Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30

ent adhesive postage stamps and 1000
stamped envelopes and about a score of
postal cards
The first of the regular authorized gov
eminent postal stamps were the five and
ten-cent varieties issued in 1S47 From
1881 to 1856 were issued l, 3, ), 10 and Il
cent unperforated. These were afterward
perforated in 1856, and "A, 30 and 90-cent
denomina lions added. In 1861 a new set
of stamps was issued of the denomina tons
of the 1856 series. A two-cent variety was
added in 1857. In 1857 IS these stamps were
issued grilled embossed by patent ma
chimes which pierced small holes In the face
of the stamps, rendering them useless for
use again after once being Cancelled.
very handsome set was issued in 1869 with
new values of 6-cent and lucent added to
the list. The 10, "a, 30 and 9O-cent were BIZ
colored and about the handsomest stamps
ever issued by any country. They COM
manded and command now very high
price, especially in uncanceled condition.
set was prepared in 1901 of the
same values, to which was added 7-cent
variety for postage then to Germany. This
same set of designs was issued by another
engraving company in 1873, which held the
contract until 1879. when the award for
printing stamps was given to a bank note
company Of New York, which held it until
1894, when the bureau Of engraving and
printing succeeded. A scent variety was
issued In 1879. and a Accent variety was
brought out in 1882
In 1893 a Columbian" set was issued.
The present series of stamps embraces l.
9. 3, 4, ), g. s, TO- so 81 81 IS for public
use, 1, 2, ), s. 10, 80 and 5O-cent postage
due service for Post Office Department use,
and 1. 2, 3, S. 10. % and 50-cent, 81, IS, $40,
SO $50 and 500 periodical or newspaper
stamps, used to pay postage on periodical
| matter in bulk and kept by the postmaster
in book for that purpose.
Up to 1895 all the postage stamps were
printed on unwatermarked paper. Exten-
sive forgeries of the 2-cent current ad-
hesive stamps induced the government to
| use watermarked paper, which is in general
use now for all issues. The letters "U. 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 departments of the gov
eminent had special stamps for the frank
ing of their mall and a full set of the 1877.
series and designs were prepared for the
Navy and State. Treasury and War de-
partments. To the State set were added
large stamps of the denomination of 50, So,
$40 and $50. A set of each, without the I
cent variety, for the Interior. Justice and
Post Office departments, and a set without
the 7-cent or 93-cent for the Agricultural
Department.
The executive stamps. or those prepared
for the President and his household, were
only five.1, 2, 3. g and 1O-cent, printed in car
mine. The Navy were blue; State, green /;
Treasury. brown: War, claret; Interior,
vermillion: Justice, purple; Post Office
black tfsures). and Agricultural, yellow
Each stamp bore the name of the depart
ment at the top The War and Post Office
departments also had series of stamped
envelopes prepared for their use The Of
hcial stamps We're discontinued in 1884. All
OF them have been very much sought after
the Justice and State, now bring very
large prices.