New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-01-09
QUALITY OF STAMPS.

The stamps must be furnished, subject to the
approval of the Department. from steel plates,
engraved in the highest style of the art OF steel
engraving, and 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 in use, upon paper OF the bes'
quality suitable for the purpose. thoroughly
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 well pressed, and packed so as to
prevent them from adhering to each other; the
same to be furnished with all reasonable dis
patch, in such quantities as may be ordered by
the Department to fill the separate daily requisi-
lions OF Postmasters and Postal Agents.
STOCK ON HAND.
The contractor shall at all times keep on hand
a stock of the several denominations of stamps
subject to the control of the Agent of the De-
pariment in all stages of manufacture, sufficient
to meet all orders Of the Department, and to
provide agans. any and all contingencies THAI
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 right to require the
contractor, at any time during the existence OF
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 III strong binder S
board boxes, bound on the edges and corners
with muslin, and enveloped in two thicknesses
of strong MANILA paper, or incosed in strong
MANILA envelopes as the quantity to be trans.
mtted may require all packages to be so in
closed as to enable the Agent Of the Department
to officially seal them.
BLANKS
In addition, the contractor will be required to
furnish labels, and direct the same for each pack
e6S 81 the Agent Of the Department, together with
all other blanks required to be incosed with the
stamps also, all blanks for daily. weekly.
monthly, and quarterly returus 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
four million, the average yearly increase being
eight forty hundreds per cent.
For the next four years it is estimated, al the
same ratio of annual increase. two billion eight
hundred and eighty-three million stamps will be
required.
IL tfiu>i ne uuutrstOOu however. thaf prOpOS ais
made under this advertisement shall include all
the stamps needed by the Department during the
contract term without reference to The above es
Inmates, which are here given only for the in
formation and guidance Of bidders
DELIVERY.
The stamps may be required to be delivered
by the contractor in separate package. as above
provided for, at The post oflic. in the place whore
the same are manufactured; or in such QUAINT |
Ties at the Post Office Department. Washinpton.
ID. G., leach denomination being kept separate. ! |
as the Postmaster General may direct
DIES, ROLLS, AND PLATES.
The dies, roll, and plates from which nos,a,.
stamps are now printed, being the PROPERTY oc
the United States. will be placed in The keening
and custody of the contractors on the LIST dav ~
April, 1873, the same TO be held subject 10 the
order and control Of the Department. as herein.
after provided and the contractor will he 70.
auired, from said dies, rolls, and plates. and
from such rolls and plates as may be neces.srg
to be reproduced from the original dies, to have
on hand ready for issue on the day the contract
term commences, sufficient stock Of siauns
of the several denominations required, to iii he
current daily acquisitions Com the Department,
without hindrance or delay.
The contractor will be further reqaised 10 keen
in repair all dies, rolls. and plates froe, which
ssamps may be printed, and 70 renew tho same
whenever required; and should new designs be