U67 Or U68 Postal Stationery ID Help?

Hello again ladies and gentlemen, I hope this is the right forum for this question. I have an entire cover with either a U67 or U68 design which makes it a U277-U291 disregarding blue and wrappers of course. Problem is I can't tell if it's a 67 or 68. And my catalog (Scotts 2004) lists the U277 at 40 cents, but the U288 is listed at $125 (unless it's on amber or fawn paper, and the price decreases dramatically) Why is that? I know it's not possible to determine paper type from a photo, but can you provide some pointers? Also any ID help on if it's a U67 or U68 design would be most appreciated. I'm trying to list this on ebay....so knowing where to start is going to be helpful. Scan is basically just the corner (but it is an entire envelope).
Thanks in advance!
dave

Hi Dave,
Amber and fawn entires are much more common would be my first guess.

Here's my go-to for U.S. Stamped Envelopes.
2c brown Washington, Question 16: Is the bottom right part of the bust pointed or rounded? U68
http://dubinweb.com/envelopes.html

I believe you have a Scott #U277 with a worn die.

Could you provide the size of this envelope, please. Length x width. This could help in the determination.

Note the following from the UPSS catalog on Die 82:
"Similar to Die 81 except
the lower back of the bust is
rounded (gradual curve). Any less
rounding than shown means that
the stamp is from a worn Die 81."

Die 81 = U67
Die 82 = U68

Thanks Phil, I have recently upgraded my computer and lost the link you provided....and forgot about until you posted it! It's a huge help!
dave

Thomas, it measures 6 1/4 x 3 1/2.

"6 1/4 x 3 1/2"

Ok, that would be a size 10 in the UPSS 19th Century Catalog.

Die 82 is not known in size 10. I.e., no one has ever reported to the catalog editors, the existence of a U288 in size 10. Only sizes 6 and 7.

Thomas, thanks! I'm not casting doubt on either your or the UPSS but I did some digging around and found an old reference ("The United States Stamped Envelopes 1853-1913" handbook number 5 by Barrett and Bartels ((don't know when it was printed it doesn't have a date on it)).. anyway, long story short they use the sizes of 1-14 for postal stationery with #5 being most common at 3 1/2 x 6 5/16. I mention the size because on pp.8-10 they discuss watermark #7 (US where S is superimposed on the you making it look like a dollar sign) and the "development of the so-called Kellog Die. Die A has the sharp point of the bust opposite the S of cents; Die B has the back rounded off on a long curve ..."
They go on to discuss colorings of the dies, and state that size 5 on white paper is quite scarce and "add zest to the hunt in this series" and Die B's with this watermark are quite scarce."
So it's probably true that what I have is a U67 since the U68 is very scarce (according to my reference) but I find it very interesting that it's mentioned. I'm going to see if I have more examples of the U67 with the pointed bust to compare this one to.

Good luck, Dave.
Be sure to come back and post any info you dig up.

It is the common U277, Dave. If you think otherwise, then send it off to APEX.

That's my assumption (that it's the U277). Looking through stationery to see if I can find another.

After going through all my postal stationery, this is the only one I've got.
#9785;#65039;