The Issue of 1851.
The Act of the XXXI Congress, Session II, Chapter XX, approved March 3rd, 1851, and entitled: "An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the United States, and for other purposes" reads:
"Be it enacted, etc., that from and after the 30th day of June, 1851, in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates, viz: For every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind, upon which information shall be asked for, or communicated, in writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail for any distance, between places within the United States, not exceeding 3,000 miles, when the postage upon said letter shall have been prepaid, three cents, and five cents when the postage thereon shall not have been prepaid, and for any distance exceeding 3,000 miles, double these rates; for every such single letter or paper when conveyed wholly or in part by sea, and to or from a foreign country, for any distance over 2,500 miles, twenty cents, and for any distance under 2,500 miles, ten cents, excepting however, all cases where such postages have been or shall be adjusted at different rates by postal treaty or convention already concluded or hereafter to be made; and for a double letter there shall be charged double the rates above specified; and for a treble letter, treble these rates; and for a quadruple letter, quadruple these rates; and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight, shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or every additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage. And all drop letters, or letters placed in any post office, not for transmission, but for delivery only, shall be charged with postage at the rate of one cent each, and all letters which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over or uncalled for in any post office shall be charged with one cent in addition to the regular postage to be accounted for as other postages now are."
The second section fixed the rates upon newspapers of all descriptions, coming from the publishers, etc., etc., which were not to be paid for by stamps, but:
"Every other newspaper circular, hand bill, engraving, pamphlet," etc., etc., "shall be charged one cent an ounce under 500 miles and one cent each additional ounce between 500 and 1500 miles," double beyond, etc., etc.
The third section provides:
"And be it further enacted, that it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to provide and furnish to all deputy postmasters, and to all other persons applying and paying therefor, suitable postage stamps, of the denomination of three cents, and of such other denominations as he may think expedient to facilitate prepayment of postages provided for in this Act; and any person who shall forge or counterfeit any postage stamp, provided or furnished under this Act, whether the same are impressed or printed on or attached to envelopes or not, or any die, plate or engraving therefor, or shall make or print, or knowingly use or sell, or have in his possession, with intent to use or sell, any such false, forged or counterfeit die, plate, engraving, or postage stamps, or who shall make or print, or otherwise procure to be made or printed, any postage stamps of the kind provided and furnished by the Postmaster General, as aforesaid, without the especial authority and direction of the Post Office Department, or who, after such postage stamps have been printed, shall, with intent to defraud the revenue of the Post Office Department, deliver any postage stamps to any person or persons other than such as shall be authorized to receive the same by an instrument of writing duly executed under the hand of the Postmaster General, and the seal of the Post Office Department, shall on conviction thereof be deemed guilty of felony, and punishable by a fine not exceeding 500 dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding five years; or by both such fine or imprisonment, and the expenses of procuring and providing all such postage stamps and letter envelopes as are provided or authorized by this Act, shall be paid, after being adjusted by the auditor of the Post Office Department, on the certificate of the Postmaster General, out of any money in the Treasury, arising from the Revenues of the Post Office Department."
The 4th section provides that postage stamps shall be defaced as the Postmaster General may direct, and the penalty for omitting so to do.
The 10th section provides for the appointment of carriers, the rate to be one or two cents prepaid, the carriers to be paid out of the receipts from this postage.
The 11th section authorizes the coining of the three cent coin, probably to facilitate the payment of these rates.
The other matters mentioned in the foregoing Act are of little interest here, but the following circular contains some matters of importance:
REGULATIONS CONCERNING POSTAGE STAMPS.
Post Office Department,
June 10th, 1851.
"To facilitate the payment of postages upon letters and packages, postage stamps of the following denominations are provided and furnished by the postmaster General, pursuant to the third section of the "Act to reduce and modify the rates of Postage in the United States," and for other purposes approved March 3rd, 1851.
| Viz: No. 1. | Printed in black, representing the head of Washington, of the denomination of twelve cents. |
| No. 2. | Printed in red, representing the head of Washington, in profile, of the denomination of three cents. |
| No. 3. | Printed in blue, representing the head of Franklin, in profile, of the denomination of one cent. |
These stamps will be furnished to one or more of the principal postmasters in each county, who will be required to supply the other postmasters in their vicinities, upon being paid for the amount furnished."
The remaining provisions relate to the mode of distribution, accounting, cancelling, etc., and are of no particular interest. The circular is signed "Nathan D. Hall, Postmaster General."
