Official Stamps.
A thorough understanding of the use of these stamps will best be obtained by a brief review of the system it for a time supplanted, which was briefly designated as the "Franking Privilege." As early as the 1st Session of the Second Congress the necessity and propriety of providing for the carriage of official correspondence and the correspondence of Government officers and Members of Congress upon public business was recognized, and Chapter 7, Section 19, approved February 1st, 1792, of the Acts of that Sessions provided:
"That the following letters and packets and no others shall be received and conveyed by post, free of postage under such restrictions as are hereinafter provided, that is to say: all letters and packages to or from the President or Vice-President of the United States, and all letters and packages not exceeding 2 ounces in weight, to or from any member of the Senate or House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate, or Clerk of the House of Representatives, during their actual attendance in any session of Congress, and twenty days after such session, all letters to and from the Secretary of the Treasury and his assistant; Comptroller, Register and Auditor of the Treasury, Treasurer, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, the Committee for settling accounts between the United States and individual States, the Postmaster General and his assistant. Provided that no person shall frank or enclose any letter or packet other than his own, but any public letter or packet from the department of the Treasury may be franked by the Secretary of the Treasury, or the assistant Secretary, or by the Comptroller, Register, Auditor or Treasurer, and that each person before named shall deliver to the post office, every letter or packet enclosed to him, which may be directed to any other person, noting the place from whence it comes by post, and the usual postage shall be charged thereon."
By various acts of Congress this privilege was gradually extended to various persons in the employ of the Government until, in 1869, the Postmaster General stated in his report that fully 31,933 persons were authorized by the laws to enjoy this privilege.
As early as 1836, Congress appropriated the sum of $700,000 to pay the post office department for this carriage of official correspondence. The abuses became enormous. Signatures with hand stamps were even recognized. All sorts of favors were extended by persons having the privilege, to their friends. In 1869 the annual expense to the department of this free matter was estimated at $5,000,000. To remedy this abuse, which had the effect of preventing a proper reduction of postal rates to the general public, as the expenses of the Department, including the expense of carrying official matter so-called, greatly exceeded its annual revenue, there was but one remedy—the passage of an act abolishing the franking privilege and providing by appropriation for carrying the necessary government dispatches. The Act of the XLII Congress, Session III, Chapter 82, approved the 27th of January, 1873, accordingly provided
"That the franking privilege be hereby abolished from and after the first day of July, Anno Domini 1873, and that henceforth all official correspondence of whatever nature, and other mailable matter sent from or addressed to any officer of the government or person now authorized to frank such matter, shall be chargeable with the same rates of postage as may be lawfully imposed upon like matter sent by, or addressed to other persons. Provided that no compensation or allowance shall be now or hereafter made to Senators or Members and Delegates of the House of Representatives on account of postage."
The Act of the XLII Congress, Session III, Chapter 228, approved March 3, 1873, after appropriating so much as should be necessary of a certain sum for the purchase of postage stamps for each department, continues.
"That the Postmaster General shall cause to be prepared a special stamp or stamped envelope to be used only for official mail matter for each of the executive departments, and said stamp and stamped envelope shall be supplied by proper officer of said departments to all persons under its direction requiring the same for official use, and all appropriations for postage heretofore made shall no longer be available for said purpose, and all said stamps and stamped envelopes shall be sold or furnished to said several departments or clerks only at the price for which stamps and stamped envelopes of like value are sold at the several post offices."
In the report of the Postmaster General for the year ending June 30, 1873, it is stated that
"The several Acts for the repeal of the franking privilege became operative on the first of July last. The results of the first quarter of the current year are highly satisfactory and more fully verified the predictions of the friends of the repeal. * * * Section 4 of the Act of March 3rd, 1873, making it the duty of the Postmaster General to provide official stamps and stamped envelopes for the several Executive Departments, has been strictly complied with. The stamps and envelopes furnished have been executed in the highest style of art and will compare favorably with those of any other country. From July 1st to September 30th of the current year the following varieties, numbers and values were issued:
| To whom issued. | D'minat'n. | Number. | Value. |
| The Executive Dep't | 5 | 5,150 | 200.00 |
| The State Dep't | 14 | 60,495 | 20,749.70 |
| The Treasury Dep't | 11 | 7,842,500 | 407,000.00 |
| The War Dep't | 11 | 446,500 | 17,689.00 |
| The Navy Dep't | 11 | 247,230 | 12,239.00 |
| The Post Office Dep't | 10 | 10,054,660 | 354,535.00 |
| The Interior Dep't | 10 | 1,058,475 | 59,171.00 |
| The Dep't of Justice | 10 | 65,400 | 3,900.00 |
| The Dep't of Agriculture, | 9 | 275,000 | 20,730.00 |
| Making a total of | 91 | 20,055,410 | 896,213.70 |
The stamps for the Departments other than the Post Office do not differ materially from those for sale to the public except that each Department has its own distinctive color and legend. The colors are: For the Executive, carmine; State Department, green; Treasury, velvet-brown; War, cochineal red; Navy, blue; Post Office, black; Interior, vermilion; Department of Justice, purple; and Department of Agriculture, straw color.
