STAMPED ENVELOPES 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES. 


by 



W. E. V. EOKNES, M. A. 

Professor of the Greek' Language 

in the Freehold Institute. 

« 

This magnificent work is now ready for delivery. The name of the author is n 
sufficient guarantee of its reliability and completeness, while the marvelous accuracy of 
the engravings make the book one which is needed by all and can he dispensed with by 
none who are interested iu the stamps of our own country. The illustrations show 

All the Known Types; All the Various Shapes; 

The Several Watermarks. 


The list includes 

All the Various 


Sizes; 


All the Different Papers; 
All the Ruled and Faint Lined Fnvelopes; 
Albinos and Registered Envelopes . 

In fac£ everything one loants to know about United States Envelopes is in this book. 
The Remarks and Closing Notes to each issue contaiu many items of interest and value ' 
upon the peculiarities of the envelopes and hints as to their comparative rarity. 

This work is the most valuable one of the day to the collector, and will take the place 
it well deserves—that of the first authority on the subject it treats. The mechanical part 
of the work is all which could be desired, Messrs. Bavis & Pcnnypacker having done their 
best. Few handsomer books than the morocco edition have ever been published in any 
department of literature. Large octavo, fifty-six pages. 

, United States and Canada. Other Countries. 

Paper, .... 50 Cents. GO Cents. 

Cloth, gilt, --- - $1 00. $1 25. 

Turkey Morocco, gilt edges, interleaved, $3 50. $3 75. 

The fifty cent edition is on heavy toned paper, the others on unusually heavy laid 
paper, ninety pounds to the ream, with broad margins. Published and for sale by 

l. w. n Li mx, 

FIFTH AND LIBRARY STREETS, 

PHILADELPHIA. 










From The Sunday Republic. 

“ It makes a very readable and important addition to any library, public or private.” 

From F. L. Cutter, Esq. 

“ The book relating to United States Envelopes is the only complete, compact and intelligible 
description of them that has ever appeared, and no stamp collector should be-content without a 
copy. It makes the collection of .envelopes a pleasure instead of a task.” 

1 • vll Kl /» I 

From The New York Tribune. 

“ History and Catalogue of the Stamped Envelopes of the United States, is a valuable contribution 
by a Greek Professor to the science of Philately. Prof. Horner’s little treatise will be welcomed 
by the amateurs of the fascinating pursuit, who will find in it a great amount of information on 

the lystory and varieties of United .States Envelopes.” 

i\0 dmOI nl k ' jl j\ > 

From Willard K. Freeman, Esq. \ . 

“I admire the clear, concise language used by Dr. Horner, which on many accounts will 
better please the general collector. All through its pages the work bears evidence of the 
greatest care, study and hard work, and I congratulate both the author on the completion of his 
most excellent undertaking, and the collector on having so valuable a guide to this important 
philatelic family. In a word 1 would stamp the work perfection.” 

From F. A. Philbricic, Esq. 

“ Prof. Horner’s book is very able. It is concise as well as clear, and only demands to be 
carefully followed to arrive at a full knowledge of the subject. Many writers make the great 
mistake of over elaboration; this, Prof. Horner has avoided, while his plan appears symmetri¬ 
cal and complete. After attempting to classify by the aid of this monograph one must 
acknowledge Prof. Horner’s entire mastery of the subject, and his accession to the ranks of 
working Philatelists is a gain to the science.” 

% 

From The Southern Philatelist. 

“It is a volume deserving of more than passing notice, and shows that its author, W. E. Y. 
Horner, M. A. has given the subject his deepest attention before trusting it in print. The author 
divides the envelopes into eight issues, and after giving in tabulated form the various values, 
colors, dies, sizes,'&c., appends an admirable treatise-on the same at the foot of each table. The 
volume is profuse in illustrations and a chart of shapes accompanies the book, making the task 
of collecting these stamps an easy pastime, where hitherto it has been almost a labor.” 

From Alfred Smith & Co’s Monthly Circular: 

“ li has certainly been reserved to Prof. Horner to offer a systematic and complete catalogue 
of what he terms ‘these interesting philatelic families,’ and to make the subject perfectly 
intelligible to any one who chooses to take the trouble to study the work attentively. * * We 
would recommend the work to the attentive stndy of all our readers. Even the most advanced 
philatelist will learn something worth knowing, while those-who are as vet but imperfectly 
acquainted with the subject and ;u - e thirsting to know more, will find therein wherewith to slake 
their thirst.” 

From John K. Tiffany, Esq. 

“To attempt to review such a work would almost be to write a treatise oneself. The general 
style of its typography is unusually good and its general plan meets mv heart}- approval. 
There are few unnecessary varieties quoted and no straining at a long list based on unimportant 
variations, which few can ever hope to run across and fewer care to. At the same time l believe 
every change and variety that had official sanction is noted, and perhaps a few marked depart¬ 
ures from the intention of the Department. 1 would particularly praise the engravings of types 
given throughout the book, instead of descriptions. They are so accurate that no one ought to 
have any difficulty in distinguishing what they are intended to show. Their value is particular¬ 
ly great in the distinctions shown in the varieties of the 3 cents, first issue, and some of the 
varieties of 1, 2, 3 cents Plimpton, about which, probably, more than anything else, those who 
are supposed to know were constantly asked by those who did not. Beyond a doubt I think 
this is destined to be the standard list for most collectors. 





From Tin, Monmouth Democrat. 

“Our readers will remember an article contributed by Prof. Ilorner and published in the 
Democrat about two.years ago, giving some very interesting facts in relation to Postage Stamps. 

The article went the rounds of our exchanges, and it was the general remark that it was 
wonderful how much curious and interesting information on a subject apparently so bare, Prof. 

Ilorner had grouped together. The work now before us, on Stamped Envelopes, will call forth 
a similar remark. It is a handsomely printed pamphlet of over titty large octavo pages, giving 
a detailed account of these interesting Government conveniences, with illustrations of the 
various “heads” or stamps which at different times have adorned them. Illustrations are also 
given of the four “water-marks,” in the paper of which the envelopes are composed, including 
the interesting Centennial water-mark. Portions of the work are merely descriptive, but much 
of it has required great care and accuracy in its preparation. The reader will wander how the 
author could find the time or exercise the patience necessary to the accomplishment of the task. 

It is the only book in existence on the subject, and cannot fail to grow in value as time passes on.” 

From The Collector's World. 

“It is hardly necessary for us to show that there is ample field for such a work, as collectors 
have had too many occasions to appreciate the fact for themselves. Let us proceed without 
delay to show, very briefly, how admirably Dr. Ilorner has filled it. In an introductory chapter 
he gives a useful summary of the^everal issue's of I - . 8. envelopes to-be considered in detail in 
the pages that follow. Proceeding on, then, we find the 1853 issue condensed into three pages 
of letter press and illustrations. It is probable that comparatively few collectors possess all the 
dies and types-of our early 3 cent envelopes: hence these illustrations, showing every point of 
difference, are an invaluable feature of the work. Passing on to the second issue we again meet 
excellent illustrations of all the values, including both dies of the 1 cent. Taking up the third 
issue, we see the same excellence that characterizes the previous pages. The illustrations are 
accurate and even go so far as to include both the dies of the 2 cent U. S. Postage. The 
Reference List is strictly accurate and complete. The fourth issue is aptly designated bv I>r. 

Horner as ‘ homely and uninteresting,’ but, nevertheless, he makes the very most of a dry 
subject. The fifth issue is dismissed by Dr. Horner in about two pages; but these contain really 
all that can be said upon the subject. The Reav issue comes n.ext in order, and to it are devoted 
seven most interesting pages. Sizes, shapes, dies, colors, values, paper—every thing, in a word, 
is treated with succinctness and perspicuity. The Reference List of the War envelopes is 
especially commendable. The twenty-six pages written upon the Plimpton issue are evidently 
the result of painstaking and intelligent research. The subject is a difficult one, and, unless 
presented with great perspicuity, becomes simply incomprehensible to the general reader. Dr. 

Ilorner, evidently appreciating this, has exercised commendible brevity though not at the 
expepse of thoroughness. He has stated what he has to say briefly and clearly. We can only 
congratulate Dr. Horner upon the completion of so valuable a work which reflects the greatest 
credit upon himself and must result to the lasting benefit of Philately. To Mr. Durbin, high 
praise is due for the form in which he presents Dr. Horner’s labors to the public. The letter 
press is excellent and the engravings, are, as already said, wonderfully accurate. Their value 
can be best appreciated in the Reav and Plimpton issues, where they serve to show even the most 
minute differences with quite as much accuracy as they can be seen on envelopes themselves.” . 


tfeiT Uncut copies, on heavy paper, may be had at $1.00 each. 

In tending purchasers will find the cloth or morocco editions the cheapest in the end, 
as they are on tine heavy paper, and bound in the very best and most durable style. 

8@“There are but a limited number of copies offered at .the prices named on the first page. 
When these are sold the remaining ones will be re-bound in one style only and sold at an 
advanced price. 

ftr'iJ 1 ’Col lectors will please note that this is the only book on United States Envelopes 
extant, and that it is the first and only successful attempt ever made to illustrate the various 
tvpes. P,v the aid of these illustrations it becomes easy to distinguish from each other the per¬ 
plexing varieties of the Reay anil Plimpton issues. 

T/IAHOJiaK 


f 





Kutherford B. Hayes. 


THE WORLD OF PHILATELY: 

ITS EULEES, 

PAST AND PRESENT. 



Shere Ali, Ameer of Cabul. 


This series of portraits is confidently offered to collectors as not only the cheapest hut 
the best in the market. The likenesses are strikingly accurate and the list includes many 
never before published, such as Diaz of Mexico; Abdul Hamid of Turkey; Nicholas 
of Montenegro ; Ismail of Egypt, etc. It is unnecessary to remind collectors how 
much these portraits add to the interest of an album, and we can a«sure them that those we 
offer are not cheap wood cuts or photographs, got up to sell, hut they are done by first-class 
artists, and 

PRINTED FROM FUSE METAL ELATES. 


PH ICE, ONLY 

1 United States. Washington. President. 

2 United States, Kutherford B. Hayes, President. 

3 Austria, Francis Joseph I. Emperor. 

4 Baden. Frederick I. Grand Duke. 

5 Bavaria, Maximilian, King. 

6 Bavaria, Louis II. King. 

7 Belgium, Leopold I, King. 

8 Belgium. Leopold II, King. 

9 Brazil, Dom Pedro II, Emperor. 

10 Brunswick. William. Duke. 

11 Cabul. Shere Ali, Ameer. 

12 Confederate States. Jefferson Davis, President. 

13 Denmark, Frederick VII, King. 

14 Denmark, Christian IX. King. 

15 Egypt, Ismail Pasha. Khedive. 

13 France. Napoleon III, Emperor. 

17 France, McMahon. President. 

18 German Empire. William I, Emperor. 

19 Great Britain. Victoria, Queen. 

20 Greece, George I. King. 

21 Hanover, George Frederick V, King. 

22 Holland. William III. King. 

23 Italy, Victor Emanuel II, King. 

24 Italy. Humbert I, King. 

25 Japan, Mutsuhito, Emperor. 

26 Mech. Schwerin, Frederick Francis II, G. D. 

27 Mech. Strelitz, Frederick William, G. D. 

28 Mexico, Maximilian, Emperor. 

29 Mexico, Diaz, President. 

30 Modena, Francis V, Duke. 

31 Montenegro, Nicholas, Hospodor. 

32 Norway, Oscar II, King. 


FIFTY CENTS. 

33 Oldenburg, Peter, Grand Duke. 

34 Parma, Robert I, Duke. 

35 Persia, Nasr-ed- Deen, Shah. 

33 Portugal, Maria II. Queen. 

37 Portugal, Pedro V, King 

38 Portugal, Louis I. King. 

39 Prussia, Frederick William IV, King. 

40 Roman States. Pius IX. Pope. 

41 Roman States. Leo XIII, Pope. 

42 Roumania, Couza. Prince. 

43 Roumania. Charles I. Prince. 

44 Russia, Alexander II. Emperor. 

45 Sandwich Islands. Kamehameha III, King. 

46 Sandwich Islands, Kamehameha IV. King, 

47 Sandwich Islands, Kamehameha V, King. 

48 Sandwich Islands. David Kalakua, King, 

49 Sarawak, James Brooke, Rajah. 

50 Saxony, Frederick Augustus. King. 

51 Saxony, John, King. 

52 Scrvia, Milan HI. Prince. 

53 Servia. Milan IV, Prince. 

54 Spain, Isabella II, Queen. 

55 Spain, Don Carlos, Pretender. 

58 Spain, Amadeus, King. 

57 Spain, Alfonso XII, King. 

58 Sweden. Charles XV. King. 

59 Turkey, Abdul Aziz, Sultan, 

CO Turkey, Abdul Hamid II, Sultan. 

61 Tuscany, Ferdinand IV, Grand Duke. 

62 Two Sicilies, Ferdinand II, King. 

63 Wurtemburg, William I, KiDg. 

64 Wurtemburg, Charles I, King, 


World of Philately, 
Coats of Arms, 
Merchant Flags, 



















r t^KLcv ^’ /U4AUaHi 

Cuu ^^ f- o^< c n ,^-irt VTt 

* / a - u | f&JT). fa j_, k 




c eCi> of fyut/i /C^'L lu^J ( rf U (y 

CiAA^ ^ccx^ . hK ZX , 

^ • (£J5~ ^ <cf, 

**£js. t± / ^e-Ayi^, C . ff-Cmfcl 

*UixU^ fo^xi Jf-ycfo u, (D<Ltzrf^i 

























■ 








































































TABLE OF SHAPES. 
















































































£ Jcu<y. //yg 


HISTORY AND CATALOGUE 

OF THE 

STAMPED ENVELOPES 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES, 

TOGETHER WITH SOME 


GENERAL REMARKS, 


BY 


W. E. V. HORNER, M. A., 


Professor of the Greek Language in the Freehold, Institute. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

L. W. DURBIN, 

Publisher ^nd Poreiqjm £>ta^p Jjvipof{T£F|, 

FIFTH AND LIBRARY STREETS. 


1879 . 







' ' 4--HE 

590 


Bavis & Pennypacker, 

PRINTERS, 

No. 23 South Tenth Street,. 
Philadelphia. 



999E 

20 D; 56 


% 





UNITED STATES ENVELOPES. 


Since the first attempt, by Mr. Pemberton, in July, 1869, to bring order 
out of the chaos in which the envelopes of this country were involved, an 
essay, more complete, because more highly favored by advantages for suc¬ 
cess, has appeared, beginning in January, 1873, from the pen of Mr. 
Willard K. Freeman, of New York city. With these two exceptions, and 
the admirable papers of Mr. Coster on the Plimpton issue, we believe little 
has been done toward a systematic and entirely complete catalogue of these 
interesting philatelic families. It has been ux-ged that Mr. Freeman’s list 
is too diffuse, but the wonder is that it is so very nearly accurate, as it is 
that Mr. Pemberton, four years before, had made so excellent a beginning. 

That there is but oixe way to collect envelopes, viz.: in an entire condi¬ 
tion, we believe, is now generally admitted. It is in view of this, and of 
what the writer believes to be a growing interest in their collection 
throughout the country, that this essay is begun. It is the result of much 
study and careful comparison of the pi iucipal collections in this country, 
and if it furthers the advancement of genuine philatelic enthusiasm in this 
direction, will have amply done its work. 


