wide. "SP" wide. "P" to left of point and nearly vertical. "T" very far
from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval. "WO" close. "OC" near.
"C" vertical. "CE" close. "EN" near. "NTS" close. "S" far from right
oval. Nose near oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "T" line passes
close to junction point of inner frame lines, and touches "C" to left.
VARIETY 27. (26-1/2 × 25-1/2 mm.)
Sharp point of bust high above left of "O." Amber and Light Manila.
"POST" 9-3/4 mm. "U" wide slanting considerably to left and near left
oval. The entire inscription in upper label is widely spaced, but "OS"
widest. "T" slants sharply to right, nearly touches outer frame line
and is far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval. "WO" near.
"OC" wide. The junction point of the inner frame lines is over the
center of "C", which is low. "EN" well spaced and close to inner frame
line. "S" nearly horizontal and close to right oval. Nose near left
oval. Downstroke of right figure "2" near inner oval line. "T" line
passes through first stroke of "W" of "TWO."
VARIETY 27a. (26-1/4 × 25-1/2 mm.)
"POST" 9-3/4 mm. Same as last variety, but appearing to be different.
This is due to great deterioration of the die. It is found on a wrapper
only and is rather scarce.
[Illustration]
CLASS V.
Bust points to middle of "O".
VARIETY 28. (26 × 26 mm.)
"ST" close. Wide space after "S" of "CENTS". Buff and Orange.
"Post" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide, nearly vertical and near the left oval.
"U.S." near. "PO" near, but "O" slightly above "P". There is a wide
space between "OS". "T" near right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left
oval. "WO" very close. "OC near". "CE" close and top of "E" under the
point. "EN" wide, especially at top: "N" slightly above "E". "NTS"
close. Nose near left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "U" line
cuts top of "O" of "TWO" at right. Envelopes only.
VARIETY 29. (25 × 25-3/4 mm.)
Space before "U" and after "T" extremely wide. Light Manila.
"POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide. "U.S." near and both letters close to inner
frame line. "P" well to left of point and on a level with "O." "O"
close to point. "POS" near, but "T" further from "S". "T" of "TWO"
close to left oval. "WO" near. "OC" near and "C" under the point. "E"
quite a distance to right of point. "EN" wide. "NTS" near right oval.
Nose far from left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "U" line
passes through middle of "C" of "CENTS". Point of bust very broad.
Wrappers only.
VARIETY 30. (26 × 25-1/2 mm.)
Nose far from oval line. Amber and Light Manila.
"POST" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide, nearly vertical and near left oval "U.S."
wide. "SP" widely spaced. "PO" close and nearly on a level, "OST" near.
"T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" near,
but "OC" wide. "CE" on level and close at top. "EN" well spaced. "TS"
wide at base. "S" far from right oval. Nose far from left oval. Figures
well centered in ovals. "E" line touches "S" of "U.S." at the right.
[Illustration]
VARIETY 31. (25-3/4 × 25-3/4 mm.)
"P" considerably above "O". Point of bust square and nearly touches
line. Buff and Orange.
"Post" 7-1/2 mm. "U" wide, inclined to left, and near left oval. "S"
close to inner frame line. Top of "P" close to outer frame line.
"POST" near. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left oval and
base of "T" some distance from outer frame line. "WO" near. "OC" very
wide. "C" low. Back stroke of "E" almost touches the point. "EN" wide
and "N" high. "NT" wide at top. "TS" close. "S" near right oval. Nose
near left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "T" line passes through
center of "U" of "U. S."
[Illustration]
VARIETY 32. (26 × 26-1/4 mm.)
Bust ends in a sharp point, which nearly touches line over centre of
"O" of "TWO". Orange and light manila.
"POST" 7-1/4 mm. "U" rather short, inclined to left and near left oval.
"SP" wide at top. "P" near point and above level of "O". "PO" near but
"O" slanting to right. "OS" well spaced, but "S" low. "ST" wide. "T"
far from left oval. "WO" close. "C" of "CENTS" almost touches outer
frame line and "CE" close at base. "ENTS" close and "S" near right
oval. Nose near left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "U" line
passes slantingly from top of "E" to base.
VARIETY 33. (25-3/4 × 25-3/4 mm.)
