New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-26

PROPOSALS FOR ADHESIVE POSTAGE
STAMPS.
Posf OFFICE DEpAKrNExr,

sPosr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
SEALED PROPOSALS are invited il, .'i iron
steel.pIate engravers and plate printers, and vii
be received at this Department until IL o'cloc]
Lon FRIDAY, the tenth (l0th) day Of Janu
airy, 1873, for Furnishing Postage Stamps for ,
term Of four years, commencing on the first list
day of May, 1878.
QUALITY OF STAMPS.
The stamps must be furnished, subject 10 the
approval of the Department, from steel plates
engraved in the highest style of the art OF stee
engraving, ard printed in such colors as may be
selected by the Department, in the best and
most approved manner, equal in every respec,
TO the stamps now ia use. upon paper Of the bes;
quality suitable for the purpose, thorouehly
gummed with the best quality of adhesive gum.
perforated in such manner that each separate
stamp can be readily detached and used, the
sheets to be we'll pressed, and packed so as to
prevent them from adherng to each other the
same to be furnished with all reasonable dis
patch, IN such Quantities as may be ordered by
the Department to ell the separate daily requisi.
tons OF Postmasters and Postal Agents
STOCK ON HAND.
The contractor shall at all times keep on hand
sock OF the several denominations Of stamps,
subject to the control of the Agent Of the Be.
partment, in all stages of manufacture, sufficient
TO meet all orders of the Department, and to
provide sgains: any and all contingencies that
may be likely to occur during the existence of
the contract, so that each and every order of the
Department may be promptly filled; and the
Department shall have the tight to require the
the contract, to furnish an extra quantity of
stamps not exceeding supply for threa months.
PACKING.
Stamps to be transmitted by sea routes must
be securely packed in Theoretically sealed tin
cases, wrapped in strong manila paper; all 9th
ers must either be packed in strong binders
board boxes, bound on the edges and corners
with muslin, and enveloped in two thicknesses
Of strong manila paper, or inclosed in strong
MANILA envelopes, as the quantty to be trans.
mitted may require; all packages to be 90 In.
closed as to enable the Agent Of the Department
10 officially seal them.
BLANKS.
In addition, the contractor will be required 10
furnish labels, and direct the samefor each pack
age in accordance with the daily lists furnished
By the Agent of the Department; together with
all other blanks required TO be inclosed with the
stamps; also, NIL blanks for daily, weekly,
monthly, and quarterly returns relating to the
number and denominations of stamps furnished
ESTIMATE OF QUANTITY REQUIRED.
The number Of stamps issued and to be issued
during the four years embraced by the present
contract is estimated to be two billion ninety.
fQur million, the average yearly increase being
eight forty hundreds per cent.
For the next fonr years it is estimated, as the
me ratio Of annual increase, two billion eight
19ed an&fighty-three million stamps will b
anderssooas Aoseyer, that pyoposals
his advertisement shall S{9clddo al
BY fhs Department 161ntths
T.. aout rofsrencs 70 the aboSS -. i
here given osly forr1ie in. J
'osssn dance Of bidders. q.