The Die Varieties of the Nesbitt Series of United States Envelopes Part 2

Variety 7:--"T" of "THREE" below level of "HREE". "CENTS" near outer oval line. "C" and "S" quite a distance from curves. "ENT" s.p.a.ced nearer than "C" to "E" and "T" to "S".

HEAD VI.

[Ill.u.s.tration: VI.]

An heavy eyebrow. Near its end starts a small side-lock together with a long, narrow lock which slants across ear-lobe. Note that half of this lock is below the lobe. There is some distance between the side-lock and the lobe. A second heavy strand of hair extends the entire length of the [HW: narrow] lock and continues into the queue.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 8:--"C" above level of "E" and far from it. "N" stands vertically and almost in centre of label. "NT" close at top and near at base. "C" and "S" are close to curves. Note that "HR" and "RE" are wide at top.

HEAD VII.

[Ill.u.s.tration: VII.]

An heavy eyebrow extends beyond the corner of the eye. A long side-lock starts from the eyebrow and ends far from the ear-lobe. The lowest lock commences near the middle of the side-lock. Along the latter is another strand of hair of the same thickness but it is longer than the first and in line with the queue. The hair consists of two distinct rows, each of which has five locks.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 9:--"CENTS" near inner oval line. "CE" near; "ENT" near; "NT"

close at top. "C" and "S" far from curves. "RE" wider at top than "HR".

HEAD VIII.

[Ill.u.s.tration: VIII.]

An heavy eyebrow near the corner of the eye. It extends to the beginning of the side-lock, which is long, slim, almost straight, and ends a little distance from the ear-lobe. Note that the point of the side-lock is not turned up to the left. Together with the side-lock starts the lowest front-lock. It is rather thin, slants across the lobe, and is divided at the end, which is the main feature. Note that it extends but a little distance beyond the lobe. Immediately above the lowest strand is a second one, much longer than the first, forming the commencement of the queue.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 10:--"THREE" high in label. "HR" very close. "CENTS" near outer oval line. Base of "E" a little below that of "C". "EN" wide. "TS" near at base.

HEAD IX.

[Ill.u.s.tration: IX.]

The side-lock starts above and far from the corner of the eye. It is short, curves outward towards its end, and terminates a little distance above the ear-lobe. Note that the ear-lobe is larger than usual and extends quite a distance beyond the end of the side-lock. Together with the side-lock commences the lowest bunch of hair, which resembles somewhat a pear, i.e. slim at the start and bulging towards the base.

The hair is divided into two rows. The queue is in line with the back row.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 11:--"CENTS" near inner oval line; "C" high, and a little above level of "E". "CE" wide; "ENT" near at top. "S" close to curve.

"THREE" close to inner oval line. "HR" and "RE" wide at top.

HEAD X.

[Ill.u.s.tration: X.]

An heavy eyebrow starting upward from the bridge of the nose. A second eyebrow is close to the corner of the eye. A long side-lock starts near it and touches the ends in line with the ear-lobe. The hair is divided into two parts, four locks in front and three in the back row. The lowest lock in the front row is by far the heaviest. The hair is cut round similar to Head 1. Note that the queue is in line with the second row of hair.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 12:--"CENTS" close to inner frame line, especially "C". "THREE"

close to inner oval line. "ENT" near at base. The die resembles closely Var. 9 with the exception of "C," which is high in the label.

Before leaving this issue some remarks about the paper and its various tints may be useful. The writer well remembers that when he first took up the study of these envelopes he was often sorely puzzled how to cla.s.sify a specimen. The general catalogue knows but two shades of paper, white and buff, and is mute on the question of quality.

As a matter of fact the quality of the paper used for the first issue varies from soft to a hard, brittle texture, from thin to thick, with a dull or even highly glazed surface. A decided rarity is a kind of wove paper, unwatermarked. We find fine laid lines, the cross lines near or far, and two very distinct varieties of watermarks.

The white paper has sometimes a creamy and at other times a bluish tint, and the buff may be collected in various light and dark shades.

The most p.r.o.nounced shade varieties of buff appear, however, later, and will be mentioned when we study Die 5.

For the benefit of collectors of entire envelopes we will conclude this chapter by adding that:

Knife I appears only in five varieties, i.e. Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10, while Knife 2, both white and buff, exists in all varieties.

THREE CENTS, RED. DIE 2.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE "STRAIGHT END" DIE.

Short labels with straight ends. 8-1/2 loops on the left; 9 loops on the right.

It is generally conceded that this die is one of the earliest made, because many of the envelopes bear the Nesbitt tress or seal on the flap.

In addition to Head 1, used for Die I, there now appear two new ones.

This issue is also noticeable because in each of the three varieties the lettering is about the same. For this reason a knowledge of the heads is imperative for identification of the varieties. It may also a.s.sist the collector to note that Head I exists only with the seal on the flap of the envelope, and that in Heads XI and XII the garment at the back of the neck has four folds in contradistinction to Head I, in which the garment has but two folds.

As far as we know, letter size envelopes, bearing Die 2, were issued in July, 1853, and note size in September of the same year. Excepting note size (Knife 1 of the present list), all other envelopes exist on both white and buff paper.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 1, Head I:--As this head has been fully described and ill.u.s.trated under Die 1, it needs no additional remarks.

HEAD XI.

[Ill.u.s.tration: XI.]