1883 FIRST CLASS POSTAL RATE CHANGE SCOTT #210-211

On October 1, 1883, the U.S. Congress reduced the First Class Mail rate from 3 cent per half ounce to 2 cent per half ounce. A new 2 cent red-brown stamp picturing George Washington was issued, and the new lower rate dramatically increased the volume of mail handled by the Postal Service.
  A new 4 cent blue-green stamp picturing Andrew Jackson was also issued. The 4 cent stamp was also widely used to pay for letters weighing over one-half ounce, up to and including 1 ounce.