History of the Postage Stamps of the United States of America Part 4

VII.

STAMP OF THE NEW HAVEN POSTMASTER.

This stamp was discovered in an old collection by Mr. Wm. P. Brown, and described by him in his Curiosity Cabinet in May, 1871. The New Haven Palladium of May 11, 1871, has the following account of the discovery, which, though it contains some errors as to the former postal rates, and some ignorance as to the history of the stamps of the United States, is worthy of insertion here.

"A CURIOSITY."

"An old envelope post office stamp, issued at New Haven, of the denomination of 5 cents, marked 'PAID,' and subscribed by 'E. A.

Mitch.e.l.l, P. M.,' has lately turned up. It must have been issued over 20 years ago and is probably one of the oldest United States stamps in existence. Mr. Mitch.e.l.l was postmaster of this city from 1844 to 1850. When he took office the rates were 6, 10, 12, and 25 cents for single letters, according to distance, no prepayment being required. The rates were afterwards reduced to 10 and 5 cents according to distance, and subsequently to five cents, uniform for all distances, the weight not exceeding one quarter ounce, and prepayment required. At this period envelopes began to come in use, and as prepayment of postage could only be made at the office during business hours, Mr.

Mitch.e.l.l took the responsibility of issuing envelopes, stamped as above, with his signature on each, and selling them at the cost of envelopes and postage as an accommodation; some of the post offices refused to recognize them, and reported the fact to the Department. As however the stamps could only be used at the New Haven office, and were sent as prepaid matter, properly entered on the New Haven Post Bill, there could be no loss to the government, and the Department taking a liberal view of the subject, authorized their continuance. There is no doubt that the adoption of stamps by our government was much hastened by the issue of these prepaid envelopes, and it can truly be said that they were the first stamps issued by the United States. Mr.

Mitch.e.l.l is still in possession of the original plate."

From a letter of Mr. Mitch.e.l.l's, printed in the American Journal of Philately in May, 1871, it further appears that Mr. Mitch.e.l.l permitted parties to bring their own envelopes to be stamped. The die was a simple hand stamp engraved by F. G. Gorham, and the ink employed was that in ordinary use for hand stamps in the office, red or blue. He was postmaster from September, 1844, to 1852, and thinks the stamp was issued first in 1845. Only one original stamp has so far been found.

NEW HAVEN POST OFFICE.

ISSUE OF 1845.

Large rectangular stamp, with corners cut by quarter circles. Frame of a very heavy outside line with an interior fine line. "_Post Office_" in heavy block letters inclined to left, in a straight line across the top, "_New Haven, Ct._," in a curved line of Roman capitals, in a second line. Large numeral "5" with "PAID" in large block capitals beneath, signature (E. A. Mitch.e.l.l) written, and "P. M." in ordinary capitals forming the fifth line.

Impression 26 by 31 mm., from bra.s.s hand stamp, in color on white or colored envelopes.

5 cents, red.

The only known original is cut square. In 1871, Mr. Mitch.e.l.l made a few re-impressions in red and blue ink, which he signed and distributed to collectors. The die was then deposited in the archives of the New Haven Colonial Historical Society.

Reprints. 5 cents, blue impression, red signature.

5 " red " blue "

5 " " " black "

5 " " " no "

All on large white paper.

VIII.

STAMPS OF THE PROVIDENCE POSTMASTER.

These stamps, of which the 5 cent value was catalogued as early as 1863, and the 10 cent in June, 1865, were issued by Mr. H. B. Sayles, postmaster at Providence, and engraved by a Mr. Kidden, of that city in 1846. None of the daily papers of the locality, which we have been permitted to consult, seem to have noticed the issue. The plate has however been preserved among the archives of the State of Rhode Island.

PROVIDENCE POST OFFICE.

ISSUE OF 1846.

"_Post Office_," in a curved line, "_Prov. R. I._" in a straight line, and "_Five Cents_" in a curved line, all in outline colorless block capitals on a ground of fine horizontal lines, bordered by a fine colored, a broad colorless and second fine colored line, forming a horizontal oval, the s.p.a.ce outside filled in with similar horizontal lined ground to form a rectangle, bordered by a fine colored line, the bottom and right side double thickness, and ornamented with a white foliated ornament in each of the four corners, separated by a white ball on the sides, and by from two to five b.a.l.l.s above, but none at the bottom, where there is instead a prolongation of the foliation.

Plate impression (copper), 20 by 28 mm., on yellowish white paper.

5 cents, black, 10 cents, black.

These stamps were issued gummed.

