Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-08-28
TO CHECK STAMP rHEFrs.
The Post Once Authoriti>s Are Con-
sfdcring . New Plan.

The Post Once Authorstiss Are Con-
sfdering . New Plan
Inspectors are anxious to have the
post Office department adopt a series OF
marks for stamps which will make Il
possible to trace stolen stamps with
less trouble. Department officials are
considering suggestions offered by
some OF the experienced inspectors.
II would be possible to mark all the
stamps sent to each frat class post
Office I'm such a manner that they
could be identified with ease. A slight
variation in-the engraving which would
not alter the appearance Of stamps to
the casual observer could easily be
made. One Inspector has suggested
that darts, arrows, stars, circles and
other emblems be printed on the
stamps in such manner that they may
be seen only with the aid OF a micro
scope
A separate mark could not be devised
for each OF the $4,000 post Offices I'm the
United States, and no attempt would
be made at any such complex system
OF Identification. 1t is not likely that
post Offices below the first class will be
given an individual mark, as the num-
Der Of stamps kept at the smaller Of
fees Is comparatively small and the
losses from such Offices IS not great
enough to Justify the expense entailed
In providing them with stamps differ
ent from those used at other offices.
1t has been suggested that NIL the
stamps for second class post Offices be
provided with mark which will
designate the class OF post Office from
which they were issued and that a sim
liar mark be devised for all the stamps
sent to the smaller Offices. This sys-
tenn would narrow the scope OF the In
spectors' work and might be adopted
at small expense.
One official is OF the opinion that the
best way TO mark stamps would be to
print visible bars across the face of all
stamps excepting those issued to first
class Offices. He would have two bars
across the stamps sent TO second class
Offices, three bars ON the third class
office stamps and four bars to designate
the stamps. issued by the fourth class
Offices. This plan would probably meet
With much opposition. as 1t would mar
the artistic appearance OF the engrav-
Ing.
II the plan for the Identification of
stamps had been adopted last year the
theft OF $4,000 worth OF stamps from
the Chicago post Office would probably
not have occurred. No thief could dis
pose of such large number Of stamps
so well marked that they could be iden-
tilted as coming from the Chicago post
office. Until this time inspectors have
not found any OF the stamps taken
from the Chicago Office, and they be-
lieve the stamps are still held by
thieves. Among the property was 500
worth OF special delivery stamps. All
the two cent stamps taken We're OF the
type In use last year. II they have not
been disposed of before this time IL is
not likely they will ever be sold. as q
large quantity OF the old fashioned
stamps in one part OF the country would
Immediately arouse suspicion.
The governments loss I'm stolen
stamps is small considering the great
volume of business done by the post
Office department. Aside from the Chi
cago loss, the stamps stolen during the
fiscal year ending June so. 1909,
amounted to only $4,000. The report
for the past fiscal year has not yet been
Observation-Disclosures Times.