New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-12
THE NEW POSTAL NOTES.
HOW THEY ARE ENGRAVED AND PRINTED.

HOW THEY ARE ENGRAVED AND PRINTED.
WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE-coPyISG THE HEAD OF
posTuAsTFR's PRETTY DAUGHTER.
The new postal notes. which are to be used after
September 3 in the transmission OF small sums Oh
money through the United States mails, are beng
for SHIPMENT to all the post offices IN the country
on Wednesday. Books of notes Tor the
post offices in the far West were completed
Yesterday. Every book contains 500 postal note
forms with the address of the post Office printed on
each note The pages of the books arr perforated,
so that when the notes are torn out stubs remain to
show the amounts for which they were issued. A
amount not exceeding So at cost to the
sender OF aaIse n eenIs 'fo eacn and
they can he used as fractional currency
IN any place to which they are sent. 10 guard
against the use OF the notes before the law autn3I
izng their issue goes into effect c. T. Macdonald.
Superintendent of the Money Order system at
Washington, has caused to be pasted in each DOCK
of forms the following notice: Inc poStal no on
business will commence on September ., loooii
Under no circumstances whatever are an! posVS,,
to be issued from this book before tnat aale
The notes printed on pure linen oauk-Ioeo
papsr of the best quality, chemically prepared III
such manner not to be Affected oy moisture VI
exposure to light while 1T is sensitive TO the acon
of acids or other liquids often used by forgers The
color of the paper is a pure lemon. and the iront
surface is printed over with an underlying tlue
of golden brown-a combination selected by super
iptendent Macdonald as being the safest ana most
suitable for the purpose. The water-marSs III t,ie
paper twisted in the form OF a Inquire .. nave Vuo
words "U S. Postal Note in duplicate-realng rom
both left and right. These watermarks can ne seen
only when the note is held up between the light ana
the eye. Three printiugs are required TO complete
the note. In the underlying tint is vlgnette con-
stating OF q classical female head wearing nelniet,
which was engraved from the portrait oil post
masters pretty daughter. Much Oh tne
tint Is made up OF miniature pnoeo,,
graphic designs. containing the words United
States Postal Note" repeated many hundred times,
and engraved so finely that one can read the words
with the naked eye, while it would be difficult to
make counterfeit. Winged wheels, with halo
from behind make up portion of tho tint.
The back of the note is elaborate aud is printed
jn dark green. In the centre is the monogram
"U S." engraved with geometrical lathe. The
monogram is imhedded in intricate cyclic idal
lace work of white line cutting, the tracings for
which were done also with the geometrical lathe
The contract for engraving and printing
the several millions of postal notes
which will be required by the Post once
Department IN the next four years was awarded
TO The Homer Lee Bank Note Company III June, aud
tile Postmaster General obliged the company 10
give bonds to the amount OF So. OO0,OOo. About
two hundred skilled artisans were enployed oy tue
company to complete the first part OF the contract.
and they have been at work in relays day and night
for a month. The notes are received by +. Raymond,
the United States Postal Note Agent and by A. &.
Lathrop of the Post Office Department, who have
their offices IN the printing rooms of the bank note
company at Broadway and Prince-st. hre-proof
metal vault about fifteen feet square and eight feet
high has been constructed in the binding In which
duplicate notes, not needed for immediate USE and
all the engraved plates are to be stored