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



There are 13 designs of indicia whose face value is fifteen cents. Nine of these designs are distinctive enough that they can be identified by examining the images immediately below. The remaining 4 designs feature a bust of Daniel Webster.
   For a key to the Webster designs click here.

Stylized Uncle Sam
stamp image
design U128
You have identified design #U128, diagnostic for
Scott #U581 (printed in red on white paper).
 
Auto racing
stamp image
design U134
You have identified design #U134, diagnostic for
Scott #U587 (printed in red, blue, and black on white paper).
 
Veterinary medicine
stamp image
design U141
You have identified design #U141, diagnostic for
Scott #U595 (printed in brown and gray on white paper).
 
Five green stars
Olympics 1980
stamp image
design U142
You have identified design #U142, diagnostic for
Scott #U596 (printed in red, green, and black on white paper).
 
Penny-farthing (high-wheeler) bicycle
stamp image
design U143
You have identified design #U143, diagnostic for
Scott #U597 (printed in blue and rose-claret on white paper).
 
America's Cup
stamp image
design U144
You have identified design #U144, diagnostic for
Scott #U598 (printed in blue and red on white paper).
 
Honeybee
stamp image
design U145
You have identified design #U145, diagnostic for
Scott #U599 (printed in brown, green, and yellow on white paper).
 
USA in solid colors
stamp image 
design UC16
You have identified design #UC16, printed in gray, red, white, and blue on blue paper and diagnostic for
Scott #UC44, or printed in red, white, and blue on blue paper and diagnostic for UC46.



Key to designs that show a bust of Daniel Webster

Question 1: Are the words "War Dept" present near the top of the design?
(choose an answer below)
yes (go to Question 3)    no (go to Question 2)
 
Question 2: Does the front of Webster's hair protrude from an otherwise smooth curve of his head?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

yes
stamp image
design U53
You have identified design  #U53, printed in orange and shared by
Scott #s U198 (white), U199 (amber) and U200 (cream).
 
 
no
stamp image
design U30
caption
Scott #
color
envelope
U96
red-orange
white
U97
red-orange
amber
U98
red-orange
cream
U96a
orange
white
U97a
orange
amber
U98a
orNGE
cream

 

Question 3: Does the front of Webster's hair protrude from an otherwise smooth curve of his head?
(choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

yes
stamp image
design UO23
You have identified design #UO23, printed in red and shared by
Scott #s UO64 (white), UO65 (amber), and UO66 (cream).
 
 
no
stamp image
design UO14
You have identified design #UO14, printed in dark red and diagnostic for
Scott #UO27, or printed in vermilion and diagnostic for Scott #UO41.

Return to Home Page