Tiffany, J: Stamped Envelopes, Wrappers and Sheets of the Un

Excerpt from The Stamped Envelopes, Wrappers and Sheets of the United StatesThe number of varieties in each series, arising from impressing the different values of similar design on a number of different papers, and the number of different designs of each value in succeeding series, has always been attractive to the, collector of cut specimens, while the large number of sizes, the variety of shapes in the same size or similar ones, the color and quality and varying watermark and mode of gumming of the entire envelopes, has made their collection both interesting and puzzling to those who have studied them. The use of so large a quantity of paper, and the necessity of using more than one die of supposedly identical design, or knives of the same pattern, and other accidental variations in so large a manufacture, have produced numerous varieties which afford a field for research that seems well nigh inexhaustible. To attempt to catalogue every minute variety that has resulted from the combination of minute variations in the dies, the ever varying gradations in the shade of the impression and paper, the accidental differences in the characteristics of the paper, its hardness or softness, the position or defects in the water lines or watermark, must necessarily result in incompleteness on the one hand and confusion on the other, for each collector will, after all, decide for himself which of these minor varieties from recognized types are of sufficient interest to be added to his collection, as good fortune or patient search brings them under his notice. This introduction and the notes in this work will attempt to point out what are the important or intentional and typical varieties which alone will be numbered in the lists, and also the nature and character of the accidental or minor varieties which the collector of such varieties may expect to find. No collection, how ever large, that has been examined by the compilers has contained all the minor varieties that may be found in others, and the majority of collectors will be content with the collection of the varieties listed.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.