In the consideration of the envelopes of the United States, no less than 
eight issues are presented to our notice. The partial emission of four 
values by the Plimpton Co., in 1874, was but the foi'erunner of the complete 
series in the following year, and cannot claim rank as a separate issue. To 
give these eight issues at a glance, we present the following table : 


Date of Issue. 

Value. 

Issue I. 
Color. 

Dies. Sizes. 

Col. Pap. 

1853, Aug. 4, 

3 c. 

Red 

Two 

Two 

Two 

1853, Aug. 4, 

6 c. 

G reen 

One 

One 

Two 

1853, Oct. 17, 

6 c. 

Red 

One 

One 

Two 

1855, April 2, 

10 c. 

Green 

Two 

One 

Two 

1857, 

1 c. 

Issue II. 
Blue 

(Tfesbttt. 7 

Two Two 

Three 

1860, Sept. 10, 

3 c. 

Red 

One 

Four 

Two 

1860, 

4 c. 

Blue and red Two 

Two 

Two 

1860, Sept. 10, 

6 c. 

Red 

One 

One 

Two 

1860, Sept. 10, 

10 c. 

Green 

One 

One 

Two 




United States Envelopes. 


4 


Issue III. 


Date of Issue. 

Value. 

Color. 

Dies 

Sizes. Col. Pap. 

1861, July 

1 , 

3 c. 

Rose 

One 

Four 

Two 

1861, July 

1 , 

6 c. 

Rose 

One 

One 

Two 

1861, July 

1 , 

10 c. 

Green 

One 

Two 

Two 

1861, 


12 c. 

Bronze and red 

One 

One 

One 

1861, 


20 c. 

Blue and red 

One 

One 

One 

1861, 


24 c. 

Green and red 

One 

One 

Two 

1861, 


40 c. 

Black and red 

One 

One 

Two 

1863, July 

1 , 

2 c. 

Black 

Two 

Two 

Two 



NOTE 

AND LETTER SHEET. 



1861, Aug. 

1, 

3 C. 

Rose 

One 

Two 

One 


Issue IV. (l^fesbttt. ) 


1864, 

2 c. 

Black 

Two 

Three 

Three 

1864, Dec. 

3 c. 

Rose 

One 

Three 

Two 

1864, 

6 c. 

Ros“ 

One 

One 

Two 



Issue 

y (jVcsbiltrJ 


I 860 , 

3 c. 

Brown 

One 

One 

Three 

lit 

GO 

T— i 

6 c. 

Lilac 

One 

One 

Three 

1866, 

9 c. 

Orange 

One 

One 

Two 

1866, 

12 c. 

Stone 

One 

One 

One 

1866, 

12 c. 

Claret 

One 

One 

One 

1866, 

18 c. 

Red 

One 

One 

One 

1866, 

24 c. 

Blue 

One 

One 

One 

1866, 

30 c. 

Green 

One 

One 

One 

1866, 

40 c. 

Rose 

One 

(>ne 

One 


( Htea (/ / 

1 c. 

Issue 

VI. 



1870, 

Blue 

One 

Four 

Four 

1870, 

2 c. 

Brown 

One 

Four 

Four 

1870, Oct. 1, 

, 3 c. 

Green 

One 

Five 

Three 

1870, Oct. 1 

1 6 c. 

Red 

One 

Four 

Three 

1871, Feb. 1 

7 c. 

Vermilion One 

One 

One 

1870, 

10 c. 

Brown 

One 

One 

Two 

1870, 

12 c. 

Purple 

One 

Two 

Three 

1870, 

15 c. 

Orange 

One 

Two 

Three 

1870, 

24 c. 

Lilac 

One 

Two 

Three 

1870, 

30 c. 

Black 

One 

Two 

Three 

1870, 

90 c. 

Carmine 

One 

Two 

Three 


(-Rtaif ) tost 

OFFICE ENVELOPES. 



1873, 

2 c. 

Black 

One 

Three 

One 

1873, 

3 c. 

Black 

One 

Four 

One 

1873, 

6 c. 

Black 

One 

Four 

One 




United States Envelopes. 


5 


WAR ENVELOPES. J&ai/. 


Date of Issue. 

Value. 

Color. 

Dies. 

Sizes. 

Col. Pap. 

1873, 

1 c. 

Red 

One 

Two 

Two 

1873, 

2 c 

Red 

One 

Two 

Two 

1873, 

3 c. 

Red 

One 

Four 

Three 

1873, 

6 c. 

Red 

One 

Three 

Two 

1873, 

10 c. 

Red 

One 

One 

One 

1873, 

12 c. 

Red 

One 

Two 

One 

1873, 

15 c. 

Red 

One 

Two 

One 

1873, 

24 c. 

Red 

One 

One 

One 

1873, 

30 c. 

Red 

One 

Two 

One 



Issue VII. 

UPhmfUtvrL. 


1874-75, 

1 c. 

Blue 

Two 

Four 

Four 

1874-75, 

2 c. 

Brown 

Three Four 

Five 

1874-75, 

2 c. 

Red 

Two 

Three 

Five 

1874-75, 

3 c. 

Green 

Two 

Six 

Five 

1875, 

5 c. 

Blue 

Two 

Three 

Four 

1875, 

6 c. 

Red 

One 

Five 

Three 

1875, 

7 c. 

Vermilion 

One 

One 

One 

1874-75, 

10 c. 

Brown 

Two 

Three 

Two 

1875, 

12 c. 

Purple 

One 

Two 

Three 

1875, 

15 c. 

Grange 

One 

Two 

Three 

1875, 

24 c. 

Lilac 

One 

Two 

Three 

1875, 

30 c. 

Black 

One 

Two 

Three 

1875, 

90 c. 

Carmine 

One 

Two 

Three 


POST OFFICE ENVELOPES. 


1875, 

2 c. 

Black 

One 

Four 

Two 

1875, 

3 c. 

Black 

One 

Three 

Two 

1875, 

6 c. 

Black 

One 

Four 

One 



WAR ENVELOPES. 

1875-76, 

1 c. 

Red 

One 

Two 

Three 

1875-76, 

2 c. 

Red 

One 

Three 

Four 

1875-76, 

3 c. 

Red 

One 

Five 

Four 

1875-76, 

6 c. 

Red 

One 

Four 

Three 

1875-76, 

10 c. 

Red 

One 

Two 

Two 

1875-76, 

12 c. 

Red 

One 

Two 

Two 

1875-76, 

15 c. 

Red 

One 

Two 

Two 

1875-76, 

30 c. 

Red 

One 

Two 

Two 


1876-77, 


POSTAL SERVICE ENVELOPES. 

None Blue One 


T’bjnfilorL'. 

Four One 





cJf&sbiti. 


6 JVesiitl United States Envelopes. 


Issue YIII [ZrhmJ'ddn. / 


Date of Issue. 

Value. 

Color. 

Dies. 

Sizes / 

Col. Pap. 

1878, 

1 c. 

Blue 

One 

Four 

Foui- 

1878, 

2 c. 

Vermillion 

One 

Three 

Four 

1878, 

3 c. 

Green 

One 

Six 

Four 

1878, 

5 c. 

Dark blue 

One 

Three 

Four- 

1878, 

G c. 

Red 

One 

Four 

Three 

1878, 

10 c. 

Chocolate 

One 

Two 

Two 

1878, 

15 c. 

Orange 

One 

One 

One 

1878, 

30 c. 

Black 

One 

One 

One 

1878, 

90 c. 

Carmine 

One 

One 

One 


In explanation of the above table, it is due Mr. Freeman to state that 
the dates are all, as far as the seventh issue, taken from him. The first five 
issues were emitted by Messrs. Geo. F. Nesbitt & Co., of New York; the 
sixth by Messrs. Geo. H. Reay & Co., also of New York; and the seventh and 
eighth by the Plimpton Manufacturing Co., of Hartford, Conn. The value 
needs no explanation. The color means the original hue of the impression, 
often greatly altered by accident, by excess or lack of coloring, by fading, 
etc. The dies refer to separate and distinct varieties, not the sub-varieties 
of the 1853, etc., issues. The sizes are intended to show those in use, and 
do not include the shapes of the en velopes or the ruled, blue-lined, or other 
envelopes. These shapes, a most important part of the study of the enve¬ 
lopes, will be treated of under the lespective issues. The newspaper 
wrappers of the second, third and fourth issues have but one size assigned 
to them. The colors of paper are those recognized by the Government, 
and do not hei’e include the many shades of buff, salmon, etc. No com¬ 
plete catalogue of the war, post office, or po tal service envelopes has ever 
been made, and an attempt will be made in the proper place to reduce the 
last named to some system. 


Ruled Envelopes. 

Although a few minutes’ study of the shapes, as they are presented in 
the engravings, will suffice to give a knowledge of the ruled or “patent- 
lined ” envelopes, a few words may not be amiss. The lines are three in 
number, ruled heavily on the side flap, so as to show through the paper and 
guide the writer. They are found in the first, second, third, fourth and 
sixth issues, the patent bearing date Nov. 20, 1855. With three exceptions, 
they are found only on the 3 c. values, the exceptions being the 1 c. on 
orange and compound 4 c., Full Letter, on white and buff, Issue II, and the 
Full Letter 10 c., on white and buff. Issue III, until we reach Issue VI, 
when they are found on one size each, 1 c. and 2 c., white and amber, and 
on three sizes, 3 c., on white, amber and cream. As will be seen by Refer¬ 
ence List Issue VI, the blue-lined variety is found on one size 1 c., white 
and amber, and four sizes 3 c. i 




JVesbitt United States Envelopes. 7 

_ 7 YesZ/itk. 


ISSUE I. 

By reference to the numbered cuts, and a careful examination of the 
sub-varieties of the dies of the three cent stamp, a detailed description is 
rendered unnecessary. Let the collector note that all the envelopes aie 
‘‘round-flap,” i. e., that the part bearing the gum is rounded, not pointed; 
let him observe the number of loops at the sides of the oval in the 3 cent 
dies, and the great width of the label in Die 1 of 3 c., and Die 2 of 10 c.> 
and we think he will be enabled to understand all that is needed. The 
four shapes shown are all that are found in this issue, and the sizes given 
are those nearly corresponding to the present or Plimpton issue, viz.: Note, 
No. 1 ; Full Letter, No. 3; and Official, No. 7; the writer thinking that 
this will be more readily understood than to give the sizes every time in 
inches or millimetres. The shapes are A, B, C and D. 



Die 1 

v y I n f i Cr> 1L- f\ 




Die 2—A 



Die 2—D h odl -S' 



Die 2—E If 


r 



Die 1 Die 2 








c Mishit. 


8 j'N'gsb'itt United States Envelopes. 


N ° ( (&J 

/ A -i.C- 




Reference List Issue I. 


No. 


Size. 

Shape. 


Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 


Note. 







1 J 

n 

X 

4? 

A 

2 

Var. A 

Red 

3 cw 

White 

2 

2* 

X 

43 

A 

2 

Var. D 

Red 

8 c/ 

White 

3 

2* 

X 

41 

A 

2 

Var. E 

Red 

3 C. <r 

White 


Full Letter. 






4 


X 

5* 

A 

1 


Red 

3 c. 

White 

5< 

H 

X 

5* 

A 

1 


Red 

3 c. 

Buff 

6 

3* 

X 

5} 

A 

2 

Var. A 

Red 

3 c.<- 

White 

7 

8* 

X 

5* 

A 

2 

Var. A 

Red 

3 c.v 

Buff 

8^ 

8* 

X 

5* 

A 

2 

Var. B 

Red 

3 c.- 

White 

9, 

3* 

X 

8* 

A 

2 

Var. B 

Red 

3 c.*- 

Buff 

10v 

8* 

X 

5* 

A 

2 

Var. C 

Red 

3 c.v- 

White 

11 V 

3* 

X 

5* 

A 

2 

Var. C 

Red 

3 c.v 

Buff 

12 ; 

8* 

X 

5* 

A 

2 

Var. D 

Red 

3 c. * 

White 

13' 

8* 

X 

5* 

A 

2 

Var. D 

Red 

3 c.* 

Buff 

14 ' 

3* 

X 

5* 

C 

2 

Var. D 

Red 

3 c.' 

White 

154 

3* 

X 

5* 

0 

2 

Var. D 

Red 

3 c.-' 

Buff 

16- 

H 

X 

5* 

D 

2 

Var. D 

Red 

3 c . { 

White 

17 / 

3i 

X 

5* 

D 

2 

Var. D 

Red 

3 c . J 

Buff 

18 v 

8* 

X 


A 

2 

Var. E 

Red 

3 c. - 

White 

19 ✓ 

3* 

X 

5* 

A 

2 

Var. E 

Red 

3 c. •' 

Buff 

20* 

3* 

X 

8* 

A 

1 


Green 

6 c. 

White 

21 v 

8* 

X 

8* 

A 

1 


Green 

6 c. i 

Buff 

22^ 

8* 

X 

6* 

A 

1 


Green 

10 c.. 

White 

23 ' 

3* 

X 

6* 

A 

1 


Green 

10 C.v 

Buff 

24 

3* 

X 

8* 

A 

2 


Green 

10 c. > 

White 

25 

H 

X 

5* 

A 

2 


Green 

10 c.> 

Buff 


Official. 







26 

3* 

X 

8# 

B 

1 


Red 

6 c." 

White 

27 * 

3* 

X 

H 

B 

1 


Red 

6 C. 

Buff 


Closing Notes. 

The illustrations given of the dies, with their varieties, render any de¬ 
scription unnecessary. It is sufficient to say that the varieties of Die 2 
of the 3 c. were undoubtedly produced by trimming as the die wore away. 
The five varieties are readily recognized by counting the loops in the bor¬ 
der at the sides, which will be found to agree with the engravings. If any 
envelopes of Note size were made from Varieties B and C of Die 2, they 
have absolutely disappeared. Note size is never found on buff paper. 
Nos. 4 and 5 are exceedingly scarce. We know of but one uncut copy of 
No. 4—none of No. 5. Until recently, No. 8 was unknown to collectors, 
when Mr. Durbin first called attention to it publicly. Nos. 14 and 15 are 
now rare, as they were but little used, owing to their peculiar make. Nos. 














/-f- lA-^-ycuJ/ urCidi < a *. CjrtL . >hu~4. cj e , (PhTuju , 

S~ uaacoM. dtrfL 'Ja ko.QQs, 





























* 




















. 



























» 











































• 













































• 












































United States Envelopes. 


9 

~ JVesbittl 

18 and 19 are found in all stages of transition from Varieties D to E, such 
stages consisting in the partial wearing away of the connecting lines 
between the label and border. We have preferred to consider it, when 
entirely free from any such lines, as a distinct variety. In Nos. 24 and 25, 
the head is larger than in Die 1 of the 10 c., and bears a marked resem¬ 
blance to the head of Nos. 4 and 5. Nos. 26 and 27 are made from the same 
die as 20 and 21, the color only being changed. 

The paper varies much in texture, both white and buff. There are no 
less than five distinct shades of the latter, varying from light yellow to 
deep brown. All the paper is watermarked POD with the letters U S 
immediately beneath. Reprints (always cut) abound, but are readily 
known by Mr. Freeman’s test—that the lines in the paper (technically 
called vergeures) are always perpendicular in such reprints, but oblique in 
the originals. Mr. Nesbitt printed his card, a round tress in red, on the 
flaps of many envelopes of the 3 c. We have never seen it on other values, 
and attach no philatelical importance to it. The following is a fac simile 
of the watermark found in all of the envelopes supplied by Mr. Nesbitt: 



ISSUE II. 

