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: