Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-27
Written on Postage Stamps
Sesqucentea Recalls Story of Origin Commemorative
Stamps a Centennial Celebration of 1876

series was struck III honor Of the
Transmississippi and Omaha Exposi
tion held that year in Omaha.
The Pan-Americau series came in
1901. and In quick succession after
the Purchase series U904l came tho
| Jamestown series 1907. the Alaska
fukon-Pac ific 2-cent special of 1902
and the Hudson Fulton special Of the
| same denomination the same year
the Panama-Pacifc series. 1912-f913.
the Victory Scent stamp of 1919, the
Pilgrim Tercentenary series OF 1920.
the characterization Tercentenarv
series of 1924: the Lexington Concord
series of 1925. the NorseAmericsn
special for the same year and the
Woodrow Wilson 17-cent special, also
Of this year. For the year 1926. 10
date. has been issued the John Erics
son Memorial 6-Cent stamp and the
Sesquicentennial stamp.
IOUT of this group the Lexington
Concord series is of especial in
terest as it commentaries the open
ing battle of the Revolution. II con
tains three denominations described
as follows: One-cent. Washington al
Cambridge. representing the general
taking command of the Continental
troops: 2-cent. the Birth of Liberty.
representing the battle of Lexington
and Concord; scent. the Minute Man.
Of deep interest. also. is the Woodrow
Wilson stamp honoring the great war
President.
The 13-cent stamp, which had for
Its subject the portrait of President
Ben jamin Harrison and which was
abandoned in 1921 following discor-
tinuance of wartime postage. has
been reissued to meet the demand for
it's use on parcel post packages under
he 1925 postal rates The first issue
Mas placed on sale at Indianapolis.
Ind.
The students of Shepherd College.
ShepherdStoWn. W. Va, were respou
sble in part for the reinsurance of this
stamp. giving in their unique petition
for its reinstatement in the postal
cycle the following reasons:
]. America was discovered on the
eve of the thirteenth of the month.
,. The original republic consisted Of
thirteen colonies.
3. The first official flag had thirteen
stripes and thirteen stars.
a. Our national emblem, the Amer
lean eagle. requires thirteen letters 10
spell fl, also, our motto, "E Pluribus
Unum."
5. The first words to pass over the
Atlantic cable were sent on the thir-
teenth day of the month.
8. Our silver quarter is written all
over with thirteen; beneath the crown
are thirteen stars: the eagle displayed
has a branch with thirteen leaves III
one claw and thirteen thundefbolts IN
the other. On his breast is A shield
bearing thirteen bars and from his
beak is a ribbon bearing motto with
thirteen letters. Each wing has th!r
teen feathers and it takes thirteen
letters to spell quarter dollar
:. There are thirteen letters in John
Paul Jones name.
q, s. There were thirteen ships In the
first American Navy.
9. Perry's victory on Lake Erie WAS
won on the thirteenth day of the
month.
10. The Stars and Stripes were
raised over Fort Sumter on the 18th
day of the month.
II. Gen. PershinG reached Franc
on June 10. 1917.
IL. The thirteenth amendment To
the Constitution freed the country OF
slavery.
10. 1t would not cost more to MAKE
a 13-cent stamp than any other one
Old stamps have an intrinsic value
and stamp collectors are as numerous
as the sands of the sea. This value
is heightened by the rarity of the
stamps and their historical character.
OF all stamps sought by stamp col
lectors-and American stamps only
are referred too-the 'postmaster's
provincials' are the rarest and the
highest listed in the collectors cata
logue. There is, for instance, the Bos
cawen, n. H., provincial" of which
it is said that only one is in existence.
1t is a scent stamp and listed az
$12 900. Another rare one is the Brat
tleboro. VT. provincial" valued--or
rather. listed-in the neighborhood of
$40 1000. The Alexandra, Va. .provin-
cial'' is also a rare stamp. In regard
to this stamp, only recently the news
papers carried an item of one being
sold by a lady in Alexandra to
stamp collector for $4,000. The Alex
andria stamp is 5-cent one.
Old stamps, not unlike goods sold
must be In fine condition 10 bring the
best price. Torn, discolored, dirty or
obliterated figures detract from the
price Of the rarities.