The Die Varieties of the Nesbitt Series of United States Envelopes Part 11

"NT" wide. Back of Bust far from inner oval line.

10 mm. from "U" reaches to centre of "N".

" " " "N" touches "E" of "ONE".

" " " "T" strikes a little into the lower bar of "E" of "POSTAGE".

[HW: Distance from "E" to "C" is 3-1/2 mm.]

BUST POINTS BETWEEN A AND G.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

BASE LINE OF BUST Pa.s.sES THROUGH RIGHT BAR OF A.

Varieties 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Variety 4:--"O" of "POSTAGE" considerably above outer frame line; "TAGE" close, especially "GE", which are close to inner frame line and above level of the other letters. STAMP measures 20 x 24-1/2 mm. "ONE": "NE" far apart. Letters of "ONE" especially the "E" close to outer frame line. "CENT": "C" far from "E." "POSTAGE": "PO" close. "O" to "U": 7-1/2 mm. From end of upper right point of "C" to top of left stroke of "O" of "ONE" is 5 mm.

Variety 5:--"PO" of "POSTAGE" wide; "OS" and "AGE" near lower frame line: "GE" near. "ONE": "NE" wide. Distance between "ONE" and "CENT" widest. Sometimes a spot under left star and also in central oval at back of head. A rare die.

"O" to "U": 8 mm. "C" to "E": 5 mm. _falls considerably outside_ "E".

Variety 6:--DISTANCE BETWEEN "S" of "U. S." and "P" of "POSTAGE" wide. "ONE": "NE" wide, and the latter tipped to right. "POSTAGE": "PO" wide: "TE" wide at foot: "GE" close.

There is often a comma after the "S" of "POSTAGE", and a dot above the head in the central oval under the "N" of "ONE".

"O" to "U": 7-1/4 mm.

"C" to "E": 5 mm. is barely outside "E".

10 mm. from "U" falls at centre of "N".

" " " "T" touches middle of lower bar of "E".

This die is found greatly worn, especially in the wrappers.

Variety 7:--"U" AND "S" close. This is the only die in which back of bust nearly touches inner frame line. "E" of "ONE"

equidistant from oval lines. "ONE": "NE" far apart.

"POSTAGE": "PO" wide; "ST" wide at foot: "AGE" close.

"O" to "U": 8 mm.

"C" to "E": 5 mm.

10 mm, from "T" touches "E" to the left; " " " "U" touches "N"

" " " "N" touches middle of top stroke of "E" of "ONE".

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 8:--Similar to the last, but _back of bust is some distance from inner oval line_. "POSTAGE": "TAGE" closely s.p.a.ced and near outer frame line.

10 mm, from "T" strikes one-half mm. into the lower bar of "E".

" " " "U" falls between "O" and "N".

" " " "N" touches "E".

5-1/2 mm. strikes "E".

"O" to "U": 8-1/2 mm.

There is a dot under the left star, and sometimes, also, one above it.

BUST POINTS AT A.

BASE LINE OF BUST CUTS LEFT BAR OF A.

Variety 9:--Back of bust opposite first bar of "U". "S" of "U. S." and "P" of "POSTAGE" very close. "U. S." widely s.p.a.ced. "POSTAGE": "OS" close to lower frame line.

10 mm. from "U" touches "N".

POINT OF BUST BETWEEN A AND G. Oval 20 x 24 mm.

Variety 10:--Back and front of bust cut into inner frame line.

NO PERIOD AFTER POSTAGE. Oval 21 x 25 mm.

BUST POINTS BETWEEN A AND G.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 11:--Back of bust opposite second bar of "U". Base of bust nearly touches inner frame line, and entire bust low in frame. "CENT": "C" much nearer "E". "POSTAGE" close to outer frame line.

BUST POINTS AT G.

Variety 12:--Same as last, but back of bust far from inner frame line, and entire bust lower in frame. "CENT": "C" much nearer "E". "POSTAGE": "POST" close to inner frame line.

NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS.

By the Act of Feb. 27th, 1861, Chap. LVII, Sec. 2, the Postmaster-General was authorized "to adopt such improvements as may be deemed advisable from time to time in connection with postage stamps or stamped envelopes for letters or newspapers." Under authority of this Act the Postmaster decided to introduce one cent wrappers and they were first issued in October, 1861. By the Act of March 3, 1863, the rate for transient newspapers was changed to two cents, and accordingly, the Post Office issued what is known as the "two cent, Jackson", newspaper wrapper.

Collectors have often complained that the wrappers of this issue are troublesome. This is largely due to the fact that no one has undertaken the task of compiling a complete list of the fairly numerous varieties in existence. Again, the various tints of paper used in this issue have justly caused a good deal of confusion. The catalogues distinguished between coa.r.s.e and yellow buff, salmon, pale buff and amber buff, pale and dark manila, but it is safe to a.s.sume that no two collectors would agree in regard to color. It seems reasonable to distinguish between buff, salmon buff (a pinkish yellow) and yellow buff, while the manila paper used for the one cent wrappers may properly be called coa.r.s.e manila.

To give the philatelist a broader hold on this issue and a better insight, Mr. J. M. Bartels, together with the writer, has made a thorough study of the one cent wrapper, and the result of their united labor is embodied in the list which will follow this series of articles.

For the identification of a wrapper of this issue it is well to observe the following method:

Note whether the paper is horizontally or vertically laid; Whether or not the wrapper has a watermark;

Measure the distance between the top of the stamp and the horizontal edge of the wrapper; it will be found that this distance varies from 35 to 120 mm. and const.i.tutes a valuable help for differentiation and identification of a wrapper;

Note the dimensions of the wrapper which may be:

148 x 225 to 227 mm.

151 x 227 mm.

148 x 257 mm.

151 x 257 mm.

In the absence of a watermark the paper may be either wove or laid. A noteworthy innovation in this issue is the introduction of orange paper used both for envelopes and wrappers.

The one cent wrapper has also been found on a somewhat coa.r.s.e, white paper, of which the writer has seen a single copy, contained in the magnificent collection of Mr. G. H. Worthington, of Cleveland, Ohio, but, as far as known, the white paper was not issued with the sanction of the Post Office authorities.