STEVE LEVINE
Postal Stationery
and Stamps

UNITED STATES
SPECIALIZED
 ENVELOPES BY UPSS#
PART 1: U1-U399

     PRICELIST & ORDER BLANK  THIS LIST is both a pricelist of my stock and an order blank.  Scott #’s are taken from the 2010 Scott U.S. Specialized Catalog.  UPSS Numbers (when used) are taken from the UPSS 19th & 20th Century Envelope Catalogs.  Where necessary, I invent my own numbers.

HOW TO ORDER:
1.  DINOSAUR STYLE  If ordering Dinosaur Style (thru the mail), you can print out this sheet, then circle the price of what you want and mail it in with your payment.  PLEASE circle with a fine colored marker; any color will do.
2.  ONLINE  Sorry, this is not a full-function interactive website with a shopping cart and card processing ability.  It's Dinosaur-style; it only has listings.  Still, we can improvise!
     You can send me an e-mail and type out what you want and the price.
     OR, you can cut & paste the item with its description and price.
IF the item exists in several conditions or forms (such as f-vf or vf for stamps, or as Cut Squares or Full Corners) please indicate which you want.
     OR you can cut & paste large portions of the list and HIGHLIGHT whatever you want.  Green (the 00-80-00 shade for the techs out there) works well, as does Red (the FF-00-00 shade).
     I accept VISA, Master Card, and American Express.  I also accept PAY PAL, at my e-mail address of "slwarking@erols.com".
3.  PHONE  IF your order is relatively simple or if you have a few questions, you can phone me at 718-939-5788.  For me, "business hours" are flexible.  I'm usually in, and if I'm not, you get the answering machine.  Leave your #; I'll get back to you.
     SELLOUTS AND REFUNDS  This list is backed by a pretty hefty inventory, and most of the items on it are well-stocked.  However, a few difficult items are "1-of-a-kind", AND I have over 5,000 items of Postal Stationery in stock.  Keeping my lists current is a chore-and-a-half; occasionally I won't remove a sold out item quickly enough.  It doesn't happen often, but it will happen, and I apologize in advance for the inconvenience.

TERMS OF PURCHASE:  Items from this list may be combined with items from my other lists for a MINIMUM ORDER of $15.  ALL ORDERS will be shipped via Insured or Registered mail, for your protection.  Please add $2 for postage and insurance to all orders.  Smaller orders will carry private insurance and will have NO USPS markings.    There's no "handling" fee; just actual postage expenses.  This is for U.S. orders only.  Overseas shipments, please e-mail me in advance for shipping information.
     New York State Residents, please add the appropriate Sales tax.  VISA, Master Card and American Express are accepted: please include all information which appears in raised print, PLUS the 3 digit security code which appears on the back.  PayPal accepted.
                  SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED ON ALL ORDERS

     INFORMATION ABOUT ENVELOPES BY UPSS#:  AT the end of this list is some information about Specialized Envelopes by UPSS# which you'll find useful.  I have a few words to say on the subjects of SPECIALIZED ENVELOPE collecting, and that most important matter, the overall quality of what I sell.  CLICK HERE

    HOW TO USE THIS LIST:
     This list is a SPECIALIZED ENVELOPE list, intended for the advanced collector.  It's LONG on numbers, SHORT on descriptions.  BEGINNERS and INTERMEDIATE collectors will be more comfortable using my EARLY ENVELOPES and MODERN ENVELOPES list which provide better descriptions of the items.

     There are 8 columns in this list...as follows:

     1.  SCOTT # refers to the number in the Scott Specialized Catalog of United States Stamps & Covers.  Where necessary, I improvise a bit.
     2.  UPSS # refers to the number in the Catalog(s) of the 19th/20th Century Stamped Envelopes and Wrappers of the United States published by the United Postal Stationery Society.
     3.  RA  If "RA" appears in the 3rd column, then the envelope has a RETURN ADDRESS, or what the old timers used to call a "Corner Card".
     4.  UPSS SZ is the UPSS Size of the envelope.  These sizes are listed below.
     5.  WIND ?  If W appears in the 5th column, then this is a WINDOW ENVELOPE.
     6.  KN  This is the UPSS "Knife".  It refers to the way the envelopes are die-cut before the flaps are folded and gummed.
     7.  WMK  This is the Watermark on the envelope.
     8.  PRICE  There are 2 kinds of envelopes.  COMMON VARIETIES, where the price is based on Scott, and PREMIUM VARIETIES, where the price is based on the UPSS Catalog.  Scott Catalogs are issued yearly and are usually on the mark with pricing.  UPSS Catalogs are fairly accurate WHEN ISSUED; the 19th Century was last issued in 2001 and the 20th century was last issued in 2004.  In a few years, they're behind the curve, especially on the early material.  BOTH catalogs are necessary to understand the price structure.

