6c Proprietary general issue revenue stamp plate proof

1875-1883

In 1875, the Bureau of Internal Revenue awarded the printing contract for revenue stamps, previously held by Joseph R. Carpenter, to the National Bank Note Company. National Banknote prepared a new series of proprietary stamps, commonly referred to as the "second proprietary issue," in 1-cent, 2-cent, 3-cent, 4-cent, 5-cent, and 6-cent denominations. The stamps were issued between October 1875 and the termination of proprietary taxes on July 1, 1883. Imposed to finance the Civil War, the proprietary taxes applied to items such as matches, proprietary medicines, and perfumes.