The higher values, Twenty-Four, Thirty and Ninety Cents, have a thinner tone than the deep rich color of the former Company's work.
In the meantime, the following changes were announced in a circular to postmasters:
Post Office Department,
Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General,
Division of Stamps, Stamped Envelopes & Postal Cards.
Washington, D. C., June 21st, 1875.
The Department is prepared to commence the issue of postage stamps of the denomination of five (5) cents to meet the new letter rate of postage, under the treaty of Berne, to the following countries, viz:
[Here follow the names of all countries that had then joined the Postal Union, to which five cents was the rate.]
The new five cent stamp is designed from a bust of Gen. Zackary Taylor in full face, and printed in dark blue color. The changes in foreign postages will render unnecessary the further use of the 7, 12 and 24 cent stamps and stamped envelopes, and they will accordingly be discontinued.
In order to avoid the liability to mistake caused by the near similarity in color between the two cent and ten cent stamp, the former will in future be printed in vermilion, the color of the discontinued seven cent stamp.
[Here follows directions to use up the stock of the discontinued stamps and envelopes, whenever they can be utilized.]
[Signed.] E. W. BARBER,
Third Assistant Postmaster General.