Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-22
THE NEW POSTAee-sTAMPs.
They VIII BE on Sale To-Day-Description
of Each New Stamp.

Al Washington Thursday Postmaster
General Wanamaker promulgated clrcu-
lar letter to postmasters relative to the new
series of postage-stamps which are TO DC
placed on sale at all trst-class pOst-oiilces
on today. In his circular the Postmaster
General says:
The department has had in contempla-:
ton for nearly year past full revision Oh
the designs and STYLES of postage-stamps
used in prepayment of postage on matter
passing through the mails. The subject
was necessarily delayed to await an IN
pending change of the contract for iuT-
nishing adhesive stamps, through when
the new standards might be fixed. Inc
new contract was executed in November
last. and the work Of designing and en-
craving was immediately begun. All need
ful preparations have been completed the
new stamps will be ISSUED at once, and they
will be placed on sale at the principal post
offices on Saturday the 22d instant,
The issue OF the new four and five-cent
stamps will he DELAYED for short period
on account of the difficulty experienced III
producing acceptable portraits Of Lincoln
and Grant. Meanwhile the department
will continue TO furnish four and tiYe-cent
stamps Of the old style as called Tor.
The stamps remaining in pOst-offlces must
be sold. aud pOstmssters must not mako
requistion for the new stamps so long as
they may,have a SUFFICIENT supply Oh STAMPS
Of the old style.
The old stamps must not be returned to
the department for exchange or redeinp-
ton.
Postmasters must not exchange or re-
deem stamps of the old style remaining III
the hands Of the public. -,
The stamps Of the styles now IN use VIII
continue to be recognized equally with
IL 4 81 T1. IN N q
hostage. The stamps Of past issues which
are still valid consist Of three different
STYLES. and are known as the series Oh 1901,
1869. and 1870, respectively.
The two issues of stamps made before
the war Of the rebellion, and designated as
the series of 1Sf7 aud 1851, were long since
declared 10 be valueless. Many OF the
stamps Of the latter issue are believed 10
be still outstanding, and they must not be
accented by pOstmasters in payment ot
postage. Matter bearing these Stamps and
offered for mailing must be treated as held
for postage.
There will be no changes in the current
special-deliyery, postage-due, or newspa,
per and periodical stamps; neither Will
the stamps on the stamped envelopes or on
thelettcr-sheet envelopes be changed-tor
the present, at least.
No specimens OF present or past issues
The new series comprises the same Dc
nominations as the series IN present use TO
meet existing rates OF postage. Inc
stamps differ somewhat in form from those
in present use and arc about one eighth
smaller in size.
The designs contain as the leading fea-
ture the portraits of persOnngeS OF great
eminence in American history. The p0r-
traits are in medallion, with heavily
shaded background. and set in an orna-
mental frame containing the words and
figures expressive of the object and value
of the stamps. The stamps are printed in
suitable and attractive cOlOrs from en-
graved steel plates. .,
The one-cent stamp contains q profile
bust. after Rubricht. of Benjamin FRANK
lin printed ~ utra-marine blue.
On the two-cent stamp IS PRONE bust'
after Houdon, OF George Washington, look
me TO the left, on an oval disk, printed IN
clTmine. -,
The three-cent stamp contains a profile
bust. after Powers, of Andrew Jackson, on
an oval disk, printed in purple.
The fOur-cent stomp contains portrait
of Abraham Lincoln, after a photograph
from life, thrce-quarters face, looking to
tho right. The color is chocolate.
On the fve-cent stamp Is portrait OF
General Grant. after a portrait from life,
lnfte-qudIltlb lhtcs lpphAiS ~ eAAS AAbA's
color light brown.
The six-cent denomination has aportrait
Of James A. Garfield, after n photograph
from life, three-quarters face. The color
Of this stamp has not yet been fully de-
termined upon.
The ten-cent stamp contains a portrait
of Daniel Webster, after daguerreotype
from life. three-quarters face, looking TO
the left; color, mllori green.
The ifteen-cent denomination has por-
trait of Henry CLAY. after daguerreotype
from life. The color is deep blue.
On the thirty-cent stamp is profile bust
Of Thomas Jefferson, after Ceracchi; color,
black.
The ninety-cent denomination contains q
profile bust of Commodore O. Ii Perry,
after Wolcott's statue. The color Is orange:
The whole series is designed and printed
by the American Bank-Note Company, un-
der the direction and supervision of Third
Assistant-P Postmaster HaZen.
The number OF stamps already ordered
of the new issue aggregates nearly forty
four millions, representing T7Si,323.