The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-12
new SERIES OF STAMPS.

Mr.. John Wanamaker, the last POST
master Generally undoubtedly derive
from the fact that the post
Office department has decided that the
designs OF the ordinary stamps, which ne
adopted. shall remain practically mn-
Cojumb bisn stamp has had its day, and as
soon as the present supply is exhausted
the familiar two-cent stamp OF carmine
hue and the George Washington head
will take its place.
some time ago tho department gave the
contract for furnishing postage stamps to
which offered to perform the service at
lower rate than that OF the American
Bank Note Company of New York, which
held the contract last year. IL was ven
ture for the bureau to enter into tnis class
of work, but the chief believed that no
could perform 1t In satisfactory manner,
matter, Postmaster General Bisseii
reached the same conclusion. Provided
that combinations do not arise, the de-
partment will save money In the coming
year.
the issue OF stamps ss the pegnnndfs aasd aS Se be-
transferred from New York all the stock
OF stamps held by the American Bank
Note Company on June 30. This supply
comprised nearly seven hundred million
stamps, worth In the neighporhood
OF $50, 100000. To the credit OF
the department, the transfer was
made in less than one week, without
any friction whatever. Every stamp OF
this vast collection il now safe in the
vaults OF the bureau. The present STOCK
will last at least 70 days, at the end OF
which time the new supply which the
bureau is now engaged In providing VIII
be drawn upon. Some idea OF the output
required of the bureau may be gained
from the fact that last year over nine
million postage stamps were used daily.
In order to distinguish its work from
that of the American Bank Note Company,
the bureau Of engraving and printing has
caused to be printed in the upper corners
of the ordinary stamps figure which re-
sembles clover leaf. This figure simply
serves the purpose for which 1t Is in
| tended. Changes will be made in the
| series of ordinary stamps by tho omission
| of the thirty and rinety-cent ones, and
| the addition OF stamps OF the denomina-
tions of fifty cents, II, s2 and 20, The de.
differ from those already familiar to the
| public.
A radical change has been decided upo q
| in the newspaper and periodical series OIL
stamps. There will be omitted the fol-
lowing issues: Four cents, six cents,
eight cents, s,twcnty-four cents, ferty-efght
cents, sixty cents, sevsnty-two cents
eighty -four cents, ninety-six cents, Sl.92
g, So, 90, S12, $24, &36, as and geo. There
will be added to this series stamps OF the
denominations OF five cents, ten cents
twenty -five cents. fifty cents, ~, %. $40
$40, $50, and 500. The newspaper
and periodical stamps will bt
made somewhat smaller than those
now in use, and the designs may
be eventually changed, although no ordeI
TO that effect has yet been issued. The
present designs represent allegorical
figures largely, some attribute OF the Re-
public being typifed. Whatever changes
may be made, the series will continue Il
be OF the same general character. Tn,
colors have not yet been decided upon.
stamp which will look we'll In red ma.
prove satisfactory in blue. The line
OF the engraving have much to 40 will
the general effect.
Although the bureau OF engraving ant
printing was authorized some time ago I,
make the slight changes already outlined
samples OF the word were not submitte'
TO the postoffice department. until Satur
day. So far as can be ascertained, thi
preliminary work Is satisfactory, and in
: few days the task OF supplying the enor
nous demand for stamps will be activel
entered upon.