The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-12-28
The Mannfa ctrre OF Postage stamps.

The designs for the stamps are first
engraved on dies, taken up on rolls, and
Jnen transferred to large stecle-pate
by the process of multiplication, the
hardened roll being applied successfully
to every portion of the surface until the
dies of 200 stamps are made. The plate
being now hardened, goes to the printing
room. The process of printing is very
simple, the plate being linked, then laid
in the press the moistened sheet placed
on it, the roller passed once over it, and
200 postage stamps are printed at one
operation. A weak oil is used so that
the stamp may not be saturated, as the
paper is not SO nightly sized as that used
for bank notes. Carmine gives the red
color to the Scent stamp, pale ultra
marine the blue to the penny stamp,
chrome green the tint to the 10-cen.
stamp, while the scent denomination is
printed in brown, the l2-ccnt in black,
the 24-ceht in purple, The 80 cent in
orange, and the 9O-cent intense ultra
marine. From the press the sheets of
stamps 60 to the drying-room, where
they are piled up in canvass covered
frames, or racks, So arranged that each
days work, and even each mans task is
kept by itself. They 60 next to be
gummed, 4 labor which is entirely per-
formed by girls. The sheets arc laid in
piles, face down; each girl has a copper
basin of gun and soft fiat brush, with
which she finishes sheet with few
stokes. Each girl gums 1000 sheets
or 100000 stamps in day. The gum
used for this purpose is prepared by one
man only, who keeps the formula of its
manufacture profound secret. The
gummed shee S are placed in racks SINH
10 those used in the drying-room, and
piled up in the room for half a day, or
day and half, as the atmosphere may
be more or less dry, and when thoroughly
dried, are laid between pastoboard
leaves, and subjected to powerful pres
sure. The sheets are now cut in halves
so as to leave 100 on sheet, and are
then taken to another room, whore the
holes between stamps are perforated by
machinery. This operation is performed
by passing the sheets, first in one dircc-
ton and then across, between an upper
and lower set of narrow brass cylinders
on shafts, the upper set being furnished
with small steel punches, and the other
perforated with holes, or dies to cores
pond. The operation is instan aneohs,
the whole eleven rows of holes being
punched at once. The cylinders are
adjustable on their shafts, SO that stamps
of any size can be perforated by the same
machine.
Tine Stamps are now finished, the only
remaining duty Of the attendants being
TO count and inspect them, after which
they are placed i'll the safe and sen, in
packages wherever Government directs.
Each machine, worked by girl for
twelve hours, perfora,e s 1000 sheets or
100000 stamps day, one way, OF
half that number if the holes are made
in both direc ions. Last year the Post
Office Department used 21G,000,00O
postage stamps Of all denomina ions,
while this year the increase will not fall
far short Of 20,O0O,OOO. Of all the
denominations of stamps the rcd, or B.
cent ones, are most in demand, about
three times as many of them being used
as of penny stamps. Next to the penny,
the lO-cent denomination is most in
request, next the l2.cenr, then the "a
cent, and so on the 9O-cent ones IF
couse being less required than any
others. S.amps being really the repre-
sentatives of so much money, the grca est
care is taken to guard against dshon-
esty on the par Of workmen, and SO
perfect is the system of checks that the
loss of a single penny stamp can be de-
tected with absolute certainty.
The stamp DEPARTMENTS in charge If
Mr.. &. f. Steel, but the interests of the
Government are looked after by special
agent, Mr.. Boyd, to whom the company
are obliged 10 render strict account of
every stamp, even every sheet of paper
that passes through the hands of their
employees. The bank note and stamp
printing rooms are supcrn ended by G..
w. Hawkins, who, like the other fore
man, is stakeholder in the company.
and a man Of long experience in his
department.
The prospective increase of Govern
men loans will necessarily put into cir
cuaton millions of evidences of its
indebtedness, and the manufacture of
these notes alone will furnish full en-
ployment for the two large bank note
companies which we have in turn des-
cribed.