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

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

(updated 2 April 2011)


Welcome to the online identification guide for one cent United States stamped envelopes and wrappers.

Purpose of this web page: The purpose of this web page is to help you identify the Scott catalog design number for one cent non-airmail and non-official stamped envelopes and wrappers. That number plus the paper color will generally lead you to the Scott number of the item you are trying to identify.

How to contribute: Feedback about this page is welcomed and should be e-mailed to info@vfthomas.com or sent by traditional mail to U.S. Envelope Identifier, c/o V. F. Thomas Co.; P. O. Box 400; Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.





There are 69 Scott-numbered non-airmail and non-official stamped envelopes/wrappers with a denomination of one cent. Two of the three images are diagnostic for a design and a Scott number. They are:

busts of Columbus and Liberty
design U76 		 =  Scott #U348 (printed in deep blue on white paper)
 
Mount Vernon
design U95 		 =  Scott #U523 (printed in olive-green on white paper)



The remaining image is of Benjamin Franklin, with 12 designs accounting for 67 Scott numbers. If the stamped envelope or wrapper you are trying to identify does not have one of the two designs shown above, you can determine which one it has by starting with question 1 below.

Question 1: Which way (from your perspective, not Franklin's) is the bust of Benjamin Franklin facing? (choose an 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? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

     once (go to Question 3)
design U69
design U77
design U85
design U96
 
     twice (go to Question 6)
design U23
design U34
design U35
design U90
design U92 		 



Question 3: What is the numeral "1" enclosed by? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)

     a shield (go to Question 4)
design U69
design U77 		 
 
     an oval (go to Question 5)
design U85
design U96



Question 4: What is the color of the design? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)

     blue or dark blue You have identified design U69, which is 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).
design U69 		 
 
     green You have identified design U77, which is shared by Scott #s U352 (white paper), U353 (amber), U354 (oriental buff), U355 (blue), U356 (manila), and W357 (manila).
design U77



Question 5: Are Franklin's birth and death dates (1708–1790) shown? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)

     yes You have identified design U85, which is printed in green and is shared by Scott #s U379 (white paper), U380 (amber), U381 (oriental buff), U382 (blue), U383 (manila), and W384 (manila).
design U85 		 
 
     no You have identified design U96, which is printed in green on white paper and is diagnostic for Scott #U532.
design U96



Question 6: Is the numeral "1" enclosed by a circle or oval? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)

     yes (go to Question 7)
design U23
design U34
design U35
design U92
 
     no You have identified design U90, which is printed in green and is shared by Scott #s U400 (white paper), U401 (amber), U402 (oriental buff), U403 (blue), U404 (manila), and W405 (manila).
design U90 		 



Question 7: What word(s) designating the denomination appear? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#6) you answered)

     one cent (go to Question 8)
design U23
design U34
design U35 		 
 
     cent You have identified design U92, which is printed in green and is 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).
design U92 		 



Question 8: Does the back of the bust point to the inner oval that encloses the bust, or is it parallel with the oval? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#7) you answered)

     points to the oval You have identified design U34, which is printed in dark blue and is shared by Scott #s U108 (white paper), U109 (amber), U110 (cream; rare), U111 (orange), and W112 (manila).
design U34
 
     is parallel with the oval
     (go to Question 9)
design U23
design U35 		 



Question 9: Is Franklin's head tilted forward? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#8) you answered)

     yes You have identified design U35, which is printed in light blue or blue and is 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).
design U35 		 
 
     no You have identified design U23, which is printed in blue and is shared by Scott #s U74 (white paper), U75 (amber), U76 (orange), and W77 (manila).
design U23



Question 10: Is there a period at the end of the word "postage"? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

     yes (go to Question 11)
design U9 		design U10
[to be acquired] 		 
 
     no You have identified design U11, which is printed in blue and is shared by Scott #s U24 (amber paper) and W25 (manila; rare). design U11
[to be acquired]



Question 11: Does the lower front tip of Franklin's bust touch the inner oval of the design? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#10) you answered)

     yes You have identified design U10, which is printed in blue on orange paper and is diagnostic for Scott #U23. design U10
[to be acquired] 		 
 
     no You have identified design U9, which is printed in blue and is shared by Scott #s W18B (white paper; rare), U19 (buff), W20 (buff), W21 (manila), U21A (orange; rare), and W22 (orange; rare).
design U9