A similar circular dated April 3rd, 1852, is almost an exact repetition of the foregoing. The stamps issued may be described more fully thus:
Issue of July 1st, 1851.
One Cent. Bust of Benjamin Franklin, first Postmaster General, in profile, facing to the right, in an oval disk 17 by 20½ mm., with a ground of very fine horizontal colored lines, slightly waved, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines. The colorless line is ornamented by a line of fine dots. Above is a label, bordered at the top by a similarly ornamented colorless line, between two fine colored lines, terminated at the ends by the corner ornaments of the stamp, with a ground of fine colored lines following the lines of the oval, and inscribed in outline capitals "U. S. Postage." Below the oval is a similar label, the ends terminated by a similar border, with a ground of fine colored lines, inscribed "One Cent" in outline capitals. This label is shaded by a number of vertical lines. Scroll and foliated corner ornaments extending down the sides. There is no outside line finishing the frame. The stamps are very near each other on the sheet.
Plate impression, 19 by 22 mm., color, white paper.
1 cent, shades of indigo blue.
Three Cents. Bust of Washington, first President of the United States, in profile to left, on an oval disk, with hatched ground, bordered by a fine colorless line between two fine colored lines, surrounded by a frame composed of colorless lines, forming diamonds on a solid ground, the alternate diamonds filled in with diagonal colorless lines, leaving a colored chain conspicuous, with rosettes in the four angles. The space between the oval and frame filled with horizontal lines, and the corners outside the rosettes filled with ornamented triangles. Above and below all these are solid colored labels, with a small piece containing a diamond cut off at each end by a vertical colorless line, inscribed in colorless Roman capitals, above "U. S. Postage," below "Three Cents." The whole is surrounded, at a little distance, by a colored line forming a rectangle.
Plate impression 20 by 25 mm., color, white paper.
3 cents, in shades of brick and rose red.
Twelve Cents. Bust of Washington, after Stewart, facing three quarters to the left, on an oval disk 13½ by 17 mm., with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two colored lines. This colorless line is crossed by horizontal lines. About this is a frame like that of the 3 cents, with rosettes at the angles, but showing six and two half links in the chain on each side, instead of five and two half links as in the three cents. The outside corners are filled by small foliations. The space between the oval and frame is filled by horizontal lines. Inscription above "U. S. Postage," below "Twelve Cents" in colorless capitals, shaded outside on the back ground and following the curve of the oval. The whole is surrounded by a fine colored line.
Plate impression, 19 by 25 mm., color, white paper.
12 cents, black.
As it was considered desirable to keep the amounts collected and paid for delivery by carriers (under section 10 of the act) separate, a special stamp for the payment of such postage was soon added:
Issue of September 29th, 1851.
One Cent. Bust of Benjamin Franklin, in profile, to the left, on an oval disk, 15 by 17½ mm. with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines. Frame, labels, etc., like the three cents, but with a colorless star between curved colorless lines at the end instead of the diamonds. The inscription is in colorless Roman capitals, on the upper label "Carrier's," and "Stamp" in the lower label.
Plate impression, 19½ by 24 mm., color, rose paper.
No value indicated, indigo blue.
Specimens exist in brick red, some of which show the crack in the die. These must be proofs, although a letter purporting to be from W. M. Ireland, Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated August 10th, 1869, and published in the August number of the American Journal of Philately, after describing this stamp says:
"Color, orange-brown, typographed in color on white paper. Proofs were issued printed in blue on pink paper; also in green and yellow. It was issued about September 29th, 1851, but was suppressed almost immediately, owing to its great similarity to the then three cent stamp. Only about 300,000 were ever issued. It has always surprised me that the Department has never kept any official history of its stamps."
This stamp was succeeded by the
Issue of November, 17, 1851.
One Cent. Eagle poised for flight, turned to the left, resting on a branch of laurel, on an oval disk, 18 by 13 mm., the ground of clouds and rays, surrounded by a fine colored line, a colorless line, and a band of solid color inscribed in colorless Roman capitals above "U. S. P. O. Dispatch," below "Prepaid, One Cent," with ornaments of oak leaves on the left and of laurels on the right.
Plate impression, 19 by 25 mm., color, white paper.
1 cent, blue.
A letter dated from the Post Office Department, Finance Office. July 20th, 1869, and signed W. H. H. Corell, Third Assistant Postmaster General, published in the American Journal of Philately, says:
"The blue stamp "Eagle" was used for prepaying City letters delivered by carriers. It was issued about Nov. 17th, 1851, and was withdrawn Jan. 27th, 1852. It was very little used except in Philadelphia, Pa., and Cincinnati, Ohio."
