Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-03
WILL BEAR THE FLAG
The New Postage Stamp for
Letters.
DESIRE OF THE PEOPLE
MANY REQUESTS SENT TO THE
DEPARTMENT.
Gilbert Stuart's Portrait Of Washing
ton Will Also Be Utilized-Cus-
tom Of Other Countries.
DESIRE OF THE PEOPLE

SSA W AAA &&@SS 10 ~ S@AA@SSSA
tom Of Other Countries.
For the first time since 1869 and prac-
tically since the establishment Of the
United States postal system the people will
have the privilege of using q postage stamp
bearing the flag of. the republic. with the
issuance of the; new series of postage
stamps now in process of printing.
The stamp displaying prominently the
stars and stripes will be the 2-cent denomi-
nation, but twill bear no resemblance to
the 2-cent stamp in use today. Washing
toms portrait, which has appeared upon the
common letter postage stamp since the be-
ginning Of the use of stamps, except during
the single year 1869, when the portrait of
Washington was displaced to make room
for wild and woolly. wide-stacked, wood
burning locomotive of the Rocket type,
will again occupy the position Of honor
upon the label, but the bust Of Washing
ton, so long familiar to the public, will dis
appear, probably forever.
The portrait of Washington drawn from
Jean Antonio Houdons profile cast Is aban-
doned to be succeeded by photo direct
from Gilbert Stuarts famous painting,
which now adorns the national Capitol
building
The First Postage Stamps.
The first postage stamps issued by this
government were the and 1O-cent denomi-
nations. in lS47, bearing portraits Of Frank
lin and Washington. respectively. The
Washington picture was Stuart's. This por-
trait continued until 1870, with few excep-
lions, a type of the Houdon cast appearing
upon the 3-cent value portion Of the time.
In 1870 the Stuart photo disappeared en-
tirely, being superseded by Houdon's profile
cast, which has been used exclusively upon
the current letter postage denomination up
to the present time. Now, Stuart's repre-
sentation Of the first President Is about to
| resume place 1t never should have lost.
OF course, the likeness of Washington IL
the most important feature of the design
| upon the new stamp, but the American flag
two flags, in facts conspicuous and In
spring. The photograph occupies the CEN
trail oval, somewhat smaller than the oval
in the current stamp. Above this, In a
panel, are the words United States Of
America" and draped upon either side,
occupying two-thirds the length of the
stamp. are two flags. forming a back
ground against which the oval seems to
rest. Immediately beneath the bust Of
Washington appears his name, and at the
side in small figures the dates Of WASH
ington's birth and death, 1732-1799.
A Magnificent Portrait.
The photograph of Washington selected
by the bureau of engraving and printing
for this stamp Is a magnificent one. and
art critics who have been permitted to view
the model" Of the stamp declare It to be
the finest thing of the kind ever produced.
There Is nobility and majesty Of express
sion upon the features of the father OF
his country that commands attention and
induces patriotic exhilaration akin to flial
affection.
Phiiatelists-stamp experts-assert that
this new two-cent stamp, with its superb
picture of Washington: It's draped flags; its
Wreaths of laurel leaves In the lower cor
ners of the design with the general balance
Of the text and art effects, together with
work upon the die, will be the finest speci-
men Of a postage stamp ever produced any,
where
It may be recalled that last winter when
the order for the new series OF stamps was
given that the Post Office Department made
special request of the bureau Of engrav-
ing and printing that the latter do Its level
best. or words to that effect, in the produc-
ing 1t not only distinctive, but a sample Of
American craftsmanship 1t was even sug-
gested that it was hoped that at least as
high standard as that attained in the IA
nous two-colored Pan-American or 'Buffa-
lo' series Of stamps. said to have been the
most beautiful set Of stamps ever engraved,
might be reached, which was the diplomatic
way of saying that the Pan-American series
must be surpassed.
Models for Four Stamps.
| Models for four stamps for the new series
| have thus far been completed-the 2. 4, 8
| and Ii cents. All Of the designs are dis
| tinctive and of rare artistic merit, but the
2-cent with Washington facing instead of
| profile and its display of "old Glory" easily
leads all the rest. establishing high water
| mark in the realm Of stampdom.
| a remarkable that copqider{p0 ha
| Difference paid the flag by Americans that
| the flag has, hitherto, been practically
| ignored in the designing Of postage stamps.
| just one year, in 1869, and then upon a
the 30-cent commandments the flag
| had a postal status. In the stamp men,
| toned there was an eagle and coat of arms
| with two flags.
! desire that the flag should be accorded a
place OF prominence upon one Of the much
used values, but until now the department
| has not responded to this desire When
the Columbian series. commemorative the
Chicago worlds fair in 1898, was projected
| the department was flooded with letters
requesting that one Of the denominations
be given to the flag. Later. when the trans
1 Mississippi set was contemplated. another
| avalanche of requests was hurled at the
| department; and two years ago at the time
| OF the designing of the two-colored Pan
American series the people clarnored for a
place for the stars and stripes
The department has not been unmindful
| Of the wishes of the people, but mechani-
cal difficulties have seemed to preclude
| the possibility Of producing nag stamp
| that would meet the approval of the depart
ment. and no effort has been made to pro-
| duce one.
Custom Of Other Countries,
| The flag is a favorite emblem upon stamps
issued by republics. and the United States
stands as almost the single exception in
| not honoring the "coiors" upon its postal
! issues. II does not appear that the stamps
| Of any OF the old monarchies give any evil
| dence Of the existence of flag although
| such emblems as the lion. eagle, dragon
| and coats Of arms are quite common.
! The South American republics almost
| without exception make a spread with the
| national colors. the Dominican republic
| Bolivia, Ecuador, Salvatore, Uruguay Ii
IBERIA and Colombian republic showing the
| hags upon every stamp Of practically all
denominations issued.
The Beers were great admirers OF their
| flag and almost every postage stamp issued
/ by the republic has bunch Of the flags
/ Of the TransYaal In the center of the design
| The last issue Of stamps of the Hawaiian
| republic prior to its absorption by the
| United States gave a prominent place to
| the nag upon one Of its values, and the In
habitants Of the little black reuubIic'' ~