Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-06-28
THE POSTAGE STAMP
HOW lT is MADE BY UNCLE sAM's
EXPERT WoRKMeN.

EXPERT WoRKMEN.
The misunderstanding Process From
the Engraving of the steel Die to
the Finished Gummcd, Pressed and
Perforated Printed Sheet.
The first mechanical process in the
manufacture of II 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. y steel engraving is what is
called an inciscd plate--tlat 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 engravcr cuts is Il
''negative;' in other words, n 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 1t to be satisfactory it is hard
ened and fixed in the bed of powerful
press. Over 1t is then passed II 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
surface Of the die is impressed upon
the surface of the roller as many times
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 n 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 q
whole sheet of stamps-from 200 to 300
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 thcmselves-wil be posi-
tives.
The reason for all this preliminary
work is most Interesting. III the first
place, printing could not be done from
a single die because of the vast guam
titles of stamps required. In the sec
ond place, 1t could not be done from
the roller, because OH 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 II 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
or of the same lot-a great safeguHfl
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. Thc wiping removes
all the ink except what clings in the
lines Of the 200 duplicate engravings
which dot the surface.
Over the plate is laid Il 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 rccelv-
ing its ink, and then the third comes
into play, SO that, although all three
are on the same press, each Is ut Il
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 easl
| ly made by passing the sheets between
| one cylinder studded with steel pins
and another perforated with holes tc
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 b,
the mucilage.
The printing Of stamps, like the print
Ing of gold and silver certificates ant
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, ant
before he goes home at night he mus
return exactly the same number o.
sheets, either Of perfect stamps o.
spoiled paper, and no seconds" o.
samples are given away to VISITORS
Edward Williston Frentz in YOUTH
Companion.
NvAuN NI,n