the postmaster at the mailing office; a receipt, showing the

weight of matter and the amount paid, being given by the

postmaster to the person mailing the same; the stamps affixed

to the stub, to be cancelled by a cutting punch, thus preventing

their reuse. * * * The Postmaster General having approved the

recommendations, a series of stamps have been devised of twenty

four denominations, by means of which any sum which is a multiple

of either the two or three cent rate, from two cents to

seventy-two dollars, can be made by the use of not more than

five stamps."

In the report dated November 15th, 1875, we find the following

observations and descriptions of this issue which will further explain

the mode of using them, which seems to be little understood, except by

publishers and post office officials.

"On the first day of January 1875, the new law, requiring

prepayment of postage by stamps, on all newspapers and

periodicals sent from a known office of publication, to regular

subscribers through the mails, went into operation. The system

inaugurated to carry the law into effect, was approved in

October, 1874 and has been found by experience to be admirably

adapted to the purposes 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

quarterly, at the office of delivery. Last year there were

35,000 post offices at which newspaper postage was collected,

while under the present true system of the absolute prepayment

of all postage, 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 postage upon a

single issue 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, 1874." Elsewhere it is stated that the

distribution to postmasters began December 11th, 1874. "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, 96 cents, $1.92 cents,

$3, $6, $9, $12, $24, $36, $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.

No description of these stamps having been given in any official

form. I may be pardoned for presenting herewith a detailed

description of them, in order that it may be printed, and be

permanently preserved in the records of the department."

TWO CENTS TO TEN CENTS, inclusive, emblematical figure of America,

looking to the right and modeled after Crawford's statue surmounting the

dome of the capitol. The left hand rests on a shield, and holds a

wreath; the right rests on a sword. The head is adorned with a head

dress consisting of a coronet of stars, surmounted by an eagle's head

and plumes. The background is horizontally lined and in parts diagonally

also. The vignette stands in an arched frame, composed of vertical

lines; and on either side of this frame, and at the top are slabs

containing the inscriptions (the upper in colored letters on

horizontally lined ground, the others in colorless block capitals, the

sides upon vertically lined ground), "_Newspapers_" and "_Periodicals_"

(at the sides), "_U. S. Postage_" (at top). At the bottom are shaded

outline block letters, representing the value, which is also indicated

by large outlined figures shaded on the face, in the upper corners, on

foliated scrolls. The lower corners are ornamented with shields. The

color of these stamps is black.

TWELVE CENTS TO NINETY-SIX CENTS, inclusive. Vignette of Astraea or

Justice, in niche, bordered by a colorless line 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 helmeted. Surmounting the

helmet is an eagle with out-stretched wings on a background horizontally

and diagonally lined. Figures representing values in shaded numerals on

shields, in the upper corners; values also in sunken letters below, on

solid labels bordered by a colorless and colored line, richly

ornamented. Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," on side and

at top in shaded outlined capitals on vertically lined ground. Color,

pink.

ONE DOLLAR AND NINETY-TWO CENTS. Vignette of Ceres, Goddess of

Agriculture, in curved niche, bordered by a colorless line and a

vertically lined frame. She holds in her left hand an ear of corn, her

right holding a wreath, rests against the hip. The figure faced to the

front and is clad in full flowing robes. "_U. S. Postage_" at the top,

other inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," in italic capitals

shaded on the face and outside, on obelisks at either side, resting on

the lower slab, which is in solid color, containing value, "_One dollar

and ninety-two cents_," in two lines of white capitals. Value also in

figures, "$1-92/100" in upper corners. Color, deep brown.

THREE DOLLARS. Goddess of Victory in curved niche, full-robed, girdled

with sword to the left, and mantle thrown over shoulders. The right hand

is stretched forward, holding a wreath; the left rests on a shield.

Outline figures of value, "$3" on octagons in upper corners, value below

in letters on either side of a large outline figure "3" on a shield.

Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," in colorless capitals, in

solid labels on either side, and "_U. S. Postage_" on lined ground

above. The niche and labels are all edged with colorless lines. The

background is vertically lined. Color, vermilion.

SIX DOLLARS. Clio, the Muse of History in curved niche, bordered by

colorless line, on horizontally lined ground, full robed the toga thrown

over the left shoulder. In her right hand she holds a stylus, in the

left a tablet. Outline colorless figures of value, "$6" in upper

corners, surrounded by curved ornaments. Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_,"

"_Periodicals_," in white shaded letters on the sides, and above "_U. S.

Postage_" in dark letters, value, "_Six Dollars_" in outline colorless

letters in label, on vertically lined ground. Color, light blue.

NINE DOLLARS. Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, full robed, in curved

niche, bordered by a colorless line with horizontally and diagonally

lined ground. The left hand is placed across her breast, holding a

portion of her toga; the right is grasping a spear. Figures of value

"$9" in upper corners, in foliated ornaments. Inscriptions,

"_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," on sides in outline colorless and

shaded italics, and above in small colored letters, on the lined ground,

"_U. S. Postage_." Value, "_Nine Dollars_," also in letters shaded on

the face, below on scroll. Beneath is a large "9" in curved foliated

ornaments. Color, orange.

TWELVE DOLLARS. Vesta, Goddess of the Fireside, full robed in curved

niche, with horizontally lined ground, and bordered by a colorless line.

The left hand lifts her drapery; the right holds a burning lamp. Figures

of value, "$12" in upper corners on tablets. Value, "_Twelve Dollars_"

also in colorless letters on beaded frame beneath. Inscriptions,

"_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," on solid (sic), italic letters on

sides, and "_U. S. Postage_" in small white letters above. Frame of

vertical lines. Color, rich green.

TWENTY-FOUR DOLLARS. Goddess of Peace in curved niche, bordered by a

colorless line, and on horizontally lined ground, a half naked figure

leaning against a broken column. She holds in her right hand an olive

branch, while her left grasps three arrows. The value, "_Twenty-four

Dollars_" is in colorless letters beneath, on a solid tablet; also in

figures "$24" in ornamented curves in upper corners. Inscriptions, "_U.

S. Postage_" in white shaded letters above, and "_Newspapers_,"

"_Periodicals_" on the sides between which latter and each upper corner

is a six-pointed star. The back ground is vertically lined. The

ornaments bordered by a colorless line. Color, purplish shade.

THIRTY-SIX DOLLARS. Figure representing Commerce, in full garments, in

curved niche, bordered by a colorless line with hatched background. She

holds in her left hand the _caduceus_, the winged rod of Mercury, in her

right a miniature ship. Figures of value, "$36" in the upper corners and

"_Thirty-six Dollars_" in ornamented capitals below, in two lines.

Inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," also in ornamented

capitals on sides and "_U. S. Postage_" in colorless capitals above. The

frame is vertically lined. Color, dull red.

FORTY-EIGHT DOLLARS. Hebe, the Goddess of Youth, partly draped in curved

niche with colorless border and horizontally lined ground. The right

hand holds a cup, which she is offering to the eagle around whose neck

is thrown her left arm. Shaded figures of value, "$48" on shields in the

upper corners, the word "_Postage_" between in colorless capitals on

solid label. The value, "_Forty-eight Dollars_" also in colorless

letters below on solid ground, in curved ornaments. The letters "_U._"

and "_S._" in colorless circles between the corners and side

inscriptions, "_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," the latter being in

colorless letters on solid curved labels. Frame vertically lined. Color,

light brown.

SIXTY DOLLARS. Vignette of an Indian Maiden, standing in a rectangular

frame. She is robed from her waist downward. Her right arm is 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,

bordered by a colorless line between fine colored lines. Figures of

value, "$60" on shields in the upper corners. Value, "_Sixty Dollars_"

also in white letters on solid tablets below. Inscriptions,

"_Newspapers_," "_Periodicals_," in white on solid labels on the sides.

"_U. S._" in colorless capitals on the ground, and "_Postage_" on a band

in colored letters above. Ground vertically lined. Color, rich purple.

# # # # #

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General,

Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Env. & Post Cards.

_Washington D. C., April 25, 1879._

The attention of Postmasters is hereby called to the fact, that

on and after the first of May proximo, under the act of March

3d, 1879, matter 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 newspaper 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 denominations of newspaper and

periodical stamps, will be discontinued. * * * *

A. D. HAZEN,

Third Assistant Postmaster General.

