The Die Varieties of the Nesbitt Series of United States Envelopes Part 19

CLa.s.s I.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

VARIETY 1 (22-1/4 x 25-3/4 mm.).

Bust points to centre of "W," which touches line above.

"O" of "POSTAGE" to left, but near the junction point of the inner frame line; "OS" nearly on level. "W" of "TWO" near inner frame line, and touching the latter in deteriorated dies. "OC" near. A line drawn through the junction point of the upper and lower inner frame lines cuts the end curves of the "C" of "CENTS." "CE" well s.p.a.ced, but "C"

lower than "E." "S" far from the right oval line. Figure "2" in right oval nearly touches at left. In deteriorated dies both figures touch at left. The tip of nose is near the left oval.

CLa.s.s II.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

VARIETY 2 (22-3/4 x 25-1/2 mm.).

"POS" very near. "E" of "POSTAGE" touches frame.

Top of "TWO" far from left oval line, and distance between "O" of "TWO"

and "C" of "CENTS" nearer than in Var. 1. Nose near left oval.

CLa.s.s IV.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

VARIETY 3 (22 x 26 mm.).

"O" in the centre of label and highest letter.

Centre line pa.s.ses through "O" and "C" of "CENTS." The downstroke of "2" in the left oval touches inner frame. "C" of "CENTS" is the lowest letter, and "ENT" is widely s.p.a.ced. Distance between "OC" wider than in Var. 2. Nose near left oval.

VARIETY 4 (22-1/2 x 25 mm.).

"OS" on a level. "OC" very wide.

"POS" wide and "O" to the left of the point. Centre line touches "O" to the right, and pa.s.ses through the centre of "C" of "CENTS." Left numeral does not touch outer frame line. "S" of "CENTS" very far from right oval. Nose far from left oval.

VARIETY 5 (22-1/2 x 25-3/4 mm.).

"S" is the highest letter, far from line below.

A considerable margin between top of letters "S. POS" and the outer frame line. "PO" close. "GE" wide at top. Centre line touches "O" to right and pa.s.ses through the curves of "C" of "CENTS." Numerals in ovals do not touch. Distance between "O" of "TWO" "and "C" of "CENTS"

wide. "C" low. Nose near left oval.

VARIETY 6 (22 x 25-3/4 mm.).

Back of head close to right oval.

The entire inscription in the upper label is close to the inner frame line and the letters are s.p.a.ced closely. "U. S." is s.p.a.ced closer than in any other variety. Point of bust almost touches the frame line.

Distance between "O" of "TWO" and "C" of "CENTS" near. "CE" very close.

"S" near right oval. Nose near left oval.

CLa.s.s V.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

VARIETY 7 (22-1/2 x 25 mm.).

Bust points between "W" and "O."

"U. S." widely s.p.a.ced. "OS" on level. "GE" close. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "OC" wide. "C" well under the point, and far from "E."

"CENTS" well s.p.a.ced, and "S" far from right oval.

DIE B.

CLa.s.s IV.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

VARIETY 8 (21-1/2 x 25 mm.).

In the numerals of value the end stroke does not curve back, but slants sharply from the downstroke.

"S" of "U. S." and "P" of "POSTAGE" are s.p.a.ced closely. "O" to left of point. Top of "S" is a little above "O" and "T." Distance between "O"

of "TWO" and "C" of "CENTS" very wide. "C" by far the lowest letter.

The hair projects beyond the forehead, and the nose is near left oval.

This issue adds no new shapes of envelopes, only two knives are used, and they are No. 2 and 11, both known as "Full Letter," Size 3, measuring 139 x 83 mm. It has already been stated that the wrappers bearing the design of Dies A. and B. were issued in accordance with the Act of March 3, 1863, which changed the rate of postage for "transient newspaper" to two cents. Shortly after their issue the Post Office was informed that the wrapper, as issued with a marginal coating, infringed the patent issued to L. P. Mara, and that the inventor would a.s.sert his rights. We do not know what step the Department took to allay the ire of the famous patentee, but we do know that the issue of newspaper wrappers was suspended for about six months, to commence anew in April 1865.

Of more interest to the collector is the paper of these wrappers which, generally speaking, is a rough manila, varying considerably in shade.

The width of the wrapper varies also from 148 to 152 mm., the length from 227 to 230 mm., while the stamp is from 62 to 72 mm from the gummed top of the wrapper.

DIES INSCRIBED "U. S. POST."

Towards the end of 1864, Nesbitt (the contractor for furnis.h.i.+ng the Post Office Department with stamped envelopes and newspaper wrappers) had considerable financial trouble in living up to his obligations and, at his earnest request, Congress pa.s.sed a bill for his relief. As the then existing contract expired Sept. 11, 1864, the Post Office Department entered into a new agreement with Nesbitt, paying an advanced rate to the contractor and ordering a change of the dies of the two, three and six cents values.

At present we are interested only in the change of the two cent die. In its new form the general features have been retained, but the inscription is altered to read "U. S. POST" and the shape of the stamp is either narrow or broad.

The narrow die is called by the cataloguer "DIE C" and the broad one "DIE D."

Using the system of line prolongation which has been already fully described, we are at once in a position to handle the large number of varieties and to collect them systematically.

C Dies. (24 to 25 mm. width)