The paper of the sheet measures 85 by 88 mm. On the plate there are three stamps in each horizontal and four in each vertical row, or twelve stamps. The upper right hand corner stamp alone bears the value "_Ten Cents_." If for the sake of convenience the first stamp on the left of the upper row is designated as type one, the next two, etc.; the first stamp on the left of the second row as type four; the first of the third row as seven; and the first of the fourth row as ten, the following may be noticed among the many points of difference. The plate was originally ruled into s.p.a.ces for the stamps by very fine lines, which seem to have been carried straight through over the s.p.a.ces intended to separate the stamps, and not always to have been perfectly obliterated afterwards. On the right of the plate there is also a vertical line parallel to the right side of all the stamps in the right hand row, at the distance separating two stamps (nearly 2 mm.) as if the intention had been to add another stamp to each horizontal row.

_Type 1._ At the upper left corner, the horizontal frame line thickened projects to the left and the vertical line projects upward. 5 b.a.l.l.s between the foliations the middle one is an oblong rectangle, the end ones touch the ornaments. The side b.a.l.l.s are on a line with the tops of the letters of "Prov., R. I." There is a period after Cents.

_Type 2._ At the upper left corner, the horizontal frame line thickened projects to the left. At the lower left corner both the horizontal and vertical lines thickened project. Both the horizontal top and bottom lines continue on the right to Type 3. 5 b.a.l.l.s, the middle one is a square, the next on the right is the lower half of a circle, the next on left flat at top and bottom. These three are all small. The end ball on the right larger than the others. Both it and the end ball on the left are flat on top. "F" in "Five" very close to the border. Side b.a.l.l.s above the line of the top of the letters of "Prov., R. I." A period after Cents.

_Type 3._ Ten cents. The horizontal top line of frame projects each way.

The vertical line at the right plain above but thickened and partially obliterated below the lower right corner. The lower horizontal line projects to the left to Type 2. 5 b.a.l.l.s, the middle one large and square, the extreme right one nearly round, the remaining three irregular and nearly equal in size. "E" of "Office" touches the oval.

Side b.a.l.l.s below the line of the top of the letters of "Prov., R. I.,"

and lower point of left foliation cuts into the left ball. No period after Cents.

_Type 4._ The top horizontal line projects to the left. The bottom horizontal line projects both to the left and right. 5 b.a.l.l.s. The middle one is a small oblong rectangle. Those next to it very small. Left side ball on a level with the top line of letters of "Prov., R. I.," but the right ball smaller and lower down. No period after Cents.

_Type 5._ The top horizontal line projects to the left, and part of it is thickened. It also projects to the right. The bottom horizontal line projects to the left. 5 b.a.l.l.s. The middle one in an oblong rectangle.

The "s" of Cents, resembles an 8. Side b.a.l.l.s are above the line of the top of "Prov., R. I." No period after Cents.

_Type 6._ The top horizontal line projects to left. The bottom horizontal line also. The vertical left line projects to type 9. 5 b.a.l.l.s. The middle one is a square. Shading of "E" of "Office" touches the oval. The side b.a.l.l.s are below the tops of "Prov., R. I." No period after Cents.

_Type 7._ The top horizontal line projects both to left and right. The right vertical line projects above the corner. 4 b.a.l.l.s only. The middle one is gone. They are all small. A period after Cents.

_Type 8._ The top horizontal and left vertical lines both project at the upper left corner. 5 b.a.l.l.s. The middle ball is a square. The top of the "E" of "Office" touches the oval. The "s" in Cents is very small, and is followed by a period.

_Type 9._ The top horizontal line projects both ways, and the left vertical line projects above the upper left corner. Both vertical lines are continued down to type 12. 2 b.a.l.l.s only, the middle ones are left out. "V" in "Prov." is too large and the "F" of "Five" touches the oval.

No period after Cents.

_Type 10._ The top horizontal and right vertical lines both project beyond the upper right corner. 5 b.a.l.l.s. The middle one square. The lower leaf of the upper left foliation has no notch. Point after Cents.

_Type 11._ The top horizontal line projects to the left and both verticals project upwards. 5 b.a.l.l.s. The middle one is square. The end b.a.l.l.s project above top line. No period after Cents.

_Type 12._ Both vertical lines project up to Type 9. 5 dots. Middle one is an oblong rectangle. The next on the right projects above the frame.

The one at right end is nearly round, but both those at the left are rectangular. Ball at right side large and flat. No period after Cents.

It has been stated that the engraver of the original plate re-engraved these stamps for the benefit of collectors many years ago. However this may be, there are a number of very dangerous counterfeits in existence, as well as some that are easily detected.

In the following table the lines which touch the letters or other parts are counted as well as those between them. By these differences and peculiarities the position of a given specimen on the plate can readily be determined.

The following peculiarities are noticed in Le Timbre Poste, page 5, 1871.