A. Goldback & Company
A. Goldback

Neither of the Goldback stamps actually say that they were designed to be used to pay the match tax, but A. Goldback and Emanuel Bear, Jr., were match manufacturers in Richmond, Virginia in 1874-5. Their stamps were issued from July, 1874 through August, 1875. 3,586,403 were issued on silk paper.

In 1875 Mr. Bear is listed in the city directory as a boot and shoe agent, and Goldback had the stamp altered to eliminate the "& Co." designation. The re-designed stamps were issued fromNovember, 1875 until sometime in 1877. 1,974,644 were issued on silk and pink papers. This one is on silk paper.

A trial color die proof of the later Goldback stamp on India paper.

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