Projecting hair. Wide space after "S" of "CENTS." Buff, Orange and
Light Manila.
"POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, close to inner frame line and near left oval.
Base of "S" some distance from inner frame line. "P" leans to the left.
"PO" close but "O" slants to the right and is near the point. "OS" well
spaced but "ST" spaced wider. "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far
from left oval. "WO" near. "OC" wide. "C" some distance to right of
point but on level with "E." The backstroke of the latter nearly
touches the point. "EN" wide, and "ENTS" close to inner frame line.
Nose far from left oval. Figures well centered in ovals. "P" line
passes through back stroke of "E."
[Illustration]
VARIETY 34. (25-3/4 × 27 mm.)
"S" of "U.S" touches line above. "OC" near. Buff envelope and wrapper.
"POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, inclined to left and near left oval. "SP" near,
"P" far to left of point. "PO" well spaced at top and "O" a little
raised. "OS" widely spaced. "ST" low, so that top stroke of "T" is
somewhat above top of "S." "T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near
left oval. "WO" near. "C" slants to left, and "E" to right, so that
there is a considerable space between the letters at base. "ENT" wide.
"TS" close. "S" far from right oval. Figure in right oval near inner
frame line, but in left oval well centered. "U" line passes between
"CE."
[Illustration]
VARIETY 35. (25 × 25-3/4 mm.)
"O" of "POST" slants sharply to left. Hair far from frame line. Buff,
Orange and Light Manila.
"POST" 8 mm. "U" almost vertical and quite near to left oval. "U.S."
near. "P" inclined to left. "O" near point. "OST" close. "T" near right
oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" near. "OC" near. "CE" wide
at base. "N" higher than "E" or "T." "S" slants sharply to right and is
far from right oval. Nose far from left oval. Figures well centered in
oval. "T" line slants through "C" from right to left. Bust ends in a
rather short point.
VARIETY 36. (26 × 26 mm.)
"P" tipped to left. "O" nearly touches outer frame line. Point of bust
short and over centre of "O." Amber and Light Manila.
"POST" 8 mm. "U" large, inclined to left and near left oval. "U. S."
near and base of "S" some distance from inner frame line. "P" near
point and slanting to left. "PO" wide, "O" nearly vertical. "OST" wide.
"T" far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" far from left oval. "WO" close.
"OC" near. "C" is low and slants sharply to left. "CE" close at top.
"ENTS" close. "T" almost touches line above. "S" near right oval. Nose
near left oval. Figures in ovals well centered. "U" line touches ends
of upper and lower stroke of "E."
VARIETY 37. (26-1/2 × 26 mm.)
"P" nearly touches line at top. "POST" near. Orange and Amber.
"POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, inclined to left and near left oval. "US" wide.
"P" nearly vertical and some distance to left of point. "PO" on a
level. "T" "of "POST" very far from right oval. "T" of "TWO" near left
oval. "WO" close. "OC" near. "C" nearly under the point and vertical.
"EN" well spaced at top. "NTS" close, especially the last two letters,
"S" near right oval. Nose far from left oval. Figures in ovals well
centered. "T" line slants across top of "E." Envelopes only. A common
die.
[Illustration]
VARIETY 38. (26 × 26 mm.)
Bust point behind "O." "NT" wide. Orange, Amber, Light Manila.
"POST" 8 mm. "U" wide, greatly inclined to left, and quite near left
oval. "US" very wide. "P" near point and slanting to left. "O" some
distance to right of point and inclined to right. "POS" wide but "ST"
widest. Top stroke of "T" close to outer frame line. "T" of "TWO" near
left oval. "WO" near. "OC" very wide. "C" almost vertical and close to
point. Top of "E" slightly above "C." "EN" near. "TS" wide at base and
"S" close to right oval. Nose far from left oval. Figures in ovals well
centered. "U" line touches base of "T" of "CENTS."
VARIETY 39. (26-1/4 × 25-1/2 mm.)
"P" considerably above level of "O." "POST" wide. Amber, and Light
Manila.
"POST" 9 mm. "U" wide, inclined to left, and near left oval. "US" wide.
"SP" wide. "P" slants to left and is close to the point. "PO" very
wide. "O" far to right of point and but little slanting. "OST" wide.
