Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-07-28
POSTAGE STAMPS.
Facts About Their Designs and Demon
inations-Minlature Portraits OF
Soldiers and Statesmen.
brooklyn Eagle.l


IBrOOtlyn Eagle.l
1t is only thirty-four years ago that the
first postage stamp was used in this coun-
try. Prior to 1s47 postage was charged
by the mile, and the postman received
the price of the letter on delivering it to
the person to whom it was addressed.
For instance, in 1890 letter was carried
from Savannah to New York for 36s1
cents. and Boston to New York for about
II cents, Between the two points last
mentioned the mails were carried on
horseback. and the time occupied in 60
ing from one point to the other was three
days in winter and two days in summer
In King James time the rates of postage
IN Great Britain were I'd for letter for a
distance less than eighty miles, I'D up to
140 miles, cd for any longer distance in
England and Sd to any place in Scotland.
Our stamps were issued on the lst of July,
| 1S47, in denominations of 5 and 10 cents
only. In July, 1851, new series was
adopted, consisting of l, 8, 5, 10, 10, "a,
30 and 80 cents. These continued in use
till 1861, when another series of the same
denomination as the foregoing. but of
different designs and colors, was adopt
ed. The 2-cent stamp was first used on
the 1st of July, 1868. to accommodate the
local rate of postage. In the month of
March, 1869, the 6-cent stamp was sub
stituted for the 5-cent one, but the change
was not considered wise one, so that in
May, 1870, the following 1, 2, 3, 5, s, 10,
10, 30 and 90cent series was adopted.
The following is a description of these
stamps:
One cent-Franklin; profile bust, after
Rubricht; color, imperial ultramarine
blue.
Two cents-Jackson profile bust, after
Powers; color, velvet brown.
Three cents-Washlngton; profile bust,
after Houdon; color, milori green.
Five cents-Adopted 1875; profile bust
of jackson; color, dark blue.
Six cents-Lincoln: profile bust after
Polk; color, cochineal red.
Ten cents-Jefferson; profile bust, after
Powers statue; color, chocolate.
Fifteen cents Webster; profile bust,
after Clevenger; color. orange.
Thirty cents-Hamilton: profile bust,
q ftor Corro Obi. oolor blo ol,
Ninety ycents-Commodor o. H, Perry;
profile bust, after Wolcott's statue; color,
carmine.
The cent stamp, which contained the
bust of Edwin NJ. Stanton, the 12 cent
stamp, which had Henry Clay's picture,
and the "a cent stamp, with the bust of
General Winfield Scott, have been dis.
continued.
The postage due stamp is recent in
vention. 1t came into use on the 9th of
May, 1879. 1t is used for collecting short
paid postage. The stamps are of the fol-
lowing denomination: /, ., 5. 5, 10, 30
and 80 cents. Their color is a reddish
brown, and the figure representing the
denomination is placed in the center of
the stamp, surrounded by an oval of del
icate lattice work. On the upper border
of this oval are the words postage Due"
in white letters and on the lower border
is the UNCONVENTIONAL letter in the same
color. On each side of the oval are the
letters gu. S." in small white shields.
The highest price paid for a stamp is
$24. These stamps are only used on news
paper bundles. They are not often called
for; nor is there much demand for ninety
cent letter stamps, only one having been
sold at the Brooklyn office during 1880.
The number of postage stamps issued
to Postmasters IN the United States for
sale to the public during the year ending
July 1st, 1880, was S75, ,6S1 $40, valued at
$22, ,414,92s; and of postage due stamps
6,2S4, 800 were issued, valued at $251 1886.