Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-05-24
COMPLETE SET OF STAMPS.
Proofs of All United States Postage Stamps
to be Placed in the Library.

Proofs of All United States Postage Stamps
to be Placed in the Library.
Recently Hon.. A. N. Swain received a
package from f.. S. Hall of Washington, ID.
c., containing proofs of all the postage
stamps ever issued by the United States gov
eminent. Mr.. Halls father, William f. Hall,
was formerly resident of this town, and the
younger man attended the public schools
here. He is now employed in the office of
the third assistant postmaster-general at
Washington. In short note to Mr.. Swain,
Mr., Hall states that he wishes the stamps to
be placed in the public library here, and they
will soon find place in the museum depart
ment of the library.
The issue of stamps by the government be-
gan in 1917, there being only two, five and
a ten cent, both of which are obsolete. The
five cent had profile of Benjamin Franklin,
while the ten cent was adorned with por-
trait of Washington.
The next series was issued in 1851, of the
following denominations: l, ., 3, 3, 10, 10,
"a, so and 80 cent, and a one cent carrier
which had the picture of an eagle sitting on
the branch of tree.
Another series was issued in 1861, this be-
ing necessary because of the large number
of stamps stolen from postoflices in the Sc
ceding states. They were of the same de-
nominations as the issue of 1851, with the adj
dition of 10 cent.
In 1865 the first newspaper and periodical
stamps were issued. They were about by
3 IL inches in size and of 3, 10 and % cent
denominations The public never see these
stamps, as they are solely for the use of post
masters in crediting the payment of news
paper postage.
In 1869 another series of stamps was issued
for general use, and some of them were eX-
ceptionally handsome. Denominations of l,
2,3, 6, 10, u, Is, "a, 80 and 80 cents COM
prised this issue. The 2 cent had the figure
of post rider on horseback; the cent, an
engine and car; the 10 cent, an eagle on a
shield; the II cent a steamship; the 10 cent
had the scene of Columbus discovering
America, identically the same as on the 2
cent Columbian stamps of last year, but
smaller; the "a cent was companion picture
to the 10 cent, and contained the scene of
signing the declaration of independence; the
80 cent was the same as the 10 cent, with the
IL,
side of the shield.
The following year, in 1870, another series
was issued of like denomination, with the ad-
dition of cent, and the cent Garfield and
Taylor stamps. These last were issued in
several colors, but the same style and denom-
ination.
In 1878 some cranks brought forward the
idea that all the government departments
should pay postage, instead of having their
documents franked. Other cranks took up
with the idea and the result was the printing
of series of stamps for each department.
The portraits on each were the same, the
I. stamps differing only in color and the name
] of the department. The denominations run
from cent to 80 cents in most of the depart
ments, though in the state department there
were also 81, So, $40 and $40 ones;
in the agricultural department 80 cents was
the limit, and in the executive nothing larger
than 20 cents was issued. The portraits on
the different denominations were as follows:
l cent, Franklin; 2, Jackson;3, Washington;
6, Lincoln; Z, Stanton; 10, jefferson; -,
Clay; Is, Webster "a, Scott; 80, Hamilton !;
80, Perry. The colors used for the depart
interior, vermllion; navy, blue; postofiice,
black, and contained no portraits; executive,
carmine; Justice, purple agricultural, orange.
A series of postage due stamps was issued
the same year, which are the same in use to-
day. They are 1, 2, B. 8, TO- 80 and 80 cent.
A special delivery stamp, blue in color, was
also issued.
In 1875 the great increase in the number of
newspapers circulated through the mails,
and change in postal rates resulted in new
series of stamps for ne .yspapers and periodi-
Gals, of W hich brief description is given l,
a,3, a, 5, 6,7,S, g no longer issued), con-
tain figure embematic of America; - 81,
Sc, 4S, y, 81 and So cent, vignette of Justice /;
81 and 1872, viguette of Ceres, goddess OF
agriculture; 81, victory; $6, Clio, muse OF
history; 50, Minerva, goddess of wisdom
$12, Vesta, goddess of he fresde; 1874, god
dess of peace; 1886, commerce; $4S, Hebe
goddess of youth; $50, Indian maiden. In
1890 the special delivery stamp was changed
in color to orange.
This brings US down to the Columbian is
sue of 1898, and of which many are now in
use. Still, many denominations are rare
and the general public has never seen them
For such brief description of the scenes anc
incidents depicted may not be amiss. On the
cent is Columbus l.. sight of land; 2, land
ing of Columbus;3, his flagship; 4, the fleet
3, Columbus SOLICITING aid of Isabella; 6, hi
welcome at Barcelona; s, Columbus restored
to favor; 10, Columbus presenting natives d
the court of Isabella; 80, Columbus at La Ri
bida; so, his recall 81, Isabella pledging he
jewels; 81, Columbus in chains; S3, Colum
bus describing his third voyage; 81, Isabel;
and Columbus; S., Columbus.
To this collection Mr.. Swain has added
proof of the old Brattleboro cent stamp, is
sued by the Brattleboro postoffice abou