In the stamps for the Post Office Department the medallion head gives place to a numeral representing the value with the words "Post Office Department" above and the denomination expressed in words below. All the official stamps correspond in denomination with those issued for the public, except in the case of the State Department, for which four of higher value were made for dispatch bags. These four are of the denominations of $2, $5, $10, and $20, respectively, are of large size and printed in two colors, and bear a profile bust of the late Secretary Seward."
Elsewhere the Postmaster General states that the stamps were ready the 24th of May, for use the 1st of July, 1873. The following circular was accordingly issued to postmasters:
Official Postage Stamps and Stamped Envelopes.
[Circular to postmasters.]
Post Office Department,
Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General,
Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Env. & Post Cards.
Washington, D. C., May 15th, 1873.
"The Franking Privilege having been abolished, to take effect on the first day of July, 1873, the Postmaster General is required by law to provide postage stamps or stamped envelopes of special design for each of the several Executive Departments of the Government for the prepayment of postage on official matter passing through the mails.
Description.
In place of the heads on the regular stamps, the official stamps adopted for the Post Office Department have conspicuous figures (numerals) to represent the denomination, with the word "Official" above, and the word "Stamp" below.
These printed in black, and resting on an oval shaped background, render the stamps especially distinctive, and leave no good excuse for confounding them with the other stamps. To further distinguish them, the name of the Department is printed across the top in lieu of the words "U. S. Postage." There is also a slight difference in the ornamentation of the border.
In design, the official stamps for the other Departments do not differ materially from those issued for sale to the public, the profile busts are retained but each stamp has at the top the name of the particular Department for which it is provided. Other changes appearing in the border need not be specified.
The stamps for each Department have their own distinctive color, as follows: For the Executive, carmine; State Department, green; Treasury Department, velvet-brown; War Department, cochineal red; Navy Department, blue; Interior Department, vermilion; Department of Justice, purple; Department of Agriculture, straw; and for the Post Office Department, black.
The official stamps will correspond in denomination with the regular stamps except that for the State Department there will be four additional denominations, viz: two, five, ten and twenty dollars respectively. These additional stamps are designed from a profile bust of the late Hon. William H. Seward, and are of double size and printed in two colors.
Official Stamps for Postmasters.
Postmasters at all offices will be furnished with the official stamps of this Department in suitable denominations and amounts as far as they can be supplied. The Department will exercise its own discretion in filling requisitions, and will send only in such denominations and amounts, as the needs of an office may seem to require. The less important offices, say those at which the money order system has not been established, will need only three cent stamps, but comparatively few offices will require stamps above the denomination of six cents. The higher denominations will be supplied to a few of the larger offices only. Postmasters will combine stamps of the most convenient denominations at hand to meet emergencies for which they may have no single stamp exactly filling the rate required."
* * * * *
EDWARD W. BARBER,
Third Assistant Postmaster General.
Issue of July 1st, 1873.
The several denominations for all the departments have certain characteristics that are common to all stamps of that value, which may as well be stated once for all, to avoid repetition.
With the exception of those of the post office department, the head is the same as that on the ordinary stamp of the same value then current.
The value is expressed in numerals and words beneath the oval in the same numerals, letters and scrolls as on the ordinary stamps of the same value, except that in those for the Post Office Department the numerals in the 1, 12 and 30 cents and the letters in all are a trifle smaller.
The One Cent has the head of Franklin in an oval as described, the large "1" dividing "One Cent" on a band bordered by heavy white lines as described, but the ornament across the ends is omitted except in that for the Executive and Agriculture, and is lessened in that for the Interior.
The Two Cents has the head of Jackson as described, the large numeral "2" dividing "Two Cents" upon a scroll with white border as described, the ends of the scroll are, however, differently arranged to accommodate parts of the design.