This issue is an interesting one for many reasons. In it the 1 c. wrap¬ 
pers and envelopes first appear; a compound value (perhaps for drop 
letters) is introduced ; new forms and sizes are emitted ; and the design of 
the embossed stamps is totally changed. 

The 1 c. value first saw the light late in 1857, while the remaining three 
values, the 3 c., 6 c. and 10 c., with the compound 4 c., did not appear until 
September, 1860. The four different designs, as well as the five new 
shapes introduced, are shown in the accompanying engravings, and need 
no description. The main differences between Dies 1 and 2 of the 1 c. are: 
first, Die 2 is much the better engraved, and second, there is no dot after 
the word “Postage.” The head of Washington on the 3c, 6 c. and 10 c. 
is as nearly identical as the engraver’s skill could make it. In i-egard to 
the shapes, it is as well to state that while E and N much resemble each 
other, a marked difference will be found in the form of the upper flap, E 
being round and N pointed. Shape C does not again appear in any issue. 
The shapes found in the present emission are A, B, D, E, G, L, M and N. 


/ 













JVesbitt. 


10 <J)fes7/MUnited States Envelopes. 


Wi . Sle*- 





Die 1 


Die 2 





4 cents. 


Reference List Issue II. 


30 & 


, r 


iVo. 


Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 


Full Letter. 






28' 

CO 

x 5* 

A 

1 

Blue 

1 c. 

Buff 

29 ' 

3* 

x 5* 

A 

1 

Blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

30' 

3* 

x 5* 

D 

1 

Blue 

1 c. 

Buff 

L 3D 

3* 

x 5* 

G 

2 

Blue 

1 c. 

Straw 


Ladies’ Note. 






32/ 

2f 

x 4* 

L 


Red 

3 c. 

White 


Note. 






33' 

n 

x 4| 

A 


Red 

3 c. 

White 


Ordinary Letter. 





34 ^ 

3£ 

x 5§ 

E 


Red 

3 c. 

White 

34* , 

H 

x 5| 

E 


Red 

3 c. 

Buff 

85 r 

3* 

x 5f 

N 


Red 

3 c. 

White 

35* v 

3* 

x 5f 

N 


Red 

3 c. 

Buff 

36 

3* 

x 5f 

E 

1 

Blue and red 

4 c. 

White 

■~36* 

3& 

x 5§ 

E 

1 

Blue and red 

4 c. 

Buff 

— 37 

3* 

x 5| 

N 

1 

Blue and red 

4 c. 

White 

37*/ 

3* 

x 5| 

N 

1 

Blue and red 

4 c. 

Buff 


Full 

Letter. 






38^ 

3* 

x 5* 

A 


Red 

3 c. 

White 

39/ 

3* 

x 5* 

A 


Red 

3 c. 

Buff 

40 ' 

3* 

x 5* 

A 

1 

Blue and red 

4 c. 

White 

41 J 

3* 

x 5* 

A 

1 

Blue and red 

4 c. 

Buff- 

42 V 

3? 

x 5* 

M 

1 

Blue and red 

4 c. 

White 

43 v' 

3* 

x 5* 

M 

1 

Blue and red 

4 c. 

Buff 

44 / 

3* 

x 5* 

’ A 


Green 

10 c. 

White 

45 V 

3* 

x 5* 

A 


Green 

10 c. 

Buff 


5^ 

Gc. 

1 • 

IB Ian . 

J< . 

Ord.r\{ 


















































<J/tsln2t 


United States Envelopes. 


11 


No. 

She. 

Official. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

46; 

31 x 8| 

B 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

47/ 

31 x 8f 

Wrappers. 

B 


Red 

6 c. 

Buff 

48 i/ 

/ 

V arious 


1 

Blue 

1 c. 

Yellow 

49“ 

Various 


1 

Blue 

1 c. 

Manila 

\JLL- 50 / 

Various 


t) 

Blue 

1 c. 

Straw 


__ ^ VWv. j wrrvrnzl 

i ' Closing Notes. 


There is but little to add. The paper does not perhaps vary so much 
as in the previous issue, either in white or buff. It is watermarked as in 
the 1853 envelopes, and reprints can be detected in the same way. The 
apparent varieties in Die 1 of the 1 c. are owing to coarse impressions as 
the die or the leather beneath it became worn. We have given no size for 
the 1 c. wrappers, as they are found in many. They are always rectangular, 
and sometimes very narrow, at others broad and nearly square. No. 28 is 
found both gummed and ungummed, as also is No. 30. No. 31 is now rare. 
No. 32 was used but little owing to its small size. Nos. 36 and 37 are rare, 
as are also 42 and 43 ; in fact, all the 4 c. envelopes are scarce in an entire 
condition. Nos. 44 and 45 are growing rare in an unused state. They are 
found with many western franks, particularly “Wells, Fargo & Co.,” 
stamped on them. Nos. 46 and 47 are exceedingly rare, among the most 
so of any United States envelopes. Nos. 48 and 49 are found gummed 
and ungummed. No. 50 is rare. We have never met with it gummed. 


JVe&Triltr. 


ISSUE III. 

This issue is notable: first, for the four new values introduced ; second, 
for the great number of shapes and sizes found in it ; third, for its being 
the only United States issue bearing stamps printed in two colors ; and 
fourth, for the introduction of the blue letter-sheets, whose revival was 
lately talked of in the Plimpton issue. The envelopes all appeared between 
July and December, 1861, except the 2 c. which did not come until the 
middle of 1863. The letter and note sheets were issued in August, 1861, 
and suppressed in April, 1864. In the designs of the stamps there is, as 
will be seen by the engravings, but little improvement either in design or 
workmanship. The five highest values closely resemble each other in de¬ 
sign, but while the 10 c. is printed solely in green, the 12 c., 20 c. and 24 c. 
have the disc respectively bronze, blue and green, and the lettering red. 
while the 40 c. has the disc red and lettering black. 

In addition to the eight shapes already met with, we have four new 
ones presented to us in this issue, making eleven shapes (C being excluded), 
besides the two sheets which are in size: Note, ten inches long by eight 








JVes/ntl: 


12 Jlfesl ilt United States Envelopes. 


wide; and Letter, fourteen inches long by ten wide, each hearing the em¬ 
bossed three cent stamp. Almost the only difference between shapes I and 
J is that in the former the bottom flap of the envelope terminates properly 
in a sharp point, while in the latter it has been cut oft' at more of an angle 
and rounded. The difference in the shapes of M and N should also be 
noted. To repeat, the shapes found in this issue are A, B, D, E, G, H, I, 

J, L,.M, tw d N, ^ 
r~ 



[ t'l, / 

Refekexce List Issue III. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper.. 

51- 

Ladies’ Note 

L 


Red 

3 c. 

W hite 

52/ 

Note 

A 


Red 

3 c. 

White 

53' 

Old. Letter 

E 


Red 

3 c. 

White 

54' 

Old. Letter 

E 


Red 

3 c. 

Buff 

55 v 

Full Letter 

A 

1 

Black 

2 c. 

Straw 

56 

Full Letter 

A 

1 

Black 

2 c. 

Orange 

57 v 

Full Letter 

G 

2 

Black 

2 c. 

Straw 

58 ^ 

Full Letter 

G 

0. 

Black 

2 c. 

Oj ange 

*»✓ 

Full Letter 

A 


Red 

3 c. 

w hite 

Sji 

/ FufUetfcr 

G. 

t. 

fbCcucU. 

l.c. 










tJfeskhtL United States Envelopes. 


' IS 


J/es/ritt. 


No. 

Size. 

sHape. Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

60/ 

Full Letter 

A 

Red 

3 c. 

Buff 

— 61 

Full Letter 

1 ) 

Red 

8 c. 

White 

*-62 

Full Letter 

D 

Red 

8 c. 

Buff 

63/ 

Full Letter 

G 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

64«/ 

Full Letter 

G 

Red 

3 c. 

Buff- 

65 V 

Full Letter 

M 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

66 / 

Full Letter 

M 

Red 

3 c. 

Buff- 

- 67 

Extra Letter 

n 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

68 4 

Extra Letter 

11 

Red 

3 c. 

Buff 

61) * 

Official 

B 

Rose 

6 c. 

White 

70* 

Official 

15 

Rose 

6 c. 

Buff- 

71 s 

Full Letter 

A 

Green 

10 c. 

White 

72 v' 

Full Letter 

A 

Green 

10 c. 

Buff- 

78/ 

Full Letter 

G 

Green 

10 c. 

White 

74 / 

Full Letter 

G 

Green 

10 c. 

Buff- 

75 ✓ 

Full Letter 

M 

Green 

10 c. 

White 

76 >r 

Full Letter 

M 

Green 

10 c. 

Buff- 

77 / 

Official 

1 

Bronze and red 

12 c. 

Straw 

78 * 

Extra Official 

I 

Blue and red 

20 c. 

Straw 

79 J 

Extra Olficial 

J 

Green and red 

24 c. 

Straw 

80 ✓ 

Extra Olficial 

J 

Green and red 

24 c. 

Salmon 

81 < 

Extra Official 

J 

Red and black 40 c. 

Straw 

82/ 

Extra Official 

J 

Red and black 

40 c. 

Salmon 

83' 

Note Sheet 

Rectangle 

Rose 

3 c. 

Blue 

84 * 

Letter Sheet 

Rectangle 

Rose 

3 c. 

Blue 

85^ 

Wrapper 

Rectangle 1 

Black 

2 c. 

Manila 

—-86 

Wrapper 

Rectangle 2 

Black 

2 c. 

Manila 


Closing Notes. 

Iu this issue, the change was begun in the shapes of the envelopes from 
the old round flap to the pointed flap, and if it is borne in mind by the col¬ 
lector that shapes A and D are the old plain and ruled respectively, while 
G and M are the new—that all. envelopes of the first two named shapes are 
round flap, while the latter two ai’e pointed—it will assist him in under, 
standing what is otherwise a somewhat confused subject. The shape of 
the side flaps in D and M is also markedly different. The difference in I 
and J will also be noted. 

Attention is called to the two dies of the 2 c., differing mainly in the 
shape of the numeral. These have never been noted before, nor has No. 
51 ever been catalogued. Nos. G7 and G8 are very rare. The writer is of 
the opinion that the 10 c. was not issued on shape D. The paper of the 
10 c. varies very much in color and texture, the buff in particular running 
from light straw to deep brown. The four highest values were never issued 
on white paper, and in the case of the 12 c., 20 c. and 24 c. the inscriptions 






JVeslr’iZb. 


lJt'MTsilHr United States Envelopes. 


are printed in red, while in the 40 c. they are printed in black. The paper- 
of Nos. 80 and 82 is a thick, coarse fibre, heavier than any heretofore used.. 
The note and letter sheets are made of a handsome thick blue paper, water¬ 
marked, like all the other paper of this and previous issues, with the de¬ 
partment watermark. The newspaper wrappers are of uniform size, by 
8 | inches, and are gummed. The color of the 2 c. stamp on them is a very 
deep black. The custom of printing a request to return was begun in this 
issue, on the left hand of the envelope, and the wording differs much. So 
far as known, there are no reprints of this emission. 

ISSUE IV. 

This homely and uninteresting issue, consisting of but three values, 
a 2 c., 3 c. and 6 c., made its appearance late in 1864. The design of the 
2 c., as will be seen by the engraving, is similar to that of the same value 
in the last issue, except that the word “Postage” is contracted into 
“Post.” There are two dies of this stamp, varying only in width, the first 
one being almost exactly an inch wide, the other slightly wider. There 
appears also to be a variety of the second die, which is wider than either of 
the other two. The first die is somewhat scarcer than the others. There 
are no varieties of the 3 c. and 6 c. They are often very poorly printed. 
The round flap makes its final appearance in this issue, the note size 3 c. 
being found in this shape (A.) Two new shapes make themselves known : 

F and K. There are in all seven shapes : A, F, G, H, I, K and M. The 
collector’s attention is called to the difference between I and Iv, consisting 
in the shape of the upper corners of the bottom flap. 




























' 



































































^ ^ (it- ^ - 2 V £1A-<£.7 ul< . O^peAx>£- . U V U . 


1 "'S' 


(nocLcicV 
'Yaxkjui c-n or - n . . 



O' . 

a 


q/A ■’' 

M "H ^«A«^ • 

i* 'aw Oa^^Mjla f *//u 

^ z. 

Z C*cc/j . 

<?<t 

I~ia.HL @&(T<L*s 

1 *«■•> CAT £cl*£J eA^ tjr / U. 

^ ^ UL> Z- . 

Z C^Ajt* 

11V 







United States Envelopes 


<tsVeslri2£ 


U 


Reference List Issue IV. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Papei\ 

87V 

Note 

A 


Pink 

3 c. 

White 

88 . 

Note 

F 


Pink 

3 c. 

White 

89 * 

Full Letter 

G 

1 

Black 

2 c. 

Straw 

90 { 

Full Letter 

G 

1 

Black 

2 c. 

Orange 

91 J 

Full Letter 

G 

2 

Black 

2 c. 

Straw 

92' 

Full Letter 

G 

2 

Black 

2 c. 

Orange 

93V . 

Full Letter 

G 


Piuk 

3 c. 

White 

94 < 

Full Letter 

G 


Pink 

3 c. 

Buff 

95 ✓ 

Full Letter 

M 


Pink 

3 c. 

White 

96 

Full Letter 

M 


Pink 

3 c. 

Buff 

97 ^ 

Extra Letter II 

2 

Black 

2 c. 

Straw 

98'. 

Extra Letter II 


Pink 

3 c. 

White 

99 

Extra Letter H 


Pink 

3 c. 

Buff 

--100 

Official 

I 


Pink 

6 c. 

White 

— 101 

Official 

I 


Pink 

6 c. 

Buff 

102 ' 

Official 

K 


Pink 

6 c. 

White 

103' 

Official 

K 


Pink 

6 c. 

Buff 

104/ 

Wrapper 

Rectangle 

1 

Black 

2 c. 

Manila 

105^ 

Wrapper 

Rectangle 

2 Var. 

Black 

2 c. 

Manila 

106 

Wrapper 

Rectangle 

2 V ar. 

Black 

2 c. 

Manila 

107 ^ 

W rapper 

Rectangle 

2 Var. 

Black 

2 c. 

Straw 



Closing Notes. 




It 

was for a Ion 

g time supposed that shape A disappeared with the 


previous issue, but it is found iu the present one. Nos. 91, 92, 97 and 106 
are the widest of the three varieties of the 2 c., and the most common 
type. Nos. 100 and 101, on shape I, are very rare. The buff paper runs in 
many shades, from light straw, or amber, to deep buff. This is specially 
noticeable in No. 103, where the paper varies extremely. The wrappers 
are found in seven or eight sizes, mostly narrow. No. 107 is on a firm, 
yellowish paper, not at all like manila, but more like the 1 c. wrappers of 
the second issue. All the paper is watermarked as usual. 

There are many varieties of request envelopes in this issue. We have 
never seen any reprints. 


ISSUE V. 

The ouly points of auy interest about this issue are that it is the last 
made by Mr. Nesbitt, and that in it, for the first time, the 3 c. appears on 
official size envelopes, and the 6 c. on full letter. These two values appeared 
in 1865, the other six in 1866. There is no originality of design, the 3 c, 
and 6 c. being identical with the same values of the previous issue, and the 


JVeslnttr. 







