How a new stamp is born

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How a new stamp is born:
{a basic description.}

This is a work in progress and will be added to as I get time.

The government first must authorize a new stamp for either regular usage (definitives/regular usage) or to commemorate something or even a special usage. In the United States, the decision to produce a stamp is made by a Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, which meets regularly in conjunction with staff from the Post Office. The committee is responsible for determining what stamps will be produced and in what denominations, and at what time.
There are also suggestions for stamps come from throughout the country, although the committee itself might recommend a particular design. Most frequently, however, there is a large pool of recommendations with which to work. In some cases, suggestions are accompanied by drawings and pictures which might form the basis for the stamp being considered.

The frame, Decorations, colorings, etc.. must be given due thought before proceeding with the next step of making a stamp which is the actual making of the master die.

Trials or rough sketches are then submitted to the Postal officials in pencil, ink, or otherwise and in one or more colors.

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Also the proposed image (essay) for the Scott #370 William H. Seward.

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Essay image II. A proposed image for the Scott #370 William H. Seward.

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Most early stamps were of a single color. The United States, for example, did not produce multicolored stamps until 1869.

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They did not become common until the 1920s.

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It is highly unusual for just one artist to do a complete stamp. This is usually parceled out to at least 3 different artists/craftsman, and each a specialist in his own particular branch of art. One will be assigned the subject of the central Vignette, and another for the ornamental frame, and the third does all the lettering. in one particular case as a new stamp was needed it was quickly done for a submitted entry in order to get the contract and as a result you get stuff like this- (Of course there is a lot more to this particular stamps story but that's for later)

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The engraving method of intaglio printing begins with the creation of a master die on which the design of the stamp is engraved, in reverse.

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Intaglio involves engraving, scratching, or etching an image onto a printing plate by the use of specialized tools such as the Graver (or burin), a scraper, burnisher and an etching needle to name a few; which in turn will transfers that image onto paper.

Below is pictured both the rotary press printing plate and a flat plate press die plate.

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The impression on the plate is in the form of grooves rather than a raised image.

Intaglio is an Italian word meaning "incised" or "engraved."

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After the die has been completed, it is heated to harden the engraved image. In the next step, the hardened master die is transferred to a transfer roll, which consists of soft steel wrapped around a rod-shaped carrier, or mandrel, and which resembles a shortened rolling pin.  The transfer roll is machine-pressed against the master die, and rocked back and forth until the master die has created a relief impression on the transfer roll. At this point, the relief is a positive impression (no longer in reverse). The process is repeated until the desired number of reliefs has been created on the transfer roll. Next, the plate is fastened into the printing press and coated with ink, and the appropriate paper is fed through the press.

*[See posts below for images of the aforementioned.]

Proofs are usually made from the completed design and from the transfer roll in a host of different colors and printed first on whats called "India paper" because it takes a very fine print. Referred to as a "P3". All stamp proofs in any color other than the issued color is called a trial color proof. After the desired color is chosen it will be printed on card stock are referred to as "P4" and done on a full sheet of 4 blocks of 20 to send out to be approved for production and fix any flaws.
They are also sent (after approval) to other countries so they know that it's legitimate postage and usually in the agreed upon Postal Union Colors {More on that later}

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The hardened steel die that is used to to transfer the stamps into the softened printing plate also the plate is pictured.

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A full sheet layout (for a flat plate press)

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Many different printing methods and machines are used and below is an image of the patent drawing of the Rotery press.

The rotary press: