Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-25
VALUABLE STAMPS.
ISSUED D1' CONFEDERATE POSTAL
DEPARTMENT.
SOME OF THEM MADE IN LONDON.
Dinicuities I'm Securing Ink and Suit
able Papcr-Pintes Brought over
from London and Printed ON Paper
Made at Columbia, =. G.
Cwasn,ngton Post)

| Of Confederate Postage stamps Was
originally written for The Lost Cause"
by Mr.. 5. u. Craigor. of Washington.
who has very complete collection OF
these now very rare and valuable stamps:
Shortly after the first Confederate Con-
gress had convened, in Fetuary, 1861, at
| Montgomery, Ala. the then seat OF gov
erEment for the Confederate States OF
| America. the representative OF New
York bank-note company proceeded to
Montgomery for the purpose Of controct-
ing with the Confederate Government for
it's requirements in postage stamps. en-
/ yelopes. &c. and negotiations with the
agent were commenced but, pending
| their completion. the outbreak OF HOSTILE
ties rendered the contemplated delivery
Of the proposed stamps a practical inn
possibility. which resulted I'm an abrupt
termination of the negotiations withNthe
representative OF the bank-note company.
Ii is proper TO state i'm connection with
/ this SUBJECT that Information or the
transaction referred t. did not appear IN
print until after General Lees surrender,
when the New York papers published ac-
counts OF the matter which created con-
! siderable excitement at the time in the
| East
The Confederate Government, soon after
the declaration OF war purchased from
| New York parties supplies OF paper ana
/ envelopes OF various kinds, sufficient 10
last for several years, and these articles
! of stationery were delivered at certain
point within the state Of kentucky To
Mr.. Joel White doing business as STA
toner in Montgomery. who trans
ported the goods into the Confederate
lines TO Richmond Va, 20 which point
the seat Of the Confederacy was removed
from Montgomery on May 30 1851.
Details OF organization Of the Confed-
crate Government. and especially OF tho
| Post-Onice Department, progressed SLOW
ly, and nearly five months elapsed after
! the seat of government was estaonsheo
In Richmond before Confederate stamps
were placed on sale throughout the Sotuh'
FIRST ISSUE OF STAMPS.
The first issue OF stamps was htho-
graphed, and this set, together with part
OF the engraved set, was manufactured
from the paper previously purchased IN
| New York city. For several months the
ink used i'm printing the stamps was pro-
| cured from the North and shipped VIA
! Washington by blockade, but later II
| came by water. principally by way OF
Charleston, 5. c. Even under thsss eefS
cumstances the photographers. Messrs
Hoyer q Ludwig, Of Richmond, were
sometimes obliged 20 use anything they
| could lind I'm the way Of ink for printing
the stamps, as the supply Of the former
commodity was not always 20 be depend
ed upon owing TO the vigilance OF the
| blockadng officers attached 20 the Union
/ army and navy.
The designs Tor the Autographed issue
OF stamps were engraved by Hoyer *
/ Ludwig. The stamps were printed Oh
stone and issued in the following order
| Five cents, green. head or Pfesldeht
/ Davis, first used about October -, lsoli ~
cents, blue mead OF Madison, appeared
about December 10, 1861; cents, green
head OF Andrew Jackson, came into gen
eral use about January J, lS6-' . cehls'
blue head of President Davis, placed on
sale March 10. 1862 10 cents, rose mead OF
Madison The latter stamp appeared
early I'm April 1852, and was the last OF
the autographed set OF stamps.
During the winter OF lsol-'62 Messrs.
| Thomas De La Rue & CO., OF London, iof-
wardad 10 the Confederate Government
specimens of their handicrait In postage
stamps. which resulted In the confederacy
authorizing a blockade runner 10 enter
into contract with De La Rue 81 Co. Tor
! additional stamps IL being thought ny
the Confederate Post-Ofiice department.
that the output OF the Richmond con-
tractor would prove inadequate TO the
| demand
STAMPS MADE IN LONDON.
ARRANGEMENTS were accordingly entered
into with the London firm for supplying
| the following stamps: Five cents, biue'
head OF President Davis, and cent
| orange head Of Jackson. The latter
| stamp was never issued by the Conteo-
crate Government on account 81 cnange
in postal rates. The London issue or
stamps was Typographical and was placed
on sale about May J, l@-
| The first supply Of foreign Manufactured
stamps reached Richmond late In the
spring OF 1862. Hoyer & Ludwig also con-
tinued 10 supply stamps Tor seVeri!
months. although eventually the manu-
facture of Autographed stamps was dis
continued entirely.
\ number Of shipments Of postage
| stamps from London reached hlcnnoiu
| safely. later, however, wnen biocAdac
| running became more hazardous tno
plates Of the cents blue were proush'
over from England 20 the seat oi the
! Confederacy 1900.
into bv the Confederate F0st-Onice De-
partment with the firm Of Messrs. Archer
! 4 Daly which was organized cspecidly
/ for the service Of the Confedefacy' DIT.
| Archer. who had been In the employ OF
| the American Bank NOic company, "fhI
| To Richmond for the purpose OF superlh-
| tending the Issuance Of the new en-
| graved set 81 stamps. "his Issue con,
! sisted OF 10 cents blue head OF President
Davis first used about April ], 1868;
! cents red head Of Jackson, issued june
! / 1855: 10 cents, blue, perforated, head
| OF President Davis, placed on sale IN
August. 1888: 20 cents, green. mead OF
| Washington issued IN september lSo5'
/ LAST OF THE cONFEDERAcY.
Upon the expiration OF the contract with
| Archer & Daily. that firm was unable 70
| give satisfactory evidences OF its aplly
/ IN continue 70 meet the requirements OF
| the Confederate Post-Office Department
/ and an agreement was accordingly Hlaus
/ with Messrs. heating a. Ban, OF Soluihpla,
/ : q in 1864. This nrm continued the man
/ ufacture Of the engraved stamps. whl,h
! were printed upon paper made especiaiy
/ for that purpose at a mill near Coluinoia'
The last days OF the Coniederacy wsto
! approaching and I'm the spring OF 100 tho
! effects OF the Confederate Government
including the Post-Ohice Department,
| under direction Of Colonel onut. First
! Assistant Postmaster-Gencral, were to
moved from Richmond southwark INTO
me Carolinas. Chester, 5. c.. having De.h
] reached the stamps ana Outnt OF ING
/ Post-Odice Department were Gep'silep
az that point IN. Il Is stated, the eslsr
OF the postmaster OF Chester wneIe they
| renamed until after Jonnstons sui''h"er.
After the Union authorities secured ln'
| nspers stamps. and records OF the POST
! once Department they we're taken 70