Act of the XLV Congress, Session III, Chapter 180, approved March 3rd,

1879, Sections 10 and 14 merely change the classification to a uniform

one at the rate of two cents per pound.

The Act of the XLVIII Congress, Session II, Chapter 342, approved

March 3rd, 1885, provides as stated in Order No. 109 of the Postmaster

General, dated April 24th, 1885, "That all publications of the second

class, * * * shall on and after July 1st, 1885, be entitled to

transmission through the mails at one cent a pound or fraction

thereof. * * * To provide for wants that may arise from this change in

the rate of second class postage, the Department has decided to issue

a newspaper and periodical stamp of the denomination of one cent, the

design and color of which will be the same as those of the present

series of newspaper and periodical stamps of the denomination of from

2 to 10 cents. Stamps of this new denomination will be ready for issue

by the 1st of June, after which all postmasters needing them will make

requisition for suitable supplies."

NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS.

SERIES OF 1875-1885.

Plate impression, 24 by 351/2 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated

12.

June 1st, 1885, 1 cent, black.

Jan. 1st, 1875, 3 cents, " to April 25th, 1879.

9 " " " " "

2 " "

4 " "

6 " "

8 " "

10 " "

12 " carmine,

24 " "

36 " "

48 " "

60 " "

72 " "

84 " "

96 " "

1 dollar 92 " deep brown

3 dollars vermilion

6 " light blue

9 " orange

12 dollars rich green

24 " purplish slate

36 " dull red

48 " light brown

60 " rich purple

These stamps were not reprinted in 1874, but samples ungummed and

surcharged "specimen" were sold to collectors.

OBSERVATIONS.

A slight change in the regulations now prohibits postmasters from

selling these stamps even to publishers, but the money is received and

the requisite amount in stamps placed upon the stubs and cancelled. The

amount sold and the amount used in an office should now correspond. The

stubs are sent periodically to Washington with the accounts, compared

and destroyed. Used specimens and even unused specimens are likely to

grow rare in collections.

XXVII.

OFFICIAL STAMPS.

A thorough understanding of the use of these stamps will best be

obtained by a brief review of the system it for a time supplanted, which

was briefly designated as the "Franking Privilege." As early as the 1st

Session of the Second Congress the necessity and propriety of providing

for the carriage of official correspondence and the correspondence of

Government officers and Members of Congress upon public business was

recognized, and Chapter 7, Section 19, approved February 1st, 1792, of

the Acts of that Sessions provided:

"That the following letters and packets and no others shall be

received and conveyed by post, free of postage under such

restrictions as are hereinafter provided, that is to say: all

letters and packages to or from the President or Vice-President

of the United States, and all letters and packages not exceeding

2 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,

Treasurer, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, the Committee

for settling 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 or packet 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 comes by post, and the usual postage shall be

charged thereon."

By various acts of Congress this privilege was gradually extended to

various persons in the employ of the Government until, in 1869, the

Postmaster General stated in his report that fully 31,933 persons were

authorized by the laws to enjoy this privilege.

As early as 1836, Congress appropriated the sum of $700,000 to pay the

post office department for this carriage of official correspondence. The

abuses became enormous. Signatures with hand stamps were even

recognized. All sorts of favors were extended by persons having the

privilege, to their friends. In 1869 the annual expense to the

department of this free matter was estimated at $5,000,000. To remedy

this abuse, which had the effect of preventing a proper reduction of

postal rates to the general public, as the expenses of the Department,

including the expense of carrying official matter so-called, greatly

exceeded its annual revenue, there was but one remedy--the passage of

an act abolishing the franking privilege and providing by appropriation

for carrying the necessary government dispatches. The Act of the XLII

Congress, Session III, Chapter 82, approved the 27th of January, 1873,

accordingly provided:

"That the franking privilege be hereby abolished from and after

the first day of July, Anno 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 postage."

The Act of the XLII Congress, Session III, Chapter 228, approved March

3, 1873, after appropriating so much as should be necessary of a certain

sum for the purchase of postage stamps for each department, continues:

"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

stamp and stamped envelope shall be supplied by 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."

In the report of the Postmaster General for the year ending June 30,

1873, it is stated that:

"The several Acts for the repeal of the franking privilege

became operative on the first of July last. The results of the

first quarter of the current year are highly satisfactory and

more fully verified the predictions of the friends of the

repeal. * * * Section 4 of the Act of March 3rd, 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 1st to

September 30th of the current year the following varieties,

numbers and values were issued:

To whom issued. D'minat'n. Number. Value.

The Executive Dep't 5 5,150 200.00

The State Dep't 14 60,495 20,749.70

The Treasury Dep't 11 7,842,500 407,000.00

The War Dep't 11 446,500 17,689.00

The Navy Dep't 11 247,230 12,239.00

The Post Office Dep't 10 10,054,660 354,535.00

The Interior Dep't 10 1,058,475 59,171.00

The Dep't of Justice 10 65,400 3,900.00

The Dep't of Agriculture, 9 275,000 20,730.00

-- ---------- ----------

Making a total of 91 20,055,410 896,213.70

* * * * *

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 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 denomination

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 large size and printed in two

colors, and bear a profile bust of the late Secretary Seward."

Elsewhere the Postmaster General states that the stamps were ready the

24th of May, for use the 1st of July, 1873. The following circular was

accordingly issued to postmasters:

OFFICIAL POSTAGE STAMPS AND STAMPED ENVELOPES.

[Circular to postmasters.]

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General,

Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Env. & Post Cards.

_Washington, D. C., May 15th, 1873._

"The Franking Privilege having been abolished, to take effect on

the first day of July, 1873, the Postmaster General is required

by law to provide postage stamps or stamped envelopes of special

design for each of the several Executive Departments of the

Government for the prepayment of postage on official matter

passing through the mails.

DESCRIPTION.

In place of the heads on the regular stamps, the official stamps

adopted for the Post Office Department have conspicuous figures

(numerals) to represent the denomination, with the word

"_Official_" above, and the word "_Stamp_" below.

These printed in black, and resting on an oval shaped

background, render the stamps especially distinctive, and leave

no good excuse for confounding them with the other stamps. To

further distinguish them, the name of the Department is printed

across the top in lieu of the words "U. S. Postage." There is

also a slight difference in the ornamentation of the border.

In design, the official stamps for the other Departments do not

differ materially from those issued for sale to the public, the

profile busts are retained but each stamp has at the top the

name of the particular Department for which it is provided.

Other changes appearing in the border need not be specified.

The stamps for each Department have their own distinctive color,

as follows: For the Executive, carmine; State Department, green;

Treasury Department, velvet-brown; War Department, cochineal

red; Navy Department, blue; Interior Department, vermilion;

Department of Justice, purple; Department of Agriculture, straw;

and for the Post Office Department, black.

The official stamps will correspond in denomination with the

regular stamps except that for the State Department there will

be four additional denominations, viz: two, five, ten and twenty

dollars respectively. These additional stamps are designed from

a profile bust of the late Hon. William H. Seward, and are of

double size and printed in two colors.

OFFICIAL STAMPS FOR POSTMASTERS.

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 denominations 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."

* * * * * * *

EDWARD W. BARBER,

Third Assistant Postmaster General.

ISSUE OF JULY 1st, 1873.

The several denominations for all the departments have certain

characteristics that are common to all stamps of that value, which may

as well be stated once for all, to avoid repetition.

With the exception of those of the post office department, the head is

the same as that on the ordinary stamp of the same value then current.

The value is expressed in numerals and words beneath the oval in the

same numerals, letters and scrolls as on the ordinary stamps of the same

value, except that in those for the Post Office Department the numerals

in the 1, 12 and 30 cents and the letters in all are a trifle smaller.

The ONE CENT has the head of Franklin in an oval as described, the large

"1" dividing "_One Cent_" on a band bordered by heavy white lines as

described, but the ornament across the ends is omitted except in that

for the Executive and Agriculture, and is lessened in that for the

Interior.

The TWO CENTS has the head of Jackson as described, the large numeral

"2" dividing "_Two Cents_" upon a scroll with white border as described,

the ends of the scroll are, however, differently arranged to accommodate

parts of the design.

The THREE CENTS has the head of Washington as described, the large "3"

dividing the words "_Three Cents_" upon a scroll as described.

The SIX CENTS has the head of Lincoln, the large "6" dividing the words

"_Six Cents_" upon a scroll with colorless borders as described.

