Identification guide for designs of United States stamped envelopes, wrappers, and letter sheets.

Identification guide for designs of United States stamped envelopes, wrappers, and letter sheets
two cents

There are 39 designs of indicia whose face value is two cents. Six of these designs are distinctive enough that they can be identified by examining the images immediately below. The remaining 33 designs feature a bust of Andrew Jackson (15 designs), a bust of George Washington (16), or a large numeral inside an oval (2).
   For a key to the Jackson designs click here.
   For a key to the Washington designs click here.
   For a key to the large numeral designs click here.

Busts of Columbus and Liberty	design U76	You have identified design #U76, printed in violet on white paper and diagnostic for Scott #U349; or printed in dark slate (erroneously) on white paper and diagnostic for Scott #U349a.

Grant	design US1	You have identified design #US1, diagnostic for Scott #U293 (printed in green on creamy white paper).

Liberty Bell	design U94	You have identified design #U94, diagnostic for and printed in carmine on white paper and shared by Scott #s U522 (die 1) and U522a (die 2).

Mount Vernon	design U95	You have identified design #U95, printed in carmine on white paper and shared by Scott #s U525 (die 1) and U525a (die 2); or printed in carmine on blue paper (erroneously) and diagnostic for Scott #U525b (die 1, rare). For a guide to identifying the two dies, click here.

Star and Pinwheel "Authorized Non-Profit Organization"	design U124	You have identified design #U124, diagnostic for Scott #U577 (printed in red on white paper)

Postal Savings	design UO25	You have identified design #U25, diagnostic for Scott #UO72.

Key to designs that show a bust of Jackson

Question 1: Do the words "War Dept" appear near the top of the design?

yes (go to Question 14) no (go to Question 2)

Question 2: What is the shape of the border at the top and bottom?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

pointed
(go to Question 3)

design U17

design U18

design U19

design U20

rounded
(go to Question 6)

design U24

design U36

design U37

design U38

design U39

design U40

design U41

design U42

design U43

Question 3: "Postage" or "Post." above Jackson's head?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)

"Postage" (go to Question 4)	design U17	design U18

"Post." (go to Question 5)	design U19	design U20

Question 4: What is the relationship between the downstroke of the 2 and the ellipse that surrounds it?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)

They merge	design U17	You have identified design #U17, printed in black and shared by Scott #s U46 (buff paper) and W47 (dark manila).
They do not merge	design U18	You have identified design #U18, printed in black and shared by Scott #s U48 (buff paper; not regularly issued) and U49 (orange; not regularly issued).

Question 5: How wide is the design?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)

24–25 mm	design U19	You have identified design #U19, printed in black and shared by Scott #s U50 (buff paper), W51 (buff), U52 (orange), and W53 (dark manila).

25.5–26.25 mm	design U20	You have identified design #U20, printed in black and shared by Scott #s U54 (buff paper), W55 (buff), U56 (orange), and W57 (light manila).

Question 6: Are the numerals "2" enclosed by a circle or oval?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)

circle (go to Question 7)	design U24	design U36

oval (go to Question 8)	design U37	design U38	design U39	design U40	design U41	design U42	design U43

Question 7: Is the engraving finely or coarsely done?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#6) you answered)

finely done	design U24	You have identified design #U24, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U78 (white paper), U79 (amber), U80 (orange), and W81 (manila).

coarsely done	design U36	You have identified design #U36, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U122 (white paper), U123 (amber), U124 (cream; not regularly issued), U125 (orange), and W126 (manila); or printed in vermilion on manila paper and diagnostic for Scott #W127.

Question 8: Is there a diagonal line between the upper left part of the "U" of "U. S. Postage" and the outer white oval?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#6) you answered)

yes	design U41	You have identified design #U41, printed in vermilion and shared by Scott #s U149 (white paper), U150 (amber), U151 (blue), and U152 (fawn); or printed in pink and shared by Scott #s U149a (white paper) and U151a (blue).

no (go to Question 9)	design U37	design U38	design U39	design U40	design U42	design U43

Question 9: Does the tail of the left 2 touch the oval?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#8) you answered)

yes	design U38	You have identified design #U38, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U132 (white paper), U133 (amber), and U133A (cream; not regularly issued).

