Most people felt that the officials sets were boring, mostly because of the single color throughout the set. But because the Officials were valid at the same time as the large banknotes were, so to avoid confusion at the post office, it was decided to print each department in its own color.
I love the large banknotes and the various sets of the Executive Department Officials. It's a pleasure to see the complete set of proofs. Interesting stamps lots of people ignored for many years in lieu of what used to be called the classics. In my mind they were always classics, but I guess each new generation determines for themselves what the "classics" are.
The Departmental stamps are an amazing piece of work by the Continental Bank Note Co. In mid May of 1873, they received the order to prepare 92 face different stamps, to be delivered to the stamp agent in time for the agent to deliver the stamps to the departments and all of their branches by July 1, 1873.
