History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of AmericaTiffany, John K. (John Kerr)
History
History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America
Tiffany, John K. (John Kerr)
Postage stamps -- United States
Engraved on copper by J. M. Kershaw, at St. Louis. The plate consisted
of six stamps, three of each value, and was delivered to Mr. Wymer, and
is said to have been lost with other of his effects during the war. The
engraver thinks he printed about 500 sheets, at three different times,
upon such paper as he happened to have at hand, and that as the plate
deteriorated easily, he probably retouched it slightly each time in
parts, before printing. He denies positively the possibility of the
figures upon the twenty cent value being his work. These are all the
facts he can now vouch for, and states that many of the statements from
time to time attributed to him "were the ideas of his interviewers, who
tried to refresh his recollection and may have mixed him up."
Plate Impression in black upon three qualities of bluish paper, 3
varieties of each value.
5 cents, black 17½ by 22½ mm.
10 cents, black 18½ by 22½ mm.
These stamps are printed on a rather thick greenish blue paper, on a
thinner grey-blue paper, and on a very thin greyish paper, which agrees
with the recollection of the engraver that he printed three different
lots of them. A pair is also known on a coffee colored paper. They were
taken from buff envelopes, and are undoubtedly discolored by the action
of the paper or gum. Those on white paper have been made so by chemical
action.
The varieties may be thus distinguished:
FIVE CENTS. The dashes in the corners form a sort of triangular
ornament, or branch. The letters are block capitals, shaded by a fine
line. There are no lines or dashes under "_Post Office_."
_First Variety._ (_a_) The buckle on the garter has the point and tongue
turned up to the left.
(_b_) There are six dashes above "_Saint_," and eight above "_Louis_,"
of which the top and bottom ones on each side are long strokes.
(_c_) One long and two short lines and a speck under "_Saint_," and one
long and three short lines under "_Louis_."
(_d_) A long diamond in top of numeral, and a mis-shapened diamond in
the bow of the numeral, with four dots above and nine below it, and a
dot in the ball of the numeral.
(_e_) The bear in the shield is on a vertically lined ground.
_Second Variety._ (_a_) The buckle has the tongue and point turned down
to the right.
(_b_) There are eleven dashes above "_Saint_," and ten above "_Louis_,"
one of which cuts the frame on the right.
(_c_) One long and two short lines, a dot, and a horizontal stroke below
"_Saint_," one very long, and three short lines under "_Louis_," two
above and two below the level of the bear's ear.
(_d_) A triangle in the top of the numeral, and a diamond in the bow of
the numeral, with four dots above and nine below the latter. No dot in
the ball of the numeral. The right end of the scroll is double, and
touches the frame.
(_e_) The bear is on a vertically lined ground.
_Third Variety._ (_a_) The buckle has the point turned down to the
right.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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