no (go to Question 10)	design U37	design U39	design U40	design U42	design U43

Question 10: Is there a diagonal line in the "G" of "POSTAGE" and in the "C" of "CENTS"?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#9) you answered)

yes	design U39	You have identified design #U39, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U134 (white paper), U135 (amber), U136 (orange), and W137 (manila); or printed in vermilion and shared by Scott #s U137A (white paper; not regularly issued), U137B (amber; not regularly issued), U137C (orange; not regularly issued), and W138 (manila; not regularly issued).

no (go to Question 11)	design U37	design U40	design U42	design U43

Question 11: Is the bottom part of the bust curved sharply or gradually?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#10) you answered)

sharply	design U43	You have identified design #U43, printed in vermilion and shared by Scott #s U156 (white paper), U157 (amber; rare), and W158 (manila).

gradually (go to Question 12)	design U37	design U40	design U42

Question 12: Is the diagonal stroke of the "N" in "CENTS" the same thickness as the vertical strokes, or is it thicker?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#11) you answered)

same thickness	design U42	You have identified design #U42, printed in vermilion and shared by Scott #s U153 (white paper), U154 (amber), and W155 (manila).

thicker (go to Question 13)	design U37	design U40

Question 13: What is the shape of the numerals?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#12) you answered)

relative tall (and in tall ovals)	design U37	You have identified design #U37, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U128 (white paper), U129 (amber), U130 (cream; not regularly issued), and W131 (manila).

relatively short (and in short ovals)	design U40	You have identified design #U40, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U139 (white paper), U140 (amber) and W141 (manila); or printed in reddish brown on orange paper and diagnostic for Scott #U140A (not regularly issued); or printed in vermilion and shared by Scott #s U142 (white paper), U143 (amber), U144 (cream), U145 (orange; not regularly issued), U146 (blue), U147 (fawn), and W148 (manila); or printed in pink on white paper and diagnostic for Scott #U142a.

Question 14: Is the left edge of the base of Jackson's bust angled or rounded?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

angled	design UO9	You have identified design #UO9, printed in dark red on white paper and diagnostic for Scott #s UO19; or printed in vermilion and shared by UO32 (white paper) and WO33 (manila).

rounded

design UO18

You have identified design #UO18, printed in red and shared by Scott #s UO47 (white paper), UO48 (amber), UO49 (orange), and WO50 (manila).

Key to designs that show a bust of Washington

Question 1: How many times does the numeral "2" appear on the stamp?

once (go to Question 2)	design U70	design U71	design U72	design U78

design U79

design U80

design U97

twice (go to Question 8)	design U60	design U61	design U62	design U63	design U64	design U65

design U67

design U68

design U86

design U89

design U91

design U93

Question 2: What is the numeral "2" enclosed by?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

a circle	design U97	You have identified design #U97, printed in carmine on white paper and shared by Scott #s U533 (die 3), U533a (die 1), U533b (die 2), and U533c (die 4).

a shield (go to Question 3)	design U70	design U71 design U72	design U78	design U79	design U80

Question 3: What color is the image?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)

green (go to Question 4)	design U70	design U71	design U72

carmine (go to Question 6)	design U78	design U79	design U80

Question 4: Does the "G" of "POSTAGE" have a bar, and does the bust point between notches 2 and 3 (vs. between 3 and 4)?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)

no	design U70	You have identified design #U70, printed in green and shared by Scott #s U305 (white paper), U306 (amber), U307 (oriental buff), U308 (blue), U309 (manila), and U310 (amber manila).

yes (go to Question 5)	design U71	design U72

Question 5: What is the shape of the top part of the head?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#4) you answered)

more or less pointed (also, there is one line each for the ear and at the corner of the mouth)	design U71	You have identified design #U71, printed in green and shared by Scott #s U311 (white paper), U312 (amber), U313 (oriental buff), U314 (blue), U315 (manila), W316 (manila), and U317 (amber manila); or printed in dark green and shared by Scott #s U311a (white paper), U312b (amber), U313a (oriental buff), U314a (blue), U315a (manila), and U317a (amber manila).

NOTE: Unless you have a mint, crisp image it is hard to differentiate U71 and U72 based on the lines at the ear and mouth, or the shape of the top of the head. An easier way to do so is to look at where the low, front point of the bust points toward the white oval. In U71 it points to the notch between the second and third diamond of the inner oval, in U72 it points towards the second diamond.

rounded (also, there are two lines each for the ear and at the corner of the mouth)	design U72	You have identified design #U72, printed in green and shared by Scott #s U318 (white paper), U319 (amber), U320 (oriental buff), U321 (blue), U322 (manila), and U323 (amber manila).

