Identification Guide for United States Stamped Envelopes and Wrappers
a service of

V. F. Thomas Co. - P. O. Box 400 - Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
info@vfthomas.com - 207-266-5748


Stamped envelopes and wrappers for regular mail (i.e., not airmail or official mail) have been issued in the following denominations (in cents unless otherwise stated):

1    1-1/4     1-4/10    1.5    1.6    1.7    1.8
2    2.1    2.5    2.7
3    3.1    3.5
4
5    "Nonprofit" (=5)    5.2    5.9
6
7
8    8.4    8.5
9
10    "Bulk Rate" (=10)    11.1    12    13    15    18    19.8
20    22    24    25    29
30    31    33    34    37
40
90
$3.85

In addition, there were many surcharges. Some of the above amounts were featured on only one or a few envelopes. However, some of the 1-, 2-, and 3-cent denominations cover many Scott #s. When a key is developed below (this is a work in progress), a link to that key will appear above.





1 cent

There are 69 Scott-numbered non-airmail and non-official stamped envelopes/wrappers with a denomination of 1 cent, 67 of which have an image of the bust of Benjamin Franklin. The two exceptions are Scott #U348 (design U76, which bears images of the busts of Columbus and Liberty) and Scott #U523 (design U95, which shows an image of Mount Vernon). The 67 comprise 12 different designs. You can determine which of the designs your stamp has by starting with question 1 below.

 Question 1: Which way (from your perspective, not Franklin's) is the bust of Benjamin Franklin facing? (click on the answer below)
      left (go to Question 2)
      right (go to Question 10)

Question 2: How many times does the numeral "1" appear on the stamp? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)
      once (go to Question 3)
      twice (go to Question 6)

Question 3: What is the numeral "1" enclosed by? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)
      a shield (go to Question 4)
      an oval (go to Question 5)

Question 4: What is the color of the design? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)
      blue or dark blue - This is design U69, shared by Scott #s U294 (blue design on white paper), U295 (dark blue on white), U296 (blue on amber), U297 (dark blue on amber), U298 (blue on oriental buff; rare), U299 (blue on blue; rare), U300 (blue on manila), W301 (blue on manila), U302 (dark blue on manila), W303 (dark blue on manila), and U304 (blue on amber-manila).
      green - This is design U77, shared by Scott #s U352 (white paper), U353 (amber), U354 (oriental buff), U355 (blue), U356 (manila), and W357 (manila).

Question 5: Are Franklin's birth and death dates (1708-1790) shown? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)
      yes - This is design U85, printed in green, and shared by Scott #s U379 (white paper), U380 (amber), U381 (oriental buff), U382 (blue), U383 (manila), and W384 (manila).
      no - This is design U96, printed in green on white paper, and is Scott #U532.

Question 6: Is the numeral "1" enclosed? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)
      yes, by a circle or oval (go to Question 7)
      no - This is design U90, printed in green, and shared by Scott #s U400 (white paper), U401 (amber), U402 (oriental buff), U403 (blue), U404 (manila), and W405 (manila).

Question 7: What word(s) designating the denomination appear? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#6) you answered)
      one cent (go to Question 8)
      cent - This is design U92, printed in green, and shared by Scott #s U420 (white paper), U421 (amber), U422 (oriental buff), U423 (blue), U424 (manila; unglazed), W425 (manila; unglazed), U426 (brown; glazed), W427 (brown; glazed), U428 (brown; unglazed), and W428A (brown; unglazed; rare).

Question 8: Is there a distinct dark circle or dot inside the "o" of "postage"? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#7) you answered)
      yes - This is design U34, printed in dark blue, and shared by Scott #s U108 (white paper), U109 (amber), U110 (cream; rare), U111 (orange), and W112 (manila).
      no (go to Question 9)

Question 9: Is Franklin's head tilted forward? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#8) you answered)
      yes - This is design U35, printed in light blue or blue, and shared by Scott #s U113 (light blue design on white paper), U114 (light blue on amber), U115 (blue on cream), U116 (light blue on orange), U117 (light blue on blue), U118 (light blue on fawn), U119 (light blue on manila), W120 (light blue on manila), and U121 (light blue on amber-manila).
      no - This is design U23, printed in blue, and shared by Scott #s U74 (white paper), U75 (amber), U76 (orange), and W77 (manila).

Question 10: Is there a period at the end of the word "postage"? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)
      yes (go to Question 11)
      no - This is design U11, printed in blue, and shared by Scott #s U24 (amber paper) and W25 (manila; rare).

Question 11: Does the lower front tip of Franklin's bust touch the inner oval of the design? (click on the answer below or return to the previous question (#10) you answered)
      yes - This is design U10, printed in blue on orange paper, and is Scott #U23.
      no - This is design U9, printed in blue, and shared by Scott #s W18B (white paper; rare), U19 (buff), W20 (buff), W21 (manila), U21A (orange; rare), and W22 (orange; rare).




1-1/4 cents

There are only 2 non-airmail and non-official stamped envelopes with a denomination of 1-1/4 cents:
   design U99 (left-facing bust of Benjamin Franklin) printed in turquoise on white paper - Scott #U541
   design U104 (Liberty Bell) printed in brown on white paper - Scott #U547




1-4/10 cents

There is only 1 non-airmail and non-official stamped envelope with a denomination of 1-4/10 cents:
   design U104 (Liberty Bell) printed in brown on white paper - Scott #U548