The SEVEN CENTS has the head of Stanton, the large "7" dividing the

words "_Seven Cents_" upon a label following the oval and bordered by

the white line between two colored lines and ending in a curve and ball

as described.

The TEN CENTS has the head of Jefferson, the large "10" dividing the

words "_Ten Cents_" upon a colorless bordered scroll as described.

The TWELVE CENTS has the head of Clay, the large numerals "2" dividing

the words "_Twelve Cents_" in block letters following the oval bounded

by the white line between two colored lines and curved back as

described.

The FIFTEEN CENTS has the head of Webster, the large numerals "15"

dividing the words "_Fifteen Cents_" upon a label bordered as described.

The TWENTY-FOUR CENTS has the head of Scott, no numerals below, the

words "_Twenty-four_" and "_Cents_" upon two labels and in block letters

as described. In that for the Department of Agriculture the upper label

is changed into a scroll with large ends curved backwards, then forwards

and then downwards.

The THIRTY CENTS has the head of Hamilton, the large numerals "30" on

the shield dividing the words "_Thirty Cents_" in colored letters on the

scroll as described.

The NINETY CENTS has the head of Perry, the large numerals "90" dividing

the words "_Ninety Cents_" in block letters on a label bordered as

described, but the ends have a small curve inward in those for the Post

Office Department, are square in those for the Interior and Navy

Departments, are curved inwards in that for the War Department, are

terminated by curves forming a point in that for the Department of

Justice, and are square with a projecting small half circle in those for

the Treasury and State Departments.

EXECUTIVE.

The oval containing the bust, the scroll or label and numeral are all

placed upon a back-ground of vertical parallel lines so disposed as to

produce the stripes of the shield or flag. Above and following the oval

a solid colored label inscribed in colorless capitals, "_Executive_,"

and bounded by a white and exterior colored line terminating in a

foliated ornament against the oval; foliated ornaments in the corners

forming small white circles enclosing "_U._" and "_S._" on rectangularly

hatched disks.

Plate impression, 191/2 by 25 mm. in color, on white paper, perforated

12.

1 cent carmine, 6,800 issued.

2 cents " 9,100 "

3 " " 23,500 "

6 " " 5,500 "

10 " " 5,150 "

DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

The oval containing the bust, the scroll or label and numeral are all

placed upon a ground of parallel vertical lines. At the top these are

crossed by horizontal lines at about 1 mm. from the edge over a space of

equal width, so as to form a darker band and thus form a double frame

half way down where the darker frame terminates on each side in a round

ball, except in the 12 cents, which has the dark frame all the way

round. In the values with scrolls "_U._" on the left, "_S._" on the

right above the ends of the scrolls in large white letters shaded

outside. In the values with labels the same letters in the corners below

the ends of the labels, also colorless, except in the 15 cents, in which

they are crossed by parallel horizontal lines. Above the ovals "_Dep't

of State_," in similar capitals, large at the sides and gradually

decreasing towards the center. Above these a fine curved colorless line

between colored lines, the lower heavily shaded; beneath the letters a

white ornament terminating on each side in a fleur de lis, and shaded by

colored lines.

Plate impression 191/2 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated

12.

1 cent green, 31,800 issued.

2 cents green, 41,800 "

3 " 109,200 "

6 " 82,100 "

7 " 37,800 "

10 " 64,900 "

12 " 20,800 "

15 " 22,800 "

24 " 13,800 "

30 " 20,100 "

90 " 6,043 "

To these are added the four higher values of larger size. These have a

large profile head of Wm. H. Seward, facing to the left, on a hatched

ground forming an oval disk, with a ground of fine parallel lines all

printed in black. The lines are arranged to form a panelled triangle in

the upper corners, the lines being horizontal and light in the borders

and thickened to form the darker panels which contain a foliated

ornament. On a broad colorless, curved label, with rounded ends,

"_Department of_" in outline Roman capitals shaded at top by curved

parallel colored lines, a series of curved parallel colored lines

filling the lower part of the label. Beneath this, in outlined pearled

capitals, following the label and shaded outside, "_State_." At the

sides bunches of rods tied above and below with crossed bands with "_U.

S. A._" in colorless letters below each. Across the bottom a hatched

label with colorless borders inscribed in colorless letters shaded

outside with the value.

Plate impression 25 by 39 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

Two dollars, black and green, 3,508 issued.

Five " " " 363 "

Ten " " " 363 "

Twenty " " " 363 "

TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

The oval containing the portraits, the scrolls or labels and large

numerals are placed on a background of vertical parallel lines arranged

to form a drapery with fringes, cords and tassels, and a panel similar

to the State Department stamps. At the top a label indicated by a

colorless line curved up at the ends and terminating above in foliated

ornaments, is inscribed "_Treasury_" in the same letters as the other

official stamps with "_U. S._" beneath the left end and "_Dept._"

beneath the right end.

Plate impression 191/2 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

1 cent velvet-brown, 2,900,000 issued.

2 cents " 2,484,500 "

3 " " 11,250,000 "

6 " " 4,105,000 "

7 " " 220,000 "

10 " " 1,291,500 "

12 " " 783,000 "

15 " " 663,000 "

24 " " 100,000 "

30 " " 456,500 "

90 " " 312,500 "

The shades of these stamps vary somewhat in depth, some specimens having

a spotted appearance as if the ink did not work well.

WAR DEPARTMENT.

The oval containing the bust, the scrolls or labels and numerals are

placed on a back ground of parallel vertical lines above and below,

horizontal on the sides. In the upper corners "_U._" on the left, "_S._"

on the right. A curved solid label bordered by a cord, cuts off the

upper corners and is inscribed on the left "_War_" on right "_Dept._" in

the usual capitals. The lines of the sides are arranged to show the

stripes of the flag. A shield on each side above the scrolls or beneath

the labels.

Plate impression 191/2 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

1 cent cochineal red, 3,301,230 issued.

2 cents " 1,867,160 "

3 " " 5,393,137 "

6 " " 3,584,813 "

7 " " 55,728 "

10 " " 342,152 "

12 " " 792,070 "

15 " " 284,960 "

24 " " 201,025 "

30 " " 336,641 "

90 " " 48,172 "

The shades of these stamps vary somewhat in intensity, some being much

lighter and some darker than ordinary.

NAVY DEPARTMENT.

The ovals containing the busts, the labels or scrolls and large numerals

are placed on a ground of vertical parallel lines. A large, six-pointed

star in each upper corner, and a smaller one on each side. A cable runs

round the sides and top. The words "_Navy_" on the left and "_Dept._" on

the right in the usual capitals across the upper corners and a losenge

with "_U._" on the left and "_S._" on the right shaded in the lower

corners and placed diagonally above the scrolls or below the labels.

Plate impression 191/2 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

1 cent, ultramarine-blue, 106,800 issued.

2 cents " 201,300 "

3 " " 580,700 "

6 " " 234,800 "

7 " " 16,000 "

10 " " 55,210 "

12 " " 61,300 "

15 " " 37,500 "

24 " " 26,000 "

30 " " 29,600 "

90 " " 11,270 "

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

The oval as before stated contains a large numeral of value instead of

the head with the word "_Official_" above and "_Stamp_" below, on a

plain colorless ground. Same labels or scrolls and numerals rather

smaller below as in the stamps of other departments, with small circular

disks bearing "_U._" and "_S._" on the left and right above the scrolls

or under the labels. In the 1, 6, 10, 30 and 90 cents these small disks

are shaded by vertical lines, in the other values by diagonal lines, and

the letters are filled with horizontal lines. Around the top of the oval

a solid colored label bordered by colorless lines and inscribed "_Post

Office Department_." There is a small circle with four horizontal lines,

and shaded outside in each upper corner, all on a ground of parallel

vertical lines.

Plate impression 191/2 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

1 cent black, 1,114,250 issued.

2 cents " 894,600 "

3 " " 6,479,700 "

6 " " 3,306,800 "

10 " " 182,450 "

12 " " 298,780 "

15 " " 109,285 "

24 " " 87,625 "

30 " " 133,255 "

90 " " 65,200 "

Two complete series of these stamps may be found, the one on white

paper, the other having the surface tinted with the ink of the stamp,

also intermediate or partly tinted specimens, showing that the tinting

probably results from imperfect wiping of the plates.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

The ovals containing the heads, the scrolls, labels and large numerals

are placed on a ground of vertically ruled lines, crossed in parts to

form heavy shadows and showing stripes at the sides, small shields above

the ends of the scrolls and below the ends of the labels, bearing the

"_U._" and "_S._" lined and shaded. A large, six-pointed star in the

upper corners. A broad, colorless band doubly curved and following in

part the outline of the oval above, inscribed in lined and shaded Roman

capitals, "_Dept. of the Interior_."

