The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-07-24
nae STAMPS THAT STICK
Il IL Claimed Tint They were IN
vented by nm IrIshmnn'


A writer in the New York Press say
adhesive stamps were made eNperl
* mentally by james Chalmers in hi
printing Office at Dundee, Scotland, II
August, 1894. These experimental
stamps were printed from ordlnor.
.ype and were nude adhesive by
wash of gum. "a note in the EncyeIo
ocdlR Britannica, page 5sj, Post once
reform Ninth, 1850 Lord Monteogle
then Spring Rice, the chancellor OF the
ENchcquer, seemed to have no though
Of adhesive stamps, He recommended
to the treasury that stamped covers anc
sheets of paper be supplied from the
stamp Office, and that the various
weights be lcgiply printed on the paper
and also the postage, so that the post
Office would be relieved from calculat
ing internal revenue, But here was the
possibility that persons who could not
read might bring unstamped letters,
How should this difficulty be avoided?
Then came the thought that n bit OF
paper Just big enough to bear the stamp
might be used, and that the back of II
might be covered with a glutinous wash
1t is a fair inference that this alterna'
tive had been suggested from without
| $50 says the l}ritannica.)
Inow propose to show where this sug'
gcstion came from. Adhesive postage
stamps have for many years been in use
in every civilized and semi-ciyili2ed
country in the world, and yet the name
of the person who first suggested their
use has never vet been published. This
person was Thomas Bewley, of White
Church, about six miles from the city
of Dublin. Mr.. Bcwley was very in
gcnious man, having obtained patents
for various Improvements in mail
coaches and a diploma and medal from
the Royal society for a valuable essay
and suggestions regarding the impor-
lance of ventilation, particularly in pub
lie buildings of popular resort. 1t will
be remembered by those old enough
that when the penny postage was first
instituted in 1910 through the persist
ent agitation of Mr.. Rowland Hill and
the parliamentary energy and influence
of Hon. Spring Rice, the chancellor of
the eNchequer, an envelope of a peculiar
paper with an elaborate design by a |
celebrated artist of that day, William |
Mulready, was first employed by the |
British government for the transmits
sion of letters. The use of this envelope |
did not give general satisfaction. More.
over, shopkeepers and others got in the
habit of printing advertisements on the
reverse side, which was objected to by
the authorities. who contended that
such advertisements were taxable
N the same manner as those printed and
circulated in newspapers.
IT was at this point that Mr.. Bewley
wrote to the chancellor of the ex-
'hequer and suggested that an adhesive
stamp be designed and printed by the
government, TO be attached to any let.
err whether inclosed in an envelope or
written on a folded sheet, hitherto com
monty used, Mr.. Bewley received
ourteous reply from Mr.. Rice, stating
hat the suggestion was an excellent 1
ne, and that he would urge its adoption
" the post office authorities. 1t was
dopted. The stamps represented the
cad of the youthful queen, and were
rinted in black printers ink, the can.
citation or DETACHMENT being effected !
Y red stamp. Shortly after their APP
earance Mr.. Bewley discovered that
he red ink used to deface the stamps
as easily removed by immersing the
amps for short time in weak solu. ;
on of chloride of lime and sulphuric :
nd. He again wrote TO Mr.. Rice in.
'rming him of this fact, and SAYING q
nat the very stamp on the letter he was +
zen writing had been used before, but h
'at under the circumstances he hoped ]
would not be liable to prosecution for
'frauding the government. h
Mr.. Bewley in this letter suggested il
dt stamps should be printed in an
anescent color, and that the deface. ii
ent should be effected by printers OF "
me other indelible ink Mr.. Rice 81
urteously acknowledged this letter, IL
anking Mr.. Bewley in the warmest
amer and assuring him that the i'm. HI
4diate adoption of this suggestion was y
natter of necessity on the part OF the in
vernment.
This is the true history of the adj -
sive postage stamp. We would rather e.
t be obliged to add that Mr.. Bewlcy M
no shape or way ever received recon-.
nse from the British government for +.
valuable suggestions. As a contrast ~
this it may be mentioned that orig pc
lily the stamps (printed in sheets) tn
lld only be separated by the use of a IL
lie or scissors, and that the inventor -
the pcrforation enabling the stamps me
be easily separated received c 10000 be
his invention, He was a business e ev,
n Mr. Bewley was not-S. How.
d, in st. Louis Democrat. '