1860's CDV Photo Older Man Hinds Photographer Orange Bank Check 2c Tax Stamp ME

Description

1860's CDV Photo Portly Older Man Hinds Photographer Orange Washington 2c Bank Check Tax Stamp ME
Hinds, B. W., Photographed by, N. Vasselboro', NH (1860s) "Additional copies can be had if desired"
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2-Cent Washington Tax Internal Revenue Bank Check Stamp cancelled by photographer with "Hinds No Vass ME"
On August 1, 1864 the Internal Revenue department passed a 'photograph tax' requiring photographers to pay a tax on the sale of their photographs. By 1864 there were no 'photography tax' stamps issued, so other stamps were substituted, typically, the proprietary or playing card revenue stamps was used, usually affixed to the back of the photograph. Already burdened with high overhead costs and scarcity of materials because of the war, large photograph companies organized and petitioned Congress, complaining that they were shouldering too much of the tax burden placed on the public. After exactly two years their constant efforts resulted in the tax being repealed on August 1, 1866. Several other widely used products, such as cotton, tobacco and alcohol, were also charged a proprietary tax which appreciably contributed to the revenues generated.