Plate impression 191/2 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

1 cent vermilion, 394,800 issued.

2 cents " 1,414,400 "

3 " " 5,255,300 "

6 " " 1,722,500 "

10 " " 284,550 "

12 " " 359,850 "

15 " " 257,100 "

24 " " 134,125 "

30 " " 138,300 "

90 " " 64,377 "

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

The ovals containing the heads, bands, scrolls and large numerals are

placed on a ground of vertically ruled lines. Six pointed stars with the

letters "_U._" and "_S._" above the ends of the scrolls or under the

ends of the labels. Diagonally in small capitals in the upper left

corner, "_Dept._" in the right "_of_" and in larger capitals following

the line of the oval, "_Justice_" all in outline Roman capitals heavily

shaded, on the ground without bands. The oval, stars, scrolls, etc., are

also heavily shaded.

Plate impression 191/2 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

1 cent, purple, 25,000 issued.

2 cents, " 26,900 "

3 " " 182,000 "

6 " " 84,000 "

10 " " 20,500 "

12 " " 26,800 "

15 " " 12,800 "

24 " " 12,800 "

30 " " 8,600 "

90 " " 3,200 "

The color varies very slightly in intensity.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The ovals containing the heads, bands scrolls and large numerals are

placed upon a ground of vertically ruled lines, showing stripes at the

sides. A solid label curved with the oval above bounded by a colorless

line and rounded at the ends, is inscribed "_Agriculture_" in outlined

capitals. In small similar capitals in the upper left corner, "_Dept.

of_" in two lines. In the upper right corner in monogram, "_U. S._"

Plate impression, 191/2 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated

12.

1 cent, straw, 95,415 issued.

2 cents " 230,150 "

3 " " 435,050 "

6 cents, straw, 120,000 issued.

10 " " 95,265 "

12 " " 51,265 "

15 " " 54,050 "

24 " " 60,265 "

30 " " 82,265 "

By the appropriation acts each year from the Act of the 22 June, 1874, a

certain amount was annually appropriated to each Department for the

purchase from the Post Office Department of such of these official

stamps as were necessary for the use of the Department and its

subordinate officers. By the 9th Section of the Act of the XLIVth

Congress, Session I, Chapter 287, approved the 15th of August, 1876, it

was enacted.

"That the Secretaries respectively of the Departments of State,

Treasury, War, Navy and Interior and the Attorney General are

authorized to make requisition upon the Postmaster General for

the necessary amount of postage stamps for the use of their

Departments not exceeding the amount stated in the estimates

submitted to Congress, and upon 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."

This was the beginning of an entire change in the method of crediting

the Post Office Department for work done in carrying official

correspondence.

By the Act of XLIVth Congress, Session II, Chapter 103, approved March

30, 1877, the law was modified in the following terms:

Sec. 5. 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 bear over the words "Official Business" an

endorsement, showing also the name of the Department, and if

from a bureau or office, the names of the Department and bureau

or 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.

Sec. 6. 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 for the unlawful use shall be stated thereon.

Sec. 7. That Senators, Representatives and Delegates in

Congress, the Secretary of the Senate and 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.

By this act the use of official stamps upon mail matter _from_ the

Departments, bureaus and offices was practically abolished, but official

stamps continued to be used by postmasters and other subordinate

officers in their mail matter _to_ the Departments or each other on

official business.

By the 29th Section of the Act of the XLVth Congress, Chapter 180,

approved March 3d, 1879, it was enacted that,--

"The provisions of the 5th and 6th Sections of the Act entitled,

An Act Establishing Post Routes and for other purposes, approved

March 3d, 1877, for the transmission of official mail matter, be

and they are hereby extended to all officers of the United

States 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, the envelopes of such

matter in all cases to bear appropriate endorsements containing

the proper designation of the office from which the same is

transmitted, with a statement of the penalty for their misuse.

And the provisions of said 5th and 6th Sections are hereby

likewise extended and made applicable to all official mail

matter sent from the Smithsonian Institution. Provided, that

this Act shall not extend or apply to pension agents, or other

officers who receive a fixed allowance for their services,

including expenses for postage."

In his report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, D. M. Key,

Postmaster General, had already stated that,--

"The amount of matter sent through the mails free is very large,

adding greatly to our expenditures and giving us no revenue. The

Franking Privilege has been restored to the members and chief

officers of Congress, so as to allow them to send free almost

anything which they were ever allowed to transmit through the

mails free, except letters. Tons upon tons of books, documents,

seeds, shrubs and the like are placed in our mails free of cost,

on this score. The official letters of the Executive Departments

of the general Government, their documents, etc., go free

through the mails."

The operation of the act of 1879, however, greatly increased the amount

of free matter, and decreased the use of official stamps. The Post

Office Department discontinued their use entirely. In a circular dated,

Washington, D. C., April 22nd, 1879, and signed by A. D. Hazen, third

assistant Postmaster General, it is stated that:

"The Department will begin the issue on May 1st next, of

envelopes for official business which will secure the free

transmission through the mails of all official matter and which

are intended to supercede 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. * * * The stock of post office envelopes now in the hands

of postmasters will continue until exhausted to be used as

heretofore by the attachment of official postage stamps. So also

official stamped envelopes now in the hands of postmasters at

Presidential offices will be used as heretofore until

exhausted."

This circular, of course, applies only to stamps, etc., of the Post

Office Department. The other Departments continued to use them for

certain purposes, though none were issued to the Executive Department.

The report of the Postmaster General for the year ending June 30th,

1885, says:

"The use of official stamps and stamped envelopes was wholly

discontinued by this Department and substantially so by the

other Departments on the 30th of June, 1879, under the Act

authorizing the use of official penalty envelopes."

By the Act of the XLVIIIth Congress, Session I, Chapter 234, Section 3,

approved July 5, 1884, the provisions of the Act of 1879, were

substantially re-enacted with the addition that any Department or

officer authorized to use the penalty envelopes, might enclose them to

any person from whom an answer was requested, and might register any

letter required by law, or the regulations to be registered free, and

might receive any letter partly paid free, and added that:

"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 repealed."

To this the report of the Postmaster General for 1885, adds:

"The use of official postage stamps and stamped envelopes having

ceased on the 30th of June, 1884, and the same having been

declared invalid for postages by the Act of July 5th, 1884, the

stock remaining in the hands of the stamp and envelope

contractors was destroyed in February last, under the

supervision of the committee appointed by the Postmaster

General."

From the report of this committee it appears that they destroyed in all,

17,024,588 official stamps, and 1,739,290 of ordinary and newspaper

stamps that had ceased to be of use. Also that about 21/2 per cent of all

the stamps manufactured annually, are destroyed, a single imperfect

specimen on the "sheet" of 100 causing the rejection of at least fifty

or half the sheet.

XXVIII.

OFFICIAL SEALS.

The Post Office Department of the United States, besides the stamps for

the collection of postage, has employed from time to time for special

usages certain seals which, as they are adhesive and in the form of

postage stamps and officially used, are here described, although they

are of no postal value and not properly stamps, but are all employed to

indicate that the packages which bear them are properly secured and have

not been tampered with in transit.

REGISTERED PACKAGE SEAL.

This is a large rectangular seal 711/2 by 39 mm., in the form of an

adhesive stamp duly gummed and perforated. After the letters or parcels

of registered letters were duly placed in the large registered package

envelopes employed for the purpose, one of these seals was firmly

secured over the tongue of the envelope and duly stamped with the date

of mailing. It is simply an additional guarantee to the receiving office

that the package has not been opened since it was sealed at the sending

office. A circular announcing its issue and directing its use was issued

from the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General at Washington,

dated February 14, 1872. A second circular from the same office dated

1875, without stating the month or day, announces the adoption of a

differently constructed envelope and the abandonment of the use of the

registered seal.

ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 14, 1872.

