Concerning Brands  

            “The following from the secretary of state is a reply to a letter from County Clerk King in reference to the law concerning brands and will be of interest to stockmen:  

                                                Denver June 30, 1885 

A.J. King Esq. 

            Fairplay, Colo. 

 Dear Sir:  

 Replying to yours of June 29^th, will state that owners of stock brands, having their brands duly certified up to this office, have got to obtain a certified copy of the record of this office and record same in your office.  The object of the law is to give county clerks official knowledge that the right to use, and ownership in, a brand has been retained by the owner, by compliance with the new law, as failure to have recorded in this office by August 1^st works a virtual forfeiture, in as much as any person can obtain the exclusive right for the state to the use of a brand that is not recorded in this office on said date. 

            The law is changed simply as  to the recording. Proof of the right to the use of, and ownership in a brand, must come from the county clerks in the future, as in the past; hence it is essential that you should have official knowledge of the ownership of a brand, in order that you may issue the proper certificate where required so to do, and such official knowledge cannot be made of record in your office except by a certified copy from this office. 

                        Respectfully etc., 

                                    Malvin Edwards 

                                    Secretary of State”