Npslnit 


WyfesblW. United States Envelopes. 


other six values precisely like the 10 c. of the third issue, "the inscriptions 
only being changed. The only variety about the embossed stamps consists 
in the multiform shades of color, the shades amounting in the case of the 
12 c. to two almost different hues. The color of the 8 c. and 6 c. also 
varies very greatly, and the 9 c. is found in many shades of yellow. This 
is the only issue since the first, where no head save that of Washington 
appears on the stamps. Only three shapes are found in this issue, G, J 
and K. 




Reference List Issue V. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Valve. 

Paper. 

108 / 

Full Letter 

G 


Purple 

fie. 

White 

109 v 

Full Letter 

G 


Purple 

() c. 

Straw 

110 v 

Full Letter 

G 


Purple 

6 c. 

Buff 

111 ' 

Official 

K 


Brown 

3 c. 

White 

112 v 

Official 

K 


Brown 

3 c. 

Straw 

113 v 

Official 

K 


Brown 

3 c. 

Buff 





































































— 




—-- 















United States Envelopes. 


17 


JVesiitfr 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

114 7 

Official 

K 


Y ellow 

9 c. 

f-'traw 

115 s/ 

Official 

K 


Yellow 

9 c. 

Buff 

116 a 

Official 

K 


Stone 

12 c. 

Straw 

117 ^ 

< tfficial 

K 


Claret 

12 c. 

Buff 

118r 

Extra Official 

J 


Red 

18 c. 

Buff 

119 / 

Extra < fficial 

J 


Blue 

24 c. 

Buff 

120 v 

Extra Official 

J 


Green 

30 c. 

Buff 

121 IT 

Extra Official 

J 


Rose 

40 c. 

Buff 


CLOSING NOTKS. 

It will be observed that we have given three colors of paper for the 3 c. 
and 6 c. The tints are almost identical with the well-known white, amber, 
and cream of the two subsequent issues, and more marked perhaps than in 
any previous emission. The paper of No. Ill is remarkable from its 
extreme thinness in many instances. Nos. 115 and 113 are becoming 
scarce. This is the only issue of United States envelopes in which the 9 c. 
and 18 c. values appear, and it is also the last in which the 40 c. is met. 
The custom of printing requests to return was continued in this issue. All 
the paper is watermarked in the usual manner. 

With this issue we take leave of the monotonous designs which for 
seventeen years (Mr. Nesbitt having held the contract from 1853 to 1870) 
had continued to appear on the envelopes, and pass on to the consideration 
of the varied profiles and beautiful workmanship which compel our admira¬ 
tion in the issue of 1870. 


ISSUE VI. 

Commonly known as the Re.vy Issue. 

About the middle of 1870, the contract for making stamped envelope* 
passed from the hands of Messrs. Nesbitt & Co. into those of Mr. Geo. 
H. Reay, of New York city. He at once proceeded to his work with .judg¬ 
ment and promptitude, and, under the direction of the Government, in a 
short time produced a series of dies, which, for variety of design and 
beauty of finish, had hitherto never been equaled. As this issue marks a 
new epoch in stamped envelopes, it merits careful consideration under the 
heads already given in previous issues. 

Sizes. 

Of these there are nominally eight, beside newspaper wrappers. Nos. 
4 and 0 being identical in size with Nos. 3 and 5 respectively, differing only 
in being on inferior paper and ungummed, the number of sizes is actually 
six, and numbered from 1 to 9 inclusive, the last number being for 
wrappers. 

2 


iX 







18 


United States Envelopes. 


No. 1 

Note, 

os 

*4 

X 

5^ inches. 

No. 2 

Ordinary Letter, 

3 1-10 

x 5} inches. 

No. 3 

Full Letter, 

3§ 

X 

inches. 

No. 4 

Full Letter, 

3| 

X 

inches. 

No. 5 

Extra Letter, 

3* 

X 

6 | inches. 

No. 0 

Extra Letter, 

34 

X 

Of inches. 

No. 7 

Official, 

3 15-16 

x 8| inches. 

No. 8 

Extra Official, 

4§ 

X 

lOf inches. 

No. 9 

Newspaper Wrapper, 

Of 

X 

9f inches. 


Shapes. 

We find five shapes in this issue, O, P, Q, R and S, which, while re¬ 
sembling each other, differ widely from those of any previous issue; the 
main point of difference being in the shape of the upper edge of the side- 
flap, which is brought nearer to the upper or gummed flap, so as to afford - 
more complete prop ction to the enclosure. In lfttering the shapes of this, 
issue, we have for the first time departed from the letters of Mr. Freeman,, 
which, for the sake of lucidness, w T e have hitherto followed and have added 
fresh engravings which were needful. Here for the last time we meet the 
ruled or patent-lined envelope (shape S), and for the first lime encounter 
the blue-lined, ruled on the outer face of the envelope. Both these w**re 
prohibited by Act of Congress and ceased to be issued after June, 187fb2-. 
The ruled envelopes of none of the issues ever found much favor with the. 
public, people seeming to consider their use as an imputation that they 
could not write straight. 


Dies. 

Eleven dies adorn Mr. Reay’s handiwork, of which there are no varie¬ 
ties or sub-types. The workmanship of them all is excellent, if we except 
the somewhat “lumpy ’’hair on some of the heads. The choice of subjects 
is judicious, the engraver's skill having ample scope on the heads chosen. 
The benign face and flowing hair of Franklin, the determined profile of 
Jackson, the calm, steadfast face of Washington, the rough, strong profile 
of Lincoln, the pugnacious features of Stanton, the almost womanly beauty 
of Jefferson, the homely face of Clay, the massive, Jovc-like brow of Web¬ 
ster, the handsome soldier-face of Scott, the splendid head of Hamilton 
and the classic outline of Perry’s comely features, form a gallery of 
America’s noblest sons fitly immortalized by art. A minute description of 
the dies is rendered unnecessary by the excellence of our engravings, which 
reproduce the values corresponding to the order of subjects above named,., 
from one cent to ninety. 


COIiOKS. 

The respective colors of the embossed stamps have already been given, 
in our table of issues, and do not need repetition. With the exception of 
the 10 c., Mr. Reay managed to preserve tolerable uniformity of shade, and) 










United States Envelopes 


VJ 




even in this value, the so-called black is but very dark brown, set, as Mr. 
Freeman remarks, four times its ordinary strength. The hue of the 6 c. 
has also sobered down in brilliancy since its first issue, and the pale shades 
of the 24 c. are due to exposure to the light. There is. some slight variation 
in the 15 c., from orange toward lemon, and the 12 c. shows a few shades of 
tint. The superior quality of the colors used is self-evident from the fact 
that the great majority of them vary so little in proportion to the immense 
numbers printed. 

Values. 

On this head there is but little to say, further than to remark that the 
1 c. fcnd 10 c., aie revived in this issue, and the 7 c., 15 c. and 90 c. for the 
first time make their appearance. The 7 c. was intended specially to pre¬ 
pay postage to Germauy. 

Paper. 

A much needed change was inaugurated in the matter of paper in the 
1870 issue. In place of the hitherto unsettled shades of paper, three defi¬ 
nite colors were announced and adhered to, viz.: white, amber and cream- 
The amber is properly straw color, and the cream is flesh or salmon. The 
white is always of the same quality, first, as it is called ; the amber is found 
on three thicknesses, known as first, second and third, while the cream is of 
medium thickness and may be classed as second quality, except in the No. 8 
envelopes, where for extra strength it is of the same thickness as the white 
Nos. 4 and G are found on a thick, coirsely glazed paper called dark buff', 
but really orange, and varying somewhat in shade. The newspaper wrap¬ 
pers cosne on a strong, tough piper, mule of mauili hemp, and well adapted 
• to its purpose. They are alwiys gummed, while No*. 4 and G, being in¬ 
tended only for printed circulars, never are. Thus then w,e have five 
papers : white, amber, cream, orange and manila. 

Another innovation was the change of watermark. In place of the 
plain old Roman letters, an elaborate monogram of the same capitals waa 
substituted, as represented here : 



A 


















United States Envelopes. 



ZO 


This is repeated many times, generally obliquely, in the envelope, and 
shows to advantage in the larger sizes. All sorts of “Special Request” 
envelopes are found on all the three principal colors of paper. 























No. 

122 

123 

124 

125 

126 

127 

■ 128 

129 

130 

131 

132 

-133 

134 

135 

13G 

137 

138 

139 

140 

■ 141 

142 

143 

144 

145 

146 

147 

148 

149 

150 

151 

152 

153 

154 

155 

150 

157 

158 

159 


ffearft 'Series, 

United States Envelopes. 




Reference List Issue VI. 


Size. 

Shape. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 


NOTE. 



No. 1 ^ 

0 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

No. 1 i 

O 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (2) 

No. 1 / 

0. Blue-lined 

Green 

3 c. 

White 


ORDINARY 

LETTER. 



No. 

p 

Blue 

1 c. 

White 

No. 2 t 

p 

Blue 

1 c. 

Amber 

No. 2 v 

S 

Blue 

1 c. 

W bite 

No. 2 

S 

Blue 

1 c. 

Amber 

No. 2 / 

P. Blue-lined 

Blue 

1 c. 

White 

No. 2 

P. Blue-lined 

Blue 

1 c. 

Amber 

No. 2 v' 

P 

Brown 

2 c. 

White 

No. 2 r 

P 

Brown 

2 c. 

Amber 

No. 2 

S 

Brown 

2 c. 

White 

No. 2v/ 

S 

Brown 

2 c. 

Amber 

No. 2 ■" 

P 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

No. 2 v 

P 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

No. 2-y 

P 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

No. 2 / 

P 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

No. 2f 

s 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

No. 2 / 

s 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

No. 2 

s 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

No. 2^~ 

P. Blue-lined 

“Green 

“3 c. 

White 

No. 2 

P. Blue-lined 

G • en 

3 c. 

Amber 

No. 2 * 

P. Blue-lined 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 


FULL LETTER. 



No. 3 

P 

Blue 

1 c. 

White 

No. 3 v 

P 

Blue 

1 c. 

Amber 

No. 3 

P 

Brown 

2 c. 

White 

No. 3/ 

P 

Brown 

2 c. 

Amber 

No. 3 •. 

P 

Brown 

”TT c. 

White 

No. 3sr 

P 

G reen 

3 c. 

White 

No. 3 v 

P 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

No. 3 v 

P 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

No. 3 

P 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

No. 3 / 

S 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

No. 3 / 

s 

Green 

3 e. 

Amber 

No. 3 

s 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

No. 3 

P. Blue-lined 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

No. 3 

P. Blue-lined 

G reen 

3 c. 

Amber 

No 3' 

P. Blue-lined 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

No. 3 v 

P 

Red 

6 c. 

White 




* 



J)0> 

o & 


_ / 

^7£ccii/£ United States Envelopes. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

tci 

No. 3 J 

P 

Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

162 

No. 3 V 

P 

Red 

6 c. 

Amber (3) 

163 

No. 31 

P 

Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

164 

No. 3 - 

P 

Yermiliou 

7 c. 

Amber (3) 

165 

No. 3 

P 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

White 

160 

No. 3 / 

P 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

Amber 



UNGUMMED. 



167 

No. 4 * 

P 

Blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

168 

No. 4 </ 

P 

Brown 

2 c. 

Orange 



EXTRA 

LETTER. 



169 

No. 5 / 

Q 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

170 

No. 5 ^ 

Q 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

171 

No. 5 v 

Q 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

172 ' 

No. 5 v 

Q 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

173 

No. 5 * 

s 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

174 

No. 5^ 

s 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

175 

No. 5 V 

8 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

' 176 

No. 5 

Q. Blue-lined 

Green 

3 c. 

Waite 

- 177 

No. 5 

Q. Blue-lined 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

178 

No. 5 s 

Q. Blue-liued 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

179 

No. 5 r 

Q 

Red 

6 c. 

W bite 

180 

No. 5 / 

Q 

Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

181 

No. 5\ 

Q 

Red 

6 c. 

Amber (3) 

182 

No. 5 ^ 

Q 

Red 

6 c. 

Cream 



UNGUMMED. 



183 

No. 6 ✓ 

Q 

Blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

184 

No. 6 >/ 

Q 

Biown 

2 c. 

Orange 



OFFICIAL. 



185 

No. 7 < 

R 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

186 

No. 7 / 

R 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

187 

No. 7* 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

White 

188 

No. 7 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

189 

No. 7 « 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

190 

No. 7, 

R 

Purple 

12 c. 

White 

191 

No. 7 /• 

R 

Pmple 

12 c. 

Amber 

192 

No. 7 * 

R 

Purple 

12 c. 

Cream 

193 

No. 7^ 

R 

Yellow 

15 c. 

W T hite 

194 

No. 7 ' 

R 

Y How 

15 c. 

Amber 

195 

No. 7 * 

R 

Yellow 

15 c. 

Cream 

196 

No. 7' 

R 

Lilac 

24 c. 

White 

197 

No. 7 

R 

Lilac 

24 c. 

Amber 


i 

« 






flecttfs 

United States Envelopes. 

23 

No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

198 i 

No. 7 / 

R 

Lilac 

24 c. 

Cream 

199 J 

No. 7 

R 

Black 

30 c. 

White 

200' 

No. 7 

R 

Black 

39 c. 

Amber 

201 * 

No. 7 

R 

Black 

30 c. 

Cream 

202/ 

No. 7 

R 

Carmine 

99 c. 

White 

303 ' 

No. 7 

R 

Carmine 

90 c. 

Amber 

304 ^ 

No. 7 

R 

Carmine 

90 c. 

Cream 



EXTRA 

OFFICIAL. 



205 y 

No. 8 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

White 

206 J 

No. 8 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

Cream (1) 

207 - 

No. 8 

R 

Purple 

12 c. 

White 

'208 ^ 

No. 8 

R 

Puiple 

12 c. 

Cream (1) 

- 239v 

No. 8 

R 

Yellow 

15 c. 

White 

210 / 

No. 8 

R 

Yellow 

15 c. 

Cream (1) 

211^ 

No. 8 

R 

Lilac 

24 c. 

White 

213 / 

No. 8 

R 

Lilac 

24 c. 

Cream (1) 

213 / 

No. 8 

R 

Black 

30 c. 

White 

214 / 

No. 8 

R 

Black 

30 c. 

Cream (1) 

215 w 

No. 8 

R 

Carmine 

90 c. 

White 

-216 V 

No. 8 

R 

Carmine 

90 c. 

Cream (1) 



NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS. 



217/ 

No. 9 z 

Rectangle 

Blue 

1 c. 

Manila 

ro 

QO 

No. 9 / 

Rectangle 

Brown 

2 c. 

Manila 


Closing Notes. 

It should be borne in mind that, in the foregoing list, amber is always 
thick, or 1st quality, unless otherwise numbered under the heading of 
“Piper.” Likewise, cream is always thin, or second quality, except where 
the number (1) is appended to indicate a thicker quality. The white paper 
is always of fine, strong, clear fibre, and first quality. The ruled and blue- 
lined envelopes are now all exceedingly scarce, owing to their brief exist¬ 
ence. In fact, it is doubtful whether Nos. 12S and 133 were ever issued for 
use to the publ c. So with Nos. 145 and 147, which exist, but are practi¬ 
cally unattainable. Two other very rare envelopes are Nos. 149 and 185, 
the foimer being an error of impression, though a bona ficla envelope. 
The writer knows of but six inexistence. No. 185 does not appear to have 
ever got. into general use, and hence is now one of the rarest of the issue. 
With few exceptions, the cream envelopes are all becoming difficult to 
obtain. There is a deep, reddish shade of this paper which the author has 
on No. 172, which is rare. 