Large, oblong, rectangular seals, having in the middle a circular disk

with ground of fine concentric circles, so broken as to present the

appearance of white rays, bounded by two heavier, but still fine colored

lines, separated by a colorless line, and and a broad colorless band

with exterior colored line, inscribed in plain block, colored capitals,

above "_Stamp Here_," below, "_Date_" and "_Place of Mailing_" separated

by a small maltese cross on each side. On each side of this is a ground

of horizontal lines bordered by a heavy colored line with ornamental

triangles of solid color, with colorless geometric lines forming the

corners. Outside all a single colored line. On the ground in three lines

of colored capitals, on each side are the inscriptions: on the left,

reading from the bottom to the top, "_Post Office_," "_Department_"; on

the right, reading from the top to the bottom, "_United States_," "_of

America_"; in the upper corner triangles "_U. S._" in monogram; in the

lower, "_P. O. D._" in white capitals. Across the middle of the whole

stamp in large block capitals 81/2 mm. high and shaded by horizontal lines

is the word "_Registered_."

Plate impression, 711/2 by 39 mm., printed in color, on white paper,

perforated 12.

No value, green.

A second seal employed for a time by the United States Postage Stamp

Agency upon the packages of stamps sent out to postmasters, was equally

an additional guarantee against opening or tampering with the package.

ISSUE OF (END) 1875.

A large rectangle bearing in the center the monogram, "_U. S._" in large

colorless capitals in an oval of geometric colored lines, surrounded by

a ground of interlaced colorless geometric lines on color. A frame of

fifteen colored parallel lines crossing in the angles. A clover leaf of

geometric work, also in the corners. On the frame above in large

colorless capitals, "_U. S. Postage Stamp Agency_," all in brown. A

black surcharge of eight lines reads: "_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 3d

Asst. P. M. General, at--Washington, D. C. This Package--Should be

opened at the end. E. W. Barber, 3d Asst. P. M. G._" Lithographed in

color on white paper, but not perforated, 102 by 52 mm.

No value, brown and black.

This was afterwards changed by merely changing the signature to "_A. D.

Hazen, 3d Asst. P. M. G._" and the surcharge to vermilion.

Lithographed in color on white paper and not perforated.

No value, brown and vermilion.

[The latter are still in use. Dec., '86].

A third seal was employed by the Dead Letter Office at Washington, and

afterwards by other offices, to reseal letters opened at that office or

broken in the mails. It was placed upon the flap of the envelope of

letters opened at the Dead Letter Office, in order to ascertain the name

of the sender, or on letters opened by the wrong persons through

mistake, or upon the torn places of other packages.

ISSUE OF (BEGINNING OF) 1877.

A large rectangle with small head of Liberty, full face in an oval 11 by

8 mm. in the center. Above in curved line of colored block letters,

"_Post Office Department_," below in double curve of Old English colored

letters, "_United States of America_." On each side of the oval a solid

label bearing in large colorless letters on left, "_Officially_," on

right "_Sealed_." In the corners "_U. S._" in monogram. The frame is a

broad band 3 mm. wide, vertically lined forming a rectangle with rounded

corners, double lined outside and inside and shaded. The ground is

covered with the words "_Post Obitum_" repeated in whole or part 180

times, in horizontal lines. On the frame below "National Bank Note

Company New York" in small colored letters.

Plate impression, in color, on white paper, 431/4 by 27 mm., perforated

12.

No value, brown.

ISSUE OF 1879.

The foregoing stamp was replaced in 1879, by another of the same design,

but the words "_Post Obitum_" in the ground are replaced by a pattern of

interlaced circles. The same name on the frame.

Plate impression, in color, on white paper, 431/4 by 27 mm., perforated

12.

No value, brown.

XXIX.

REPRINTS.

There seems to have been no special law authorizing the Postmaster

General to issue reprints of the stamps of the United States, or as the

authorities choose to call them, "Specimen Postage Stamps." On the other

hand his general authority under the law is sufficient to make any

re-issue for postal purposes of any of the issues of the Department

legal, for none of them except the official stamps have ever been made

invalid for postal purposes by any authority but his own, and this

authority he undoubtedly has also. It has always seemed expedient to the

Department to issue certain specimens of the stamps and envelopes in

circulation, or to be circulated, from time to time, in the proper, as

well as in trial colors. It has been said that it being considered

expedient to exhibit at the Centennial Exhibition a complete series of

all the various issues authorized from time to time, by the Department,

as a part of its history, and unused specimens not being easily

obtained, the old dies and plates were taken from their places of

storage in order to print the necessary specimens, and that the

Department having been solicited to furnish collectors with specimens of

its old issues, took this opportunity to provide itself to satisfy these

demands. It was, however, a mistaken kindness and unused originals were

not unattainable. So that for exhibition purposes even reprinting was

not necessary. Besides as the reprints or specimens of all except the

current series, are in some respects or other unlike the originals, they

were really only so many tolerably accurate pictures of what had been.

When the Department was ready to furnish collectors with these doubtful

boons the following official circular was issued:

SPECIMEN POSTAGE STAMPS.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

Office of Third Assistant Postmaster General,

Div. of Postage Stamps, St'ped Envelopes & Postal Cards.

_Washington, D. C., March 27, 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 1847. Denominations, 5 and 10 cents. Value of set,

15 cents.

2. Issue of 1851. Denominations, 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 24, 30 and 90

cents; also two separate designs of 1 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, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30

and 90 cents. Value of set, $1.93.

5. Issue of 1870 (current series). Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7,

10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $2.

Official Stamps.

1. Executive. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 cents. Value of

set, 22 cents.

2. Department of State. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15,

24, 30 and 90 cents, and $2, $5, $10 and $20. Value of Set,

$39.

3. Treasury Department. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15,

24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $2.

4. War Department. Denominations, 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, 15,

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 Agriculture. Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12,

15, 24 and 30 cents. Value of set, $1.03.

Newspaper and Periodical Stamps.

1. Issue of 1865. Denominations, 5, 10 and 25 cents. Value of

set, 40 cents.

2. Issue of 1874. Denominations, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 24, 36,

48, 60, 72, 84, 96 cents, $1.92, $3, $6, $9, $12, $24, $36,

$48 and $60. Value of set, $204.66.

The 1847 and 1851 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 23rd, 1874. The official stamps cannot be used

except for the official business of the particular Department for

which it is provided.

All the specimens furnished will be ungummed, and the official

stamps will have printed across the face the word "Specimen" in

small type. It will be useless to apply for gummed 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 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, $10 and

$20) will be added or sold separately from the regular set as

desired.

The newspaper and periodical stamps will be sold in quantities of

not less than two dollars worth in each case, of any denomination

or denominations that may be ordered.

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. Mutilated 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 in the transmission, it is strongly

urged that remittances be made either by money order or

registered letter. Applicants will also include a sufficient

amount for return postage and registry fee, it being desirable to

send stamps by registered letter. Losses in the mails or by any

mode of transmission must be at the risk of the purchaser.

[Symbol: Right Index] Applications must be addressed to "The

Third Assistant Postmaster General, Washington, D. C."

Specimens of stamped envelopes will not be furnished in any case.

E. W. BARBER,

Third Assistant Postmaster General.

Here is truly a pretty kettle of fish. The proceedings do not seem to

have been reported by the Department, and there seems to have been no

account rendered of this peculiar transaction of the Stamp Office.

Doubtless the amounts received for these specimens and the number of

them sold are blended in the accounts of the number of stamps sold and

no loss accrued to the service. The public are not, however, informed of

the extent of the transactions, and judging from the difficulty of

finding these specimens in collections, the business was not large.

There was no law preventing any one from purchasing either the newspaper

or periodical stamps from the Post office, and at the time there was

probably no regulation of the Department which prevented postmasters

from selling them to all desirous of purchasing. Certainly some were

sold to dealers and collectors. Hence the privilege of purchasing the

current newspaper and periodical stamps _without gum_ for the same price

that actual and complete copies could be obtained, particularly in view

of the fact that the purchaser, unless a publisher or agent, could not

use them when so purchased, even if he were willing to gum them himself,

was probably not largely taken advantage of. The specimens when found

can hardly be called reprints and cannot be distinguished from the

ordinary stamps that have by some accident lost their gum. There is

reason to believe that some of them have been adorned with this

appendage by private parties, so that the presence of gum is no

guarantee of genuineness. As, however, they are only partly finished

stamps of the regular issue, no great harm is done if a specimen is

treasured in a collection.