As a matter of fact however, the published reports of the Postmaster General, shows that there were issued:
| 4,777,552 | from | Nov. | 1851, | up | to | June, | 1852. |
| 4,370,383 | " | June | 1852, | " | " | " | 1853. |
| 7,103,416 | " | " | 1853, | " | " | " | 1854. |
These stamps were all engraved and printed by Messrs. Toppan, Carpenter, Cassilar and Co., of Philadelphia, under a contract with the Department.
The collector naturally desires to know what supposed peculiarities of the public demand led to the selection of these values, and not others. As already shown, the carriers were paid out of the receipts from the sale of the two carrier stamps.
The one cent was required for newspapers and other printed matter, either singly or in twos, threes, fours, fives, sixes, etc., and Mr. Sterling has preserved specimens thus used, adhering, either in strips by the sides or ends, or in blocks.
The three cent stamp paid the ordinary letter rate, and two or more would be required on double, triple, etc., letters. Mr. Sterling has also preserved strips and blocks of these found so used.
The single postage to California was six cents. This was also the double letter rate, and it seems singular that a stamp of this value was not issued. Its place was supplied by two three cent stamps, the double rate to California by four three cent stamps, etc. That it was also supplied occasionally by half of the twelve cent stamp, cut diagonally from corner to corner, specimens so used on the original envelopes in the possession of the same gentleman abundantly prove. The twelve cent must, therefore, have had no function except to replace a quadruple ordinary rate, or a double California rate. For foreign letters, the postage was 10 or 20 cents, when not provided for by treaty. Most of the treaties fixed the same rates, and stamps of those values would seem to have been required. The fact that prepayment was optional, may have influenced the demand for these values.
Soon after the issue of the foregoing series, the postal rates were again discussed in congress, and the law amended as follows:
XXXIII Congress, Session II, Chapter 173, Section 31, approved March 30th, 1885, entitled: "An Act further to amend the Act entitled: 'An Act to reduce, etc., approved March 3d, 1851.'"
Be it enacted, etc. That in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates to wit: For every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind in which information shall be asked, or, communicated in writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail, for any distance between places in the United States not exceeding 3,000 miles, three cents; and for any distance exceeding 3,000 miles, ten cents. And for a double letter, there shall be charged double the rates above specified; and for a treble letter, treble these rates, and for a quadruple letter, quadruple these rates; and every letter or paper not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter; and every additional weight of half an ounce, or every additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage; and upon all letters passing through or in the mail of the United States, except such as are to or from a foreign country, the postages as above specified, shall be prepaid, except upon letters and papers addressed to officers of the government on official business, which shall be so marked on the envelope. And from and after the first day of January, 1856, the Postmaster General may require postmasters to place postage stamps upon all prepaid letters, upon which such stamps may not have been placed by the writers.
And all drop letters, or letters placed in the post office, not for transmission through the mail, but for delivery only, shall be charged with postage at the rate of one cent each, and all letters which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over or uncalled for in any post office, shall be charged with one cent each in addition to the regular postage, both to be accounted for as other postages now are.
Section 2. And be it further enacted, that it shall be unlawful for any postmaster or other person, to sell any postage stamp or stamped envelope for any larger sum than that indicated upon the face of such postage stamp, or for a larger sum than that charged therefor by the Post Office Department.
[Here follows the penalty for so doing.]
Section 3. And be it further enacted: That for the greater security of valuable letters posted for transmission in the mails of the United States, the Postmaster General be, and hereby is authorized to establish a uniform plan for the registration of such letters on application of parties posting the same, and to require the prepayment of the postage, as well as a registration fee of five cents, on every such letter or packet, to be accounted for by postmasters receiving the same, in such manner as the Postmaster General may direct: Provided, however, that such registration shall not be compulsory: and shall not render the Post Office Department, or its revenues liable for the loss of such letter or package, or the contents thereof.
By this Act there was established for the first time compulsory prepayment, at a uniform rate of 3 and 10 cents, according as the distance was less or greater than 3,000 miles, upon letters in the United States, and the Act of the XXXIV Congress, Session III, Chapter 1, approved January 2d, 1857, entitled: "An Act to provide for the compulsory Prepayment of Postage on all transient printed matter," which provided, that such postage "shall be prepaid by stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster General may direct," completes the legislation upon the subject, so far as it is of interest here, up to the year 1861.