Question 6: Does the bust point to the first notch of the inner oval or to the middle of the second notch?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)

first notch	design U78	You have identified design a#U78, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U358 (white paper), U359 (amber), U360 (oriental buff), and U361 (blue).

middle of the 2nd notch (go to Question 7)	design U79	design U80

Question 7: Does the queue have a ribbon around it?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#6) you answered)

yes	design U79	You have identified design #U79, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U362 (white paper), U363 (amber), U364 (oriental buff), U365 (blue), and W366 (manila); or printed in dark lake on white paper and diagnostic for Scott #U362a.

no	design U80	You have identified design #U80, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U367 (white paper), U368 (amber), U369 (oriental buff), and U370 (blue).

Question 8: Are the numerals "2" enclosed (by a circle or oval) or not?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

yes, they are enclosed (go to Question 9)	design U60	design U61	design U62	design U63

	design U64	design U65	design U67	design U68	design U93

no, they are not enclosed (go to Question 17)	design U86	design U89	design U91

Question 9: Are the numerals "2" enclosed in a circle or in an oval?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#8) you answered)

In a circle (in the lower half of the design)	design U93	You have identified design #U93, printed in carmine on white paper and shared by Scott #s U429 (die 1), U429a (die 2), U429b (die 3), U429c (die 4), U429d (die 5), U429e (die 6), U429f (die 7), U429g (die 8), and U429h (die 9); or printed in green (erroneously) on white paper and diagnostic for Scott #U429i (die 1); or printed in carmine on amber paper and shared by Scott #s U430 (die 1), U430a (die 2), U430b (die 4), U430c (die 5), U430d (die 6), U430e (die 7), U430f (die 8), and U430g (die 9); or printed in carmine on oriental buff paper and shared by Scott #s U431 (die 1), U431a (die 2), U431b (die 4), U431c (die 5), U431d (die 6), and U431e (die 7); or printed in carmine on blue paper and shared by Scott #s U432 (die 1), U432b (die 2), U432c (die 3), U432d (die 4), U432e (die 5), U432f (die 6), U432g (die 7), U432h (die 8), and U432i (die 9); or printed in purple (erroneously) on blue paper and diagnostic for Scott #U432j (die 9); or printed in carmine on manila paper and diagnostic for Scott #U432A (die 7; rare); or printed in carmine on a manila wrapper and diagnostic for Scott #W433 (die 1); or printed in carmine on a glazed brown wrapper and diagnostic for Scott #W434 (die 1); or printed in carmine on an unglazed brown wrapper and diagnostic for Scott #W435 (die 1).

In an oval (at midheight of the design) (go to Question 10)	design U60	design U61	design U62	design U63

design U64

design U65

design U67

design U68

Question 10: Are the letters of "U.S. POSTAGE" in outline form, or are the letters solid?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#9) you answered)

outline	design U60	You have identified design #U60, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U227 (white paper), U228 (amber), U229 (blue), and U230 (fawn); or printed in brown (erroneously) on white paper and diagnostic for Scott #U227a.

solid (go to Question 11)	design U61	design U62	design U63	design U64

design U65

design U67

design U68

Question 11: How many wavy lines (total above and below "U.S. Postage") inside the oval?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#10) you answered)

four (go to Question 12)	design U61	design U62	design U63	design U64	design U65

two (go to Question 16)	design U67	design U68

Question 12: Are the wavy lines fine and clear, or are they thick and blurred?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#11) you answered)

fine and clear	design U61	You have identified design #U61, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U231 (white paper), U232 (amber), U233 (blue), U234 (fawn), and W235 (manila); or printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U260 (white paper), U261 (amber), U262 (blue), U263 (fawn), and W264 (manila).
thick and blurred (go to Question 13)	design U62	design U63	design U64	design U65

Question 13: Is the "O" in "TWO" round or is it oval?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#12) you answered)

round	design U65	You have identified design #U65, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U247 (white paper), U248 (amber), and U249 (fawn); or printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U273 (white paper), U274 (amber), U275 (blue), and U276 (fawn).

oval (go to Question 14)	design U62	design U63	design U64

Question 14: How many links are over the left "2"?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#13) you answered)

3¹/₂	design U63	You have identified design #U63, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U240 (white paper), U241 (amber), and U242 (fawn).

