The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-07-14
THE POSTAGE STAMP
HOW IT IS MADE BY UNCLE SANS
EXPERT WoRKMEN.

/ HOW IT Is MADE BY UNCLE SAM'S
EXPERT woRkMEN.
The Misunderstanding Process From
the Engraving OF the steel Die to
the Finished Gummed, Pressed and
Perforated Printed Sheet.
| The first mechanical process in the
manufacture Of a postage stamp is the
cutting, or engraving, Of the die. This
is piece Of steel Of the finest quality,
on the polished surface of which a man
slowly and patiently cuts, line by line,
the portrait or other emblem which
has been adopted for this particular
stamp A steel engraving is what is
called an incised plate-that is, every
| line which is to show in the finished
being left in relief, as in wood engrav-
| ing.
| The die which the engraver cuts is a
! ''negative;" in other words, a reversal
| of the design which the stamp will
show. The reason for this soon be-
comes apparent.
When the die is finished and proofs
show it to be satisfactory it is hard
ened and fixed in the bed of a powerful
| press. Over it is then passed a steel
| roller, the circumference Of which is
several times, perhaps four times, the
diameter Of the die. Immense pressure
is applied, so that every line on the
Of 1,n ic f,1,n
the surface Of the roller as many times
as the circumference Of the roller is
larger than the area Of the die. In this
way four perfect copies of the die are
reproduced on the roller, but reversed.
Each of these impressions is "posi-
tive"
This roller is now hardened in turn
in order that it may transmit the i'm
pressions once more, this time to the
plate from which the actual printing
is to be made. This plate is also Of
steel. The size is sufficient to print
whole sheet of stamps-from 200 to 800
at single impression.
Into the surface Of this plate the i'm
preston Oh the roller is forced by great
pressure, once for each stamp in the
subsequent sheet, and then the plate
is hardened. These impressions are
negatives, so that the prints from them
the stamps themselves-will be posi-
tives.
The reason for all this preliminary
work is most interesting. In the first
place, printing could not be done from
single die because of the vast guam
titles Of stamps required. In the Sec
ond place, it could not be done from
the roller, because on that the lines are
in relief instead Of being incised, and
in the third place, it would not be
feasible to have several dies or large
number of them engraved, both be-
cause the expense would be prohibit
tive and because no two would then be
absolutely alike The present system
makes 1t certain that every stamp Of
a certain lot is exactly like every 9th
er of the same lot-a great safeguard
against counterfeiting.
When three printing plates have been
made they are all fastened to the bed
Of special printing press. When the
machinery is started the first plate is
linked, then automatically wiped until
1t is like mirror. The wiping removes
all the ink except what clings in tie
lines Of the 200 duplicate engravinss
which dot the surface
Over the plate is laid a sheet OF
dampened paper, the plate Is slightly
warmed In order to permit the ink to
swell, and heavy pressure Is applied.
Meanwhile the second plate is recelv.
Ing it's ink, and then the Thrill comes
into play, 80 that, although NIL three
are on the same press, each is Mt
given moment undergoing Il different
process from either Of the other two.
This has wrought great saving OF
time over the old process Of pr:ntin:
by hand. When the printed sheets IRE
dry they 60 to the cumming machine.
In which they pass between dry
roller on one side and one lnoistened
with mucilage on the other. From
these rollers they are cast out. wet
side up, upon an endless web. whic!,
carries them through a steam heated
box.
They come out dry, ready for the
perforations, which permit them to be
torn apart easily. These are very east
~ made by passing the sheets between
one cylinder studded with steel pins
and another perforated with holes to
match the pins. The two together act
like the jaws Of conductors punch.
The last process is pressing the sheets
by hydraulic power to counteract the
tendency to curl, which is impaired by
the mucilage.
The printing of stamps, like the print
ing Of gold and silver certificates and
bank notes, is subject to the most care
full and constant inspection.
Every sheet Of paper Is counted be-
fore it is delivered to the printer, and
before he goes home at night he must
return exactly the same number of
Bheets, either of perfect stamps or
spoiled paper, and no seconds or
samples are given away to VISITORS
Edward Williston Frentz in Youths