The amateur need have but little trouble in deciding on the difference 
between first and third amber. A very little practice in feeling the upper, 
‘-or gummed, flap will enable him to detect the variety in thickness. It is well 




United States Envelopes. 


n 

IRmf. . — 

known that the 7 c. was only issued on third quality amber, though it was 
announced at one time that it was found on white. Cut specimens may be 
found with the amber paper artificially changed to white. The 10 c. wan 
never issued on cream, no r the 3 c. official size on amber. 

Jfeatf Series of. 

War Department Envelopes. 

It is difficult to see why the War Department should have had stamped 
envelopes made specially for its use, other than perhaps wrappers for the 
Signal Service reports, when the Treasury Department, with its almost 
countless ramificatious and vast correspondence, used only adhesives. 
Whatever the reason, they were made and used, conforming in size, shape, 
values and paper to the general issue. The disc of the dies is also the 
same, the frame being changed in the manner shown in our engravings. 
The color is always red, varying from brilliant scarlet to dull brick in the 
lower values. The envelopes appeared first abopt the middle of 1873 and 
continued coming up to the time of Mr. Reay’s relinquishing the contract. 












Jij&zy. United States Envelopes. 


25 


Reference List War Department Envelopes. Issue 1873. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

219 

Ordinary Letter 

P 

Red 

1 c. 

White 

220 

Ordinary Letter 

P 

Red 

2 c. 

White 

221 

Ordinary Letter 

P 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

222 

Full Letter ■/ 

P 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

223 

Full Letter v ' 

P 

Red 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

224 

Full Letter 

P 

R-d 

3 c. 

Cream 

225 

Extra Letter / 

Q 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

226 

Extra Letter 

Q 

Red 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

227 

Extia Letter 

Q 

Red 

3 c. 

Cream 

228 

Extra Letter v* 

Q 

Red 

6 c. 

White 

229 

Official ' 

R 

Red 

3 c. 

W hite 

230 

Official V 

R 

Red 

3 c. 

Cream 

231 

Official * 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

White 

232 

Official \f 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

233 

Official / 

R 

Red 

10 c. 

White 

234 

Official J 

R 

Red 

12 c. 

White 

235 

Official l ' 

R 

Red 

15 c. 

White 

236 

Official ' 

R 

Red 

30 c. 

White 

237 

Extra Official ^ 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

White 

238 

Extra Official , 

R 

Red 

12 c. 

White 

239 

Extra Official v 

R 

Red 

15 c. 

White 

240 

Extra Official y 

R 

Red 

24 c. 

White 

241 

Extra Official V 

R 

Red 

30 c. 

White 

242 

Wrappers 

Rectangle 

Red 

1 c. 

Manila 

243 

Wrappers 

Rectangle 

Red 

2 c. 

Manila 


The collector will notice the fewness of amber and cream envelopes, 
owing, perhaps, to the fact of th ; emission never being completed or to 
the preference for white paper. The amber is thiid quality, the cream 
second, the white always first. The watermark is the same as in the regular 
issue. 


Post Office Department Envelopes. 

Xot to be behind their neighbors of the War Office, the Post Office 
authorities in 1873 devised and issued for their own use a set of envelopes* 
limited to three values and four sizes, as a facility in the incessant corres¬ 
pondence of the Department. The values are 2 c., 3 c. and 6 c.; the sizes 
Full Letter, Ex ra Letter, Official and Extra Official, numbered by the De¬ 
partment respectively, 1, 2, 3 and 4. The dies are very neatly executed, 
and, as will be seen by our engrav ngs, fully worthy to keep comp my with 
the rest of the 1370 issue. The paper is always a fine, strong 1st quality 
fibre of a bright canary or yellow color. Any envelopes ot this issue on 
white paper are doubtless essays or due to whims of the workmen. 




Tl-S- Feu, o-ffic*'- , (87/. . 

■» t^cjes*. fi_o-x<^ 'HaJ-, dix^. G/tajl r t~^lcK t - K ^(i Jcnu^*-** <"*- ^ * trT/ ^ ? v ^ / 


f£ United States Envelopes. 

JZecuf. ---- 



Reference List Post Office Department Envelopes. Issue 1873. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

244 

Full Le ter 

P 

Black 

2 c. 

Cauary 

245 

Full Letter 

P 

Bl mk 

3 c. 

Canary 

246 

Fnll Letter ‘ 

V 

Black 

6 c. 

Canary 

247 

Extra Letter » 

Q 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary 

248 

Extra Letter •» 

Q 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 

249 

Extra Letter v 

Q 

Black 

6 c. 

Canary 

250 

• Official 

R 

B’ack 

2 c. 

Canary 

251 

Official <r 

R 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 

252 

Official * 

R 

Black 

6 c. 

Canary 

253 

Extra Official 

R 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 

254 

Extra Official v 

R 

Black 

6 c. 

Canary 


It does not appear that No. 216 was ever in actual circulation, or 
that it exists except with the surcharge “ Specimen.” No. 253 was cer¬ 
tainly issued and probably used, but is almost unknown. The first three 
sizes cnme in four styles, viz.; plain, except for the caution in lower left- 
hand corner; with three dotted lines for address, county and state; with 
the word “Postmaster” to left of upper dotted line, and word “County” 
to right of second line; aud with address of various Department officers 
printed in full. The mme of these last is legion. The words “Money 
Order Business” and “Registered Business” are also printed in upper left- 
hand comer. In addition to the above, the Department used in 1873 and 
1874 an Extra Letter size envelope, on amber paper, watermarked U. S. P. 
O. D. but unstamped, for the return, five, of letters from the Dead Letter 
■office. 

All the canary paper bears the 1870 monogram. 


ISSUE VII. 

Better known as the Plimpton Issue. 

The Government contract with Mr. Reay for the manufacture of 
stamped envelopes, made according to custom for the period of four years, 
having expired in 1874, the Post Office authorities invited bids fora fresh 
■contract*, and the successful Him was the Plimpton Manufacturing Com- 










United States Envelopes. 


& 


27 


pauy, of Hartford, Connecticut. The authorities having decided to make 
no change in the dies, and the former contractors having declined to give up 
those used in the last contract, the Plimpton Company was directed to pre¬ 
pare dies precisely similar. From a number of causes, they were unable to 
procure the services of first-class die-sinkers, and the result was the pro¬ 
duction of the four poorly eugraved dies of the 1 c., 2 c., 3 c. and 10 c. 
values, which signalized the year 1874. The Government, however, having 
granted them an extension of time, they were enabled to produce an assort¬ 
ment of dies far surpassing anything previously issued by this or any other 
government. In variety of dies, of paper, and minor points of interest, 
also, this issue in vires our careful and minute study. 


J?LuTifa£d 


71, 


Sizes. 

These do not vary from those of the Reay issue, to the table of sizes 
in which we refer the collector. A new size was, however, intioduced early 
in 1875, midway between Full Letter and Extr i Letter, making seven sizes 
in all, beside the newspaper wrappeis, which also correspond with those of 
the Reay issue. 1 he new size is known as 

No. 4^. Commercial. 3§ in. by 5|. 

Nos. 4 and 6 also correspond respectively as before with Nos. 3 and 5. 

Shapes. 

In flie envelopes made with the 1874 dies, an evident attempt was made 
to adhere strictly to the shapes used in the previous issue. Hence the 
shapes of Note, Oidin.iry Letter, the first issue of Full Letter, the first issue 
of Extra Letter, and Official, areas nearly identical with the corresponding 
ones of the Reay issue as they can possibly be. The same is true of the 
fi^st part of the second emission of Full and Extra Lctte'-, e., that some 
of the first specimens of envelopes stamped from the later dies more nearly 
resemble the Reay shapes than those now in use. In Full Letter this dif¬ 
ference in shape is so marked that we have had new engravings made to 
show the difference between the early and the later flap*—shapes T and U. 
A moment’s observation will show the two points of difference: in T, the 
early shape, the side flaps come higher, nearly touching the upper or 
gummed flap, and the flap itself is poinled, while in l", the later shape, the 
side flaps slope aw T ay and the upper flap is rounded. These two shapes run 
through Full Letter, except in the 5 c. values, which are always U, and are 
observable in Extra Letter. Commeicial being a later issue, is always 
found on U. By Full Letter vve mean, of course, Nos. 3 and 4, and by 
Extra Letter, Nos. 5 and 6. Some variations in shape may be found, but 
they are trifling, and a careful examination of our Reference List will show 
that T, or the pointed flap, gradually gave way to U, or round flap, and 
that the latter is ho distinguishing shape of this issue. The Extra Official 
size shows the same point of difference from the Reay’s—the flap being 
slightly rounder. 






United States Envelopes. 


Jls. 


28 


Dies. 

Although the experienced collector will hare no difficulty in distin^uish- 
lng t e Plimpton dies from those of the Reay issue, we deem it best to call 
attention to some of the leading points of difference between the two: 

ONE CENT. 

Value thcro were two (,ies prepared, one in 1874, the other in 
1875, winch we designate as A and B. In Die A, the head is placed upright 
in the disc with chin well up, and the back of the bust nearly touchy the 
\ • * *° Postage there is sometimes a dot and sometimes none, 

the lettering is poor and thin, and the engine-work in border poorly done. 

" D ! 6 f: the . head , ls inclincd forwa rd, wi h a deep space toward the 
throat; the neck-cloth slopes upward; in tlm “0” of “Postage” aie fine 

iS , br0ad and Clea ’’ and the en ff* ne -work clean and 
stmet. Hie han is also more massive and wavy .than in A. 

In the Reay die the hair is lumpy and straight; the nose pointed ; the 
hair continuous at the back with the bust. There is more of the car visible, 
and Flanklm has a double chin. 


TWO CENTS. 

Three dies here claim our .Mention, lettered respectively A, II and C 
Die A „ perhaps the worst piece of work that ever appeared on a United 

in'short" thie^ 1 ^ 1 Mum ' d and indi8ti " 0t > «■<> hair pushed back 
• hoit, threk lumps, the lettering weak and thin, and the envine-work 

Tnd “v” ° f is ^rt'C.lnrly bad, and the periods 

, " nd S are often impossible to find. In Die B the head 
apparently leans forward, the hair is brushed straight up from the forehead ' 
ie mouth is small and the chin projec's slightly. The figures “2” at the 
si es are in ovals. The lettering is not good, the “E” of “Cents’’beimr 
!f, ry 1J0 ° r ’ and tlie P erio,ls between “U” and “S” are hardly ever cleai^ 

SZSZT? often poor a,ld blotcI,y - Die which is ^ -<££ 

accepted by the Government, is very much superior. The hair over the 
foiel.ead leans slightly forward, the mouth is larger and shut ti.ffit and the 
wrinkles in Le cheeks behind it are very marked? There is mo?e of the ear 
visible, and the muscles of the neck are well defined. The lettering is broad 
and firm, the periods square, and the engine-work beautifully dmie The 
figures 2 ate much shorter. There is an amusing variety of this' die n 

« “: b,0ated ’ di “ ** ^ing “Old Hickory ” a dis- 

sli-.hXt'ef'The m be f T , ! S “ 2 ” are in circles ’ and ^ckson’s mouth is 
lit)y open. The Plimpton dies all Lave the mouth closed. The nose and 
chin aie also much more pointed. 

three cents. 

Here again we have two dies, \ and B In \ tho tnn , . 

pointed, the nose aquiline, the mouth small and weak. The figures “3 ” in 









United States Envelopes. 


yYz772ft/otts. 


ovals at sides look top heavy, the lettering is poor and thin, and the engine- 
work faulty. Die B has a broader head, a more upright forehead, a strong, 
pointed Roman nose, a well-defined chin, and a deep groove in the drapery 
exactly in front of the peruke-ribbon. Die A has no such groove. 

The Reay die has hair curled upward from the ears, a very long peruke, 
a thin, pointed nose, and the figures “3 '’ in circles at sides. The Plimpton 
dies have the “3” m ovals. 


FIVE CENTS. 

A reference to our engraving will suffice for a clear idea of this hand¬ 
some die. The only difference is in the shape of the “5 ” in ovals at sides, 
which in the later die, as shown in the engraving, has a high-shouldered 
look. The engine-work is particularly fine. 

six CENTS. 

In this die the hair of Lincoln falls forward, making a hook over his 
forehead, the nose and ear are large, and the under lip protrudes. 

The Reay die has the hair in a mass over the forehead, the nose is 
smaller, the side-hair lumpy and the beard begins about the middle of the 
ear. The neck is longer and thinner, and the muscle in neck well marked. 

SEVEN CENTS. 

The workmanship on the hair and beard of Stanton is very fine and the 
ear small. The figure ‘*7” on solid circle at sides ends in a sharp curve to 
the right. 

In the Reay die the beard is lumpy and the ear large. There is no 
curve on the figure “7.” 


TEN CENTS. 

Of this there are two dies, A. and B. A, which is appropriately called 
the “booby-head,” is a singular looking affair. The head fills up almost 
the entire disc, the neck is massive and bull-like, the lettering and figures 
miserable, and the engine-work very poor. Die B, however, is a gem in its 
way. The head and hair are beautifully done, the entire ear shows, and 
the peruke stands boldly out behind. 

The Reay die has lumpy hair, the upper part of front of ear is hidden, 
and the peruke ends in a line with the bust. The figures “10” are much 
thinner than in Die B of the Plimpton issue. 

TWELVE CENTS. 

The head of Clay is round, the hair well done, the entire ear visible, 
the chin round and the neck well done. 

In the Reay die, the head is long, the hair arranged in two or three 
curious coils, the front part of ear hidden, the chin pointed, the neck thin. 

’ The whole affair has a weazened, skinny look. 









so 


United States En velopes. 




FIFTEEN CENTS. 

Webster’s hair is straight and parted. The eyebrow overhangs the left 
eye. There are no whiskers. 

Tlie Reay die has the hair falling in wavy lines, there is no parting, no¬ 
eyebrow visible, and there is a small whisker in front of the ear. The neck 
from chin to clavicle is singularly straight, giving a thick, clumsy look. 

TWENTY-FOUR CENTS. 

The hair is neatly parted, the eyebrow distinct, the chin well marked, 
the nose aquiline and a little hooked at the end. The cartilage in the 
throat is not visible. The border of the engine-work consists of dots. 

In the Reay die, the parting of the hair is only partial, there is no eye¬ 
brow, the chin slopes weakly into the throat, and the nose is thick and de¬ 
cidedly Hebraic. The old General also has a lump in his throat. The 
border of the engine-work consists of square loops. 

THIRTY CENTS. 

The hair is short and crisp, the nose aquiline and well-formed, and the 
lower back part of bust broad. The oblong octagons containing figures 
“30” at sides are not set straight. 

The Reay he id has lumpy hair, a sort of frown on the brow, the chin 
runs info the neck at a sharp angle, and the lower back part of bust is 
sharp and pointed. The octagons at sides are exactly parallel. 

NINETY CENTS. 

This is a very close imitation of the Reay die. The Commodore’s hair 
projects slightly over his forehead, the nose is prominent > nd pointed, and 
his back hair is apparently blown forward. The front point of the bust is 
blunt. 

The Reay head has the front hair even with the forehead, the nose 
somewhat flat, and the hair lumpy. The side whisker comes farther for¬ 
ward and the front part of the bust ends in a .sharp point. 


