History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America Part 29

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 a.s.st. P. M. General, at--Washington, D. C. This Package--Should be opened at the end. E. W. Barber, 3d a.s.st. 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 a.s.st. 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, 43 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, 43 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 a.s.sistant 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.