History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America

by John K. Tiffany

XVIII.

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.