Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-26
The jamestown POSTAGE Stamps.

| denominations, one cent and two cent.
The designs have just been decided
upon ANA il is expected that the stamps
will be placed on sale April &c, the day
set for the opening 81 the exposition.
J The jamestown stamps will be rec
tangular in form. about the size of the
Pan-American series. longer horizon
tally than vertically, and printed in
one color only-green for the One-cent.
ana the two-cent stamps carmine. The
one-crlt stamps will hear vignette
Of CAPTAIN John Smith. and tho oates
OF his birth and death-15sO and 1851.
In the upper 'sft-nanj corner will he a
profile of the Princess Pocahontas. and
in the upper right hand corner a profile
% Powhatan.
For some time it was thought that
the stamps in commemoration Of the
hree-hundredth anniversary of the
settlement of jamestown would be
possessed Of n very novel negative
feature. in That they would bear
neither the likeness of the brave Cap
tain Smith nor the Indian maiden to
whom he owed his life. AS soon as it
was definitely decided to issue the
series, Il search was Immediately in
stitu:cd by the Postofice Department
for AUTHENTIC pictures of these two
celebrated personages. with the result
that it soon developed that hut few
were in existence, the few of the In
dian princess being either of nature
to re clude their circulation in Il civil
lied country, or, song and legend to
the contrary Notwithstanding, simply
too ugly for considerations A fairly
good portrait of Captain John Smith
was finally secured, however. and q
compromise was effected with those
who insisted that it would be incon-
grunus to picture the Captain and not
his dclivercr. by placing the profile Of
Porahoutas VI Oh the upper left-hand
corner OF the ont-ccnt stamp, while the
picture of Captain Smith occupies the
center.
The design for the tWo-ccnt stamp
gave less trouble. though provoking
some little discussion. 1t was intend
ell from the first that it should be Il
representation Of some historical event
20 e
JamcstoW and many urged that it
picture the first church Of the colony.
As this church, however, consisted
merely of four upright poles, over
which was stretched n ships sail for
roof, the artistic results obtainable
with such subject We're obviously
limited. The stamp as it will be is
sued will be Il fine engraving of the
landing Of the first jamestown settlers,
resembling somewhat the tWo-ccnt
stamp of the Columbia issue. which
rcpr. scented the landing of Columbus.
The jamestown stamps will be t.
fifth commemorative series issued by
the United States government. First
cane the Columbian stamps in 1892,
comprising sixteen denominations,
from one cent to FIVE dollars, aud these
IRE generally regarded as among the
most beautiful postage over is
sued. The Omaha, or Trans-Mis-
sissippi. followed in 1898, with nine de-
nominations: next the buffalo, or Pam
American. of six denominations. "a
nous because Of their two colors and
'errorS" with the central picture upsid"
down. of which a copy Of the two
cent denomination is valued ut about
5000. The next series was the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition stamps. Of five
denominations.
The jamestown stamps viii hc on
sale only during the continuance Of ~"
celebration. although. nf course. they
viii he good for postage ~ amy time"
Being special issue. it is not probabl"
that they viii IT, on sale "a All post
Offices. As tilf' ufidA HN WIZ '"' '''''''
them To p"Stmasters only on special
acquisitions Some little profit always
acrrueS a. the government from IN" is
suing 81 special series ~ stamps Of
this NATURE. ~ there Ir" some hall
million ~tImp-,"lie,tnrS in In" country
Who purcha~, stamps which will never
". used ~ pay postage. I" say nothing
~ th,. several million which viii be
bought by foreign collectors. y few
wears back. the frequent changing 81
their stamps was regarded by several
minor South American republics ana
European states as a legitimate source
Of revenue. and was often resorted TO-
to the expense and intense disgust OF
stamp collectors desiring complete col
lcctionS.
Maine and the jamestown Exposition.
"AInoSt all the states" reports cor