There are many sub-varieties of the earty dies of the 1 c., 2 c. and 3 c., 
due to retouching. The writer has found seven or eight of the 1 c. Die A, 
as many of the 2 c Die B, and as many as fifteen or sixteen of the 3 c. Die 
A. They are of no philatelic importance. Die B of the 3 c. begins to- 
show signs of wear, as evinced by the running in of coloi on the embossed 
head, the vague look of the hair and features, and the blurring of the 
engine-work. The same is true of Die B 1 c. and in a less degree of Die 
C 2 c. There is often a curious ring around the heads of Die A 3 c. and 
10 c., especially the latter, due, doubtless, to imperfect striking. 

The writer chanced upon a box of fancy writing paper at a stationery 
store, the sheets and envelopes of which were adorned with embossed heads- 
of Franklin, Washington, Jefferson and Adams.. The first two were identic 








United States Envelopes 



cal, line for line, with the Government dies (B of both values, 1 c. and 3 c), 
yet the post office authorities, when questioned, said they were made by 
them for a private firm in imitation of the regular dies. If so it is the 
most marvellous achievement ever accomplished in imitative engraving. 

As the new dies were adopted the old ones were thrown aside, and 
envelopes made from these became rare. Among those obsolete made from 
the later dies are the 6 c. and 10 c. (both dies), Full Letter, as also the un¬ 
gummed 2 c. Die B on Nos. 4 and 6, and the 15 c., 30 c. and 90 c. on Official 
Size. The 7 c. on Full Letter and both sizes of 12 c. and 24 c. became obso¬ 
lete about the end of 1877. A very curious circumstance in connection with 
Die A of both 1 c. and 2 c. occurred about the same time. These long 
unused dies were suddenly resuscitated, and ungummed orange envelopes, 
No. 4, were put on sale at Philadelphia, New York and Bos’on, bearing 
the 1 c. Die A, while newspaper wrappers bearing Die A of tne 2 c. in red 
began to appear in the mails. No satisfactory explanation was ever given, 
and the mysterious strangers disappeared as suddenly as they had come. 
While these are but two of the many surprises to which the Plimpton Com. 
pany has treated collectors, it would be gratifying to know why they should 
put in use a die like Die A 2 c , which is anything but a desiiable adver¬ 
tisement for the firm from which it emanates. 


Colors. 

No change was made in the colors of the Reay dies except the altera¬ 
tion of the 2 c. from brown to vermilion, to distinguish it from the 10 c M 
the same change having been previously made in the adhesive. A most in¬ 
teresting series of shades is, however, observable in the blue of the 1 c. 
Die A is always deep blue, in which color also the early emissions of Die 
B were issued. As soon, however, as the 5 c. value was established, its 
color being a bright indigo blue, a change set in in the 1 c. Its deep dark 
blue grew gradually lighter until it culminated in the dull washy hue found 
on the ungummed orange envelopes Nos. 4 and (>. The reprints are ot the 
same dull color, which, in some spe- imens, actually takes a greenish tinge, 
doubtless from the paper. Hence dark blue may be c vlled the proper color 
of the earlier issues of the 1 c. and light blue that of the later. Of the 
brown 2 c , which is found on all three dies, there are many shades of color, 
Die B showing perhaps the greatest variety. The color to which this value- 
was changed is a brilliant vermilion, very much like the now obsolete 7 c. 
The green 3 c. shows few shades, there being, however, one very pale tint of 
it on an Extra Letter, amber, Die B. The 5 c. appears always in a deep 
rich blue. The G c., like its ancestor of Issue VI, shows many tints of red. 
The 7 c. was vermilion, running somewhat pale at times, noticeably on the 
rare 1st quality ambe”. The color of Die A of the 10 c. value was a rich 
chocolate, running to deep brown ; that of Die B generally dark brown, 
showing sometimes very dark. The writer has a pair of Full Letter 10 c.^ 
white and amber, Die B, which are neatly as dark as the so-called black 


/ 









United States Envelopes. 


32 


10 c. of Issue YI. The 12 c. varied little in its peculiar shade, which we have 
called purple in lieu of a better name. The 15 c. varies considerably from 
deep orange, which was probably the eailier hue, to pale lemon, found 
oftenest on Extra Official. The bright lilac of the 24 c. showed little varia¬ 
tion during its brief term of use, not having faded so much as its prede¬ 
cessor. The 30 c. is always a deep, lustrous black. The rich carmine of 
the 90 c. ends most handsomely the brilliant tints of this interesting issue, 
and shows to advantage on the white and amber paper alike. 


Values. 

To the eleven values of the previous issue, one was added when the 
uniform rate of 5 c. per half ounce was adopted by the International Postal 
Union, the new one being of course 5 c. Shortly afterwards, the 7 c., 12 c. 
and 24 c. became obsolete, reducing the number of values from twelve to 
nine, at which it now remains. On the later schedules of the Department, 
also, the 2 c. on orange is not found in either Nos. 4 or 6. The 10 c. was 
introduced in the new size, No. 4^, or Commercial, and in No. 7, Official, 
on white and amber. The 15 c., 30 c. and 90 c. became obsolete on No. 7, 
early in 1877, and obsolete in amber also on No. 8. The three fawn colored 
envelopes, viz.: 2 c. and 3 c., No. 4^, and 3 c., No. 7, enjoyed but a brief 
existence, but are revived again in Issue VIII. The 6 c. value was never 
issued on blue paper, and the writer is strongly of the opinion that at least 
three envelopes, viz.: 3 c. Die A. on Note size, amber, 6 c. on Full Letter, 
cream, and 6 c. on Extra Letter, cream, were never issued to the public. 

• 


Paper. 

This issue shows no less than seven different kinds of paper : white, 
amber, cream, fawn, blue, orange and manila. The white is always first 
quality, though of a slightly coarser texture on the early d>es ; the amber is 
found on first, second and thiid ; the cream on second and third ; the fawn 
on second; the blue on third. The orange is a thick, coarse paper, varying 
greatly in shade, from brown to pale yellow, and the manila shows also a 
great difference in quality and color, some of the newspaper wrappers being 
a fine light straw and ot ers a much poorer fibre. Taken as a whole, the 
paper of the entire issue is of a superior quality to that of previous ones. 


Watermarks. 

In addition to the well-known monogram of the Department, which we 
shall hereafter allude to as A, two new watermarks are found in this issue, 
one of which was called into existence by the Centennial, the other in 1877 
by the furnishing of a fresh set of envelopes for use by the Post Office De¬ 
partment. The first of these we designate as B, the second as C, and pre¬ 
sent illustrations herewito : 




United States Envelopes. 




As will be seen by tlie Reference List, both these watermarks found 
their way into the paper of the general issue, though not originally designed 
to do so. B is found even in the envelopes of the War Department, fuller 
explanation of these irregularities being given elsewhere. A, of course, is 
the regular watermark, common to all papers ; B is found on all the seven 
sizes of white envelopes; C, so far as known, is found only on a single 
specimen, 3 c., Full Letter, amber. 


Dies of the four values issued in 1874. 



Die A Die A 

8 




















































3If ^iwi^ikniJJnited States Envelopes 


'hinjiton , 



Die B 


Die A 


Die A 


Dies of the issue of 1875. Issue VII. 


Die B 


Die 0 


Die B 




Die A 


Die B 





JEhnifltan United States Envelopes 


35 


~TLimfttv7Z . 



Reference List Issue VII. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

Wmh. 





NOTE. 




255 

No. 1^ 

0 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

256 

No. 1 

0 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (2) 

A 

257 

No. V 

0 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

258 

No. 1 v 

0 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

B- 

259 

No. 1 

0 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (2) 

A 




ORDINARY LETTER. 




260 

No. 2 * 

p 

A 

Blue 

1 c. 

White 

A 

261 

No. 2v 

p 

A 

Blue 

1 c. 

Amber 

A 

262 

No. 2 

p 

B 

Bine 

1 c. 

White 

A 

263 

No. 2^ 

p 

B 

Blue 

1 c. 

Amber 

A 

264 

No. 2 / 

p 

A ‘ 

Brown 

2 c. 

White 

A 

265 

No. 2*^ 

p 

A 

Brown 

2 c. 

Amber 

A 

266 

No. 2/ 

p 

B 

Brown 

2 c. 

White 

A 

267 

No. 2 ✓ 

p 

B 

Brown 

2 c. 

Amber 

A 

268 

No. 2 \f 

p 

C 

Brown 

2 c. 

White 

A 

269 

No. 2 ^ 

p 

C 

Brown 

2 c. 

Amber 

A 

270 

No. 2 «' 

p 

c 

Red 

2 c. 

White 

A 

271 

No. 2 ^ 

p 

c 

Red 

2 c. 

Amber 

A 

272 

No. 2^ 

p 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

273 

No. 2 'f 

p 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

274 

No. 2 \/ 

p 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

275' 

No. 2/ 

p 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 


^ it) , (VC *t ■■ 











Fhmjito 


rv. 


SO 


United States Envelopes. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

Wmk. 

*^276 

No. 2 

P 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

B 

277 

No. 2.v 

P 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

A. 

278 

No. 2. • 

P 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

279 

No. a.’f 

P 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Blue 

A 




PULL 

LETTER. 




280 

No. 3 v 

T 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

281 

No. 3 / 

T 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

282 

N... 3 * 

T 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

283 

No. 3» 

T 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

~ 234 

No. 3 

T 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

235 

No. 3^ 

T 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

286 

No. 3 

U 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

287 

No. 3 

U 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

B 

288 

No. 3 

U 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

*-289 

No. 8 

U 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

C 

290 

No. 3 <■ 

u 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

291 

No. 3 ■* 

u 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Blue 

A 

292 

No. 8- 

u 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

White 

A 

293 

No. 3* 

u 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

Amber 

A 

294 

No. 8* 

u 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

Blue 

’ A 

295 

No. 3- 

T 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

296 

No. 3 J 

T 


Red 

6 c. 

A mber 

A 

297 

No. 3 

T 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 

-298 

No. 3 

U 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

-299 

No. 3 

U 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

A 

_ 300 

No. 3 

U 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 

301 

No. 3 

T 


Vermillion 

i 7 c. 

Amber 

A 

- 302 

No. 3 

T 


Vermillion 

7 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

303 

No. 8> 

U 


Vermillion 

7 c. 

Amber ^3) 

A 

304 

No. 3 

T 

A 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

White 

A 

305 

No. 3 v 

T 

A 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

Amber 

A 

306 

No. 3' 

U 

A 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

White 

A 

307 

No. 3 

u 

A 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

Amber 

A 

308 

No. 3. 

u 

B 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

White 

A 

309 

No. 3 v 

u 

B 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

Amber 

A 



PULL LETTER—UNGUMMED. 



310 

No. 4 v 

T 

A 

Blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

A 

311 

No. 4 

T 

B 

Dark blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

A 

312 

No. 4 

U 

B 

Dark blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

A 

313 

No. 4 

u 

B 

Light blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

A 

314 

No. 4v 

u 

A 

Light blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

A 

_ 315 

No. 4 

T 

A 

Brown 

2 c. 

Orange 

A 

316 

No. 4- 

u- 

B 

Brown 

2 c. 

Orange 

A 







United States Envelopes. 


87 




\] ) 
1 Hj»> V' 


\J 





No. 

Size. Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

WmJc 




COMMERCIAL. 




317 

No. 4* 

Q 

A 

Brown 

2 c. 

Cream 

A 

318 

No. 4^ / 

Q 

c 

Red 

2 c. 

Fawn 

A 

319 

No. 4 

Q 

c 

Red 

2 c. 

Cream 

A 

320 

No. 4* 

Q 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

321 

No. 4| ✓ 

Q 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

B 

322 

No. 4f 

Q 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

323 

No. 4£ + 

Q 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

324 

No. 

Q 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Fawn 

A 

323 

No. 4^ 

Q 

B 

Green 

3 e. 

Blue 

A 

328 

No. 4 J * r 

Q 

B 

Blue 

5 c. 

White 

A 

327 

No. 4}S 

Q 

B 

Blue 

5 c. 

Amber 

A 

328 

No. 4^ / 

Q 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

Blue 

A 

329 

No. 4 £ t 

Q 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

330 

No. 4^ t/ 

Q 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

A 

331 

No. 4$\V 

Q 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 

332 

No. 4^ * 

Q 

B 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

White 

A 

333 

No. 4£/ 

Q 

B 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

Amber 

A 




EXTRA LETTER. 




♦ 

co 

CO 

No. 5^ 

T 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

335 

No 5 ✓" 

T 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

w 336 

No. 5 

T 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

337 

No. 5 v" 

U 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

338 

No. 5 - 

U 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

B 

339 

No. 5 ✓ 

u 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

340 

No. 5 S 

u 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

341 

No. 5 

u 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Blue 

A 

342 

No. 5v 

T 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

843 

No. 5i/~ 

T 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

A 

— 844 

No. 5 

T 


Red 

6 c. 

('ream 

A 

345 

No. 5* 

U 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

346 

No. 5' 

U 


R d 

G c. 

Amber 

A 

_347 

No. 5 

u 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 



EXTRA LETTER—UNGUMMED. 



. 348 

No. 6. 

T 

A 

Blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

A 

J549 

No. 6 

T 

B 

Dark blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

A 

350 

No. 6 / 

U 

B 

Dark blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

A 

351 

No. 6 v 

u 

B 

Light blue 

1 c. 

Orange 

A 

352 

No. 6 * 

u 

B 

Brown 

2 c. 

Orange 

A 





OFFICIAL. 




353 

No. 7' 

R 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

354 

No. 7 

R 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 









United States Envelopes 


jhmjitorv. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

Wmk 

355 

No. 7s> 

R 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Fawn 

A 

356 

No. 7* 

R 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

Cream 

A 

357 

No. 7 v 

R 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

" 358 

No. 7 

R 


R<-d 

6 c. 

White 

B 

359 

No. 7 

R 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

A 

360 

No. 7 

R 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 

361 

No. 7^ 

R 

B 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

White 

A 

362 

No. 7 fc ' 

R 

B 

Chocolate 

10 c. 

Amber 

A 

363 

No. 7 

R 


Purple 

12 c. 

White 

A 

364 

No. 7 

R 


Purple 

12 c. 

Amber 

A 

365 

No. 7 i 

R 


Purple 

12 c. 

Cream 

A 

366 

No. 7 >' 

R 


Oranare 

15 c. 

White 

A 

367 

No 7 

R 


Orange 

15 c. 

Amber 

A 

368 

No. 7 r 

R 


Orange 

15 c. 

Cream 

A 

369 

No. 7/ 

R 


Lilac 

24 c. 

White 

A 

370 

No. 7 

R 


Lilac 

24 c. 

Amber 

A 

371 

No. 7 

R 


Lilac 

24 c. 

Cream 

A 

372 

No. 7 

R 


Black 

30 c. 

White 

A 

373 

No. 7, 

R 


Black 

30 c. 

Amber 

A 

374 

No. 7 

R 


Black 

30 c. 

Cream 

A 

375 

No. 7 v 

R 


Carmine 

90 c. 

White 

A 

376 

No. 7 

R 


Carmine 

90 c. 

Amber 

A 

377 

No. 7* 

R 


Carmine 

90 c. 

Cream 

A 


/ 


EXTRA 

OFFICIAL. 




378 

No. 8^ 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

379 

No. 8/ 

vf ft I 

Red 

6 c. 

