Post by I.L.S. on Aug 15, 2013 14:23:37 GMT
This is a collection of letters back and forth between to prominent individuals on the color and design of this stamp. It's really fascinating to read and though that it may contribute to the information on TSF. This was an older post from a mutual friend who goes by "Russ". The proof however, is mine.
The 24 cent banknote was printed by both the National and Continental (American printed the Scott 200 on soft paper are a special printing). NBNC and CBNC both used the same plates and no secret mark was applied, therefore the impressions are indistinguishable. The only listing for CBNC 164 is based on ribbed paper (known to have only been used by CBNC). The CBNC printed a large quantity of these stamps and regular hard paper and a few on silk fiber paper. Without the ribbed paper these stamp is considered 153 National. Scott still does not distinguish the CBNC silk fiber paper as being a separate Continental stamp.
The color variance in this issue is partially due to fading and also largely due to the instability of the ink during the gumming process. A series of letters between the National Bank Note Co and the Post Office Department discuss this problem:
From National Bank Note Company
National Bank Note Company
New York, April 4, 1870
Sir: We have this day sent you per United States mail, package containing proofs of the new stamps, viz: Two impressions (200 stamps each) of one cent, two cents, three cents, six cents, ten cents, twelve cents, twenty-four cents, thirty cents, and ninety cents.
Yours, very respectfully,
A. D. Shepard, Treasurer.
To - Hon. W. H. H. Terrell
Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C.
---------------------------
To National Bank Note Company
Post-Office Department,
Office of Third Assistant Postmaster-General
Washington, D. C., April 6, 1870
Sir: The color selected and agreed upon for the twenty-four cent stamp, new series, was a pure purple. The gummed and perforated specimen received to-day from the stamp agent is altogether unlike and inferior in color, as you will observe by comparing the proofs with the gummed and perforated specimens. The color last referred to is the poorest I ever saw; it looks like poke-berry juice after a hard rain. Please investigate at once, and by all means lt us have the pure purple equal to the proof-samples. Mr. Boyd has been instructed by telegraph not to issue any of the twenty-four cent stamps of the defective color.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. H. H. Terrell,
Third Assistant Postmaster-General.
To - J. Macdonough, Esq.,
Secretary National Bank Note Company, New York.
---------------------------
From National Bank Note Company
National Bank Note Company
New York, April 9, 1870
Dear Sir: Your communication of 6th instant came duly to hand, and would have been immediately acknowledged but that it was thought best to ascertain the reasons for the marked difference in color between the proofs and impressions.
We find that all the carmine tints are injured by the heat of the drying-rooms and the action of the acid of the gum; and the result was shown very unfavorably for us, on the six and twenty-four cent stamps.
Since the receipt of your letter we have worked all of the doubtful colors very carefully and we have got them like the colors on the accepted proofs; we will forward you early next week impressions all gummed and perforated, showing the improved colors.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. Macdonough, Secretary
To - Hon. W. H. H. Terrell
Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C
---------------------------
From D. M. Boyd, stamp-agent
United States Postage-Stamp and Envelope Agency
New York, April 18, 1870
Sir: Inclosed please find a sheet of twenty-four cent stamps submitted, as near like the specimen as the contractors think they can be produced. If acceptable, the full series can be issued by Monday, the 25th instant, not before, as this color takes much longer to dry than any of the others.
I send to-day to all the offices requiring twelve-cent stamps that have been detained, and I am ready to issue that denomination on future orders.
Respectfully yours,
D. M. Boyd, Agent
To - Hon. W. H. H. Terrell,
Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C.
As the letter states "as this color takes much longer to dry than any of the others" it is open to speculation that the color fix may have been in drying the gum at room temperature or at least at a reduced temperature. During production these step may have been short cut to meet the shipment requirements.
----------------------------
To National Bank Note Company
Post-Office Department,
Office of Third Assistant Postmaster-General
Washington, D. C., May 2, 1870
Sir: The following telegram was sent you this morning: "General Terrell accepts sample No. 2 as color for the twenty-four-cent stamps."
To prevent mistakes, I herewith inclose some stamps taken from the sheet submitted by you.
Very respectfully,
W. M. Ireland,
Acting Third Assistant Postmaster-General
To - J. Macdonough, Esq.,
Secretary National Bank Note Company, New York
---------------------------
From National Bank Note Company
National Bank Note Company
New York, April 19, 1870
Dear Sir: We are in receipt of your favor of 18th instant, and telegram of this date, informing us that "General Terrell accepts sample No. 2 as color for twenty-four-cent stamps."