The Three Cents has the head of Washington as described, the large "3" dividing the words "Three Cents" upon a scroll as described.
The Six Cents has the head of Lincoln, the large "6" dividing the words "Six Cents" upon a scroll with colorless borders as described.
The Seven Cents has the head of Stanton, the large "7" dividing the words "Seven Cents" upon a label following the oval and bordered by the white line between two colored lines and ending in a curve and ball as described.
The Ten Cents has the head of Jefferson, the large "10" dividing the words "Ten Cents" upon a colorless bordered scroll as described.
The Twelve Cents has the head of Clay, the large numerals "2" dividing the words "Twelve Cents" in block letters following the oval bounded by the white line between two colored lines and curved back as described.
The Fifteen Cents has the head of Webster, the large numerals "15" dividing the words "Fifteen Cents" upon a label bordered as described.
The Twenty-Four Cents has the head of Scott, no numerals below, the words "Twenty-four" and "Cents" upon two labels and in block letters as described. In that for the Department of Agriculture the upper label is changed into a scroll with large ends curved backwards, then forwards and then downwards.
The Thirty Cents has the head of Hamilton, the large numerals "30" on the shield dividing the words "Thirty Cents" in colored letters on the scroll as described.
The Ninety Cents has the head of Perry, the large numerals "90" dividing the words "Ninety Cents" in block letters on a label bordered as described, but the ends have a small curve inward in those for the Post Office Department, are square in those for the Interior and Navy Departments, are curved inwards in that for the War Department, are terminated by curves forming a point in that for the Department of Justice, and are square with a projecting small half circle in those for the Treasury and State Departments.
Executive.
The oval containing the bust, the scroll or label and numeral are all placed upon a back-ground of vertical parallel lines so disposed as to produce the stripes of the shield or flag. Above and following the oval a solid colored label inscribed in colorless capitals, "Executive," and bounded by a white and exterior colored line terminating in a foliated ornament against the oval; foliated ornaments in the corners forming small white circles enclosing "U." and "S." on rectangularly hatched disks.
Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm. in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| 1 | cent | carmine, | 6,800 | issued. |
| 2 | cents | " | 9,100 | " |
| 3 | " | " | 23,500 | " |
| 6 | " | " | 5,500 | " |
| 10 | " | " | 5,150 | " |
Department of State.
The oval containing the bust, the scroll or label and numeral are all placed upon a ground of parallel vertical lines. At the top these are crossed by horizontal lines at about 1 mm. from the edge over a space of equal width, so as to form a darker band and thus form a double frame half way down where the darker frame terminates on each side in a round ball, except in the 12 cents, which has the dark frame all the way round. In the values with scrolls "U." on the left, "S." on the right above the ends of the scrolls in large white letters shaded outside. In the values with labels the same letters in the corners below the ends of the labels, also colorless, except in the 15 cents, in which they are crossed by parallel horizontal lines. Above the ovals "Dep't of State," in similar capitals, large at the sides and gradually decreasing towards the center. Above these a fine curved colorless line between colored lines, the lower heavily shaded; beneath the letters a white ornament terminating on each side in a fleur de lis, and shaded by colored lines.
Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| 1 | cent green, | 31,800 | issued. |
| 2 | cents green, | 41,800 | " |
| 3 | " | 109,200 | " |
| 6 | " | 82,100 | " |
| 7 | " | 37,800 | " |
| 10 | " | 64,900 | " |
| 12 | " | 20,800 | " |
| 15 | " | 22,800 | " |
| 24 | " | 13,800 | " |
| 30 | " | 20,100 | " |
| 90 | " | 6,043 | " |
To these are added the four higher values of larger size. These have a large profile head of Wm. H. Seward, facing to the left, on a hatched ground forming an oval disk, with a ground of fine parallel lines all printed in black. The lines are arranged to form a panelled triangle in the upper corners, the lines being horizontal and light in the borders and thickened to form the darker panels which contain a foliated ornament. On a broad colorless, curved label, with rounded ends, "Department of" in outline Roman capitals shaded at top by curved parallel colored lines, a series of curved parallel colored lines filling the lower part of the label. Beneath this, in outlined pearled capitals, following the label and shaded outside, "State." At the sides bunches of rods tied above and below with crossed bands with "U. S. A." in colorless letters below each. Across the bottom a hatched label with colorless borders inscribed in colorless letters shaded outside with the value.