"T" near right oval. "T" of "TWO" close to left oval, "WO" close. The
entire word is well above the outer frame line. "OC" very wide. "C"
under the point and upright. Top of "E" slightly above "C." "NT" close.
"TS" wide. "S" close to right oval. Nose near left oval. Figures in
ovals well centered. "W" line touches base of "U" at right. Broad point
to bust. Envelope and wrapper.
VARIETY 40. (26 × 26 mm.)
"NT" very near. "POST" wide. Buff, Orange, Amber, Light Manila.
"POST" 9-1/2 mm. Inscription in upper label much resembles that of the
preceding variety, but "S" of "U.S." is low and "PO" nearer. "T" of
"TWO" near left oval. "WO" close. "OC" wide. "TS" close at top. Nose
far from left oval. Figures in ovals well centered. "U" line passes
along middle stroke of "N." One of the most common varieties.
REFERENCE LIST OF THE TWO CENT ENVELOPES AND WRAPPERS OF THE SERIES OF
1863 AND 1864.
ENVELOPES.
TWO CENTS, BLACK.
1863.
Inscribed: "U. S. POSTAGE."
DIE A.
VAR. 3.
No. Class. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks.
370 4 Buff 2 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
371 " " 2 3 " Ungummed.
VAR. 5.
372 4 Buff 2 3 139 × 83 Ungummed.
373 " " 2 3 " Gummed.
VAR. 6.
374 4 Amber 2 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
375 " Buff 2 3 " Ungummed.
DIE B.
VAR. 8.
376 4 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Ungummed.
377 " Orange 11 3 " "
1864.
Inscribed: "U. S. POST."
DIE C.
VAR. 1.
378 2 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Ungummed.
379 " " 11 3 " Gummed.
380 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
VAR. 3.
381 3 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed
382 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed
VAR. 5.
383 3 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed
384 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed
VAR. 6.
385 3 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed
VAR. 6A.
386 3 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed
387 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed
VAR. 7.
388 3 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed
389 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed
VAR. 8.
390 3 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed
391 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed
VAR. 9.
392 3 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed
393 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed
VAR. 10.
394 4 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
VAR. 11.
395 4 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
395a " " 12 5 160 × 90 "
396 " Or. 11 3 139 × 83 Ungummed.
VAR. 12.
397 4 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed. Generally "Specimen."
398 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed. Generally "Specimen."
399 " Buff 12 5 160 × 90 " Generally "Specimen."
VAR. 13.
400 4 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
401 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
VAR. 14.
402 5 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
403 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
VAR. 15.
404 5 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
405 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
406 " Buff 12 5 160 × 90 "
VAR. 16.
407 5 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
408 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
409 " Buff 12 5 160 × 90 "
DIE D.
VAR. 17.
No. Class. Paper. Knife. Size. Dimensions. Remarks.
410 3 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed
411 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed
412 " Buff 12 5 160 × 90 "
VAR. 18.
413 3 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
414 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
415 " Buff 12 5 160 × 90 "
415a " " 12 5 " Gummed.
VAR. 19.
416 3 Amber 12 5 160 × 60 Gummed
417 " " 12 5 " [HW: Gummed]
VAR. 20.
418 3 Amber 12 5 160 × 90 Ungummed
VAR. 21.
419 3 Amber 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed
420 " " 12 5 160 × 90 Ungummed
VAR. 22.
421 4 Buff 2 3 139 × 83 Ungummed. Very rare.
VAR. 23.
422 4 Amber 12 5 160 × 90 Ungummed.
VAR. 24.
423 4 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
424 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
VAR. 25.
425 4 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
426 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
VAR. 26.
427 4 Amber 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
VAR. 27.
428 4 Amber 12 5 160 × 90 Ungummed.
VAR. 27A.
429 4 Amber 12 5 160 × 90 Ungummed.
VAR. 28.
430 5 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
431 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
VAR. 30.
432 5 Amber 12 5 160 × 90 Ungummed.
VAR. 31.
433 5 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
434 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
434a " Buff 12 5 160 × 90 "
VAR. 32.
435 5 Or. 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
VAR. 33.
436 5 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
437 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
438 " Buff 12 5 160 × 90 Gummed.
VAR. 34.
439 5 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
VAR. 35.
