There are five types which can be easily identified by a process of elimination as follows;
1. If the outer designs at left and right are cut away, it MUST be Type V (Number #35);
2. If the design is complete at the bottom AND sides, it MUST be Type I (Number #13, #31);
3. If the design at bottom or top center is recut at one or both, it MUST be Type IV (Number #16, #34);
4. If the design is none of the above it MUST be either Type II or Type III as follows;
a. Type II is complete at top and over the right “X” (Number #14, #32);
b. Type III is NOT complete at top and over the right “X” (Number #15, #33).
And to restate these in Number order;
TYPE I – Complete design at sides and bottom;
TYPE II – Complete at sides and top but not at bottom;
TYPE III – Complete at sides, but not at top or bottom
TYPE IV – Complete at sides and RECUT at top or bottom center curved line, or both;
TYPE V – Complete at bottom but cut away at sides.
Additional Resources
Designs of the U.S. Regular Issues of 1851-1860