Willmar tribune., 1909-01-13

In the new issue of stamps for
which the government has caused new
to be made of an entirely
different character, and which the
government printing Offices are now
busy in printing, there has been a new
departure in stamp making in more
than one respect. To begin with,
Washington and Franklin, who have
hitherto presented their faces in
three-quarter aspect, are turned
around. so as to show direct profiles.
The change in this respect will save
a good deal of money. For the en-
graved steel plates, from which post
age stamps are printed, are expensive
to produce, and a three-quarter face
has necessarily lot of fine lines that
soon wear out. Such wearing out rem
ders the portrait indistinct, and before
long the plate must be replaced with
a new one. A profile, however, has
all the sharpness of cameo, and will
not lose it's distinctness as long as the
outline remains.
In this way the change will save
Uncle Sam at least $4,000 year.
But the main reason for changing the
design was much more important
namely, that they could be greatly i'm
proved artistically, and, in addition,
could be made to illustrate to better
advantage what might be called the
patriotic idea. With the latter end in
view the head of Washington is to ap-
pear on all the stamps. of whatever
denomination, with the sole exception
of the one-cent, which, as heretofore,
is to have the head of Franklin.
This is particularly the idea of the
present postmaster general, and is
based upon the argument that the
postage stamps of foreign nations usu
ally are adorned with the head of the
ruler-the same head, that is to say
throughout all the denominations
Thus, for example, all of the British
stamps bear the portrait of King Ed
ward VII. In this country there is nj
permanent ruler, of course; but Wash
ington, typifying as he does the ma
tional idea, may appropriately take
the place. AS for Franklin, he must
be retained on the one-cent stamp (ar
exception being made in his favor
alone) by reason of the peculiar and
unique place which he holds in the
memory and affection of the Ameri
can people.
It was decided, then, to simplify ou1
postage stamps by having only two de
signs-the one-cent with profile OF
Franklin, and all the other denomina
tions with profile of Washington, ex
actly alike except for the number o.
cents. The only decoration in eacf
case is a few laurel leaves on either
side of the oval containing the por
trait, with "U. S. Postage" at the top
in straight, clear letters, and Give
| Cents" or what not, in the same kint
of letters, across the bottom.
The stamps ut present in circulation
are overloaded with decoration AM
with lettering. Examine one of then
for yourself, and you will immediatel
see how true this is. The twocen
stamp represents shield with stripe
and four stars. At the top are tn
words, United States of America, 81
ries 1902 At the bottom are the word
'Postage Two Cents" with the nam
of the Father of His Country" an
the dates of his birth and death-113
and 1899. The figure 2 is also place
on either side of the portrait, inclose
in laurel wreath. This is good de;
of ornamentation for one stamp, ant
from the description of the new d.
sign above given, it will be seen ho'
radical is the change that will b
made.
In addition to the disadvantages a
ready mentioned, it was deemed ths
the portraits of Washington an
Franklin, as exhibited on the preser
stamps, were by no means as artist
as they might be. If they were to b
changed, it was worth while to max
them as good as possible. According
ly, it was decided to copy for the pu
pose the Houdon busts, which are :
once the best and most authentic lik
nesses of the two persOnages in que
ton. This has been accomplishe