Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-20
THE NEW POSTAGE STAMPS.
How the Post Office Department Will
Celebrate Washington's Birthday.


How the Post Office Department VIII
Celebrate Washington's Birthday.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEWLY DESIGNED srAxps
TO BE Issued FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THAT
DAY-rHE coLoRs AND PoRrRAIrs-oBsoLErE
STAMPS.
Next Saturday, Washington's birthday, post
age stamps Of new design will be on sale at the
principal post Offices. Postmaster General
Wanamaker today issued the following circular
making full announcement of all matters Of
interest relating to the new series of postage
stamps:
The department has had in contemplation
for nearly year past full revision Of the
designs and styles Of postage stamps used in
payment Of postage on matter passing
through the mails. The subject was
necessarily delayed to await an impending
change of the contract for furnish
ing adhesive stamps through which the new
standards might be fixed. The new contract
was executed in November last and the work
OF designing and engraving the new stamps
was immediately begun. All needful prepar-
atoms having been completed the new stamps
VIII De Issued at once, and they will be placed
on sale at the principal post offices on Satur-
day the 22d instant
DESCRIPTION OF NEW SrAMPS-IssCE OF 1880.
The new series comprises the same denomi-
nations as the series in present use to me ct ex-
listing rates of postage. The stamps differ some
what in form from those in present use and are
about one-eighth smaller in size, the engrav-
ing measuring q by a of an inch. The designs
contain, as the leading feature, the por-
traits OF personages of great eminence in Amer.
lcan history. The portraits are in medallion.
"a aI~
an ornamental frame containing the words and
ngures expressive Of the object and value of
the stamps. The stamps will be printed in
suitable and attractive colors from engraved
steei plates The following is description of
each stamp In the new series, namely:
ONE CENT.
Profile bust, after Rubricht, of Benjamin
Franklin, looking to the left. on an oval disk
with dark background and narrow white
border, Immediately above which, set in a
panel conforming to the curve Of the disk, are
the words United States Postage" in white
capitals, and below which, in slightly larger and
shaded letters, arranged in a waved line run
ming nearly the whole width of the stamp are
the words lone cent" Just above these latter
words, on either side, is white numeral OF
denomination-the Arabic figure I'm
small oval space. surrounded by
an ornate scroll, the upper portion
OF which is connected with and
oei YES 40 d support 10, the panel around the
medallion. The whole is placed upon a dis
tinctly lined oblong tablet. seven-eighths of
an inch high by three-quarters of an inch
wide, with bevelled sides and bottom The
color Is ultramarine blue.
TWO CENTS.
Profile bust, after Houdon, of George WASH
lngton, looking to the left. on an oval disk, The
surroundings of the medallion are the same as
in the one-cent stamp. with the necessary
changes and letters representing the denomina-
ton. Color, carmine.
THREE cESTA
Profile bust, after Powers, of Andrew Jack
son, looking to the left, on an oval disk. The
surroundings of the medallion are the same as
IN the one cent stamp, with the necessary
changes of figures and letters representing the
denomination. Color, purple.
FOUR CENTS
Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, after q photo
graph from life, three-quarters face, looking to
the right on an oval disk. The surroundings
OF the medallion are the same as in the one
cent stamp, with the necessary changes of fig
ures and letters representing the denomination.
Color, chocolate.
FIVE CENTS.
Portrait of q. S. Grant, after a photograph
from life, three-quarters face, looking to the
right, on an oval disk. The surroundings of
the medallion are the same as in the one-cent
stamp, with the necessary changes of figures
and letters representing the denomination.
Color, light brown.
Portrait of James A. Garfield. after a photo
graph from life, three-quarters face, looking to
the left, on an oval disk. The surroundings of
the medallion are the same as in the one-cent
stamp. with the necessary changes in figures
Ipffars TIM fba I.r
TEN CENTS.
Portrait of Daniel Webster, after daguerreo-
tyre from life, three-quarter face, looking to
the left, ON an oval disk, with dark background
and narrow white border, around the upper
half OF which, set in panel conforming to its
curve, are the words United States Postage"
in small white capitals, the words Ten Cents"
III somewhat similar letters being placed in q
like panel below the medallion Below this
again, IN the two lower corners of the stamp are
plain Arabic numerals of denomination 30"
set in circular spaces surrounded with ornate
scrolls not unlike those in the one-cent stamp
The whole Is placed upon an oblong tablet
seven-eighths of an inch high by three-fourths
OF an inch wide, with beveled sides and bot
tom. The color is milori green.
FIFTEEN CENTS.
Portrait Of Henry Clay after daguerreotype
from life. three-quarters face, looking to the
iclt, vi al oval uisk. ne surroundings OF the
medallion are substantially the same as in the
ten-cent stamp, with appropriate changes of
figures and letters representing the denomi-
nation. Color, deep blue.
THIRTY CENTS
Profile bust of Thomas Jefferson, after Cerac-
chi, looking to the left on an oval disk. The
surroundings Of the medallion are the same as
in the I0-cent stamp. with the necessary change
OF the letters and figures of denomination-the
latter. however, being of block form. Color,
black.
NINETY CENTS.
Profile bust of Commodore o. II. Perry, after
Wolcotts statue, looking to the left, on an oval
disk. The surroundings of the medallion are
substantially the same as in the 3O-cent stamp.
with the necessary change of the letters and
figures of denomination. Color, orange.
The issue of the new four and fve-cent
stamps will be delayed for a short period on ac-
count OF the difficulty experienced in produc-
ing acceptable portraits OF Lincoln and Grant.
1t is expected however, that the new series
will be completed by the issue of these two de-
nominations early in March. Meanwhile the
department will continue to furnish four and
tive-cent stamps of the old style as called for.
DISPOSITION OF STAMPS OUTSTANDING.
The stamps remaining in post offices must be
III anil, ofa