Plate impression, 18½ by 23½ mm., in color, on faintly bluish paper.
5 cents, bronze.
Ten Cents. Portrait of George Washington, first President, facing three quarters to the right, on an oval disk, with hatched background, bordered by a broad colorless line, with a fine colored line outside, in a rectangular frame, bordered in the same manner. The ground of the frame and inscriptions are similar to the five cents, but changed for the value to a large "X," in each lower corner, with "Ten Cents," between. Same small initials in the lower border.
Plate impression, 18½ by 23½ mm., in color, on faintly bluish paper.
10 cents, black.
In the Hartford Times of August 5th, 1885, appeared a long article, entitled: "The First Postage Stamps," from which the following relating to the actual date of this issue may be here repeated.
"Thirty eight years ago to-day the first postage stamps were used in the United States. * * * On the 25th of March, 1840, John M. Niles, of Hartford, became Postmaster General and signalized his administration by many reforms. * * * It was necessary to cap all by a genuine innovation, and he performed this by suggesting the postage stamp. The suggestion was received with ridicule, and Mr. Niles soon after retired. * * * When Cave Johnson assumed the post office, on the 5th of March, 1845, he found it an Herculian task to reinstate the reform measures of Mr. Niles. * * * Among the measures of Mr. Niles that he adopted was the postage stamp idea. * * * Johnson garnished his conversation with fathering the suggestion originated six years before. * * * The matter took form as a bill. * * * Approved March 3rd, 1847. The date of the issue was appointed as July 1st, but there was a delay in the contractors' work and the time ran over a month.
On the 5th of August, soon after the opening of the Postmaster General's office for the day, an old gentleman called to see Mr. Johnson on business. The gentleman was the Hon. Henry Shaw, a New Yorker, * * * and the father of the well known Henry Shaw, Jr., (Josh Billings). * * * Mr. Johnson came into his office accompanied by the printer of the new stamps, a few minutes after Mr. Shaw had arrived, on that August morning. Sheets of the stamps were laid before the Postmaster General, who, after receipting for them, handed them to his visitor to inspect. Mr. Shaw returned them after a hasty glance, and then drawing out his wallet, he counted fifteen cents, with which he purchased two of the stamps—the first two ever issued. The five cent stamp he kept as a curiosity, and the ten cent stamp he presented to Governor Briggs, as an appropriate gift."
Observations.