Upon the approval of this Act, the following circular, dated at Washington, March 12th, 1855, was issued to postmasters:
NEW POSTAGE ACT.
INSTRUCTIONS TO POSTMASTERS.
The particular attention of Postmasters and others is invited to the annexed Act, passed at the last session of Congress. It will be observed:
1st. That from and after April 1st, 1855, the single rate of postage on a letter conveyed in the mail, for any distance in the United States, not exceeding three thousand miles, is three cents, and for any distance exceeding three thousand miles, ten cents.
2nd. That from and after April 1st, 1855, prepayment by stamps, stamped envelopes or in money is compulsory.
3rd. That from and after January 1st, 1856, all letters, between places in the United States, must be prepaid either by postage stamps or stamped envelopes.
4th. That the laws relating to the Franking Privilege are not altered.
5th. That the existing rates and regulations in regard to letters to or from Canada, and all foreign countries, remain unchanged.
Unpaid letters mailed before April 1st, 1855, will be forwarded and delivered upon payment of the postage, by the person addressed. Postage stamps and stamped envelopes, of the denomination of ten cents, will be prepared and issued speedily, and the Department will use every exertion to supply all post offices with one and and three cent stamps also, as fast as they are required.
Absolute prepayment being required on all letters to places within the United States, from and after April 1st, 1855, great care should be used as well in prepaying the proper amount on letters above the weight of half an ounce, as on single letters.
Postmasters will post up conspicuously in their respective offices a notice, calling attention to the provisions of the Act requiring prepayment.
The provisions in regard to the registration of valuable letters will be carried into effect, and special instructions issued on the subject, as soon as the necessary blanks can be prepared and distributed.
(Signed) JAMES CAMPBELL,
Postmaster General.
Post Office Department, March 12, 1855.
N. B.—Copy of the Act of March 3d, 1855, on the back.
Another circular dated at Washington, Nov. 20th, 1855, also signed by the Postmaster General, after reciting certain regulations which are addressed to and concern only the postmasters themselves, contains the following:
"Section 7. The denominations of postage stamps authorized by the Department to be issued, are one, three, five, ten and twelve cents."
The one, three and twelve cents of the issue of 1851, remaining in use without apparent change, and the same contract with Messrs. Toppan, Carpenter, Cassilar & Co., of Philadelphia, remaining in force, the following were added to the series:
Issue of May 5th, 1855.
Ten Cents. Portrait of Washington, after Stewart, faced three-quarters to the left, on an oval disk with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines, the colorless line crossed in parts by small horizontal lines, on a hatched back-ground, bordered by outlined foliations, which form small ovals in the upper corners containing a colorless "X," with "U. S. Postage" in colored capitals between them. Thirteen colorless stars on the ground above the oval. "Ten Cents" in colorless capitals in a waved line below.
Plate impression, 18 by 24 mm., in color, on white paper.
10 cents, green.
This stamp was issued to provide for the single rate to California.
Issue of January 5th, 1856.
Five Cents. Portrait of Jefferson, the third President of the United States, faced three quarters to the right, on an oval disk, 12½ by 15½ mm., with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line between two fine colored lines, in a broad frame with solid ground, ornamented by colorless lines forming a geometric lathe pattern. This frame is rounded at the corners, with a small projection of about 2 mm. between at the top, bottom and sides, and is surrounded at a little distance by a fine colored line following the same outline. On the back ground, without labels, above "U. S. Postage," below "Five Cents," in colorless Roman capitals.
Plate impression, 19 by 25 mm., in color, on white paper.
5 cents, in shades of yellow brown, red brown, and dark brown.
This stamp was issued to prepay the registration fee, but is often found in unsevered pairs upon California letters, and sometimes in triplets including the registration fee and a single postage to California.
On the 24th of April, 1856, a stamp of the value of twenty-four cents was approved.
Twenty-Four Cents. Portrait of Washington, after Stewart, faced three quarters to the right, on an oval disk, with hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line, surrounded by a solid band of color, inscribed in colorless Roman capitals, above "U. S. Postage," below "Twenty-four Cents," separated by a sort of buckle at the sides. A broad solid colored frame, ornamented by colorless lathe work is surrounded, at a little distance, by a fine colored line, and the corners are rounded, with a single swell between them above and below, and three between them at the sides.
Plate impression, 18½ by 25 mm., in color, on white paper.
24 cents, lilac.
Although made and approved, this stamp is said to have been withheld from issue in this imperforate condition. They were finished and gummed, and some of them seem to have gotten into circulation, as occasional specimens are to be found in collections, and one entire sheet, at least, is known to have existed.