Plate impression 25 by 39 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| Two | dollars, | black | and | green, | 3,508 | issued. |
| Five | " | " | " | 363 | " | |
| Ten | " | " | " | 363 | " | |
| Twenty | " | " | " | 363 | " |
Treasury Department.
The oval containing the portraits, the scrolls or labels and large numerals are placed on a background of vertical parallel lines arranged to form a drapery with fringes, cords and tassels, and a panel similar to the State Department stamps. At the top a label indicated by a colorless line curved up at the ends and terminating above in foliated ornaments, is inscribed "Treasury" in the same letters as the other official stamps with "U. S." beneath the left end and "Dept." beneath the right end.
Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| 1 | cent | velvet-brown, | 2,900,000 | issued. |
| 2 | cents | " | 2,484,500 | " |
| 3 | " | " | 11,250,000 | " |
| 6 | " | " | 4,105,000 | " |
| 7 | " | " | 220,000 | " |
| 10 | " | " | 1,291,500 | " |
| 12 | " | " | 783,000 | " |
| 15 | " | " | 663,000 | " |
| 24 | " | " | 100,000 | " |
| 30 | " | " | 456,500 | " |
| 90 | " | " | 312,500 | " |
The shades of these stamps vary somewhat in depth, some specimens having a spotted appearance as if the ink did not work well.
War Department.
The oval containing the bust, the scrolls or labels and numerals are placed on a back ground of parallel vertical lines above and below, horizontal on the sides. In the upper corners "U." on the left, "S." on the right. A curved solid label bordered by a cord, cuts off the upper corners and is inscribed on the left "War" on right "Dept." in the usual capitals. The lines of the sides are arranged to show the stripes of the flag. A shield on each side above the scrolls or beneath the labels.
Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| 1 | cent | cochineal red, | 3,301,230 | issued. |
| 2 | cents | " | 1,867,160 | " |
| 3 | " | " | 5,393,137 | " |
| 6 | " | " | 3,584,813 | " |
| 7 | " | " | 55,728 | " |
| 10 | " | " | 342,152 | " |
| 12 | " | " | 792,070 | " |
| 15 | " | " | 284,960 | " |
| 24 | " | " | 201,025 | " |
| 30 | " | " | 336,641 | " |
| 90 | " | " | 48,172 | " |
The shades of these stamps vary somewhat in intensity, some being much lighter and some darker than ordinary.
Navy Department.
The ovals containing the busts, the labels or scrolls and large numerals are placed on a ground of vertical parallel lines. A large, six-pointed star in each upper corner, and a smaller one on each side. A cable runs round the sides and top. The words "Navy" on the left and "Dept." on the right in the usual capitals across the upper corners and a losenge with "U." on the left and "S." on the right shaded in the lower corners and placed diagonally above the scrolls or below the labels.
Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| 1 | cent, | ultramarine-blue, | 106,800 | issued. |
| 2 | cents | " | 201,300 | " |
| 3 | " | " | 580,700 | " |
| 6 | " | " | 234,800 | " |
| 7 | " | " | 16,000 | " |
| 10 | " | " | 55,210 | " |
| 12 | " | " | 61,300 | " |
| 15 | " | " | 37,500 | " |
| 24 | " | " | 26,000 | " |
| 30 | " | " | 29,600 | " |
| 90 | " | " | 11,270 | " |
Post Office Department.
The oval as before stated contains a large numeral of value instead of the head with the word "Official" above and "Stamp" below, on a plain colorless ground. Same labels or scrolls and numerals rather smaller below as in the stamps of other departments, with small circular disks bearing "U." and "S." on the left and right above the scrolls or under the labels. In the 1, 6, 10, 30 and 90 cents these small disks are shaded by vertical lines, in the other values by diagonal lines, and the letters are filled with horizontal lines. Around the top of the oval a solid colored label bordered by colorless lines and inscribed "Post Office Department." There is a small circle with four horizontal lines, and shaded outside in each upper corner, all on a ground of parallel vertical lines.
Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| 1 | cent | black, | 1,114,250 | issued. |
| 2 | cents | " | 894,600 | " |
| 3 | " | " | 6,479,700 | " |
| 6 | " | " | 3,306,800 | " |
| 10 | " | " | 182,450 | " |
| 12 | " | " | 298,780 | " |
| 15 | " | " | 109,285 | " |
| 24 | " | " | 87,625 | " |
| 30 | " | " | 133,255 | " |
| 90 | " | " | 65,200 | " |
Two complete series of these stamps may be found, the one on white paper, the other having the surface tinted with the ink of the stamp, also intermediate or partly tinted specimens, showing that the tinting probably results from imperfect wiping of the plates.
