Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-02-28
s'he New Pastsga Stamps.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW SERIES AND
OF WHAT Is ON THEM.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW SERIES AND
OF WHAT Is ON THEM.
A circular letter from the postmaster
general announces that the new series of
postage stamps, executed under a contract
which was entered into last November,
would be placed on sale at the principal
post last Saturday. AS many of the
directions given to postmasters in this cir
cular are Of general public interest, and as a
description of the new stamps will also
prove interesting, fragments of the circular
ale given herewith
The issue Of the new four and five cent
stamps will be delayed for short period
on account of the difficulty experienced in
producing acceptable portraits Of Lincoln
and Grant. Meanwhile the department
will continue to furnish four and five cent
stamps of the old style as called for. The
stamps remaining in post-offices must be
sold and pOStmaSters must not make requi-
sion for the new stamps SO long as they
may have sufficient supply OF stamps of
the old style.
The old stamps must not be returned to
the department for exchange OF redemption.
Postmasters must not exchange OF redeem
stamps of the old style remaining in the
hands of the public. The stamps of the
styles now in use will continue to be recog-
niZed equally with those of the new issue in
payment of postage. The stamps Of past
issues which are still valid consist of three
different styles, and are known as the series
of 1861, 1869 and 1870, respectively. The
two issues of stamps made before the war
of the rebellion, and designated as the series
of 1S47 and 1851, were long since declared
to be valueless. Many of the stamps of
the latter issue are believed to be still out
standing, and they must not be accepted by
postmasters in payment of hostages. Matter
bearing these stamps and offered for mail
ing must be treated as held for postage.
There will be no change in the current
special delivery, postage due, OF newspaper
and periodical stamps; neither will the
stamps ON the stamped envelopes Oh on the
letter-sheet envelopes be changed, for the
present at least. No specimens of present
Oh past issues are furnished directly by the
department.
The new series comprises the same de-
nominations as the series in present use to
meet existing rates of postage. sThe stamps
differ somewhat in form from those in pres
ent use, and are about one-eighth smaller in
size The designs contain as the leading
feature the portraits of personages of great
eminence in American history. The por-
traits are in medallion, with a heavy-shaded
background, and set in an ornamental frame
containing the words and figures express
sive of the object and valne of the stamps.
The stamps are printed in suitable and at
tractive colors from engraved steel plates.
The one-cent stamp contains a profile
bust, after Rubricht, Of Benjamin Frank
lin, printed in ultra marine blue.
On the two-cent stamp is a profile bust,
after Houdon, of George Washington, look
ing to the left, on an oval disc, printed in
carmine.
The three cent stamp contains profile
bust, after Powers, of Andrew Jackson, on
an oval disk, printed in purple.
The four-cent stamp contains portrait
of Abraham Lincoln, after photograph
from life, three-quarter face, looking to the
right. The color is chocolate.
On the ive-cent stamps is portrait of
Gen. Grant, after photograph from life,
three-quarter face, looking to the right;
color, light brown.
The siX-cent denomination has portrait
of Jas. A Garfield, after a photograph
from life, three-guarter face. The color
of this stamp has not yet been fully deter
mined upon.
The ten-cent stamp contains portrait
of Daniel Webster, after a daguerreotype
from life, three-quarter face, looking to the
left: color, milori green.
The fifteen-cent denomination has por-
trait Of Henry Clay, after a daguerreotype
from life. The color is deep blue.
On the thirty-cent stamp is a profile bust
Of Thomas Jefferson after Ceracchi, color,
black.
The ninety cent denomination contains a
profile bust of Commodore O. H Perry,
after Wolcott's statue. The color is
orange.