Identification guide for design numbers of United States stamped envelopes, wrappers, and letter sheets
four cents
There are 12 designs of indicia whose face value is four cents. Four of these designs are distinctive enough that they can be identified by examining the images immediately below. The remaining eight designs feature a bust of Benjamin Franklin (3 designs), of Andrew Jackson (2), or of Abraham Lincoln (3). The remaining 3 images are of: Benjamin Franklin, with 3 designs accounting for 6 Scott numbers; Andrew Jackson, with 2 designs accounting for 16 Scott numbers; and Abraham Lincoln, with 3 designs accounting for 6 Scott numbers.
For a key to the Franklin designs click here.
For a key to the Jackson designs click here.
For a key to the Lincoln designs click here.
Ulysses S. Grant
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design U87
|
You have identified design #U87 printed in chocolate and shared by Scott #s U390 (white), U391 (amber), and W392 (manila). |
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Mount Vernon
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design U95
|
You have identified design #U95 diagnostic for Scott #U527 (printed in black on white paper). |
|
Pony Express
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design U101
|
You have identified design #U101 diagnostic for
Scott #U543 (printed in brown on white paper). |
|
Old Ironsides
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design U105
|
You have identified design #105 ;diagnostic for Scott #U549 (printed in bright blue on white paper). |
Key to designs that show a bust of Benjamin Franklin
Question 1: How many times does the numeral "4" appear in the design?
(choose an answer below)
two (go to Question 2)
|
design U90
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design U92
|
|
one
|
design U96
|
You have identified design #U96, printed in red-violet on white paper and shared by Scott #s U536 (die 1), U536a (die 2), and U536b (die 3). |
Question 2: Are the 4's at the midheight of the design or on the lower half?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)
midheight
|
design U90
|
You have identified design #U90, printed in black on white paper and shared by Scott #s U416 (die 2) and U416a (die 1); or printed in black on amber paper and shared by Scott #s U417 (die 2) and U417a (die 1). |
|
|
lower half
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design U92
|
You have identified design #U92, printed in black and shared by
Scott #s U440 (die 1)(white), U441 (die 1) (amber), and U442 (die 1) (blue). |
Key to designs that show a bust of Andrew Jackson
Question 1: How many times does the numeral "4" appear in the design?
(choose an answer below)
one
|
design U73
|
Design U37 Scott Equivalents
Scott # |
color |
envelope |
U324
|
carmine
|
white
|
U325
|
carmine
|
amber
|
U326
|
carmine
|
oriental buff
|
U327
|
carmine
|
blue
|
U328
|
carmine
|
manila
|
U329
|
carmine
|
amber manila
|
U324a
|
lake
|
white
|
U325a
|
lake
|
amber
|
U326a
|
lake
|
oriental buff
|
U327a
|
lake
|
blue
|
U328a
|
lake
|
manila
|
U329a
|
lake
|
amber manila
|
U324b
|
scarlet
|
white
|
U325b
|
scarlet
|
amber
|
U328b
|
pink
|
manila
|
U329b
|
pink
|
amber manila
|
|
|
|
two
|
design U66
|
Design U66 Scott Equivalents printed in green
Scott # |
envelope |
notes |
U250
|
white
|
die 1
|
U251
|
amber
|
die 1
|
U252
|
oriental buff
|
die 1
|
U253
|
blue
|
die 1
|
U254
|
manila
|
die 1
|
U255
|
amber-manila
|
die 1
|
U256
|
white
|
die 2
|
U257
|
amber
|
die 2
|
U258
|
manila
|
die 2
|
U259
|
amber manila
|
die 2
|
|
Key to designs that show a bust of Abraham Lincoln
Question 1: Is the inner oval notched?
(choose an answer below)
yes (go to Question 2)
|
design U81
|
design U82
|
|
no
|
design U83
|
You have identified design #U83 printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U374 (white), U375 (amber), and W376 (manila). |
Question 2: Is the bust narrow and undraped or broad and draped?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)
narrow and undraped |
design U81
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You have identified design #U81 printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U371 (white) and U372 (amber). |
|
broad and draped
|
design U82
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You have identified design #U82 printed in brown on white paper and diagnostic for Scott #U373 (rare). |
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