Department of the Interior.
The ovals containing the heads, the scrolls, labels and large numerals are placed on a ground of vertically ruled lines, crossed in parts to form heavy shadows and showing stripes at the sides, small shields above the ends of the scrolls and below the ends of the labels, bearing the "U." and "S." lined and shaded. A large, six-pointed star in the upper corners. A broad, colorless band doubly curved and following in part the outline of the oval above, inscribed in lined and shaded Roman capitals, "Dept. of the Interior."
Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| 1 | cent | vermilion, | 394,800 | issued. |
| 2 | cents | " | 1,414,400 | " |
| 3 | " | " | 5,255,300 | " |
| 6 | " | " | 1,722,500 | " |
| 10 | " | " | 284,550 | " |
| 12 | " | " | 359,850 | " |
| 15 | " | " | 257,100 | " |
| 24 | " | " | 134,125 | " |
| 30 | " | " | 138,300 | " |
| 90 | " | " | 64,377 | " |
Department of Justice.
The ovals containing the heads, bands, scrolls and large numerals are placed on a ground of vertically ruled lines. Six pointed stars with the letters "U." and "S." above the ends of the scrolls or under the ends of the labels. Diagonally in small capitals in the upper left corner, "Dept." in the right "of" and in larger capitals following the line of the oval, "Justice" all in outline Roman capitals heavily shaded, on the ground without bands. The oval, stars, scrolls, etc., are also heavily shaded.
Plate impression 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| 1 | cent, | purple, | 25,000 | issued. |
| 2 | cents, | " | 26,900 | " |
| 3 | " | " | 182,000 | " |
| 6 | " | " | 84,000 | " |
| 10 | " | " | 20,500 | " |
| 12 | " | " | 26,800 | " |
| 15 | " | " | 12,800 | " |
| 24 | " | " | 12,800 | " |
| 30 | " | " | 8,600 | " |
| 90 | " | " | 3,200 | " |
The color varies very slightly in intensity.
Department of Agriculture.
The ovals containing the heads, bands scrolls and large numerals are placed upon a ground of vertically ruled lines, showing stripes at the sides. A solid label curved with the oval above bounded by a colorless line and rounded at the ends, is inscribed "Agriculture" in outlined capitals. In small similar capitals in the upper left corner, "Dept. of" in two lines. In the upper right corner in monogram, "U. S."
Plate impression, 19½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
| 1 | cent, | straw, | 95,415 | issued. |
| 2 | cents | " | 230,150 | " |
| 3 | " | " | 435,050 | " |
| 6 | " | " | 120,000 | " |
| 10 | " | " | 95,265 | " |
| 12 | " | " | 51,265 | " |
| 15 | " | " | 54,050 | " |
| 24 | " | " | 60,265 | " |
| 30 | " | " | 82,265 | " |
By the appropriation acts each year from the Act of the 22 June, 1874, a certain amount was annually appropriated to each Department for the purchase from the Post Office Department of such of these official stamps as were necessary for the use of the Department and its subordinate officers. By the 9th Section of the Act of the XLIVth Congress, Session I, Chapter 287, approved the 15th of August, 1876, it was enacted.
"That the Secretaries respectively of the Departments of State, Treasury, War, Navy and Interior and the Attorney General are authorized to make requisition upon the Postmaster General for the necessary amount of postage stamps for the use of their Departments not exceeding the amount stated in the estimates submitted to Congress, and upon presentation of proper vouchers therefore at the Treasury, the amount thereof shall be credited to the appropriation for the Post Office Department for the same fiscal year."
This was the beginning of an entire change in the method of crediting the Post Office Department for work done in carrying official correspondence.
By the Act of XLIVth Congress, Session II, Chapter 103, approved March 30, 1877, the law was modified in the following terms:
"Sec. 5. That it shall be lawful to transmit through the mail, free of postage any letters, packages or other matter relating exclusively to the business of the Government of the United States: Provided that every such letter or package to entitle it to pass free shall bear over the words "Official Business" an endorsement, showing also the name of the Department, and if from a bureau or office, the names of the Department and bureau or office, as the case may be, whence transmitted. And if any person shall make use of any such official envelope to avoid the payment of postage on his private letter, package or other matter in the mail, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of three hundred dollars, to be prosecuted in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Sec. 6. That for the purpose of carrying this act into effect it shall be the duty of each of the Executive Departments of the United States to provide for itself and its subordinate officers the necessary envelopes, and in addition to the endorsement designating the Department in which they are to be used, the penalty for the unlawful use shall be stated thereon.
