The Portland daily press., 1896-07-18

Ing all postmasters to return to the de-
partment all postage stamps and stamped
envelopes in their possession, but was
unable TO see the order, as no copy is
preserved in the files of the department.,
and its precise language is unknown.
sought further information in the files
Of the National Intelligencer, preserved
in the library of Congress, which was the
organ Of the department in 1851. found
in the issue Of June IS, 1861, the follow
ing ''extract from the departmental
1iles," introduced by appropriate editori-
lion Of the publici
There are now no posUmasters Of the
United States in the seeded States, au-
thorized to sell stamps or collect postage,
sincs the LIST OF June for this govern-
man4 Postmasters therefore, must
treat all matter since the list of juno
coming from the seeded States and
mailed within these States as unpaid
matter to be held for postage. All such
niassar Ia ordered to be sent to the dead
letter efaos at Washington to be disp osed
OF according TO law"
In the issas Of the following day.
5unes14. 1851, the following appeared
as an editorial paragraphs
Ia consequence of the retention and
Improper use Of postage stamps by delin-
qusnt postraasters In some of the seeded
STATES. the Postmaster General has or
derssi q new stamped envelope, which
viii be- ready for use in few days, and
that by tie LIST OF August there will be a
new stamp with devices altogether differ
ent from the PRESENT.
In August, 1861, the department sent
circular lsttsfs to postmasters throughout
the country. forwarding stamps and
stamped envelopes of the new designs,
and giving instructions as follows: :
"Tou will Immediately give notice
through the newspapers and otherwise
that you are prepared to exchange
stamps of the new style for an equivalent
amount of the old issue during q period
of sig days from the date of the notice,
and that the latter will not thereafter
be received in payment Of postage on
letters sent from your Office.
1t being impossible to,supply.a Offices
With the new stamps at once, you will
deliver letters received from Kentucky,
Missouri Illinois, Ohio, Maryland and
Pennsylvania, prepaid by stamps of the
old issue until Oct. 1 those from other
legal States east Of the Rocky Mountains
until the 18th of October, and those from
the States Of California and Oregon,
and the territories of New Mexico, Utah
and Washington until the lat of Denem-
Der, 1872
All stamps Issued before the war are
known 60 and designated by the depart
mert an the series of 1847 and 1851. Of
the series of 1847 there were but two
denominations, 8 and 10 cents. There were
eight denominations Of the regular post
age stamps of the series of 1851. viz:
Cae cent, cents. 5 cents, 10 osnts, 70
cents, "a cents. 80 cents and 90 cents,
and two styles of 1-cent oarr Ter stamp.
In circular dated February 10, 1890,
Postmaster General Wanamaker said:
"Tho two several issuea Of stamps
made before the war of the rebellion and
designated as the series of 1877 and 1851
vera long since declared to be valueless.
Many of the latter issue are believed to
be still outstanding; and they must NOT
be treated as held for postage B"
a full description Of each OF the obso-
lete stamps above referred to was pub.
lished In Mr.. Wanamaker's circular.
By an act Of CoaGFsss approved June