Cut Squares, .... Here's More... Hawaii

Here are some several of the cut squares I found during the holidays...
U28 or U29?



<edit> They are not "mint", but I'm pretty pleased. Is there anyway to clean them? Should I? or, like many other things... are they better left alone?

These, I think, are U40, U42, U43, U44, and U45.

And this, I think a U34

Here are some U46? & U49... the latter are certainly on diagonally woven paper (so previously envelopes/ the larger is a cut corner with full back as well.) <edit> according to the display page the top is die A, Middle are Die C and Bottom Die D.

Hi Bfranton

US postal stationery is not my area of expertise unfortunately. What I have always wondered is, does, or did the USPS print stationery in two sizes like #8 and #10?

In Canada,to the best of my knowledge anyway, I don't think that the popularity of collecting the cut squares is not as big as it is in United States (?)

For my Canadian stationery collection, I have only the full size cover / card. If it was just a cut square from most of the Canadian issues, I would not be able to tell if it was from a #8 or #10 sized one and, in a lot of examples, there can be a CV of appreciable difference between the two sizes.

Maybe you or someone in the SCF can enlighten me here?

Your cut squares really look nice though even though I do not collect them.

Chimo

Bujutsu

That much I do know... US first cut "stationary envelopes" in 1852 but between then and 1900 XXX something there was a whole range of both covers (envelopes) and wrappers in various sizes... many more than just what we call the #8 and #10. There have been a couple of other threads here where we've discussed knife blades and sizing and these guys are great at helping one out. I'm blessed to have inherited a large collection, but I'm still just learning the lingo...

That is a very nice collection of cut squares. Although I don't aggressively collect them, and I certainly have nothing that goes back as far as the examples you show, they certainly make an attractive presentation on the album page(s).

As to your first post asking about whether you have a U28 or U29, my best guess would be the U28. The U29 would be on "buff" paper and unless your scan is way off, the cut square background does not look "buff" to me. Although either variety has quite a catalog value of a couple of hundred dollars, I've always wondered if valuations are accurate for cut squares, as I don't see too much activity/demand for such postal stationery items. Nevertheless, if they were an inherited collection, I think they would have much greater value to you than any catalog value listing.

Thanks for showing them.

I have a #1 postcard... :)

Barb, that second picture of the CS are really pretty.

Those are some very nice cut outs,are any of them still on cover ?

I have a smattering of cut squares and entires. However, yours are much older than mine and nicer too. It can be difficult to determine an exact catalog number sometimes without the full cover to get a better idea of the paper color and type.

Glad you found your #1 postal card Daryl.
To answer the rest of you:
yes, I have some full covers in this as well.
There are quite literally, several binders worth of embossed.
Yes, I'm learning how difficult it is to exactly figure out the values...
So, sincerely hope you'll not object if I share more from time to time to learn from you in
what you can pass on.

And do I attempt to clean them?

I think they look nice just as they are, so I'd leave them alone.

I would err on the side of caution and not attempt to clean anything, as it could result in lost value to you. If you decide later on that it would be beneficial to do so, you could always reconsider later on.

If you are thinking about selling, then you may want to advise a potential buyer that he might be able to clean them up a bit, but he would have to do it at his own risk.

Here's page of 1861-64s with fancy cancels

These are REAY - 1864-65

U66 or U67; U68, U69, U70, U71, U72, and U73.

The front and obverse of the first two scans, includes the patent lines





Here's full "wrapper" just within the size of 8.5X11 page.


And the embossing detail

I'm scanning like a crazy person...
think there is a nearly complete Reay collection as well as the Plimpton series.
Let me know if you want to see more.