History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America Part 7

TEN CENTS. Portrait of George Washington, first President, facing three quarters to the right, on an oval disk, with hatched background, bordered by a broad colorless line, with a fine colored line outside, in a rectangular frame, bordered in the same manner. The ground of the frame and inscriptions are similar to the five cents, but changed for the value to a large "X," in each lower corner, with "_Ten Cents_,"

between. Same small initials in the lower border.

Plate impression, 18 by 23 mm., in color, on faintly bluish paper.

10 cents, black.

In the Hartford Times of August 5th, 1885, appeared a long article, ent.i.tled: "The First Postage Stamps," from which the following relating to the actual date of this issue may be here repeated.

"Thirty eight years ago to-day the first postage stamps were used in the United States. * * * On the 25th of March, 1840, John M. Niles, of Hartford, became Postmaster General and signalized his administration by many reforms. * * * It was necessary to cap all by a genuine innovation, and he performed this by suggesting the postage stamp. The suggestion was received with ridicule, and Mr. Niles soon after retired. * * *

When Cave Johnson a.s.sumed the post office, on the 5th of March, 1845, he found it an Herculian task to reinstate the reform measures of Mr. Niles. * * * Among the measures of Mr. Niles that he adopted was the postage stamp idea. * * * Johnson garnished his conversation with fathering the suggestion originated six years before. * * * The matter took form as a bill. * * * Approved March 3rd, 1847. The date of the issue was appointed as July 1st, but there was a delay in the contractors'

work and the time ran over a month.

On the 5th of August, soon after the opening of the Postmaster General's office for the day, an old gentleman called to see Mr.

Johnson on business. The gentleman was the Hon. Henry Shaw, a New Yorker, * * * and the father of the well known Henry Shaw, Jr., (Josh Billings). * * * Mr. Johnson came into his office accompanied by the printer of the new stamps, a few minutes after Mr. Shaw had arrived, on that August morning. Sheets of the stamps were laid before the Postmaster General, who, after receipting for them, handed them to his visitor to inspect. Mr.

Shaw returned them after a hasty glance, and then drawing out his wallet, he counted fifteen cents, with which he purchased two of the stamps--the first two ever issued. The five cent stamp he kept as a curiosity, and the ten cent stamp he presented to Governor Briggs, as an appropriate gift."

OBSERVATIONS.

In nearly all the early catalogues and in some recent foreign ones, these stamps are catalogued upon _white_ paper. Mr. Terrell, Third a.s.sistant Postmaster General, in a letter published on page 111, American Stamp Mercury, 1870, states positively that this issue was never printed except upon faintly tinted bluish paper. It may be observed, generally, that the paper of all stamps of the early issues of all countries which were affixed to the blue or bluish paper in general use at the time, has a tendency to vary from the original color, sometimes becoming blue or bluish, when originally white, darker or lighter blue or even whitish if originally blue. This has been variously explained, as the action of some ingredient in the paper of the letter, or of the stamp, in the gum or the ink.

It must be further observed that the color of the impression of the five cents varies greatly from the original pale red brown, called bronze.

Many shades of faint red brown, red brown, faint dark brown, deep dark brown, black brown, bluish black, and almost pure black, may be found.

Whether these result, as seems to be the case, from a natural change in the course of time, from something in the ink, paper or surroundings of the stamp itself, or whether it results from the use of different colored ink originally, may perhaps be impossible now to determine.

The ten cent, however, varies very little in the color of the impression. Beyond a lighter, or grayish shade, a black with a bluish cast, and the ordinary black impression, little is to be noticed.

The stamps are separated in the sheet by about 2 mm., each way. Double copies of the five cents, adhering either by the side, or by the top and bottom, are often found on old letters, and occasionally, three or four adhering specimens are encountered. The ten cents is almost invariably found in single specimens, though a few pairs, and even three used together are known.

