Part 4 (2/2)
In these two ill.u.s.trations are shown roulettes of large and small gauge.
The same result is also obtained by setting printers rules which have a notched edge between the _cliches_ which compose the plate. These rules are set a trifle higher than the _cliches_ so that, when the sheet of paper is pressed against the plate in printing, the points of the rules are forced through it. These points receive ink the same as other parts of the surface of the plate and the effect thus produced is called rouletting in colored lines.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Rouletting Forms]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Rouletting Forms]
There are a number of systems which produce the effect of rouletting in a variety of fancy forms. One is called _perce en arc_. This produces a series of arches on one stamp and a series of scallops on the adjacent one. Here is an example of this rouletting, in a small gauge. A similar form is called serpentine perforation. It is here shown.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Rouletting Forms]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Rouletting Forms]
Still another form leaves the edges of the stamps in sharp points. This is called _perce en scie_ or saw-tooth perforation. When this perforation is very fine it is called serrate. There is still another form of rouletting, which we also show you. It is called rouletting in oblique parallel cuts and consists of a row of short cuts placed obliquely and parallel to each other. Stamps thus rouletted have a very ragged edge when torn apart. This roulette was only used in Tasmania and was a private production.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Burelage]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Control Number, 70]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Moiree Pattern]
One of the nightmares of every government is the fear that its securities will be counterfeited or tampered with. I have several times mentioned precautions against such abuses in the shape of fine engraving, watermarks, enameled paper, sensitive inks, etc. There are numerous other devices which have been used with the same end in view.
The patterns here shown were printed on the backs of the stamps in blue ink. The first is a band of interlaced lines, called a _burelage_. The second is a sort of control number. The number differs for each stamp on the sheet. The third resembles the lines in watered silk and is called _moiree_. It covers the entire back of the sheet. Sometimes the stamps are covered with a network which only becomes visible on the application of certain chemicals. In this country the experiment has been tried of breaking the fibre of the paper by pressing into the stamps a group of tiny pyramids, called a grill. The idea was that the cancelling ink would penetrate the broken paper and could not be removed.
We cannot finish our study of the material side of stamps without reference to another feature, i.e., surcharges. Correctly speaking, a surcharge is an added charge, but in philately the term is applied to a variety of overprints, the majority of which indicate a reduction rather than an increase in value. Years ago the word surcharge usually suggested a makes.h.i.+ft, something of a temporary nature prepared to meet an emergency and, therefore, interesting and likely to become valuable.
But our little weaknesses are now well understood by those who are exploiting the commercial side of postage stamps and we have reason to fear that many recent surcharges were made for revenue only and not from any real necessity. The majority of surcharges are made to supply a value which has been temporarily exhausted. For example, many of the British Colonies obtained their supplies of stamps in London. It may happen that an order is not placed early enough or there is delay in filling it and delivering the stamps. Owing to this, the values most in use may be exhausted. Under such circ.u.mstances, it is customary to provide a temporary supply by printing the needed value on some other stamp, usually one of higher value. To use a lower value would tempt the counterfeiting of the surcharge, for the profit to be made through the increased value.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Stamp, ”Mauritius”, surcharged 4 cents]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Stamp, ”Gibraltar”, surcharged 5 centimos]
There are, however, a variety of other surcharges, a few of which may interest you. The first two stamps indicate a change in the form of the currency of the country, from pence to cents in Mauritius and from the English half penny to its Spanish equivalent in Gibraltar. The Seych.e.l.les stamp was prepared to meet a change in the rate for letters to countries in the International Postal Union.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Stamp, ”Seych.e.l.les”, surcharged 8 cents]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Stamp, ”St. Helena”, surcharged 1 penny]
The first stamp made in St. Helena was a six pence. For a long time no other value was engraved but the six pence stamps were printed in a variety of colors and surcharged with the desired values. The Ceylon stamp has been made available for revenue purposes, as well as postal.
The last stamp shown is from Shanghai. Its original value was 100 cash.
This was overprinted ”20 cash” and the equivalent Chinese characters in a double-lined frame, and again surcharged ”100 cash.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: Stamp, ”Ceylon”, 15 cents, surcharged 5 cents, Postage, Revenue]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Stamp, ”Shanghai LPO”, 100 cash, surcharged 20 cash, surcharged again 100 cash]
There is an interesting bit of history connected with these surcharges.
The supply of 20 cash stamps was exhausted and the postmaster surcharged that value on eight hundred of the 100 cash stamps. A tourist, learning this and knowing that the regular 20 cash stamps were expected to arrive at any moment, bought the entire lot. But the expected stamps failed to arrive and the postmaster made a second lot of surcharges but on the 80 cash this time. When the tourist learned this he wished to return the stamps he had bought. The postmaster refused to take them back but, pressure being brought through the Munic.i.p.al Council, finally consented.
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