Observations.
Every collector ought at least to be aware of the nature and character of the varieties that exist in these stamps. Although many of them are very minute, and can be distinguished only by the use of a good magnifying glass, others, once noticed, can readily be selected by the unassisted eye. Few will care, probably, to place more than the most marked varieties in their collections, still fewer will have the patience to explore the necessary piles of common "stock," in order to find these marked varieties, for the most marked are the most uncommon, or to distinguish the more minute varieties from each other.
The plates of all values printed 200 stamps each upon the sheet. Before the stamps were distributed, each sheet was cut vertically into half sheets, the place where they were to be cut being marked on the plate by a vertical colored line, and each half containing ten rows of ten stamps each. Upon each side of the plate, at a little distance from the outer row of stamps, the tops of the letters being towards the stamps, and running along the sides of the 5th and 6th stamp from the top or bottom of the sheet, and part of the 4th and 7th stamp, is the maker's imprint, "Toppan, Carpenter, Cassilar & Co., BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS, Phila., New York, Boston and Cincinnati," with "No—P." in a second line. This imprint was afterwards changed by leaving out the third name.
The one cent eagle is an exception, as the imprint here appears at the top and bottom of the sheet, running along the space covered by four stamps, and the sheet is said to have contained only 100 stamps.
Upon some of the sheets, of the other values, from the first plate, there is also a vertical line from the top to bottom of the plate, probably upon each outer margin. Upon other sheets, this does not appear. Specimens of these are now difficult to obtain, as the wide borders at the sides, the top and bottom of the sheets, were usually cut off when the stamps were used.
One Cent Unperforated.
The stamps are about ½ mm. apart between the nearest points of the tops and bottoms, and 1 mm. between the nearest points of the sides.
It should be noticed that the top and bottom labels have a fine line parallel to the solid body of the inscribed labels, both at the top and bottom.
The imprint is about 1½ mm. from the outer row of stamps. The central vertical line is about 1¾ mm. from each central row. The side vertical lines are about 3¾ mm. from the outside rows. These dimensions vary slightly. There is little appreciable difference in the stamps in a sheet, except in the thickness of the lines bordering or shading the ornaments. In some specimens, these lines are all fine in all parts of the stamp, in others, they are much heavier, and in others fine in parts and heavy in other parts, in many gradations. The color used seems to have been always the same, varying only in intensity, as more or less ink was left on the paper in printing. Dark, or pale specimens, with intermediate shades may therefore be found. The paper is always white, but more or less tinted with the color of the stamp from imperfect wiping of the plates.
Three Cents Unperforated.
The number of plates used in printing this value unperforated, has not been possible to determine. The distance between the stamps varies considerably in different plates. In some, they are only 7/10 mm. apart between the tops and bottoms, in others a little over 1 mm. In some they are only 9/10 mm. apart between the side lines, in other fully 1-2/10 mm. Specimens with broad, white margins (A) show the paper to have extended, sometimes 15 mm. beyond the stamps. The vertical lines are (B) 6 mm., or (C) 2½, 3 and 3¾ mm. from the center rows. The makers imprint (D) is about 1½ mm. from the outer rows, but varies slightly in different sheets.
The process of making these plates is said to have been; first to mark out on a soft plate of steel the points at which the right vertical line of each vertical row of stamps was to come, by a dot at the top and bottom of the plate. These dots were sometimes too large and too heavily put in, and may be found in some specimens (E) at or near, the upper or lower right hand corner of the stamp. The lines however were not always accurately drawn so that the dot appears (F) on the top or bottom line, at a distance to the left of the corner, or (G) above the line, or (H) below the line, or (I) entirely outside of the stamp to the right. These lines having been drawn, the next step in the process was to put in the body of the design, which had been engraved on a soft steel punch or die, and then hardened, by placing the die successively in the position to be occupied by each stamp on the plate, and "rocking" it back and forth under pressure. As this process was not as perfect as that now employed, the die was not always placed in exactly the proper position, not infrequently being too near or too far from the vertical side lines, or the die was not rocked far enough, and the edges were left imperfect.
