Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-11
OLD GLORY ON
POSTAGE STAMP.
baltimore American.

tion of the Stars and Stripes. 1t will
be the first time since 1869 that the
people of the United States have had
the opportunity to use stamp bearing
the flag Of their country. Washington's
portrait, which has appeared OH the
postage stamps for ordinary everyday
use since the early days of the republic,
will continue to appear upon them, but
his picture on the new stamp will bear
no resemblance to the old one. The
picture of Washington las appeared on
the 2-oent stamp every year except in
1863, when 1t was replaced by loco
| motive
The old portrait of Washington seen
for so many years on 2-cent stamps was
drawn from Jean Antoine Houdon's
profile cast. 1t gives way on tho new
stamp to q portrait made after Gilbert
| Stuart's famous painting which now
adorns the Capitol building at WASH
ington.
The first postage stamps issued by
the general government we're put out in
lS4T, and were in denominations Of 5
and 10 cents. The portrait of Franklin
| appeared on the 5-cent stamp and that
of Washington on the 1O-cent. The
| portrait Of Washington which was
employed was that of Stuart. This
portrait was used on all stamps until
1870, when Houdon's profile cast was
| substituted.
The portrait of Washington used Is
the most important feature of sthe
stamp, but the American flag two
! flags, in fact-is conspicuous. Washing
toms picture occupies the oval panel IN
the centre OF the stamp. Above this
| panel arc the words United States o.
America, and draped in the back
| ground and occupying two.thirds of
the surface of the stamps are two
naJional flags Immediately beneath
| the picture OF Washington appears his
name, and in small figures at the sides
OF the panel the figures 1872 l799-the
dates of his birth and death. The
| photograph is declared by critics to be
the finest ever produced. IL was
selected by the Bureau of Printing and
Engraving
Stamp experts assert that this new
| specimen OF postage stamp ever pro-
duced anywhere.
1t may be recalled that last winter.
/ when the order for a new series was
given, that the Postoffice Department
/ IHuic 5pbDidl Ebqutnb bub
OF Engraving and Printing that the
latter do its level best in the pro-
duGtion OF this new and distinctivf
series. 1t was even suggested that it
was hoped that at least as high a
standard as that set ip the famous two
colored PAM american or Buffalo"
series might be attained, which was
the diplomatic way of saying that the
Pan-AmeriGan series must be excelled.
Models for four Of the stamps for
the new series have been completed,
and all of them are of rare artistic
design, but the two-cent, with it's bust
Of Washington, serene and confident,
with "Cld Gloryn as a setting, easily
leads all the rest; establishing high
water mark in the realm of stanpdom.
The Postofiice Department, strange to
say, has used the flag on the stamps
but once before, and then but for one
year-1S69. The 30-cent stamps of that
year, but little known to or used by
the general public, depicted two meri
can flags but in that case the flags
were part of a coat-of-arms.
The public has many times indicated
a desire that the flag should be accorded
place Of prominence upon one of the
much-used values, but until now the
department had not responded to this
desire. When the Columbian series, tc
commemorate the Worlds Fair al
Chicago in 1898, was projected the
department was flooded with letters
requesting that one of the denomina
tions be given up to the flag. Later,
when the trans Mississippi set was
contemplated. another avalanche o.
requests was hurled at the department,
and two years ago at the time of tht
designing of the two .colored Pan
American series the people clamorec
for place for the Stars aud Stripes.
Mechanical difficulties have pre-
vented the department from hitherto
producing a Flag stamp, which
would meet with general approval al
an artistic thing. The wishes of the
> people have not been ignored, as il
would seem.
! The fiag has been favorite emblem
! with the South American and othe
! republics, and the United States hal
: been the only exception to the rule
3 None OF the stamps OF the old moG
srchies seem to have given prominenc'
TO iiag emblems, although coat of arms,
crests. eagles, dragons and lions hav'
been plentiful.
The South American republics al
most without exception make spreat
with the national oolors, the Do.
minican Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador
Salvador, Uruguay, Liberia and tn,
Colombian Republic showing the flags
upon every stamp of all denomination
, issued.
Tho Beers we're great admirers O.
{ their flag and almost every postage
stamp issued by the republic has
7 bunch Of the flags Of the Transvaal il
I the center of the design. The last issu,
' of stamps of the Hawaiian Republi,
) prior to its absorption by the United
i States gave prominent place to tn,
8 flag upon one of its values, and the in
4 habitants OF the little ''black re
Y punlic" OF Hayti got good view o
their national emblem every time the,
/ licked a stamp; in fact, the flag wa
' featured on every denomination, con
testing first place honors with tn
portrait of the ruling chief executive
1t is understood that the Cuban flaJ
n will adorn one Of the values of a ne,
4 series Of stamps soon to be brought ou
y by. the newest republic on earth, and
= by the way. the United States govern
i mont will not produce the new stamps
,r either. II is said banknote oompan
n in New York is now at work upon th
new design.
The Postoffice Department has jus
approved the drawing made by th
Bureau Of Engraving and Printing 70
the new eight-cent stamp. in whic
Martha Washington will make be
appearance, and the engravers will
at once go TO work upon the die. Th
portrait of Mrs. WashiL gton is the oil
familiar to everybody in fact, this well
known picture seems to be the onl
available one in existence. At the tim
itiwss decided to place Martha Washing
! ton unnn the design an effort wa