Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-05-28
the selection of the portraits which are

the selection of the portraits which are
to adorn them. 1t was decided In the
present instance that the first postage
stamp series of the new century should
possess distinctive element of novel;
ty and SO the postal officials asked
the designers at the Bureau Of Print
ing and Engraving not only to prepare
new designs for borders and employ
new shades of color, but to make the
new stamps of different size and shape
from the old and procure, II possible,
new portraits for their adornment.
The proposal to indicate the date of
issue by imprinting the words. "se-
rles 1902" marked another innovation
and SO also does the plan of placing
beneath the portrait on each denomina-
ton the name of the subject with the
date Of birth and death.
The new series of stamps. like each
of its predecessors, makes some
changes in the circle of historical per-
sonuges whose memory is perpetuated
in this popular picture gallery and in
the denominations of the stamps.
There is newcomer In the form of
13.cent stamp which will not often
be employed for domestic use 1t is
designed particularly for the conven-
ience of persons who wish to send reg
istercd letters abroad and this frank
of the supposedly unlucky denomina-
ton bears the portrait of the late
BENJAMIN Harrison, who had not pre-
yiously had u place In the Postal De-
partment's useful collection of nina
lures. Commodore Perry. whose face
has adorned stamps continuously since
1870, is superseded by another famous
fighter. Admiral Farragut.
The art critics in the Postoffice De-
partment also concluded that it would
be a good idea to have uniformity in
the general style of portraits employed
and the designers were, therefore.
obliged to skirmish around and find
good, rull-face portraits of Franklin,
Washington. and Jefferson to replace
the protles on the 1. 2. and cent
stamps.
All these changes serve to emphasize
the fact that Miss Columbia has been
| hShlC Will ICSdiu W tllc DuuIlC
men honored by places on her postage
stamps.
| Washington, of course, has been fifty
recognized and in the series of stamps
which went into use just half Gen.
tury ago his portrait, in one style or
another, has appeared OH all the de-
nominations save two. Franklin and
Jackson likewise have held places with
scant interruption. and the portrait of
Lincoln has appeared in every series
since the civil war. President johnson
and Arthur, however, never had places
in the postal art collection. nor. of
course, has Grover Cleveland. who.
while living. is ineligible.
Stanton, Scott, Hamilton and Zach.
airy Taylor We're all portrayed on pos
tage stamps at ole time or another,
but have had to give way to statesmen
| of more recent prominence Nor, In
deed, will the changes end here. for 1t
is expected that as soon as the new
Mckinley postal card has served the
usual period of usefulness and been re-
tired Ills portrait will supplant that of
either Sherman or Webster.
Engraving the plates which are used
in the production Of postage stamps is
a delicate operation. Perhaps u dozen
different engravers. each an expert in
his particular line. contributes to de-
sign for stamp that is not an inch
square. One supplies the vignette. a
second cuts the delicate scroll work, a
third furnishes the artistic lettering.
and SO on. The original plate bearing
n stamp design, although baked until
1t is almost as hard as diamond, is
never employed In the actual printing.
1t is much too precious for that, since.
We're 1t destroyed, 1t would in all prob
ability be impossible to engraye a new