Private Die Stamps

The Revenue Act of July 1st, 1862 allowed manufacturers of playing cards to submit their own designs for tax stamps. Once they were approved by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, they would have a die made and begin producing these stamps. These are the regulations for the creation of Private Die Stamps set by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue:

1. Every proprietor can furnish a design for a stamp, which if approved, will be engraved by the gov- ernment engravers, Messrs. Butler and Carpenter, of Philadelphia, at the cost of the proprietor.
2. If the designs do not exceed in superficial area 13/16 of an inch for the denomination of one and two cent stamps, or 63/64 of an inch for the denomination of three and four cent stamps… there will be no additional charge to the purchasers.
3. Every stamp must be rectangular in form.
4. All dies and plates will be retained by, and remain under the exclusive control of, the government.
5. The private stamp must be so affixed on the package that, in opening the same, the stamp shall be effectually destroyed.
6. When printing in more than one color is desired, the additional expense must be borne by the proprietor.
7. Each stamp must bear the words, or a proper abbreviation of them, “United States Internal Revenue.”
8. Each stamp must bear in words and figures, the denomination of stamp.
9. Proprietors shall be allowed the following discount, namely: on amounts purchased at one time of not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars, five percent; on amounts over five hundred dollars, ten percent.

The type of paper used to print Private Die Stamps changed over the years due to change in manufacturers. Here is a chart that shows the different types of paper, the companies that used them, and the time period that they were used in: