Small Challenge For You Who Collect Official War Entires Or Just The Cut Squares.

I know that with some time and a loupe I could answer my own challenge, but I thought it would make an interesting thread for those who know about Official Envelopes and those who don't.

War embossed (franked?) envelopes were issued between July 1, 1873 - July 5, 1884 along with all the other Official Departments.

As aside note the Official stamps were issued on the same date as the envelopes but were no longer issued in 1881.

Challenge is to ID which Scott #'s these three envelopes are.

Have fun and be informed

There Were two dies for the 3¢: Queue extends below collar (third one) and queue ends even with collar 1st and second. Scott number will also depends on envelope color.

For a more detailed answer per UPSS catalog it will depend on envelope color, knife, watermark, and envelope size for the envelope entire.

Not 100% answer to your question, but I hope it helps.
Pat

patg23, I went and grabbed some time and a loupe, which I didn't't need after all and discovered what you wrote above.

The knife cuts are the same on all three envelopes . See below. Size of all 3 envelopes measure 139+mm X 82.5mm, so are they UPSS #'s 6 or 7? I haven't water marked them.

Color is a different question, especially the pinkish one. Could this be UO55 Fawn?

https://stampsmarter.org/learning/M...SStamps.html see bottom of page
Don

Thanks Don. I referenced The Stamp Smarter page and the pinkish envelope sure fits the Oriental Buff color. That color being used starting in 1886 eliminates that as a possibility as the above envelopes were issued between July 1873 - July 1884.

So the color of the pinkish envelope is still in question.

As a most probable inexpensive cover I am not going to send it for expertizing!