The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-14
STAMPS.
Probability That Collectors VIII Soon He
Able to Got Many Cancelled Ones.


Probability That COlisctors Will Soon He
Able to Got Many Cancelled Ones.
Collectors OF postage stamps, or "philatel-
ists." as they now call themselves, will prob
ably have an opportunity at an early day to
gain possession Of the coveted and somewhat
rare newspaper and periodical stamps at nomi-
nal prices. Thor use was discontinued on July
l, and orders have Just been issued to Post
masters throughout the country to return the
stocks on hand to the Post Office Department.
1t is said in the order that the officials are con.
sidering the advisability Of Offering them for
sale to collectors and others, although nothing
definite has yet been decided upon.
The average citizen probably doesn't know
that such stamps are In existence. nor does he
care three straws whether they are sold,
burned, or given way. But stamp collectors
will hail the news as second in Importance only
to the Dewey and the Schley sampson victories.
The roads leading to the priced stamps here
tofore have been lined with mines planted by
the postal authorities. The lmpossibility OF
stamping newspapers and other second class
matter. mailed in bulk at pound rates. Is OBJ
vious. Before the war between the States it
was the custom for Postmasters to deliver
papers to subscribers and render bills to them
every three months. The very natural result
Of this was that n large quantity OF the second
class matter passing through the mails escaped
the postage. as Imprisonment for debt was a
thing of the past and the bad-debt collector a
thing Of the future.
In 1855 some one devised the plan OF print
ing newspaper and periodical stamps OF the
denominations of 8. 10. and % cents. These
were sold to publishers and enabled them to
deposit their papers on rains with the route
agents, 1t being impracticable to pay the
money. The scheme proved unsatisfactory.
however. and was abandoned in 1859.
In 1874 a law was passed by Congress reviv-
ing the use Of stamps in q different way. At
that time the postage on newspapers was two
cents a pound for those published weekly or
LEGATIONS. Receipts for the amounts paid were
given to the publishers. and newspaper and
POSTMASTER. a AZ S ttRhse. end enf q effn each a ~ 1ee
checked up the account to see that every stamp
issued to the Postmaster, was accounted for.
pIa ens a o mo any ri Gs6a9 searsS was Ta inst tTs5 OF m anS
the department refused to be comforted by q
tender Of the face value OF the stamp.
Under no pretext were Postmasters to allow
department attached as much value to them
used. The reason Tor this was that il al allowed
to go into the hands OF outsiders It would be an
short in his accounts. or wished to perpetrate, a
4 Saac 81 sae st s1yern sag of t9o guy Se Ts5y fGhstiipIy
from o collector who had secured 1t at a small
price. This could be afixed to the stub and no
one be any the wiser, as to who cancelled IT or
credit for the amount.
Some. years ago the returned stubs were not
ment. and a humble Of them were stolen, In
this way a quantity s Of the h. bits Of precious
dealers and COLLECTORS. An effort was made to
force force all persons RS rs having the stamps to turn E,
resorted to in obtaining possession, even
1Rop poSbbe sasar q aS Pos va ofa RSsi' and IN Pfo ONE Wa1
and another. quite q number Of the stamps
though they are still sought BY those interested.
During the past twenty-four years the num-
number being necessary to complete a collec;
t ton fxe 4 few Sp ySefaS5is s ago ss9i tas T ngm b 9s was Tp 5s 20 !1Sia
te q. tR1s Ssefi ianasa{ G SftE cent sas 0 and the the t tive.
stamps. The denominations from one to ten
cents. inclusive. are OF the same design. The
in the one. two n Ave cent stamps. while
those IN the ten-cent stamp are condensed. so
n fSe % oth hI sne besides ssae S beiHg ' ssiissh Il e difSere EG
|NR~ SSyhSiHhoSe0in ,th~~aRe xSS ttVe. cent
denominGtlohs are shaded dark in the lower
White faced, Ali Of these stamps bear an en-
craving of the statue Of America by Crawford.
WHICH buIlIlOuuJS Ibo uOIhC VI SiV IA
Washington. the same subject as that on the
lower denominations Of the. old series. except
three-quarters. The words ~. s, Postage
at the top OF the stamps are in white block
Newspapers" on the left and Periodicals.
on the right are In vertical lines, The demon
tiers, and there is a foliate ornamentation in
the lower corners.
fifty cent stamps Is broken by two indentations
separating that border into. three equa parts.
and the side i~nMscriptions follow q curved line
Of Astrea. The dimension J Of the stamps, be-
low the 81 REORGANIZATION ere 1892 by II inches.
stamps ofthe retired series-15-l by *. The
81. IS, SO. $40. $50 and 500 denominations
| Vesta. Peace. Commerce. and the Indian;
Since the use OF stamps was abandoned. pub
fishers and news agents get their receipts as
| before. but the Post ONCE authorities have not
decided upon a plan for keeping a check on
Postmasters. Several plans are under consid-
GRAFTON, however.