Easy Identification
US 1c 1851 Issue

By Bill Weiss

There are multiple ways that a list like this can be compiled; by order as listed in the Number Specialized Catalog (Type I,Ia,Ib,Ic,II,III,IIIa,IV), by order of issue, by a process of elimination based on unique design characteristics or in the order that a collector or dealer is likely to acquire them, from the most common to the rarest (Based on Number “VF” catalog value). For this article, we will use the last method.

1. TYPE IV (Number #9) is defined by the fact that the outer curved frame lines at the top and/or bottom are recut. There are 7 different possible recuts;

  • 1X at top + 1X at bottom;
  • 1X at top;
  • 1X at top + 2X at bottom;
  • 2X at bottom;
  • 1X at bottom;
  • 1X at bottom + 2X at top;
  • 2X at bottom + 2X at top;

Tip – Recut lines are much heavier than the normal curved frame lines , so look for that feature. Compare Type IV with Type II, which has normal curved frame lines.


Type IV



2. TYPE II (Number #7) is defined by having complete curved frame lines at top and bottom but with parts of the bottom outer designs missing (incomplete).





Tip – compare to Type I, which has complete design or to Type IV, which has the curved frame line(s) recut.



Type II


3. TYPE IIIa (Number 8A) is defined by having the curved frame line above “U.S. Postage” OR below “One Cent” broken (but both are not broken);



Tip – If either the top or bottom portions of the design are cut off by poor separation such that the defining characteristic cannot be clearly seen, then the only way to positively identify this type (III a) as well as several other types that may have the defining parts missing, is by original plating (whereby the stamps is located to the exact position on the plate).



Type IIIa


4. TYPE III (Number #8) has the curved frame lines at top AND bottom broken (note that Tip given for Type IIIa also applies to Type III);










Type III


5. TYPE Ic (Number 6b) has partly cut away top, bottom left plume is complete (or nearly complete), bottom right plume and tiny ball ornaments are incomplete.



Tip – All of the different type I designs are difficult to identify, so careful examination is necessary. Eliminate the other more common Types so that you can safely conclude your copy is a type I variation.



Type Ic


6. Type Ib (Number #5A) has complete top and nearly complete bottom, but the plume-like scrolls at bottom and balls below bottom label not as clear as Type I (which is totally complete on all four sides)











Type Ib


7. Type Ia (Number #6); is complete at bottom but top is partly cut away





Type Ia


8. Type I (Number #5); is complete on all four sides except very slightly incomplete at top. This type only occurs on one position on the right pane of Plate 1 Early (Position 7R1E). It is an extremely valuable stamp used or unused and the likelihood of you ever encountering this stamp are very slim, but it of course is included in the correct place on this list





Type I

And briefly listing these in Number order is as follows;
Type I Number #5, complete design;
Type 1b Number #5A, complete at top but not fully complete at bottom, though nearly so;
Type Ia Number #6, complete at bottom but top slightly cut away;
Type Ic Number 6b, same as Type Ia but bottom rigbt plume not complete, bottom left is complete;
Type II Number #7, complete at top, but not at bottom and missing more parts of design than Ty.Ib,Ic;
Type III Number #8, curved frame lines at top ad bottom are both broken;
Type IIIa Number #8A, top or bottom curved line broken, but not both;
Type IV Number #9, top and/or bottom curved lines recut.



Additional Resources

Designs of the U.S. Regular Issues of 1851-1860

Postage Stamps of the United States - 1851