1897-1903 10c Webster, orange brown

# 283 - 1897-1903 10c Webster, orange brown

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U.S. #283
Series of 1898-99 10¢ Webster
Type II
Universal Postal Union Colors

Earliest Known Use: March 13, 1899
Issue Quantity: 65,000,000 (estimate)
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Watermark:
Double line USPS
Perforation:
12
Color: Orange brown

The Type I (U.S. #282C) and Type II (U.S. #283) stamps are most easily distinguished by color. U.S. #282C is brown, while U.S. #283 is yellow or orange brown.
 
On Type I, the circular lines around the denomination stop before the vignette’s frame line. They continue through the frame line on Type II stamps.
 
Why the Series of 1898-99 Was Produced
In 1863, Lincoln’s Postmaster General Montgomery Blair suggested an international conference be held to discuss common postal problems. A conference was held in Paris, and fifteen nations attempted to establish guidelines for an international postal service. Until this time, mail had been regulated by a number of different agreements that were binding only to signing members.
 
Although Blair did not intend to create a permanent organization, another conference was held 11 years later in Bern, Switzerland. Twenty-two nations, comprising the International Postal congress, drafted and signed the Bern Treaty, which established the General Postal Union. Under this treaty, member nations, including Europe, Britain, and the United States, standardized postal rates and units of weight. They also set forth procedures for transporting ordinary mail. Ordinary mail included letters, postcards, and small packages. Separate rules govern the transportation of items, such as parcel post, newspapers, magazines, and money orders.
 
Under this agreement, known as the International Postal Convention, a simpler accounting system was devised as well. Previously, countries could vary the international rate. Any mail traveling across a country’s border was charged this rate. In addition, many countries charged a 1¢ surtax for mail being transported by sea for more than 300 miles. Using the basic idea that every letter generates a reply, the Convention allowed each country to keep the postage it collected on international mail. However, that country would then reimburse other members for transporting mail across their borders. The benefits to member nations included lower postal rates, better service, and a more efficient accounting system.
 
In 1878, at the second conference, the name was changed to the Universal Postal Union (UPU). It wasn’t until the 1880s that the organization became truly universal. By the 1890s, nearly every nation had become a member. In 1947, the UPU became a specialized agency of the United Nations. Today, it continues to organize and improve postal service throughout the world. It’s the oldest international organization existing and claims to be the only one that really works.
 
In 1898, the Universal Postal Union standardized the colors of certain stamps in order to make international mailing easier and more efficient. They proposed that member nations use the same colors for stamps of the same value. In order to conform to the UPU’s regulations, the 1¢, 2¢, and 5¢ stamps underwent color changes. Later that same year, the 4¢, 6¢, 10¢, and 15¢ stamps were changed to avoid confusion with current issues printed in similar colors.

Webster’s “Seventh of March” Speech

1879 Webster stamp
US #189 – 1879 American Bank Note Printing

On March 7, 1850, Massachusetts Senator Daniel Webster delivered one of his most famous speeches, the “Seventh of March” speech.  It expressed his support for the Compromise of 1850 that would help avert a Civil War but proved disastrous for his Senate career.

As talks of secession began to rise, particularly in South Carolina, President Zachary Taylor responded strongly.  He said he would personally lead the Army against anyone rising in rebellion – “he would hang…with less reluctance than he had hanged deserters and spies in Mexico.”  This shocked politicians on both sides, and Henry Clay of Kentucky forged an agreement that came to be called the “Compromise of 1850.”

US #274 – The original Compromise of 1850 was drafted by Henry Clay.

The proposed compromise was as controversial as the slavery debate itself.  The bill proposed the organization of Utah and New Mexico, leaving the decision on whether to be a slave or free territories to the citizens of those regions.  The bill would also make California a free state and prohibit slave auctions in the District of Columbia.

Additionally, the bill would introduce a new fugitive slave law.  This ordered runaway slaves found anywhere in the United States be returned to their owners if a board of commissioners declared them fugitives.  The bill would allow authorities to arrest Blacks and return them to slave territory, whether they were slaves or not.  President Zachary Taylor refused to take a side on the issue, while Vice President Fillmore urged him to pass the bill.