In the design, it was evidently intended that the outside lines should be equally distant from the top and bottom labels, and the side edges of the block, and that the corners should be exactly mitered. The top and bottom lines are practically always at the same distance from the labels, and one engraver maintains that they were engraved on the die. But specimens are plentiful in which (a) the top and bottom line projects beyond the side line, or (b) does not touch it, or rarely (c) is double or split, or again the side line (d) projects beyond the top or bottom line, or (e) does not touch it. Again, instead of the side line being (f) at the proper distance from the corner blocks, it is not infrequently (g) too far from one or more of them, or (h) too near one or more of them, or (i) touches one or more of them. Again, the side line is found (j) connecting with the next stamp above or below, and occasionally there is a second line (J) near this between two stamps.
In the die itself it will be noticed that the lower left block is almost always a little further to the left than the top one, in fact, that the distance from the right of the right block to the left of the left block is about ¼ of a mm. greater at the bottom than at the top of the stamp. The lower right rosette is a little too far also to the right, ordinarily at least. The blocks vary in size in the same and different stamps, as well as the diamonds in them, which are not of uniform shape or size. The labels above and below are crowded upon the rosettes. The sides of the groundwork should terminate in a straight line, formed by the bases of the little colored triangles, which touch each other. But this line is often broken in appearance as parts of it are too finely cut, or the die was not rocked far enough. In some cases this seems to have been remedied by re-engraving this line, and there is a heavy line, independent of the base lines of the triangles extending, (K) from rosette to rosette, (L) from the lower rosette to the upper triangle, (M) from the lower rosette to the middle of the upper triangle, (N) from the lower rosette to the top of the upper triangle, (O) from the lower rosette to the upper block, (P) a light line extending from the lower rosette to the upper block, (Q) a heavy line extending from the middle of the lower block to the upper triangle, (R) or from the middle of the lower triangle to the upper rosette. Frequently there is a light line (S) from the side of the triangle in the corner to the adjacent block. The triangles are ordinarily shaded by horizontal parallel lines, and are formed by a single fine line on the top and vertical sides, while the curved side is double. But the following variations occur: (T) the triangle has a heavy side line, (U) a double side line, (V) a triple side line, (W) is white or nearly so, the horizontal line having disappeared.
Again it will be found that there are added lines along the whole or part of either side line, making these double, or even triple. Thus whether there is a distinct line, as described, between the rosettes, etc., or not, if the next line be called the frame line, there may be found varieties with an extra line outside the frame line, but (k) very near it, (l) farther from it, (m) very heavy, the frame line being thin, (n) the frame line split into two parts from the middle up, (o) frame line split into two parts from chin up, (p) two extra side lines all the way, (q) extra line from the level of the chin to the upper rosette, (r) extra line from the level of the lips to upper rosette, (s) from the level of the lips to the centre of the rosette, (t) from the level of the nose to the top of the triangle, (u) from the level of the breast to the top of the triangle, (v) opposite the bottom rosette. If there be added to these letters the numerals 1 to express the left side, 2 the right when the variations occur along the whole side, and 1 for the top, 3 for the bottom on the left side, 2 for the top, and 4 for the bottom on the right side, when the variations occur only at the top or bottom, the following table will facilitate investigation.
| On the LEFT at the Top Bottom | Specimens Showing | On the RIGHT at the Top Bottom | ||
| A1 | broad margin over 6 mm. and no line | A2 | ||
| B1 | broad margin ver. line 6 mm. from stamp | B2 | ||
| C1 | broad margin ver. line 2½ to 3½ " | C2 | ||
| D1 | broad margin ver. line printer's imprint | D2 | ||
| ... | ... | dot on or near the corner | E2 | E4 |
| ... | ... | dot on the end line, away from corner | F2 | F4 |
| ... | ... | dot above end line | G2 | G4 |
| ... | ... | dot below end line | H2 | H4 |
| ... | ... | dot outside the corner | I2 | I4 |
| a1 | a3 | end line projecting beyond the corner | a2 | a4 |
| b1 | b3 | end line not touching the corner | b2 | b4 |
| c3 | end line split or double | c4 | ||
| d1 | d3 | side line projecting beyond the corner | d2 | d4 |
| e1 | e3 | side line not touching the corner | e2 | e4 |
