The morning call., 1894-06-17
REVIVAL IN REVENUES.

lcIeub LILIES CUU6 MOE0 prominently TO
the front than others. There are, however,
good reasons usually for the particular
stamp that for the time being becomes the
fad. When stamp-colleeting was in what
might be termed its embryonic stage
foreign stamps of any kind were more
sought after by the collector than those of
his own country. But soon il became the
right caper to pay most att entiOn to the
stamps of ones own country. Then the
issues OF one particular country or another
were most desirable. To cite the more
recent philatelic fashions:
When the independent North American
colonies were consolidated into the Do
minOn of Canada the stamps of the sep
arate colones-British Columbia, Nova
| Scotia New Brunswick and Prince Ed
! ward Island-became obsolete, as a new
issue for the coDfederated colonies was pro-
vided. Newfoundland. however, retained
It's own issue or stamps, and continues TO
! nave separate Issue to-day. This caused
the issue Of the merged colonies TO be-
come scarce, and consequent eagerness
! on the part of collectors t. procure them
owing to their increased value.
So 1t was with the stamps of each of the
| Leeward Islands when the British Colo
! NAL Secretary ordered a general issue for
the entire group. An immediate appreci-
! alton IN value of the obsolete stamps fol-
! lowed and a scramble to get them.
Then there was the Columbian issue of
| Argentine, which created regular riot in
! the capital of that republic owing TO the
| desperate efforts OF phiia telic spectators
! to purchase them when they were put on
sale for the single day of October l., 1892.
Next came our own Columbian ISSUE
which. owing to their extreme beauty and
variety of design. held their popularity
! for longer period than any previous set
of stamps. In fact, they are now in
stronger demand than ever. SO great was
| their vogue that doZeus Of issues have beer
created since in imitation of them, but
none have approached them in point of
| merit or popularity.
While The United States Columbians
were yet growing in favor, the postal labels
OF Hawaii began to play prominent role
in phllatellc circles, owing to the revulu-
tlon that was effected in Honolulu early
last year. The monarch Cal stamps were
surcharged by the Provisional Govern
ment, and every where there arose a de-
mGDl not only for the obsolete iSSuP but
for the provisional, as it was conjectured
that no more al the m0naIcnIcal amps
would ever be issued, and that the pro-
ysi0nals would have but short life. The
latter has proved to be the case, ana at
present the outlook for a resumption oil he
throne by kanaka is very unfavorable.
From the foregoing II viii readily be
perceived that the fashion in stamps is
usually directly que 10 their prospective
their value.
Just now the revenue stamps of this
country are attracting more than their
usual snare of attention from collectors.
and there Is every prospect that the next
few years Will see most marked advance
IN those that are at all uncommon In
ierest In this class OF stamps has been in
creased by the action of the Senate while
discussing the tariff ia proposing the re-
sumption Of the tax on proprietary
I ~ fTn1a III 10 THs
industry will be opened to the Government
Bureau OF Engraving and Printng-une
that was abandoned eleven years ago, as
II was thought forever, says the New
Orleans Picayune.
The Bureau of Engraving now makes
only four varieties of revenue stamps
those used Tor distilled spirits, fefmented
spirits, tobacco and snuff. These are of
different denominations, aud each denomi-
nation has its own design, in which con-
siderable distinction is made in tie matter
OF neatDess. The stamp intended for q
box OF cigars that may be displayed on a
library table is more artistic than the one
which is to go on a package of strip
tobacco. The bureau comedies SO much
to art
The inferno revenue stamp formerly used
on proprietary articles were of varied de-
sign. There was common stamp tor
them, just as there is now for tobacco
But under the law any manufacturer who
was willing TO bear the additional ex-
pense OF preparing special die, and the
further cost, If any, of printing stamps
alter his own design, could have special
stamps printed for him at the bureau. So
many OF the prOprletOrS of well-knoWp
articles, particularly patent medicines,
aya'led themselves OF this privilege. be-
cause of the prestige which il carried, that
the bureau had on hand at the time The
law taxing these articles was repealed, be-
tween 200 and 300 dies.
Not only was the engraving and writing
Tor proprietary stamps done in the bureau.
but the designing OF most of them was the
work of the bureau artists. Within rea
sonable bounds there was no limit to the
SIZE of the stamp which could be used.
The plea of the manufacturer was that
their distinctive labels, which had cost
them great deal of money, would he
spoiled by being restricted TO the little
square stamp Of faded red issued by the
Government. So authority was given for
the exercise of considerable latitude. so
lar as size, design and color was concerned
AS a consequence some manufacturers
went so far as TO have the bureau print
the labels themselves as part of the design
Of the stamp, and at times the Govern
ment was engaged in printing labels for
bottles of sarsaparilla and other patent
articles, and that is what the Treasury De-
partment will again come to if the new law
is enacted and the old policy of the Gov
eminent is readOpted.
Owners of proprietary articles had a
lively taste in cOiors, which the Govern
ment did not attempt to curb. The bureau
stood ready 10 print stamps in pea green
or a rich magenta. in maZarine biue or
salmon pink. There was virtually no
limit to the fancy OF the patent medicine0
man except the cost.
All dies ana plates of course remained
| in possession of the bureau, and when it
seemed probable that they would not again
be used they were destroyed with due
s0lemnity IN the presence of a committee
OF treasury clerks. There are some pretty
shrewd lawyers in Washington WIN make
specially of cases against the Govern
ment. One of these fancied that the peo-
pie who bad paid for the special proprie-
tary stamps had proprietary interest in
the dies. 80 he obtained authority from
a number OF the medicine-makersa and filea
a claim with The Treasury Department for
the value Of them. The COMPTROLLER dis
allo wed the claim after it had been pend
Ing Tor several years. Only short time
ago TINS Claim was revived, but was again
dlsalloWed. LII new stamps are now
needed they will have TO be redrawn from
the old ones at great expense.
proprietary stamps thus make a most
| interesting collection. owing to their wide
variety IN size, color and design and are
given additional attraction by the scarcity
anu value OF some of them, as many of the
proprietary articles that bore the stamps
were on the market for a very short time,
or were placed on the market shortly be-
lore the proprietary tax was abolished.