Explanation of How to tell the 1895 and 1897 definitive issues apart.

The 1895 regular issue (definitive) stamps were issued with three different types of triangles, (at 4 corners of stamp). The cover above was issued with a triangle as shown in the third example, (Type III & IV - lines do not extend through the outer triangle) and is carmine in color.  The 1897 (Type IV) issue had additional changes to the stamp design: The hairline was re-cut and lengthened, additional dots were added in the area of the ears and the lines on the sleeve are bolder. These changes are not present in the stamp on the cover above and the date of the letter itself, (Feb 97) proves that it is not an 1897 type IV carmine issue, which was not issued until November of that year.  Thus, we can state that the stamp is a Type III from the 1895 issue,  and the color, (carmine) identifies this stamp as Scott 267.