Time Of Use Of Watermark Paper, Example U231

hello,

I have a question about the watermark paper of stamped envelopes with a year in it. I guess the years were not separated very exactly and the paper of the previous year was also used in the next year? I show an example of U231 with a 82 year watermark 6.

So was this a "late use" of this 1882 paper (after Nov. 83), or was it an "early use" of the U231 (before Nov. 83)?

Thank you!

In 1882 the paper was changed for that bearing the former monogram (watermark #2) and the additional numerals 82 which formed the watermark known as $6. According to my reference, the ninth issue was printed from October 1883 to October 1886 and was printed in red on paper watermarked with #6 although $5 was sometimes used in error. In May 1884 the two cent value was changed to a chocolate brown color.
Not sure if that helps, but.....

Thank you. Yes, your answer helps in that way that I just ask myself if I understood this watermark correctly...actually I thought that the watermarks with year, like #6 or later in the 20th century, had one watermark number per year... I think that's just wrong for watermark #6.

Ok, so I guess the watermark #6 was always showing the "82", for the whole period when it was used?

That is correct, watermark #6 always had the number "82" as part of the watermark. The next watermarks with numbers were 12a and 12b with a "94" and then watermark #13 with 99. Several followed after with whole years (1903/1907/1911) included in the watermark.

thank you again. For some reason it was absolutely clear to me that the year number is given for each year, if it's given for 1882... one more thing I've learned here.

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