Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-29
NEW POSTAL CARD.
The Mckinley Card Will Be on Sale
Early in June.
Delay in Issuing Was Caused by De.
fective Die.

1t is now definitely settled that the
new postal card, to be officially known
as the "McKinley' card, bearing the
pol trait Of the late President. will be
on sale some time dnring the month OF
June. The designs for the Mckinley
postal card has been approved by Third
Assistant PoStmaster-G General Madden.
EIectrotypes from the completed die
are now being made. 1t was announced
last fall that the Mckinley postal card
would be on sale about Jan. /. The
design was completed and the die en-
graved and approved in ample time
Electrotypes were made and put upon
the presses and the work commenced.
Samples of the printing We're sub
mitted to the department, but they
were 50 unsatisfactory that an order
was given to suspend operations pend
ing an investigation.
Major J. II. Reeve. chief of the stamp
division. was sent to the factory in
Runford Falls, where spruce trees pass
in Ut one entrance and emerge in the
form of completed postal cards at the
other. to ascertain the cause Of the in
feliOr work.
After numerous experiments it was
decided that the plates were defective,
ana new eiactrOtypeS were ordered from
the bureau OF engraving and printing.
No better results were obtained from
the last electros.
IL was claimed by the experts at the
factory that the lines in the engraving
were so fine ana the shading so delicate
that satisfactory work could not be
obtained from the plates furnished. On
tho other hand. the bureau officials
claimed that the plates We're perfect,
that they were identical with plates
previously furnished, that the trouble
was with the poor paper stock. poor INK
and fast press9S, the contractor having
taken tie job at a figure compelling
him to use a poor grade of paper and
push the presses to the limit.
The department finally condemned
the mates and ordered the bureau to
design and engraVe a new die.
The first die. finally rejected. repre-
scented President Mckinley almost full
facing. The photograph reproduced
was one that the late President regard
ed as the most natural Of himself. The
die proof was very fine, the features
coming ont clear and strong. PRINTED
upon steam presses and cheap paper,
the design became an indistinct,
blurred spot upon the corner OF the
card the fine lines filing up so that
onn side of the face was unrecognlz-
able.
About the 1st of April the second die
was COMPLETED. This die was rejected
Of once. even before electrotypes were
made. While free from the objections
r,ised against the first die, the second
nroof showed the President as man
not more than A. years Of age, so
Youthful that il did not at all portray
tba likeness of the President as he APP
naarad during his term of office.
The bureau was instructed to prepare
another die. and this has just been APP
rroved. 1t depicts President Mckinney
facing to the left. and is a profile
similar to that of Washington upon the
two-cent stamp. The lines of the en-
craving are not so close, and it is pre-
dicted the effect upon the card Will be
| fine.
The portrait. while satisfactory. Is
! not really all that could be desired
| There is an extraordinary shagginess
| n the eyebrows, ard a turn to tht
lower lip which gives hint OF
troubled or cross" expression thai
was not present in the original The
bureau experts say that this cannot be
avoided under the process required IL
making plates for postal cards. tha'
the method Of engraving is the reverse
Of that required in producing postage
stamps. which is the speciality of th'
| bureau.
The new card-has a medallion at TIL
uprer left corner precisely of the SAM
size as the oval containing the portal
Of President Mckinley. The medallion
contains a figure of an eagle with out
stretched wings. and bearing in it
claws a bundle of arrows and an div
branch Altogether the design is yer.
attractive. and the card will be tn
finest ever produced by this govern
ment.