The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-26
OUR NEW STAMPS.

Ever since the first announcement that
the contract for printing all the United
States stamps had been transferred from
the contractors, the American Bank Note
Company, who had satisfactorily per-
formed it for many years, to the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing, the curiosity of
collectors was at the highest tension to
learn just what the change signified for
them. DID it mean an entirely new series
of stamps with new designs, new values,
new colors, ETC., or would the old plates
which are the property of the Government,
simply be turned over TO the bureau and
be used for the production Of stamps no
different from those current since 1890?
These were questions that agitated the
philatelic portion of the country, who, by
the way, are to-day considerable proper
ton of our population.
Information regarding the matter was
made public very gradually, and bit by
bit, but it is now definitely known that
such changes are to be made in all the
stamps as will give collectors a complete
new set of postage, postage due ana
periodical stamps.
The first Of the new series of postage
stamps has already made its appearance
ia this city and attracted general atten-
IlOu lEOm u6 were
of the scent value. To the ordinary OBJ
server there is little to distinguish the
work of the bureau from that of tue Amer
lean Bank Note Company, but to the
critical eye of the philatelist there are diff
ferences that are discerned at a glance.
Most striking is the presence of small
triangular ornament In each Of the upper
covers of the new stamps. Then the shades
of brown in the two stamps are far from
being alike. In the old 6-cent stamp the
color was rich red brown, while in the
new the shade closely approaches q
chocolate. In the latter the impression
made in printing does not compare favor
ably with its predecessor, it having more
the appearance of fine lithograph rather
than of an engraving. The ink does
rot seem TO have set we'll and
gives the stamp slightly blurred
appearance. Again, the paper of the new
stamp is evidently OF different texture
from that of the old, as it shows the traces
of the color in which the stamp is printed
at the back. indicating it is more absorb
ent than the stock used by the former con-
tractors. Taken altogether, the work is
generally pronounced to be inferior to that
which ii supersedes, but the defects are of
such minor character that they will un-
doubtedly be remedied without much loss
of time.
Now regarding the new issue of postage
stamps as whole: The designs of the
1890 issue will be retained. with the single
addition of the triangular ornament re-
ferred to previously, which will appear on
all the values that were formerly printed
BY the contractors. But from the 1890 set
there will be dropped the 30 and go cent
stamps, and there Will be added TO 1t
stamps of the denomination Of 30 cents, ST.
So and So, making the 1894 Issue consist of
the following values: l, 2 s. 4. s, e, 8. 10,
Is and 30 cents, and ST., so and So.
There may also be changes in the col0rs
of some Of the stamps, but exact informa-
ton on this point is not yet forthcoming.
II has heen called to the attention of the
Postmaster- General that at the meeting of
the international Postal Union at Paris.