The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-30

chimes which pierced small holes IN the
face of the stamps, rendering them use
less for use again after once being can
celed. A very handsome set was issued
in 1869, with new values of cents and 10
cents added to the list The -. q, 80 and
90-cent ones were bi-colored. and about the
handsomest stamps ever issued by any
country. They command very high price
now, especially in an uncanceled condi-
ton. A new set was prepared in 1901 of
these same values. to which was added a
7-cent variety for postage then to Germany.
This same set of designs were issued by
another engraving company in 1873, who
held their contract until 1879, when the
award for printing stamps was given to the
American Bank Note Company of New
York, who held ii until 1894, when the Blu
reau of Engraving and Printing succeeded.
A scent variety was issued in 1875, and
a Accent variety was brought out in 1882
In 1893 Columbian set was issued. The
present series of stamps embrace l. 2 3, 4,
5, 6. s. TO- 50-cent, 81. 81. S, for public use;
l, 2, 3, 3, 10, 80, and 5O-cent postage due
service for postoffice department use, and
1, 2, 3, 5. 10, % and 5O-cent, 81. 50. $40. 800
$50 and 500 periodical or newspaper stamps
used to pay postage periodical matter
in bulk and kept by the postmaster in a
book for that purpose
OFFICIAL STAMPS USED.
Up to 1895 all the postage stamps were
printed on unwatered marked paper. Ex-
tensve forgeries of the 2-cent current adj
hesive stamps induced the government to
use water marked paper, which is in general
use now for all issues. The letters ~. S.
p. s." appear repeated in the sheets OF
the stamps and can be readily seen when
held up to the light. In 1873 all the de-
partments of the government had especially
issued stamps for the prepayment frank
ing" of their mail and full set of the 1873
series and designs was prepared for the
Navy, State. Treasury and War Depart
ments. To the State set were added large
stamps of the denomination of 81, s.. $40 and
$50. a set of each without the 7-cent
variety for the Interior, Justice and Post
Office Department and a set without the
7-cent or 9o-cent for the Agriculture De-
parment. The executive stamps, or those
prepared for the President and his house
hold. were only five--1. 2, g. and 1O-cent.
printed in carmine. The Navy were blue,
State green. Treasury brown, War claret
lHtellOT NeTInlllOH, justice purple, FOSt-
office black (figures), and Agriculture yell
low Each stamp bore the name of the
department at the top. The War and Post
office Department also had a series of
stamp envelopes prepared for their use
The official stamps discontinued in
1884. All of them have been very much
sought after by collectors and some of
them, notably the Justice and State, now
bring very large prices. In 1879 the Post
office Department reprinted all of the adj
hesive stamps from 1917 up TO that time
for the benefit of stamp collectors. The
department stamp and the periodical stamp
were surcharged specimens" All were
sold at the face value indicated and in sets
They have become very scarce and all the
reissues command a premium of 100 to 5000
per cent.
Stamp collectors also have their societies
and journals. The most prominent
of the societies being the American Phi
latelic Association, National Philatelic So
ciety and the Collectors Club of New York,
and have for their members the leading col
lectors or ''philatelists'' of the United
States. The principal paper devoted to
stamps in the country is Mekeers Weekly
Stamp News. published in st. Louis. There