Identification guide for design numbers on United States stamped envelopes, wrappers, and letter sheets
four cents
(updated 13 December 2014)


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
design U87 		  printed in chocolate and shared by Scott #s U390 (white paper), U391 (amber), and W392 (manila).
 
Mount Vernon
design U95 		 =  Scott #U527 (printed in black on white paper)
 
Pony Express
design U101 		 =  Scott #U543 (printed in brown on white paper)
 
Old Ironsides
design U105 		 =  Scott #U549 (printed in bright blue on white paper)


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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
design U92
 
     one 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).
design U96


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 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).
design U90
 
     lower half You have identified design U92, printed in black and shared by Scott #s U440 (white paper; die 1), U441 (amber; die 1), and U442 (blue; die 1).
design U92

- - - - -
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 You have identified design U73, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U324 (white paper), U325 (amber), U326 (oriental buff), U327 (blue), U328 (manila), and U329 (amber manila), or printed in lake and shared by Scott #s U324a (white paper), U325a (amber), U326a (oriental buff), U327a (blue), U328a (manila), and U329a (amber manila), or printed in scarlet and shared by Scott #s U324b (white paper) and U325b (amber), or printed in pink and shared by Scott #s U328b (manila) and U329b (amber manila).
design U73 		 
 
     two You have identified design U66, printed in green and shared by Scott #s U250 (die 1, white paper), U251 (die 1, amber), U252 (die 1, oriental buff), U253 (die 1, blue), U254 (die 1, manila), U255 (die 1, amber-manila), U256 (die 2, white), U257 (die 2, amber), U258 (die 2, manila), and U259 (die 2, amber manila).
design U66


- - - - -
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 You have identified design U83, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U374 (white paper), U375 (amber), and W376 (manila).
design U83


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 You have identified design U81, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U371 (white paper) and U372 (amber).
design U81
 
     broad and draped You have identified design U82, printed in brown on white paper and diagnostic for Scott #U373 (rare).
design U82


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