Identification Guide for Two 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 - 207-266-5748

(updated 30 January 2012)


Welcome to the online identification guide for two 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 two 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. Note: To complete this page, many images need to be acquired, and close-ups of some features need to be added.

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 180 Scott-numbered non-airmail and non-official stamped envelopes/wrappers with a denomination of two cents. Five of the seven images are diagnostic for a design and a Scott number. They are:

busts of Columbus and Liberty
design U76 		 =  Scott #U349
 
Grant
design US1 		 =  Scott #U293
 
Liberty Bell
design U94 		 =  Scott #U522
 
Mount Vernon
design U95 		 =  Scott #U525
 
Star and Pinwheel
"Authorized Non-Profit Organization"
design U124 		 =  Scott #U577



The remaining two images are of Andrew Jackson, with 13 designs accounting for 58 Scott numbers, and George Washington, with 19 designs accounting for 117 Scott numbers.
   For a key to the Jackson designs click here.
   For a key to the Washington designs click here.

- - - - -

Key to designs that show a bust of Jackson:

Question 1: What is the shape of the border at the top and bottom? (choose an answer below)

     pointed (go to Question 2) design U17
[to be acquired] 		design U18
[to be acquired]
design U19
design U20
 
     rounded (go to Question 5)
design U24 		design U36
[to be acquired] 		design U37
[to be acquired] 		design U38
[to be acquired] 		design U39
[to be acquired]
design U40
design U41 		design U42
[to be acquired] 		design U43
[to be acquired]



Question 2: "Postage" or "Post."? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

     "Postage" (go to Question 3) design U17
[to be acquired] 		design U18
[to be acquired] 		 
 
     "Post." (go to Question 4)
design U19
design U20



Question 3: What is the relationship between the downstroke and the tail of the 2? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)

     They merge. You have identified design U17, printed in black and shared by Scott #s U46 (buff paper) and W47 (dark manila paper). design U17
[to be acquired] 		 
 
     They touch but do not merge. You have identified design U18, printed in black and shared by Scott #s U48 (buff paper) and U49 (orange paper). design U18
[to be acquired]



Question 4: How wide is the design? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)

     24–25 mm You have identified design U19, printed in black and shared by Scott #s U50 (buff paper), W51 (buff), U52 (orange), and W53 (dark manila).
design U19 		 
 
     25.5–26.25 mm You have identified design U20, printed in black and shared by Scott #s U54 (buff paper), W55 (buff), U56 (orange), and W57 (light manila).
design U20



Question 5: Are the numerals "2" enclosed by a circle or oval? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

     circle (go to Question 6)
design U24 		design U36
[to be acquired] 		 
 
     oval (go to Question 7) design U37
[to be acquired] 		design U38
[to be acquired] 		design U39
[to be acquired]
design U40
design U41 		design U42
[to be acquired] 		design U43
[to be acquired]



Question 6: Is the engraving finely or coarsely done? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#5) you answered)

     finely done You have identified design U24, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U78 (white paper), U79 (amber paper), U80 (orange paper), and W81 (manila paper).
design U24 		 
 
     coarsely done You have identified design U36, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U122 (white paper), U123 (amber paper), U124 (cream paper), U125 (orange paper), and W126 (manila paper), or printed in vermilion on manila paper and is Scott #W127. design U36
[to be acquired]



Question 7: Does the tail of the left 2 touch the oval? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#5) you answered)

     yes You have identified design U38, printed in brown, and shared by Scott #s U132 (white paper), U133 (amber paper), and U133A (cream paper). design U38
[to be acquired] 		 
 
     no (go to Question 8) design U37
[to be acquired] 		design U39
[to be acquired]
design U40
design U41 		design U42
[to be acquired] 		design U43
[to be acquired]



Question 8: Is there a diagonal line between the upper left part of the "U" of "U. S. Postage" and the outer white oval? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#7) you answered)

     yes You have identified design U41, printed in vermilion, and shared by Scott #s U149 (white paper), U150 (amber), U151 (blue), and U152 (fawn).
design U41
 
     no (go to Question 9) design U37
[to be acquired] 		design U39
[to be acquired]
design U40 		design U42
[to be acquired] 		design U43
[to be acquired]



Question 9: Is there a diagonal line in the "G" of "POSTAGE" and in the "C" of "CENTS"? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#8) you answered)

     yes You have identified design U39, printed in brown, and shared by Scott #s U134 (white paper), U135 (amber), U136 (orange), and W137 (manila), or printed in vermilion and shared by Scott #s U137A (white paper), U137B (amber), U137C (orange), W138 (manila). design U39
[to be acquired]
 
     no (go to Question 10) design U37
[to be acquired]
design U40 		design U42
[to be acquired] 		design U43
[to be acquired]



