U533 Dies (Small Head V. Large Head Varieties)

I created a different thread, as we're talking about a different series of stamped envelopes. In this case, U533. Here are two examples, one showing the small head (Die 1) ... which is easily spotted because of the shape of the numeral "2".

The other example is showing a U533 with the large head. I'm not sure of the Die Type for the "large head" variety. Although there are only three remaining Dies to choose from for this issue, the differences are quite subtle and harder to identify. Perhaps someone can confirm the Die type shown.

Wt1, I am no expert at these. As a matter of fact, I have none, but think the whole thing is very interesting.


Peter

I say die 3 (Scott), die 166 (UPSS)

You may very well be right that it's a Die 3, but what confuses me is the Scott Catalog description for Die 3 v. Die 4:

Die 3: Short "UN" in "UNITED"; thin crossbar in "A" of "STATES".
Die 4: Tall "UN" in "UNITED"; thick crossbar in "A" of "STATES.

Visually, it seems to me that the crossbar in the "A" is "thick", leading me to Die 4; but the "UN" looks short (but is somewhat obscured by the cancellation) which only serves to puzzle me on the specific Die number, which is why some of these seemingly minor details make this collecting discipline quite challenging.

I never use the Scott descriptions, just UPSS. Even then, this issue is a pain in the hinge mark.

Below is thick over thin, and long lower bar of "E" over equal bars of "E".

Thanks for the additional info. In studying the two examples you posted it seems that in the top scan the vertical line in the first "T" appears closer to the left side of the "A" in "STATES", although I'm not sure if that's really an identifier or just a fluke in printing.

Here's the second image of my scan (enlarged to compare to your examples) which suggests that the points you make (the "A" has thin line across, the "E" is equal, etc., would identify this example as a Die 3:



(I don't know if it's an optical illusion or not, but the second "T" in "STATES" appears to have a slightly longer vertical bar in Die 3, too.)

Using the free software program Photofiltre, with the free measurement tool add-on, I examined die 166 and found the first T in STATES to be 2.07 mm tall, and the second T to be 2.23 mm tall. For die 167 it was 2.20 and 2.18; essentially the same.

So, yes, on die 3 the first T is shorter. (on the two envelopes I measured. Need to expect variability here due to inking differences, minimally)