According to a statement in the American Journal of Philately, of April, 1871, this issue was withdrawn from circulation between June 11th and September 30th, 1851. The instructions of the Department to the deputy postmasters, concerning the distribution of the next issue, published in June, 1851, order that these five and ten cent stamps must not be recognized as prepaying letters after the 30th of June, 1851, and request the public to return them to the deputy postmasters, in exchange for others of the new issue. The report of the Postmaster General for the year expiring June 30th, 1851, and published in the fall of that year, further states: "Directions for the destruction of the dies and plates, employed in the manufacture of the stamps formerly used, have been given, and for counting and burning such stamps as have not been issued to postmasters or have been returned."

These facts probably explain the extreme rarity of unused stamps of this issue, and the re-engraving of the dies by the Government, when it was considered advisable to make an exhibit of all its issues of adhesive stamps at the Centennial Exhibition.

The existence therefore, of a specimen of four unused five cent stamps, adhering by the sides, and another of four unused ten cent stamps, adhering also by the sides, in the private collection of Mr. Sterling, is worthy of notice. The latter specimen, at any rate, is probably unique, and though called whitish paper by him, has nevertheless, the bluish tint, and certainly is not _white_ paper.

NOTE. There are _proofs_ however on white paper.

XVIII.

THE ISSUE OF 1851.

The Act of the x.x.xI Congress, Session II, Chapter XX, approved March 3rd, 1851, and ent.i.tled: "An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the United States, and for other purposes" reads:

"Be it enacted, etc., that from and after the 30th day of June, 1851, in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates, viz: For every single letter in ma.n.u.script, or paper of any kind, upon which information shall be asked for, or communicated, in writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail for any distance, between places within the United States, not exceeding 3,000 miles, when the postage upon said letter shall have been prepaid, three cents, and five cents when the postage thereon shall not have been prepaid, and for any distance exceeding 3,000 miles, double these rates; for every such single letter or paper when conveyed wholly or in part by sea, and to or from a foreign country, for any distance over 2,500 miles, twenty cents, and for any distance under 2,500 miles, ten cents, excepting however, all cases where such postages have been or shall be adjusted at different rates by postal treaty or convention already concluded or hereafter to be made; and for a double letter there shall be charged double the rates above specified; and for a treble letter, treble these rates; and for a quadruple letter, quadruple these rates; and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight, shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or every additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage. And all drop letters, or letters placed in any post office, not for transmission, but for delivery only, shall be charged with postage at the rate of one cent each, and all letters which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over or uncalled for in any post office shall be charged with one cent in addition to the regular postage to be accounted for as other postages now are."

The second section fixed the rates upon newspapers of all descriptions, coming from the publishers, etc., etc., which were not to be paid for by stamps, but:

"Every other newspaper circular, hand bill, engraving, pamphlet," etc., etc., "shall be charged one cent an ounce under 500 miles and one cent each additional ounce between 500 and 1500 miles," double beyond, etc., etc.

The third section provides:

"And be it further enacted, that it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to provide and furnish to all deputy postmasters, and to all other persons applying and paying therefor, suitable postage stamps, of the denomination of three cents, and of such other denominations as he may think expedient to facilitate prepayment of postages provided for in this Act; and any person who shall forge or counterfeit any postage stamp, provided or furnished under this Act, whether the same are impressed or printed on or attached to envelopes or not, or any die, plate or engraving therefor, or shall make or print, or knowingly use or sell, or have in his possession, with intent to use or sell, any such false, forged or counterfeit die, plate, engraving, or postage stamps, or who shall make or print, or otherwise procure to be made or printed, any postage stamps of the kind provided and furnished by the Postmaster General, as aforesaid, without the especial authority and direction of the Post Office Department, or who, after such postage stamps have been printed, shall, with intent to defraud the revenue of the Post Office Department, deliver any postage stamps to any person or persons other than such as shall be authorized to receive the same by an instrument of writing duly executed under the hand of the Postmaster General, and the seal of the Post Office Department, shall on conviction thereof be deemed guilty of felony, and punishable by a fine not exceeding 500 dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding five years; or by both such fine or imprisonment, and the expenses of procuring and providing all such postage stamps and letter envelopes as are provided or authorized by this Act, shall be paid, after being adjusted by the auditor of the Post Office Department, on the certificate of the Postmaster General, out of any money in the Treasury, arising from the Revenues of the Post Office Department."

