The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-06
A NEW SET OF STAMPS.


Washington Letter in New York Sun.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
has received instructions from the Post
office Department to prepare designs for an
entire new series Of postage stamps.
The question of a new series was dis
cussed in the autumn after the death of
President Mckinley. and the impression
prevailed then that when the new set was
ordered the portrait of President Mckinley
would adorn one of the denominations.
Undoubtedly that was the plan then, but
the department decided to place the por-
trait or the late President upon new pos
tai card OF special design. and this re-
eligibles
new face Will appear unon one of the
stamps-that of the late President Harri-
son. In order that there might be a place
for his portrait new denomination was
ereated-a lS-cent stamp.
There will be practically no demand for
stamp OF this value for domestic use,
but for foreign use there is place for it..
Thirteen cents is the cost of sending a
registered letter weighing not more than
one-hat ounce to any country within the
postal union. Heretofore it has been neces-
sary TO use a and an scent stamp.
Mrs. benjamin Harrison has been request
ed TO furnish the department a photogra phi
or portrait of General Harrison which
meets her approval, for the purpose pro-
posed.
Aside from the introduction of General
HarrisOns face into the postal gallery OF
notables, only one other change will be
made in the series. Commodore Perry
whose face has adorned the 9O-cent stamp
from 1870 down to 1894 and the one-dollar
stamp from 1894 TO the present date, will
be superseded upon the one-dollar demon
nation by another famous sea-hghter, Adj
miral Farragut. Commodore Perry dis
appears permanently.
AS at present constituted, the full set is
I FOIL (lf0G ont f1C Of nj
lin; 2-cent. carmine face of Washington;
Scent purple, face of Jackson; Accent,
dark brown, face of Lincoln; scent, choco-
late, face of Grant; 6-cent, red-brown,
face of Garfield; Scent, mauve, face of
Sherman; 10-cent. light-brown, face OF
Webster; 15-cent, dark blue, face of Clay;
dollar, black, face of Perry; two-dollar,
sapphire, face of Madison; five-dollar dark
green, face of Marshall.
The present series of postage stamps has
been in continuous use for just twelve
years, which is much longer than the life Of
the ordinary series. There have been some
changes since 1890, such as the substitution
of the 50-cent for the 30-cent, the one
dollar for the 90-cent, the addition of the
two-dollar and the five-dollar values and
some slight changes Of interest to stamp
collectors, but the size, designs and colors
of most OF the stamps are the same as in
1890
True. there have been the Columbian,
transmississippi and Pan-American series,
only during a limited period The regular
series stamps were always on sale in con-
nection with the special stamps.
The Postofflce Department has requested
the bureau to take special pains to make
the new series particularly attractive and
distinctive. 1t is suggested that the Pan
American stamps were extremely salts
factory from an artistic standpoint, and the
hope is expressed that the new set may
be equally fine specimens of American
handiwOrk.
1t is proposed that everything in con-
nection with the series shall be new. New
designs for borders will be drawn, new
shades of color employed. and the new
stamps may even be of different size and
shape. The Postoffice Department has re-
quested the bureau to secure il possible new
portraits and better ones if obtainable.
1t may have escaped public notice, but
the faces of Franklin, Washington and
Jackson on the l, and Scent stamps are
side views, as are also Jefferson and Perry
on the 50-cent and 81. II is the desire of
the department that new portraits for these
values at least, showing the subjects facing
three-quarters or seven-eighths full, shall
be subs tituted.
1t is proposed that above the face the
words series 1902 shall appear in small
type and below the name of the subject
with date of birth and death.
The 10cent special delivery stamp will
be slightly changed in design and the color
will be orange instead of blue.
Since 1851 but two Presidents have no:
been hOnOred by placing their portraits
upon postage stamp-JohnsOn and Arthur
Cleveland, still living, not being eligible.
In the first entire series in 1851 Washing
ton appeared upon all the denominations
save two-Franklin on the one and Jackson
on the five. In the 1870 series Stanton ap-
peared upon the 7-cent, Scott upon the y
and Hamilton upon the 3O-cent.
ALI have been permanently superseded
or the denominations abolished. Zachary
Taylor appeared upon the scent value in
1875 when the value was created, but dis
appeared in 1882, giving way to Garfield.
1t is not unlikely when another new design
! for postal card shall be adopted-and these
designs change often-that President Nc
Kinley will take a place upon a postage
stamp, possibly supersedng Sherman or
the or Webster on the 10-cent