The Die Varieties of the Nesbitt Series of United States Envelopes Part 4

Together with the new die two new sizes of envelopes appear, known as Knives 4 and 5, respectively; both are termed "Full Letter" and have three black lines on the inside of the left side flap.

"T" WITH LONG CROSS STROKE.

Dies 1 to 10.

The ten die varieties are divided into three groups by drawing a straight line along the outside of the downward stroke of "T" of "THREE".

1) Line cuts through "S" of "CENTS" (Var. 1, 2, 3, 4).

2) Line goes to right of "S" (Var. 5, 6, 7).

3) Line goes through right lower curve (Var. 8, 9, 10).

It should be understood, however, that the above line prolongation is only tentative, not absolute, and can only be relied upon in a general way as certain specimens will be found which will vary from it to a greater or less extent.

Description of Dies.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 1:--"T" a considerable distance from upper left curve. "TH" widely s.p.a.ced, but "HR" near and "R" the highest letter. "RE" wide at top. "EE" wide. "CE" wide at base. "EN" wide. "NT" wide at base. Lower curves deep and far from "C" and "S".

Variety 2:--"T" near curve, and "T" and final "E" below level of "HRE". "TH" near, "HR" near, but "RE" and "EE" wide at top. Upper curves are frequently much deteriorated. Lower left curve far from "C". "CE" and "NT" wide at base. "TS"

near. Lower right curve near "S".

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 3:--Upper left curve very far from "T". "RE" wide and "R" slants sharply to the right. "EE" near at top. "C"

far from lower left curve. "CE" wide at base. "E" slants sharply to the left and "EN" wide at base. "S" close to curve.

Variety 4:--"T" near curve but below level of "H". "HR" wide but "RE" wider, and "EE" widest at top. The main feature of this die is that the lower left curve slants sharply downward and is far from base of "C". "CE" wide at base.

"NT" very wide at base. "S" far from curve.

Variety 5:--Upper right curve flattened and top of "T" near curve. "T" low and far from "H". "HR" widely s.p.a.ced at top, but "RE" still wider. "EE" near. Upper right curve far from "E" both at top and base. Frequently the curves are nearly obliterated.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 6:--Upper right curve near "T". Top of "T" some distance from "H". "RE" wide at top. "EE" wide. The curve is far from top of "E", but slants so that, at the point where it meets the inner oval line, it is near base of "E". Lower left curve near "C" and reaches over the top of the letter.

"CEN" near; "NT" near at base. "S" far from curve.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 7:--The FLAW VARIETY. Upper right curve very deep.

Top of "T" considerably nearer curve than base. "TH" near.

"HR" and "RE" near at top. "EE" very wide at top. Curve is very far from "E" both at top and base. Lower left curve flattened and near "C". "EX" near. "NT" well s.p.a.ced. In the outer red frame line, near base of "T", a small portion of the die is broken away.

Variety 8:--Upper left curve deep and top of "T" near curve.

"TH" near. "HRE" near, and "RE" the closest s.p.a.cing of all the varieties. "EE" near. Right curve is a good distance from top of "E". Lower left curve small and near "C". "CE"

wide. "ENT" near and upper horizontal stroke of "N" often joined to "T". "TS" near and "S" close to curve.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 9:--Upper left curve much flattened and close to "T"; "T" and final "E" somewhat below level of "HRE". "TH"

close and "H" sharply slanting to left. "HREE" near at top.

Right curve far from "E". Lower left curve short and near "C". "CE" close. "EN" near. "NT" near at base. Right curve near "S".

Variety 10:--Upper left curve near "T". "TH" near at top.

"HRE" s.p.a.ced as in Var. 9 but "EE" nearer, and top of "E"

nearer the curve. Lower left curve near "C". "C" above level of "E" and near at base. "ENTS" near. "S" far from curve.

LETTERS "T" WITH SHORT CROSS STROKES.

Dies 11 to 30.

These twenty die varieties are grouped into two cla.s.ses by the use of a unit distance measurement of 14 and 12 mm. respectively.

Cla.s.s I.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A line 14mm. long will extend from the point where the upper left curve meets the inner white frame-line to the end of the final "E" of "THREE".

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Group A:--A line 12mm. long, starting from the junction of the upper left curve and the inner, white, frame-line will extend to the end of the horizontal stroke of the first "E"

of "THREE". (Var. 11 to 18.)

Group B:--A line 12mm. long, starting from the junction of the upper left curve and the inner, white, frame-line will extend to a point just beyond the end of the horizontal stroke of the first "E" of "THREE". (Var. 19 to 27.)

Cla.s.s II.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

A line 14mm. long, starting from the junction of the upper left curve and the inner, white, frame-line, will extend to a point just outside of the final "E" of "THREE". (Var. 28 to 30.)

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Variety 11:--THE TOP STROKE OF "N," IF EXTENDED, WOULD BISECT THE VERTICAL STROKE OF "T". "RE" very wide at top.

"T" and "E" about an equal distance from curves. Lower left curve well rounded. "EN" near at top. "N" broad.

Variety 12:--THE SMALL HORIZONTAL LINE OF "N," IF EXTENDED, WOULD CUT THE VERTICAL DOWNSTROKE OF "T." All the centre crossbars of "Es" touch the horizontal upper stroke. "N" of "CENTS" is narrow; is the lowest letter, and has a heavy middle line. "T" and "E" are close to the curves, which are short. "TS" close and on level.

There are often two dots in the central oval, one near the throat and the other opposite the third loop above "C".