The 24 cent tended to fade from environmental factors but it was also known for great color variation in production with color change from the gum drying chamber. The color issue was a concern to the Post Office Department and National Bank Note during both the essay and production of the stamp. Below is some of the correspondance between the POD and NBNC
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.
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
Hon. W. H. H. Terrell
Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C
From National Bank Note Company
National Bank Note Company
New York, April 12, 1870
Dear Sir: Your dispatch of yesterday reached here last evening after business hours. We have to-day telegraphed you in reply: "All the stamps are ready for delivery, excepting the twelve and twenty-four-cent, and they will be in a few days."
We could not give a definite answer to your question as to when you could safely announce the stamps would be issued; for we found some of the denominations have already been sent out, quite to our surprise, and under the following circumstances: Agent Boyd having received an immense order for stamps some days ago, advised the Department that it was impossible to fill it without issuing some of the new stamps, and received in reply, we understand, that when he could not supply old stamps to give the new; and under those instructions the order was filled, some of the new stamps going out on Saturday last, and more since. Agent Boyd is sending out six-cent stamps instead of twelve-cent, and old twenty-four-cents instead of new.
We are experimenting with the twelve and twenty-four-cent stamps, and hope to-day or to-morrow to succeed in the color.
Yours, very respectfully,
A. D. Shepard, Treasurer.
Hon. W. H. H. Terrell
Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C.
From National Bank Note Company
National Bank Note Company
New York, April 16, 1870
Dear Sir: To get a purple tint for the twenty-four-cent stamp, which would remain purple after undergoing the heat of the drying-room and action of the acid of the gum, has caused a very severe trial of your patience.
We have tried all the pure color, and combinations of colors, some even at a cost of $24 per pound, (or sixty cents per 1,000 stamps for color only.) We inclose two half sheets, marked Nos. 1 and 2, which differ from the sample tint, but are brilliant and seem to promise well; all the others change so much that they would not be satisfactory to you. If either of these is acceptable, please telegraph the number of the sheet, and we will print them at once.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. Macdonough, Secretary
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
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., Mau 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
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
W. M. Ireland, Esq.,
Acting Third Assistant Postmaster-General, Washington, D. C.
These letters show that there were concerns with the color. The letter from Boyd, the Department stamp agent, states that the gum drying for the 24 cent took longer which indicates that lower drying temperatures had to be used to prevent color change. This color was one of the most change sensitive of the classic U.S. stamps. |
Posted 12/08/2012 6:40 pm
