Morning journal and courier., 1890-01-07
stamps with q History.
From the WASHINGTON Star.l

There have lately come into the poss ession
of the National Museum two articles which
are of great interest to every American, and
of particular value to every student Of
American history. These are nothing
more or less than two Of the original
stamps engraved in England for use in the
American colonies in accor dance with the
provisions of the Stamp Act of February,
1785. This was the act which caused such
an uproar among the colonies, and which
was one of the main causes of all the trouble
Immediately preceding and leading up to
the Revolution. 1t was intended that the
revenue to be raised by the Stamp Act
should come from the sale of stamped paper
and stamps which were required to be
placed upon all paper used In commercial
transactions, suits of law, publications.
transfers of real estate, inheritances, and
| marriage licenses.
Thus tax was placed upon the colonies
without their consent, and the money de-
rived from this tax was to be used for the
support of q 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 IL said
that Grenville, the Minister under whom
the act was passed, afterwards made the
Ut0tomoub tuht 40 WOuA0 hovO 1toAoO LIE
life on the obedience of the colonies to the
measure. OF course, however, there was q
decided resistance, as every American knows,
which led to the repeal of the act In March,
1865, under the Rockingham Ministry. The
stamps themselves were Handsomely en-
graved, and ran in value from . half-penny
up to several pounds. The two stamps now
in the museum are Of the value Of half.
penny and q penny. They are uncancelled
and are two Of eight which were preserved
by the heirs Of the Hon. Welbore ELLIS, who
was Commissioner of internal Revenue for
Great Britain in the year 1855. After his
death they came into the possession of his
son, Welbore Ellis, jr., who was partner
in the famous banking-house of Walker,
1altby, Everett & Ellis. which failed in
great financial panic Of 1897. These two
stamps remained in tho Ellis family mp to
few years ago, when they were given to
Mr.. e. j. Walker of Newcastle on-Tyne. by
his grandfather, the senior member of the
above mentioned banking firm, who was in.
terestsd In antiques and curiosities. A short
time ago the two stamps were given BY Mr..
e. J. Walker to Mr.. John A. Brill of Phila-
dslphia. Very soon after the stamps came
into his possession Mr.. Brill received an offer
of 410 from an English collector for the two,
but declined it at once, whereupon the En-
Rlishman csbled him an offer several times a.
large, which was also declined. Mr.. Brill
came to the conclusion that It 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 in
stalled in . handsome Frame. which will
have pictures and proper legends that will
help to tell the story of'the causes that led
to the American revolution. Washington
Star.