With the newspaper stamps of the 1865 issue the facts are different.

While they are from the same plates apparently, they can generally be

detected by the color. As the five cents with white border does not

appear in the list of reprints or "specimens" the series was not, after

all, complete, and the possessor of this stamp may feel confident of

possessing an original. The companion five cents with colored border is

exactly of the same color, varying only in different specimens of either

variety in depths of color. The blue of the reprints is of a different

shade, more intense and perhaps the difference can best be expressed by

saying there is a _bloom_ about it that there is not about the

originals. When the two are placed side by side the homely expression

that the "new is worn off" of the originals will serve to express the

difference, though in point of fact they never had the brightness of the

reprints. The same remarks apply to the old and new ten cent values. The

color of the 25 cents, is, however, very badly imitated, the originals

have a yellowish-red cast, the reprint is a dull common red. A very

good idea of it might be had by comparing what are called salmon brick

and pressed brick together. Unfortunately some unscrupulous parties have

"experimented" with the reprints and thus rendered some specimens rather

harder to distinguish, but so far as the observation of the writer goes,

comparison with originals will always satisfactorily expose the

difference.

The extreme anxiety of the Department that the revenue of the service

should not suffer by the use of a private party of an official stamp for

which he had paid the department full value, led as the advertisement

states to the placing of the word "specimen" in small type across the

face, and thereby saved the collector any trouble in identifying

"specimens" from originals, though as the stamps were current the

omission of the gum only reduced them to partly finished stamps, and not

to the category of reprints or counterfeits.

Of the "ordinary stamps for the use of the public," the 5th or 1870

issue was then current, and why ungummed stamps which the circular says

were never the less available for postage, should have been sold when

the Department had a large supply of finished originals at command, is a

mystery to all but official minds.

The 4th or 1869 series presents greater difficulties to the collector

who desires to have only genuine originals. Made by the same company

that produced the originals, and only a short time afterwards, the

processes of printing, ink and paper making had not materially changed,

but the reprints show signs of more careful workmanship. Notwithstanding

the circular some of them at least were sent out by the department

gummed. But strange to say as noticed by Mr. Coster (A. J. P. 1875 page

6) the gum of the originals "varied from decidedly brownish to almost

white" and "on the 1861-69 issues of the reprints (as also on the

eagles) simple gum arabic seems to have been used, the color being

perfectly white. Furthermore, if the stamps are bent at all, the gum

cracks, which is in no case true of the originals." Mr. Coster further

says, "the originals all had the grille and the reprints have not."

Unfortunately, Mr. Coster was not aware that the four higher values at

least, with the brownish gum and without the grille, and undoubtedly

original, existed in collections before the reprints were made, and have

since been officially stated to have been so issued, and other values

also in that condition are known, which have every appearance of being

originals. Unfortunately also, it is not very difficult to remove the

gum, imitate the grille or not and regum the stamp with brownish gum.

Such experiments have been made with fair success by members of that

fraternity who exist by the trade in bogus antiquities and counterfeit

evidences of value, who sometimes do these little things merely to

experience the delight they feel in deceiving the so-called experts,

especially when as in this case a known reprint is almost unsalable,

but if it can be made to pass as an original its value is increased

several hundred fold and its salable qualities many times more.

Fortunately there are not a large number of the reprints to encounter

and grilled specimens are in all probability original. The 3d or 1861

issue was also made by the same company that did the reprinting. The

originals were issued first without the grille and afterwards with it,

both had the brownish gum. The reprints have the same perforation and,

notwithstanding the circular, were issued both without the gum and with

the white stiff gum noticed above. Originals without the grille are

rarely on tinted or surfaced paper, though sometimes smurched in parts

from careless wiping of the plates. Originals with the grille are

generally on lightly tinted or surfaced paper and the colors are usually

stronger than the earlier ones. The reprints were without the grille,

but the colors are rather those of the grilled originals, the paper is

however whiter, the printing more carefully worked, and there is the new

look about them noticed when speaking of the reprints of the newspaper

series of 1865. Sheets of the one cent reprinted show the printer's

imprint on the sides and of the pattern of that on the 1869 issue. All

the originals of this value probably had the imprint of the other

pattern, and at the top or bottom. The reprints are therefore, probably

from new plates.

A few reprints with a forged grille have come under the observation of

the writer, but as the grille was the small grille imitated from that on

the 1869 issue it was easily detected.

The 2nd or 1851 issue, as it is called in the circular, actually

consisted of two series, the imperforate and perforate. Imperforate

reprints were not furnished. The originals were perforated 15 to the mm.

or 17 to the 7/8 of an inch. The reprints were perforated 12 to the mm.

or 13 to the 7/8 of an inch. This is the perforation of the 1870 series

and of most of the U. S. stamps.

This is an absolute test then for perforated specimens. Attempts are,

however, made to palm off trimmed reprints as imperforate specimens. The

originals are on a yellowish paper and with brown gum. The reprints on a

very white paper originally but easily manipulated to yellowish. The

reprint of the one cent is from a new plate, the stamps have the outside

fine labels of the original imperforate series, but are set farther

apart on the plate so that even the larger perforation used does not cut

into the stamp. The blue is too bright. The reprinted three cents has

the outer top and bottom lines of the original imperforate stamp. The

stamps do not seem to have been set quite far enough apart on the plate,

as most specimens are somewhat marred by the large perforation. The

color is however a vermilion and not the brick-red, pink or carmine of

the originals. The reprinted five cents is from plate No. 2 without the

top and bottom projection, and the stamps being too near together are

marred by the large perforation. The color is a decided yellow brown,

unlike any of the shades of the original. It would probably be

impossible to remove the perforation so as to make this stamp pass for

an imperforate specimen and then it would lack the projection of the

original.

The ten and twelve cents are harder to distinguish, the green is too

green, the black too black. The twenty-four, thirty and ninety cents

were not issued imperforate (except the very rare instances of the 24

cents) and are not likely to deceive any one, their colors, however, are

the more brilliant new colors and not the old dull colors of the

originals.

The reprinted "Eagle" Carrier's stamp was first sent out perforated 12,

the original was, of course, imperforate, and the stamps upon the sheet

were separated by colored lines. The perforations of the reprints made

sad havoc with these. Later the reprints were sent out imperforate. Such

originals as the present writer has seen are on a yellowish tinted paper

arising probably from the gum or age, the reprints are on a paper blued

on the printed side by the ink of the stamp and with a blue cast at the

back.

The reprinted "Franklin" Carrier's stamp is on too deep a pink paper and

the dark blue ink is not deep and dull enough.

Finally the only safe test of any of these stamps is comparison with

undoubted originals, in every case of doubt.

The first or 1847 reprints are not from the original plates nor even

from the original dies, but from newly engraved dies, and hence are

absolutely worthless as representing the originals. They are not

reprints, but official imitations. In speaking of this issue it was

stated that the Department had ordered all remainders to be burnt and

the plates and dies destroyed. Supposing this to have been done

reprinting was impossible. To take the place of the originals, new dies

were made.

The imitations are both wider and shorter than the originals. The

foliated ornaments are too conspicuous in both. The small letters, R. W.

H. and E. in the margins, though clear in the originals are too small,

and particularly in the five cents almost illegible, being too light,

and apparently the engraver did not know whether to make an R or an H,

an M or a W, an H or an N, an E or an F. These are the general and

common differences.

The Five Cents. The hair on the right of the head (left of the stamp) is

in heavy dark masses in the original, but is too light, open and airy in

the imitation. The mouth prolonged in the original beyond the dot on the

right, ends with it in the imitation, in which there is a second dot to

the right of the first. The eyes are clear and distinct in the original,

with perhaps too much white in the right one, they are weak undecided

eyes in the imitation. The shirt front in the original is terminated by

a diagonal line which reaches the oval above the top of the F of "Five"

in the original, but is more nearly horizontal in the imitation,

reaching the oval nearly on a line with the top of the 5.

The Ten Cents. In the hair on the right of the stamp there is a small,

white circle with a dark center in the imitation which does not appear

in the original. The lips are larger and the mouth longer in the

original than the imitation, but in the latter the lower lip is

indicated throughout by vertical lines, in the original there are three

vertical lines, the rest indicated by points. In the original the white

cravat is separated from the inner colored line marking the oval by a

fine white line with a colored line above it; in the imitation the line

of the oval terminates the cravat. The lines of the face are all too

stiff and ridged and the execution does not compare in delicacy and

boldness of touch with the original.

