Envelope Cut Squares U385A? Varieties?

This is probably a question for postal stationery specialists, but I have these two envelope cut squares. Based on the Scott catalog and the shape of the "D" in "UNITED", they both appear to be design (U86), which leads me to believe that they should be designated Scott U385a (pink color variety):



However, the highlights show subtle differences, even though there appears to be no catalog listing for any varieties that note the following:

The blue arrows show different shapes in the ribbon ends of the banner "TWO CENTS".

The green square shows a significant difference in how the "ING" in "WASHINGTON" relates to the top line of the "TWO CENTS" banner.

The yellow circles on either side of the images suggest that the banner ends of "UNITED STATES POSTAGE" are different.

The bottom yellow circle on the right cut square suggests that there are no lines in the "TWO CENTS" banner (as it appears on the left image), even though the catalog suggests that the lines should exist.

Possibly the Scott catalog is not detailed enough to highlight these subtle differences, so I was wondering if anyone had a more detailed catalog on this issue that they could identify if these are, in fact, two different varieties or if I just chalk them up to being anomalies in printing.

wow wt1, you have a great eye for the details. Is it me or are there more details in the bust also?

Yes. The left image has a more embossed image; not as much on the right image.

In fact, you can even go a step further and just look at the bottom row of triangles on each image. The left side has a noticeably sharper top point to the triangles as compared to the image on the right.

I did notice that as well as the "2"'s don't appear same size left to right (left appears wider). I would almost think the left had more impression. would it be possible to distort the image that much if that were the case?

I can also see the beginnings of a third vertical bar in bottom right, next to the "S" in cents.

A post that brings joy to my heart!

What you have are two of the approxiately 250 varieties of the 1904 Recuts. On white paper the Scott number is U395. Btw, there is no more bogus description of a stamp in the Scott catalog than that accompanying die illustration U89. There are many, many variations in the design, and the detailed descriptions of them almost never refers to the D in UNITED.

I think we actually have been here before in another thread. There have been several complete books written about these guys. Up until the most recent version of their catalog, the UPSS included description and catalog values for all 250 types. Now, the catalog values are maintained in a PDF on the UPSS's website:

http://www.upss.org/assets/images/p...04recuts.pdf

If you examine that PDF you will see there are significant differences in catalog values. This makes for a very interesting specialty.

It takes some effort to determine the specific type of a 1904 Recut. The earlier catalogs provide some tools to help with these determinations. The longer the experience, the easier it gets.

Wow! I had no idea. This becomes a specialty in itself.

Thanks for the info.

I have a book that specilizes in the 2 cent recuts (above). Its by Fotios C. Drakos published by the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum in 1977. The UPSS includes the info in their catalog I believe.