    A GUIDE TO ENVELOPE SIZES:  Created for a variety of reasons, Early envelopes exist in a wide range of sizes.  Here they are:

UPSS SIZE   1: 118 x 65 mm          UPSS SIZE 10: 160 x 89 mm            UPSS SIZE 19: 191 x 99 mm
UPSS SIZE   2: 120 x 73 mm          UPSS SIZE 11: 160 x 95 mm            UPSS SIZE 20: 219 x 92 mm
UPSS SIZE   3: 134 x 73 mm          UPSS SIZE 12: 165 x 92 mm            UPSS SIZE 21: 225 x 98 mm
  UPSS SIZE   4: 130 x 80 mm          UPSS SIZE 13: 171 x 94 mm            UPSS SIZE 22: 241 X 100 mm
  UPSS SIZE   5: 137 x 77 mm          UPSS SIZE 14: 119 x 92 mm            UPSS SIZE 23: 241 x 105 mm
  UPSS SIZE   6: 140 x 78 mm          UPSS SIZE 15: 130 x 105 mm          UPSS SIZE 24: 249 x 104 mm
  UPSS SIZE   7: 139 x 82 mm          UPSS SIZE 16: 134 x 108 mm          UPSS SIZE 25: 258 x 111 mm
  UPSS SIZE   8: 149 x 85 mm          UPSS SIZE 17: 140 x 108 mm          UPSS SIZE 26: 271 x 118 mm
UPSS SIZE   9: 149 x 92 mm          UPSS SIZE 18: 143 x 111 mm                                                            

Recently, some new sizes have been used:
     UPSS SIZE 22A: 190 x 127 mm  Used on Scott #U613.
     UPSS SIZE 18A: 201 x 91 mm  Used on Official envelopes which were used for mailing Savings Bonds.
     UPSS SIZE 22B: 226 x 112 mm  Used on Official envelopes which were
use for mailing Passports.

ALL ENVELOPES ARE MINT, WITH NO PRINTING, UNLESS YOU SEE "RA" IN FRONT OF THE PRICE.