1890 Webster stamp
US #226 – 1890 American Bank Note Printing

Debate over the compromise raged.  On March 7, 1850, Webster addressed the Senate in a three-and-a-half-hour speech in support of the compromise.  He hoped his words might unite his fellow Senators.  He argued that it was pointless to fight about continuing slavery where it was already instituted.  He also said they shouldn’t need to discuss extending slavery to the dry lands in the southwest, where plantations wouldn’t survive.

1898 Webster stamp
US #283 – 1898 Type I Webster in the Universal Postal Union Colors

Webster’s speech was quickly sent to newspapers around the country via telegraph.  Across most of the nation his speech was well-received.  But back home in New England he was widely criticized and accused of cutting a deal with Southern leaders to support the bill in exchange for their support in his presidential campaign.  Webster had lost the support of his state and resigned from the Senate that July.  This was shortly after President Taylor had died.

1903 Webster stamp
US #307 – from the Series of 1902-03

Fillmore quickly assumed the presidency and accepted the resignations of Taylor’s entire Cabinet.  Fillmore immediately replaced them with men he expected to support the compromise and focused all his energy into getting it passed.  He made Webster his secretary of State.  However, the task would not be easy, as Clay introduced a modified version of the bill and the pro- and anti-slavery forces in Congress battled over every line.  Worn down by the constant fighting, Clay left the capital and Stephen Douglas came in as his replacement.

1932 Webster stamp
US #725 was issued for Webster’s 150th birthday in 1932.

Douglas broke the Compromise down into five smaller bills, getting each passed one by one.  As a result, Texas received $10 million for settling its border dispute with New Mexico, California was admitted as a free state, New Mexico and Utah became territories, slave trading was made illegal in Washington, DC, and the Fugitive Slave Law passed with little quarrel in the Senate or House. Fillmore saw the passage of all five bills as a great triumph in inter-party cooperation, keeping America united.  Although the agreement delayed the Civil War for a decade, it highlighted a deep divide.

Read Webster’s speech.

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U.S. #283
Series of 1898-99 10¢ Webster
Type II
Universal Postal Union Colors

Earliest Known Use: March 13, 1899
Issue Quantity: 65,000,000 (estimate)
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Watermark:
Double line USPS
Perforation:
12
Color: Orange brown

The Type I (U.S. #282C) and Type II (U.S. #283) stamps are most easily distinguished by color. U.S. #282C is brown, while U.S. #283 is yellow or orange brown.
 
On Type I, the circular lines around the denomination stop before the vignette’s frame line. They continue through the frame line on Type II stamps.
 
Why the Series of 1898-99 Was Produced
In 1863, Lincoln’s Postmaster General Montgomery Blair suggested an international conference be held to discuss common postal problems. A conference was held in Paris, and fifteen nations attempted to establish guidelines for an international postal service. Until this time, mail had been regulated by a number of different agreements that were binding only to signing members.
 
Although Blair did not intend to create a permanent organization, another conference was held 11 years later in Bern, Switzerland. Twenty-two nations, comprising the International Postal congress, drafted and signed the Bern Treaty, which established the General Postal Union. Under this treaty, member nations, including Europe, Britain, and the United States, standardized postal rates and units of weight. They also set forth procedures for transporting ordinary mail. Ordinary mail included letters, postcards, and small packages. Separate rules govern the transportation of items, such as parcel post, newspapers, magazines, and money orders.
 
Under this agreement, known as the International Postal Convention, a simpler accounting system was devised as well. Previously, countries could vary the international rate. Any mail traveling across a country’s border was charged this rate. In addition, many countries charged a 1¢ surtax for mail being transported by sea for more than 300 miles. Using the basic idea that every letter generates a reply, the Convention allowed each country to keep the postage it collected on international mail. However, that country would then reimburse other members for transporting mail across their borders. The benefits to member nations included lower postal rates, better service, and a more efficient accounting system.
 
