Chapter XI: Section 99: of the Act entitled: An Act to revise, consolidate (1)

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.