K 21 Head 1 White " " " 1, 2 Buff " " " 2 Amber
With the issue of the three cents, rose, the contractor, at the order of the Post Office Department, introduced a second quality of buff paper. This matter is of importance to all collectors and should be duly noted.
In a circular letter from the Finance Office, dated "Washington Oct.
1866," signed "A. N. Zevely, 3d a.s.st. P. M. G.", it is stated:--
"Letter size envelopes stamped 3 cents, made of a _cheaper_ quality of paper than those hitherto furnished, are furnished by the Department at $32.80 per 1,000."
The schedule of 1867 gives the prices of three cent envelopes, etc., and of letter size _second quality buff_. A circular to the public of the same date says that "letter size _second quality_ are furnished ONLY in buff."
The white and colored paper of this issue exists in various qualities, of which the extremes may be called nearly cardboard paper and almost tissue. The texture is soft and highly surfaced. An interesting variety of the white paper is a decidedly brownish-white, which, as far as the writer knows, has not been mentioned heretofore. There are also various shades of buff and even a reddish toned orange paper.
Doubtless collectors would like to possess some information about the rarity of the various heads found in the three cents, rose, of this issue. From a study of some six thousand envelopes of this series the writer can give a fairly accurate estimate. Calling the total number of envelopes examined one hundred per cent, the respective percentages of the five heads were:
Head 1--50% " 2--30% " 3--10% " 4--09.5% " 5--00.5% -------- 100.
In regard to the sub varieties of the various heads it is also of interest to observe that a considerable number are "repeating dies,"
_i.e._, generally a die, say of Head 1 on white paper and on Knife 11, is liable to be found on buff and amber paper not only on Knife 11, but also on Knife 9. Only very few sub varieties of a given Head exist on of this series. Although it is evident that of all Nesbitt issues the 3 cent rose 1864 has by far the largest number of die varieties, it is by no means an impossible task to cla.s.sify all existing varieties as has been done with the two cent Jackson, and it is the intention of the writer to carry out this work at no distant day. Probably due to the apparent similarity of many dies collectors have been apathetic and have considered one as good as the other, but a little study speedily convinces the student of this error. Indeed, this issue contains a number of extremely rare dies, and as soon as proper information and cla.s.sification is published, the 3 cent rose of 1864 will be a favorite of all true philatelists.
Before leaving these interesting dies we must not fail to mention that, on the three cents and six cents, there is often a small dot on Washington"s face shaped like a mole, about one mm. under the ear. It is of little importance, and is evidently merely a flaw.
In addition to the 3 and 6 cents, Nesbitt produced, in 1864, a new design for the 9, 12, 18 and 30 cents, while the old design of the former 24 and 40 cents was changed in December 1865. The main difference between the new and the old design is that the oval band and small circular disks are with colored background bordered by colorless lines. The inscriptions and numerals are now colorless. The branches have eight leaves.
Of these values no die varieties are known; but, excepting the 40 cents pink, there are several distinct shades of each stamp.
Commencing with the Nine Cents, we have a decided lemon-yellow and an orange; the Twelve Cents appears in dark brown and red-brown; the Twenty-four Cents in two shades of blue; the Eighteen Cents exists in red and dark red, and the Thirty Cents in yellow-green, dark green and olive-green.
This concludes the Nesbitt issues of United States envelopes. His connection with the Postal Department ceased March 31, 1870, when a new contract was awarded to George H. Reay, of New York.
To the philatelists the Nesbitt issues are by far the most interesting series of all the United States Postal issues and, as the years pa.s.s on, the intrinsic value of these die varieties will increase rapidly.
Specialization is the watchword of the now growing cla.s.s of collectors, and there is no field so inviting and which will repay a student so richly for his labor as a specialized collection of the Nesbitt issues.
What is wanted to-day is a special alb.u.m for United States envelopes, which would insure to this prominent branch of United States philately that measure of official recognition for which collectors have long and earnestly contended. An equally valuable aid would be the formation of a Society of Collectors of United States envelopes. The writer confidently expects that this suggestion will soon a.s.sume a more tangible form.
If this series of articles has, in even the slightest degree, helped collectors of United States envelopes to a wider knowledge and better appreciation of these hitherto unknown die varieties, the writer will feel well repaid for the many hours of labor. In closing, he again a.s.serts; "Variety is the spice of life!"