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



There are 17 designs of indicia whose face value is five cents. Eight of these designs are distinctive enough that they can be identified by examining the images immediately below. The remaining 9 designs feature a bust of Ulysses S. Grant (3 designs), a bust or head of Abraham Lincoln (2), a bust of George Washington (2), or an airplane with one propeller.
   For a key to the Grant designs click here.
   For a key to the Lincoln designs click here.
   For a key to the Washington designs click here
   For a key to the airplane designs click here.

Columbus and Liberty
stamp image
design U76
 You have identified design #U76 printed in chocolate on white paper and diagnostic for 
Scott #U350, or printed in slate-brown (erroneously) and diagnostic for Scott #U350a.
 
Mount Vernon
stamp image
design U95
You have identified design #U95 diagnostic for
Scott #U528 (printed in dark blue on white paper).
 
New York World's Fair
stamp image
design U103
You have identified design #U103 diagnostic for
Scott #U546 (printed in maroon on white paper).
 
Eagle head
stamp image
design U106
You have identified design #U106 diagnostic for
Scott #U550 (printed in bright purple on white paper).
Zachary Taylor
stamp image
design U47
Design U47 Scott Equivalents
printed in blue
Scott #
envelope
notes
U172
white
die 1
U173
amber
die 1
U174
cream
die 1
U175
blue
die 1
U176
fawn
die 1
U177
white
die 2
U178
amber
die 2
U178A
crean
die 2 not regularly issued
U179
blue
die 2
U180
fawn
die 2
 
James A. Garfield
stamp image
design U59
`
Design U59 Scott Equivalents
printed in brown
Scott #
envelope
notes
U222
white
U223
amber
U224
oriental buff
not regularly issued
U225
blue
not regularly issued
U226
fawn
 

DC-4 Skymaster
stamp image
design UC3
You have identified design #UC3 printed in carmine on white paper and shared by
Scott #s UC14 (die 1) and UC15 (die 2).



Key to designs that show a bust of of Ulysses S. Grant

Question 1: On the starburst pattern on each side of the design, are the rays clearly separate from the central dot or do the rays touch or nearly touch the central dot?
(choose an answer below)

Heads of Washington and Franklin,
and methods of mail transportation
stamp image
design UC5
You have identified design #UC5 printed in carmine on white paper and shared by
Scott #s UC17 (without revaluation) and UC23 (with revaluation to 6 cents).
yes
(go to Question 2)
stamp image
design U74
stamp image
design U75
 
touch or nearly touch
stamp image
design U84
You have identified design #U84, printed in blue and shared by
Scott #s U377 (white) and U378 (amber).

Question 2: Is there a space between Grant's beard and his collar?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

yes
stamp image
design U74
You have identified design #U74, printed in blue and shared by
Scott #s U330 (white), U331 (amber), U332 (oriental buff), and U333 (blue).
 
no
stamp image
design U75
You have identified design #U75, printed in blue and shared by
Scott #s U334 (white) and U335 (amber).



Key to designs that show a bust of Abraham Lincoln

Question 1: Are Lincoln's birth and death dates present?
(choose an answer below)

yes
stamp image
design U88
You have identified design #U88, printed in blue and shared by
Scott #s U393 (white) and W394 (amber).
 
no
stamp image
design U102
You have identified design #U102, printed in dark blue on white paper and shared by
Scott #s U544 (die 2), U544a (die 1), and U544b (die 3).



Key to designs that show a bust of George Washington

Question 1: Are the numerals at the midheight of the design?
(choose an answer below)

yes
stamp image
design U91
Design U91 Scott Equivalents
printed in blue
Scott #
envelope
notes
U418
white
die 2
U418a
white
die 1
U418b
buff
die 2 erroneous
U418c
blue
die 2 erroneous
U418d
blue
die 1 erroneous
U419
amber
die 2
U419a
amber
die 1
 
no
stamp image
design U93
You have identified design #U93, printed in blue and shared by
Scott #s U443 (white paper; die 1), U444 (amber; die 1), and U445 (blue; die 1).



Key to designs that show a single-propellered airplane

Question 1: Does the vertical rudder slope down to the left, or is it semicircular?
(choose an answer below)

slopes downward to the left
stamp image
design UC1
You have identified design #UC1, printed in blue on white paper, and diagnostic for
Scott #UC1.
 
semicircular
stamp image
design UC2
You have identified design  #UC2, printed in blue on white paper, and diagnostic for
Scott #UC2.

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