Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-02-28
Nav Posfnoa Stamps.

Last Saturday the new postage
stamps were placed on sale In the
leading postoffices OF the united
States. In his circular the Postmas-
ter-General says:
The department has had in con-
temptation for nearly year past q
full revision of the designs and styles
of postage stamps used in prepayment
of postage on matter passing through
the mails. The subject was necessa-
rily DELAYED to await an impending
change of the contract for furnishing
adhesive stamps, through which the
new standards might be fixed. The
new contract was executed in Novem-
Der last, and the work OF designing
and engraving was Immediately be-
gun.
The issue of the new four and five
cent stamps will be delayed for
short period on account Of the diff
Guilty experienced in producing accep-
table portraits Of Lincoln and Grant.
Meanwhile the department will con-
tinue to furnish four and five-cent
stamps of the old style as called for.
The stamps remaining in postoffices
must be sold, and postmasters must
not make requisition 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 ex-
change or redemption. Postma sters
must not exchange or 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 recognized 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 new series comprises the same
denominations as the series in present
use to meet existing rates of postage.
The stamps differ somewhat in form
from those in present 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 portraits are in medallion, with
a heavily shaded background, and
set in an ornamental frame, contain
ing the words and figures expressive
of the object and value ofthe stamps.
The stamps are printed in suitable
and attractive colors from engraved
steel plates.
The one-cent stamp contains a
profile bust, after Rubricht, OF Ben
jamin Franklin, printed in ultra ma
rine blue On the two-cent stamp is
a profile bust, after Houbon, of
George Washington looking to the
left, on the oval disk, printed in car
mine. The three-cent stamp contains
a profile bust after Powers of Andrew
Jackson, on an oval disk, printed in
purple. The four-cent stamp con-
tains portrait of Abraham Lincoln,
after a photograph from life, three
quarters face. looking to the right.
The color Is chocolate. On the five
cent stamp is portrait OF Gen. Grant,
after photograph from life, three
quarters face, looking to the right
color light brown. The six-cent de-
nomination has portrait of James
A. Garfield after photograph from
life, three-quarters face. The color
of this stamp has not yet been fully
determined upon.
The ten-cent stamp contains a por-
trait Of Daniel Webster, after da-
guerreotype from life, three-quarters
face, looking to the left color, milori
green. The fifteen-cent denomina-
ton has a portrait of Henry Clay,
after daguerrotype 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 con-
tains profile bust of Commodore o.
H. Berry, after Wolcott's statue.
The color is orange.
The whole series is designed and
printed by the American Bank Note
Company, under the direction and
supervision Of Third Assistant Post
master General Hazen.