The 4th section provides that postage stamps shall be defaced as the Postmaster General may direct, and the penalty for omitting so to do.

The 10th section provides for the appointment of carriers, the rate to be one or two cents prepaid, the carriers to be paid out of the receipts from this postage.

The 11th section authorizes the coining of the three cent coin, probably to facilitate the payment of these rates.

The other matters mentioned in the foregoing Act are of little interest here, but the following circular contains some matters of importance:

REGULATIONS CONCERNING POSTAGE STAMPS.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, _June 10th, 1851_.

"To facilitate the payment of postages upon letters and packages, postage stamps of the following denominations are provided and furnished by the postmaster General, pursuant to the third section of the "Act to reduce and modify the rates of Postage in the United States," and for other purposes approved March 3rd, 1851.

Viz: No. 1. Printed in black, representing the head of Washington, of the denomination of twelve cents.

No. 2. Printed in red, representing the head of Washington, in profile, of the denomination of three cents.

No. 3. Printed in blue, representing the head of Franklin, in profile, of the denomination of one cent.

These stamps will be furnished to one or more of the princ.i.p.al postmasters in each county, who will be required to supply the other postmasters in their vicinities, upon being paid for the amount furnished."

The remaining provisions relate to the mode of distribution, accounting, cancelling, etc., and are of no particular interest. The circular is signed "Nathan D. Hall, Postmaster General."

A similar circular dated April 3rd, 1852, is almost an exact repet.i.tion of the foregoing. The stamps issued may be described more fully thus:

ISSUE OF JULY 1ST, 1851.

ONE CENT. Bust of Benjamin Franklin, first Postmaster General, in profile, facing to the right, in an oval disk 17 by 20 mm., with a ground of very fine horizontal colored lines, slightly waved, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines. The colorless line is ornamented by a line of fine dots. Above is a label, bordered at the top by a similarly ornamented colorless line, between two fine colored lines, terminated at the ends by the corner ornaments of the stamp, with a ground of fine colored lines following the lines of the oval, and inscribed in outline capitals "_U. S. Postage_." Below the oval is a similar label, the ends terminated by a similar border, with a ground of fine colored lines, inscribed "_One Cent_" in outline capitals. This label is shaded by a number of vertical lines. Scroll and foliated corner ornaments extending down the sides. There is no outside line finishing the frame. The stamps are very near each other on the sheet.

Plate impression, 19 by 22 mm., color, white paper.

1 cent, shades of indigo blue.

THREE CENTS. Bust of Washington, first President of the United States, in profile to left, on an oval disk, with hatched ground, bordered by a fine colorless line between two fine colored lines, surrounded by a frame composed of colorless lines, forming diamonds on a solid ground, the alternate diamonds filled in with diagonal colorless lines, leaving a colored chain conspicuous, with rosettes in the four angles. The s.p.a.ce between the oval and frame filled with horizontal lines, and the corners outside the rosettes filled with ornamented triangles. Above and below all these are solid colored labels, with a small piece containing a diamond cut off at each end by a vertical colorless line, inscribed in colorless Roman capitals, above "_U. S. Postage_," below "_Three Cents_." The whole is surrounded, at a little distance, by a colored line forming a rectangle.

Plate impression 20 by 25 mm., color, white paper.

3 cents, in shades of brick and rose red.

TWELVE CENTS. Bust of Washington, after Stewart, facing three quarters to the left, on an oval disk 13 by 17 mm., with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two colored lines. This colorless line is crossed by horizontal lines. About this is a frame like that of the 3 cents, with rosettes at the angles, but showing six and two half links in the chain on each side, instead of five and two half links as in the three cents. The outside corners are filled by small foliations.

The s.p.a.ce between the oval and frame is filled by horizontal lines.

Inscription above "_U. S. Postage_," below "_Twelve Cents_" in colorless capitals, shaded outside on the back ground and following the curve of the oval. The whole is surrounded by a fine colored line.