Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-10-05
AMERICAN POSTAGE STAMPS.
A Brief History of These Useful Little
Articles,

AMERICAN POSTAGE STAMPS.
Brief History of These Useful Little
Articles.
From Golden Days
The proposition 10 change the size and
colors of the prevailing postage stamps
makes short history of these useful little
articles very timely.
1t is now nearly half century since the
! first postage stamp was issued in this coun.
try. In 1910 England began using stamps
in 1915 the issue of postage stamps was au-
thorized by Congress, and in 1S47 the first
| stamps were issued
Before that time the postage was paid in
cash, sometimes by the sender and some
times by the receiver of the letter, and
the schedule of rates varied with the dis
/ tances.
The charges foI transmitting letter
thirty miles was six cents, and the tariff
increased in gradual ratio until a maximum
! charge of twenty-five cents for 800 miles or
more was reached. This method was in
! vogue for years after the issue of stanps
was authorized by Congress
The first stamps issued were of the de-
nominations of five and ten cents. The
tive-cent stamp had picture of BENJAMIN
Franklin, and the ten-cent the head of
Washington as the principal figure in the
design
Those heads have continued to adorn
the postage stamps of our country from
that day tC this. The stamps first issued
were little larger than those now in use.
In 1851 the carrier system was intro
duced in all large cities, and STAMPS of =
! peculiar design, costing one cent each and
known as carriers stamps, were issued for
the purpose of providing prepaid deliv-
cry.
In that year the letter postage was re-
duced to three cents, and the old brick
dust red three-cent stamp came in. At the
same time the issue was enlarged to eight
| stamps, the largest denomination being
ninety cents.
The portrait of Jefferson was introduced
on the tive-cent stamp, but the other seven
bore the heads of Washington and Frank
lin in different designs
These stamps were the most popular
ever issued by the Department. They re-
mained In use for ten years.
The new three-cent stamp issued in
1861, was of light red, and it remained
in use until 1869, when there was a de-
cided innovation in the designs of the en-
| tire issue. The new stamps were SQUARE
instead of obiong, and many of them were
! printed IN two cOlors, the central design
| being IN one tone, and the border in an
| other.
The principal figure in each design was
in almost every instance a representation
of some mode of carrying the mails in
stead of the head of some departed states
man.
The three-cent stamp was printed in
blue, and the principal figure in the de-
/ sign was a locomotive. That issue of
stamps lasted about ten months. The peo-
pie clamored so against them that in 1870
return was made to the old designs.
which We're printed, however, in different
colors.
The three-cent stamp was then made
green, with the head of Washington in the
center of the design. That stamp is of
such recent date that It's design is familiar
to every one.
The green three-cent stamp which was
adopted in 1870 continued in use longer
than any of the predecessors. 1t was used
until October l, 1888, and it might have
continued in vogue much longer had not
congress reduced the rate Of letter postage
to two cents Under the new law brown
two-eent stamp was issued. 1t continued
IN use until 1887, when its color was
changed to the green, now in use, against
which the public seem to have taken a
strong dislike.
Among the rarest American stamps are
some which We're not issued by the Gov
ernment. When Congress, in IS45. au-
thorlzed the use of stamps it neglected to
make such provision as warranted the
postal authorities in their estimation in the
issue Of stamps.
During. the period of two years preced-
ing the issne of Government stamps. the
principal cities of the United States issued
what we're known as postmasters' stamps
II ey were intended for the convenience OF
business men who desired to mail letters
alter the closing of the postoffice, for the
Postofilce did not remain in operation all
night In the primitive days of the postal
service.
| These stamps were issued by postmasters
AT NeW York, Philadelphia, Washington,
Baltimore, ST. Louis, Providence, Alexan-
dfla and a great many other places.
Some OF the stamps were merely slips oi
paper bearing the signatures Of the post.
masters. Collectors value the Baltimore
stamp which is of this character at 5000
A stamp which was issued by the Post
master of New Haven is worth on an orig.
NAL used envelope $500 and more. A
postage stamp issued by the Alilbury Post
master, which was of elaborate design for
those days, and bore the head of Washing.
ton, brings easily $500 TO $500.