The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-07-11


The wide spread interest in postage
stamps felt by the whole community
apart from that of the large class of col
lectors, gives especial value to the fol-
lowing succinct but full history of the
various issues of the United States
government found in the report of the
Third Assistant Postmaster G cneral A.
d. Hazen, who has this department UNI
der his charge.
The use of postage stamps in the
United States was first authorized by
act OF Congress approved March 3, 18i1,
ana their issue, in denominations of and
10 cents only, to meet the then existing
rates Of postage. was begun by the post
Office department on the LIST of July fol-
lowing. Previous to this date, postage
was collected entirely in money, its pre-
payment being in all cases optional.
ON the LIST of July, 1851, under the
operation of the act of Congress of March
, of that year, reducing the rates of post
age, a new series of postage stamps was
adopted, consisting at first of denomina-
tons of I and 3 cents only, but subse-
quently of the additional denominations
Of ), 10. II, "a. 30, and 30 cents The
issue Of these stamps continued until 1861,
when, soon after the commencement of
the late rebellion, to prevent the use of
such of them as were outstanding in the
hands of postmasters in the insurrectionary
states, the series was superseded by a
new one of the same denominations, but
Of different designs and coors. Another
denomination-2 cents-was, however,
added on the LIST of July, 1868, to accom-
modatc the local rate of postage. More
over, in consequence of a change in the
rates Of newspaper postage special stamps
of large size. in denominations of ). 10.
and % cents, were issued on the 1st of
April. 1850. but soon fell into disusc on
account of unpopularity.
In March, 1869, a new series of stamps
replaced those up to that time in use, of
the same denominations, except that
6-cent was substituted for the scent
stamp; but the series not meeting with
favor. it was. in its turn, superseded in
May, 1870, by the stamps now in use.
The same denominations continued to be
employed, with the subsequent addition
of 1-ccnt stamp until July l { 1919.
when scent stamp was added, and the
:. II and 24 cent stamps were discontin-
ued. The series, therefore, at present
consists of the following denominations:
II, ,, ). 6. 10. y, 30 and 90 cents.
BY act of Congress of March 3. 1873, in
consequence of the repeal of the ranking
privilege, the poStmastcr-general was re-
qurcd to provide stamps or stamped en-
velopes of special design for each of the
several executive departments, to prepay
postage on official matter passing through
the mails. The issue of these stamps was
commenced on the oath of May. 1872. for
use on the 1st of July, following. and
still continues. Their denominations are
as follows
Executive: I. ., 3 6 and 10 cents.
Department of state: l. ,, 3. ). :. 10.
-. H. "a 30 and 80 cents, and ,. ). 10
and 20 dollars.
Treasury, war and navy departments.
each; l, >, ,, 6, :, 10. -, -, p, 30 and
80 cents.
Departments of the interior. Justice
and postotice, each /, >, 3, 6. 10, -, -,
24, 30 and 80 cents.
Dep rtment of agriculture: /. >. 3. 6,
10, -. II, - and 30 cents.
Under the act of Congress approved
June 23. 1872, stamps of special designs
were provided for the prepayment of
postage on newspapers and periodicals
mailed from known offices of publication
or news agencies. The act took effect On
January l, 1875, but the issue was begun
on December II previous, and still con
tinues. The following are the denomi-
nations; ,. 3, (, 6, =, o, TO- -, "a, SO.
As, GO, -, 81 and 90 cents, and 1.2, 3.
&, ., -, p, 3G, IS and 60 dollars.