We shall immediately proceed with the printing, and will furnish proof-sheets of this stamp, in the No. 2 color, to your Department soon as they can be prepared, to be used instead of the proofs you now have.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. Macdonough, Secretary
To - W. M. Ireland, Esq.,
Acting Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C.
---------------------------
Although the letters seem to indicate that the color issue was resolved, this stamp was produced with great color variance due to the elevated temperatures in the gum drying process.
The color variance in this issue is partially due to fading and also largely due to the instability of the ink during the gumming process. A series of letters between the National Bank Note Co and the Post Office Department discuss this problem:
From National Bank Note Company
National Bank Note Company
New York, April 4, 1870
Sir: We have this day sent you per United States mail, package containing proofs of the new stamps, viz: Two impressions (200 stamps each) of one cent, two cents, three cents, six cents, ten cents, twelve cents, twenty-four cents, thirty cents, and ninety cents.
Yours, very respectfully,
A. D. Shepard, Treasurer.
To - Hon. W. H. H. Terrell
Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C.
---------------------------
To National Bank Note Company
Post-Office Department,
Office of Third Assistant Postmaster-General
Washington, D. C., April 6, 1870
Sir: The color selected and agreed upon for the twenty-four cent stamp, new series, was a pure purple. The gummed and perforated specimen received to-day from the stamp agent is altogether unlike and inferior in color, as you will observe by comparing the proofs with the gummed and perforated specimens. The color last referred to is the poorest I ever saw; it looks like poke-berry juice after a hard rain. Please investigate at once, and by all means lt us have the pure purple equal to the proof-samples. Mr. Boyd has been instructed by telegraph not to issue any of the twenty-four cent stamps of the defective color.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. H. H. Terrell,
Third Assistant Postmaster-General.
To - J. Macdonough, Esq.,
Secretary National Bank Note Company, New York.
---------------------------
From National Bank Note Company
National Bank Note Company
New York, April 9, 1870
Dear Sir: Your communication of 6th instant came duly to hand, and would have been immediately acknowledged but that it was thought best to ascertain the reasons for the marked difference in color between the proofs and impressions.
We find that all the carmine tints are injured by the heat of the drying-rooms and the action of the acid of the gum; and the result was shown very unfavorably for us, on the six and twenty-four cent stamps.
Since the receipt of your letter we have worked all of the doubtful colors very carefully and we have got them like the colors on the accepted proofs; we will forward you early next week impressions all gummed and perforated, showing the improved colors.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. Macdonough, Secretary
To - Hon. W. H. H. Terrell
Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C
---------------------------
From D. M. Boyd, stamp-agent
United States Postage-Stamp and Envelope Agency
New York, April 18, 1870
Sir: Inclosed please find a sheet of twenty-four cent stamps submitted, as near like the specimen as the contractors think they can be produced. If acceptable, the full series can be issued by Monday, the 25th instant, not before, as this color takes much longer to dry than any of the others.
I send to-day to all the offices requiring twelve-cent stamps that have been detained, and I am ready to issue that denomination on future orders.
Respectfully yours,
D. M. Boyd, Agent
To - Hon. W. H. H. Terrell,
Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C.
As the letter states "as this color takes much longer to dry than any of the others" it is open to speculation that the color fix may have been in drying the gum at room temperature or at least at a reduced temperature. During production these step may have been short cut to meet the shipment requirements.
----------------------------
To National Bank Note Company
Post-Office Department,
Office of Third Assistant Postmaster-General
Washington, D. C., May 2, 1870
Sir: The following telegram was sent you this morning: "General Terrell accepts sample No. 2 as color for the twenty-four-cent stamps."
To prevent mistakes, I herewith inclose some stamps taken from the sheet submitted by you.
Very respectfully,
W. M. Ireland,
Acting Third Assistant Postmaster-General
To - J. Macdonough, Esq.,
Secretary National Bank Note Company, New York
---------------------------
From National Bank Note Company
National Bank Note Company
New York, April 19, 1870
Dear Sir: We are in receipt of your favor of 18th instant, and telegram of this date, informing us that "General Terrell accepts sample No. 2 as color for twenty-four-cent stamps."
We shall immediately proceed with the printing, and will furnish proof-sheets of this stamp, in the No. 2 color, to your Department soon as they can be prepared, to be used instead of the proofs you now have.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. Macdonough, Secretary
To - W. M. Ireland, Esq.,
Acting Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C.
---------------------------
Although the letters seem to indicate that the color issue was resolved, this stamp was produced with great color variance due to the elevated temperatures in the gum drying process.
Here is the Swedish Tiger's description of this issue. www.theswedishtiger.com/ID153.html
