Type V, #24 (1857) 1) Part of the side ornaments cut away (red). These are always complete on all the other Types.

2) Large breaks in both the top and bottom oval outer frame lines (green)

3) Slightly diagonal scratches on right center frame line, caused by scraping away part of the design in order to allow room for the perforations. Not always present. (orange) (These were the same dies used for the imperfs of 1851.)

4) Side margins are generally wider than those on the other Types, caused by the scraping away of the design. CAUTION: Damaged Type V’s are often clipped to resemble the imperf varieties. The top and bottom will usually be cut away to make it impossible to see the breaks in the frame lines. Look for the incomplete side ornaments and the diagonal scratches referred to above. If the former or both are present, it is a fake.