Sec. 7. That Senators, Representatives and Delegates in Congress, the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives may send and receive through the mail all public documents printed by order of Congress, and the name of each Senator, Representative, Delegate, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, shall be written thereon with the proper designation of the office he holds, and the provisions of this section shall apply to each of the persons mentioned therein until the first day of December following the expiration of their terms of office."
By this act the use of official stamps upon mail matter from the Departments, bureaus and offices was practically abolished, but official stamps continued to be used by postmasters and other subordinate officers in their mail matter to the Departments or each other on official business.
By the 29th Section of the Act of the XLVth Congress, Chapter 180, approved March 3d, 1879, it was enacted that,—
"The provisions of the 5th and 6th Sections of the Act entitled, An Act Establishing Post Routes and for other purposes, approved March 3d, 1877, for the transmission of official mail matter, be and they are hereby extended to all officers of the United States Government, and made applicable to all official mail matter transmitted between any of the officers of the United States, or between any such officer and either of the Executive Departments or officers of the Government, the envelopes of such matter in all cases to bear appropriate endorsements containing the proper designation of the office from which the same is transmitted, with a statement of the penalty for their misuse. And the provisions of said 5th and 6th Sections are hereby likewise extended and made applicable to all official mail matter sent from the Smithsonian Institution. Provided, that this Act shall not extend or apply to pension agents, or other officers who receive a fixed allowance for their services, including expenses for postage."
In his report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, D. M. Key, Postmaster General, had already stated that,—
"The amount of matter sent through the mails free is very large, adding greatly to our expenditures and giving us no revenue. The Franking Privilege has been restored to the members and chief officers of Congress, so as to allow them to send free almost anything which they were ever allowed to transmit through the mails free, except letters. Tons upon tons of books, documents, seeds, shrubs and the like are placed in our mails free of cost, on this score. The official letters of the Executive Departments of the general Government, their documents, etc., go free through the mails."
The operation of the act of 1879, however, greatly increased the amount of free matter, and decreased the use of official stamps. The Post Office Department discontinued their use entirely. In a circular dated, Washington, D. C., April 22nd, 1879, and signed by A. D. Hazen, third assistant Postmaster General, it is stated that:
"The Department will begin the issue on May 1st next, of envelopes for official business which will secure the free transmission through the mails of all official matter and which are intended to supercede the Post Office envelopes now in use, as well as official postage stamps and official stamped envelopes. Accordingly the issue of official stamps and official stamped envelopes will be discontinued on and after the date named. * * * The stock of post office envelopes now in the hands of postmasters will continue until exhausted to be used as heretofore by the attachment of official postage stamps. So also official stamped envelopes now in the hands of postmasters at Presidential offices will be used as heretofore until exhausted."
This circular, of course, applies only to stamps, etc., of the Post Office Department. The other Departments continued to use them for certain purposes, though none were issued to the Executive Department. The report of the Postmaster General for the year ending June 30th, 1885, says:
"The use of official stamps and stamped envelopes was wholly discontinued by this Department and substantially so by the other Departments on the 30th of June, 1879, under the Act authorizing the use of official penalty envelopes."
By the Act of the XLVIIIth Congress, Session I, Chapter 234, Section 3, approved July 5, 1884, the provisions of the Act of 1879, were substantially re-enacted with the addition that any Department or officer authorized to use the penalty envelopes, might enclose them to any person from whom an answer was requested, and might register any letter required by law, or the regulations to be registered free, and might receive any letter partly paid free, and added that:
"Section 3915 of the Revised Statutes of the United States so far as the same relates to stamps and stamped envelopes for official purposes is hereby repealed."
To this the report of the Postmaster General for 1885, adds:
"The use of official postage stamps and stamped envelopes having ceased on the 30th of June, 1884, and the same having been declared invalid for postages by the Act of July 5th, 1884, the stock remaining in the hands of the stamp and envelope contractors was destroyed in February last, under the supervision of the committee appointed by the Postmaster General."
From the report of this committee it appears that they destroyed in all, 17,024,588 official stamps, and 1,739,290 of ordinary and newspaper stamps that had ceased to be of use. Also that about 2½ per cent of all the stamps manufactured annually, are destroyed, a single imperfect specimen on the "sheet" of 100 causing the rejection of at least fifty or half the sheet.