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
stamp image
design U87
You have identified design #U87 printed in chocolate and shared by
Scott #s U390 (white), U391 (amber), and W392 (manila).
 
Mount Vernon
stamp image
design U95
 You have identified design #U95 diagnostic for
Scott #U527 (printed in black on white paper).
 
Pony Express
stamp image
design U101
You have identified design #U101 diagnostic for
Scott #U543 (printed in brown on white paper).
 
Old Ironsides
stamp image
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)
stamp image
design U90
stamp image
design U92
 
one
stamp image
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
stamp image
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
stamp image
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
stamp image
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
stamp image
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)
stamp image
design U81
stamp image
design U82
 
no
stamp image
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
stamp image
design U81
You have identified design #U81 printed in brown and shared by
Scott #s U371 (white) and U372 (amber).
 
broad and draped
stamp image
design U82
You have identified design #U82 printed in brown on white paper and diagnostic for
Scott #U373 (rare).

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