Horizon'ly Dist'ce of or Vertic'ly st'p from No. Paper.[E] Dimensions. Laid. Edge. Remarks.
243 S.B. 148 × 225 H 35 244 S.B. " " V 35 245 S.B. " " H 35 Unwatermarked. 246 A.B. 151 × 257 H 35 " 247 Y.B. 148 × 225 H 35 248 Y.B. " " V 35 249 Or 151 × 257 H 36 Unwatermarked. 250 Or " " V 36 " 251 Or " " Wove 36 "
252 B 148 × 232 V 38 253 Y.B. 152 × 257 V 120 253a C.M. " " V 120
255 B 148 × 227 H 39 256 B " " V 39 257 C.M. " " H 68-71 258 Y.B. " " H 33-37 259 Y.B. " " V 33 260 W " " V 38 Very rare. But one copy known.
261 Y.B. 151 × 227 H 35 262 Y.B. " " V 35 263 C.M. " " H 71
265 C.M. 148 × 225 H 68-71 266 C.M. " " Wove 71 Unwatermarked. 267 B " " H 39 268 B " " V 39 269 B " " V 70 270 Or 180 × 260 44 Unwatermarked. 270a Or 180 × 260 H 48 "
[Footnote D: The Knives, Nos. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are those of the list in the CATALOGUE FOR ADVANCED COLLECTORS and are not referred to in the National Society's list.]
[Footnote E: The abbreviations used to designate the papers are: W--white; B--buff; A.B--Amber-buff; S.B--salmon-buff; Y.B--yellow-buff; Or.--orange and C.M--coarse manila.]
In the report of the Postmaster-General for the fiscal year 1861, it is stated that the three, six and ten cent dies would be changed, and the new ones were issued August 15th, 1861. They remained in use till September, 1864. Another important change was the abolishing of the former ten cents, or California, rate which took place shortly after July 1st, 1863.
In addition to these new dies, the Post Office introduced the following new denominations: i.e. 12, 20, 24 and 40 cents. These latter appear on large sized envelopes, known to the cataloguers as Knives 14--Size 7, "Official," 19--Size 8, "Extra Official," and 20--Size 8, "Extra Official." The 1861 report says that the large envelopes were intended for the purpose of mailing large packages and for foreign correspondence. The total issue amounted to 20,000.
Head of Washington facing to left. Inscriptions in outline, block letters. "United States" above: "Three Cents" below, separated on each side by a small circle containing a colorless numeral of value.
Die A:--23 mm. or less in width. Die B:--23 1/2 mm. or more in width. Die A includes varieties 1 to 7. Die B includes varieties 8 to 17.