The Die Varieties of the Nesbitt Series of United States Envelopes Part 12

An envelope on white paper, of a somewhat similar texture to the wrapper spoken of above, was in the collection of Mr. Van Derlip, of Boston, but, it is impossible to trace its present whereabouts, and, therefore, I have no means of ascertaining the die.

THREE CENTS: RED.

HEAD OF WASHINGTON TO LEFT. A SMALL UPRIGHT OVAL MEASURING 20 x 24 MM.

"THREE CENTS" ABOVE; "U. S. POSTAGE" BELOW.

At each side is a six-rayed star between the inscriptions.

NINE VARIETIES.

It has already been mentioned that the new die was issued in accordance with the action of the 36th Congress, and that this stamp is also used to form a compound value with the one cent die.

The collector of entire envelopes finds in this issue two new shapes, knives 6 and 7, of which the former was supposed to supply the needs of the gentler portion of humanity, and is officially known as "Ladies'

Note Size," while knife 7 is styled "Medium Letter" and is for commercial correspondence. These envelopes have "patent lines."

With the exception of variety 8, which measures 24-1/2 mm., the vertical dimension of the die is 24 mm. The several varieties may be grouped by observing the position of the back of the bust with relation to the letters "G" and "E" of "POSTAGE."

GROUP I.--Back of bust points at "G." (Vars. 1 to 7.) GROUP II.--Back of bust points between "G" and E." (Var. 8.) GROUP III.--Back of bust points almost at "E." (Var. 9.)

For the specialist the writer recommends the use of a 10 mm. unit distance measurement to be applied as follows:

Measure 10 mm. from the top of the highest ray of the left star towards the top of "P" of "POSTAGE." This measurement a.s.sists in the identification of varieties 1 and 3. Another measurement may be taken from the left end of the horizontal cross stroke of "N" of "CENTS"

towards the "E" of "THREE," and reveals the different s.p.a.cings between the latter and "CENTS."

BACK OF BUST POINTS AT "G."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 1:--"PO" close. "AGE" widely s.p.a.ced. Note that the distance between "T" and the left star is further in Var. 1 than in Var. 2 or 3. "C" of "CENTS" near "E." Width of "U.

S." at top 4-1/2 mm.

Variety 2:--An additional period close to the upper end of "S." "O" further from "P." "S" nearer "T" than in Var. 1.

"U. S." wider than in Var. 1, measuring 5 mm. across the top. "CE" of "CENTS" wide.

Variety 3:--"PO" s.p.a.ced as in Var. 2, and "U. S." as in Var.

1; but "PO" and "TA" are s.p.a.ced wider than in Var. 1.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 4:--"O" far from "P." "S" of "POSTAGE" almost touches inner frame line. "AGE" near.

Variety 5:--"PO" close, but "OS" very wide. "AGE" wide.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 6:--"ST" very widely s.p.a.ced; "OS" wide; "AGE" near.

Variety 7:--"A" of "POSTAGE" has no bar; "PO" near; "OS" wide.

BACK OF BUST BETWEEN "G" AND "E."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 8:--This is the largest die of the series. Its vertical measurement is 24-1/2 mm. "PO" close; "ST" close; "AGE" widely s.p.a.ced.

BACK OF BUST POINTS ALMOST AT "E."

Variety 9:--"POSTAGE" short and lettering very close. 10 mm.

measured from the top of "P," reaches "E."

PROOF SET.

It may be of interest to collectors of entire envelopes to mention that a set of envelopes has been catalogued under the supposition that they were regularly issued, but they are now generally believed to be proofs. They are all buff paper and are Var. 8. The following knives and sizes exist:[D]

S. 3, Knife 3, 221 x 97 mm. Official.

S. 7, " 13, 224 x 96 mm. "

S. 8, " 14, 241 x 100 mm. Extra Official.

S. 8, " 15, 249 x 104 mm. " "

S. 8, " 16, 260 x 110 mm. " "

S. 8, " 17. 271 x 118 mm. " "

Letter sheets on blue and white paper with this die are essays or trial printings.

FOUR CENTS.

ONE CENT BLUE (FRANKLIN) AND THREE CENTS RED (WASHINGTON).

The reason for the issue of this, the only compound stamp of the U. S.

Post Office, has already been stated in the introduction to the one cent. The two stamps were impressed side by side, the one cent to the left and the three cents to the right. The Department issued two sizes of these rather scarce compounds, officially called size 2 and 3. Of the first there exists but one knife, i.e. knife 8 (137 x 77 mm), and of the second two knives, i.e. knives 2 and 9, both measuring 139 x 83 mm. All envelopes exist on white and buff paper, except perhaps variety 5. There are five different combinations of these compounds, which are as follows:

ONE CENT. THREE CENTS.

Variety 1. 3 x 8 Variety 2. 4 x 4 Variety 3. 6 x 8 Variety 4. 8 x 1 Variety 5. 10 x 8

It will be noted that the same variety of the three cents is used with three different combinations of the one cent. By far the rarest of the entire series is variety 5 which represents the Franklin die, in which the back and front of the bust cut into the inner frame line. The writer has seen a few copies of this variety on white paper but none on buff.

From the reports of the Postmaster-General it has been ascertained that the compound stamp was issued only during fifteen months, ending June 30, 1863. On account of the short time that these envelopes remained on sale but 127,250 were issued. This explains their rarity.

SIX CENTS: RED.

HEAD OF WASHINGTON: SIX RAYED STARS FOR SIDE ORNAMENTS.