White 

B 

380 

No. 8 " 

R 

Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

A 

381 

No. S ' 

R 

Purple 

12 c. 

White 

A 

382 

No. 8 

R 

Purple 

12 c. 

Amber 

A 

383 

No. 8- 

R 

Oranie 

15 c. 

White 

A 

384 

No. 8 

R 

Orange 

15 c. 

Amber 

A 

385 

No. 8 

R 

Lilac 

24 c. 

White 

A 

386 

No. S v 

R 

Lilac 

24 c. 

Amber 

A 

387 

No. 8* 

R 

Black 

30 c. 

White 

A 

388 

No. 8^ 

R 

Black 

30 c. 

Amber 

A 

389 

No. 8 V 

R 

Carmine 

90 c. 

White 

A 

390 

No. 8/ 

R 

Carmine 

90 c. 

Amber 

A 



NEW8PAPER WRAPPERS. 



391 

No. 9 

Rect. A 

Blue 

1 c. 

Manila 

A 

392 

No. 9 

Rect. B 

Da -k blue 

1 c. 

Manila 

A 

393 

No. 9 

Red;. B 

L ght blue 

1 c. 

Manila 

A 


No. 9 

Rect. A 

Brown 

2 c. 

Manila 

A 






United States Envelopes. 


39 

No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

Wmk. 

395 

No. 9 
No. 9 

Rect. 

A 

Red 

2 c. 

Manila 

A 

396 

Rect. 

B 

Brown 

2 c. 

Manila 

A 

397 

No. 9 J 

Rect. 

C 

Brown 

2 c. 

Manila 

A 

398 

No. 9 V 

Rect. 

C 

Red 

2 c. 

Manila 

A 


71 


In addition to the above, which I believe to be a complete list of the 
envelopes of this issue, a number were gotten up for the set on exhibi¬ 
tion in the Government Building at the Centennial. Quite possibly some 
of these got out and into circulation, as several sets of many of them 
were prepared, and in view of this I append a list of all the known 
varieties, premising that in every case where amber paper is mentioned, 
it is invariably third quality. The 7c , No. 3, on third amber, is not in¬ 
cluded, as it is a legitimate envelope, and I have so catalogued it. 


Envelopes which were 


PROBABLY PREPARED ESPECIALLY FOR THE 

Centennial. 


No. 

Size. Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

Wmk, 

OfcluACtSty & 399 

No. 2 ortiL 

P 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

400 

No. 2 

P 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

Full tel ft* 401 

No. 3 Ml- 

T 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

402 

No. 3 

T 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

403 

No. 3 

T 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

cf°, 404 

No. 4 c •• 

T 

C 

Brown 

2 c. 

Orange 

A 

405 

No. 4 •• 

T 

C 

Red 

2 c. 

Orange 

A 

Si fan A 406 

No. 5 ‘vfU*. 

U 

A 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

407 

No. 5 

U 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

408 

No. 5 

U 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

/C -0 . u* 409 

No. 6 

U 

A 

Brown 

2 c. 

Orange 

A 

410 

No. 6 

U 

C 

Brown 

2 c. 

Orange 

A 

411 

No. 6 

U 

C 

Red 

2 c. 

Orange 

A 

Ufra. 0H't* 412 

No. 8 

R 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 

' 413 

No. 8 

R 


Purple 

12 c. 

Cream 

A 

414 

No. 8 

R 


Orange 

15 c. 

Cream 

A 

415 

No. 8 

R 


Lilac 

24 c. 

Cream 

A 

416 

No. 8 

R 


Black 

30 c. 

Cream 

A 

417 

No. 8 

R 


Carmine 

90 c. 

Cream 

A 


Closing Notes. 

As mentioned before, I look on Nos. 256, 297 and 344 with great dis¬ 
favor, but have given them the benefit of the doubt. No. 259 had a very 
brief existence and is now very rare. It is more than likely that the 
second quality amber of this and No. 256 are both due to the Centennial. 
No. 285 I have never seen, but it doubtless exists, as neither 283 nor 284 
are very scarce. No. 289 is a genuine oddity, and no doubt an accident. 











40 


United States Envelopes. 


No. 296 was on sale for a brief time at the New York Post Office but is 
now very chfficult to obtain. Nos. 298, 299 and 300 I have never seen but 
there is reason to think that the first two at least exist. The same remark 
applies to No 302. The collector will note the fact of No. 311 on j o^ed 
flap (shape T). Of No. 313 there are almost innumerable shades both of 
die and paper. No. 314 is of course the reprint alluded to before Its 

No fi 5 P o a n tl 18 ° f t , diStiDCt aiUl Sepai ' ate Shades - 1 ba ™ chronicled 
No. 31o on the authority of information from a trustworthy source that 

P* Tpart from th" * W ^ “ Sale at the Post 0ffice at P^ville, 
it * ,f P f . thlS ’ my °P inion is it No. 317 is a mystery- 

samp 6SS C ° ming into bein S when No. 395 did, and from the 

rare. Of No S! ^ aCCOunted for * No - 333 has become quite 

very distinct shade oTpape^ofNo^Slf 1 the^ ^ °[ N °‘ 3 J 3 ' There is a 

,. 1 .• “ paper or in o. oo4, the cream being of a marked red 

d,sh tinge, confined, I think, to the earlier issues. No 355 is oie of the 
very rarest envelopes of this issne. I have herd that copies of it passe] 
t e post, but have never seen one post-marked. The Government rejected 

m,Tst I* a i° r ° C1 ’ eani in GVery case ’ and if h evei had an existence it 
must have been exceedingly brief. From No. 363 to 377, inclusive all are 

obsolete and rapidly becoming rare. The dies, from being comparatively 
little used, are all remarkably clear. P iy 

The use of the specially prepared paper intended for the Centennial 
envelopes only but found running through the seven sizes of the general 
issue, is not to be wondered at. The Plimpton Company having doub.less 
a laige stock of it on hand at the end of 1876, prefer-ed using to wasting 
it, and so employed it for all sizes of envelopes issued on white pape“ 

sfom See 1 \ ReferenCe List> it; is always ^und with the 3 c. vLe 

forTl p 6 ° n « "f 6131 , 011 ° fficial and Extra 0fficial size, where it is used 
i the 6 c., the 3 c. white not existing on these two sizes. In Extra Official 

887 a]d n S Th°e te N °' 378 *“ W °’ taclusi5e > ““I* Nos. 383, 

7 and 389. There are very many shades of No. 393. No. 395 is a verv 

raie wrapper, and probably due to the using of die A while a fresh trans 

fei was being made from die C. Nos. 397 and 398 are of course from* the 

same die, the color being changed from brown to red when the adhesive 2 c 

snnilaily changed to avoid confusion with the 10 c. There is a beauti* 
ful rose shade of No. 398. a Deautl - 

Of the envelopes numbered from 399 to 417 inclusive nil ^ 

r h t:?r„ are u, “ y due to t,ie 

11 Oian o e anse from the same source, and according- to the 

ofthem thG G ° Vernment sets for the Centennial, but five sets 

of them exist; and the Extra Officials on cream were mad- for the same 

whop 80 l Ue ’ n ° d ° Ubt ’ t0 the same cause are the No. 3, 3 c. die A on 
while and cream, with round flap (shape U). 

“r 11 ,,otioe ttat die li (perhaps more properly transfer B) 
of the 5 c. is found only on white and amber No. 4j. Curious alX is it 
is like many other points about this issue, entirely inexplicable ’ 
























United States Envelopes. 


jn 


Envelopes issued for the War Department. -J—CZ?7T^Lc077/, 

Soon after receiving the contract for the manufacture of stamped en¬ 
velopes, the Plimpton Company commenced the manufacture of a special 
set for the War Department. Like those of the preceding issue, they are 
made from the dies prepared for the general issue, a special border being 
substituted in the oval frame surrounding the head. A glance at our en¬ 
gravings will explain this. The envelopes are all very handsome, owing to 
the brilliant red of the embossed stamp and the superior quality of paper. 

There are eight values : all of the Plimpton values except the 5 c., 7 c., 24 c. 
and 90 c., though one would expect these last named. There are five 
shapes: O, P, R, T and U. If any exist on Q (Commercial), they are 
essays or freaks of the workmen. The 1 c., 2 c., 3 c. and 10 c. are all from 
the second die of each value, die C of the 2 c. not appearing. 









United States Envelopes 



~JEh>nfttdn. 


Reference List of War Department Envelopes. Issue VII. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

Wmk. 





NOTE. 




'418 

No. 1 

0 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

A 




ORDINARY LETTER. 




419 

No. 2 

P 

B 

Red 

1 c. 

White 

A 

•s. 420 

No. 2 

P 

B 

Red 

1 c. 

Amber 

A 

421 

No. 2 v 

P 

B 

Red 

2 c. 

White 

A 

422 

No. 2 

P 

B 

Red 

2 c. 

Amber 

A 

423 

No. 2 

P 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

A 

424 

No. 2 v 

P 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

— 425 

No. 2 

P 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

426 

No. 2 r 

P 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Blue . 

A 




FULL LETTER. 




427 

No. 3 * 

u 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

A 

428 

No. 3 

u 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

B 

429 

No. 3 v 

u 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

430 

No. 3 ^ 

T 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

431 

No. 3 / 

U 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

432 

No. 3 

U 

B ■ 

Red 

3 c. 

Blue 

A 

433 

No. 3 v 

U 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

434 

No. 3 { 

u 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

B 

435 

No. 3 

u 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

A 

436 

No. 3 V 

u 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 

437 

No. 3 

tr 

B 

Red 

10 c. 

White 

A 

438 

No. 3 

u 

B 

Red 

10 c. 

Amber 

A 




EXTRA LETTER. 




439 

No. 5/ 

u 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

A 

440 

No. 5, 

u 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

->441 

No. 5 V 

u 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Amber (3) 

A 

442 

No. 5*'' 

u 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

443 

No. 5 

u 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

B 

444 

No. 5 y/- 

u 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

A 

445 

No. 5 

u 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 



EXTRA LETTER—UNGUMMED. 



446 

No. 6 / 

T 

B 

Red 

2 c. 

Orange 

A 





OFFICIAL. 




447 

No. 7 * 

R 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

A 

448 

No. 7 

R 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Amber 

A 

449 

No. 7 v 

R 

B 

Red 

3 c. 

Cream 

A 

450 

No. 7 v 

R 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

451 

No. 7/ 

R 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

A 







United States Envelopes 


43 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

Wmk. 

452 

No. 7 r 

R 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 

453 

No. 7 't 

R 

B 

Red 

10 c. 

White 

A 

454 

No. 7 / 

R 

B 

Red 

10 c. 

Amber 

A 

455 

No. 

R 


Red 

12 c. 

White 

A 

456 

No. 7 J 

R 


Red 

12 c. 

Amber 

A 

457 

No. 7 

R 


Red 

15 c. 

White 

A 

458 

No. 7 ✓ 

R 


Red 

15 c. 

Amber 

A 

459 

No. 7 * 

R 


Red 

30 c. 

White 

A 

460 

No. 7 * 

R 


Red 

30 c. 

Amber 

A 




EXTRA 

OFFICIAL. 




461 

No. 8’’' 

R ✓ 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

A 

462 

No. 8* 

R 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

A 

463 

No. 8 

R 


Red 

6 c. 

Cream 

A 

464 

No. 8 ✓ 

R 


Red 

12 c. 

White 

A 

465 

No. 8 S 

R 


Rad 

12 c. 

Amber 

A 

466 

No. 8 * 

R 


Red 

15 c. 

White 

A 

■467 

No. 8 V 

R 


Rett 

15 c. 

Amber 

A 

468 

No. 8/ 

Ii 


Red 

30 c. 

White 

A 

469 

No. 8 V 

R 


Red 

30 c. 

Amber 

A 



newspaper wrappers. 



470 

No. 9 / 

Rect. 

B 

Red 

1 c. 

Manila 

A 

471 

No. 9 „ 

Rect. 

B 

Red 

2 c. 

Manila 

A 


Phmfolon 


Closing Notes. 

The white paper of this issue is always iirst quality, the amber first 
unless otherwise specified, as in No. 441, and the cream second. The col¬ 
lector will note the use of the Centennial paper for Nos. 428, 434 and 443. 
Also the existence of the first shape (T, pointed flap) in Full Letter, No. 
430, and Extra Letter, No. 446. Very possibly it exists on other papers of 
the same sizes, but I have not seen them. These envelopes having been 
replaced by the ordinary white unstamped envelopes now in general use 
by all the Departments, : t is. becoming difficult to obtain a full set. The 
paper of No. 431 runs almost to fawn, while No. 463 is of the reddish 
cream peculiar to the early issues. 

Envelopes Issued fok the Post Office Department. 

Not to be behind the previous issue, the Plimpton Company prepared 
dies specially for the Post Office Department, resembling very closely 
those of the Reay issue. Careful exan i lation will show, however, that 
the figures of the Plimpton dies are larger in all tlnee values. There are 
no varieties. The paper runs in all imaginable shades of yellow, from 
light lemon to deep chrome yellow, the majority, however, keeping pretty 


*> % 


<* 0 
('O a 






lu '*-«77- b 


U - ^ * ^. O* ^>I« ^ i5 "‘ /' /((Xm»' * ( . 2. Cl . / 


44 United States Envelopes. 

^hrnJvtJbiv . “ 

closely to the normal color, canary. The Department indulged itself in no 
less than six different sorts of official envelopes, only three of which mex - it 
attention. We give them in the order in which they appear to have been 
used: 

1. Unwatermarked yellow paper in Full Letter and Official sizes, 
hearing the official “caution,” but cut by a different knife, and having a 
rectangle printed in upper right hand corner, enclosing words, “Here affix 
official stamp.” 

2. Canary paper, watermarked U. S. P. O. D. (A), in Full Letter, 
Extra Letter, Official and Extra Official sizes. One each also in white and 
very pale amber, Extra Letter size. 

3. Canary paper, watermarked U. ft. Postal Service (C), in same sizes 
as last. 

4. Unwatermarked white and yellow paper in Full Letter and Official 
sizes, cut by different knife, and without official “caution.” 

5. Canary paper, watermarked U. S. Postal Seivice (C), and bearing 
official “caution,” but unstamped in Full Letter and Official sizes. 

6. Blue paper, watermarked U. S. Postal Service (C), in Full Letter, 
Extra Letter, Official and Extra Official sizes. A very few come on paper 
watermarked U. S. P. O. D. (A.), and the Third Assistant Postmaster 
General used, for notices of dead letters, Extra Letter size on amber and 
canary, watermarked respectively A and C. All these bear the official 
seal in blue, in upper right hand corner, as per illustration herewith: 



Of the above six classes, the first and fourth need no further mention. 
The fifrh shows the regular shapes and is a bona fide official envelope. We 
now present lists of the second, third and sixth in order. Three shapes 
appear in them, T, U and R. 




< , ' 









United States Envelopes. 


45 


Reference List Post Office Department Envelopes. 

Watermark U. S. P. O. D. 


Issue VII. 




No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 




FULL LETTER. 



472 

No. 3 S 

T 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary- 

473 

No. 3 r 

U 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary 

474 

No. 3 V 

T 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 

475 

No. 3 •/ 

U 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 

476 

No. 3 

>» 

U 

Black 

6 c. 

Canary 


f 


EXTRA LETTER. 



477 

No. 5 ' 

u 

Black 

2 c. 

White 

478 

No. 5 ‘ / 

T 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary 

479 

No. 5^ 

U 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary 

-480 

No. 5 

T 

Black 

3 c. 