EARLY ISSUES: U1-U399

SCOTT    UPSS    RA    UPSS  WIND     KN    WMK    PRICE
  #        #      ?     SZ     ?                        
U41       97             7            24     1     77.50
U42       98            21            96     1    525.00
U52      110             7            24u    1     35.00
U54      114             7            24     1     37.50
U56      116a            7            24u    1     32.50
U58      123     RA      2             4     1     18.50
U76      149             7            25u    2     33.50
========================================================
U80      161             7            25u    2     17.00
========================================================
U88      222     RA      7            26     2     77.50
========================================================
U114     271-6           7            31     6      7.50
========================================================
U115     274-6           7            31u    6     10.00
========================================================
U116     278             7            30u    2      1.25
U116a    279a            7            31u    2     40.00
U116     279-5           7            31u    5      1.25
U116     279-6           7            31u    6      1.10
U116     282-5          10            54u    5      1.25
U116     282-6          10            54u    6      1.10
========================================================
U118     285-6           8            38     6     14.50
========================================================
U163     394-6   RA      8            38     6      4.00
U163     397-5   RA     10            54     5      4.00
========================================================
U178     481             8            38     5     20.00
========================================================
U222     490-6           8            38     6     10.00
========================================================
U223     493-6   RA      8            38     6     10.50
========================================================
U219     644-3           7            30     3     60.00
U221     646-3           7            30     3     80.00
U227     649     RA      7            31     6      9.50
U228     652     RA      6            19     6     10.00
U231     668     RA      8            38     6      9.50
U260     686     RA      7            31     6     20.00
U261     690     RA      7            31     6     20.00
      U262     693     RA      6            19     6     27.50  NEW!
U250     760            10            54     6      6.50
========================================================
U277     790             3             8     6      1.00
U277     793-7   RA      7            31     7      1.00
U277     794-7           8            38     7      1.00
========================================================
U278     803     RA      7            31     6      1.75
      U278     804-7   RA      8            38     7      1.75  NEW!
========================================================
U279     810-7           7            31     7      7.00
      U279     812-7          10            54     7      7.00  NEW!
========================================================
U280     817     RA      6            19     6      4.25
U280     818-7   RA      7            31     7      4.25
========================================================
U281     824     RA      6            19     6      5.50
U281     825     RA      7            31     6      5.50
========================================================
U294     875-8           7            31     8      1.00
U294     875-12          7            31    12      1.00
========================================================
      U296     886-8           8            38     8      5.75  NEW!
========================================================
U300     895-8           7            31u    8      1.25
U300     899-12         10            54u   12      1.25
========================================================
U302     900a           10            55u   12     35.00
U304     901-8           8            38     8     18.00
      U305     914     RA     10            54     7     35.00  NEW!
========================================================
U311     925     RA      4            11     7       .75
U311     928     RA      8            38     7       .75
U311     928-12  RA      8            38    12       .75
U311     931-12  RA     10            54    12       .75
========================================================
U312     953-12          8            38    12       .80
========================================================
U313     971-8   RA      8            38     8      1.20
U313     973-12         10            54    12      1.20
      U313     976-12         13            74    12      1.20  NEW!
========================================================
      U314     984-8           7            31     8      1.25  NEW!
      U314     984-12          7            31    12      1.25  NEW!
U314     985-7           8            38     7      1.25
      U314     985-8           8            38     8      1.25  NEW!
U314     985-12          8            38    12      1.25
      U314     987-12         10            54    12      1.25  NEW!
U314     990-12         13            74    12      1.25
========================================================
      U315     998-8           7            31     8      2.75  NEW!
U315     998-12  RA      7            31    12      2.75
U315    1000-8   RA      8            38     8      2.75
U315    1001             8            39    12     80.00
      U315    1002-8          10            54     8      2.75  NEW!
U315    1003            10            55    12      2.75
U315    1004-8   RA     13            74     8      2.75
      U315    1006            23           106     8      2.75  NEW!
      U315    1008            25           123     7      3.00  NEW!
========================================================
      U312-CAP 1032-12 RA      7            31    12     30.00  NEW!
      U313-CAP 1034            7            31    12     30.00  NEW!
      U314-CAP 1036    RA      7            31    12     35.00  NEW!
========================================================
      U324    1064            10            54     7      5.75  NEW!
U324    1066-8          21           100     8      5.75
U327    1082-8          13            74     8     12.50
      U328    1085            21           100     7     12.50  NEW!
========================================================
U330    1093-8          10            54     8      7.50
========================================================
U332    1098-8          10            54     8     17.00
U341    1118             8            38     7     67.50