440 5 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
441 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
VAR. 36.
442 5 Amber 12 5 160 × 90 Ungummed.
VAR. 37.
443 5 Amber 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
444 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
VAR. 38.
445 5 Or. 11 3 139 × 83 Ungummed.
VAR. 39.
446 5 Amber 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
447 " " 12 5 160 × 90 Ungummed.
VAR. 40.
448 5 Buff 11 3 139 × 83 Gummed.
449 " Amber 11 3 " "
450 " Or. 11 3 " Ungummed.
WRAPPERS.
1863.
Inscribed: "U. S. POSTAGE."
DIE A.
VAR. 1.
No. Class. Paper. Dimensions. Laid. Remarks.
451 1 D. M. 227 × 148
VAR. 2.
452 2 D. M. 227 × 148
VAR. 4.
453 4 D. M. 227 × 148
VAR. 6.
454 4 D. M. 227 × 148
VAR. 7.
455 4 D. M. 227 × 148
1864.
Inscribed: "U. S. POST."
DIE C.
VAR. 2.
No. Class. Paper. Dimensions. Laid. Remarks.
456 3 D. M. 100 × 200 V
VAR. 4.
457 3 D. M. 100 × 200 V
VAR. 6.
458 3 Buff 100 × 200 V
459 " D. M. " V
VAR. 6A.
460 3 Buff 100 × 200 H
461 " D. M. " V
VAR. 7.
462 3 D. M. 100 × 200 V
VAR. 8.
463 3 D. M. 100 × 200 V
VAR. 10.
464 4 D. M. 100 × 200 V
VAR. 12.
465 4 D. M. 100 × 200 V
VAR. 13.
466 4 D. M. 100 × 200 V
VAR. 14.
467 5 D. M. 100 × 200 V
VAR. 15.
468 5 Buff 100 × 200 V
469 " D. M. " V
VAR. 16.
470 5 Buff 100 × 200 V
DIE D.
VAR. 17.
471 3 Buff 100 × 200 V
VAR. 19.
472 3 L. M. 133 × 200 V
VAR. 20.
473 3 L. M. 100 × 200 V
474 " " 133 × 200 --
VAR. 21.
475 3 L. M. 133 × 200 H
476 " " 115 × 375 H Stamp 137 mm. from top.
VAR. 23.
477 4 L. M. 133 × 200 H
478 " " " V
479 " " " Wove
VAR. 24.
480 4 L. M. 100 × 200 V
480a " Buff " V
VAR. 25.
481 4 Buff 100 × 200 V
VAR. 26.
482 4 L. M. 133 × 200 H
VAR. 27.
483 4 L. M. 133 × 200 H
VAR. 27A.
484 4 L. M. 133 × 200 V
VAR. 29.
485 5 L. M. 133 × 200 H
VAR. 30.
486 5 L. M. 133 × 200 H
VAR. 31.
487 5 Buff 100 × 200 V
VAR. 32.
488 5 L. M. 100 × 200 V
VAR. 33.
489 5 L. M. 100 × 200 V
490 " Buff " V
VAR. 34.
491 5 L. M. 100 × 200 V
492 " Buff " V
493 " " 150 × 212 V
494 " " " H
VAR. 35.
495 5 L. M. 100 × 200 V
496 " Buff " V
VAR. 36.
497 5 L. M. 133 × 200 V
VAR. 38.
498 5 L. M. 133 × 200 H
VAR. 39.
499 5 L. M. 133 × 200 H
VAR. 40.
499a 5 L. M. 133 × 200 H
FIFTH ISSUE: 1864-1865.
THREE CENTS, ROSE; THREE CENTS, BROWN; SIX CENTS, ROSE AND SIX CENTS,
PURPLE.
In the Postmaster-General's report for 1864 it is stated that "during
the last session of Congress a bill was passed for the relief of the
contractor for furnishing the department with stamped envelopes and
newspaper wrappers, under the provisions of which the existing contract
expired on Sept. 11, 1864."
With the renewal of the former contract Nesbitt changed the dies of the
two, three and six cents. The first we have already exhaustively
treated. It is, of course, the two cents, black, "U. S. POST". All
these dies remained in use until June 30th, 1870.
