The morning call., 1894-03-04
POSTMASTERS' STAMPS.

Among the rarest and most valuable
stamps are those known as the postmas-
iers' locals, issued by the postmas tiers OF
the more important cities of the United
States before this country adopted the
adhesive stamp for the prepayment oil
mail matter. Their history is an interest
ing chapter in the development of the
present immense and thorough postal SER
vice of this country.
When the postal service was first taken
in charge by the Federal Government there
was no provision made for the prepayment
of mail matter, and it was optional with
the sender to post his letter prepaid or to
leave the postage 10 be collected from the
recipient. This was frequently source of
Inconvenience to the sender and of annoy
ance TO the addressee. The former could
only mail his correspondence by going to
the postoffice at Office hours. and the latter
was imposed upon by any who might
neglect to pay the charges in advance.
The amount to be paid was also always a
matter Of great uncertainty.
In England the problem was effectively
solved in 1910 by the adoption Of a uniform
rate of postage to any part of the kingdom,
instead of scale being based on the dis
lance to be travelled by the letter. and by
the use of the adhesive stamp for the pre-
payment Of charges.
Not long after the news of the departure
made by the mother country reached this
side of the ocean an agitation began for It's
adoption here, but seven years elapsed
before the desired results were accom-
plished.
In pursuance of a recommendation made
by the United States POstmaster-GeDeral
in 1874 bill was introduced in Congress
for uniform rate of postage, its obliga-
stamps. But" says John K. Tiffany in
his History of the Postage Stamps of the
United States of America" from which
much of what follows is taken, there was
great hesitation in adopting the English
system in the United States; the condi-
tons were considered TO be so different;
the distances were. so great that a greater
rate was necessary; the country was so
new that the risk from counUerfeting was
much greater; the custom was not to pre-
pay letters, and custom is stronger than
law. Such and like objections were raised
and the law passed without adopting pre-
payment by stamp, but the great principle
OF the reform uniform rate by distance
and weight was adopted" This law was
approved March 80, 1916. zses
| Quoting from the same authority it is
found that Notwithstanding the failure of
Congress to adopt postage stamps, public
attention had been drawn to the advsn-
tages of their use-the convenience to the
business community, particularly of mail
ing and receiving letters at hours when
the postoffice was closed. The Postmas-
tiers IN several places, however. undertook
to meet the public demand by having
stamps prepared on their own RESPONSE
bility and selling them at sufficient ad-
vance on the postal rates to cover the cost
of their manufacture.
In some cases the matter was brought to
the attention of the Postmaster General,
and he saw no objection to the arrange
ment 1t was, in fact, mere contract be-
tween the Postmaster and the purchaser of
his stamps. that when a letter braring one
of his stamps was mailed at his Office it
should be treated as if the money were
handed IN with 1t. No Postmaster recog-
nlZed the stamp OF any office but his own.
A letter mailed at the st. Louis Office W it'll
New York stamp would have been
treated as unpaid. and vice versa.
Such stamps were Issued at New York,
ST. Louis, Brattlebor0. New Haven, Provi-
dence, Alexandra, Baltimore, Milbury,
Washington. Philadelphia, Worcester and
Pittsfield.
Specimens of all these are extant except
from the four last-named cities, but the
evidence of their having been issued is
conclusive. The fact that none of these
are as yet In the possession of collectors
or that none have been seen by them casts
In service. for several of the others men,
toned were not discovered until recently
In most cases the only denomin alton
Issued was the 5-cent, but the Providence
and st. Louis POstmasters each issued a
1O-cent stamp also.
The stamp issued by the Postmaster of
New York was first chronicled in stamp
catalogue IN 1862, though issued in 1S45.
1t Is worth to-day from SIS in used condi-
ton TO $50 unused. Several of these are
owned by San Francisco collectors.
VI all the stamps OF this character those
used by the st. Louis Postmaster have
been most discussed by the philatelic press.
Both denominations were issued in 1916.
but the 10 cents did not come to light
again until 1868 and the cents until 1865.
The former is catalogued at $50 used and
$40 unused, and the latter at $50 used and
500 unused.
Though issued some time in 1s45 or 1876
the Brattleboro stamp was not listed
until 1868. 1t is to-day valued at $500.
ID. d. CROKER OF this city is the fortunate
possessor of fine specimen of 1t.
New Ravens Postmaster produced what
has since proved to be one of the rarest. If
not the rarest, stamps. 1t is printed on
the envelope. and but two specimens are
known to exist one cut square and the
other with the entire envelope. This
stamp was Used in 1916, but the first mem
ton of it in philatelic publication was lot
made uu til 1871. when the cut-square speci-
men was discovered. The entire envelope
turned up about year ago among a lot of
letters. purchased by collector for their
autographs and for which he paid trivial
sum. The cut specimen Is worth $3.50 and
the entire specimen Is valued from $500
TO $500.
The Providence stamps were issued in
1916, but the cents was not catalogued
until 1868 and the 10 cents until 1865. The
former Is valued at 81 10 unused condition
and $50 used; the latter $40 unused and
500 used. Recently quite a mum Der OF
both values were discovered unused and
in full sheets and their value will prob
ably in consequence suffer some deprecia-
ton temporarily.
The Alexandria local was discovered by
j. K. Tiffany and first chronicled by him
in 1873. though issued in 1916. Its present
worth is 500 for an unused and $3.50 for a
used specimen.
1t was not until nearly thirty years after
its issuance that the Baltimore local stamn
was called to the attention of collector S.
1t was issued in 1876 and first chronicled
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