The Die Varieties of the Nesbitt Series of United States Envelopes Part 20

Cla.s.s II Var. 1 and 2. Bust points to intersection of 2nd and 3d stroke of "W."

" III " 3 to 9. " " to last stroke of "W."

" IV " 10 to 13. " " to left line of "O."

" V " 14 to 16. " " to middle of "O."

D Dies. (25-1/2 to 26-1/4 mm. in width.)

Cla.s.s III Var. 17 to 21.

" IV " 22 to 27.

" V " 28 to 40.

As these varieties have never been thoroughly described and cla.s.sified and as there are but few collectors who have recognized the great philatelic value of the Jackson dies, the writer desires to place himself on record with a prophecy; _i. e._ that as soon as the general collector knows how to find and to easily recognize the different varieties of "U. S. POST," these dies are going to be sought after enthusiastically.

To a.s.sist those who desire to become better acquainted with them it will do no harm to give some additional information, showing how the writer has studied the varieties and what means he has employed to differentiate the several varieties belonging to one cla.s.s.

Although the description of the varieties accompanying the cuts, should be sufficient for the identification of any die variety, the writer has found that a system of line prolongation is very useful whenever, due to die deteriorations, a stamp appears to possess features which are not found in the descriptions. The system is based on the position of five letters which differ greatly in many varieties. These letters are:--

1) "U" of "U. S."

2) "P" of "POST."

3) "T" of "POST"

4) "W" of "TWO."

5) "E" of "CENTS."

and the measurements are made as follows:

The left stroke of "U" is prolonged downward. Observe the line with regard to letters "O, C, E" and "N."

The upright stroke of "P" is prolonged downward. Observe line with regard to letters "C" and "E."

The central stroke of "T" is prolonged downward. Observe line with regard to letters "W, O, C" and "E."

The left stroke of "W" is prolonged upward. Observe line with regard to letters "S" of "U. S." and "P" of "POST."

The left stroke of "E" is prolonged upward. Observe line with regard to letters "U." and "S."

The student who employs these measurements will find that, taking the various dies belonging to one cla.s.s, _one_ of the above mentioned five line prolongations is sufficient to clearly differentiate any variety of that group from any other. For instance, Cla.s.s one includes but two varieties. In Var. 1, a line prolongation of the "T" of "POST" cuts through the "O" of "TWO;" in Var. 2 it pa.s.ses along the second stroke of "W." In case of doubt that single measurement is decisive.

As an additional safeguard to the collector the characteristic line measurement is mentioned at the end of the description of each variety.

CLa.s.s II.

Bust points to intersection of second and third stroke of "W."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

VARIETY 1 (24 x 26-3/4 mm.)

Narrow "U" far from oval line. Buff and Orange.

"POST" 7-1/2 mm. There is generally a dot near top of left bar of "U."

"U. S." close. "P" nearly vertical. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval; "WO" close; "OC near; "S" of "CENTS" near right oval. Figures of value are exactly in centre of the side ovals. Nose near left oval. "E" line through left stroke of "U." Envelopes only.

VARIETY 2. (24 x 25-1/2 mm.)

Narrow "U" touching line below. Dark Manila.

"POST" fully 8 mm. "P" vertical, much above level of "O." "O" turned to the right. "ST" wide and "T" far from right oval; "WO" very close; "OC"

close; "CE" close; "NTS" near inner frame line. Nose near left oval.

"E" line to left of "S" of "U. S." Wrapper only.

CLa.s.s III.

Bust points to last stroke of "W."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

VARIETY 3. (24-1/2 x 26-1/4 mm.)

Narrow "U." "PO" on a level. "O" and "C" near. Buff and Orange.

"POST" 7-1/2 mm. "P" slants to left. "POST" evenly s.p.a.ced. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval; "WO" close; "C"

considerably to left of the junction of the inner frame line. "EN"

s.p.a.ced a little wider than "NTS." "S" near right oval. Nose further from oval line than in Variety 1 and 2. Downstroke of right figure "2"

is slim. "U" line through "C." Envelopes only.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

VARIETY 4. (24-3/4 x 26-1/2 mm.)

Narrow "U." "OC" and "EN" very wide. Dark Manila.

"POST" 8 mm. Top of "P" near outer frame line. "PO" near, but "OS"

widely s.p.a.ced. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval.

Nose far from left oval. End of downstroke of right figure "2" nearly touches inner oval line. "W" line pa.s.ses through head of "P." Wrapper only.

VARIETY 5. (24-1/4 x 26 mm.)

"U" tall, wide open, and near inner frame line. Buff and orange.

"POST" 8 mm. "SP" near at base. "POST" closely s.p.a.ced. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "W" narrow and close to "O."

"OC" close. "CE" near at base. "S" near right oval. End of downstroke of right figure "2" near inner oval line. Nose far from left oval. "P"

line pa.s.ses through junction point of the two inner oval lines of lower label. Envelopes only.