| f1 | f3 | side line ordinary distance from block | f2 | f4 |
| g1 | g3 | side line too far from block | g2 | g4 |
| h1 | h3 | side line too close to block | h2 | h4 |
| i1 | i3 | side line touching the block | i2 | i4 |
| j1 | j3 | side line connecting with the next stamp | j2 | j4 |
| ... | ... | side line and another with the next stamp | J2 | ... |
| K1 | heavy line from rosette to rosette | K2 | ||
| L1 | heavy line from low. roset. to up'r triangle | L2 | ||
| M1 | heavy line from lo. r. to mid. of up'r triangle | M2 | ||
| N1 | heavy line from lo. r. to top of up'r triangle | N2 | ||
| O1 | heavy line from lo. r. to up'r block | O2 | ||
| P1 | light line from lo. r. to up'r block | P2 | ||
| Q1 | heavy line from mid. low. block to triangle | Q2 | ||
| R1 | heavy line from mid. low. tri. to up. roset. | R2 | ||
| S1 | S3 | fine line from triangle to adjoining block | S2 | S4 |
| T1 | T3 | triangle with heavy side line | T2 | T4 |
| U1 | U3 | triangle with extra side line | U2 | U4 |
| V1 | V3 | triangle with 2 extra side line | V2 | V4 |
| W1 | W3 | triangle with white or nearly so | W2 | W4 |
| k1 | extra line, outside frame line near it | k2 | ||
| l1 | extra line, outside frame line far off | l2 | ||
| m1 | heavy line, outside thin frame line | m2 | ||
| n1 | frame line, split into 2 parts half way | n2 | ||
| o1 | frame line, split into 2 parts ¾ way | ... | ||
| p1 | two extra lines, continuous | ... | ||
| q1 | extra line frame, lev. of chin to up'r roset. | ... | ||
| r1 | extra line frame, lev. of lips to up'r roset. | ... | ||
| s1 | extra line frame, lev. of lips center roset. | ... | ||
| t1 | extra line frame, lev. of nose, top of trian. | ... | ||
| u1 | extra line frame, lev. of breast, top of trian. | ... | ||
| v1 | extra line opposite the bottom rosette | ... | ||
All the variations mentioned in this table have been found. It is scarcely possible that each of them exists separately, i. e.; on specimens that are in other respects normal. Many of them have been found so, but most of them only in combination. The following may be mentioned:
A, B, C, D. Specimens showing broad margins with no outer line, with outer line 6 mm. from stamp, with outer line about 3 mm. from the stamp, or with printer's imprint, have been found, both from the left and right sides of the sheet, with all the other parts normal. These would be,
| A1 f1 2 3 4, | A2 f1 2 3 4, | B1 f1 2 3 4, | B2 f1 2 3 4, |
| C1 f1 2 3 4, | C2 f1 2 3 4, | D1 f1 2 3 4, | D2 f1 2 3 4. |
With the vertical line about 3 mm. from the stamp, three corners only normal, the side line too near the lower right block, a dot on the upper right corner, the right line connected with the stamp below, and a fine line from each of the upper triangles to the block above, which would be C2 f1 2 3 h4 E2 j4 S2 4.
And also with the vertical line about 3 mm. from the stamp, all the corners normal, a heavy line terminating the ground between the rosettes on the right, both the triangles on the right connected with the blocks next them, and an extra vertical line in the upper right triangle, which would be C2 f1 2 3 4 K2 S2 4 U2, which will serve to show the character of the combinations in which these varieties may be found.
Varieties showing the dot, E to I, generally present other varieties also. The following combinations may be noted:
With the bottom line double, or rather split, three of the triangles have fine connecting lines, c3 c4 S2 3 4.
With the right side prolonged, and continuous with the side line of the stamp above or below, j2 or j4.
With the right side line prolonged upwards, and continuous with the lower, but not with the upper stamp and a second line 1 mm. to left from stamp to stamp, J2.
With the extra line outside the frame line on right and near it, all the other parts being normal, the line of the ground work not appearing as a separate line, k2.
With an extra line outside the frame line on right and near it, a heavy line from rosette to rosette on the right, giving the appearance of three parallel lines on that side, a similar line from rosette to rosette on the left, and a fine line from the upper right triangle to block, k2 K2 1 S2.
With the same arrangement, but the heavy line on the right of ground extends to the top of the upper triangle, there is a fine line to the block, k2 K1 N2 S2.
With an extra line outside the frame line on the right but further from it. The left line touches the rosette, and is very near the upper left block. The upper triangles both have the extra vertical line, and the right triangles both have the fine line connecting them with the adjacent block, l2 h1 U1 2 S2 4.
With the right frame line split into two parts in its lower half. The upper right triangle has the extra vertical line, and the fine line to upper block, n2 U2 S2.
With the extra line outside the left frame line, and a distinct line between the left rosettes, the right line near the corner blocks, k1 K1 h2 4.
With the same peculiarities, but frame line touches the lower left corner, k1 K1 h2 i4.
