In 1876 Alfred. Caillard Pasha succeeded Giacomo Muzzi as Director General of Posts, changing the Post Office's secondary language from Italian to French. Caillard awarded the contract for a new set of stamps to De La Rue of London, with notable changes in the quality of the design, paper, printing and perforation. The designs had different frames in order to distinguish the various values, the sheets were of 240 stamps instead of the previous 200-stamp sheets, because the sheet size was in accord with the British monetary system to which of De La Rue's machinery was adapted. This fourth issue was to have a run of 34 years with changes in denominations, colours and currency type.  First Period, 1879-1883, characterised by the initial colours and currency. April 1, 1879  Colour changes of 10 para issue during the first period Lilac-Rose January 1881, Pale Grey January 25, 1882 
Second Period, 1884-1888, characterised by a change in the colour scheme recommended by the UPU.December 15, 1984. Includes the 1884 surcharge 20 paras on five piastres, Febuary 1, 1884. 
Third Period, 1888-1902, beginning with replacement of paras currency by millièmes and the
introduction of a new style of printing plate. January 1, 1888. 3 millièmes yellow August 1, 1893.
 Fourth Period, 1902-1915, marked by conversion to chalk-surfaced paper and introduction of a third style of printing plate, 1902. The 4 millièmes,1906, is the only Fourth issue stamp found only on chalky paper. Others reprinted are 1, 2, 3 (not the maroon), 5 millièmes, 1, 2, 5 and 10 piastres.
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