In 1878, at the second conference, the name was changed to the Universal Postal Union (UPU). It wasn’t until the 1880s that the organization became truly universal. By the 1890s, nearly every nation had become a member. In 1947, the UPU became a specialized agency of the United Nations. Today, it continues to organize and improve postal service throughout the world. It’s the oldest international organization existing and claims to be the only one that really works.
 
In 1898, the Universal Postal Union standardized the colors of certain stamps in order to make international mailing easier and more efficient. They proposed that member nations use the same colors for stamps of the same value. In order to conform to the UPU’s regulations, the 1¢, 2¢, and 5¢ stamps underwent color changes. Later that same year, the 4¢, 6¢, 10¢, and 15¢ stamps were changed to avoid confusion with current issues printed in similar colors.

Webster’s “Seventh of March” Speech

1879 Webster stamp
US #189 – 1879 American Bank Note Printing

On March 7, 1850, Massachusetts Senator Daniel Webster delivered one of his most famous speeches, the “Seventh of March” speech.  It expressed his support for the Compromise of 1850 that would help avert a Civil War but proved disastrous for his Senate career.

As talks of secession began to rise, particularly in South Carolina, President Zachary Taylor responded strongly.  He said he would personally lead the Army against anyone rising in rebellion – “he would hang…with less reluctance than he had hanged deserters and spies in Mexico.”  This shocked politicians on both sides, and Henry Clay of Kentucky forged an agreement that came to be called the “Compromise of 1850.”

US #274 – The original Compromise of 1850 was drafted by Henry Clay.

The proposed compromise was as controversial as the slavery debate itself.  The bill proposed the organization of Utah and New Mexico, leaving the decision on whether to be a slave or free territories to the citizens of those regions.  The bill would also make California a free state and prohibit slave auctions in the District of Columbia.

Additionally, the bill would introduce a new fugitive slave law.  This ordered runaway slaves found anywhere in the United States be returned to their owners if a board of commissioners declared them fugitives.  The bill would allow authorities to arrest Blacks and return them to slave territory, whether they were slaves or not.  President Zachary Taylor refused to take a side on the issue, while Vice President Fillmore urged him to pass the bill.

1890 Webster stamp
US #226 – 1890 American Bank Note Printing

Debate over the compromise raged.  On March 7, 1850, Webster addressed the Senate in a three-and-a-half-hour speech in support of the compromise.  He hoped his words might unite his fellow Senators.  He argued that it was pointless to fight about continuing slavery where it was already instituted.  He also said they shouldn’t need to discuss extending slavery to the dry lands in the southwest, where plantations wouldn’t survive.

1898 Webster stamp
US #283 – 1898 Type I Webster in the Universal Postal Union Colors

Webster’s speech was quickly sent to newspapers around the country via telegraph.  Across most of the nation his speech was well-received.  But back home in New England he was widely criticized and accused of cutting a deal with Southern leaders to support the bill in exchange for their support in his presidential campaign.  Webster had lost the support of his state and resigned from the Senate that July.  This was shortly after President Taylor had died.

1903 Webster stamp
US #307 – from the Series of 1902-03

Fillmore quickly assumed the presidency and accepted the resignations of Taylor’s entire Cabinet.  Fillmore immediately replaced them with men he expected to support the compromise and focused all his energy into getting it passed.  He made Webster his secretary of State.  However, the task would not be easy, as Clay introduced a modified version of the bill and the pro- and anti-slavery forces in Congress battled over every line.  Worn down by the constant fighting, Clay left the capital and Stephen Douglas came in as his replacement.

1932 Webster stamp
US #725 was issued for Webster’s 150th birthday in 1932.

Douglas broke the Compromise down into five smaller bills, getting each passed one by one.  As a result, Texas received $10 million for settling its border dispute with New Mexico, California was admitted as a free state, New Mexico and Utah became territories, slave trading was made illegal in Washington, DC, and the Fugitive Slave Law passed with little quarrel in the Senate or House. Fillmore saw the passage of all five bills as a great triumph in inter-party cooperation, keeping America united.  Although the agreement delayed the Civil War for a decade, it highlighted a deep divide.

Read Webster’s speech.