With two extra lines outside the left frame line, and a heavy line between the left rosettes, so that the stamp appears to have four lines on that side. The right frame line runs from block to block, touching both triangles and rosettes. There is a dot in the lower right corner, and another to the left of it, p1 S1 i2 4 E4 F4.
With the extra line on the left very light, and a heavier one outside, and the ground does not appear to end in a line, m1.
With the extra line on the left the usual thickness, and the frame line heavier. The right frame line touches all the parts on that side, l1 i2 4.
With the frame line on the left split into two parts from the level of the chin up, the inner touches the rosette, the triangle and almost touches the block. The right frame line is split into two parts in the lower half. Both the right triangles have the finer line, and the upper the extra vertical line, q1 i2 n2 U2 4 S4.
With the extra outside line from level of lips to the upper rosette. All four triangles are connected with the blocks, the upper right and lower left have the extra vertical line, r1 U1 2 3 4 S3 4.
With extra outside line from level of the lips to the level of the center of the rosette. The frame line is too near the top on the left, the upper right triangle is connected with the block, and has the extra vertical line, the lower right triangle is also connected with the block, s1 h1 S2 4 U2.
With the extra left line from the level of the nose to the top of the rosette, the upper right triangle connected with the upper block, and with extra vertical line, t1 S2 U2.
With the extra line on the left from the level of the breast to the top of the rosette, the frame line is too near the upper left corner, and an extra vertical line in all the triangles, u1 i1 U1 2 3 4.
With the extra line on the left opposite the bottom rosette only. The two upper triangles are connected with the blocks, and an extra line in the upper right one, v1 S1 2 U2.
With the left frame line heavy, and too near to the bottom block, a split runs off to left half way down. Both sides appear to have a heavy line from rosette to rosette, but the left one is irregular, all the triangles are connected with the adjoining blocks, and all except the lower right one have the extra vertical line, h3 n1 S1 2 3 4 U1 2 3 K1 2.
In the above descriptions, no mention has been made of those parts that are in their proper ordinary position.
These varieties are the leading ones, and are probably more than enough to show the combinations. Less conspicuous ones are numberless. Owing to the scarcity of adhering specimens, and the uncertainty as to how many plates were actually employed, no attempt has been made to reconstruct any plate. It is perhaps necessary to repeat that the collection of any, except perhaps the more marked varieties, is not advocated.
The color of these stamps varies wonderfully, every shade from pale to dark, with yellowish vermilion, pink, red, and carmine may be found. Some are undoubtedly changelings from accidental causes, particularly those that run from brown and black brown, to an almost jet black, which were at one time much sought after.
Unperforated Five Cents.
The stamps are about 1½ mm. apart each way on the sheet. All have the projection at the top and bottom. Double and triple adhering specimens may be found, but are rare. The imprint is on the sides, 1¾ mm. from the stamps. No specimens have been found with vertical lines.
The color is generally dark, either a chestnut brown, or with a stronger reddish cast.
Unperforated Ten Cents.
The stamps are 2½ mm. apart each way on the sheet. The imprint is at about 1¾ mm. from the side rows. The few specimens with the vertical lines examined, show it at 3 mm. from the stamps. The color is a yellow-green, of which dark and light impressions may readily be found. A block of four used, adhering 2 and 2, is possessed by Mr. Sterling.
Unperforated Twelve Cents.
The stamps are 1 mm. apart each way on the sheet. The vertical line 2½ mm. from the stamps. No specimens with the imprint have come under the notice of the author. The color is very uniform, slightly greyish-black. Adhering specimens are rare. A pair adhering by the sides, used, and a block of four unused, are in Mr. Sterlings' collection, and the curious specimens divided diagonally, on the original letters, in the same collection, have already been mentioned.
Unperforated Twenty-Four Cents.
The imprint is at the side, 1¾ mm. from the stamp. The stamps are 2 mm. apart. The rarity of specimens has prevented further examination. The color of the specimens seen is lilac, with the reddish cast.
One Cent "Carrier," (Franklin.)
This stamp was never issued perforated. The imprint is 4 mm. from the side rows, and the stamps are about 1 mm. apart.
One Cent "Carrier," (Eagle.)
This stamp was never issued perforated, and any specimens so catalogued will be found to be the reprints. The printer's imprint is at the bottom or top of the four centre rows in the sheet. As the Department is accustomed to call the half sheets issued "sheets," it is often difficult to know which is meant. It has been stated that there are only 100 stamps on the plate. The imprint is 4 mm. from the stamps, and the places where the stamps are to be cut apart are indicated by single lines ruled horizontally and vertically.