New-York tribune., 1903-02-08
CHANGES IN POSTAGE STAMP DESIGNS.
HOW THE PRESIDENTS HAVE BEEN HONORED BY
USE OF THEIR LIKENESSES

, brown Blue comes next In favor having for its
representatives the ffteen-cent dark blue. the
cent special delivery dark blue and the two-dol-
lar. sapphire blue. Green has been selected for
the stamp of the lowest and highest denonaina-
ton respectively. the one-cent stamp being light
green and the 1ve-dollar stamp being dark green.
Carmine. orange. purple mauve. slate and black
are represented by one stamp each.
II is expected that the complete new series will
be ready by March I
Ever since Uncle Sans postoffce began making
stamps. in 1847. the face Of Washington has
appeared Of the stamps in every regl-
lar issue. and, with single exception. on
stamp of low value ana general use Benjamin
Franklin's face has always adorned postage stamps
of low value and has thus become familiar 70 per-
who send or receive letters ever since 1871
Presidents other than Washington whose faces
have appeared the stamps jefferson. Jack
son. Lincoln. Garfield. Grant. Madison and Taylor
Since 1861 only two Presidents have not been
honored by placing their portraits upon "A postage
stamp-JOhnson and Arthur-whiie Cleveland still
living. IS not eligible In the frst entire series,
1851. Washington appeared upon all the denomiua-
tions save two, Franklin on the one and Jackson
on the five. In the 1870 series Stanton appeared
upon the seven-cent. Scott upon the twenty-four
and Hamilton upon the thirty-cent-
All have been permanently superseded or the
denominations abolished. Zachary Taylor ap-
peared upon the fve-cent value in 1875. when the
value created. but disappeared in 1ss2. giving
way TO Garfield.
Before 1S45 there were in the United States no
postage stamps of any sort. Two years before that
date Great Britain had been experimenting with
some degree of success. and in 1916 the postmasters
Of Alexandria. Va. and St. Louis. No. issued
stamps on their own accounts Up to this time it
had been the custom to dispatch mail without pre-
payment Of postage. the fee according to weight
and distance, being paid by the recipient as a gen
eral thing. The postrnasters mentioned had print
ed at their local printing Offices crude labels the
first bearing the words. Alexandria Post Office;
paid five cents and the St Louis stamp repre-
sentng the figures ). II and % cents. just above
the picture Of two bears standing with their paws
upon the seal OF Missouri.
In 1S46 postmasters in Nillbury. Mass Brattle-
boro. Vt; Baltimore. Nd; New-Haven Conn and
Providence. r l.. followed suit Copies OF these
stamps now sell readily at from s. 70 s2cHa sc-
cording to the number OF copies in existence.
In 1s47 the United States issued two stamps. OF
the value Of ; and 10 cents. The portrait or ths
3 cent is that OF Franklin. after painting by
Longacre- The venerable statesman and inventor
looks the picture Of contentment. his long curIs
hanging down upon his shoulders. white handker
chief and fur collar about his neck
reproduction Of Stuart's famous painting Of
Washington. within ellipse, appears upon the
10 cent denomination. The words Ten cents and
two large KS on either lower portion and u :
Post Office On the upper part, all in black, com
pete the stamp
In 1851 what may be TERMED the first regular
series of United States postage stamps issued
cents. and Washingtons face upon FIVE Of
them. Franklin appeared upon the I cent and
30 cent and Jefferson upon the five cent This series
continued in until 1851 Up TO 1886 all stamps
had been furnished the public in imperforats con-
dition. requiring knife scissors to sever them.
and copies Of the ~ 80 and 90 cents without per-
forations unused. worth fortune each
Between 1861 and 1856 the denominations Of
and Is cents were added. The full face Of Andrew
Jackson appeared upon the cent and the martyred
Lincoln was imprinted upon the Is cent.
In 1859 the department issued its first series OF
stamps in colors, rather partial series
The head of Franklin appears upon the cent?
a postman riding a horse going at breaBneck speed
was depicted upon the cent; an old-fashloned
wood burning, funnel stacked locomotive was the
central figure OF the cent: Woochouses tace
was upon the cent; gray eagle with out
stretched wings resting upon a shield represenrea
the 10 cent: an ocean steamer. badly tossed ABOUT
was the vignette of the L cent
The q cent a reproduction or lrNnoll-S
famous painting Declaration Of Independence
in Washington The picture was in purple border
and ornamental work in green. The 81 cent rep
resented an eagle upon shield. in carnlne. upon
a background Of flags in blue The portrait OF
Lincoln in black. appeared within black oacA-
ground and a border of carmine on the 81 cent
stamp