INDEX.

Agriculture Department; 230, 243

Alexandria; 28, 60

Baltimore; 28, 62, 63

Baltimore, Horseman; 63

Brattleboro; 28, 48, 50

Carrier Stamps; 87, 88, 100, 191, 264

Compulsory prepayment; 23, 90, 91

Eight Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 218

Eighty-four Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219

Executive Department; 230, 235

Fifteen Cents, 1866; 131, 135, 136, 191

" 1867, medium grille; 139, 142, 191

" 1867, small grille; 141, 142, 191

" 1869; 153, 191

" 1870; 166, 170, 173

" 1873; 176

" 1883; 195

" Official; 234

Fifty Cents, Postage Due; 202

Five Cents, 1847; 76, 78, 191, 265

" 1856; 94, 107, 191

" 1857; 110, 120, 191

" 1861; 126, 134, 135, 191

" 1867; 140, 141, 142, 191

" 1875; 178

" 1881; 180

" 1882; 181

" 1883; 196

" Newspapers, 1865; 191

" Postage Due; 200

Five Dollars, State Department; 237

Four Cents, 1883; 187, 189, 196

" Newspapers, 1874; 218

Forty-eight Cents, " 1874; 219

Forty-eight Dollars," 1874; 222

Grille of 1867; 138, 139, 140

" 1869; 157

" 1870; 170

Interior Dep't; 230, 241

Introduction; 13

Issue of 1847; 74, 191, 265

" 1851; 81, 85, 87, 88, 191, 263

" 1855; 94, 191

" 1856; 94, 191

" 1857; 110, 191

" 1860; 111, 191

" 1861; 122, 125, 191, 261

" 1863; 131, 191

" 1865; 209, 191

" 1866; 132, 191

" 1867; 137, 191

" 1869; 144, 149, 191, 260

" 1870; 158, 191, 260

" 1873; 173, 227

" 1874; 214

" 1875; 177

" 1879; 201

" 1882; 180

" 1883; 186, 189, 195

" 1885; 205

" 1887; 196

Justice Dep't; 230, 242

Millbury; 28, 65

Navy Dep't; 230, 240

Newspaper and Periodical, 1865; 209, 259

" " " 5 cts.; 211

" " " 10 cts.; 212

" " " 25 cts.; 213

" " 1874; 214

New Haven; 28, 51, 53

New York; 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33

New York "U. S. Mail"; 34

Nine Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 191, 192, 218

Nine Dollars, " " ; 221

Ninety Cents, 1860; 112, 121, 191

" 1861; 129, 135, 136, 191

" 1867; 140, 141, 142, 191

" 1869; 156, 191

" 1870; 169, 170, 173

" 1873; 176

" 1883; 195, 196

" Official; 235

Ninety-six Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219

Official Stamps; 227

Official Seals; 249

Officially Sealed; 250

One Cent Carrier, Eagle; 88, 109, 191, 264

" " Franklin; 87, 109, 191, 264

" 1851; 85, 89, 97, 191

" 1857; 110, 113, 191

" 1861; 125, 133, 134, 135, 191

" 1867, medium grille; 139, 191

" 1867, small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191

" 1869; 149, 191

" 1870; 161, 170, 172, 173

" 1873; 175

" 1881; 180

" 1882; 183

" 1883; 195

" 1886; 183

" 1887; 183

" 1887; 196

" Newspaper, 1885; 224

" Official; 233

" Postage Due; 200

One Dollar and Ninety-two Cents, Newspaper, 1874; 220

Philadelphia; 69

Pittsfield; 71

Postage Due; 198

" 1, 2, 3, 5; 200

" 10, 30, 50; 202

Postmarks; 14 to 18

Post Obitum; 252

Post Office Department; 230

Postmasters Stamps; 25, 72

Providence; 23, 54, 56

Registered Seals; 249

Registered Seals for stamp packages; 250

Reprints; 254

St. Louis; 27, 28, 36, 38

" 2 Cents; 47

" 5 " ; 40

" 10 " ; 42

" 20 " ; 44

Seven Cents, 1870; 159, 169, 170, 172, 173, 191, 192

" 1873; 176

" Official; 234

Seventy-two Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219

Six Cents, 1869; 151, 191

" 1870; 159, 164, 170, 172, 173

" 1873; 175, 176

" 1882; 184, 190, 192

" 1883; 196

" 1886; 192

" Newspapers, 1874; 218

" Official; 234

Sixty Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219

Sixty Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 223

Six Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 220

Specimen Postage Stamps; 225

Special Delivery; 204

State Department; 230, 236

Ten Cents, 1847; 77, 79, 191, 266

" 1855; 94, 108, 191

" 1857; 110, 121, 191

" 1861; 127, 135, 191

" 1867, medium grille; 139, 191

" 1867, small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191

" 1869; 151, 191

" 1870; 159, 165, 170, 173

" 1881; 180

" 1882; 185

" 1883; 185, 186

" 1886; 196

" 1887; 186

" Newspapers, 1874; 218

" Official; 234

" Postage Due; 202

" Special Delivery; 204

Ten Dollars, State; 237

Thirty Cents, 1860; 111, 112, 121, 191

" 1861; 129, 135, 136, 191

" 1867; 140, 141, 142, 191

" 1869; 155, 191

" 1870; 168, 170, 173

" 1873; 176

" 1883; 196

" Official; 235

" Postage Due; 202

Thirty-six Cents, Newspapers, 1874; 219

Thirty-six Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 222

Three Cents, 1851; 85, 89, 98, 191

" 1857; 110, 115, 191

" 1861; 126, 134, 135, 191

" 1867 grilled all over; 138, 191

" " large grille; 139, 191

" " medium grille; 139, 191

" " small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191

" " imperforate; 142, 191

" 1869; 150, 191

" 1870; 163, 170, 172, 173

" 1873; 175, 176

" 1881; 180

" 1882; 184, 186, 190, 192

" 1883; 196

" 1886-7; 192

" Official; 234

" Newspapers, 1874; 191, 192, 218

" Postage due; 200

Three Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 220

Treasury Dept; 230, 238

Twelve Cents, 1851; 86, 89, 108, 191

" 1857; 110, 121, 191

" 1861; 127, 135, 191

" 1867 medium grille; 139, 191

" 1867 small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191

" 1869; 152, 191

" 1870; 159, 165, 170, 173, 191, 192

" 1883; 196

" Newspapers, 1874; 219

" Official; 234

Twelve Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 221

Twenty Dollars, State; 237

Twenty-four Cents, 1856; 93, 108, 191

" " 1860; 111, 112, 121, 191

" " 1861; 128, 135, 136, 191

" " 1867; 140, 141, 142, 191

" " 1869; 154, 191

" " 1870; 167, 170, 173, 191, 192

" " 1873; 176

" " Newspapers, 1874; 219

" " Official; 234

Twenty-four Dollars, Newspapers, 1874; 222

Two Cents, 1863; 131, 135, 191

" 1867, medium grille; 139, 191

" 1867, small grille; 140, 141, 142, 191

" 1867, imperforate; 142, 191

" 1869; 150, 191

" 1870; 161, 170, 172, 173

" 1873; 175

" 1875; 177

" 1881; 180

" 1882; 184, 186

" 1883; 187, 189, 195

" Official; 234

" Newspaper; 218

" Postage Due; 200

Two Dollars, State; 237

Uniform Postage; 23

Unpaid Letter Stamps; 200

Unperforated Specimens, 1867; 142

" " 1870; 172

U. S. Mail; 34

U. S. City Dispatch Post; 19, 22

War Department; 230, 239

Washington; 31, 67

Worcester; 70

THE

=PHILATELIC CATALOGUE=

OF POSTAGE STAMPS, STAMPED ENVELOPES

AND POSTAL CARDS.

BY MAJOR EDW. B. EVANS, R. A.

This work is fully illustrated with engravings, also gives full

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THE

=Philatelic Journal of America.=

A large monthly magazine published in interest of stamp collecting.

Contributed to, by the leading philatelic writers of the day, including,

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=POSTAGE STAMP DEALER,=

Solicits business relations with all philatelists. Rarities are always

on hand for the advanced collector. Rare stamps bought for cash or taken

in exchange.

