The republic., 1851-06-12
OFFICIAL.
Regulation. Concerning Postage stamps.

the following denominations are provided and
furnished by the Postmaster General, pursuant
to the Sd section of the .'act to reduce and mod
ify the rates of postage in the United States,
and for other purposes" approved March Sd,
1851, viz:
No. l., 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 principal postmasters in each
county, who will be required to supply the
other postmasters in their respective vcinties,
upon being paid for the amounts furnished.
All other persons wishing supplies Of stamps
can obtain them from the postmaster at the
county seat nearest their residences, OF from the
postmaster Of any other Office having them for
sale.
Postmasters purchasing stamps from other
postmasters are not required to render to the
Department any account Of the stamps so pur-
chased and sold by them.
Every postmaster receiving stamps for sale
directly from the Department will, at the end
of each quarter, charge himself in his quarterly
account current with any amount of stamps
which remained on hand at the close of the pre-
ceding quarter, adding thereto the amounts re-
ceved during the quarter just ended, and
crediting himself with the amount then re-
naming on hand. The balance of the account
so stated will represent the amount of stamps
sold, which must be added on his quarterly ac-
| IN ba 1u fho
lar return of postages for the quarter
In case Of resignation, removal, or death, the
postmaster or his representative will not be
allowed credit for any stamps turned over to
| his successor, unless such successor have
duly qualified by giving bond, nor unless his
receipt for the amount shall be forthwith trans
mitted to the Auditor for the Post Office De-
parlment.
Any letter or packet with one or more post
age stamps affixed equal in amount to the post
age properly chargeable thereon, may be mailed
and forwarded from any post office as pre-
paid letter or packet; but if the postage stamps
affixed be not adequate to the proper postage,
the postmaster mailing the letter or packet will
admit the prepayment of as many rates as the
stamps upon it represent, and charge the e1-
cess with postage at the unpaid rate to be col
lected at the office of delivery.
All postage stamps affixed to any letter,
packet, or parcel of any description, must be
Immediately and etsctualy cancelled in the Of
flee in which the letter, packet, or parcel may
be deposited for delivery or transmission.
AT the larger offices they will be cancelled,
with an instrument to be furnished by the De
partment. In post offices not so furnished; the
stamps must be thoroughly cancelled by making
several heavy cross or parallel lines upon each
of them with pen dipped in good black ink
The capceiling Instrument should be used acith
black printers ink, achen that material can be
obtained
Ii the cancelling have been omitted on the
mailing of the letter, packet, parcel or if the
cancellation be incomplete, the postmaster at
the office of delivery will cancel the stamps in
the manner directed, and forthwith report the
delinquent postmaster to the Postmaster Gene
raj, as the law requires.
Letters, packets. and parcels chargeable with
letter postage, which shall have been prepaid
by stamps, will be entered on the ost-bills, and
also on the transcripts of mails sent and mails
received, IN the appropriate columns, headed
''prepaid by stamps"
The postage on newspapers, magazines, and
pamphlets, prepaid by stamps, must in like
manner be entered on the proper transcript or
account Of newspapers, magazines, pamphlets,
and other printed matter, in the column headed
'prepaid by stamps"
The Department will furnish blanks suitable
for keeping accounts of unpaid printed matter
received, and of prepaid printed matter sent in
the mails.
The amount of stamp letters sent will, in the
computation of the postmaster's commissions,
and for that purpose only, be added to the
amount of postages received, and commissions
will be charged and allowed thereon as if the
postage on the letters had been prepaid in mo-
ney instead of stamps.
The postmaster will charge his commission
on the AMOUNT of postage on newspapers, mag
azines, and pamphlets, and all other printed
matter prepaid by stamps, as if the same had
been prepaid in money.
All postage stamps, Whether attached to let
ters, packets, or parcels chargeable with letter
postage, or to newspapers, magazines, pam
phlets, or other printed matter, must be care
fully entered by the postmaster in the appro-
pirate columns of the transcripts belonging to
his quarterly returns, that the Department may
know the quantity of stamps used in the mails
and cancelled.
postmaster may not refuse to mail and for
ward letter as prepaid because the stamp
upon it was not purchased at his office. If the
stamp be genuine, and have not been used be-
fore in prepayment, it must be respected.
Postage stamps may be used in the prepay
ment Of postage on letters to foreign countries,
in all cases where such prepayment can be
made in money.
When letters to foreign countries are pre-
paid by stamps, the mailing postmaster should
cancel the stamps, and be careful to rate and
, mark the letters with red ink, as if prepaid in
money.
s The Sd section of the "act TO reduce and
modify the rates of postage" &C., approved
Sd March, 1851. makes it a felony for any
: person TO forge, or counterfeit, or knowingly
use or sell, or have in his possession with in
tent to use or sell. any postage stamp provided
: or furnished under that or any former act, and
declares that, on conviction thereof, the often
der shall be punished by fine not exceeding
: five hundred dollars, or by Imprisonment not
c exceeding five years, or by both such fine and