Pale amber 

481 

No. 5 S' 

U 

Black 

3 c. 

Pale amber 

482 

No. 5' 

T 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 

483 

No. 5 v 

U 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 

484 

No. 5 j 

U 

Black 

6 c. 

Canary 




OFFICIAL. 



485 

No. 7* / 

R 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary 

486 

No. 7 S 

R 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 

487 

No. 7' 

R 

B.ick 

6 c. 

Canary 


No. 8 x 

EXTRA OFFICIAL. 



488 

R 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary 

489 

No. 81 / 

R 

Black 

6 c. 

Canary 

Reference List Post Office Department Envelopes. 

Issue VII. 


Watermark U. S. Postal Service. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 




FULL LETTER. 



490 

No. 3^ 

U 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary 

491 

No. 3 v 

u 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 




EXTRA LETTER. 



492 

No. 5^ 

u 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary 

493 

No. 5 V 

u 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 




OFFICIAL. 



494 

No. 7 

R 

Black 

2 c. 

Canary 

495 

No. 7 ^ 

R 

Black 

3 c. 

Canary 

496 

No. 7 / 

R 

Black 

6 c. 

Canary 



EXTRA OFFICIAL. 



497 

No. 8 ^ 

R 

Black 

6 c. 

Canary 






United States Envelopes. 


46 



Closing Notes. 


The collector will notice how the early shape (T, pointed flap) runs 
through those Post Office envelopes bearing the old watermark. The change 
of watermark was made in July, 1877, about the time of the issue of the 
blue envelopes, which, under the Act of March 3, 1877, were to supersede 
the canary stamped ones. I have called these envelopes by their regular 
numbers, 3, 5, 7 and 8 (although they are known to the Department as 1, 
2, 3, and 4) to avoid confusion. No. 476 I have only seen in “Specimen.” 
I have heard that a 3 c. was issued on white, as a companion to No. 477, but 
have never seen it. No. 480 I have never seen, although it doubtless exists. 
The color of No. 481 is very light, running almost to white, and all that I 
have ever seen were intended for use in Canadian Money Order Business.. 
No. 484 is said to have been used, and No. 488 was issued, but whether 
used or not I cannot say. All the envelopes of both watermarks come with, 
printed addresses to the various heads of departments and bureaus, and' 
other postal officials. 


Postal Service Envelopes. 


Soon after the passage of the Act of March 3, 1877, which restored in 
a limited degree the franking privilege to the Post Office Department, and 
a few other branches of the Government, special envelopes were issued for 
use by the postal officials in Washington. These bear no stamp or indica¬ 
tion of value but the seal already illustrated, the name of the bureau, and 
customary caution, or rather penalty. The paper is a good first quality, 
blue, varying from indigo to pale chalky blue, and, with few exceptions, 
bearing watermark C. A few, however, are found with A. There are four 
sizes: Full Letter, Extra Letter, Official and Extra Official, and tw r o shapes:. 
U and R. In the accompanying Reference List, I have followed the order 
of the “Postal Guide” as to heads and sub-divisions. Where no number is 
given, I have not seen the envelope so omitted. The numbers given are 
those used by the Department, viz. : 1 for Full Letter, 2 for Extra Letter 
3 for Official, and 4 for Extra Official. 


Reference List Blue Postal Service Envelopes. 

No. F. Let. No. Ex. Let. No. Offi. No. Ex. Offi. 


post office department. 


498/ No. 3 499, No. 4 


POSTMASTEI. GENERAL. 


500 No. 1 


501 No. 3* 502 No. 4 


503 


No. 1 



505 No. 4 


FIRST ASSISTANT FO ITMASTER GENERAL. 

506/ No. 2 507 No. 3; 508 No. 4, 









United States Envelopes. 


47 


No. 

F. Let. 

509 

No. 1* 


No. Ex. Let. 


SECOND ASSISTANT PC STMASTER GENERAL. 


510 


No. 2 


DIVISION OP RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE. 


No. 


Offi. 


511 


No. 3 


513 No. 2 

THIRD ASSISTANT PO^ 

516/ No. 2 

DIVISION Of 


HSBURSING CLERK AN 

521 No. 2 


DIV [ 


DIVISION OP r EAD LETTERS. 


523 v No. 2f 

SION OP STAMPS, ST 

526 No. 2 


536 


No. 1 


530 

533 

537 


No. 2 

MONEY ORD 

No. 2 


No. 2 


540* 


No. 2 


* Watermark A. 


514 J No. 3 

iTMASTER GENERAL. 

517 V No. 3 


FINANCE. 

519 No. 3 

D SUPERINTENDENT. 

522 No. 3 


524 1 No. 3 

IMPED ENVELOPES, E 

527 / No. 3 


DIVISION OP REGISTRATION. 

529 No. 3 

OFFICE OP FOREIGN MAILS 


531 / No. 3 

1R OFFICE. 

534 f No. 3 


TOPOGRAPHER’S OFFICE 


538'/“ No. 3 


ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL. 


541 , No. 3 


No. Ex. Offi. 

512 / No. 4 

515 / No. 4 




518 


520 


No. 4 

No. 4 


525 


:c. 


528 


No. 4 

No. 4 


532 4 No. 4 


535 


539 


No. 4 


No. 4 


f On canary and amber paper, bearing surcharge in blue, of a circle, 
a square, a triangle, a double triangle, or plain, in addition to regulai 
surcharges. These devices usually stand between name of bureau and seal, 
but the circle is sometimes in left upper corner. 


Closing Note. 

Quite likely the above list is not perfect. I do not think it is, but give 
it for the satisfaction of such collectors as may be induced to render it more 
nearly complete. 














United States Envelopes. 


Centennial, Envelopes. 

With the advent of 1876, the Government decided on the issue of a 
special envelope with appropriate device as a sort of memento of the year. 
As mentioned elsewhere, specially water-marked paper was prepared, but 
until this was ready the old paper (watermark A) Was used. Envelopes on 
this paper in both sizes are now growing scarce. Only two sizes were 
issued, Full Letter and Commercial, both of which come on both kinds of 
paper, the paper being always first quality, white. Two transfers of the 
same die were used, one at Philadelphia, the other at Hartford, where the 
Plimpton factory is situated. A very close examination will show the let¬ 
ters “U. S. M.” on the hindmost car in the stamp. While there are some 
minor differences, the most marked point observable between the transfers 
is in the lower edge of the label containing the word “Postage,” which in 
the Haitford is perfect, but in the Philadelphia is cracked or double. The 
Full Letter lias the stamp impressed in green, the Commercial in red. We 
present illustrations of both transfers : 



Hartford. Ptiiladelpliia. 


Reference List Centennial Envelopes. 


No. 

Size. Shape. 

Transfer. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 

Wmk. 

542 

Full Letter ' 

U 

Hartford 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

B 

543 

Full Letter/", 

U 

Philadelphia 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

A 

544 

Full Letter v 

u 

Philadelphia 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

B 

545 

Commercials 

u 

Hartford 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

A 

546 

Commercial / 

u 

Hartford 

Red 

3 c. 

White 

B 


Closing Notes. 

Some fault has beep found with the design of this memorial stamp, but 
it appears to us that no better device could have been found than the post¬ 
boy of 1776 contrasting with the telegraph and railway mail-service of 
1876. Many other designs were submitted to the Government. The green 
runs from pale pea-green to deep dark green, and the red from pink and 
rose to deep, brilliant red. These envelopes were manufactured by the tens 
of thousands in the Government Building at the Centennial, as well as at 




















































. 




























































United States Envelopes. 


49 




Hartford, and were largely used. Many collectors will remember the 
ingenious little machine by which they were made. With the end of the 
year, their manufacture w r as discontinued and they now rarely appear in 
the mails. 


Uncolored Envelopes. 

These philatelic albinos merit only passing notice. They are due to 
carelessness or undue haste in the workmen, and are caused by the edges 
of two envelopes or wrappers adhering and only the upper one receiving 
the blow of the die. They are perfectly good for use whether colored or 
not. A list of them is useless, as no one knows how many there are. The 
writer has fifteen or sixteen different ones, all confined to the three lowest 
values, and on all colors of paper. Doubtless, there are nearly as many 
more in existence. There is one known with one impression on front of 
the envelope, and another on the back, both without color, another with 
two colorless impressions on the front of the wrapper, and a third with 
one colored and another uncolored just below it. 


Registered Letter Envelopes. 

These are made of very heavy, tough manila paper, bearing ‘‘ Instruc¬ 
tions,” ‘‘Record of Transit,” and address, all printed in red, and shaped 
so as to afford absolute protection to the contents. There have been three 
varieties : first, red, white and red in three broad parallel bars covering 
entire face; second, plain, with wide red border; third, scolloped-edged 
flap, lace-work edge at ends, fancy interwoven border, and plain face, 
They are all of about the same size, 10 by 5 inches. 


ISSUE VIII. 

When the conti’act with the Plimpton Company was renewed for another 
period of four years on its expiration in July, 1878, it was decided to make 
a change in nearly all the sizes and some of the papers of the envelopes. 
The Government, finding that such changes would enable them to lower 
the prices, and thereby conduce to the more general use of stamped enve¬ 
lopes, issued a circular to postmasters in September, 1878, notifying them 
of such change, and, October 1, the new schedule appeared, the envelopes 
not to be issued until January 1, 1879. We give table of sizes : 


No. 1 

Note, 

2 13-16 x inches, 

No. 2 

Ordinary Letter, 

3 1-16 x inches. 

No. 3 

Full Letter, 

3£ x 5^ inches. 

No. 4 

Full Letter, 

3j x ■ 5^ inches. 

No. 4J 

Commercial, 

3§ x 5f inches. 

No. 5 

Extra Letter, 

3$ x 6 5-16 inches. 





50 _PhmJitnn United States Envelopes. fezces . 


No. 6 

Extra Letter, 

3* 

X 

6 5-16 inches. 

No. 7 

Official, 

3 i 

X 

8§ inches. 

No. 8 

Extra Official, 

4| 

X 

10 3-16 inches. 

No. 9 

Newspaper Wrappers, 

6f 

X 

9 7-16 inches. 


Only Full Letter, Commercial and Newspaper Wrappers are unchanged. 
Should the old watermark be kept, there will be no distinction between 
the old and new envelopes of these sizes. The change of paper alluded to 
above consists in the substitution of fawn for cream in each of the five sizes 
in which the latter was formerly used. It will be remembered that in 1874, 
the Plimpton Company introduced this paper, bnt it was not approved by 
the Government. The cream paper has shown a decided tendency to run 
into fawn, however, all through the Plimpton contract. 

Reference List Issue VIII. 


No. 

Size. 

Shape. Die. 

Color. 

Value. 

Paper. 



NOTE. 



547 > 

No. 1 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 



ORDINARY LETTER. 



548' 

No. 2 

B 

Blue 

1 c. 

White 

549 

No. 2 

B 

Blue 

1 c. 

Amber 

550 

No. 2 

C 

Red 

2 c. 

White 

551 4 

No. 2 

C 

Red 

2 c. 

Amber 

553 

No. 2 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

553 ^ 

No. 2 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

554 

No. 2 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Fawn 

555 

No. 2 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Blue 



FULL 

LETTER. 



556 r 

No. 3 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

557 r 

No. 3 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

558/ 

No. 3 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Fawn 

559' 

No. 3 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Blue 

560 

No. 3 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

White 

561 

No. 3 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

Amber 

562 

No. 3 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

Blue 



FULL LETTER—UNGUMMED, 


563^ 

No. 4 

B 

Blue 

1 c. 

Orange 



COMMERCIAL. 



564 f j 

No. 4£ 

c 

Red 

2 c. 

Fawn 

565 

No. 4* 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

566 

No. 4$ 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

567 

No. 4£ 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Fawn 

568/ 

No. 4} 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Blue 






j^hrn/ifonUnited States Envelopes. /$'/(/■ 51 

-—- T’bmftton. 


569 ✓ 

No. 4£ 

B 

Blue 

5 c. 

White 

570 / 

No. 4£ 

B 

Blue 

5 c. 

Amber 

571 

No. 4^ 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

Blue 

572 

No. 4^ 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

573 

No. 4£ 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

574 v 

No. 4£ 


Red 

6 c. 

Fawn 

575 

No. 4J 

B 

Brown 

10 c. 

White 

576 

No. 4 

B 

Brown 

10 c. 

Amber 



EXTRA LETTER. 



577 ✓ 

No. 5 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

White 

578 / 

No. 5 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Amber 

579 

No. 5 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Fawn 

580/ 

No. 5 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Blue 

581 

No. 5 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

582 

No. 5 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 



EXTRA LETTER—UNGUMMED. 


583. 

No. 6 

B 

Blue 

1 c. 

Orange 



OFFICIAL. 



584 v" 

No. 7 

B 

Green 

3 c. 

Fawn 

585 

No. 7 

A 

Blue 

5 c. 

Fawn 

586 v 

No. 7 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

587 v 

No. 7 


Red 

6 c. 

Amber 

588 * 

No. 7 


Red 

6 c. 

Fawn 

589 

No. 7 

B 

Brown 

10 c. 

White 

590 v~ 

No. 7 

B 

Brown 

10 c. 

Amber 



EXTRA 

OFFICIAL. 



591 

No. 8 


Red 

6 c. 

White 

592 

No. 8 


Orange 

15 c. 

White 

593 J 

No. 8 


Black 

30 c. 

White 

594 

No. 8 


Carmine 

90 c. 

White 



NEWSPAPER WRAPPERS. 


595 ✓ 

No. 9 

Rect. B 

Blue 

1 c. 

Manila 

596 ^ 

No. 9 

Rect. C 

Red 

2 c. 

Manila 


* 

Closing Notes. 

The shapes and watermarks of this issue have been left blank, as dili¬ 
gent inquiry at the Department has failed to elicit any definite information 
as to them. The collector can, however, easily fill them out after January 
1, 1879, when the envelopes will be given to the public. The white and 
amber paper is always first quality, the fawn second, the blue third. The 
envelopes and wrappers are made by the Plimpton and Morgan Manu¬ 
facturing Company, as it is now called, of Hartford, Conn. 







United States Envelopes. 



CONCLUSION. 


As I draw to the end of what has been to me a most pleasant task, I 
cannot refrain from expressing my obligations to Mr. Freeman’s monograph. 
My own essay is, in many respects, but a continuation of his ; I only hop* 
it will bear as well the test of time. My thanks are due also to Mr. Coster, 
who has been ever ready to respond ; to Dr. Bowers and Mr. Sterling for 
the examination of specimens not in my own collection, and to Mr. Durbin, 
for the generosity with which he has supplied everything needful to the 
work. May it prove as instructive and valuable to the public as it has been 
pleasant and profitable to the author. 


W. E. V. H. 


Freehold, December, 1878. 


ERRATA. 


On page 10, in consequence of an omission, the four half-numbers were 
inserted rather than to change all subsequent numbers. The total num¬ 
ber of envelopes chronicled is therefore exactly six hundred. 

On page 12, in mentioning number of shapes, N should be omitted. I 
have nevei met N in Issue III, nor does Mr. Freeman mention it save with 
a query. / 

On page 18, under heading of “Shapes,” read 1872 for 1870. S 

On page 24, by a provoking error, not discovered until the entire form 
was printed, the Plimpton die of the 15 c. War was inserted instead of the 
Reay. We present Reay die lieiewith : „ 




































































































*