Washington, D. C., May 23d, 1887.
On or about the 15th of June, 1887, the Department will begin the issue of a new design of the ordinary one cent postage stamp, of which the following is a description: The center of the stamp consists of a profile bust of Benjamin Franklin (after-the original by Caracci), looking to the left, in an oval disk, with shaded background, the lower portion of the oval being bordered with pearls and the upper portion with a curved frame, containing in small white letters, the words, "United States Postage." The whole is engraved in line upon a shield shaped tablet, with a truncated pyramidal base, bearing on it the words "one" and "cent," on either side of the figure "1." The color of the stamp is ultramarine blue, and its general appearance is somewhat similar to that of the stamp now in use.
Before ordering supplies of the new stamps, postmasters will be expected to exhaust their stock of the old, which will continue to be valid. Under no circumstances are the old stamps to be sent to the Department for redemption or exchange.
WILLIAM T. VILAS,
Postmaster General.
H. R. HARRIS,
Third Assist. P. M. General.
Issue of June 15th, 1887.
One Cent. Head of Benjamin Franklin, in profile to the left, after Carraci, on an oval disk lined horizontally and doubly diagonally, the upper third bordered by a label, the lower two thirds by a broad solid colored line, ornamented with colorless pearls increasing in size from top to bottom, with a colorless line outside this, shaded by another heavy colored line. The label is of solid color, between two colorless lines, the upper one curved round the ends, forming a hook and edged outside by a fine colored line, and is inscribed in white capitals similar to the two cents last described, "United States Postage." The whole is on a horizontally lined shield shaped tablet, the top similar to that of the two cents, but with a small point in the centre of the top and the diagonals shorter. The bottom is curved at the corners, then curved back up and round, and spreads out into the lower part of a "truncated pyramid." It is edged with a heavy colored line on the right and bottom, with a heavy colored line on the left and top. On the truncated base is a large pearled outlined colorless numeral "1," dividing the border of the oval and the words "One Cent," in outline colorless capitals. The rectangle is filled out with horizontal lines at the sides of the shield and vertical line at the top.
Plate impression, 20 by 25½ mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
1 cent, ultramarine blue.