Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-05-18
THE POSTAGE STAMP
HOW 1T is MADE BY UNCLE SANS
EXPERT WORkMEN.
The Manufacturing Process From
the Engraving of the Steel Die to
the Finished Gum ed, Pressed and
Perforated Printed Sheet.

tine LhSraN1nS Oh the Steel Die 10
the Finished Gummed. Pressed and
Perforated Printed Sheet
The first mechanical process in the
| manufacture of 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 Il man
| slowly and patiently cuts, line by line,
| the portrait or other emblem which
has been adopted for this particular
| stamp. \ steel engraving is what is
| called an mcised plate-tllat is every
| line which is to show in the finished
| print is cut into the surface instead of
! being left in relief, as in wood engrav-
| ing.
The die which the engraver cuts is Il
! ''negative;' in other words, Il 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 Il powerful
| press. over it is then passed II steel
! roller, the circumference of which is
several times. perhaps four times, the
| diameter Of the die. I'M use pressure
/ Is applied, so that every line Oh the
| surface of the die is impressed upon
| the surface of the roller as many times
! as the circumference of the roller is
4 larger than the area Of the die. In this
I way four perfect copies of the die are
reproduced on the roller, but reversed
| Each of these impressions is a posi-
| tive"
| This roller is now hardened in turn
| in order that it may transmit the inn
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 q
| whole sheet of stamps-frOm 200 to 800
at a single impression.
Into the surface Of this plate the i'm
| preston on 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 tllemselves-w he 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
J in relief instead Of being incised, and
! In the third place. 1t would not be
! feasible to have several dies or a large
number of them engraved, both be-
cause the expense would be prohibi
| tive and because no two would then be
| absolutely alike The present system
! makes it certain that every stamp Of
certain lot is exactly like every 9th
| er Of the same lota great safeguard
| against counterfeiting.
| When three printing plates have been
made they are all fastened to the bed
! OF a special printing press. When the
machinery is started the first plate is
| 1t is like mirror The wiping removes
all the ink except what clipgs III the
lines OF the 200 duplicate engravings
| 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 receiv-
] ing it's ink, and then the third comes
into play, SO that. although all three
! are on the same press, each is at a
| given moment undergoing different
| process from either of the other two.
This has wrought great saving of
time over the old process Of printing
by hand. When the printed sheets are
dry they go to the cumming machine,
In which they pass between dry
roller Oh one side and one moistened
| with mucilage on the other. From
these rollers they are cast out. wet
side up. upon an endless web, which
carries them through steam heated
box.
They come out dry, ready for the
perforations. which permit them to be
torn apart easily. These are very east
ly 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
Il like the jaws of a conductors punch.
The last process is pressing the sheets
u by hydraulic power to counteract the
tendency to curl. which is impaired by
the muc;lage
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
lbefore he goes home at night he must
Ireturn exactly the same number of
! sheets. either Of perfect stamps or
Il spoiled paper. and no seconds or
samples are given away to visitors
!, Edward Willlston Frentn In Youths
Companion.
II The Elephants Eye.
/: ITO my mind two things strike the