FIVE CENTS. Portrait of Benjamin Franklin, Continental Postmaster General, facing three quarters to the left, on an oval disk with hatched ground, 14½ by 17¼ mm., bounded by a broad colorless line with a fine colored line outside, in a rectangular frame, also bordered by a broad colorless line with a fine colored line outside. The ground work of this frame is composed of fine horizontal colored lines, and is ornamented by foliations, and inscribed in outlined colorless capitals, "_U._" and "_S._," in the upper corners, with "_Post Office_," between, following the form of the oval, large numeral "5," and "5," in the lower corners, with "_Five Cents_" between, following the form of the oval. Between the lines of the outer border, exactly in the centre, are the initials of the engravers, "R. W. H. & E.," in small colored capitals. 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.