U347    1131            21           100     7    150.00
========================================================
U348-A  1133     RA      9            43    11      2.75
      U348-A  1134a           11            61    11      5.00  NEW!
========================================================
U348-B  1138            11            61    11      3.25
========================================================
U348-C  1141             7            31    11      2.75
U348-C  1143            16            86    11      4.75
      U348-C  1144            18            90    11      6.00  NEW!
      U348-C  1144a           18            90    11      6.00  NEW!
========================================================
U349-A  1146             9            43    11      4.00
U349-A  1147            11            61    11      5.00
========================================================
U349-C  1155             9            43    11      3.25
U349-C  1156            11            61    11      3.75
========================================================
      U349-D  1162a    RA      7            31    11      4.75  NEW!
========================================================
U350-A  1167             9            43    11     15.00
U350-A  1170     RA     21           100    11     12.50
U350-A  1172            25           124    11     17.50
========================================================
U350-B  1174            11            61    11     12.00
========================================================
U351    1179            11            61    11     65.00
U351    1180            23           106    11     65.00
========================================================
U353    1202             8            41    13      8.50
========================================================
U356    1217-13  RA     10            54u   13      6.25
========================================================
U358    1220            10            54    13      7.50
U358    1222     RA     13            74    12      7.50
========================================================
U360    1224-13  RA     10            54    13     32.50
========================================================
      U362    1248     RA     16            88    13      1.65  NEW!
      U362    1259            23           106    13      1.35  NEW!
      U362    1251            25           124    13      1.35  NEW!
========================================================
U363    1261             9            45    13      2.85
========================================================
U364    1278             7            34    13      2.85
U364    1287            11            64    13      2.85
========================================================
U365    1294             7            34    13      4.50
========================================================
U368    1323             7            34    13     14.50
U369    1331             7            34    13     32.50
U370    1339             7            34    13     23.50
U374    1356            21           100    13     26.50
========================================================
      U379    1374a    RA      7            34    14      1.35  NEW!
U379    1375a            8            41    14      1.20
U379    1377a           10            57    14      1.20
========================================================
U380    1382a            8            41    14     21.50
U382    1387a           13            78    14     33.50
U383    1388b           10            54u   14      5.00
========================================================
U385b   1391a            3             8    14      2.75
U385    1393     RA      8            41    14      1.20
U385x   1393x            8            41    14      4.00
          Orange shade.                                
U385    1394             9            45    14      1.20
U385    1396            10            57    14      1.20
U385b   1396a    RA     10            57    14      2.75
U385    1397            11            64    14      2.40
U385b   1398a           13            78    14      2.75
U385    1399            14            84    14      1.40
U385b   1399a           14            84    14      2.75
U385b   1400a           16            88    14      2.75
U385b   1401a           21           100    13      2.75
U385    1402            23           106    14      1.60
U385    1403            25           124    14      2.00
========================================================
      U386    1406             9            45    14      3.75  NEW!
U386    1407     RA     10            57    14      3.75
U386b   1407a           10            57    14     20.00
U386    1411            23           106    14      3.75
========================================================
U387    1413             7            34    14      3.25
U387    1414             8            41    14      3.25
U387    1415            10            57    14      3.25
U387b   1415a    RA     10            57    14      5.25
U387    1417            13            78    14      3.25
========================================================
U388    1420     RA      8            41    14      2.85
U388    1421     RA     10            57    14      2.85
U388    1423     RA     13            78    14      2.85
========================================================
U390    1427            21           100    14     31.00
U390    1428            23           106    14     31.00
========================================================
U391    1403            21           100    14     32.50
========================================================
U393    1434             8            41    14     33.50
U393    1435            10            57    14     33.50
U393    1435     RA     10            57    14     33.50
          Grayish-white war paper.                     
U393    1435            10            57   "03"   125.00
         Unlisted in UPSS, scarce, clear "03" watermark.
========================================================
      U394    1437            10            57    14     32.50  NEW!
========================================================
      U395    1438             3             8    14      1.80  NEW!
U395    1440     RA      8            41    14      1.50
U395    1442     RA     10            57    14      1.50
U395 "a" 1442 Pinkish   10            57    14      4.50
U395 "b" 1442 Red       10            57    14      4.00
U395    1444     RA     13            78    14      1.75
U395    1445            14            84    14      1.75
========================================================
U397    1459             7            34    14      8.00
========================================================
U398    1465             7            34    14      5.75
U398    1468     RA     10            57    14      5.75