Question 10: Is the bottom part of the bust curved sharply or gradually? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#9) you answered)

     sharply You have identified design U43, printed in vermilion, and shared by Scott #s U156 (white paper), U157 (amber), and W158 (manila). design U43
[to be acquired]
 
     gradually (go to Question 11) design U37
[to be acquired]
design U40 		design U42
[to be acquired]



Question 11: Is the diagonal stroke of the "N" in "CENTS" the same thickness as the vertical strokes, or is it thicker? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#10) you answered)

     same thickness You have identified design U42, printed in vermilion, and shared by Scott #s U153 (white paper), U154 (amber), and W155 (manila). design U42
[to be acquired]
 
     thicker (go to Question 12) design U37
[to be acquired]
design U40



Question 12: {...}? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#11) you answered)

     {...} You have identified design U37, printed in brown, and shared by Scott #s U128 (white paper), U129 (amber), U130 (cream), and W131 (manila). design U37
[to be acquired] 		 
 
     {...} You have identified design U40, printed in brown, and shared by Scott #s U140 (amber paper) and W141 (manilla), or printed in reddish brown on orange paper (Scott #U140A), or printed in vermilion and shared by Scott #s U142 (white paper), U143 (amber), U144 (cream), U145 (orange), U146 (blue), U147 (fawn), and W148 (manila).
design U40



- - - - -

Key to designs that show a bust of Washington:

Question 1: How many times does the numeral "2" appear on the stamp? (choose an answer below)

     once (go to Question 2)
design U70
design U71 		design U72
[to be acquired]
design U78
design U79
 design U80
[to be acquired]
design U97
 
     twice (go to Question 8)
design U60
design U61
design U62 		design U63
[to be acquired] 		design U64
[to be acquired] 		design U65
[to be acquired]
design U67
design U68
design U86
design U89
design U91
design U93 		 



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

     a circle You have identified design U97, which is printed in carmine and is diagnostic for Scott #U533.
design U97
 
     a shield (go to Question 3)
design U70
design U71 		design U72
[to be acquired]
design U78
design U79
 design U80
[to be acquired] 		 



Question 3: What color is the image? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#2) you answered)

     green (go to Question 4)
design U70
design U71 		design U72
[to be acquired]
 
     carmine (go to Question 6)
design U78
design U79
 design U80
[to be acquired]



Question 4: Does the "G" of "POSTAGE" have a bar, and does the bust point between notches 2 and 3 (vs. between 3 and 4)? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)

     no You have identified design U70, printed in green and shared by Scott #s U305 (white paper), U306 (amber), U307 (oriental buff), U308 (blue), U309 (manila), and U310 (amber-manila).
design U70 		 
 
     yes (go to Question 5)
design U71 		design U72
[to be acquired]



Question 5: What is the shape of the top part of the head? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#4) you answered)

     more or less pointed
     (also, there is one line each for the ear and at the corner of the mouth) 		You have identified design U71, printed in green and shared by Scott #s U311 (white paper), U312 (amber), U313 (oriental buff), U314 (blue), U315 (manila), W316 (manila), and U317 (amber-manila).
design U71
 
     rounded
     (also, there are two lines each for the ear and at the corner of the mouth) 		You have identified design U72, printed in green and shared by Scott #s U318 (white paper), U319 (amber), U320 (oriental buff), U321 (blue), U322 (manila), and U323 (amber-manila). design U72
[to be acquired]



Question 6: Does the bust point to the first notch of the inner oval or to the middle of the second notch? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#3) you answered)

     first notch You have identified design U78, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U358 (white paper), U359 (amber), U360 (oriental buff), and U361 (blue).
design U78
  
 
     middle of the second notch (go to Question 7)
design U79
 design U80
[to be acquired]



Question 7: Does the queue have a ribbon around it? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#6) you answered)

     yes You have identified design U79, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U362 (white paper), U363 (amber), U364 (oriental buff), U365 (blue), and W366 (manila).
design U79
 
     no You have identified design U80, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U367 (white paper), U368 (amber), U369 (oriental buff), and U370 (blue). design U80
[to be acquired]



