History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America Part 19

The number of these stamps issued with grille, is estimated as follows:

1 cent, 95,127,100.

2 cents, 208,375,550.

3 " 962,467,790.

6 " 21,600,900.

7 " 2,070,800.

10 cents 8,509,280.

12 " 2,857,975.

15 " 4,299,220.

24 " 637,450.

30 " 711,430.

90 " 165,180.

ISSUE WITHOUT GRILLE (1873?)

The use of the grille was finally abandoned altogether. The first notice of this change appeared in the stamp papers of February, 1873. They were made by the same company, and are in all respects the same, except the embossing.

1 cent, imperial ultramarine, perforated 12.

2 cents, velvet brown " "

3 " milori green " "

6 " cochineal " "

7 " vermilion " "

10 " chocolate " "

12 " purple " "

15 " orange " "

24 " pure purple " "

30 " black " "

90 " carmine " "

The colors do not vary materially from those of the grilled series, but there are two quite distinct shades of the twelve cents, a blackish purple and a brownish tint.

ISSUE OF 1873.

In accordance with the provisions of the general law, before the expiration of the contract with the National Bank Note Company, the Postmaster General advertised in the daily papers, in December, 1872, that he would receive bids for furnishing the Department with postage stamps from the 1st of May, 1873, to the 1st of May, 1877. This contract, as well as the subsequent one which terminated the 1st of July, 1881, was awarded to the Continental Bank Note Company, of New York. The dies and plates, by the terms of the contract with the National Bank Note Company, were the property of the Government, and were turned over to the new contractors, who continued to print the stamps from the same plates, until they were worn out, and theoretically in the same colors. As new plates were required from time to time, they were made from the original dies, but bore the imprint of the new contractor, which resembles the first one described as used by the National Company, but reads "Printed by the" in the first line, "Continental Bank Note Co., New York," in the second line. This imprint probably, was not put upon one of the values above 15 cents. In fact the 30 and 90 cents sent out just before, and for some years after the expiration of the second contract awarded to this Company, bore the second named imprint of the National Bank Note Company.

Specimens are found which show the heavier border lines and shadows of the different parts of the design, the fine lines of the background, of the tablets, and sometimes of the shields, being invisible to the eye, though more or less of them can generally be traced with a gla.s.s. These collectors have designated as "plain frames," as they appear to be without color. They are, really, defective impressions either from worn plates, when the plates made by the National Bank Note Company, were giving out in 1873, or from the poor results of the process of printing adopted, as is claimed by the Postmaster General.

But similar varieties have certainly appeared, and for like causes, at other times. Collectors of curiosities will find:

1 cent plain frame, perforated 12.

2 cents " " " "

3 " " " " "

6 " " " " "

10 " " " " "

The stamps from the plates with the imprint of this Company, now bear on the back a white gum, and not the brownish, used by the National Bank Note Company, which will help to distinguish impressions made by them from the old plates. The colors, however, are not identical, and will further serve to distinguish them. There may be exceptions, but ordinarily the ONE CENT is a pure indigo, without the red or ultramarine cast, of those printed previously, whether lighter or deeper impressions are chosen.

The TWO CENTS has also lost its reddish tone, and is a dull brown, with a tendency to blackish-brown, whether lighter or deeper in shade.

The THREE CENTS is of a duller and generally a pale shade.

The SIX CENTS is much lighter and is a washy pink.

The SEVEN CENTS is a more yellowish vermilion.

The TEN CENTS approaches very nearly to the original shade of the two cents, but is a little more of a blackish brown, very unlike the delicate original shade. The oval and face lines are dark and heavy.

The FIFTEEN CENTS is a much paler orange.

The higher values, TWENTY-FOUR, THIRTY and NINETY CENTS, have a thinner tone than the deep rich color of the former Company's work.

In the meantime, the following changes were announced in a circular to postmasters:

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Office of the Third a.s.sistant Postmaster General, Division of Stamps, Stamped Envelopes & Postal Cards.

_Washington, D. C., June 21st, 1875._

The Department is prepared to commence the issue of postage stamps of the denomination of five (5) cents to meet the new letter rate of postage, under the treaty of Berne, to the following countries, viz:

[Here follow the names of all countries that had then joined the Postal Union, to which five cents was the rate.]

The new five cent stamp is designed from a bust of Gen. Zackary Taylor in full face, and printed in dark blue color. The changes in foreign postages will render unnecessary the further use of the 7, 12 and 24 cent stamps and stamped envelopes, and they will accordingly be discontinued.

In order to avoid the liability to mistake caused by the near similarity in color between the two cent and ten cent stamp, the former will in future be printed in vermilion, the color of the discontinued seven cent stamp.

[Here follows directions to use up the stock of the discontinued stamps and envelopes, whenever they can be utilized.]

(Signed.) E. W. BARBER, Third a.s.sistant Postmaster General.

ISSUE OF JULY 1ST, 1875.

TWO CENTS. Same design, and from the same die and plate as the previous brown impression, the color only changed.

Plate impression, 19 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.

2 cents, vermilion.

ISSUE OF OCTOBER 5TH, 1875.

One of the New York daily papers in April, 1882, speaking of the new five cent stamp (Garfield) about to be issued, says: The history of the current five cent stamp with Taylor's portrait is as follows:

The rates for international postage had been decided upon as 5 cents, the United States series of postage stamps had not such a value. Mr. Jewell, the Postmaster General at the time, suggested to President Grant the propriety of having his portrait on the new stamp of the required value. Gen. Grant did not agree with his Cabinet officer. Finally, he suggested that if Mr. Jewell would insist upon consulting his wishes, he (Gen. Grant) would be well pleased if the portrait of old Zack Taylor, with whom he served in the Mexican war, could be used on the new stamp.

Instead of instructing the then contractors to prepare a portrait of Gen. Taylor, which would be in harmony with the other stamps of the series, Mr. Jewell found in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a portrait of Taylor, which had been used on the old tobacco strip series. This portrait was transmogrified into the five cent stamp. It was badly engraved and of wretched color.