The evening times., 1900-02-02
BOOKS OF STAMPS.


Two-cent postage stamps are 10 be plac
ed on sale by the Postofice Department
in book form within about sixty days. Tine
books will Contain twelve stamps. twenty
four stamps, or forty-eight stamps and
cost each 1 cent more than the stamps
alone.
These books are expected to prove OF
great benefit 10 patrons of the postal serv-
ice. They will be bound in thin cardboard
and be of size intended to slip cOnven-
iently into the vest pocket. The sheets
of stamps will be separated by sheess OF
wax paper On the two covers are 10 be
printed briefly the division OF mail mat
ter into classes with the rate for each
class ard such other information on pos
tai regulations as space will permit. In
this form the stamps viii not cTumple ia
the pocket. will be easily counted will BE-
ready fO- use in all kinds Of weather. and
will be available without the opening Of
pocketbook or the use Of the metal stamp
cases now sold by jewelers..
In the eyes Of the department officials
not the least Of the advantages the books
are to possess in the handsome profit net
ted from their sale. They are 10 be made,
like the stamps. at the Bureau OF Engrav-
ing and Printing and will cost the Post
master General not more than 8 for eacn
/ 0e9. At the rate Of 1 cent each they
will net the Government so per 1,e6o-st
profit of IS on each 81 900 books sold. II a
fourth OF all the 2-cent stamps now used
probably not less than 4,500, 00o.0" a
year-are sold in book form the annual
profit will exceed $3.50, 600 Il is not un-
likely that the profit will double that sum.
The notion Of marketing stamps in this
form came into the department with Third
Assistant Postmaster General Madden.
When il was explained 10 Postmaster Gen
eral Smith ne approved OF the scheme
heartily and directed his subordinate 20
work out its practical details without de
law Stamps are purchased BY the de-
partment from the Bureau Of Engraving
and Printing as though from some publish
ing house the department paying the eD-
act cost Of the paper and printing and ap
plying the profit TO the expenses Of the
service Mr. Madden wrote the bureau
and asked the cost of such books the time
required for making them. and whether the
regular issue of stamps would be inter-
rupted BY an order for stamps issued in
this new form. To all of these questions
he received favorable answer-the books
would cost NOT more than s. per thousand
! the Issue or StdmpS Nbuttl hti U Atittl
/ rupted; about six weeks would be required
| for the preparation of machinery. l0oeoo
/ or more could be supplied each day.
II was therefore concluded to authoriSe
/ the manufacture of stamp books az once
/ Here an unexpected difficulty was present
! ed The Director of the Bureau notified
/ the Postmaster General that he thought It
/ unwise 10 attempt the issue OF stamps fn
/ this form without an extra allowance OF
/ $50 OGG from Congress. II the PoStorhce
/ Department was anxious TO carry out its
+ plan il might obtain that extra allowance.
/ In the words of the Assistant Director.
/ il was up TO the Postmaster General To
| obtain the appropriation.
] When this reached Mr.. Smiths ears he
! NJ once sent the matter up to- the Seers-
/ tary of the Treasury and asked an inves-
/ tigaticn which Mr.. Gage at once directed.
/ The enquiry proved favorable to the Posi- =
] office Department. The Director was or
| dered TO comply with the INSTRUCTIONS re-
! ceiyed from Mr. Smith and left to obtain
! the additional appropriation snugh'
| through his own efforts.