Question 8: Is the numeral "2" enclosed (by a circle or oval) or not? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#1) you answered)

     yes, it is enclosed (go to Question 9)
design U60
design U61
design U62 		design U63
[to be acquired] 		design U64
[to be acquired] 		design U65
[to be acquired]
design U67
design U68
design U93
 
     no, it is not enclosed (go to Question 17)
design U86
design U89
design U91



Question 9: Is the numeral "2" enclosed in a circle or in an oval? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#8) you answered)

     in a circle (in the lower half of the design) You have identified design U93, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U429 (white paper), U430 (amber), U431 (oriental buff), U432 (blue), U432A (manila; rare), W433 (manila), W434 (brown; glazed), and W435 (brown; unglazed).
design U93 		 
 
     in an oval (at midheight of the design)
     (go to Question 10)
design U60
design U61
design U62 		design U63
[to be acquired] 		design U64
[to be acquired] 		design U65
[to be acquired]
design U67
design U68



Question 10: Are the letters of "U.S. POSTAGE" in outline form, or are the letters solid? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#9) you answered)

     outline You have identified design U60, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U227 (white paper), U228 (amber), U229 (blue), and U230 (fawn).
design U60 		 
 
     solid (go to Question 11)
design U61
design U62 		design U63
[to be acquired] 		design U64
[to be acquired] 		design U65
[to be acquired]
design U67
design U68



Question 11: How many wavy lines inside the oval? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#10) you answered)

     four (go to Question 12)
design U61
design U62 		design U63
[to be acquired] 		design U64
[to be acquired] 		design U65
[to be acquired]
 
     two (go to Question 16)
design U67
design U68



Question 12: Are the wavy lines fine and clear, or are they thick and blurred? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#11) you answered)

     fine and clear You have identified design U61, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U231 (white paper), U232 (amber), U233 (blue), U234 (fawn), and W235 (manila).
design U61 		 
 
     thick and blurred (go to Question 13)
design U62 		design U63
[to be acquired] 		design U64
[to be acquired] 		design U65
[to be acquired]



Question 13: Is the "O" in "TWO" round or is it oval? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#12) you answered)

     round You have identified design U65, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U247 (white paper), U248 (amber), and U249 (fawn). design U65
[to be acquired] 		 
 
     oval (go to Question 14)
design U62 		design U63
[to be acquired] 		design U64
[to be acquired]



Question 14: How many links are over the left "2"? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#13) you answered)

     31/2 You have identified design U63, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U240 (white paper), U241 (amber), and U234 (fawn). design U63
[to be acquired] 		 
 
     21/2 (go to Question 15)
design U62 		design U64
[to be acquired]



Question 15: How many links are below the right "2"? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#14) you answered)

     21/2 You have identified design U62, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U236 (white paper), U237 (amber), U238 (blue), and U239 (fawn), or printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U265 (white paper), U266 (amber), U267 (blue), U268 (fawn), and U269 (manila).
design U62
 
     2 You have identified design U64, printed in red and shared by Scott #s U243(white paper), U244 (amber), U245 (blue), and U246 (fawn), or printed in brown and shared by Scott #s 270 (white paper), 271 (amber), and U272 (fawn). design U64
[to be acquired]



Question 16: Is the bottom right part of the bust pointed or rounded? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#11) you answered)

     pointed You have identified design U67, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U277 (white paper), U278 (amber), U279 (oriental buff), U280 (blue), U281 (fawn), U282 (manila), W283 (manila), and U284 (amber-manila), or printed in red and shared by Scott #s U285 (white paper), U286 (blue), and W287 (manila).
design U67
 
     rounded You have identified design U68, printed in brown and shared by Scott #s U288 (white paper), U289 (amber), U290 (blue), U291 (fawn), and W292 (manila).
design U68



Question 17: Are there birth and death dates (i.e., 1732 and 1799)? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#8) you answered)

     no You have identified design U91, printed in brown-red and shared by Scott #s U406 (white paper), U407 (amber), U408 (oriental buff), U409 (blue), and W410 (manila), or printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U411 (white paper), U412 (amber), U413 (oriental buff), U414 (blue), and W415 (manila).
design U91 		 
 
     yes (go to Question 18)
design U86
design U89



Question 18: How many shading lines inside the right end of the bottom scroll? (choose an answer below or return to the previous question (#17) you answered)

     21/2 You have identified design U86, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U385 (white paper), U386 (amber), U387 (oriental buff), U388 (blue), and W389 (manila).
design U86
 
     3 You have identified design U89, printed in carmine and shared by Scott #s U395 (white paper), U396 (amber), U397 (oriental buff), U398 (blue), and W399 (manila).
design U89