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The Department of Justice |
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United States Official Stamps 1873 - 1884 |
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After the much-abused free franking privilege was abolished effective July 1, 1873, the Executive departments were required to use special official stamps. The Continental Bank Note Company hastily produced this elaborate series, modifying National's original dies for the large Bank Note regular issues. A distinctive frame design and color was assigned to each department. Requisitioned quarterly from the Stamp Agent in New York, these stamps were valid only on official business mail and were never sold to the general public. In general, official mail was handled through the same channels as regular mail, and the same rates were applicable. |
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The Department of Justice, newly established in 1870 and headed by the Attorney General, was provided ten denominations, omitting only the 7¢ value (since little Justice foreign mail was anticipated). The Justice stamps were purple, consistent with the color of a doctorate hood for a degree in law. They were distributed to 172 U.S. District Attorneys, U.S. Marshals, and Clerks of the U.S. Courts; still, fewer official stamps were used than by any other department, except for the Executive Office itself. Although usages were fairly widely dispersed across the country, more than half the mail probably originated in Washington, D.C. Covers returned to the main office in Washington, D.C. often had their stamps skinned off by clerks. |
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In 1877, Congress authorized use of penalty franks, which was expanded to include field offices in 1879. During the transitional period, usage of official stamps gradually diminished, and they were declared obsolete on July 5, 1884. The Department of Justice converted quickly to using penalty envelopes and requisitioned only 2000 2¢ and 3¢ stamps after the fiscal year 1879. |
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This is the only exhibit ever devoted exclusively to the stamps of the Department of Justice. Assembled over the past twenty-five years, it includes material from most of the great official collections: Ackerman, Ehrenberg, Lewenthal, Ward, Burrus, Sheriff and the Weill brothers. |
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Title Page # 2 pdf-55k |
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Stamp Varieties Page (gif-156k) |
30/90¢ Cover Page (gif-188k) |
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Download pdf-344k |
Download pdf-312k |
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e-mail: ted lockyear |
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copyright © 2000-04 fran adams |
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