New issues and novelties always on hand. A fine stock of desirable

stamps at very reasonable prices. Selections of stamps on approval sent

to responsible parties. Agents wanted for the sale of stamps on liberal

commission.

Foreign correspondence and exchange solicited.

A large wholesale stock for sale by 10, 100 or 1000 at lowest prices.

Mexican, South and Central American stamps is a specialty in wholesale

trade. Hundreds of thousands of these stamps imported yearly.

Cash paid for U. S. Department stamps, Newspaper and Periodical stamps,

Old U. S. Envelopes, Confederate and U. S. Locals.

Large or old collections wanted for cash. Send for U. S. Exchange list.

Inquiries should contain stamp for reply.

C. H. MEKEEL,

_Room 71, Turner Building_, _ST. LOUIS, MO._

# # # # #

Transcriber's Notes:

5. Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected without comment.

6. Inconsistent quote marks in cited materials have been retained.

Mismatched quotes have been repaired.

7. Inconsistent abbreviations, punctuation, character spacing, etc.,

have been made uniform.

8. Inconsistent variations of millimeter fractions, _i. e._ 1/2 (with

forward slash) and 1-2 (stacked 1 over 2), etc. have been made

consistent.

9. Right justified page numbers in the "INDEX" have been replaced by

a left justified semi-colon ";" immediately followed by the

referenced page numbers.

10. SPELLING CORRECTIONS: (#) shows number of times word was correctly

spelled in the text.

p. 47, "apperance" to "appearance" (14) (has a blurred appearance)

p. 47, "diffent" to "different" (30) (a different design)

p. 48, "Brattleborro" to "Brattleboro" (8) (of Brattleboro, Vermont)

p. 50, "seperately" to "separately" (7) (stamp separately engraved)

p. 52, "accomodation" to "accommodation" (7) (as an accommodation;)

p. 53, "impresions" to "impressions" (102) (re-impressions in red)

p. 55, "orignally" to "originally" (11) (originally ruled into spaces)

p. 64, "permiting" to "permitting" (4) (permitting to be used)

p. 78, "Terell" to "Terrell" (2) (Mr. Terrell, Third Assistant

Postmaster General)

p. 80, "Goverment" to "Government" (34) (dies by the Government)

p. 88, "Pastmaster" to "Postmaster" (200) (the Postmaster General)

p. 91, "postmater" to "postmaster" (200) (unlawful for any postmaster)

p. 92, "Priviledge" to "Privilege" (13) (the Franking Privilege)

p. 93, "lettters" to "letters" (200) (amount on letters)

p. 94, "Casellar" to "Cassilar" (2) (Toppan, Carpenter, Cassilar & Co.)

p. 104, "prolongued" to "prolonged" (3) (right side prolonged)

(this correction is noted on the publishers "Errata" page)

p. 107, "vermillion" to "vermilion" (15) (with yellowish vermilion)

p. 110, "millemetres" to "millimetres" (2) (space of two millimetres)

p. 110, "impresion" to "impression" (102) (Plate impression,)

p. 119, "runing" to "running" (5) (and running off to the right)

p. 120, "Botom" to "Bottom" (110) (LEFT. Top, Bottom)

p. 123, "newpapers" to "newspapers" (88+) (through the newspapers)

p. 124, "Immediatly" to "Immediately" (3) (Immediately after the

expiration)

p. 127, "ocre" to "ochre" (5) (5 cents, ochre, shades of brown.)

p. 129, "impresion" to "impression" (102) (Plate impression,)

p. 132, "borderded" to "bordered" (105) (bordered by a broad)

p. 140, "compossed" to "composed" (19) (composed of depressed lines)

p. 159, "ninty" to "ninety" (27) (ninety cents, Commodore)

p. 160, "posesion" to "possession" (11) (present issue, in possession)

p. 170, "vermillion" to "vermilion" (15) (7 cents, vermilion.)

p. 179, "ZEVERLY" to "ZEVELY" (2) ((Signed.) A. N. ZEVELY)

p. 180, "hurridly" to "hurriedly" (0) (hurriedly gotten up)

p. 185, "conspicious" to "conspicuous" (6) (shade lines being

conspicuous)

p. 194, "improvments" to "improvements" (5) (improvements in

machinery)

p. 197, "soild" to "solid" (60) (broad solid colored line)

p. 200, "whereever" to "wherever" (1) (wherever required)

p. 201, "beween" to "between" (117) (colored band between)

p. 207, "cirular" to "circular" (55) (From the third circular)

p. 209, "newpaper" to "newspaper" (88+) (newspaper stamps in other

countries)

p. 209, "newpapers" to "newspapers" (88+) (distribution of newspapers

and periodicals)

p. 213, "principly" to "principally" (3) (principally at Chicago)

p. 219, "horizontically" to "horizontally" (49) (horizontally and

diagonally)

p. 220, "Ninty" to "Ninety" (27) (One Dollar and Ninety-Two)

p. 224, "classs" to "class" (11) (publications of the second class)

p. 227, "reveiw" to "review" (2) (by a brief review)

p. 228, "Treasuay" to "Treasury" (16) (the Treasury may be)

p. 229, "Ano" to "Anno" (0) (Anno Domini 1873)

p. 232, "addional" to "additional" (19) (four additional denominations)

p. 232, "excercise" to "exercise" (2) (exercise its own discretion)

p. 232, "chocineal" to "cochineal" (7) (War Department, cochineal red;)

p. 245, "judisdiction" to "jurisdiction" (0) (court of competent

jurisdiction)

p. 245, "theron" to "thereon" (9) (shall be stated thereon)

p. 246, "transmision" to "transmission" (9) (for the transmission of)

p. 246, "throught" to "through" (23) (through the mails free)

p. 247, "attatchment" to "attachment" (6) (attachment of official

postage)

p. 259, "genuiness" to "genuineness" (0) (no guarantee of genuineness)

p. 271, "Newpapers" to "Newspapers" (88+) (Three Dollars, Newspapers)

p. 275, "Britian" to "Britain" (0) (Great Britain and Colonies)

11. PRINTER AND TYPOGRAPHY CORRECTIONS: Words with missing and

misprinted letters, inconsistent hyphenation, punctuation and spacing

have been corrected without comment. Additional corrections;

p. 23, removed duplicate word "the" (the distances were so great)

p. 56, removed duplicate word "the" (the lower half of a circle)

p. 59, removed duplicate "of" (I, of R. I., and S of Cents)

p. 67-68, added Footnote anchor [A] (following advertising

editorial[A]:)

p. 75, removed duplicate word "be" (shall be subject to)

p. 76, removed duplicate word "been" (to have been distributed)

p. 82, removed duplicate word "be" (shall be deemed)

p. 98, removed duplicate word "the" ((A) show the paper)

P. 104, corrected duplicate instance of D^2 f^{1 2 3 4}, to

D^1 f^{1 2 3 4}, to match established pattern of data.

p. 139, 3rd through 6th line from bottom, changed fraction from 16-2/2

to 16-1/2.

p. 151, removed duplicate "the" (upper squares at the sides)

p. 177, changed "E. M. BARBER" to "E. W. BARBER" to match all other

instances.

12. WORD VARIATIONS:

"back ground" (6), "back-ground" (5), "background" (32)

"Caracci" (1), "Carraci" (1) "Cerrachi" (2) (misspellings appear in

official documents referring to Giuseppe Ceracchi, aka Giuseppe

Cirachi, the Italian sculptor.)

"despatch" (3) and "dispatch" (9)

"enclose(ed)" (7) and "inclose" (1) (in quoted Postmaster report)

"extention" (1) (as shown in quoted postal circular)

"grayish" (1) and "greyish" (2)

"lozenge" (1) and "losenge" (1) (middle english)

"millimeter" (1) and "millimetre(s)" (1)

"preceding" (2) and "preceeding" (2)

"prepaid" (15) and "prepayed" (1) (in quoted Postmaster letter)

"Rawdon" (1) and "Rawden" (1) (part of a company name)

"salie" (1) and "sallie" (1)

"semi-circle" (1) and "semicircle" (2)

"supersede(ed)" (1) and "supercede" (1) (in quoted Postmaster report)

"Wyman" (1) and "Wymer" (1)

"Zachary" (1) (in text) and "Zackary" (1) (General Taylor, in quoted

Postmaster letter)