2¹/₂ (go to Question 15)	design U62	design U64

Question 15: How many links are below the right "2"?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#14) you answered)

2¹/₂	design U62	You have identified design #U62, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U236 (white paper), U237 (amber), U238 (blue), and U239 (fawn); or printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U265 (white paper), U266 (amber), U267 (blue), U268 (fawn), and W269 (manila).

2	design U64	You have identified design #U64, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U243 (white paper), U244 (amber), U245 (blue), and U246 (fawn); or printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U270 (white paper), U271 (amber), and U272 (fawn).

Question 16: Is the bottom right part at the rear of the bust pointed or rounded?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#11) you answered)

pointed	design U67	You have identified design #U67, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U277 (white paper), U278 (amber), U279 (oriental buff), U280 (blue), U281 (fawn), U282 (manila), W283 (manila), and U284 (amber manila); or printed in brown-lake and shared by Scott #s U277a (die 1), (white paper) and U278a (amber); or printed in red and shared by Scott #s U285 (white paper; not regularly issued), U286 (blue; not regularly issued), and W287 (manila).

rounded	design U68	You have identified design # U68, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U288 (white paper), U289 (amber), U290 (blue), U291 (fawn), and W292 (manila).

Question 17: Are there birth and death dates (i.e., 1732 and 1799)?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#8) you answered)

no	design U91	You have identified design #U91, printed in brown-red on white paper and shared by Scott #s U406 (die 1), U406a (die 2), and U406b (die 3); or printed in brown-red on amber paper and shared by Scott #s U407 (die 1), U407a (die 2), and U407b (die 3); or printed in brown-red on oriental buff paper and shared by Scott #s U408 (die 1), U408a (die 2), and U408b (die 3); or printed in brown-red on blue paper and shared by Scott #s U409 (die 1), U409a (die 2), and U409b (die 3); or printed in brown-red on a manila wrapper and diagnostic for Scott #W410 (die 1); or printed in carmine on white paper and shared by Scott #s U411 (die 1), U411a (die 2), U411b (die 3), U411c (die 4), U411d (die 5), U411e (die 6), U411f (die 7), and U411g (die 8); or printed in carmine on amber paper and shared by Scott #s U412 (die 1), U412a (die 2), U412b (die 3), U412c (die 4), U412d (die 5), U412e (die 6), and U412f (die 7); or printed in carmine on oriental buff paper and shared by Scott #s U413 (die 1), U413a (die 2), U413b (die 3), U413c (die 4), U413d (die 5), U413e (die 6), U413f (die 7), and U413g (die 8); or printed in carmine on blue paper and shared by Scott #s U414 (die 1), U414a (die 2), U414b (die 3), U414c (die 4), U414d (die 5), U414e (die 6), U414f (die 7), and U414g (die 8); or printed in carmine on a manila wrapper and shared by Scott #s W415 (die 1), W415a (die 2), W415b (die 5), and W415c (die 7).

yes (go to Question 18)	design U86	design U89

Question 18: How many shading lines inside the right end of the bottom scroll?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#17) you answered)

(Note: Sometimes the printing of an envelope is not strong. Then it is helpful to look at the letter "D" in "UNITED".
If the right edge of the "D" is relatively straight and parallel with the left side of the "D", you have design #U86. If the right side of the "D" is rounded, you have design #U89.)

2¹/₂	design U86	You have identified design #U86, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U385 (white paper), U386 (amber), U387 (oriental buff), U388 (blue), and W389 (manila); or printed in pink and shared by Scott #s U385a (white paper), U386a (amber), U387a (oriental buff), and U388a (blue); or printed in red and shared by Scott #s U385b (white paper), U386b (amber), U387b (oriental buff), and U388b (blue).

3	design U89	You have identified design #U89, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U395 (white paper), U396 (amber), U397 (oriental buff), U398 (blue), and W399 (manila); or printed in pink and shared by Scott #s U395a (white paper), U396a (amber), U397a (oriental buff), U398a (blue), and W399a (manila).

:
Question 1: How high is the numeral 2?

9 mm	design UO1	You have identified design #UO1, printed in black on lemon paper, and diagnostic for Scott # UO1.

9¹/₄ mm	design UO4	You have identified design UO4, printed in black and shared by Scott #s UO4 (lemon paper) and UO5 (white).

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