Variety 30:--"C" NEAR OUTER FRAME LINE AND ON LEVEL WITH "E". "TH" very near and top of "T" close to curve. "RE" much wider at top than "HR". "EE" wide at top. Upper right curve much larger than upper left curve and much further from top than from base of "E". Lower curves short and round. "NT" wide at base. "TS" close at top and top of "S" close to curve. There is a colored dot, or circle, immediately above centre of the lower right curve. Note wide colored space above top of "R" and "E". Compare varieties 21 and 28.
Short labels with straight ends. 8-1/2 loops on the left; 9 loops on the right.
The date of issue of the SIX CENTS red is generally placed about July 31st. 1853; that of its congener--but with color changed--sometime before Sept. 30th of the same year. As there has never been much demand for a six cent envelope, it is strange that this issue has four distinct heads of Washington, two forms of "SIX", small and large, and different spacings of the word "CENTS". Unlike the last issue, the die is exceedingly well printed, and it is not difficult to get fine copies.
In Varieties 1 and 2 "SIX" is widely spaced:
In Varieties 3 and 4 the spacing is closer.
No description of the head is needed; it is HEAD I of Die 1 of 1853. "CE" very wide; "EN" wide; "NT" near at top and "S" is far from "T".
HEAD XVI. Side-lock is long, straight, curved at its point, and ends near the ear-lobe. There are five locks in the front row and four in the back row. The highest front-lock is split into two parts. Between the side-lock and the lowest front-lock and well towards the middle of the former, commences a thin lock which extends far beyond the ear-lobe and ends in the queue. "CE" wide; "EN" wide; "NT" further at base than in Var. 1. "TS" near. This head is found on the reprints on white and buff vertically laid paper.
HEAD XVII. A very heavy eyebrow which comes close to the side-lock. The latter is very fine and near the ear-lobe. The hair consists of five long and nearly parallel locks. The second longest and heaviest lock touches the queue. "CE" very wide; "EN" wide. "NT" wide at top. "TS" very widely spaced.
HEAD XVIII. A heavy eyebrow. A short side-lock with a sharp point, starting near the eye-brow, ends [HW: some] distance from the ear-lobe. There are five locks in the front row and the same number in the back row. Of the five front locks four are heavy. There is also a long and thin strand between the second and third front-lock. Together with the side-lock starts the lowest front-lock which broadens out towards its middle and ends in a point a short distance behind the ear-lobe. The second front-lock is in line with the queue. "CENTS" close to outer frame line. "CE" nearer than in Var. 3. "T" has a short cross-stroke; "TS" is wide and "NT" is near at top.