NINETY CENTS. Head of Washington, in General's costume, after Trumbal's portrait, faced three quarters to the left, on an oval disk, 13½ by 17½ mm., with rectangularly hatched ground, bordered by a colorless line and exterior colored line, surrounded by a band forming a point above and below, and bordered outside by a second colorless line and an exterior colored line, and crossed by fine colored lines. "90" and "90" on this band above, "_Ninety Cents_" below in colorless letters with colored outlines. Waved band with similar borders crossing the former above, and inscribed "_U. S. Postage_" in the same letters. The lower corners are filled with foliated ornaments upon which are "_U._" and "_S._" in similar letters. Plate impression, 19 by 24 mm., in color, on white paper, perforated 12. 90 cents, indigo blue. It will be noticed that the original contract under which these stamps were first manufactured by the National Bank Note Co., expired in 1865. On its expiration a new contract was made with the same company for a term of four years longer. To preserve the history of the postal legislation of the United States which effects the use of stamps, the provisions of the Act of the XXXVII Congress, Session III, Chapter 71, approved March 3d, 1863, must be noted here, although they did not result in any change in the stamps in use, except the addition of two new values: Sec. 3. No mail matter shall be delivered until postage is paid. Sec. 13. The Postmaster General is authorized to establish branch offices for the sale of stamps, etc. Sec. 17. Postage must be prepaid at the time of mailing on domestic letters, transient printed matter and all other things not herein provided for. Sec. 18. Daily, weekly, etc., publications must be prepaid quarterly in advance by the receiver. Sec. 23. Drop letters will be charged 2 cents, to be prepaid by postage stamps, but no carrier's fee. Sec. 32. The registration fee to be fixed by the Postmaster General, but not to exceed in any case 20 cents. In accordance with these last provisions however, there were issued two additional values. The report of the Postmaster General for the year 1863, states that a two cent stamp had been prepared and issued, principally to prepay the postage on drop letters, and the report for 1878, fixes the date of issue at of the 1st of July, 1863. ISSUE OF JULY 1ST, 1863. (As additional to the series of 1861.)