The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-04-17
MOURNING STAMPS
Issued by Foreign Countries on spe-
ciaI Occasions.


Finland was one of the countries to
make early use of the postage stamp,
having issued its first series, consist
| ing of two denominations, in 1856,
nine years after the first United States
stamps were brought out. Several dif-
ferent issues were produced between
that date and 1890 and these stamps
have always been favorites with col
| lectors because of the non-speculative
character of the issues: none of them
were designed for the purpose of en-
riching the national treasury at the
| expense of stamp collectors; device
worked to the limit by certain small
| fry countries on the western hemis-
| phere.
When the Gear assumed forcible con-
| troll of Finland the Finnish stamps
! were destroyed and Russian stamps,
! with the denomination in Finnish.
were substituted The Firms were so
bitter over this action that secretly
mourning stamp" was designed and
printed.
So far as known, the only govern
mentally issued mourning stamp was
that produced by Spain just at the
| close of the late Spanish
war While this stamp was in fact
a mourning label, and intended to af
ford the people an opportunity to give
| outward expression to their broken
spirit. the primary object of the gov
ernment was to increase the cash
on hand In the treasury; to rake in
few pesetas. This label was in the
nature of revenue stamp, inasmucn
as the order of the postoffice depart
ment required that the stamp, which
was of about the value of one cent,
should be affixed in addition to the
| regular postage
But the postal experts made very
bad guess of it. The people, however,
| patriotic they may be or how much
they desired to exhibit their grief,
did not care to put cash into such an
enterprise. and instead of increasing
the mails fell off and continued to de-
cline in volume. until the postofice
authorities in alarm voided the order.
And thus the only mourning stamp
ever issued was catalogued as a fail
ure.
The United States came within an
ace of issuing a mourning stamp i'm
mediately following the death of the
late President Mckinley Only me-
chanical difficulties stood in the way
and prevented the production of the
stamp. From all quarters came sug-
gestion of the mourning stamp. and
the matter was discussed in the press
and in cabinet meetings. Postmaster
General Payne was very much in IA
Vor of the scheme, as was Third AS
sistant Postmaster General Madden,
who has charge of the division of
stamp-issue. 1t was first proposed to
print heavy black border around the
current two-stamp, but this was de-
cided to be unsatisfactory. Then a
stamp bearing the likeness of Mr.. Nc
Kinley was proposed to be printed, of
course, in black. 1t was found, how
ever that to design and engrave a new
die would require three months time
and by that time the keenness of ma
tional sorrow would, naturally, have
worn off, it was not deemed prac-
ticable to undertake it. Then, too,
regulations of the universal postal
union required that the stamp in each
country. which carries domestic mail
shall be of red color. To obviate this
objection it was suggested that the
black stamp need be made available
for use in the United States, only. The
superintendent of foreign mails
thought that this would result in mis-
understandings and confusion at ports
of departure for foreign countries, so
the project was abandoned.
The officials of the postoffice depart
ment would favor the issue of black
stamp of low value were it practicable,
cut for the reason suggested at the
time it was proposed to bring out
mourning stamp in memory of Presi-
dent McKinley-the rules of the uni
versal postal union-it seems to be an
impossibility. The use of two black
one-cent stamps is equally impossible,
as the same rule requires that the
stamp of lowest value shall be green.
The three-cent stamp, now purple,
might be printed in black, but it is
questionable If those who are clamor-
ing for mourning stamp would be
willing to pay the additional one cent
for the sake of harmony in coIors. The
only black stamp at present is the 81
| denomination.
The Beers, when they were finally
compelled to give up the fight against
Great Britain. sought to get out a
mourning stamp but they were unsuc-
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