Issue of February 14, 1872.
Large, oblong, rectangular seals, having in the middle a circular disk with ground of fine concentric circles, so broken as to present the appearance of white rays, bounded by two heavier, but still fine colored lines, separated by a colorless line, and and a broad colorless band with exterior colored line, inscribed in plain block, colored capitals, above "Stamp Here," below, "Date" and "Place of Mailing" separated by a small maltese cross on each side. On each side of this is a ground of horizontal lines bordered by a heavy colored line with ornamental triangles of solid color, with colorless geometric lines forming the corners. Outside all a single colored line. On the ground in three lines of colored capitals, on each side are the inscriptions: on the left, reading from the bottom to the top, "Post Office," "Department"; on the right, reading from the top to the bottom, "United States," "of America"; in the upper corner triangles "U. S." in monogram; in the lower, "P. O. D." in white capitals. Across the middle of the whole stamp in large block capitals 8½ mm. high and shaded by horizontal lines is the word "Registered."
Plate impression, 71½ by 39 mm., printed in color, on white paper, perforated 12.
No value, green.
A second seal employed for a time by the United States Postage Stamp Agency upon the packages of stamps sent out to postmasters, was equally an additional guarantee against opening or tampering with the package.
Issue of (end) 1875.
A large rectangle bearing in the center the monogram, "U. S." in large colorless capitals in an oval of geometric colored lines, surrounded by a ground of interlaced colorless geometric lines on color. A frame of fifteen colored parallel lines crossing in the angles. A clover leaf of geometric work, also in the corners. On the frame above in large colorless capitals, "U. S. Postage Stamp Agency," all in brown. A black surcharge of eight lines reads: "Postmasters Receiving this Package—Will Please—Note Its Condition—If showing signs of having been tam—pered with, report the same and return—this package to 3d Asst. P. M. General, at—Washington, D. C. This Package—Should be opened at the end. E. W. Barber, 3d Asst. P. M. G." Lithographed in color on white paper, but not perforated, 102 by 52 mm.
No value, brown and black.
This was afterwards changed by merely changing the signature to "A. D. Hazen, 3d Asst. P. M. G." and the surcharge to vermilion.
Lithographed in color on white paper and not perforated.