# RB26 - 1898 1 7/8c Proprietary Stamp - Rouletted 5 1/2, dull blue
Proprietary Stamps- Neat Revenue Stamps, Missing from Many Collections!
Proprietary Stamps
America issued its first Revenue Stamps in 1862 to help fund the Civil War. The first issue included 25 different types of stamps for various uses. Among these were stamps for use on proprietary articles. These proprietary items were consumer goods, including medicines, matches, perfumes, playing cards, canned foods, and more. Between 1862 and 1871, there were eight proprietary stamps created as part of this initial Revenue issue.
While Proprietary Stamps were most commonly used on medicines, they were not needed on all medicines. They were issued specifically for medicines whose formulas were secret, so medicines with established formulas were exempt. Additionally, proprietary medicines given to the poor were also exempt from the tax.
In 1871, James M. Wilcox received a patent for an “Improvement in Paper for Bank Notes, Bonds, etc.” His patent was for a special kind of “Chameleon” paper that was embedded with blue and red silk fibers. These fibers were sensitive to either acids or alkaline. This was conceived as a way to prevent cancellations from being removed and stamps reused. The Proprietary Stamps of 1871-75 used this chameleon paper.
On July 1, 1883, the proprietary tax was repealed after more than 20 years in use. However, the tax was revived in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish American War. These stamps were most widely used on patent medicines. Most of the stamps were issued in fractional denominations for the patent medicine tax. Though the war with Spain ended after just three months (in August 1898), the proprietary tax remained in effect until July 1, 1902.
An interesting side story to these stamps is Private Die Proprietary stamps. These stamps were created during and after the Civil War for the same purpose as the regular Proprietary stamps… but the manufacturers produced these stamps. The new law had permitted them to create their own stamps at a discount of 5% to 10%. It also allowed them to advertise their products right on the stamps. They have some really interesting designs!
Type “Proprietary” or “Private” in the search bar above for more stamps.
Proprietary Stamps- Neat Revenue Stamps, Missing from Many Collections!
Proprietary Stamps
America issued its first Revenue Stamps in 1862 to help fund the Civil War. The first issue included 25 different types of stamps for various uses. Among these were stamps for use on proprietary articles. These proprietary items were consumer goods, including medicines, matches, perfumes, playing cards, canned foods, and more. Between 1862 and 1871, there were eight proprietary stamps created as part of this initial Revenue issue.
While Proprietary Stamps were most commonly used on medicines, they were not needed on all medicines. They were issued specifically for medicines whose formulas were secret, so medicines with established formulas were exempt. Additionally, proprietary medicines given to the poor were also exempt from the tax.
In 1871, James M. Wilcox received a patent for an “Improvement in Paper for Bank Notes, Bonds, etc.” His patent was for a special kind of “Chameleon” paper that was embedded with blue and red silk fibers. These fibers were sensitive to either acids or alkaline. This was conceived as a way to prevent cancellations from being removed and stamps reused. The Proprietary Stamps of 1871-75 used this chameleon paper.
On July 1, 1883, the proprietary tax was repealed after more than 20 years in use. However, the tax was revived in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish American War. These stamps were most widely used on patent medicines. Most of the stamps were issued in fractional denominations for the patent medicine tax. Though the war with Spain ended after just three months (in August 1898), the proprietary tax remained in effect until July 1, 1902.
An interesting side story to these stamps is Private Die Proprietary stamps. These stamps were created during and after the Civil War for the same purpose as the regular Proprietary stamps… but the manufacturers produced these stamps. The new law had permitted them to create their own stamps at a discount of 5% to 10%. It also allowed them to advertise their products right on the stamps. They have some really interesting designs!
Type “Proprietary” or “Private” in the search bar above for more stamps.