  END OF SPECIALIZED ENVELOPES BY UPSS # LIST, PART 1 
 

RETURN TO HOME PAGE        LAST UPDATED: APRIL 2, 2010

             SPECIALIZED ENVELOPE INFORMATION

     BEFORE I say a few words about Specialized Envelopes, I'd like you to read the information sections in my EARLY ENVELOPES and MODERN ENVELOPES lists.  These sections should give you a general background, especially in terms of the quality to expect.

     There are only 2 minor differences between Specialized (UPSS#) Envelope collecting and General Envelope collecting:

     1.  There tends to be more "information" penciled on the back of specialized envelopes.  NOT ALL, of course, but many Envelope varieties have various notations including Scott#, UPSS#, Size, Knife, Watermark, and on occasion, the dealer from whom the envelope was purchased...even the price paid. 
     If the collector was a "name" collector, there might be a small rubber stamp with some sort of message "From the Collection of .........."  For many issues, such markings not only don't hurt the value of the envelope, they actually enhance it.  In the case of some items which may be difficult to identify, a good "provenance" (history of previous ownership) is a Godsend.  Frankly, many of the early collectors were as knowledgeable -- if not more so -- than the dealers who hand out the "certificates" today.  Their I.D. on an envelope is practically a guarantee.

     The hobby of Envelope Collecting has gone through several "time periods"; each of these time periods was dominated by a dealer or group.  Each of these groups issued their own Envelope catalog.  There was the time of Bartels, the time of Thorp, and the time of the UPSS. Some envelopes which have changed hands across several of these eras have had their "information" updated.  The backs of these envelopes tell an interesting story, albeit one which has used up a lot of pencil lead.

     2.  Many envelopes exist ONLY with Return Addresses.  If you're a General Envelope collector, you can ignore these if RAs annoy you.  If you're a Specialized Envelope collector, they're a little harder to ignore.

     What I'm saying here: The Specialized collecting of Envelopes is a serious study.  It isn't a beauty contest.  If you're an advanced collector, you already know this...

     There's also one MAJOR difference; the universe in which we work (or play, if you prefer) is a lot larger.  Even though there are "only" a shade over 800 BASIC Scott #s (Regular Envelopes, Airmails, Officials), when you consider the different sizes, knives and watermarks, the universe expands to...well, you know, I never figured it out, but I'd guess it's well over 25,000 envelopes.  Think of it as 50 boxes of 500...or, in sleeves/glassine envelopes, 100 boxes of 250 (takes up TWICE as much room if the envelopes are sleeved/in glassines)!  OR, think of it as 250 FDC-type albums of 100.  Any way you think about it, your collection will require a lot of space and time.

     IF you're up to the challenge, I can help you a bit; I think I have a pretty fair slice of the pie, though of course, it's only just a slice.  Envelope scarcity is often unrelated to price; it's often a question of being lucky enough to find the inventory.  It's usually a random event.  I'm out there...I'm looking...on occasion, I find and offer it to you.

     ENVELOPE QUALITY: THE BUCK STOPS HERE  I'm just repeating here some of the comments which appear on my EARLY ENVELOPES LIST.  You should expect top quality while recognizing that Envelopes are not "stamps".  Envelopes are a commercial product, and have only recently been printed with the needs of collectors in mind.  I buy carefully and weed out any obvious problems I see.  Thankfully, envelopes are spared the trauma of being packed & shrink-wrapped like some Postal Cards.  Still, they are cut, folded, and boxed mechanically, which can create "defects of manufacture".  As always, I try my best to weed these out.

     There's one problem with envelopes which you don't find with Postal Cards or Cut Squares, and there's nothing I can do about it: GUM BLEED.  Envelopes are gummed at the seams, AND Window Envelopes are also gummed where the glassine or plastic meets the paper.  IN TIME, the gum will discolor the paper...usually just a trifle, and not on every envelope.  This is usually not a problem; I just want to make you aware that every now and then you'll see an envelope which will be 90% up to snuff, not 100%.  I'm sorry; I didn't manufacture the envelopes.  If I did, I would have used a better gum....

     While MANY of the EARLY Envelopes I sell will look as if they came out of the Post Office yesterday -- clean, fresh, and with sharp strong corners -- SOME of them will show some signs of age and storage, as well as characteristics of the era in which they were collected.  Like Postal Cards, Envelopes were sometimes I.D.'d....LIGHTLY, in pencil, on the back.  Such I.D. marks include envelope size, watermark, and a catalog number...sometimes the old, THORP Catalog, or the newer, UPSS Catalog.  Anything beyond that, I weed out.

     SPECIALIZED INFORMATION  I'm going to be brief.  If you're using this list, then you already know everything you need to know...and if you don't, then I can't possibly tell you.  I defer to the experts.  You need to own 2 books; they are the UPSS 19th and UPSS 20th Century Envelope Catalogs.  They each contain a wealth of information  ...

     ...and of course, if you have a question, please feel free to e-mail or just pick up the phone & give me a call.  I'm always here to help.