As a matter of history it may be noted here that the three cents
printed in brown, likewise the six cents rose, both on official size,
were issued in July, 1865. The dies have a portrait of Washington
facing to the left in a plain oval. It is enclosed in a frame of
colorless lines. Inscription above "UNITED STATES"; below, "THREE
CENTS" or "SIX CENTS", in block capitals. Large numerals of value at
each side.
None of the Nesbitt die varieties have given the writer so many anxious
hours and have required such prolonged study as the three cents of
1864. Indeed, the final solution of the problem of classification of
the various dies was only arrived at after more than two years
continuous research. Like the famous balancing of the egg of Columbus,
the problem, when solved, is extremely simple. Looking backward on the
long series of failures, it seems strange that the chief
characteristics have so long escaped the attention of cataloguers. The
fact, however, is patent. Even as thorough and painstaking a student as
the late Gilbert Harrison who, in 1895, chronicled, as he thought, all
of the existing die varieties of the three cents has failed to observe
the most important differences. Indeed, in the entire philatelic
literature dealing with the Nesbitt dies of 1864 there is but one
allusion to the feature which constitutes the surest means for the
identification of the die varieties, and this is only a single sentence
contained in the Historical Notes of Messrs. Tiffany, Bogert and
Rechert. It reads:--
"It is worth mentioning, however, that while dies 9, 15 and 26 (the
latter the die under consideration) all have the small bust of
Washington, there are small differences in each which show them to be
different engravings. * * In die 26 the front hair shows only five
locks and the back hair only four lines."
We shall presently see that, like the three cents, red of 1853, (Die A)
the diemakers have produced different groups of heads which, once
known, are not only an absolute means of differentiating the varieties,
but also protect the collector from acquiring a multitude of the same
die.
Although, as stated above, the die of the three cents rose equals that
of the three cents red in the use of various heads, it is, otherwise,
quite dissimilar to the first issue, as will be seen presently.
As in the varieties of the two cent dies the horizontal and vertical
dimensions of the three cents vary greatly. After careful research and
taking the advice of experienced philatelists, it was decided to adopt
only two sizes for classification: i.e.
Size A:--to include all stamps measuring horizontally 24 mm. but
not exceeding 25 mm.
Size B:--to include all stamps measuring horizontally 25-1/2 mm.
or more.
In our study of the three cents red of 1853 we noted, in addition to
the various heads, some minor differences in the spacing of the letters
forming the inscription. Referring now to the three cents of 1864, even
the unskilled eye of the layman will be struck with the surprising
changes, not only in the spacing of the letters forming a word, but,
also, in the relative position of the words to each other and their
distance from a definite point, such, for instance, as the figure "3."
The subsequent cuts well illustrate this point.
[Illustration]
In the first the "S" of "CENTS" is several mm. distant from the right
figure "3": in the second it is close to "3". The same remarks apply to
the "U" of "UNITED" in its relative position to the left figure "3". In
the second cut there is also a square period after the final "E" of
"THREE".
[Illustration]
Looking at cuts 3 and 4 the great variety of spacing between the
letters of a word is strikingly apparent in the word "THREE." These
differences are easily detected by the 10 mm. unit distance
measurement, which has been explained in the introductory chapter of
this series of articles. The subjoined diagram proves that there are at
least three forms of each word, and, with a little study, the collector
will soon recognize the leading types.
[Illustration]
It seems strange that such great and palpable differences remained
unknown until 1892. Quoting from the work of Messrs. Tiffany, Bogert &
Rechert, we are, however, informed: "Heretofore it has _not_ been
noticed that there are a large number of minor varieties of this die
depending on the relative position of the parts."
Commenting on Die 26 (three cents rose) the writers make some valuable
suggestions, but they discourage the would-be student from going deeper
into the subject by the closing paragraph: "So few collectors would be
interested in looking for these varieties that it has been thought
unnecessary to devote space to them in a general work." In the writer's
opinion the most valuable hint thrown out by Messrs. Tiffany, Bogert &
Rechert is contained in the following sentence: "If a thread be laid
along the lower stroke of the "U" it will pass at different distances
from the tip of the nose and fall on different parts of the right
numeral, of the space below it, or even as low as the "S" of "CENTS."
