Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-05-13
Jopkinsuille Kentnekiatt.
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1890.
STAMPS WITH A HISTORY.


Two Rare Specimens Presented TO tho
National Museum.
There have lately come into possess
zion of the National Museum two arti-
;les which are OF great interest to every
American, and Of particular value to
every student of American history
These are nothing more nor less than
two OF the original stamps engraved in
England for use In tho American colo
MES In accordance with the provisions
OF the Stamp act OF February, l705.
This was the act which caused such an
uproar among tho colonies, and which
was one Of the main causes OF all the
trouble Immediately preceding and lead
Ing up TO the revolution. 1t was In
tended that the revenue to be raised by
the Stamp act should como from the sale
Of stamped paper and stamps which
were required to be placed upon all
paper used in commercial transactions,
suits at law, publications, transfers OF
real estate, inheritances, and marriage
licenses
Thus tax was placed upon the colo
nies without their consent, and the
money derived from this tax was to be
used for the support OF . standing army,
which in turn was expected to enforce
the payment OF the tax. Apparently no
Englishman dreamed OF any resistance
to the act, and 1t is said that Grenville.
the Minister under whom the act was
passed, afterward made tho statement
that he would have staked his life on
the obedience Of the colonies TO the
measure. OF course, however, there
was decided resistance, as every
American knows, which led 10 the re-
peal OF the act in March 1706 under the
Rockingham Ministry. The stamps
themselves were handsomely engraved
and ran in value from half-penny up
to several pounds The two stamps now
In the museum are OF the value OF q
half-penny and penny. They are un-
cancelled and are two Of eight which
were preserved by the heirs OF Hon.
Welbore Ellis, who was commissioner
Of internal revenue for Great Britain
in the year 1895. After his death they
came into the possession OF his son
Welbore Ellis, Jr., who was a partner
in the famous banking house of
Walker, Maltby, Everett & Ellis, which
failed In the great financial panic of
1927. These two stamps remained In
the Ellis family up to few years ago,
when they were given to Mr.. L. j.
Walker, of Newcastle-on-Tyne by his
grandfather, the senior member OF the
aforementioned banking firm, who was
interested in antiques and curiosities.
A short time ago tho two stamps were
given by Mr.. L. J. Walker to Mr.. John
A. Brill. Of Philadelphia. Worry soon
after the stamps came into his posses
sion Mr. Brill received an offer OF $40
from an English collector for the two,
but declined 1t at once, whereupon the
Englishman cabled him an offer several
times as large, which was also de-
clined. Mr.. Brill came to the conclu-
sion that II the stamps were OF that
much value to an Englishman they
would be OF much more interest to an
American museum of historical relics,
and he promptly presented them to the
National Museum here, where they will
be appreciated and properly preserved.
They will be installed in handsome
frame. which will have pictures and
proper legends that will help to tell the
story OF the causes that led to the Amer
lean revolution.-Washingto Star.