Engraved on copper by J. M. Kershaw, at St. Louis. The plate consisted of six stamps, three of each value, and was delivered to Mr. Wymer, and is said to have been lost with other of his effects during the war. The engraver thinks he printed about 500 sheets, at three different times, upon such paper as he happened to have at hand, and that as the plate deteriorated easily, he probably retouched it slightly each time in parts, before printing. He denies positively the possibility of the figures upon the twenty cent value being his work. These are all the facts he can now vouch for, and states that many of the statements from time to time attributed to him "were the ideas of his interviewers, who tried to refresh his recollection and may have mixed him up."
Plate Impression in black upon three qualities of bluish paper, 3 varieties of each value.
5 cents, black 17½ by 22½ mm. 10 cents, black 18½ by 22½ mm.
These stamps are printed on a rather thick greenish blue paper, on a thinner grey-blue paper, and on a very thin greyish paper, which agrees with the recollection of the engraver that he printed three different lots of them. A pair is also known on a coffee colored paper. They were taken from buff envelopes, and are undoubtedly discolored by the action of the paper or gum. Those on white paper have been made so by chemical action.
FIVE CENTS. The dashes in the corners form a sort of triangular ornament, or branch. The letters are block capitals, shaded by a fine line. There are no lines or dashes under "_Post Office_."
_First Variety._ (_a_) The buckle on the garter has the point and tongue turned up to the left.
(_b_) There are six dashes above "_Saint_," and eight above "_Louis_," of which the top and bottom ones on each side are long strokes.
(_c_) One long and two short lines and a speck under "_Saint_," and one long and three short lines under "_Louis_."
(_d_) A long diamond in top of numeral, and a mis-shapened diamond in the bow of the numeral, with four dots above and nine below it, and a dot in the ball of the numeral.
(_e_) The bear in the shield is on a vertically lined ground.
_Second Variety._ (_a_) The buckle has the tongue and point turned down to the right.