Why these experts stopped at the gate and did not enter is one of those
freaks of the human mind that defies explanation. Certainly the person
who made this observation was on the very threshold of discovering a
scientific classification of this elusive die. The writer confesses
that, after having independently evolved this system of classification,
nothing has given him greater satisfaction than to find that the basic
idea had been chronicled as far back as 1892. To-day it is well known
that a line prolongation along the "U" of "UNITED" establishes five
distinct classes. As this system has been fully described in a lecture
given by the writer before the Boston Philatelic Society, (April 19,
1904) which lecture has also been published in pamphlet form, and, as
this classification has been accepted by the writer of the latest Scott
Catalogue, it seems unnecessary to go into the details, especially as
the subjoined diagram is self-explanatory.
[Illustration]
It is evident that we now possess various means for the classification
of the three cents die varieties, but a system based solely on a line
measurement, as has been stated heretofore, would not guard the
collector sufficiently from acquiring a number of the same dies, due to
unavoidable mistakes of measurement. To prevent duplication of dies it
is imperative to know the various heads.
Luckily the distinctive features are quite plain and it is easy to
divide the heads into five classes for, as in the first issue, the die
cutters have adorned the head of Washington with a variety of
coiffures.
In Heads 1 and 2 there is a _triangular open space_ between the middle
bunch of hair and the lowest strand which meets the queue.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
HEAD 1.--The queue consists of three vertical strands
extending from the top of the head to the neck. Next to the
queue are 3 rear locks, of which the middle one is a large,
pear-shaped bunch, consisting of five fine strands, while
the second highest is by far the longest, and cuts into the
queue, resembling the stem of a pear.
HEAD 2.--Same as Head 1, but the second lowest strand of
hair in the pear-shaped bunch is the longest and does not
extend into the queue. The triangular space below is
slightly larger than in Head 1.
HEAD 3.--The queue consists of either three or four strands
which extend from the top of the head to the neck. Next to
the queue there are five locks in the rear row, the
arrangement of which differs in the various specimens. The
_main_ feature of Head 3 consists in the _absence of an open
space_ between the middle bunch and the lowest lock.
HEAD 4.--The queue consists of three strands which extend
from the top of the head to the neck. The back row of hair
consists of five locks of which the lowest is very small and
runs almost perpendicularly into the queue. There is a small
space between the perpendicular lock and the next lowest.
HEAD 5.--Generally found on the second quality of buff
paper. The queue consists of three strands, which extend
from the top of the head to the neck. The main feature is
the middle bunch of hair, which is oblong shaped and
consists of three heavy strands, all of which slant
diagonally into the queue. Immediately below this bunch is
the lowest small lock, which also slants diagonally into the
queue.
Of the five heads, the first is certainly the one which is most
commonly found; especially on amber paper. Knife 1 is always Head 4.
Head 3 is less common, and Head 5 is most frequently found on the
second quality buff paper. It is also useful to remember that Head 5
appears on Knife 11.
The subsequent table gives the knives and heads of the three cents,
Rose:--
K. 22 120 × 73 P. O. Size 1 Heads 1, 2, 3, 4 White
" 1 120 × 73 " 1 " 4 White
" 2 139 × 83 " 3 " 3 White
" 11 139 × 83 " 3 " 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 White
" 11 139 × 83 " 3 " 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Buff
" 11 139 × 83 " 3 " 1, 2 Amber
" 11 139 × 83 " 3 " 1, 5 Buff 2nd
" 9 139 × 83 " 3 " 1, 2, 3, 4 White
" 9 139 × 83 " 3 " 1, 3, 4 Buff
" 9 139 × 83 " 3 " 1, 2 Amber
" 12 160 × 90 " 5 " 1, 2, 3, 4 White
" 12 160 × 90 " 5 " 1, 3, 4 Buff
" 12 160 × 90 " 5 " 1, 2 Amber
A similar table for the three cents, Brown shows that the following
heads exist:--
K. 21 225 × 98 Size 7 Heads 1, 2, 3, 4 White
" " " " " " 1, 2, 3, 4 Buff
" " " " " " 1, 2 Amber
The six cents, Rose and Purple comes only on heads 1 and 3.
A systematic and rational classification of the three cents (both rose
and brown) and their congener the six cents (purple and rose) is now
ready. The collector of entire envelopes will proceed as follows:--