A line engraving on steel, oblong in form; dimensions 13/16 by 1-7/16 inches, color dark blue. Design: on the left in an arched panel, 10½ by 15½ mm., a mail messenger boy on a run, faced to the right on a hatched back-ground, and surrounded above by the words "_United States_," in curved line of colorless capitals. On the right an oblong tablet, ornamented with a wreath of oak on the left, and laurel on the right, surrounding the words, "_Secures--Immediate--Delivery--At a special--Delivery--Office_," in six lines of white capitals on a solid ground. The ground of the tablet above is composed of light vertical lines with colorless border. Across the top of the tablet, but above it, is the legend, "_Special--Postal delivery_," and at the bottom the words, "_Ten Cents_," separated by a shield bearing the numeral "10." The entire ground of the stamp is composed of fine vertical lines except the edges, which are so contrived as to appear bevelled. Plate impression, 21 by 27 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 10 cents, dark blue. "They are to be sold by Postmasters to any required amount, and to any person who may apply for them, but they can be used only for the purpose of securing the immediate delivery of letters." About a year ago, after the system was inaugurated at carrier offices there was a further change in the law, and the system was further extended as is shown by the following extracts from three circulars, all dated August 10th, 1886, from the office of the Postmaster General, Washington, D. C., signed by William F. Vilas, Postmaster General. The first is addressed to Postmasters at carrier offices, the second to all other postmasters, and the third to the public. The following from the first circular: "By the Act of August 4th, 1886, Congress has authorized the extention of the special delivery system to all post offices and to all mailable matter. The Act is as follows, namely: 'That every article of mailable matter upon which the special stamp, provided for by Section 3 of the act entitled: an Act, etc., shall be duly affixed, shall be entitled to immediate delivery according to said act, within the carrier limit of any free delivery office, and within one mile of any other post office which the Postmaster General shall at any time designate as a special delivery office.'" From the second circular only this is of interest: "No change will be made in the general style of the special delivery stamp now in use. The following is its description: (same as in the original circular). The words 'Secures immediate delivery at a special delivery office,' will however, be changed to read: 'Secures immediate delivery at any post office.' But as stamps with the former words are now in the hands of the postmasters and the public, their use will continue until the present supply shall be exhausted."